The tower collapsed on its heavyweight. Huge chunks of stones fell and crushed the ground beneath them. Velvet and the group ran away as far and as fast as they could. Velvet and Laphicet both stopped and whirled back in shock and worry, gazing at the enormous tower turning into dust. The earth suddenly shook, smoke came out of the entrance, and the tower of the exorcists started to come crashing down completely.

Laphicet gazed in terror as thick clouds of dirt and ashes raced towards them, but there was no sign of Avernus or Zaveid. Laphicet looked at Velvet, her eyes filled with usual wrath, and she was gritting her teeth.

Despite Velvet’s unforgiving and angry mood, she was usually calm. She didn't care about anyone except for Artorius's head on a plate. Freaks could surround velvet for all she cared. But that was changing, and Velvet didn’t even know how to deal with it. It was freaking her out.

And she was once again bothered by the unwelcoming distraction.

Velvet turned to Laphicet and firmly hugged him for protection against the incoming cloud of debris. The area around them flashed; Magilou already created a bubble shield. It widened like an inflated balloon encasing them. She held her arm upward with one of her legs hanging in the air. Having the proud and all-knowing gesture, she hummed triumphantly. "Guess I'm not a bad learner after all. You don’t need magical blood or be an overbearing Shepherd. By the way, you're welcome, my children."

Velvet checked inside the bubble. Everyone was accounted for except for Avernus, Tia and Zaveid. Laphicet suddenly felt a strange surge through his mind. He looked from the corner of Velvet's cloak and into the dark cloud. "There! They're coming out!"

The team inside the shield began to look closely into the haze. All they could see and hear was a dusty fog and echoes of the tower's destruction. It seemed only Laphicet could see them.

The obscurity went away. The dust began to settle down. Two figures emerged from the gloom; Avernus and Zaveid.

"You're both okay!" Laphicet cheerfully said. Velvet crossed her arms and let out a sigh of relief. Eleanor's body was mildly shaking from witnessing the destruction of her school. So many memories now went up in the air in an instant.

Zaveid frantically paced to Avernus, face all tensed up. "What did you do?!"

Avernus looked at the remains of the demolished exorcist tower, placing the gun on his shoulder. "Saved our lives.”

"By Killing?! If I knew what you were going to do with it, I wouldn't offer you the weapon!" Zaveid furiously revolted. He extended his arm towards Avernus. "Give me back the Siegfried."

Avernus looked at Zaveid from the corner of his eyes. Uncaring and cold, he held the gun upward. The engravings on the weapon were flickering. "Even if I wanted to give you the weapon, you could never use it again. It bonded with me through blood."

Zaveid gritted his teeth. "You're just like the exorcist, crossing any line to get what you want!"

"I'm not like them. Don't you dare compare when you don't know anything about me, malak. Do you think I like killing? A damn dragon was trying to bury us. What did you want me to do? Pet him and ask to play nicely?"

Zaveid clenched his fist. “But you took a life! Does this mean anything to you?”

"If I hesitated for a second, every life, our lives, would be lost. People like you who walk with those pacifist ideas in your heads will get you, and everyone around you killed."

Zaveid stepped closer threateningly, raising his voice. "There is always another way!"

Anger welled up in Avernus’s chest. "Not always! You're dealing with people who won't pause for a moment thinking that they should turn you into a daemon or not."

“You are not saving anyone. You are just another killer-”

A loud crack suddenly echoed as Zaveid’s neck jerked to the side. He was pulled off his feet and fell face-first into the dirt.

Avernus’s backhanded heavy slap had smacked Zaveid in a blink of an eye, followed by his heavy silence and gazing over the fallen malak. Tia reappeared from his body. Having saved Avernus and Zaveid from their deaths, she joined the rest, shaking her head. "Men and their pointless arguments."

Zaveid groaned and struggled to sit. Having the side of his face numb, he cupped his hand over the bruise and gazed at Avernus with shock. “You-!”

Avernus drew the gun and aimed it straight at Zaveid’s forehead, glaring with his green inferno eyes. It seemed that his finger began twitching on the trigger, ready to fire another lethal round. Then after a brief moment, Avernus whirled on his hills and left, walking away without uttering another word.

Eizen walked to Zaveid as he was still frozen, lying on the ground. Eizen ignored that Zaveid took a beating not a minute before and even looked satisfied. "Why do you have Siegfried?"

Zaveid was still frozen for a brief moment before coming to his senses. "Airfread told me: "I'm counting on you," Back when I served at the Abbey, they sent me on a mission to capture Aifread. My mind was under the influence of Innominat's domain. But when Aifread aimed that baby at me. One shot was all it took to open my eyes. The fight we had after that was one for the books; he might've been a human, but that guy was a beast, put a song in my soul." He looked over Avernus as he was stopped feet away, crossing his arm and looking over the horizon. “He didn’t hesitate.”

Eizen slightly smiled, as the description was on point.

Zaveid continued. "Then the Melchior jumped in and snatched him away. With one of his damned illusions."

Magilou whistled and shook her head, turning her head at Avernus and raising her voice so he could hear her. "Melchior scanned its blueprints using his arte while you were busy lecturing Velvet why they were killing the wyverns."

"That's just great," Avernus mumbled to himself.

Eizen nodded in satisfaction, slightly smiling, "Got it. We're done here."

"Not unless I get Siegfried back from your crazy friend," Zaveid said, groaning in anger.

Avernus’s voice was now calm and his expression stoic. "On one condition."

Zaveid waited for his response but groaned behind his lips.

"Join us, and I will give you the gun back."

Velvet, Eleanor, Magilou, Rokurou, and Eizen turned their attention back to him, looking puzzled.

“Join a killer like you. Absolutely not!”

Magilou sneered. "Now Melchior knows what Siegfried can do. The Abbey won't probably need Aifread anymore."

Velvet nodded, adding to their conversion and agreeing with Magilou. "I see no reason for them to keep him alive."

"You think I don't know that?!" Zaveid furiously reacted.

Eleanor also agreed with others. "If you really want to save Aifread, you probably ought to team up with us."

"We've already asked Eleanor not to kill any exorcists. I don’t promise you not to kill. Besides, you need to learn how this thing works if you want to use it properly."

Zaveid was conflicted. He needed their help.

"There is another problem,” Avernus said. His last sentence got everyone slightly worked up. He hid his true feeling behind a straight face,

"Lucian Astor, the senior squire from Hyland, is here and is helping Melchior."

The name was meaningless to everyone except Eleanor and Bienfu.

Eleanor swallowed. "Lord Astor is from your homeland?!"

Bienfu was shaken, his body recoiled. "I knew it! The seriousness and commitment were so alike! Bieeen!"

Avernus narrowed his eyes and glared at Eleanor in seriousness. "Tell me everything about Lucian Astor.”

Eleanor felt the heavyweight of his energy and obeyed. "Lucian Astor is Lord Melchior's successor. He was going to be the third legate, but he refused and decided to help instead. He is so humble, considering and-"

Avernus cut her short. "He turned his malak into a dragon to kill us all. The reason that tower is in ruins is because of him, Eleanor. Lucian was never humbling. He cared only about results." He told the truth.

"Melchior also turned his malaks into wyverns." Velvet added in half-hearted agreement.

Once more, Eleanor's passion for her leaders shattered in an instant. Tia ambled to their side, smirking. "So, the bad boy Lucian is here too. I guess you both are always drawn to war and conflict. Was he surprised?"

"Lucian knew I was alive. He didn't waver in trying to kill me. It seemed he was well-informed about the situation."

"So can we assume all these techniques, all these new artes Melchior and other exorcists are using, are coming from him?" Eizen asked.

Avernus shook his head. "No, he is a simple knight or was.” He clarified. “All of my techniques, rituals and artes are only known to myself. But he is unpredictable and will do anything to get to his goal, whatever it is.”

“How do you know him so well?” Eleanor wondered.

Avernus turned to Eleanor to look at her. “Lucian was my brother in arms and my closest friend.”

Eleanor tensed up and her eyes hazed with shock.

Eizen closed his eyes, deciding to continue this matter back at Van Eltia. "Zaveid, we got one open spot in Van Eltia."

Zaveid looked to his side and gritted his teeth. After a few seconds, he made up his mind, "Fine, but only until your work is done with Siegfried. Then we will part ways."

"Agreed, let's head back to the ship," Eizen ordered.

The group started their trip back to the docks. Avernus’s mind was scrambled with Lucian joining the exorcist. So many questions and so many mysteries stormed the thought process.

Still deep in his thought, he felt Velvet approaching him. He looked and saw those scolding eyes digging deep into his soul.

"This is getting old, Avernus. That was the fifth time you were going to get yourself killed."

"I didn't know you were keeping score. Shame you didn’t get to devour that dragon. They’re probably tasty.” Avernus said.

"I can try eating you instead.” Velvet coldly replied with a frown.

"Huh. Thinking about it, I think you complimented me. I’m delicious after all.”

“Don’t kid yourself,” Velvet said, “Now, tell me everything about Lucian. I need to know who I’m dealing with.”

Avernus tensed up again, flooding with feelings of betrayal and uncertainty. “He’s a pain in the side. That’s all. He’s cunning like a fox and will do anything to finish his mission.”

“Is that all?”

“No. But those are enough for you to know.”

Velvet sensed his distress. After all, Velvet very well knew the feeling of betrayal. Laphicet joined them silently. Velvet nodded favourably at the young malak, remembering his help during their battle. "Laphicet held his own against the wyverns. Thanks to him, we were able to take them down no problem."

"I expected nothing less from him. He's getting stronger day by day, and I’m so proud." Avernus praised him.

Laphicet blushed. "Not as strong as you two. You took down a dragon, and Velvet killed two wyverns."

“I cheated.” Avernus raised Siegfried, showing it to Laphicet. “This weapon made it too easy."

Zaveid slowly moved closer, glaring at his prized possession that he lost with envy. "How did you manage to use it?"

"These weapons belonged to the shepherds of the old. They were hard to function and used as a secondary sidearm to their main weapon. There aren't many left. I learned about it in some old scrolls. Beyond that, I don’t know its other functions."

"What about its "Killing” function?" Zaveid asked, voice roughing up with disgust.

Avernus didn't seem intimidated. "You need special mana bullets. They can either be made using complex artes or, by blood."

"You mean Artorius can use it too?" Rokurou overheard their conversation and joined them.

"I’m not sure. Maybe. The key that I read is that you need to have a strong and special connection with malaks-”

Tia cut him off. “Not just any kind. High resonance doesn’t always put you in that category.”

Magilou stroked her chin."So, how do you do it? Isn't wounding yourself and bleeding messy and painful?"

Avernus let out a prolonged sigh. "No, it's not messy. Any drop of blood will instantly transform into mana when I use it to augment my artes, so there won't be any traces of it on anything.”

Zaveid shook his head in disappointment. "That's some nasty sorcery."

Avernus looked at Laphicet and Eleanor. "Starting from tomorrow, I will begin your training."

"Training?" Eleanor asked.

"Yes. You will need to improve a lot more if you want to survive harder fights. If you fall, Eleanor, Laphicet falls too, and I can’t allow that.”

Velvet raised a brow at his conviction, and her anger was replaced with a slight admiration for Avernus.

As the team was back at the ship, Avernus decided to spend his time in solace. After a quick warm bath, he retreated to his cabin. He settled on the bed in the dark with his mind hazy with questions. His only friend travelled from the far-continent to join Abbey. Something didn’t add up, especially when he tried to kill him. Betrayal and loneliness ate his soul. But he had to make his thoughts straight:

" Laphicet."

That special kid malak. Avernus lived all his life among their race, but he felt a close connection to only a few of them.

Avernus was struck with a strange sense of responsibility again. Maybe he was going over his head. The first one was his adopted sister-malak that he left in the far-continent. Avernus missed her greatly.

Avernus remembered Videl called him Laphicet’s dad, and he sighed, feeling old. He looked at the mirror, searching for signs of ageing. Avernus always took good care of himself. In his thoughts, it must have had something to do with either his hair or his outfit.

" Maybe having a ponytail again is better than having them loosened all over my shoulder ."

Avernus settled for a ponytail. Now his ears and his set of feather earrings were more visible.

BANG!

His cabin door pushed open with extreme force. He quickly turned and saw Velvet carrying a large number of books, rushing uncaringly into his chamber. She dropped the book pile on the bed with a visible annoyance on her face.

Avernus moved a little bit out of the dark part of the room, checked one of the covers, and read its title. "Physically Escalating with Cuties."

Avernus scoffed. "I don't need a book to increase my escalation skills ."

Velvet grunted at his prideful claim, putting her hands on her hips. "These are not for you, dumbass. I wanted to ask you to hide them. I've confiscated these books from Bienfu that he was offering Laphicet. Such an irresponsible and perverted little Normin. I should do something about him."

"Oh? Laphicet doesn't need them while I'm here. I will teach him proper guidance when the time is right."

Velvet sneered, now crossing her arms over her chest. "You’re no good either. I don’t need you to be a bad influence on him since you don’t know how to respect people’s boundaries.”

“And you do?” Avernus scoffed again. “I doubt you can teach him anything that he needs,” Avernus smirked and came out of the dark, moving closer to Velvet and handing her some of the books. “These are fine. You took more books than needed. There is no danger to Laphicet’s innocence.”

As Velvet stepped forward to take the books, her eyes suddenly fixated on Avernus's body. She sensed slight butterflies in her chest and warmth all the way down to her knees as an electric surge came out of nowhere.

He was fully naked, and Velvet found herself unable to look away.

Velvet forcefully snapped her attention away from his body and back into his eyes. "Why haven’t you dressed?!”

"What? Are you not comfortable? You barged into my room without knocking. You should not accuse me if you want to do that.”

“You’re right. That was my mistake.” Velvet acknowledged and retreated to the door as she looked away, trying to hide her blushed face. She took a deep breath. "Get rid of those books. Burn them. I don't care.”

“You can stay a little bit longer, and we can talk. I don’t feel like sleeping.” Avernus genuinely offered, trying to keep himself company, or his thoughts of Lucian would surely bug his mind to no end.

Velvet’s mind, however, took it in the wrong way. She glared at him. “In your dreams.”

Velvet instantly escaped, shutting the door behind her back. Avernus stood there for a second, then shook his head. “Velvet is a diamond in the rough.”

Velvet strode through the halls, trying to bury Avernus’s body images and delete them from her mind. Velvet went to her room. Halfway, she saw Tia talking to Eizen. She paid no attention and entered her cabin. Laphicet was already sleeping on the bed, but Velvet could hear Magilou and Eleanor having late-night gossip. She peeked through the door and saw them both lying on the bed, giggling. They also noticed her, and Magilou waved her over.

"Hey, Velvet! Come in! We were just getting to interesting stuff."

She accepted their invitation and went into the room. Some talking wouldn’t hurt, especially when Niko wasn’t around anymore.

Velvet sat between the beds on the ground. “What were you talking about?”

"Eleanor was asking about the boys, so I was filling her in."

Velvet at Eleanor with an impressed impression. "You mean the inconsiderate, little gang of overgrown brats we're having in our group?"

Eleanor, lying on her stomach, moved closer to the side of the bed, placing her hands under her chin. She giggled silently to herself, looking dreamy and curious. "I want to know about Eizen."

Magilou sneered, glancing sideways at Eleanor. "Oh, that's the kind of guy you're into?"

Eleanor blushed. "No! That's… I mean, I just want to know about Eizen because he's strange for a malak; there's something different about him. The way he picks presents, the objects that catch his eyes."

Magilou let out a heavy sigh and looked disappointingly at the ceiling. "Is that all?! You're boring."

Velvet folded her left leg, resting her arm on her knee. "All men have some kind of particular interest, big or small.” Then her mind raced to someone else. “For instance, Avernus loves to write and draw. I saw some of his sketches in his book. His attention to detail is so-"

Magilou quickly turned her body back to her original position, interrupting her. "Yeah, okay, but we're talking about Eizen, Velvet.” Magilou turned to Eleanor. “Back to our original topic, I think Eizen is also a bit obsessive; he eats curry for dinner, always docking at the third bollard, getting the same outfit every time he goes to a tailor. Pretty autonomous for a malak."

Eleanor nodded. "And he does tend to lecture about various topics. Rokurou isn't like that, though. He just loves to fight, but he also seems to have his boundaries. And every day, he trains a lot."

Magilou sighed. “That’s why he got all those muscles. But that’s all about Rokurou. Fight, fight, and more fighting. Pretty standard for a daemon.”

“What about Avernus?” Eleanor suddenly asked, her eyes gleaming with curiosity. “He is a little bit secretive and strange. The way he dresses, he loves his slim-fit clothes, like one of those fashion boy models.” Her cheek turned pink. “The colognes he uses are so so rich!”

Magilou grinned agreeably. “I like his hair and those feather earrings. When it comes to his body, he is so exhibitionist. He loves to show his tout chest. At least, he knows what to wear.”

Eleanor seemed fired up and excited. “The way he is, he doesn’t care about what others think of him. Although he cares about us, he is merciless when it comes to who threatens us.”

Magilou giggled, remembering Avernus and Zaveid confrontation and smiled in satisfaction. “Avernus punched Zaveid like he was nothing. That guy isn’t not going to let anyone push him around. I expected Eizen to hit that blabbermouth malak, but Avernus seemed to be more assertive than Eizen.” Magilou cupped her hands over her cheeks, eyes staring with a dreamy glint. “His energy makes people interested in him, even those who are like an ice mountain...” Magilou turned to Velvet and smirked intently, crawling toward her with a smug face. “Am I right, Velvet?”

Velvet was caught off guard as she recoiled and blushed a little, going on the defensive with a scowl. “W-What are you talking about?”

“You don’t need to act like that, Boss lady,” Magilou said with the intent to uncover Velvet’s feelings. “Every day, you shut down our good mood and shrug off everything we say except when it comes to Avernus.”

Velvet gasped silently and pressed her lips.

Magilou moved even closer. “Your voice pitches higher when you talk with him. You even try to stalk the guy and just be near him, and you think we don’t know.”

Eleanor nodded as Velvet glared at Magilou. “I think Magilou is right. I sense that too-”

“You’re both ridiculous,” Velvet interrupted them, raising and hardening her voice.” I’m not attracted to him. He is...selfish, unapologetically shameless, and always throwing himself into danger without thinking.” Velvet whipped her head away, losing in her confused thoughts. “Like an entitled brat. Who could even like him?”

“Basically, a lot of women.” Magilou bluntly answered. Velvet remained silent and lowered her head, hiding her eyes beneath her hair. Magilou laid on her back, locking her hands behind her head as she stared into the ceiling. “I wonder what his goal is. But his malak. Tia is the real deal.” Magilou mumbled but enough for other girls to hear her. “Secretive as he is, I think there is more to this guy.”

Laphicet was covering his head with the pillow. He couldn’t sleep with all that talking and decided to leave his cabin alongside Bienfu.

Knock, Knock

Avernus was still awake, reading his journal.

"Who is it?"

"It's us, Laphicet and Bienfu."

Avernus strolled to the door and opened it. He saw Laphicet and Bienfu looking apologetically with their heads down.

"They're talking all night. We can't sleep."

Avernus shook his head and invited them inside.

"Bieeeen, they're crazy!" Bienfu flew to the drawing table and crashed on it, snoring as soon as his face hit the wooden surface.

Laphicet laid down, but the bed hadn't enough room. Avernus pulled the bedsheet on him. "Relax, I'll sit beside the bed."

"They’re talking about everyone. Eizen, Rokurou, and you.”

Avernus chuckled, resting beside the bed on the wooden floor. "I know. It's called 'gossiping.’ Don't worry about it, girls do it all the time. It's one of their hobbies."

"Avernus, can I ask you something?"

"Of course.”

"We're the bad guys, aren't we?"

Avernus paused, sighing. "It is more complex than that. The concept of good and bad is a deep one. We each walk our own path, finding our way. Every step forward is unique to the lives we've led and the choices we've made.” Avernus leaned on the wall behind him. “My advice? Don’t care about what people think, but always try to take responsibility for your actions.”

Laphicet dragged himself closer to the edge of the bed. "But we're hurting people, and Velvet has so much hate and despair."

"I know. Velvet’s life has been rough. She didn’t deserve it, and she is going down a dark path. It will not end well for her.”

"What about you? Aren't you a Shepherd too? Like Artorius?"

Avernus quietly chuckled, "I'm a bad example of a Shepherd, Laphicet. I killed a lot of people and made the lives of others a lot worse. But I guess Artorius and I share that part of making people sad and miserable.”

“What did you do? Weren’t you a hero to the people?”

“I... “ Avernus controlled his voice. “No. I wasn’t a hero. I did monstrous things to fight monsters.”He confessed. Laphicet sensed his great distress looming behind his stoic face.

"But Artorius is a hero to the people."

“I guess he is, but we are going to put him down.” Avernus looked up to the ceiling, saying confidently. “I have to make it right.”

Laphicet rolled to his back and stared at the ceiling too, "But what hope do we have? He has a large army and a powerful Empyrean on his side."

Avernus turned to him once more, putting his elbow on the bed, "We have you, Laphicet.”

Laphicet blushed and turned to him, meeting his favourable and powerful gaze.

"Listen, when you are at your lowest. When hope has faded, and you're all alone in the world, inside your head. When the odds are stacked, and despair has taken hold.” Avernus pointed to his chest. “Remember your fire. It's always there. Once sparked, once the anger, once fear, has lit the fuse, the flame will remain. Always a beacon, signalling to eternity that you're here and you will stand no matter the obstacle."

"My flame," Laphcet repeated, placing a hand over his chest. "Would you read me a story? I-I can't sleep anymore."

Avernus' eyes widened, but he winked and extended his hand to snatch a book from the nearby table. "Okay, this is a special one."

Laphicet turned to the side. "Why?"

Avernus smirked, "You'll see. The name of the story is 'The Malak and the Tangled Destiny.’ It's about a very young malak, small but elegant and vigorous. She wants answers to help the malakhim kind."

"What kind of answers?"

Avernus straightened his neck and voice. “Well, my young man. We're just getting started."

As he started the beginning, Laphicet instantly fell asleep. He slowly and gently caressed his hair.

Suddenly, he remembered the lullaby that Rosa sang to him.

" One day, young dragon, thou shalt fly beneath the silvered moon."

The morning came. However, The loud sound of an explosion woke the girls up.

Velvet snapped out of her sleep, jumping up. "Are we under attack?!”

As Magilou and Eleanor were struggling to open their eyes, Velvet ran towards the deck. To her surprise, the situation was normal as everyone was doing their daily tasks of taking care of the ship. Velvet saw Avernus and Laphicet looking over the railings. A sphere of light began to shine in one of Laphicet's hands, and in the other, a globe of darkness appeared.

"Spirits, release! The light of virtue and dark of vice! Join in chaos! Chaos Bloom!"

He merged both spheres and crushed them together. A shock wave yawned in the middle of the sea, bursting into a white explosion. Velvet raised her arm as a large amount of fish rained down on the deck.

Benwick was excited. "Oh, boy! We didn't know that we could've used artes for fishing!"

Avernus and Laphicet noticed her and waved their hands, calling her to their side. "Velvet! Come over here!"

As she turned to them once more, she saw something else entirely. Maybe morning was getting to her, or it was the sea breeze. She couldn't tell.

Velvet felt she was back in the village with her brother Laphi smiling at her from afar.

A stolen life flashed in front of her eyes.

Then, Magilou and Eleanor passed her side, and she was pulled out of her illusion.

Magilou joined them and leaned over Laphicet. "Wow! You’ve learned some new tricks, little guy!"

Avernus confirmed. "Yeah, he learned it all by himself. He didn't need me that much."

Eleanor came to Laphicet’s side, having her train of thoughts going. "I have a question. The girl with the umbrella from Lord Melchior's illusion. What is her connection to Eizen?"

Avernus chose to remain silent on the matter. Edna wasn’t a part of his life. If the girl’s image was fabricated, it had a connection to Eizen. Suddenly, Avernus remembered what Edna told him three years ago.

“ Stop acting like my brother !”

Avernus gazed over Eizen. Surprisingly, Edna and Eizen kind of resembled each other. But no malakhims were related. Whatever that was, he decided not to bring it up until they meet Grimoirh. Avernus turned his mind back to the conversation, hearing Laphicet explaining.

"I don't know. I was wondering about her, as well.” Laphicet beamed. “She was pretty, wasn't she?"

A malicious grin curved on Magilou's face, "Oh? So you like a cute girl, but with a bit of style."

Rokurou sneaked in behind them. "Really? I thought his type was more like Vel-"

Laphicet quickly dashed in front of Rokouro and pleaded with him to be quiet. Avernus raised a brow and smirked. "Really? Do you like Velvet's style, Laphicet?

Discovered, Laphicet dropped his head in shame. Rokurou confirmed. "Yeah, he told me before that he likes her long hair, and she's attractive, for a daemon."

"Well, he's not wrong on that part," Avernus said, prompting Laphicet to look up at him. “I agree that Velvet’s beautiful.”

“Who’s beautiful?” Velvet came to their side.

Magilou moved closer to Velvet, seeing the opportunity for another tease. "We were discussing a delicate topic. Laphicet's first crush, if you must know."

Avernus raised a brow, knowing the game Magilou wanted to play and decided to go straight to the point. “We were talking about that umbrella girl from Eizen's illusion."

"The umbrella girl,” Velvet remembered. “That illusion that made Eizen hesitate… She must be essential to him."

Magilou decided to make it complicated."A deep knotty relationship, I say!"

Avernus and Rokurou rolled their eyes in frustration. "Here we go again."

Eleanor also joined their conversation. "Like… A wife he wants to leave, but he can never let go? Or a lover from whom he can't move on?"

"What? Are you listening to yourself, Eleanor? She's too young for that. Maybe she is another malak, and even they don’t get married to one another-”

They ignored him, and Magilou continued. "Or a daughter from a woman who only knows him by a fake name! Perhaps one whom he cast aside or one who cast him aside!"

"Oh, for love of… malaks can’t reproduce. They’re spirits-" Avernus put his hand on his forehead, sensing the futility of the conversation.

Velvet joined the dream train. "And maybe she was somebody he couldn't marry for some reason, but when she died, he raised her daughter for her."

Magilou raised her arm and extended it to the sky. "He had been friends with her since they were children, but they only realized their true feelings after they had been married to someone else!"

Rokurou turned to Avernus. "Is this their idea of romance?"

“Something dramatic and with a bittersweet ending? Yes, that’s girls for you.” Avernus said and patted Laphicet’s shoulder. “Don’t listen to them. Not all girls are thinking like that-”

Laphicet suddenly looked up at Avernus. “What kind of girl do you like? What’s your type?”

Avernus was ambushed by Laphicet. “The girl that I like is probably hard to find-”

“Maybe his type is like Tia?” Magilou interrupted, “Busty bosom and a sophisticated older woman?”

Everyone turned to Avernus, waiting to hear his taste. Avernus groaned under their glares. “No, I’m not into older women.” He decided to keep his tastes secret like many other of his preferences. He grinned with an aura of mystery and gleaming confident gaze. “You will understand when I chose her .”

Everyone recoiled in his adamant response, with Velvet gasping unpleasantly at his prideful energy. “Such an ego!”

Tia walked into the deck, exiting the crew quarter and came to Avernus’s side. "I've managed to extract the formulas from Siegfried."

"Formulas? Are there even more to this weapon?" Avernus wondered.

“Yes. It worked on a complex mechanism of fusing mana and the will of the user.” Tia explained. “And there is more but…” She gazed over the rest. “I need to talk to you in private.”

Avernus nodded and turned to Velvet. “Catch you later?”

Velvet agreed and with others, spread farther over the deck.

From the other side, Velvet glanced over Avernus and Laphicet. A passing feeling of joy and satisfaction waved and smoothed her soul before a deep dark gloom shadowed it. She felt a pang of guilt for involving Laphicet and Avernus. Despite everything, her core trusted those two, and only those two. But then she fought against her feelings. Velvet’s dark side pushed her to look at both of them as a means to an end. Her heart fell silent again.

Eizen, Rokurou, Zaveid, and Laphicet gathered over the bow.

"It's too bad that wasn't the real Aifread. But I'm glad everyone is feeling better." Laphicet expressed.

Eizen nodded in satisfaction. "That’s right. Although it sounds like they never want to touch that Sale'tomah stuff ever again."

Zaveid looked favourably at Laphicet with a smile. "You're an interesting one, little guy. I heard from your friends that you're doing a good job keeping up with them."

Laphicet beamed. "I'm trying my best. However, everyone's looking out for me. We're a good team."

Zaveid was bothered by the thought of Laphicet’s purity being misused. "If it were me, I would rather not get you involved. Killing is wrong, kiddo. Your "team" is using your powers for their own ends."

Velvet joined them and was irritated at his meddling. "It's none of your business what Laphicet does here. It's all Avernus's fault for getting you on this ship. That dumbass."

Zaveid glanced at Velvet before turning to Eizen. "The ladies on your ship are quite cold and heartless, despite them being pretty."

"Like you have a chance." Velvet groaned and left the deck.

Back on the bow of the ship, Eleanor was looking at the horizon with her confused thoughts. Thinking about their journey, Velvet, Avernus, and Laphicet. How they've been told as bloodthirsty monsters, and yet they acted like ordinary people.

Eleanor remembered how Avernus, who was said to be another Shepherd by Artorius, was helping a band of misfits. Avernus had the confidence, charisma, power, and conviction to back it up.

She remembered how Melchior and Astor turned their malaks into Wyvern and dragons and unleashed them without a single care. She recalled how valiantly Avernus endangered his life to protect them.

Eleanor compared Avernus’s lively expression even in their worst and Artorius’s cold stares.

Eleanor looked up at the sky. " The Abbey is supposed to exist to bring peace and order to the world. Everything the Abbey does, everything Lord Melchior, Lord Astor, and Shepherd Artorius do, ought to be rooted in that mission and yet something just doesn't feel right here."

Their long journey to Southgand was over by the next day. Van Eltia docked at one of the piers of Yseult, the jewel of the southern seas.

The girls along Laphicet disembarked first, eager to get off the ship. Avernus, Eizen, Rokurou, and Zaveid followed after them.

Now it was time to look for Grimorih.

“Magilou, What's this friend of yours like?" Eizen asked.

Magilou shrugged. "Hmm… Well, how do I put it?" she let out three long sighs back to back.

"Like that. Grim's got a sort of listless aristocratic air about her. A noblewoman in her twilight, you could say."

Laphicet wondered, trying to figure Grimoirh out. "Huh… So you mean, like, a woman, but different from Velvet and Eleanor?"

Rokurou burst into laughter. "You're not wrong there! Tell you what, just keep an eye out for a grown woman."

Magilou pointed to Tia, standing her elegantly. “Like her but not like her, to be precise.”

Tia placed a finger on her chin and tilted her to the side. “Oh, you’re sweet. But I’m not that old.”

"Well, since we got her name, we could start by asking around," Eizen suggested.

“Correct,” Avernus said, "Let's split up. We’ll find her faster."

They all agreed and divided into different groups. As Tia joined Avernus, he nodded at her. " Go with Eleanor and Laphicet. I need some time to be alone. "

Tia paused, giving a skeptical look before agreeing.

Day turned to night. The search wasn’t successful. Velvet decided to separate from the rest and took a walk on the beach and watched the famous coming of age celebration that the town held for their young adults.

As Velvet entered the beach and walked on its sands, her nose picked up a familiar scent. An expensive cologne. Her eyes spotted Avernus, sitting a few feet afar, sitting beneath a palm tree.

Of course, Avernus saw her too. He acknowledged her with a slight nod but turned to the celebration. Even though she didn’t receive an invitation, she decided to join him.

As Velvet sat beside him, she noticed Avernus watched a group of young adults throwing some kind of large fruit at each other. She thought those would hurt, but as they hit, the fruits burst into splashes of water like water balloons. Laughs and chuckles echoed throughout the beach.

"What are they doing?" Velvet asked, breaking the silence between them.

"In the festival, young adults are forced to throw coconuts at each other. Those who are “less-wounded” would be called “official adults” by the elderly people.”

"But those aren't coconuts." Velvet observed.

Avernus grinned in satisfaction, and she noticed his hand was slightly gleaming with magic. "That’s right. I substituted the coconuts with water balloons stored in a nearby warehouse. Now they're enjoying the party rather than getting severely hurt. Stupid elders."

Velvet felt a sudden sense of admiration that came out of nowhere. Behind that bad boy, persona seemed to reside a heart of gold. She felt a sense of calm being near him. As Magilou put it, his energy made her relax more.

“You are a softie.”

Avernus chuckled. “If people would hear what you said now, they would sue you for defamation of character.”

Velvet gazed into his expression. She could relate as his stoic face was a wall, hiding a secret past.

“Why?” Velvet asked, surrendering to her curiosity.

“Because I killed and I killed a lot,” Avernus confessed bluntly. “Back then, it looked so simple. I did not think of daemons and humans when I fought.”

Velvet saw his face cast shades of remorse.

“To be seen as a terror and a destroyer was not the outcome I looked forward to.” Avernus stared blankly into the dark sea. “I could purify fathers, mothers, sons, and daughters, but I decided not to. No daemon seemed to be worthy of a second chance. All of them had to die.”

Avernus gripped his fist. “To know children tremble in fear at my name and mourn what I took from them.” Avernus slowly shook his head. “I can never forgive what those daemons took from me, but others were not like them. They were dead. What did I get from more death?” Avernus picked up a single rock. “I’m nothing but just another killer.”

“That’s probably right.” Velvet brusquely said. “But you took your sin and carried it with you. You look unapologetic and still looking after the others. I can respect that.”

Avernus smiled to himself. “You are a very strange girl, Velvet. Sometimes you are hot, and most of the time you are cold.”

Velvet frowned and recoiled a bit. “What?”

Avernus shifted into his arrogant persona. “You push people aside, acting scary, then yet, you compliment someone like me and even-” His eyes glimmered, but Velvet cut him short, blushing. “That was a mistake, and you caught me in a moment of weakness. Besides, that was an interesting diversion.”

Avernus grinned bitterly, looking disappointed. "So that’s all I’m to you; an interesting diversion.”

A shade of fear surged through Velvet’s body. The impossible weight of someone caring for her was beyond her threshold. “You and I are very different. Bringing feelings into this is wrong.”

“You’re a bad liar, Velvet,” Avernus said, “Affection can be very persistent.”

"I don't care. It can go and pester someone else." Velvet said, her voice hardening.

Avernus glanced at Velvet, watching her blushing and trying beside her to control the situation. “That’s cute.”

“What?!”

“You look cute, Velvet when you are worked up.”

Velvet breathed heavily and leaned back on her arms. “You’re enjoying this. I swear you do things on purpose.”

“Maybe-” Avernus suddenly yawned.

Velvet turned to him, watching his sleepy face. “Why are you tired? Haven’t you rested last night?”

“I did.”

Velvet moved closer, glaring scoldingly. “For how long?”

“Fifteen minutes.”

Velvet frowned. “You are so irresponsible. You need at least six hours of sleep!”

“I don’t need sleep,” Avernus declared, straightening his chest. “I can stay awake and fight for a week.”

Velvet groaned in displeasure. “Looks like I have to take matters into my own hands. Come on, let's get back-”

Velvet’s eyes widened. Avernus’s eyes were shut, and he let out soft snoring.

“Dumbass.” She placed her hand on his shoulder, but he was in a deep sleep. Velvet gave him a nudge, but he didn’t flinch. Then, to her surprise, his body collapsed sideways, and his head rested on her lap. Velvet gasped for a moment, wanting to run away, but her body resisted the urge to escape.

Velvet looked all around her. They were hidden in the dark, and there were no signs of anyone she knew. Velvet brushed a hand over his golden hair. It strangely looked messy and very well-coiffed at the same time.

Maybe Velvet could offer her lap a bit more for her tired partner.

The Empyrean Throne

In the middle of the vast central hall of the Empyrean Throne, Artorius raised his sword, calling upon four new greater malakhim. The sigil of Innominat burned bright yellow, and four new warriors were ascended. Lucian stepped forward and closed his eyes, throwing his chain of servitude on them.

"It seems Avernus is too much to take down. Both for Shigure and you."

Lucian scoffed at the notion, having his back on Artorius. “Avernus will not go down easily. He fought daemons you haven’t heard of.”

Artorius turned his attention to the sigil of Innominat. “Melchior has given you enough resources to make sure that he stays dead. I hope you don't disappoint."

Lucian raised his hand and coiled his fingers, absorbing the essences of malakhim into himself and bound them to his soul. "Avernus has a pathetic self-loathing and self-destructive personality of how he has failed his true purpose as a Shepherd. But those made him even more determined to see this through. We’re not fighting another human or another Shepherd. We’re fighting a monster.”

Lucian stepped toward the door and stopped, looking over his shoulder at Artorius. “Tell me, would your master, Claudin, approve of your decision?”

Artorius closed his eyes, “No. But this is another sin that I will have to bear. For a better world.”

The side of Lucian’s mouth curved into a grin, showing teeth. “Then consider him already dead.”

“For a better world.”