Ling Yue POV

“What do you think of humans.” (Ling Yue)

“Hey don’t change the subject.” (Hitomi)

“Humans are a fickle creature, they fight their other races and their own kind. We aren’t that much different from them since we too have emotions. Yet they treat us other races as if we’re monsters. I wonder which of us is the true monster here, those who discriminate their own kind due to religion, belief or benefits. Well ours is ok with the latter but we’re also ok with the first two. I mean others mind kind (demons and half demons) don’t care what religion or who you worship.”

Maybe my old age is catching me now, since I’m been in lecture mode once in a while. Hm feels like I’m forgetting someone important, oh right Maki whom I threw into the hell circles to change her personality for the better. I mean her younger sister who’s responsible, gentle and kind was put in this situation because she’s always out to play outside of the house while her younger sister waits for her.

“I know what your trying to say even humans don’t treat their own kind fairly.” (Hitomi)

I gave her a wry smile instead of saying anything to her. Actually this still feels new to me having emotions without a backlash. It also reminds me why my faith is also sealed like many of my generation before me who ruled the land of the dead after our ancestor Hades. We don’t gather faith for such a simple and plain reason. We live longer if we don’t have any followers. Just imagine if you have 1 million followers, sure your powerful from all of them empowering you but what if they vanished in 1 night you’d end up dead. That’s why we the later generations are forbidden but some idiots don’t listen and want to have that feeling of being powerful. Best example it’s as if your giving them a drug of some sort. But why does this girl give me the feel of a small animal needing to be protected from others.

At least I’m not swearing on the river of lost souls. It’s called the river of Tepes. But if you break a oath made on the river your soul is shredded into tiny pieces. It’s the worst thing that can happen to a ghost who’s made from scattered soul fragments due to lingering attachment. Actually she left after treating my wound but I stared at the stars in wonder when I saw more stars fall. That’s a ill omen for me I just hope it’s no one I know. But then again the good news is I have zero angel under me.

I limped to the sliding door instead of staying in one place. Reminds me that this storage room of theirs has some dangerous relics and items. Well not the best course of action considering my regeneration isn’t working. Well it’s to be expected I got stabbed by my ex-coworker who was using a god slaying weapon. So me being a half demon was a good thing for once. I didn’t exactly die from the wound yet. But losing blood at fast rate. I somehow managed to get the sliding door open, well not bad considering I’m injured. But I was surprised to see this person by the door.

"Lan, the thunder princess what a pleasant surprise to see you." (Sarcasm)

"Stop with your stupid act what is it that you want from Hitomi."

"I maybe from the netherworld but even I'm not stupid enough to try to kill my benefactor if that's what your asking." (Ling Yue)

"You dare touch her and then I'll show you hell in the living world." (Lan)

"Who the heck wants you to talk about this. She's only helping me because I'm injured."

"I'm watching you so don't try anything funny."

Ugh the most annoying of them all walked off. Right her title is thunder princess due to her killing her enemies with thunder only magic in the last war. Skills or not she is abnormal in a battle. If there's a choice I'd rather not piss her off. Though their sister Kana seems to be very off. I was viewing that battle from faraway but it was insane seeing her laugh as she slaughtered through the angels, demons and humans alike. It was like she didn't even differentiate friend or foe. Those of this current generation call it the 1st angel and demon war. But I can't help and scoff at them, because the real one involved those three sisters.

I'm too old to be thinking about this complex political stuff. It must because seeing her reminded me again. Seriously reminds me of my idiot friend's mom who had a complex family. Short version her mother ended a curse her father put on their family due to him loving his sister and sister in law (her friend's grandmother) too much. Disgusted by her siblings being affected she ended the whole king and queen rule and established the elder council rule along with the empress or emperor rule. Well those two combined but the elders have more say. Then she turned weird as if her personality shifted and ended up how it was today. Forgetful unless it's life threatening then she gets serious. But seriously being injured and idling about has me reminiscing of the past.

I leaned on the wall in the hallway sighing. Things were so complicated when your involved in it. Geez, the so called child friend of mine that declared herself as my best friend is 100 years younger than me. I know her mother well enough that it's a bit of problem. It's almost as if someone switched her mother's personality along the line after she fixed their family problems. Well I can’t exactly admit it to Clover either. But it sickens me about how the curse makes their fated soul mates as the victims for the current generation. It’s also what annoyed Arisa so much that she broke the curse. The side effects for her race is that their fated ones can be an ally, lover, a friend or a enemy. Meaning it can come in many forms. I just hope I don’t have to get involved personally due to her mistake of charging in without my help to get rid of the curse.

"I should really not mention any of her mother's glory in the past." (Ling Yue)

"So what are you doing in the hallway." (Hitomi)

Right I could smell her not so far away too. Along with the stench of dust and books. I'm guessing I know where she's been their library.

"You're injured so you shouldn't be moving around so much."

"I saw your older red head sister Lan."

Seeing her freeze made me realize she had no idea her sister was home. Yes I don't wonder about it at all. After all I'm just a wolf demon how would I know what a pure angel thinks. Lan is not my problem to deal with. She's the damn thunder princess whom controls lightning and thunder in battle. I for one don't want her getting on my case. Her crazy as speed is what scares me the most. I’d rather not have someone faster than Hermès descendants chasing me down. Personally seeing her in that war scares the heck out of me even now. I mean sure a lot of dragons have intelligence and a demihuman as well as human form but it scares me how savage she was towards the enemy. I mean she literally ripped him apart from the half angel riding him. The thing was that dragon was one of those without being able to turn human or demihuman. Yet she out ran him flying. She tore him up barehanded with his guts spraying all over the battlefield as he tried to flee.

That war was so one sided when the angels called upon the exiled princess Ayame and her family. They one sidedly crushed the demons and the half angels who were the real instigator of the war. Yes the half angels stole from the humans first and pit the blame on the demons who blamed the angels then all out war broke loose. This caused a disaster in sorts when all things broke there. When reminds me the scariest person was Luna who even now we don’t know her level. Yet she almost participated in that war. If she did just a wave of her hand would’ve destroyed the army along with the three armies involved.

Why the heck am I even thinking about this now that I’m in their house. Their not a walking eccentric time bomb the size of a nuclear war head with a level of energy as big as the worlds itself. (Luna is the example she’s using) But I was left stunned on the spot when I felt a buzzing noise in my bag behind my back. That’s where I keep my magic scroll. Magic scrolls are special way to communicate for us with our thoughts are written onto the letter. The name magically appears of whom is sending to you. Also this item can never be lost like the human’s so called phone in the modern world. It always returns if lost so it’s a given that it’s a long distance way to communicate even if the said person is in another world.

I slip my hand into my bag and bring it out ignoring Hitomi’s wondering eyes though she was frowning earlier when I mentioned Lan was still home. Not that I will bother the young angel girl in front of me. Instead once I opened the scroll I couldn’t help but frown at the grave news. Arisa is missing so Clover messaged me herself how her mother isn’t at her father’s house at this time. Which in itself is odd for that forgetful persona of hers. This is one thing that she retains from her former self before she undid the curse, it’s she always returns on time to their house. Seeing this I couldn’t help but frown when I know that gut feeling you get when something is wrong.

If anything I know the old Arisa better than anything, this isn’t something she would do. The rebound of forcefully breaking the curse without my help rebounded on her making her current state of self forgetful.

“*Sigh* I really have to go back home first to get someone first.”

“Wait what’s wrong, your still injured.”

I gave her a wry smile instead as I walked to the sliding door but instead it showed a pathway to the palace. The renovated palace made in reminder of Yama’s daughter who had the same heart condition as me. Hades’ Son, one of my ancestor was very pure and romantic so you can guess how he recreated a similar place to remind her of home. Not that I will go into details but I quickly stepped through the pathway I made using the sliding doors and quickly closed it. It’s foolish to leave the land of the dead for others to come in.

An incident like that almost got my mother on edge due to a accident with a necromancer coming in uninvited. So we never leave a pathway open. But my other bloodline is much harder to do that with the door to the netherworld. Though upon my return I was left stunned at seeing the 15 year old blond boy standing before me. If anyone guessed right this is King Arthur who died at age 12 years old for challenging Luna’s reign. Yet the myths exaggerate his tales, the young king died young without any direct descendants. His elegant suit made me wince at him. You know what humans wear for former work clothes. At least this idiot knows better than to reincarnate or else those curses would kick right in.

“You just made an unpleasant expression again I hope your not thinking something stupid.”

“At least Leane is in charge instead of you.” (Ling Yue)

I mentioned before but she’s the former fairy queen. She’s been with me since mother’s death. Leane has been like a older sister for me who helped me through the process. Dying hasn’t gotten to her as much as the others. She’s more helpful than Arthur is, though he’s now complaining about all the paper work to me.

I came for Olivia who follows Arisa around daily back then. She’s my pet dragon who also achieved human form but she’s mostly in dragon form though. She does stalk Arisa a bit too much but she knows more about Arisa than me. But I did grow up with Olivia, she’s a friend more than a pet. Mother brought her to me when I was 7 years old. We’re the same age and grew up together. My mom joked about the pet part. Did I mention most dragons are short tempered and easily angered. The rest are eccentric which Olivia falls into that category. Why you ask she’s Arisa’s stalker and can instantly tell where Arisa is. So why am I getting her, anyone can guess now. Yep we’re using a stalker dragon to track down a Phoenix in the floating Phoenix island.

Bad news is that the Phoenixes and dragons have been at war with each other since forever. For which I don’t know the reason, but when I ask Luna she burst into a laughing fit. So if we get too close in Olivia’s dragon form we’d get shot down. Not that I’m stupid enough to get us into point blank range for target practice.

“Olivia, Arisa is missing.”

“Fine I’ll take you there. On my back now.”

Seems she’s annoyed since I mentioned her best friend whom became forgetful due to a curse rebound. She’s probably pissed off that Arisa forgot even her. Unless life threatening the Phoenix queen wont remember much, she’s now very forgetful. Not at all like her former self, cold, serious, gentle (only towards Olivia), honorable, and powerful. So much so that whoever would fear her. The current era we live in is called Arisa’s reign. Which is how we in this world and many worlds connected go by. Yes whichever person who’s powerful enough is called after and used for the years of calendars here. A.E. stands for Arisa’s empire, short but simple it was named after former her. Whom made it so by unifying this world and many others. But what annoys me is her current persona of a forgetful ruler whom doesn’t even remember this fact.

Lots of people have tried to challenge her but I’d have to send Olivia secretly to get rid of them. She’s not in her right state of mind to handle them. The current her is playful and forgetful. Which doesn’t match her current age. I slowly climbed onto Olivia’s back. Note to self never ask a Phoenix if you can ride their back. It’s proposing to them by asking if you can ride on them in their bird form. If you ask them that stupidly in can also anger them.

“Why are you so distracted.”

“Nothing just make sure that you don’t get attacked and change to your human form before we get close to that range.”

She came out into the sky so fast but it’d take us half a day at least to get to the floating city. The houses there are similar to the one at Hitomi’s place. But with leaves and moss growing from the outside the inside is perfectly fine. Which I never understood for this long life race of theirs. Why the miss and leaves growing from the side of their homes. Yet why do they coexist with some sort of ancient ruin of some kind in their floating island. I mean I could try my ability again and look but the annoying thing is I have a estimated guess of whom might’ve taken the unstable Arisa.

“Yineve.” (Ling Yue)

“You mean her younger sister, that’s impossible she disappeared after the curse broke. I saw it myself she vanished.” (Olivia)

I frowned when I remembered Arisa’s current state is the worst. Like I mean they the Phoenix uses Phoenix flames which is the queen of all flames. But those have long forgotten the only one that used it in current time was mostly former Arisa. That’s how she became over powered in the first place.

“Which reminds me Skyla said visit her.”

You made me choke back my words then and there. Right Skyla is the current immortal ice queen’s sister. Their twins, but their race was descendants of humans. Whom found the fountain of youth created by natural born immortal. Their ancestor was a normal village priestess until she stumbled on the fountain. Now their descendants have the ability to recreate the fountain water and that’s why their royals because they can turn humans into one. Skyla has a crush on me so she tends to go overboard. Yet she things I don’t know that she’s not her sister. Yes she pretends to be her sister but her acting sucks. How can a cheerful, energetic and playful girl try to be like her sister. Cool, gentle, serious and very cold to everyone. That’s how her sister’s personality is from knowing her since my assassin days stuck in those death match.

When asked Isana answered she wanted to know which fool was brave enough to kidnap her citizens. Let’s just say the scary girl rescued many of her people and many other races. She literally swallowed them with her space attribute and sent them to her palace back then. Without father knowing too, he thought it was a devouring ability. The two people I know best Arisa and Isana. Hitomi’s sister Kana has another name. Which we use Yuna it means murder in many languages. The Y is actually silent and it’s pronounced Ona. Yes that’s not even the scary part about that psycho sister of Hitomi’s. It made me shiver if she was the one that found me instead of Lan. Heck I’d be either skinned for real or worst.

“Missy why are you shivering on my back.” (Olivia) (she’s using missy as a joke)

“No I just remembered how scary Yuna Ulsra is. By the way I accidentally fell into their home. Good news was I didn’t meet her though I’m injured.”

We both became silent since we both know how things go when found by her. She’s a sadist to the extreme and a psycho when it comes to that. There’s many rumors and examples from the communities all around about her. She doesn’t mind kidnapping others to entertain herself either. I shivered, how did my thoughts go from two people I knew so well to a scary figure that even mothers of different races now use as a scare story for children to behave. Oh and Olivia counts as eccentric from her race category since she’s an innate stalker. But not that I mind she makes a great spy on empires if needed to ask. Just never asked her to try within a god’s domain before. That’d be like suicide for her since she’s a dragon. Why’d you even ask her to infiltrate into a place full of angels. Even a spell for disguising is useless there plus I don’t want my best friend dead for stupid reasons.

Actually I have so many problems cropping up it’s problematic. One I know for sure Liliana is probably a guest somewhere in my home now. She’s the girl that Artemis said I was supposed to met. I’m not stupid to not even notice her soul though I just stepped into the land of souls. (I will use land of souls to refer to land of the dead since it’s where dead souls end up to be judge) Why didn’t I use my ability to find Arisa, it’s because her sisters. Yes they are more influenced by the curse than Arisa back then. Example is her two older sisters are together and her younger sister likes her. It’s also what annoyed her and made her break the curse. So now her two older sisters are fine and no longer together but their emotions towards hers is stronger than anything else. It’s on the level I’m scared for her since it’s incest.

“Um..... Ling Yue what are you glaring at me for.”

“Have you still not chosen your gender. Your race chooses it at 16 years old. Why are you lagging behind for 1000 or more years of choosing if your a guy or girl. Your race is dominated by females though they have a king. He’s pretty much neutralize if the majority of the women in his kingdom is against his decision.”

“Wait how is me flying you to locate Arisa have to do with me choosing my gender.” (Olivia)

“Can’t you like confess if your a boy a lot easier.”

“Love comes in many forms. It doesn’t matter if your gender is a girl or not.”

“You’re born a girl yet your race has to choose their permanent gender at the age of 16. If you ask me aren’t you a late bloomer.”