(3rd Person POV)
The long-awaited film Titanic was on the horizon. Trailers began airing on TV screens across the Horn Kingdom and Morningstar Kingdom—two regions where the movie was set to premiere ahead of the rest of the world.
Newspapers and magazines were quick to pick up the story, splashing headlines like:
"A New Awaited Masterpiece — Titanic to Premiere in Only Two Kingdoms. Is the Early Release Tied to Hellfire Bank's Presence?"
Though speculative, the theory wasn't far off. In truth, the early screenings were a direct result of Hellfire Bank's strong roots in those two nations.
For the first two days, Titanic would only screen in the Horn and Morningstar Kingdoms—before being released globally. And already, anticipation was building.
The trailer didn't show much. A few sweeping shots of the grand ship. A quiet piano score. A voiceover that hinted at love and tragedy. But one thing stood out immediately: the film was inspired by the infamous Titan Ship, which had sunk 90 years ago.
That alone piqued curiosity.
But what really sent excitement into overdrive was the cast: Arthur himself, alongside Firfel, starring as the film's romantic leads.
Arthur, already well-known as the visionary behind Demonfather, had also earned praise for his performance as Michael in that same film. Now, audiences were eager to see him in a romance.
Unlike the flashy, genre-bending spectacles of most Hellfire films, Titanic gave off a different vibe—quiet, grounded, emotional. It felt more like Demonfather or The Good, The Bad and the Ugly—films that were simple on the surface but layered with weight and meaning.
Conversations buzzed everywhere—from cafés to hotel lobbies:
"A romance on a ship from 90 years ago? Doesn't sound exciting at all."
"Yeah… I mean, what's so entertaining about a sinking boat?"
"Don't forget, this is Hellfire Studios. They always pull something unexpected."
"True. Demonfather and The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly didn't sound exciting either at first, but look how they turned out."
"Hmm… Fair point. I'll give it a shot."
Whether skeptics or die-hard fans, one thing was certain—
Everyone was talking about Titanic.
---
Meanwhile, up on Victory Peak—in Firfel's cozy mansion built from rare elven wood, strong and attuned to magic—two sisters were slowly learning how to live together again.
It had been a little over a week since Sylwen moved in. In that short time, they'd already fallen into a rhythm: cooking meals together, sharing stories, laughing late into the night, and watching movies curled up on the couch like they used to as kids.
And now… they were about to watch something a little more special.
Afternoon light spilled into the living room through the large enchanted windows as Firfel waved a movie poster in front of her sister.
"Trust me, Syl. Our film's not gonna disappoint," she said proudly. "The premiere's only a few days away. You're coming, right?"
Sylwen gave her a smile, soft and knowing.
She'd already seen bits of the movie in secret—hidden in the shadows during production aboard the Grand Whale. She knew full well how spectacular it was going to be. But Firfel didn't know that.
So she played along, pretending to be skeptical.
"I don't know…" Sylwen said, her lips curling into a teasing smirk. "What's so exciting about a ship sinking, anyway?"
Firfel narrowed her eyes with mock offense. "Heh. You'll see. Just don't start crying when it hits you."
Their playful banter was cut short when a sudden ripple of light shimmered in the room—Arthur teleported in, as casually as if he'd just walked through the front door.
"Alright, ladies," he said, brushing imaginary dust off his coat, "I've come bearing fashion advice. I'm picking dresses for both of you for the premiere."
Firfel crossed her arms and looked at him with narrowed eyes. "You really need to stop teleporting into my house without my permission."
Arthur only grinned. "Why would I need permission to visit my favorite girl?"
He leaned in for a quick kiss, but Firfel ducked her head just in time.
"Hey!" she whispered, her cheeks pink. "Don't get all clingy in front of my sister!"
Arthur clutched his chest dramatically. "You wound me, Fir. What happened to the love we shared before your sister came back and replaced me?"
Firfel nudged him in the ribs. "You know exactly what I mean," she muttered, trying to keep a straight face.
Sylwen rolled her eyes and stood from the couch. "You two can flirt all you want. I'll be in the kitchen trying not to poison anything."
Arthur let out a laugh as Firfel called after her, "Just don't burn water this time!"
Sylwen chuckled faintly, disappearing toward the kitchen with a wave.
Left alone, Firfel gave Arthur a playful swat on the shoulder, which only made him grin wider. He nudged her gently back, and they fell into a light, comfortable teasing—like a pair of kids again.
Arthur didn't mind that most of his time with Firfel lately had been "third-wheeled" by her sister. Honestly, he welcomed it. Seeing Firfel happy made it all worth it.
While they were messing around, Firfel suddenly pulled something from under the table. "Hey, I think you'll want to see this."
Arthur took the object she handed him—a black VHS tape—and studied the label.
«LoTR: Return of the King»
He squinted. "It's a Lord of the Rings tape…" he muttered. "But it doesn't have the Hellfire branding. This isn't one of ours."
"Hmm," Firfel nodded, folding her arms. "I found it in Dragon Wall City while showing Sylwen around. Some sketchy stall selling tapes dirt cheap. I got curious."
Her voice lowered slightly, "I asked the guy about it, and turns out… it's not official. Just a copy. An illegal one."
Arthur stared at the tape for a moment, then let out a quiet chuckle. 'So… piracy has finally made its entrance here.' he thought.
"You don't look surprised," Firfel said, raising an eyebrow.
Arthur smirked. "Not really. I've been waiting for this day."
"They're literally selling your movies without your permission. That doesn't bother you?"
"It bothers me enough to do something about it," he said casually, setting the tape down. "But getting mad won't change anything. Besides, we're not the only ones. If someone's figured out how to duplicate tapes like this, other studios are in for a much ruder awakening."
Firfel shook her head in disbelief. "The world really is changing fast…"
---
At Altair Station—the hidden island of the Solarus Faith, nearly the size of the Horn Kingdom—life carried on as usual. Angels flew in ordered formations, fulfilling their duties, maintaining the Altair Layer barrier that separated their divine domain from the mortal world, and reviewing the souls of those who worshipped the Sun God.
But not all was smooth within its shining halls.
High-ranking Angel Scarlet Rain was clearly not having a good day. Her usually tidy blonde hair was slightly disheveled, and her crimson eyes flashed with visible irritation.
It was all thanks to Solarus High Officer, General Philip Grain, who had summoned her for a "special assignment."
"The Lord has spoken," the old angel declared solemnly, stroking his long, silver beard. "According to His divine will, you, Angel Scarlet Rain, are to investigate the disappearance of the Monetary Faith under the Lord of Wealth."
Scarlet had no issue with that part. Standard divine investigation. Simple enough.
But then came the real annoyance.
"While you're at it," Philip continued, "I want you to look into the affairs of the mortal world—specifically a rising force in the Horn Kingdom. A company called Hellfire."
His tone grew wary.
"They're growing fast. I've heard they already control nearly half the Horn Kingdom's economy. The troubling part?" He leaned closer. "They're demons. And we both know our faith does not look kindly upon that race."
Scarlet's brow twitched.
Philip added, "They're releasing a film that's getting a lot of attention down there. You are to watch it. Observe their influence. Who knows… perhaps something interesting will come of it."
Scarlet had left the room with a stiff smile, nodding in false obedience.
But the moment she was out of sight, her frustration boiled over. "Seriously?! Why me?! What did I do to deserve this?!"
She stomped her foot, fuming.
"Sent to the mortal world to watch a movie? That's not a mission. That's a punishment." She sighed dramatically. "And there's not even anyone to spar with down there…"
With no way out, she made her way to the Altair Gate—the divine passage that linked the heavens to the mortal realm.
At the gate, a mid-level angel glanced at her I.D., then gave a respectful nod and allowed her into the transport elevator.
"Safe journey," he said with a light wave as the elevator platform began its slow descent toward the mortal world.
Scarlet crossed her arms, muttering under her breath.
"A movie, huh? This better be worth my time…"
It only took a few minutes for Scarlet to arrive in the mortal world. She touched down in a remote alley, her wings vanishing as her form shimmered—transforming into a mortal-looking woman in an elegant black coat and boots. A subtle flick of her fingers activated an artifact hanging from her wrist, a gleaming silver compass-like disc that pulsed with divine light.
It was a world vein traveler. A relic that allowed her to teleport through the world's mana streams.
Within a minute, she reappeared in the Horn Kingdom, stepping onto a cobbled street bathed in the warm glow of late afternoon.
A calm telepathic voice echoed in her mind. 'You will be assisted by a Solarus Champion. The location has been shared to your divine sense.' It was Philip.
Scarlet let out a sigh through gritted teeth. "Great. A babysitter."
She followed the spiritual thread until she reached a modest restaurant tucked between luxury shops and magical item vendors. She stepped inside, and her eyes immediately landed on a well-dressed man sitting by the window—handsome, nervous, and clearly trying to look casual.
She walked up and tapped the table. "You the Champion?"
The man looked up—and nearly fell out of his chair. "Y-Yes! I mean—yes, milady." He quickly stood and bowed. "I'm Lance Ashford. I was informed I'd be assisting an angel from Altair Station."
Scarlet plopped into the chair across from him, arms crossed, expression unimpressed. "So, you're the one they stuck with me. What exactly are you going to assist me with?"
Lance smiled nervously but answered with practiced professionalism. "The mission was to help you secure access to the new Hellfire movie. The premiere's already sold out. But don't worry—we can acquire tickets from scrapers in the black market. It'll cost extra, but nothing outrageous."
Scarlet's eyebrow twitched. "I have to buy tickets? For a mortal film? You've got to be kidding me."
Lance chuckled awkwardly. "Well… it's apparently the most anticipated film this year. And the only legal way to get in now is through a Hellfire Bank account—and their debit or credit card."
She slumped into her seat, visibly annoyed. "Unbelievable. This is what they're sending me down here for?"