(3rd Person POV)
June 9, 1276. The premiere for the most anticipated film of the year—Hellfire's magnum opus—had finally arrived.
To say the people were happy was an understatement. They were bursting with energy, brimming with anticipation, as they flocked toward the Hellfire Theatre that night.
Crowds—thousands of them—lined both sides of the boulevard, barely held back by barricades. Fans held up signs and posters for Titanic with excited fervor.
"Arthur Loves Firfel!"
"I Love You, Firfel!!!"
"Please Take Me as Your Woman, Arthur!!!"
People got creative with their posters—stylish fonts, bold colors, even pictures of their idols plastered across them.
Everyone was excited. Everyone was dreaming.
They wanted to see the woman of their dreams, Firfel.
They wanted to see the man of their fantasies, Arthur.
They didn't have to wait long. The cast of Titanic began arriving, walking the red carpet with dazzling charm. And then, a luxurious black car rolled up to a stop.
Out stepped Arthur—holding Firfel by the arm.
"YEAHH!!!"
"I LOVE YOU TWO!!!"
The crowd erupted in deafening screams that echoed across the entire block.
It was thunderous.
And of course, it grated the nerves of a certain angel standing among the crowd.
"It's so loud! Can I crush them?" Scarlet bellowed at Lance.
Her voice was nearly drowned out by the surrounding chaos—nearly. But to Lance, it was loud and terrifyingly clear.
He felt a chill run down his spine. He knew Scarlet could actually do it—without even blinking. She wouldn't even need to lift a finger. Everyone here would be reduced to nothing but a splatter of blood and flesh.
"My lady," Lance shouted back nervously, trying to match the volume, "I don't think our Lord Solarus would approve of that."
"Tsk." Scarlet clicked her tongue in disgust. The more she looked at the crowd, the more she wanted to obliterate them.
"They're nothing but demons in a pile. Ants, every single one of them."
Lance, still sweating, tried to reason with her. "Maybe so... but many demons have already accepted the faith of Solarus."
That seemed to calm her—just a little.
Scarlet let out a heavy sigh. "Let's just get this over with and watch the damn film. I can't wait to fulfill this ridiculous mission and go home."
Yes. She couldn't stand the mortal world. Especially not this land, infested with demons.
It made her skin crawl.
And of course, her guide — the Solarus Champion, Lance — also wanted this ceremony to be over with.
He couldn't afford to let Scarlet lose her temper and cause a scene. He knew very well just how terrifying an angel's power could be—especially toward demons. So, inwardly, he was praying to the Lord of Entertainment, hoping nothing would go wrong tonight.
Thankfully, the red carpet ceremony unfolded without incident.
To his surprise and relief, Scarlet watched the whole thing with fewer complaints than expected, and even less irritation.
What Lance didn't know was the real reason for her sudden calmness: Arthur.
From the moment she spotted him in the crowd, Scarlet's attention locked onto him. Her crimson eyes studied him deeply, as if peeling back layers no one else could see.
'Arthur Pendragon... So that's him,' she thought, a slight grin forming on her lips. 'In pictures, he looked... different. But now that I've seen him in person, he feels far more grounded. Stronger. More dignified.'
Her eyes narrowed slightly. 'He's not what I expected. Not weak. Not meek. There's something hidden in that smile of his… something dangerous.'
She chuckled quietly to herself.
'Heh. Maybe this little trip to the mortal world isn't so boring after all.'
There was something about him that she couldn't quite describe. Something she couldn't sense or measure—but could feel. Something that gnawed at the edges of her intuition.
'The more I look at him, the more strange he becomes. It's as if... I couldn't hurt him even if I tried?'
She scowled, brushing off the thought.
'Ridiculous. He's a demon. A mortal. Beneath me. I shouldn't even be thinking like this.'
But the feeling lingered.
Deep down, her instincts were sounding alarms—but her pride as a high-ranking angel muted the warnings.
After all, she had always believed no one in the mortal world—not even among demons—could threaten her. Only a handful of beings like the High Arbiter or the slumbering ancient powers might match her strength.
So, brushing the unease aside, she followed Lance into the Hellfire Theatre.
She was ready to finish her mission. Watch the film. Deliver her report.
Then leave this cursed world behind.
The front of the theatre was gradually becoming less crowded. The massive billboard of Titanic, glowing atop the theatre building, stood a bit lonely now — as if it, too, was waiting for the show to begin.
But inside the building, it was the complete opposite.
The place was alive.
At the concession counter, people were buying popcorn and Coke Cola, chatting away with friends, lovers, even strangers who shared the same excitement. The air buzzed with a festive kind of joy.
Scarlet saw it all.
She might've hated the mortal world — hated the absence of divine energy, the dull, disconnected feeling of being so far from Lord Solarus' presence — yet something about this crowd made her pause.
Despite being cut off from a god's warmth… they smiled.
"Ignorance is bliss, indeed," she muttered with a slight scoff. "These mortals walk around grinning, not realizing they live without sustenance from any true deity. Hmph. A bunch of fools."
Her crimson eyes swept the room.
"This world is hollow," she added. "Devoid of a god's embrace. These creatures have never known what it means to bask in a divine presence that offers eternal life."
Though her words were aimed at mortals in general, Lance couldn't help but feel a jab at his own faith.
He clenched his fists.
'She's not wrong,' he admitted inwardly. 'The Three Known Gods have long forsaken this land. That's why I pledged myself fully to the one god who hasn't turned away... Lord Dionysus.'
Scarlet didn't seem to notice the shift in his expression. Or maybe she did and simply didn't care.
They moved along, finally buying their popcorn and Coke Cola.
Scarlet raised a kernel of popcorn to her lips, curious about the taste — but Lance gently stopped her with a whisper. "It's best to eat popcorn and sip your drink while watching the movie. It… enhances the experience. At least, for me."
Still mid-bite, she paused and considered his words. "Is that so? It seems customs in this world have changed over the centuries. Not just the food... even the rituals of pleasure have evolved."
Lance gave a small nod, satisfied she'd listen.
They entered the screening hall and made their way to their assigned seats.
Inside, nearly every seat was filled. The soft rustling of snacks, quiet conversations, and anticipation hung in the air.
It wasn't loud — not at all. Just murmurs and whispers.
An unspoken rule lingered in the room: don't ruin the magic before the movie begins.
However, Scarlet didn't care about anything at all. She sat like a queen in her seat, exuding arrogance as if she were there to judge mortals rather than a film.
"How long do I have to wait in here? Just start the damn film already!" she barked.
Her voice rang loud and clear across the theatre. Dozens of heads turned.
"Be patient, young lady. It'll start soon—"
"We get it, you're excited too. But please, try to calm down."
"Hehe, she's too hyped to see the film!"
Everyone misunderstood her outburst. They all thought she was just that excited to see the movie.
Scarlet's brow twitched. The misunderstanding annoyed her even more—but before she could incinerate half the crowd with a glance, the lights dimmed and the screen lit up.
"It's starting!" someone whispered, excited.
Scarlet clicked her tongue but decided to let it go. She leaned back in her seat and popped a kernel of popcorn into her mouth.
'Hmph. Let's see what's so great about this "film industry" after centuries have passed...'
She chewed.
"…Is that… caramel?"
Her eyes blinked once. Twice. Then she grabbed another handful and devoured it.
Then came the Coke.
Sip.
'What is this?!' Her crimson eyes widened. 'This strange flavor… it's unfamiliar… but… strangely addictive!'
She downed the rest of her drink without pause.
Lance noticed it. And the moment her cup hit empty, Scarlet turned her head to him like a beast about to strike.
Wordlessly, he handed her his Coke.
She snatched it. Took a sip.
At that exact moment, the score began.
"Hymn of the Sea."
The sound swelled through the theatre.
Scarlet paused, her senses pulled toward the haunting melody. The screen showed a shipwreck team diving into the depths, but it wasn't the visuals that captivated her—it was the music.
'Why does this sound… like the damn Fae?' she narrowed her eyes. 'Like the Sirens themselves are whispering in my ears…?'
But she said nothing. She just focused on the screen.
Unbeknownst to her, that haunting vocal track was indeed sung by real Sirens—hired by Arthur himself. Their otherworldly voices enhanced the original version from Arthur's previous life, surpassing it in emotional depth and haunting beauty.
And so, the angel—forced to attend for the sake of her mission—now sat quietly in her seat. Munching caramel popcorn. Savoring Coke. Staring at the screen.
The story went as follows.
Old Rose saw the drawing of herself on TV — the one of her lying on a couch, wearing nothing but that iconic necklace — and she called the team of treasure hunters.
She met them and used a strange, yet advanced vehicle to visit the ship combing through the wreckage.
Of course, the movie was already set in the future — the year 1486, as shown in the opening. So, that kind of technology wasn't too surprising to the audience. They had already watched Star Wars, after all.
But for Scarlet, it was confusing.
Still, she kept watching.
Old Rose stood before the drawing, encased behind protective glass. Her eyes lingered on the necklace she once wore in her youth — the one drawn by the man she once loved.
Her expression softened with nostalgia.
And then she began to tell her story — a tale from the past, told not just to the treasure hunters and her granddaughter…
But to everyone watching.
To the audience. To Scarlet. To Lance.
Whether they realized it or not, they were all about to be taken on a journey — swept back in time, into the life of young Rose, and the boy named Jack…
And the ship that carried their story.
The Titanic.