Morning crept across the Underworld like it wasn't sure it was allowed to exist. The sky above the Gremory estate glowed pale blue — cleaner than it had in centuries. No lightning, no divine screams, no collapsing dimensions. Just stillness.
Hespera sat on the edge of the fountain in the courtyard, barefoot, staring down at the water. Her reflection blinked back, the faint gleam of magenta fire flickering behind her pupils. For once, she wasn't trying to suppress it. It just… was.
A bird landed on her knee. She blinked at it.
The bird blinked back. Then...it exploded.
She sighed. "Okay, still working on the ambient chaos output."
A door slid open behind her. Kuroka stepped out, yawning, hair a messy halo around her ears. "Nya~… you're up early. Again."
"I don't sleep," Hespera said matter-of-factly. "It's inefficient. And boring."
Kuroka rubbed her eyes. "So is blowing up wildlife."
"It wasn't intentional. The bird had weak resolve."
Kuroka laughed softly, then plopped down beside her, tail brushing against Hespera's leg. "You're terrible at pretending to be normal, you know that?"
"I'm learning," Hespera said. "Yesterday, I didn't smite anyone who annoyed me. That's progress."
Kuroka smirked. "You glared at Rias for three minutes straight."
"She said I needed 'anger management.' I was managing it."
Kuroka leaned her head against Hespera's shoulder. "You know… normal people just talk about their feelings."
"I'm not normal," Hespera reminded her, gently resting a hand on Kuroka's head. "But you knew that when you kissed me."
"Yeah," Kuroka said softly. "And I don't regret it."
"Good," Hespera said, eyes closing briefly. "Because if you did, I'd probably erase—"
Kuroka poked her ribs. "No erasing."
Hespera sighed dramatically. "You ruin all my fun."
They sat in silence for a while, the fountain bubbling softly behind them. The faint smell of sweet bread drifted through the courtyard.
Kuroka sniffed the air. "Someone's baking."
Hespera tilted her head. "I'm going to steal it."
"Or we could ask for some, nya?"
"Where's the thrill in that?"
Kuroka rolled her eyes. "You really are a menace."
"An Adorable menace," Hespera corrected.
---
Inside, the kitchen looked like something between a war zone and a holiday special. Akeno stood by the counter, apron tied perfectly, flipping pancakes with a level of precision that suggested divine assistance. Rias was drinking coffee like it had personally betrayed her. Koneko sat at the table with a mountain of shortcakes already half-devoured.
Rias noticed Hespera first. "Morning, apocalyptic disaster."
Hespera waved. "Morning, caffeine addict."
Koneko looked up, cheeks puffed with cake. "Want one?"
"Yes." Hespera picked one up, took a bite, and nodded. "Acceptable offering."
"Thanks?" Koneko said uncertainly.
Rias raised a brow. "How's the whole… existential being of chaos thing going?"
"Stable enough," Hespera said. "Only blew up one bird."
Akeno paused mid-flip. "That's improvement."
"I know." Hespera leaned against the wall, looking entirely too comfortable. "Soon I'll be the poster girl for self-control."
Rias muttered, "That'll be the day."
"Careful," Hespera said with mock sweetness. "I'm emotionally unstable, not morally restrained."
Kuroka appeared behind her, snagging a pancake off the plate. "She's bluffing. She likes you too much to vaporize you."
Rias smirked. "Good to know."
Ophis materialized at the table like she'd always been there. "Good morning."
Nobody jumped anymore. They were getting used to it.
"Morning," Hespera said, grabbing another shortcake. "Did you sleep?"
"No," Ophis said simply. "Watched the stars collapse."
"Well, that sounds relaxing," Hespera said approvingly.
Ophis nodded. "Therapeutic."
Rias pinched her temple. "You two are ridiculous."
"Yup," they both said.
---
Later that day, the household drifted into something resembling peace.
Sirzechs and Venelana discussed estate repairs. Akeno and Gasper experimented with barrier wards. Koneko practiced her strikes in the courtyard while Hespera sat cross-legged nearby, observing with mild disapproval.
"Too gentle," Hespera said. "You're hitting like a mortal."
Koneko frowned. "I am mortal."
"Excuses." Hespera stood and raised a finger. "Punch me."
Koneko blinked. "What?"
"Punch. Me."
Kuroka, sitting on the steps, snorted. "Oh, this'll end well."
Koneko hesitated, then swung.
Hespera didn't move. The air cracked. The shockwave blew a crater in the stone beneath her feet.
Hespera nodded approvingly. "Better."
Koneko shook her hand out. "That hurt."
"Good," Hespera said. "Means it worked."
Kuroka covered her mouth, trying not to laugh. "You're supposed to teach, not bully."
"I am teaching," Hespera said calmly. "Through trauma."
Rias groaned from the balcony. "You're turning my peerage into sociopaths."
"Correction," Hespera said. "Efficient sociopaths."
---
Evenings were calmer. Hespera actually joined them for dinner — mostly because Kuroka threatened to drag her there physically. Nyx showed up halfway through, cloaked in shadows and mischief. She kissed Hespera on the cheek like it was a claim of ownership, then stole her seat.
"Rude," Hespera said.
"But effective,~" Nyx replied, smiling.
Kuroka narrowed her eyes. "You can sit, but no touching."
Nyx arched a brow. "Jealous?"
"Nope."
"Good," Nyx said, and leaned back, smug.
Rias whispered to Akeno, "I can't tell if this is romantic or a war crime."
"Both maybe," Akeno whispered back, grinning. "But it's amusing to watch."
---
The days blurred together in a strange rhythm: laughter, sparring, quiet walks through the estate gardens. Hespera tried to "relax," which in her case meant pacing the halls at 3 a.m. and rearranging constellations out of boredom. Kuroka dragged her back to bed each time, muttering that even gods needed sleep.
She started smiling more. It wasn't the sharp, dangerous smile everyone feared — just soft, tired amusement. A smile that didn't need to hide behind threats.
And somewhere between the meals, the teasing, and the ridiculous training sessions, the world began to feel… small again. Manageable. Hers.
---
One night, as the others slept, Hespera sat alone on the balcony. The stars shimmered across the false sky. She could feel Yggdrasil far below — faint, decaying, calling. Albion's energy pulsed against the edge of her awareness like a heartbeat under stone.
She exhaled slowly. "So it's almost time."
Nyx appeared beside her, arms folded. "You're hearing it too?"
"Yeah."
Kuroka emerged from the shadows behind them, tail flicking. "What's wrong, nya?"
"Nothing yet," Hespera said. "But Albion's fading. The infection's deeper than I thought."
Kuroka bit her lip. "Then we'll go soon?"
Hespera nodded. "After one more day. I promised I'd give you peace before I drag you back into madness."
Nyx leaned against her. "You're learning restraint. I'm impressed."
Hespera smiled faintly. "Don't tell anyone. It'll ruin my reputation. And Chaos would be sad if I'm not causing enough, well, you know." she waved the comment away lazily.
Ophis' voice drifted from the doorway. "The roots are calling louder. If you wait too long, the rot may reach the heart."
"I know," Hespera said quietly. "Tomorrow, we go."
Nyx's hand found hers. Kuroka rested her head against her shoulder. For a moment, they just watched the stars in silence.
Hespera closed her eyes, letting the stillness sink in.