Many moons ago, when Caelus had first grown accustomed to his new demonic peers...
"Hey, kid. Keep up."
"I'm coming, I'm coming."
The Young Caelus climbed onto a massive boulder and stood side by side with a man much taller than him.
"Sheesh, kid," he sighed. "If I had known you'd slow me down this much, I would've told you to go with Xaede instead. You sure you're a human? Cuz with blazing speed such as yours, I'd say you're more like a snail."
"Ah! S-sorry, Mister Mephisto."
"Didn't I tell you to drop the 'mister'? Just refer to me normally like everyone else does."
"But—"
"I'm not Lord Arkus, kid. You don't need to watch your language around me. No honorifics, no formalities, and no bull shit."
Finally, he turned away from the blue skies above a sea of treetops. His piercing scarlet eyes burned like embers, their intensity enough to freeze anyone in place. Yet, with a friendly smile like that, Caelus felt more at ease. Just not as much as he'd like.
"No need to sweat," he said. "We may be demons and all, but no one's gonna eat you. And if someone does threaten to eat you, then come get me. I'll take care of them. Got it?"
"...Got it. M-Mephisto."
"Haha! You're so damn stiff, kid. Relax."
"I'll try."
"Good. Now, let's see here..."
Mephisto squinted at the horizon.
"Our destination's just up ahead. Word is one of the imp villages on the outskirts got torched. Not a damn soul left standing."
A knot twisted in Caelus's stomach.
"Was it... humans?"
Without warning, Mephisto's hand came down hard on his back — a sharp, jarring smack that sent the boy flying to the ground with a grunt of pain.
"Gah—! W-what was that for?!"
"For associating yourself with the likes of them," Mephisto scoffed. "Maybe it was humans. Maybe not. It doesn't matter. You're one of us now, kid. Don't forget that."
For a moment, the towering demon's expression softened. Then, with a dismissive flick of his hand, he turned back toward the horizon.
"Come on," he said. "Let's get this done so we can go home."
"...Home."
Caelus's eyes flickered open.
The glow of the two moons spilled through the window, casting silvery light across his dormitory room. One moon was large and round, while its twin was a smaller companion hanging just beneath it.
It was a beautiful sight... undeserved, perhaps, for a world as cruel as this one.
He sat up in bed, the weight of old words and memories lingering in his chest.
"You're one of us now."
Caelus sighed, leaning his head back against the wall. The night outside was still, but his thoughts were anything but.
Suddenly, three knocks sounded at the door.
Caelus hesitated, his hand hovering mid-reach for his glasses. He sighed, slipped them on, and crossed the room. When he twisted the knob and opened the door, only a small crack at first, a familiar voice greeted him.
"Ah. I was hoping you'd still be awake. My apologies for the late visit."
Standing there was perhaps the last person he thought he'd see. His golden hair gleamed even beneath the faint glow of the hallway lamps — the mark of the imperial family.
The crown prince of Vectis, Asta D'Angelica.
"...Your Imperial Highness."
"May I come in?" Asta asked with a polite, practiced smile.
Caelus hesitated a moment longer before sighing and pulling the door open.
Asta stepped in without waiting for an answer and made himself at home, settling into the room's only chair like it belonged to him. He gestured with a faint tilt of his head, wordlessly inviting Caelus to sit as well.
Caelus took a seat on the edge of his bed, eyeing the prince warily.
"What's the reason for this impromptu visit?"
"Straight to the point, are we?" Asta chuckled. "Other nobles would stomp all over each other for the chance to share a room with the crown prince, but you? Hah... you're different."
"Spend five years in the wilderness, and you forget the concept of royalty and nobility. As a fallen noble, I've no reason to bow to you."
Asta grinned, crossing one leg over the other.
"Treacherous till the bitter end. Perhaps that is why I find you so intriguing. You don't care for titles. Noble, fallen, imperial... none of it holds meaning for you, does it?"
"It's not that I don't know the weight it carries. I just find it pointless. That's all."
"Haha. Pointless, he says. Caelus de Luvelaine... the man once thought dead now walks among us, and the entire empire's nobility can't stop whispering your name. You survived that week-long hell they called an orientation, too. Just what have you been doing these past five years?"
Caelus found his patience wearing thin. There was something about the way he spoke to the way he looked at him that he found greatly irritating.
"It's late, Your Highness. Say what you came to say."
Asta smirked — clearly expecting that. He leaned back in the chair, exhaling through his nose.
"This is what I get for pulling strings to expedite your admission into Rhodeia College?" he scoffed. "You should be grateful. The aftermath wasn't pretty for me, to say the least."
Caelus' brow twitched.
"You played a hand in that...?"
"Quite so."
"Why? I'm assuming you didn't do all that out of the kindness of your heart."
"Very perceptive of you. Since you've been blunt with me, I'll show you the same courtesy."
He leaned in, his voice lowering.
"Caelus de Luvelaine... join me."
"...Join you? What are you talking about?"
"Ah, forgive me. I keep forgetting you've yet to reacclimate to the ways of the empire. You see... I have a sister. Perhaps you've heard of her."
"Her Imperial Highness, Crown Princess Aria D'Angelica."
"Indeed. For the past several years, she and I have been... at odds. But that's to be expected. As history proves, succession is rarely a peaceful matter, especially when it's fought between siblings."
"So you want me to help you?" Caelus scoffed. "A fallen noble with no power, no title, and no standing?"
"A fallen noble, yes. However, I'm no fool. There's no way you survived for five years in the wild through sheer luck alone. No... You have the skills to make up for your lack of status, and by surviving the orientation, you proved me right."
"What a ridiculous gamble."
"With a very satisfying payout. Besides, you may be a fallen, but your company includes two very interesting names. Kain Diadalin and Rosalina Sigurdia."
Caelus bit his lip as his expression darkened.
"And how exactly do you know that?"
"Pardon?"
"Kain, I understand. We landed in the forest together, but how did you know that Rosalina was with us? We didn't encounter anyone else in that forest... except one. Rudy Silvesta. Is he yours?"
"Ah, Rudikar. A useful ally from House Silvesta. Yes, he is on my side."
That was all Caelus needed to hear. In that moment, everything about the crown prince became clearer than ever. Asta was a man who saw people as pieces on a board, tools to wield and discard, despite who they truly are. No different than Rudy.
"I see," Caelus murmured, closing his eyes briefly. "In that case... I decline."
Asta retained his smile, but it was obvious that he was extremely displeased with that answer.
"Oh? And may I ask why?"
"Truth be told, I'm not interested. If you want Kain and Rosalina, go ahead. Whether they side with you is their choice, but leave me out of your political games."
"Hmm... There were many ways I thought this conversation would end, but none of them were quite like this. Should I take it that you intend to defy me, Luvelaine?"
"Not at all, Your Imperial Highness. You see... I only serve one master, and fortunately, that master is not you."
The prince's smile faltered. It wasn't anger, but clear dissatisfaction. Still, he masked it quickly as he stood and made for the door.
"It seems I underestimated you," he said, pausing in the doorway. "Allow me to give a word of advice. Refusing me is one thing. But don't ever pledge yourself to my sister."
"Don't misunderstand, Your Imperial Highness. In no way have I aligned myself with the princess."
"And do take care that it stays that way. Make no mistake, Caelus de Luvelaine. Right now, I see you as nothing more than a potential. Whether it is a friend or foe remains to be seen. And if you happen to become a foe... your life will no longer be yours to control."
It was a clear threat, but as Asta turned to leave, his gaze happened to catch Caelus's silhouette, and what he saw froze him on the spot. Beneath the glint of those glasses, a sharp lavender glare cut through the dim room like a blade. In that instant, the crown prince felt something rare and unfamiliar.
Threatened.
"I told you. I have no interest in your political affairs. But don't think for a second you can force your will on me. Cross the line, Your Imperial Highness, and you'll find your answer."
"...My answer?"
Caelus's lips curled into the faintest of smiles.
"What it is I've endured these last five years."