Purgatory, the boundary where lost souls wander, began to shake as if an ancient force were trying to tear apart its deepest foundations. The gray walls vibrated, the cracks glowed like fire, and thousands of anguished echoes ran through the empty corridors.
And its caretaker and collector of souls, Death, felt the tremor in her own body.
"What the hell is happening now?" she growled irritably as the entire space groaned.
She quickly traced the origin of the distortion. When she arrived, she had no choice but to stop abruptly, because what she was witnessing before her eyes was practically impossible.
A family.
Elior's parents, and his little sister.
The boy was on his knees, crying, begging them not to leave.
"Please… take me with you. Don't leave me here…"
But they shook their heads, crying as well.
Death felt a slight chill run through her. Something was clearly very wrong.
The family was surrounded by a golden light, a divine light that did not belong to Purgatory, nor to the human world.
That light protected them.
And it also prevented her from getting any closer.
"You cannot break the cycle!" Death roared, launching herself toward them.
The moment she touched the light…
her hands began to burn.
"Tsk… damn it!"
Elior and his family could not see her.
They could not feel her.
Death tried to force her way through the light at any cost, but the pain became unbearable. And then things grew worse.
The flower.
That radiant flower the girl held as she handed it to Elior.
A forbidden symbol.
A relic outside her domain.
An object no soul was ever meant to possess.
Death panicked.
"No! Stop right now!"
But when she finally broke the seal of light that kept her away, the family was already fading.
Elior's sister whispered the boy's name…
And so the inevitable happened.
The family disappeared.
Elior disappeared.
And the light went out.
Death was left alone.
Staring at her charred hands.
Her fury was so brutal that Gehenna and Aetheris trembled for an instant.
"Who dared…?
WHO ENTERED MY DOMAIN AND TOUCHED WHAT IS MINE?"
The boy's name echoed inside her mind.
Elior.
Her rage made her turn instantly, transporting herself to her infinite library, where the books of every life in the universe lay. She searched violently through the shelves until she found it.
The book of Elior Blackwood.
That book was almost incomplete, for a boy who had supposedly just died.
His past was recorded…
but the rest was an enigma of torn pages, distorted fragments, and ink that shifted on its own.
Worse still, his future was decided, but incomprehensible to Death at that moment. It was chaotic and cursed.
Death clenched her teeth, still feeling her hands burn.
"The first suspects will be the demons," she declared.
But first, she needed to heal her hands, which still refused to recover despite her incredible regenerative power. That light had injured her far more than she expected.
After twenty four hours, her hands had healed. With no further information about the boy or who helped him escape, she decided to go to Gehenna.
Upon her arrival, the demons, even the nobles, fell to their knees.
No one could breathe. No one could move.
"Who was it?" she asked with a calmness more terrifying than a scream.
"WHO DARED TO ENTER MY TERRITORY AND STEAL A SOUL FROM ME?"
Silence took over the place. None of the demons knew anything.
That irritated her even more.
"I don't know why I bother. You should not even exist in the first place," she said with her characteristic coldness.
With a simple snap of her fingers, the hundred kneeling demons disintegrated, collapsing into black dust.
"Good. These useless beings knew nothing. The second stop will be those strange angels."
She turned, and in an instant appeared in Aetheris.
The Council of Aetheris was discussing an unrelated case involving a fallen archangel, unaware that someone was already among them. No one could see or feel her presence… until she spoke.
"Now… silence."
The voices died instantly.
Everyone felt the indescribable presence.
The air became heavy and cold, freezing the lungs of anyone breathing in anxious gasps. The light in the room dimmed little by little, and the sun darkened as if an eclipse were devouring it.
Aetheris panicked.
Death walked toward the center of the hall with calm steps, darkness gathering behind her.
"Tell me, useless old fools," her green eyes burned with abyssal shadows.
"WHICH OF YOU ENTERED MY TERRITORY AND TOOK ONE OF MY SOULS?"
The elders looked at one another, mute. Witnessing the same situation as with the demons only angered her further.
"ANSWER ME NOW!"
The shout echoed throughout all of Aetheris. Everyone felt pressure crush their souls from the mere cry and presence of a deity like Death.
Until one angel finally spoke.
"No one, my lady. None of us has the permission or power to do such a thing."
She interrupted him.
"And God?" she asked with venom. "Call him. NOW.
Let him return from wherever he is hiding."
"We cannot do that," another elder said, trembling.
Death mocked them.
"All beings in this universe are nothing but inefficient.
Your God writes destinies, and you can barely read them."
She clenched her fists in rage.
"A celestial light protected that boy. And a hundred demons knew nothing.
So why?
WHY WOULD YOU REMOVE A SIXTEEN YEAR OLD BOY FROM PURGATORY?"
A trembling voice replied.
"What is the boy's name? Perhaps with the name we can help decipher the matter."
"Elior Blackwood."
The elders froze. Once again, that name echoed within the council. This time, even Death was present.
"That boy died?" one of the old men thought out loud, drawing the worst conclusions.
"He was dead, until he was taken out," Death said. "From your faces, I can see that you know the boy I speak of. So did you help him?"
"No, my lady. We only know the boy because of an incident some time ago. We would never help someone like that."
"I do not care about your problems. I only want to know who removed him, so they can be punished properly," Death exclaimed, staring at the elders' terrified faces.
The head of the council, who had remained silent, drew his own conclusions.
They were the same Aurora had reached days earlier.
Dead, Elior had limits.
But returned to life… perhaps not.
Which would make him an incredibly dangerous being.
Death perceived the council leader's thoughts as he drifted within his mind, and she smiled maliciously.
"So it worries you too, does it?
Perfect. Chaos always brings new souls to me. I suppose I will have new ones soon."
Suddenly, she felt another presence. One that captured her attention completely.
A strange and familiar movement, something ancient… coming from a forgotten place.
She ignored it for now. She had to settle this first.
One of the elders, desperate to remove Death from there and also take the boy out of the equation, spoke.
"Perhaps… if you wish… you could retrieve the boy yourself. There would be no issue with that."
Death stopped smiling instantly.
She approached slowly. Very slowly.
She looked him straight in the eyes.
The elder saw an infinite abyss open beneath his feet.
"HOW DARE YOU SPEAK TO ME THAT WAY?" she roared.
"If you ever suggest that I take a soul like that again, I will annihilate you and take yours to feed the dogs of Gehenna."
She took a deep breath, restraining herself.
"I collect souls," she said coldly.
"I do not steal them. That was the agreement.
And I will not break it… at least for now."
"You are of no use to me at all."
She turned away.
"I want answers. I will return soon. You had better have the proper ones," she said in a threatening tone.
And she vanished like smoke.
Death reappeared in the blink of an eye in a place where there should have been nothing.
But she found a surprise waiting.
"What… is this?"
That Shadow Kingdom. Once a vanished castle and a dead land. It was now a magnificent town, where homes could be seen, glowing paths, children running everywhere as they played. Those who had once been shadows now bore the appearances they had when they were alive. Everything was beautiful and disturbing at the same time.
Every shadow instantly felt the presence of Death.
Many collapsed to the ground.
Others froze in place.
One in particular trembled as it stood before her.
"Kneel," Death commanded.
The shadow obeyed immediately.
She leaned down until her face was inches from it.
"Look at me."
The shadow's eyes trembled like water.
"Answer me. WHO rebuilt this kingdom?"
The shadow swallowed, or tried to.
And opened its mouth.
Death fixed her green eyes, cold, infinite, heavy with ancient age, upon the kneeling figure. Not a single shadow in the kingdom moved. All of them trembled beneath the weight of her presence.
"You had better tell me everything you know, or you will regret it," Death spat without blinking.
The shadow trembled even more, pressing its face into the ground.
"Our lord has returned," it said in a hollow voice.
"He has finally returned to us. He rebuilt all of this. The first thing he thought of was making sure the children had a place to play."
Death clenched her teeth.
"What do you mean your lord returned?
That is impossible."
She knew perfectly well that the former King of Shadows had died in a celestial war over a century ago. There was no way he could return.
"It is possible, my lady," the shadow whispered. "He came back."
"Where is he?" Death asked, taking a step that caused the air to compress.
"We do not know. He left moments ago."
Death's patience, already worn thin by her arguments in Gehenna and Aetheris, where no one knew absolutely anything, shattered instantly. Everything she had gathered was chaos.
The demons wanted to devour someone called Elior Blackwood.
The angels feared him.
Someone had broken the cycle of Purgatory.
And now…
a forgotten king had returned?
Too many loose pieces.
Too many in too little time.
So she screamed, and her voice shook the entire kingdom.
"WHERE IS YOUR KING? TELL ME NOW!"
That scream tore through the domain like a wave of fire, reaching Alice's ears.
The female shadow appeared running, worried, until she reached Death.
"What is happening? Please, leave him alone," Alice demanded.
Death observed her closely and recognized her.
"Well now. At last, someone who might be useful," she said.
Then she ordered without looking back. "You. Leave."
The shadow obeyed immediately and fled, nearly dissolving into the air.
Alice remained standing, firm, despite the force emanating from Death.
"What do you want to know?" she asked, not averting her gaze.
"I want you to tell me everything that happened here.
And I want it now.
I have no time, so be brief, but do not forget anything."
Alice swallowed, then nodded. She had no other choice.
She told her about the boy.
About the unexpected visitor.
About the young man who had been mistaken for the king.
About the silver glow in his eyes.
About how the kingdom had responded to him with devotion.
"His name is Elior," Alice said at last. "He is young, very young. But he has a kind heart. The first time he was here, he only thought about the children, and not about how the others almost devoured him."
Death felt her fury rise.
The pieces began to fit together in a dangerous way.
The boy taken from Purgatory.
The boy whose book was incomplete.
The boy hunted by demons and feared by angels.
And now…
the boy who rebuilt a kingdom that should not exist.
"I want him here," Death ordered. "Call your king."
Alice shook her head immediately.
"I cannot.
My king does not yet have enough strength to return whenever he wishes.
And even less so after leaving so recently.
If you want to see him, you will have to go yourself."
Death stared at her with contained fury.
Then she exhaled, annoyed but forced to accept it.
"Only because it is you will I allow you to speak to me like this.
Do not abuse your luck, shadow," she spat.
"Learn to respect me, as your former king did."
Alice did not answer.
Death cast one last glance at the reborn kingdom, at the children playing without knowing that the very personification of the end stood meters away, and murmured.
"Thank you for the information."
She stared Alice straight in the eyes, and then her body dissolved into dark smoke.
Her voice echoed before vanishing completely.
"I will find you, Elior Blackwood.
For now… you may wait."
In the days that followed in Geheris, the forest was silent. So silent that Seraphine could hear her own pulse pounding in her ears.
Kael said nothing either. He simply stepped back, then another step, dodging every attack from Seraphine as if it were a child's game.
The young woman breathed heavily, her shoulders trembling with exhaustion. Her body barely responded anymore. She was drenched in sweat, her hands burned from the friction of the weapon, and even so she had not managed to leave a single scratch on Kael.
He, on the other hand, looked as though he were only just warming up.
"Come on, Seraphine," he said seriously. "Soul power is not controlled by praying.
I need you to force it. To call it. To feel it."
Seraphine clenched her teeth.
"I am… trying!"
Her final attack was desperate, a downward slash, fast and precise.
Kael dodged it effortlessly, grabbed her by the outfit, and threw her to the ground with the same ease someone would shake dust from their clothes.
"Do you give up?" Kael asked.
Seraphine pushed herself up, trembling.
"No.
I will not."
Just as she took her stance again, all three felt a chill run through the forest.
The wind changed.
The birds burst from the trees as if fleeing an invisible predator.
Aurora frowned.
"What… was that?"
Kael tensed. He had felt it too, but saw nothing.
Until a presence crossed the forest barrier without leaving a trace and materialized before them.
"Midas," Kael whispered in surprise.
The young master stepped forward and smiled, though concern lingered behind his expression.
"Master… it has been far too long."
"Too long, my son. How is your family?"
"Well. Thank you for asking," Midas replied, though his voice held no room for nostalgia. "I would like to speak more, but I cannot stay. Seraphine. Aurora. Both of you have been urgently summoned to the council. You must leave now."
Seraphine and Aurora exchanged tense glances.
Kael stepped forward.
"And me?"
Midas lowered his gaze.
"You were summoned as well, master. In fact… I was sent with orders to bring you by force if necessary."
Kael let out a bitter laugh.
"You know perfectly well I am not going."
"I know," Midas admitted. "That is why I prioritized bringing them. But you should know, master.
Up there… everything is chaos.
If you do not come with me, they will send someone else. And I doubt they will be as understanding as I am."
Aurora felt the air grow heavier.
"What happened, Midas?"
The young man looked away, uncomfortable.
"After your absence from the council due to the mission, it was decided to hide certain information from you, so as not to distract you."
Aurora felt a bad feeling rise in her chest. Seraphine did as well.
"A few days ago," Midas continued, "Death appeared before the council."
All three froze.
"Death?" Kael and Aurora asked at the same time.
"She entered demanding explanations about who removed a soul from Purgatory."
The silence became unbearable.
Seraphine felt a blow strike her chest. She had sensed it. Everything was connected to Elior.
Midas sighed.
"You do not need to say anything. I already know.
It was him.
All of Aetheris knows now."
Kael stared at him, his face hardening.
"What are you saying?"
"That Death spoke his name before the council.
Elior Blackwood.
The moment she said it, all of Aetheris panicked."
Aurora could only sigh and look resignedly at the floor.
Seraphine lowered her gaze, trembling.
Midas continued.
"They want to make a decision regarding the boy, and they will make it today.
The meeting will only be a formality.
Master… the decision has practically already been made."
Kael felt his soul drop. He knew exactly what that meant. Either they sealed him… or they eliminated him.
Seraphine wanted to speak, wanted to say she had to go to Elior, but Aurora spoke first.
"Seraphine," she said firmly. "We are going to the council.
You cannot stay here."
Seraphine clenched her fists.
She did not want to be separated from Elior.
Not after what she had just heard.
Not when he could lose control… or when they might want to kill him.
But she had no choice.
Kael turned to Midas.
"Thank you, my son.
And thank you for not taking me by force."
Midas nodded with a sincere smile.
"Master… I stand on the side of life.
I do not like extremes.
I do not know the boy… but if you protect him this much, he cannot be a threat.
So… good luck."
Aurora quickly created a portal.
Seraphine took a deep breath, trembling, and crossed it with her and Midas.
When the portal vanished, Kael was left alone.
And he ran.
He ran at full speed toward the city, so fast that he barely touched the ground.
The sun was just beginning to rise, and people were already in the streets.
He had to take alternative routes to avoid being seen.
When he reached the house, he found something completely unexpected.
Elior, Aramis, and Lia were in the middle of a pillow fight.
They had broken five.
All three froze when they saw him enter.
Lia shouted.
"They will not catch me!" and ran toward her room.
Aramis ran after her.
Elior, on the other hand, simply laughed.
"I will clean up, Kael. Do not worry."
Kael tried to smile, but he was pale.
Elior frowned.
"What is wrong? You are sweating and covered in branches. Are you okay?"
"Yes, son. I am fine," Kael lied. "I am going to take a quick shower."
He went to his room.
Elior watched him close the door far too quickly.
And for the first time, he felt something strange around Kael.
A kind of golden aura.
Weak.
Trembling.
As if Kael were hiding something.
As if something had wounded him.
Elior clenched his teeth.
"Maybe… I am still seeing things," he whispered.
But something was happening. And it was big.
Yet while Geheris was calm…
The gates of Aetheris opened wide, letting in an icy wind that seemed to pierce the skin.
Seraphine and Aurora advanced escorted by Midas, summoned urgently to discuss the final decision regarding Elior.
Since Death's visit, the council had lost all stability.
The mere mention of "Elior Blackwood" had turned the celestial kingdom into a minefield of tension.
Midas walked a step ahead, speaking to them in a low voice.
"The council is… especially irritable today.
I advise you to measure every word.
Lady Aurora. Seraphine. Take a breath before responding.
No matter what they decide…
I will stand by your side. I will try to help from the outside, to prevent a fatal decision."
Seraphine swallowed. Her chest ached.
"Master… I am afraid."
"It is normal to be afraid," Midas said gently. "But what matters is what you do with it.
When you must defend someone's life, you will have two choices.
Tremble before the enemy… or stand with your head held high.
And believe me, Seraphine.
Humans live short lives. But you… you will live for centuries.
You will face moments like this a thousand times.
Learn from today how to breathe, regulate your emotions… and move toward your goal."
The master's words struck Seraphine's heart with force.
Her breathing, trembling at first, began to steady.
"Thank you… master."
"Go," Midas said. "Enter… and protect him."
Seraphine nodded.
When they reached the massive council gates, Aurora was the first to enter.
She did not greet anyone. She did not bow.
She simply walked to her seat in silence, beneath the inquisitive gazes of the elders and the dozens of angels gathered to witness the hearing.
The murmurs stopped.
All of Aetheris seemed to hold its breath.
Seraphine stopped at the entrance.
Her legs tingled.
Her shoulders felt heavy.
It was hard to breathe.
What if I cannot defend him?
What if they decide to kill him?
What if… I am too afraid?
Midas inclined his head toward her.
"Seraphine… it is not your life at stake now," he whispered.
"It is the boy's.
So stop trembling. The one who should be afraid is Elior… not you.
Your role is not to fear… but to protect."
Seraphine closed her eyes for a moment. A wave of images flooded her mind.
Elior laughing with Lia and Aramis.
Elior with a lost gaze, trying to understand who he is.
The hug he gave her at the hospital, and how she felt then that everything would be alright.
And without realizing it, she was no longer afraid.
She was angry.
Determined.
"I will protect him," she whispered.
"No matter the cost."
She took one step forward.
Then another.
And as she crossed the gates, she lifted her gaze with a determination she had never felt before.
Seraphine entered the council, ready to defend Elior's life even if she had to face the entire sky.
The head of the council, upon seeing Seraphine enter, began the meeting by striking his staff against the floor. The impact echoed like contained thunder, spreading through the hall as a reverberation that struck every wall.
"Good," the elder said, his voice heavy with exhaustion, irritation… and a clearly made decision. "It is time to begin… and to end this once and for all."
Aurora raised her gaze immediately. That tone revealed something dangerous.
The old man had already decided Elior's fate without listening to anyone.
That turned the situation into a deadly labyrinth.
"I will have to act fast," she thought. "Or all of this will end in disaster."
At the center of the hall, Seraphine was kneeling with one knee on the floor, her head held high and her eyes fixed on the Head of the Council. Her hands trembled from the tension, and beads of sweat ran down her forehead.
The old man continued:
"I will begin. All of Aetheris was warned by Death about the boy, and about how he managed to escape her in purgatory. The boy had already died, and someone unknown brought him back. That will also be investigated, after this matter," he added, emphasizing his words with a gesture of authority.
The other councilors nodded. The old man went on.
"My duty is to protect our people and the balance between Geheris and Aetheris. Elior Blackwood represents a danger, and a great one. We do not know the origin of his power. We have sent investigators, but there are no results. While he does eliminate demons, at best, the exorbitant amount of power he possesses alarms even the most veteran among us. We do not know if the princes of Gehenna will come after him simply to claim that power."
Aurora calmed slightly. At least the Council did not know that Elior was more than willing to hunt angels as well. If they knew, this would be an even worse hell, she thought.
Seraphine lowered her gaze, clenching her teeth.
"Therefore," the old man continued, "one of my options is to seal the boy's power. Almost in the same way that one of the princes of Gehenna was sealed by Kael's son and his wife."
A general murmur spread through the room. The old man raised his hand.
"Let us hear the rest of the Council."
One of the councilors spoke.
"My decision is that the boy should be studied on a large scale. We must understand what happened."
Immediately another intervened.
"I choose to eliminate him. He is breaking the balance, and if we lose control, everything will descend into chaos and return to war."
"He must be handed over to Death," said another, in a grave voice.
"I vote for him to be sealed. He, and his power," added a fourth.
Only Aurora's opinion remained.
She raised her head, rested her interlaced hands, and spoke firmly.
"My decision is obvious. Elior must not be sealed, nor eliminated, and certainly not handed over to Death. Is that why you were offered a seat on the Council? To decide who lives and who dies simply because you fear what you do not understand? If you seal or eliminate him, what do you think the demons will believe? That we are cowards? And if you eliminate him, fine. But what will you do if he returns? He already escaped Death once. Who says he cannot do it again?"
Silence followed. Some looked at her in surprise, others with contempt.
Aurora continued.
"Elior was chosen to bear an unknown power. Something unseen for thousands of years. Perhaps the last one so strong was Kael's son, but I doubt even he reached the level of this child. What if it was God who placed this burden upon him for what is to come? What if we are failing to see the key piece? Would you dare to eliminate a creation of our Lord simply out of fear?"
Several expressions changed among the Council.
"And one more thing," Aurora added, raising her voice. "Elior possesses the flower from the Garden of God. It was given to him by his sister in purgatory. Thanks to it, he was able to escape. If you wish to make an enemy of him, knowing what he has and what he can do, go ahead. I will not."
The entire hall froze. The mention of the forbidden flower made even the oldest among them tremble.
The Head of the Council narrowed his eyes.
"How do you know this information, Aurora?"
"Kael told me," she replied calmly. "I met with him to clarify everything."
A chorus of complaints erupted.
"When were you planning to tell us you met with Kael?"
"When you decided to tell me that Death visited Aetheris," Aurora replied irritably.
One councilor spoke in a condescending tone.
"Perhaps you are right about some things, Aurora, but you do not understand the complexity of this matter. You have been here only a short time."
"I have been here a short time, yes," Aurora said. "But long enough to understand why this Council was created. And clearly not so that you can feel important just because you have a chair. So be silent."
The Head struck his staff.
"Enough. Let us move on to Seraphine's testimony. Caelis Seraphine, stand."
Seraphine rose with determination, ready to defend Elior with her life if necessary.
"Tell me, Seraphine," the old man asked. "With your power, were you able to sense his soul? Explain to us what it is like. And do not lie, because we will know."
Seraphine swallowed.
"Yes," she answered. "I was able to sense it. Elior does not wish to destroy anything. He only wants to protect and care for humans. He uses his power to defend, not to oppress. He is just sad. For typical human reasons. For tragedies. For burdens that anyone in his place would not be able to bear. And yet, he fights to live. If you knew him, if you even took the time to see him, you would understand that he is not a threat."
She lied. Because she knew Elior's power could kill even angels if they came too close. But she had to protect him. She silently begged God for forgiveness.
An old man grunted.
"You speak as if you know him far too well, girl. Tell me, are you not perhaps feeling something for him?"
"What?" Seraphine froze. "N-no, that is not the case."
"What kind of question is that?" Aurora intervened, indignant.
"It is necessary to know," said another councilor. "Her heart could interfere with her judgment."
"And you, Aurora," another added, "who will you protect? The boy, or your daughter? You are far too biased."
Aurora clenched her teeth.
Seraphine stepped forward.
"I do not feel anything for Elior, and I do not need anyone to defend me. Least of all my—"
"Silence, girl!" roared the nearest councilor. "You have no right to speak until I say so."
Seraphine clenched her fists, trembling with rage.
"This has gone on long enough," said the Head of the Council. "It is time to deliver the final decision."
The minutes felt eternal for Seraphine. Many waited anxiously for the outcome of the Council, until the Head stood from his seat and began to speak.
"Elior Blackwood will be..."
Aurora's and Seraphine's hearts pounded as if they were about to break.
"...sealed."
A collective sigh, a mix of relief and frustration, filled the hall.
But the old man quickly added:
"Not only his power. He himself will also be sealed. Due to the danger he represents, and for possessing the forbidden flower. We cannot take that risk."
"You cannot do that!" Seraphine exclaimed.
She stepped forward several paces, but the old councilor shouted:
"Silence, girl! I told you that you cannot speak until I—"
"I REFUSE TO STAY SILENT WHEN YOU ARE TALKING ABOUT THE LIFE OF SOMEONE YOU DO NOT EVEN KNOW!" Seraphine screamed with all her strength.
Her eyes shone with an intense light. The entire hall tensed.
Immediately, guards appeared with swords pointed at Seraphine.
But in the blink of an eye, Midas stepped in front of her.
"If you want to harm my student, you will have to defeat me first," he said with an authority that froze everyone. "This is what I trained you for. Is this how you now obey the Council?"
"Midas! Are you a traitor?" one accused.
"No," he replied. "I am simply defending the ideals you have forgotten. The ideals you raised me with. Protecting life. This place was once governed that way."
A deathly silence followed.
It was pure chaos.
Seraphine, seeing Midas defend her, managed to calm down, a little.
But before the Head could issue his final sentence, the Council doors burst open.
And for the first time in years, Kael entered Aetheris.
Silence turned into terror. Even Aurora and Seraphine were frozen.
Kael walked calmly to the center. His eyes held no fear, only indignation.
"Are you going to make a decision without even hearing my side?" he said, addressing the Head.
Then he looked at the guards.
"Step away from the girl and from Midas, or you will regret it."
The guards immediately retreated. They knew that even together, they could not face him.
Kael sighed.
"Very well. It is time for us to talk. I will get straight to the point, because I do not want to waste time here. I have my children waiting for me to make pancakes. So, let us begin."
The main hall of the Council was in absolute silence. Blue lights descended from the dome, illuminating the tense faces of the elders, who still could not believe what stood before them: Kael, returned after years.
Aurora and Seraphine stood behind him, Midas at his side, watchful. The heavy gazes of the Council were fixed on the four of them.
Kael stepped forward, inhaled deeply, and finally spoke.
"First of all, it is more than obvious. I refuse every decision you have proposed regarding Elior. Every single one of them is based on sealing him, studying him, or eliminating him."
He raised his head, firm.
"I will never allow you to do any of that to him. His parents entrusted him to me. I have raised him as if he were my own son."
One of the councilors slammed the table.
"But he is not, Kael. That boy is not your son."
Kael clenched his jaw. His gaze hardened.
"Yes. He is not my son by blood," his voice lowered, almost pained. "But I love him as one. I have known him since before he was born. I saw him grow, laugh, cry, and suffer. And if I am here today, it is because you made it impossible to prevent that suffering."
The elders shifted uneasily.
"What do you mean, because of us?" they demanded in unison.
Kael took another step forward, his shadow stretching across the Council table.
"I will explain. Several years ago, during your last battle against demons in Geheris, one of your archangels and his team nearly destroyed a village called Velmira. I lived there, and so did Elior."
A shiver ran through the hall.
"His parents," Kael continued, his voice barely breaking, "ran to help their neighbors, believing it was an earthquake. But the truth was that you were waging a war in the middle of a defenseless village."
The memory tightened his entire body.
"When Elior tried to help them, a house collapsed due to the fight between the archangel and the demon. And in that chaos, the blood of both fell upon him."
All members of the Council opened their eyes in horror.
"Impossible!" one shouted. "That has never happened in history. A human contaminated by two opposing bloods!"
Kael did not waver.
"It happened. And I saw it with my own eyes in his memories. That blood altered him, but I doubt it is the main source of his power."
The elders looked at each other, uneasy, trembling.
"The archangel," Kael continued in a grave voice, "used his ability to purge the demon, and in doing so annihilated several villagers. Including Elior's parents and his sister. And all of it happened right in front of him."
Seraphine swallowed. Aurora clenched her fists. A tense silence took over the hall.
"That is why he hates demons," Kael went on. "And that is why, after the tragedy, his body changed. He became stronger, more resilient. Today, he possesses strength equal to or greater than that of an archangel."
The councilors clenched their teeth, irritated and ashamed.
"What is my point?" Kael lifted his gaze, straight at the Head of the Council. "That if you go after Elior, he will defend himself. No matter the cost. Because you are also responsible for the death of his family."
A muffled murmur spread among the elders.
"You can decide to eliminate him right now, seal him, or ambush him later. But you must know this. Elior adapts to everything at an unimaginable speed. If he is in danger, he will generate a thousand plans in a single second to survive. You will not defeat him so easily."
"Enough!" the Head struck the floor with his staff. The echo resounded beneath the dome. "Do not speak any more lies, Kael. Your words will not change the decision."
Kael narrowed his eyes.
"I am not lying. And you know it. I am telling you what will happen if you face him."
A thick silence followed, until Kael added:
"But there is another alternative. Let me, Aurora, and Seraphine speak with him. Help him understand his power. Help him control what he carries within. I am certain that he can choose his own path without resorting to violence."
Seraphine took a deep breath. Her chest rose and fell with fear. But Kael's words made her feel slightly safer, and terrified at the same time. The Council now knew that Elior would not hesitate to defend himself, even to kill if necessary.
One of the councilors leaned toward the Head.
"Sir, we cannot believe him. We must protect the balance."
The hall split into whispers. Kael had always been respected, many saw him as a hero.
The Head of the Council closed his eyes.
And spoke.
"Very well, Kael. If you believe you can convince the boy, then proceed. Help us understand his power, although what you have told us today has no precedent. We have never seen someone who possesses three bloods, and whose mixture is not the full source of his strength."
The other councilors looked at him, confused by his decision.
But the old man trusted Kael.
"Then, is it a deal?" Kael asked.
"It is a deal."
Kael nodded and turned to leave with Aurora, Seraphine, and Midas. But before crossing the door, he stopped and slowly turned back.
His eyes burned with a silent warning.
"One more thing. If you do not honor this deal, if you even attempt to harm the boy, I will not be responsible for what happens."
The threat hung in the air. It was enough to freeze the blood of more than one.
And the four of them left the hall.
"Why did you say that last part?" Aurora asked once they were away.
Kael sighed.
"Because they will go after Elior. Sooner or later. That old man never yields. They have already made a decision. I just need to know when. It could be today, tomorrow, or months from now."
Seraphine paled.
"So this will never end..."
Kael looked at her with a slight, confident smile.
"I doubt it. You will see."
He stopped in front of the portal.
"They are waiting for me in Geheris. Aurora, Seraphine, do you want to come?"
"R-really?" Aurora asked, surprised.
"Come. It is better that you see Elior with your own eyes."
Seraphine said nothing, but an involuntary smile appeared on her face for the first time all day.
"Midas," Kael said. "Thank you for protecting them."
"I would do anything, Master. Take care. And whatever happens, count on me."
"Thank you very much," Aurora and Seraphine replied in unison.
"I will see you tomorrow, Seraphine," Midas said softly.
"If I am absent, it is because I overslept, Master," she joked.
They crossed the portal.
Warm wind greeted them. Kael asked Aurora to change clothes.
"Why?" she asked, confused.
Seraphine barely held back a laugh.
"Because no one dresses like that here, except the monks," Kael replied. "Besides, Seraphine has never brought her mother here."
"Ah, right," Aurora murmured, blushing.
Once ready, they walked together, talking about what had happened at the Council.
"Seraphine," Kael said. "You will have to train harder."
"I know. Tomorrow after school, I will go without fail."
"Perfect. I will be waiting for you in the same place."
When they arrived at the house, they were greeted by Aramis and Lia running toward Kael.
"Dad!" Aramis shouted, hugging him.
Seraphine and Aurora watched the scene. Especially Aurora, who had not seen Kael smile like that in so long.
The children greeted Seraphine, and she crouched down to hug them.
"How have you been?"
"Good," both replied. "But we do not want to go to Velmira tomorrow."
"Tomorrow?" Seraphine asked, surprised, looking at Kael.
"Yes. They must finish school there. And vacation is almost here."
The children froze when they noticed Aurora.
Seraphine introduced them.
"This is my mother, Aurora."
"Hello!" Lia said. "I really like the color of your eyes."
Aurora opened her eyes in surprise.
"Really?"
"Yes. But they are in third place," Lia said honestly.
"Third place?" Aurora asked, laughing.
"Yes. First is Elior's. Second is Hina's."
"Well, at least I made the podium," Aurora laughed.
Kael asked:
"Kids, where is Elior?"
"He is taking a shower," Aramis replied. "He finished training a little while ago."
Lia took Kael's hand.
"Elior taught me how to guard like this," she struck an awkward pose. "And Aramis too!"
"I am sure you will both do great," Kael smiled.
"Dad, did you bring the ice cream?" Aramis asked.
Kael froze. He had forgotten.
Aramis looked at him with absolute disappointment.
"You forgot, didn't you? You were supposed to buy it!"
"Uh, well, I..."
The door burst open.
"I am here!" Hina announced, entering with two bags. "Here is the ice cream!"
"Hina!" Seraphine ran to hug her.
"What are you doing here?" Hina asked, smiling.
"Kael invited me," Seraphine replied, a little embarrassed.
Hina looked at Aurora.
"You must be Sera's mom! You look so alike."
"Nice to meet you, I am Aurora," she said.
"And I am Hina. Oh, I hope Sera only says good things about me."
"Hmm," Aurora laughed. "Let's say ninety percent are very good."
Hina burst out laughing.
Aramis approached Kael and whispered:
"I told Hina to get the ice cream because I knew you would forget."
"Well thought, son. Well thought," Kael patted his head.
"And Elior?" Hina asked. "Still in the bathroom?"
"Yes," Aramis said, running to put the ice cream away.
"He takes forever. Come on, Sera, let's go hurry him up."
"W-what? Wait!" Seraphine was dragged away by Hina.
Inside Elior's room, Seraphine froze. It was the first time she had seen where he slept. Hina knocked mercilessly on the bathroom door.
"Come out! We have guests!"
"I am coming! Go bother someone else, clown!" Elior shouted from inside.
"You are the clown!" Hina spat, knocking harder.
Seraphine walked toward the desk. Everything was neat. And on top of it, a photo pinned there stopped her cold.
His parents. His sister. And Elior as a child. The last photo before the tragedy.
Seraphine brought a hand to her chest.
"I cannot believe it," she thought. "That smile..."
"Beautiful photo, right?" Hina said, stepping beside her. "His family was very lovely."
"Yes," Seraphine whispered. "They were his world."
She remembered Kael's words at the Council. The brutal death of his parents. Elior's helplessness.
"I suppose he still has not overcome their loss," Hina murmured. "That is why he wants to help everyone."
"Probably," Seraphine nodded. "Alright, let's go now. He should be coming out."
Ten minutes later, Elior exited the bathroom and walked toward the living room. He froze when he saw Aurora for the first time, and Seraphine in his home.
"Seraphine?" he asked, approaching. "What are you doing here?"
Then he looked at Aurora.
"I have not seen you before..."
"She is my mother, Elior," Seraphine said quickly.
"Oh, forgive my manners. I am Elior. It is a pleasure to meet you."
"The pleasure is mine," Aurora replied warmly. "I am Aurora, the mother of this young lady who never stops talking about you."
"Mom!" Seraphine turned red as a tomato.
Everyone held back laughter.
"I hope they are good things," Elior said, looking at Seraphine with a small smile.
"No! I hope she said some bad things too, like with me!" Hina shouted from behind.
During dinner, Aurora could not stop watching Elior. He was completely different from how the Council had described him. Attentive. Protective. When Seraphine bent down to pick up a fork and nearly hit herself on the table, he instinctively extended his hand to protect her, without even looking.
Seraphine blushed when she noticed. Elior only smiled softly and said it was nothing.
Aurora watched the two of them. There was something in their gazes, a strange bond, as if something deeper connected them.
Later, the night grew warm around the fireplace. A pleasant atmosphere, filled with life stories and laughter about the children's school and the situations they had been through there.
But everything shattered in a second.
Elior stood up to add more firewood and suddenly went completely rigid, tilting his head as if searching for something.
The others looked at him in confusion.
"Elior," Kael asked, "what is it?"
The boy did not answer. His breathing quickened. His gaze locked onto the fireplace.
"Hina, Seraphine," he said in a broken voice. "Take the children and Aurora out now."
"What? Why?"
"Now!"
Hina grabbed Lia and Aramis without understanding and pulled them out of the room, while Seraphine rushed to Aurora.
Kael, Aurora, and Seraphine felt the presence at the same time. A cold, heavy, unmistakable pressure.
The fireplace went out instantly.
"What is that?" Hina whispered from the hallway.
Kael clenched his teeth. Aurora stared at the fireplace, ready to act. Seraphine stayed alert, focused on protecting the children and Hina from whatever was there.
From the darkness of the fireplace, a figure slowly emerged. The air froze completely, and the pressure became so intense that the children struggled to breathe. Death had arrived. She had found the moment to intervene, and while everyone stood in shock, she spoke.
"It is not to my liking to intervene in this manner," she said softly, smiling. "I apologize, but I must speak with the boy present here."
Elior instinctively stepped back, but his body froze completely. He was immobilized, trapped in a single instant.
Kael and Aurora stepped forward, but Death did not even look at them.
"Forgive the interruption," she said, turning her head politely. "But as I said, there is an unresolved matter I must address."
She extended her hand and forcefully placed her palm on Elior's face.
"No," Seraphine whispered, her eyes on the verge of revealing their true nature.
And with brutal force, Death slammed Elior into the fireplace, and both vanished in the blink of an eye.
Kael ran forward, but it was useless. Aurora screamed his name. Seraphine fell to her knees, trembling.
The room was left empty, cold, and silent.
Elior was gone.
Death had taken him.
And this time, there was absolutely nothing they could do.