Aeris couldn't breathe.
The night air pressed against her chest as if it were trying to crush her lungs, yet the pressure she felt wasn't physical. It was deeper—older. Her back scraped against the cold stone as she crawled away, eyes locked on the horned figure standing calmly before her.
The Demon Lord.
Her mind screamed at her to run, to scream, to faint—anything—but her body refused to move.
Ten stars burned faintly on her chest, their light pulsing in slow, steady rhythm, as if responding to his presence.
Noctryn watched her with a curious tilt of his head, crimson eyes glowing softly. He made no move toward her. In fact, he looked… almost cautious.
"Relax," he said lightly. "If I intended to harm you, this conversation would be much shorter."
"That's not comforting," Aeris whispered, her voice shaking.
He chuckled under his breath. "Humans rarely appreciate honesty."
She swallowed hard. "You—demons—aren't supposed to talk. They're not supposed to kneel. They're not supposed to just… disappear."
"And you're not supposed to have ten stars," Noctryn replied. "Yet here we are."
Her gaze dropped to her chest again. The symbol was unmistakable now—a star-shaped sigil layered over itself, more complex than any Guardian mark she had ever seen. It felt warm. Familiar. As if it had always been there, waiting for her to notice.
"What did you do to me?" she asked.
Noctryn's expression shifted—not guilt, not pride, but something heavier.
"Nothing," he said. "Your parents did."
The words hit harder than any blow.
"My parents are dead," Aeris said sharply, as if daring him to contradict her.
"I'm aware."
Anger flared through her fear. "Then don't talk about them like—like they're part of some story."
"They made sure you were," Noctryn replied calmly.
Silence stretched between them, broken only by the distant wind. Aeris clenched her fists.
"Explain," she said.
For a moment, Noctryn didn't speak. Then he raised one hand, palm open. The air rippled—not violently, but gently, like water disturbed by a falling leaf.
Images bloomed in the space between them.
Two humans stood within a glowing circle of runes. Older than she remembered them being. Tired. Afraid.
Her mother was crying.
Her father stood tall despite the fear in his eyes.
"They were scholars," Noctryn said. "Researchers of forbidden theology. They noticed inconsistencies in the Guardian system. Patterns God didn't want questioned."
The image shifted. Ancient texts. Star diagrams. Pages burned at the edges.
"They found references to a star beyond nine," he continued. "A rank erased from scripture. A power God could not control."
Aeris's chest tightened.
"They found you," Noctryn added quietly.
The image changed again. Her parents stood before him—a towering figure bound in chains of light, far more terrifying than the calm presence before her now.
"They summoned me," he said. "Not to destroy the world. Not to bargain for power."
Her father spoke in the vision, voice trembling but resolute.
Protect her.
Her mother followed, tears streaking her face.
Give her a choice.
"They knew what angels were," Noctryn said. "Obedient. Perfect. Empty. They didn't want you commanded by heaven."
The chains tightened around the demon in the vision.
"They tricked me," he admitted. "Used my own authority—The Word—against me. Forced me to speak a command upon myself."
The image shattered.
The air stilled.
"I sealed my existence," Noctryn said softly. "Bound my star. Anchored myself to you."
Aeris shook her head, tears blurring her vision. "That's impossible. Guardians are assigned by God."
"Nine-star Guardians are," he corrected. "I am not one of them."
Her knees finally gave out, and she collapsed to the ground, hands clutching at her chest.
"So all this time…" she whispered. "I wasn't weak?"
"No," Noctryn said. "You were containing me."
Her memories replayed themselves in a new light—the exhaustion after casting spells, the pain, the limits she always hit too quickly. Her magic hadn't been failing.
It had been restrained.
"Why didn't you tell me?" she asked, voice cracking.
"You didn't ask," he replied simply. "And your parents commanded that I remain silent unless you were in mortal danger."
Her breath hitched.
"So tonight…"
"You finally needed me."
Aeris laughed weakly, then covered her mouth as a sob escaped.
"I was so scared," she said. "I thought God hated me."
Noctryn looked at her for a long moment.
"If God hated you," he said, "He wouldn't be afraid."
She looked up sharply. "Afraid of what?"
"Of choice," Noctryn answered. "Angels obey. Nine-star Guardians enforce divine will. But you—" his gaze flicked to the glowing stars on her chest "—you are not bound to heaven's rules."
The weight of his words settled heavily on her shoulders.
"What happens now?" she asked.
"That depends on you," Noctryn said. "I am sealed. Restricted. I cannot act without your command, and even then my power is limited in this realm."
He paused, then added, "For now."
Aeris stiffened. "For now?"
"The seal is imperfect," he said. "It was never meant to last forever."
She pushed herself to her feet, swaying slightly. "I don't want power. I don't want to fight God. I just want to live."
Noctryn's lips curved into a faint, unreadable smile.
"Then keep pretending," he said. "Return to the academy. Act guardianless. I will remain unseen."
"And if demons attack again?"
"They will not," he said flatly. "Word has already spread."
A chill ran down her spine.
She hesitated. "You won't… control me?"
"I can't," he replied. "And even if I could—" he leaned closer, voice dropping "—I wouldn't."
Their eyes met. For the first time, her fear dulled—replaced by something far more dangerous.
Trust.
Far above them, beyond the clouds and stars, something ancient stirred.
The tenth star had awakened.
And heaven had noticed.