The palace had not slept that night.
Word spread quickly through the halls that a messenger from Hell had arrived, and by the time Lucien, Celestia, and Naamah entered the grand council chamber, the air was already thick with tension.
Torches burned along the obsidian walls, their flames flickering as if disturbed by an unseen wind.
At the center of the chamber stood a single figure.
Tall.
Broad-shouldered.
Wrapped in dark armor that seemed to be forged from molten iron and ancient bone.
His wings were folded behind him—vast and heavy, like those of some monstrous insect.
When he turned, his glowing amber eyes swept across the room with slow calculation.
Lucien stopped walking.
"Well," he muttered.
"That's not subtle."
The demon standing before them was unmistakable.
Beelzebub.
One of the oldest princes of Hell.
Naamah leaned toward Lucien and whispered quietly.
"So Lucifer sent the fly king himself."
Lucien exhaled slowly.
"That's never good."
Beelzebub's gaze shifted toward Celestia.
His eyes lingered on her for a moment… then slowly moved down to her abdomen.
Something like curiosity flickered across his expression.
Then he bowed slightly.
Not deeply.
Just enough to acknowledge power.
"Lady Celestia," he said.
His voice was deep and strangely calm.
"I bring a message from the King of Hell."
Lucien crossed his arms.
"You could have just sent a letter."
Beelzebub looked at him without amusement.
"Lucifer believed the matter required… presence."
Naamah snorted softly.
"That sounds like him."
Celestia stepped forward before Lucien could escalate things.
"What message?"
Beelzebub reached into the folds of his armor and produced a long black scroll sealed with crimson wax.
The seal carried the unmistakable sigil of Lucifer.
He placed it carefully on the stone table.
Lucien eyed it suspiciously.
"What is it this time? Another trade offer?"
Beelzebub's expression didn't change.
"No."
Lucien frowned.
Celestia slowly unsealed the scroll.
Her eyes moved across the elegant infernal script.
Then she froze.
Lucien noticed immediately.
"What?"
Celestia slowly looked up.
"Hell knows."
The room went silent.
Lucien's voice lowered.
"Knows what?"
Celestia placed a hand over her abdomen.
"…about the child."
Naamah swore under her breath.
Lucien's jaw tightened as he turned toward Beelzebub.
"How."
Beelzebub answered simply.
"The same way Heaven knows."
Lucien's eyes narrowed.
"They're watching too."
Beelzebub nodded.
"Yes."
Celestia finished reading the message.
Her expression grew darker.
Lucien stepped closer.
"What else?"
She handed him the scroll.
Lucien read it quickly.
Then sighed.
"Of course."
Naamah grabbed the scroll from him.
"What?"
Lucien rubbed his temples.
"Lucifer is offering protection."
Naamah blinked.
"…What?"
Celestia nodded.
"He believes the awakening of the Architects will destabilize Heaven."
Beelzebub finally spoke again.
"The King believes war between Heaven and Hell may soon become unavoidable."
Lucien scoffed.
"It's always unavoidable."
But Beelzebub shook his head.
"This time… it may involve powers older than both."
That quieted the room.
Naamah looked uneasy for the first time that night.
"So Lucifer wants an alliance."
Beelzebub nodded.
"A temporary one."
Celestia crossed her arms.
"What does he want in return?"
Beelzebub answered immediately.
"Nothing."
Lucien laughed.
"That's a lie."
Beelzebub met his gaze calmly.
"He believes protecting the heir of Balance benefits Hell as much as it benefits you."
Lucien frowned.
"That's not how Lucifer thinks."
Beelzebub said nothing.
Which was answer enough.
Naamah tossed the scroll back onto the table.
"Translation: he definitely wants something."
Celestia studied Beelzebub carefully.
"Why send you personally?"
For the first time the ancient demon hesitated.
Then he said quietly,
"Because something else has awakened."
Lucien stiffened.
"…What?"
Beelzebub looked toward the sky above the palace.
"The disturbances caused by the heir's awakening have reached the Underneath."
Naamah groaned.
"The River of Bones again?"
Beelzebub nodded.
"The ancient ruins beneath it have begun to move."
Celestia's heart sank.
"The Architect ruins."
"Yes."
Lucien cursed softly.
"That was fast."
Beelzebub continued.
"The King believes the Architects are preparing something."
Naamah raised an eyebrow.
"Preparing what?"
Beelzebub's voice dropped slightly.
"A return."
Lucien looked at Celestia.
"Well… there goes our quiet pregnancy."
Celestia sighed.
But Beelzebub was not finished.
"There is one more matter."
Lucien groaned.
"There's always one more."
Beelzebub's gaze shifted again toward Celestia.
But this time his expression hardened slightly.
"Lilith is moving."
Naamah's eyes narrowed instantly.
"That witch again."
Beelzebub nodded.
"She has begun gathering followers in the mortal and neutral realms."
Lucien frowned.
"For what purpose?"
Beelzebub answered bluntly.
"To reach the child before Heaven or Hell can."
The temperature in the room seemed to drop.
Lucien's wings flared slightly behind him.
"She can try."
Beelzebub met his gaze calmly.
"She already has."
Celestia felt something inside her pulse suddenly.
The child moved again.
Not gently this time.
Sharp.
Alert.
The Spirit Guide appeared beside her instantly.
"She felt it."
Lucien turned.
"Felt what?"
The Spirit Guide looked toward the distant horizon.
"Lilith has begun the first step of her plan."
Naamah's voice darkened.
"What step?"
The Guide answered quietly.
"She has begun searching for the Petition Scroll."
Celestia froze.
The unicorn had mentioned that scroll during her journey through the past.
Lucien saw her reaction.
"You know something."
Celestia nodded slowly.
"The scroll was written during the Celestial era."
Beelzebub finished the thought grimly.
"A petition against Heaven itself."
Naamah's eyes widened.
"If Lilith gets that…"
Lucien finished.
"She could destroy the legitimacy of celestial law."
The chamber fell silent again.
Celestia looked toward the night sky.
The watchers beyond the stars.
The awakening Architect ruins.
Lilith gathering forces.
Heaven hiding its guilt.
And now Hell offering alliances.
Her hand rested over her abdomen again.
The child moved softly.
As if aware of every danger surrounding him.
Lucien placed his hand over hers.
His voice was quiet but firm.
"Let them come."
Celestia looked at him.
He smiled faintly.
"Worlds have already tried to stand against us."
He leaned closer.
"And they're still here."
Naamah cracked a small grin.
"Well…"
She drew her blade lazily.
"…this is about to get interesting."