"Arlo!" Lunabelle's cry forced Arlo back to reality. Yet truthfully, her presence only intensified his fear. "Why are you just silent?"
Kieran, standing near Arlo, followed his gaze. But the powerful revenant, who could even read minds, remained mute, perplexed. "As strong as you wizards may be, only those blessed by the Gods can see and hear us, the spirits of the netherworld," Azathan explained unprompted. His low, resonant voice sent shivers down Arlo's spine. "No matter how powerful you wizards become, you cannot touch or oppose us."Azathan is here, Arlo reminded himself. Azathan is here to kill me. "Kieran." Arlo turned to his foster father, disbelieving that even with the powerful revenant staring and reading his thoughts, he still couldn't detect the presence of the mighty demon nearby. "You've neglected me and Lunabelle, putting us in danger," Arlo continued. Despite his trembling hands, his voice was firm and loud. "You don't deserve to be our father!" "Arlo," Kieran started, taken aback. "I—" Arlo didn't let him finish. "Leave me alone! Get out, all of you! Get out of my bedroom!" he shouted. Kieran's jaw trembled. Arlo was acutely aware that the man had tried his utmost to protect both him and Lunabelle, to be the caring father they never had. Yet, he had to do this. "GET OUT OF MY SIGHT!" Arlo yelled again. Kieran didn't need to be told twice to vanish in the blink of an eye. Meanwhile, Julian and Serena cast disappointed glances at Arlo as they guided Lunabelle out of the room. Arlo simply closed his eyes until he heard the sound of the door closing. When he opened his eyes again, the angel was calmly walking towards him, wings spread wide. "Since your mood seems to be in a decent state," Azathan murmured sardonically, his lips curling into a smile as sweet as a demon's temptation. "I still offer you the chance to become my ally." His hands, as cold as ice, rubbed Arlo's palm. The magical pattern he had traced earlier dimly glowed. "You've met your sister," Azathan whispered. "You've bid her farewell as you should have. Come, accept my offer." No, not yet. Arlo hadn't said a proper farewell. He had even yelled at everyone to leave him alone. If that were the last thing he said to Lunabelle, she would hate him forever. "Come on, Arlo," pleaded Azathan. "You know that refusing my request is tantamount to accepting your own demise." Arlo's fists clenched even tighter. He still remembered how Azathan's wings flapped faster than light. He still remembered how the angelic demon had thrown him like a book. He still feared the angelic demon. Profoundly so. But Arlo was confident that the fact he was alive and breathing meant Azathan's power was not flawless. He got off his bed and grabbed the decorative sword from the wall. Pointed it straight at the demonic angel. "My answer remains the same," he replied, a confident smile on his face. "Let's continue our duel from earlier, Demon."If Arlo had a choice, he wouldn't want to fight against the demonic angel, especially one residing in the highest palace of hell. But his recent encounter with Azathan in hell had made him realize one thing: he still wanted to live.Arlo tightened his grip on the ornamental sword handle in his hand, watching how Azathan stood nervously before him. He knew exactly what made the demon hesitate. Yet, it did nothing to diminish its immense power.While the angel still stood hesitating, Arlo launched his attack. He drew his sword just as Azathan moved with the speed of light to a corner of the room. His broad wings collided with picture frames and paintings on the walls, causing them to crash, shatter, and scatter.But his hesitation ended there. As Arlo suspected, the cramped space filled with furniture did nothing to diminish his immense power. In the next moment, Azathan was already on the offensive.The demon advanced towards him, thrusting his large sword until it pierced the bedside
Arlo couldn't remember why he and Kieran couldn't chat as freely as they used to. When Kieran invited him to teleport to a garden on the palace roof, Arlo still felt a tangible awkwardness between them.At a glance, Arlo knew Kieran had indeed changed. His sharp, luxurious attire for some important meeting or another, the magical aura surrounding his body, his nobility, his paternal demeanor... all of it was very unlike the Kieran from nine years ago when the man had adopted him."Arlo, you know I can hear your thoughts very clearly," Kieran whispered. The immortal man sat on a bench in the garden, looking weary as if he had just saved the world—which he had. "But I did bring you here to speak heart-to-heart."Arlo quickly took a seat on another garden chair, trying to restrain his eye roll. Handling his own battles without anyone knowing, let alone assisting him, was equally exhausting."Before I returned to your room earlier, I had resolved not to let you go, Arlo," Kieran whispered
Although his life was upside down, everyone around him could still laugh and joke. So Arlo just sat in his chair, cutting through his steak with resentment."Oh my, Arlo, just relax!" exclaimed Lunabelle beside him, sitting upright and graceful like a sudden princess of Varidianth. "We should eat with gratitude and love.""Yeah, but my love already burned in hell," grumbled Arlo offhandedly. He began to eat, trying not to direct his frustration towards her."By the way," Lunabelle's hand groped the table until finding his arm. "I hope nothing changes between us, Arlo."Arlo softened. "Do you want to tell me the reason now? The reason why you want to live with Elios and Lana?""It's because," Lunabelle's voice faltered. "The weather in Remirer is always warm. I can imagine lots of stars at night, and blue skies during the day. It's so nice to stroll in the park with Cloud."Arlo chuckled, though not genuinely happy. "Alright. Weather is just one of Remirer's many perks," he murmured. "
The weather in Umbravale was bright this afternoon, prompting Lord Xavian to invite everyone to enjoy the sunlight in the backyard. Knights practiced swordplay while servants lounged and chatted. This was the Nyxshade couple's desired homecoming celebration.After Lord Xavian returned from a brief swordfight with their family's best knights, Kieran said to him, "You owe me a lot of explanations, Father."Arlo, sitting leisurely with Lady Chandie, simply sipped his lemonade. Silent and observant, he pondered what Kieran's upbringing in this family was truly like. Surely it wasn't as flawless as depicted in paintings or recounted by the servants. There must be untold stories, not all of them pleasant."About what?" replied Lord Xavian as he joined them, taking his glass of lemonade and sipping it. With every movement, there was a dense magical aura that moved with him, indicating that the power he possessed far surpassed Kieran's.However, unlike Kieran, Arlo felt no fear towards the ma
"I never thought you were the type of boy who enjoys hiding away in libraries and devouring a few books," muttered Lord Xavian as he entered the library.Arlo didn't look up from the thick Umbravale population data book he was reading, a book as thick as a bowl that had been unsettling him since earlier."Oh, so you're spying on my people," remarked Xavian. He sat in the nearest chair, crossing his legs. "If you're looking for the address of the girl you fancy at school, you should be reading the latest volume. Not that one.""If only it were that simple," Arlo grumbled inwardly. "No. I'm, uh, learning to become a good Nyxshade," he lied. "Since I'm destined to be the future Duke, who knows, right?""To become a good Nyxshade doesn't necessarily mean you'll make a good Duke," Xavian lamented. "Just tell me the name of the maid you're trying to find out about. I might know her family."Arlo set down his book. He was now gaping. "How did you know I was trying to find out about a maid?"
As Arlo hurried through the streets of the small town, the magical pattern Azathan had painted on the back of his hand began to softly shimmer with a silvery glow. It was beautiful, albeit faint.Umbravale City continued to breathe. While across town, Kieran might be exorcising the remaining dead souls, the townspeople carried on peacefully in their homes, emanating warmth.Arlo tucked his hand into his coat pocket, feeling the night breeze whispering something peculiar to him. It hinted that in the darkest corners of this small town, the ghosts were hiding from the pursuit of hell. They wandered and threatened, perhaps content that neither witches nor sensitive children could sense their presence.No, that thought was mistaken. Moving nimbly through the narrow gaps between houses, Arlo began to feel that emptiness. The complex feelings severed upon death's arrival. Feelings of being sidelined and ostracized when life mocked.That's what Arlo felt as his steps led him to the grand hou
Azathan stood calmly before him. He appeared radiant and alive amidst the crumbling house's courtyard. His wings, as black as the universe, gently flapped on his back. Meanwhile, his feet hung steadily a few inches above the ground. His bare chest was covered with shimmering greenish bubbles where Arlo had once stabbed him.Arlo quickly drew a dagger from his coat pocket, but it crumbled into dust in his hands."You've just witnessed the Life Chronicles," murmured Azathan. His deep voice was smoother than the blowing wind. "Be careful, as long as you watch it, you become more vulnerable to attack.""Why don't you attack me then?" Arlo questioned.Azathan laughed, like an old chimney wheezing smoke. "Attack you at your weakest moment? I do not need such lowly deeds," he said. "But there's a wretched spirit in this place eager to do so. Just watch."Then, as swiftly as he had appeared, Azathan vanished in a cold red mist. Leaving Arlo alone in the courtyard of Darklake House. Or at leas
The attack came faster than a blink. Arlo sighed in frustration, then drew his ornate sword from the canvas painting, trying to conceal his disappointment at its fragile and rusty texture."If anyone else heard you say that, they might think I'm the villain here," he muttered. He weighed the ornate sword for a moment before pointing it at Riley. "But fine, as a gracious guest, I'll tell you why I'm here. I saw you this evening haunting Sheila and her baby's lives. Long story short, I want you to return to hell."Riley furrowed his brow. "I don't know what you're talking about," he said. "Leave this place now if you want to leave in one piece."Arlo tilted his head, tightening his grip on the ornamental sword. "You realize I could quote you on that too, right?" he retorted. "I want you to leave this world and let Sheila live in peace."Suddenly, more swords appeared, swirling around Riley's head. Some were ornamental like Arlo's, but others were real. Arlo quickly noticed the superior