004 | Blurry Line Between Life and Death

"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."