Chapter 684: True Demonlord [15]

Reality shifted; the Shadow Realm switched for the Overworld. Only a few hours ago, a battle of epic proportions devastated the landscape. Instead of returning, Lilith thought it best to have Draconis and Saniata remain, the training would be harsher. 

"We finally meet," said Igna sat on the stairs.

"Master, please be kind and remove thy shoes in thy room?"

"Just for once," he leaned back towards the corridor, "-Asmodeus and Kul, you two, head to the basement right away."

"I'm going to sleep," said Aceline, her long legs swiftly stride across.

"-Aceline, wait," her steps slowed, the trio nodded and left.

"Are you irritated?" he approached gently as to not wake a bear.

"OBVIOUSLY," she snapped, "-I WAS NEARLY KILLED!" 

"Didn't Éclair save you?"

"Save me?" her eyes narrowed, "-the images of him being shot in the face while protecting me is called saving?"

"He's a hero then, you should be glad for he arrived like a knight to rescue a princess."

"Drop the shit!" yelled across the hallway, "-I was terrified and sad, I thought the manor would be destroyed, I didn't know what to say or do, I have nothing else in this world. You selfish, the moment you collapsed from saving those two – the guilt they felt, the heavy the house got, I couldn't take it."

"And?" he held her hands, "-I won't apologize for my actions. What I did was right, and I won't argue otherwise."

"Don't you have a heart?" her lashes flickered.

"Me?" he paused; "-I have a beating heart. What I feel is numbness," he placed a hand onto her shoulder in compassion, "-the reality is a harsh pill to swallow. The reason we're in Alphia isn't morally gratifying. I won't go into details, which is why I'll give you a way out. I understand my actions to bring you back were selfish, and I've done nothing to make the return worth the time. I was fixated on revenge, now I see, I should have kept a higher sight."

"So, you going to abandon me?"

"Yes," he firmed his resolve, "-I am, and the decision is final."

Words of grave consequence reached her ears, her face utterly embraced the epitome of despair and betrayal, for her, the idol who had been betrayed by all was going to be abandoned, the fear of solitude, her anger, it portrait across clearly. "-That's it," her voice lowered, "-since I don't have a use, and the plan of being an idol is out the window, I'll be sent away. Igna…"

"Don't," he placed an index to her luscious lips, "-think what you may. I won't give any excuses, having you here at this moment is dangerous. The prior events speak for themselves, Hate me, I'll still be by your side. Long ago, the Aceline I met before becoming her bodyguard, was a person dead-set on fighting the world with her music. Back then, I was a fledgling who knew not of the true depth of where we lived. I'm not ashamed to admit, I was ignorant. People change, and so do the priorities; Alphia isn't the place to be. Gang violence, and the monster invasion, will become worse – Asmodeus and Kul, two of the strongest people I've met, were soundly defeated by a servant no less. If I allow a close companion of mine, the best friend to queen Gallienne be hurt, I'll never hear the end of it. Take a step and breathe, your personality has changed from nervous to confident. Hidros is where you're meant to be." 

"I know," she sighed, "-I know," she approached and stared his deep crimson eyes, "-part of me doesn't want to leave. Stop facing the enemy alone, stop facing the world alone, am I not support?"

"You are," the eyelashes blinked softly, "-you're strong, there's no denying," he smiled and shifted to allow a better look behind, "-who says I'm alone. I have Éclair, Asmodeus, Kul, and, " two figures materialized, "-Cora and Starix."

"Basically, I'm unwanted?"

"No," he shuffled her hair, "-I'm saying to work harder in Hidros. Arda's yet to recover from war, the Federation need a beacon, someone to rally behind. The Pride of Hidros is still a title worthy of the name. Return to Apexi, show the new generation what it means to fight without violence."

"What about you?" 

"I'll do what I've always done, embrace the darker side of what the world has to offer. The greater the light, the deeper the shadow – become the light the people need, become someone they strive to be."

"I yield."

"Huh?"

"No way I'm going to win an argument against you. Share the burden with the others, I know there's much to be done," the troubled face forced a smile, one of which he knew the value, "-I'll carry your wishes to Hidros. We've yet to form the band, guitarist. I'll start the selection of members. We made a promise to perform as one, I'll hold those words until thee dies."

"If you can last an eternity, then I'll be happy to oblige."

Thus, the conversation ended. The prince and the demoness, aided by Éclair, took off from the roof and made for a different airstrip. There, Aceline would return home without trouble. The jet would take flight at the crack of dawn, an aerial view of the continent, especially the warzone of northern Odgawoan, firmed what he told. '-He had our best interest in mind. The music world, here I come once more. Igna, don't get yourself killed.' 

A few hours after the take-off, the manor's rumble increased at intervals. "-Master, I've stationed the guards around the hill, anything else I must attend?"

"Where is Starix?" the feet were kicked onto a smaller table inside the study.

"I have no idea, master."

"Send for her immediately." 

"As wished," the door closed to a relieved exhale, '-how imposing can a man be. I still can't get used to his voice. I sense more power within, does he not know the limit of his own strength?'

"What's with the gloominess," inquired a chirpy Éclair.

"Gloominess?" they walked to the ground floor; "-I don't understand."

"First time working for the master, right," he smiled with head held high.

"No, I was present when he laid another world to waste."

"Color me impressed," the lift arrived, "-the manor feels secure. Albeit, too much," they stopped to a peep, "-he's brought in heavy weapons to fend off attackers. Manor's basically a military outpost."

"What about the state, what do they have to say?"

"What state, the law doesn't apply to us. I speak not in arrogance but truth, the mortal world has no authority to lay harm onto what the master possesses. We do our best to fulfill his will. Take time and enjoy the company, I promise, life won't be dull." He drew up to the gallery where Starix waited before the paintings, "-the master called."

"Alright," she nodded.

'What sort of life awaits us in this world I wonder?' as he thought, the door barged opened, "-ÉCLAIR, WE NEED MONEY!" cried Asmodeus. 

"What's with them," returned Éclair angrily, he stormed to the entrance and unloaded a volley of insults. Weirdly enough, for the first time in ages, Cora felt serenity in the chaos, '-I'm glad we came.'

The study door shifted softly, "-you asked for me?"

"Starix, take a seat," said Igna.

"Alright," the genderless homunculus was easy on the eyes, an advantage of which the world held at high esteem. "Starix, when you reawakened, what talent did thee wish for?"

"To be someone of great wit and intellect, I wanted to aid in strategies."

"Strategy," he dug a few files and fired them across the room, the holographical display took her a few moments to digest, "-here's the current state of affairs. Raven's are locked in the great battle against three exponentially strong families, a three versus one. On one hand, the Raven has the backing of a few men, while the three others are of a whole army with an endless amount of supplies and money. What will it take to win?"

"Give me a moment," she scanned the documents effortlessly, page after page, her pupils went left to right, "-perhaps, a change of side is needed."

"Care to explain?"

"If Raven's are the supplier, they hold the market. It's understandable the trio will want to fight and get their share of the pie. If Raven's are to switch sides and ally to another party, the balance of power will come to a standstill."

"Stop right there, the Raven's mustn't have outside help."

"Simple really, use force. Take out as many of their members, fight a battle of attrition. There's the invasion of monsters; might I suggest, as the King of Monsters, an attack under the guise of an assault isn't far from the picture. How about an independent party blindsides the families, let them be unknown and the product of nature. It should be easy to pass off a massacre when monsters are involved."

"I like the idea, tell me more."

"More," she paused, "-Raven stand no chance with Asmodeus and Kul. They need more members and a stronger core."

"What if you became the core?"

"Me, core?" perplexion echoed about her visage, "-I don't understand."

"Starix, what you proposed was exactly what I thought a few hours ago. It's yet to be decided how to go about the battle. We need the favor of the town first; I have the perfect puppet. The lady owes us more than she could ever repay. Establish a direct link to Éclair, work together as the core of Raven. Money rules the world – the ultimate objective is to bring the Dark-Guild into Alphia. We need not wipe out the families, they're backed by Conglomerates, murder alone isn't going to win the battle. Change the mindset of fighting monsters to fighting people, you were a princess, you know how politics works, use those experiences. From today onward, you're assigned to the Raven."

"Are you sure my lord?" 

*Realm of which I preside, grant me sight into a person's true self, grant me the authority to bypass their psyche – True Sight.* 

'I see,' the blatantly shiny pupils scanned top to bottom, *Partial Realm Expansion: Shadow Realm Variant – Rantiam.* a barrier entrapped her body, '-she's stronger than normal humans but weaker than apostles. She'll need to be able to fight, let's increase her latent abilities to be on par with Platinum Ranked Adventurers. She seems more of the type to lead as the commander. I'll grant her the ability to summon part of the undead army inside the Shadow realm.'

"Master?"

"Sorry," *dispel.* "-I've bestowed greater abilities and the skill to summon and recruit undead fighters. Basically, necromancy. This should compensate for the lack of members in Raven, am I correct?"

"Yes, very much so," doubt remained steadfast.

"Don't worry," *snap,* a heavy-armed insurgent of a puppet summoned, "-they're strong and won't die; they have the protection of the Shadow Realm. Only transfer those who are worthy of the title, the art of necromancy is a talent not to be taken lightly." 

"Alright master," she nodded and left.

'Sister Eira and Mother have become important figures in the world. The Federations are in dire need of help. The situation pertaining to the attacks has gotten worse.'

*dring,* "-master, unidentified figure inbound, permission to shoot."

"Denied," he teleported to the roof, "-I know that presence." A massive gust carried to a soft landing, a figure with levitated hair stood with a tensed expression, "-Igna, the imperial family is in danger, I need help."

"Loftha," he turned nonchalantly, "-shouldn't my sister be there to protect?"

"She's on honeymoon with my brother, our land is being invaded by monsters, the leader is an entity who can replicate my skills," on closer look, her face and arms were in an utter mess, the fatigued forced her to on the knees.

"Why come to me?"

"You're strong, I heard the rumors. Please, I'm begging you."

"Don't beg," he knelt and held her chin, "-I like it better when you have a strong expression, not this mess of a woman. Don't beg, since my sister married into Alphia, I share the responsibility." *Mana Control: Healing Element Variant: Restoration.* a polite hue eased the extreme pain.

"Don't patronize me," her vigor returned, "-I prefer men of actions."

"Suit yourself," he stood and offered his handkerchief, "-a princess mustn't lower her head, no matter the ordeal."