The Tense Atmosphere Has Ended. Niel collapsed weakly to the floor, overwhelmed by the sheer magnitude of the mana that Leviathan had unleashed. Both of his raised hands trembled incessantly as he stared at the front of the dividing door. He knew that creature was a monster, yet this... far exceeded his expectations. Acknowledge him as ruin.
Joking and smiling as Louis. Cold and sharp as Leviathan. Two personalities, one power. Born into the world as a destroyer. Niel rubbed his temples, feeling his head throb with pain. He asked himself, what if that day of ruin was real? Yet seeing him interact normally and enjoy life, would it be safe to think that he would survive?
"Has Master finished?" Lucifer asked, appearing from behind like a mist around Belphegor.
Belphegor approached, hugging Lucifer tightly. "As you can see." He was like a child who was being spoiled.
"Where have you been?" Karya approached with both hands folded in front of his chest.
"What I do has nothing to do with you."
Karya looked at Lucifer scornfully. "I don't know what you're doing. I hope you're doing it for the good."
Lucifer chuckled amusedly, "Since when do demons have to look good?" He turned to leave, leaving Belphegor behind. His eyes looked at the great door, thought, then opened it gracefully. "Master, are you alright?"
Leviathan, who was standing by the side of the bed, turned, looking at Lucifer with a perfect infinity eye. "How is it? Is the situation outside alright?" He closed his eyes, opening them again after the infinity eye had calmed.
One by one, starting with Arneld, entered the room. The thick black mana that had been dancing in the air was gone. The aura of death that had been blowing faded, ushering in the dawn sun that warmed. Eyes brimming with tears, he ran, overcome with emotion, seeing him open his eyes again. With love he embraced him.
"My daughter... My treasure..." Arneld almost cried.
Matthius approached calmly, pressing his body into the remaining space. "Thank goodness you're safe..."
Violet ignored her brother and father, staring at Leviathan who was standing not far beside her. Leviathan noticed and nodded slightly. "It's alright, go on."
Hearing Leviathan speak, the two men who were hugging Violet pulled away, turning back, "Thank you, Master." Arneld bent his back.
"...."
"Vivi...?"
Violet got up from her bed, stood. She pulled her peach nightgown and bent her knee before Leviathan. Respectfully she stood again, hands in front. As if being controlled, she did not dare lift her face. Without speaking and unmoving.
"Who are you?" Leviathan asked.
"Violet, princess of the Luminaria kingdom."
"What will you do after this?"
"Hey, that question is a bit..." Matthius felt Leviathan's question was too heavy for a child Violet's age.
"May I join your journey, Master."
"Vivi..."
With an unusually sharp gaze, Violet glanced at Arneld, conveying an extraordinary sense of shock. That gaze did not belong to his daughter, but rather like a boundless monster. Within the pale purple irises, darkness swirled like waves. He knew, his daughter was dangerous.
"My daughter..."
A soft voice broke the tension. A woman in a nightgown approached, assisted by her servant. Arneld went to her, snatched the hand that was resting, bringing her before the princess. With tears of joy he hugged her tightly. Violet only remained silent, not returning it, before her hand moved awkwardly to pat the trembling back.
"Use your ability to remember again. Come to me after your memory and soul are aligned." Leviathan's message.
"You wish to leave?"
"You can meet me using the teleportation circle I implanted in your memory."
"Understood."
Leviathan snapped his fingers, drawing a deep red magic circle from below. The three demons approached, understanding what their Master was about to do. The magic circle glowed, pulling them in and they vanished. In a mist of light they entered, passed through, and then appeared in the middle of the courtyard of the palace of darkness.
"Is it alright to leave her?" Karya asked.
"It's alright." Leviathan kept his eyes from closing. "I want to rest."
Lucifer promptly caught Leviathan's body as it lost consciousness. Belphegor and Karya worriedly looked at their Master who had collapsed weakly. But Lucifer, he was fine. Calm and elegant, he carried his Master into the palace and laid him on the bed.
"Master is only activating sleep mode to suppress his power again." Lucifer explained, dispelling Karya and Belphegor's worry.
At the same time, in a grand room, the family gathering began. Violet sat silent without a sound, preparing to answer all the questions. However, that did not happen. Her family hugged her, kissed her forehead, then left her room. With a confused feeling, Violet remained silent.
"We're giving you time to remember again."
The door closed, leaving silence. Violet walked to the window, looking outside where dawn was beginning. Shadows of Leviathan's face bewitched her into the image of a prince on a white horse. Like a calm lake that holds great danger, that was how the Demon King was to her.
"Will we... be able to meet again?"
Some time later, in the giant library of the palace of darkness, Leviathan stood looking at a book he had found. Gold-covered with silver frames on every corner. He observed silently without opening it, guessing in his mind what was inside.
"What is Master doing?" Lucifer asked while cleaning the reading table. He was on watch after Leviathan's condition worsened from suppressing his power.
Leviathan turned with the book in his hand. "Do you know what book this is?"
Lucifer stopped, narrowing his eyes at the shimmering book Leviathan was showing. "What is the title written?"
Leviathan flipped through the book, looking for the title and did not find it. Lucifer, understanding, placed a finger on his chin, thinking. "Perhaps it's just an ordinary old book that Master Ethan brought."
Leviathan thought the same, placing the book back on the empty shelf. "Where did Belphegor and Karya go?" he asked as he walked toward the reading table.
"I don't know..." Lucifer glanced at the large window that showed the moonlight shining.
"How is the princess in your opinion?"
Lucifer turned, "Her power is almost on par with the great demons."
Leviathan remained unmoved. Lucifer turned to the small window beside him, staring at something unseen. From another angle, several human shadows hung from branches. He looked at them. Cloaked in black with hoods, faces covered. Each of them had a star emblem on the back of their hand and the back of their cloak.
Lucifer stared sharply at them, observing in silence—then glanced at Leviathan. Somehow his demon eyes flared, causing several of the shadowy figures to fall. Some of them were frightened, trembling, almost ready to kill themselves. Lucifer pressed down on them hard.
Leviathan closed his book, "What is it? What are you looking at?" He approached Lucifer.
Lucifer turned flustered as Leviathan's steps drew nearer. "Nothing, Master. I was just witnessing how beautiful the scenery you created is."
Leviathan, as if not believing it, looked outside to where Lucifer had been looking just now. He found nothing within a one-kilometer radius, only the dense, dark, and sinister-looking demon forest, even though night had not yet begun.
"Lucifer... I trust you as Father once trusted you. I may not be like Father, but I will strive to be a good Master."
Lucifer knelt on one knee, "It is an honor that Master trusts me. Likewise, I will do my best."
Leviathan smiled, kneeling to pull Lucifer back to his feet. Both of his hands rested on Lucifer's shoulders and he said, "Be my sight that shows the way and watches."
Although Lucifer smiled, both of his hands clenched, for what reason, who knows, "Yes, Master. I will not betray you."
The two of them looked together at how the meadow stretched wide, each with their own thoughts. One thinking of its beauty, and one with his tangled mind. With different kinds of efforts, with a long time passing, thoughts like a wound spool could never be unraveled.
"Master Ethan... I will guard him for you. The path I will show may be different, but all my decisions are centered on your son. You must not forget that I am a fallen angel." Lucifer's inner voice was heard only by himself.