"Forgive me, my Lord… I'll look into it immediately."
Seraphim released Drizella.
She collapsed to the ground, sweating furiously, her chest rising and falling like she had just survived death.
Drizella scrambled to arrange the ritual while Seraphim sat down calmly, watching her with an intense gaze that made her hands shake.
She sat on the floor with her legs folded.
The candles surrounding her ignited on their own.
Her eyes rolled back slightly as she entered a trance.
A few seconds passed.
Then—
"I see…" Drizella murmured.
Her brows furrowed.
"…Nothing, my Lord. It's all bleak."
The candles went out instantly.
Drizella snapped out of the trance and fell to her knees, trembling.
"Believe me, my Lord," she pleaded. "The celestial powers are preventing me from looking into her future. I can't see anything."
Seraphim chuckled dryly.
So Solmai would go to such lengths just to stop him from returning home.
"The human offered the key willingly to me," Seraphim said slowly. "I tried to take it… but it repelled me."
Drizella frowned, sinking into deep thought.
She had to give him something.
Her life depended on it.
"My best guess," she said carefully, "is that the key has a will of its own… or a mind."
"The human doesn't have enough strength to control the key willingly, so it acts on its own accord."
Seraphim drummed his fingers on the arm of the chair, his expression unreadable.
The human wasn't strong enough to control the key…
Yet she was strong enough to resist extraction.
"How strong must she be?" he asked.
Drizella swallowed.
"Stronger than the key itself, my Lord."
She hesitated before adding—
"She has to come out of that childlike state. Like they say… a matured mind is the strongest."
Seraphim stood up slowly, his cold eyes scanning Drizella as though searching for lies.
"Be useful next time we meet."
And then—
He vanished.
Drizella released the breath she'd been holding and collapsed backward, totally relieved.
But the relief didn't last.
"Wait…" she muttered, eyes widening.
"What did he mean by be useful? So all the information I gave him was void?"
She paused.
Then gasped.
"Next time we meet?!"
She sprang to her feet and stomped on the floor in panic.
"That means I have to see him again—ahhhh!"
"I don't want a next time!!!"
✯
✧ FOG OF EXILED SOULS
— Outside the Barrier
Constantine knelt on the ground, bowing low, his forehead pressed to the earth.
From inside the barrier, Noxar's voice boomed—deep, cruel, and heavy with hatred.
"Where is the bait to our plan?"
Constantine lowered his head even more.
"I'm sorry, Master… but she is not easy to convince."
"Then use her weakness to threaten her," Noxar growled.
Constantine exhaled.
"Her weakness is that fallen angel. And she's confident enough that he won't leave her for the key bearer."
Noxar's growl deepened.
The entire space trembled violently, as if the air itself feared him.
"You must do everything possible to bring her over to our side," Noxar thundered.
"That key must be in our hands before that fallen angel touches it."
"Yes, Master," Constantine replied.
Noxar's voice lowered into something darker.
"I shall have revenge on Solmai for locking me in this place."
Constantine raised his head slightly.
"I'll handle the useless key bearer."
"Yes," Noxar replied. "Once you have the key… the first thing you will do is use it to break down this barrier."
Constantine nodded firmly.
"Of course, Master. That is one thing I won't forget."
Noxar chuckled.
"Solmai… prepare to be dethroned."
✯
✧ ENCHANTED CASTLE
— Massive Hallway
Vaelric appeared at the center of the hallway, looking devastatingly handsome as always.
His eyes gleamed their usual blood-red.
He headed toward Seraphim's study.
He had an important message to deliver.
"Oh," he muttered, pausing as he saw a familiar figure walking toward him.
Long dark hair.
A maid uniform.
Zenovia.
Zenovia gasped the moment she saw him.
Her cheeks turned red instantly as his gaze pinned her down—intense, unblinking.
"Sir Vaelric," she bowed quickly, hands clamped together in front of her.
She looked… cute.
Vaelric smirked, taking in her appearance.
His gaze lingered on her thighs, exposed by the short gown.
"You walk around looking like this every day?"
Zenovia's breath hitched.
Before she could reply, he stepped forward—slow and deliberate—until she was trapped against the wall.
His arms boxed her in, leaving her no space to escape.
"Y-Yes, Sir Vaelric," she stammered.
Vaelric's eyes moved to her chest.
It was covered…
But still obvious.
"I'm the only one allowed to see you like this."
Zenovia shivered, biting back a moan.
Vaelric's hand traced her exposed thigh, moving upward slowly.
"I'm the only one allowed," he repeated, voice rough.
"Pipsqueak."
Zenovia's lips parted, her face already tomato-red.
Vaelric tugged the hem of her dress.
The fabric shimmered.
And the gown grew longer, covering her thighs completely—like it had obeyed him.
Zenovia's eyes widened in shock.
Vaelric leaned closer, his mouth brushing her ear.
"Expose them again…" he murmured, "and I'll be forced to pin you to the wall and ruin you."
Zenovia sucked in a breath, trembling.
Vaelric chuckled at her expression.
Honestly…
It was adorable.
"See you soon, pipsqueak."
And then he walked away like nothing happened.
Zenovia slid down to the floor like jelly, her heart racing, cheeks still burning.
"What just happened…?"
She stared at her gown.
It had literally grown longer overnight.
✯
✧ SERAPHIM'S STUDY
Seraphim leaned back in his chair, eyes closed briefly.
Vaelric stood in front of him, waiting.
"My Lord," Vaelric said, "you can't keep avoiding Roakic forever. He has been waiting for you in the Velvet Void every day."
Seraphim sighed.
Roakic was a greedy entity.
Always wanting more power.
He traded rare artifacts and information for it.
"I'll go to him today," Seraphim finally said.
"Whenever you're ready, my Lord," Vaelric replied.
A short silence.
Then Vaelric asked—
"My Lord… any updates from Aridalle?"
Seraphim's eyes opened lazily.
"Who?"
Vaelric's lips twitched.
"The key bearer."
"Oh." Seraphim grinned darkly. "You mean the human."
"She's ready to give me the key… but the stupid key itself isn't willing."
Vaelric stared at him, surprised.
All of that happened in one day?
"So what's the solution?" he asked.
Seraphim turned his chair toward the glass wall, watching the dark sky outside.
"The accident involving her parents locked her in a childlike state," he said. "She needs to come out of it."
Vaelric frowned.
"How?"
Seraphim's grin widened.
"Let's watch and see."
✯
✧ EVERLAND COLLEGE
Courtney chuckled, locking arms with Maelynn as they walked through the hallway.
They talked excitedly, laughing like best friends always do.
"Damn, bae, you're glowing," Maelynn teased. "That makeup with Jace is wow."
Courtney blushed.
"Aww, come on. Stop teasing me."
"So we'll be expecting him in school today?" Maelynn asked.
"Yeah."
Maelynn rolled her eyes.
"Cool. What kind of boyfriend stops coming to school whenever he quarrels with his girlfriend?"
Courtney sighed, resting her head on Maelynn's shoulder.
"I have no idea."
Suddenly, everyone in the hallway paused.
Whispers broke out.
Excited, breathless whispers.
Maelynn blinked.
"Uh… what's all that whispering for?"
Aridalle walked toward them.
Her morning glow was like sunlight.
She looked like a porcelain doll—long silky hair, flawless skin, and a figure that made heads turn without effort.
She wore a casual but outstanding outfit:
A white T-shirt.
A short flared skirt.
Knee-length socks.
Black boots.
She looked like a high school queen bee… transported into college.
"Oh my gosh, Ari! You're looking so cute!" Maelynn squealed, rushing to her.
Courtney followed, ignoring the eyes on them.
"Girl, you're bringing queen bee vibes right into college. This is awesome!"
Aridalle blushed, feeling loved.
"Thank you, guys… I just wanted to wear something simple."
"You did," Maelynn said, grabbing her hand. "But in a unique way."
"Come on, let's go. We're late for class already."
They dragged her toward the lecture hall.
✯
✧ LECTURE HALL
The vibe in the hall was different.
Girls were gushing, blushing, and whispering excitedly.
The boys looked bored.
Aridalle frowned slightly.
"What's going on?" she muttered.
Maelynn blinked, puzzled.
"Maybe a new announcement has been made on the school website?"
Courtney scrolled through her phone.
"There's nothing here."
Maelynn sighed, scanning for empty seats.
"Let's just sit down before the professor comes in."
They sat near the front—not too far from the board.
A few minutes later…
Someone entered.
The entire hall went silent.
His aura was commanding—so powerful it spoke before he did.
One look at him and the girls were hooked.
Some were literally drooling.
Whispers broke out like wildfire.
"Oh my gosh, he's so handsome."
"Look at his face… breathtaking."
"Someone catch me, I'm falling in love."
"I'm breaking up with Daniel. This professor is mine!"
Aridalle's eyes landed on him and her face went pale.
Her breathing became heavy.
What the hell was he doing here?
"Hello, students," his deep voice drawled.
"Ahhhh! His voice is out of this world!"
Sariel chuckled, his eyes gleaming—fixed on one particular shocked person.
"I'm Sariel," he said smoothly. "Your new Fine Arts professor."
Aridalle's jaw dropped.