“Dad.. where are you?”

Lucia was lying on the bed. Xe had an arm to hirs forehead, staring towards the wooden beam ceiling with hanging lamps and crystal beads resembling chandeliers.

Randingo was a lot more knowledgeable in regards to the happenings of the mortal sea, thus xe had the opportunity to learn a lot from him. It seems that there’s this exchange system in place whereby captured pureborn angels and demons are spared to become political pieces used in negotiations. It’s an everyday occurrence.

Hirs father had been found in the detention list of imprisoned demons. Yet he went missing after his release.

What did that imply? Lucia couldn’t come up with a tangible explanation and neither could Radingo.

‘Lucia, are you there?’

“What is it?”

‘I think you’d be surprised by this but apparently Lucifer and Avner found your father.’

“What?!”

‘The angels have been behind this all along.. hey. Avner didn’t do anything stupid while he was there right?’

Lucifer was filling in Radingo with the details via call. Lucia quickly hopped outside to listen in to the conversation.

===

What was the correlation between Avner, hirs father, and the angels? Why did hirs father disappear after being released?

Lucia was told to stay inside the cabin until Randingo confirmed the safety outside.

Many possibilities raced through hirs mind as xe paced around the living room endlessly. What did Avner do? What was the angel’s motive? Was hirs father left unscathed?

‘The coast is clear, you can come out now.’

With his permission, xe transformed into particles of light.

“Happy birthday Lucia. I’m back.”

Appearing outside in the mortal sea, the first thing xe heard was hirs father’s voice. Let alone being hurt, there wasn’t even a single scratch on him. Tears welled up in hirs eyes, and being unable to contain hirs emotions any longer, xe tackled him.

Carlos stroked hirs back.

“I’m sorry for leaving you,” he said.

Lucia continued to sob.

“Why? Why did you come so late?”

“You see, lady luck struck despite the situation I was in. I thought of using the chance to fulfill an old friend’s promise.”

“Promise?”

“Yes. The truth is, angels aren’t all bad people.”

He was right.

“Don’t think too hard about it. All that matters is that we’re both safe. Alright?”

Lucia nodded hirs head vigorously.

Xe then looked around, wanting to thank the person who saved him when xe realized..

“Where’s Avner?”

===

I returned to the apartment. Greeted Lia, grandma and grandoa with a lack of energy.

“How did the date go?” Lia asked.

“Not very well.”

“What?!”

I hadn’t the mind to clarify the misunderstanding. I shook my head and went to wash up.

After which I laid down on the bean bag and stared up at the ceiling.

The truth was that things would’ve gone well regardless of my participation. They only reeled me into the conflict as bait.

Carlos was lucky the LIGHTSHADOW decided to sell him to the detention center instead of culling his life. Lucifer said most pureborns just get killed on the spot. That said, I can’t ascertain if her claims were true or that it was based on her experience as there’s no clear data to back the statement.

Either way, Carlos’ plans seemed to have something to do with Trisha’s past as the two knew each other enough to cooperate on something as absurd as destroying an entire fleet.

I can’t believe it’s actually alright for an angel to kill another angel. Sure, I mean, do it if you want. Demons can kill demons too. I just didn’t think someone like Trisha would do something so crass.

Would the angel suspect something when they realize that an entire fleet just went missing? Or has Trisha been given the permission to kill the angels?

Carlos said that he’ll send me my reward for having saved Lucia. I told him that Lucifer would act as the intermediary, since she also played a part in it. Not to mention, Radingo and Ain– a portion of it had to be distributed to them too.

I couldn’t remember much of what happened during the aftermath of the killing. Lucifer took the initiative to help bring Carlos and Lucia back together. I accepted Trisha’s apology. The ALPINE fleet thanked me saying that everything went well even though I practically did nothing but play worm.

After all that, I just went back with the excuse saying that I was tired.

===

“Big bro, are you okay?”

“You don’t look too good Avner.”

“Hm..”

The pancakes taste amazing yet the moment it reaches my tongue, my brain registers it as bland. I left my spoon on the plate.

Let’s think about it for a second.

What is this feeling? And when did it begin?

Right. It began after using the skill Echoing Into the Abyss. I was almost too reckless, wanting to hop into another session without stabilizing my emotions.

[“Avner, I’m open to listen to any issues you might have.”]

Lucifer probably noticed it earlier than I did. Maybe that’s why she didn’t think to drag me into the pureborn’s reunion.

Nevertheless, I didn’t reply to her message.

Previous uses of the skill caused me to unlock memories.

This time, it’s emotions?

Whose feelings are these anyways? Shin’s, Avner’s?

I should stop using that skill shouldn’t I? My personality will become distorted eventually, driving myself towards the edge of some cliff of no return.

“We feel down sometimes, Avner, it’s alright,” grandma stroked my back.

“Thank you.”

I picked up my spoon and resumed eating.

===

I bumped into Radingo during breakfast the next day. He became the official escort ship for Lucia and Carlos’ remainder of the trip.

“Thank you Avner. I’ll not forget what you’ve done for us,” Lucia bowed.

“I’m pretty sure your father was the one who did the work. Things would’ve gone well regardless.”

“No. If that accident which Miss angel told me about didn’t happen, she wouldn’t have come to meet me, you know?” Carlos said.

“You would’ve gotten released from the detention center and returned to Hades safely even if Trisha didn’t come to meet you, right?”

I’m just making assumptions of the situation based on their previous explanations.

Carlos shook his head.

“There are many troublesome processes which I would have to complete if not for her interference. She did well to bribe the other angels. Not half bad, right?”

The real swindler here is this demon right here.

“You see. I had an old friend one time. He had a girl he liked very much. I was a regular of his. And on board his ship one time, those angels closed in with an ambush.”

Carlos looked towards the sky. The rays of gold light glimmering off the building from the morning sun.

“In his last moments, he left a will.”

He then looked at me.

“Revenge.”

…

“I didn’t have any intentions to corrupt the angel. But as his girl, I felt that she’d gladly fall for his sake.”

So that’s why Trisha accepted Carlos’ contract.

“What I’ve learnt through all these years of traveling, no matter if you’re an angel or demon, as long as you’re a mortalborn, you all are humans. Humans are volatile beings. There are no differences except what is portrayed in the mind. So what is separating you from accepting the angels?”

I tried to accept them. They’re the ones drawing the hard line.

“No idea,” I said.

Carlos nodded with his eyes closed in understanding.

“Think of it as an appeal of mine. Would you at least spend some time considering your options to join Miss angel’s fleet? Is what I’m trying to say.”

“Dad,” Lucia looked between us warily.

I shook my head.

“I probably won’t join their fleet. But I’ll do what I can to help.”

I’m still an ALPINE member. But I’ll go back to 7SEAS eventually.

“Wouldn’t be able to force you would I now? Nevertheless, I believe you’re the kind who’d put yourself on the line for others.”

It’s quite stupid if you think about it. I’m no hero, yet I try to be one.

“In regard to the rewards, that Miss demon you were with the day earlier, I’ll do the dealings through her since she said she manages your fleet’s finances.”

“Alright. Thank you very much, Carlos.”

“Likewise, I offer you my sincere gratitudes. If you need anything, you are free to find me. During the next company meeting, I’ll be sure to put in your name as an escort recommendation.”

He’s a merchant. Can’t forget that.

I nodded.

“Thank you Avner, for everything,” Lucia curtsied.

“Then we shall take our leave. Too long and your family will become suspicious. Take care, and till we meet again,” Carlos bowed.

The two pureborn demons turned around and began flying towards Randingo. Lucia stopped midway, as if realizing something, xe turned back around.

“Avner.”

Xe took out a small piece of paper and tucked it into the pocket of my jacket. It was a wonder how it fit in hirs clothes.

“Read it when you get home,” xe said with a serious face.

I stuffed my hands into the space and shoved it deeper inside.

“Thank you both for everything.”

Lucia caught up with Carlos. Radingo showed me a peace-out sign, pushing against the pillar, he went off with the two.

Thank you ‘both’ for everything?

Maybe xe meant Lucifer.

In any case, stay safe you guys.

I returned to my table after having used the excuse that I had to use the washroom.

I noticed how there’s still that bowl of yellow and white in front of her.

“Lia.”

“You take it,” xe pushed it to me.

“You should try some at least. Trust me, you wont regret it.”

I’m talking about the golden soft boiled eggs here. Xe’s adamant it tastes weird, saying that it smells disgusting.

Sure, I’d be glad to take it. Just that, I think xe’ll regret not knowing how amazing this food item is.

Grandoa and grandma chuckled.

“Next week is school opening. Are there any stationeries you need to stock up on?”

Even though most things are digital, stationery items like booklets and pens are still a ‘necessity’. Necessity in the sense that they give off the glamor of a school vibe. It’s totally possible to survive the year without these items.

Now that Lucia’s problem is solved, I can focus on looking forward to a new school year.

===

dotturndot: Yay, arc completed~