The next morning, Ain was brought fancy, official-looking clothes via a duo of maids, both of whom were glared at murderously by Senon. It was hard to tell whether Senon was being protective or jealous. Or just angry in general.

Ain absolutely hated being told what to wear. Even in the previous era, when he graduated from the Hero Academy, he wore a plain outfit to the ceremony. The only time he did dress properly was for the Empress.

This outfit was very much like that. It was a black, military-style, formal dress coat. The coat had gold, braided epaulets, and numerous decorations along its double-breasted style. The pants, gold embroidered on the sides, were of a more austere style in comparison. The shoes, belt, and shoulder-cloak were matching black and gold.

It was this outfit that made Ain realize that the situation was more dire than he thought it would be, considering his past interactions with the Queen -- although, back then, she was still the Imperial Princess.

The procession through the city was staggering. Thousands of people lined the main street and threw rose petals at the feet of the party of Ain, consisting of himself, Aster Ren, Latela and Senon. The two goblins were not with them, though.

The cacophony of cheers echoed throughout the entire city, and what was once was purely demonic had transformed into something else entirely. The ones throwing rose petals were all soldiers, some in armor, others off-duty. The demons, although present, did not participate in the jubilation.

The main street was wide enough to accommodate twenty people walking shoulder to shoulder, and even so, it was so packed that it took Ain half an hour to reach the provincial palace of Gramr'ial.

"The Queen has been talking about you non-stop," Aster whispered to Ain. "And our impending victory. But is this procession the return of a wayward Hero, or a traitor?"

Ain glanced at Aster and found the man smiling brightly at him. It was as if Aster did not care which path Ain chose to walk.

That mysterious smile.

It seemed so familiar.

As they approached the palace, several human girls were kneeling on the top of the steps, on each side, and kept their positions until Ain's party passed through and beyond the massive gates of the palace.

There, at the end of the great hall, was a throne, and upon it was a girl of transcendent beauty. Her golden hair spilled over her shoulders in silk-like spirals. Her bright-green eyes were devoid of emotion until they lit up like the dawn sky upon seeing Ain's entrance. Until then, her slender, pale fingers and long nail were tapping away on the armrest of the throne. She barely managed to stop herself from jumping out of the throne, and instead, exuding an air of majesty and authority, she straightened up, and a small smile spread on her cherry-colored, full lips.

As the guests of honor approached, the Queen lifted her hand, signaling them to stop, which they did.

"Allow me to personally welcome you to Gramr'ial. I am Queen Lunaella, Lady of Gramr'ial, Sovereign of the Eight Royal Clans, and bearer of the Will of Humanity." Her words and tone were filled with such grace and majesty that it was difficult to disobey her will. Her youth, beauty, intrinsic warmth, in stark opposition to her oppressive presence, regal bearing and aura of power was something that was not common in this world -- perhaps, some might say, it was unique.

Def was standing with the other guards, at the front, and he gave a quick wave to Ain. He was clad in armor, though it was hidden underneath his midnight-blue cloak. It was a preposterous thing to see. Def wasn't even half the size of the other grim-looking human guards, and he was not even human. In fact, Def was more demon than human.

"Greetings, Your Majesty," Ain said, stepping forward. "Allow me to introduce my companions. This is War Minister Latela; she is also my teacher and my faction overseer or something."

Latela let out a low growl at the fact that Ain forgot what it is Latela even does in the faction.

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"Oh?" The queen tilted her head. "Your teacher? Interesting."

Ain nodded, not bothering to explain the matter further. Certainly, explaining that Latela "teaches" him War Magic would be absurd. "This is Senon, my disciple."

Short and sweet.

The Queen nodded, her gaze burrowing into Senon's chest, as if she could sense the Pillar of Equilibrium within her. She didn't say anything.

After a moment of silence, the Queen asked. "Is that all? What about the spirit?"

Ain almost forgot. "Its name is F-Ho-- Ete--..." A pause. "Susu. Its name is Susu. It is a Living Word of Fire, although, currently, it is sleeping."

The Queen nodded. "And you, Ain? Who are you right now?"

And there it was, the moment Ain dreaded the most.

All his companions, including Aster Ren, looked at Ain, wondering the same thing.

"That depends, Your Majesty," Ain said. He had resolved himself to this before he even left for the Exo-Planes. No matter what, he would protect the peace of this world.

"On what?" the Queen asked.

"On why you are here."

Lunaella lowered her gaze and nodded regretfully. Between her duty, and how she wanted this meeting to proceed -- the words she wanted to hear Ain speak -- it was obvious to Ain why she recoiled from his answer.

In an ideal world, Ain would've supported her from the moment he stepped into the great hall. This was her wish, but once again, she felt betrayed by the man she adored. In that moment, she remembered the days they spent together. Ain, when he was still a teenager, was her personal bodyguard, and during an incident outside of her Royal Estate, she developed feelings for him. And it was not just a crush. She knew, even before Ain told her, that Ain was a reincarnated Hero of ancient days. It was because of this "connection" that she began dreaming about one day marrying him.

Then the succession wars happened.

With a determined expression, Lunaella leaned slightly forward. "I am here to reclaim what is mine, and to bring to justice a creature your Realm harbors."

She was no longer that little, dreamy girl. Her broken heart was now fire and ice.

The words "your Realm", implying that Ain was a demon now, stung. Still, Ain's determination was to become the Calamity Lord, no matter what. No matter what. Even if he became a demon.

"And this, which belongs to you, what is it and which creature do you speak of?" Ain asked.

"The Edict," the Queen answered the first question.

"Forget about it. The Edict doesn't exist," Ain said. "Even if it did, I would never let you have it."

"Why not?" the words burst from Lunaella, filled with anger. "Am I not worthy?"

"No one is worthy of it. The Edict destroyed Alexandria. It also destroyed Exia. It destroyed the world as we once knew it. I saw it with my own eyes. Do not seek the Edict. If you do, I will kill you," Ain said flatly.

At the mention of the two names, Latela stared at Ain. It couldn't be that Exia?

"I do not seek it for personal gain. I seek it to destroy Perdition. Surely, you can understand that?"

"I understand perfectly, Your Majesty. But you cannot have it. Is that why you invaded the Demon Realm? How did you even get here?"

Senon pondered Ain, a question on her mind. It was no doubt about what the Edict was.

Lunaella got to her feet and glared at Ain. Her delicate looking hands balled up into fists, and her glare was as sharp as a sword as she leveled it at Ain. After a moment, she sighed and closed her eyes.

"Let us continue this discussion later, and in private," the Queen said. "For now, enjoy the feast. Today, after all, we welcome a Hero back. Have a good day."

The Queen stepped off the dais, and proceeded to the chambers in the back. The gathered people all bowed as the Queen departed, and when she was gone, most eyes were on Ain. And they weren't the glares reserved for a traitor, but hopeful looks full of adoration and respect. They all knew who Ain was. The stories of his exploits made the rounds across the Human Realm for a thousand years.

The prettified version, that is. The version that was a pure lie.

It was said that a thousand years ago, Ain died in battle protecting the Imperial Palace. He stood on the battlements of Fortress Ain, and fought the Calamity Lord to a draw. Ain died of his injuries, and the Calamity Lord had to retreat to the Demon Realm. This marked the end of the Great Realm War.

However, it was said that all the Heroes of the past would one day return, and reclaim the glory and dignity of Mankind.

However, the truth was different. On that day when Fortress Ain fell, he was not there. Ain realized, after all those years of fighting, that for as long as he lived -- for as long as he competed for the Edict -- the war would never end. In a way, he was responsible for the Great Realm War, and for perpetuating it for so long.

This was the essence of loneliness. With a sin like that, he could never lead anyone anywhere but to their death. This was also the essence of Perdition itself, all of his hopes becoming weapons turned against him. He was not the only one affected by this. The greater the destiny, the more effect Perdition had on bringing it to ruin.

He understood why Lunaella wanted the Edict. With it, she could excise Perdition from the world. She could save, not just Humanity, but all races from the intolerable fate that awaited them ultimately. It was a noble goal. It was once Ain's goal.

But Lunaella made the same mistake Ain did; she made the same mistake the Empress did; she made the same mistake Exia and Alexandria did.

She did not understand what the Edict and Perdition truly were.