Later that day, Latela and Senon returned to their quarters, likely to prepare for leaving. At the very least, Latela probably had things to pack.

Ain found himself on the terrace once more, overlooking the city of Gramr'ial. In his eyes, the city below was no different from a Human city, or a Spirit city, or even one of the Fae cities. Instead of Humans, Spirits or Fae, here lived Demons. That was the only difference. Even throughout the ages, even though many things have changed, many other things still remained the same. If Ain were to one day wake up in this Realm, with no memories, and no knowledge of his past, would he still be trying to save Humanity, or would he attempt saving Demons?

Before he could reach an answer, he realized he wasn't alone anymore. A figure approached and in the waning hours of daylight, the figure's shadow was long and slender; monstrous, even.

Ain sighed. "When I was younger, I tried to save a little bird," he said.

Aster Ren stopped a few paces away from Ain, his smile ever-present. A blue flame burned in his eyes.

"It was the strangest little thing," Ain said. "Back then, during the Calamity Wars, the deaths of millions made the skies rain blood. The air was toxic, suffocating... even mind-altering. People were dying in the streets left, right and center. The corpses were stacked higher than the walls. I was just a child back then, but I remember that we all sought shelter in the sacred lands of whatever Clan was nearest. Everyone and everything. But not this bird."

Aster Ren was silent.

"It was covered entirely in the cursed blood, and no matter what, it would not move. It would carve me with its talons, slash me with its razor-like feathers; it took everything I had to pry it away," Ain said, glancing back towards the young man. "The reason it didn't move was because it was holding its wing over a flower, as if protecting it from the rain. An aster flower."

Now, Ain turned towards Aster Ren, but not entirely. He faced him sideways, and slowly, Ain's hand came to rest on the pommel of his sword.

"The bird died; it was natural, after being exposed to so much poison. But it wasn't an ordinary bird. I wanted to bury the corpse, but it turned to ash in my hands," Ain said, cupping his hands together, as if still holding the remains. "And then it rose from those same ashes and was back at the flower's side, as if nothing happened. Over and over and over again, I watched this scene play out, pondering the futility of it. What was so special about that flower?"

"Perhaps," Aster Ren said, "the bird wanted to protect your legacy?"

"How so?" Ain asked, as the sound of metal scraping against leather filled the terrace, and the steel of Avarice caught the waning glow of twilight.

"You planted that flower, in your yard. By then, the toxic rain had snuffed out all life and nothing would grow. Nothing, except for that aster. Perhaps the phoenix thought it would be a shame to let that flower die. It is said that the phoenix can see the past and the future; every time it dies, it glimpses a part of the Logos. Some say, phoenixes are evil, others say they are benevolent. I think that phoenix was safeguarding your future."

Ain lowered his gaze, considering the words. For an observer, it might seem like a strange conversation, but known only to the two of them -- the participants -- it was a battle fought on an unseen chessboard.

"The ancient ancestors of Humanity obtained the closest thing to the original Methods. Every Method that exists today is a derivative of those Methods they obtained. They are now known as the First Devils, and the progenitors of the Abyss -- the force that seeks the annihilation of the universe."

Aster Ren nodded. "I did know that."

"Then you must know that the phoenix is considered an agent of the First Devils -- an ordinary bird instructed in how to use a certain Method that was never given to Humanity, for a specific purpose; the bloodline of the phoenix is cursed, and anything with the blood of a phoenix is an agent of destruction."

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Aster Ren's smile never waned, even when Ain completely drew his sword. "I am well aware."

"When I saw the blue flame in your eyes, it didn't occur to me at first. Perhaps, I thought, it was a new Method, but that is not possible. All Stigmas come from the original; all Methods today only copy the original source, including the physical manifestations. The only exceptions are those Methods comprehended from the Pillars, or those obtained from the exo-planes," Ain explained. "But that is not the case with you, is it?"

Aster Ren shook his head. "You are correct, Lord Ain. The Method I practice is one of those you mentioned -- obtained by the First Devils."

Ain sighed. "I liked you, Aster Ren. But you are the one who is responsible for all of this; the one who taught these humans teleportation magic, the one teaching them Heavenly Methods and leading them to become True Demons."

Aster Ren was silent.

"Humanity has been looking for the phoenix," Ain said. "But it is not the phoenix that did all of this; it was the flower the phoenix was protecting."

Aster Ren frowned, his beautiful smile eroding away. "More than a thousand years ago, I was indeed a flower you planted. As a flower, I only dreamt of seeing the night sky, and the stars, but I never could, for flowers only live in the light of the sun. Then the rains came, and everything died."

"Except for you," Ain said, expression grim. Not even back when he was facing Perdition did Ain have such a grim expression. Principles could be reasoned with. Even Perdition. But this creature was something else entirely.

"I was infected, I suppose," Aster Ren said. "By your hopes, your wishes, and your love. The desire to see me prevail, against all obstacles, enlightened me and I became aware of my spiritual self -- my higher soul. And I was not the only one."

"The phoenix?" Ain asked.

Aster Ren nodded. "It also wanted to see your wish come true. Perhaps it was your wish that gave it life in the first place, back when you planted the flower, knowing all too well that it was futile. Back then, it was just a tiny little thing, entirely helpless. You tried to save it, even though you condemned it with your wish. Perhaps it was the era itself, and in order to usher in the new one, the phoenix wanted to protect one small, meaningless thing, the way you did."

It was Ain's turn to be silent. He stood motionless, like a statue.

"After you left for the holy lands, it was just the two of us. When my life came to an end, after a few winters, the phoenix stole Humanity's Geas Method, and implanted its Source inside me," Aster Ren explained. "That is how I came to be."

Ain was shocked to hear those words. Implanting a Source was not easy -- Ain thought it was impossible, in fact. But the proof to the contrary stood before him. "So that explains your Method. But why all of this? Why teach the Humans Methods? What is your objective?"

Aster Ren smiled. "You needed my help. No one knows you better than I do. All your victories and defeats, all your feelings, no one knows them better than I do. I couldn't help you much in the Great Realm Wars, but now it is different. When you died, I made sure that I would be useful to you in your next life. But I always watched over you, even though I could not walk by your side; I am not an agent of the Abyss -- I am merely an enlightened flower, seeking to live in the light of the True Sun -- your light."

Ain lifted his sword, but then paused. "It was you... in Valreach, when the Calamity Lord was about to kill me; you saved me."

Aster Ren smiled. "Not just in Valreach. I also gave up my life when the Aslan Clan tried to assassinate you and the Empress. When the True God, Maeron, tried to seal you in the Abyss, it was I who released you, and was sealed instead. That is why I couldn't help you at the end; if I could've, I would've died for you a thousand more times." With those words, Aster Ren fell to his knee, head bowed. "My Lord, you gave me my life, and allowed me to see the stars for the first time. Ever since then, my life has been in your hands, to do with as you please."

Ain's knuckles turned white as he tightly gripped Avarice's hilt.

Aster Ren's smile was brilliant. "If it is your wish for me to die here, for you, then you do not need to hesitate. As your voice beckons, my soul shall follow, even if it calls me to its final death. I am your Servant. I follow neither the will of the Logos or the Radix, only yours. If it is your desire to slay me, it would be an honor to be felled by your blade."

Aster Ren closed his eyes. For a long time, nothing happened. It was so still and so calm and after a few, very long seconds, he heard the sound of Ain's sword being sheathed.

"Aster Ren," Ain said. "I no longer have the appetite for seeing friends and allies die. What you have done is unforgivable, and has put Humanity on a path that leads towards destruction." A pause. "But it is also a path that leads to salvation. From now on, I want you to be at my side. But I want you to live for your own sake, and die for your own causes. I do not demand worship -- only loyalty."

"My Lord," Aster Ren said, bowing his head all the way until his forehead touched the floor. "You shall have both."

"Pack your things, we are leaving tomorrow. Do not tell anyone what you are, or instruct them on Methods or Magics," Ain said, as he prepared to leave.

"As you wish, my Lord," Aster Ren said, pausing. "Are you going to see the Queen?"

Ain nodded. "Mm. It will likely be the last time we see each other."