Part 4

CHAPTER 20

I stepped out of the train into Lilith Central’s massive atrium. The entire station is one open area with dozens of train platforms. As expected of the capital of the Devil race, the station was highly ostentatious. The whole building is made of a magical crystal, glowing runic arrays visible to the naked eye. Even the lighting was magical. We had electricity, for Satan’s sake. I looked toward the ceiling, which was one giant transparent crystal dome. The metal highlights of the building were made of what looked like solid gold—enchanted, of course.

Trying not to look like a gawking country bumpkin was more challenging than I thought. It is one thing to see the Satans and their wealth through a TV screen and another in person.

‘This is nothing compared to the Ipos Estate.’

Oh, shut up. I’m sure your house was bigger. You massive manbaby.

‘Tche.’

I meandered towards the exit, marvelling at each new curiosity. From magical cleaning robots to holographic displays that showed the state news station, this was something out of every mage’s dreams. I’ve read that the Beelzebub, the Satan responsible for R&D, had an entire floating city as his capital. Oh, how I wish I could visit.

As I stepped out of the gates with massive golden statues depicting some prominent Devil or the other, my breath was taken away at the site I beheld.

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A gargantuan plaza extended as far as the eye could see, complete with market stalls, town squares, street vendors, lush greenery and blooming flowers. And more people than I have seen in my lifetime. The Devil population plunged after the Great War and has yet to recover. So, seeing tens of thousands in one place only happened here.

I am particularly fascinated by the Devil race and culture. It is mind-boggling that a group with such disparate values, beliefs, and traditions could have cohesion. Imagine trying to unite warring humans under one banner—It’s difficult, right? Now imagine every human could destroy a small town when angered or mildly inconvenienced. It is a miracle that anything gets done in the Underworld.

I am conscious of time, so I made a small promise to myself to explore every nook and cranny of the capital later.

I consulted a nearby map to find the public library only a few kilometres from my location.

I decided to take the shortest route, which would take me through a series of back alleys and minor roads. This is still the seat of Lucifer, after all, and she was known for many things, but being lenient on crime was not one of them.

The buildings along the way had fantastical and varied designs: a medieval weapon store, an apothecary shaped like a giant vial, and an oriental restaurant that floated on a lily pad. I didn’t know where to look. Richard was also suspiciously quiet, which was a mercy but gave me a sense of unease that I could not shake off.

As I rounded yet another tiny street corner, the hustle and bustle of the city died down and gave way to a quiet yet impeccably clean alley. My ears perked up when I sensed a person following me.

I tried to act normal and made a few random turns to see if they were stalking me or just taking the same route. They were still behind, close enough to be heard but not seen.

I rounded a corner, summoned my blade and hid behind a crate.

Click…Click….Click….Click … The steady sound of footsteps seemed unfazed by the lack of my own.

As my mysterious stalker entered the small street, I sprang forth, blade in hand. There was no one to meet it.

I made a one-hundred-and-eighty-degree pivot, and the only thing that I could make out was a shock of silver hair, and I knew no more.