Back to the present. I decided to give Ashmodai all his books back. He never really specified if I could keep them or not, but let's not be stingy.

Going downstairs towards Ashmodai's favorite spot, I could see him sitting alone, flipping a coin in boredom. Ashmodai went missing for a week when Ergillaz visited. I even assumed that he was killed, as he seems incapable of parting with his trusted seat. However, it seems that my worry was unfounded, as he returned after a while. He told me that nothing happened and that he was just out on some business.

To be honest, I don't really believe that that is what happened but considering what he did for me, I decided to let it be.

“Here you go,” I say, giving his books back.

Ashmodai who surprisingly didn't notice me quickly raises his gaze hearing my words.

“Well, what a pleasant surprise. I did not know you were capable of returning items.” He says in this teasing tone.

“Well, they took much space in the room anyway. It's more throwing the trash away than returning it.”

“You hurt my feelings my friend here I thought this was a historic day.”

I sigh in response as I hand over all the remaining ritual books I had.

“The little devil girl and I will be going to the Talvit estate,” I announce to Ashmodai.

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“I've been wondering about something. Why do you 2 choose to not have names? It seems like that would be more helpful, no?”

'I can't tell him that we simply don't know any demon names?'

“We never really thought about it.” I decided to answer in a way that wasn't a complete lie yet not true.

“it doesn't matter, after the “Blood of Luciel” you will have a blessed name anyway.”

“You're quite confident that I will leave that place alive.”

“You're going to train for 3 years while getting everything from Ergillaz Talvit. If you lose, it would be a bigger upset than you winning. Still, you should be careful, there are many unknown powerful demons who come to fight in the tournament.”

“I'll keep that in mind,” I say before heading towards the Talvit estate with Elizabeth.

***

The Talvit estate: The most luxurious estate in the entirety of Lucille's Light. A golden palace adorned with all the jewels you could imagine.

'Wow, I could never even begin to imagine this.' I think to myself, astonished.

I look to my left as Eli seems to be even more astonished than I am. The front yard, which for some reason is filled with all types of vegetation that clearly isn't native to this place would already be impressive enough. But it pales in comparison to the inside of this palace. The inside of this place is even more adorned than the outside: floors filled with rubies, Marble pillars decorated with amethysts, the walls fully decorated with paintings. Then again, the themes of the paintings seem fitting for a devil: Lust, massacres, bloodshed, domination, …

I quickly try to divert Eli's eyes from the gruesome and explicit paintings.

'I wonder if I'm not making a mistake, letting her also get trained. Maybe I should just wait until she's grown up... No..... I can't always protect her, she has to get stronger so that she's able to live her own life. Well, she has to control her already insane strength, I should say.

A “butler” greets us soon as we arrive. After exchanging greetings, we follow his lead as he was ordered to guide us towards the lieutenant's office as soon as we arrived.