104. Suspect

When the train pulled up to the red line station again, Sharil was waiting by the tracks. Her six massive wings barely fit within the station, their dark color blending into the shadows, and the neighboring pillars were easily dwarfed by the demon. Her arms were crossed and her solid eyes narrowed as she waited for the train doors to slide open.

Isaac tucked the tablet under his arm and strode forward, eyeing the demon warily. He swallowed, unsure if his nerves were from anticipation or dread. Probably both.

“…Did Lucius figure it out?”

Even as he said it, he already knew the answer. There was no other reason Sharil would be there.

The demon’s lips pulled back into a snarl, revealing rows of crooked sharp teeth, and Isaac resisted the instinctive urge to take a step back. Sharil’s finger flexed, sharp claws gleaming in the dim light, and her wings flapped in a few abrupt motions.

“He’s almost certain it was Remus.” She spit out the name, eyes narrowing into slits.

Remus. Images of a strange, constantly dazed demon flashed in Isaac’s mind. He remembered the man’s strange, lopsided stats, Sharil and Olzu arguing about him, those eyes that had never seemed quite present. He paused, a second memory rising. After Lucius had arrived to check on Olzu—the name still sent a pang in Isaac’s chest—he remembered passing by the demon fleeing towards the station. The visceral fear in his eyes at that instance had been more emotion than he’d ever seen from Remus before combined.

“…He was the old Inferno ruler, right?” Isaac said slowly, carefully choosing his words.

The sharp, low laugh was answer enough.

“Lord Lucius should’ve killed him,” Sharil said, voice cold. One of her sharp fingers twitched. “To think he was biding his time, pretending to be neutralized.”

“You’re sure it’s him?” Isaac’s mind was reeling as he digested the information, a part of him seeing how much sense it made and another part doubting how easily the answer had come, but he forced his thoughts to remain steady. He couldn’t afford to jump to conclusions, especially not when the subject was so obviously emotionally charged.

“I already told you, it’s all but certain.” Sharil frowned, exhaling and visibly attempting to relax the tension coiled in her muscles. It was only partially effective. She flew forward slightly, and this time Isaac did take a step back.

“Isaac. That tablet of yours, can it track where people are? Lord Lucius’s advanced perception abilities were sealed by the System.”

His fingers tightened around the device. Staring at Sharil, he was beginning to have doubts about answering with the truth. Flashes of the tournament, a bright gold glow and Seaton’s twisted, withered arm, rose. Sharil had always had incredible discipline and self control since he’d known her, and Lucius even more so, but did he really want to risk another possible System violation? This wasn’t a normal situation, and he hadn’t thought Seaton would lose his temper during the fight either. He couldn’t take that gamble, not when more lives were potentially on the line. Olzu was already more than enough.

“…I can only track people who put in stat update requests.” Isaac settled for a half truth, hoping the demon wouldn’t question it.

Thankfully, Sharil simply nodded, though her easy trust made Isaac shift his weight with growing guilt. It’s for a good reason, he told himself.

“I see, that is unfortunate.” The demon frowned, giving her wings another flap. The resulting wind sent dust rippling away as she flew back a little in the cramped space. “We’re searching for Remus,” she said, voice sharp. “I assume you will as well?”

“Of course,” Isaac replied automatically.

Sharil nodded, drifting further back until the station exit was right behind her, the glow of the Inferno outlining the demon in red. “I hope you remember your promise,” she said. With another gust of wind, she was gone before Isaac even had a chance to respond.

He was left standing alone in the station, tablet in hand, watching the clouds of dust settle back to the ground.

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“When you find out, do you swear to tell me first? Me and Lord Lucius?”

Isaac rubbed his forehead, releasing a long breath. He forced the doubts away, focusing on the issue at hand. If Sharil, Lucius, and he assumed other demons were searching for Remus, it was only a matter of time before he was caught. Isaac had no particular opinions on the man, and if he was indeed responsible for the murders and Olzu’s death, then he had no sympathy for him. However, Isaac didn’t want anyone to have to face the consequences of violating the System by attacking the demon.

That meant that Isaac would have to track Remus down first, which shouldn’t be too hard with the help of the tablet. Actually catching him and bringing him to Lilith, however, was another issue. It was entirely possible that someone else would still get there first simply because he was too slow.

As much as Isaac hated to admit it, he needed help. He needed someone who would be able to reach Remus before even Lucius could and would also be able to apprehend him without issue.

One figure immediately popped into his head, and he scowled at the thought. But as much as he’d rather not resort to it, he knew he couldn’t let personal grudges get in the way of his better judgment.

And so, steeling himself, Isaac raised the tablet and pulled up the map, eyes scanning it for two different names.

—

He found Casimir sitting on the roof of one of Solonell City’s skyscrapers. The angel’s massive white wings were spread wide, catching the wind and reflecting the red sky, while his legs dangled casually over the sharp edge of the building. He was leaning back on his arms, the image of carefree relaxation.

Casimir turned as the sound of Isaac’s footsteps approached, that usual grin spreading across his features. Isaac pursed his lips and stopped a few feet away, eyeing the surroundings warily. Of Solonell City’s skyscrapers, this was one of, if not the tallest. This high up, the mishmash of building architecture and the winding streets of the city were cast in an entirely different light. Isaac wasn’t scared of heights, but he was all too aware that one misstep would easily send someone falling over the edge.

“Let me guess, Lucius figured it out?” Casimir drawled. Isaac hated how smug the angel looked.

“Yes,” he gritted out. “He thinks it was Remus.”

The angel raised an eyebrow. “Remus? That one? Huh, didn’t think the guy still had it in him, but I guess it makes sense.” He shrugged nonchalantly, the lax gesture contrasting with a sharp gust of wind that caused Isaac to stumble slightly. He didn’t remember Solonell City ever having such strong winds—usually the sky was almost eerily still—but then again he’d never traversed so high up in the realm before.

“So? Let me guess, you want me to help you find Remus before Lucius does.”

Isaac frowned, not liking how easily the angel read his intentions. Judging from Casimir’s knowing smirk, he knew it too.

His fingers tightened around the tablet, and he exhaled, forcing his shoulders to relax.

“I don’t want to risk someone violating the System again,” he said slowly. “And as much as I hate to admit it, if anyone can chase Remus down and apprehend him before Lucius and the other demons, you can.” It would be easy, with his barrier ability. His utter lack of care would also prove beneficial in this case, because it meant there was no risk of Casimir suddenly violating the system in a fit of rage.

Isaac held up the tablet. “I can track Remus’s location with this. We just have to follow the map.”

“Aw, that’s not as exciting.”

Isaac shot the angel a glare and ignored him. Casimir rose, stretching his arms and peering absentmindedly down at the city. He didn’t bother to move away from the edge of the roof, his feet half touching the air. His white feathers rustled in the wind, stark and bright against the sky.

Casimir yawned and turned around to face Isaac. “Well? Where’re we heading?”

Isaac frowned, staring down at the tablet screen, where a small dot with Remus’s name flashed across the map. He squinted, brows furrowing as he studied its position.

“According to this, he should be in the Abyss.” The idea of going there again still sent a shudder down Isaacc’s spine, but it was probably better that Remus had run to somewhere more isolated. Or at least somewhere that appeared more isolated. Most Abyss creatures blended into the inky expanse of the realm.

Casimir whistled. “Nice, pretty smart of him.” He cocked his head to the side, grinning. “So, are you gonna try flying again?”

Isaac scowled. “You can do that barrier thing,” he said shortly. That was the most amount of trust he was going to put in the angel.

Casimir shrugged, but in the next second, he snapped his fingers. Text flashed briefly across the tablet screen as a familiar translucent red glow cloaked Isaac in a solid sphere.

[SKILL BARRIER LVL 97]

As hard as he tried to school his reaction, Isaac still flinched slightly, remembering how easily the same skill had nearly cut into the Inferno walls. Thankfully this seemed to be a plain, ordinary defensive barrier.

Slowly, the red-tinted bubble rose, floating slightly in the air as Casimir gave a great flap of his wings. The action sent a sharp gust of wind out as the angel soared up into the sky. The barrier drifted after, pulled along as though attached to an invisible string, and Isaac exhaled as his body got used to the feeling of no longer touching solid ground.

He could easily see all of Solonell City below them like this, separated only by a thin red hue that bled into the sky. Isaac tore his eyes away and nodded at Casimir who, to his surprise, seemed to be waiting patiently for his signal.

Isaac swallowed, gripping the tablet tighter with renewed determination.

“Let’s go,” he said.