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Flash forward one thousand years later, Sparrowfeathers' Warehouse in Lastonbell, Rolance Kingdom.

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Sorey followed rose into a warehouse on the edge of the city of Lastonbell. Following her behind the back, He wandered around the repository. "Is this your hideout?"

Rose raised a brow, looking offended. "Do you have to call it like that? It's our warehouse and office."

A man with a commoner outfit slid out of the darkness behind a large number of wooden crates. Sorey startled. The man raised his arms in surrender. "I'm sorry! I didn't want to take you by surprise!"

Rose stifled a smile and gazed at the shepherd in amusement. "Don't worry. Sorey needs time to get used to it." she turned her eyes back to the man. "Has Mayvin returned?"

He nodded and pointed over his shoulder to the back of the warehouse. "Yes, he just arrived an hour ago. He's waiting for you in the back room."

Sorey and Rose passed through the supplies and entered a large chamber. An older man with a large body stature, wearing a large book on his back, turned to face them. Both he and Sorey smiled, shooting a familiar glance at each other. The older man shifted his attention to Rose. "Took you long enough." The older man said, baring his teeth in a tease. Immediately, Rose pounced at him and threw some punches as he coolly dodged them. Rose went for a charged slam, and he caught her fist effortlessly. "Hey, Mayvin! You made it!" she expressed gleefully.

The older man cocked his head proudly. "I heard you were going to be in Lastonbell. Came here as fast as I could." The man shifted to Sorey. "Good to see you again, Shepherd."

Sorey firmly held the sheath of his sword. "Likewise, Mayvin. Sorry I couldn't come sooner. I ran into some difficulties with Sergei, and we really needed to go to Pendrago. I wanted to wrap things up here before we go on our journey."

Mayvin suddenly let out a blaring laugh. "No, kidding! I heard you're moving around, roasting evil, and eating dragons. As a storyteller and explorer, I have to inscribe your adventure for future generations."

Sorey's eyes widened in wonder. Rose nodded. "He helps carry the mystery and mythology to the next generation. Spreading knowledge, like a teacher." She explained.

"I knew you were a storyteller but not to this extent. You must know a lot then." Sorey expressed eagerly.

Rose hummed in acknowledgment. "He'd better! Mayvin is over a hundred years old!"

Mayvin continued to smirk and winked. "That's right, Shepherd. There are things outside of the ruins that are spectacular too, you know."

"Then I must ask you something…." Sorey said unsurely.

Mayvin gestured at the table behind him. "I'm thirsty. What do you say we sit first and have some drinks."

"Uh… I can't. I'm seventeen."

Mayvin smiled in amusement. "You're a funny one to have around. I like you, kid. Too bad you're so busy being the Shepherd and all." He picked a bottle and sipped the wine in a large gulp. "So, tell me, what do you need?"

Sorey pulled his chair closer to the table. "Have you heard anything about Shepherds in general? Like ancient ones?"

Mayvin face stilled. He began to breathe slowly, eyes glaring assertively at Sorey. The shepherd leaned forward. "Please… If you have the smallest hint. Anything at all." Sorey implored.

Mayvin let out a loud groan. "A long time ago, I met a man who was called the Shepherd. He told me a story. These are his own words: "Bad thoughts dwell in every person's heart. If we call those thoughts malevolence, then they exist within me too. The concept of malevolence is so huge my mind cannot comprehend it, and the answers to malevolence are uncertain and unclear. For example, if I harm one person to save many others, is that a malevolent act? Do we all embrace malevolence the moment we admit the existence of a necessary evil?"

Sorey suddenly felt the weight. He dropped his head cluelessly. "Impossible question. I can never answer it…."

Mayvin swigged the remainder of the wine in a few gulps. "Apparently, he was looking for an ancient tomb."

"What for?"

Mayvin leaned back on the chair comfortably. "I asked the same thing. He told me that the tomb was supposed to be the resting place of someone who had the answer, to malevolence, to balance and that he died a thousand years ago." Mayvin waved his hand in the air dismissively. "I don't know how a dead man could help him or if he found it or not, but that's all I know."

Sorey crossed his arms and heaved a heavy breath. "We need to go, Pendrago, fast. Sergei is already on his way."

Mayvin grinned, his face showing shades of red from all the drinking. "Oh, rose told me about you two fighting."

Sorey remembered their duel; At first, Sergei suspected them to be conmen, and they were caught in a deserted church. The leader of the platinum knight invited him to a fair fight, and Sorey prevailed in the end. But a scene flashed in his mind: Sergei used a competent hand-to-hand technique. "Lion's howl," An elegant arte he wished Sergei would teach him someday. "Yes, things are not looking well in Pendrago, and he asked for my help. We need to go there as soon as possible."

Mayvin pulled his pipe out of his satchel. "Well then, good luck to you, Shepherd," he said casually, lighting up his pipe.

Sorey stood up, and after exchanging nods, they went outside. Mikleo appeared beside him, rubbing a hand over his white hair and sighed in frustration. "I don't think we can go anywhere with this."

"Do you want to give up?" Sorey asked, staring at the ground disquietingly.

"No, but how can we isolate what we want to know? This Shepherd of yours can be anyone. There were a lot of them in the past. How can we know? It's like finding a needle in a haystack."

"They weren't that many around. My guts tell me that…." Sorey was suddenly cut off.

"Are you lost, Meebo?" Edna jeered at the water Seraph, holding her umbrella and grinning rakishly.

Accompanied her was Dezel, which he raised his chin at them. "Of course, these two are clueless as always. I don't know how we can even find our way forward at this rate."

Lailah, paying no attention to the two Seraphs, walked charmingly to the Shepherd. "Shall we start our journey?"

Rose came from behind the warehouse, holding the leads of their horses.

Sorey glanced at the rest of them confidently. "Yeah, let's go."

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Two Days Later, Pendrago the Blessed Capital

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Storm and a neverending rain, just as Sergei described. After a tiresome trip of fighting and navigating through a cursed forest, Sorey and Rose reached the outer walls of Pendrago. Without hesitation, they entered the city hurriedly.

"Wow, this place is huge," Sorey said grippingly.

Lailah's voice whispered in his mind. "Yes, Pendrago is the largest city on the Glenwood continent."

Sorey scanned the reclusive streets carefully. "Hm. Where can we find an Inn?" He asked Rose.

"I recommend the one directly in front of the plaza."

"You sure know your way around…."

Suddenly, they noticed a group of platinum knights fighting a lizard hellion in the corner of a desolated neighbourhood. Sorey and Rose recognized Sergei stood vanguard at the front. The hellion raised its sword and lounged at him. He masterfully parried his attack and slashed away at its arm, wounding it in the process. The hellion hissed in pain and lounged back.

"Stand down," Sergei ordered, pointing his sword at the hellion.

Cornered, the hellion looked up and leaped up inhumanly to the top of the wall in an instant. The rest of the knights dispersed in pursuit. Sorey and Rose sprinted to Sergei. The knight captain noticed their approach. "He's one of the cardinal's subordinates. I tried to apprehend him, but you saw what he was like."

Rose glanced at the edge of the wall, eyes narrowing bewilderingly. "His movements were incredible."

"Because It was a helion," Dezel clarified.

Mikleo looked back at Lailah worryingly. "If the cardinal's underling is a helion, then it's all true."

Suddenly Lailah sneezed. Edna sneaked up on Sergei and poked him with her umbrella. "I'm cold. Get us inside," she said, stubbornly jumping up and down.

Sergei whipped his head around alarmingly. Rose walked to the baffled knight. "Can you find us a shelter? If you please. Our friends are feeling a bit chilly, and even a seraph can catch a cold."

Sergei's eyes widened cluelessly. Rose looked over her shoulders, glancing at other seraphs. "Not that you could tell since you can't see them."

Sergei stood upright assertively, snapping out of his state. "Forgive me. I should have been mindful of the seraphim." He then cleared his throat. "Emperor Dorian requested your presence in his mansion."

Rose abruptly frowned in anger. Sorey noticed her stiff expression. "It's an honour, but do you know what is it for?" The shepherd asked.

"I don't know, but he said he would like to see you before you start your investigation."

"It's okay," Rose ensured, looking at Sorey with confidence. "Let's go and meet the emperor."

Sergei nodded, and they followed him. After a brief trek to the north, they reached the imperial villa of Rolance. Sorey glared at the enormous manor in astonishment.

Sergei dismounted his horse and gestured at the building. "This is the mansion of Emperor Doran of Rolance,"

"It's big…." Sorey observed, eyes still probing the villa.

Suddenly the massive doors of the estate creaked on their hinges, and an older man wearing imperial attire walked out of the building.

Sergei bowed precipitately. "Your Majesty!"

The emperor strolled to Sorey's side, wearing a slight smile. "You must be the Shepherd." he greeted in a fatherly timbre.

"I'm, it's an honour to meet you," Sorey said, dismounting his horse.

The emperor bowed slightly. "The honour is mine. Thank you for travelling so far to aid us. You are welcomed in Rolance."

Sergei moved closer, looking anxious. "Your Majesty, there was no need for you to come out in the rain in this hour."

"Don't worry, Sergei. Greeting him is the least I could do." The emperor beckoned Sorey. "Please, Shepherd, follow me."

Sorey, Mikleo, Lailah, and Edna moved into inner quarters while Rose and Dezel stayed in the guest room.

Lailah and Edna moved away in the main hall, sitting on comfortable chairs near the windows while Mikleo stood by Sorey's side near the fireplace. The emperor entered the room and joined the Shepherd. "Much nicer in here, yes?"

Sorey nodded appreciatively. "Yes, thank you."

"So Shepherd. I have a question. Looking at Rolance from your perspective, how does it appear to be doing?" The emperor asked.

Sorey paused and got a faraway look in his eyes. "To be honest, sir, not very well."

Emperor glanced at Sorey calmly as he was ill at ease. "You haven't been here long. Are you certain?"

"Yes…"

A troubled expression flickered across the emperor's gaze. "And this malevolence is to blame for it..."

Sorey swallowed hard, his pulse picking up. "Hold on, your majesty, are you saying you can see malevolence?"

The emperor turned to the window, gazing into the dark and rainy night. "No, it is invisible to my eyes."

"Then how could you have known to ask?"

The Emperor gazed back at him grimly. "The night is still young. Perhaps we can chat awhile."

He motioned Sorey to sit. Mikleo leaned against the nearest wall, and together with Sorey, they both waited apprehensively, eyes brimming with anticipation.

"The imperial family of Rolance is worked tirelessly over the generations to ensure that our lineage would remain unbroken. We fight to remain in power not out of ambition and avarice but a sense of duty to preserve the empire we were destined to lead."

Sorey shot a glance at the paintings of Rolance emperors before turning back to the emperor Dorian as he resumed his tale.

"There's a legend regarding the history of the world, known only to the imperial family. We must protect that secret and pass it on. It's not a task we take lightly. From the legend, we've learned a great deal. It told us of the beginning of the Glenwood continent and what is malevolence. Though like most, we cannot see it with our own eyes."

"Where did you first hear it, this legend?" Sorey asked.

"How we came to learn it… is its own tale." The emperor paused momentarily, collecting his thoughts before resuming his gaze back to Sorey. "Tell me, shepherd, on your travels, have you heard of the storyteller?"

Another wind of shock buffeted his brain. "Oh, yeah! Mayvin." Sorey said grippingly.

"Indeed. Mayvin is actually a title given to the storytellers that have existed since ancient times. Years ago, they broke an oath when they revealed a secret to my family. One that told much about how the world came to be and what it is now."

Sorey's mind rushed with questions, dancing around in his vast imagination. "The legend you mentioned before. The storyteller's secret had something to do with malevolence?"

"Yes. It's a tale that goes backs a thousand years. According to the storytellers, someone known as the saviour attempted to rid the world of malevolence by stripping the emotions from all of humanity. As we know the malevolence is born of human emotions, it is invisible to the human eye, and so all those years ago, it had spread to the world quickly, unnoticed by the very people whose hearts had given rise to it. But then something happened that would change the course of the world."

Sorey's eyes suddenly gleamed with apprehension, and the emperor resumed his story.

"...A traveller who storytellers know him in their words as the Shepherd journeyed from a faraway land in search of an answer to end the corruption. In a clash of fate, he met the saviour with a common goal. To combat the plague that had infected the world, the saviour performed a ritual to awaken a legendary entity by sacrificing a child. The ritual was designed to steal all human emotions in hopes of eliminating malevolence.

But the child's sister harboured great hatred towards the saviour in her heart, and it became an all-consuming fire that brought calamity upon the world."

Sorey swallowed. "Lord of Calamity…" he murmured.

"However, the traveller witnessed the act, and his resolve led him to take the calamity's side instead of the saviour. According to the storytellers, their crusade gave rise to this era, one that we still have our emotions intact."

Sorey and Mikleo both felt that they'd been hit with a bucket of cold water, groaning in disbelief. A trickle of cold sweat ran down Sorey's temple. His intuition flared up as if this was the answer he needed. "Please, your Majesty. Who was the traveller?"

The emperor trailed off for a brief moment before returning and levelling a shrewd gaze at Sorey.

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Present time, Core Dream, The Center of Earthen Hystoria

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Avernus' sight became clearer. He pushed himself up from Tia's lap. The shepherd exchanged an uneasy look with Tia as she comfortably rose on her feet. Avernus turned his head around, scanning the area disturbingly. The field was devoid of life. Only infinite whiteness and space were all around them. Their gazes met once more. Tia shook her head, feeling annoyed by his distrusting gaze. "Don't be alarmed. We're in a dream." Tia gave him a brief regretful smile, nodding tightly. "I knew you missed sleeping on my lap. Opening up to me like good old times."

The shepherd gestured his hand to the side, trying to conjure his sword out of the ether. Tia blinked at him, tilting her head amusingly. "Do not do anything foolish. In this place, my power is greater than yours."

Avernus' taut face didn't soften. "What do you want?"

Tia looked away, heaving a shuddering sigh. "You know, it breaks my heart when you talk to me like that as if you've forgotten what I meant to you."

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

Avernus' brow furrowed in confusion. "I don't get it; just why? Isn't this much suffering enough? Have you not satisfied? How can a Seraphim be so ruthless?"

Tia turned her head back; her gaze shifted between his eyes. "Why should you understand? Why do you think I am compelled to answer you?"

Avernus' face darkened. "You've cursed an entire race to their doom! Who gave you the right to judge?"

Tia's expression remained calm and unaffected. "I knew the hearts of men before I judged them. It was dark as void. Their sins ran deep."

Avernus took a step closer firmly. "Not all humans are like that. Not everyone wants to inflict pain and misery on others. You failed to see the beauty. Haven't you learned anything when you travelled with me?"

Tia cast a contemplative glance at Avernus, crossing her arms. "I've lived for all eternity. I've seen things you can never dream." Tia stepped forward, briskly inclining her head to Avernus. "Do you think that Zenrus told you everything?" Tia said and gestured expansively at their front. The space between them whirled inward like a tornado, and a vast, lively landscape appeared. The picture lit up with colourful people in a city.

"Fortune of Phantasia, or what you humans call it; the ancient era. When humans and seraphim coexisted." Tia explained. Avernus' eyes widened, bewitched and breathless by the glimmering fountains and roads paved with luminous stones.

"This is when I descended with my sub lords." She waved her hand, and the scene changed into a dark and gloomy panorama. "The humans answered my blessings with atrocities. They got jealous of seraphim power. War ensued, and my subjects paid the price with their lives." Tia said, her voice darkening with hate.

Avernus turned to her. "Is that when you cursed them with malevolence?"

The corner of Tia's lips twitched, and a bitter smile curbed on her face. "Is that what they told you?"

She and Avernus gazed at each other for a brief moment, and he stayed silent in uncertainty. Tia turned her head to the illusion. "Humans always produced malevolence in their hearts. Therefore, I imposed a rule on both sides for those eager to coexist with each other. The rule was that humans needed to control their emotions. If they accumulated too much malevolence, the ensuing corruption would turn them into daemons and seraphim into dragons."

Avernus clenched his jaw. "That wasn't a rule! That's a curse!"

"I present them with a simple challenge to better themselves." She said ignorantly. "But Innominat deceived my sub lords; Hyanoa, Musiphe, Eumacia, and Amenoch to revolt in favour of petty humans and seraphim." Tia's eyes clouded with painful memories. "My own kind betrayed me."

Avernus swallowed as she mentioned her sub lords' names. Tia sensed his uneasiness. "And if you're wondering, yes. The Empyreans were my sub lords in the beginning."

Avernus exhaled to control his focus."Didn't it even occur to you that you brought it upon yourself?"

Tia then abruptly grinned, and her eyes brightened. "We're not here for you to lecture me, nor it will not make a difference if you keep doing it. I'm just here to propose an offer to help my dearest friend with his guilty conscience." There was no venom in her words, just a simple fact plainly stated.

Avernus flicked a disdainful look at her. "Like what you offered to Susanoo?"

Tia let out a low, cynical laugh, shrugging broadly. "No, of course not. You don't know what he wished for, and I won't tell you. But I can help your little friends, showing you a way for them to…" she moved closer, gazing deeply into his eyes. "... Survive."

Avernus narrowed his eyes in doubt. "What is it now, Tia? What are you scheming?"

Tia rolled her eyes. "Do you know that if you destroy Innominat, all of the therions, including your "precious" Velvet and Laphicet, which he is a part of him, will die?"

Avernus exhaled calmly and narrowed his eyes in distrust. "I can manage. I don't need your help."

Tia sighed, shaking her head. "It's just not that. You can't succeed. There is no way to stop Innominat."

"Lies. Innominat has always been sent back to its prison before. He can be beaten." Avernus said confidently.

"They've tried everything before. Anything that you can think of. It always plays the same; They would awaken it to balance the malevolence without fully activate its abilities. Then the pact keeper would seal it off, surrendering his life in the process. But this time, Artorius has unleashed Innominat's full power onto the land. You can't do anything about it. Period."

Avernus clenched his teeth. He still had no clue to counter her argument. "Innominat devours malevolence. He doesn't purify it. So, this corruption is still in his body. I can purify them while it still has that large amount and..." He blurted abruptly and stopped.

Tia crossed her arm over her chest. "To what end?"

"That's none of your business."

Tia waved her hand, grunting in frustration. The whiteness of the area suddenly shifted to a colourful scene.

Avernus glared all around him. "Is this an illusion to mess with my head?"

Tia shot an annoyed glance at him over her shoulders. "Don't be ridiculous. No one can manipulate the Earthen Historia. Not even me."

Colours danced around them and filled the nothingness, like a pretty painting coming to life. Avernus breathed heavily and scanned the area. His eyes caught a party of six people marching towards their location. Avernus narrowed his eyes at their leader; White clothes adorned with gold ornaments. There was a woman who appeared to be a seraph with red clothes and long red hair. "He's a Shepherd, isn't he?" Avernus asked.

"That is Siegfried, the first Susanoo's reincarnation and the first oracle. And the woman was Brunhilt, the lady of the lake, the great seraph of fire." Tia answered.

Suddenly, a large shadow loomed over them. Avernus slowly turned. Cautious rippled behind his eyes. His mouth quirked into anger. "Innominat!"

Its celestial body towered, darkening the sun as he gazed upon the deity, flames of silvered smoke pass over their heads and towards Innominat. Avernus whirled his head to the Shepherd and his comrades; his hands were glowing, sending a stream of familiar silver flame to Innominat.

"He already absorbed the malevolence! If we can purify them in its body, we might have a chance to reverse his mind back to normal!" Siegfried yelled at his comrades, face scrunching up in pain as he cast his arte. Suddenly, He and Brunhilt merged, and they armatized.

Innominat let out a deafening roar. Malevolence flew through his golden body back to the Shepherd. Avernus balanced himself as the earth shook, and the malevolence swirling near them began to clot and thicken. His companions started to scream, and one by one, they fell into the mist. The shepherd gasped and fell on his knees. Dark menace radiated from all around him.

Avernus overheard wild grunting and growling. He looked over the mist and found out the shepherd's party members, now turned into daemons, were thronging over to him, The shepherd glanced at them, and his eyes began to glow with a vicious light as they converged on him. He raised his with a defeated look and swept a last glance over his corrupted friends. His lips moved, but Avernus couldn't make any of his mumblings.

A bright sigil formed under their feet, and a pillar of light erupted from it, thundering. The memory ended abruptly. Avernus shifted his troubled gaze to Tia, and she darted a brow in response. "I know what you wanted to do. Purifying what's in Innominat's body will not give his broken mind back. Well, as you saw, It has already been done in the beginning cycle. You cannot endure the infinite amount of malevolence that Innominat keeps in his body."

"We have Phi. He will bring balance to all four…."

Tia disrupted him. "What good it does when you still have Innominat to deal with? That kid is years and decades away from reaching his true potential."

Avernus clenched his jaw and fists together in desperation. Tia pursed her lips and playfully smiled. "Alright, let me show you some different and interesting solutions that are probably swimming in that pretty head of yours, or you didn't know that was possible." Tia raised her hand. "Like this one."

She snapped her finger, and the whiteness vanished again, revealing a fiery, cloud-streaked sunset. They were above a higher ground that seemed like a hill. He heard sharp digging into the cliffside coming from behind him. He turned and walked to the edge, leaning down over the rock. Avernus saw a woman, eyes gleaming with determination, was climbing to their location. Avernus focused his eyes on her and noticed dark steams steaming from her thin arms. Her therion nature was prevalent, and as soon as she pulled herself up, her mouth twisted in an angry expression.

"Is she a… therion?!" Avernus said, eyes widening.

A buzz rung in their ears, and the area close to them flashed; A young man glared unfeelingly at her. His outfit matched Innominat's white clothes. Avernus hummed in anger, Innominat again.

"An old incarnation," Tia added.

The therion girl opened both of her claws, gesturing them all around. Her claws were thinner but more prolonged compared to Velvet.

Innominat stared soullessly into the girl's eyes. "You and I are one. In the end, I'll devour you. Your resistance is baseless."

She crouched like a tiger, claws grazing the ground. "Yeah, I know. You took everything from me. And now, I'll take your freedom." Her cold voice chilled Avernus' heart, making him uncomfortable as he instinctively related it to Velvet.

Innominat jolted with his rapier, pointed forward. The therion disappeared in a cloud of smoke, and his sword pierced empty air. The Empyrean uncaringly landed on his feet and slowly turned his head around, searching for his nemesis.

She quickly appeared behind Innominat, and as he turned, she slashed his sword away from his hand and then plunged one of her claws into his stomach. Innominat flinched and fell into her arm. The therions legs shuddered, and they both dropped to their knees. Then, she hugged him but abruptly drilled her other claw into his back.

Avernus moved closer, scrutinizing the scene.

Innominat raised his head gradually to meet the therion's eyes. After exchanging a brief regretful glance, Innominat forehead wrinkled, and he yelled in pain. Avernus scoped the therion's claws and traced malevolence from the Empyrean's wound were flowing into her hands. Then Innominat sank his teeth into her, biting her neck. Their bodies glowed sprawling. Suddenly a shrill voice rumbled coming from the other side.

"What are you doing?!"

The woman opened her eyes and glanced coldly at the figure. "Stay away, Shepherd," she said.

The man marched towards her and pulled his sword out of its sheath threateningly, eyes brimming with rage. "Stop it. Don't force my hand into doing something that I'll regret."

The glow became brighter, hurting Avernus' eyes as he could barely distinguish the therion from Innominat. "This is the only way to end it… I will not let him ruin more lives!"

The man moved closer. "You can't hold him in entanglement forever! His transcendental body is too much for you to keep in a deadlock! He will eventually devour you, and your suffering would be for nothing! He will be released one day unchecked, and who knows when this will happen!" He exhaled, trying to calm his nerves. "For the last time, Release the Empyrean."

The woman didn't comply and, together with Innominat, began to ascend from the ground.

In a blink of an eye, the man jolted and slashed the therion like a flash with his sword. The light faded away as the woman's facial features stilled. Her motionless body slumped to the ground, and her frightened eyes turned to the Shepherd, sparkless.

Innominat regained his consciousness, rising on his feet like a cold golem as soon as Avernus turned to the man, the scene dissolved into whiteness.

Tia patted his back as he was glued to his place. His eyes widened from shock. "She was… that was the Ouroborus..."

"I know. She would've kept him in a stalemate. No one can endure his power for so long. The therion would've absorbed her back to him eventually, in one, ten, or a hundred years."

Avernus avoided her gaze revoltingly. Tia smirked at his supposed desperation. "Let's see another one, shall we?" she said playfully and gestured her hand over the empty air in a complicated move. Suddenly, Avernus grabbed her hand, pulling it down. "That's enough…."

Tia dropped her arm slowly, staring amiably into his eyes. "I see that you're ready to hear my proposal."

Avernus turned to her, holding the ancient Seraphim's gaze.

"It's a losing battle, Avernus. You can't contain Innominat, nor you can kill him without losing Velvet, Phi, and your chance to stop malevolence from spreading. But I can help you to make sure they live through this." Tia said cordially, glancing like a thoughtful motherly figure.

Avernus exchanged a suspicious look with the seraphim. Tia laughed lightly in a bright, crystalline sound with a disconcertingly sharp edge to it. "I will burn their ties to Innominat; Velvet, Phi, and the rest of the therions if you give your soul to me... willingly."

Avernus gave her a bitter, dry laugh. "Of course, that's what you're after. All you Empyreans are looking to resurrect yourselves in the best possible way."

Tia placed her hands on her hip, looking condescendingly at him. "What can I say? I have high standards," she said brazenly.

Avernus threw Tia a grudging, sidelong look before breaking their eye contact and grumbling silently to himself.

Tia's lip suddenly curled into a sneer. "Okay. Let me tell enlighten you a bit more; Velvet isn't a full-fledged daemon."

Avernus' brow creases as he frowned, darting a sharp look.

Tia nodded before sweeping off to the other side, her silk cloak trailing behind her. "A daemon can rarely be affected by human feelings. Velvet's emotions burn like a firestorm. Although thanks to you and Laphicet, she managed to take control and tame them."

Avernus breathed faster. Uncertainty veiled behind his eyes, but a flickering hope shone in his mind. Tia shrugged and swept a wicked glance over Avernus as his piercing gaze softened a little. "Innominat has seven sub lords that act as his heads, which you humans knew them as the Eight Serpents. Velvet serves him as one of his sub lords but a twisted version nonetheless. You see, she can have a healthy life, one that was stolen from her by a "Shepherd." You can make it up to her as you always wanted." Tia brushed a hand over his shoulder as she whirled slowly around him. "Only I have the power to sever the link between them." She stopped, glancing him in the eye. "So, what will it be?"

Avernus eyed Tia dubiously. "What will you do once you got what you want?"

A mischievous smile bloomed on Tia's face. She went for her chin, rubbing it. "Nothing particularly. The cycles have served their purpose. Maybe I come up with another solution. Maybe I tear this world down and make a new one when I get my sub lords back. Not immediate, though, but soon…."

Avernus' face was contorted with anger again. "Why bother saving them if you're going to destroy the world anyway?"

Tia immediately put up a severe face for Avernus. "Because I'm not a monster. If they must die, I would rather they die in comfort."

The shepherd's gaze tightened. "Then, my answer is no."

Tia recoiled slightly in surprise. "I thought you'd be more clever. I was truthful with you. Didn't you want to save Velvet at any cost?"

Avernus drew himself up to his full height. "My desire hasn't changed. But I won't trade on one doomed future for another. Your offer is nothing but a hollow and false hope!"

His words hit her like a splash of cold water. She moaned in anger, eyes brimming with imminent danger. "I see...Always grasping beyond your reach, despite all that I taught you." Tia inhaled. "I'll repeat this: Let me have your soul, and I'll help them survive Innominat's demise. I will never interfere with their lives or harm them, and they'll be free of me forever." Her face stranged as she frowned, and her voice became harsh like a howl in the night.

"Or, keep your soul and fail miserably."

Avernus lifted his coiled hand, and it burned with a silver flame. "Unlike you and Artorius, I haven't lost my hope in humanity. I believe in Velvet and Phi and my friends. For their sake, I will not hesitate in what must be done, and I will find a way so there will be no regrets!"

The last of the playful sparkle faded from Tia's eyes. "Even if you happen to find a way, you will never be safe from me; Not you, not Velvet, and not Laphicet. I will have my due. Even if it takes a thousand years to collect!"

Avernus shifted into his defensive stance, hearing gravelly voices rumbling from all around them. His mind rushed with escape plans, but her domain ran powerful in that seemingly infinite cage. Then out of nowhere, Avernus felt a slight pain burning on his waist. Then another one surged on his palm, and he flinched from the sharp pain. "What…?" he murmured confusingly, glaring at his arm.

Tia's face went still, her eyes shifting into a fit of anger as she looked towards above. "That meddlesome girl!" She howled.

Avernus suddenly sensed his energy was sucking away. He grinned victoriously at Tia. "I know who you fear,"

The seraphim turned to him again, nervously. Avernus slowly closed his eyes as his conscious pulled away, and darkness crept into the edges of his vision. Falling backward into the void, he instantly jerked awake from his sleep.

A pair of amber eyes were staring at him. Avernus' lips curved instinctively into a smile. "Velvet…" he whispered.

Velvet raised a brow and glanced at her bandaged hand. "I guess my pinching's apparently effective."

Avernus raised the bed sheet and checked his side for bruises. "So that was why Tia lost control of the dream; she pinched my arm with her therion hand, sucking my soul away. A simple thing saves me, again." He turned to her, eyes beaming. "Did you know what you have done?"

Velvet narrowed her eyes. "Waking you up, that's what I did."

Avernus smiled to himself and shook his head. Velvet didn't know how she unintentionally saved the Shepherd, but he decided to hid it from her.

"How long was I out?" Avernus asked.

Velvet stood up, picking up her tattered cloak from the bed. "Not long, but I was getting lonely."

Avernus stretched his shoulders and rubbed the sore muscles on his back. "Where is everyone?"

"Outside." She replied.

"So why you're not with them?"

She put on her cloak and shot a glare at Avernus as she locked the belt, humming in mild anger. "An idiot… that's what you are." she scolds in his mind as his apparent ignorance of her feelings stang her.

The shepherd threw the bedsheet away, only to pull it again instantly. The cheer faded from his face, and a hint of shame substituted it. "W-Why am I completely naked?!"

Velvet smirked in amusement. "That's because you fell into the water. Couldn't leave you soaking wet in the bed."

Avernus turned to her with a pair of pink shades on his cheeks. "But, I doubt you needed to take off "all" of my clothes!"

Velvet shrugged and raised her hand at the flustered Shepherd. "Are you really uncomfortable that I didn't ask for your consent? And besides, did you forget? I do what I want, and you've pledged yourself to me." Her brows came together mischievously, the side of her mouth curving into a subtle grin.

Avernus groaned and dropped his head, hiding his face in defeat. "Fair enough. I guess trying to have my dignity back is out of the question."

Velvet picked up his dried and folded clothes from the nearby drawer with a satisfied smile. But as she turned back to him, Velvet was met with his towering figure standing a few inches from her. Velvet flinched slightly as she gasped in surprise and then lapsed into silence.

Avernus suddenly wrapped his arms around her and brought Velvet into his embrace. Velvet's heart leaped and pounded against her chest.

"Thank you, Velvet. For everything." Avernus whispered, his face burying in her hair. She held on tight to his clothes, but Avernus squeezed her a little. "You're so warm. I hope you don't mind that I didn't ask for your consent." He purred, and after what felt to her that he inhaled her hair, Avernus pulled himself away to glance at her eyes. He carcasses her flushed face, rubbing a finger from her temple to her cheeks and slowly to her braided hair on her shoulder. "When I look at you and touch your hair, it calms me down. It's like a remedy for all of my pains."

"Here we go again." Velvet said to herself. Avernus used his charms as weapons to strip her down of the adamant defences that she raised all around her psyche. Velvet's eyes were clinging to his features. She thought she had the upper hand, telling herself that she had no more problem thinking clearly when they're alone together. But words failed her again, and Velvet was at the mercy of his relentless flirts. Avernus was the captain as he held their rudder of intimacy, guiding it to wherever he desired. But she had a problem; since Velvet held herself back for him, she came to understand that turning those true feelings in her heart into words was an impossible task. Although for Avernus, it felt like everything was smoother.

The shepherd brushed his thumb down on her plaited hair, fumbling his finger around it. His eyes then shifted to her knotted brows and gently grazed her forehead between them. "If you keep scowling like that, you'll get wrinkles."

Velvet pressed his clothes into his chest, groaning in faked annoyance. "Dress up. We don't have time to fool around." She ordered.

Avernus' languished look faded away, and his eyes went wide. "You're so cruel." He took his clothes obediently, the flirting glamour disappearing all of a sudden.

A flash of hot anger brewed behind Velvet's eyes. "No, you're the cruel one!" Velvet said with a hint of protest. Avernus stopped bafflingly and stared into her eyes. Velvet appeared that she was about to explode in her own subtle way. "I didn't know much about you, and you were the one who selfishly entered my world." She narrowed her eyes. "You gave me hope. Sometimes I thought I might be the happiest, and that left me all messed up when you tried something new out of nowhere and nearly ended up dead!"

Avernus swallowed as she marched closer.

"You caused me so much confusion! Ask yourself: Why is my heart beating so fast when we're alone? Why do I feel lonely when you leave me? Why are you the only one who makes me feel this way? And yet you…." Velvet crossed her arms and clicked her tongue. "What were you thinking?! If you're serious about me, then stop being so cruel…." She sighed in frustration. "That's enough now. Sometimes, I think it was easier when I wasn't dependent on anyone."

Avernus stayed silent, putting on his close as Velvet glared at him scoldingly. He sighed silently. "You do realize that I rely on you too, right?" Avernus said.

Velvet turned her head away upsettingly. "I know, but it doesn't give you the right always to make me angry." She shifted her gaze back at him, "Endangering your life... That pisses me off."

Avernus then immediately bowed. "If you feel this way, then I'm sorry for all the troubles that I've caused you, Velvet."

Velvet waved her hand. "Noted, but I won't be satisfied until you do something in return. You gave me so much trouble..."

Avernus shook his head apologetically. "Alright, alright, I get it. But why you didn't ask for help?" Avernus wondered.

"Men and most of the crew were busy with search and rescue efforts. The only ones available were the girls, and I didn't want them to lay eyes on your body." Velvet declared obsessively. "Come, there is another one who eagerly awaits your troublesome presence." Velvet said and whirled on her feet to the door, but Avernus dashed and grabbed her bandaged arm. "Wait!"

Velvet turned to him. "What is it?"

Avernus glanced at her bandages. "Can you give me a few inches from your wraps?"

She narrowed her eyes in question. "What for?"

"These are some rare magical cloths. They gave you better control over your arm. I want to cover my sword's handle to have better control of my artes and… have something of you close to myself as a good luck charm."

"Good luck for what?" Velvet asked cluelessly.

"Good luck in… love," Avernus smirked, eyes flickered again with desire.

A red tint flashed on her cheeks for a few moments. Velvet silently gasped. She knew that she couldn't win his dalliances. "Alright. If this is what you want." She unsheathed her arm blade and cut a long piece, giving it to Shepherd. Better done with it before she melted from all that heat her body was generating. Avernus accepted it and winked alluringly. "Thanks, Velvet."

The lord of calamity quickly escaped before the floor opened up and swallowed her whole. Velvet stopped at the door and turned to him again. "Hurry up. Eizen's sister wants to talk to you."