"Where am I?"
The lady's started to regain her consciousness, her eyes darted across the room before noticing the other three members sitting down around her.
"You...human..."
Trying to stand back on her feet, Chloe gently pat her shoulder and replied her in a reassuring voice.
"It's over. We aren't your enemies. You need to rest first, your body's a mess and your mana pool is low."
Disguted by Chloe's display of compassion, the lady shrugged Chloe's hand off, calming down slightly before questioning the others.
"I don't know who that half breed across the table is, but with the Originator being here, it can only mean my master has been defeated..."
Surprised to hear the lady call herself a half breed, Lisbeth smiled before revealing her true form to the others. A horn emerged from her forehead, while her eyes turned a deep shade of purple, her canines were extended and revealed themselves as her lips were unable to conceal them.
"Where are my manners? Let me introduce myself now then since my cover's been blown. I am Lisbeth..."
"Lisbeth Cornelia, the prodigy doctor who created a pill capable of enhancing human physical abilities, causing them to ascend as false Angels. Can't believe the ones above authorised those pills, now all those Angels are just mortals who abuse those drugs."
The lady scorned at Lisbeth, as Lisbeth continued.
"Yes, what this lady said is true. I am the one who helped build up the Heaven's Angelic force, who caused all of humanity to be oppressed under said Angels. Also, she's right about me being a half blood, just like herself, we are both half demon half human."
Walking over towards the lady, Alice bowed respectfully before her.
"Sorry for the loss of your master. He...could have just ran away but he knew he wasn't able to save you himself, so he asked me to save you instead, sacrifising himself for all of us. Don't let his death be in vain, what is your name?"
Reaching her hand out to the lady, she was completely caught off-guard by Alice's action. Looking into Alice's eyes, the lady knew she was being genuine, before raising up her hand to shake hers.
"Misaki...Misaki Toura. I'm actually your classmate in the Academy..."
"Misaki? You are Misaki?"
Getting off the couch, Chloe grabbed onto Misaki's hand shoving Alice aside.
"So that means you will be my room mate for the upcoming Royal Knight Academy exchange? You are right? I'm Chloe!"
"Ummm, I didn't check yet. I wasn't planning on staying after capturing the Originator, but now... I guess I will..."
"I feel like this is the start of an amazing friendship! Misaki, hehe."
Clearing her throat, Lisbeth captured the attention of the girls as she carried the empty cups back to the kitchen.
"The angels have left already, you three should probably head back soon, it's getting late."
Looking at the clock on the wall, Chloe panicked, immediately taking out her phone only to realise it had been damaged during the fight.
"Just leave through the entrance, I've set up a spell that will change the destination on the other side of the door to the place you have in mind."
Thanking Lisbeth for her hospitality, Chloe and Misaki both approached the door, opening it, waving goodbye to Lisbeth before disappearing into the other side.
"One last thing Alice. About our encounter today, if you ever come across that detective. Do not mention my name, that's all I ask of you."
Nodding her head, Alice stepped through the door, exiting into Chloe's bedroom as the portal behind her closed.
"Hurry up Alice! Mum is definitely worried sick, let's hurry down!"
Racing down the stairs, Mrs. Kiyari placed down the phone before rushing over to Chloe and Alice.
"Where have you two been? Rey couldn't find Alice in the hospital and all the staff couldn't find you either! And you! Chloe! Where were you tonight? What happened to you two? Why are your clothings ripped up... Chloe, you're injured, Alice too..."
"Mum, it's not big deal. Come on, I'm the strongest... Mum..."
Seeing her mother break down into tears, Chloe realised the gravity of the situation, on the table next to the phone was a notebook filled with multiple contacts.
Mum had been calling up all those people to try to find me... Rey isn't home either so he's probably still looking for Alice...
"Mrs. Kiyara. Tonight's events were my fault. I haven't been honest with you about who I am, what I am. Please have a seat, I'd like for you to know just who Alice Gaelburg really is."
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Bursting through the front door, Rey tried his hardest to catch his breath removing his shoes before making his way to the living room where his mother and sister were seated.
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"I'm home. Mum you said you found Alice, where is she?"
"She's gone Rey. Forget about her."
"Mum?"
Chloe looked down in anguish with a red mark on her right cheek.
"Mum...tell me... Where is she?"
"Listen Rey, Chloe told me you weren't in the loop and didn't know who Alice is. Alice is..."
"Like I care. She's a friend, someone I deeply care about. I might not know her well but, the expression on her face... Everytime I catch her off guard, she has a look of pain, sadness, loneliness. Look, I was never a popular guy, I never had friends growing up... But Alice, when she transferred to our class, we were paired up to do an assignment together. I expected her to be like all the others, despising me for my lack of mana, my lack of magic aptitude... Always being compared to sis... I was labelled as the black sheep, the useless one, but Alice, the way she looked at me, those eyes weren't those of pity or hate, but they were those of respect. She's my first ever friend, though she rejected having lunch with me at first, she gave in a few days later and since then, she's the only person I can ever talk to at school."
"Rey..."
Marching forward towards her brother, Chloe flicked her index finger against his forehead.
"Stupid brother. Why didn't you ever tell us all this? You may not have the magical aptitude, but what you have is heart, a heart bigger than anyone out there. Alice just left a few minutes ago, here take this."
Creating a magic crystal, Chloe handed it over to Rey.
"This crystal will lead you to Alice's mana. Hurry Rey."
"Chloe! Rey! Stop, I already told you..."
Before Mrs. Kiyara could finish her sentence, Rey thanked his sister, bursting out the front door once again, he dashed after Alice using the crystal to guide him.
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"Out... I won't harbour a demon, moreover a demon lord. Taking my hospitality for advantage, that's what all you demons do."
"Mum, Alice..."
Shutting her daughter with a slap across her face, Chloe was stunned as tears began flowing down her cheeks.
"Have you forgotten how your father left us? Have you forgotten what demons did to us? I thought you knew better as the future head of the family. Chloe, I'm disappointed in you."
Left speechless, Chloe stood rooted to the floor, hanging her head in shame, unable to see her mother in the eyes.
"Mrs. Kiyara... Chloe did it out of kindness... This isn't her fault..."
"Kindness? I'm fortunate to have two kids that shower others with kindness but sometimes, kindness turns one blind to reality. Alice, I know you may mean well but please, leave this house and never associate yourself with my children anymore. Take this, this should be enough to cover a week's worth of rent at a nearby inn. I've ironed your clothing as well if you still intend on wearing that outfit. Goodbye."
Bowing one final time towards Mrs. Kiyara and Chloe, Alice refused the money, collecting her clothing before making her way out of the house.
Nothing's changed... Even if other's accept me and reach out to help me... I end up hurting them and those who care for them... I guess this is it Alice... no... Atallia... Is there really no one out there... I'm all alone... Save me...
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"Alice? Alice!"
The crystal's glow pointed towards the south as Rey followed while calling out for Alice. It was well past midnight, the air tonight was unusally cold, yet Rey disregarded it all with his mind set on finding Alice and bringing her back. From afar, his cries for Alice managed to reach her as she stopped to turn around.
"Rey?"
Seeing Alice, Rey mustered all his strength, dashing towards Alice before coming to a halt in front of her.
"There you are... Where were you even headed to?"
"I... I was going to locate Lisbeth... this person I know. Anyways, why are you here? Look Rey, I really shouldn't be..."
"Come back. Come back with me Alice. You don't have a home and I can't really offer you much... But you are one of us now, you can call my home yours."
"Rey? Don't be ridiculous... You hardly even know me... And your mother, I can't Rey."
"Yes, so what if I hardly know you? You are the only person outside of my family who sees worth in me. You talk to me, care for me even when others look down and avoid me. Don't act dumb with me Alice, you know what others have been saying... Because of associating with me, they bad mouth you and..."
"Rey. Stop. What I did was what any decent person would do. It's not because I treat you in a special way, I just treated you the way I would treat anyone else. It's true that you are weak, powerless, hardly able to hold your own even against a group of goblins. But Rey, stop selling yourself short! You, you and your family...are some of the few humans who have shown me true compassion, love and care. So what if others bad mouth you or me? Why are you second guessing yourself? You are my first friend in this life, maybe not exactly friends, but when we first met, you were shy, anti-social, but now you are here. Chasing after a girl you hardly know because you care for others around you. Rey, instead of wasting that heart you have on someone like me, use it on those around you in school, your classmates. I am sure there are others out there who are just like me, who will treat you with respect and wouldn't look down on you."
"I... Alice... I want to, I choose to waste it on you, I want to be selfish for once. I may not know you that much now but... I'm willing to know you better, stop running away from those who want to help you and I will stop running away from those who would acknowledge me as well. You saved me Alice and now, I just want to save you too. I don't know what happened tonight but seeing you hurt... pains me..."
"Sorry, I can't. I made a promise Rey."
Grabbing hold of Alice's arm, Rey refused to let go as he looked into Alice's eyes.
"There it is. The look, that same look. I used to have that look, but you saved me from my loneliness. Walking to school with me when we pass the station. Scolding me for making careless mistakes in practices. Pushing me on when I can't even hold a magic circle for long. No one has ever done those for me, you really saved me Alice. So now, please let me save you. You're eyes, they convey your feelings, you don't have to be alone anymore Alice, I don't know why you feel this way or what happened but..."
My eyes? Alone? No. Stop. Stop giving me hope. Atallia, put an end to this, this empty false hope you have. This is for his sake too.
Without warning, Alice released her demonic powers, her hair burnt in flames, changing into a crimson shade of red. Releasing an aura of darkness around her, Rey fell onto his back, taken aback by the girl standing before him.
"This is me Rey. This amount of magic. It's suffocating right? I...I am the Demon Lord... The Original Demon Lord. I will only bring you suffering and pain. Look at me! Do I look like I need saving? You are just a human, a weak one at that! You can never possibly save me, do you understand now? If I wanted to, I could burn you into ashes, better yet, erase your whole existence from this reality."
Left speechless on the floor, panic filled Rey as the immense amount of magic weighed heavily on his body. His heart rate accelerated and his muscle tensed up. He couldn't move, his legs were to weak to carry him off the floor. His arms were barely able to support his upper body as he involuntarily inched backwards, bit by bit, away from the demon before him.
"Just as I thought. When it comes down to it, no one in their right mind would accept a demon. Chloe did, but it was probably because she had to, to protect her family from Misaki and Exslav."
Returning into her human state, Alice's hair slowly turned blonde as she turned away, walking away from Rey, into an alley before disappearing into the night.
Sorry, Rey and Chloe... Thank you both for supporting me all this time, but this fight is mine and mine alone. What is this feeling, my heart? Stop. Please, stop! I made up my mind already... Mother, I'm sorry but now I will become Atallia and put an end to this. If all goes well, perhaps I could become Alice once more...