Lily’s father sat beneath the shade of a towering tree, watching his little flower dart through the forest, her eyes locked on a small, fleeing creature. Five years had passed since he fell ill and no signs were showing of his recovery. It was a disease with no name, affecting only the elderly—a curse some called a gift from the supreme being, a gentle salvation they welcomed without question. But he refused to bow to it, refused to be swept away without a fight. His gaze followed Lily, his pride, his joy, the one reason he clung so fiercely to life.

She had sacrificed so much for him. To pay for his medicine, she had joined the House of Quell, becoming a dancer. He had even added little jingle bells to her shoes, thinking, Who could resist a dancer with bells on her feet?

His little flower was almost unrecognisable. Her once-bright smile was fading day by day, and it broke his heart to watch her grow this way. Was he making the right decision by staying alive? Was he going too far by pretending that everything was okay? These questions haunted him, as he waited for the day his sickness would take a sudden turn, threatening her world.

Still, she had become so quick on her feet, an improvement he would love to see more of. Her speed was impressive—a clear result of the training he'd given her. He had once trained other students at the sanctuary and was blessed with knowledge that far surpassed physical strength. He had taught her the secrets of movement—how to be faster than the eye could follow.

For the past few days after her performances, she’ll return home and begin her training. It was the only gift he had left to give her, a parting token for when he would no longer be there to clean her tears.

She needs to be stronger. She needs to live.

Lily leapt from tree to tree, her gaze fixed on the little creature. Her feet slipped once, twice, fear tugging at her. She was so high up, and the ground seemed so far below. Even when Papa had promised he’d catch her if she fell.

But…

But…

Will I allow that to happen? To make Papa worry wasn’t an option. I have to make him proud.

Lily straightened, planting her feet firmly on the branch beneath her. She took a deep breath, focusing her energy the way she’d been taught, scanning the forest. Lily stood on her toes. The key was control—moving swiftly wasn't just about speed but understanding how every joint and every muscle moved together. Master their motion, control their restraints, and you can break past the limits of human speed.

Her mind was still clouded by doubt and fear. She focused harder, sensing the life force of the creature.

Lily leapt forward, her movements swift and graceful on the tree branches, her heart racing as she reached out—and snatched the creature.

“I did it,” she smiled, holding the poor creature up high.

Lily hopped down from the tree, sprinting toward her father. "Told you it was easy!"

“Huh? You were this close to failing,” he said, raising an eyebrow.

“No, I wasn't! Your eyes must be playing tricks on you”

"Excuse me," he said, crossing his arms, "but it's my chest that's the problem, not my eyes, thank you very much."

Lily chuckled, releasing the little guy. "Still… how did I do?" she whispered, lowering her head.

"Horrible," he said, shaking his head. "Your energy flow is all over the place, and you were far too slow." He crossed his arms even tighter.

"Seriously, Papa? You wanna be that guy?"

He leaned in closer, a smirk creeping onto his face. "Cupcake, I'm already that guy."

"A guy who can't even make a cup of tea," she said under her breath.

“Huh? I blame those Quell girls they turned my precious flower into some kind of monster”

Lily touched her chest, pretending to be shocked. "Me? A monster? No, no, I’m a delicate, refined young lady."

He held her close, rubbing her head. “My little refined lady”

“Hehehe”

He kissed her forehead and gently pushed her away, still holding her by the shoulders. "Alright, time for the next phase." He handed her a wooden sword, taking one for himself. "Try to hit me. And don’t hold back."

“Okay don’t cry, Papa”

He screamed, covering himself with his arms. "I knew it! Those corrupt Quell dancers have possessed you!"

Lily burst out laughing, holding her tummy. "There’s no way I could hit you, Papa. Not in a million years."

His eyes went teary. “Don’t play with Papa’s heart like that”

"You said you liked it last time! Right? Right?"

Suddenly, his expression turned serious. He held her shoulders. "You need to become stronger, Lily," he said, drawing her closer. "You need to be strong enough to leave this village."

She sighed, lowering her eyes. "Papa, I’ve told you before… I don’t want to leave. I’ll stay here with you. I’ll work at the Quell. Everything will be fine."

He bowed his head. “I’ve already spoken to the grandmaster of the sanctuary,” he whispered. “You’ll begin a month from now”

She held his shirt, her eyes downcast. “S-So you’ve already registered me”

He rubbed her head. “You must have noticed by now that Papa does not have a lot of time left, you’ve done your best”

“No, no I can do better, just don’t make me leave. I pro-promise I’ll do better, just please, don’t leave me”

He knelt down, cleaning her escaped tears. “You need to live, Lily. No matter what,” he said. "Your life is worth more than gold, more than all the treasures in the world. There’s no shame in running, as long as you survive."

She opened her teary eyes. “B-But but, b-but.”

"It’s alright," he whispered, pulling her into a tight embrace. "You’ve made friends at the sanctuary during your performances, haven’t you? Have fun with them."

“I still want to stay with you, Papa”

He chuckled, rubbing her head again. “Come on, you don’t want to be a stubborn girl, do you? Oh, wait—you already are."

She chuckled, giving him a little punch.

“See? You’re even attacking me. You want a fight? Right? Alright, come on, I’ll take you down!”

Lily giggled, still keeping her face in his chest.

"Let’s keep training," he said, beginning to stand, but Lily pulled him back down.

"Not yet… just a little longer," she whispered.

He smiled, continuing to pat her head. "Alright. Just a few more minutes."

*

Lily dragged Hades along, showing him the grand displays of the House of Quell. Singing maidens filled the halls with music, dancers twirled gracefully, and actors performed with such passion that the entire place felt alive. Hades, though sleepy paid attention to every detail or he thought he was.

Hades wasn’t sure if this was real or if he had fallen asleep back at the sanctuary and was lost in some bizarre dream of white garment-wearing strange individuals jumping around and screaming.

They strolled through a long hallway lined with statues of angelic figures.

“What are those?” Hades asked, yawning.

“Heck If I know, they should be warriors or…” She went to one of them, placing a hand on its mouth and mimicking a divine voice."You vile devil! Even with my last breath, I’ll bring you down! For my people… for myself… argh!"

Hades couldn’t help but laugh. “Yeah that was pretty good,” he said, scratching the dirt off his eyes.

Lily continued her role. “What are you laughing at you vile beast? I’ll have your head!”

Hades rubbed his head, entering the role. “Yes I’ll kill you and feed you to my dogs,” he said, laughing out.

Lily glared at him. “You shouldn't be allowed anywhere near a stage," she said, “You’re now sounding like an actual devil”

Hades turned back, putting hands in his pockets while he marched away. This is why, I don’t do such.

Lily hit him on the back. “Sorry! Hope I didn’t break your heart”

Hades turned away. “You couldn’t break my heart even if you tried”

“Is that a challenge, I hear?”

Hades eyed her. “You don’t stand a chance”

“Ok, then watch me!”

She punched his chest with full force. Her speed caught Hades completely off guard, sending him flying backwards into one of the statues Luckily, it didn’t break.

“See?” Lily said. “Cracked your heart—easy peasy.”

Hades groaned, getting back to his feet. “You *cheated*,” he muttered, brushing the dust off himself. “I won’t let that happen again.”

“All is fair in love and war, Hades,” she said, walking away. “Come on, let’s head to the village.”

From a nearby alcove, Jin and Maki watched them quietly, their life force barely concealed as they peeked around the corner.

“I thought for a second they were making a romantic gesture,” Maki whispered.

Jin sighed. “For those two, a word like that does not fit them. Even I don’t understand their relationship”

*

The village wasn’t as lively as the bustling halls of Quell, and there weren’t many thrilling spots to impress Hades. Lily walked ahead, her head down, dragging Hades along as she tried to think of something to do.

Hades watched her. “Where to next?”

Stolen novel; please report.

“Well,” she said, raising her head, smiling. “Well, Let’s head fishing”

“Fishing? You mean, like catching fish?”

“No, catching monsters, genius”

Hades raised an eyebrow. “So that’s your idea of fun, huh?”

She faced him. “For your information, I’ve had a lot on my mind lately, so don’t blame me.”

“What’s on your mind?” Hades asked.

She turned away, walking faster. “None of your business”

They reached a small fishing shop, and Lily selected the needed equipment. "Now where is that purse?" she asked herself.

Hades stood there, stoic. He had anticipated this moment from the very second they set out to buy the equipment. So, he discreetly hid his purse before they arrived. It contained all his life savings—money he would have used for fun in the town—but in the end, it remained untouched.

His hand slipped inside his cloak to feel the reassuring weight of his purse. Perfect. Still there. He smirked. Any second now, she’d turn to him, ask for money, and he’d tell her he didn’t have any. This time, he had the upper hand.

“Oh I found it,” Lily said, bringing out a purse that looked exactly like Hades.

His eyes grew wide in shock as he hurried to check his pockets. His purse tumbled from his cloak—stones spilling out of it.

Hades blinked. “How…?”

Lily chuckled.“You really thought you could hide it from me? You’re so predictable, Hades. So very predictable.”

Hades leaned against the shop wall, sighing. “I didn’t even see you take it… How did you—”

“It’s called borrowing, not stealing,” she said, twirling the fishing rod in her hand. “I swapped it out while you were sleeping. I knew you wouldn’t want to spend any money in the village, so I’m just helping you out.”

“Sometimes I wonder which one of us is the devil,” he whispered.

“Huh? What are you trying to say?”

Hades sighed, meeting her gaze. “I said you are the real devil here.”

“You don’t have any manners, do you? Calling a lady a devil”

“You? A lady? Those other girls at the House are way more ladylike than you”

“How dare you!”

The shopkeeper raised his hands in an attempt to diffuse the tension. “Please, children, don’t fight—”

“Stay out of it!” they yelled.

“There’s only one way to settle this,” Lily said.

“I agree. Only one way.”

Moments later, they were by the river, fishing lines in the water.

“First to catch a fish wins,” Lily said, excitement building.

“You’re on!”

Minutes passed. The two sat in silence, not even the birds chirped. The calm was almost unsettling.

Lily groaned, leaning to one side. “I thought this would be more exciting,” she whispered. “I need me some corn, Hades. Bring me corn”

Hades, on the other hand, basked in the quiet. “The silence is nice. I might come back here just for this” he turned to her. “It was even able to calm this unsightly creature”

“I don’t care. Just bring me corn”

Suddenly, Hades’ line twitched. He jumped to his feet. “Wait… I think I’ve got something!”

Lily got up to help. “Pull it! Pull it!”

“I don’t need your help! Let go!”

“No way, I’m letting go!”

They both tugged at the line, struggling together until a large fish flew out of the water, landing on the shore.

Hades stared at it, his eyes glittering. “I caught one… I actually caught a live fish!”

Lily put her hands on her hips, satisfied. “Since we both pulled it out, I guess it’s a draw.”

Hades’ smile faded into a scowl. “You just had to ruin the moment…”

She smiled, sticking her tongue at him.

He sighed, walking to her. “How long are you going to keep on stalling?”

“What do you mean?”

“The director isn’t exactly quiet when he whispers,” he said.

Lily clenched her cloak tighter. “I… I really want to see him. But last time I did, he looked so… different.”

Hades sighed, grabbing her arm. “If you want to see him, then go see him. Stop avoiding it.”

“I wanted to show you all these fun places, but… I don’t really know that many. I’m sorry”

Hades eyed her. Is this the same Lily? Or is she possessed or something? It’s making me uncomfortable.

“Okay then,” he said. “Next time we get a day off, let’s come back and actually have some fun. After my rest that is”

Lily nodded and led the way.“It might be a bit early, but… it’s time you meet my Papa.”

Hades followed her, leaving the fish behind as they walked toward the village.

*

“ I’m home,” Lily said, entering the house with Hades. The air was filled with a strange energy making them to draw their blades.

“Lily? Is this your home?” Hades asked fixed on what seemed to be Lily’s father's room door.

"Something's wrong with Papa." Without waiting, she sprinted forward.

Hades eyes widened, a voice whispering to his ear. He hadn’t heard that voice in months. Why now.

“Lily wait!”

His words fell on deaf ears, as she was already at the door, throwing it open. There, slumped against the wall, was her father, a blade resting in his hand, blood dripping from his chest and staining his shattered glasses. Three cloaked figures stood over him,

One of them turned. "We’ve granted your final wish, old man. Now we’ll take our leave."

“A man of honour, indeed. In the end, he went down without a fight”

"Not before taking three of our comrades with him," another said.

Lily stood, her eyes fixed on her father’s corpse. It wasn’t real. This is a dream. It just can’t be real.

Hades stepped into the room, he eyed the lifeless body and back at Lily. He lowered his head, staying quiet.

“It took that many of us to handle a single senior instructor,” one of the cloaked men said. “We may be losing our touch”

“Papa!” Lily screamed, throwing her sword to the floor. She wrapped her arms around him, her face buried in his blood-soaked chest, refusing to meet his empty gaze.

“My little cupcake…”

He struggled to rub her head. She lifted herself up so he could reach it, trembling as his hand grazed her.

“Papa, please don’t leave, I’m not ready for this, not now”

He forced a smile. “We’re never ready for these things, cupcake. The world... is just like that."

“No, no,” she whispered, shaking her head. “Please, Papa don’t go”

“I’m happy, Lily. My last wish was fulfilled. I got to see you... and I see you’ve made friends." He struggled to breathe, his chest rising. "Are they good to you?"

She nodded. “How did you know?”

"I’ve been watching. I saw you at the House and also the fisherman's shop." He coughed, blood dribbling from the corner of his mouth. "I didn’t want you to see me like this. But I couldn’t leave without seeing you again. I’m selfish, aren’t I?"

“You’re not selfish!” she said, pulling him closer. Hades and the cloaked men watched in silence.

“I was heartbroken when I thought you got married without telling me,” he chuckled. “Invite me next time, okay? Don’t leave this old man waiting.”

Lily chuckled through her tears. “I will”

He smiled, his eyes half-lidded. “To a devil, no less. You’ve become quite the troublemaker, haven’t you?”

Lily laughed again, tears mingling with her smile.

“Come on, aren’t you sad your old man is passing?” he said, lifting her bloodied face. “You should cry, some more. Like muahh muahh”

“M-uahh, Muahh?” she chuckled, her tears still falling.

His grasp on her became looser. “I am glad to see you’re happy, remember what I taught you, always live- “

Suddenly, one of the cloaked men stepped forward, thrusting his sword toward Lily’s father, but Hades was quicker, deflecting the blow just in time.

“You know the rules,” the leader said. “Once she entered the sanctuary, she ceased to be your daughter. You are no longer her father or a teacher. So stop with your last words of instruction”

The leader eyed Hades who glared at him, eyes burning with rage.

“I heard the new recruits somewhat have some skill,” one said, walking over. “They’ve realised why we’re here, the sanctuary won’t be too shaken if they died in a monster attack.

“Just make it quick,” another said.

More cloaked figures emerged, surrounding them.

“Lily run,” he whispered, holding her hands. “You need to live a happy life; you need to live”

“I will Papa, I will,” she said holding his cold hands.

“I love you, cupcake” he whispered.

“I love you too”

His eyes closed shut, his spirit departing from this world.

One of the cloaked figures was about to intervene but was stopped by the leader.

Lily tried to lift him but couldn’t. Tears fell, and her sobs were quiet. Hades stepped over, helping her carry her father to the bed, where they gently laid him down and covered his face.

Hades glared at the cloaked swordsmen. “If you really respect this man, you can at least not destroy his home”

They laughed at him.

“You think we can’t handle the two of you without making a mess?” one of them said. “Trust me, this’ll be over before you know it.”

The leader stepped forward. “No, no. The boy’s got a point. It’s poor taste to kill his daughter right in front of him. In his own house, no less.” He smirked. “We’ll take them into the forest. Blame it on monsters.”

*

Hades and Lily followed them to the forest. Lily grabbed his arm, silent and scared while holding her father’s sword close.

“That’s one fine blade,” one of the cloaked figures said with a twisted grin.

“Patience. We’ll get our hands on it soon enough—once she’s dead”

“This’ll do,” the leader said, stopping in a clearing.

One of the men yanked Lily away from Hades.

“Hades, help!” she cried, reaching out to him.

Hades lunged forward, but a brutal hit knocked him to the ground. “No!” he shouted, struggling to rise. “Leave her alone!”

One of the men stepped on him. “Wait your turn, brat.”

Lily’s screamed as she was dragged toward a tree stump, her arms still reaching for Hades. “I don’t want to die!” she sobbed, trembling as the men forced her head down.

Hades watched. Every ounce of his body screaming. She was going to be killed. The first friend he has ever made. The only one he found his equal.

Why was the world so cruel?

“Are you angry?”

One of the men held her father’s sword, admiring it, and discussing who would claim it.

“What will you do?”

“What will you do?” the voice continued.

Lily’s cries grew fainter, her strength failing as the man raised his blade. It was too late.

“No!” Hades’ eyes snapped shut. The voice continued its whisper.

“Protect. Protect everyone”

Suddenly, Hades opened his eyes, and the world around him shifted. Everything was monochrome, frozen in place. The blade was mere inches from Lily’s neck, suspended in mid-air. What is this? He wondered. Is this Parallel Space?.

He had read about this in the sanctuary’s library. One of the Three Great Powers. Hades moved forward in a blur, his body reacting faster than his thoughts.

The swordsman swung but hit nothing but air. “What just happened?” he said, searching. “Where’s the girl?”

“The boy is gone too!”

The leader gritted his teeth. “Parallel space... that kid achieved it? How?”

Hades reappeared a short distance away, standing with Lily. He stared at his fingertips. It wasn’t his achievements. For some reason he knew it. His gift played a huge role in getting him this power.

Lily hugged Hades from behind. Crying. “I thought... I thought I was going to die.”

“No you won’t,” Hades said, gritting his teeth. “I won’t let you die here”

Lily tugged at his cloak, her body trembling.

He glared at the men. “Those assassins killed your father, Lily,” he said, clenching his fist. “I’ve seen you train over and over again ever since our first battle, you are strong I know it”

“But, b-but”

“I’ll handle them for you, but before then promise me this,” he faced forward, drawing his wooden sword. “You’ll find happiness. That’s what your father wanted right? So no matter what happens, I want you to promise me you’ll never change. You’ll always be you. I’ll make sure you have that chance, even if it kills me.”

Lily’s lips trembled, but she nodded, her grip on his shirt tightening. “I… I promise”

The cloaked men walked closer.

“They’re smarter than that. They know we could catch them, even in parallel space”

Lily pushed Hades forward. “G-go get them”

Hades smiled back at her. “That’s the spirit”

He closed his eyes focusing on his energy. I know you can hear me. I need your power. Just this once... I'll give you what you've always wanted.

“Your heart, everything that resides in it”

Hades chuckled. No can do, I’ve already promised someone to protect her. I feel like my cheeks are about to explode from embarrassment, after saying that. So I can’t lose everything and become an empty shell, sorry.

“I see”

How about a deal then? You can have my emotions after I use my gift

“Granted.”

Seriously? Just like that?

“Yes, we are one, after all. We think alike. Your words are mine as well”

Alright, then. Let’s do this

“What is he doing?” one of the cloaked men asked.

They kept getting closer and closer. Lily remained calm tugging the back of Hade's shirt. He’s been silent for some time now. Did something happen to him?

"Damn it," one of the men growled, rushing toward Hades. "I’ll just end this now."

Before his sword could land, his body was sliced in two.

Hades opened his eyes, holding the hilt of his wooden blade. “Every spot is a critical spot, as long as you use enough force, right Lily?”

She nodded through her tears, her dishevelled hair falling over her face.

“What the?”

“You’re him... the devil’s child. How didn’t I notice it before? The one with a gift...” The leader shouted to the others, “Don’t underestimate the boy! Take him down with everything you’ve got!”

Hades walked toward them, a fiery energy surging within him, charged with an ominous intensity. With every step he took, it felt as though he was destroying a part of himself and the world around him. This sensation was overwhelming, and he didn’t want to hold onto it for long.

The trees began to wither as if time were rushing by. The air became heavy, almost unbreathable.

All the cloaked men surrounded him, drawing their blades. Hades glanced up at the sky. Winter was coming; in just a few days, the land would be covered in white.

The men surrounded him, blades drawn, but Hades raised his hand. The earth beneath them quaked, then shattered, sending them crashing into the ground. In an instant, he hardened the earth again, crushing them under its weight. The sound of their bones breaking echoed, and blood rained down, painting the forest red.

The leader survived. He stood up, trembling but defiant. “How is this possible? Beaten by children? But don’t think you’ve won. That little earth trick won’t work again.”

Fighting the boy was too risky. He ran to Lily, decolouring the world around him “He’s too far away to catch up with me, I’ll kill his girlfriend to break his spirit—that’ll make him easier to kill”

He faced lily in the colourless world. Something felt off. In this realm, only extremely fast individuals could access it or parallel space users. So how was she staring at him? Her hair shifted slightly, revealing one eye- a glowing, black eye that seemed to pull him closer.

She glared at him. This was the man. The same man who killed Papa. I’ll take his life

His skin crawled and his heart raced at the sight. She was smiling at him and tears gathered in his eyes. He glanced away, but it only got worse. Behind Hades stood a smoky, horned figure, grinning with jagged red teeth.

“ARGHH!!!”

He screamed, “I’ll kill you dammit,” he turned to Lily who had appeared behind him, her father’s sword in hand.

She knelt down, sheathing the blade

The cloaked leader glared back at her. What is she doing? Doesn’t she want to kill me-

She turned back at him. At that moment, his head fell from his shoulders.

The world returned to normal. Lily began to cry, holding the sword close to her. Hades knelt beside her, his heart feeling like it was shackled by thousands of chains, making him feel almost numb inside.

The pain he felt was unbearable. He eyed Lily, pulling her close to him. “I’m sorry,” he whispered.

“No it’s not your fault,” she said, looking at the bloodied battlefield. The dead image of her father appeared again, scaring her. “Hades, can you promise me something?”

“What is it?”

“Never again,” she said. “Never take lives like they’re meaningless. Not like this”

She looked lowered her head, staring at the blood on her palms. That was the first time she killed a human.

Hades nodded. Even if they were her father’s murderers, she still held the value of life.

“I promise”

“I want to become stronger, very strong,” she said. “Years from now, let’s join the others and save the people of this village from whatever is causing these deaths.”

“Yes, I’ll help in any way I can”

She buried her face in his chest. “You better.”