Chapter Twenty-Four

Sorcerer's Regret

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“Have you found her yet, Enoxon?” Kurai's raspy voice echoed from atop the stairs.

Enoxon slumped on the couch and kept his eyes fixed on a glowing ethereal map hovering before him. He poured every ounce of his magic into locating Snow, hoping to ease Kurai's worry. Despite his efforts, he had yet to succeed. Exhaustion weighed heavily on him, dark circles prominent under his eyes. He had searched tirelessly but found no trace of her. Kurai's incessant questioning—mainly the repeated “Have you found her yet?”—wore him thin.

“I could use some help,” he muttered under his breath.

“What?” Kurai snapped back.

“No, Kurai. I haven’t found her—if I had, you’d be the first to know,” the gray-white-haired sorcerer sighed heavily. What are you even doing? Shouldn’t you be using your ‘fox nose’ to find her?” he demanded.

Silence followed.

“Ugh,” Enoxon groaned. “I need a drink.”

“You’re going out at a time like this?!” Kurai hollered back.

Enoxon stood up, the weariness evident in his movements. "Yes, Kurai. I need to clear my head. I can't think straight when I'm this exhausted," he replied, his voice strained.

Kurai's eyes narrowed, but he stayed silent, his anger barely contained. He knew Enoxon was trying his best, but the frustration of not finding Snow was eating away at him.

As Enoxon grabbed his coat and headed for the door, he turned to Kurai one last time. "I'll be back soon. Please try to stay calm and not burn my house down."

Kurai grunted in response, his eyes following Enoxon as he walked out into the cold night. The door closed behind him with a soft click, leaving Kurai alone with his thoughts.

Enoxon trudged out of the house, his body heavy with fatigue. He needed a break, a moment to clear his mind. The only place that came to mind was "The Wet Rose," a lively tavern owned by his longest friend, Jenieva.

As he pushed open the door, the tavern’s warm glow and the sound of laughter greeted him. Jenieva, a demon-succubus with a magnetic personality, was chatting and laughing with customers behind the bar. Her outgoing nature made the tavern famous, and her sweetness kept patrons returning. Though she had a reputation for being quite the flirt, her attention was only ever on women.

“Please, kill me,” Enoxon muttered as he slumped onto the bar top that she was working.

“Enoxon, sweetheart. You’re practically immortal!” Jenieva’s fruity voice sounded. The clank of a rock glass sat down next to him.

“Sometimes I wish I weren’t.”

“I mean... I can help you change that, but I don’t think you’re ready to go,” A laughter escaped the young lady. “You know something, Eno, you oughta really get some sleep. This isn’t good for you, and Kurai is sucking you dry - and not in a good way,” She offered a wink.

Enoxon managed a tired smile as he took the glass. “Thanks, Jenieva. I really needed this.”

Jenieva leaned on the bar, her eyes sparkling with curiosity and a hint of mischief. “So, any luck with the search? Or do you need my charming self to step in and work some magic?”

Enoxon chuckled, appreciating her attempt to lighten his mood. “No luck yet, and Kurai’s wearing me down with his constant questions. I swear if I hear ‘Have you found her yet?’ one more time…” He trailed off, shaking his head. “It’s just every second!”

“I know what—HEY, GET YOUR HANDS OFF THAT!” Jenieva called over to a couple of rough-housers. “Take that shit outside!” she snapped at them, her eyes lighting up with a threatening glow. The no-good-doers immediately listened to her, backing off and making their way to the exit. With a satisfied smile, she turned her attention back to the sorcerer.

“I feel as though I haven’t been given a break, and Kurai is stuck on finding her! It’s creepy!” Enoxon vented, frustration evident in his voice.

“Well, between their pact and his whatever-you-want-to-call-it, ‘guardianship’ or some shit like that, he cares for her,” Jenieva sighed. “Love is hard.”

A loud groan escaped Enoxon. “Love? Gross. The thing barely knows her.”

“He’s not a ‘thing,’ Enoxon. Don’t be rude,” Jenieva sighed, her voice dropping to a whisper. “I mean, you remember how you were with—”

“Do not bring her up,” Enoxon snapped, giving her a cold, sharp glare.

Jenieva’s eyes softened, and she touched his arm gently. “I’m sorry, Eno. I didn’t mean to hit a nerve.”

Enoxon took a deep breath, his expression softening slightly. “I know you didn’t. It’s just... everything is so overwhelming right now. I don’t need more reminders of how complicated things can get.”

“And all I’m saying, Enoxon? You were the same exact way with Nova. And if it were her, you’d have done the same exact thing,” Jenieva told him, knowing it wasn’t the best idea to bring it up but hoping it would help the sorcerer understand Kurai’s anger.

His glare turned cold as he locked gazes with the succubus on the other side of the bar.

“You don’t scare me, Eno. I’ve known you too long to ever be scared of you,” she told him, giving him a sly grin.

Enoxon’s eyes flickered with a mixture of pain and understanding. He knew she was right, but it didn’t make accepting it any easier. “Nova was different,” he said quietly. “She was... everything to me.”

“And that’s exactly how Kurai feels about her,” Jenieva replied gently. “You might not see it, but he’s driven by the same need to protect and find her as you were with Nova. If you look at it from that perspective, you’ll find it easier to empathize with him.”

“... When I asked the Council of the Sinless to remove her from my memory…” Enoxon began, his voice trailing off as he stared into the distance. He felt an overwhelming need to talk about Nova, hoping that by hearing his own story, he might understand and be more courteous toward Kurai.

Jenieva remained silent, giving him the space to continue.

“I thought it would help me move on,” he confessed. “But even without the memories, the feelings linger. The pain, the loss, the love—they’re all still there, buried deep inside. I thought I could escape it, but I was wrong.”

Jenieva nodded, her expression full of empathy. “You can’t just erase the impact someone has on your life, no matter how hard you try. The heart remembers what the mind forgets.”

Enoxon sighed deeply. “I see Kurai and myself, struggling, hurting, desperate to find her. And I get angry because I don’t want him to go through the same pain I did. But maybe I’ve been projecting my fears onto him.”

“I know they did you wrong, my friend. I will never forgive them for how they treated you, knowing that they put you through all that pain… I can only imagine how heavy your heart is now,” Jenieva said as she made another drink for the sorcerer.

The memory of his young, once-in-a-lifetime fiancée, Nova, flooded back to him. It was a painful memory. Knowing that she betrayed him after discovering his use of black magic, Enoxon couldn’t bear trying to keep that to himself. She was scared after watching him hurt someone by accident. Enoxon did everything he could to try and make Nova understand that it wasn’t on purpose, that he could control his black magic… But she was human—she had no knowledge of this.

When Enoxon begged the Council to erase the memory, they refused. The pain of her betrayal and the weight of his broken promise to the celestials were too much to bear.

“Enoxon,” Jenieva's voice broke through his turbulent thoughts, “I know it’s hard. But you have to remember that the Council decided for a reason. They believed erasing your memory would cause more harm than good.”

“I just wanted peace,” Enoxon whispered, his voice cracking. “I wanted to forget the pain, the betrayal, everything.”

“I understand,” Jenieva said gently. “But sometimes, facing our pain and learning from it is the only way to heal. If you had forgotten everything, you wouldn’t be who you are today. And maybe, just maybe, you can use what you’ve learned to help Kurai.”

Enoxon took a deep breath, trying to calm the storm inside him. “You’re right. It just... hurts so much.”

“It does,” she agreed. “But you’re not alone. You have friends who care about you; we’ll get through this together. And remember, Kurai is going through his own pain right now. He needs someone who understands, someone who’s been there.”

“I’m just grateful they erased her pain,” Enoxon said sadly.

“But by doing so, they erased the happy times she had with you,” Jenieva replied. “I will never forget the day you walked into my bar—the first time I ever met you. You were broken. I couldn’t even try to put my charm on you; I felt so awful and scared for you—and I’m a succubus! I don’t feel bad for people,” she said, reaching over the bar to put a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

Enoxon looked at her, the memory of that day still fresh in his mind. “You told me everything that day, and I didn’t even know you! Though, I felt like I got to know you in a single demon day,” her voice, tinged with sadness.

“You were the first person I felt I could talk to,” Enoxon admitted. “I was so lost, so confused. I didn’t know who I could trust. But you... you listened. You didn’t judge me. You just let me be.”

“I know, sweetheart,” Jenieva’s voice reassures her long-time friend. When you told me about the exchange, I barely knew about the Council of the Sinless, but when you told me that… I hated them with every power in my body—just for you.”

With the knowledge of the black magic that soared through Enoxon, he was powerful—extremely powerful—almost as powerful as Ren and Sayuri were when they were still alive. Now, he was the most well-known sorcerer in both worlds. As much knowledge as he had, he also had a great deal of experience dealing with demons and celestials.

When he asked the Council to erase his and Nova’s memories, they refused. This caused his deal with the Celestials to turn into a twisted contract.

Once Enoxon’s soul finally faded into the afterlife, he pledged allegiance to the Celestial World. This wasn’t supposed to be his contract with the Council—not even close. He wanted all the memories—of Nova, the black magic, and his mistake—to be erased. Instead, he told the Celestials they could retrieve his soul once he died. If war ever came to be, Enoxon would be forced to side with the Celestials, armed with the knowledge of his powerful magic.

“It’s a cruel twist of fate,” Enoxon mused aloud. “I wanted to forget, to start anew, but now I’m bound to a fate I never wanted.”

Jenieva looked at him with a mix of sympathy and determination. “We’ll find a way, Enoxon. Contracts with the Celestials are not always set in stone. There must be a loophole to free you from this binding agreement.”

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“I’ve looked, Jenieva. I’ve searched every ancient text and consulted every wise sage and sorcerer. Nothing,” Enoxon replied, his voice tinged with frustration.

“Nothing’s impossible,” She chuckled as she cleaned off the bar top. “I’ve known you for way too damn long to let things crash around you too much, not before I get my chance to crash around you!” She teased him, giving him a smile.

“I can’t believe they’ve found the Reaper!”

“Can you believe they were in the Celestial Realm this entire time? And it’s not even the Lady in Red!”

Enoxon and Jenieva exchanged glances as they listened to the conversation of the two demons who had just walked into the room.

“It’s about time they found the Reaper. I’m sick of this damn cold!”

“You and me both. Being frozen because of Lord Zonoth—ridiculous. Lord Mundus definitely knows how to run Asturdorm better.”

“Doesn’t he, though? So much better,” the girl with them giggled. “Imagine his reaction when he meets the new Reaper! He’s going to be so excited!”

“Finally, the Celestials will let us out of here to roam the human world. I haven’t had a good meal in a long time,” one of the two male demons muttered.

“That’s part of the reason we were locked up down here, dumbass,” the girl sighed, rolling her eyes. “Hey Jenieva! Did ya hear?! The Reaper was found!”

Enoxon sat up straight, taking another sip of the second drink the bartender had brought him. He eyed the young girl, raising an eyebrow. “Lord Mundus found the Reaper?”

“Well, not technically. But he announced that the Celestials found the Reaper and will bring the Reaper down here to begin guiding souls again!”

Jenieva spoke before Enoxon could, “How do we know this Reaper is legitimate? The last time someone impersonated the Reaper... we all know how that ended.”

The young girl and her two friends sat down on both sides of Enoxon, smiling brightly—not like a demon would. Her eyes sparkled with interest. “Apparently, she led a soul to the Celestial Realm!”

Enoxon pondered this for a moment. They had yet to find the Reaper. Why would a Reaper be in the Celestial Realm anyway? That just needed clarification. His thoughts traced back to the previous Reaper, who had stayed strictly in the Underworld unless something significant happened with the Celestials.

He turned his attention back to his drink as the young demons continued to chit-chat about the Reaper's finding. Curiosity struck him. This wasn’t possible—not at all. They must have made a mistake, right? If the Reaper had been found, he would have heard from Yushin. Granted, he hadn’t heard from Yushin in almost two weeks—nor found a single trace of him. This piqued his curiosity even more.

“Jenieva,” Enoxon said as he turned his attention back to her, “I gotta run!”

The bartending demon smiled gently at him with a little wave. “See you soon, I hope.” Then, she turned her attention back to the customers that had just walked in.

Nodding, Enoxon rushed out of the bar, the cold, harsh air of the Underworld striking him. Within a few seconds, he thought about where Yushin could be. He had to be at a portal, right? Perhaps the Reaper’s Realm? If anyone knew anything, it was Yushin. He was the one Snow was with last, and he had every idea. Of course, Enoxon had tried to talk to him before about where she was, but Yushin kept insisting that wherever she was, she was safe—safe from any demon. Something about that statement made him worry. He was concerned about the young woman who had absolutely no power and was also being hunted by the monster that had slain her parents and Kurai’s tribe.

The Sorcerer took a deep breath and quickly teleported away from the Wet Rose. He gazed around the surrounding darkness, trying to figure out where his spell had taken him. Everything was somewhat foggy, and it confused him when he realized where he was. His magic was limited, and his teleportation spell hadn’t taken him as far as he wanted nor where he intended to go.

Enoxon found himself in a desolate part of the Underworld, a place he didn’t immediately recognize. The air was colder here, and the silence was unsettling. He needed to gather his thoughts and figure out his next move. He couldn’t afford to waste any more time.

“Think, Enoxon, think,” he muttered, trying to recall any landmarks or indicators of his current location. The Reaper’s Realm was his best bet to find Yushin, but he needed to get his bearings first.

After a few moments of concentration, he remembered a spell for locating nearby magical signatures. He focused his energy and cast the spell, hoping it would give him a clue.

A faint glimmer appeared to his left. It wasn’t strong, but it was the only lead he had. Enoxon started heading in that direction without hesitation, determined to find Yushin and uncover the truth about the Reaper’s whereabouts.

The only light source was the dim glow of his staff, casting eerie shadows that danced along the rough stone walls. The faint sound of water trickled through the cavern, its echoes resonating through the stillness. The sorcerer's breath seemed unnaturally loud in the silence, and he muttered incantations to protect himself from lurking dangers. Despite his precautions, he couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. Nevertheless, he persisted, driven by his determination to reach Yushin.

Soon, the cave transformed into something unexpected he had never seen before. Magical red jewels floated in the air, casting a dim yet mesmerizing light illuminating the cavern. The rough stone walls and stalactites were bathed in a warm glow, creating an otherworldly, awe-inspiring, and eerie atmosphere. The sorcerer couldn't help but feel a sense of wonder at the sight before him, but he also knew he couldn't let his guard down. The presence of something lurking here began to grow.

Eventually, he came to the end of the cave, which had a large stone door. It had been a while since he had seen this large stone door that could only be opened by a specific type of magic, and he knew exactly what it was. A soft grin danced on his face as he put his wooden staff before him.

At the top of the staff was a stunning sight—a crescent moon that glowed with a mesmerizing purple-blue hue. The contrast between the black staff and the vibrant blue of the crescent moon made for a truly enchanting sight. It was as if the staff was a conduit for the natural world's magic, and the moon was the perfect representation of that enchantment.

Enoxon focused his energy, channeling it through the staff. The crescent moon began to glow brighter, illuminating the stone door with its ethereal light. He muttered an incantation, the ancient words resonating with the power of the staff. The stone door began to tremble, the magical lock responding to the specific type of magic it required.

Slowly, the door creaked open, revealing a passageway that led even deeper into the unknown. The sorcerer took a deep breath, his determination unwavering. He stepped through the doorway, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead in his quest to find Yushin and uncover the truth about the Reaper’s Realm.

“Yushin!” he called out into the room. “Where are you?” Anger tinged his voice as he gazed around the red-lit room, wondering where the Spirit Walker had gone. The sorcerer held his staff close to his body, ensuring that nothing touched it and it didn’t feel anything. He might be weak right now and unable to bring forth much magic, but it was enough to open the stone door and protect himself if something strange happened.

He walked to the stone desk on one side of the room, fingering through some open textbooks. When his gaze scanned the small room, he realized that no one was in this room in particular. But… Perhaps…

The sorcerer’s gaze shifted toward the back of the room, where a path opened to anyone who entered. “Seriously?” he muttered under his breath and shook his head. Slowly, the sorcerer made his way up the stairs, feeling the cold from the cave seep into and chill his body. He pulled his dark hood over his head, keeping his eyes focused in front of him.

A towering tree stood in the center of the space, its branches stretching up toward the ceiling as if reaching for the sky. The tree was surrounded by a bed of vibrant red gems, illuminating the room with a soft, warm glow. It was a sight to behold—the tree seemed to radiate with an ancient power, and Enoxon couldn't help but feel a sense of reverence in its presence. He had been here once, at The Lady in Red’s side, trying to help her uncover the few missing candles. The room was full of magic all around it, between the gems at the tree’s base and the candles surrounding the cave's far edges.

Enoxon approached the tree cautiously, his senses on high alert. He knew that Yushin had to be close. With its overwhelming aura of magic, this place had to be significant. He reached out with his magical senses, trying to detect any trace of the Spirit Walker.

“Yushin,” Enoxon’s bold voice reverberated through the room. That's when he realized he was standing over a live body. His anger began to rise inside him. Everything made sense now, and he was not a happy sorcerer. He had trusted Yushin, but the Spirit Walker had betrayed him. Not only was he angry, but he was also confused.

“You have so much explaining to do,” his voice boomed through the caverns.

Seeing the white hair of Snow and the dress she wore while her memories were being explored before she disappeared, hurt Enoxon deeply. It pained him to see her like this, and it hurt even more to know that he had trusted Yushin all these years despite knowing he was The Lady in Red’s assistant.

“Obviously, it’s not what you think it is,” the Spirit Walker hummed to him. “In fact, it’s quite the opposite.” He turned around, but something seemed different. His typical yellow shimmering eyes were now dark, devoid of any emotion. “I told you Snow was safe, did I not? Do you see her hurt? Is she still breathing?” He questioned Enoxon, crossing his arms and knitting his brows. “However, I do not remember asking you to assist me in this exploration.”

“Exploration!!” Enoxon snapped. What the hell is that supposed to mean? Why didn’t you tell us you had Snow?” the sorcerer demanded, glaring at the Spirit Walker. I’ve wasted so much time and effort trying to find her, and here you are, with her!”

The Spirit Walker rolled his head back slightly, sighing, and then turned away from Enoxon. “Have I ever put a soul in danger before?” he asked.

“Not that I’m aware of, but maybe you have,” Enoxon replied, standing his ground as he gripped his staff tighter.

“Shadowfall, Memory of Illuminated Dreams… What a wonderful staff that was,” Yushin nonchalantly stated, looking at the young girl below him. “I remember the day you created it, holding the secrets of black magic, yes?” he asked.

Enoxon’s grip on his staff tightened further as he recalled the day he had crafted Shadowfall. The staff was more than just a tool; it symbolized his mastery over light and dark magic, the product of years of study and sacrifice.

“Yes,” Enoxon replied cautiously. “Shadowfall was made to balance the forces of magic, protect and reveal the hidden truths. But what does this have to do with Snow? What do you want with her?”

“Simple, I want to help her explore the power she has within her,” the Spirit Walker replied, “Just as The Lady in Red asked me to.”

Disbelief washed over Enoxon as he stared at Yushin with darkened eyes. “Why don’t I believe you?”

“I’ve never harmed a person or soul; I’m literally a Spirit Walker. I find these souls and bring them home. I’m a literal spirit myself! What more could I possibly do to her?!” Yushin sighed, motioning to the girl behind him.

“...Work for someone,” Enoxon replied, lowering his guard slightly. His surroundings were calm, and few demons knew of the Reaper’s Realm.

Yushin scoffed, almost disgusted by the sorcerer’s acquisition. “I would never! Why would I want to work for the demon that marked her? What could I possibly gain from harming the Reaper’s Daughter?”

“Reaper’s… Daughter?”

“Snow, she is the child of the Lady in Red.”

Enoxon was caught entirely off guard by Yushin’s revelation. He gasped. It all made sense now! The reason he couldn’t help Kurai figure out who this human was, how she had access to activating portals, or why she was marked. It all made sense now. This human was, in fact, the Daughter of the Reaper.

Enoxon stared at the young female, his eyes wide with amazement. How could he have been so blind? In all the years he’d been alive, he’d heard about the Lady in Red’s work countless times. He had watched Sayuri and Ren—they never had a daughter. How could he have missed this? She didn’t even have the same hair color as the two sorcerers. They could not conceive a child, yet Snow claimed to be theirs here.

But that didn’t explain why Yushin was obsessing over her. Sure, he found the Reaper, but what now? She was still being hunted by a demon. This powerful demon had taken out the entire Sayaka Tribe and the underworld’s strongest wizards singlehandedly.

The sorcerer’s gaze flickered to Yushin, who was standing smugly. “How did you know?” he demanded.

“Let’s say… A little bird told me,” Yushin replied, shrugging. “Yuna was obviously brought to Snow as soon as she entered the Underworld. Kurai has a literal pact with her and can be summoned to her side—if only she knew how. She has so much more potential, so much more power. She may be stronger than the Lady in Red herself!” His eyes locked down onto the woman’s pale body.

Enoxon’s mind raced with the implications of Yushin’s words. If Snow was the Daughter of the Reaper and held more power than the Lady in Red, then the stakes were higher than he had ever imagined. He had to ensure that this power was guided and controlled, not just for Snow’s sake but for the safety of the entire realm.

“Kurai—the pact he was forced into…? But that was…” Enoxon started, piecing together the fragments of information.

“It was the exact one done by the Lady in Red and his tribe. How do you think he was instantly teleported to her side to save her life the first time?” Yushin questioned him, sitting in a wooden chair beside the sleeping Snow.

“Everyone knows the truth about Snow,” Yushin stated.

“But that’s impossible; she has only been with Kurai and me,” Enoxon replied, bewildered.

“And she told the story to Astaroth, who gave me the story. I practically know her life story. Keep in mind that I’m a Spirit Walker. My entire job is to protect souls and guide them to the correct area, mostly by seeing their past,” Yushin said simply, running a hand through his long blue and silver hair, his gaze dropping to the sleeping woman.

“You never told me you could do that,” Enoxon said, surprise evident.

“There are many things I haven’t told you, Enoxon. Stop being so shallow,” Yushin retorted.

Enoxon shook his head and put his staff back in front of him, focusing on the issue. The Spirit Walker was hovering over Snow as if she were his project. “You need to leave her alone,” he demanded. “If she’s the Reaper, you can return to doing your little job by guiding souls and finding Yuna.”

“Oh, Yuna? I can’t find her—only Snow can. And right now, she’s not doing an excellent job at it. Instead, Mati told her that she was the Reaper. Now that she’s returning to our world, she should be back soon. And who is the only other Spirit Walker available to teach her about her abilities? The black magic that she should be able to possess, the power that courses through her veins…” Yushin trailed off, his point clear.

“If anyone should teach her black magic, it’s me—” Enoxon began.

“The one who destroyed an entire village?” Yushin interrupted. “The one that practically killed his fiancée’s entire family?”

Enoxon gave him a cold glare, the tip of his staff gently illuminating as Yushin said that. "That's not okay, Yushin."

"Do you know how bad that looked on us?" he asked the Sorcerer. "The fact that we had to stop you from doing something stupid?"

"I thought we were past that," Enoxon growled, the staff illuminating slightly more.

"I cannot get past the fact that I nearly had to guide thousands of souls, Enoxon."

With that, Snow began to stir, shuffling her feet and her arms twitching.

Enoxon quickly approached Snow’s side, trying to help her wake up. “Snow, you’re back!” he gasped.