"An ordinary person wouldn't be able to defeat the genius loved by God" Fiore mumbled. "Hm, what do you mean?" I asked.
Fiore smirked. "It's nothing but a mere passing thought" He stated.
"I can't believe that a "mere" passing thought left such impact to you that you unconsciously mumbled it" I stated, as I went back to the book I was reading.
Fiore giggled. "Ed, do you know of the story about an ordinary person and the genius loved by God?" he asked.
"No" I said. I closed the book I was reading, after putting a bookmark on the page I was at. "So, tell me about it"
Fiore leaned his back on the chair he's sitting at. "You see, there was a man who was fairly… no, I guess you can call him a person who is above average but is below a genius" He stated.
He looked at me, before he fixed his way of sitting.
"This man is known as a famous musician and was loved by many. But, that was all, until one day" Fiore continued.
I asked, "What happened?"
"A genius that surpassed the ordinary guy appeared out of nowhere. This genius was 6 years younger than the guy" He answered.
A genius appeared out of nowhere, huh?
"Did the guy hated this genius who took all of what he used to have?" I asked, as I looked at the flowers.
Fiore snorted. "No, instead he admired the genius" He stated.
Admired…
"At first, many had hated the genius" Fiore stated.
He added, "Since, his songs were all free and cheerful. That also applies to the songs the others made. Whenever the genius played, the song will always be so cheerful"
"And, the ordinary guy admired him for being so free, right?" I stated. "Exactly" Fiore nodded at me.
"The two then got along. They even created a song together and played that, in public" Fiore stated.
Fiore added, "That all ended after that accident"
Accident..?
"The genius had died. No one knew the reason. Perhaps, it was suicide. Or maybe it was out of illness. But, everyone accused the guy for killing the genius" Fiore stated.
He added, "He told everyone that he didn't kill the genius, but no one believed him. The ordinary guy's emotions overlapped. He then berserk and became a demon"
That was the story Fiore had told me. A very sad and beautiful story…
Gino spoke, "But, even though we already have the flute. It wouldn't mean that we can go to where Anna and Lux is"
"You're right, it will be a bit hard" Fiore stated, before he looked at me. "Hmm, what's wrong Ed?" He asked.
I gasped. "It's nothing! It's just that I was wondering if this is made up of human bones or something like that" I stated.
"There's no way, it's the bones of a human. Are you an idiot?" Reina stated. "But, it is a Lost Logia, remnants of Demon! It means that they are something Demons had used" I stated.
"He's kinda creeping me out" Kirt mumbled. "That's how you are normally, you know" Gino stated. "Am I?" Kirt asked. "You weren't aware?" Gino exclaimed.
*
"Reina-chan, Ed-kun, everyone…I need your help!" I cried, as Lux licked my tears, while I clenched the bars of the cell I was in.
"Don't you worry, young lady. Your friends will surely come. After all, I need them to come or else I won't get that back" A demon stated, with a creepy laugh.
He whispered, "I need that thing back. So, I can avenge him…no, so I can avenge myself!"
*
We explained everything to Forth and Russell, because they weren't here when I explained my speculations.
"Don't tell me that the demon who abducted Ana and Lux is planning to let this whole capital hear the sound of that flute and suck their ether" Forth stated.
By having a lot of ether as a demon the others worships those as, "The Demon Lord", or so I have read in the book.
So, it is for certain that "that" is the Demon's intention.
"Then, the whole capital is in danger, Fiore-san, Ed! Let's hurry up and catch the demon!" Russell said. "Well, even if you say so…" Gino mumbled.
"We don't know where he is…" Fiore said. "I guess, this flute won't serve as a clue to where that is" Russell mumbled.
I spoke, "We don't need any clues. Even without it, we can go there… to where Anna, Lux and the Demon are"
"You know how to get there?" Fiore asked. "We are already here aren't we?" I stated. "But, even so they aren't anywhere" Gino spoke.
"That's easy. But, I hope you don't question me about what I'll do from now and how I was able to do it" I stated. "No questions…" Gino mumbled.
"Can you promise me that?" I gulped, as I looked down without looking at them.
They looked at each other, as Fiore looked at me.
"It's not like you're gonna do something bad, right?" Kirt stated. "It will depend on your action, Ed" Gino stated.
"Thanks" I smiled.
I turned my back to them and inhaled. I raised my hand. "Devour!" I shouted.
I devoured the illusion magic used by the Demon that got us teleported outside the place nearby where Anna and Lux is.
"Ah! This is the place, it is the same structure with the one here" Gino exclaimed.
"How were you able to do De-!" Kirt was about to ask me how I did it, but Gino quickly grabbed him and closed his mouth.
*
So he is still hiding it from everyone.
Well, it will help him if he does so. And I told him to do so.
Still, doesn't this hurt him to hide himself to others? Since, magic is a person's soul, which is our identity.
Not telling that to others is the same as not showing yourself, Ed.
*
The place where Anna and Lux was hold in custody was a sewer.
As we walked, we saw many cells. Some with bones, and some with rotten flesh of a creature. "Ugh…" Reina nearly puked.
Even I am feeling a thump in my heart, after seeing this.
Who would even think that below the Empire is a sewer like this. "Ed…"Fiore whispered.
"Ah, right…" I mumbled, as I looked at the detector. "Northwest, second cell in the left, there's Ana and Lux" I said.
"Let's go, quietly with your guard on okay?" Fiore whispered, as we nod.
"Kirt-kun, I'm counting on you…." Fiore said, as Kirt nodded.
Kirt was to check if the demon is there, using his ability to bury his self by wrapping himself with his shadow. He used his shadow to unlock Ana's cell.
"Kirt-kun…." Anna said, as her eyes widened with joy. "Come on, Anna!" Reina said, as she held out her hand to Anna.
"Lux c'mere!" I said, as Lux jumped on me and licked my cheeks. "Reina-chan, Ed-kun, everyone…Thank you!" She said, as she cried while taking Reina's hand. We all smiled.
The demon appeared, "I've been waiting for you all!"
We glared at him.
"What's with you all? Isn't this the right time where we're supposed to smile?" He snorted. "I guess that is kinda impossible…"
"Thank you for bringing the flute to me" The demon grinned, as the flute suddenly disappeared from Gino's hands.
Gino mumbled, "Eh?"
"Give that flute back!" Russell shouted. "Why should I? You kids gave it your all to find this for me. And this is mine" The demon stated.
I spoke, "That is not yours"
"Huh?" The demon glared at me.
I shivered.
I'm kinda scared. After all, this guy is a demon. If he wants to, he can kill us easily, just by playing that flute.
But…I am not backing down.
"That is not your flute!" I stated. "What are you saying, Ed?" Gino asked. "The truth. I don't know why, but my mind's telling me that he's not that guy" I stated.
He's not the guy Fiore told me, in that story.
"An ordinary guy wouldn't be able to beat the genius loved by God" Fiore told me. But, he also told me that the guy didn't care about his credits. He merely admired the genius.
Even if he became a Demon, I wouldn't believe that he will became like this guy, in front of us!
guy, in front of us!