A few days later from the great discussion by The Demon Kings and their most trusted people. The throne room was again cloaked in its usual gloom. The Demon King of Death was currently inside contemplating a bunch of stuff as well as handling affairs for which his subordinates asked his wisdom. Beside him, his ever-loyal subordinate, Vastium Zeta, who had been silently brooding near the throne, had been watching him silently. Being the secret agent that she is, noticed her master's frustration regarding the situation.
After a long day of handling affairs, Zeta nudged close to Death and asked her master," Death-sama. Is there anything that is troubling you?" Zeta's voice was laced with concern. Her sharp eyes searched Death's unseen face, which was covered by his armor. She couldn't see, yet she noticed a rare hint of disturbance in his otherwise stoic tone.
The Demon King of Death's gaze remained distant, looking away from her. Before finally focusing on her, he spoke: "I have been reflecting on our recent discussion. It is quite a complex problem."
Zeta nodded, her thoughts mirroring his. She hesitated before speaking again, as a tone of shyness crept into her voice. "Perhaps you need time to cool off?"
The Demon King of Death responded with an interested tone, "What are you trying to say, Vastium Zeta?"
"Umm, I was saying....If you have time, maybe we could take a break from thinking about it. We could go somewhere to relieve ourselves from the pressure of our duties." Zeta spoke groggily.
Lord Death didn't respond immediately. No doubt he was surprised by her words. The usual icy calm aura around him wavered at the moment, revealing a flicker of intrigue. "Undoubtedly. Your words are correct. Where are you suggesting we should go today, Zeta?"
Zeta's cheeks flushed slightly, and she nodded, a nervous smile forming. "Ummm, maybe we could take a stroll or spend time in the Neoshiro again or perhaps just around The Primordial Kingdom?"
Death considered her proposal but thought of another option. "This time maybe we should go to the Neokuro Region?"
Neokuro is the previously acquired region of the dark elves, now under the management of The Demon King of Revival. It was reinstated a few days before the march to the demi-human region.
Zeta's eyes widened in surprise and pleasure. "Ah! That's also great! I'll arrange something then."
The next day, Zeta and The Demon King of Death met at a secluded, elegantly appointed venue. To be precise, they were now at a 'night forest', which is quite a well-known place to do nightly walks and enjoy nature with its illumination. In contrast to the mood that was inside their heart, the scene offered a serene, almost ethereal beauty with its softly glowing lights and tranquil ambiance.
The Demon King of Death assumed his human form as Umbra and dressed in a manner more suited to social grace than his usual outfit. He wore his usual outing outfit: a black haori and black pants. Zeta, on the other hand, wore a flowing gown of deep blue that accentuated her elegance and approached him with a mix of excitement and nervousness.
"I'm glad you could make it," she said, her voice carrying a genuine warmth that she seldom displayed in their usual interactions.
Umbra inclined his head slightly, his usual reserved demeanor giving way to a more relaxed, if still enigmatic, presence. "I must admit, this setting is... unexpected. But I find it intriguing." He said while looking away from Zeta.
Umbra held his right arm, which Zeta grabbed as they both walked through the night forest. They both could see many staff working around, but it seemed that there were quite a few people in this place.
"I wonder why there are fewer people than expected here. Was this place not popular?" Umbra asked.
"Ah, I think it's just because today most people would rather do something else, hehe," Zeta replied nervously.
"Ah, I see.."
The truth is, I actually asked Lilitha for advice. But then, she spilled it to Lord Revival. And he made it to limit the visitors at the time of our visit to the Night Forest. Not only that... Lilitha managed to persuade Lord Revival to... Zeta thought before stopping abruptly matching Umbra's movement.
"This illumination is.."
Seemingly confused by the stopping, Zeta looked to the front to see a large illumination structure that looked like a big love sign made by two swan illuminations, which seemed very out of place.
LILITHA!!! WHAT DID YOU DO!!!!
"It's very beautiful I wonder if this is our lucky day," Umbra said.
Phew...I am glad Death-sama isn't angry. I didn't expect a stunt like this when Lilitha said the date would be extra romantic.
WAIT! Is this a date? Oh no here I go again. My BPM is rising I can feel it.
"Zeta, is something wrong?" Umbra said looking closely at Zeta's face.
Blushing Zeta closed her eyes groggily saying "NO! NOthing's wORNG DEATH-sama!!"
In an instant, Umbra put his hand on Zeta's mouth.
As of now, Zeta's heartbeat was beating much, much faster. To make matters worse, it seemed her lord was nudging to her face.
Is he gonna kiss me? I am not ready!
"Zeta, what are you doing? I am Umbra, not lord Death. I am undercover, remember!" Umbra whispered.
Ah, that's right!
Zeta nodded, her lord's hand still on her mouth. Slowly, Umbra retracted his hand, making a nervous expression. After calming down, Zeta finally speaks once more, breaking the silence between them. "Let's take a picture of that structure, Lord Umbra!"
"Sure," Umbra replied smiling.
They called a staff which then took their photo together on the structure.
"Zeta, can you close your eyes?"
Zeta looked at her lord's face, which held an expression that she understood. Listening to his command, Zeta closed her eyes as she felt a soft touch on her lips. Maybe it was a bit late for her lord to give her this prize. Nevertheless, Vastium Zeta was satisfied with this praise from her beloved lord.
The staff then took the picture and gave the picture to Umbra with clear signs of blushing.
"Shall we eat now?"
"Ah, I booked a place already!"
The two then walked together again and took their seats at a gourmet restaurant near the lake. Lord Umbra and Zeta talked about their perspectives on the affairs of the regions that they governed and shared moments of humor.
Undoubtedly, for Zeta, it was another bonding opportunity for her and her lord. Moments like this are so precious for her. Yet she was unsure about her lord's feelings. But the kiss before reaffirms her lord's feelings towards her. "Should we walk again?" Umbra said offering his hand.
Once again, Zeta and Umbra walked together through a moonlit white flower garden, the serene atmosphere put a calm feeling in their hearts. Zeta, feeling a sense of accomplishment and warmth, glanced at her lord, who seemed to carry a subtle, smile of enjoyment.
"Thank you for coming tonight, Lord Umbra," She said softly. I enjoyed our dat—time together."
Umbra looked at her, his eyes reflecting a rare softness. "I am glad. I wish we could do this more often, Vastium Zeta."
Zeta smiled and nodded, "Your wish is my command."
Soon the two returned to the Primordial Kingdom preparing to do their affairs as usual.
***
On a fine day in a nearby park in the Neokuro region. Sunlight filtered through the ancient trees, casting dappled shadows on the manicured lawns. The Demon King of Revival was enjoying a peaceful outing with the Non-Pacifist Contender (NPC). It was a rare opportunity for them to play together as a whole. Since usually each of them has separate duties.
Lilitha, wearing a vibrant blue jacket, was eagerly racing through the park's lake (she was floating on water). Her laughter mingled with the sounds of nature. She chased after a small bird that flew away, clearly scared of her antics. To make conditions worse for that bird, she used her water magic, occasionally creating a gentle splash of droplets to capture it.
Twilight Astrid, in contrast to her, was seated on a nearby bench, her healing magic softly radiating warmth as she read a book. Occasionally, she looked up with a gentle smile, her eyes following the joyful antics of her teammates. Every now and then, she would cast a healing spell to tend to any minor scrapes or bruises from their playful activities.
Strangely enough, Lunalight brought her sword, which was strapped to her back, and demonstrated a series of elegant sword movements in a nearby clearing. The people were particularly in awe seeing her movements. On top of that, her light magic shimmered around her as she performed intricate patterns, much to the fascination of the nearby children. Her movements were graceful and precise, a testament to her skill and discipline.
Admiral Addison was engaged in an intense game of tug-of-war with Ebonyflame. Addison's physical prowess was evident as she held her ground, her muscles straining against Ebonyflame's might. The battle suddenly became unfair when Ebonyflame started using fire magic, firing birds of fireballs at Addison in hopes of making her loosen her grip. In retaliation, Addison grabbed rocks nearby and threw them while holding the rope with her sheer determination. The banter between the two was so childlike but very intense that the people around became scared and took their distance away from them.
Then, The Demon King of Revival, scolded both Addison and Ebonyflame for their antics while Lilitha laughed from the sidelines. Both Addison and Ebonyflame was told to clean up their mess. Seeing them get punished and making a regretful expression, The Demon King of Revival watched with a contented smile.
How great it is to have a family like this. Amus... I wish you were here with me. I wish to cherish these kinds of moments with you, my love. He thought.
"Papa! Come join us! We are going to eat lunch!" Lilitha called out, her voice filled with excitement. Revival chuckled softly and walked over to where they were. With that, he joined the group, grabbing a chocolate ice cream. Twilight Astrid, Lunalight, Addison, and Ebonyflame all gathered around as they gave him a surprise box together.
"What is this? A lunch box, huh?" he said while opening it. Inside, there was a dish called Chicken Cordon Bleu with salad, french fries, and sauce. On the side,, there was a chocolate milkshake prepared for him.
"Do you like it, Father? We tried to cook it together! We spent like 10 hours making it!" Addison said.
"Oy Addison don't say stuff like that! You make Dad feel guilty!" Lunalight said.
Usually, they don't talk to him this way. But since this is a rest day, all of them can shed their formalities and talk how they want. In all the truth, the NPC sees The Demon King of Revival as their father. But for some reason, each of them uses a different call name for the word father.
"Pops! I made the milkshake hope you like it!" Astrid said.
"I made the salad, Daddy!" Ebonyflame added.
The Demon King of Revival looked up to the five of them with a smile.
"Thank you Lilitha, Astrid, Luna, Addison, Ebonyflame. I love you all with my heart. My dear daughters."
It was as if. They were really my child. Chicken Cordon Bleu with Chocolate Milkshake. Amus... I miss you even more now.
As the NPCs looked away, The Demon King let out a single tear as it fell to the ground.
***
The Demon Kings stood in the dimly lit chamber of their fortress, their discussions on Ruin's power bringing them to an unexpected crossroads.
"If Ruin indeed only has the ability of foresight and not power to force fate, it is crucial we understand how he acquired it," Death said, his tone cold yet contemplative. "But there is another matter we cannot ignore. Which is Carmilla the Saint."
Revival's gaze hardened. "Indeed Carmilla was a significant figure from our past. We executed her before we ascended to our current positions, and her death was a turning point for us. It's very weird for her to come back so abruptly."
Death nodded and said, "We need to revisit those memories, not only to understand the past but to uncover if she has anything to do with Ruin's upbringing."
Revival's eyes met Death's, the weight of their shared history clear in their expressions. "Carmilla was known for her unique sealing magic abilities and her passive skill. Could her death have repercussions such as a trigger of an equality scale? But since it's her death, the scale can't figure out which side to buff."
"In the case where a demon king would die without being defeated by The Hero. It may make the quantity of a demon king higher or make the power of the demon king higher. But for the heroes, if a demon king killed the heroes, it would guarantee an absolute increase in the number of heroes. But because she was the one who died..." Revival continued.
Death took a deep breath. "It spawned Ruin as the means of equaling the scale. But that's just a wild assumption. We can't be sure until we relive those days sealed deep within our memories."
Revival agreed, his resolve firm. "We must perform a ritual to relive our memories, to delve deep into our pasts and uncover the truth about the implications of Carmilla's death. It may hold the key to understanding Ruin's powers and our current predicament."
The two kings set about preparing the ritual, their determination focused on uncovering the truth.
Strong yet Weak
Frail yet Tough
Bestow upon us the relieve
Of the past which had left us
The Demon King of Revival chanted.
Between Light and Dark
Known and the Unknown
We invoke the power to once again remember
To once again live in the past
The Demon King of Death chanted.
"Sacred Memoir!" Both of them said in unison as shimmering vortex of light and shadow enveloped them, drawing them into the depths of their own histories.
---
The Vanguard Academy, with its towering spires and vibrant grounds, continued to pulse with youthful energy. It stood as a symbol of hope and discipline, preparing the next generation of heroes for the challenges ahead.
Those said challenges are... from the threat of The Demon King.
It was on the year 2030.
10 years after the phenomenon known as The Apocalypse. Where the world of Fey, Spirits, Demi-Human, and Humans joined together.