After Rei returned from that mysterious place, he woke up where he had fallen asleep earlier, relieved to find that his body had reverted to his male form, wearing the same clothes he had on before he became female. Looking around, he noticed everyone standing around him, staring with concern.
When Rei asked why they seemed so worried, they explained that while he was asleep, his body had suddenly been enveloped in a bright light, which alarmed them.
Rei reassured them that it was just his body returning to normal. Hearing this, everyone breathed a sigh of relief, glad nothing bad had happened to him—everyone except Halluel, who appeared visibly disappointed.
After that, time passed quickly, and five months flew by in the blink of an eye.
Now, it had been seven months since Rei, Lyria, and Orchid were trapped in this timeline. Over those months, Rei noticed something surprising—both Lyria and Orchid were actually growing! Like, how the hell did that happen!? Lyria had gotten taller, her chest starting to develop, and Orchid was experiencing the same changes, becoming taller and more graceful. Their faces had become more matured, becoming more beautiful as time went on.
Rei couldn't quite comprehend how this was happening since, in the game, even after a decade, their appearances never changed. He eventually decided to stop thinking about it, jokingly assuming that Cygames probably didn't have the budget to update their appearances.
During these five months after Rei had returned to his male form, they frequently visited Gran and the others to hang out. They enjoyed their time together, going on adventures, meeting new people, fighting bad guys, and occasionally dealing with strange gang organizations.
They also met familiar faces from this world, like Vira and Narmaya. Lyria finally understood why Vyrn kept referring to Vira as the "Crazy Chick"—because she really was obsessed with Katalina. Narmaya, on the other hand, much like her counterpart from their original timeline, immediately asked Rei for a sparring match, eager to improve her swordsmanship.
Sandalphon, who had grown more social over time, was now spending less time reading adult novels and more time interacting with others. The truth was, she had already finished all the adult novels Lyria had recommended. However, now that she had completed her reading list, Sandalphon became increasingly eager to test some of the ideas from the novels on Rei, trying to find the perfect opportunity to do so. Sensing something odd, Rei began avoiding her.
But Sandalphon wasn't deterred—she eventually teamed up with Lyria to ambush Rei and finally got what she wanted.
Orchid, meanwhile, was completely puzzled by everyone's strange behavior during that time, but Halluel and Malluel kept distracting her so she wouldn't notice what was happening.
Speaking of Halluel and Malluel, the two had also grown much closer to Rei and the others. Halluel, determined to turn Rei back into a woman, begged him daily to transform, even if just for a day. However, Rei refused, knowing he wouldn't be able to turn back into a male afterward.
Malluel, on the other hand, preferred Rei as a male. She admired his handsome features and found herself falling for him more every day, especially during his training sessions when she could sense his power radiating through her skin and body.
Now, after training his powers with Lucifer, Rei can control six of his dark wings for extended periods without losing control. However, he is still unable to handle more than six wings at once. If he attempts to use more, his purple aura will reappear and envelop his wings, causing him to lose control once again.
Rei also shared with Lucifer what Lucillus had told him. Initially, Lucifer was surprised, as he hadn't expected Lucillus to be living inside Rei's body like that. But after Rei urged him to focus on what Lucillus' said, rather than the fact that Lucillus was residing within him, Lucifer listened closely.
Ultimately, Lucifer agreed with Lucillus' statement: Rei couldn't keep rejecting his identity as an Astral, and he needed to fully accept his power. The "loss of control" wasn't truly a loss of control; it was simply Rei's nature as an Astral.
However, despite this, Rei remained hesitant. He feared that embracing his full power would lead to hurting those around him, especially if he lost himself in the process.
Recognizing Rei's struggle, Lucifer decided he's gonna take him to Canaan, where Lucillus worked. He hoped that seeing Lucillus' workplace might help Rei find something useful for himself.
~~~~~~
Inside the shrine where they currently reside, in the usual spot where Rei trains, Lucifer stands alongside the Tetra Primarchs, as well as Halluel and Malluel.
"Thank you all for gathering today. It seems one of us is still absent, but I understand why she doesn't have time to return at the moment. There are a few matters I wish to discuss, but first, I would like to hear how each region is currently faring." Lucifer says to the six Primarchs kneeling before him.
"The situation in the Valtz Duchy is stabilizing. They're leading the efforts to restore Fremel and the nearby islands. Valtz's metallurgists are using the data gathered from the battles with lesser archangels to develop new weapons." Michael reports.
"Meanwhile, in Auguste, several imperial soldiers have remained behind to distribute supplies and manage hospitals. The injured are recovering so well that the towns will soon be back to normal." Gabriel adds.
"Skydwellers are bouncing back that quickly from a near-apocalyptic event? I have to hand it to them!" Uriel, the Earth Primarch, says, clearly impressed.
During the cataclysm, Rosetta and Yggdrasil found an injured Uriel in a shrine on a small island. With Yggdrasil's help, Uriel was healed, and later, Sandalphon apologized to the Tetra Primarchs for attacking them, which they ultimately accepted.
"Supreme Primarch, their progress surpasses our best estimates..." Raphael says, still surprised by how quickly the recovery is happening.
"Indeed. Perhaps this too is another aspect of the Sky Realm's evolution..." Lucifer responds, lost in thought for a moment.
Then, unexpectedly, Lucifer declares that the mortals of the Sky Realm no longer need their protection and should be allowed to handle their own affairs.
"As archangels, we have an obligation to clean up the mess left by our kin. Know that the final resolution is not far off. When that time comes, let us relinquish our roles as archangels and entrust the Tetra-elements to the skies." Lucifer continues.
"I don't know what the future holds, as ever since Rei, Lyria, and Orchid arrived, I can no longer see what lies ahead."
"But I have a feeling that the conflict is not over yet. So, until we resolve the issue with our kin, we must continue to protect the mortals of the Sky Realm and ensure they remain uninvolved in our internal struggles."
Surprise flickers across the faces of the Primarchs, but it quickly fades as they nod in acknowledgment.
"We were created to assist you as your adjutants, Supreme Primarch. It is not our place to question your judgment." Michael responds firmly.
"After all is done, I would like each of you to live peacefully in the Sky Realm as any other inhabitant would. I will help you transition to your new lives, of course."
"Yes." the archangels all respond in unison.
"If I may... Can I ask about Rei's condition? The last time I saw him was when he was trying to heal everyone after what happened." Michael suddenly asked Lucifer.
"Rei?... A lot has happened since he and his companions arrived here, and this shrine has become more lively with their presence." Lucifer said, but everyone could see that he spoke with a noticeably happy mood.
Lucifer then proceeded to explain Rei's situation, his ongoing struggles with controlling his powers, and everything that had happened during his stay at the shrine.
"I see... So he still can't fully control his power." Raphael murmured to himself.
"Are you planning to take him to Canaan, Supreme Primarch?" Uriel inquired.
"Yes, I'm going to continue his training there."
"Is there anything we can do to help?" Gabriel asked.
"Yes, actually, there is something I need from each of you. I want all of you to help Rei get accustomed to using his twelve wings, as their power is come from the power of the four of you." Lucifer explained.
"We will help him during our stay here." they all responded in unison.
"Um, what are we supposed to do?" Halluel suddenly raised her hand, looking unsure.
"Shh, Halluel, keep quiet!" Malluel whispered, trying to lower her sister's hand.
"Haha, it's fine, Malluel." Lucifer chuckled. "I want both of you to just keep doing what you've been doing since you arrived here."
"Yes, we will." the two of them said in perfect sync, causing a small smile to spread across Lucifer's face.
"Alright, that's it for this meeting. Everyone can either stay at this shrine or return to their own." Lucifer announced, signaling the end of their gathering.
"Wait, what about Sandalphon? What's your plan with her?" Michael suddenly asked.
Lucifer paused at the question, his expression unreadable for a moment before he finally responded. "She's been getting closer to Rei every day, and even I know they've already done the deed."
"What? Is it alright to let her do that? The Supreme Primarch knows what's going to happen, right?" Michael pressed further.
The others remained silent, understanding exactly what Michael was referring to.
"Yes..." Lucifer sighed. "Sooner or later, they'll return to their own timeline. And in the end, Sandalphon will be left behind, as her destiny is tied to this world, not theirs."
The weight of his words settled over the room, as the Primarchs quietly acknowledged the inevitable.