On a sunny day, the classrooms of Arcane Academy were filled with laughter and murmurs. Theo was sitting at his desk, surrounded by his two best friends, Liam Carter and Jaden Kim. Liam, with his messy hair and carefree attitude, couldn't help but smile as he saw Chloe chatting with a group of students.
—Hey, Theo, —Liam said, jokingly—, how does a guy like you have a beautiful girl like Chloe Thompson as a childhood friend? It must be a dream.
Jaden, who had always been a little more serious, nodded, crossing his arms on his desk.
—Yeah, really. Aren't they dating or something? I bet it's a movie romance.
Theo blushed slightly, feeling a little uncomfortable at the attention.
—No, nothing like that —he replied quickly—. We're just friends. We've always been friends.
Liam put a hand on Theo's shoulder and laughed.
—Come on, buddy, don't act humble. You're lucky to have her around.
"If I had a friend like that, I wouldn't let her get away!" Jaden added, laughing while making exaggerated gestures.
Theo smiled, enjoying the friendly chat, but also feeling a slight weight on his chest. Things were complicated, especially with Astharot's presence in his life. However, those worries were momentarily dispelled in the warmth of friendship.
After the last class, Theo walked home, his mind filled with thoughts about his day. Upon arriving, he was greeted by his older sister, Luna, who was waiting for him in the kitchen with a smile. She was 17 years old, and had always been his confidant and support.
—Theo! —Luna exclaimed—. How was your class today?
"Well, just the usual," he replied, shrugging. "My friends are a little jealous that Chloe is my friend."
Luna let out a soft laugh.
—It's normal, bro. She's an amazing girl. Now, change your clothes, lunch will be ready soon.
Theo nodded and went up to his room. As he changed, he reflected on what had happened in his life.
After the incident, my parents started to worry more about me. The tension at home increased, and when they found out that I was training and developing my skills, they decided that it was best for me to go to another country, far away from everything. But Luna was the one who stayed with me. She has always been my rock, my refuge in the midst of chaos.
As she walked out of her room, a smile appeared on her face. She knew that even though life was complicated, she would always have her sister by her side.
"What's for dinner?" he asked, his stomach growling.
—Your favorite: spaghetti —Luna answered, with a satisfied smile.
—Perfect! —Theo said.
Theo climbed the stairs to his room, feeling a slight dizziness as he approached the door. Just as he touched the knob, memories of his clone flooded his mind. Hell's prison... Belial has escaped... Images flashed before his eyes: the chaos in the prison, the missing guards, Belial unleashing his power. He knew what that meant. Lucifer had summoned him.
A meeting... in an hour.
Theo took a deep breath, letting the memories settle in his mind. He knew that his clone's ability to transfer experiences and knowledge to his main body gave him a strategic advantage, but sometimes it was hard to process everything so quickly. Either way, he couldn't waste any time.
He walked over to his desk and pulled out a blank scroll. With precision, he drew the star symbol within a circle, an ancient mark that allowed him to open a portal to hell. As he completed the drawing, the air around him began to vibrate. The circle glowed with a deep red light, and in an instant, the portal opened.
Theo took a step forward, feeling the scorching heat of hell envelop him as he crossed the threshold.
Arriving at Gremory Castle, he was greeted by two familiar figures: Paimon, one of Lucifer's oldest allies, and Gremory, the castle's guardian.
"Welcome, Theo," Paimon said with a cocky smile. "It's about time you arrived. Lucifer is waiting for you."
Theo nodded, keeping his expression neutral. He knew he didn't have time for unnecessary words.
The three of them quickly walked towards a room in the castle that contained a teleportation circle. Theo had already used it before: this magical device connected Gremory Castle to Lucifer Castle, and could be activated from either side.
"Ready?" Gremory asked, activating the circle.
"I always am," Theo replied firmly.
In an instant, the hall of Gremory Castle disappeared, replaced by the majesty of Lucifer Castle. Upon arriving, he was greeted by Lily, Lucifer's wife, a woman of extraordinary beauty, with a bearing that radiated authority and grace.
—Theo, it's nice to see you, Lily said with a soft smile. Come, Lucifer is waiting for you in the meeting room.
Theo nodded in thanks and followed Lily through the halls of the castle. Every corner of the place radiated a powerful energy, as if every stone had witnessed centuries of conspiracies and battles.
As he entered the meeting room, Theo noticed that the others were already there. The three Horsemen of the Apocalypse.
Baal, the Horseman of Famine, was the first to speak. A dark-skinned man, about 28 years old in appearance, with a look that exuded power and insatiable hunger.
"Well, well, he's the last one here," Baal said disdainfully. "Did you think the meeting started whenever you wanted, Theo?"
Theo looked at him, keeping his cool. He was already used to Baal's sharp words.
"Relax, Famine," Namtar, the Plague Rider, intervened, looking like a woman of about 25, her voice calm and soft, but with a dangerous edge. "Give the boy a break, he's just getting used to it."
Baal snorted, but said nothing more. Theo sat down, aware that everyone's eyes were on him. His gaze settled on the last of the riders, the Rider of Death, Hela.
She wore a black hood that covered much of her face, and a skull mask that made her look like a figure straight out of ancient texts describing death personified. Theo felt a chill as he looked at her, but quickly looked away.
It's exactly as described in the texts... Theo thought, feeling a strange respect towards the mysterious figure.
"Now that we're all here," Lucifer, a white-skinned, golden-haired, and eyed man, said from the head of the table, his voice echoing through the room with authority, "let's begin."
The meeting room was heavy with silence as Lucifer watched the four Horsemen from the head of the table. His golden eyes shone with a calculating intensity, measuring every movement, every breath of those present. Theo could feel the weight of his gaze, though Lucifer had not yet spoken.
Finally, Lucifer cleared his throat, his voice ringing with an authority that made the air tremble.
"We are here for a very serious reason," he said, his words sharp as a sword. "Belial has escaped."
The silence was broken by a murmur of disbelief among the riders. Baal, the Horseman of Famine, was the first to react.
"Belial?" he said, his tone a mix of disbelief and disdain. "I thought that traitor was locked away forever."
"She was," Lucifer said, his voice firm. "But someone, or something, has freed her. And now she's loose in Hell."
Theo felt the tension in the room rise. Belial... He thought. The name was already familiar to him from his memories of his clone, but hearing Lucifer mention it with such seriousness gave it new meaning. This was no ordinary enemy.
Lucifer continued:
"For those who don't remember, Belial isn't just any old threat. During her time under my command, she was the Horseman of Famine." Theo watched as Baal tensed upon hearing that Belial had taken her place. "Her power was immense, capable of altering reality and manipulating environments to her whim. She can change the shape of objects with a simple flick of her finger. However, that ability isn't instantaneous; she needs to at least move a part of her body to do so."
Namtar the Plaguerider crossed his arms and frowned.
—If her power is as great as that of a horseman... how did they manage to lock her up?
Lucifer looked at her with a mixture of respect and coldness.
—Centuries ago, Belial attempted to start a civil war in Hell. Thousands of demons died for her rebellion. It took my personal intervention to stop her. In a direct confrontation, I managed to defeat her and imprison her in Hell's prison, chained, sealed... until now.
Hela, the Horsewoman of Death, remained silent, but Theo could sense her attention. The mention of a civil war involving thousands of demons was not something she would take lightly.
"So what is he doing now?" Baal asked, his voice filled with frustration. "Gathering allies? Will he try the same nonsense again?"
"Exactly," Lucifer replied, his eyes fixed on Baal. "Her goal is clear: to seek revenge on me and, probably, to try to take control of Hell. She is ambitious and powerful enough to be a real challenge. Right now, she will be gathering allies, freeing the most violent and dangerous demons from the prison. But her main target is me."
Lucifer rose from his seat, his figure radiating power as he walked slowly across the room.
"I give you this warning," he said, looking each of the riders in the eye. "Belial is a demon of equal caliber to any of you. Do not underestimate her. She has already caused chaos once, and if we let her, she will do it again. However, we have time."
Theo watched intently, not missing a single word.
"The prison is on the other side of Hell," Lucifer continued, "far away from here. Even if Belial wants to fight me, it will take him at least a month to reach the castle, provided he doesn't stray into other territories. During that time, his goal will be to gain strength, cause chaos, and probably try to take over your territories."
The riders exchanged glances. Namtar frowned, clearly annoyed by the idea.
"So our job is to protect our territories?" he asked.
Lucifer nodded.
—Exactly. I want you to remain on guard. Do not allow your lands to fall into the hands of the demons you have released. Belial will seek to weaken any force that opposes her. And we must not give her any advantage.
Baal snorted, though his gaze reflected more concern than he cared to admit.
—So it's the same as always. Defend our own, kick some ass, and make sure that crazy girl doesn't get here.
Lucifer smiled slightly at Baal's attitude.
—Something like that, but make no mistake. This battle will be difficult. Belial is no ordinary adversary, and the balance of Hell itself is at stake. I do not doubt his abilities, but I want you to prepare for the worst.
Theo felt a mixture of excitement and tension. He knew that this battle against Belial would be something that would mark him, a crucial test.
Lucifer returned to his seat, crossing his arms.
—We face dark times, but I trust each and every one of you. This is our fight, and together we can defeat Belial once again.
The atmosphere in the hall eased slightly. Although the threat was serious, Lucifer's words seemed to instill confidence in the riders.
—So stay alert. —Lucifer ended the meeting with a firm tone. —Let's not let Belial, or his allies, get the upper hand. We'll be ready.
With those words, the meeting came to an end. Theo stood up alongside the others, his mind already plotting the next steps. He knew a war was coming, and this time, it would be one that would decide the fate of Hell itself.