POV: Linfer
I found myself floating in a sumptuous, vast, and strangely empty corridor.
I moved, finally free, but each movement felt heavy and uncertain.
"Why is this corridor so long?" I murmured, tiredly.
Then, an immense door appeared at the end of the corridor. I approached it, stepping through the door like a shadow carried by the wind. There, two silhouettes stood. A woman stood, majestic and motionless, her long olive-green hair cascading down her back. In her arms, a small boy, his complexion an eerie pallor, his hair as black as ink, and his eyes... piercing ruby red, softly wept.
The scene was silent and heavy. I couldn't see the woman's face, but something about her was familiar, unsettling.
"Mother, why do you have to leave?" the boy asked, sobbing.
"Don't cry, my heart. When you're a big boy, we'll see each other again."
"But here, I'm already all alone... Are you going to abandon me too?"
At those words, a sharp pain pierced my heart, as if I felt the boy's suffering. A sense of emptiness, abandonment, like an echo of my own despair.
"Don't say that, Linfer. You are my most precious treasure," she said, wiping her tears with infinite tenderness.
"Then why leave?"
"I must watch over your brother, dear. But we will be reunited in the future," she replied in a tone that was almost mocking, light.
"What brother are you talking about, mother? That bastard Leviathan?" Linfer asked, confused.
The woman placed Linfer on the ground and gave him a kiss on the forehead, where an omega symbol faintly glowed.
"No, my treasure. You will meet him when the time comes. But until then, listen to Caesto's advice."
Her silhouette began to blur, like an illusion about to disappear. Linfer felt it too. He understood that this was the last time he would see his mother.
"When will we be reunited, mother?" he cried out, desperately.
The woman placed a finger on her lips, as if searching for the right words. The affection in her voice faded, giving way to a cold, almost cruel tone.
"Prove your worth, my child."
And she vanished, leaving Linfer alone in the vastness of silence.
"Prove my... worth?" he murmured, falling to his knees, helpless.
"What am I supposed to do?"
My mind clouded at that moment, and I woke up.
"Damn, what do I have to do to reach my goals," I whispered, feeling cold sweat trickling down my back.
"But I will find you, mother, no matter the cost."
['Sorry, I've been busy lately. So, how's it going for you in the underworld, dear?'] Epsilone's voice resonated in my head.
Thanks to the seal I had placed on her before leaving, I could sense her location and communicate directly with her.
'It seems my Law: Devour is very compatible with this bluffing game. I need Lilith as a pawn, but even if I killed her, I'm too weak to bring her back as a Wendigo. Apart from placing a seal on her to read her thoughts and track her movements, I can't do much. And her ability isn't powerful enough to instantly make me strong. I had to use drastic measures.'
['I see... So, you've been bluffing.'] Epsilone asked.
'Exactly. During the three days Lilith was unconscious, I tracked down four mortals with basic affinities: wind, water, fire, and earth. My plan is to pose as the Ace of the Infernos, always hidden in the shadows, who has finally decided to reveal himself to the world. But for that, I need to show a semblance of power. The problem is that I'm not at that level yet, and I won't put myself in danger voluntarily.'
['...']
'I had an idea. Belzebuth is known for his cruelty. Lilith had taken a fraction of his army to counter the mortal Luna and failed. Belzebuth punishes his subjects with death and transforms them into undead in his army. Lilith fears this fate as much as any northern Elysian. I exploited this fear. I turned all the humans in the village into Wendigos, then used illusion magic to simulate Belzebuth's deadly aura.'
['And she took the bait?']
'Completely. She lost her cool. I don't need to prove that I'm more powerful than Belzebuth. It's enough to play on her trust and show that I'm special. I used four affinities, including a special flame, the Crimson flame, and it worked perfectly.'
['Hmm, that's too much work. But you know, you can just ask for my help, and I'll come help you.']
'I don't want to increase Octavius's suspicion and violate the agreement. It would be a disaster if King Morningstar or King Deuce intervened.'
['Alright, come back soon, you're missing me ~']
'We'll see each other again...'
A smile spread across my face, even though I didn't like her, she was important to me for the time being.
End of PoV
***
In the capital of the Crimson domain, two hooded silhouettes advanced through a dark alley.
"Why did you save me? Getting involved with Belzebuth was a grave mistake," Lilith murmured, her voice filled with doubt.
"Do you really think I'm afraid of that kid?" Linfer replied, a smirk on his face.
Lilith looked at him with a strange expression. In her opinion, he was either incredibly confident or just a fool.
Yet, after several days spent in his company, she had discovered the extent of his power. In addition to his numerous affinities, he could heal himself and even heal others without resorting to his Tenshi Mode. A power that, to her knowledge, belonged only to Phoetia Satquiel of the southern Elysians. And it was with a single drop of his blood that he had healed her. Furthermore, he mastered a form of Belzebuth's magic that could bring the dead back to life, confirming his words: even if she wanted to die, she was incapable. Each day spent with Linfer made his existence more mysterious.
"Why did you bring me here? What do you want, Prince Vamp?" she asked, cautiously.
Linfer ran a hand over his chin, feigning thought.
"I want only two things," he said calmly. "First, do you know a woman by the name of Lofiel?"
Lilith furrowed her brows. "No, who is she?"