"He's dangerous."
Linfer commented, thinking of Astaroth with his unique mind control power, who had used his wife to spy on him. Even if Lilith was innocent, it didn't change the fact that Astaroth was dangerous. If Astaroth could spy on him, he could just as easily take control of his body and stab him in the back.
Uriel, who observed the scene with indifference, eventually spoke up.
"Yeah, but you're a bit harsh with your lovers, aren't you?"
"Not necessarily..." Linfer replied, casting a discreet glance at Zitish.
"Let's go, uncle, or this perverse narcissist will keep staring at me for a long time," Zitish said with disgust.
"Your language, Zitish... your language," Uriel sighed. "Fortunately, Prince Linfer seems to have a soft spot for you. I don't know what I'd do if he decided to attack you for your insults."
"Don't mistake me, Sire Morningstar, I'm offended by your sharp words, but as you say, I'm totally charmed," Linfer replied with a false reverence.
"Zitish is lucky to have caught the attention of such a handsome man," Uriel added with an ambiguous tone.
Linfer felt a bit strange hearing Uriel call him a "handsome man," especially with that tone and those dubious habits. He began to doubt the other's sexuality.
"It's said that like attracts like. It's inevitable that his beauty would attract a prodigy prince like me," Linfer retorted, a mocking smile on his lips.
Linfer was increasingly intrigued by Zitish. Not only did she resist his advances, which made her all the more attractive, but in her presence, he felt more alive, his heart beating normally like a regular person. What had started as mere curiosity had gradually turned into an obsession, or perhaps even true love?
Zitish, oblivious to the nonsense exchanged between her uncle and Linfer, activated her Tenshi mode.
"I'll take the lead," she said as green wings emerged from her back.
Uriel watched her fly away with a skeptical look.
"Do you think she loves you too, as you claim?" he asked.
"Oh yeah? But you just threatened your lover in front of her a few minutes ago," Uriel replied with a sarcastic smile.
Linfer immediately entered Tenshi mode.
"It's even better! I don't know if she likes polygamy, but for now, I'm a free man, my friend," Linfer replied before launching himself into the sky, closely followed by the Archangel of Justice, toward the domain of the Archidemonic Death.
***
In the sky, three silhouettes sped at a dizzying speed: a golden trail, a brilliant white glow, and a crimson flame, marking their passage like shooting stars. Below, ten thousand Wendigos, clad in heavy dark armor, marched north, their footsteps resonating for miles, making the ground tremble and spreading panic among the inhabitants of neighboring regions. Even though Linfer's army had a reputation for razing everything in its path, that wasn't their intention this time.
They crossed through the domain of Ignitium, avoiding any destruction. Alderbaran, master of the place, had granted them the right of passage. Finally, the black army settled at the border between Alderbaran's and Belzebuth's territories.
Floating in the air above his troops, Linfer observed their maneuvers.
"Build the base quickly, tomorrow we march on Belzebuth," he ordered, his voice carried by the wind.
With a nonchalant gesture, a red apple appeared in his hand.
"I'm going on a reconnaissance mission," Uriel declared, his body disappearing instantly in a golden flash.
As calm settled in, Linfer approached Zitish slowly, floating slightly above the ground, his eternal mocking smile on his lips.
"So?" he asked, taking another bite of his apple, his piercing gaze fixed on her.
Zitish, arms crossed, stared at the desert horizon. Her expression was indecipherable.
"I'm surprised you were serious. Would you have really killed me just because I asked you to?" she said, shaking her head gently, visibly troubled by Linfer's way of thinking.
He didn't respond immediately. He gently removed Zitish's helmet, revealing her face, and locked eyes with her.
"There are other reasons... But yes, I'd do anything for you," he murmured with a cornered smile.
Zitish stared at him, her expression hardening.
"You take the lives of others too lightly, Linfer. If you really love me..." she cast a glance at the apple in his hand, her gaze full of reproach.
Linfer lowered his eyes to the apple. Each of these apples symbolized lives taken, used in his Gardens of Blood, lives wasted for his own pleasure.
"Alright," he conceded with an enigmatic smile.
He crushed the apple in his hand, the red juice flowing between his fingers, reminiscent of the blood of his victims. A slight smile appeared on Zitish's lips.
"Finally, you're not such a bad guy," she said, moving closer to him.
She placed a soft kiss on his cheek, an unexpected gesture from her. Then, without another word, she turned and walked away.
Linfer watched her leave, his eyes fixed on her silhouette. He sighed softly, his fingers still stained with the reddish juice of the apple, a mix of frustration and incomprehension in his gaze.
"Maybe I'm not so bad..." he murmured to himself, before lifting his eyes to the sky.
In reality, he had improved in recent years. Zitish had told him that Infernos were looked down upon by Elysians, especially those from the South, and even less so, that they could be together, so she advised him to improve his image for her. It had been a few years since he had restrained himself from drinking blood and no longer killed for pleasure. The living conditions of humans on his territory had also greatly improved, even though they still lived in fear, they were no longer treated as slaves. And now, by crushing this apple, he had made a promise to Zitish that he would no longer kill humans to create these fruits.
Linfer didn't know why he was doing all this. Did he want to prove to himself that he was worthy of this virtuous young woman who hated vices?
As the Wendigos finished building the base, a golden flash tore through the air, and Uriel appeared among them.
"Just as we thought, it's an ocean of skeletons roaming aimlessly. We'll split up, Zitish with the Wendigos on the right side, me and Linfer on the left."
"At least every day we'll have to clean up hundreds of kilometers," Linfer observed.
"And it will take at least a decade..."