[Ren POV]
I emerged from a swirl of shadows in the courtyard of the royal palace, the faint hum of teleportation fading into the warm air of the demon realm. The heat was almost nostalgic.
Waiting for me with a soft smile was Lina. Her arms were folded, though it felt more like a mother waiting with open arms than a warden ready to scold.
"Back so soon?" she asked, her gaze sharp but not unkind.
I exhaled. "Yeah. Hmm, forgot I was still dirty."
Lina clicked her tongue disapprovingly and stepped closer, brushing some soot off my shoulder like it personally offended her. "Come. Uwe and Leah are in the main hall. They're a bit busy, but I'm sure they'll make time for you."
I followed her through the grand archways and glowing crimson corridors. The scent of burning incense and warm stone clung to the air like a protective layer. Something in my chest eased. I hadn't realized how much I missed this place until now. It wasn't just home. It was solid. It was quiet. And I needed both.
It's only been one week, and I miss those two already, I thought with a faint laugh.
When we entered the enormous hall, Uwe was already seated at the head of the long obsidian table. He looked every bit the Demon King, posture like stone and eyes sharp enough to cut through silence. Leah stood nearby, flipping through a thick stack of reports. She looked up first.
"Ren," Uwe said. His voice didn't rise. It never needed to. It just settled into your spine and made everything else hush. "You've been busy."
"You're not hurt, are you?" Leah asked, brow furrowed.
I shook my head. "Nothing at all. They couldn't touch me to begin with."
Lina moved past me and took her seat beside Leah. I stepped up to the table, folding my arms in front of me.
"I came because there's something you need to hear. Things are changing in the human realm. The incident isn't just random monster activity anymore."
Uwe straightened slightly. "We've heard fragments from Kriti's relays. Monsters are attacking strongholds. Something about advanced scouts?"
"It's worse than that," I said. "The monsters are being organized. Directed. They're evolving into humanoid forms, foxes, wyverns, and harpies. They're coordinating. And it's not random. There's structure behind it. They've got a hierarchy."
Leah's brows drew together. "A hierarchy? Among monsters?"
"They call them Pillars, four of them. Each commands a faction. The one who started the attack is named Khan. He's coordinating monsters in Africa. He's also trying to awaken something called The Dreamer."
Lina narrowed her eyes. "And you think this Dreamer is real?"
I shrugged. "The fox scouts are terrified enough to believe it is. They think it's some ancient power that can reshape the world. Whether it is or not, Khan believes it, and he's acting like it'll answer him."
Uwe's fingers tapped the table, rhythmic and sharp. "And the demon realm? What's the second reason you came here?"
I met his gaze. "To confirm something. Do we have any reason to believe the outer clans are involved? Strange movements? Rogue behavior? Secret pacts? Rumors?"
He let out a short, amused huff. "If anyone was stirring trouble among the outer clans, I'd know. They're too obsessed with their own petty squabbles. They haven't crossed their borders in years."
Leah added, "No reports. No unusual movement."
I nodded. "Good. That's what I needed. A rebellion back there would've complicated things."
"You sound relieved," Lina said, tilting her head.
"I am. One front at a time is already exhausting."
"And the scouts?" Uwe asked.
"They're in containment. I've been interrogating them myself. They're surprisingly helpful. Everything they've said lines up. Khan is building a monster coalition. This alliance isn't being formed through loyalty, it's through fear."
"You trust them?" Leah asked.
"Not even a little," I said, lips curling into a worn smirk. "They only fear losing each other, so they won't die for this Khan guy. I told them they're my property now."
There was a beat of silence. Uwe leaned back in his chair, expression unreadable.
"Alright, keep us updated. If Khan grows beyond a regional threat, we'll intervene. For now, this is your battlefield."
"Understood." I gave them each a nod and turned to leave.
"Where are you off to next?" Lina called after me.
"Warehouse," I replied over my shoulder. "Time to see how my girls are holding up."
"Pick up a report for the Duke afterward. We can't keep him in the dark. And don't tell him you can teleport between realms now," Leah added firmly. "That's more secret than your true identity. Understood?"
"Crystal," I said with a grin, then vanished into shadow.
[Warehouse]
The warehouse was quiet. Too quiet.
Teleporting just outside the main gate, I let out a long breath.
The wards recognized me instantly. The barrier lowered just enough for me to step through before sealing shut again. Inside, soft laughter echoed faintly from the living room.
I frowned.
Carefully, I crept toward the hallway, bracing for an argument, a broken chair, or a sparring match gone too far. But instead, I saw two very hot girls in bikinis in the lounge, with tails out.
Leaning silently against the doorframe, I watched. Both Nyx and Artemis lounged on the couch, half-eaten food scattered across the coffee table. They looked mostly human in form, but the shimmer of scales still lingered on their arms and shoulders, reminders of their bloodline. Their tails flicked lazily behind them, glinting faintly in the light.
Nyx was barefoot, her feet tucked under her, a wine glass in hand. Artemis sat sideways on the couch, braid draped over one shoulder, gesturing with her fork like she was giving a lecture.
Wait. Tails? They had tails?! I thought, flabbergasted. They were gorgeous before, but those tails really make me want to sprint straight at them.
"I'm just saying," Nyx said, her voice unusually light, "you were definitely jealous when Ren danced with me."
Artemis groaned. "I wasn't jealous. I was confused. Why would she dance with you first?"
"Because I'm hotter," Nyx said with a small flick of her tail.
"In your dreams."
I blinked. Wait. Are they… getting along?
"You used to glare at her every time she passed by," Artemis continued.
"That was me trying to figure her out," Nyx muttered. "She's complicated."
Artemis gave her a flat look. "That's your excuse?"
"What's yours?" Nyx snapped back.
I cleared my throat.
They both jumped.
"Ren?!" Artemis scrambled to her feet. "Weren't you…"
Nyx rose slower, eyes narrowing. "You look like shit."
"Love you too," I muttered, stepping fully inside. "Got a surprise for you two."
Artemis crossed the room in a flash, grabbing my chin to inspect me. "Are you hurt?"
"No, those monsters couldn't even touch me."
Nyx moved behind me, tugging my coat off. "You smell like burnt sulfur and bad decisions."
"Smells like victory."
"Smells like you need a bath," Artemis muttered, poking the tear in my shirt.
I exhaled, finally letting the weariness catch up. "I took a quick shower. Didn't expect to find you two not trying to kill each other."
Nyx looked away, ears faintly pink. "It's not bonding. Just… a temporary truce."
"She started it," Artemis said.
"Did not."
"You said you were prettier."
"I am."
I smiled, tension melting out of my shoulders. "You know, I used to worry you two would never get along."
"We're not there yet," Nyx said, rolling her eyes. "We're just not at each other's throats."
Artemis nodded, quieter this time. "It's easier now. Knowing we both care about you."
I blinked, then raised a brow. "You got sappy without me."
"Don't ruin it," they both said in unison.
"Oh, and, by the way, tails?" I asked, looking at them both.
"Eeeph!!" With twin squeaks, both of their tails vanished.
"Huh. That's interesting," I said, tilting my head, noticing neither wanted to discuss it.
Dinner was leftover rice and meat, hastily reheated but delicious in its simplicity. Nyx shoved half her portion onto my plate without a word. Artemis brought wine from the stash I wasn't supposed to know about. The air in the room warmed around us.
"Didn't think I'd miss your cooking," I said between bites.
Nyx arched a brow. "You used to eat ration bricks like a rabid animal."
"Survival tactic."
"It was culinary treason."
Artemis chuckled. "Ren the Feral Ration Goblin."
"Hey," I said, raising my cup. "I've improved. I used seasoning once."
Nyx gasped dramatically. "Seasoning? Next, you'll say you used a frying pan."
"I did. Last week."
"My gods. She's evolving."
We laughed, real laughter, the kind that buzzed in your ribs. It didn't last forever, but it lasted long enough.
Then came the familiar hum at the edge of the barrier.
"Leah," I said, already standing.
"Are you expecting her?" Nyx asked.
"She said she'd drop off something."
I opened the door just as Leah stepped up. Cloak unfastened, pink hair tugged by the night breeze. Her gaze swept over me, and she clicked her tongue.
She nodded to the others. "Good. You're all awake."
"Didn't think you'd come personally," I said.
Leah pulled a black envelope from her cloak, the royal seal stamped in obsidian wax. "This couldn't wait. And besides…" Her voice softened slightly. "I wanted to see you before you leave again."
I accepted the envelope. "Thanks, Demon Queen."
"Don't call me that when you look as if you fought a volcano."
"You'd worry either way."
"I do."
Nyx moved toward the kitchen. "Tea, Lady Leah?"
"Please."
Artemis hovered nearby. "The report's about the Kriti situation, I assume?"
"Yes. The humans aren't as unified as they pretend. The moment you return, you'll need to walk carefully."
"I already do," I muttered.
Leah gave me a look.
"I mean it. I'm listening."
Nyx handed her tea, which she accepted with a soft thank you.
The four of us stood in quiet lamplight, the warmth of the house pressing in around us like a shared secret.
"I leave in a few hours," I said finally.
"Tonight?" Artemis asked.
"The sooner I'm back, the sooner I can get ahead of the mess."
Nyx's tail twitched, but she didn't speak.
Leah sipped her tea. "Then I'll head back. I'll tell Uwe you're briefed."
I gave her a quiet nod.
She stepped closer, adjusting the edge of my coat with gentle fingers. "Don't die."
"I'll try."
"You're not done being a pain yet."
"That's the plan."
She walked into the night, creating a familiar silence behind her.
I turned to the girls.
"You really are going again," Nyx said softly.
"Yeah. The mission's not over."
We sat together a while longer. No war. No politics. Just three people on a couch sharing warmth, stubborn peace, and the illusion of time.
I held onto it for as long as I could.