A beast cloaked in shadowy mist loomed before Shiebe and Zaneff, resembling the mythical Cerberus.
Eros: "Shit!"
Eros grimaced, clutching the wound in his stomach as his wives carefully lowered him onto his throne.
"We need a healer, and fast."
It wasn't just the pain that made the situation dire. Eros couldn't order Shiebe to run — Louis would chase them down.
Maz was unreachable. Eros had told him to evacuate the maids as soon as the first boulder struck.
Louis De Louch: "You... filthy human! How dare you strike me?!"
His shout echoed through the hall as he staggered to his feet, seething with rage.
With a quick motion, he brushed the dust from his pristine clothes, his fury growing with every movement.
Zaneff: "...Why did this have to happen?"
Shiebe: "I won't let him take you back, Zaneff. I swear."
Zaneff: "...How did he even know I was here?"
Shiebe: "News travels fast in this city. If the council of despair knew where I was, it's no surprise they found you too."
Louis De Louch: "Enough! I shall end this meaningless conflict once and for all!"
KRAKA-BOOM
A thunderous sound interrupted him.
???: "Are you trying to kill everyone in here?"
Louis staggered back, momentarily stunned. The damage was minimal, but the surprise was enough to throw him off.
Louis De Louch: "So you've finally arrived."
Shiebe: "!"
Zaneff: "Maz!"
Louis De Louch: "So, you must be Maz Iriono... Your brother's doing well, if you must know."
Maz landed smoothly, ignoring Louis's words as he moved toward Shiebe and Zaneff.
Louis De Louch: "Zaneff! Step away from these fools and come to me."
Zaneff stood frozen, caught between her father and the others. Louis's glare cut through the room, forcing a silence that filled her with dread.
Louis De Louch: "Good girl."
Louis's words, thick with authority, sank deep into her heart. Fear held her captive, and there was nothing she could do to defy him.
Shiebe: "Zaneff, wait!"
Zaneff halted, turning her head just enough to glance back at him.
Zaneff: "It's okay, Shiebe. There's no need for any more bloodshed."
Shiebe: "But what about the academy—?"
Zaneff: "Shiebe, I said it's fine… Goodbye."
Without another word, she walked to her father's side. The weight of the moment crushed Shiebe's chest, his helplessness burning through him.
He looked at Eros, seeking any kind of direction, but Eros only shook his head, signaling him to back down. It was impossible to fight a council member, and Zaneff's father—her creator—was not someone to challenge lightly.
Louis took Zaneff's hand, turning toward the exit. As he left, his final words echoed through the room.
Louis De Louch: "I won't be enrolling her in that academy. seven years from now, she'll be attending Henokai Academy. If you want to see her again, enter that school."
Then, they left. The wreckage of the palace was all that remained.
A few hours passed.
Healers swarmed in to tend to Eros's wound. Shiebe and Maz were unharmed, deemed fit to continue their journey.
Shiebe: "Damnit!"
Maz: "There was little we could do, Shiebe. Letting her go was the safest choice for all of us."
Shiebe knew that, but his anger wasn't directed at Zaneff's departure. It was the circumstances that enraged him — how her father had twisted her with fear, forcing her to obey.
Shiebe: "Now what? Eros is out of commission, and Zaneff is gone. What do we do?"
Stress began to flood his chest. The weight of the day was too much. His heart pounded in his ears, the tension of the earlier encounter still vibrating through him.
Maz: "Look, I didn't know her well. But I do know this: we can't let this slow us down. She's gone, and she won't be coming back. If you want to see her again, you'll have to go to Henokai Academy, and it's not easy to get into."
Shiebe: "What are you saying?"
Maz: "We can't control the world. We can only keep moving forward, keep getting stronger. That's the only way we'll be able to do something about it in the future.We work toward what matters. And when the time comes, we make sure Zaneff has the chance to make a real choice next time"
Shiebe nodded, the weight of the situation settling in. He wasn't alone in this. He had Maz, and together, they could rise above.
Shiebe: "Right. You're right. Thanks, Maz. I won't forget this."
Maz placed a reassuring hand on Shiebe's shoulder, giving him a thumbs-up. A grin spread across his face, and for the first time, Shiebe saw him not as an ally but as a true friend.
Maz: "That's what friends are for, right?"
Shiebe: "...Yeah."
For the first time, Shiebe didn't feel alone. He had people who cared about him, and he would return that loyalty in kind.
Two hours later, they stood waiting for Eros's return. The healers had told them it would be a while, but Eros was on his way back.
"I think that's him."
One of Eros's wives, standing near Shiebe and Maz, pointed toward the door. The faint sound of footsteps reached their ears.
Shiebe's thoughts sharpened. 'Be alert. The bounty on my head means trouble could be just around the corner.'
Maz: "Yeah, I know."
Maz, ever perceptive, stood ready beside him. They didn't want to alarm the ladies, so neither activated their syreums, but both were poised for action.
The door creaked open, slowly.
FWOOSH
KRACK-KRACK-KRACK!
Shiebe & Maz: "!!"
The door flung open, revealing a man dressed in a butler's attire.
But it wasn't Eros.
Without hesitation, Shiebe conjured a small orb of destruction, while Maz summoned a bolt of lightning.
However, both attacks were deflected by a swift sword slash.
Behind the man stood three shadowy figures, their faces concealed in the dim light.
Person 1: "I don't appreciate being attacked on arrival."
Person 2: "... "
Person 3: "Heh, sorry about that. It's been a bit lively here. The boys are on edge."