Ciel's POV
As we drew closer, the fear etched on their faces was impossible to miss.
And there he was—Lucien—standing among the enemy, his wings stretched wide, a grim determination in his eyes. And the man who had broken into my study…, bandaged and barely keeping himself aloft. The memory of what he had done to Serena sent a blaze of fury through me.
"Attack!" I roared, my voice cutting through the chaos like a blade.
The air erupted into a storm of magic and fire. Arrows hissed past, flames roared, and spells collided midair, illuminating the darkness with bursts of unnatural light. My army surged forward with precision, wings slicing through the night as we descended upon the intruders.
The battle stretched across the skies and spilled to the ground, chaos swallowing the night. Every strike, every scream, every flash of magic was a reminder: nothing would stand between me and what I was determined to protect.
Lucien's POV
I shoved the documents into a hidden pouch and braced myself as Ciel's army barreled toward us.
"Oh damn it… we're finished," I muttered, my chest tightening as I watched Asriel's Fallen crash into the ground under a hail of flames and spells.
I swung, I dodged, I countered—but it was no use. Ciel's army was unstoppable, each demon moving with precision and deadly power. I'd always wondered how Ciel had defeated Ael in the Celestial War… now I understood. Their strength was overwhelming. I couldn't land a single blow; all I could do was defend and survive.
We had to escape. If we didn't, we'd be wiped out before the night was over.
Then, three demons lunged at me at once. I barely managed to fend them off, but I didn't notice the spell forming behind me. By the time I realized what was happening, it was already too late.
Slash.
I opened my eyes to see Asriel standing before me, his sword slicing through the spell that had pinned me. The magic fizzled into nothingness, and I felt the weight lift from my body.
"Lucien, go to the back and gather with the others. It's time to leave," he said, his back already turned as he cut down the demons I had been struggling against with terrifying ease.
I didn't question it. I moved toward the gathered Fallen, who were huddled together, eyes wide but composed. I joined them slowly, my mind racing, trying to guess what Asriel's plan could be.
Then, a blinding light erupted from him. I squeezed my eyes shut, shielding my face. When I opened them again, my surroundings had changed entirely.
We were in another cave—but it wasn't like the last. This one was dim, cold, with the constant sound of running water echoing off the walls. The space was unorganized, raw, almost natural. Shock coursed through me. How did he do that?
Yet, the other Fallen didn't flinch. Not a single one seemed surprised, as if this was exactly where they were meant to be. I swallowed hard, trying to steady my racing thoughts.
Ciel's POV
I kept pressing the attack, my army following in formation, as the Fallen fell one by one—burned, frozen, destroyed. Chaos raged around me.
Then, something shifted. The surviving Fallen began to regroup, huddling together. One stepped forward, and my army struck—but he cut through them effortlessly, every slash precise, every movement deadly. No… he was different.
Suddenly, a blinding light erupted from him. When my eyes cleared, the other Fallen were gone. Only he remained, standing tall and composed. He lunged past my army, straight at me.
"Nice to see you again, Ciel," he said, his voice calm but edged with amusement. "It's been a while."
There was something familiar about him. Then it clicked—the man I fought in the cave… the cloaked intruder. It's him.
"You…" I began, readying my attack.
He paused, a spark of shock and excitement in his eyes. "You recognize me?"
"Yes. The cloaked man in the cave," I replied.
He let out a long, disappointed sigh. "Oh… that," he said, then cut himself off. "So, you guessed right, Ciel."
Blades danced and magic flared. He laughed, almost enjoying the fight, keeping me on the defensive. I saw an opening and struck—but he sent me flying with a powerful spell before I could land a hit.
"I'll see you again, Your Majesty," he called as he vanished behind me, disappearing as suddenly as he had appeared.
I stood there, breathless, my mind racing. There was something about him… familiar. But there was no time for thoughts like that—the disappearing act wouldn't save them.
I pulled out my orb, focusing. The documents… someone has taken them.
"Follow the orb," I ordered. My army and I moved quickly, tracking the stolen documents, hearts pounding.
Lucien's POV
I sank to the ground, exhausted and battered, nursing my wounds, when Asriel suddenly appeared in the cave. His presence filled the space with a cold, intimidating weight.
"I lost about a thousand of my Fallen out there," he said, his voice sharp, each word cutting through the tense silence. Then he punched the wall, the impact echoing through the hall. "You were getting killed out there! I know you weren't a match for the Devil's Army, but what was that?!"
The hall fell silent. Every Fallen froze under his glare.
He sighed, the sound heavy and calculating. "You know what… that's not important right now," he continued. "What is important is… who ratted out our hideout?"
Instantly, tension crackled through the room. Eyes darted from one Fallen to another. Ciel couldn't have tracked us on his own—he can't sense Fallen, Asriel reminded them.
"So… who?" Asriel asked, his voice low and dangerous.
A rugged-looking Fallen stepped forward hesitantly. "What if it was the new guy?" he said, his words barely above a whisper.
Heads turned. Some faces were accusatory, others confused. I knew immediately that all eyes were on me next. I could feel the weight of suspicion pressing down, my throat tightening. I had to prove my innocence… quickly. Otherwise, I was done for.