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Yun handed over the injured Haru and unconscious Goro to the rest, they were headed back to the inn where Kiyae and Ryo were resting. 

K’xug and Xue supported him.  

Right now, Cecil was in a hurry to give them medical treatment. 

Yun looked at Haru who was giving him a questioning stare. 

“Captain, it’s done,” he adjusted his glasses, nodding. “Go rest, I’ll take care of the rest.” 

“The rest?” Haru furrowed his eyebrows, confused. “By rest, you mean…” 

“Yes, I’ll be retrieving the original lord of this area,” Yun nodded. “After all, we did tell him to hide his presence away as if he never existed.” 

Haru softened the look in his eyes, lifting his head up and smiling at Yun. 

His smile was sorrowful. 

“That old man, we barely managed to save him that day,” Haru did not sound as enthusiastic as before. “I still remember that day when we warned him not to interfere no matter what happens, the look on his face…” 

“He’ll understand.” 

“You think so?” 

“He’ll understand, Haru.” 

Haru looked at Yun, his smile growing wider but he still seemed sad.

“Then, I’ll leave it to you.” 

“He’ll return, the love he has for his people is still there.” Yun stated in an affirmative tone.

“I know, I know him for the longest time,” Haru forced a chuckle. “Tell that geezer I said hi, and that...everyone welcomes him back.” 

“You aren’t planning to visit him?” 

Haru grew silent, ducking his head as he shook it lightly. 

“Not now.” 

Cecil and the others kept quiet the entire conversation, since there was no reason for them to intervene. Moreover, the mood between Haru and Yun made one feel uncomfortable. 

Especially since Haru lacked his usual cheekiness. 

Haru lifted his hand, patting K’xug and Xue on their shoulders as they supported him. 

“Let’s go.” 

“That would be best,” Yun nodded. “Before that thing behind you wakes up.” 

Everyone looked to Goro. 

They also noticed how Yun referred to Goro by “that thing” instead of addressing him as a person. It was apparent how much Yun abhorred Goro. 

“Let’s go.” Cecil nodded with a smile. 

“Let’s go!” Hana chirped. 

Yun waved them goodbye, walking in the opposite direction from them.

K’xug and Xue moved on, not saying a word. 

“Hahaha! To think I’ll be supported by you two peasants!” 

“...” 

“Oh wait, one of you is still a peasant, while the other…” Haru glanced at K'xug. “An angel? A demon? Like those from the myths? Or maybe both?” 

Xue frowned in annoyance. 

K’xug ignored Haru. 

Haru nudged at Xue. “Who the hell is your friend here?” 

Xue narrowed his eyes at Haru, not saying a word. 

“Fine, don’t tell me,” Haru shrugged, looking at Cecil and Hana. “What exactly is he?” 

Hana huffed as she spun around, pointing at Haru. 

“So rude!” Hana pouted. “K’xug is just K’xug!” 

K’xug blinked in surprise at Hana’s answer, and he tried to prevent himself from smiling as his lips twitched. 

“Good answer.” Haru snickered.

“Right?” Cecil laughed. “Just the answer I expected to hear from Hana.” 

Hana grinned sheepishly, her cheeks growing warm. “You two laughing at me makes me embarrassed…” 

K’xug did not hide his smile this time. 

“See, peasant, you could have just answered that way!” Haru spoke to Xue, grinning. “Not glaring at me like--” 

“Call me peasant again, and I’ll drop you.” 

“That’s right, since your friend here isn’t like us, you should be called something else! Not a peasant!”

Xue was growing annoyed.  

“Something else?” Hana tilted her head. 

Cecil had a bad feeling as Haru opened his mouth to respond. 

“The Supreme God from the myths! Hahahaha!” Haru guffawed. “That’s the only reason why this crazy strong K’xug here listens to Xue, am I right?!” 

A murderous aura drifted out from Xue. 

“On second thought, I’ll hit you.” 

“Wait, wait, Xue!” 

“Eeeee! K’xug, protect Haru Haru!” 

Haru had already long hidden behind K’xug’s back. 

Meanwhile, Cecil and Hana were frantically holding Xue back. 

Xue continued glaring murderously at Haru. 

“Heh! Am I wrong? Am I wrong?” 

Haru grinned, looking back and forth at Xue and K’xug.

K’xug, acting as the shield for Haru, only sighed. 

Their trip back to the inn was full of life.

Haru just had a knack for irritating Xue. 

At times, they were filled with laughter with Haru clinging onto K’xug as his shield, and the two ladies holding Xue back frantically. 

Seeing this scene, K’xug was reminded of the past and despite his exasperation, he found himself smiling. 

***

Two days passed. 

Shin fell sick with a high fever. 

Meanwhile, Kiyae and Haru were still recuperating under the instructions of Cecil and another healer which the inn owner found. 

Ryo and Yun escorted Goro back to their prison built inside their ship, after Cecil and the healer treated him and administered him with some sleeping pills. 

Whereas, a day ago, Xue and K’xug detected remaining light magic still scattered around the city. They only informed Cecil and Hana of their plans to locate the remaining traces of light magic and get rid of them. 

“If anyone else comes into contact with them, there is no telling what will happen.” Xue frowned.

Moreover, Cecil and Hana were here, and they weren’t capable of handling light magic just yet. Xue and K’xug definitely would not allow anything to either of them.

Even if Xue had grown callous, he still understood the importance of balancing the three realms. The angels and demons were to never interfere in the matters of the mortal realm, to maintain the balance of the three realms. 

“As if stabbing me in the back wasn’t enough,” Xue scoffed, clenching his jaw. “They are even interfering with this realm? Have the angels gone mad?” 

Even if angels and demons were still in the midst of war, it made no sense for them to bring mortals into their affairs. 

K’xug raised his hand, placing it on Xue’s shoulder. 

He was clearly concerned for his friend.

Xue glanced at K’xug, softening his look. 

“You don’t need to worry,” Xue muttered out. “I won’t lose control.”

K’xug smiled slightly at his friend. 

The door to the room opened, Haru and Kiyae walked in, covered up in bandages. 

“Yo, going somewhere?” 

“Captain, you think they’ll tell you?” 

Haru shrugged. “Don’t know where you guys are going, but hurry back soon.” 

“That’s right,” Kiyae winked. “We have to celebrate our victory!” 

Xue quirked a tiny smile. 

That’s right, he wouldn’t lose control anymore. 

...because right now, he had all these people beside him. 

He wasn’t alone anymore. 

“Be careful.” 

“Don’t get hurt!” 

Hana and Cecil spoke at the same time. 

K’xug and Xue looked at the two ladies, lifting their hands.

“Mhmm,” Xue patted Cecil on the head. “We’ll be back.” 

Whereas, K’xug patted Hana on the head, smiling at her with a nod. 

The two of them disappeared right after that.

***

Cecil spent the rest of the time chatting with the healer, and learning from them. She also observed Shin closely, noticing him mumbling in his sleep from time to time. 

Hana, on the other hand, assisted in the banquet celebration especially with the food. It wasn’t apparently them that was celebrating the victory, the civilians themselves were celebrating too. After all, they were no longer under the oppression of Goro and Ephert. 

“Mom…”

“Dad…” 

“Please...don’t leave...me…” 

It was nighttime, and Shin’s fever was dying down. However, he had not regained consciousness and was having constant nightmares in his sleep. 

Cecil sat beside Shin, observing him in concern. 

“Shin…” she whispered softly, a hint of sadness in her voice. “The two of you...must have suffered just like that…” 

Cecil closed her eyes in pain. 

The current state of Shin was a reflection of how Xue suffered in the past when he lost his parents. 

Unable to cope, he sealed off his feelings and withdrew himself from everyone. 

He must have fallen sick like that. 

He had no one beside him.

Hana herself...she was suffering too. 

The two of them were. 

Xue…

Shin…

How I wish, I was beside Xue at that time. 

Cecil heard faint sobbing beside her and she opened her eyes with a gasp. 

Tears were flowing out from Shin’s eyes. 

She bit on her lower lip, reaching her hand out to Shin. 

The young boy snapped his eyes open at that moment, a hazy look in his eyes as he grabbed onto Cecil’s wrist. 

“...!”

“Pl--please...don’t leave me…all alone…” 

There was no clarity in his eyes, and it was obvious how Shin was still trapped in his nightmares. 

Cecil shifted herself closer, sitting on the bed and she dragged Shin into her embrace. 

“I won’t leave,” she murmured, her voice gentle. “This time, I’ll be here for you.” 

“Come...back…”

“I won’t leave.” 

“I…was so...lonely. I still...am.” 

“I won’t leave.” 

“...don’t leave...”

“I won’t leave.”

Shin closed his eyes gradually, his breathing less erratic. 

Cecil gently laid him down on the bed and she realised he was still holding onto her wrist, as if his life depended on it. 

She smiled, placing her head down on the bed as she gazed at Shin in the dark. The standing lantern beside the bed illuminating the young boy’s features. 

She raised her hand, patting his head. 

Shin’s eyes fluttered open at that moment, and there was a hint of recognition in his eyes. 

“I’ll be here beside you, always.” 

In his sleepy haze, Shin knew that wasn’t the voice that belonged to his mother. However, that voice still belonged to someone that had left an imprint in his heart. 

He couldn’t quite recall who it was...but at least, right now, he felt warm. 

He felt a comforting warmth.

Shin smiled slightly, his eyes closing as he snuggled closer to the hand that he was clinging onto. 

He had a feeling, he wouldn’t have the recurring nightmare of his parents walking away from him and leaving him alone in the abyss. 

Seeing that Shin wasn’t fidgeting and crying out anxiously in his sleep any longer, Cecil smiled and switched the position of their hands. 

They were interlocked now. 

She eventually closed her eyes, welcoming the slumber that awaited her.  

***

Zeau smiled genially, but the mood surrounding was anything but gentle. He sat on a chair, his leg over the other, his chin resting on his hand as he stared at the navy blue-haired in front of him. 

...or to be more specific, the navy blue-haired “Xue”. 

The two people were in a tent-like room furnished with simple furniture.

“You used it up.” 

“Tch.” 

Jehan was sitting cross-legged on the ground, his navy blue eyes glaring at Zeau. 

“It was two against one,” Jehan brought one of his legs up, sounding irked. “It wasn’t like I had any other choice.” 

“Hmm.”

“I managed to absorb those two, at least.” 

“Don’t report anything to me,” Zeau closed his eyes, maintaining his genial smile. “I don’t really care.” 

“Then why did you help me?” Jehan narrowed his eyes at Zeau. “First giving me the chance to absorb others like me, and then allowing me to use a one-time teleportation spell.” 

“I told you.” 

Zeau slowly opened his eyes, his eyes turning demonic. 

“You just have to disrupt your original soul in any way possible.” 

Jehan shuddered, putting his leg down. 

“Now, get out.” 

“Put another teleportation spell on me again.” 

Zeau widened his smile. “Leave.” 

That teleportation spell was just to help this soul fragment survive a little longer anyway. Even if Jehan died, Zeau could always find another one. 

He did not care what happened to Jehan next. 

Jehan stiffened, sighing as he stood up. “Fine, I’ll leave. Where the hell is this place anyway?”

“I’ll bring you away,” Zeau stated. “This is the last time you’ll see me.” 

“That’s fine too, I don’t care either way.” Jehan shrugged. 

All of a sudden, right beside Zeau, the air rippled and a black portal formed. Veau walked out from it, his usual lazy expression wasn’t on his face. 

He wore a rare frustrated look. 

“Are you going to continue being this reckless, Zeau?” Veau questioned. 

“This is what you call reckless?” Zeau raised his eyebrows. 

“You know the life force swapping spell takes up an abnormal amount of our energy,” Veau sighed out, his palm on his forehead as he pointed at Jehan. “And you were just using it to swap between me and that useless thing?” 

Being called the useless thing made Jehan grimace. 

However, he knew how powerful these two were from his memory. Though he might be arrogant, he wasn’t stupid. 

“He isn’t completely useless.”

Jehan made an irritated face. 

“Zeau, what’s the point in all of this?” Veau was exasperated at his half-brother. “The rebellion forces from the angels are almost completely annihilated, and some of them are even running into the mortal realm for hiding.” 

“Their ruler is still alive, and smiling.” 

“He’ll be...dead...soon.” 

“I hear hesitation in your words, Veau.” 

“What are you trying to imply?” 

“You are growing soft.” 

“Do you doubt me that much--”

The demon brothers were starting to argue, and Jehan raised his hands up, interrupting their conversation. 

“Uh, sorry to cut in but,” Jehan tilted his head with a smirk. “Don’t drag me into your brotherly quarrels and just teleport me away from here.” 

To him, Veau and Zeau was nothing but a means to reach his goal. 

Xue’s memories and his life had nothing to do with him. He did not feel any hatred for Veau and Zeau, unlike his original host. 

“Leave--” 

Zeau raised his hand to summon out a portal, but Veau stopped him by smacking his hand away. 

Veau waved, and the air rippled behind Jehan, a portal opening up. 

“You’ll find a gift past that portal.” Veau waved his hand once again and black tendrils extended out from the portal, grabbing onto Jehan. 

“What the--hey!” 

Jehan was dragged into the portal without any warning. 

Zeau looked at Veau beside him, smiling genially. “Did you just send him to…” 

“Yes, and now, stop bothering about pointless matters like that.” 

“Anything concerning Xue is not pointless.”

“For now, it is,” Veau narrowed his eyes. “You think the rebellion forces are giving up that easily?” 

Zeau smiled. 

“I know, some of them have already gathered down here in the mortal realm.” 

“Valoel, he placed a seal of his own on Hana Katae.” 

Zeau paused, straightening his body. 

“That old geezer?”  

“She is regaining her powers and memories, slowly.” 

“As expected,” Zeau scoffed. “All angels are the same deep down, and they stay faithful to their own kind.” 

“...” 

Veau remained silent, his expression inscrutable. 

“They will never change,” Zeau spoke bitterly, however, those words seemed to be convincing himself instead. “Never change.” 

At that moment, the memories of the past were resurfacing for the two demon brothers. 

It was their encounters and interactions with Xue, K’xug and Hana. It wasn’t only Veau who got close to them, Zeau did as well. 

After which, more memories replayed in their minds. 

It was two different angels this time. 

One of them was about the old geezer, the hermit of the heavenly mountains, Valoel. 

The other was someone the two treasured dearly, Eona. 

Zeau closed his eyes, shaking his head. He did not want to recall those memories of the past, they were all long gone. 

“Aren’t I right, brother?” Zeau questioned Veau. 

Veau snapped out of his daze, staring at his half-brother. 

It was obvious how Zeau wanted affirmation, as if he wanted someone to support his decisions. 

Veau hesitated, before plastering the same lazy expression on his face. 

“...that’s right, they never change.” 

Veau smiled lazily. 

“Never change at all.” 

The argument between the two brothers was no more, and there was a strange mood around them that seemed to invoke a hint of sadness. 

***

Xue and K’xug finally located all the remaining weapons that contained traces of light magic that were left behind or hidden. They were mostly arrows imbued with light magic, but there were exceptions like knives and daggers. 

K’xug was the only one who would destroy them currently, and Xue was tasked with bringing them all to K’xug. 

However, the pair discovered something more unsettling. 

Along with the weapons, there were gloves accompanied with the weapons. The gloves were able to neutralize the effects of light magic for those who wielded it, and it wasn’t only enchanted. 

The gloves seemed to be imbued with a hint of dark magic as well. 

Xue and K’xug frowned, looking at each other. They had gathered the remaining weapons into a spot and brought them to the destroyed house. It was the most inconspicuous spot at the moment to destroy something that shouldn’t exist in the mortal realm. 

“An angel and a demon?” Xue contemplated, pointing at K’xug. “Is it another hybrid like you?” 

K’xug shook his head at Xue. 

“Are you sure?” 

Truthfully, it was easier to explain it in words.

Hybrids had a low survival rate, due to their mixed blood of angel and demon in their body. 

The two would not mix well, and the child would go through a painful process of growing up as a hybrid. Moreover, hybrids were always looked down upon by both angels and demons, since they were considered an abomination. 

Survival for them, was almost close to a zero. 

However, K’xug still could not talk nor write, hence, he only continued shaking his head in frustration. 

Xue stared at K’xug for a moment longer.

He could do nothing but accept this simple reasoning of his closest aide. 

There was no way for K’xug to explain. 

“We really need to hurry and get rid of the seals that the bastard placed on you,” Xue sighed out, holding the gloves in his palm. “If it wasn’t a hybrid like you, how is something like that possible?” 

K’xug furrowed his eyebrows. 

“Forget it,” Xue sighed out. “Just destroy them all.” 

K’xug nodded, looking at the pile of weapons and gloves they collected. He raised his hand towards the weapons imbued with light magic. 

“I want to see Cecil.” 

K’xug stumbled, snapping his head towards Xue. 

“What?” Xue looked at K’xug, not looking the least bit embarrassed. “It’s already been a day, I miss her.”

K’xug covered his eyes with his hand. 

Please. 

Just spare me from your sentimental words. 

“Don’t you miss Hana too?” 

K’xug stiffened, slowly lowering his hand. 

He could imagine it.  

“K’xug!” 

Hana would turn towards him with a bright smile on her face, before she jogged towards him. 

K’xug could imagine it clearly. 

He smiled

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