“Did you really think you could beat him?” Leviathan’s voice growled, slamming Beelzebub against the scorching magma wall. The stone cracked, raining sparks down around them. “You almost died from your own damn arrogance!”
“Shut up!” Beelzebub spat back, wiping black blood from his jaw. “I had him right where I wanted him if you hadn’t dragged me back here!”
“What is all this ruckus about?”
A deep, sluggish voice cut through their bickering. A massive, blob-like entity the size of a shed slowly crawled out from the shadows, its gelatinous form shifting with every agonizingly slow movement.
“None of your business, Belphegor,” Beelzebub snapped. “Go laze around somewhere else.”
“He was trying to get himself killed,” Leviathan countered, crossing his arms. “He went up against the Golden Phoenix.”
“The Golden Phoenix?” Belphegor’s mass rippled in confusion. “Wasn’t that oversized bird vanquished a long time ago by our ruler?”
“Apparently not.”
Ba’al floated into the cavern, his presence heavy and suffocating.
Beelzebub snorted, a mocking sneer twisting his face before he burst into a frantic laugh. “Look at you. Ba’al the legless.”
Ba’al didn't argue. He simply flicked his wrist.
Instantly, Beelzebub was hoisted into the air by an invisible force. Ba’al slowly closed his fist, crushing the Demon Lord's throat. The choke intensified, but Beelzebub just kept laughing frantically through the pain, his eyes wide and unhinged.
“That’s quite enough, Ba’al.”
The smooth, commanding voice cut through the chaos like a razor through silk.
A tall, humanoid figure stepped into the light. He wore a perfectly tailored suit that contrasted sharply with the hellish cavern. Long, crimson-red hair cascaded down his back, matching the piercing glow of his eyes and the dangerous flick of his demonic tail. He stopped right in front of Ba’al.
“Lucifer…! I—I mean, Your Majesty!” Ba’al squeaked. The oppressive aura vanished instantly as he dropped Beelzebub to the floor.
Lucifer didn't even look at the gasping demon. He turned toward the dark corridor ahead.
“All of you. Gather in the castle.”
Lucifer snapped his fingers. His form instantly dissolved into a dark mist, vanishing the moment a hellish wind swept through the cavern. One by one, the other demon lords did the same—snapping their fingers and dissipating into thin air.
Moments later, the high council materialized within the castle. Leviathan, Beelzebub, and Belphegor were all down on one knee, while Ba’al hovered low, bowing his upper body deeply before the massive, flaming throne. Dark spikes jutted from the seat's frame, and skulls littered the floor around its base. Lucifer sat upon it, looking down at them with cold, unbothered eyes.
“Where are Mammon and Asmodeus?” Lucifer asked, his voice echoing through the grand hall.
“Right here.”
A seductive, melodic voice purred from the dark. Out of the shadows stepped a tall, slender woman with vibrant pink hair and neon-purple skin. Her voluptuous figure was draped in a pitch-black, backless dress, adorned with intricate white rose patterns that accentuated her curves. She stepped into the light on sharp black heels, a purple tail with a distinct, heart-shaped tip swaying gently behind her.
“Mammon couldn’t make it,” Asmodeus added, a playful smirk dancing on her lips. “She claims she is close to tracking down the Omniscient Codex. She said she can practically feel its presence.”
Lucifer nodded slowly. “I see. Thank you, Asmodeus.”
Asmodeus smiled and offered a graceful curtsy. “My pleasure, Your Majesty.” With a fluid motion, she stepped into line and knelt alongside the rest.
“I believe you all already know why I have summoned you,” Lucifer said, his voice flat and dangerous.
“Uhh… to give us further plans on tracking down the Omniscient Codex?” Beelzebub ventured.
The other demon lords nodded in silent agreement.
“NO, YOU IMBECILE!” Lucifer’s voice suddenly boomed, shifting into a distorted, demonic roar that shook the castle dust before he caught himself. He took a slow, deep breath, smoothing down his suit jacket. “I am here to warn you about the Golden Phoenix.”
“You mean that boy with the golden flames?” Asmodeus asked, tilting her head.
“Yes, Asmodeus,” Lucifer replied, his expression turning grim. “As you all know, the golden flames of that divine beast are lethal to our kind. The moment they engulf us, we are not just killed—we are erased from existence entirely.”
He turned a sharp, freezing glare toward Ba’al.
“Two years ago, a mere child incinerated a massive portion of our vanguard. He burned away Ba’al’s legs so thoroughly that not even our highest dark magic could regenerate them.”
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Ba’al’s eyes darkened with raw, lingering trauma, while the expressions of the other Demon Lords instantly turned dead serious.
“If we cannot fight him head-on,” Asmodeus purred, tracing the tip of her heart-shaped tail, “why don’t we just take over his mind?”
Lucifer scoffed, a dark laugh escaping his lips. “That is exactly what I have been trying to tell these buffoons. Yet Beelzebub had the absolute audacity to charge in blindly and reveal his presence to the boy.”
“I’m not good with mind games,” Leviathan and Belphegor rumbled in unison.
“Then allow me to handle this,” Asmodeus said, a confident smirk playing on her lips. “You all can focus on tracking down the codex while I keep the Golden Phoenix distracted.”
She giggled, a low, melodic sound, as she ran her hands seductively down the curves of her figure. “No man can resist my charms. Besides, he is just a boy. I bet his hormones will do half the work for me.”
Beelzebub snorted loudly. “You wish. What makes you think you can seduce a brat like that?”
“Zip it, Beelzebub,” Asmodeus retorted, casting a dismissive glance over her shoulder. “Unlike you, I am actually attractive.”
“What did you just say?!” Beelzebub roared, snapping upright, but Leviathan instantly threw out a heavy arm to pin him back down.
Asmodeus stood up, her mocking laughter echoing through the grand hall as she turned her back on him. She gave a playful wave over her shoulder. “Ta-ta~”
Asmodeus snapped her fingers, her form instantly dissolving into a dark mist that evaporated into the air.
Meanwhile, back at the academy, quiet had finally settled over Alice’s office.
“What exactly happened back there?” Alice asked, leaning against her desk, the exhaustion of the day finally catching up to her.
Arthur shook his head. “A demon named Beelzebub breached my room. I’m just not sure if it was the same Beelzebub Flora mentioned earlier.”
“Did he look like an insect?”
Arthur nodded. “Yeah, he did.”
“Then it was him,” Alice said, her expression darkening. “He is often referred to as the Bringer of Famine. It is why he takes the form of a monstrous locust—the very insect that destroys crops and brings starvation to entire lands.”
Arthur looked down, processing the information, before meeting her gaze again. “What about Leviathan? Right before I could finish the fight, a massive snake-like entity dragged Beelzebub into a portal. He was calling it Leviathan.”
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“Leviathan is known as the King of Serpents,” Alice explained, a shiver passing through her. “Some say that when his presence draws near, the temperature plummets. When he is furious, he can flash-freeze an entire area on the spot.”
She shook her head, rubbing her temples. “Both Beelzebub and Leviathan have brought down dozens of kingdoms just by setting foot in them, usually with Ba’al leading the vanguard.” Her grim tone suddenly gave way to a weary, breathy chuckle. “Honestly… I don’t even know anymore. This is just too much to take in for a single day.”
She paused, stepping closer to him. Her gaze softened as she looked him straight in the eyes, a gentle, genuine smile crossing her face. “But… I feel safer with you around, Arthur.”
Arthur smiled back, his expression relaxed and warm. “I feel the same way, Aunt Alice.”
“So, how did you find me anyway?” Arthur asked to change the subject.
Alice walked over and settled down beside him on the couch, the leather creaking softly under her weight. “Flora’s tears,” she replied simply.
Arthur blinked. “Flora’s tears?”
Alice chuckled, a knowing smirk playing on her lips. “Did you really think a high-ranking defensive mage simply hugged you because she was touched by your words?”
Arthur’s eyes widened in genuine disbelief as the realization hit him. Then, a low chuckle escaped his chest, escalating into a full laugh. “Wow… I guess high-ranking mages are high-ranking for a reason.”
“But to be fair, she really did appreciate what you said to her. She likes you, Arthur,” Alice added, her tone softening. “She just wanted a way to know where you were, and to make sure you weren’t in harm’s way.”
“Well, I like her too,” Arthur replied, leaning back. “If it wasn’t for her, you wouldn’t have found me. I probably would've gotten completely lost on my way here.”
Right on cue, the office door creaked open. Flora stepped inside, carrying a wooden tray balanced carefully in her hands. Resting on it were two cups of steaming hot chocolate, with fluffy white marshmallows bobbing on the surface. Her feline-like ears were flapping up and down cheerfully, and a cute, bright smile lit up her face.
“You two must be exhausted from earlier,” Flora said softly, stepping into the lounge area. “I made these drinks to help you sleep better tonight.”
She knelt down slightly, placing the warm cups onto the polished mahogany table that sat between the two Chesterfield couches, right in front of Arthur and Alice.
Alice nodded, her gaze softening. “How sweet of you, Flora. Thank you.”
“It’s no problem at all, Headmistress,” Flora replied warmly, picking up her empty tray and turning back toward the exit.
“Flora?” Arthur called out.
She paused by the frame, looking back over her shoulder. “Yes?”
“Thanks for earlier,” Arthur said, flashing her a knowing smirk. “Your tracker was really helpful.”
Flora simply giggled, her ears giving a playful twitch. “I have absolutely no idea what you are talking about, Arthur.”
With that, she slipped through the doorway. Right before the wood swung shut, she peeked back in to take one last good look at him. The moment Arthur turned his gaze to catch her eye, she panicked, slamming the door shut with a sudden click.
Alice let out a delighted chuckle, gesturing toward the door. “See?”
Arthur let out a rare, sheepish chuckle of his own, reaching up to rub the back of his neck.
Arthur took his cup, blowing gently over the steaming chocolate.
“You had a pretty eventful day today,” Alice said, picking up the other cup.
Arthur let out a soft scoff and chuckled. “Yeah. I just want to sleep after this.”
“Don’t worry, you’re safe here at the academy,” she replied, her gaze drifting out the window toward the quiet campus.
Once they finished their drinks and set the empty cups back on the table, the adansonii stems resting in a porcelain vase near the door suddenly came alive. The vines grew rapidly, snaking across the room and winding tightly around the cups.
“Oh?” Arthur tilted his head, watching the leaves shift.
The office door creaked open just an inch. The plant stems extended through the gap, delivering the cups straight into a soft-looking hand that peeked out for a split second to snatch them before the door clicked shut again.
Alice shook her head and let out a light laugh. “I suggest you follow her to your room. I already grabbed the clothes from your bed back at the tavern and had them moved there.”
“Oh, thanks, Aunt Alice,” Arthur said, nodding as he stood up to catch up with the mysterious cup thief.
The moment he swung the door open, Flora let out a cute gasp, instinctively clutching the two empty cups tightly against her chest.
Before the awkward silence could settle, Alice stepped out right behind Arthur. She casually opened a swirling portal straight to the staff dorms' shared kitchen, reached over to gently take the cups from Flora's hands, and smiled. “Can you show Arthur to his room, Flora?”
“Y—Yes, Headmistress,” Flora stammered, nodding quickly.
The moment Alice stepped through the gateway, the portal snapped shut and vanished into thin air. The sudden silence left Flora and Arthur completely alone in the dim corridor.
To Be Continued…