"Nymera... I'll wash you later, even if you're just bones now,"
Elarion whispered gently, hitching his horse to the cart.
He kissed the horse's forehead, gasping softly as he buried his face into her bony neck, brushing his hand through her dark, feathered mane. A single tear slipped from his eye.
"I'm sorry... It's our first reunion and yet I'm already making you carry us," he murmured.
With a deep breath, Elarion climbed into the carriage and called out,
"Stop staring at us and get in."
Cael and Hadeon, surprised by the raw emotion he showed toward what, to them, was only a skeletal horse, said nothing. They simply sat across from him silently.
Once everyone settled in, Elarion brushed Nymera's back one more time before shutting the carriage door behind him.
"Fly us to Hellspire," he commanded softly.
Nymera neighed loudly, wings spreading wide as she pulled them into the crimson-stained sky.
Elarion leaned back, his gaze lost in the fiery horizon, his expression carrying a mix of persistence and bittersweet longing for times long gone.
He sighed.
"When all this is over... let's take a real trip next time," he muttered, knowing full well it was just a silly dream.
"Of course we'll go," Cael said with a small smile, as if hoping Elarion's wish could somehow come true.
"You're all too cheerful," Hadeon huffed, looking away, annoyed.
Without hesitation, Cael grabbed his spear and pointed it at Hadeon's throat, the edge lightly grazing his skin.
"Don't act cocky just because we spared you," Cael said, his voice low and dangerous—yet a faint playful edge betrayed him. "Next time, think before you speak."
Hadeon swallowed hard, fear flashing briefly on his face—but he grinned anyway.
"You wouldn't actually do it... right?"
Elarion chuckled quietly.
"You two, don't waste your strength on fighting. You'll need it later," he said, extending his hand suggestively.
"Why don't you both take a little nap? I'll keep watch."
Cael tilted his head, confused.
"We angels can't sleep, even if you ordered it," he mumbled, lowering his head in shame.
Elarion smiled softly, gently taking the spear still pointed at Hadeon and tapping Cael's forehead with the shaft.
"Sleep," he commanded.
At once, Cael's body relaxed, and Elarion caught him, laying him comfortably along the seat.
Then Elarion turned to Hadeon, a mischievous glint in his eye.
"Should I cast a spell on you too, or will you sleep willingly?"
Hadeon quickly shook his head.
"No need! I'll sleep now!"
He tilted his head back, settling in—but Elarion, smirking, still tapped his forehead, sending him into deep sleep, then carefully repositioned Hadeon's body beside Cael.
Once they were both resting, Elarion opened the carriage door. The cold night air whipped through his long hair as he climbed atop the carriage, closing the door behind him.
He carefully made his way forward until he sat on Nymera's back again, stroking her.
"Nymera," he whispered, "let's enjoy this night until we reach the city."
The horse neighed loudly, wings beating harder as she soared faster through the blood-red sky.
Elarion lifted the spear high, pointing it at the sky, laughing loudly.
"Watch me, Father! Watch me, gods! I will break you all! I will torture your lovers and your believers!"
His voice echoed like thunder.
Nymera, sensing his rage, flew faster, black radiance streaking the sky behind her until they reached the city.
The air was thick, dense with black fog swirling beneath them.
At the center of the city stood a giant tower, a clock perched atop it, its heavy ticking resonating through the sky like a heartbeat of doom.
Elarion rested his chin on his hand thoughtfully.
"What kind of words should I use now?"
He suddenly smacked his palm with a grin.
"Ah... I got it."
He signaled Nymera to descend, circling the tower. As they neared, he lifted the spear.
A small, crackling light extended from its tip as a wicked smile stretched across his face.
All across the ground, demons paused, looking up at him in confusion and growing fury.
"Who's that?"
"How dare a human enter our city?"
"He's got a death wish!"
"Call the guard!"
"No—kill him now!"
Their voices clashed in a furious roar, glares burning into him.
Elarion laughed louder—and then hurled the spear straight at the clock atop the tower.
Glass shattered and rained down.
The crowd scattered as a massive, monstrous scorpion fell from the broken tower, crashing onto some of the demons, crushing them under its grotesque legs.
Elarion hovered above them, his voice cold and commanding:
"I am the son of Chaos. Kneel before me—or die."
Cries of terror and anger erupted.
A woman wailed desperately near the crushed form of her husband.
"Someone help my husband!"
"Kill that human!" a demon shrieked. "He's a servant of the gods!"
Elarion's face darkened.
With a flick of his hand, radiant energy burst outward, erasing several demons in an instant.
He leapt from the carriage, slamming into the ground with a shockwave that cracked the very earth.
"Last chance," he said, his body glowing with a fierce blend of dark and light mana, thickening the air until it suffocated.
"Kneel—or perish. I am the son of Chaos. I will break the will of all who stand against me."
Most demons fled in terror, scattering like insects.
Elarion sighed in disdain.
"Such an ugly sight."
But then—he noticed her.
The woman who had refused to run.
Still kneeling beside her crushed husband, sobbing, desperately trying to pull him free.
Elarion chuckled darkly, walking toward her.
"Finally... something beautiful," he murmured.
The woman looked up at him with tearful, desperate eyes, then, with trembling hands, hurled a fireball at him.
It struck—but dissipated harmlessly against his body.
He dusted his clothes casually.
"Such cute emotions," he said sweetly, like a parent soothing a crying child.
"Kneel—and I will free him from his suffering."
The woman hesitated, but then collapsed to her knees, pressing her forehead to the ground, her voice breaking through her sobs.
"Please... please save him. He's all I have."
Elarion approached slowly, every step making her shiver.
He raised his hand, gathering mana at his fingertip, laughing wickedly.
"I only said I'd free him from suffering," he mocked, "not save his life."
The woman scrambled forward, cradling her husband's broken body, tears pouring down her cheeks.
"I'm sorry," she whispered to him, smiling sadly. "Sorry for fighting yesterday... I guess this is it. At least... we'll die together."
A small, broken giggle escaped her lips.
The man, too weak to speak, only twitched faintly in her arms.
Elarion unleashed the radiant blast toward them—but instead of death, it merely passed through them like a warm breeze.
They gasped in confusion when man's body was healed.
Elarion smiled sweetly, stepping forward and, with one effortless motion, threw the massive scorpion's corpse away.
"I was joking," he said, almost tenderly. "I always keep my word