Aristella didn''t appear again after that night, causing Asmodeus to wonder what her words and appearance meant. The elves became more resistant and reluctant the closer the group came to the capital of the elves.

    ''The corruption is spreading...''

    Asmodeus noticed that the weak, dying flowers and plans increased in number the closer they came to the capital and north of the continent. ''Aristella... How are you connected to this?'' She didn''t appear even when he called for her. He wondered if the fact she became reclusive caused the forest to lose her divine blessing, leading to the corruption.

    [I haven''t been able to contact her either. There is some kind of rift stopping me from meeting the other gods...]

    ''Why doesn''t that feel good? Is Mephisto onto us?''

    [No, this feels more like the punishment for what I did for you... The moment you ascend, the world will react in a way that I cannot even predict.]

    The interesting thing for Asmodeus made Serena worried because once he reached a level that formerly the gods forbid, not just Mephisto but the other gods who ruled the other races and main continent might get involved. So a battle junkie like him filled with excitement at the idea of something big happening.

    ''Well take care of yourself first, I am sure that girl will contact me again, it''s just a hunch.''

    "Asmodeus, are you alright?" Ciela''s low voice flowed into his ear, and the concentration while speaking with Serena shattered as he felt her hands touching his cheek. "You didn''t respond for quite some time... I became worried."

    Asmodeus looked around and found himself in a flower field where they had set up camp after one last day of travel. It would soon be the moment Ciela would face her family, but that didn''t seem to be important for her. "I am find, but Ciela what about you?" He noticed her hands and fingers trembled while she tried to avoid speaking and kept to herself since entering the forest.

    "It doesn''t matter." She sat on her knees before him with a determined expression, as if she had prepared herself for every outcome, such as losing everything, just like in his nightmare. "I know that father doesn''t care for mother and me anymore... his new wife and her children are all he must think about."

    "Even if, he still is your family-..."

    "Haha, Asmodeus..." Ciela''s face changed for a moment as she started laughing after raising her head, but her laughter quickly died out, and tears started flowing down her cheeks. "Family, really?"

    Asmodeus placed a hand on her cheek, knowing well that Ciela struggled to accept that word. Because of what happened in the past, he only knew half of the story about her sister treating her like some kind of object and useful pawn. ''If I didn''t help her back then if she hadn''t become a dark elf, would that woman have dragged Alicia back home?''

    "Why do you look so sad and concerned?" Ciela''s eyes opened wide, glistening as she looked at Asmodeus'' reflection in them.

    "I wouldn''t mind being hated by those people and losing everything if you don''t mind a dark elf who is no longer a princess..." She laid her body against his torso, resting her head against his chest as Asmodeus wrapped his arms around her.

    "It''s far too late to even consider leaving or abandoning you."

    "I see... I''m glad..." Ciela seemed to have been holding her emotions and frustration inside as she soon fell asleep, clutching her hands around Asmodeus'' clothes, not letting go for a long time after releasing her feelings.

    Asmodeus closed his eyes, feeling that the visit to the palace tomorrow would definitely not end well—he wondered how he could help Ciela without letting the others hurt her too much.

    Sarina turned her gaze toward the front. She looked at the silent warriors before looking up at the full moon, which illuminated her fair skin.

    "We attack tonight, even if the demons think they are the lords of the darkness, we are daughters of Aristella! The Goddess who adores the moonlight! Prepare to attack them, load lightly, carry your bows low, let us hunt some orcs!"

    "Yes, your majesty!"

    The elven warriors replied firmly. Those who followed the empress loved both the silver forest and her majesty more than anything else in the world.

    .

    .

    .

    As if the world had begun preparing itself, even the King of Grigor prepared in the dark of this cold night. In his chambers, he gazed at several knights and familiar faces, no longer in his expensive and gaudy clothes—Duke Qwass knelt before the King.

    "Your Highness, we are here to serve Grigor!"

    The sins of Duke Qwass were enough for execution, completely committing treason. However, when his mind control shattered, and the aftereffects of the dark magic faded, he returned to the original man who once adored and served the King more devotedly than any other.

    "Qwass, you lost your title and became a mere knight, do you still swear your allegiance to me?"

    King Grigor, a once-ageing monarch with a stern countenance, was now handsome and powerful, with a youthful aura.

    He sat on his throne as the light from candles flickered, casting shadows over his sharp features. "Are you truly prepared to fight for the me? I am the one that destroyed your family and left them to rot in the middle of a burning city?"

    "My King, the sins I have committed can only be repaid with blood, sweat and tears. Allow me to go north and aid our elven allies."

    While Duke Qwass held no hatred for the King''s actions, the betrayal he committed under the influence of dark magic filled him with anger. His feelings of hatred turned toward himself rather than others, so he began practising swordsmanship once again and swore his oath as a knight once again to Avandar.

    However, instead of protecting Grigor, he wished to repair the diplomatic bond with the elves that he and his family had helped ruin while under the former queen''s magic.

    To put the King at ease, he accepted a soul-binding vow: He could NEVER betray Avandar, Alan or anyone in the Grigor royal family again.

    ''Well, although I wish this man dead, my little brother gave a good usage for this man well loved by the knights in his territory.''

    The King clicked his tongue when he saw the image of this man sleeping with his ex-wife behind his back. "Very well, Duke Qwass, you may go to the north and protect the elves and support our ally Demon King Asmodeus..."

    Part of the King and his jealous feelings wanted Qwass to die fighting demons, but he needed the man, at least for now.