The first to get the news wasn’t Morvius—even though he had been watching Agatha carefully, waiting for the mont she would lead him to Clyde.
No. It was the Demon King Bael who had prepared more thoroughly than anyone had realized.
Long before this day, after a cold and veiled visit to Graemory’s private chamber, Bael had already planted a secret spell on her. A watcher—silent and patient—that clung to her like a parasite hidden within her soul.
It didn’t activate or interfere, only recorded and followed her. Not even Graemory herself knew it was there.
Bael had grown paranoid ever since the rumors of anomalies like Clyde began to spread. He didn’t trust anyone in the Hell Realm anymore. Not even his fellow Demon Lords.
So he had cast hundreds of subtle and complex surveillance spells woven into the stones, the air, and even the blood of his generals. He even use a lot of his artifacts to enhance his magic power so that he can maintain the spell to keep activating.
So of his commanders whispered behind his back and said to him that he might be just too obsessed or unstable. A tyrant afraid of shadows.
He didn’t care or even do sothing about them. It will only wasting his ti. And today, all what he did was paid off.
The spell flared to life in his mind like a torch in the dark. A connection had been triggered. The vision ca next. It was a projection seen from Graemory’s own eyes.
It was them.
Graemory... and two beings cloaked in corrupted power. The anomalies.
Bael leaned forward, eyes glowing with infernal joy when he saw the floating red monitor of the spell in front of him. He recognized Clyde’s face imdiately.
That dense and unnatural power left no room for doubt. It didn’t belong in any realm he known.
And standing beside him was the other one. The woman with the glowing bracelet. They were the sa who had attacked Gabriels’ domain that ti.
Bael didn’t dare attach any direct spell to Clyde himself. He wasn’t foolish. Instead, he latched a secondary tracker to Asqa and quietly wrapping it around her magical soul the mont the vision confird contact.
From what Bael observed, the woman in white robe seed weaker than the man. Not by much but enough to make her the less risky link in the chain. That would be the way in about how he would find their hidden sanctuary.
All he had to do now was wait.
Soon, they would return to their ho and Bael would follow through the spell and then he would have their location.
The Demon King leaned back on his throne of bones, eyes wide with delight. The firelight from the torches cast wild shadows across his twisted face as he let out a gleeful laugh.
"Finally," he whispered to the darkness. "I’ve got you now."
---
Clyde and Asqa finally arrived at the hidden Ruin where their mansion stood. As they approached the gate, two squads of Demon soldiers stationed at the periter stood tall and saluted.
"My lord," one of them said.
Clyde gave a short nod and said with firm voice, "Double the patrol routes. Tighten the wards. No one enters or leaves without Asqa’s or my word."
The Demons exchanged glances—unease flickering in their eyes. Sothing was clearly wrong, but they didn’t dare ask. They rely nodded, answering in unison:
"Yes, My Lord. We’ll give it our all."
Satisfied for now, Clyde and Asqa moved past them and stepped through the large doors of the mansion.
Inside, the air was warr. They didn’t say much as they moved to the main dining chamber.
The long obsidian table had already been set by the servants with at, dark bread, and fruits.
Dinner was silent at first. They sat across from one another, sharing occasional glances.
Then Clyde finally broke the quiet.
"I’ll need to isolate myself soon," he said, voice calm but serious. "Maybe for a few days."
Asqa stopped mid-bite, her gaze steady on him.
"Why?" she asked, already guessing the answer.
"To gain more power from the Ancient One," Clyde said, setting down his fork. "The Ancient One gave a way. But the process will be painful. He needs to rebuild . That’s how I’ll grow stronger with faster way than normal."
She nodded slowly, absorbing his words. "Will you be alright?"
Clyde offered a faint smile. "Hopefully."
Asqa leaned back slightly. "Can I go through the sa thing?"
"You can," Clyde said. "Eventually. But we can’t do it at the sa ti. One of us has to stay alert... just in case."
She didn’t argue. "Alright. You go first."
There was a mont of silence again. Just the clink of utensils on plates.
"You’re not alone in this, you know," Asqa finally said, her voice quiet.
"I know," Clyde replied, eyes softening.
They ate the rest of the al in calm silence.
After dinner, Clyde rose from his seat and walked quietly through the long corridor of the mansion. He approached the door to his chamber.
Asqa followed a few steps behind but didn’t say anything at first. Then, just before he reached for the handle, she stepped closer and wrapped her arms around him from behind.
It wasn’t sudden or desperate. It was gentle and intentional.
"Good luck," she whispered against his back, her voice barely audible. Her embrace was warm, steady, and full of silent strength.
Clyde closed his eyes briefly, breathing in the subtle scent of her. It make him calm.
He smiled.
"Thanks," he said softly.
Asqa gave him a final squeeze, then stepped back. She didn’t linger or ask more questions. She simply turned and walked away, her white robe trailing behind her.
Clyde watched her go for a mont, then turned back to the door.
He entered the room. The chamber was quiet as always.
Clyde sat down slowly on the edge of the bed, his hands resting on his knees. He let out a long breath and stared ahead at nothing in particular.
He could already feel the coiled promise of power waiting to unfold. Waiting to tear him apart and rebuild him.
He closed his eyes and began to prepare his mind, steel his spirit, and brace his body.
---
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