Death Realm - Grand Chamber
Rin stood frozen, her eyes wide with panic. The air crackled with tension between Azreal and Hades. She clenched her fists.
"If I don't stop them now... this whole place could be destroyed," she muttered.
Stepping forward, she lowered her head and bowed deeply.
"I'm sorry for the disturbance, Lord Azreal. You're free to leave."
Azreal's glowing eyes slowly dimd. His expression relaxed. "Very well," he said calmly.
He snapped his fingers. A swirling gate opened behind him. A gust of wind swept through the chamber as he turned and walked into it—his footsteps echoing until the gate vanished.
Hades sat back down, arms crossed. "Why'd you apologize to him?"
"What else could I do?" Rin replied, gesturing to the window. "If I let you two fight, this place would've been in ruins."
Outside, the Soul River surged violently, like it was reacting to the tension inside.
Hades looked out, quieting. "I didn't consider that..."
Rin nodded. "Exactly."
Hades narrowed his eyes. "He ca seeking answers... He even knows about the God's Mark now. He's digging too deep."
"Should I contact the Council?" Rin asked.
"No," Hades said. "It's just one man."
"Understood." She turned and walked out.
Left alone, Hades stared at the river. "Azreal... why are you so curious?"
---
Hell Realm - Royal Palace
A glowing gate opened in the dark hall. Azreal stepped out, the fire in his eyes calm again. He sat on his throne and raised a hand.
"Sarah."
A screen materialized in front of him, and a holographic figure appeared.
"Yes, my lord?"
"Did you gather the data I asked for?"
"I scanned the entire area during your eting with Lord Hades," she replied. "There wasn't much, but... here's what I found."
Lines of glowing code ran across the screen. A file opened. Azreal read it in silence, his eyes sharp. Then he stopped.
His pupils shrank.
"That's all I could gather," Sarah said softly.
Azreal let out a breath. "It's enough. We'll dig deeper, piece by piece."
"So... you've co to a conclusion?" she asked.
"Yes," he said. "Soone—or sothing—in the Death Realm is behind all this. Aria was intercepted between her death and the Soul River. That's where it happened."
"But souls can't pass the Soul River alone," Sarah said. "They're guided by Soul reeders."
"Which ans... the Soul reeders that helped Aria is our only lead."
"But we don't have authority to access their records, and Hades won't help."
"I know," Azreal said. "Still... there may be a conspiracy even he doesn't see. And if that's true..."
"We're playing on the sa board," Sarah finished.
Azreal nodded. "Keep digging into Y'tharion."
"Understood."
The panel vanished.
Azreal leaned back. "Hulk."
A man in black armor appeared in a flash and bowed. "Welco back, Lord Azreal. How did it go with Lord Hades?"
Azreal sighed. "Not as planned. Go to the archives. Check on Orvath's research."
"Yes, my lord."
As Hulk vanished, Azreal looked off to the side. "Ti to check on Laisa."
---
Chamber of Scarlet Flas
The air shimred as a small gate opened. Azreal stepped into the warm, dimly lit room. Maids paused and bowed low.
He walked over to Laisa's bedside. She lay peacefully, still as glass.
"Cassy," he said.
Her personal maid stepped forward. "Yes, my lord."
"Has she shown any signs of waking?"
"She did," Cassy said. "She opened her eyes for a mont... then fell back asleep."
Azreal gently brushed Laisa's hair. "That's a good sign. Her soul is rebuilding slowly, after Sarah took her fire soul. It'll take ti."
He touched her forehead. "The mark's gone too..."
With a snap of his fingers, swirling flas danced in the air, shaping into flowers of every color.
"Take care of her," he told Cassy, and walked into a glowing gate, disappearing once more.
Laisa stirred faintly. Cassy rushed over, placing a warm towel on her head. "It's okay... You're having a peaceful dream, aren't you?" she whispered.
---
Laisa's Dream
Darkness.
Chains wrapped around her neck.
"Where am I...?" Laisa shivered, hugging herself. "It's cold... I can't breathe..."
She cried softly, eyes scanning the shadows. "Soone... anyone... please..."
A warm flicker lit the dark.
Azreal stepped out of the light, flas flickering in his hand. He turned to leave.
"Lord Azreal... don't go..." she cried. "Please stay. Remind ... what warmth feels like... forgive ..."
She fell to her knees, sobbing. "I'm sorry... I made a mistake... I can't breathe..."
Azreal knelt before her, resting his hand on her head.
"I've already forgiven you," he said gently.
He kissed her forehead, and warmth filled her body. She looked up at him, trembling.
"Really...? You an it?"
"Of course."
He stood, extinguishing his flas. Darkness returned.
Laisa panicked. "It's dark again..."
Azreal took her hand. "Use your own flas."
"I-I can't," she said.
"Then I'll guide you."
He raised her hand, placing his beneath it. "Just rember one thing..."
She listened closely.
"Burn bright," he said.
Flas sparked to life in her palm. She gasped. "It's warm..."
The fire lit the darkness, revealing a glowing path. Azreal smiled, walking ahead with his own flas glowing.
"Thank you, Lord Azreal," she whispered. "You lit up my world..."
He turned, reaching out a hand.
"Co."
Laisa ran toward him, tears streaming down her face. "I'll take hold of my sun!"
She grabbed his hand—and light exploded around them. Her small figure grew, becoming her full self again.
"Thank you... Lord Azreal..."
---
Reality
Cassy stared in awe as Laisa smiled in her sleep. "She's dreaming... and it must be beautiful."
She removed the towel gently and stepped out of the room.
---
Hell Realm – Azreal's Quarters
Aria sat on Azreal's bed, fiddling with the strange mark on her skin.
"If I can figure out this key... maybe I can escape," she whispered. "But... I'll miss Azreal..."
She shook her head. "No! Focus! Paradise awaits!"
She rubbed the mark. "Maybe... like a genie lamp?"
The mark glowed red.
Pink flas erupted from her palms.
"Whoa!" she gasped. "I can use flas now?! Just like Azreal!"
Excited, she played with the fire—until it spun out of control.
"Okay, stop! STOP!"
The flas surged, engulfing the room. She coughed, waving her hands, but the fire only grew.
"Azreal... help..." she whispered—then collapsed, unconscious.
---
Hell's Final Gate
Azreal sat in his throne, deep in thought.
Hulk appeared again. "My lord. Orvath says the research needs more ti."
Azreal nodded, but winced.
His chest tightened.
"My lord? What's wrong?"
Azreal didn't respond. He pulled his robe open.
His mark was glowing.
His eyes flared with light—an image burned into them.
He saw Aria, lying unconscious, flas raging around her.
"Aria!" he shouted, standing as a wave of fire energy exploded from the throne.
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