Setting The Stage

<Narration Pov>

* * * * *Meanwhile, In Nefumia* * * * *

Yet as this was all happening: Sylvia and Hiro were with Greg, Mari, Norika, Grace, and Avery traveling to a porter town. Aster was with Nerma and the witches. And Kora had finally found a new home for the surviving Pharos.

In the slums of the Natsu clan, with dirt coverin his face and bruises covering the body of a human looking devil, yesterday the Devil felt the presence of his creater fade from the realm, but not disappearing; meaning it's time.

So pushing himself up after awakening, despite his lack of a voice as his vocal box was weak, he found a way to gather the people of the slums to prepare a super spell.

And by that, we mean a spell that can tear a hole in time and space, to bring back the one who shifted throughout the planes into another dimension. . .The Dark Realm.

His name was never really said, but he was given one along with instructions when he was reborn, they both were in carved into the depths of his soul from a being who had shifted throughout time and into his past self.

And the name he was given as a devil, was Baphomet.

And those instructions were to create a portal to bring back his future master, Aster Hiragi, a Greater Demonoid.

Though it's not what it said, that's what it felt like to him.

And despite being a sorcerer at birth, he accepted him.

Because he was once a thief and scavenger since he met him 3 years ago before the sorcerer's tournament. He still is, but now he has a new reason to live unlike before, and after maturing, he realized it even more.

So as Baphomet got up, with a glow in his eye, he came out and found his group of friends with whom he made a pact with, though it wasn't a good one, it was mere protection.

Protection till he can return to the demon who made him, and the being he saw as his very own father as well.

But as he was with them today, it was different, because everywhere he went around the slums of the Natus clan, he engraved ruins and symbols to every structure there.

This was just step 1 of 6, and he wouldn't stop until he put them in every inch of the Natsu clan's territory.

And from how fast he was moving by going around as usual with them, he estimated finishing within the next eight–months, that's when he could make his first bridge.

And that's when he'll be able to severely hurt the Natsu clan.

Although he wondered what would happen if he didn't do as instructed, but when he thought about it he felt depressed, because living here meant even more pain.

From the arrogant entitled clan members to even the trash living in the slum areas of the clan where not any of them could ever hope to become part of any branch.

Because to the clan they were worthless and not worth any time or resources, and though he saw that as just himself being selfish and greedy for wanting more even though they provided him with a few feet for sleep at night.

He wondered what it would be like if he was back with that man, despite him being cold and cynical... As if he gave up on the world as of how crappy it was to begin with, but even then, it was way better than being here.

And since they were sorcerers, the humans, and other allied races labeled them as weapons to either be stored or destroyed... He didn't want to meet death again.

So he'd rather let his own people go now, especially since he had already turned into something they hunt.

He's lucky enough that they hadn't somehow caught onto him being a Devil for the last 3 years, but somehow he just wasn't important enough of a priority to be seen.

And that's what led to his desire to leave and grow more.

But he did wonder, what was that man up to right now?

*A day and a half had passed since Aster died and 18 days have passed inside of the dark realm as of now*

*But right now, Aster's been missing for an entire week*

*Nerm and the witches: Alison, Athena, or Autumn have not seen him since they went to collect herbs by a bay*

Which left them wondering what had happened to him?

They thought he was with Nerma until she showed up a week after he went missing saying she hasn't seen him. So Where did he go?