Gate

This is Leviathan? She's huge.

"Haruki Ryu?" she repeats. "Hmm, rolls off the tongue much better than Code Name: Ryu, wouldn't you say, Satan?"

Satan? Her eyes fall on the demon. "So, you're Satan?"

He does not answer me. Instead, he says, "Leviathan, we want to enter Netherworld. Let us through."

"Of course, I'd be delighted to assist you. But are you here for that?" She looks at me. "Is that the only reason you came to meet me?"

I shake my head, "No, I came to ask for your help."

"My help?"

"There's a man… Or, something that has taken over the Borneheimer Kingdom. We want your help in exterminating him."

"You want my help? You do know the power you possess right now is near-unrivalled. Whoever this mysterious being is, I doubt they could defeat you."

"So, that's a no?"

Leviathan remains silent. She thinks for a moment, then says, "I will help you. This man… No, this God is not someone you want to fight alone. Not when you're still getting used to your newfound powers."

"God?"

"The person who took over your friend's kingdom is a God by the name of Dream. He was a formidable foe. Not as powerful as a sin, but as crafty as that fallen elf."

"Elisabeth?"

"Yes. He is the God of Dreams—which grants him dominion over the dream realm. But he's developed a mastery over his ability, such that he can curb the line between dream and reality."

"Curb the line between dream and reality? Is that even possible?"

"In theory, it shouldn't be. But magic does not submit to theory. It is the impossible."

Dream, The God of Dreams? Why would a God want to take over the human realm, though?

"Enough chatter. Leviathan, take us to Netherworld."

"Never a moment of peace with you, is there?"

"I didn't come for peace. I came to deliver Haruki to Lucifer."

"What about his friends? I can assume he'd want—"

"He's asked you what he wanted, correct? Then there is no reason to involve his friends in this matter. Plus, they would not survive Netherworld's harsh environments."

"The fallen elf could."

"They're not all as powerful as Elisabeth was."

"Was?" I ask.

"Elisabeth's power has declined massively. Alvis's seal has not completely broken."

"I thought my mana was the key."

"It was. But you didn't have your mana at the time. You managed to remove a portion of the seal with Alvis' mana. If you use your mana on her now, you should be able to free her from the seal."

"So, it will be a gate for two?"

"Yes."

"Did you bring the offer?"

Satan lifts his hand. From his pruned skin, two silver coins rise. "Two silver." He tosses the silver into the ocean.

"Payment received," she says.

Her eyes glow a pale blue and the storm disperses. The winds; however, pick up. It swirls to the centre of the ocean, where a purple void forms. The void devours the body of ocean, leaving a mass of moist land. It pulsates and shrinks. Smaller and smaller. Until it's the size of a puddle. From the puddle, a purple door rises. It looks like the door Satan came through, just purple. Is that the door to Netherworld?

"A door for two," she says, "complete. It was wonderful doing business with you both."

"I can't say the same," says Satan walking to the door. "Let's go, Haruki. Lucifer's waiting."

Satan's been acting differently ever since we entered this mana dome. Is he at odds with the other sins?

"Haruki," Leviathan calls out, "come here."

"Yes?"

"Close your eyes. I want to give you something." I close my eyes. When I do, I hear the sound of waves crashing and a storm brewing. After silence calms the sounds, she says, "You can open your eyes now."

Upon opening my eyes, I stare at her in awe. Her sea-blue hair runs to her waist in waves. Her skin is porcelain, like a doll. Eyes, red. And a smile as bright as the sun. "Leviathan?" I ask, unable to say anything else.

She raises her hands. In it, a necklace, adorned with a tiny shell. She places it around my neck. "Keep this on your persons at all times. If you do, I will always be by your side. When you need someone, call my name, and I will respond. Haruki, Netherworld is a realm unlike the others. The harsh environments and savage demons are more vulgar than humans. But if you look past that coarse surface, you will see something beautiful. Demons are kind creatures made vicious by rumours. I want you to see this part of demons. The beauty in Netherworld, open your eyes to it."

"Haruki. We're leaving."

Satan walks through the door. "Remember my words, Haruki."

Leviathan holds my hands in hers. They're soft.

"Haruki, it's time you go, lest you want to face Satan's wrath."

I pull my hands back and follow Satan. Before I walk through the door, I look back. Then I look at the necklace. I will heed your words, Leviathan.