Chapter XIV: The Black Magic, The Devil, & The Divine

Pride radiated from Medea as she took a step back, her smirk proclaiming her triumph. "I suppose something as trivial as this wouldn't faze you," she sighed, feigning disappointment. Yet, Caelus understood the potential implications of his actions. He couldn't afford to forget the true nature of this woman, nor that she wasn't one to be easily ordered around. Nevertheless, he remained outwardly unperturbed, crossing his arms defiantly.Brushing a few strands of silver hair from his forehead, Caelus turned his attention back to Medea, finding her gaze fixed upon him. Their silent exchange was interrupted by a soft whimper emanating from the child sleeping on the sofa. Their heads swiveled towards the source, discovering a dark cloud hovering above the girl."What is that?" Medea inquired, her voice laced with bewilderment. Caelus clicked his tongue, a realization dawning upon him as he hurried to the girl's side. "It's black magic," he stated matter-of-factly, gently touching the girl's forehead. A faint light emanated from his palms, infusing the girl with a cool energy that dispersed the dark mist lingering around her.Approaching them with furrowed brows, she settled herself beside the child, her gaze scrutinizing her form. "Black magic can only be wielded by black magicians," Caelus explained, elucidating the nature of their discovery. "They employ sorcery of a darker nature, often to cause harm or cast curses.""Black magic?" Medea echoed softly, her attention fixed on the child. Sensing something amiss within the girl's aura, she tentatively reached out, touching her pulse. "This girl comes from a bloodline of black magicians," she concluded, her tone solemn as she glanced up at Caelus.Caelus's calm demeanor remained unchanged, and he sat at the table, before speaking with measured composure. "I know," he admitted, acknowledging his earlier realization. Medea raised a skeptical brow, unimpressed by his apparent calmness. "I sensed it the moment I saw her."She arched an eyebrow incredulously. "So, that's why you remain so composed," she remarked dryly, her gaze drifting back to the child. "Despite that, you still intend to take her under your wing?" she teased, her hand gently caressing the child's face. "How noble of you, Cael," she added, her tone laced with sarcasm.With a resigned sigh, Caelus retrieved a book from the desk, extending it towards her. "What's this?" Medea asked, her confusion evident as she eyed the book before meeting his gaze. "It's a book on black magicians and black magic. Read it, and perhaps you'll understand my intentions," Caelus replied nonchalantly.Pushing the book away with a grimace, Medea scoffed, "Why bother wasting my time when you could simply tell me directly?"Caelus regarded Medea with a mixture of exasperation and intrigue, momentarily set aback by her sassy demeanor. Choosing to ignore her attitude, he directed his gaze downwards, his tone serious as he began to explain, "I had a particular experiment in mind.""I've been pondering the possibility of whether a black magician could harness natural magic," he continued, his reasoning laid bare. While he, as a magician, could access black magic at will, the notion of whether those steeped in dark sorcery could wield its antithesis intrigued him. "It's been on my mind for quite some time," he admitted.Medea, adopting a more measured tone, interjected with a question, drawing Caelus's attention back to her. "If black magic is essentially a curse, is there any way to reverse it?" she inquired, her curiosity piqued. It was a topic she hadn't expected to find herself interested in, yet she couldn't deny her interest in this topic. The notion that she could find herself drawn into such discussions surprised her, feeling as though she'd rightfully stepped into the pages of this novel, where every twist and turn held a fascination.Caelus met her question with a straightforward response, his expression grave. "No, it cannot," he affirmed. "Black magic is inherently perilous, a curse in its essence. That's precisely why I'm intrigued. If black magicians possess 'mana,' theoretically, they should be capable of wielding natural magic as well. It's a question of whether they can transcend the confines of their cursed abilities."Medea's brow furrowed as she contemplated Caelus's peculiar fascination, a hint of amusement tugging at the corners of her lips. "Your curiosity knows no bounds, it seems. Even the abilities of others fall prey to your strange inquiries," she remarked, her voice tinged with a mixture of skepticism and intrigue. With a soft chuckle, she raised a hand to her lips, concealing the twisted smile that adorned her features. In that moment, she realized the extent to which this man never failed to captivate her, stirring unfamiliar sensations within her chest, evoking emotions she'd rather keep buried. She resisted the urge for those feelings to fully bloom, knowing that to do so would only complicate matters further.Determined to maintain her distance, Medea cleared her throat, abruptly averting her gaze. "However, I must take my leave. I recall having pressing matters to attend to.Caelus blinked in confusion, nodding slowly in acquiescence. "Oh, alright then. You're free to go," he replied calmly, though a hint of disappointment lingered in his voice. Medea spared him a brief sidelong glance before vanishing into thin air, leaving Caelus alone in the quiet solitude of his thoughts. For the first time in what felt like an eternity, a sense of loneliness crept into his heart, thawing the icy barrier he had erected around it. With a deep breath, he ran a hand through his braided hair before turning to regard his reflection in the mirror, murmuring to himself, "Strange..."Meanwhile, Medea found herself standing amidst a patch of Bermuda grass, surrounded by a vibrant array of flowers. She massaged her temples, annoyance evident in her brash utterances. "This is truly vexing," she grumbled, her eyes fluttering open to survey her surroundings. Her gaze fell upon a perennial plant adorned with nodding violet blossoms, their delicate petals resembling bells. A fleeting thought of their resemblance to Caelus's eyes crossed her mind, prompting a dismissive click of her tongue. "Utterly exasperating," she scoffed, tearing her gaze away from the flower and resolving to put thoughts of him out of her mind.As Medea traversed the verdant landscape, a voice sliced through the tranquil air, halting her in her tracks."It seems even the Devil has moments of weakness?" The words echoed around her, resonating with an unmistakable presence she deemed her 'archenemy'. Slowly, she pivoted to face the source of the intrusion, her countenance exuding a palpable aura of defiance. With a furrowed brow, she withdrew her hand from her temple, her demeanor shifting to one of alertness and intensity. The voice, dripping with arrogance, taunted her, causing her crimson gaze to narrow with a mixture of seriousness and disdain.Medea then raised a single brow, her voice laced with skepticism, "What business brings you here, gracing someone like me with your presence?" The being before her merely shrugged, his posture betraying an air of casual indifference."I'm simply paying you a visit," he replied, his tone tinged with an infuriating nonchalance. Medea's expression twisted into a derisive sneer at his flippant response.Medea twitched her brows incredulously, scoffing mockingly at the notion. However, as the brightness began to coalesce and take on a tangible form, a sense of familiarity washed over her. Her eyes widened in recognition, her breath catching in her throat as she beheld the human embodiment of the divine presence before her."You..." she uttered in disbelief, the memories of their previous encounters flooding her mind. In that moment, Medea realized the true identity of the being standing before her—the individual responsible for her inexplicable journey into this fictional world, the Deity she despised above all others.Medea's smirk curled with contempt as she folded her arms defiantly, meeting the gaze of the divine figure before her with unwavering pride. "So, you brought me to this fictional realm just to toy with me?" she sneered, her tone dripping with disdain. With a derisive snort, she added, "I hadn't realized you were capable of such underhanded tactics."The divine being chuckled softly, their luminous form radiating an ethereal glow as they regarded Medea with a serene countenance. "It's not about taunting you," they countered, their voice carrying an air of patience. "It's about effecting change. Haven't I made this clear to you before? This world holds the key to your salvation."Medea arched a skeptical brow, her smirk morphing into a skeptical frown. "Salvation is but a mirage," she declared, her words laced with bitter cynicism. "You speak of it as if I were one of those foolish mortals who would cling to any semblance of hope you dangle before them. I have no desire to exist within a fabricated reality."A sigh escaped the divine being as a gentle breeze stirred around them, carrying with it a sense of solemnity. "In time, you will come to understand why I brought you here, Lycoris," they spoke, their voice carrying a weight of inevitability. "To this world, you believe to be nothing but a figment of imagination."Rolling her eyes, Medea scoffed dismissively. "You speak in riddles as if everything must be unraveled to reveal some profound truth," she remarked with a hint of exasperation.The divine being's smile remained enigmatic as they raised a slender baton, tapping it lightly against the air. "You, Lycoris, are the riddle," they stated cryptically. Casting a gaze around the ethereal landscape, they continued, "And this... this will serve as the answer."Medea's patience wore thin, her annoyance bubbling to the surface like molten lava. "I've had my fill of your mind games," she snapped, her voice tinged with irritation. "Living in this world, shackled by its constraints, is vexing enough without having to endure your cryptic nonsense."With a sharp turn, she faced the divine being, her eyes flashing with defiance. Summoning her formidable powers, she unleashed a torrent of crimson energy, materializing into jagged, blood-red crystals aimed at the divine. Yet, before her attack could find its mark, the divine effortlessly halted her assault with a mere gesture of their hand."You're allowing your temper to cloud your judgment, Lycoris," the divine chided gently, their luminous form radiating calm amidst Medea's storm of anger. As if to punctuate their words, they dispersed Medea's crystalline assault with a flick of their wrist. "Allow me to offer you a word of advice."With a graceful gesture, the divine dispelled Medea's crystalline assault, their gaze meeting hers with unwavering calmness. "If you wish to find your way back, you must first come to terms with the reality before you," they imparted, their words carrying the weight of wisdom.As the divine figure vanished into the ether, leaving behind only the fading glow of their brilliance, Medea remained rooted in place, mulling over the cryptic words they had imparted. With a begrudging scoff, she muttered to herself, "How utterly pointless." Resolving to put the encounter behind her, she turned on her heel and made her way back to Falaguerra Manor.Upon her arrival, the sound of hushed voices drifted to her ears, piquing her curiosity. Frowning inquisitively, Medea descended the grand staircase, her eyes scanning the expansive living room. There, amidst the opulent furnishings, stood a group of visitors engaged in conversation.Medea's keen gaze fell upon each individual, her memory working to piece together their identities. The woman draped in an extravagant gown, adorned with glistening jewels, conversing with a man of noble bearing—these were undoubtedly her aunt and her brother. However, her attention lingered on the unfamiliar figure beside her aunt, a young nobleman exuding an air of composed dignity.Perplexed, Medea could only assume that he was her aunt's paramour, though she couldn't recall ever hearing of such a relationship. Deciding not to intrude upon their conversation, she turned to retreat upstairs. Yet, her movements were halted by the unmistakable sound of her name being called."Oh, Medea!" The voice, smooth and practiced, belonged to her aunt. Slowly, Medea turned to face her, her aunt's sly smile and the flutter of her fan not escaping her notice. "Well, well, it's been quite some time, my dear niece," her aunt greeted with a tone laced with a hint of mischief.Medea's forced smile masked a torrent of inner turmoil as she greeted her aunt and the rest of the visitors. "It's a pleasure to see you again, Auntie," she offered with practiced politeness, though the strain was evident in her voice. With a small chuckle, her aunt acknowledged the greeting, her eyes gleaming with a hint of mischief.As Medea turned to make her escape, she was abruptly halted by her aunt's pointed remark. "I heard about the unfortunate dissolution of your engagement with the crown prince. Such a loss for our family," her aunt remarked casually, her tone tinged with thinly veiled concern.Her lips curled into a wry smirk as she processed her aunt's words. So this is how she chooses to greet me, she thought sardonically. It was no secret that her aunt placed great importance on wealth and social standing, viewing familial ties through the lens of prestige and status.Inwardly, Medea scoffed at the superficiality of her aunt's concerns. She knew all too well that her aunt's priorities lay not in matters of the heart, but in the preservation of the family's reputation and financial prosperity. After all, this was the same woman who had callously ended her marriage when it failed to meet her lofty expectations.For her aunt, status, and pedigree reigned supreme. As the second eldest daughter of the prestigious Falaguerra family, she was beholden to the dictates of society's elite, her actions governed by a relentless pursuit of power and influence.