A Quite Return

The Demon Lord's gaze lingered on the kneeling girls until, at last, she shifted her posture ever so slightly.

"Now then," she said smoothly, "Envy, your report."

Envy rose to her feet, brushing dust from her bloodstained armour. "Maezhra and the other commanders are dead. Their forces now await reassignment. No survivors from the inner circle."

Virion stepped forward, his voice quiet but firm. "Confirmed. I witnessed the purge myself. Loyalty to the new order is intact, though fear will linger."

The Demon Lord nodded. "Good. Let them fear. It breeds obedience."

She then turned her gaze to Lyra. "And you... look after Velis for me, won't you?"

Lyra blinked. "You want me to—?"

The Demon Lord smiled. "She listens to you. That alone is valuable. And you've been a most amusing guest. Feel free to visit again. I haven't been this entertained in decades."

With a wave of her hand, the throne room rumbled. The cracks in the floor vanished. Broken pillars reformed. The stained air cleared. All was pristine once again, as if nothing had happened.

Velis gave a low bow toward the throne, her expression unreadable. "Until next time, my lord."

She glanced at Virion. "And you, old shadow. Don't get too boring without me."

Virion inclined his head slightly. "Try not to destroy the next city you visit."

Without another word, Velis grabbed Lyra's hand.

"Let's go."

They disappeared into the shadows, leaving only the faintest ripple behind.

Virion turned to Envy. "Come. We're done here."

And as he stepped into darkness, Envy followed.

The throne room was quiet once more.

* * * * *

The throne room was empty now. Restored. Quiet. But Virion knew better than most—silence could be louder than chaos.

He stood still, his cloak brushing the polished floor as faint echoes of the past moments played again in his mind.

Velis, eyes full of wrath, nearly ripping Envy apart.

Envy, bathing in pride, more beast than blade.

And Lyra… fragile in form, yet somehow the still point of the storm.

He had watched it all unfold. Not because he couldn't intervene earlier—but because he wanted to see who they had become.

Velis's evolution disturbed him. She was no longer a creature of command. She had emotions, attachments. Will. Dangerous, unpredictable will.

And Envy… her strength was undeniable. Her precision, unmatched. But she lacked control. She enjoyed what she had done—too much.

And yet the worst of it all…

Was that the Demon Lord had smiled.

Not in boredom. Not in manipulation.

But in genuine amusement.

She was no longer detached.

She was invested.

Virion clenched his jaw.

He had served her since childhood. Obeyed without question. She was a still moon in a night sky—never changing, never caring.

But now? She had begun to care. And caring made her dangerous.

He stared at the throne where she once sat moments ago.

"I don't know what you're becoming," he whispered to the silence. "But I will be ready… even if I must stand against you one day."

Then he vanished into the shadows.

* * * * *

When Lyra and Velis emerged from the shadows, the campfire was still low and the others still slept, curled in silence.

Lyra guided Velis gently to the ground beside her, sitting down and wrapping her arms around the girl.

Velis still trembled, her silver eyes dimmed with smothered fury.

"It's over," Lyra whispered. "You're here now. Just breathe."

Velis didn't answer. She just leaned closer, letting Lyra's warmth calm the storm in her chest.

They sat in silence for some time.

Eventually, Velis closed her eyes, her breathing evening out as she drifted into sleep—her head resting against Lyra's shoulder.

And Lyra was left to think.

She brushed her fingers gently through Velis's hair, and her mind wandered—back to the beginning.

Their first encounter. The shadow with silver eyes who nearly killed her.

The night she should have died.

And the strange twist of fate that led Velis to call her sister.

Lyra had watched her evolve—from tool to person, from monster to something else entirely. And now… now she was something she didn't even understand.

She remembered what the Demon Lord had said—that Velis was becoming like her.

Or something more.

That thought clung to her.

And so did Envy's words—her pride, her cruelty, her transformation.

The clash between them had shaken the very stone of the throne room.

Everyone there was a creature of terrifying power. The Demon Lord. Envy. Virion. Even Velis.

And Lyra… Lyra was just a girl who knew how to move quietly and ask the right questions.

But she was still standing.

She remembered the final words Velis exchanged with Virion.

The look they gave each other. The warning in it. The challenge.

Lyra held Velis closer and whispered, "I won't let them take you from me."

She didn't know if Velis heard.

But for now, they were safe.

And that was enough.

From across the camp, hidden in the stillness, Sylva stirred.

She had seen them leave.

And she had seen them return—with Velis angry and quiet, a storm behind her silver eyes.

It startled Sylva more than she expected. Velis, like her, rarely wore emotion so openly.

But she said nothing.

She would not ask.

Not yet.

She wanted to see what they would do first.

She wanted to see what they would do first.

She lay back down, but she did not close her eyes.

Instead, Sylva watched.

And listened.

She was no stranger to secrets—she had been forged in the quiet between truths. And now, with new shadows cast in their camp, she would wait and see who dared speak first.

There was a web here, spinning slowly.

And Sylva, though not yet caught in it, could feel the strands tugging tighter.

 * * * * *

The return trip to Eldoria was quiet.

The sun was only beginning to rise when Leon and the Crimson Vow reached the outskirts of the capital, their silhouettes bathed in the soft gold of morning light. Velis and Lyra walked near the rear of the group, and though no words were spoken, Sylva noticed the difference in their demeanour.

Velis no longer radiated the same storm-like tension as before. Her shoulders were less rigid, her steps no longer short and sharp. Lyra occasionally looked her way, protective still—but calmer.

Sylva said nothing, but her eyes lingered. For Velis to display such visible emotion before—and now seem collected again—it unnerved her. Only time would tell what would come of it.

They made their way to the Adventurers' Guild to report in. The process was simple, brief. A confirmation of their success and the promise of more work to come.

When it was done, the group prepared to part ways for a short rest.

Leon turned to Sylva as they stepped out into the street.

"Hey," he said. "Do you want to spend the day with me?"

Sylva blinked, caught off guard by the sudden invitation.

He scratched the back of his head. "Just… something normal for once. No politics, no swords, no war."

She hesitated for a moment, then gave a faint smile.

"Alright."