Chapter 12 – The Blood Compass

In the darkness of the dungeon, silence slowly reclaimed its dominion.

Yet Kaelis's words still echoed in Meliodas and Zeldris's minds.

"Blood magic?" Zeldris repeated, skeptical.

Kaelis nodded slowly.

"Indeed. An ancient art, forbidden even among demon circles. It allows you to confirm if someone sharing your blood is still alive… and more importantly, where they are."

Meliodas narrowed his eyes.

"And what? You're offering this out of kindness?"

Kaelis gave a crooked smile, revealing old, worn-down fangs.

"Don't mistake me for a saint, my lord. I want… my freedom. With the Demon King's permission, of course."

Zeldris folded his arms, his expression unreadable.

"Fine. Tomorrow, you'll walk free. But in exchange, you help us find him. And if your ritual fails… you'll tell us everything you know. Every last word."

Kaelis knelt inside his cell, head bowed.

"Of course, Your Majesty."

Without another word, Meliodas and Zeldris turned away, retracing the long corridor back toward the palace. The red mist cloaked them once more.

"You trust him?" Meliodas asked, suspicion in his voice.

"No. Do you?"

"Even less. He knows more than he's letting on… like a man watching the game unfold but never playing his hand."

Zeldris glanced at him.

"You're one to talk… Mister Three-Thousand-Year-Secret-Keeper."

Meliodas smirked, saying nothing.

---

The next day, the throne room had become an improvised ritual chamber.

A large table stood at its center, covered in ancient artifacts, vials, and rune stones.

Kaelis, now free from his chains—but under close watch—chanted incantations in a low voice, tracing magical circles onto a slab of dark onyx.

"I need a drop of blood. From both of you."

Neither Meliodas nor Zeldris hesitated.

Two crimson drops fell onto the circle, pulsing the room with a wave of magic.

"There," Kaelis whispered. "The artifact is complete."

At the heart of the circle now rested a small black crystal, set in a silver pendant.

It shimmered faintly.

"This 'blood compass' will glow brighter the closer you come to Zephyr. The stronger the light, the nearer he is. If he's dead… it will remain cold forever."

Meliodas took the artifact between his fingers, his gaze firm.

"This better work, Kaelis."

"I have no doubt, Lord Meliodas," Kaelis replied, his smile unreadable.

Zeldris turned toward Gelda. She approached, eyes worried but calm.

"I'll come back," he said.

"I'll be waiting," she whispered. "And I hope you find what you're looking for."

Meliodas and Zeldris exchanged one last glance.

Then, spreading their wings, they launched into the burning skies.

The quest to find their forgotten brother…

had truly begun.