We Meet Again

Though the intruder evaded ordinary patrols, the moment they neared Evernight City, Vivian sensed them at once.

“Aria, Lunai—protect Luna. If anything happens, take her and leave.”

“Yes, Lord Demon.”

Vivian set down her daughter, who had been trying to play, and summoned her two most trusted subordinates, handing the bewildered Luna—who couldn’t grasp her mother’s grave expression—to them.

Once her child was in their care, Vivian said no more. Her form blurred into a shadowy streak, slipping silently from the tent, out of Evernight City, racing toward the faint presence.

“No matter who it is, the threat must be stopped beyond Evernight City!”

In a few leaps, Vivian appeared ghost-like outside the city.

She stood atop a low hill, cape snapping in the biting wind, cold gaze fixed on the figure halting not far ahead.

The newcomer saw her too.

A human man, middle-aged, face weathered and etched with exhaustion, wore dusty, bloodstained old leather armor beneath a plain gray-brown cloak concealing most of his form.

Most striking was the archaic longsword at his waist—even sheathed, Vivian clearly felt the vast, pure power within.

One of the forces demons loathed.

“…Gilded Hero Anis. I never thought you’d dare come here alone.”

Vivian recognized him instantly, just as their first encounter.

Her vigilance spiked to maximum.

A Hero venturing deep into demon heartlands alone? What was his aim?

She remembered: though Anis once saved her, he had declared next meeting as enemies, vowing her head—yet here he stood!

Vivian’s senses probed behind him—no ambush, no reinforcements. Truly alone.

“…”

Anis remained silent. They faced off across the barren plain, dozens of meters apart, air thick with wordless hostility and suffocating pressure.

“This is the Evernight Demon Lord’s domain,” Vivian spoke first, voice icy with unyielding authority and warning. “Human, state your purpose.”

Anis lifted his head, fully revealing the weary yet sharp face beneath the hood.

He did not draw immediately but scrutinized Vivian with complex appraisal—as if assessing how she differed from memory’s brutal demon lords.

“Evernight Demon Lord… Vivian… we meet again.”

Anis’s voice was hoarse yet steady, betraying little emotion. “I come not to challenge—this journey seeks only an answer, to confirm a suspicion.”

“Answer? Suspicion?”

Vivian sneered, shadow power gathering silently at her fingertips, ready to strike. “Demon territory holds no answers for human Heroes—your solitary arrival is challenge enough.”

She replied coldly—though he once saved her, and victory was uncertain, her goal was clear.

“If I say what I seek concerns… a departed mutual acquaintance?” Anis’s gaze locked on Vivian, missing no reaction. “One deeply tied to us both… the Saintess of Light.”

Vivian’s eyes flickered almost imperceptibly.

“Lucia?”

Why mention her now? Was her guess correct?

Her icy expression held, but killing intent eased into deeper scrutiny and caution. “Lucia… hmph, that woman, your human Hero. I said her death had nothing to do with me—what answer do you want?”

Vivian paused. “If it’s vengeance, I’ll oblige, but I repeat—I didn’t kill Lucia. I did nothing.”

Anis drew a deep breath, resolve hardening.

He raised empty hands, showing no immediate hostility. “I know. That’s why I come without malice—please believe me. She was humanity’s Hero; her end… should never be toyed with and desecrated!!”

His voice finally carried irrepressible anger.

“Toyed with? Desecrated?” Vivian narrowed her eyes. “Explain.”

“…You surely know. Not long ago, on the Ashen Territory battlefield…” Anis’s voice lowered. “One of your Demon Lords fell outright. Not by armies or my power, but… a forcibly summoned entity bearing Lucia’s form and partial strength… a war weapon!”

He watched her closely. “Soulless, willful only to purify, a puppet controlled by another! The summoner calls himself Holy Son, Charles di Trab—he is Lucia’s true killer!”

Vivian’s face darkened like storm clouds.

“So you come telling me this—what does it mean?”

“Vengeance.”

Anis answered without hesitation.

“I want vengeance. I’ll reduce that despicable Holy Son to ash, make him suffer the cruelest torments, deny him peace forever!”

“…And?”

“The Holy Son wields unknown immense power sustaining that bizarre ritual, ignoring all opposition to summon Lucia’s form as a weapon!”

“That power…”

Anis met her eyes, hatred blazing. “He once used it on you—you know its strangeness and might better than I, right?”

“…”

Vivian did not reply immediately. She pondered silently.

“The Holy Son’s power is unfathomable; alone, I cannot oppose him.” Anis gritted his teeth. “So I seek alliance with you.”

“Alliance?”

Vivian scoffed. “Is alliance possible between us?”

“Of course!”

Anis raised his voice, agitated. “We share an enemy—isn’t that enough? Or do you think the Holy Son will spare you?!”

“If he controls Lucia’s form, why not yours?!”

Vivian snapped her head up, cold light flashing.

“And the price for alliance?”

“I’ll retrieve every fragment for you, at any cost!” Anis’s voice held desperate zeal. “Even… my life!”

Vivian’s gaze deepened, piercing as if seeing through all facade.

Long silence.

She finally spoke. “If I’m right, the fragment on me is what the Holy Son wants?”

Anis stiffened, hesitated, but nodded.

“You know you can’t take anything from me, right?”

“So I come not to take… but to borrow.” Anis’s voice lowered, almost pleading. “After my vengeance, I’ll return it intact!”

Vivian’s lips curved in cold amusement.

“Why should I trust you?”

“By me!”

Anis thumped his chest, resolute. “By Anis di Trab’s honor! By my knight’s faith and perseverance! By my unbreakable oath!”

Vivian’s eyes held playful chill; she suddenly smiled.

A cold yet enchanting smile.

“Good.”

She extended her right hand, middle and index fingers curled, others straight in odd gesture.

“You call the Holy Son Charles di Trab, correct? Then what is your name?”

Anis’s expression complex, he nodded.

“I am Vivian, Vivian di Elwins.”

She murmured, voice laced with indescribable complexity.

“Remember this name, Anis.”

Her gaze profound, staring into him, word by word. “Soon, this name will echo across the world… unto eternity!”

Anis’s spirit shook; in her eyes, he saw unyielding conviction.

“I understand.”

He inhaled deeply, nodded, then his form faded, vanishing.

Vivian watched the direction, eyes playful.

“Charles di Trab… Holy Son?”

She whispered, then gazed afar.

“All cause and effect was fated, wasn’t it?”

He claimed it the Lord’s grace, the might of holy art 【Divine Gift, Descent】!

Vivian listened quietly, expressionless, but the surging shadow energy around her unknowingly calmed.

Her violet pupils studied him, just as he studied her.

Anis continued, voice growing fervent. “But I saw! No miracle! Blasphemy! A monster from Lucia’s postmortem soul shards! I even suspect… her sacrifice was a grand conspiracy! A trap to forge this ‘weapon’!”

He finally looked away, despair and final uncertainty in his low voice.

“I come for one question, Evernight Demon Lord—as the last she defeated… and lived with her a time, with Lucia’s power and wisdom, do you believe she would… so easily, recklessly walk to that damned end?”

…

Vivian fell silent.

Wind swept the wasteland, stirring dust between them.

Long after, she spoke, voice still cold but less hostile.

“…That woman’s strength and ideals—I, her vanquished, know better than any.”

“If she sought death, none could stop her—but reckless impulse…”

She paused. “No, I don’t believe the mightiest Hero, Daughter of Light, would act so foolishly. In hindsight, Lucia’s death is riddled with doubts.”

She gave Anis an ambiguous answer.