The Goddess Of Salvation

Chapter III

It turns out, Caelius did screw something up, but it wasn't to the point it would anger the Lord, and it didn't have the tiniest bit to do with us.

Damn you Sovian, give me back all the energy I spent being anxious a little while ago!

But my visit to the mansion wasn't entirely for nothing. The Lord told me to see him after he's done with Caelius.

Soon after, Caelius emerged out of the room with his shoulder burned through his shirt—already healing. Indeed, it wasn't a big mistake. In front of the Lord's elegantly carved wooden door to his office, I took a deep breath before knocking thrice.

"Enter." His voice that came from the other side sounded so shallow; it brought me goosebumps. I walked in and saw the mess that was inside. There used to be a pot of plants decorating a one-armed chaise lounge, but now even the chaise lounge is in a horrible state. The Lord is standing, leaning against his work desk with his arms crossed over his chest. He looked over to me and gestured his hand for me to sit on a sofa near him and I did.

"Excuse the mess, would you like something to drink?" He offers.

"No," I shake my head with the answer.

"How's your first week?"

"I'm doing great," I think.

"Hmm." The Lord walks toward the huge windowpane that faces the what-I-would-call-a-haunted garden with each of his steps sounding heavy. He said nothing as he just stood there looking out. As I was about to get really disturbed with the silence between us, he turned toward me and finally said his main agenda.

"In a week, there will be a gathering for the Higher Demons at the castle. I'm taking you there."

"Gathering?"

"The one held once a decade," he says. If I remember correctly, the gathering is to introduce any new family members to the King. Only until they are acknowledged by the King are they truly considered as a Higher Demon.

"Why now? 10 years ago, you could've presented me before the King." That being said, I've been a Lower Demon all this time? Why am I only realising this now? Then again, never once have I been treated like a Lower Demon—other than for being a half breed that is.

"You weren't ready."

"Am I now?"

He observes me, from head to toe and then stares me in the eyes. "I hope you are," he says.

Well, it's just a simple greeting anyway...

"Alright, I'll attend the gathering." I announce, standing up from my seat.

"Where do you think you're going?" His voice called out to me as I was about to step outside of the room, halting me in my tracks.

"We're not done yet."

Oh—

"Sorry," I whisper, taking my previous spot back.

"Regarding your powers, any updates ever since the academy?"

"Other than I'm getting better at controlling it, nothing much."

"You shall only show your fire during the gathering. It doesn't have to be a grand technique. Just a simple light up will do; to show that you are of Aerginuth."

Well, that makes sense, a showcase of power in front of the whole Upper Demons, including the Demon King. Approval and acknowledgment. "Understood."

"Maylea..." He took a deep breath before continuing. "Do you ..." He stopped. His expression changed for a brief moment. It was subtle, but there was a hint of confusion? What I saw could have been wrong, but...

"My Lord?" I asked. He stared into me before taking his eyes away.

"Forget it. You can leave. Don't forget to come home next Friday. The gathering will begin once the moon shines red."

I nodded, a sign to my understanding, and exited the room.

Outside, Caelius stands, arm-crossed, by the hall and Sovian sits on the decoration table. Both of them have their eyes on me.

"What?" I ask. I turn to Caelius and ask about the wound he got earlier.

"Already healed. What did you and father talk about?"

"Why will the moon shine red next week?" Instead of answering Caelius' question, I am more interested in the Red Moon.

"The Higher Demon Gathering..." he murmurs before continuing, "The Red Moon is a once every 500 years phenomenon. Next week will mark its 500. As far as I know, other than the sky turning red at night there isn't anything else. The phenomenon only lasts for an hour anyway."

"Have you ever seen it?" Sovian asks, clearly full of interest in his eyes.

"No... How old do you think I am?" Caelius narrows his eyebrows. Oh my.

"I mean, we do have a gap between us. You've been an adult for as far as I remember. Even Father wouldn't tell me..."

"You asked Father?" Caelius asked in a shocking tone. "Brat!" He retorts.

"Hm? Why are you being so cute, Cael?" Sovian answered while trying his best not to laugh. Caelius didn't respond to that. But the way his eyebrows are narrowed to each other downward and how his looks are just like that time when an insolent creature tried to stomp its way through the front yard—the creature was burnt to crisps later on—, he's obviously not happy with that comment.

"Is that really all?" I interrupted them.

"What? The remarks?" Sovian asked me back almost instantly.

"No. About the Red Moon." I said, looking at Caelius. He ponders a bit before answering me. "Now that I think about it, I seem to recall that I once read that if you were presented under the red sky, it would be mentioned under your name in the family book."

"Does it mean anything?"

"Wait, we have a family book?" Sovian intercepted me and Caelius but was ignored. I didn't know there was such a thing as a family book either, but I'm not interested in knowing the ancient ancestors of Aerginuth, even when I'm about to be officially one soon.

"How would I know?" Caelius answered me.

"Alright." I don't know why I'm feeling anxious about this upcoming gathering. Perhaps it's because I'm overthinking things and being nervous. After all, it will be my first time seeing the King. This anxiousness is like hands clutching my heart. I hate this feeling.