Heaven and Hell

THIRTY-FIVE

R E B I R T H

———

FABIAN AND WILHELM returned to the castle with much lesser enthusiasm than they originally had when they went for the war. There was a cloud of gloom that hung over their heads, following after them all the way to the meeting room.

Dimitri, Calvin, and Qiu Xia were all celebrating initially, drinks in hand and smiles on their faces. However, every once in a while, Dimitri would touch his wrists. Something was nagging him at the back of his mind, warning him that Lucifer was the one that truly had the last laugh. However, knowing that both Wilhelm and Fabian were there to ensure Lucifer was successfully locked away, he forced himself to stay calm.

Laughter was still ringing in the room and glasses clinked against one another when Wilhelm and Fabian finally arrived to meet the rest. Yet, one glance at Fabian and Wilhelm's dejected appearance made Dimitri's blood stop cold. He had a feeling that what he had predicted and feared beforehand had come true.

"Is something wrong?" Qiu Xia asked, still smiling brightly. However, this smile was strained and forced, a mere mask to hide the trepidation that grew in her heart.

"Is it Lucifer?" Calvin probed, setting his heaping mug of ale down on the table.

Wilhelm simply looked towards Fabian wordlessly, nudging him by the shoulder before nodding to the rest of them. The red-head would not be able to explain it as well as Fabian possibly could.

Fabian took a step forward into the light. When he did, the others noticed that there were dark swirls on his hands and neck, disappearing into the sleeves and collar of his shirt respectively. That provided them a clue that Fabian had been the final horsemen, the spirit of famine that rode a black horse. However, that was not something to be depressed about. Gaining the title meant gaining new powers and abilities to help them better govern Hell into a prosperous domain for the dead.

So if that were the case, what was it that made Fabian and Wilhelm so desolated?

"Lucifer placed a curse."

Fabian reported the happenings of the cave as well as what Lucifer had said. He relayed the curse as best as he could, mentioning all the details, the reasons, and the effects the curse would bring about. Once he was done, the room that was once filled with joy now simmered inquietude.

In the midst of destroying chaos, they became it. Now, they were facing the consequences. Everything came at a price and it was foolish to think that power would come free of charge.

"He left Qiu Xia out of the curse," Calvin was the first to speak up again, his voice low. "Lucifer probably didn't know much about her involvement in the war, nor that she became the spirit of pestilence."

"Lucifer really did get the last laugh," Dimitri snorted. "Pathetic."

Shaking his head, Calvin heartily slapped a hand on Dimitri's shoulder. "Look alive," he chirped. "At least the great evil is now exhausted. We are immortals and we have forever. I don't need the throne and you have forever to look for this one soul."

"I agree," Wilhelm piped up. "Time is in our hands. We can slowly search for her. Before then, we will rebuild Hell into a beautiful haven for the deceased to spend their afterlife."

"Four kings and a queen to rule Hell," Dimitri murmured.

Now, smiles were back on everyone's faces. The tense air had dissipated. They had been through so much, learned so much. Adding more to the ledger wouldn't come at too painful a cost. As long as they had each other, they could overcome every obstacle.