The Espionage Force is restlessly searching for the missing king. Our faces are on the wanted posters. Figures. I've had to cast several cover spells to keep us incognito. Gumilia's body was badly thrashed by the Demon of Pride and Yukina is in poor shape. After escaping the castle we immediately made for Aceid, where we might be safer. In our state of hurry, we reached the city in a night. Yukina and I had begun coughing blood. We got a room in the Blume Roadside Inn and were grateful to be able to rest after that ordeal.

I spent hours concocting several salves for our wounds. Yukina sleeps now with her wounds bandaged abed. Her breathing is still quite shallow. I suspect Kyle may have damaged her ribs and windpipe. A shrapnel piece from the grenade had lodged itself between her ribs. I myself have a dislocated shoulder and several fractured bones. This is all very inconvenient, since this may take a while to heal. In the meantime, I tell of what happened whilst Germaine was busy with the Espionage force.

"We had found the tunnel led to the stables and we were fumbling for a horse. As cursed luck of Behemo would have it, Kyle suddenly appears from the tunnel."

Germaine makes a dissatisfied click with her tongue, "So that's why he didn't chase me. He was after you guys!"

"Indeed. I wasn't joking when I said he was possessed by a demon in the mirror. He became attached to it, and knew where to find us," I push up the spectacles on my face, "I tried to cast a spell at first, but he threw me like a toy and … well, I guess I lost consciousness when I cracked my head on the wall. The next thing I knew, you scared him off."

"... Hell, his eyes were golden. I was downright frozen. He scared me, if anything..." She shakes her head, "Anyway, he flew towards towards the Forest of bewilderment. I suspect we'll give chase?"

"The Millennium Forest..."

"Yeah, yeah, whatever you want to call it," She flops down on a stool, "Gods, what's become of him? You say he tossed you like a rag doll, but that's..."

She sighs in half-sentence, weary. I don't know if she's fully on board with the whole demon Kyle thing or that the Sins exist. After what we saw last night, I think she's needing of time to cope to this new reality. I have told her all the need-to-know details about the sins. She seems on the fence most about the fall of Lucifenia.

"So the Daughter of Evil... Actually was possessed?" She scoffs, "What, is that supposed to be some excuse..."

"I'm not saying the Revolution was for nothing. It had to happen."

She doesn't say anything, gritting her teeth in silence.

"... How long until we start moving again?" She says after a long time.

"... Two weeks, at most. The little one," I cast a glance at Yukina, "I'm worried the ribs may have punctured something. I myself feel feverish. But it will not take more than two weeks for us to pursue the king."

Germaine stands and shrugs, "Honestly, take as long as you need. Neither of you are soldiers and it'd be a pain if you just dropped in the middle of the road. Plus, we better keep our heads low if we don't want spies dropping another bomb on us."

She leaves to sweep about the town again. Our lives are in danger so long as the Forces roam about, but leaving the country is out of the question. I will accomplish what I've set out to do. I'm sure Abyss is orchestrating all these recent events.

I reach for the pot to pour some tea. The trickle of liquid is almost silent. Yukina's shallow breaths and the ticking of a clock repeat, ostensibly unceasing. I watch the child's chest rise and fall with unease. She really shouldn't have come.

…

"Kyle's disappeared?"

"Yes, mother."

The blonde assassin and the Marlon dowager convene via the golden mirrors. Prim's face is slightly less than queenly, showing a vexed expression. Behind Ney, Irina in Elluka's body stands idly, listening to every word, her red cat perched atop her shoulder. They stand in the royal chambers of the Lucifenian Palace, with clamor outside of rushed reparations to the damaged parts of the castle underway.

"Abyss? What say you? Will this hinder our plans?"

"Hardly, my queen," Irina coddles her red cat, "The demon would have taken root sooner or later. He is even easier to control in this demonic state. It signifies the death of his former character."

Upon hearing "death," Prim's face seems to go a little slack, indifferent. He will no longer be her son that she knew, but the tool she'd always wanted. He'll listen to her every word and be the perfect puppet, unlike his lecherous father. These things should give her joy... But there was the feeling of having lost something as well. What was it? Something motherly? She shoves aside the vestigial feeling and smiles at her two cahoots.

"Then I'll leave his leashing to you."

"Of course, Empress," Abyss and Ney bow. The mirror becomes clear again and Ney pockets it.

"Master..." The girl turns to her mentor, "Why do you not use your mirror? Instead speaking to mother through mine... Is that not disrespectful?"

"... Listen here, I never want you to talk that way to your master again, got it?!" The mage turns upon her protege with such a vehement look the girl flinches, "And have you forgotten your brother is the Demon of Pride's human vessel now? It's better the less mirrors we use, it decreases the amount of information her may hear with the fourth mirror."

"Will mother be pleased? I didn't hear her praise me … Ney … Ney wants mother...!"

Irina looks at the deranged girl with some annoyance. But she also saw herself. She was back in her original body, almost 500 years ago, hiding in some dark space. Her hands are clasped in front of her and her face is twisted into that of the queerest sexual pleasure, panting. The thought of her brother, Kiruru, drove her mad. She always desired him … More than Elluka deserved him, that's for sure. That must be how Ney looks right now.

Let's get back to work. Let the dead rest and their ghosts flutter. We have witches to be hunting.

…

"Ah, thank you..."

Gumilia hands me a steaming mug of milk. I curl my fingers around the vessel and sniff the sweetened drink appreciatively. It may be a while before we have the luxury of sitting about, sipping hot drinks again. In just a day, we'll be going after Kyle in the Forest of Bewilderment. Me and Gumilia have rested up nicely enough for the journey. I finger the skin where the shrapnel had pierced. Gumilia is amazing; there's no scar.

"Have you been to the forest before?" Gumilia asks me and Germaine.

"Yeah, once as a kid … and during the Revolution, that was our base of operations," Germaine waves her hand about as she talks, "You gotta be a real good soldier to find your way through the place. It'll be hard to find him in there."

"Um, I've never ..."

"As well. It's not really going to make a difference if you've been in there before, because as Germaine said, it is very hard to navigate the place, even in daylight. These are for each of you," She gives us each an onion bulb, "...In case we get separated."

"What is this, more mumbo-jumbo magic?" Germaine looks suspiciously at the bulb.

"Yes."

I feel the smooth, waxy skin of the onion. There's something peculiar about it, but I can't quite find the words. It's like there's something inside the bulb.

"They functions as walkies-talkie. Then we can communicate regardless of distance. Now, for the base rules of this operation," Gumilia puts up three fingers, "One, pack your individual rations. Two, if separated, stay put and contact the others. Survive until regrouped. Third, when separated and in contact with the Demon Kyle, do not engage."

"Feh. I doubt I'll need this after all," Regardless, Germaine tucks the onion into her satchel, "I can probably take him."

"Fool, over these two weeks, do you think he's still the same? The demon will have become even more prominent, more powerful. Reckless strength won't defeat one possessed by sin," Gumilia curtly chastises Germaine, "We need some sort of catalyst to dissolve their bond. Something to make Kyle remember his humanity."

I shudder thinking about that night. Kyle's look of absolute spite … and the fear I felt glued to the spot as I watched him slam Gumilia about, unable to do anything. Then he towered over me and his eyes were shimmering gold. I could feel the evil emanating from him, not a shred of the stupid Kyle I hated. It was just a demon to fear.

"We leave tonight. The moonlight will guide us through."

I admit, I tensed at the thought of sloughing through a forest of dense foliage and bewildering geography in pitch night under the sparse rays of moon that could penetrate the canopies. But if I said anything, the two would surely leave me here, seeing as I was already a liability before. To see a demon on a moonlit night, along with the risk came a chance of a lifetime. I make sure to pack light and keep my writer's tools about.

Surely enough, as the sun set, we were well on our way to the Forest. Gumilia had a shroud cast over us so we could pass through the road cross-sections. Just as the last rays of sun were fading, we stood before the Lucifenian edge of the forest. Already it was making a dark line of contrast against the dying sky's light, making it all the more intimidating.

"Alright..." A small ball of soft light forms at Gumilia's fingertips, floating like a lantern, "I'll lead. Try to keep up."

"She's talking to you, kid."

Germaine's backhanded comment takes me by surprise. She's striding ahead already while my mouth hangs open dumbly, unable to respond timely. I thought I'd proven myself at least somewhat fit for this journey! The way she addresses me so condescendingly makes me wonder if she ever did call me by my name that night I passed out in the castle. She hasn't mentioned it since, only referring to me as "kid."

Me and Germaine make our way rather blindly, stumbling over the occasional root or stone. Why didn't Gumilia give us individual light sources, for Levia's sake? After what felt like hours, we come to a small clearing, where it's obvious the trees had been charred and are slowly regrowing. A small, run-down well sits in the middle, much to my befuddlement.

"Whoa..." Germaine whistles, "I see this thing survived."

I'm surprised and apprehensive about her familiarity with the well. This was where Michaela's body was found after all. She claims innocence, so why...

"You know this place, Germaine?"

"Yeah, it was from a long time, back when All-" She closes her eyes and smiles sadly, shaking her head, "I was kid playing vigilante. This old thing was a bandit's hideout."

"I see," That makes sense. Father had the well stocked because of its secret compartment which would be handy in times of emergency, "Gumilia, why have we stopped here?"

"So we can gather our bearings," She looks about a little furtively, "The location we need to go to … that may hold the key to beating Kyle is there. And I needed this place to refresh my memory."

She starts walking back towards the forest in another direction but stops. I look past her to see an old rusty sword stuck in the ground. From the guard hangs a small locket. The name on the sword pommel is unfamiliar, "Ein."

"Huh." Germaine inspects the sword with an expert eye.

"Do you recognize the forge, Germaine?"

"Yeah. During the Revolution … your dad," She nods at me affirmatively, "He mobilized his connections to provide our Resistance with arms. These were the types of swords, from a noble named Felix, I think. He was also the one in charge of arming the Elphegortean army."

"So could this person have been a comrade?"

"Maybe."

"Yukina," Gumilia says in a warning tone as I approach the grave, "Do NOT disturb the resting place of the dead-"

Curious, I open the locket, despite Gumilia's words. I suck in a breath when I see the picture inside. It's easy, seeing as the locket kept the picture from fading, and I could never forget that white hair...

"That's … Clarith..." A brittle edge creeps into my voice. How I miss her. She and Michaela were two of my best friends during their employment. Now I hope she's doing well in that convent father set her up in...

" … We need to keep going."

"...Wait."

I close the locket and clasp my hands before me. I shoot the two of them looks that prompt them too do the same. We close our eyes and pray a moment to this "Ein" who knew Clarith.

…

So the queen was possessed. Big deal.

I did what had to be done. For the starving kingdom, for the women killed in senseless bloodshed in Elphegort … to liberate the country from that little tyrant. For my father who-

No, nope, nope. I didn't, I didn't do it for revenge. Then why do I feel so heavy? Why do I feel so tired? Why did Allen say...

"Germaine!"

I snap out of my daze and stop short of walking straight into a tree. I look about, a little confused. Gumilia is looking at me with her placid look. In my absentmindedness, the kid had gotten ahead of me.

"Are you ok? Gumilia!" The little brat only adds to my embarrassment, "This is why you should give us all little light-balls! Some of us can't see all too well just following you!"

"Hey, I just-"

"No, there's no need," Gumilia looks a little away, "We're almost there."

And she wasn't fibbing. She pulls away some overhead branches and steps past the shrubbery. We follow, and arrive in a larger clearing. This one had obviously been close to the heart of the blaze from the massacre. New green is growing painfully from burned foliage. A single, large tree stands out among the rest, smack dab in the center of all these Trauben fruit trees. Its trunk is largely burnt. A small sapling is growing near the big tree. It looks newly planted. Gumilia approaches it. Yukina breathes sharply, as though in realization.

"Is that … Michaela? You planted her here?"

Huh?

"Yes," Gumilia smiles, "I forget you eavesdropped. Yes, this is her."

"What are you two blathering about now? A tree?"

"This was once a girl, Germaine," Gumilia looks at me with a serious look, "And she was Kyle's love interest."

I have to bite hard to keep from bursting with laughter. Kyle, and a tree?! Well, a girl who became a tree and now he's a demon, oh wow... It's almost too much.

"...It's not healthy to hold in your laughter," Gumilia gestures at her own face, "You should just let it out."

Like a drunk sailor, I did. Several wings are heard beating as birds fly, scared off by my raucous laughter. Hey, if you were in my boots, you would've laughed at the absurdity of it all too. I laughed so hard tears came to my eyes.

"So … we fought for this … Kyle fought for this, this girl … who became a tree, after she died and ha, he becomes a demon! And he's chasing us now because she's dead! Ha ha..." I forcefully kick the dirt, shouting at the top my lungs, "What the hell is this farce?! Some kind of joke is all this?! What am I supposed to believe anymore?! With this magic, and demons and, and-"

"Hello, Germaine."

That oily voice cuts into my rant. We all turn to see Kyle, who's apparently full demon now. He looks the same, but paler, and with golden eyes. And let's not forget he's got six wings protruding from his back. The moonlight, free to shine in the clearing, gives him a menacing appearance. I draw my sword and Yukina stands a little away.

"Kyle," Gumilia says in an even tone, trying to reason with him, "We know it's not you in control. We want to help you."

"Yeah, yeah, of course, almighty mage. Heh, like hell I'll listen to you, or anyone. I can hear it all. All those lies my mother, sister, hell, the whole world!" He throws his arms in wide embrace toward the sky, "It's all filled with dregs, this world. I'm the only one who's just to rule, to be king!"

I glimpse a flash from his left hand. The mirror. If what Gumilia says is true, then all we need to do is get the mirror then. Without a chance to signal, I grapple with the claws of this deranged idiot. He seems set on me. I'm flattered.

"You witches..." He throws me back several yards, seething, "You'll be the first of my crusade!"

"Come to your senses!" Gumilia throws a bolt of magic that hits him in the chest, "We're innocent! Someone else killed Michaela!"

"Heh hahaha," He rises, unharmed, "Lies and more lies. Magicians are just liars after all."

With one powerful thrust, his wings make a gust that throws Gumilia out of the clearing. I hear her grunt as she collides with a tree. But I can't focus on her. Kyle is rushing at my once again. The fact that only his right hand is free is still not enough. He keeps pushing me back with savage blows I can barely fend. I'm scared my rapier can't take it.

"Kyle! Stop! You stupid idiot!"

Kyle stops for a second after Yukina insults him so blatantly. I kick him in the groin and hop back a few steps. He's immobile for a couple of seconds, but I don't think I hurt him like I thought.

"You're really just gonna let a demon control you! The stubborn lecher I remember was stronger than that! He kept on coming back no matter how many times Michaela turned him down!"

I gotta say, I'm stunned by her comments. It's hard to tell if she's trying to insult him or give him encouragement. A low guttural growl issues from Kyle, whose eyes peer out with such rage at Yukina. I sidle over to stand between them.

"Kyle, she's just a kid. I'm the one you want..."

A blast of water douses him from behind and I can see Gumilia's still in the game. Her glasses look scratched and her breathing is labored. The demon glowers and turns his attention to her.

"Cthos … Mirna … Salvo ..." She chants strange words as Kyle nears, "EXPEL!"

I don't know what happened. It looked like Kyle got shot or electrocuted. He arcs back, his mouth in a soundless snarl. Then he just snaps out of it and punches Gumilia away.

"Gumilia!" Yukina cries out.

"...Dammit..." The green haired mage struggles to right herself, "The exorcising failed...?"

"GERMAINE!" He howls and barrels right at me. I can't dodge because Yukina's standing behind me, the little brat. So I stand and take the brunt of it. I hear a loud snap, but it wasn't me.

My rapier's shards litter the floor. Kyle effortlessly throws me at a tree and advances on Yukina. Gumilia attempts to chant again, but with a flick of his wing, she flies somewhere over the canopy. I charge at him with my bare hands in a last resort. He catches me at the throat with such force I nearly black out. Yukina stands, shaking, yet somehow resolutely planted, as her eyes never leave his.

"Dammit, run...!" I choke. My legs can't seem to kick him hard enough.

"Kyle. We will take you back … and expel the demon!"

"SHUT UP!"

With the back of his left hand, he swats her aside. Her little body flies farther than I thought. She lands on the dirt, just short of the sapling, still conscious. Weakly, she looks at him over her shoulder. Blood runs down her forehead.

"You think you're righteous enough … I'm tired of your eyes..." He staggers slightly and sways, dropping me, "No, no …! What is this...?!"

Despite my head pounding from my beating, I can hear a clear little voice. It's light and airy, so delicate I can barely perceive it. A song. A song is being sung. And apparently Kyle doesn't like it. He's howling like a madman, trying to drown it out with his screams. The clashing sounds eventually becomes an embittered gale of noise. Kyle's screeching ceases to sound human.

"NO! NO! YOU BITCH! I WON'T LOSE THIS, NOT TO YOU … I AM SUPERBIA! I CANNOT... PERMIT..."

A small glow emits from the nape of Kyle's neck. His collar is shifted so I can see what I'd never noticed before. A necklace made of shell. It's glowing. Suddenly, an apparition phases into visibility over the sapling's location: a girl with long green hair and a kind smile. She's singing. A necklace identical to Kyle's hangs from her neck and glows the same light.

Kyle continues reeling until he keels over and then begins writhing like a worm. He then becomes still and I notices those wings shrink away. The mirror in his hand glares with a harsh glow and suddenly all is silent. The last notes of the song have faded. The girl of green is gone. Kyle's necklace is no longer glowing.

"Germaine!" Yukina runs over to me, wobbly herself.

"Oww..." I roll over to sitting position. She practically throws herself on me out of worry and fatigue, "Hey, hey, take it easy."

"Uhh... Was that … Michaela?" Gumilia stumbles out from the shrubs. She gingerly fixes her broken spectacles on the bridge of her nose and walks over to the unconscious Kyle, "..."

Comically, she nudges him with her foot, then takes the mirror.

"So … it's over? We win?" Yukina asks hopefully.

"No, not yet. We have to see if Michaela's song really did the trick."

"What the hell was that?" I blurt out, "Some singing woman comes outta nowhere..."

"That was Michaela. Her voice has the property of annoying Sins and tracking them. Along with the catalyst of her memory that he hold lovingly, it was probably enough to drive out Pride from his heart."

Yukina looks to the sapling, "Michaela saved us, then."

"Uhhh, oh..." Kyle moans, coming to. Gumilia scurries away from him to us. He sits up, rubbing his head, "Ohh... my head..."

"... Kyle?" Despite Gumilia's warning gesture, Yukina approaches him, "Are you okay?"

"Yukina...? What... Where are we? A forest..." His eyes lay on us, "Uhh... Germaine? And … who are you?"

"As I expected," Gumilia lets out a sigh of relief. I look at her and Kyle, bewildered. She explains to me, "When the demon is driven out, there is often a loss of memory."

She turns to Kyle and helps him up, "I'm Gumilia. You are no longer under the demon's influence, I can see. So, how are you feeling?"

"Ugh, like I've got a hangover … What happened? How did I get here?"

"What do you remember?"

"I...I don't know... I was chasing something, I think, and ..."

"Do you remember the Revolution?" I stand and walk over, "About the execution and aftermath?"

"Y-yes … only vaguely... I remember … my mother, and Ney... They were congratulating me. And..." He grasps his head, "Ow. Can someone tell me what's happening?"

"It's likely he doesn't remember these last two weeks the demon took hold. It seems his memory of these past five years has also been damaged," Gumilia conjures a bottle of green fluid out of thin air, "Here, it's headache medicine."

He takes the drink appreciatively. Well, it seems he no longer thinks we're witches. I'd say that's a good thing.

"Now what?"

"We have the mirror. Now," She looks at Kyle, "We tell him everything."

What?!

"Kyle," She says sternly before I can object, "You were possessed by a demon from this mirror. Do you remember who gave it to you?"

"My mother … but, NO! Why would she ..." He suddenly stops and looks at the mirror. Then he turns away, looking down pensively, "She wouldn't …"

"It seems you hold doubts about your mother as well. You can at least agree you were possessed by something, yes?" Gumilia re-pockets the mirror, "Aren't you a little curious?"

"...My mother told me about demons when I was little. She ..." He shakes his head furiously, "But that's nonsense! She's … she's my mother!"

"You'd be surprised how little blood matters in this world," Gumilia scoffs, "Anyway, if you're not going to snap out of your little safe space, we're done here."

"Gumilia!" Yukina whines, "You can't just drop a bomb like that and expect him to absorb it so quickly!"

"Germaine caught up quick enough."

"Wait," We all turn to Kyle. He's standing, a serious and pained look in his eyes, "I … You're right. I've thought about many things, many times. My art teacher... and my past that mother was so active in... She told me it was alright... everything she told me to do was right."

"It wasn't, was it?" Yukina looks at him a little sadly, "You became a dictator."

He shakes his head, "I won't ask for your forgiveness. Only, come to Marlon with me. Help me confront this darkness that has grown from the spaces of my family. I … I think you're the only ones who can."

"...So no apology," I snort, blowing a tuft of hair out of my face.

"You've finally decided to look truth in the face. Very well," Gumilia closes her eyes, smiling shrewdly, "Let us return to town and make out plans."

A loud growl is heard that reverberates throughout the clearing. Kyle clutches his stomach, but it's Gumilia who blushes a bright red.

"I … I'm a bit peckish..."

…

The trek back to town was hard, especially after we just fought for our lives. Kyle leaned on Germaine the whole time. The possession must have really drained him. Germaine is pretty annoyed about her sword, but Gumilia doesn't seem to hold much against Kyle. I feel the cut on my forehead gingerly. The blood has dried. Such thrill, and I've got it all recorded in my notebook!

We must be quite a sight, stepping into the nearest inn covered in blood and dirt. No one seemed to recognize Kyle or any of us for the matter, which is quite the relief. I don't think even Germaine had any strength to fight left. We plopped down on a random table and order several dishes. A big battle sure does build an appetite.

"Excuse me..."

Only me and Gumilia turn to the voice. Germaine and Kyle are too busy chowing down. There was a person sitting on the table we crashed. He has reddish brown hair like mine and …

"SHAW?!"

"Sis! I thought it was you!"

We both jump up to embrace. He doesn't seem to mind me dirtying his linen shirt. Gumilia coughs and Germaine and Kyle look up. I hurry to introduce everyone.

"So this is Gumilia, Germaine Avadonia, Kyle-"

"Sis, you gotta come home."

A silence drops like a curtain on our table. The chatter of the other drunks and patrons continue, uninterrupted. I draw a breath.

"I can't. I'm not done with my book yet."

"No, sis, you don't get it! Aile and Dad are worried sick and … Dad says he really needs to see you!" He pleads, "Come on. Marlon's waiting."

"That ain't a bad idea," Germaine throws her unneeded comment in, "You oughta see your folks. And we're going to Marlon anyway, ain't we?"

"Germaine, wipe that beer froth off your face for Behemo's sake," Gumilia hands her a kerchief and turns to me, "Indeed, Yukina. This is a grand opportunity to go to the island country. Plus, Kyle will be our assurance for safe passage, right?"

"Ahem, oh, yes," Kyle swallows his bite quickly and tries to retain composure, "I'll come along. It's what we agreed after all."

"Ugh..." I'm clearly out-voted. And I do worry about father. The thing is, I don't want to face him though. He's been keeping secrets from me. If I go back, I may never be able to leave again. Then the thought strikes me that his health may be failing. Shaw didn't even mention mother's worry. Father's the one home who truly wants me back. The want to sit in bed with Shaw and Aile whilst he reads us a story rises and a knot forms in my gut. I barely mutter, "Ok..."

Shaw brightens up, "Great! We'll leave tomorrow morning! The early bird gets the express ship after all!"

Gumilia looks at him quizzically, taking a few seconds to understand what he just said, "Oh, OH! Um, of course. We'll take the first ship to Marlon, yes..."

"Thanks, sis."

"Heh," I manage a small smile, "It's good to see you Shaw. You've grown quick."

"Hehe," He grins mischievously, "Don't even recognize me, do ya? Well, to be fair, you don't look too much the same now either."

"Ha ha, I guess we've both grown in this short time of separation."

"If you both want to continue growing, you'll march yourselves to the bath and go straight to bed," Gumilia scolds, "We leave at the crack of dawn tomorrow after all."