Welcome to another chapter of No Way Back! I beat the holiday (this time it being Thanksgiving)! I am pleased with how seamless this one came out as well. Back to original content for the time being. I can't say that this will be the most exciting chapter in the world, nor the longest. However, it definitely has some very important plot points to pay attention to. I hope it is another thing for you to all enjoy being that it is the Chapter 20 milestone.
OH, SHIT! We hit 300 Favorites! Thank you all for the support!
Now, onto the Guest Reviews:
IOH (Guest): *inhales deeply*
can you smell that? It's the smell of carnage on a Friday afternoon.
I really enjoyed the chapter and how he dealt with his problems.
"not in this chapter" My man.
I have a question, what physical level is he at? I understand that "powermuscular" is not always used, but I would like to know that his physique is not swimmer level or less, maybe Guts level? or DBZ character? a Lord Yamcha perhaps or broly dbs base? just curious about that.
Another thing, will there be a time skip of some kind? He is strong but I don't think he can reach level 100 in a couple of months, it would be unrealistic, I'm not saying it will take 1,999 years or something like that, but get the power to challenge the bosses of hell and possibly the heavens in months? I see difficult.
Response: I am glad to hear that the carnage was a positive point for you. It was definitely a bloody chapter (and episode, for that matter). As for your questions, I would say that his physique is a little more than what would be found on a swimmer. He is a physically strong character, so something like a heavyweight fighter? I don't know. This is something that has wiggle room in my mind. My descriptions are meant to stimulate some imagination as well. I would say that you should keep it within reason (so not overly big).
Time skip at months at a time aren't out of the question, but that will probably be the highest end of it. He has inherited Angelic power, and that will be naturally more powerful that that of demonic. If Azazel were in his shoes, the fights with the Sins with exception of Lucifer would be over. Lucifer's power originated from the same place, so that is where that difficulty will come from. The OC is limited to inexperience, being human, as well as other things that will become important in the future. Therefore, he might need a little help. Some of that will come from expected and unexpected places. That is all I will say. Thanks for the review!
Guest #1: Thank you for the update. Please update soon. I can't wait for next chapter
Response: Well the chapter is here now! Thank you for your patience, and I hope you enjoy it!
lurker no more (Guest): Hello again!
I hope Kyle takes Verosika on a nice one-on-one date soon. Her getting a chance to fully tell Blitzo off for all the BS he did to her probably felt really good. However, you can almost feel just how emotionally drained she was when she left. I feel like Kyle should've at least walked her outside and given her a comforting hug before she went home.
On an unrelated note, did the new episode give you any interesting ideas for any future chapters?
Response: We shall see about the one-on-one date... The chapters are all planned up to Chapter 26, so we will have to just see. Blitzo's development is really starting here, and we will see where it goes. That isn't to say that there won't be any hiccups along the way. It was an emotional experience for her (and him). She's strong-willed, and the events that happen earlier were more so. She didn't need no hug. XD
As for the new episode, plans for Mammon haven't changed. I will say that single episode could result in an arc over multiple (more than 2) chapters. It was a good episode. Their strongest in a while. I hope that suffices as an answer.
Guest #2: "Stella's as good as Stolas isn't a cheater."
Okay, I got a good chuckle out of that.
I have a question in regards to your next chapter! Will it take place at the mansion, or will Kyle and Loona be involved in an outing with the Goetias?
Response: I am glad that gave you a chuckle. It is true, and I plan on tackling the grayness of Stolas's actions in the future. As for this chapter, it is going to take place in Stolas's household. I will be more creative in the future, but the reason behind this setting choice will become apparent. Stolas isn't ready to be tied as strongly together with Kyle yet. He needs plausible deniability here seeing as Kyle has done some questionable things (in the eyes of the elite).
Guest #3: NOTE: I am going to tie the three reviews and responses together so I can get my two cents in.
To StingyWingy,
Allow me to extend an olive branch...
...I'm sorry that you felt like I'm trying to get the author to pander at the cost of the story, it's just that Stella really (At least for me) felt like a one-note character.
Also, I haven't seen Game of Thrones other than in passing, but even I know that Cersei was a loathsome human being!
Thank you, and have a great day!
Response: You will note that I shortened the three reviews just to save space and wordcount. I read them all, and I have to say that Stella's character is far less investigated than Stolas. With Stolas, I have a good idea on how he will develop, what lessons he needs to learn, and where his moral ambiguity resides. With Stella, that is more up to me to figure out. Going purely on what I have seen, and not off of any speculation on what trauma she has faced (since it is purely speculation at this point), I don't see much of a convincing argument about her being a redeemable character that would work with the protagonist in the future. If something happens in the show, I can analyze then and come up with an alternative route.
I would much rather use her character as an antagonist, where her personality fits in more and where she can flourish as a character, than to have her development squandered because I want to direct her on a path of good (or even gray). Where she stands at the moment, I would say that she fits more in with the antagonist crowd. Does that mean she won't have complexity to her character? Absolutely not! She has her own story, and I intend to tell it to the best of my ability. Coming briefly back to Stolas, he definitely has his faults. I won't list them because of space, but I would say that he has been shown to try and rectify at least some of his faults (mostly centering around Octavia. He is personally suffering from the other shit).
To conclude, I don't want to make Stella one-note. I will spoil something minor here about this chapter, Stella isn't going to be painted well. It is just how I interpret how she would be at the beginning of the show. There are some personality traits that I have changed/added compared to the show, and they will play an important role in the future. As I move into the future, just know that intend to make her less flat (complex characters do not equal sympathetic, btw).
If you do want to continue this little chat, I have no problem with it. I would suggest another method of doing so (via the Discord channel I link at the end of the chapter, or by making an account), but that is your choice. Try to keep it in one guest review if you don't want to do any of that. Take care, and thank you for the reviews!
Guest #4: Ooh, this chapter gave me shivers, it was so well written! Kyle's hallucination trip was handled amazingly, like to the point I could see it in my mind like in the show!
Also, Loona and Verosika comforting Kyle was really sweet. You're doing a great job with their growing bonds.
Alright, now to prepare for chapter 20! But first, I have a couple of questions:
1. Are Stella and Octavia going to be involved or will they they be on their way out to Stella's house like in chapter 7?
2. Who is this demon that Kyle has gotten the attention off?
Either way, looking forward to it!
Response: I worked hard to make Kyle's hallucination unique compared to what we have seen, so it gives me relief hearing that you enjoyed it! It was meant to be vivid.
Slowly, but surely, I am moving that pairing along. It is only a matter of time before it officially happens. Still, enjoy the ride! XD
1. Both Stella and Octavia will have involvement in the chapter. It is minor, but necessary. Their inclusions in the story should grow as we move along if this chapter disappoints you in that way.
2. Yeah, I'm not answering that. ;) Nice try.
Guest #5: While I like the show, I really love this story! I feel like it takes the original show and makes the necessary improvements where they're needed the most! Keep up the good work!
Response: That is quite the compliment! I won't say that it comes short, that makes me really happy to hear. However, she is the one with millions of people watching the show, and I am just writing (while filling in small holes) of what is already there. My job is also easy in my mind. Still, I intend to give the same effort all the way through. I hope you enjoy it all, and thanks!
Guest #6: I believe I have a few ideas as to who the mystery demon is, though I'm not 100% sure myself. You are the author, after all.
1. Someone close to the Goetia home (Andrealphus)
2. One of the Princes of Sin (Ozzie, Queen Bee, or Mammon)
3. A member of the Magne/Morningstar Family (Charlie, Lilith, or Lucifer)
Either way, I know this is going to be worth the wait!
P.S: Happy Veterans Day to you!
Response: Yeah, still not going to say a word. I will just say that it is all good answers. That's all! XD
It should be worth the wait. And while late, Happy Veterans Day!
Guest #7: Well, this upcoming chapter is going to be interesting. But I can definitely say this, if the meeting with the mystery demon takes place in the same day as the events of the Ozzie's and Queen Bee episodes, Kyle is going to need a whopping amount of sleep after it all!
Response: Hopefully this chapter is going to be interesting! I am doing my best! XD As for the mystery demon, I will just confirm that the meeting between the two will indeed happen around that time. You will just have to wait and see!
Jesse (Guest): Hey, love the story so far! I'm especially excited for Loona sort of admitting she loves Kyle! I'm hoping to read the next chapter soon to see Kyle and Loona's relationship progress to where they both admit their feelings and start dating.
I'm picturing it happening after chatting with Stolas when they are first awkward around each other, but brushing it off after being honest about how they feel comfortable around each other. Kyle can even state how moving on from Larissa was a great challenge, but what made it easy in the end was thinking about how Loona was with him and gave him a feeling he thought he'd never feel again. He even thanks her and says that he couldn't really see himself finding someone as great as her (along with his attraction to Vee that he'll keep to himself; maybe sometime in the story the 3 of them can have a poly relationship). Loona is surprised but he claims that she of all the demons or people he's met deserve to be seen that way. They then even have their first, non alcohol induced, kiss.
Response: Here I am trying to still figure out if you commented on AO3... Please tell me if you didn't. Same name and all...
As for this review, there was basically an omission from Loona, yes. There will be a more clean omission a little in the future, but the OC has the smallest of ways to plausibly deny it. In short, he basically knows now. All that is left is Verosika.
As for you vision of what might transpire in this chapter, let me ask you this: When have I ever been that quick with any of this? We are about 200K words into actual content for the story, and this has been a slow ass burn! Still, I will say that Kyle is over Larissa. The part that he wasn't over was the fact that he feels responsible for her death. Will that change? I don't know. Still, we are trekking closer to the relationship happening. I know (about) when the relationship between the three will happen. For now, this chapter has a moment, so you should have some satisfaction. I hope that eases your mind! Thanks for the review!
...
That's it for reviews. Please, enjoy and let's get to it!
Chapter 20: Powerful Friends and Foes
Things at the office would have been best described as 'tenuous' since Blitzo came to find out about the night of drunken escapades between Loona and me. There was a certain tension that stuck in the air whenever we were in the same room. Not a word was spoken between us, but I could see the frustration building up in his eyes when he glanced over to see Loona and I near each other. To the credit of the Imp, he would hold his tongue. There was a certain level of fear he would hold in his eyes, but I couldn't exactly tell where it was coming from.
Loona wouldn't talk much about him, but her mood would usually sour at the mention of Blitzo. From this, I knew that things were likely not going well at their place, either. Whenever I tried to console her about it, she assured me that they 'sometimes go through shit like this'. Unless confronted with it directly, I wasn't going to get involved. Still, I could see the appreciation in Loona's eyes when she heard about my concern.
Anyway, today was completely different from the rest. There weren't going to be any tense situations involving Blitzo. Stolas finally came around to formally inviting Loona and me over. He still decided that the best thing he could do was to leave me in the dark about what this was all for. All I knew was that it had to do with the dangerous situation that had arisen since my arrival. Also, apparently, Loona had to tag along with the grimoire as well. We decided to use it this time to get to his place instead of relying on stealing Blitzo's van.
Now, the two of us stood outside of his place only a few feet from the entryway. Loona commented, "A Hellhound being invited to the home of a demon as high ranking as Blitz's fuckbuddy is unheard of."
I cocked a brow at her, "You've been with me before. What's different now?"
"Yeah, but that was different." Loona rolled her eyes when saying this. She then paused before continuing, "I was just doing you a solid and driving you over here. This is different, and I don't think I like this kind of attention."
I joked, "Hey, that's what you get for being my friend. You get dragged into stuff like this, so get used to it. That, or you are finally getting the recognition that you fully deserve."
Loona punched my arm, "Shut up, Kyle. Still, if being your friend means I must deal with this kind of bullshit with royalty, then it is worth it." She looked forward before asking me, "Are you going to knock or something? I already feel out of place."
I just shrugged at her before we walked up to the doors. I didn't hesitate to press the doorbell before stepping back to join Loona's side. Only a couple of seconds later, the door swung open to show the familiar Imp butler that I had seen the last time I came here. However, I would say that it was fair when his eyes widened at my form as he looked me over. He was looking over his first human, after all. Not a word escaped his lips, either.
He then looked over at Loona with a less impressed look. This resulted in Loona growling back at him. It seems like she didn't quite appreciate the look she was receiving. To avoid any other escalation, or for the sake of keeping it from becoming awkward, I cleared my throat. I then said, "Uhh, we are here to meet with Stolas. He is expecting us."
The Imp wasted very little time before he got out of the way and invited us into the royal home. He said, "I am aware. Follow me, I will take you right to him."
It was apparent how out of place Loona and I were once we walked into the entry space. I knew that I had been here before even as a human, but there was always a different feeling when I was with someone else. Seeing as Loona wasn't dressed for the occasion of meeting one of Hell's royal figures, it only magnified this feeling. Still, I managed to keep my feelings to myself.
It seemed like Loona was nervous herself, and she wasn't holding it back nearly as much as I was. She seemed to be holding her arms together in front of her while she looked around. Her face showed nervousness. I knew I had to ask what was up, "You doing alright? I wouldn't say that you look exactly comfortable."
She did her best not to snap as she responded to me, "I just want to know what this guy wants with me. He is usually thirsty for Blitz. The only others I have seen him show any interest in have been you and that gloomy daughter of his."
I joked, "Quite frankly, she reminds me somewhat of you."
Loona scrunched her brow at my comment before she continued, "Now, he wants me to tag along with you and this thing." She held up Stolas's Grimoire in her grasp to show me. She then asked, "Just what the fuck does he want with me?"
I commented to myself, "Well, I doubt it is the same thing that he gets from Blitz…" It seemed like my voice wasn't quiet enough as I felt Loona punch me in the arm. I jolted at the contact before yelping, "Ow!"
The Imp butler leading us turned around with a silent gaze. After he turned back around, Loona growled, "You're not being funny."
With a more serious demeanor, I placed my hand on Loona's shoulder. I then spoke candidly, "You are worrying about nothing, Loona. I don't know what he wants from either of us, but I am not worried about it. While he may be a rather powerful demon here, he has also been very kind and easy to get along with. We shouldn't run into any problems while we are here."
Right as those words escaped my mouth, trouble found its way to us. We were currently walking through a hallway, but coming from one of the side rooms was a rather menacing figure. It wasn't that she was outright scary. She was taller than me, that was for sure, and her attitude was anything but pleasant. However, it was the way she walked that struck me. She stepped in an arrogant sort of way that only someone of high royalty would. I remembered her from the only other time. Her name was still stuck in my mind, Stella.
It seemed like I wasn't the only one who noticed the Goetian. The Imp butler went completely rigid. His skin practically broke out in a deep sweat as he almost wobbled forward in his steps. Loona, on the other hand, seemed to have remembered our last encounter with Stella. The fur on her neck stood on end while she struggled to keep down a growl. Her pupils constricted, and all she wanted to do was pounce.
Stella only noticed us a second later, and her gaze only narrowed while she looked down at us. I could tell the moment she noticed us was the moment that she was going to have to say something. She didn't seem to be the type of person, or demon, that would simply ignore us while we were in her house. We were here for a reason, and she was determined to find out why.
I couldn't see her steps underneath her gown, but there was a certain intensity with how she walked. The Imp that had been leading us around seemed to be wishing he had taken a different route as he seemingly sunk even further than he already was. On the other hand, I stood where I was, and the same was for Loona.
The air of superiority hung thickly around her once she finally stopped in front of us. In her pompous and British-sounding voice, Stella presumed, "So, must I guess why this hound and… human are intruding upon my home, or should I assume my waste-of-breath husband is behind all of this."
The Imp began to respond in a stutter, "Y-Y-Yes, L-Lady S-Stella. P-Prince Stolas h-has invited them-"
Her gaze turned to the Imp, and his voice instantly went quiet. She held her hand to herself as if she were even afraid to touch the air between us. She sneered, "Don't tell me something I already know! Ugh, you little Imps can be so annoying." She then looked me up and down without a single hint of interest. She never even gazed at Loona before saying, "Fine. If Stolas finds it so necessary to meet with plebians, I will let him drag his name to new lows. Now, leave us."
The Imp butler seemed confused by the final command, "B-But Lady S-Stella, I w-was tasked with-"
"Are you deaf?! Leave us! Obviously, that means I will take them."
Loona and I looked at one another with a level of uncertainty while the Imp seemed completely floored by Stella's demand. This was completely out of character for her, yet it also reinforced something else. With my presence, the Goetian female was intrigued by why I might be here. She wanted something out of this. What she wanted was a complete mystery, and it might never be answered.
The Imp bowed, "As you wish."
I could tell that the butler was just happy to finally be leaving whatever area Stella was currently occupying. His steps started slow and with decorum, but then they picked up in speed the further he got away. Within a couple of seconds, it was only Loona, me, and Stella. It wasn't exactly a picture I had imagined when coming here.
Not a single one of us said a word. Me and Loona, I don't think either of us were in the mood to start a conversation with someone who seemed a bit unpleasant to be around. She was a part of Hell's royalty and boy did she act the part. On the other side, I don't think Stella was interested in conversing with those she viewed as below herself. If she was going to start a conversation, it was because she was searching for information. That was the only way anything was going to be said.
We walked from one endless hall to the next without a word. When I felt like we were going to be in the clear, Stella finally said after letting out a groan of anger, "Why did my pathetic, Imp-sucking husband decide to invite the likes of you?! If the others of the Goetian family were to hear about what he has been up to… I'm not sure I can withstand another second being tied up in his embarrassing mess."
I looked over at Loona for a moment, and she only shrugged back at me. I decided to start with a response, "Uhh, okay… I don't really-"
Stella continued without paying any attention to me, "He will pay for getting involved with you. Don't think the other Goetians haven't heard about the mess you have been creating."
I commented, "I think I prefer the silence."
It seemed like that comment got through as Stella looked at me with anger before scoffing, "Your manners are abysmal. It is even more of a reason that you don't belong in a Goetian residence. Why are you even here?"
That last question felt a little more genuine than as a way to diminish me. I already had a hunch, but now I felt that Stella deciding to lead Loona and me to Stolas made a little more sense. She was interested in why I was here, but more importantly, what Stolas was up to. I don't think he would take too kindly to me spilling the bean on what was happening. Since I didn't even know why I was here entirely, I wasn't going to give her any hint about the meeting. Besides, this 'conversation' with Stella had already run its course in my mind.
I responded curtly, "I don't know what Stolas wants with me, so I couldn't tell you. Also, if we were invited here, then we belong here. As far as I have heard, your marriage to the prince is over, so I don't think you have the power to say anything, especially since the matter doesn't concern you."
I could feel a level of happiness escape from Loona enough for her to lightly wag her tail. She still decided to remain voiceless in this discussion. On the other side, Stella's angry eyes bore right through my skull. She grabbed me by the forearm in a tight grip before making me look straight into her eyes. We had now stopped only a short distance from Stolas's office.
She spat out, "You don't know what power I hold! One word and one of the many guards in my home will drag you to an empty basement where they can torture you before slicing your throat! Remember that the next time you speak when you shouldn't."
I didn't back down an inch as I stared back at her. She had commanded much of the conversation, and I even had to admit that she had commanded space since she started leading Loona and me. I didn't appreciate her presence or her conversation. My words were only to get that across to her. Seeing as I did that, I had nothing more to say. Loona, on the other hand, was visibly growling at the Ars Goetian.
Stella's grip on my arm eased a little before she noticed the tattooed markings on my forearm. Her eyes scanned over it curiously, but she did not indicate what was going through her mind. I wasn't keen on her looking it over too much, so I retracted my arm back to my side.
The avian demon's tone changed when she spoke again, "I can only assume that you only associate with Stolas because of his position within Hell. I don't really care to know how you two met. However, you might find it more valuable to align yourself with more formidable members of the Goetia family. My brother, Andrealphus, is held in high regard, and he commands more power than you could ever hope to achieve with that cheating embarrassment. All you would need to do is to tell me everything you know."
This was the first time since seeing Stella that I had felt that she was addressing me on equal ground. Despite my efforts to piss her off, she seemed to have calmed down enough to come in with a collected voice. However, her words only hit a wall. I had already made up my mind before she even finished her sentence.
"I'm gonna pass on that." Stella's fist clinched at that before a look of displeasure overcame her. I could tell that she knew what my response was going to be, however, the way I disregarded it didn't seem to sit well with her. I didn't care as I grabbed onto Loona's hand to lead her, "Come on. Let's not keep Stolas waiting."
Loona looked back at Stella before looking back at me with a smile. She quietly said, "Damn. You really put that bitch in her place."
I breathed out a laugh, "Yeah, I guess so. It would have been better if we had avoided her, though."
Loona was about to respond, but Stella rushed past us when we were only a couple of steps away from the double doors to Stolas's study. She burst right through them without any warning as she marched forward. Inside the room, Stolas found himself jumping in his seat while he looked at the sudden commotion. The more surprising thing was how Octavia seemed to be sitting in a chair opposite of him. Her eyes were wide at first, but then she saw that Stella was entering the room. She then picked through her pocket before finding earbuds so that she could listen to music to drown out the impending fight.
Stolas exclaimed, "S-Stella! What in Hell's name are you doing here?!" Loona and I then walked into the room. A look of understanding finally overcame Stolas's surprise, "Oh…"
Stella wasted no time before launching into an accusatory tone, "Do you do anything other than being a constant disappointment to those around you, Stolas?! I should have known better than to think that you would never stoop as low as inviting the lower demons into our home. It goes without saying that allowing this human here is a mistake. Just what the fuck are you doing?!"
Stolas had already seemed completely done with the yelling Goetian before she even spat out a word. Now he just waved her off, "Stella, why do you have a habit of sticking your beak where it doesn't belong? I invited these two because I have some important business to discuss with them."
Before I could even react, Stella reached out and grabbed my arm again. She didn't even pay attention to me as she showed Stolas the markings. She yelled at him, "Then what about this?! This has 'you' written all over it. Fucking Imps is one thing, but being behind the first human to get stuck here is another fucking low! How incompetent do you have to be to allow that to happen!" After she was done speaking, she dropped my arm while she glared daggers at Stolas. She darkly stated, "Don't you fucking deny it!"
All while she was putting on this dramatic show, Stolas looked back at her with an unimpressed look. He then said, "Now, Stella, that is no way to treat my guests."
Stella provoked, "I will treat whatever miscreants you find fit to invite however I please!"
A sigh escaped Stolas as he put up no fight against her blatant disrespect toward him and us. He pinched between his eyes to calm himself before saying, "Also, you have shown just how little you know about this human's situation. I had nothing to do with Kyle getting trapped in Hell. The magic that holds him here is far beyond my capabilities, and I dare say only Lucifer himself could hope to replicate."
There was some sort of effect on Stella that didn't immediately register with me. She seemed to have relaxed a little when she heard this as if she had just received some crucial information. It was hardly anything, but it seemed to be enough of a clue to her for whatever she was trying to figure out. I didn't like it one bit.
Stolas's voice brought me out of my thoughts, "Now, why don't you go and bother someone else. I wish to carry on with what I want to discuss with these two."
Seeing as no other information was going to be disclosed to her, Stella breathed out, "I'm sure the others of the Goetia family would be very interested to hear what you have been up to. Perhaps they will even make sure you are properly punished for whatever you are planning."
Without saying or accepting another word, Stella turned around in a flash before she slammed the doors shut. It was almost like she had ignored everyone's existence while she yelled at Stolas. That included Octavia, whom she never said a word to. It was obvious to me that she commanded much of the space while she was present. Now that she was gone, everything seemed to have calmed down a little bit. While she did make big fits like an immature, pampered child, she also seemed to be shielding an unusually sharp eye. She seemed to me much smarter than she let on.
Stolas rubbed his face before uttering, "Ohh, that woman is going to be the death of me..."
I cleared my throat before pointing back to the door, "That isn't something that we are going to have to worry about, right? I may have also been a bit rude to her."
Stolas was quick to respond, "I am afraid that is something that I will have to deal with later. She will most likely fill her brother's head with rumors and such about why you might be here. How did you run into her?"
"We just ran into her in the hallway. She dismissed the Imp that was bringing us to you. She tried to get me to turn on you while we were walking over, I guess. It was after she noticed the marks on my arm." I pointed to the etched markings.
Stolas sighed again, "I would say that my presumptions about what Stella might do are correct, then. I wished that you two never ran into her, and I wished even more that she didn't see those markings that you have."
I questioned, "Why is she here? Aren't you two divorced?"
Stolas clarified, "We are more separated than divorced. It is one of the things that I have yet to get around to, and it remains quite complicated. But enough about that." Stolas's energy seemed to have returned as he clapped his hands together, "Now, that isn't why I have asked for you two here. I have rather important business to speak with all of you."
Octavia was removing her earbuds while music blasted through them for a couple of seconds. She asked, "Uhh, do I have to be here? Stuff like this can be kind of boring."
With an equally animated voice, Stolas responded, "Nope! This little matter will involve you, my little owlette."
Stolas looked back to Loona and me before showing his hand to a couple of seats across from him. As I sat down, I gave a brief wave to Octavia who responded to it similarly. Loona sat on the other end of me resulting in me sitting between the two demons.
I questioned, "This has to deal with Octavia as well? What is this all about, Stolas?"
Stolas began explaining, "If you remember our discussion, I had with you after saving you and your friends, it appears that you are painting the little target on your back whether you mean to or not. I have grown a little concerned about what I am hearing regarding you. Because I believe our fates are intertwined, and since you are around my Blitzy all the time, I wish to prepare for what is to come."
Octavia snorted out a laugh before saying to me, "Yeah… Dad is leaving out the part where he views you as a friend. He doesn't want to see harm come to you."
"Oh?" I looked over at Stolas with a raised brow. I joked, "That seems like an important detail there."
Stolas cleared his throat, "Yes, well… Anyways, let's get back to the subject matter. While you have done a marvelous job relating to many of Hell's denizens, I am afraid that the other Ars Goetians are a different story altogether. Most of them are weary or silent when it comes to talking about you, but the longer you stay, the more information is found out about you. This mysterious figure is already trying to turn many of them against you, and Azazel's emergence and Stella seeing those markings on your arm isn't going to help the issue, nor is what may come after. It is only a matter of time before they make up their minds."
I nodded in understanding while my face became a little more serious, "Okay, so I assume you want to tell me what I need to do."
A smile escaped Stolas, "Precisely! I can't quite force you to do anything. While you channel Azazel's power, there aren't many in Hell powerful enough to confront you. You should still take a more civilized approach, so you don't put yourself in unnecessary harm." Stolas switched tone before he instructed, "First thing, you should probably avoid going to the surface for the time being. We wouldn't want to complicate an already delicate situation, now, would we?"
I leaned back before saying, "Fair enough. It isn't like I will have much problem with that seeing as I don't see Blitz wanting much to do with me right now."
Loona nodded while a small blush formed on her face. Stolas chuckled, "Yes, he did feel open enough to vent his frustrations about the whole matter concerning you. We managed to talk things through in our moments of post-coit-"
Octavia groaned, "Dad!"
Stolas jumped in his seat before apologizing, "My apologies, princess. I guess I shouldn't get too into those details while you are around." He looked back at me before saying, "Let's just say that he wants time to adjust to how things are turning out. Allowing him that time would only benefit you."
I commented, "I doubt he used the word 'adjust'."
Loona spoke up for the first time in a frustrated growl, "What does he have to adjust to?! This entire thing has nothing to do with him!" Loona realized that she may have spoken out of turn, and she was doing her best to remain respectful. She immediately started apologizing, "I mean, sorry about-"
Stolas held up his hand, "It is quite alright. I understand your frustration with the situation. If it makes either of you feel better, I sympathize with the two of you."
Loona and I said at the same time, "You do?"
Stolas let out a small chuckle before saying, "Certainly! I believe that you two should be free to express your affection with one another without family obligations holding you back. I can say that I have been in similar shoes myself." Loona looked away with a wild blush when he said this while I couldn't stop the heat from reaching my cheeks, too. However, I retained eye contact with him.
Octavia looked around since she was the only one missing out on details, "What the fuck am I missing?"
I responded, "It's a long story…"
Stolas nodded before saying, "I believe I am to blame for this minor divergence in topic. I wanted to say that the other thing I wanted from you resulted in my discussion with Blitz. We think it is best for your safety if you focus more on developing your connection with the powers you have now. That means training more with that little female Imp friend you have and coming to me so I can try helping you with whatever magic you may possess."
While I could see how this was a better route than just working jobs for I.M.P., I wasn't exactly thrilled with how much work this sounded like it was going to be. I asked, "Do you want to study my powers a little more? Is that what you want out of this?" Stolas gave a single nod. I sighed, "I guess I am not really able to protest. What else?"
Stolas hummed before saying, "This next part needs nothing from you, but rather the Hellhound beside you and my grimoire."
Loona pointed to herself, "Me? What do you want from me?"
Stolas explained, "I explained to Kyle last time about how it appears that things may become a little messy for all of you the longer he is in Hell. I don't know what is going to happen, but I do not believe that the path forward is going to be an easy one for any of you. Therefore, I believe that he is going to need another to lean on, and I believe the best choice is for you."
This only seemed to further confuse the Hellhound. She said, "Okay… What do you want me to do, your highness?"
I could tell Loona's spine involuntarily shivered at calling Stolas 'your highness'. It wasn't really in her vocabulary to be so polite, especially to someone who was currently sleeping around with Blitzo. Still, she was doing her best to remain respectful.
Stolas chuckled, "Please, just call me by my name like the human does. I don't feel that it is right to have Blitzy's daughter refer to such formalities."
Octavia mumbled, "Yeah, it's just too weird to hear."
Loona muttered back, "Agreed."
Based on Loona's tone, I didn't think she enjoyed the comment about being Blitzo's daughter being said out loud entirely well. It was a complicated dynamic, and I don't think she enjoyed attention being focused on it. Thankfully, she didn't have to worry about that since that wasn't the topic right now.
Stolas added, "Well, I will just come out and say it. I believe the best thing moving forward would be to take you under my wing and train you in magic."
I was floored by the words, but Loona was so shocked that she jumped out of her seat, "WHAT?!"
Without missing a beat, Stolas added, "And I believe that doing so alongside my daughter should be the best time to do it."
This time, Octavia jumped up from her seat, "WHAT?!"
Stolas held up his hand, "Please, that is enough screaming."
Octavia was the first one to respond a little more calmly. By that, I mean her voice was still rushed, "What do you mean you are going to train her? An Ars Goetian training someone like her is unheard of." Octavia looked over to Loona with an apologetic look, "Sorry if that sounds blunt, and I don't mean that in a backhanded way."
Loona shook his head, "It's cool. I know what you mean." She then looked back to Stolas as he seemed prepared to answer their various 'concerns'. She added, "What do you mean about training me in magic? As far as I know, Hellhounds are limited. The best I can do is shapeshift."
Stolas waved her off, "I am fully aware of your magical limitations. That is why I wanted you to bring my grimoire."
Loona pulled out the mystical book so that everyone could get a good look at it. Loona held it up while questioning, "This? What can this do to help me?"
"Items like that grimoire are great conduits of magical energy. I guess the best comparison is Kyle's sword. While his sword seems to imbue him with the power of an angel, my grimoire will allow you to access a more demanding and difficult magic that only an Ars Goetian can achieve. Think of it like a siphon that pulls in energy." Stolas smiled before leaning forward and saying, "Given that Blitzy is already given possession of it for the majority of the time, and with how things are seeming to develop, I see no harm in taking you in and instructing you in how to properly use it."
Before Loona could get her next words in, Octavia asked in an unsure voice, "Are you sure about this, Dad? Sure, you give it to those Imps and these two to just open a portal to the human world, but this is different. Besides, what about me?"
Stolas directed his attention toward his daughter as he came up with a response to her concerns, "Via, you shouldn't worry too much about this. I see this as a solution to your recent lapses in training. With my grimoire being here, we can resume." Stolas's expression became an apologetic one before he added, "Plus, I didn't want to say anything, but I believe your mother is trying to fill your head with nonsense about what it means to be a princess of Hell. It would do you some good to interact with someone a little more 'normal' for a change. I could even see you two becoming friends."
Octavia's objections caught in her throat before she and Loona shared a look. There was a little bit of sadness in the female owl demon's eyes as she muttered lowly, but enough to hear, "I thought that those training sessions would be just time between the two of us. You aren't around a lot as is…"
Understanding where she was coming from, Stolas said, "I'm sorry, Via. I know that this time we spend together is something you look forward to. I enjoy it thoroughly, too, but I wish to make sure that this human is taken care of. I feel as if it is my duty to do so." Seeing as Octavia's look didn't change, Stolas made a promise, "We can do things together right before every training session. Anything you want to do I will do it with you. Does that sound like a fair settlement?"
Slowly, but surely, Octavia's expression rebounded to a light grin. She asked, "Promise?"
"Promise."
I could tell that something within Octavia's mind eased up, but the sadness never quite went away. However, it was something that I wasn't able to analyze for too long before Loona started with a stutter, "W-What about Blitz, and couldn't it be someone else? Why me?"
An amused chuckle escaped through Stolas's breath, "I expected my Blitz to put up more of a fight on the matter, but he seemed to believe that having this kind of training would be beneficial for the future of the company. I believed he put it as 'bringing you along on more jobs', but I can't quite remember." Stolas then thought for a moment before explaining, "Surprising as it is, those little Imps aren't of much use when it comes to magic like this. They are far more… useful with their hands."
A small tremble escaped Stolas's throat as when he said the last part. No doubt he had a specific Imp in mind… Octavia groaned while she tried to hide her face. Stolas continued, "The only other demon that comes to mind is Ms. Mayday. She indeed seems close to you, Kyle, as well, but I don't believe that would work out too well. As easy to get along with as I am, I don't believe the two of us would see eye-to-eye on many issues, either." With a reassuring look, he finished by saying, "To simply put it, I didn't think too hard about it. You two are very close, and I have a feeling that you will make an excellent student."
I could see the panic in Loona build within her. I knew she didn't feel prepared for such an undertaking. I couldn't quite figure out why she was feeling this way, though. I knew what her answer was going to be, and I also knew that she was going to be too afraid to say why. There was only one thing I could do.
I interjected, "Do you mind if we talk in private for a second?"
Stolas nodded, "Of course! This isn't compulsory. It is only a proposal."
Without another word, I stood up and grabbed Loona by the hand right before I led her out of the room. In the hallway, I was happy to see that there wasn't a single servant or eavesdropping avian demon anywhere in sight. It wasn't going to become any better than this, so I let go of Loona before turning back to her.
I asked her, "I know something is bothering you. What's up?"
Loona began venting immediately, "How is this not bothering you?!"
With a shrug, I responded, "I don't know. To be honest, I don't think that it is a bad idea. I mean, you have used it to open portals so much that you no longer have to go through that much effort in making it happen. I think learning a little more magic would be good."
Loona added, "I know that stuff like spending time with this guy, talking to different angels, and being used to the weirdest shit happening to you in Hell is something you have gotten used to, but I am not used to this! I'm not sure you have noticed this, but the others don't think I am reliable. Before you showed up, I just sat around the office scrolling through my phone until someone told me to do something for the fifth time. I'm just some rejected Hellhound who was thrown in some cell until Blitz decided to attach to me and make me his adoptive daughter. I'm not made to be the first Hellhound taught by some prince of Hell. I'm just not that special."
It was true that my time here was anything but normal. Loona wasn't even going into the details of how chaotic my time in Hell had been, but she didn't need to. I never could have imagined how deep her hesitation about the whole idea ran. She had been there for me in the past, so I needed to be here for her.
I pulled her close to me. I began explaining to her without wasting a second, "None of that doesn't make you unworthy or incapable of doing this. I don't know what you were like way back when, but I have come to know you as someone who hides their affection and intelligence. In those small moments when you let them show, you have saved me from self-destruction, escaped captivity for yourself and Verosika, and helped Moxxie out when he felt worthless back at the Harvest Moon Festival."
Loona looked at me with an astonished look when I said the last part. I nodded, "Yeah, I pieced that one together… Also, Moxxie gave me the details after all that." With a small pause in between sentences, I went on to the next point, "In the time that I have known you, you have accomplished a lot. Don't think for a moment that you are not capable of doing this. I know that you are. You have faith in me, why not have a little faith in yourself?"
Feeling like I had said enough, I let my words settle in Loona's mind. Since she had been there for me recently every time I needed it, I wanted this opportunity to be there for her. The longer the silence lasted, the greater the pit in my stomach seemed to grow. Did I say the right thing? Should I say anything else? I've been there for her in the past, but I still felt like a rookie when it came to the more delicate stuff.
Then, out of nowhere, Loona hugged me around the neck. A breath quickly sucked in for me, and she only seemed to tighten her embrace. It wasn't long before she responded, "I really needed to hear that." She pulled away before embarrassingly saying, "Uhh, thanks… for believing in me. Knowing that I have you there makes this a lot easier."
My chest felt warm from that comment. I didn't settle too much into it before asking, "So, is this something that you want to do?"
Taking a step back, Loona considered her options before saying, "Well, I should. If what he says is true, you are going to need some help-"
I shook my head, "I appreciate that, but there are other ways for you to do that. Millie can continue training you, or you could even double up by getting some shooting lessons from Moxxie. I know that this is uncomfortable for you, so don't feel forced to do something that you don't want to. Do YOU want to do this?"
Confidence started to grow on Loona's face until a light grin presented itself. She nodded, "Yes, this is something that I want to do." She folded her arms while puffing her chest out a little more, "Besides, being a total badass wouldn't hurt. I wouldn't have weird creeps fucking around with me anymore."
"That's the spirit." I turned back toward the door before asking, "Ready?"
Loona's demeanor got serious again, "Yeah. Ready."
Without any delay, Loona and I entered the study once more. Stolas perked up while Octavia turned around and looked at us without much emotion. I could sense that something was different from her than before. Her sadness had decreased, so I could only guess that Stolas and she had a small chat about training Loona and other things. All I know is that Stolas managed to console his daughter.
Stolas asked, "So, have you reached a decision?"
Loona gave a single nod, "Yes, I have. I've decided to take you up on your offer. I guess it wouldn't hurt to learn a little magic."
Stolas instantly showed his excitement, "Oh, this is going to be so exciting! It has been a bit of time since I have done some teaching, and I love doing it for Octavia. Adding another student to the fun is going to make me feel like a real teacher."
Loona awkwardly said, "Don't expect me to call you by a title like that. I am no good at stuff like that."
Octavia giggled before saying, "I know, right? You don't worry about that. He can be cool when he wants to be."
Seeing as how Octavia was a little more open toward her, Loona couldn't help but feel a sense of further relief. She even let out her own chuckle. Stolas, completely absorbed by his mania to respond to the two, said, "My grimoire is here along with the two of you. I don't see a better place to start than now, so why don't we get to it? There are a ton of beginner spells that should be a good place to start for you… Loona, was it?"
There was a moment of hesitation from the Hellhound for a moment. She just didn't expect to jump into this so quickly. Seeing this, I decided to say, "Well, I have nothing going on. I would mind watching if that was alright with you, Stolas."
"Certainly!" Stolas added.
Since I wasn't going to go anywhere, Loona nodded, "I guess it is okay to start now."
Octavia spoke, "Just don't go overboard like you did with me, Dad. Learning this stuff is overwhelming as it is."
Stolas began apologetically, "I won't repeat that mistake, my dear. I understand my enthusiasm for learning has translated poorly into my teaching." Stolas raised his hand, and his grimoire that had been sitting on his desk began to rise before he summoned it. He curiously began flipping the pages before he finally said, "Now, shall we begin?"
Elsewhere…
The clicking of longer claws on a wooden table echoed in a room obscured in darkness. On the same table was an arrangement of fruits, meats, cheeses, and other food that was far too much for an individual. To top it all off, there was a pitcher of fine wine right next to a half-empty glass. A steady fire burned right across the figure as they sat on their luxurious chair basking in the warm flames.
From the back of the room, the doors slowly opened and entered a Hellhound. Their outfit was rather unremarkable as it was meant to blend into any environment. It was a typical darkly colored pants, shirt, and coat. Even the Hellhound's colors seemed less vibrant compared to others in Hell. It was just a solid gray.
The Hellhound's voice was deep as he spoke, "The drones spotted the human entering the Goetian's home. He brought that Hellhound along with him."
It took a moment before the seated figure could respond. They slowly drank from their glass of wine for a good amount of time. All while this was happening, the Hellhound's gaze was toward the floor while their posture was rigid. They only glanced up long enough to see the figure place the glass back on the table. In the poor lighting, the Hellhound could only make out the hand of the demon. He could see her sharp nails along with yellow fur until their arm was obscured by the chair. His eyes then quickly darted back to the floor.
The figure's feminine voice rang out in the room, "It isn't ideal to have the human meeting with the Goetian, but it should hardly make a difference. It seems like my indirect methods of dealing with him are less successful than I had hoped." Right as she said this, she went to pour another glass of wine for herself. Despite having two hands occupied by this task, another hand managed to reach out to grab a sole grape. She continued, "I believe that it is time for me to invest my own time in this little matter."
Her voice was smooth and posh but also managed to make the Hellhound nervous. He asked, "W-What's next?"
The figure twitched at the smallest stutter from the Hellhound before she responded, "All you need to do is keep tabs on the human and those close to him. When the Hellhound is invited to the party, prepare the drones. If you do that, you have nothing left to fear from me."
The Hellhound nodded despite the figure being unable to see her. As for 'the party', he had an idea what she meant by that. He felt relief knowing that his time in her presence was coming to an end. He began to turn around to walk out of the door. His steps began to become more rapid as he reached for the door. He was only a couple of inches away from the handle at this point.
The figure cleared her throat causing him to become rigid. He didn't know if it was because of his fear, or if some outside force was influencing him. He just couldn't move. She then spoke, "I see you have learned to be afraid. Good. Do your job, and nothing will happen to you. Got it?"
The Hellhound nodded. A word barely managed to escape his maw, "Y-Yes."
He was waved off, and he felt his paralysis cease. He wasted no time in escaping through the door without looking back. Not many things had brought fear to him, but that demon was completely different. Her words had more of an effect on him.
Back in the room, the figure basking in the glow of the flames let out a sigh. Soon enough, this little matter would be put to rest. It didn't matter whether the human joined that female Hellhound for the party or not. That Hellhound was too delicious of bait for the human to resist. One scent of danger, and he would come flocking to her. Fear drove this into his instincts. She had seen it all from watching the footage of the two together. The human needs to be dealt with before he becomes too powerful.
The figure threw the grape into their mouth as they enjoyed the simple pleasure it brought. And that was what dealing with the human was going to be, another simple pleasure for her to savor.
That's all I have to give! Sheesh, I wonder what that last part in the chapter was all about... Oh, well! I guess you guys will just have to stick with it to figure it out in the future. There will be no confirmations on what is going to happen, so yeah.
At this point, you all will be happy to know that I have everything roughly planned up to Chapter 26. That means I will be avoiding having to waste some days figuring out what I am going to do next. Next chapter is going to be a Girls' Night Out! Who knows who is going to be involved, but that means that there will be no Kyle for this little arc. That's all you are getting. No word limit or anything for the time being.
If you are enjoying the story, I implore you to support the story in any way you see fit. I very much enjoy hearing and seeing all that good stuff from you guys. I am always happy to answer questions as well. I usually work on the chapter when I am feeling motivated, so it is hard to know when it will release.
Now, if anyone is interested, I am going to leave the discord channel code available to any of you. I usually ask for small details, and some ideas are discussed with others on what I should do with the story. You can even just chat with others in it.
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INVITE CODE: 8RT9hC5Aau
That is all I have to give!
Until Next Time,
Forsvaret-Komandir