Silence filled the space at Seraphina's seemingly innocent question. While she shamelessly looked expectant and ignored the looks of those in the group.
"Harumph, harumph!" Goldion coughed and rubbed at the back of his now helmetless head.
"Oh-ho-ho-ho! I am sorry if I made you uncomfortable, Goldion-sama," Seraphina said. Her eyes glinted and showed she wasn't sorry in the least.
"No, you didn't; I was just taken by surprise at the sudden query," Goldion replied. "But the short answer is yes, Liezerota looks similar to her mother, Lucy."
The words had Seraphina smiling stiffly while everyone else became more interested.
"Dad, would you tell us more about mom?" Void(dark) asked.
It'd been nearly a decade since the war and destruction had been stopped, and Void still did his best to repent every chance he got. However, it still resulted in mixed results from the many(millions) of victims across the Nether Verse.
His elder sister, Lizerota, had left early, stating she had an errand to do. And that tonight, there'd be a huge surprise at dinner.
"I guess I can. You are more than old enough to know," Goldion said slowly. "And since Killia's married your sister, he might be a bit curious to know about your two's mother."
A slight nod from Killia indicated he agreed with Goldion's words.
"It's okay for us to know?" Christo asked while pushing up his glasses.
"Yeah. You all are as close as demons and angels can get to being family," Goldion said. A soft, amused-sounding laugh escaped his lips. "I met a very strange woman almost two hundred years ago. She appeared in a pool of glittering colored smoke and a chime, wounded. I was roaming, looking for a fight to prove I was the best and strongest."
At this admission, several superstitious glances were cast at Killia and Void.
"I thought she was unconscious, but I had a sense of danger and felt the need to kill her," Goldion continued explaining. "I rushed at her prone form, ready to kill her, only to find my body immobilized. A strange glowing and sparkling whip had wrapped around me without my notice. And then I saw honey-brown eyes glaring up at me from where she lay."
Shock showed on everybody's faces. Goldion was known as the strongest before Killia came along and snagged that title.
"Master, you mean she was able to surprise you?" Zeroken yelped in shock.
"Yes!" Goldion said, chuckling good-naturedly. "I was arrogant. She saw me and spate blood while calling me a demon. The pain rushed through my body before I broke free of that strange whip. However, Lucy attacked me ruthlessly while severely injured. Her killing intent was suffocating."
Still shocked, everyone unconsciously leaned in. They wanted to hear more since it was surprising there was a woman, wounded, who could surprise and attack while in a bad state of being.
"Whoa, you said she called you a demon and wanted to kill you?" Red Magnus finally burst out. "Super strange."
"Yes. As I fought her, I realized a few things," Goldion said, only to pause as he hesitated. "Lucy was a magician from neither the nether worlds nor Celestia. The feel of her aura was strange. She was battle-hardened, to say the least. She could take my punches, even in her weakened state. After a few rounds, another chime, and a pool of colored, glittering smoke, we were forced to stop. Another person, an orange-haired man in a suit with sunglasses, appeared between us, calling for a halt."
Glances were shared as they noted Red Magnus' observation was only partially acknowledged.
"This man was not a demon, angel, or human. He was a spirit," Goldion said, his voice showing even now a trace of awe. "His name was Leo the Lion, and he claimed to be the leader of the Zodiac and all Celestial Spirits."
At this, Christo gasped, having recognized the name and title.
"You met 'The Leader' of the Celestial Spirits? What was he doing there? The Celestial King is strict and wants nothing to do with either Celestia or the Nether Worlds," Christo rambled like an obsessive fanboy.
A deep laugh was all he got from Goldion before Goldion continued to recount the tale.
"I said Lucy was a magician; however, calling her a mage is more correct. And she is a Celestial Mage and good friend with the Celestial King, Sei-Roo."
At that moment, a realization seemed to hit everyone. Lucy was human, a blessed human no less.
"How is that possible?" Asagi said. "Neither Lieze nor Void look or feel like half-demons."
Goldion nodded.
"Lucy is human. Both my children were blessed to be full demons according to Lucy's will," Goldion explained.
"Then, did Mother die?" Void asked. His voice was relatively soft and almost intangible.
"Ah," Goldion said. "You were too young to remember your mother. Leize recalls her fairly well—a few facts to know. Your mother, Void, inspired my demon fist technique. And I don't know if she is or not, in fact, dead. I came home to Liezerota holding you and saying your mother had vanished before her very eyes."
Silence descended for a while.
"So you took a human woman as your wife?" Seraphina finally spoke, breaking the heavy silence.
Her words filled with contempt, again causing everyone to glare at her while frowning.
The air turned cold and filled with killing intent.
"And what's wrong with humans, you upstart, prissy brat of a demoness?"
The soft, melodious facial voice had everyone looking at the stairs leading to the yard.
There stood Liezerota beside a short, busty, curvy blonde human woman. The short shorts, barely held in place with a belt that had a whip attached to it, complimented the crop top halter and knee-high combat boots, while honey-brown eyes glared and magnified the killing intent rolling off the woman.
"Oh-ho-ho-ho! Nothing," Seraphina said, laughing loudly, indicating she was nervous.
I don't like people who blatantly lie, brat," The blond woman said.
Before Seraphina could give a snarky rebuttal, Goldion rushed toward the human woman.
"Lucy?"
As he approached, Leize darted to the side.
The woman lifted a leg and kicked. Goldion blocked but was tossed back with ease.
"That is ugly armor, babe," the woman, Lucy, said, smiling slightly mockingly.
Then, the air was filled with the sound of metal shattering. The black armor fell from Goldion, revealing his large, lion-esque body.
"Hey, Dad! I brought Mom back," Lieze said, giving a cheeky smile that matched Lucy's mocking one, though it appeared softer.
"Mom?" Void said as his eyes grew wide.
A loud poof of glittering smoke and a chime kept Lucy from replying.
"Hime, look at how the young prince has grown," a female voice said.
"I see, Virgo," Lucy said as she looked Void over. Her honey-brown eyes tearing up suddenly. "Can you ever forgive me for not being there as you grew up?"
The question was random but got straight to the point. And Killia touched Void's back and shoved him towards Lucy. His action earned a glare before Void focused back on his mother.
"Will you just leave again?" Void asked.
"No, I promise. And my word is my bond and a part of my magic, my little Void."
Void took the last few steps hesitantly toward his mother. The height difference was noticeable, yet she easily pulled him into a hug.
"I can try, mother," Void mumbled.
The moment the hug was returned, tears filled his eyes.
"Hey, don't hog mom!" Lieze whined.
"She's my wife; you two can bond later; I need some quality time with her," Goldion growled.
As the others watched the dramatic yet heartwarming family reunion, most looked at Killian. More than a few felt that Killia would have a hard time finding his place in this family again.
THE END!