Back at school, I had Eli with me in the Study Hall classroom. He refused to leave my side for even a second and refused to go outside to play. He had his game, and he was planted at my desk and chair. Kalego would come by during lunch, so I was not completely alone.

I did not have the heart to tell Eli no, or to go outside. He was afraid to look out the windows. It was teleportation to there and home. I myself was growing bored of always being inside. When we were home, he had more distance, but only if it were us alone in a room. Today he put a little distance, sitting on the edge of the room.

It has been three days now, how long will this last? I reminded him Baal was in jail, and that it was safe again. No words changed his mind. The lunch bell sounded, and I looked at the door, waiting for my one outside adult interaction of the day to come in.

Kalego showed up with Balam, a smile tugged at my lips. "Hope you do not mind,; Balam was curious as to why you stay in here when it is such a nice day outside."

"It is just easier. Please, sit."

Eli looked up, then back down. "He's still not talking?"

"Not when others are around. The request for therapy was denied, for reasons I cannot disclose."

"Iruma is worried, he says Eli no longer plays games with him."

My eyes furrowed on Eli. He had more distance sitting on the other side of the room, but he would not let me leave the room alone. "He is doing better, but he's not the happy little boy I remember."

"Is he talking at home?"

"No, not when others are around. He watches, and he knows before someone is about to enter a room. He watched you both walk up to the door."

Shichiro rubbed his chin. "That is the blood line ability Lilith had."

"I know, and it's driving a wedge. I feel that is why he is planting his eyes in the game. He does not have to see all the people around him through the walls. He's most at ease home and with us alone."

"I heard you got quite the pay out from border patrol." Balam reached out and rubbed my head. I missed that.

"Grandpa put it into an account, I didn't even see the amount. It was like that the first time, too." I looked down. "Do you still have that blood sample?"

"It was gone when I went to look for it."

I rubbed my forehead. "Fuck me, man, one of them infiltrated, again. That makes the potential higher. I think I should join Border patrol temporarily and part time. I've been talking with Narnia, and he and Henri said it could be worked out."

They looked at each other, Kalego spoke. "Sullivan said…"

"I know what he said." I snapped, grabbing my hair. "I can't sit here knowing that I can do something about what's going on. What's worse, sitting back and watching or fighting back?"

"What about Eli? Who would watch him?"

I lowered my voice. "That is another issue. If he stays like this, I have no choice but to stay here. He does not trust anyone anymore, and I cannot leave him. He needs me. I feel trapped between a rock and a hard place."

"Mom?"

I jumped at the little voice next to me. "Yes, baby."

He held out his game. "It died."

I switched out the battery. "I can plug this one in."

"Is the world really bad?"

"It's nothing you have to worry about. All you need to do is be a kid."

"I heard you. You said you can do something, that you want to, but I'm holding you back."

I rubbed my hand over my cheek. "I did not mean it like that. Just ignore it, there are a lot of factors."

"I read the newspaper clippings in your room. You were a hero before you got to me. Hero's never stop helping people, they protect them. Just like in my game, you save the world."

"They do protect people, but I'm no hero."

His face dropped. "You are to me. You always said that you should help someone if you can, even if it is as small as spreading a smile."

Kalego leaned in, looking at me. "What will you do now, hero?"

I sighed. "I have to do something hard; I have to go against Grandpa."

"Why is he so against it?"

"I am unsure, but it revolves around not leaving this school. I think it has something to do with finishing." It was not, He was dead set on my not being in border patrol for another reason. It had something to do with Derkila and what he was told to do in the past.

The last tests I had was more of practical application rather than testing knowledge. This is where demons who are smart, but not strong, lose rank. I had no care for rank. Knowing Eli was more on board with me not being around put little ease to my mind.

I still had the instinct to stay right there by his side. I, myself, did not trust anyone but a select few. How would I find childcare for him? He could roam the school, but for how long? It was not practical for him to stay in this position.

Kalego said I was not far off from completing school but did not mean he would veto my request to leave school. He was technically my guardian until I finished. It was a part of the contract of being a teacher aid. A clause I had overlooked.

I could do both, but how long before they overlapped? Would there be a time I had to choose between both? I would have to ask if that was even possible. They way they spoke it was like they would call me as needed, which might be during school hours.

When I got home, I went to Grandpas office, I had to know. "I have a question, why were you against me joining border patrol?"

He kept his head down, writing. "It would not be in your best interest."

"What if that was what interested me."

"Viola, it is a dangerous world out there, one you are not fully aware of. Stay and keep learning, which is the best thing for you."

"What if I did it part time."

"There is no part time, it is when you are called. Has Narnia and Henri been talking to you?"

"Yes, but this should be my choice as well."

"You are not prepared; he would not want this for you."

"He who?"

He set his pen down. "Does not matter, why are you so invested?" I told him about my blood, and that part of my conversation with Narnia. Leaving out the crown and prophecy.

"I understand you feel responsible, but Narnia and Henri are more than capable of doing their jobs. Yours is here. Rank up in your classes and then move into the adult realm."

"I already have one wing in the door."

"Pull it back, the other side is not where you want to be. Enjoy these days."

"I can't, not when I know there are things I can do to help."

"Viola, it is a no. End of discussion."

"Ugh, you're not understanding. Deri did all he could to stop wars and bring peace, I can help do the same. You were so proud before, what changed."

He folded his hand over his face. "I do not want to lose my precious Granddaughter to the likes of Border control. It is one thing to venture on pass time and come home, but to leave school and pursue this full time is not something I wish for you."

"So, part time is, okay?"

He sighed. "Viola… I do not like the idea. Naberius Narnia is feared, not for his power, but for how he punishes criminals. In the history of the Naberius clan, he is the most ruthless and unforgiving."

"Right, but I have Cerberus."

His eyes furrowed. "You are so set on this, what about Eli?"

"He is coming around; he has encouraged me to talk with you. I am doing this to make the world safer for him."

"Then all I have to say is rank up. Minimum of Chet to leave the school and pursue this desire of yours."

"Then I request a review of achievements. I was Zayin before shit hit the fan."

A meeting was set after for after school let out of all who were involved in the ranking up process. I was to plead my case and why I felt I deserved to be reevaluated. I presented my case to them, from the real-world applications to power and how I used it.

Highlighting all the good I had done, the lives I was able to save. With Kalego and Balam as witnesses it was easier to confirm what I was doing. They unfortunately pointed out my lack of working with ours as my only downfall.

"But that was due to the lack of trust given by all around me. I sought out others for help. Narnia, and even Henri. I have also sought council with some on what to do next. Part of the reason I am here now."

Dali raised his hand and lowered it. "Excuse us a moment to discuss and wait outside."

I waited out in the hallways for what felt like hours. What could they possibly be discussing in there? The room was soundproof, even if the door were open, the threshold held all sound in. The door opened and Dali waved me in. Having me sit at the end of the table.

He took a seat, displaying paper out. "You have been a remarkable student, the amount of grit you have is contagious. In many of the students, we have seen improvements in their ambitions. They are trying to live up to your standard, making their years here count.

Your accomplishments cannot be ignored; they are still plastered as big news. You have a fan page." He smirked. "Students here made a whole separate page online for you. 'Hero of our time.' It is a listing of all you have done and if you will be the next demon king and bring the world peace.

We can agree on one thing together, you deserve to be put back at Zayin. But there is those of us who believe you deserve a little more for your perseverance, use of magic, and real-world applications. In the face of everything you kept going.

There are moments when you did not shine so brightly, but it was in the face of abandonment on our part. Example: the time you almost killed yourself on school property. Poison should not have been down there like that in a trap, causing us to reevaluate the Harvest festival grounds. Good came out of the almost fatal."

He looked around, eyes falling on Sullivan. Should I remind him it was fatal, my heart technically stopped. Keep quiet and listen, I told myself

"Your real-world applications included saving children and adults from fires and taking charge as a leader. Directing and moving people around to what is needed is key to good leadership. As well as mutual respect for one's ability.

Leaders sacrifice for the ones following them. Kalego tells us you took an arrow to the wing to protect him. They also bring reason to arguing parties, bring those around them to a mutual understanding. You persuaded two neighboring areas of people to stop disputing and work together for the benefit of both.

During the Deviculum, you used this to your advantage. A cover to keep those around you from being suspicious of your activity while infiltrating and retrieving your son. Bringing Behemoth to his knees and helping border patrol to bring him to justice for endangering lives.

You were aware of many risks, and you applied several measures at once to save the lives of those in attendance. For all these things combined, the majority ruled to give you something more. Your rank will be moved from now Zayin to Chet."

A smile elated my lips, and I covered it. Taking a deep breath, I lowered just my fingers. "I accept your judgment. It is more than I hoped for, thank you for hearing me out." My badge was raised from my clothes, the image changed to Chet and dropped to my hands.

Grandpa got up and left the table. There was no congratulations, because he knew what this meant. I made the requirement to drop out and go to border control as I had wanted. Chet was the highest rank this school could give, and anything higher was to be granted by the thirteen crowns upon entering the crowns.

"Grandpa." I got up hugging him from behind. "Don't leave without me." He teleported home, and into his office.

"I am not, but I am sad. If you go, I might never see you again. I worry you might change. I understand time was short, but it does not take away that I love just as much as Iruma. It was not fair, the timing was not right, but I went with it." He was still hiding something.

"I will come home every day, and there are still things I am still figuring out. Like whom will take care of Eli while I work. There are so few I truly trust to care for him."

"Narnia and Henri almost never leave the premises of bordar control headquarters. I never knew watching them fly the nest would hurt so much." He whipped his eyes with a cloth. "As for childcare, I am sure I can help with that. Promise me, if you ever feel like the world should just end, you will come to me." At dinner my mind pondered.

He feared me turning to the destructive side. In my heart I knew that was not what I wanted. If I kept my mind focused on purging evil, then it would bring peace to the world. A world Eli had to live in now. With no way home and the ability to do what I do, there was one answer.

I could not do anything but help bring order to the Netherworld; make it a better, safer place. Potentially one without any war for the both of us. The sickness was another issue, how did I stop that? Human blood tainted this world and affected it so negatively.

It was odd to have a song about eating humans, when it was humans, they were messing with. Lessons had been learned, and now I know why the demon lore was so heavy. Some had forgotten, but not all of them.

I wondered if it were a hive mind thing or a realization of power struggles. The ones not as powerful would listen to the one most high. This led to the question, what was the Nether world like before the blood was tainted? Who ruled it or was it lawless?

Derkila had a nice place to live, making me wonder if society was already formed and how long ago. Humans could have found one close to human like, breed and the cycle started. Seeing evil cycles could fuel the need to produce more offspring to fight in there wars. Humans could get pregnant faster and more often.

If all were indeed tainted, then you could not eradicate all the muddied blood with out killing the whole race off. Leaving Deri in a tough spot, he could not do what he promised. I would need to test the blood of those who resembled me, see how their blood looked.

What if Deri made a deal to have me be reincarnated? He said he would find a way to bring me back. I am here, I have weird blood, able to control demons in their evil phase. I wish he were here so I could talk to him.

These memories, and apparitions were not enough. With each passing memory, something inside missed him. Where did he disappear too? Why did he leave rather than wait for me to be reincarnated into this world?

One weird thing I had noticed after having my weird dreams was how Iruma smiled. It somehow reminded me of him, and his carefree attitude. It could be a coincidence, and grandpa might have seen it to. Leading me to believe that he missed him too.

I had told him about my dreams, he thought nothing of them. Telling me it was possible that I was his sister a long time ago. I think that gave him more of a reason to wish the best for me. I had left nothing off the table when I told him all the details.

"Viola, you hardly ate."

"Hmm?" I looked around, Iruma looking at me and my plate of pushed around food.

"Is everything alright? You have been quite, are you not happy with something?"

"It is hard to explain, and something that is not a table topic."

Grandpa tilted his head. "Second thoughts on what you want to do?"

"No, I will join border control, I just wonder how life will look thereafter. What will happen and if I can be of use to the world or will I flop? The expectations have risen to a high stature. Before I was just going it to get Eli back, now it feels expected of me."

Iruma smiled, that smile Deri would have. "If it is what you want to do, then pursue it. Do your best, and the rest will follow." It felt like something he would say too.

It all felt easier said than done. I left the table, messaging Narnia and Henri that I will submit my forms to be out of school tomorrow. That was the last thing I had left to do before I left and joined the adult world. A place Grandpa did not wish for me to go.