Kael's new life as the quiet proprietor of a hidden shop suited him well. The past few months had been blissfully uneventful. The shop, a humble yet cozy establishment filled with antiques, rare trinkets, and a few devil-forged artifacts cleverly disguised as mundane items, attracted little attention. Kael appreciated the solitude.
He spent his days maintaining the store, reading old texts, and honing his powers in secret. Despite his peaceful demeanor, his senses remained sharp. The shadows of his past still loomed, and he knew better than to let his guard down completely.
The first visitor came late one evening.
Kael had been organizing the backroom, placing a series of enchanted relics into wards to prevent their power from leaking. The sound of the bell above the door startled him; it rarely rang this late.
He stepped out to the front of the store, his eyes narrowing at the sight before him. Akeno Himejima stood by the counter, her usual playful smile replaced by a look of quiet determination.
"Akeno," Kael greeted, his tone neutral. "What brings you here?"
She glanced around the shop, her fingers brushing over a glass display case filled with ancient coins. "Nice place you've got here," she remarked, avoiding his question.
Kael crossed his arms, leaning against the doorway. "You didn't come all this way to compliment my interior design. What do you want?"
Akeno turned to face him, her expression serious now. "Rias and Sona sent me. They're worried about you."
Kael raised an eyebrow. "Worried? About me? I told them I was fine."
"They don't believe you," Akeno replied bluntly. "And honestly, neither do I. You disappeared without a word, and now you're hiding in this... shop. It doesn't make sense."
Kael sighed, running a hand through his hair. "I'm not hiding. I'm living quietly, just as I wanted."
"Quiet doesn't suit you, Kael," Akeno countered, her gaze piercing. "Not with the kind of power you're carrying."
Kael tensed at her words but didn't respond immediately. Instead, he turned away, pretending to adjust a nearby display.
"Let it go, Akeno," he said finally, his voice low. "This life... it's all I want now."
Akeno studied him for a moment longer, then sighed. "Fine. I'll tell them you're fine—for now. But don't think this is over. Rias won't give up that easily."
Kael didn't respond, and Akeno eventually left, the bell above the door jingling softly in her wake.
The second visitor arrived the next morning.
Kael had just opened the shop when a man entered. He was tall, with sharp features and an air of authority. His suit was immaculate, and his piercing blue eyes held a faint glow that marked him as a devil.
Kael immediately recognized him: Darius, an envoy from the Underworld.
"Kael Shirogane," Darius said, his voice smooth but commanding. "Or should I say, Kael Drakos?"
Kael's expression remained impassive, though his heart sank. "I haven't gone by that name in years. What do you want?"
Darius smiled faintly, but there was no warmth in it. "I've been sent to deliver a message. Your actions have not gone unnoticed. The council is... curious about your recent displays of power."
Kael's eyes narrowed. "I've done nothing to warrant their attention."
"Perhaps," Darius replied, stepping closer. "But rumors travel fast, Kael. The destruction of the Drakos family remnants has raised questions. Questions the council would like answers to."
Kael clenched his fists, his aura flaring briefly before he reined it in. "Tell them I'm not interested in their questions—or their politics."
Darius chuckled, unfazed by Kael's display of power. "You can't run from your heritage forever, Kael. The Underworld doesn't forget its own."
With that, Darius turned and left, leaving Kael alone in the shop once more.
The third visitor was unexpected.
It was late afternoon when the doorbell rang again. Kael looked up from his book, expecting another devil or perhaps Akeno returning with more questions.
Instead, he was met with the sight of a young girl. She couldn't have been more than ten years old, with silver hair that shimmered in the light and eyes that glowed faintly red. She looked nervous, clutching a small bag tightly to her chest.
"Hello," she said softly, her voice barely above a whisper.
Kael frowned, unsure of what to make of her. "Can I help you?"
The girl hesitated, then stepped closer. "Are you... Kael Drakos?"
Kael's breath caught. The name sounded strange coming from such a small, innocent voice. "Who's asking?"
"My name is Lyra," the girl said, her eyes wide with both fear and hope. "I... I think you knew my mother."
Kael froze, his mind racing. He had lived a long life, with many encounters and regrets. But this... this was something entirely new.
"Your mother?" he repeated, his voice cautious. "Who was she?"
Lyra hesitated again, then reached into her bag and pulled out a small locket. She opened it, revealing a faded photograph of a woman Kael hadn't seen in decades.
It was Seraphine, a devil who had once been a close ally—and more, if Kael was honest with himself. She had vanished years ago, presumed dead during a conflict that Kael himself had barely survived.
Kael stared at the photograph, his hands trembling. "Where did you get this?"
"It's all I have left of her," Lyra said, tears welling in her eyes. "She told me... if I was ever in trouble, to find you."
Kael's heart ached at the sight of the girl's vulnerability. He didn't know what had happened to Seraphine or why Lyra had come to him, but one thing was clear: his peaceful life was about to become far more complicated.
