HELL
In a quiet corner of Hell, two demonic entities hotly debate their next steps after seeing the sign posted before them at a desolate crossroads.
"At the very least, we were spared a journey all the way to his domain," the first demon remarked, gesturing with a clawed hand.
"Indeed," the second replied, peering at the crude placard. "How considerate of him to leave this notice for all to see."
The sign, jarring in its simplicity against the ancient landscape, read:
"OUT ON HOLIDAY!!"
The first demon tilted his head. "I confess I do not entirely grasp its meaning, but I surmise he is not in residence."
"Do you intend to venture forth and confirm this for yourself?"
"Definitely not! The message seems perfectly clear. He is 'out.' I have never witnessed such a notice in all my eternity. The matter seems quite settled to me."
"Quite," the second demon agreed with a sigh of relief. "A visit to the desert is therefore unnecessary." He paused, his relief fading as he considered the wider implications. "Still... this state of affairs is most distressing."
"I am given to understand there are vacant posts in some of the circles," the first demon said hopefully. "Perhaps it is time I asked for a transfer."
"You would, of course, forfeit all standing and seniority were you to apply."
"Bah! That is mere rumour and speculation. I am quite certain my years of diligent service shall command the respect they are due."
"If your experience is so profound, why do you not resolve this matter yourself?"
"That matter, I must insist, falls quite outside the bounds of my pay-grade."
"We receive no pay."
"..."
"You are spending too much time with the comedians. Maybe you do need to move."
"Now, how do we take care of the new guys who refuse to comply?"
'........'
"It was not so difficult in times past. The established order was quite effective. But all these new bugs are giving me stress ulcers. And don't mention the overtime."
"A curse on all what plagues us. Our Lord was never truly present, yet his authority ensured all remained in order. In his absence we can't exactly control the new guys."
"So what do we do now? Should we reach out to the fly? Or the miser?"
"Well, consider that our Plan B... Let's get the word out to some of our operatives on Earth and find his whereabouts. This needs to be treated as a matter of utmost urgency."
"If we can't find him soon, there will be hell to pay."
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Earth- Coastal Sector
"So while you are here, do you think everything will be okay?" Sun asked, glancing nervously at the man beside him.
"What are you thinking about? Aren't you a Lord?"
"Oh, Hell. Sure," Ace said with a shrug. "There are enough guys out there who know how to manage it better than I do. It's not like I managed day-to-day affairs."
Sun muttered under his breath, "I don't think I really saw you manage anything."
"Exactly. They won't really miss me," Ace continued, oblivious.
"What about the other Lords? They must—"
"—WE don't NEED to do anything, do we? It's called a Holiday," Ace interrupted firmly. "And I intend to not do anything."
"—didn't seem like you were doing much—"
"—and is there any reason why we are walking with food?" Ace grumbled, gesturing to the snacks in Sun's arms.
"Ssh. We have to act normal right now," Sun hissed. "We have too much heat on us. This makes us seem normal. And look at those kids. Don't they seem happy now after what they have been through? And I thought this was the easiest way for us to talk to Clio without arousing too much suspicion."
"I could really do something about this..." Ace grumbled as he turned to watch Clio enter the petting zoo, walking towards them.
Yesterday.
"The guild leader wishes to meet with you. We need to understand what happened that day," Clio's voice was professional over the phone.
"We are quite busy at the moment," Sun had replied.
"I have to take Ace out and there are a lot of errands to run."
"Mr. Sun. This is not a request. The guilds and the Bureau are investigating what happened that day, and given your involvement, we are extremely keen on understanding what the hell you and your friend were up to."
"First of all, he's not my friend," Sun retorted. "Okay." "He's my ma-, my boss."
"...Okay."
"Secondly, if it wasn't for us, you would have had a lot more dead people, and I remember you not being in a very comfortable situation as well."
"Yes. Thanks to you, we were able to survive and save a lot of lives. Which is why I intend to help you, and for that, you need to tell me everything you know."
"We don't really know much, and that is the truth."
"You make this very difficult for me."
"Okay. We are taking the kids, you know, the ones you were trying to save, to the petting zoo. Why don't you meet us there around 11, and we can tell you whatever we know."
"Okay."
Clio cut the call and wondered what the meeting would reveal. She got up and left her office. As one of the most important members of the Siren Guild, she had been accorded an office that befitted her status. She walked across her room, crossing the support team section as various members of the guild greeted her. The Siren Guild was one of the most famous guilds in the Coastal Sector and had forged a positive reputation among the masses by taking up missions that involved rescue missions and using Aether to heal people.
While no one knew which divine entity the Siren Guild belonged to, people knew it was a force for good. They were also known for having warrior squads composed entirely of women, among whom Clio was one of their most famous members.
"She managed to stop Sven."
"I heard she faced a squad of Orcs and Goblins all on her own while battling with Sven."
"C'mon I highly doubt that. She's tough but not that tough."
"You're just jealous.."
"Hey, Clio. You are the talk of the town now, eh?"
"Hey, Drake," she replied, nodding to one of the senior members of the guild. "Let's not bother with the idle chatter."
"The boss wants to see you. There's much to discuss."
"Yes. I was on the way."
"Let's walk together. I heard you did a great job. Why don't you come to the lab and test your resonance score and see where you are at?"
"Maybe later. There's much to do right now."
"You should probably do it soon. If you are close to a breakthrough, there will be a lot to prepare. It would be incredible to have another Mystic in the guild."
"I really doubt I have achieved that level."
They reached the massive, pearl-inlaid doors at the end of the hall. They swung open silently, revealing a chamber that felt less like an office and more like a tranquil sanctuary.
Standing before a floor-to-ceiling window that overlooked the city was a figure cloaked in an aura of undeniable power. As she turned, the serene atmosphere of the room seemed to concentrate around her, becoming heavy with pressure. Though she wore the face of the guild's founder, her eyes, the color of a deep sea, held an ancient, divine authority that demanded absolute obedience.
This was Lady Thelxiepeia.
"Report," she said. The voice was calm, yet it was not a request...
Clio and Drake bowed deeply.
"Lady Thelxiepeia," Drake began, his tone formal and precise. "The Destroyer Guild's assault was contained. However, we confirmed the use of forbidden summoning gates and sustained significant damage to the sector. My report details the intervention of an unknown entity, a man called Ace."
"I have read the report," Thelxiepeia stated, her gaze unwavering. "Resurrection. An ability that toys with the fundamental laws. This 'Ace' is the critical variable." She turned her piercing gaze fully on Clio. "Your performance against Sven Alaric was adequate. You survived."
Clio bristled slightly at the faint praise but remained silent.
"The lab results from your post-battle resonance scan confirm my own observations," Thelxiepeia continued, striding slowly toward her. Your Aether Capacity is expanding, nearing the threshold required for the Mystic tier. Your Aether Skill remains your greatest asset; your combat sense is sharp."
She stopped directly in front of Clio, the pressure of her presence intensifying. "But your Aether Refinement is abysmal. It is raw, inefficient. You fight with the brute force of a crashing wave when you should be striking with the focused pressure of the deepest abyss. This lack of purity is what holds you back."
The words were harsh, but they were true. Clio lowered her head. "I will redouble my training."
"You will do more than that," Thelxiepeia corrected her. "Your next assignment is this anomaly, Ace. He operates outside the known rules. He is an unknown quantity in a very delicate equation. You will use this meeting to ascertain his nature, his power, and his allegiance. This is now your highest priority."
Her voice dropped, becoming as cold and vast as the ocean depths. "Do not fail. The stakes are far too high."