Lily's father sat beneath the shade of a towering tree, watching his little flower dart through the forest, her eyes locked on a small, fleeing creature. Eight years had passed since he fell ill, and no signs were showing of his recovery. It was a disease with no name, affecting only the elderly—a curse some called a gift from the supreme being, a gentle salvation they welcomed without question. But he refused to bow to it, refused to be swept away without a fight. His gaze followed Lily, his pride, his joy, the one reason he clung so fiercely to life.
She had sacrificed so much for him. To pay for his medicine, she had joined the House of Quell, becoming a dancer. He had even added jingle bells to her shoes, thinking, Who could resist a little dancer with bells on her feet?
His little flower was almost unrecognisable. Her once-bright smile was fading day by day, and it broke his heart to watch her grow this way. Was he making the right decision by staying alive? Was he going too far by pretending that everything was okay? These questions haunted him as he waited for the day his sickness would take a sudden turn, threatening her world.
Still, she had become so quick on her feet, an improvement he would love to see more of. Her speed was impressive, a clear result of the training he'd given her. He had once trained other students at the sanctuary and was blessed with knowledge that far surpassed physical strength. He had taught her the secrets of movement, how to be faster than the eye could follow.
For the past years after her performances, she'll return home and begin her training. It was the only gift he had left to give her, a parting token for when he would no longer be there to clean her tears.
She needs to be stronger. She needs to live.
Lily leapt from tree to tree, her gaze fixed on the little creature. Her feet slipped once, twice, fear tugging at her. She was so high up, and the ground seemed so far below. Even when Papa had promised he'd catch her if she fell.
But…
Will I allow that to happen? To make Papa worry wasn't an option. I have to make him proud.
Lily straightened, planting her feet firmly on the branch beneath her. She took a deep breath, focusing her energy the way she'd been taught, scanning the forest as she stood on her toes. The key was control; moving swiftly wasn't just about speed but understanding how every joint, every muscle moved together. Master their motion, control their restraints, and you could break past the limits of human speed.
Her mind was still clouded by doubt and fear. She focused harder, sensing the life force of the creature.
Lily leapt forward, her movements swift and graceful on the tree branches, her heart racing as she reached out and finally snatched the critter.
"I did it," she smiled, holding the poor thing up high.
She hopped down from the tree, sprinting toward her father. "Told you it was easy!"
"Huh? You were this close to failing," he said, raising an eyebrow.
"No, I wasn't! Your eyes must be playing tricks on you"
"Excuse me," he said, crossing his arms, "but it's my chest that's the problem, not my eyes, thank you very much."
Lily chuckled, releasing the little guy. "Still… how did I do?" she whispered, lowering her gaze.
"Horrible," he said, shaking his head. "Your energy flow is all over the place, and you were far too slow." He crossed his arms even tighter.
She eyed him. "Seriously, Papa? You wanna be that guy?"
He leaned in closer, a smirk creeping onto his face. "Cupcake, I'm already that guy."
"A guy who can't even make a cup of tea," she said under her breath.
He fell over and placed a hand over his face. "I blame those Quell girls. They turned my precious flower into some kind of monster"
Lily touched her chest, her voice higher than usual. "Me? A monster? No, no, I'm a delicate, refined young lady, thank you very much."
He sat upright and held her close, rubbing her head. "My little refined lady"
"Hehehe"
He kissed her forehead and gently pushed her away, still holding her by the shoulders. "Alright, time for the next phase." He handed her a wooden sword and took one for himself. "Try to hit me. And don't hold back."
"Okay, don't cry, Papa," she said with a smirk.
He screamed, covering himself with his arms. "I knew it! Those corrupt Quell dancers have possessed you!"
Lily burst out laughing, holding her tummy. "There's no way I could hit you, Papa. Not in a million years."
His eyes went teary. "Don't play with Papa's heart like that."
She leaned closer to him, the ornaments on her jingling with each step. "You said you liked it last time! Right? Right?"
Suddenly, his expression turned serious as he held her shoulders again. "You need to become stronger, Lily," he said, drawing her closer. "You need to be strong enough to leave this village."
She sighed, lowering her eyes. "Papa, I've told you before… I don't want to leave. I'll stay here with you. I'll work at the Quell. Everything will be fine."
He bowed his head. "I've already spoken to the grandmaster of the sanctuary," he whispered. "You'll begin a month from now"
She held his shirt, her hands trembling. "S-So you've already registered me"
He rubbed her head. "You must have noticed by now, Papa does not have a lot of time left, you've done your best"
"No, no I can do better, just don't make me leave. I pro-promise I'll do better, just please, don't leave me"
He knelt down, cleaning her escaped tears. "You need to live, Lily. No matter what," he said with a smile. "Your life is worth more than gold, more than all the treasures in the world. There's no shame in running, as long as you survive."
She opened her teary eyes. "B-But but, b-but."
"It's alright," he whispered, pulling her into a tight embrace. "You've made friends at the sanctuary during your performances, haven't you? Have fun with them."
"I still want to stay with you, Papa"
He chuckled, rubbing her head again. "Come on, you don't want to be a stubborn girl, do you? Oh, wait, you already are."
She chuckled, giving him a little punch.
"See? You're even attacking me. You want a fight? Right? Alright, come on, I'll take you down!"
Lily giggled, still keeping her face against his chest.
"Let's keep training," he said, beginning to stand, but she pulled him back down.
"Not yet… just a little longer," she whispered.
He smiled, holding her tighter as he rubbed her head. "Alright. Just a few more minutes."
#
Lily dragged Hades along, practically skipping as she led him deeper into the heart of the House of Quell. Singing maidens filled the air with melodies, dancers spun in waves of white garments, and actors poured their souls into wild, passionate performances.
Hades, though fighting the heavy pull of sleep, tried his best to pay attention… or at least he thought he was.
Part of him seriously wondered if he hadn't just dozed off somewhere back at the sanctuary, now trapped inside some strange fever dream of performers in flowing robes shrieking at the heavens.
They strolled through a long corridor where statues of angelic figures stood guard, silent and proud.
"What are those supposed to be?" Hades asked through a yawn, rubbing his eye.
"Heck if I know," Lily said, skipping toward one of the statues. She placed a hand dramatically over its mouth and, with an overly solemn voice, declared,
"You vile devil! Even with my dying breath, I shall bring you down! For my people… for myself... arghhh!"
Hades couldn't help but let out a sharp laugh. "Yeah, that was actually pretty good," he said, lazily scratching at the corner of his eye.
But Lily wasn't finished. She puffed out her chest, face serious, and pointed at him.
"Laugh while you can, you monstrous beast! I'll have your head for the glory of the realm!"
Rubbing his forehead, Hades chuckled and played along.
"Fine then, I'll crush you and feed your bones to my dogs," he said in a mock-growl, completely butchering the villain role.
Lily stared at him. "You shouldn't be allowed within a hundred feet of a stage," she said, stifling a laugh. "You sound more like an actual devil now."
Hades stuffed his hands into his pockets and turned away. This is why I don't do this kind of nonsense.
Lily giggled and gave him a playful smack on the back. "Sorry! Hope I didn't shatter your poor little heart!"
Without looking at her, Hades scoffed. "You couldn't break my heart even if you tried."
A mischievous glint flashed in Lily's eyes. "Oh? Is that a challenge I hear?"
Hades shot her a sideways glance. "You don't stand a chance."
"Okay then, tough guy. Watch me!"
Before he could react, Lily punched him square in the chest with surprising force. Caught completely off guard, Hades stumbled backwards, crashing into one of the statues behind him. Luckily, the stone figure held firm, though it wobbled dangerously for a moment.
"See?" Lily said proudly, dusting off her hands. "Cracked your heart, easy peasy."
Groaning, Hades climbed back to his feet, brushing off the dust clinging to him.
"You cheated," he muttered. "I won't let that happen again."
"All's fair in love and war, Hades~" Lily sang, turning on her heel and marching off. "Come on, let's head to the village already!"
From the shadow of a nearby alcove, Jin and Maki peeked around the corner, their presence barely concealed.
"I thought for a second they were going on a romantic stroll," Maki whispered, wide-eyed.
Jin sighed heavily. "For those two... a word like romantic just doesn't fit. Honestly, I'm not even sure what does."
#
The village was a far cry from the lively, bustling halls of Quell. Here, the streets were quiet, and there weren't exactly any thrilling spots that screamed "Amaze Hades!" Lily trudged ahead with her head down, dragging Hades along by the sleeve as she racked her brain for ideas.
Hades watched her, amused. "Where to next?"
Lily raised her head and flashed him a bright grin. "Fishing!" she declared.
He gave her a flat look. "Fishing? You mean, like, catching fish?"
"No, genius. Catching monsters," she said with a smirk.
That's your idea of fun?"
She whirled around to face him, jabbing a finger at his chest. "For your information, I've had a lot on my mind lately, so don't judge me!"
"What's on your mind?" Hades asked, genuinely curious.
She turned away sharply, picking up her pace. "None of your business."
They soon arrived at a small, weathered fishing shop. Lily bustled inside, gathering up rods, hooks, and everything else they'd need. As she juggled the gear in her arms, she patted herself down.
"Now where did I put that purse..." she muttered under her breath.
Hades stood near the doorway, arms crossed, completely stone-faced.
He had anticipated this very moment. Before they even left for the village, he had tucked his precious purse deep inside his cloak, far away from Lily's sticky fingers. All his life savings were in there, carefully hoarded for buying new gear after the final exams.
His hand slipped discreetly inside his cloak.
Perfect. Still there.
He smirked. Any second now, she'd turn, bat her eyes, and ask for money, and this time, he would be the one to deny her.
"Oh! Found it," Lily said cheerfully, holding up a fat little purse.
Hades froze, the blood draining from his face. He hurriedly checked his pockets and with a soft clink, his own purse tumbled from his cloak, spilling out nothing but a few worthless stones.
Hades blinked. "How…?"
Lily chuckled, spinning the fishing rod. "You really thought you could hide it from me? You're so predictable, Hades. Painfully predictable."
He blinked again, dumbfounded. "I didn't even see you take it... How did you—"
"It's called borrowing, not stealing," she said sweetly. "I swapped it while you were napping. I knew you wouldn't want to spend a single coin in the village, so I'm helping you loosen up."
Hades pulled himself upright, leaning heavily against the shop's wall. "Sometimes I wonder which one of us is the real devil," he muttered.
"Huh? What was that?" she asked innocently, batting her lashes.
Meeting her gaze with a deadpan stare, Hades said, "You are the real devil here."
Lily gasped dramatically. "You have no manners! Calling a lady a devil!"
He shrugged. "You? A lady? Those girls back at the House are more ladylike than you."
"How dare you!" she cried, brandishing the fishing rod like a sword.
The old shopkeeper, sensing disaster, raised his hands nervously. "Please, children, no fighting inside the shop—"
"Stay out of this!" they shouted in unison.
Lily slammed the fishing rod onto the counter. "There's only one way to settle this."
Hades cracked his knuckles, smirking. "I agree. Only one way."
Moments later, they were sitting by the riverbank, fishing lines cast into the calm water.
"First to catch a fish wins," Lily said, her voice brimming with excitement or maybe lingering irritation.
"You're on," Hades replied, locking eyes with her like it was a duel.
Minutes trickled by in total silence.
Lily groaned and leaned to the side. "I thought this would be more exciting," she muttered. "I need corn, Hades. Go get me some corn."
Hades let out a peaceful sigh, arms behind his head as he lay back on the grass. "Honestly? This silence is kind of perfect. I might come back to enjoy it."
He cracked one eye open and glanced at her. "Amazing what nature can do, even calmed this wild beast."
"I don't care. Just bring me corn."
Suddenly, Hades' rod jerked. He bolted upright. "Wait! I think I've got something!"
Lily sprang to her feet. "Pull it! Hurry!"
"I don't need your help, let go!"
"No way! It's a team effort now!"
The two wrestled with the rod, both yanking in different directions. With a loud splash, a large fish shot out of the water and flopped onto the grassy bank.
Hades stood frozen, eyes gleaming with disbelief. "I… I actually caught one. A real, living fish!"
Lily crossed her arms and gave a proud nod. "Since we both pulled it out, I'd say it's a draw."
Hades' joy deflated instantly. "You just had to ruin the moment."
She grinned and stuck out her tongue. "Cry about it."
He sighed and turned to her, more serious now. "So… how long are you planning to keep stalling?"
Lily blinked. "What do you mean?"
"The director isn't exactly subtle when he 'whispers,'" he said dryly. "You've been avoiding something all day. I can tell you know."
Lily gripped her cloak tightly. Her smile faltered. "I… I really do want to see him. But last time, he looked so different. I don't know what I'll see this time."
Hades reached out, gently grabbing her arm. "Then go. If you want to see him, just go. Stop circling around it."
Lily hesitated, then looked away. "I wanted to show you all these fun places today, but… truth is, I don't know that many. Sorry."
Hades raised a brow, studying her closely.
Is this the same Lily? Or did someone swap her out while I wasn't looking? This is getting kind of weird…
"…Okay," he said at last, stretching his arms. "Next time we get a day off, let's come back and actually have some fun. After I nap for five hours, that is."
Lily gave a small nod and turned toward the village. "It might be a little early, but… It's time you met my Papa."
Hades stopped mid-step. "Your… Papa?" he echoed, a stiff smile twitching at his lips. Wait. I thought she meant some friendly old shopkeeper.
She nodded without looking back. "Yup. Come on."
And just like that, she grabbed his sleeve and pulled him along back toward the village.
#
"I'm home," Lily whispered as she stepped into the house, Hades close behind.
The air was heavy, charged with something unnatural. Without speaking, both of them reached for their weapons, blades half-drawn.
Hades narrowed his eyes, his gaze fixed on a half-open door at the end of the hall. "Lily… this is your home?"
She nodded once, then froze. Her heart skipped.
"Something's wrong with Papa."
Before Hades could stop her, she broke into a sprint.
"Lily, wait!"
But his voice came too late. She flung the door open.
There, slumped against the far wall, was her father, blood running down his chest, pooling beneath shattered glasses. A blade rested limply in his grip. Three cloaked figures stood over him, their faces hidden in shadow.
One of them turned slowly. "We've granted your final wish, old man. Now, we'll take our leave."
"A man of honour," another murmured. "Right to the end. Didn't even draw that blade."
"Not before taking three of ours with him," said the third. "Stubborn to the last but a powerful man no less."
Lily stood frozen at the doorway. Her eyes were wide in terror. "H-Hades, this is a dream, right?" she said, holding her tears and turned to him. "Please tell me it's a bad dream"
A shadow crossed over Hade's face as he kept silent until one of the cloaked men broke the stillness.
"It took all three of us to deal with a single senior instructor," one of the cloaked men said, almost amused. "I wonder what the others would say."
"Papa!" Lily cried, her sword clattering to the floor as she dropped beside him. She wrapped her arms around his bloodied frame, ignoring the warmth of his blood on her clothes. "Papa, no, please, no…"
Her father stirred. Weakly, painfully, he reached out, brushing his trembling hand through her hair. "My little cupcake…"
She leaned up, letting him reach her. Her body trembled under his cold touch.
"Don't leave me, Papa. Not now. I'm not ready."
His voice was thin, rasping. "We're never ready, cupcake. The world doesn't wait for us."
"No, no," she sobbed. "Please… don't go."
He smiled faintly. "I'm happy… My last wish… was granted. I got to see you. And I see you've made friends…"
He coughed, blood slipping from the corner of his mouth. "Are they good to you?"
She nodded, her tears spilling freely.
"I've been watching. The House… the fisherman's shop. You've grown. I didn't want you to see me like this. But I couldn't leave without saying goodbye. Selfish, huh?"
"You're not selfish!" she cried, pulling him tighter. Hades stood guard at the door, eyes never leaving the cloaked men.
Her father chuckled weakly. "I was heartbroken, you know. Thought you got married without telling me…"
"Married?" she gasped between sobs. "Really?"
He smiled wider. "To a devil, no less. You've become quite the troublemaker."
Despite everything, she laughed, a broken, shaking laugh caught between grief and disbelief. Her father was right in her arms, drifting away, and it still felt like a dream, one she could only pray should end.
He raised his hand again, brushing her bloodied cheek. "Come on… aren't you sad your old man is dying? Cry more. Like muahh muahh—" He coughed again, choking on his own blood.
"M-muahh?" she giggled through tears, clutching him like he might vanish any second.
His hand slipped slightly. "I'm glad you're happy… Remember what I taught you. Always live—"
One of the cloaked assassins lunged with a blade toward her father's chest.
Hades moved like lightning, intercepting the strike with a vicious clang of steel, sparks flying.
"Enough," the leader snapped. "You know the rules. The moment she entered the sanctuary, she ceased being your daughter. You ceased being her father. No more lessons. No more farewells."
He turned to Hades, eyes narrowing. "And you, what are you glaring at?"
Hades said nothing, but the fire in his eyes said everything.
Another cloaked figure stepped forward. "So these are the promising recruits everyone keeps whispering about? Tch. The sanctuary won't grieve much if they're torn apart in a monster attack."
"Just make it quick," the third said. "We've wasted enough time."
More cloaked figures emerged, surrounding them.
"Lily, run," her father whispered. "You need to live a happy life; you need to live"
"I will, Papa, I will," she said, holding his cold hands.
"I love you, cupcake," he whispered.
"I love you, too."
His eyes closed shut as he drifted away with one final smile.
One of the cloaked figures was about to intervene, but was stopped by the leader.
Lily tried to lift him, but couldn't. Tears fell, and her sobs were quiet. Hades stepped over, helping her carry her father to the bed, where they gently laid him down and covered him with a blanket.
Hades glared at the cloaked swordsmen. "If you really respect this man, you can at least not stain his home with the blood of his only daughter"
They laughed at him.
"You think we can't handle the two of you without making a mess?" one of them said. "Trust me, this'll be over before you know it."
The leader stepped forward. "No, no. The boy's got a point. It's poor taste to kill his daughter right in front of him. In his own house, no less." He smirked. "We'll take them into the forest. Blame it on monsters as originally planned."
#
Hades and Lily followed the cloaked figures deep into the forest. The air was damp, and not even the birds dared to sing. Lily clung to his arm, her grip trembling, her father's sword held close to her chest.
"That's one fine blade," one of the men sneered, eyeing the weapon hungrily.
Another put out a hand, stopping him. "Patience. We'll claim it soon enough at least have a heart for now."
"This clearing will do," the leader said, halting beneath the twisted limbs of the trees. The shadows here felt darker, heavier.
Suddenly, one of them yanked Lily from Hades' side.
"Hades, help!" she cried, reaching out as panic seized her.
"Lily!" Hades lunged after her, but a brutal strike slammed into his ribs, knocking him hard into the dirt. "No!" he shouted, gasping. "Let her go!"
A boot came down on his back, grinding him into the soil. "Wait your turn, brat."
Lily screamed as they dragged her to a moss-covered tree stump. Her legs kicked, but her strength was fading. They forced her down, her face pressed to the cold wood, arms still outstretched toward Hades.
"I don't want to die!" she sobbed.
Hades watched, every nerve in his body ablaze with fury. His hands trembled against the earth. She was going to die. The first friend he'd ever made. The only person he saw as an equal.
Why was the world always this cruel?
Are you angry? A voice whispered in his mind.
One of the cloaked men turned her father's sword over in his hands, admiring it like a trophy. They argued over who would keep it.
What will you do?
Lily's cries were growing weaker. One of the men raised his blade.
"No!" Hades' eyes shut tightly. And then, the world fractured.
Protect… Protect everyone.
When his eyes opened, everything had changed.
The forest was grey. Frozen. Soundless. Time had slowed. The assassin's sword hovered just inches from Lily's neck, descending slower than a falling petal.
What is this? Hades thought. Parallel Space?
He didn't wait. His body moved on its own, faster than thought. In a blink, he crossed the frozen space, snatched Lily from the stump, and vanished from view.
A beat later, time resumed.
The blade hit an empty stump.
"Where'd she go?" one of the assassins snarled, spinning around.
"The boy's gone too!"
The leader's brow furrowed, lips tight. "Parallel Space... That brat actually pulled it off?"
Across the clearing, Hades reappeared beside Lily. She clung to him, crying into his back.
"I thought… I thought I was going to die," she whimpered.
Hades didn't say a word, his eyes glaring at the cloaked figures ahead.
Lily's fingers gripped his cloak, her body trembling.
He clenched his fists. "Those assassins killed your father, Lily," he said, clenching his fist. "I've seen you train over and over again ever since our first battle, you are strong, I know it"
"But, b-but"
"I'll handle them for you, but before then, promise me this," he faced forward, drawing his wooden sword. "You'll find happiness. That's what your father wanted, right? So no matter what happens, I want you to promise me you'll never change. You'll always be you. I'll make sure you have that chance, even if it kills me."
Lily's lips trembled, but she nodded, her grip on his shirt tightening. "I… I promise"
The cloaked men walked closer.
Lily pushed Hades forward. "G-go get them"
Hades smiled back at her. "That's the spirit"
He closed his eyes, focusing on his energy. I know you can hear me. I need your power. Just this once... I'll give you what you've always wanted.
"Your heart, everything that resides in it"
Hades chuckled. No can do, I've already promised someone to protect her. I feel like my cheeks are about to explode from embarrassment after saying that. So I can't lose everything and become an empty shell, sorry.
"I see"
How about a deal then? You can have my emotions after I use my gift but it won't be permanent.
"Granted."
Seriously? Just like that?
"Yes, we are one, after all. We think alike. Your words are mine as well"
Alright, then. Let's do this
"What is he doing?" one of the cloaked men asked.
They kept getting closer and closer. Lily remained calm, tugging the back of Hades' shirt. He's been silent for some time now.
"Damn it," one of the men growled, rushing toward Hades. "I'll just end this now."
Before his sword could land, his body was sliced in two.
Hades opened his eyes, holding the hilt of his wooden blade. "Every spot is a critical spot, as long as you use enough force, right, Lily?"
She nodded through her tears, her dishevelled hair falling over her face.
"What the?"
"You're him... the devil's child. How didn't I notice it before? The one with a gift..." The leader shouted to the others, "Don't underestimate the boy! Take him down with everything you've got!"
Hades walked toward them, a fiery energy surging within him, charged with an ominous intensity. With every step he took, it felt as though he was destroying a part of himself and the world around him. This sensation was overwhelming, and he didn't want to hold onto it for long.
The trees began to wither as if time were rushing by. The air became heavy, almost unbreathable.
All the cloaked men surrounded him, drawing their blades. Hades glanced up at the sky.
The men surrounded him, blades drawn, but Hades raised his hand. The earth beneath them quaked, then shattered, making them lose their footing for only a moment. That was more than enough time. he twisted his blade and weaved through the men, slicing each and every one.
The leader watched, clenching his fist. "How is this possible? Beaten by children? But don't think you've won. That little earth trick won't work again."
Fighting the boy was too risky. He ran to Lily, decolouring the world around him "He's too far away to catch up with me, I'll kill his girlfriend to break his spirit, that'll make him easier to kill"
He faced Lily in the colourless world. Something felt off. In this realm, only extremely fast individuals could access it or parallel space users.
So, how is she staring at me?
Her hair shifted slightly, revealing one eye... a glowing, black eye that seemed to pull him closer like the abyss itself.
This was the man. The same man who killed Papa.
His skin crawled, and his heart raced at the sight. She was smiling at him with tears gathering in those sinister eyes.
He glanced away, but it only got worse. Behind Hades stood a smoky, horned figure, grinning with jagged red teeth.
"ARGHH!!!"
He screamed, "I'll kill you dammit," he turned to Lily who had appeared behind him, her father's sword in hand.
She knelt down, sheathing the blade with a click.
The cloaked leader glared back at her. What is she doing? Doesn't she want to kill me?
She turned back to him. At that moment, his head fell from his shoulders.
The world returned to normal.
Lily broke into tears as Hades knelt beside her, his heart feeling like it was shackled by thousands of chains, making him feel almost numb inside.
The pain he felt was unbearable, but that didn't matter. He pulled her closer and whispered. "I'm sorry."
"No, it's not your fault," she said, looking at the bloodied field. "Hades, can you promise me something?"
"What is it?"
"Never again," she said. "Never take lives like they're meaningless. Not like this"
She looked lowered her head, staring at the blood on her palms. That was the first time she killed a human.
Hades nodded. Even if they were her father's murderers, she still held the value of life.
"I promise," he whispered.
"I want to become stronger, very strong," she said, gripping his shirt tighter. "Years from now, let's join the others and save the people of this village from whatever is causing these deaths."
"Yes, I'll help in any way I can"
She buried her face in his chest. "You better."