The creaking of branches and the whisper of leaves swayed by the wind broke the silence, while a few birds returned to the trees after confirming the area was safe.
A magic circle lit up and an elegant man stepped out of it, studying his surroundings carefully. Soon, wings sprouted from his back, lifting him above the school. When he saw the destruction, his expression grew more serious.
Sizerchs conjured a magic circle in his hand, sending waves of devil power across the terrain. He detected something almost immediately and sped toward the nearby forest.
He examined the area; although he saw nothing at first glance, he didn't believe he was mistaken. He cast another spell and, at once, a faint gray mist was trapped within his devil power.
"I must bring this sample to Ajuka," he muttered in a deep voice.
Where were Grayfia and his sister? Who had managed to take them?
"Did someone find out and wants to stop the treaty?" he whispered, thinking of the other factions and the discussions regarding a ceasefire.
Sizerchs was worried. If someone had managed to take his wife, it meant the situation was dire.
"I need to speak with the Phenex to avoid internal friction," he murmured wearily. "And I need to talk to Serafall before she loses her mind when she finds out."
He soon conjured another magic circle and began issuing orders: expand the search, block news of what had happened, and manipulate the memories of the human relatives of the missing students.
It could be considered fortunate that only the students who stayed late or had club activities were affected. If all the students and staff had been involved, the chances of information leaking would have been greater. Even so, nothing was guaranteed; he had to act quickly.
He conjured a magic circle to teleport to the Underworld.
Before disappearing, he thought about his sister once more. His wife had participated in the war and he didn't doubt her ability to protect herself. But Rias, on the other hand, had been spoiled since childhood.
"Rias…" he murmured with concern as a red light illuminated the forest before fading.
---
The sound of wind and the croaking of frogs echoed through the jungle. The false peace was broken by the cracking of branches and the flapping of birds fleeing.
High among the trees, a figure moved swiftly, leaping from branch to branch. When the distance was too wide, she propelled herself forward using the black wings on her back.
Suddenly, massive serpents of various colors burst out of the swamp or launched themselves from camouflaged branches.
Rias clenched her teeth as she conjured her devil power, sending out a wave laden with Power of Destruction that disintegrated a large number of creatures. Still, more and more serpents appeared, trying to surround her.
The redhead bit her lip as she dodged and changed directions. Exhaustion creased her brow; her shredded clothing exposed her soft, pearly skin—an enticing sight if not for the small cuts and scratches, proof of the constant battles throughout the week.
Rias sighed, worn out, but didn't lower her guard. After several turns and evasions, she finally managed to shake off the reptiles and catch her breath.
Her eyes lit up when she saw a couple of fruits on a nearby tree. She smiled as she took them into her hands while considering where to spend the night. Checking hollows in various tree trunks, she wondered: when was the last time she had truly been alone?
She remembered always having Akeno or her servants nearby; even before that, she had always been surrounded by her family. Now, relying solely on herself without any safety net, she realized many things. Her own power mattered—she couldn't depend only on others. Asking for help wasn't wrong, of course, but learning to protect herself was necessary.
When was the last time she trained her devil power? That week had shown her how crude and unrefined her control really was. Before, pride had kept her from acknowledging that, but now she had no choice. She had to grow stronger if she wanted to live—if she wanted to see her family and companions again.
With a sigh, she slipped into a hole just big enough to hide in. Despite her fatigue, her mind didn't stop monitoring her surroundings. The sweetness of the fruit refreshed her dry throat and, as she ate, she remembered her first days there:
how she woke up alone in a forest, her failed teleport that left her even more lost in the swampy jungle; her constant struggle against serpents and reptiles; the hunger and thirst she had never experienced before.
As she remembered, she couldn't help missing her family and her brother. She even began to feel foolish for her tantrums about the marriage arrangement. Wouldn't it have been easier to demonstrate maturity, strength, and intelligence, like Sona, who broke her engagement on her own? Rias had to admit that the bespectacled girl was more mature.
With restrained sorrow, she closed her eyes to rest. She knew she would need strength to try to leave the swamp the next day. Although still lost, her instinct told her she was getting closer.
---
In a beautiful clearing in the middle of the swamp, structures adorned with serpentine sculptures rose elegantly. The stench of miasma didn't reach there; the light of the stars and the two moons illuminated the area with an ethereal beauty.
Dozens of feminine creatures—half human, half reptilian—moved peacefully. Some chatted or strolled; others slept on decorated canopies, while a group returned with prey that would be prepared for their leaders: those who lived in the central structure.
Inside, in a wide chamber, a beautiful woman with pale skin reclined on velvet cushions. Her expression was serene, and her half-lidded red eyes observed a crystal orb on the table.
Her hand traced her fine lips before resting on her chin. Then she sat up, her long dark hair adorned with intricate golden accessories chiming softly with the motion. Her massive serpentine tail brushed the floor as she leaned closer to the orb.
"Not bad… she's still alive after all. How amusing. I was starting to get bored of all this calm," Melusine said in a tone full of anticipation. "How long has it been since a duelist got lost?"
The serpent woman wasn't sure: decades? A century? Being confined to the swamp was suffocating. But she had to remain there; if she left, her people would be vulnerable. The spiritual world was far from peaceful. Except for the neutral and indifferent Dragons, and the disinterested—even clumsy—Heroic Bastion, every faction acted solely in its own interest. The Vampires, the Archfiends, or the lunatics from the Dark World would attack her people without hesitation. And they weren't the only ones…
That's why duelists were so appealing. She could use their shadow power or spiritual energy to create an avatar, while her true body remained safe.
The red-haired girl wasn't the best option—she reeked of Archfiend—but as long as she wasn't a spirit, she was usable.