The morning air was crisp and cool as Delkira, shrouded in his cloak of invisibility, watched Iruma walk to school.
He lingered a moment longer than usual, his mind replaying Iruma's words from the previous night. Sullivan.
He knew it was only a matter of time before they would meet.
As if on cue, a familiar, flamboyant figure appeared in the middle of the sidewalk, adjusting his ridiculous top hat.
Sullivan.
Delkira dropped his illusion, his form solidifying.
The bustling street fell silent as the two most powerful beings in the Demon Realm faced each other, their auras clashing in a silent, cosmic duel.
Delkira's aura, a deep, oppressive weight of ancient power, pressed down on the air.
Sullivan's, a shimmering, chaotic energy, pushed back, a playful challenge to his king's dominance.
"Sullivan," Delkira said, his voice a low rumble. It was a greeting and a warning all in one.
"Del-chan," Sullivan replied, his usual cheerful demeanor replaced by a rare seriousness.
"It's been a while. Fourteen years, to be exact."
The air around them grew heavy, a cold tension settling in.
"I presume you didn't just stumble upon my location," Delkira stated, his gaze hard.
"My sincerest apologies, my lord," Sullivan said, a hint of genuine remorse in his voice.
"A summoning gone awry brought me here. I felt your magic, and… well, I had to see for myself."
Delkira's gaze remained unwavering. "You know why I'm here."
"I do," Sullivan said, his eyes softening as he looked past Delkira to the now-empty street where Iruma had been.
"I've seen him, Del-chan. I've seen the life you've built. It's… beautiful. But the Netherworld is in a state of chaos without its king. The Thirteen Crowns are getting anxious. It is time for you to return."
"My place is here now. My son needs me," Delkira stated, his voice final.
"And the Netherworld needs its prince," Sullivan countered, a cold truth in his words.
"He is destined for greatness, and this world cannot prepare him for the challenges he will face."
The argument hung in the air, a stalemate of two very different loves. Delkira loved his son in the human world; Sullivan loved his king in the demon world. After a moment of silence, Delkira broke the tense standoff.
"Come to the house. We will talk."
As they stepped inside the small, warm home, the tension seemed to melt away. The scent of coffee and fresh bread filled the air, a stark contrast to the grandeur of the Netherworld's castles.
Delkira silently brewed a cup for Sullivan, an act so domestic it was almost jarring.
Then, the front door opened, and Iruma's cheerful voice called out,
"I'm home!"
Delkira's face immediately softened, the harsh lines of his expression melting away. He looked at Iruma, a light in his eyes that Sullivan knew was meant only for his son.
"Iruma," Delkira said,
"I want you to meet someone. This is Sullivan, an old friend." He paused, his gaze meeting Sullivan's.
"Sullivan was my secretary when I was… still in the Demon World. My most trusted confidant."
Iruma's eyes widened, a mix of shock and fascination on his face. He looked at the flamboyant man from the morning, and then at his father, the pieces of a puzzle he never knew existed finally starting to fit together.