The morning sun at Astraea Academy was usually peaceful, but today the air felt heavy. At the main gates, a sleek, black carriage—unmarked and powered by silent shadow-cores—sat waiting.
Dante walked down the academy steps, looking like he had just woken up from the best sleep of his life. His skin was glowing, his hair was a mess, and his hands were tucked into his pockets. Behind him walked a woman who made every male student in the courtyard stop and drop their books.
It was Lilith, but not as the world knew her.
Her horns were gone, hidden by a clever illusion. Her tail was tucked away. She was dressed in a tight, traveling outfit of black leather and dark silk that hugged every curve of her body like a threat. To anyone else, she looked like a high-tier mercenary or a noble's "personal guard."
But the way she clung to Dante's arm, her eyes shining with a satisfied, post-bath shimmer, told a different story.
"Must we walk so fast, Dante?" Lilith purred, her voice a low vibration. "My legs are still a bit... weak from our little 'meditation' session this morning."
Dante smirked, not even looking at her. "If you can't keep up, stay in the dorms. I'm not here to babysit a demon."
"Oh, you won't be babysitting," she whispered, leaning in to nip at his shoulder. "You'll be 'using' me.
Remember?"
"Dante!"
The cold, melodic voice cut through the air like a blade of ice.
Dante stopped and turned. Standing by the marble archway was Seraphine. She was dressed in her full white-and-gold regalia, her wings folded tightly behind her.
She looked perfect, holy, and absolutely furious.
Her eyes darted to Lilith's hand on Dante's arm, and for a second, the ground beneath the Queen of Heaven cracked.
"You are leaving," Seraphine stated, her voice trembling with a mix of duty and something much darker. "To find the first Gate. Without informing the Council?
Without me?"
Dante tilted his head, his silver eyes cold.
"The Council is slow. You're slow. I'm bored. I decided to move. Besides, I already have a 'guide' who knows how to follow orders."
Lilith let out a soft, mocking giggle, pressing her chest harder against Dante's arm. "Don't worry, Sister. I'll make sure the Prince stays... hydrated... on the road. You stay here and pray. It's what you're best at, isn't it?"
Seraphine's aura flared, a golden light erupting from her that made the nearby students flee in terror. "You... you shameless succubus! You're not helping him cultivate; you're draining him!"
"Actually," Dante interrupted, stepping forward until he was inches from Seraphine's face. The sheer pressure of his "Hidden" aura silenced her instantly.
"She's the only one keeping me from burning this academy to the ground. My core is running hot, Seraphine. If you want to be the one to 'cool me down,' you're welcome to jump in the carriage.
Otherwise... get out of my way."
Seraphine's face went from pale to a deep, burning crimson. The thought of being in a confined carriage with Dante—and that woman—made her heart hammer against her ribs. She was a Queen! She was pure! She shouldn't be thinking about what they did in the bath!
"I... I am coming," Seraphine managed to choke out, her pride fighting a losing battle against her jealousy. "Not for you! But to ensure the Universal Curse is handled properly. I cannot trust a demon to monitor your Chaos gates."
Dante's smirk widened. It was the look of a trap snapping shut.
"Fine. Get in," Dante said, turning toward the carriage. "But let's get one thing straight. In that carriage, there are no Queens. No Gods. No Elders. There's just me, and the two of you. If you can't handle the 'heat' of my cultivation... don't cry to your Father."
As the three of them entered the plush, oversized carriage, the doors slammed shut with a magical thud.
The space was tight. Dante sat in the center of the velvet bench. Lilith immediately claimed his left side, draping herself over him. Seraphine sat on the right, as far away as possible, her back stiff, her eyes staring out the window—but her gaze kept flickering to the way Dante's thigh was pressed against hers.
"It's a long way to the Burning Peaks,"
Dante said, leaning back and closing his eyes. "Lilith, I'm bored. Entertain me. And Seraphine... watch closely. You might learn something about 'service' that your prayers never taught you."
"The carriage began to move, rolling out of the academy gates. Inside, the temperature was already rising. Seraphine watched in horrified fascination as Lilith's hand began to wander, and Dante didn't stop her.
The journey to save the universe had just begun, and the Queen of Heaven was about to realize that the 'Holy Path' was a lot dirtier than she ever imagined.