"It's getting late," Lily whispered, sitting quietly on the roof, far from the usual spot she and Hades shared. The cold night breeze swept through her hair, brushing strands across her cheeks. She hugged her knees to her chest, head bowed low, idly twirling one of the tiny bells stitched into her outfit.
Was it really that childish? she wondered. The bright colours, the bells—each piece had been a gift from the House of Quell. Just because I like cheerful things… doesn't mean I'm immature, right?
She pouted and began absentmindedly playing with her hair.
"Lily?"
She looked up and smiled faintly at the sound of Maki's voice. "What are you doing here this late?"
"I was about to ask you the same thing," Maki whispered as she approached. "Mind if I sit?"
Lily nodded, patting the space beside her.
Maki stretched her arms, then dropped down beside her, gaze quietly studying Lily's expression. "What's wrong? You never come to this part of the sanctuary," she said softly, then added, "Still mad at Hades?"
Lily shook her head, lips tightening. "No, I'm fine. Who gets mad over something like that?"
Maki scooted closer, narrowing her eyes. "You're avoiding eye contact. That's a dead giveaway. You're definitely bothered."
"What makes you think that?" Lily asked, voice barely above a whisper.
"Well, if it's not Hades, then it's tomorrow's test… but we both know you don't get nervous about stuff like that. Not even after that brutal assignment this morning. And if nothing was wrong, you'd be laughing by now, or probably yelling at birds or something."
Lily sighed, wrapping her arms tighter around her legs. "Alright, alright, I get it. Hades is an idiot. So yes, I'm mad."
"No surprise there," Maki whispered with a small grin. "But is that all it is?"
Lily hesitated, then looked away. "It's just…" Her arms tightened around herself. "No, never mind."
Maki leaned back against the roof tiles. "Okay, okay, I guess I'm not trustworthy enough," she said, mock-pouting. "But since we're being honest, I'll tell you why I'm up here. I'm scared about tomorrow's exam."
Lily blinked, surprised. She turned her head slightly to listen.
"I honestly don't know how I've made it this far," Maki said, fists clenched against her lap. "I feel like Mother of Luck has been holding my hand this whole time. Everyone else, Krissy, Jin, Bon, Levi—they're all so… defined. Krissy's all strategy, Jin's a swordmaster, Bon is overflowing with energy and strength, and Levi's like a ghost. And me? I'm just unpredictable. Sometimes I think that's enough… but other times, I wonder if I'm just winging it until I crash."
Her voice trembled slightly, but she quickly wiped her eyes before any tears could fall. "I just… wanted to see the sanctuary one more time. Just in case."
Lily peeked at her, a soft glint returning to her eyes. "You're seriously pulling that card on me right now?"
Maki chuckled through her sniffles. "You were the one who taught me most of the moves that kept me alive. What kind of friend would I be if I let you sulk alone? Also, I'm obviously going to use every tactic in my book to make you talk."
A small laugh escaped Lily's lips. "So you've resorted to emotional manipulation now? Tch… touche, Maki." She lunged forward and threw her arms around her in a tight hug. "Come here."
She whispered into her friend's ear, "It'll all be okay."
"Y-yeah," Maki replied with an awkward laugh, gently patting Lily's back. "But seriously… if something is bothering you, I'm here. Always."
Lily slowly released her hold around Maki and clasped her hands in her lap, her gaze lowered.
"You know, it's kind of funny," she murmured. "I brought this on myself. Calling him my husband—how childish is that? It started off as a joke, just teasing him, but..."
"But now it means something more, doesn't it?" Maki finished gently.
Lily gave a small nod. "Years ago, he told me he didn't want me to change. Said he liked me just the way I was. But now?" Her voice faltered. "Now it feels like he's tired of me. What a liar."
Maki smiled and reached out, tapping Lily lightly on the forehead. "They're all liars. Come on. You know what you should do? Give him a piece of your mind tomorrow."
"A piece?" Lily raised a brow. "What exactly are you trying to say?"
"Teach him a lesson!" Maki declared, puffing up with sudden fury. Her normally sweet face turned adorably fierce. "Beat him up! Throw him off a cliff!"
Lily's smile faded as her eyes sharpened. "Seriously? Now?"
Two cloaked figures dropped from the shadows above, blades glinting under the moonlight, aimed directly at Maki.
Maki didn't flinch. Her fingers slid toward her hilts. "Can't you see?" she said, her tone flat with irritation. "We're in the middle of girl talk."
Steel rang out as she drew her twin blades, but she was a heartbeat too slow. Their strikes connected.
"That was too easy," one of them muttered.
"This is the power of the strongest group? How disappointing."
But in the next second, Maki moved.
The world flickered, colour draining to grey for an instant as her form blurred. She danced between their follow-up strikes with almost supernatural grace. Her movements were too fluid, she struck back as her blades sang through the air. Both attackers were sent flying off the roof, their bodies tumbling into the night.
Maki exhaled, visible puffs curling from her lips in the cold air. She returned her blades to their sheaths with a click, then turned to Lily, who remained frozen in place.
Weak, my foot, Lily thought, eyeing her.
"So…" she said with a grin, skipping over to grab Lily's hand. "You like Hades?"
"Huh? I—! I don't know!"
Before either could say more, a voice rang out from below.
"Who's causing all this ruckus?"
They both went still.
Then came the laughter, soft at first, then uncontrollable. Lily wiped a tear from her eye, giggling uncontrollably. "We were so caught up, we didn't even notice you, Krissy."
Krissy sat by the window, a book in hand, glasses glinting as she turned a page. "You two really need to work on your awareness. You're seniors now, remember?" She adjusted her glasses. "And Lily, don't waste energy stressing over that excuse of a man. If Hades rejects you, we'll beat him into emotional clarity or to a pulp, whatever suits the occasion."
Maki pumped her fist in the air. "Yeah! We'll knock some sense into him!"
Lily sighed, face burning. "Krissy… You were listening?"
Krissy didn't even glance up. "You were sitting on the roof of my room, yelling, sparring, and having a heart-to-heart. It's like you wanted me to listen. Also, you've got a bigger audience than you think."
She tilted her head toward the other girls scattered around her room, several peeking from behind curtains and pillows, trying desperately to stifle their laughter.
"Shhh!" they hissed at Krissy, but she only smirked and kept reading.
Lily buried her face in her hands, mortified. It felt like her soul had crawled out of her body, curled up in a ball, and quietly rolled into the abyss.
Krissy snapped her book shut with a satisfied smile. "If you're not ready to continue, I can always take over. I haven't told you what Harold did the other day—"
"Goodnight!" Maki shouted, bolting from the rooftop like a firework. The girls in the room also dispersed, murmuring about how they'd absolutely heard enough Harold stories for one night.
Lily remained where she was, still stunned, so much so that Krissy's unusually warm words passed through her like wind.
What a way to spend our last night as students of the sanctuary...
#
The boys sat in a loose circle, flicking worn wooden tiles like makeshift cards across the floor. Amid their laughter and trash talk, Harold sat slightly apart, still rambling about Krissy like she was the only thing on his mind.
Hades wasn't paying attention to the game. His blue eyes stayed fixed on the pile in front of him, but his thoughts were elsewhere.
Lily's not in her room… and not on the roof either.
He had bumped into Maki earlier, and after explaining everything, she promised to help find her.
He shook his head. Focus. Just leave it to Maki.
It's not fair, Lily… making me feel like this. It's not right.
Bon narrowed his eyes. "If you're thinking about Lily during boys' night," he growled, arms crossed, "I swear, Hades, I'll kill you. I'm already this close to ending Harold's life, don't make me add you to the list."
Hades smirked, finally tossing a tile onto the pile. "Adorable. Looks like I win."
"Ha!" Jin slapped his tile down. "I actually won."
Hades glanced at the board, then sighed and threw the rest of his hand in. "Tch. Lucky."
Bon's face twisted in disbelief. He stared at his miserable hand, rubbing his temples. "Pretty boys and their dumb luck. How am I last again?!"
Levi, quietly hunched over his hand, stared at his tiles. He still wasn't sure what the rules were. But somehow… he hadn't come last.
Bon groaned and collapsed onto the floor, pounding his fist. "I lose every time. I'm cursed, I swear."
Jin patted his back. "Did you, by any chance, reject a witch's proposal recently?"
Bon scoffed. "Please. I'd never reject a witch. That's every guy's dream: to have a cute spellcaster fall in love with you. I'd say yes on the spot."
Jin leaned back and shook his head. "You spend too much time reading the Housemaster's secret stash of fantasy novels. You do know those witches aren't real, right?"
Hades snorted. "It's pathetic, wasting your time on fairytales."
Jin turned to him, smiling like a dagger. "Oh? And what do you read, Hades? Battle manuals. Sword theory. War memoirs. Day in, day out. You're obsessed. Ever heard of balance? Maybe mix in some history or, I don't know, science? Levi's the only one here with a normal brain and a good grasp of things."
Levi kept staring at the tile in silence.
Harold looked up mid-ramble. "Hey! What about me? I've got a good grasp on stuff."
Jin snorted. "You? You've never opened a book in your life. The only thing you've memorised is the Krissy Encyclopedia."
Hades stood up, his eyes glowing with a dull red burn. "You think you can talk to me like that?"
Bon rose too, cracking his knuckles. "You've been asking for it, Jin. Might be time someone shut you up."
Harold joined in, looming behind Jin like a mountain. "Krissy's not some research topic for you to joke about"
Jin didn't flinch as his blade flashed into his hand. "I can take all of you."
Before anyone could move, Hades shoved Bon and Harold aside and stepped forward. "No need. I'll handle this."
Bon scowled. "Hey, who died and made you king?"
Harold grunted. "Seriously. You think you're the only one who can throw hands?"
The tension thickened as glares were exchanged and muscles were tensed under the pressure.
CRASH.
The roof buckled with a deafening groan as they all leapt out. A giant hole was torn open above, dust and debris raining down.
For a moment, silence. Just the creak of falling tiles.
Levi, still crouched by the cards, blinked and murmured, "So... whose turn is it?"
Bon landed in the open field, his feet barely touching the ground before he straightened up, catching the eyes of a few girls who had gathered after the earlier commotion. Great. Just what I need... an audience, he thought, trying to shake off the nerves. I'm up against monsters, need to keep my guard up.
He pulled his cloak back, feeling a rush of energy surge through him as his muscles tensed. The cold was perfect for him, a perfect way to reduce fatigue. Years of rigorous training had honed his body, and countless scars to prove it
The girls watched his body in awe. They had no idea his body was that toned. Because of the way he acted, they always assumed he was a weakling.
Focus, Bon reminded himself, just as Harold came barreling toward him, swinging his massive blade with an animalistic force. The cold wind tossed Harold's scarf as he glared at Jin..
"What did I do to you?" He whispered, blocking the strike. The impact sent him skidding backwards, but he managed to keep his footing. One hit and I'm almost out... I can't let him get in another.
Suddenly, blades whistled through the air, raining down from above.
"Wait a minute," he muttered.
Hades appeared behind him, drawing his blade.
Bon's eyes widened. "Why do I get the feeling everyone's ganging up on me?"
The blades vanished from Bon's vision. They've shifted the fight into a parallel space. A technique I can't master Damn them.
Hades was already in position, and Harold was preparing to charge again. Bon clenched his fists. They see me as the weakest link... always take out the weak first, huh?
These years, I've had the worst stroke of luck.
Not anymore, waiting around for a change wasn't working anymore. If I really wanted to be better, I would need to do my best. Even when I'm up against monsters.
The air distorted as Bon dodged just in time, a blade grazing his cheek. Twirling his sword between his fingers, he parried Hades' next strike, gritting his teeth as Harold came charging from behind. I can't hold both of them...
Bon flipped over, narrowly dodging Harold's claymore as it crashed into Hades, sending him flying back across the field.
He panted, barely believing what had just happened. "I... I can't believe that actually worked."
The snow cloud around them settled as Hades pulled himself back up, a smirk creeping onto his face. "I was saving you for later, but I guess now's the best time," he said, drawing his blade at Harold.
Bon remained focused. There was still one more threat. Jin stood high on the roof, a smug look plastered on his face as if victory was already his. Three swords came hurling toward Bon out of nowhere. He managed to deflect two with rapid strikes, but the third came too fast.
He stared right at the blade, preparing for the pain to come. But the sword hung in the air, a few inches from his face.
"You really thought I'd impale you?" Jin said. "You're out, Bon. I thought I'd finish this in one move, but you've improved."
Bon chuckled, lying back on the grass. Maybe it's time to stop reading all those fantasy books... focus on real life for a change. He sighed, watching the clouds drift by. Another time, then.
Jin turned his gaze to the battlefield below. "Alright, Hades. Let's get this over with."
But before Hades could respond, Harold roared and hurled him across the sanctuary, knocking him out of sight. Jin stared, out of words. What just happened?
Hades crossed his arms midair, lost in thought. I didn't realise how much this was weighing on me. I need to make things right with her... I can't keep going like this. And why is it now that I'm airborne that I'm thinking of this?
He crashed into the garden, tumbling through a bed of flowers. Dusting himself off, Hades straightened his clothes.
"I need to leave before the instructors get here-"
He noticed Levi holding a girl's hand and sneaking around the sanctuary grounds. They locked eyes together for a moment and went their separate ways like nothing had happened. To them, they saw nothing that night.
#
They ventured into the outskirts of the forest, along a secluded path hidden from ordinary sight. The Supreme Being guards protected the entrance and forbade anyone from passing through.
Beyond them lay a frozen forest, where a colossal door loomed, the very door those guards protected. At its base were offerings: flowers, food, clothing, jewellery, letters, and more.
All of the instructors were present, dressed in black attire, while their Sensei wore a white garment. A constant smile danced on his lips as they walked towards the gate. The others followed behind him, their heads bowed.
The gates creaked open, revealing nothing but an endless expanse of deep blue sky and a sea of clouds stretching below.
The students gasped, astonished by the sight. The Land of Heathens rested atop a towering mountain, dwarfing all the other peaks around it. The sky above swirled with violent storms, lightning flashing, and thunder roaring in the distance.
"Yes, the king is present, serve him, adore him, hahaha" Sensei laughed out, getting on his feet and walked.
The instructors trembled. He can walk?
"Yes, yes, yes!"
Sakura approached the students, bowing low before them. "You all have become exceptional swordsmen, giving everything you had to reach this point. Now, the final exam awaits."
Luca, still visibly shaken by the spectacle of their Sensei's behaviour, stepped forward. "The most basic of all energy manipulations is coating, which grants us armour and with the commandment of the elements, you can complete this. The task is simple: you must jump from the Land of Heathens and survive."
The students remained on their knees, heads pressed to the ground. They had come too far to turn back now. Forty-seven had begun this journey together, and today only eighteen remained. To retreat now would dishonour the fallen.
The task also wasn't difficult. It requires control to secure a good landing spot while gliding in the air using the first power, a very simple techinque. Too simple.
Hades glanced around, searching for any sign of Lily. She's still not here.
At Sensei's command, the students rose to their feet. The morning sky had darkened, clouds swirling violently above them.
"My students, my beloved students," Sensei called out, his arms spread wide. "Satisfy our mighty king, and serve him with all your might. Now, I bid you farewell."
They all walked towards the edge of the cliff in silence. Each step feeling like they were moments away from being the strongest swordsmen and women that ever existed. The anticipation was high. After they passed, they'll be immediately recruited by the Supreme Being himself.
Hades clenched his fist. He had some questions for this god, one of which was why old people always got sick. He has to pass the exam, no matter what.
Out of Joy, some of the students leapt off, all laughing.
Hades allowed himself a small smile. At least I'll have a bit of fun for the final test.
"Come on, traitor!" Bon shouted.
"Stop… calling me that," Levi whispered and joined along as both leapt over the cliff.
Harold and Krissy jumped together, grinning, while Jin approached Hades with a playful smirk. Without warning, he pulled him into a tight hug. "See you on the other side, buddy. Don't you dare die on me."
Jin summoned his blade, its gleaming edge reflecting the stormy skies, and leapt off without hesitation.
Meanwhile, Maki stood trembling, her hands clasped in prayer over her small flower.
Hades placed a reassuring hand on her shoulder. "You'll be fine," he said softly. "Just focus on coating your feet with energy on the wind, that's all. I've seen you do it countless times"
Maki gave a shaky nod. She leaned in and hugged Hades, whispering, "Lily is waiting for you. And… thank you."
With that, she stepped to the cliff's edge, took one deep breath, and jumped.
Before, Hades could turn. He saw Lily standing next to him, her hands on her back.
He turned away and back to her, whispering. " I'm sorry. I didn't mean any of that…"
She stayed silent, her gaze steady.
Hades lowered his head, struggling to find the right words. "I get it, of course you're angry. But… It's just that—no, I—"
Lily chuckled a bit before she burst into laughter. "You're the worst, Hades," she said, wiping a tear from her eye.
He blinked in confusion.
"I can't even stay mad at you," she stepped closer. "Your face is just too hilarious, Hady. Okay, I forgive you"
Before he could respond, she rested her head on his chest. He hesitated, unsure, but then slowly raised his arms and wrapped them around her in an embrace.
Her eyes widened briefly, surprised, but she softened into the hug, accepting it fully. "Alright then, I guess it's time to give you a piece of my mind," she whispered.
"Huh?" Hades had no time to respond before she pulled him in for a kiss.
His eyes widened, stunned, as she suddenly pushed him off the edge.
"Lily!" he shouted, his voice filled with laughter as he plummeted toward the clouds below.
She watched him fall, smiling to herself before turning to the instructors. She gave a final bow, adjusted her hat, and, with a backflip, dove off the cliff after him.
Racing down the cloudy mountainside, her heart pounded in her chest as she scanned the skies. "Oops, looks like I pushed him a little too far," she muttered, searching for Hades amidst the groups of falling swordsmen.
Hades was engulfed in dark clouds as he watched the other students glide through the sky, dodging the jagged rocks and treacherous terrain with ease.
"Woo hooo!" Hades screamed, drawing his blade and cutting the rocks in his path.
His heart raced. The wind beating against his face made his vision blurry. But nothing compared to the look on his face when he had to go at against Lily's speed.
A shiver ran down his spine. Out of the corner of his eye, he spotted a burnt figure strapped to the mountainside, its skull protruding grotesquely, sword still clenched in its bony hand.
The dark clouds parted, revealing a field of bones scattered across the ground below.
Hades looked upward, his eyes narrowing. A faint golden light flickered in the stormy sky, and there he saw him—Lucifer and Luciela standing atop the golden plane, turning away from him.
Suddenly, a scream echoed in the air, followed by a deafening crack of thunder. Bolts of lightning rained down in every direction, ravaging the mountainside. Hades dodged the strikes, all while dodging the falling rocks and debris.
"Damn it!" he yelled, staring above. The golden light had vanished.
The supreme being, the demon lord and the Emperor of dragons. Those three who possessed enough power to make fire rain from the heavens. Hades shivered. This was all the supreme being doing.
He clenched his sword, gritting his teeth. "So this is the real test," he whispered.
But then, his heart stopped. Below him, he spotted Bon's smoking body, his eyes gouged out. Levi clung to him, his own eyes flickering with the last remnants of life.
"No!!" Hades screamed, reaching out. A bolt of lightning obliterated them, the force ripping into Hades and leaving his arm gashed, blood spilling.
Rocks smashed against his skull as he tumbled, his vision fading in and out. He sensed Harold and Krissy's life forces dimming. "Where are they?!" He searched below, spotting them in the distance. "I need to get there"
Using the mountainside, he propelled himself downward, bouncing off rocks to gain speed. Yet, he couldn't make it.
Harold was hit while he protected Krissy from the onslaught of lightning strikes. But he kept on holding her, refusing to let go as a commanded the bolts not to surge through him and hurt her.
"Let me go, let me go," she cried out, hitting his back.
Harold screamed, hardening his coating. This was why he trained this ability: to protect the ones he cared about, to be their shield. A shield doesn't leave its master, no matter the pain, even when all that remains is broken wood and iron.
Hades' eyes went red with horror. Isn't there anything I can do? Even if I use my gift, it doesn't mean I can fly. I can't even control my powers. Why, why is this happening?
"Where's Lily?" he whispered, scanning the falling bodies. "Mika, Jin"
He saw the face of a girl who had once rejected him, the same girl from the night they got their names. Her lifeless body drifted by him, along with the other students, those who had trained with him, lived with him, laughed with him. One by one, they fell. Then, he saw him.
"Jin!" Hades yelled. "JIN! JIN!!"
Jin turned to him, a smile on his face and a gaping wound in his arm. "Huh? Hades?" he whispered, just before another bolt of struck him down.
Hades yelled, pulling his bloody hair. His energy surged, a storm of power swirling around him as his heart raced. "Lily, Mika… where are you?" before he could finish.
A hat drifted past him—its bells broken, singed beyond recognition. It was Lily's.
He couldn't hear anymore. The world around him fell silent. No thunder, no rocks, only a crushing stillness as he fell.
A bolt struck Hades, his body slamming into the mountain's walls. At the end, I wasn't able to protect anyone.
He crashed to the ground, his coating crackling but failing him. "Why… why am I still alive?" he whispered.
"Hades?" a soft voice called out.
He looked up, his vision blurred by tears. It was Mika, lying on the ground, alive.
Hades smiled, cleaning his tears even as more fell and crawled to her, hugging her. "T-The others, Maki, the others are dead," he cried, looking behind her. Her legs were mangled and torn.
"I'm sorry, Hades," she cried. "I couldn't do it. I'm a disappointment, aren't I? Just can't do anything right. I was scared, everyone was dying. I couldn't concentrate, I just couldn't."
"N-No," his hands trembled. "You're not, you're going to be okay you hear me? Just take slow breaths, please just-just…."
She released Hades, who still held her in his arms. One by one, the other bodies fell, crashing to the ground. He turned to Harold and Krissy, whose burnt bodies joined the others, with Harold still holding her tightly.
Hades screamed, his voice echoing through the entire mountain. He threw his hat aside and held Mika. He wished for a cure to this pain; anything would suffice. He didn't want to endure this sorrow.
A storm began, a mixture of rain and blood pouring down upon them.
"Told you I heard something," a voice said.
Two men approached, one with scruffy red hair and an axe slung over his shoulder, and the other a younger boy carrying a huge bag. More of them joined from behind.
"He survived? Hey, sir are you alright? You're covered with blood"
In that moment, Hades appeared behind him, slicing his throat.
The red-haired man staggered back, clutching his neck as blood gushed through his fingers. The other adventurers froze, their faces drained of colour. They didn't even see him move.
"G-Garry!" one of them cried. "Why did you kill him?!"
They surrounded Hades, weapons drawn, but none dared to attack. Hades stood silent, his sword humming with a dark, sorrowful cry. His eyes, once filled with pain, were now hollow, devoid of humanity.
A horned monster appeared in the skies, parting like curtains. The adventurers stood their ground, observing the monster before them.
Their hearts were about to leap out of their chests. A swordsman who fell from heaven, a man who wept yet showed no sympathy as he stood before them. All they could describe him as was "The Weeping Swordsman."