She sat at the desk she hated.
Too ornate. Too ceremonial. Too mortal.
But she needed the Church's power. So, she played along.
I feel like I'm wasting time here. It's been too long since Felicia and Veronica started their plan… since Willow went to Rhenvar, with the monster Viir in his hands.
Veronica's words still echoed. She hadn't said it outright, but the implication was there.
I was the one being difficult. Smart girl. Even when correcting her, she kept her tone sharp. Strategic.
Sinephilim sighed.
I'm still holding a grudge against that beast Rhenvar… even though he gave me the chance to speak to my brother.
Guilt crept.
Yes, Rhenvar was dangerous. But Viir had shown more power than he ever had. During that incursion… during that massacre… Willow could've ended it. Engulfed everything in fire. Saved Veronica. But he hesitated.
She tensed.
I protected him from Charles's blessing. And Veronica had a backup plan, one she hadn't needed, but it was there: sacrifice herself to take out Aucteros.
Her thoughts drifted to Veronica's letter.
The last resort.
And yet, Veronica had seen the threat Aucteros posed… maybe even better than I had.
She slammed her fists on the desk.
Still… Willow froze. The chaos magic turned him into a trembling child.
She buried herself into her arms.
And that same chaos, Rhenvar's true magic, hadn't even come from him. It came from Viir. Father save me. Just how much is Rhenvar holding back? What is he?
She remembered Willow's words: Rhenvar sealed Viir away in his pocket dimension. Keeping her hidden. For safety. For her world.
Maybe he can be trusted, as Willow so stubbornly believes.
But even with all her memories, that power, Rhenvar had never used it. Not once in the war. Only shadow magic. Nothing else.
But Willow was blind. And I don't know by what.
She looked up.
Their friendship? Rhenvar's long-standing bond with the elven kingdom of our world? The same elves who distrusted humans yet somehow loved him.
That kind of trust takes centuries. No, sacrifice. My spies told me of his feats. The man was nothing more than a God… of Chaos-
Sinephilim lowered her head into her arms.
Dammit, It's not this world that's breaking me. It's the team I'm expected to save it with.
Rhenvar and Viir are monsters. Willow emotionally entangled from friendship. And Veronica and Felicia, playing the long game perfectly, because this was their world. Their home.
But her?
She wasn't sure what was right.
A knock at her door made her flinch.
Brother Clive entered quietly. "My Goddess… you have visitors."
Sinephilim sighed. "Let them in."
The door opened.
Rhenvar.
Willow.
Veronica.
Felicia.
They stepped in, solemn and quiet.
"Please sit," Sinephilim said.
They obeyed. The atmosphere was thick with unspoken tension.
She stared at Rhenvar. No jokes. No smirks. Just the cursed knight, in full black armor, helmet off. His eyes looked… different.
Then her gaze shifted to Viir, sleeping in Willow's hands.
"So, I have a plan for the New Year's Festival-" Veronica began, already strategizing.
But Sinephilim raised her hand. Her voice was sharp. "Before we talk about plans… we need to address the rot in the room."
The room fell silent.
She continued. "No plan will work if we're fractured. No more secrets. No more games. If we're a team, if we're going to save this world, then we need unity. And unity begins with truth."
Sinephilim's eyes locked on Rhenvar. "You knew what you were. A walking apocalypse. So, tell us. Everything."
Rhenvar didn't move. "What's there to tell?" He muttered. "You saw it. Viir proved it. I'm a monster. Just like you said."
"Rhen…" Willow's voice was quiet, but firm. "You can have your shame. Your guilt. But don't hide behind it. Not from us. Not anymore. Trust us."
"Yeah!" Felicia chimed in. "If we can understand you, we can help you!"
"And it'll make it easier to control you," Veronica added dryly. "If you go off the deep end again."
Rhenvar sat there.
Silence stretched, thick, and brittle.
"I'm not a human," he said quietly. "I was a human once. A long time ago. I died in my first world." He paused. The shadows did not even move.
"A Goddess found me, not out of mercy, but for a purpose. She made me her champion. Flooded my soul with her soul eating chaos magic. The blood magic was just a lucky draw, with how that world's magic worked. So, I accepted. What else was I supposed to do?"
His voice dropped.
"The problem was the Goddess did not explain anything about how her magic worked. Viir taught me everything. The more power I used, the less I understood what I was becoming. I started hearing things. Souls. Memories. Begging, screaming… whispering. They never stop. Not even now."
He looked at Viir. Still in Willow's hands.
"She's not really a fairy. Her true form is a succubus. And like me, she survives on souls. But unlike me… she doesn't know how to feel anymore. Now she is what I will end up becoming. Empty."
"If you survive on the souls and you consumed… my brothers…" Sinephilim's voice shook.
Rhenvar's fist curled.
"I did not eat your brothers, they are safe."
Safe? By the sound of it, they are dishes ready to be served.
"You have my word demon queen. I do not consume without reason. Even when I had no soul."
"How could your words mean anything?"
"Sin!" Willow barked.
Dammit I'm letting my emotions get to me.
"Just please promise, promise me you won't eat my brothers." Sinephilim pleaded.
Rhenvar shifted. She didn't like the pause. It was almost like asking a beast to not eat a fresh carcass.
"I promise." He said.
"Continue." Veronica said.
I wonder what she and Willow think about him now.
"Look I know it's wrong, ok? I knew it was wrong in the first world where I got these powers, yet I still consumed them. The old, the young. Heroes and Gods. I burned the world that broke me. Ate the Worldheart that sustained it. There's nothing left of that place. Only me and Viir."
"So why is your original mission to save it?"
A long breath.
"I don't know if I'm being honest. I remember I promised someone and… I needed a purpose, I was bored."
Bored… he's trying to save an empty world because he's bored?
Rhenvar looked away.
He's lying-
"Look when I didn't have a soul at the time. I just did what I normally would do. And I don't remember pieces of my past!"
"So, you acted normal to blend in, like a predator." Sinephilim sneered as she looked at Willow.
Willow's eyes drifted away from hers. It was almost as if he was refusing to see the truth, but Sinephilim saw it.
So, he sees it now. The truth is out.
"That's not fair!" Rhenvar shouted.
Everyone flinched.
"Viir carved out what was left of her soul, to lock mine away. I never used Souleater or ripped a soul from a living body, well before Aucteros controlled me- I was protecting others. You're lucky I had some humanity even if it was fake."
Rhenvar glared at Sinephilim now.
"You can judge me all you want. You have that right. But you are not me. In fact, you're so fucking lucky, you have no idea!"
Yes, I'm not you, because you are a monster heroes slay in fairy tales.
"Even now I can kill you all-"
Rhenvar's gaze found Willow. Willow's eyes had a hint of fear. "Wait- "
She noticed. His thirst turned into a grovel.
You hold back, for him?
"I still believe I'm somewhat human." Rhenvar's voice seemed like it was quicker now almost panicked. "Yes, I eat souls, but I did not make this choice, I didn't ask to become a monster- "
Willow didn't answer.
"Wait, look if the seal did not break. You wouldn't see me any different. But trust me, I'm me again." Rhenvar pleaded. "I have no choice!"
Another pause.
The silence was heavier now.
"Trust you?" This time Veronica blurted. "Rhenvar- what you and Viir are… it's different."
No, it's not different, it's wild, unpredictable. Different doesn't explain it. They are monsters in the skins of good people. The scariest thing you could encounter.
"I get it, I'm not what I was. Not human but I'm not a monster either. Just… something in between. A creature that feeds on souls, I really don't have a choice, I'm serious."
Wow, he's repeating himself. Just who are you trying to convince Rhenvar. Us or yourself?
His voice dropped to a whisper.
"Viir and I share that hunger. We must live this way. And I- I want to live." Rhenvar looked exhausted. "I want to live…"
He turned to Willow. Willow looked down.
"I know I should have told you, Willow. I couldn't- I didn't want you and Sylvia to see me for what I am."
Willow looked away.
Rhenvar slammed his hand on the table. "This is bullshit!"
Willow turned back his eyes wide. Sinephilim looked between both of them.
Rhenvar got up and paced the room mumbling.
Fear swelled in her chest. She felt it, his hunger.
"No, I can't-" He said, then turned to the group. "Look it's not like I'm asking for forgiveness. I wouldn't give it to me either."
"What do you want from me?" Rhenvar held his head. "If I can't feed then how can I- yeah, what am I saying? I could just kill-."
This is bad. I messed up. This monster is going to kill us all. Right here, right now.
Sinephilim got up. Her blessing activating-
"No! Fine, I'm a monster, a weapon. I always will be. But I'm not hiding it anymore, so I know you can trust me."
She stopped.
Rhenvar removed his ring.
"Who knows what Charles and Aucteros are up to, but I know one thing, this holds a piece of my soul- "
He held out the black ring like it was a gift.
"With this ring, you don't have to fear me, only control me. Make me the bane of their existence."
Rhenvar handed the ring to Willow and knelt.
"Your orders?" The hollow voice chilled the air.
Sinephilim could tell everyone felt uneasy. She felt the same way when she held that same ring.
What choice do we have? We need this monster.