The rain had stopped several hours ago.
And yet, the streets of Eryndor still carried that cold dampness that made the neon lights shimmer across puddles like fragments of shattered sky. The city lights vibrated softly between the skyscrapers while the suspended rails stretched like metallic veins above the crowded avenues.
Seven walked in silence.
Beside him, Liah kept her hands buried in her jacket pockets, her gaze drifting somewhere between the glowing storefronts and the restless reflections dancing across the canal beside the avenue.
For several minutes, neither of them spoke.
The silence wasn't awkward.
Just… unusual.
Eventually, Liah broke it.
— Thanks for coming.
Seven shrugged lightly.
— You insisted.
— Liar.
A faint amused breath escaped him.
— You just had nowhere else to go.
— That too.
Liah glanced up at him.
Her amethyst eyes looked brighter beneath the night lights. Ever since her awakening, something inside her gaze had changed. As though she now viewed the world through an invisible crack in reality.
And Seven noticed it every second.
Eventually, they reached a quieter district lined with dark trees and older buildings hidden beneath Eryndor's glow.
A café was still open on the corner.
A modest sign swayed gently above the entrance:
"Eden Coffee."
The scent of warm coffee and fresh pastries drifted through the street despite the late hour.
Liah pushed the door open.
A small bell chimed.
— I'm home.
The place felt warm.
Dark wood. Dim lights. Old bookshelves filled with religious texts and family photographs. A slow jazz melody played softly from a radio resting near the counter.
Then a deep voice echoed from the back room.
— Liah? Is that you?
A man stepped through the curtain separating the kitchen from the café.
Tall. Elegant despite the visible exhaustion on his face. His white shirt sleeves were rolled up to his forearms, and a small silver cross hung around his neck.
But what struck Seven immediately…
were his eyes.
Calm.
Deep.
Like the eyes of a man who had spent his life listening to other people suffer.
— Oh.
The man observed Seven quietly for a few seconds before smiling gently.
— You must be Seven.
Liah immediately looked away.
— Dad…
— What? he replied with amusement. You talk about him so much I already felt like I knew him.
— I DO NOT TALK ABOUT HIM THAT MUCH!
Seven stayed silent.
But internally…
something about this man unsettled him.
He had the strange feeling that Elias was looking beyond him.
As though he could see something buried beneath his shattered memories.
The man finally stepped closer and extended his hand.
— Elias Vael. Nice to meet you.
Seven slowly shook it.
— Seven.
— Just Seven?
— …Yeah.
A brief silence followed.
Then Elias's gaze drifted toward the black rosary hanging around Seven's neck.
And immediately…
his expression shifted almost imperceptibly.
Not fear.
Not surprise.
Something older.
— That rosary…
Seven lowered his eyes slightly toward the black beads.
— What about it?
— Where did you get it?
The young man stayed silent for a few seconds.
Then answered honestly:
— I don't really know.
Liah slowly looked up.
Seven continued calmly:
— I've always had it. At least… as far back as I can remember.
Elias's fingers tightened subtly around his coffee cup.
— And it means a lot to you, doesn't it?
Seven narrowed his eyes slightly.
— …Yeah.
An odd silence settled across the café.
Then Elias smiled again.
But this time…
his smile looked sadder.
— I see.
For a second, Seven felt like the man wanted to say something else.
Something important.
Something he recognized.
But Elias simply looked away.
— Anyway… you two must be hungry. Sit down.
Liah sighed quietly.
— Thanks for not making this weird, Dad.
— I'm a pastor. Making things weird is part of the job.
— Dad.
— Alright, alright.
A soft laugh spread through the room.
And against all logic…
Seven felt his shoulders loosen slightly.
It was strange.
That warmth.
That normality.
As though he were observing a life he had never truly known.
During dinner, Elias talked a lot.
About the café.
About the city.
About the strange customers he met every week.
And sometimes…
he would quietly observe Seven.
As though searching for something inside his reactions.
Then suddenly:
— I understand why Liah likes you so much.
Liah nearly choked.
— DAD?!
Elias calmly lifted his cup.
— What? I just said I understand.
— THAT'S NOT THE PROBLEM—
— Thanks for the meal.
Seven had spoken.
Both of them turned toward him.
And for once…
a very faint smile crossed his lips.
Liah froze for a second.
Then immediately looked away.
— …Idiot.
Later that night, Seven finally left the café.
The night wind drifted between the buildings as he walked calmly through Eryndor's damp streets.
Then a voice echoed behind him.
— OY, SEVEN!
He glanced over his shoulder.
Nils was running toward him while waving dramatically.
As always:
far too much energy for one human being.
— Dude, I was literally looking for you!
— Why?
— No idea. Friendship, probably.
Seven sighed.
— You really force things.
— Exactly.
Nils immediately threw an arm around his shoulders.
— Anyway. You heading home?
— Yeah.
They walked together for several minutes through the glowing streets.
And honestly…
it was loud.
Nils talked nonstop.
About school.
About soccer.
About girls.
Mostly girls.
— I swear, Jessica from Class C keeps looking at me weird lately.
— Maybe because you're weird.
— False. I'm incredibly attractive.
— Tragically.
— Thanks, bro.
Eventually, they arrived in front of Seven's apartment building.
Or rather…
what remained of it.
Water was still pouring from the entrance hall.
Residents carried soaked cardboard boxes outside while an exhausted landlord screamed into a phone nearby.
Seven stared at the scene for a few seconds.
Then sighed.
— Seriously…
Nils blinked.
— Wait… you live here?
— Apparently not anymore.
Seven ran a hand through his damp hair.
— Guess I'll stay at Kael's place.
A slight hesitation.
Then another voice behind them:
— You can stay at my place if you want.
Liah.
She stood a few meters away, slightly out of breath.
Then realized what she had just said.
— I mean— if you need somewhere— I just—
— OHHHH?!
Nils instantly turned toward Seven with the biggest grin imaginable.
— MY BROTHER IS POPULAR.
— Shut up.
— No.
Then, without giving anyone time to respond:
— You're staying at my place.
— Nils—
— Refusal denied.
— I never accepted.
— Too late.
Liah frowned slightly.
And Seven noticed that tiny change in expression immediately.
Which was probably a mistake.
Because he thought about it way too long afterward.
—
The Solberg apartment was small.
But alive.
Family photographs covered the walls.
A television still played quietly in the living room.
The scent of warm soup drifted through the air.
It felt… warm.
Dangerously warm.
— Mom! I brought home a socially traumatized guy!
— NILS!
A woman immediately appeared from the kitchen.
— Sorry about him. He's been stupid since birth.
— HEY!
Then she offered Seven a tired but sincere smile.
— Welcome.
Nils's father also greeted him calmly from the couch.
And finally…
a small figure timidly appeared behind the hallway wall.
A little girl.
Around eleven years old.
Short hair.
A sweater far too big for her.
She stared at Seven with large silent eyes.
— Ah, said Nils. That's my sister. Freya.
The little girl slowly raised her hand.
Then signed something quietly.
Seven blinked slightly.
— …She's deaf?
— Yeah.
Freya slowly approached him.
Then, unexpectedly…
gently grabbed the sleeve of his jacket.
As though she already knew him.
Nils burst out laughing.
— Usually she hates strangers.
Seven lowered his gaze toward her.
Then very softly:
— Hey.
Freya smiled immediately.
And something inside Seven's chest tightened without warning.
Later that night, the two boys remained awake inside Nils's room.
Nils lay sprawled across his bed while Seven silently watched the city lights beyond the window.
Then suddenly, Nils spoke.
— I wanna become a professional soccer player.
Seven glanced toward him slightly.
— Seriously?
— Yeah.
His smile looked calmer now.
More genuine.
— I wanna help my parents. Buy Freya a huge house. Travel. Do a bunch of stupid stuff.
Silence.
Then Seven finally asked:
— Why do you want to be my friend so badly?
Nils blinked.
— Huh?
— You've been forcing it for days.
— Ah.
He thought quietly for a few seconds.
Then laughed softly.
— Honestly?
Seven remained silent.
Nils stared at the ceiling.
— I've had a good life.
His voice sounded lower now.
— Cool parents. An adorable little sister. Never really lacked anything.
A grin.
— Plus I'm insanely handsome.
— Shut up.
— Thank you, thank you.
Then his expression softened again.
— But that's not the case for everyone.
Silence settled quietly.
— And when I look at you…
He hesitated slightly.
— I dunno why, but… I feel like you've suffered more than any human should.
Seven slowly looked away.
— Forget it. I shouldn't have asked.
— No.
Nils smiled softly.
— I just wanna help whenever I can.
Then shrugged.
— After all…
His smile widened slightly.
— We're friends, right?
The silence lasted a few seconds.
Then—
a faint smile finally crossed Seven's lips.
Small.
Tired.
But real.
— Yeah.
His voice was low.
— We're friends.
Nils froze for half a second.
Then immediately exploded:
— INCREDIBLE. NOW LET'S TALK ABOUT JESSICA FROM CLASS C AND HER DEMONIC TITS.
— Go to sleep.
— You're not denying they're demonic.
— Sleep.
—
The next morning.
Kael stared at Seven for several seconds.
Then at the flooded apartment behind him.
Then at Nils.
Then back at Seven.
Then at Nils again.
— …What?
Nils immediately wrapped an arm around Seven's shoulders.
— Yup. Seven lives with me now.
Kael narrowed her eyes.
— Why does that sound threatening?
— Because it is.
— I'm going to kill him.
— Try it.
The two immediately started arguing.
Seven ignored them completely.
As usual.
—
Later that evening.
The ruins of Seven's battle against Adonis stood silent.
Wind howled through the hollow skyscrapers while broken concrete cracked beneath their footsteps.
Then—
— Arcane: Silent Fold — Boundary of the Damned.
An invisible pressure spread outward.
Space distorted slightly.
The noise of the world vanished.
And the barrier closed around them.
Liah shivered faintly.
Even now…
this place still reeked of death.
Seven stood across from her in the middle of the ruins.
Calm.
Silent.
Dangerous.
— Ready?
Liah inhaled deeply.
Then nodded.
The fight began instantly.
Seven vanished.
Liah barely dodged a shadow chain that obliterated the ground behind her.
— Too slow.
Another attack.
Faster.
More brutal.
Liah immediately materialized several translucent sound blades that shot in every direction.
Seven destroyed them effortlessly.
— Focus your ether.
— I'M TRYING!
— Try harder.
Then suddenly—
Seven appeared directly in front of her.
And his scythe sliced lightly across her shoulder.
Blood splattered across the concrete.
Liah staggered backward.
Shocked.
Her amethyst eyes trembled.
Because for one second…
Seven had genuinely looked like he wanted to kill her.
His gaze was cold.
Empty.
— What makes you think I'm going to let you live?
Silence.
Wind.
Liah's heartbeat pounded violently inside her chest.
Then she understood.
This wasn't training.
It was a lesson.
If she hesitated…
she would die.
Then her ether exploded outward.
The vibrations around her changed instantly.
The ground trembled slightly.
Even the air itself began to resonate.
Seven narrowed his eyes slightly.
Then—
Liah raised her hand.
— Arcane: Requiem Resonantia.
A massive sonic wave exploded around her.
The ruins cracked instantly.
Even Seven's barrier trembled.
But Seven simply raised his scythe.
Blinding white light erupted outward.
— Arcane : Mors Luminis.
The impact obliterated the district.
The sky itself seemed to split apart beneath the collision of both arcanes.
And for one second…
even the Silent Fold cracked.
Then silence crashed down again.
Liah collapsed.
Exhausted.
Unconscious.
Seven caught her before she touched the ground.
And while staring quietly at her sleeping face…
a faint tired smile crossed his lips.
— No denying it…
His voice was barely a whisper.
— You're seriously talented.
Far away…
on top of a ruined skyscraper…
two silhouettes silently watched the scene unfold.
One possessed six folded black wings.
The other carried a long lance sealed beneath bandages covered in ancient symbols.
The wind drifted through the ruins.
Then a deep voice echoed softly:
— So that's the heir of sound…
Silence.
Then the second figure slowly lifted its eyes toward Seven.
— And Azrael's anomaly.