As the trio neared the towering gates of the Sien Domain, June abruptly slowed her pace.
"Silva… we've got a problem."
Silva shot her a questioning look. "The gatekeeper?"
"No. Aster's irritating, but Scarlet scared him half to death years ago." Julie brushed off the thought. "This is worse."
June lowered her voice. "There's a woman inside the Domain named Zara."
Silva froze. The name rang a bell.
"Zara…?"
June gave a grim nod.
Julie folded her arms. "She's totally obsessed with your father."
Silva blinked.
"Your father, Raven," Julie clarified. "She was apparently meant to marry him, until he ditched the whole noble-family thing and left the Domain."
June sighed. "Yeah… she never really got over that."
"How bad are we talking?"
The twins shared a look.
Julie replied.
"Full-on nutjob bad."
Silva stared at her.
"She spent years convinced Raven would come back to her," June said. "Even after he got together with your mother."
Silva's face went blank.
"Oh."
"Yeah," Julie echoed. "Oh."
June stepped closer, pointing at Silva's face.
"And now you've got another problem."
"My face?"
"Your face."
Silva touched his cheek without thinking.
June nodded. "You look too much like Raven. Not exactly, but anyone who knew your father when he was younger might notice."
"And Zara?" Silva asked.
Julie let out a laugh.
"She could probably recognize Raven from his shadow."
Silva glanced toward the massive gates ahead.
"So if she sees me…"
"She'll put two and two together," June replied.
Silva sighed.
"So what do you suggest?"
June reached into her travel bag and pulled out the mask they'd prepared earlier.
"This."
Silva stared at it.
"You want me to walk through the entire Demon Domain wearing a mask?"
"Yes."
"Absolutely."
The twins spoke in unison.
With reluctance, Silva took it.
Julie grinned. "From now on, Silva doesn't exist."
He raised an eyebrow.
"Then who am I supposed to be?"
June hesitated, but Silva's eyes dropped to the mask in his hands.
His father was from the Demon Crow Family, a name often mispronounced—Silva… Silver.
If he was stepping into the world of demons, it would be under a name of his choosing.
He slipped the mask over his face.
"Silver."
The twins watched.
Silva adjusted the mask.
"Silver Crow."
Julie's smile widened.
"Oh, I like that."
June nodded.
"Silver Crow it is."
The three walked on toward the gates, Silva—Silver Crow—between the twins as the massive entrance to the Sien Domain loomed ahead.
Julie casually added, "Oh, and one more thing."
Silver eyed her with suspicion. "One more problem,"
June remarked as the massive gates of the Sien Domain loomed ahead. Silver turned his masked face toward her. "There's another problem?" "Well…"
June hesitated. "Problem might not be the right word." Julie cut in immediately. "No, Aster is definitely a problem." "Julie!" "What? He is!" June scratched her cheek awkwardly. "He's the gate's guardian. Aster's from the Demon Bull Family. His family has been guarding the entrances to the Sien Domain for generations."
"That doesn't sound too bad."
"It isn't," June admitted. "Aster's actually a good guy."
Julie nodded. "Very loyal. Very brave."
"Very dependable," June added.
"Very strong," Julie chimed in.
Silver waited.
The twins went quiet.
"And?"
June gave an awkward smile.
"He's… not the sharpest."
"A little?" Julie muttered.
"Julie!"
"What?! You told me never to lie!"
Silver rubbed his forehead under the mask.
"So he's stupid."
"No!" June protested. "He's just… simple."
"Extremely simple," Julie corrected.
June shot her sister a glare before turning back to Silver.
"Aster never means anything bad. He's straightforward. If he thinks something, he says it. If he doesn't understand, he asks. Sometimes, though, his questions might sound insulting."
"So don't take offense," Julie said. "Whatever comes out of his mouth, assume there was zero thought behind it."
"That doesn't make it sound any better."
"It wasn't supposed to."
Silver glanced toward the distant gate again.
"Tell me more about him."
June paused, thinking.
"Well… we've actually known Aster since we were babies."
"Babies?" Silver repeated, looking back at her.
Julie grinned.
"Oh! Tell him that story."
June groaned.
"Do we have to?"
"Yes."
With a sigh, June started walking again.
"Not long after Julie and I were born, Scarlet brought us to the Sien Domain for the first time."
Silver nodded. Scarlet was already one of those people whose very name could make seasoned demons think twice about their choices.
"And Aster stopped her at the gate."
Silver almost stumbled.
"He stopped Scarlet?"
"Yes."
"Why?"
June's cheeks flushed.
"Because of his sister."
"Leonida," Julie added.
June nodded. "Leonida is Aster's older sister. She's… different from him."
"Meaning she actually has a brain."
"Julie!"
"I'm complimenting her!"
June ignored her.
"Leonida had heard tales about Scarlet's strength for years, and she wanted to challenge her."
Silver could already see where this was heading.
"Please don't tell me…"
"Aster's task was to keep Scarlet out until Leonida arrived."
Silver gaped in disbelief.
"He actually agreed to that?"
Julie burst into laughter.
"He planted himself right in front of Scarlet and told her she couldn't pass!"
Silver pictured it.
Scarlet, standing at the gates, cradling two newborn fox-demon twins, while one unlucky bull demon decided this was the perfect moment to test her patience.
"What happened?"
The twins exchanged glances.
June cleared his throat.
"Scarlet asked him to move."
"He refused," Julie said.
"She asked again."
"He still refused."
"She said she was carrying two newborns."
"He still refused."
June sighed.
"Then Aster apparently told Scarlet his sister wanted to fight her, so Scarlet had to wait."
Silver winced.
"And Scarlet?"
Julie grinned.
"Beat him."
June quickly added, "Really badly."
"Beating of the ages," Julie said proudly. "Aster swears he saw his ancestors."
Silver stopped walking.
"He actually said that?"
June shook her head. "The weird part is Aster doesn't even hate Scarlet for it."
Julie nodded. "He says it was an important learning experience."
"What did he learn?"
The twins answered in unison.
"When Scarlet tells you to move, you move."
Silver couldn't help laughing.
By now, the gates were close enough for them to see the guards standing beneath. June's expression turned serious. "Remember what we said—don't take anything Aster says personally." "Don't argue with him," Julie added. "Don't confuse him. Don't use metaphors. Don't ask complicated questions. Don't let him investigate anything."
They kept moving toward the gate as June tried to lay out the rules for dealing with Aster. "If he asks why you're wearing a mask, just say you like masks." "Got it." "If he asks where you're from, keep it simple."
"Right."
"If he says something weird, just ignore it."
"Got it."
"If he starts staring at you…"
"Let him?"
"Yes."
The twins stopped, and Silver halted too. June and Julie exchanged a glance, then looked at Silver, then at the gate. June swallowed.
"…Change the subject."
"To what?"
"Anything."
Julie pointed up. "Clouds."
"Clouds?"
"Aster likes clouds."
June nodded. "Actually, not a bad idea."
Silver eyed them both. "You've spent ten minutes prepping me for this conversation."
"We're trying to keep you alive," Julie said.
"From Zara?"
"No." She pointed ahead. "From this conversation."
Silver followed her gaze. A massive figure stood beneath the gates—broad shoulders, thick arms, and two huge bull horns. The guardian had noticed them. For a few seconds, Aster just stared. Then his eyes widened.
The giant bull demon strode toward them, only to halt when his gaze landed on the masked boy blocking his way. Tilting his head, he locked eyes with Silver. Silver ran through every bit of advice the twins had ever given him. Aster's eyes narrowed. Silver stiffened. June squeezed her eyes shut. Julie clapped a hand over her mouth. Silver glanced between them all.
Aster was a towering Demon Bull with dark, curved horns, wild black hair, sun-browned skin, and a body shaped by decades of battle. Scars marked nearly every visible part of him, proof that the smiling giant was far more dangerous than his simple nature implied. Yet the intimidating image shattered the moment Aster grinned. His warm brown eyes held almost no suspicion, subtlety, or complex thought. Aster was immensely strong, fiercely loyal, painfully straightforward—and just clever enough to perform his duties without accidentally letting an invading army stroll through the gate.
Probably.
Aster stared at Silver for a moment before his serious look suddenly disappeared.
"June! Julie!"
In one swift motion, he swept them both into his massive arms, lifting them off the ground.
"You're back!"
"A-Aster!"
"Can't—breathe!"
The bull demon laughed heartily, giving them a strong squeeze.
"You've grown!"
"We're supposed to!" Julie wheezed. "That's what happens when kids grow!"
Aster paused, lost in thought.
"Oh."
June's cheeks flushed crimson.
"Aster… put us down…"
"Right!"
He let go, and the twins staggered back, gasping for air.
Aster planted his hands on his hips, smiling broadly.
"It's good to see you!"
Nearly crushed in his embrace, the twins still smiled.
"It's good to see you too, Aster," June said.
Julie winced, rubbing her side.
Aster blinked, glancing down at his arms as if realizing their strength.
"I should hug softer."
"Please do."
It was then Aster remembered the twins weren't alone.
His gaze shifted to Silver.
First came June, then Julie, and then Silver again. His eyes suddenly widened in realization. "Oh!" Silver instantly grew tense as Aster pointed at him. "Is this your boyfriend?"
The room fell into complete, absolute silence. Silver gaped at him in shock. June's face flushed bright red. "W-what?!" Julie wasn't faring much better. "H-huh?!" Aster only looked puzzled by their responses. "Your boyfriend."
"We heard you!" Julie called out.
June flailed her hands in a panic.
"No! No, no, no! He's not my boyfriend!"
Julie spun toward her.
"Why did you say 'my boyfriend'?! He asked both of us!"
June froze, her face flushing even deeper.
"THAT'S NOT THE IMPORTANT PART!"
Silver slowly turned his masked head toward the gates.
Maybe going into the Sien Domain alone would've been easier.
Aster scratched his head.
"So… whose boyfriend is he?"
"NEITHER!"
The twins yelled so loudly that several guards turned their way.
Aster blinked.
"Oh."
Silver recalled June's earlier advice—don't get offended, don't argue, don't confuse him—and was starting to see the reason behind it.
"He's just our friend!" June insisted.
"A friend," Julie echoed, struggling to steady herself. "Nothing more."
Aster nodded.
"Okay."
Just like that, the matter seemed settled.
June took hold of Julie's arm.
"Good. Now that we've established that, let us through."
The twins began walking, with Silver trailing behind—until Aster stepped directly in his path.
Silver stopped.
The twins halted.
Aster pointed at Silver.
"Not him."
June's face fell.
"Aster…"
"I don't know him."
Julie groaned.
"We literally just told you he's our friend."
"Yes."
"And you trust us, right?"
"Yes."
"So let him through."
"No."
Julie stared at him.
"Why?!"
Aster pointed toward the gates.
"I guard the gate."
"Yes."
"People I don't know don't come through the gate."
Julie opened her mouth, then shut it again, turning slowly to look at June.
"Technically, he's doing his job," June murmured.
"I hate when he's technically right."
Silver stepped forward before things could get any more complicated.
"I can introduce myself," Silver said, straightening as Aster looked his way.
"My name is Silver Crow."
Aster's eyebrows lifted slightly at the surname.
"Crow?"
"Yes," Silver replied calmly.
Behind him, June and Julie exchanged uneasy glances as he went on.
"I came to the Sien Domain to train. June and Julie offered to bring me here and introduce me to their master."
Aster paused for a moment.
"Their master?"
"Scarlet."
Aster froze.
The enormous bull demon's expression went completely blank.
For a few seconds, nobody spoke.
Then Aster unconsciously touched the top of his head.
Silver noticed. Julie noticed. June definitely noticed. Aster cleared his throat.
"Scarlet."
"Yes."
"The Scarlet?"
"Yes."
"The one who's here?"
Silver hesitated.
"I assume so."
Aster stepped aside without another word.
"Welcome to the Sien Domain, Brother Silver Crow!"
Silver just stared at him.
That was it?
June covered her mouth, trying not to laugh, while Julie didn't even bother to hide her disinterest.
"You didn't even check anything!"
Aster looked offended.
"He knows Scarlet."
"So?"
Aster gave Julie a look that said the answer was obvious.
"I have learned."
June finally burst into laughter.
Silver recalled the story from earlier—move when Scarlet tells you to move.
Apparently, Aster had taken that lesson to heart. Silver walked on, but as he passed, Aster suddenly leaned toward him. Silver stopped, and the bull demon studied his mask.
"You have a strange face."
Silver stared. "I'm wearing a mask."
Aster blinked. "Oh."
A beat of silence. "Why?"
June's voice echoed in Silver's mind: If he asks why you're wearing a mask, just say you like masks.
"I like masks."
Aster nodded without missing a beat. "Masks are good."
Silver glanced at the twins, and June flashed him an eager thumbs-up.
Julie mouthed, "You're learning."
Silver sighed behind his mask.
He hadn't even entered the Sien Domain yet, and somehow he already felt exhausted.