Philanias grew even more confused.
Antigonus, meanwhile, stopped whimpering. As his emotions settled, he seemed a bit embarrassed, pulling away from his sister's embrace. After a moment of stammering, he managed, "I'm fine. I'm just… really happy to see you're okay, Sister."
Philanias paused, a thoughtful glint in her eyes. She reached out, patting Antigonus's head gently, and said softly, "Can you tell me what happened, Antigonus?"
Antigonus was silent for a few seconds before nodding. "Alright, Sister."
He didn't hold anything back, recounting everything he knew in a measured tone.
Philanias listened quietly. When he finished, she let out a sigh, her gaze distant. "I remember now… that night. It's been a long nightmare."
Antigonus lowered his head, his ears drooping like airplane wings, the entire demon wolf looking utterly dejected.
"But the nightmare's over now, isn't it?" Philanias suddenly smiled, as if finally breaking free from that endless torment. Her eyes, warm yet resolute, met Antigonus's. "Though they're gone, we're still here together, just like thousands of years ago."
"No, we're much better off now than we were back then," She added, shaking her head. She patted the wolf's head again. "So don't be sad, Antigonus. Fate is always cruel, which is why we must look forward."
"Sister… you always know what to say," Antigonus mumbled, though his drooping ears perked up, his mood visibly lifting.
"Oh, right, Sister, let me introduce you," Antigonus said, as if remembering something. He turned to present his new boss. Recalling the treatment process, he shivered slightly before continuing, "This is His Excellency Lucifer, the one I now follow. He's a truly great being... greater even than… than Father. He saved us."
Philanias blinked, catching the unspoken message in her brother's words through their sibling bond: This guy is powerful. Extremely powerful. Don't cross him.
She turned to Alaric, offering a gentle smile. "Please forgive my delay in greeting you, Your Excellency Lucifer. Would you mind if I address you as 'Lord,' as Antigonus does?" Her tone was humble and respectful, yet not subservient.
"I permit you to call me that," Alaric said with a smile, giving a slight nod.
"Praise your mercy, Lord," Philanias said, seamlessly adopting the title. She then asked, "Great Lord, is there anything I can do to serve you?"
Even Alaric was mildly surprised by how quickly she fell into her role. He chuckled. "You have three days to rest and enjoy your reunion. After that, I'll assign you work."
He paused, then pulled a small booklet from a pocket dimension, handing it to Antigonus. "I don't tolerate rule-breakers. These are the rules you must follow if you serve me. Memorize them well, or I won't mind adding an angel's characteristics to my collection."
The booklet wasn't a rushed job... it was one of the manuals Alaric had crafted while reforming the Numinous Episcopate. Considering Antigonus and Philanias, as innate mythical creatures and relics of the Fourth Epoch, might have some bad habits, Alaric laid it out plainly to avoid future trouble.
He genuinely liked his new pets and wasn't eager to replace them anytime soon.
Of course, he wasn't overly worried. Neither Antigonus nor Philanias were the type to slaughter innocents. Even without the warning, they were unlikely to bother ordinary people. With the rules in place, their cautious natures made it even less likely they'd cross his boundaries.
Antigonus's fur bristled... not from anger, but sheer fear. He grabbed the booklet without hesitation, nodding vigorously. "Rest assured, Lord, we'll follow your rules to the letter."
Philanias, lacking her brother's deep-seated fear of Alaric, still bowed her head respectfully. "Your will is our will."
Alaric smiled at the siblings' quick compliance. "Three days from now, you can find me at these locations…" He rattled off a few addresses and briefly introduced his honorific name, along with the Fool's. "If you need me in the meantime, you can reach me through these names."
The demon wolf siblings nodded eagerly.
Alaric had no intention of lingering and disrupting their heartwarming reunion. He glanced at Amon. "Planning to stay here and catch up with Antigonus?"
"Why not?" Amon replied, adjusting his monocle with a casual air.
"Suit yourself," Alaric said, giving him a glance and a nonchalant nod. Even if Amon had ulterior motives, Antigonus, as a King of Angels with a Uniqueness, could surely manage to call for help if needed.
With that, Alaric left briskly. His visit to Antigonus had achieved all its goals. He'd gained a pet, a seemingly adept administrative subordinate, and even collected a set of "memories of despair," "emotions of sorrow," and "tears of joy"... the first two acquired during Antigonus's treatment.
Though all three came from Antigonus, limiting their use to one ingredient for the Disciple of Delight potion, they gave Alaric more room for error.
After Alaric's departure, Antigonus's gaze landed on Amon. The previously docile wolf now radiated a hint of menace. "I don't think we have much to talk about."
"Don't be like that, Antigonus. We're old friends, aren't we?" Amon said with a leisurely smile. "Besides, don't you want to know more about the Lord you now serve? I'm far more familiar with him than you are."
***
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