Sub-Chapter 2.1 The Six
For a long moment after the door shut, the war room remained completely still. Lucifell stood beside the mahogany table, the mask dangling loosely from his fingers.
The Nightbringer.
The symbol.
The weapon.
Yet now, in the silence, none of those titles mattered.
Only the man remained.
A faint crackle from the black candles broke the quiet.
Lucifell exhaled slowly.
"...Old Man Garry, huh."
The words came out almost like a ghost of a laugh.
Almost.
His eyes drifted down to the tactical map before him.
The Underworld border glowed faintly red under candlelight, marked with small iron pieces representing advancing enemy battalions.
One crest among them stood out.
A sigil burned into black wax.
A thorned crown... encircling a bleeding moon.
Her crest.
Lucifell stared at it.
Then reached forward.
His gloved fingers hovered above the marker.
For just a moment-
they hesitated.
A memory flashed through him like lightning.
A sacred garden.
Soft laughter.
Golden sunlight filtering through white marble pillars.
A woman turning toward him-
dark hair moving gently in the wind.
Leinca.
Lucifell's jaw tightened.
The memory vanished like smoke.
With a sharp motion, he pushed the marker aside across the table.
"Diplomatic footnote," he muttered under his breath.
Yet the words sounded hollow.
The candles flickered violently.
Something inside him stirred.
Something ancient.
Something angry.
The jagged scars beneath his collar pulsed faintly with sickly teal light.
Lucifell closed his eyes.
Slowly.
Carefully.
As if holding back a storm.
"...Not now."
His voice was barely audible.
Silence returned again.
Then-
knock.
Three quiet knocks on the iron door.
Lucifell did not move.
The door opened anyway.
Six figures stepped into the chamber.
They moved like shadows-silent, disciplined, absolute.
12th Squadron of ARCANA: The Eclipse Guard.
The only Squadron of Mournvale Kingdom Military allowed to enter this room unannounced.
Lucifell did not turn.
The iron door closed behind them with a quiet thud.
No one spoke immediately.
The chamber's candlelight stretched their shadows across the stone walls like specters.
Lucifell still faced the war table.
Still unmoving.
Still holding the helmet.
Yet the moment the six of them entered, the atmosphere shifted.
Not tense.
Not hostile.
But familiar.
Azazel stood slightly ahead of the others, arms resting calmly at his sides. His long black hair fell across the back of his grey cloak, pearl-white eyes quietly observing the room.
Behind him stood the others.
Runagard's massive frame almost brushed the stone archway.
Marvelerick leaned slightly forward, his dragonic wings folded neatly behind him.
Tigris stood with monk-like posture, arms tucked within his sleeves.
Alquine hovered lazily in the air, wings buzzing softly.
Alice stood with her scythe resting across her shoulder, her demonic wings folded neatly behind her, and her crimson eyes fixed on Lucifell's back.
The squad had fought wars together.
They knew the silence meant something.
Finally-
Alquine floated forward slightly, squinting at the table.
"Oh dear."
Her tiny voice echoed across the room.
"Someone moved the Underworld marker again."
Lucifell's eyebrow twitched faintly.
Runagard let out a quiet rumbling chuckle.
"Looks like the commander's been staring at the map for a while."
Alice crossed her arms.
Her tail flicked once behind her.
"You've been brooding again, haven't you."
Lucifell still didn't turn.
Marvelerick scratched the back of his head.
"Uh... Captain Azazel said we should report in."
Lucifell finally spoke.
Without moving.
"...I noticed."
The voice was calm.
Cold.
But not hostile.
Azazel stepped forward two quiet paces.
"Commander."
Lucifell slowly turned his head just enough to glance over his shoulder.
Blue skies eyes met pearl eyes,
Then Crimson
Then golden.
Then yellow.
Then black.
Then the calm predator gaze of Tigris.
Eclipse Guard, 12th Squadron of Arcana
The only Squadron in the kingdom who could enter this room without permission.
Lucifell placed the Nightbringer helmet back onto the table.
"...Report."
Azazel gave a small nod.
"The outer scouting battalions returned."
He stepped toward the war table.
"The Underworld army continues mobilizing near the southern ravines."
Runagard crossed his massive arms.
"Lots of movement down there."
He scratched his chin thoughtfully.
"Beasts too."
Lucifell's gaze sharpened.
"Beast kings?"
Runagard shook his head.
"No."
A pause.
"Something bigger."
Marvelerick suddenly leaned over the table excitedly.
"Maybe dragons!"
Alice smacked the back of his head with the shaft of her scythe.
"Idiot."
He winced.
"Ow!"
Alice rolled her eyes.
"If it were dragons, the sky would already be burning."
Tigris spoke quietly.
"The earth is uneasy."
Everyone looked at him.
The tiger monk's eyes were calm.
"But the storm has not begun yet."
Alquine floated down onto the edge of the map table.
"Wonderful."
She crossed her tiny arms.
"Apocalyptic metaphors. My favorite."
Lucifell ignored the sarcasm.
His gaze returned to the Underworld crest.
The bleeding moon.
"...Leinca."
The name left his lips quietly.
Alice's eyes narrowed instantly.
Runagard shifted his stance slightly.
Marvelerick blinked.
Even Azazel's expression hardened by a fraction.
Alquine tilted her head.
"Oh."
Her wings buzzed thoughtfully.
"So we're saying her name again."
Lucifell's fingers slowly tapped the table once.
"...Arcana's captains gather next Friday."
Azazel nodded.
"The war council."
Lucifell finally turned fully toward them.
His blue skies eyes were calm again.
But something darker lingered beneath them.
"I will attend."
Marvelerick's wings lifted slightly.
"Really?"
Alice scoffed.
"Of course he will."
She glanced away quickly.
"...He's the commander."
her tail moving up and down, and her wings make a little move.
Lucifell ignored the comment.
Instead, he stepped away from the table.
His long coat moved like a shadow behind him.
"Until then..."
His gaze moved across each member of the Eclipse Guard.
"...we prepare."
Tigris gave a slow nod.
"War approaches."
Runagard cracked his knuckles.
"Good."
Marvelerick grinned.
"Finally!"
Alice rolled her eyes again.
Alquine sighed dramatically.
"Oh wonderful."
She floated upward again.
"Another war."
Then she pointed a tiny finger at Lucifell.
"But if this turns into a tragic romance battlefield with that woman, I'm leaving."
Alice's scythe slammed into the floor instantly.
"DON'T SAY HER NAME LIKE THAT."
The candles flames dancing violently again.
Lucifell looked toward the door.
Then back at his squad.
For the first time tonight-
a faint, dangerous smile appeared.
"Eclipse Guard."
The six of them straightened.
"dismissed."
2.2 The Bleeding Moon Crest
The iron door shut once more.
Heavy.
Final.
The room returned to silence.
Footsteps faded down the corridor as the rest of the Eclipse Guard left the sanctum.
Except one.
Azazel remained.
He stood near the war table, hands resting loosely behind his back.
Lucifell didn't look surprised.
Without turning, he spoke.
"...You stayed."
Azazel answered calmly.
"I always do."
The candles flickered softly between them.
For a moment neither spoke.
Lucifell walked slowly toward the tall arched window overlooking the dark mountains beyond Mournvale.
The moonlight reflected faintly off his silver-white hair.
"...Southern ravines."
Azazel stepped beside the war table again, eyes studying the map.
"They will reach the Dark Elven Forest within a month."
Lucifell's gaze drifted to the horizon.
"And after that."
Azazel answered immediately.
"One week."
His voice carried no emotion.
"But that depends on one variable."
Lucifell finally turned his head slightly.
"...Lavik."
Azazel nodded once.
"Yes."
Lucifell's blue skies eyes narrowed slightly.
"The ruler of the Dark Elven Forest."
His finger tapped the map.
Right where the thick forest symbol was carved.
"Lavik the Cutterbones."
The name hung in the room like poison.
Lucifell's expression darkened slightly.
"They call him a king."
Azazel replied bluntly.
"He is not a king."
A pause.
"He is a predator."
Lucifell said nothing.
Azazel continued.
"The Dark Elves will not negotiate easily."
Another pause.
"They never do."
Lucifell walked back toward the table slowly.
The candles cast sharp shadows across the scarred lines beneath his collar.
Azazel spoke again.
"They worship an old deity."
Lucifell finished the sentence quietly.
"...Malak."
Azazel's eyes flickered once.
"Yes."
He folded his arms.
"Their ancestors made a pact with him centuries ago."
Lucifell stared down at the forest region carved into the map.
"Devils rarely keep promises."
Azazel answered without hesitation.
"Malak never did."
Silence followed.
The candles crackled softly.
Lucifell's voice dropped lower.
"And Lavik?"
Azazel's voice became colder.
"He kidnaps young girls."
Lucifell's jaw tightened slightly.
Azazel continued.
"They torture them."
A pause.
"Then eat them."
The room became colder.
The wind outside brushed faintly against the tall window.
Lucifell's fingers slowly clenched against the table edge.
Azazel watched him carefully.
"...The Underworld army will pass through Lavik's territory."
Lucifell nodded once.
"They will."
Azazel's eyes sharpened.
"And Lavik will demand something in return."
Lucifell already knew the answer.
"Blood."
Azazel said nothing.
The silence confirmed it.
Lucifell leaned slightly against the war table.
"...The council will argue."
Azazel nodded.
"Yes."
"They will debate strategy."
He paused.
"But we both know what the real question will be."
Lucifell finally looked directly at him.
Azazel spoke quietly.
"Will Lavik allow the Underworld army passage through the Dark Elven Forest."
The candles flickered violently again.
Lucifell's voice turned colder.
"If they do..."
Azazel finished calmly.
"Then the Underworld army reaches our borders in five weeks."
Lucifell looked down again.
The Dark Elven Forest.
The blood-stained gateway between two worlds.
Azazel watched him for a long moment.
Then spoke more quietly.
"...Commander."
Lucifell didn't answer.
Azazel continued anyway.
"You moved her crest earlier."
Lucifell's eyes hardened slightly.
Azazel wasn't accusing.
He was observing.
"She commands that army."
A long silence followed.
Finally Lucifell spoke.
"...Leinca always preferred direct paths."
Azazel tilted his head slightly.
"That would mean she intends to cross Lavik's territory."
Lucifell nodded slowly.
"Yes."
Azazel's voice lowered slightly.
"Lavik will not allow an army through his forest without tribute."
Lucifell's gaze darkened.
"He will try."
Azazel looked back down at the map.
"...She might kill him."
Lucifell gave a faint, humorless breath through his nose.
"That would be the simplest outcome."
Azazel looked up again.
"But if she does not."
Lucifell finished quietly.
"Then Lavik becomes her ally."
The implications hung in the room like thunder waiting to strike.
The Dark Elven Forest.
A savage kingdom.
An army of the Underworld.
And a ruler who fed on human flesh.
Azazel finally stepped away from the table.
"...The council will not like this."
Lucifell answered calmly.
"They rarely like anything."
Azazel allowed the faintest hint of a smirk.
True.
He turned toward the door.
Then stopped.
"...Commander."
Lucifell looked up slightly.
Azazel spoke without turning around.
"If Lavik demands tribute from the Underworld army..."
Lucifell waited.
Azazel finished quietly.
"...he will demand girls."
Silence.
Cold.
Heavy.
Lucifell's voice became something darker.
"...Then Lavik will not live long enough to collect them."
Azazel finally opened the door.
But before leaving, he spoke one last time.
"Friday night will be... interesting."
The door closed behind him.
Lucifell stood alone again.
His eyes slowly drifted back to the map.
To the forest.
To the bleeding moon crest.
And somewhere deep in the night beyond the mountains-
another ruler was already marching toward the same storm.
Sub-Chapter 2.3 - Eclipse
The iron door of the commander's sanctum opened slowly.
Lucifell stepped out into the dim stone corridor with his Nightbringer masked on, as the mask designed draconic, then it created a silhouette of some demonic head on the floor.
The torches along the wall burned low, their flames swaying gently in the cold night air that drifted through the castle halls.
For a moment, the corridor seemed empty.
Then-
a familiar voice.
"You took longer than usual."
Lucifell stopped.
Leaning against the stone pillar across the hallway was Alice.
Her crimson eyes glowed faintly beneath the torchlight.
Her scythe rested beside her shoulder.
Her wings hugged her body.
She had clearly been waiting.
Lucifell studied her for a moment.
"...The others left."
Alice shrugged.
"I noticed."
Her tail flicked behind her lazily.
"They assumed I followed them."
Lucifell didn't ask why she stayed.
He already knew.
Alice pushed herself off the pillar and walked a few steps closer.
The corridor felt quieter than before.
Outside, distant thunder rolled far across the mountains.
Alice looked up at him.
Not with her usual arrogance.
Not with sarcasm.
Just curiosity.
"...Can I ask you something?"
Lucifell folded his arms loosely.
"You already are."
Alice rolled her eyes.
"Just answer seriously for once."
A small pause.
Then she asked.
"...What happens if you meet her?"
Lucifell didn't move.
Alice continued.
"In the war."
Her grip tightened slightly around her scythe.
"What happens if the two of you meet in the middle of the battlefield?"
The torches crackled softly.
Lucifell's draconic mask reflected the flame for a moment as a voice inside his head chaotic.
Alice looked away slightly.
"...She's leading the army, right?"
Silence lingered between them.
Lucifell finally answered.
Calm.
Quiet.
Controlled.
"Then we fight."
Alice's eyes narrowed slightly.
"That's it?"
Lucifell nodded once.
"That's it."
Alice stared at him.
Trying to read something deeper.
Something more human.
"...You wouldn't hesitate?"
Lucifell looked forward down the long corridor.
His voice remained steady.
"A commander who hesitates gets his soldiers killed."
Alice's tail stopped moving.
her wings steady.
She didn't look satisfied.
"...But this isn't just any enemy."
Lucifell finally looked down at her.
His gaze wasn't cold.
Just honest.
"I know."
Alice searched his eyes through his draconic mask.
"...Then what happens?"
Lucifell's answer came without drama.
Without anger.
Without emotion.
"If she stands in the path of this kingdom..."
A quiet pause.
"...I will stop her."
Alice looked down.
Her fingers tightened slightly around the shaft of her scythe.
"...Even if it kills her?"
Lucifell didn't answer immediately.
The torches flickered again.
Then he spoke.
"...War doesn't give us clean endings."
Alice swallowed quietly.
But before the silence could grow too heavy-
Lucifell added something.
His voice softer.
Still calm
But different.
"If that day comes..."
Alice slowly looked back up.
"...I know that I'm not alone on that battlefield."
Her eyes widened slightly.
Lucifell turned and began walking down the corridor.
"... because You'll be there."
Alice blinked.
her tail shaking
her wings waving
and then Lucifell walk slowly.
Alice watched him walk away.
For a moment she looked annoyed.
Then embarrassed.
as her cheeks blushing
Then quietly pleased.
"...Tch."
She lifted her scythe onto her shoulder again.
"Like I'd let you fight alone anyway."
Alice turned and followed him down the corridor.
But the question she asked still echoed quietly in her mind.
What happens when The Nightbringer and The War Commander of the Underworld Army finally meet again?
Because everyone knew one thing.
When that moment came-
The war would truly begin.
The heavy doors of the Arcana Military Headquarters opened with a low creak.
Cold night air swept into the stone corridor.
Lucifell stepped outside first.
Alice followed behind him, resting her scythe across her shoulder as usual.
The courtyard of the Arcana compound stretched wide before them, lit by tall lantern pillars and the silver glow of the moon above.
Soldiers moved in distant patrols across the grounds, their armor faintly clinking as they marched.
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Lucifell walked calmly down the stone path toward the outer courtyard.
Alice watched him.
Her crimson eyes narrowed slightly.
Then she smirked.
"...So."
Lucifell didn't look back.
"...So?"
Alice spun the scythe lazily once before resting it on her shoulder again.
"I heard something interesting yesterday."
Lucifell kept walking.
"That's unfortunate."
Alice quickened her steps and moved beside him.
"You had a meeting."
Lucifell remained quiet.
"At Goblet's Tavern."
That made him glance at her slightly.
Alice grinned.
"With Kestrel."
Lucifell sighed quietly.
"...Military intelligence has too much free time."
Alice leaned slightly closer.
"So..."
Her voice softened just a little.
"How was your date?"
Lucifell stopped walking.
Alice stopped too.
She folded her arms and tilted her head smugly.
"Well?"
Lucifell looked at her for a moment.
Then calmly replied.
"It was a meeting."
Alice scoffed.
"Sure."
She took a step closer.
"So if that was just a meeting..."
Her tail flicked slowly behind her.
"...then how about an actual date?"
Lucifell blinked once.
Alice smiled proudly.
"Tomorrow."
Lucifell's expression remained completely neutral.
Alice continued confidently.
"Just dinner."
She leaned forward slightly.
"Maybe a walk."
Her crimson eyes sparkled mischievously.
"And no war maps allowed."
Lucifell stared at her for a moment.
The night breeze moved softly across the courtyard.
Then-
he looked up at the sky.
"...Alice."
She crossed her arms.
"What?"
Lucifell pointed upward.
"Look at the moon."
Alice frowned slightly.
"What?"
"The moon."
She glanced up.
Above them, the white moon hung high over Mournvale.
Then-
slowly-
a dark shadow began to slide across its surface.
Alice blinked.
"...An eclipse?"
Lucifell nodded calmly.
"Rare tonight."
Alice stared at the sky for a few seconds.
"...Huh."
The moon slowly darkened as the eclipse began.
Alice turned back toward Lucifell.
"...You didn't answer my ques-"
She stopped.
Lucifell was gone.
Where he had stood-
two spiraling whirlwinds of dark-blue energy twisted briefly in the air.
A twin vortex teleportation signature.
Then it vanished.
Alice stood there.
Silent.
Processing.
Tilts her head.
Her eye twitched.
"...He ran."
Her tail snapped angrily.
"HE RAN."
Several soldiers nearby pretended very hard not to laugh.
Alice pointed at the empty space where Lucifell had been.
"That coward!"
She stomped her foot.
"I KNOW YOU CAN HEAR ME!"
Silence.
Only the wind answered.
Alice crossed her arms angrily.
"...Fine."
She turned and began walking away.
Muttering.
"...Next time I'll break his teleport spell."
But despite her irritation-
a tiny smile tugged at the corner of her mouth.
Above the Arcana headquarters, the moon slowly disappeared behind shadow.
The first eclipse of the coming war had begun.