Chapter 51: Go back to your home! II
Felicia uncrossed her arms, walking over to the table and sitting directly across from him, her eyes still firm and full of expectation.
"Vergil, I understand that your life is different now. I know you've got new interests, and you're going through something different. And yes, the situation with these... your wives... is complicated. But you've always been smart, always had a good head on your shoulders.
Dropping out of college? That's a huge step backward, do you realize that?"
Vergil felt the tension rise.
He knew her well, and he understood that for her, education was a priority, something she always valued and instilled in him since childhood. After all, they hadn't always had the means for it.
However, the direction his life was taking now seemed so far removed from the plans he originally had that college was beginning to feel like a burden.
He had died... He was no longer Vergil Kennedy, the athletic engineering student.
He was... Vergil Kennedy, Agares, Baal, and Sitri... The man who had married three women, daughters of three Demon Queens.
He took a deep breath, ready to face his mother again.
"I get what you're saying, Mom, and I know I've always prioritized education. But... things have changed. I'm not the guy who only needs to worry about passing classes anymore. There are... other things at stake."
Felicia shook her head, sighing. "Other things? Vergil, you're my son, and I know you better than anyone. These 'other things' you're talking about... are you referring to your powers, your fights, all the chaos that's entered your life recently?"
Felicia shook her head again, sighing. "Other things? Vergil, you're my son, and I know you better than anyone. What are you hiding, boy?" she pressed.
Vergil thought of an excuse but sighed again. There was no point in weaving more lies for her.
"I don't want to talk about it right now. Not until I'm ready," he said honestly. He had even considered blurting out, "Hey Mom! I'm a demon now! Deal with it!" but knowing his mother... that would only make things worse.
She nodded slowly, looking down at the table.
"Alright," she said after a small pause. "Damn it, you're growing up too fast..." she added with a crooked smile.
Vergil chuckled, feeling a tinge of relief. "They say it's part of life, right?"
She snorted, crossing her arms and looking at him again, this time with a more affectionate but still cautious gaze. "Part of life, maybe. But that doesn't mean I have to like the pace at which things are changing."
Vergil leaned back in his chair, feeling the weight of the conversation on his shoulders. He knew his mother wasn't a fool, and the doubt and curiosity still lingered, bubbling beneath the surface. Felicia was always perceptive, and his recent behavior had likely set off every red flag possible in her mind.
He knew that, eventually, he would have to tell her the truth. But today wasn't the day. Not yet.
"So," she said, changing the subject as she walked back to the stove. "Since we're on this honesty kick, let's get to it. How's this whole three-wives thing going?" She glanced at him from the corner of her eye, but there was a hint of teasing in her voice.
Vergil rolled his eyes, sighing. "Mom..."
"What?" she said with a mischievous smile. "I'm still getting used to it. Three women? What do you think this is, some slice-of-life fantasy harem in the modern world?" she added precisely.
"You know it's nothing like that…"
"Oh, I know," Felicia replied, chuckling to herself. "I just can't imagine the chaos it must be. I can barely handle one rebellious son, let alone three women with different personalities!"
"It's not that complicated," he tried to argue, though he knew it was only half true. "I mean, sometimes it is, but we manage."
Felicia stopped stirring the pots and looked at him with a nearly challenging smile. "Oh, I get it. So, you've become the grand mediator of a chaotic harem now. Impressive."
Vergil let out a nervous laugh. "You're really going to keep teasing me about this, aren't you?"
"Of course. I'm not the one stuck dealing with three women, so I might as well have some fun with the thought," she replied with a low laugh.
He shook his head, still smiling.
She had always been a practical woman, and while she masked her concerns with humor, he knew she didn't like the idea of her son being wrapped up in such a complicated relationship. And that was without even knowing the most complicated part of all: that he was now a demon.
"Alright, come on, help me set the table," she said, moving away from the stove and bringing some dishes of food. "If you're going to disappear for another week, at least leave here with a full stomach."
"I'm not going to disappear again," Vergil said, standing up to help. "I promise."
Felicia glanced at him out of the corner of her eye, clearly not fully believing him. "Uh-huh. Sure. I'll pretend to believe that."
...
Ada crouched in a dark corner of the hall, her eyes locked on the pedestal illuminated at the center of the room.
The sword, shrouded in a mystical aura, lay peacefully beneath a layer of magical runes. see-more-MVLeMpYr
To anyone else, the blade's glow would be a clear sign that the protective magic was still active, but Ada wasn't just anyone. She had spent years studying each of her mother's protections, waiting for the right moment to act.
The hall was vast, almost intimidating, with walls made of ancient stone that echoed with an eerie silence. Large stained-glass windows in hues of red, gold, and blue cast distorted shadows on the marble floor. The air was cold, and the only light came from the pulsating glow of the various swords. This was the one place Ada knew she'd never leave alive if her mother found out...
the personal collection of the Demon Queen Baal.
Anyone who dared enter without knowledge would be obliterated in seconds by the enchanted defenses.
But Ada knew every detail of this place — after all, she had grown up watching her mother manipulate those very protections.
She was about to accomplish something that many would consider impossible: stealing her mother's most valuable and dangerous weapon.
With a slight movement of her fingers, Ada summoned a small spark of energy between them, carefully tracing patterns in the air. The runes on the pedestal flared brightly for a moment, responding to Ada's magic, but then dissipated like smoke. The protective barrier around the sword dissolved with a soft hiss.
"Perfect..." Ada whispered, a triumphant smile dancing on her lips.
She took a step forward, approaching the blade. Her fingers brushed the hilt with reverence, feeling the pulsating force of the secret sword that had been kept hidden for so long. The energy emanating from it was palpable, almost alive, vibrating beneath her touch. An ancient and unknown power that her mother had never wanted to reveal.
With a smooth motion, Ada lifted the sword from the pedestal. The intense glow surrounding it vanished, as if the blade had finally been freed from its prison. She stood still for a moment, simply feeling the weight and energy of the weapon in her hands.
The silence in the hall was abruptly broken by a distant sound, echoing through the stone walls. Ada froze, her ears straining.
Someone was coming.
"Damn," she muttered under her breath, realizing her time was running out.
Without hesitation, she closed her eyes and began tracing symbols in the air, preparing to use the sword in a way...
A vertical slash, from top to bottom, that tore through the veil of space-time.
The portal opened with a soft whoosh, revealing a path to an unknown destination. Light flickered around the edges of the magical rift, as if impatient for her to cross.
With one last glance at the hall — and a quick thought about what her mother would do when she discovered the theft — Ada leaped into the portal, vanishing into the swirling vortex of energy.
The room was left empty, save for the faint glow of the runes slowly reigniting on the now-vacant pedestal.
Ada had escaped the Royal Palace.
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<Author's Note>
Hey, remember to use your Golden Tickets and Power Stones to help the work reach new heights!
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