Under Control

"Re-release me, you idiot!" Reverie demanded. 

Sin stood over Reverie, an amused grin appeared on his face. "You really thought that was going to work? Shadow's curse is not a game for you. But your technique is a child's play for me."

Reverie, lying on the ground, looked up at Sin with frustration. "Who are you, the fun police?"

"No, I'm more like the party crasher. And you, my dear, just tried to crash the wrong party," Sin chuckled, offering her a hand to help her up. 

Reverie, although hesitant, took his hand and stood up, dusting herself off.

Karyan, still recovering from the sudden pain, managed to stand up, glaring at Reverie. "What was that for?!"

Reverie shrugged, trying to play it cool. "Just a little demonstration. Didn't know you'd take it so personally."

Sin couldn't help but laugh. "Oh, this is rich. You two are like kids in a playground. Except, you know, with potentially powers."

Karyan rolled his eyes. "Can we not do this right now? I've got a wounded friend to take care of."

Sin's eyes lit up. "Oh, wounded friend? Let me guess, did she get hurt by a 'weird bug'?"

Reverie, still feeling a bit offended, chimed in, "Hey! Niko is not weird!"

Sin, feigning shock, responded, "Oh no, not Niko! Anything but the notorious weird bug!"

Karyan shook his head, "Are you always this annoying?"

"Only on days that end with 'y'," Sin quipped, clearly enjoying himself.

Reverie, now a little more relaxed, couldn't help but join in the laughter. "Okay, okay, you got me. But seriously, we need to figure this out. We can't have me and Nedeira trying to kill each other every five minutes."

Sin nodded, suddenly adopting a more serious tone. "Agreed. But let's make a pact, no more heart-stopping tricks, and no more shadow curses. Deal?"

Karyan and Reverie exchanged glances before nodding in agreement.

"Deal," they both said in unison, without Nedeira's agreement. 

Sin clapped his hands together, satisfied. "Great! Now that we've established that, let's focus on the real enemy. And maybe, just maybe, try not to get on each other's nerves."

Reverie extended her hand to Karyan. "Truce?"

Karyanlooked at her hand, still feeling a bit prideful, but eventually shook it. "Whatever."

Sin watched the scene. "Look at that, making friends already. I should be a mediator."

 "Let's not get ahead of ourselves."

As they began to walk away, Sin couldn't resist one last joke. "So, who's up for a round of 'Don't Make the Sorcerer Angry'?"

Reverie and Karyan looked at each other, but didn't say anything. 

"Sin, you're impossible," Reverie finally spoke, shaking her head.

"And you love it," Sin retorted, leading the way with a confident smile. 

The demon's smile.

"Put me down, please…" Nedeira spoke. 

Without saying anything back to her, her placed her feet on the ground and stepped back. 

"This ugly monster!" Nedeira growled like an angry dog.

As Karyan tried to approach her, her eyes widened, completelyopen, and without a moment's hesitation, she lunged at Reverie. Karyan was quick, though, catching her by the wrist with his left hand. "Easy, Nedeira," he said, his voice calm but firm.

Nedeira, still disoriented and agitated, struggled against his grip before Karyan gently lifted her onto his shoulder. 

With a nod to Sin and Reverie, Karyan made his message of departure and walked back to the entertainment house, leaving them behind.

Once inside, Karyan carefully placed Nedeira back on the bed.

 He made a silent gesture towards the door, indicating he was going to sleep and preferred not to be disturbed. 

The silence wasn't out of choice; inside, Karyan was mute, unable to express his thoughts through words.

Heading to his room, Karyan found an unexpected scene. 

"…"

Sin, transformed into a cat, was lounging on his bed, while Sera seemed to be in the middle of an attempt to strangle Sin with her body.

Karyan's eyebrows raised in disbelief, asked, "Why are you here? And why did you interfere earlier?"

Sin, shifting back into his human form with a grin, replied, "No reason, really. I just can't resist being part of the fun. Plus, you looked like you could use a little... 'paws' in the action."

Karyan, unamused, stared at Sin. "I don't need your help, so don't do it again. I was testing her power, I wanted to know what element she was wielding first." 

Sin stretched, unfazed by Karyan's seriousness. "Oh, come on, lighten up! A little humor never hurt anyone. Well, except for when it does, but that's beside the point."

Sera, now loosening her grip, hissed softly, as if in agreement with Sin.

Karyan sighed, realizing arguing was useless. "Just... don't interfere without a good reason next time. I can't afford mistakes."

Sin winked. "You worry too much. But alright, I'll try to behave. No promises, though. You know how I am."

Karyan shook his head, a small smile finally broke through his calm face. "Yes, unfortunately, I do."

With a final glance at the odd pair on his bed, Karyan gestured for him to leave. "I need to rest. And make sure Nedeira is alright when she wakes up again."

Sin hopped off the bed, still in high spirits. "Alright, alright, I'm going. Come on, Sera, let's give the man some peace."

"This is Sera's bed." 

"So what about me then?" 

"You're a demon, sleep in hell."

"Wow! I saved your life and this is how you repay me?" 

"I didn't ask you to save me, I was going to-"

"Alright, alright. I'm leaving…"

As Sin made his way out, Karyan settled down, his thoughts drifted to the real situation. 

"The king is the sorcerer; damn it," he chuckled, "what a twist…" 

"Why does the king bother you so much…?" Sera asked. 

"Because in my previous life, he didn't even bother to check facts and killed me, for Mateo…" his smile faded, "and Mateo was the one to end his lineage, "how ironic…" 

"But how…?" 

"That…I couldn't figure it out yet. It appears, Mateo was working really hard in achieving his goals. And I will need to work harder in destroying them all."