Dual Approval

For as long as Sei had known Malachi, he'd been the sweetest man imaginable.

Even before their relationship progressed, Mal had always helped out with housework after he'd finished tutoring Serana and made conversation with her.

She'd never seen him upset or even badmouth someone.

He was the very image of a kind and considerate young man.

Even when his parents were taken from him, instead of being angry and lashing out he grieved silently and started working to provide for Aubrey.

Sei didn't believe Mal had a malevolent bone in his entire body.

So what was with this sudden talk of murder?

As she stared into Malachi's eyes she saw a great range of emotions.

There was anger which was new but there was something more as well.

'Is he.. afraid?'

It was then that Sei realized that despite the stoic aura Malachi was trying to present, he was actually quite afraid of how she would react.

Sei placed her hand on his and gave him a warm reassuring look.

"Why don't you tell me what's going on?"

Mal debated internally how much he should reveal before ultimately deciding he didn't want to hide things from someone he cared so much about.

So in the end he divulged everything.

He told her about how Rowan's daughter was violated by the man he'd been asked to kill which lead to her committing suicide.

He opened up the briefcase of money he was given and Sei gasped in shock when she saw the exorbitant amount of money inside.

It was easily around 500,000 dollars.

Sei had never seen such a large amount of money in her life and Malachi pulling it out so casually had almost caused her to faint.

She listened to him as he explained that Rowan claimed to be an expert on the occult and mythology who could help him master his powers.

In the end when he told her about his acceptance of the job, there was silence once more.

As the day slowly descended into night the two sat there watching all of the cars on the city streets go by.

"I… will not look at you any differently." Sei honestly answered.

Malachi was honestly surprised by this answer and looked at the woman with a slightly bewildered look.

"I know if I'd lost Serana the same way that man lost his daughter I would probably feel the same way. I think this man lost everything that would qualify him as a human a long time ago." Sei comforted.

"But can I ask what made you accep-"

"Well said!" A new voice spoke.

The couple looked across the table to see the goddess of the night wearing her signature starry black dress.

"Who.. are you?" Sei thought she would be frightened by this woman's sudden appearance but instead she felt strangely comfortable.

She felt as if she was taking a slow walk in a crisp cold night.

"She is Nyx." Malachi answered for her and offered the goddess a warm smile. "It's good to see you again. I didn't know gods were allowed to come down here so freely."

"Don't compare me with those low level gods." Nyx frowned.

"They only hold power over an aspect of nature while I embody a part of creation itself." Nyx stared out into the night with a satisfied expression as if she were looking in the mirror.

"Therefore I have a bit more leeway than the others. But that's unimportant for now…" Nyx stood up and analyzed Sei from head to toe. "You've chosen well my child. I'm not particularly fond of humans but this one seems an exception."

Sei could only blush as she received a genuine compliment from what was undoubtedly the most beautiful woman she'd ever seen.

Malachi said nothing but he squeezed Sei's hand lightly and smiled.

"But my son.." Nyx drifted her eyes to Malachi and her tone became slightly more serious. "Even if he is the one that harmed your sister, to hunt down another human in cold blood will undoubtedly take something from you. Are you prepared for that?"

'This man harmed Aubrey too?' Sei's heart wrenched at the sudden revelation.

Just how much had Malachi and his sister been through?

Mal's gaze became hard and he stared unflinchingly at Nyx. " I am."

To Sei, Mal sounded incredibly sincere and convincing but Nyx knew better.

Because darkness hides everything the night sees all.

Therefore nothing could be hidden from The personification of night herself.

Even if they weren't connected through her divinity, Nyx could feel the fear that Malachi was shoving down.

Fear that in killing that horrible man he would also lose something critical for being human.

And yet she could feel his unwavering determination to go through with this task anyway.

'What a kind child I've chosen… he will undoubtedly shoulder the weight of the world.'

Nyx knew there was nothing she could say to sway Malachi from the path he'd decided to walk so she planted a kiss on his forehead that sent a warmth streaming throughout his body.

"Walk always in my night child, and you will never be alone."

With that she disappeared leaving behind a reassured Malachi.

He couldn't explain it but conversing with Nyx always gave him the same feelings that he got when he talked to his mother while she was still alive.

'Is it because she calls me her child? It's oddly comforting.'

Malachi turned to apologize to Sei for the somber mood only to see her glaring at him.

"W-what's the matter?"

"Even if she's a goddess how could you let her k-kiss you!?"

A small smirk appeared on Malachi's face.

"Is my dear Sei jealous?"

"Of course I am! Even I have not!.." Sei realized that she was being completely honest despite her intention to lie.

Her face slowly became as red as a tomato before she immediately got up and prepared to run away.

She was completely surprised however when Malachi pulled her in by her waist and planted a warm kiss on her lips.

Sei's body immediately tensed up before she melted like snow in his grasp.

The two lingered like that for a while, each of them seemingly trying to ingrain them taste of the other in their memory.

-The next day

Malachi went about his usual routine.

He woke up early to go to the guild so that Rose could beat- I mean train him for two hours before he changed and went to class.

Every person that knew him could tell that he wasn't quite right but what could they do when he so adamantly stated that he was fine?

Luna, Serana, Aubrey and Aisha were all incredibly worried about the always cheerful young man who'd suddenly become much more quiet.

Night had fallen and Malachi was driving his nice car to an unknown part of the city.

After a twenty minute drive, he arrived at a run down abandoned building and promptly got out.

He saw Rowan waiting for him and promptly began to shrug off his nice jacket and roll up his sleeves. "Alright old man."

"Let's work."