The Old Man

Derek cursed to himself. It seemed like the man knew more than he let on. Derek struggled more and was even tempted to bring out his wings, but to no avail. He needed to know who this person was.

"Who are you?"

"Why, I'm just a simple old man who needs help from a young man." The cloaked man continued to walk.

"We are almost here." The two were in the deep heart of the outskirts. Lamplights could be seen flickering onto the empty sidewalks. It felt like a ghost town. The alleyways were empty, and the only hint of life was an old barkeep in the far corner lighting a cigar. A light smoke loomed over the street.

It seemed as if the two finally reached their destination. The hooded man released his magic on Derek, and without a moment's hesitation, Derek springs away from the stranger and raises his fist, intending to fight.

"Why did you bring me here?" Derek eyed the old man with a menacing glare.

"I mean no harm. You'll understand soon enough."

What laid in front of the two was a broken-down house with dim lights across two floors. The place clearly needed renovation, but at the same time, it liked like every other residence that was around them. Nearly abandoned and ruined.

A cry of joy could be heard from the inside as a young boy and a girl came running out of the doorway.

"Grandpa!" The children lunge towards the stranger, tackling him and nearly falling to the ground. The hooded guise the stranger donned is taken off by the force, revealing an elderly man around sixty years old. The children brim with glee as they continue to latch onto the stranger. Derek slowly puts his fists down in confusion.

"Grandpa Aldin! Grandpa Aldin! Where'd you go? Why did you take so long? And whose that pale looking stranger over there?" Upon seeing Derek, the children hide behind the old man and point at Derek.

"Fret not, young ones. He is a friend, and he is here to help us."

"Wait a min-" Derek was about to speak when the old man interrupted him.

"Boy, forgive me for my actions earlier. Many of the kingdom's walls have ears, and the safest way to bring you here without causing a commotion was to... well, use my magic." The old man flicked his fingers and all the lamplights on the street sparked up. As fast as he lit them up, the lights turned off as he snapped his fingers once more.

"Please, call me Aldin. May I ask what your name is?" Derek was still reluctant and skeptical, but Z.E.D. did say to explore the world around him. On top of that, it seemed like this person had information he needed to know.

"Name's Der... call me Vars." Derek walked over to Aldin and reached out with his hand, and was meet with a surprisingly strong handshake.

"Nice to meet you." Z.E.D. springs back to life.

* Analyzing... *

* Name: Aldin, Class Rank: Tier 5 Mystic Sentinel *

* Aldin has been added to your Archive. *

It seemed like Aldin was a surprisingly high rank, 2 or 3 ranks higher than the normal person. What was he doing in the outskirts?

"Looks like you know what I'm capable of now." Aldin ushers the children in, and beckons Derek forth. "Come. We have much to talk about." Aldin gestures at the door and Derek follows right behind him.

Inside the house wasn't much. It had your usual commodities, a kitchen, bathroom, dining room, and an area where the children would play their little games. Over at the kitchen, an elderly woman could be seen making dinner.

"Welcome home, dear."

Derek was taken aback by the smell. A flood of memories of his past life went through his head; it smelled exactly like his mother's home-cooking, and in fact, one of his favorite meals. Mapo Tofu. The sharp pang of spice zoomed through the air and made Derek scrunch up his nose.

"So you must be the boy my husband has been ranting about for the past week. Please, sit. And honey, dinner's ready!"

The lady gestures towards the round table as the strange family and Derek gather around. The children rushed towards the table and attempted to reach for the food, but were stopped mid-track, as if they were frozen.

"Grandpa!!! We're so hungry!" The two kids begin the throw a fit as Aldin appears behind them with a hand raised up.

* Mystic Ability: Full Puppeteer Identified. *

* Ability Preview *

[Full Puppeteer: Complete control over a target's body. Energy drains with duration and skill difference.]

So this was the enhanced version of what was cast on him during the walk to the house, Derek thought. Looking at the old man, it didn't seem like it broke a sweat on him at all. The kids were probably an enormous disparity in skill level that it didn't require any energy at all.

"Honey, I thought I told you to stop using magic on the kids."

Aldin released his focus and dropped his hand and nodded at the lady.

"Apologies, Lyse. Old habits die hard."

The whole family finally get seated at the table as the lady brings over the dish. The kids begin devouring the tofu on one side of the table. Derek is staring at the food with his mouth watering, eager to take a bite, but the old man beckons towards Derek to scoot next to him.

"Vars, was it? We can eat the food later. We have much to go over, and not a moment to spare. Lyse, this was the child of prophecy I was mentioning about."

The kids look up, their face full of food. "Chierrrdd ouhhff pwoopreeciii?"

"The child of prophecy, the sin of the heaven and hell, the light in the dark, and the dark in the light. He shall be the savior of the next Anarchy."

Aldin dons on a spectacle and summons a gigantic magic book, shifting through it quickly.

"Ahhh, here it is. The phenomenon of the... Demon Angel." The man looks dead into Derek's eyes, and a plethora of history engulfs his mind.

Day 0, Year ?

The beginning of the end, or perhaps another beginning. The creation of the universe, the separation of good and bad, light and dark, heaven and hell. Angels would rule the sky and the overworld, and the devils and demons would the underworld.

First came the curiosity, and then came the greediness. Angels and demons were forbidden to enter each other's domain, which had them all the more eager to find ways to enter. Some were more willing than others, and would do whatever it takes to get to the overworld/underworld. Even at the expense of a life.

On the 6th day of the 6th week of the 6th year, a demon named Lucifer killed a guardian of the overworld to break through the light, destroying the contract that held peace and harmony between the two races. A team of sin eaters were formed with the intent to kill, and Lucifer sought refuge in a remote forest far away from the angels' control.

There, however, was an angel unknownst of the conflict that happen, and soon came to fall in love with the new stranger that was Lucifer. The woman's name was Aphione. Lucifer vowed to never share his secret, fearing that the love of his life would leave him. To hide his identity, the demon cut off his dark wings and swore to never fly again.

They bore a child within the first year. The crimson glow of the child's eye was like nothing ever seen before. It had the dark red blaze of the demon's eye, yet the pale moonlight of an angel's irises. Lucifer knew he couldn't keep the secret in any longer; sooner or later the child they had birthed would show the colors that were a part of him. He knew, too, that Aphione would be in danger for being with him, even if she was unaware. There was only one of thing Lucifer could do.

The news of a strange-eyed child slowly spread across the overworld. When it catches wind of the higher powers of heaven's domain, they would come bolting down to the overworld, engulfed with fury. Lucifer knew he didn't have much time, but had a plan to guarantee his son's safety, and hopefully, Aphione's too.

Midnight falls, and the roaring cries of the sin eaters can be heard everywhere. Aphione is fast asleep with the baby. Lucifer, donned with a cloak, grabs the baby and begins to trek back towards his wings. To fuse them on once more, for the last time. Lucifer knew he didn't have much time, but if he made it to the gate and surrender himself, he could save the village.