The Revelation and Ambush

The journey back to the village was quiet. The victory against Plutonian weighed heavily on them, but the sense of urgency was ever-present. With each Arcana they collected, the stakes grew higher. They had to keep moving forward, or risk everything falling into Arius's hands.

When they arrived back in Vie de Marli, Matier was waiting at the gates, her face lit with relief as she spotted Lucia and Hadrian unharmed.

"The Calice!" she exclaimed, her wrinkled hands reaching out as Hadrian handed her the relic. "You've done well, both of you. This brings us closer to stopping Arius's madness."

Lucia managed a faint smile, but her eyes were troubled. She turned to Hadrian, who gave her a supportive nod.

"We should rest," Hadrian suggested. "We still have two more Arcanas to secure, and I have a feeling Arius won't make it easy on us."

Matier's gaze lingered on her daughter, sensing the conflict within her. "Lucia, come with me," she said softly, taking her daughter's hand. "We need to talk."

Lucia's Revelation

In the quiet of Matier's small hut, Lucia sat across from her adoptive mother, fidgeting with the straps of her weapon harness. The air between them was thick with unspoken words, memories of battles past, and a shared but complex bond.

"Mother… am I really your daughter?" Lucia's voice was barely a whisper, but the question hung in the air like a storm cloud.

Matier took a deep breath, her eyes soft but serious. "No, Lucia. Not by blood."

Lucia's face crumbled, the truth both a relief and a wound. "Then who—what am I?"

Matier reached across the table, her hand covering Lucia's. "You are my daughter, Lucia, because I chose you. Blood doesn't define family—our bond, our experiences, those are what tie us together."

"But… Arius created me. I'm just… an experiment. He said I'm bound to turn against humans, that I'm some failed attempt at creating the perfect demon."

"You are not a failure," Matier's voice was firm, unwavering. "You are strong, compassionate, and have a heart that Arius could never understand. You are no more his creation than a sword is the property of the blacksmith. You've carved your own path, Lucia. Never forget that."

The words settled over Lucia like a balm. For the first time, she felt a glimmer of peace, even if only for a moment.

The Ambush

Just as the conversation ended, the ground trembled, a foreboding chill rushing through the air. Screams erupted from the village, followed by the familiar sound of metal clashing against flesh.

"Demons!" Hadrian's voice echoed from outside, already locked in combat. Matier and Lucia rushed out, weapons drawn, just in time to see him engaged with a horde of demons spilling into the village.

At the center of the chaos was Arius himself, his presence exuding a dark aura, a twisted smile on his face as he watched his demons wreak havoc.

"Ah, the Protectors," he sneered, his gaze settling on Lucia. "How ironic, to see my creation fighting so hard to protect a people she was made to destroy."

Lucia glared at him, her resolve steeling. "I'll never be yours, Arius."

"We'll see about that." Arius snapped his fingers, summoning another wave of demons to surround them.

Battle for the Arcana Bastone

The fight was brutal, chaotic. Hadrian and Sirius fought back-to-back, each attack precise and devastating. Hadrian's dual blades, Kanshou and Bakuya, gleamed in the firelight as they sliced through the ranks of demons. Sirius alternated between casting powerful binding spells, weaving between enemies with Animagus-enhanced agility, and morphing his hands into deadly claws to tear through their attackers.

"Hadrian, on your left!" Sirius called, casting a protective barrier around them to deflect a barrage of demonic arrows. Hadrian twisted, his sword plunging into the heart of a demon sneaking up from behind, its blood spraying across his face.

"Thanks, Sirius!" he shouted, parrying another demon's attack and severing its head in a swift motion.

Meanwhile, Lucia faced off with Arius. Her eyes burned with fury and defiance, her movements swift as she dodged his attacks and countered with strikes of her own. But Arius was relentless, his power enhanced by the partial connection to Argosax.

"You can't stop me, Lucia," Arius taunted, launching a fiery projectile her way. She leapt out of the way, flipping mid-air and throwing a flurry of daggers at him. "Once I have all the Arcanas, I'll become a god!"

As he raised his hand to cast another spell, a burst of white light interrupted him. The Arcana Bastone was glowing in Matier's hands, its power unleashed. The relic emitted a wave of divine energy, weakening the demons and causing them to recoil.

"You will not lay claim to this power, Arius," Matier's voice was strong, filled with conviction. "This land, these relics, they do not belong to you."

Arius snarled, his face contorting in rage. "Then I'll just take it from you!" He charged forward, his form distorting as he attempted to grab the Bastone.

But Lucia intercepted him, her daggers slashing across his chest in a swift, precise motion. "Not today, Arius."

Hadrian joined her, his swords drawn and ready. "Lucia, together?"

She nodded, her gaze fierce. "Together."

They launched a coordinated assault on Arius, each move synchronized as they chipped away at his defenses. Hadrian's strikes forced Arius back, while Lucia used her agility to land hit after hit, her kicks and blades a blur as she kept him on the defensive.

Sirius joined in, binding Arius's limbs with magical restraints, making it harder for him to retaliate. "Hadrian, now!"

With a final, powerful strike, Hadrian plunged Kanshou and Bakuya into Arius's chest, the swords piercing through his flesh. The demon's body convulsed, his face twisted in agony as he let out a guttural scream.

"This… this isn't over," Arius spat, his voice a weak, raspy whisper. With a final snarl, he teleported away, his form flickering before vanishing completely, leaving only the echoes of his laughter.

As the dust settled, the villagers began emerging from their hiding places, their expressions a mixture of relief and gratitude. Matier approached Lucia, placing a comforting hand on her shoulder.

"You did well, my daughter," she said, pride evident in her voice. "You fought bravely."

Lucia nodded, though her gaze lingered on the spot where Arius had vanished. "He'll be back. And next time… he'll have the other Arcana."

"Then we'll be ready," Hadrian replied, stepping up beside her. "We're in this together, remember?"

Lucia offered him a small, grateful smile. "Yeah. Together."

Matier looked at the team, her expression resolute. "With three Arcanas in our possession, we still have a chance. But we must remain vigilant. Arius is desperate, and he won't stop until he has all four."

Hadrian clenched his fists, his resolve stronger than ever. "Then we make sure he never gets that chance."

With the Arcana Bastone now in their hands, the team prepared for the next step in their mission. They knew the journey ahead would only get harder, but together, they were ready to face whatever horrors the demon world would throw at them.