One moment, she was in a modest tavern room, indulging in some soup; the next, she found herself within an interdimensional hallway that connected different dimensions.
Arwen frowned at the sudden change in scenery, unsure of how to feel about it as she quickly took notice of the presence of Ulysses, who was currently leaning against the entrance to the Abyss, and Elena, who was further away, sitting in the space between the entrances leading to Purgatory and the Afterlife.
Ana was also present, already making her way to Elena who acknowledged her with a nod while inquiring cryptically. "She came?"
"Just as I thought she would."
"Thankfully we made preparations, otherwise..."
"It would be best not to think about it." Ana quickly said, putting a stop to whatever ominous statement was about to escape Elena’s lips.
"What’s going on?" Arwen asked as she approached them.
Ana let out a sigh as she replied. "I told you, there is an unsavory element in Thespene that I’d rather not gain the attention of. Unfortunately, she decided to come for us now."
"The Daemon that killed Arthur and is the reason we are missing a member." Elena simply said with Arwen piecing together the rest.
"What is she doing here?"
"If I were to guess, she’s here for the same reason we are," Ana remarked. "The Pearl."
"Does this mean we have a chance to get her back for what she did back then?" Arwen asked.
"It’s up to Alex," Ana answered. "He’s the one with the GodKiller and he is the leader. Whatever he decides, we go along with it."
Then, she added in a subdued tone. "As is, taking on a Daemon is the same as courting death... even with a weapon capable of harming divinity."
"We thought you were dead!"
The purebred Emetite and the average-looking Henosian celebrated the return of their leader, even attempting to rush out of their hiding spot to meet him, only for the latter to remark.
"Silence!... You guys are going to wake up the dead with all that screaming!"
"Bah, the dead are already awake." The average Henosian quipped, earning a glare from their leader.
"Boss, what happened back there?" the Emetite asked. "We really thought you weren’t going to make it."
"I nearly didn’t." The leader replied as he rubbed his neck, recalling just how Sayda had snapped it and sent him flying through a building.
To think that there would be a Daemon that would prefer physical contact than a ranged attack.
However, considering what he knew, it ended up benefiting him that she saw it as a waste to attack him with her domain, resorting to snapping his neck instead.
It allowed him to survive with the aid of his Innate Talent.
Taking a deep breath, he sought to calm his nerves only for the Henosian to speak up.
"Are you alright, boss?... You seem bothered."
"It’s nothing." The leader replied before adding. "We can’t stay in Thespene. We’ll have to make do with staying in the vicinity until the gateway reveals itself."
"Just do as I say and stop asking questions." The leader said through gritted teeth.
Of course, he didn’t see the need to let them know that a Daemon was walking freely on the streets of Thespene.
They had a much better chance of surviving against the cold and the dead that came with it as far as he was concerned.
"It’s really strange, though; for what reason has Twilight not revealed itself?" The Emetite couldn’t help but ask. "It’s been days since the Long Night yet... it’s really odd."
"I agree." The leader nodded. "However, there’s nothing we can do but wait. Now come on, let’s look around for a place to stay."
And so, the Emetite and the Henosian led the way while the leader followed behind, his expression complicated as he recalled the face of the beast that Sayda had been with.
Even as his bloodline was impure, there was no way he would be unable to recognize an Alpha Werewolf.
To think that such a great figure that would have been regarded as a leader among werewolves has been reduced to such a state left a searing wound in the leader’s heart.
He swore, no matter what, to put an end to such disgusting acts carried out against werewolves.
The first step, reestablishing Luna’s Dwelling.
As he stood in place, watching the Witch of Fables work in tandem with Humphrey to recreate a certain event from the Blood feast, Alex couldn’t help but realize how much time had passed, almost in the blink of an eye.
To think that a year had already passed with so much happening.
He recalled both the good and the bad, the wins and the losses... he remembered it all.
The death anniversary for both Arthur and Emily was close, and along with that, Douglas was still missing, most likely in the hands of the Daemon that caused Arthur’s death.
If he was right, there was a chance he would meet with the Daemon once Twilight revealed itself.
Alex didn’t have a vendetta against them like Douglas; after all, he was unaffected by their quest for the Pearl and those who had suffered for it.
However... he recalled the way he felt when he saw Arthur’s corpse, the way he felt when he learned that Douglas was gone... the way Emily looked when she was at death’s door as she spoke about Douglas.
And because of those recollections, his heart beat faster, his breathing quickened, his jaw clenched and his body posture tensed.
He didn’t have any plans of going out of his way to hunt the Daemon down, but if it turned out that she was going to be in Twilight, Alex found himself unsure of what he would do.
Instinctively, he glanced at the GodKiller in his hand, the weapon that came to be because of many reasons.
Perhaps, he thought, there might just be a need to use it in combat soon enough.
For that reason, his grip on the hilt tightened.