Azreal stepped into the room, Aria sitting cross-legged on the body like it was nothing, her arms folded as she watched him.
"We'll continue next time," Azreal said. "Maybe I'll teach you flame manipulation."
Aria's eyes lit up. "Really?"
"Sure," he nodded. "But for now, just wait here. I'll be back shortly."
"Can I at least practice a bit?"
Azreal shook his head. "We can't risk your flames going out of control again."
"But I think I have an idea," Azreal said. "Back when you were in the Soul Realm... were you given anything? Something you were attached to in life?"
Aria blinked. "You mean... a Soul Anchor?"
Azreal nodded. "Exactly."
"I was given one," she said. "But I don't have it with me now. I think... it's in the First Gate."
"Got it. Sit tight. I'll have Hulk retrieve it."
"Okay. I'll wait," Aria said softly as Azreal stepped out, closing the door behind him.
As Azreal walked down the hall, Nena appeared, leaning against the wall.
"Out again?" she asked.
"Yeah. Something came up," Azreal replied. "Aria's in the room."
"That poor girl. Must be bored. You're always leaving her alone."
"I know," Azreal said with a sigh.
"Don't worry," Nena smiled. "I'll keep her company."
"Thanks," Azreal said, snapping his fingers as a glowing gate opened. He stepped through it, disappearing into the void.
Chamber of Scarlet Flames
Laisa slipped into a flowing pink gown, adjusting her fan. "I'd better hurry to the Flaming Hall... don't want to keep Lord Azreal waiting."
As she stepped out, her handmaiden Cassy bowed.
"My lady, you just recovered, and you're already heading out?"
Laisa smiled. "Something urgent came up. I'll be back soon."
"Okay... please be careful," Cassy said.
Orvath stood silently as the room filled. The other Pillars took their seats, their presence heavy with power. The massive doors opened again—Azreal entered, and everyone stood briefly before sitting again.
Azreal took his seat. Hulk stood beside him.
"Hulk. Go to the First Gate. Retrieve Aria's Soul Anchor."
"Yes, my Lord." Hulk bowed and vanished instantly.
Orvath stepped forward. "Sorry for the short notice, but this matter was urgent."
Just then, the doors creaked open again—Laisa entered and bowed before taking her seat.
"You just recovered," Azreal said. "You should have stayed and rested."
"I'm fine now," she smiled. "It's no problem."
"How are you feeling?" Malphas asked.
"You should visit my gate later," Xaltheon said. "We can check for any leftover traces of the mark."
Selmora teased, "Still late even after that break, huh?"
"I was busy," Laisa fanned herself with a grin.
Veymar chuckled. "Let me guess—spent three hours dressing up?"
"Let's move on," Dragos said seriously.
Orvath cleared his throat. "I've discovered something... about Y'tharion's mark."
Everyone went silent. Flames flared above Orvath's hands, forming two glowing symbols in the air.
Azreal narrowed his eyes. "That second one... it's also Y'tharion's mark?"
Orvath nodded. "Yes. When I examined the ashes of the infernals, these two marks appeared."
He pointed to the first: a single, broken black horn. "This is the mark we've seen on the demon infernals before."
Then the second appeared: a spiraling rune, thorny and jagged, curving inward like it was trying to complete a ring.
"This one came from the newer evolved infernals that attacked recently."
"Are you saying there are two Y'tharion marks?" Malphas asked.
"At first, I thought the mark was evolving," Orvath explained. "But then I tried something..."
He combined the two images, fusing them. The horn became a prong, and the spiral formed the base—like a crown that was never finished.
"This," he said, "is the complete Y'tharion's mark. It was split all along."
Shock rippled through the room.
"So the demon infernals developed the second piece?" Xaltheon asked.
Malphas added, "Each mark was only part of a whole..."
"And the placement?" Azreal asked. "The first mark was on the infernals' shoulder blades."
"We're not sure where the second one appears," Orvath admitted. "But there's a way to find out."
Selmora snapped her fingers. A small gate appeared, marked with the symbol of a snake eating its own tail. Two guards dragged a badly burned infernal through it, whip marks covering its body.
"This one was the Opera Leader in my gate," Selmora said coldly.
"Yikes," Orvath muttered, examining the body. "She's... thorough."
He turned the body over. "There," he pointed. "Across the spine. Burnt and faint, but it's the same mark."
"That means the placement is consistent," Malphas said. Googlᴇ search 𝘯𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭⟡𝘧𝘪𝘳𝘦⟡𝘯𝘦𝘵
"Then why was Laisa's mark on her forehead?" Azreal asked.
Orvath hesitated. "Maybe because her soul wasn't fully consumed. You said your mark resonated with hers—you saved her. These ones..." he looked at the body, "are completely gone."
"Which means Laisa was different," Veymar said. "But why?"
"I don't know," Orvath admitted.
"Laisa?" Malphas turned to her.
She shook her head. "I really don't know."
"Then we'll figure it out," Dragos said. "If we can stop the soul from being fully consumed, maybe we can save others."
Azreal nodded. "I'll leave that to Orvath."
"And the infernals?" Xaltheon asked.
Malphas changed the subject. "Lord Azreal, did Hades give you anything?"
Azreal's expression darkened. "No. When I asked about the Gods' mark, he told me to mind my business."
"Then he's hiding something," Selmora said flatly.
Azreal continued, "But I had Sarah scan the area. We found something, and she's looking into it."
He looked at them seriously. "As for Aria—her arrival here wasn't a mistake from the gate system. I saw it myself in the Soul Realm. The Soul reeders were guiding souls across the Soul River. That's when I realized..."
"The mistake wasn't from Hell. It was from the Soul Realm. Aria was brought to Hell because someone messed with the crossing."
Xaltheon frowned. "Could they have made a mistake?"
"I asked Hades," Azreal said. "He swore it was impossible. Which makes me wonder—was he lying? Or... is something happening in his realm that even he doesn't know about?"
The room fell silent. The weight of that possibility hung in the air.
"If that's the case," Azreal said quietly, "then we're all just pieces on the same board."