Two weeks passed in the Lust Ring two strange weeks of calm that felt almost impossible.
No ambushes.
No rival gang retaliation.
No unexpected political interference.
Just… normalcy.
Or the closest thing to normalcy Hell could offer.
Sin Rouge thrived in that time.
Their operations expanded, their routines settled, their reputation grew.
Not explosively Malerion refused to draw sudden attention but steadily, like roots spreading under cracked stone.
Each member played their role with precision:
Dreg drilled patrol squads until their bones shook.
Rafe negotiated protection deals with half the district.
Quill refined his rune-tech and half-broke the building twice.
Liza expanded her information web through taverns, clubs, gambling halls, and rumor-chains.
Donnie perfected logistics, communications, and strategy.
The imp brothers hauled supplies, scouted routes, and occasionally started small fires.
And Malerion?
He cultivated.
Quietly. Consistently.
The Fourth Ring stabilized, deepening into him like a second spine.
His body adapted to the new strength.
His Echo responded with perfect obedience.
Life became almost peaceful.
Almost.
Because peace in Hell always ends abruptly.
And it did one warm neon evening when the air shifted.
Not violently.
Not dangerously.
But unmistakably.
A clean, aristocratic ripple of magic brushed across Malerion's senses while he stood on the balcony reviewing paperwork with Donnie.
He didn't look up immediately.
He let the feeling spread, tasting its signature.
Structured.
Feather-light.
Elegant.
And dramatically out of place.
Donnie paused mid-sentence.
"You felt him
Malerion closed the ledger.
Before he could answer, a voice echoed from below the balcony bright, cheerful, and very uninvited:
"HELLLOOOOOO, SIN ROUGE!"
Donnie almost dropped the paperwork.
Malerion didn't blink.
And then a swirl of blue-black feathers burst into view as a tall noble figure floated upward, landing smoothly on the balcony railing like a bird perching on a branch.
Prince Vaethelion of House Corvus beamed like the Lust Ring itself was a theme park built for his entertainment.
"I'm baaaack!"
Rafe swore from somewhere inside the bar.
Skit yelled "HOLY SHIT IT'S THE FEATHER GUY AGAIN!"
Vael waved at them all enthusiastically.
Malerion sighed internally.
"Prince Vael," he said calmly, "to what do we owe the"
"Boredom!" Vael declared without shame, hopping down from the railing and landing with a dramatic sweep of his wings. "Unbelievable boredom. Utter boredom. You have no idea how suffocating the palace is after a while."
He leaned forward conspiratorially.
"Do you know what my mother told me yesterday? 'Vaethelion, stop wandering. Vaethelion, behave. Vaethelion, you are a prince.'"
He wrinkled his nose. "Horrid."
Malerion raised an eyebrow.
"So you came here."
"OF COURSE." Vael spread his arms. "Your territory is fascinating! It feels different. Balanced. Structured. Unlike everything else in this filthy uh lovely district."
Donnie whispered under her breath:
"He just saved himself from death."
Vael continued pacing, examining graffiti like it was fine art.
"I've never seen slums this organized. Your people actually listen to you. That's rare." He paused. "AND you didn't blow up when I visited last time, so that's a plus!"
Malerion blinked slowly.
"Why would I blow up?"
"I don't know! Things just explode around demons sometimes!"
Liza silently pinched the bridge of her nose.
Vael then clapped his hands with childlike excitement.
"So! What are we doing today? Fighting? Touring? Investigating? I will accept ANYTHING except sitting still!"
Malerion's internal world buzzed.
Alastor whispered dryly in his mind:
"Ah. A hyperactive demigod child with abandonment issues. How charming."
Vael leaned toward Malerion again.
"Come on! Show me something interesting!"
His wings fluttered with uncontained excitement.
"And don't worry " he added, as if it was reassuring, "I didn't tell anyone important where I was going. I snuck out."
Every single person in Sin Rouge froze.
Donnie whispered with horror,
"Please tell me he didn't just declare us accessories to Goetia kidnapping…"
Vael blinked.
"What? No! I just… may have stolen transportation without permission."
Malerion closed his eyes.
This was going to be a long evening.
But also
Dangerous.
Opportunity-filled.
Strategically valuable.
A Goetia walking into his base uninvited was a threat.
A Goetia returning because he liked it here was a potential asset.
And Vael was whether he understood it or not extremely interested in Malerion.
Malerion finally sighed and gestured for him to follow.
"…Fine. I'll show you around."
Vael lit up like a star.
"YES! I knew you'd say that!"
And just like that, the quiet two weeks of peace were officially over.