"Kaelith, you promised you would never let them bring me back."
The voice drifted up the staircase.
Kaelith didn't move.
Rin looked at him. The demon king's expression had changed completely. The usual composure, the anger, even the quiet tenderness he showed Rin had disappeared.
There was only recognition.
And fear.
"Who is that?" Rin asked.
Kaelith didn't answer.
At the bottom of the staircase, Lucien appeared.
He looked almost exactly as he had in the old memories: tall, composed, with a familiar kindness in his eyes. His clothes were worn, and a faint golden light surrounded his shoulders.
Beside him stood another man.
He had silver hair and pale eyes. Unlike Lucien, he looked neither tired nor surprised. His expression was calm, almost amused.
He looked directly at Kaelith.
"You've grown rather quiet."
Kaelith finally spoke.
"...Vaelor."
The man smiled.
"So you remember me."
Rin glanced between them. "You know him?"
"He was my friend," Kaelith said.
