Chapter 2 – The Promise and The Rebirth
After returning home, Leo ran straight to his room, his face flushed with emotion. In his hands was a small, carefully wrapped box—the gift he had spent years saving for. He clutched it to his chest like it was the most precious thing in the world.
His family watched him bolt up the stairs.
"What's gotten into Leo?" his father asked, raising an eyebrow.
"Wasn't he with Irina today?" his older sibling smirked.
But Miki Hyoudou, Leo's mother, wasn't amused. She knew her children well—Issei was loud and brash, always thinking with his hormones, while the others caused their fair share of chaos. But Leo? He was calm, intelligent, and composed. For him to act so... flustered? Something was definitely up.
She climbed the stairs and knocked gently.
"Tak. Tak. Tak."
Leo flinched. "Who is it?" he called out, hastily hiding the box behind his back.
The door opened slowly, and Miki peeked in with a warm smile. "Leo dear, what are you doing?"
"N-Nothing," he replied, standing awkwardly, trying to block her view of the box behind him.
Her eyes narrowed slightly, her smile growing. "Are you hiding something from me?" she asked playfully.
Leo turned red as a tomato. "W-What are you talking about, Mother?"
That sealed it. Miki giggled softly to herself. So this is what young love looks like…
That night, the entire Hyoudou household found out about Leo's gift. They teased him relentlessly—especially his siblings—except for Issei, who simply nodded and grinned.
"You've got guts, Leo," Issei said. "But I bet Irina still doesn't have as big a pair of—"
"Issei!" Miki snapped, throwing a slipper at him.
---
The Farewell
Days passed quickly.
Irina and her family were finally ready to leave for their new life overseas. As the moving truck was being loaded and her parents said their goodbyes, Leo arrived at the scene—running, panting, holding something around his neck.
"Wait!" he called out.
Everyone turned.
Leo didn't hesitate. He walked straight up to Irina and wrapped his arms around her in a tight hug. Irina gasped in surprise, but returned it without a word, burying her face in his shoulder.
Their parents looked on, smiling.
When they pulled apart, Irina saw the silver chain around Leo's neck—an angelic pendant glowing faintly in the sunlight.
She began to cry.
"I'll miss you…" she whispered.
At the airport, her mother hugged her one last time. "Irina, you're lucky," she said with a small sigh of envy.
Irina blinked. "What do you mean?"
Her mother smiled wistfully. "When I was your age, I never received something so precious from a childhood friend. Even your father didn't get me anything when we were dating."
"Hey now!" her father protested.
He cleared his throat. "Irina, can I see your necklace?"
"No! It's mine! I'm not giving it to you!" she shouted protectively.
"Relax," her father chuckled. "I'll give it back."
Her mother snorted. "Yeah, like you returned my favorite earrings."
Irina pouted but relented. "Okay, but promise me you'll give it back."
As they examined the necklace, both parents felt something… strange. Warm. Holy.
"I don't know why," her mother murmured, "but this necklace… it feels like there's something inside it. A memory. A presence."
Irina nodded, holding it tightly once more. "It feels like an angel is watching over me."
> [Author's Note:] The necklace indeed holds the sealed memories and a fragment of the power of Roxy's mother—Lilith Morningstar. This will be important later. ☺️🙏
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Meanwhile… In the Underworld
In a hidden lab beneath the earth, a lone capsule glowed with ominous green light. Inside it, a silver-haired girl floated—her small form suspended in glowing liquid.
Rizevim Livan Lucifer, the mad scientist and traitor of the Devil clans, stood before the capsule.
"So, little sister… your final day has come," he muttered.
He activated dozens of magic circles, transferring every genetic experiment he had—angels, devils, dragons, yokai, vampires, even a piece of Trihexa—into Roxy's capsule. Her body, chosen for its resilience and divine heritage, would be the vessel of ultimate chaos.
Just as he was about to finish the fusion, his son, Razevan, barged in.
"Father! Vali escaped!"
Rizevim growled. "Then go get her. Kill her if you must. I'm busy."
As Razevan rushed out, Rizevim turned back to Roxy.
"Now then… let's begin."
---
Roxy's POV – The Awakening
Darkness… pain… silence…
I've been trapped for so long. For years, I couldn't move, couldn't speak. I was aware, though—conscious even as he tore my body apart, rebuilt it, and repeated the process again and again.
But this time, something was different.
The magic circle activated. Power surged into my body. I screamed.
The pain was unbearable, like being stabbed by molten blades. My magic surged, my memories returned… and I remembered everything—Mother Lilith, the war, the betrayal.
I opened my eyes.
Rizevim was smiling.
I unleashed my fury.
The capsule shattered. The lab exploded in fire and screams. A magic portal opened beneath me, and before Rizevim could react—
—I vanished.
---
Kouh City – Present Day
A portal cracked open in a dark alley.
From it stepped a young girl, no older than five. Her silver hair shimmered in the moonlight, her eyes glowing red like rubies—wise beyond her years. Her clothes were tattered, her body weak.
But her presence… divine.
Roxy looked around the unfamiliar city, then narrowed her eyes.
Why do I feel… something here? Something warm… something familiar…
The necklace.
The soul fragment of her mother.
And a connection… to someone else.
Someone close.
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To Be Continued...
> Author's Note: Sorry for the delay, everyone! Next chapter will have the long-awaited reunion of Leo and Roxy—don't worry, it'll be worth it! Thank you so much for your support and patience. 💖