Sapphire kept one arm firmly around Vergil’s waist as the two walked toward Sparda’s main castle. He could still walk, but only because he refused to admit that he needed to be carried. Every few steps, more of his weight settled against her, and his breathing remained far too deep for someone who insisted he was fine. The large-scale transformation of the Valkyries, the battle against Thor, the confrontation with Odin, and the effort required to stop Gungnir from passing through his head had consumed nearly all the energy available in his body and, worse, had struck his soul directly. Regeneration repaired flesh, bones, and organs, but it did not immediately restore what he had burned away to remain standing.
Around them, Sparda was going through a very specific kind of organized chaos. Entire groups of newly transformed Valkyries followed Gwen through the streets, some trying to close their new wings without hitting other people, while others touched their own horns with almost childish curiosity. Demonic soldiers watched from the walls and whispered among themselves, unsure whether they should treat those warriors as visitors, new citizens, or a foreign army capable of taking half the city if they changed their minds. Gwen, meanwhile, seemed to be enjoying herself far more than she should, pointing out buildings, lodgings, and districts under construction while ordering scribes to register twelve thousand new names.
Sapphire glanced sideways at Vergil.
His eyes were still open, but the focus was no longer the same.
"You are going to fall asleep before we reach the castle."
"No."
"You are already sleeping."
"I am walking."
"You are leaning on me."
"Technical detail."
She gave a quiet laugh.
"You faced Odin, but you cannot admit you are tired."
Vergil tried to answer, but it took him two seconds longer than usual.
"I can."
"Then admit it."
"No."
Sapphire tightened the arm around him and continued walking.
"Idiot."
"My wife treats me very badly."
"My husband stole a divine bridge, kidnapped Thor’s hammer, and transformed twelve thousand Valkyries without sleeping. I think I am treating you better than you deserve."
Mjölnir, still attached to Vergil’s waist, vibrated slightly.
Sapphire looked at the hammer.
"You are not helping."
Another vibration answered.
"Of course. Now his weapons defend his bad decisions too."
Vergil seemed to smile, but the movement barely happened.
"She has good taste."
"She spent ages with Thor. Her taste is still recovering."
Mjölnir released a black spark against Sapphire’s armor.
She stopped walking.
Slowly, she looked toward the hammer.
Vergil, even exhausted, opened one eye with slightly more attention.
Sapphire placed her hand on Mjölnir’s head and squeezed with her fingers.
"Listen here, little girl. I like you because you hit Thor in the face, but do not test my patience."
The hammer trembled in response.
"Do you want to argue?"
Mjölnir released another small discharge.
Vergil spoke without any strength in his voice.
"Do not fight with her."
Sapphire resumed walking.
"I did not start it."
"You threatened to crush her."
"She electrocuted me."
"It was a spark."
"Today it is a spark. Tomorrow she tries to steal my husband."
Mjölnir vibrated with suspicious intensity.
Sapphire narrowed her eyes.
"I knew it."
Vergil did not answer. His weight increased against her shoulder, and when Sapphire turned her face, she realized he had closed his eyes. His legs still moved out of habit, but he was no longer paying attention to the path.
She slowed down.
The main entrance to the castle stood open, and several servants ran from one side to the other carrying documents, clothing, food, and equipment for the new residents. Selene crossed the hall at that moment, wearing light hunting clothes, a bow secured across her back, and her dark hair tied into a long braid. She had just finished arguing with two officials about the number of available rooms when she noticed Sapphire entering with Vergil practically supported against her.
Selene stopped in the middle of the hall.
Her expression changed immediately.
"What happened?"
Sapphire continued walking without showing urgency.
"Many things."
Selene approached.
"That is not an answer."
"It is the only short answer."
She looked at Vergil more carefully. His face was pale, his breathing slow, and the scar crossing his left arm remained visible even after healing. There was dried blood on parts of his clothing, burn marks, and small cuts that regeneration had not yet bothered to close completely.
Selene frowned.
"Did he lose a war?"
"No."
"Then why does he look like a war lost him?"
Sapphire released a small sigh.
"Heimdall trapped him and Freya. The Valkyries revolted. Thor tried to recover Mjölnir. Vergil stole the Bifröst. Odin appeared. There was a battle. Gungnir nearly passed through his head. Then he transformed twelve thousand Valkyries into Aethernox."
Selene remained motionless.
She looked at Vergil.
Then at Sapphire.
"Are you serious?"
"Unfortunately."
"He did all of that in how much time?"
"A few hours."
Selene ran a hand over her face.
"I leave for one day."
"It was enough."
Vergil murmured something incomprehensible against Sapphire’s shoulder.
Selene leaned slightly closer.
"Did he speak to me?"
"No. I think he threatened Odin in his sleep."
"That would be normal for him."
Sapphire adjusted Vergil’s weight. He was no longer truly walking. His feet still touched the floor, but she carried almost his entire body. She could have picked him up without effort, but she knew he would wake only to complain before passing out again out of pride.
Selene looked toward the castle’s open doors. Outside, groups of Valkyries could be seen moving through the streets while soldiers tried to guide them toward the temporary lodgings.
"And why are there so many people in the kingdom?"
"Talk to Sepphirothy."
"Will she answer me?"
"Probably."
"That does not sound certain."
"It is the most I can offer."
Selene crossed her arms.
"Are you taking him to his chambers?"
"No. I am taking him to the human world."
"Why?"
"Because no one here will let him rest. Amon will return to complain, some Valkyrie will ask about identification documents, and Vergil will wake up to solve everything."
Selene nodded slowly.
"Viviane, Zex, and Iridia are still in the human world."
"Good."
"Then he will not be alone."
"Even better."
Sapphire looked at Vergil’s sleeping face and lightly passed her thumb across the side of his forehead, moving several strands of hair away. His expression during sleep was different. Not completely peaceful, but less rigid. The constant tension in his jaw had disappeared, and his shoulders were finally relaxed.
"I am going to ask Viviane to bathe him in her Spiritual Lake," Sapphire said. "The water should help restore his soul’s energy and cleanse what remains of Odin’s signature."
Selene nodded.
"Good idea."
Sapphire waited for some teasing remark.
None came.
Selene continued looking at Vergil with silent concern.
"He has never been this tired," she said.
Sapphire followed her gaze.
"Not in front of us."
"Not even after the recent problems."
"In the previous battles, he still had reserves. Today, he used everything without stopping. He fought Thor, faced Odin, held Gungnir while his arms were breaking, and then connected twelve thousand souls to his own bloodline."
Selene looked at the scar again.
"Gungnir did that?"
"Yes."
"It did not disappear with regeneration."
"Because it did not strike only the body."
Selene became serious.
"The spear marked his soul."
Sapphire nodded.
For several seconds, all humor disappeared from the conversation. Both knew Vergil well enough to understand what that meant. He could regenerate physical wounds with absurd speed, but spiritual damage required time, energy, and sometimes care he refused to accept.
Selene gently touched his shoulder, careful not to interfere with the still-unstable energies.
Vergil did not react.
Sapphire watched and released a heavier breath.
"It is rare to see him like this."
"Like what?"
"Not pretending he can continue."
Selene looked at her.
"He is sleeping. It is not exactly a choice."
"It is the closest we get."
Vergil murmured again, this time something resembling "do not touch the bridge."
Selene raised an eyebrow.
Sapphire almost smiled.
"See?"
"He dreams about work."
"Or theft."
"Those two things are the same to him."
Sapphire began forming a magic circle beneath their feet. Demonic runes expanded across the hall floor, arranging a direct passage to the human world. Before activating it, she looked toward Selene.
"Keep an eye on the new residents."
Selene pointed toward herself.
"Me?"
"You are a goddess. They know that kind of energy and will probably trust you more than some random demon."
"They just deserted a pantheon. They may not feel inclined to trust gods."
"You deserted yours too."
Selene went quiet for a second.
"Fair argument."
"Help Gwen. Make sure no one treats the Valkyries as property, prisoners, or spoils of war. If any demon does something similar to Astaroth, break his arms."
"Both?"
"Start with both."
Selene smiled.
"With pleasure."
The magic circle intensified.
Sapphire adjusted Vergil against her shoulder, and his face ended up resting closer to her neck. His warm breath touched her skin, and she remained still for an instant, surprised that such a simple reaction could make her feel satisfied.
"I am leaving now," she said. "If Sepphirothy asks, tell her I took him somewhere to rest."
"And if she decides to follow?"
"Explain that Viviane will take care of him."
"Will that stop her?"
"No."
"Wonderful."
Sapphire released a quiet laugh.
"Good luck."
"You are leaving me with twelve thousand Valkyries, a stolen divine bridge, and a Demon Queen who probably wants to interrogate everyone."
"Yes."
"Thank you."
"You are welcome."
The circle’s light surrounded Sapphire and Vergil. Before disappearing, she looked at Selene one more time.
"And do not let anyone touch the Bifröst."
Selene frowned.
"Why?"
"Because Qliphoth is still trying to figure out how to secure it permanently."
"And if someone touches it?"
Sapphire thought for a second.
"They will probably end up in some random realm."
"Which one?"
"That is the problem."
The circle closed.
Both figures disappeared from the hall.
Selene remained still for several seconds, staring at the empty space where they had stood. Then she released a long sigh and turned toward the castle’s tall windows. Sapphire had told her to look east. Until then, she had been too occupied with the Valkyries entering the city to observe the horizon.
She walked toward the window.
Placed her hands on the ledge.
And looked.
The Bifröst dominated the sky of the Demon Realm.
The Rainbow Bridge extended for kilometers above black mountains and plains covered in miasma, trapped by enormous roots of Qliphoth. Its vivid colors illuminated the red clouds, creating a phenomenon so incompatible with that world that it resembled a divine wound opened across the Underworld. Parts of Asgard’s original platform were also suspended among the roots, while hundreds of demons watched from a distance and argued as though it were an ordinary engineering project.
Selene stopped breathing for several seconds.
She knew that structure.
Not from stories.
As Artemis, she had seen the Rainbow Bridge used during treaties, diplomatic journeys, and wars between pantheons. She knew Heimdall guarded it. She knew Odin considered its possession one of Asgard’s greatest strategic advantages. She also knew no one simply removed the Bifröst from its place.
Her hand slipped against the ledge.
"Why is the Bifröst here?!"
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