Three days passed in a blur of administrative procedures, city exploration, and careful social integration.

Rey—maintaining his Eru persona with practiced ease—allowed Kaela and Jaren to guide him through Salimoor’s districts, their enthusiasm for helping their "savior" providing perfect cover for gathering intelligence about Aether society.

"This is the commercial quarter," Kaela explained as they walked through bustling streets lined with shops and market stalls. "You can find most basic supplies here, though specialized equipment requires connections to the artisan guilds."

Rey catalogued details methodically—merchant hierarchies, pricing structures, quality indicators that distinguished legitimate goods from counterfeits. Information that would prove useful for future operations.

"The residential districts are divided by social class," Jaren added, gesturing toward different city sections. "Noble estates in the northern quarter, middle-class housing in the east, and common workers’ residences in the south and west."

"Where would someone like me be expected to live?" Eru asked with appropriate uncertainty.

Kaela’s expression showed sympathy.

"Nephilim typically settle in the western district. It’s not officially segregated, but... social pressures tend to cluster people by heritage."

"However," Jaren interjected quickly, "Gold-rank Guild members have more flexibility. Your demonstrated capabilities override some of the usual prejudices."

They continued walking, and Rey noticed the subtle reactions his appearance generated—suspicious glances from some pedestrians, religious gestures from others, occasional open hostility quickly suppressed when they noticed his Guild identification.

Predictable.

And exploitable, if managed correctly.

"I should probably find housing soon," Eru observed. "The Guild dormitory is functional, but I’d prefer more permanent arrangements."

"We can help with that!" Kaela said eagerly. "Jaren and I know landlords who prioritize character over heritage. Let me make some inquiries."

******

That evening, Kaela invited Eru to her home—a modest two-story building in the middle-class residential district that showed signs of careful maintenance despite its age.

"I want you to meet my family," she’d explained. "They should know the person who saved my life."

Rey accepted graciously, recognizing the social integration opportunity this represented.

The interior was warm and well-kept, with furnishings that suggested modest prosperity earned through hard work rather than inherited wealth. Two children emerged as Kaela entered—a girl perhaps twelve years old and a boy around nine.

"Mira, Thomas, this is Eru," Kaela introduced. "He’s the Searcher I told you about. The one who saved Jaren and me in the dungeon."

The children studied Rey with curious eyes that noted his Nephilim features without apparent prejudice.

"You’re really strong?" Thomas asked with childish directness. 𝓯𝙧𝙚𝒆𝙬𝙚𝒃𝙣𝙤𝒗𝓮𝓵.𝙘𝙤𝙢

"Strong enough to help when it mattered," Eru replied with a gentle smile. "Your sister is very brave. She protected her teammate even when things looked hopeless."

Mira approached more cautiously. "Kaela said you used Technniques like the Paladins. That you made fire and lightning and saved them from monsters."

"Something like that," Rey confirmed, kneeling to be at eye level with the children. "Though I’m not a Paladin—just a Searcher who happened to be in the right place at the right time."

Kaela watched the interaction with visible emotion. After the children returned to their studies, she spoke quietly to Rey in the kitchen while preparing tea.

"Our parents died four years ago," she explained, her voice carrying controlled grief. "Corrupt entity outbreak in the northern territories. They were both Searchers—not high-ranked, but competent. They took a mission that seemed routine and... didn’t come back."

Rey listened with appropriate sympathy while internally noting the information for potential exploitation.

"I became a Searcher partly to support Mira and Thomas, partly to understand what my parents faced," Kaela continued. "The Guild provides decent income for its members, and I’ve been careful about taking only missions I’m confident I can survive."

"Until the Dungeon of Malice," Rey observed gently.

"Until then," Kaela agreed. "That expedition was supposed to be routine too. If you hadn’t appeared..." She paused, visibly composing herself. "Mira and Thomas would have lost me just like they lost our parents. You saved more than just my life—you preserved their only remaining family."

Rey felt nothing about this revelation except recognition of its strategic value. Kaela’s gratitude wasn’t just professional courtesy—it was a deeply personal obligation rooted in family preservation.

’Useful leverage...’

"I’m glad I could help," Eru said with warmth he didn’t feel. "Family is precious. Protecting those bonds matters more than individual survival."

Kaela smiled through tears that threatened to fall. "Thank you. For understanding that. For... everything."

******

The next day, Jaren invited Rey to lunch at a modest restaurant near the Guild headquarters.

"I wanted to talk about my situation," Jaren explained once they were seated. "My fiancée—her name is Elise—she’s been worried sick since the expedition. When word came back about the casualties..."

He pulled out a small portrait—a young woman with kind eyes and a gentle smile.

"We’re planning to marry next spring," Jaren continued. "I’ve been saving money from Guild missions to afford a proper ceremony and establish a household. But after what happened in the Dungeon of Malice, I’ve been reconsidering whether Searching is worth the risk."

"What would you do instead?" Eru asked.

"Possibly join the city guard," Jaren replied. "More stable income, less mortality risk, still using my Spirit Art training productively. Elise supports whatever I choose, but I know she’d prefer I take safer work."

He looked at Rey with gratitude that transcended professional courtesy.

"If you hadn’t saved us, I’d never have seen her again. Never had the wedding we’ve been planning. Never built the life we’ve been dreaming about. You gave me a future I thought I’d lost."

Rey recognized the weight of that obligation—Jaren’s survival represented not just individual life preserved, but the entire future enabled. Weddings, children, decades of experiences that wouldn’t exist without Rey’s intervention.

All of it based on manipulation and calculated murder of people Jaren had considered friends.

"I’m happy I could help," Eru said with appropriate sincerity. "You and Kaela both have people depending on you. That makes your survival more meaningful than just individual preservation."

Jaren nodded enthusiastically.

"Exactly! Which is why I want to help you however I can. You’re new to the city, you’re facing prejudice because of your heritage—let me and Kaela support you the way you supported us."

******

That afternoon, Kaela and Jaren accompanied Rey to meet with potential landlords in the eastern residential district—not the noble estates, but respectable middle-class housing that Gold-rank Searchers could reasonably afford.

The first two landlords showed immediate skepticism when they noticed Rey’s Nephilim features.

"I’m sorry, but the property has already been claimed," the first stated with a transparent lie.

"Guild members only, I’m afraid," the second said, despite Rey’s visible Guild identification.

But the third landlord—an elderly woman named Marion—showed more consideration after Kaela intervened.

"Eru saved our lives," Kaela stated firmly. "He’s a Gold-rank Guild member with verified capabilities and character. His heritage is irrelevant compared to his demonstrated integrity."

Jaren added his support. "I’d trust him with my life—literally already have. If you’re concerned about property damage or late payments, we’ll personally vouch for his conduct."

Marion studied Rey with experienced eyes that suggested she’d seen her share of prejudice and recognized its stupidity.

"Gold-rank at your age is impressive," she observed. "And if two experienced Searchers vouch for you strongly enough to offer personal guarantee... that speaks well of your character."

She quoted reasonable rent for a small house with basic furnishings—not charity, but fair market rate without the inflated pricing Nephilim typically faced.

Rey accepted immediately, recognizing both the practical value and the social integration this represented.

******

That evening, Rey stood alone in his new residence—modest two-room dwelling with kitchen, sleeping area, and small courtyard. The furnishings were simple but functional, the location convenient to both Guild headquarters and commercial district.

Perfect foundation for long-term operations.

He sat in the courtyard as sunset painted the sky in colors that reminded him painfully of H’Trae’s twilight.

’Adonis,’ Rey thought, allowing himself a rare moment of genuine remembrance. ’Always optimistic, always believing the best in people. You’d probably like Kaela and Jaren—they have that same naive goodness you valued.’

Alicia’s face surfaced in his memory—sharp-tongued and loyal, protective of those she considered friends.

’You’d see through my act immediately,’ Rey admitted internally. ’Call me out on the manipulation, demand I stop using people. But you would also understand why I’m doing this, would’t you? No, you wouldn’t approve. Still... revenge against the gods requires resources I can’t acquire honestly.’

Esme, Noah, the others who’d died at some point in H’Trae—each face carried weight that Rey had learned to compartmentalize rather than process.

Because processing meant feeling, and feeling meant weakness he couldn’t afford.

"If things were different..." Rey murmured to the empty courtyard. "If I hadn’t lost everything. If I wasn’t committed to revenge that requires becoming a monster..."

He paused, staring at the darkening sky.

"Kaela and Jaren could have been my friends. Real friends, not just useful tools. We could have shared meals without ulterior motives, trained together because we enjoyed it, and built trust that wasn’t based on manipulation."

The Prince of Darkness stirred slightly within his soul, its presence a reminder of what Rey had become.

"But that’s not our reality," Rey continued, his voice hardening. "I am what I need to be. They’re resources to be exploited. Nothing more."

He stood, the moment of sentiment passing like smoke.

Work awaited.

Integration to complete.

Strength to acquire.

Revenge that would justify every sacrifice, every manipulation, every death he’d caused or would cause.

Nothing else mattered.

******

Meanwhile...

Land of Nether, Labyrinth of Darkness Entrance.

The investigative team surrounded the Labyrinth entrance with professional wariness—eight Category S Guards under command of a Devil named Conrad Zevalis

"Archduke Marbas ordered a thorough investigation," Conrad stated, reviewing his mission parameters. "Third Circle Devil Valdris Morgath disappeared investigating triggered ancient arrangements. Nearly all the Category S Guards stationed here entered as support—only one returned, and she died of injuries before providing a detailed report."

"What do we know about conditions inside, sir?" one of the Guards asked.

"Nothing reliable," Conrad admitted. "Historical records suggest the Labyrinth connects to Aether territories through dungeon systems. Corrupt entities throughout, mystical distortions that make navigation difficult. But no one has penetrated deep enough to—"

He stopped mid-sentence.

Movement at the entrance.

A figure emerged from the darkness—stumbling, clearly injured, barely maintaining consciousness.

It was a female.

Silver-white hair matted with blood and dirt.

Emerald eyes glazed with trauma.

Equipment torn and scorched. Mystical pressure suggesting Category S capability despite obvious depletion.

The Guards rushed forward as she collapsed.

"Medical support now!" Conrad ordered, kneeling beside the fallen woman while others activated healing techniques.

"Can you hear me? What’s your name? What happened inside?"

The woman’s eyes focused briefly, recognition dawning.

"Amara... Desgarron," she whispered, her voice carrying pain that transcended physical injury. "Category S... Guard. Assigned to... support Devil Valdris..."

"The rest of your team?" Conrad asked urgently. "Valdris? The other Guards?"

Amara’s expression twisted into something between grief and bitter fury.

"Dead," she stated flatly. "Everyone... dead. Valdris, Kira, Theron... all dead."

"What killed them? What’s inside the Labyrinth?"

Amara tried to respond, but consciousness fled before words could form.

She collapsed completely, her body shutting down from accumulated trauma and mystical depletion that should have killed her days ago.

The medical Guards worked frantically while Conrad processed the implications.

A Third Circle Devil, dead.

Three Category S Guards, dead.

Only one survivor, barely alive and traumatized beyond normal combat stress.

Whatever existed in the Labyrinth’s depths had killed forces that should have been able to handle anything short of Archduke-level threats.

"Get her to the medical facility immediately," Conrad ordered. "Priority treatment, maximum security. When she wakes up, we need detailed debriefing about what happened inside."

They lifted Amara’s unconscious form carefully, her silver hair catching the dim light as they carried her toward waiting transport.

Behind them, the Labyrinth entrance yawned like a mouth—dark, silent, and full of secrets that had just claimed some of Nether’s most capable warriors.

Comrad frowned deeply as a dark gleam flashed in his concerned eyes.

’I need to report to the Archduke... and quickly!’