The cold night wind swept across the rooftops of the Capital as the four moved through the shadows.

Nox leaped from building to building using his Wind Legs alongside Misty.

Behind them followed Tessa and Audrey, moving a little slower.

The makeup Ellen had applied to conceal the demon’s skin was completely ruined.

Part of the paint had smeared during the battle.

The reddish cracks in his demonic skin were already starting to show again.

Tessa immediately pointed it out.

"My mother can’t see you like that."

Nox turned his head.

"Like what?"

"Your red skin."

She pointed at his face.

"Your makeup is coming off."

Misty burst out laughing.

"She’s right."

The dancer adjusted her hair.

"When we get inside, I’m going to have to help you with your makeup."

Nox grimaced.

Audrey chuckled softly.

"It suits you."

"That’s easy for you to say. You’re not the one who has to wear this stuff."

They could already see the Pyrell House a few streets away.

The enormous mansion stood out even among the elegant buildings of the district.

Tessa pointed toward one of the second-floor windows.

"That one is your room."

Nox looked at it.

"And?"

"Use your powers to get inside."

She crossed her arms.

"I’m not explaining to my mother why a demon is walking through the front door."

Misty nodded.

"Good idea."

Audrey agreed as well.

"We’ll go in normally."

Nox sighed.

"Fine."

Black ashes appeared around his body.

The Marauder’s Mask covered his face.

The next instant, he vanished.

◇◆◇

Nox reappeared in front of his bedroom window.

He quickly opened it and climbed inside.

The room was dark, quiet, and warm.

The demon sighed in relief.

"Much better."

But then he heard something.

Footsteps on the stairs.

Someone was coming up.

They can’t see me like this.

Nox quickly shut the window.

Then he crossed the room and closed the door just as the footsteps drew near.

A second later...

He heard a small meow.

"Meow."

Nox looked down and saw the little yellow cat crawling out from beneath his bed.

"Felix?"

The feline calmly walked over to him.

Then it began rubbing against his leg.

Nox smiled.

"Looks like you enjoy this room."

Knock.

Knock.

Knock.

Someone knocked on the door.

Nox jumped slightly.

"Who is it?"

A familiar voice answered from the other side.

"Nox?"

It was Catherine.

"I thought I heard something."

Nox sighed in relief.

"Are you alone?"

"Yes."

The cat girl answered immediately.

"I was looking for Felix."

Nox opened the door slightly.

"And Mrs. Senna?"

"She’s by the fireplace."

Catherine pointed downstairs.

"Petting Claws."

Nox opened the door fully.

"Come here, Felix."

The yellow cat immediately jumped into Catherine’s arms.

The girl hugged him with a smile.

Then she carefully looked at Nox.

"Oh."

The demon raised an eyebrow.

"What?"

"Your makeup."

Catherine pointed at his face.

"It’s completely smeared."

Nox sighed.

"I know."

"Is that why you came in through the window?"

"Exactly."

The cat girl smiled.

"You didn’t need to."

Nox looked confused.

"I didn’t?"

"Mrs. Senna is a good woman."

Catherine adjusted Felix in her arms.

"She helped me take a bath."

Nox blinked.

"Really?"

The girl nodded.

Only then did Nox notice she was wearing a white robe that was far too large for her.

"She also lent me clothes."

Then she smiled proudly.

"And soap."

Nox stepped a little closer.

"Now that you mention it..."

He sniffed lightly.

"You smell really nice."

Catherine’s eyes lit up.

"Right?"

The girl raised a hand.

"I was surprised too."

She looked at the sleeve of the robe.

"The soap leaves a really pleasant smell."

Then she paused.

"Although it doesn’t taste very good."

Nox needed two seconds to process that.

Then his eyes widened.

"You tried to eat it?"

Catherine lowered her ears.

"...maybe."

Nox burst out laughing.

◇◆◇

At that moment, the front door opened.

The voices of Misty, Audrey, and Tessa echoed from the entrance hall.

All three looked exhausted.

Senna appeared from a nearby room almost immediately.

"Tessa."

The woman quickly walked toward her daughter.

"Are you alright?"

Tessa avoided looking directly at her.

"Yes."

The answer was far too short.

Misty stepped in before things became awkward.

"Don’t worry."

The dancer smiled.

"We just went out to explore the Capital a little."

Audrey nodded.

"We needed to clear our heads."

Senna didn’t seem completely convinced.

But eventually she sighed.

"Alright."

Then she smiled.

"But it’s freezing outside."

She tucked a strand of hair behind her ear.

"I’m preparing dinner."

Audrey’s eyes sparkled.

"Dinner’s ready?"

Senna nodded.

"Catherine already set the table."

The woman smiled.

"Go wash up first."

Then she pointed down the hallway.

"I prepared clean robes for you."

Audrey tilted her head slightly.

"Thank you very much."

Misty smiled too.

"That sounds wonderful."

Senna looked around.

Then she frowned.

"And where is the young man who came with you?"

Tessa answered immediately.

"He got lost."

There was a second of silence.

Then Misty exploded into laughter.

"She’s joking."

Tessa huffed.

The dancer kept laughing.

"Don’t worry. He’ll be back later."

Senna shook her head.

"I don’t understand how you can joke about something like that."

◇◆◇

A little later...

Each of them headed toward one of the mansion’s many bathrooms.

Audrey disappeared down one hallway.

Tessa went down another.

And Misty began climbing the stairs.

Straight toward Nox’s room.

When she reached the second floor, she found the door already open.

Nox was waiting for her.

"I thought you’d forgotten."

Misty smiled.

"I never abandon a work of art."

She entered and closed the door behind her.

Misty noticed the concern on Nox’s face.

"Don’t worry."

The dancer examined the condition of his clothes.

The suit was torn, stained, and covered in dust.

Much of the makeup had completely come off.

Misty sighed.

"We have a lot of work to do."

Nox sat down on the edge of the bed.

"Isn’t it enough to just paint my face a little?"

Misty started laughing.

"No."

"No?"

"Definitely not."

She pointed at his neck.

Then his hands.

Then part of his chest visible beneath the torn clothing.

"I have to fix all of that."

Nox grimaced.

"That sounds worse."

"Because it is worse."

Misty crossed her arms.

"And you can’t keep wearing those clothes."

Nox looked down.

She was right.

The battle had ruined a large portion of his outfit.

"I suppose."

Misty studied his horns.

"The makeup isn’t the only problem."

Nox raised a hand.

"The horns?"

"Exactly. The horns..."

The dancer began circling him slowly.

Analyzing.

Thinking.

Until finally she looked at his hair.

And smiled.

"I think I have an idea."

Nox touched his hair.

"What kind of idea?"

"We can style it."

Misty pointed at the horns.

"Well enough to hide them."

Nox smiled.

"As long as I don’t have to wear a hat again, I’ll do whatever you say."

"Deal."

The dancer then began removing the bedsheets.

Nox watched in confusion.

"What are you doing?"

Misty tossed a sheet at him.

"Use it."

"For what?"

"To cover yourself."

Nox blinked.

"What a strange request."

Misty pointed toward the door.

"We’re going to the bathroom."

The demon looked at the sheet again.

Then at her.

"Is all of this really necessary?"

"Yes."

"Why?"

"Because if someone sees you like that in the hallway..."

The dancer laughed.

"...we’re going to have to explain far too many things."

Nox opened his mouth to respond.

But Misty raised a hand.

"That wasn’t a joke."

She pointed at him firmly.

"Please cover yourself with the sheet."

Nox stared at her for a few seconds.

Then sighed in defeat.

"Fine."

Misty smiled victoriously.

"Much better."

And the two of them left the room, heading toward one of the mansion’s bathrooms.