Lucen approached who seemed to be Lia, leaning against a wall.
"Lia?"
"There you are. I need to talk to you."
"You look… very different." Lucen studied Lia's new, more human, appearance.
"I'm wearing a wig, makeup, and contacts to cover everything."
"Oh, I see… Anyways, what did you need?"
"I need you to come to our place. Preferably after school. It's important."
"Uhh alright. I'll be there. Is that it?"
"Yes, I'll see you later." Lia waved and walked off.
Wonder what that's about.
"Hmmm, who were you talking to?"
"What the– Oh, it's you."
Seemingly appearing out of nowhere and spawning right next to Lucen was Shuyi Lin, 18 years old, and had long light brown hair and makeup on her face that made her look like a doll.
"No one you should be concerned with." Lucen said as he began to walk away. Shuyi followed right behind him though.
"She didn't look like she went to our school though."
Lucen didn't say anything and kept walking.
"Hey come onnn, don't ignore meee!" Shuyi whined. Lucen sighed and stopped walking. He turned around and stared at her for a few seconds before turning back around and continuing his walk.
"Are you headed to class? Let's walk together! Hey, Lucennn!"
The question that's most likely popped into mind is, what is Lucen's deal? Surely, based on his attitude, he'd never treat any girl in such a cold manner. Well, the answer was simple.
Shuyi Lin hangs around an awful group or as Lucen would describe it in his own words…
Her friends are assholes.
Lucen has, on occasion, witnessed her groups bullying of nerds with similar interests as him to which he put a stop to, of course, with the goal of making new friends. If there's one thing Lucen hated more than mathematics, it's bullies and that's who Shuyi's friends were.
Knowing that, you can see where his attitude would stem although he has never actually witnessed Shuyi herself commencing in the bullying. Her standing by as it happened and her still continuing to be around that group still, as Lucen saw it, made her just as bad as her friends.
Unfortunately for Lucen though, it seems she can't take a hint or more accurately, she refuses to. What Lucen can't pinpoint though is what her fixation is with him. To answer to that, of course, he would have to talk to her, which at the moment, is not happening.
~A Few Hours Later After School~
Alright, texted Laura that I'd be out. Another freak out avoided.
Lucen arrived in front of the estate and knocked on the front door. After 15 seconds, he was greeted and let in by Vonica and they walked into the lounge where Sana and Lia were already gathered around the desk.
"Alright, I'm here. What's going on?" Lucen asked, approaching the desk.
"Here, take a look at this."
Lucen looked at the papers lined up on the desk. Each of them were reports about the missing cases.
"We've received a report yesterday about a stray devil from the Abares Family who was recently hunted down in District 8 but escaped. It's believed he may have found a way above ground. There's a possibility that this is him."
"I've been hearing a lot about this lately. I was planning to tell you about it actually. So, you're going to handle it?"
"Yes, regardless of whether this is the same devil or not, I firmly believe this is the work of a devil. We need to find out how he made it out of District 8 as well."
"And I'm here because I'm coming too, huh?"
"Correct. We'll leave in a few hours. The reports all note that it was the night time when the group of people and the officers went missing."
"How are we going to get in though? The entire area is blocked off and I'm pretty sure there's going to be officers at least somewhere in the vicinity."
"Don't worry, we'll handle that."
~Meanwhile on the Top Floor of Kumore Tower~
Amelia walked into the office to Oran sitting at his desk, typing on his computer.
"Amelia, good timing. I have a prediction of where Azaroth might show up next.", Oran said, turning off his computer and shifting his attention towards Amelia.
"Hmmm?"
"Tonight, send someone, preferably trustworthy this time, to Merfield Park in District 3. Have them scope out the area to see if she shows up."
"Alrighty!", Amelia said, giving Oran a thumbs up.
I think I'll go as well. Perhaps I can finally talk to my savior! Amelia chuckled and left the room.
~A Few Hours Outside of Merfield Park~
Lucen and the group arrived a good distance from the entrance of the park. In the distance, 4 police officers stood around, keeping watch.
"What are we going to do about them?", Lucen whispered.
"Sana. Vonica." Lia signaled the two and in an instant they were gone. Sana quickly knocked out two of the officers by kicking them and before the other two officers could react, Vonica chopped them in the back of their necks.
"Or we can just commit battery on cops! Ha, that totally works! Luckily they didn't see them..."
With no officers in the way, the group arrived at the dark entrance of the park. It was hard to see inside due to the lack of lights and with all the yellow tape and barricades around it, the park felt more akin to a haunted house.
"Do I really have to go in with you guys…? Surely I can just like… stay out here while you handle things?", Lucen said, gulping.
"The more you're exposed to fights, the better." Lia said, continuing forward into the park.
"I'll protect you, buddy! Don't you worry. No stray devil will touch a hair on your head!", Sana said, patting Lucen on the back.
"Thanks Sana…"
The group entered the dark park. Lia lit a fire to use as a light using her demonic energy. Lucen made sure to stay close to the sisters.
"Stay on guard everyone. It's here, hiding."
Suddenly, the sound of bushes shuffling put the group on alert. Out of nowhere, a dark figure shot out of the bushes and attempted to attack Lia. Lia reacted promptly, summoning her red scythe, Aegis, and blocking the attack with her barrier. The dark figure immediately dashed back into the bushes and began moving around in them again.
"Vonica!"
"On it!"
Purple energy formed around Vonica's hands and the same two purple flintlock pistols from before materialized in her hands. She fired the pistols and purple energy beams blasted at the bushes with each shot vaporizing a part of it. The shuffling moved around as Vonica continued firing at the bushes. The figure once again sprang out of the bushes and tried to attack Vonica but Sana stepped in with her gauntlet to block it.
"No you don't!"
Sana clawed at the figure but they jumped back, dodging it. Before they could slip back into the bushes though, Lia stopped them with her barrier, cutting off their path back. She then used her demonic energy to light the area around the figure to finally see their appearance. The figure was revealed to be a dark-haired man with red eyes, no shirt, and scars all over his body.
"So you did turn out to be the stray who escaped from District 8. How did you make it to District 3?" Lia asked.
"Who knows?" The stray jumped and kicked off of Lia's barrier to glide back into the bushes.
Vonica began shooting at the shuffling bushes again as the speed of which the bushes moved increased. "Sana, draw him out!"
"Yup!" A gathering of green energy formed around Sana's legs and she took off, running at a high speed across the park. Vonica continued shooting at the bushes, using her blasts as a beacon to highlight where the stray was moving.
Sana dashed a few feet in front of where Vonica was shooting and clawed at the bush leaving a green after effect of a claw marking. The stray flew out and attempted to strike Vonica.
"Unfortunately, you are just a bit too slow."
"GURGH—"
Vonica stepped back and the stray stopped moving and fell to the ground. Behind him, Lia pushed the tip of Aegis' blade on the ground, stabbing the stray's shadow. Red demonic energy formed on the ground and wrapped itself around the stray devil like a chain.
"Once again, how did you make it here?"
The stray didn't say a word.
"Looks like we have to do this the hard way."
As all of this was happening, Lucen watched from a fair distance while deep in thought.
This is crazy. How hasn't anyone noticed this entire light show happening in the park? Surely we're being loud enough to even wake up someone a mile away…
"Mmm, looks like you guys are having fun."
"Huh–"
Turning around, Lucen came face to face with Amelia. Behind her was a man with red hair and grey eyes, wearing a black fur coat.
"Who are you…?"