The four of them were finally back at Alex's place. The tension from the Principal's office still lingered on the girls, but the boys? They were exactly the same as always.
The Interrogation:
Serina paced the living room floor, her heels clicking aggressively. "Alex! You almost revealed yourself back there! Do you have any idea what the Secret Society would do if they confirmed you were the Aziel? They'd turn this school into a military base!"
Alex: (Stretching out on the sofa, yawning) "Chill, Serina. I only did what was supposed to be done. If I didn't shut them up, they'd still be lecturing us about 'discipline.' Besides, I'm pretty sure the Lady Rosendel won't be talking for a week after my shadow whispered to her."
Serina: (Pausing, looking at him with a mix of awe and annoyance) "You're... you're really him, aren't you? The one from the scrolls. The 'Emperor of the Void'?"
Allen: (Rummaging through a kitchen drawer, clinking metal sounds echoing) "Hey, Alex... did you seriously spend our last coins on those limited-edition stickers? I can't find a single cent for the vending machine."
Evelyn: (Staring at Allen) "Allen! We are talking about the origin of our entire civilization, and you're looking for change?"
The Deep Questions:
Evelyn stepped forward, her voice softening. "During the Level 5 fight... I felt something. When you touched my shoulder, Allen, it wasn't just power. It felt like... like the sun was inside me. Why do our families have your names in our prayers if you're just sitting here looking for soda money?"
Allen: (Finally finding a 50-cent coin and holding it up like a trophy) "Because prayers are boring, Evelyn. Being a 'God' is a 24/7 job with no vacation. We retired. Let the humans handle the small stuff."
The Interruption
Bzzz! Bzzz! The emergency signal on Serina and Evelyn's phones went off simultaneously. A holographic map projected from Serina's watch.
System Voice: "Warning. Level 3 Demon sighting at the abandoned mall, 2 miles away. All available Hunters, respond immediately."
Serina looked at Alex, then at the map. "Alex... you said you'd answer our questions. We need to know about the Contract."
Alex: (Pointing toward the door with a lazy grin) "Go on, girls. We're right here. We aren't going anywhere. Think of it as a test—if you can't handle a Level 3, you aren't ready for the real answers anyway."
Allen: (Waving them off without looking up) "Yeah, go. Whatever. Just leave me alone so I can finally go get my drink. Don't get blood on your uniforms; it's a pain to wash out."
The "Godly" Domestic Scene
As the girls rushed out the door, summoning their weapons and racing toward the mall, the house went quiet.
Alex: "You think they'll be okay? Serina's getting better with her shadow-bind, but she's still too stiff."
Allen: "They'll be fine. It's a Level 3. If they die to that, our bloodlines are weaker than I thought."
Alex: "True. Anyway... did you find enough for two sodas? I want the grape one."
Allen: (Deadpan) "I found exactly one coin, Alex. We're playing Rock-Paper-Scissors for it."
Alex: "You realize I can see three seconds into the future, right?"
Allen: "And you realize I can manipulate the probability of you winning to zero? Bring it on."
The Mall (Quick Action Tease)
Meanwhile, at the mall, Serina and Evelyn arrive to find a massive, multi-eyed beast tearing through the roof.
Serina: (Summoning her dark blade, looking determined) "Let's finish this fast, Evelyn. I have a thousand more questions for those two idiots."
Evelyn: (Her hands glowing with holy light) "Agreed. If they want to treat us like 'Apostles,' let's show them we're more than just their students!"