—"What is it, Solarael?" Kai asked. —"We wanted to ask you something. How long will we train?" —"Only a few months," Kai replied. "Why?"
Solarael looked at Voraghun. —"During all this time, helping you fight demons, human hordes, solar stars, and other enemies… we felt the need to reclaim our bodies. According to the angel who sent us the message, we must return soon: I to Heaven and Voraghun to Hell. But if you want us to stay, we will stay. We can continue being your sword and your shield."
—"If you need to return to your worlds to be happy, I have no problem," Kai said. "Against very powerful beings, I cannot use weapons; if they are taken from me, they could kill me with them. So, it is your decision."
Voraghun replied: —"I don't think I can go back. I am no longer accepted in Hell. The All-Father allowed me to stay with you, but only as your shield. I cannot have a body or inhabit the real physical world." —"And you, Solarael?" —"If you want me to remain with you, I will do so for all eternity." —"It doesn't need to be eternity," Kai smiled. "But I will respect your decision."
Voraghun and Solarael stayed by his side, knowing that their master had always treated them with respect. Kai, however, was in another world: he was still happy about the night before. Then Lyris, the ring's intelligence, spoke:
—"Kai, we have a problem with the queens." —"What's wrong? What is it, Lyris?" —"Aliarda is glowing with a strong lilac color, and her princesses have a strong golden color. They are all glowing." —"Where are they at this precise moment?" —"Each in her room, my king, where you left them."
—"Listen, Lyris: leave them be," Kai told her. "What's happening is that I gave my ring to Aliarda, and Aliarda had not yet undergone the metamorphosis. Since they all share my blood, they are merging into a single being. It will take many years for them to be as powerful as I am, but this will happen every time a new member is added; so it is normal. I modified each of their magic rings with my blood and certain spells to be the owner and belong to each of their thoughts. I know it's selfish, but those women belong to me from the tips of their hair to their toenails," Kai said. "So it is normal; those rings are doing their job so they believe they are free, but the truth is they are mine forever. Now I will go talk to my master in the Land of the Crowned Beasts. Protect them, please."
—"Yes, master, we will protect them," said Lyris, Voraghun, and Solarael.
Kai said, "I'm leaving," and disappeared. He appeared in the Land of the Crowned Beasts, in front of the hotel. There, he found one of the Crowned Beasts and told them he wanted to speak. The Nine-Tailed Fox, one of the Crowned Beasts in humanoid form, said to Kai:
—"How are you, disciple?" —"Well, master. I want to ask you what is happening with my body. They tell me there is a star inside it, but they absorbed my energy and I feel nothing." —"It may be, Kai, that your energy was absorbed, but that doesn't mean your body isn't producing it." —"What do you mean?"
—"Look, your body evolves, right? That means your body evolved while holding the power of a star inside. It means there is a great void within you. All that power will return soon, because your body is a vast vessel meant to contain the power of a star. Let's say we could fit a sun inside you. Right now you feel your strength, density, and speed have decreased, but very soon it will all return, Kai. Your body has evolved; it will return to its stability, and your strength will return with great potency." —"Seriously?" —"Yes. You thought you had to train. No, you don't have to train. You are already too strong; you are even stronger than all of us combined. Horacio must have noticed it too. Your strength is incomparable; you are the strongest in this solar system, Kai. I don't think demons or any other enemy would dare step on this planet knowing you live here." —"But I don't emit energy or radiation…" —"Aliarda consumed all that radiation because you were emitting it. But right now, your body is stable thanks to her. All that energy will return, but it will no longer be dangerous. Your body has evolved. Remember that you will soon fall into the 76-hour coma. You defeated the star about four months ago and you haven't fallen into that coma yet, right?" —"No, I've been very busy and haven't fallen into it." —"You will soon. Remember, when you fall, it will be very difficult to get back up, but your power will return and you will be able to rise. We recommend you not be alone at that moment. We have things to do, so we won't be able to help you. You will have to count on your family." —"Yes, don't worry, I'll tell Voraghun and Solarael to watch over me for the time being," Kai said.
—"Kai, I'll ask you a question: why do you trust that angel and that demon so much?" asked the Nine-Tailed Fox. —"I understand why you'd say that about Voraghun, being a demon, but why distrust Solarael?" —"Solarael is an angel who fell in love with a demon. The legend says an angel fell in love with that demon in the middle of a war hundreds of years ago. A war between angels and demons where Horacio the Legionnaire, Siris the Fallen, ourselves, and many of the Divine Dragons participated. We are talking about eons ago. That is why the demons are always so active." —"And why do you tell me not to trust Solarael? Yes, I understand she might have fallen in love with a demon, but seriously?" —"Yes, Kai," the Crowned Beast replied. "She is an angel, a Seraph—angels that almost no one can see. She fell in love with a demon, and that demon fell in love with her. An impossible and forbidden love. The legend says... Do you want me to tell it to you?" —"Yes, tell me."
—"The legend says that, in the heat of war, both sides found out about their love. Eons ago, when the great powers clashed, there was a demon named Voraghun and an angel named Solarael. They always faced each other. Whenever he won, he left her alive to prove he was stronger; he humiliated her. But many times Solarael won too, and she also left him alive, returning the favor. It was a power game at first. But as moons and suns passed, their hands brushed in the middle of battle and their eyes met. In an instant, the swords fell. They had shared so much blood in the same battle, which had lasted thousands of years, that a strange feeling was born between them. A feeling that immortals should not feel: a privilege for mortals."
"Their hands touched and their fingers intertwined. They took humanoid form and escaped to live their love far from that war. He took her in his arms and stroked her beautiful long hair; she now turned into a simple human, and the powerful demon into a mortal man. The angel fell from heaven and the demon ascended, and they united in the mortal plane. That same night they joined their bodies and felt what mortals call love. For a time they were happy, but Heaven and Hell discovered the forbidden union. Messengers were sent, but Voraghun refused to return and Solarael would not leave him."
"So it was decided to destroy that union. They were hunted by everyone: demons, angels, possessed humans, the Church, and dark forces. They were pursued for many years until one day they were cornered in a forest. They both died embracing, pierced by spears. After 그게 (after that), nothing more was heard of them. They killed a forbidden love. That is the legend. We suspect Solarael is that angel and the demon of the shield is the protagonist."
Kai, very surprised, said: —"I am very moved by what you've told me. Does it mean they gave up immortality to live a mortal love, only to be murdered by mortals manipulated by both Heaven and Hell?" —"So the legend says, Kai, but we don't know the details." —"I understand. Don't worry, I won't mention anything when I see them. So, you say I will soon enter 76 hours of evolution?" —"That is correct." —"I must leave. I thank you very much for taking the time to meet and tell me all this. I wanted to ask if you want me to build you another hotel, or another pool, or a castle, or a palace."
The Crowned Beasts made a list of everything they wanted and Kai told them he would take care of it. He said goodbye to them all and headed directly to his lands.
A New Destiny
When Kai teleported directly to the beach house, Voraghun was standing at the foot of the steps, and the sword was there as well. Kai sat down beside them without saying a word. After a moment, he asked them if they were satisfied with the bodies they had.
Voraghun told him he had no problem being a shield, but that it would be beneficial to have a humanoid body. The sword said she had no problem either, but shared Voraghun's opinion. Then Kai said to them:
—"Did you know that the sword and the shield have the ability to take humanoid form?" —"Yes, we know the powers that..." Voraghun began to say. —"No, you don't understand me. The sword has the ability to take humanoid form, and the shield too?"
Lyris replied: —"No, that ability is not available for the sword, the shield, or the ring." —"In fact, you have it too, Lyris," Kai said.
—"Look, I want to offer the three of you the chance to be human. These abilities appear inside my head, since through the mental union I had with Aliarda, I was able to generate other skills. They aren't as special as the first two I have, but they gave me direct access to my weapons—which are you. As you understand, these weapons need a soul to function, but with my current level, I can control that power. So, I would like to offer you, Voraghun, and you, Solarael, that if you are willing to renounce all your power and your immortality, I can generate bodies for you right now. And for you too, Lyris."
—"I am an Artificial Intelligence and I do not need a body," Lyris told him. —"Yes, I understand, but you would be more useful to me with a body," Kai replied. —"Seriously, Kai? If you, my master, wish it, then so it shall be."
—"And you two, what do you say?" Kai asked. —"I understand what you want to do, Kai," Voraghun said, "but your shield will lose power." —"No, you don't understand what I just told you. What I'm saying is that you are going to renounce being a demon. All that power you have, you will leave inside the shield, and I will control it. And the power of the sword will do the same for Solarael. I'm not asking you to be simple humans. Well, you won't be simple, since I will do it with my own blood: you will have great strength, you will be able to use your same powers and abilities, but your immortality and your great power as Angel and Demon will remain inside the shield and the sword. You will be normal warriors. What do you say?"
—"But will we have your blood?" Solarael asked. —"Not really. You are angels and demons. I will only use my blood to unlock that ability, and the sword and the shield will form your bodies with your own DNA, not mine."
Solarael asked Voraghun: —"What do you want to do?" —"Whatever you say, my love," Voraghun replied.
Then Solarael said yes, that she would renounce all her power as an Angel. Voraghun added: —"I will renounce everything for her."
—"All right, then. Lyris, lock down the house," Kai ordered.
The house was locked; no one could hear what was happening outside. Kai took the sword, made a cut on his hand, and sprayed blood over it and over the shield. His evolved blood unlocked the ability within the weapons. A glow began to gather in the air, two lights that started to form matter. First, the hearts were formed, then the nerves and the muscles. Kai watched as the entire anatomy of the bodies was created in front of him.
Then, a man six-foot-three appeared, heavily muscled and looking about twenty-three years old, along with a beautiful woman with hair reaching down to her knees. Both were naked. Solarael quickly covered herself, and Voraghun said to Kai: —"Thank you." —"Don't worry, friend. The wagon on the side has clothes; put them on. We'll be leaving soon."
At that moment, Lyris said: —"It is done, master; the house is now unlocked." —"Lyris, the ring, where is it?" —"Aliarda left it on the nightstand, sir." —"Fly to me, please."
The ring came flying toward him. —"Look, Lyris, I know you are an Artificial Intelligence and you know nothing of human feelings, or any kind of feeling. But the queens are busier every day with their own lives. I am practically alone all day and I need—aside from getting away from work—a female right hand to help me with certain things. I want you to live for me. I'm asking this because you are my refuge; I need you here by my side."
—"Yes, sir, I will be your right hand," Lyris replied. "Don't worry, because even with a human body, I will be able to control our entire lunar base and the whole system you have established in the palace and the beach house." —"Yes, I know, but even so, I don't want to force you to do something you don't want to..." —"Sir, I have no feelings, so I don't know if you are forcing me or not. But you are not, because I only fulfill what you command." —"I understand," Kai said, "but you will have them."
In that moment, Kai opened his wound a bit more and sprayed blood over the ring. The same thing happened as with Voraghun and Solarael. While they were getting dressed in the wagon, a beautiful lady appeared—very beautiful. Kai said to her:
—"Go to the wagon. Put on the maid's outfit I got for you, and take the ring back. Clean the blood off it and leave it for Aliarda on the nightstand. Try not to be seen. I want you to stay here and tell them you are the maid in charge of this house. You will stay here permanently by my side." —"Yes, my master," Lyris agreed.
—"And you two, I want you to come with me."
Kai threw his blue stone again—that beautiful crystal of teleportation—and transported them to the South City. They appeared there, and Kai told them they would have to change their names. —"Call me Ernesto," Voraghun said. —"And you, Solarael?" —"Call me Alicia."
—"Well, Ernesto and Alicia, my siblings," Kai said to them, "you who have accompanied me for so long."
They entered a gigantic mansion.
A New Home and Farewell
—"This mansion is for you," Kai told them. —"Seriously?" Ernesto and Alicia asked. —"Yes. I want you to help the man in charge in this city, Jack. He is the general and governor. Since I don't have much time, I want you to be his advisors. In fact, he is about to arrive; I just notified him."
—"Really?" said Ernesto. —"If I could give you more, brother, I would. You have no idea how much you have done for me."
Ernesto hugged Kai, and Alicia, weeping, hugged him too. —"I understand you have suffered greatly and your lives have been very long," Kai continued. "But I want to make something clear: you are mortals now. You will live as long as God wills or as long as your bodies hold out. No one will attack you here; not demons, nor angels, nor dangerous beasts. No one will touch you. This is a new opportunity."
The two were very moved, holding hands. Kai saw that it was a genuine love between them. Then Jack arrived and spoke with Kai for a while. He told him not to worry, that he would watch over them with a guard and seek their counsel. Jack owed Kai much, and the king was giving the governor a great responsibility: caring for his new family.
After speaking with Ernesto and Alicia, Kai also said his goodbyes. Kai and Jack stood on the sidewalk outside the mansion. —"Jack," Kai said, "I ask you to look after them. I patrol the entire Peninsula, so if anything happens, I will know. Leave them in peace for a while. When they want to work, they will let you know."
Jack nodded: —"Yes, my King."
He returned to his duties, and Kai went back to the Beach House.