[A few weeks had passed since the hospital stay, and Shirou and Kei were now fully healed. The two of them had spent enough time in recovery, and the urge for a break from everything had grown too strong to ignore. It was time to head home.]
[The cool breeze greeted them as they walked back toward Shirou's house, the familiar sights of their neighborhood bringing a sense of comfort. Shirou glanced at Kei, who was walking beside him, clearly in a lighter mood now that they were free from the sterile walls of the hospital.]
Shirou: teasing So, what's it like being back to your usual self? I thought you'd never let me hear the end of it if I stayed in the hospital any longer.
[Kei gave a short laugh, his ever-present energy still shining through despite the lingering exhaustion from their injuries.]
Kei: grinning Oh, I would've kept you company if I had to. You know I can't let you have all the fun.
[Shirou chuckled as they reached the door to his house, pushing it open and stepping inside. The comforting scent of home greeted him instantly, and the weight of their recent struggles seemed to lighten in the familiar space.]
Shirou: relieved Feels good to be back. Let's hope we can actually relax for once.
[Kei followed him inside, slipping off his shoes and making himself comfortable. He leaned back against the couch, already scanning the house for any sign of food-something Shirou had grown used to.]
Kei: looking around So, is your place still as stocked as it used to be? I'm starving.
Shirou: grinning I guess we'll see.
[Just as they settled in, the sound of footsteps approaching from the hallway drew their attention. Shizuka and Ryokou appeared, both of them smiling warmly as they walked into the living room.]
Shizuka: cheerfully Hey, you two! Glad to see you're both doing well!
[Shirou returned her smile, his expression softening as he saw her. Shizuka's presence always had a calming effect on him.]
Shirou: grinning Yeah, we're doing fine. It's been a bit of a recovery, but we're good to go now.
Ryokou: smiling, her arms crossed casually I'm just glad to see you're both back on your feet. Hospitals aren't exactly the most pleasant places to be.
[Kei smirked, his usual playful attitude making an appearance again.]
Kei: joking Speak for yourself, Ryokou. I could've stayed longer if they let me keep my gaming console.
[Ryokou rolled her eyes but chuckled at Kei's antics.]
Ryokou: teasing Sure, Kei, I'm sure that would've been a great idea. Just what the hospital needed-more noise from you.
[Before Kei could respond, the doorbell rang, and Shirou moved to answer it, already knowing who it was. As he opened the door, Mio stood there, smiling warmly.]
Mio: with a cheerful tone Hey, Shirou! I heard you two were finally back and thought I'd stop by. How's everything?
Shirou: smiling It's good to see you, Mio. We're all recovered now.
[Mio stepped inside, greeting Shizuka and Ryokou with a nod as she made her way into the living room.]
Mio: grinning I'm glad to hear it. You two have had enough of the hospital food, right? I thought I'd bring something from the café down the street.
[She pulled out a bag from her side, revealing some pastries and drinks.]
Mio: offering the bag It's not much, but I thought it might make today a little sweeter.
[Kei wasted no time, immediately grabbing one of the pastries from the bag, his eyes lighting up with excitement.]
Kei: delighted This is perfect! You really know how to treat a guy, Mio.
Mio: laughing I'm just trying to make sure you're not starving after you got healed and such.
[The group settled down, taking turns enjoying the treats that Mio had brought while casually chatting. Shizuka asked Shirou how he'd been feeling lately, and Ryokou asked Kei if he had any plans for the week, her eyes gleaming with curiosity.]
[The conversation flowed easily, laughter and jokes filling the room. Despite everything that had happened, the bonds between them all were strong, and in this moment, it felt like nothing could break the tranquility they had found together.]
[For now, there was only peace, friendship, and the comfort of being surrounded by people who cared.]
[Meanwhile-at Shibuya Metropolitan Police Investigation Division Office]
[The late morning sun filtered through the blinds of the precinct office, casting warm stripes across the desks cluttered with case files, evidence folders, and cold coffee cups. Reina sat at her usual desk, scribbling notes while occasionally tapping on her laptop. Ryou was near the whiteboard, connecting red string between photos and documents, while Shin casually leaned against the wall, flipping through a report with his usual calm demeanor.]
[The hum of fluorescent lights and the soft shuffle of papers was interrupted by the sound of the door opening.]
Sera: cheerfully, holding a cardboard drink tray Good morning. I brought something to keep everyone from falling asleep.
[She walked in, holding a tray with two cups of freshly brewed coffee and a tall latte, steam still rising from the lids. A small paper bag dangled from her other hand, likely containing a few sweet buns from the corner bakery.]
Reina: smiling and sitting back in her chair You're a lifesaver, Sera. I was just thinking of sneaking out for a caffeine break.
Sera: grinning as she hands her the latte Figured as much. I got your usual-extra foam.
Ryou: accepting his black coffee How thoughtful. You didn't poison this, right?
Sera: playfully Only if sugar counts.
Shin: chuckling, taking his cup Thanks, Sera. Looks like you're getting used to civilian life pretty quick.
Sera: sitting casually on the edge of a nearby desk Trying to, at least. Honestly, blending in is harder than fighting monsters.
Reina: smirking You're doing fine. Actually, we were just about to review the security logs from the incident near the abandoned station. Want in?
[Sera gave a nod, sipping her drink before replying.]
Sera: serious If it's related to Vlad's movements or the recent disappearances, then yes. I want in.
[The air shifted slightly as the group refocused, the comfortable chatter settling into the familiar rhythm of urgency. With Sera now fully part of the team, things were beginning to feel different-more united, more precise.]
[The warm scent of coffee lingered in the air as Reina took a sip from her cup, her fingers idly tapping against the desk. Ryou leaned in, curious, while Shin was now scrolling through security footage on the monitor.]
Reina: So, anything new on your side, Sera?
Sera: placing her cup down and crossing her arms Actually, yes. The mafia case is still under my jurisdiction... and I've got someone keeping an eye on things from the inside.
Shin: raising a brow Wait, don't tell me-
Sera: with a slight smirk Levi. He's agreed to act as a temporary informant. It's risky, but he's the only one who can slip into their inner circle without raising suspicion.
Ryou: frowning Levi? You mean-Leviathan of the Four Feinds? That's... surprising. Didn't think he'd be the type to play double.
Sera: calmly It wasn't easy to convince him. But after Yggdrasil-after I left SoveCle-he started questioning things too. He's cautious, but not loyal to Vlad anymore.
Reina: thoughtful Still, keeping tabs on an entire mafia through a former enemy... that's a bold move.
Sera: quietly, more serious We don't have the luxury of waiting around. Something big is happening beneath the surface, and the mafia is connected to it. If Leviathan can give us just one lead, it might break this whole thing wide open.
Shin: nodding Alright then. Just make sure you keep a tight leash. One wrong step and they could realize we're onto them.
Sera: firmly I know the risk. I'm not taking my eyes off him.
[The room fell silent for a moment as the weight of her words sank in. For all her strength, Sera was playing a dangerous game-trusting a former adversary to infiltrate one of the city's deadliest underground networks. But that's what made her valuable to the team: she didn't play it safe. She played it smart.]
Reina: finally breaking the silence Alright. Let's keep the lines open. If Leviathan reports anything, we move fast.
Sera: grabbing her coffee again Understood.
[The tension in the room was slowly easing as the team processed the information. The quiet hum of the monitor screens and distant chatter from other officers filled the background.]
[Sera took another sip of her latte, then leaned slightly back on the desk, her expression softening as a thought crossed her mind-one that wasn't tactical or investigative.]
Sera: quietly, almost to herself You know... even with all the chaos I've been part of... there's someone who mattered more to me than any of this.
[The others glanced at her, surprised by the sudden shift in tone.]
Reina: softly Someone important?
[Sera gave a small, nostalgic smile-one filled with both warmth and hidden pain.]
Sera: nodding Seraph. He saved me a long time ago. Back when I was still a child... after that incident. One that no one else remembers. One I kept buried.
[Her eyes drifted to the window, the city skyline just barely visible through the blinds.]
Sera: gently Everyone else forgot that day... but I didn't. I saw him. Shining like light through a storm. He didn't just save my life-he gave me a reason to believe in something again.
Shin: curious Seraph... is he still around?
Sera: smiling faintly I don't know. He just vanished after that. Like he was never real. But I remember everything. And I know... I'm still alive today because of him.
Ryou: quietly So he's your reason for fighting now?
Sera: looking back at them with newfound resolve He's the reason I chose this path. I'll keep moving forward until I find him again. Or at least the truth about what really happened that day.
[A brief silence followed, but this time it wasn't heavy. It was filled with respect-for what she endured, and for what still drives her.]
Reina: smiling gently Then let's make sure that path stays open.
[As Sera finished speaking, the room sat still, absorbed in her rare vulnerability. But Shin, ever the quiet observer, had already started flipping through old digital case files on her terminal. Her fingers froze as a certain name flashed across the screen.]
Shin: casually, but with a raised brow Huh... that's odd.
Reina: looking over What is it?
Shin: narrowing her eyes I was looking through archived data from the classified black ops incidents-ones that were buried by the old administration. And I found this.
[He turned the screen toward them. On the monitor was an old document, dusty with digital age, partially redacted. At the top, a codename stood out;
Subject: Seraph
Affiliation: Sovereign Circle
Classification: Arch-Class Operative
Title: Prideful of the Seven Arches]
Ryou: frowning Wait... Seraph? Like the one Sera just mentioned?
Sera: eyes slowly widening, stepping forward That can't be... He was part of SoveCle?
Shin: pointing at the file Not just part. He was one of the Seven Arches-top-tier. Same level as Vlad, Ifrit, Leviathan, Behemoth... He was even ranked higher than some of them.
Reina: serious So the man who saved you... might've been one of their strongest.
Sera: quietly, almost in disbelief Why would someone like him... save someone like me?
[Shin scrolled further, but the rest of the data was corrupted or redacted in black.]
Shin: muttering They really didn't want anyone to find this. Most of this was locked behind SoveCle's deep internal files. Even us, the Investigation Unit, aren't aware of this.
Reina: gritting her teeth So, Seraph vanished from the Circle... and the world... right after he saved her. And no one ever mentioned him since?
Sera: thinking aloud If he truly was one of them... then maybe he defected. Maybe he... didn't agree with what Vlad was planning back then.
[The room grew colder with that thought. A rogue Arch. A guardian from the shadows. A mystery that just deepened.]
Ryou: low voice Looks like your past isn't done with you yet, Sera.
Sera: nodding, her voice steady Then I'll face it. I have to know who Seraph really was-and why he saved me.
[Shin's eyes narrowed as he dug deeper, bypassing firewalls with quiet determination. The others leaned in as his fingers tapped steadily, until another file loaded on-screen-this one even more degraded and laced with redacted segments.]
Shin: murmuring Hold on... there's more.
[The screen displayed a symbol-one long buried in black-market intelligence: a shattered crown with seven thorns.
[Subject: Vlad
Affiliation: Sovereign Circle
Classification: Arch-Class Operative
Title: Greedful of the Seven Arches]
Reina: shocked Vlad was one of the Arches?
Shin: nodding slowly Yeah. Looks like the Seven Arches weren't just operatives-they were the original architects of Sovereign Circle. The true elite. Each one practically forged an entire branch of their empire.
[He pulled up the rest of the decrypted segment, names and codenames flickering in and out;
Founder:
• ??? (Redacted)
Arch-elites:
• Seraph
• Vlad
• ??? (Data Missing)
• ??? (Data Missing)
• ??? (Data Missing)
• ??? (Data Missing)
• ??? (Data Missing)]
Sera: softly Then Seraph and Vlad... they were once comrades. I can't believe even I didn't knew this...
Ryou: piecing it together That explains Vlad's obsession with legacy. The Four Fiends—Ifrit, Leviathan, Behemoth, and that mysterious fourth one-they're probably successors. But... not on the same level.
Shin: pointing at a note Exactly. See this footnote? 'Fiend-Class Units: Subordinate generation; modeled after the original Arches but deemed less autonomous.' Basically, they're knockoffs. Powerful, yeah—but not the same kind of legend.
Reina: tense Which makes Seraph even more dangerous... or important. If he's still alive.
Sera: firmly He is. I don't know how, but I feel it. Vlad wouldn't erase him from the records unless he feared what Seraph could still do.
[A quiet beat passed between them as this revelation settled.]
Ryou: grinning faintly Guess the real monsters were from the first era.
Shin: leaning back And one of them saved Sera. That changes everything.
Reina: eyes sharp Then we find Seraph. If he's alive, he might be the key to dismantling Sovereign Circle completely.
Sera: softly Or... he might be the final door we have to open."
[Meanwhile, at Sovereign Circle Headquarters - Inner Sanctum]
[Dark crimson light bathed the inner chamber of the Sovereign Circle's stronghold. The remnants of Behemoth's body had been laid out on a sealed platform, partially preserved by arcane biotech. Ifrit leaned lazily against the wall, arms crossed, while Leviathan silently observed the setup, his fingers rhythmically tapping the edge of a data tablet.]
[Suddenly, the air thickened.]
[A slow, deliberate pair of footsteps echoed through the steel corridor. The temperature shifted-warmer, heavier—as a perfume-like scent permeated the room. A soft laugh preceded her arrival.]
???: voice like velvet Still playing with corpses, Vlad? You haven't changed.
[She stepped into the room.]
[Tall, poised, and dangerously elegant, She wore a deep violet coat over a body-hugging dress of silken black. Her eyes glinted with an unsettling mix of desire and malice. She moved like a shadow with intent.]
Irisyvell - The Lustful Arch.
Vlad: smiling with twisted fondness Iris. I knew you'd answer if I offered something... enticing.
Irisyvell: glancing at Behemoth's remains So this is the beast you're hoping to revive. I must say, he's seen better days. Torn muscles, fractured spine... the usual brute damage. You need me to breathe life back into him?
Ifrit: grinning You gonna kiss him awake, Archess?
Irisyvell: smirking, unbothered Only if it comes with a soul tether and a mind leash. But don't worry, I've been experimenting with... borrowed spirits. I could make him useful again. Loyal, even.
Leviathan: coldly You plan to enslave a corpse with... dark magic?
Irisyvell: tilting her head with mock offense Oh, darling, you say it like it's a bad thing.
Vlad: stepping forward He'll serve as our vanguard in the next stage. But I want more than just a reanimated meat shield. I want a creature twisted in loyalty. I want a message.
Irisyvell: grinning wickedly Then let me work. I'll need three days, a laboratory to work in, and some machine donors. Behemoth will rise again-and he'll obey.
[She placed a long, clawed finger over Behemoth's forehead, whispering something under her breath. A faint, red glow pulsed from his chest.]
Irisyvell: softly, with delight Let's give them something to fear again.