Winter Nights of Hell

Chapter Eighteen

Sorcerer's Regret

 

“Have you found her yet, Enoxon?” Kurai’s raspy voice sounded from atop the stairs. 

Enoxon was casually sitting on the couch with his eyes closed and a little floating map in front of him, his gentle green eyes glowing as the map of the earth floated in front of him. He was using every magic ounce he had in his body to help Kurai feel at ease by locating Snow but was still having no luck finding the young woman. He was exhausted, with circles underneath his eyes. The sorcerer hadn’t slept in days, trying to do what he could to help find her. A sigh escaped him as he closed his heavy-feeling eyes, and the map disappeared. Searching up and down for her wasn’t helping, and Kurai continued asking him questions repeatedly. Specifically the ‘Have you found her yet.’ He was tired and frustrated. 

“No, Kurai. If I did, I wouldn’t be sitting here,” He called up. “What exactly are you doing?”

Nothing came from atop the stairs, instead just silence. The white-haired sorcerer sighed and stood from the couch, “I’m going out for a drink.”

“You’re going out at a time like this?!” Kurai’s voice sounded.

Enoxon rolled his eyes and, with the little bit of magic he had stored in him, instantly ported himself to The Wet Rose, owned by the underworld’s most famous bartender, Jenieva - his old friend.

He was taken aback by how tranquil the atmosphere was. Despite the chatter of patrons and the clinking of glasses, an unusual sense of calmness seemed to permeate the air. The dim lighting and soft music added to the serene ambiance, making it feel like a peaceful oasis amidst the chaos of the outside world. Even the bartenders moved slowly and deliberately as if they were mindful of the need to maintain the friendly vibe of the place. It was a surprising and welcome change from the usual bar rowdiness, and Enoxon settled in for a relaxing evening of good company and quiet contemplation. The bar was surprisingly empty, as it was close to closing time anyway. He immediately plopped himself into the barstool at Jenieva’s bar top and groaned. 

“Kill me, please,” He spoke, dropping his forehead on the edge of the bartop and just letting his arms flop. “Please.”

“Enoxon, you’re practically immortal,” Jenieva’s fruity voice sounded. The clang of a rocks glass sat down beside the sorcerer.

“Sometimes, I wish I weren’t.”

“I mean, I can help you change that, but I don’t think you’re ready to go,” A laughter escaped the young lady as she turned to eyeball the sorcerer, who practically looked dead anyway. “You know something Enoxon,” She murmured, leaning over the counter to him and patting him on the head. “You really need to get some sleep. This isn’t good for you; Kurai is sucking you dry - and not in a good way.”

“It’s every second, Jenieva!” He whined, rolling his head sideways to look at the young demon leaning on the counter. “I feel as though I haven’t been given a break, and Kurai is so stuck on finding her - it’s creepy.”

“He’s a demon, after all,” Jenieva replied gently. “You don’t know what love is like.”

“Love? The thing barely knows her,” He grunted, looking away.

“He’s not a thing, Enoxon. Don’t be rude,” Jenieva sighed, her voice dropping to a whisper. “I mean, don’t you remember how your feelings were with-”

 “Do not bring that up,” Enoxon snarled at her.

Jenieva sighed and pushed herself off the bar, raising her hands to stop him from saying more. “Look, I’m just saying. You were the same way with Nova.” 

He glared at her coldly with those sharp green eyes. 

She raised an eyebrow at her, and the side of her lip curled upwards with attitude. “You don’t scare me, Eno. I’ve known you far too long to be scared of you.”

His face washed over with sadness, replacing the exhausted look. The thought of her brought a mix of emotions, from despair to anger, but mostly a deep sense of disappointment. He couldn’t help but think of the woman named Nova, who brought back so many happy but dark memories.

“Nova…” He murmured under his breath, glaring at the drink before him. But he couldn’t be mad at her; her reaction to what happened between them was normal - at least, he thought it was. “When I asked the Council of the Sinless to remove her from my memory…”

“I know,” Jenieva murmured, reaching out and putting a hand on his shoulder with a small smile. “They did you wrong. Thus why I can never forgive them for you. Knowing the pain that they had put you through and the pain she put you through, I can only imagine how you’re heart feels.”

 “I hate that they didn’t remove everything from my knowledge. Sure, take away the bad, but I wanted them to take it all. The promise I made to those damn celestials!” Anger rose in the sorcerer as he thought of everything that flashed back to him, how he begged the Council of the Sinless to take away his memory of Nova. 

The memory of his young once-in-a-lifetime fiancé, Nova, flooded back to him. It was a painful memory. Knowing that she betrayed him after she found out about the use of his black magic, the human couldn’t bear trying to keep that to herself. She was scared after watching him hurt someone on accident. Enoxon did everything he could to try and make Nova understand that it wasn’t on purpose, that he could control his black magic… But she was human - she did not know of this. When Enoxon begged the Council to take the memory away, they refused. 

“I guess you have no choice but to just… stay alive, don’t you?” Jenieva teased him.

He glared at her again and shook his head, “.. I’m just grateful they helped ease her pain.”

“But by doing so, they erased her times with you. I will never forget the day you walked into my bar, looking broken - as though your entire world turned upside down. I had heard about your exchange with the Celestial World and the Council, but knowing they didn’t do as you asked… That’s what makes them untrustworthy,” Jenieva sighed.

He was mighty, knowing the black magic that soared through Enoxon. Almost as powerful as Ren and Sayuri were when they were still alive. Now, he was the most well-known sorcerer in both worlds. As much knowledge as he had, he also had a great deal of experience - dealing with demons and celestials. They refused when he asked the Council to erase his memory and Nova. This caused the deal they made with the Celestials into a twisted contract. 

Once Enoxon’s soul finally faded into the afterlife, he pledged his alliance to the Celestial World. This wasn’t supposed to be his contract with the Council - no, not even close. He wanted all the memory - of Nova, the black magic, and his mistake to be erased. He told the Celestials that they could retrieve his soul once he died. If war ever came to be, Enoxon would be forced to side with the Celestials with the knowledge of magic he had.

“They’re Celestials. They’re supposed to be perfect,” Enoxon sighed, taking a huge drink.

“No one is perfect, not even the ‘perfect’ Council - you know this,” Jenieva assured him.

Enoxon’s gaze drifted from his drink to the young demon before him, and he nodded, “Jenieva, how long have we known each other?” 

As she turned to Enoxon, a soft smile played across her face. It was the kind of smile that seemed to light up her entire being, and for a moment, all of the worries and stresses of the day simply melted away. Her red eyes sparkled with a hint of mischief, and her cheeks dimpled ever so slightly, giving her an almost childlike innocence. It was a smile that seemed to radiate warmth and happiness, and just being in its presence made everything feel slightly brighter. “Way too damn long, Eno,” She replied.

A chuckle escaped Enoxon as he finished his drink, and a loud group of demons walked through the door.

“I can’t believe the Reaper’s been found!” 

“Can you believe they were in the Celestial Realm this entire time? I heard it’s not even the Lady in Red!” 

Enoxon and Jenieva exchanged glances as they listened to the conversation of the two demons that walked into the room. 

“It’s about time they found the Reaper. I’m tired of this damn cold!” 

“You and me both. Knowing that we were frozen because of Lord Zonoth - that’s ridiculous. Lord Mundus sure knows how to run Asturdorm better.”

“Doesn’t he, though? So much better,” The girl with them giggled. “Imagine what his reaction will be when he meets the new Reaper! He’s going to be so excited!” 

“Finally, the Celestial will let us out of here and roam the human world. I haven’t had a good meal in a long time,” One of the two male demons muttered.

“That’s part of the reason we were locked up down here, dumbass,” The girl sighed, rolling her eyes. “Hey, Jenieva! Did ya hear?! The Reaper was found!” 

Enoxon sat up straight, taking another sip of the second drink that the bartender brought to him. He eyeballed the young girl, raising an eyebrow. “Lord Mundus found the Reaper?”

“Well, no, not technically. But he announced that the Celestials found the Reaper - and they will bring the Reaper down here to begin guiding souls again!”

Jenieva’s voice sounded before Enoxon’s this time, “How do we know this Reaper is legitimate? The last Reaper that was impersonated was… Well, we all know what happened then.” 

With her two friends, the young girl sat down on both sides of Enoxon and smiled brightly, unlike a demon would. But her eyes were sparkling with interest, “Apparently, she led a soul to the Celestial Realm!” 

Enoxon thought about it momentarily; they could not find the Reaper. Why would a Reaper be in the Celestial Realm anyway? That was just confusing the second he heard her say it. His thoughts traced back to the previous Reaper, who was strictly in the underworld unless something significant happened with the Celestials. He turned his attention back to his drink as the young demons continued to chit-chat about the Reaper’s finding. Curiosity struck in him. This wasn’t possible. Not at all. They must’ve made a mistake, right? If the Reaper had been found, he would have heard from Yushin. Granted, he hasn’t heard from Yushin in almost two weeks - nor even found a trace of him. This struck him with curiosity even more. 

“Jenieva, I gotta run,” Enoxon said quickly. 

 The bartending demon smiled gently at him and gave him a little wave. “See you soon, I hope,” She told him, talking about the Reaper finding the customers inside the bar. 

Nodding, Enoxon rushed out of the bar, the cold, harsh air of the underworld striking him. Within a few seconds, the sorcerer thought about where Yushin could be. He had to be at a portal, right? Perhaps the Reaper’s Cove? If anyone knew anything, it was Yushin. He was the one Snow was with last, and he had every idea. Of course, he’s tried to talk to him before about where she was, but he just states up and down that wherever she was, she was safe - safe from any demon. Something about that statement made him worry, yes. He was worried about the young woman who had not a single ounce of power and was also being tracked by the demon that had slain her parents and Kurai’s tribe. The sorcerer took a deep breath and teleported him from the Wet Rose. He gazed around the surrounding darkness, trying to find out where his mind took him too. Everything was somewhat foggy, and it confused him when he realized where he was. His magic was limited, and his teleportation spell didn’t take him as far as he wanted - nevertheless, where he wanted to go. 

“Kurai must have drained my magic a lot more than I wanted,” He muttered and groaned, gazing around the area. He knew where he was, but knowing he could not teleport precisely where he needed to go was disappointing. With cautious steps, the sorcerer made his way through the dark and foreboding cave. The only light source was the dim glow of his staff, casting eerie shadows that danced along the rough stone walls. The faint sound of water trickled through the cavern, its echoes resonating through the stillness. The sorcerer’s breath seemed unnaturally loud in the silence, and he muttered incantations to protect himself from lurking dangers. Despite his precautions, he couldn’t shake the feeling of being watched. Nevertheless, he persisted, driven by his determination to reach Yushin. 

Soon the cave turned into something unexpected, something he had never seen before. Floating in the air, magical red jewels cast a dim yet mesmerizing light illuminating the cavern. The rough stone walls and stalactites were bathed in a warm glow, creating an otherworldly, awe-inspiring, and eerie atmosphere. The sorcerer couldn’t help but feel a sense of wonder at the sight before him, but he also knew he couldn’t let his guard down. The presence of something lurking here began to grow. Eventually, he came to the end of the cave, which had a large stone door. It’s been a while since he had seen this large stone door that could only be opened by a specific type of magic, and he knew exactly what it was. A soft grin danced on his face as he put his wooden staff before him. At the top of the magical staff was a stunning sight- a crescent moon that would glow with a mesmerizing purple-blue hue. The contrast between the black staff and the vibrant blue of the crescent moon made for a truly enchanting sight. It was as if the staff was a conduit for the natural world’s magic, and the moon perfectly represented that enchantment.

“Alright, Enoxon, let’s see what you’ve got.” 

As the staff approached the large stone door, Enoxon could feel the magic coursing through their veins. Raising the staff, he pointed it directly at the door, and a beam of energy shot forth, illuminating the runes etched into the stone. The power flowing from the staff seemed to awaken something within the door, and with a low rumble, the massive stone began to shift and move. Slowly, it creaked open, revealing a hidden chamber beyond. 

As Enoxon entered the cavernous room, his eyes were drawn to the vibrant red gems, the same ones that lined the cavern hall. They cast an otherworldly glow across the space, illuminating a cluttered room filled with scattered tools and debris. It was clear that someone had been working here recently, but the disarray suggested frenzied haste. The gems seemed to pulse with energy, casting strange shadows across the walls and ceiling. Despite the chaos, there was a sense of ancient power in the air, as if this room had been used for some vital purpose long ago.

“Yushin!” He called out into the room. “Where are you?” Anger ruffled his voice as he gazed around the red room, wondering where the Spirit Walker had gone. The sorcerer held his staff close to his body, ensuring that nothing touched it and it didn’t feel anything. He may be weak right now and unable to bring forth much magic, but it was enough to open the stone door and protect himself if something strange happened. He walked to the stone desk on one side of the room, fingering through some open textbooks. When his gaze scanned the small room, he realized that no one was in this room in particular. But… Perhaps… 

The sorcerer gazed toward the back of the room, where the path was opened to anyone who entered the room. “Seriously?” He muttered under his breath and shook his head. Slowly, the sorcerer made his way up the stairs, feeling the cold from the cave seep into and chill his body. He pulled his dark hood over his head, keeping his eyes focused in front of him. A towering tree stood in the center of the space, its branches stretching up toward the ceiling as if reaching for the sky. The tree was surrounded by a bed of vibrant red gems, illuminating the room with a soft, warm glow. It was a sight to behold - the tree seemed to radiate with an ancient power, and Enoxon couldn’t help but feel a sense of reverence in its presence. He’s been here once, at The Lady in Red’s side, trying to help her uncover the few missing candles. The room was full of magic, between the gems lying at the tree’s base and the candles surrounding the far caves’ outside edges. 

“Yushin,” Enoxon’s bold voice blared through the room. That’s when he realized that he was hovering over a body. The anger that he could feel began to rise inside him. Everything makes sense now, and he was not a happy sorcerer. He had trusted Yushin, but the Spirit Walker betrayed him. Not only was he angry, though, he was confused. “You have so much explaining to do,” His voice boomed through the caverns.

“Enoxon,” Yushin sighed, standing straight while hovering over the young girl’s body.

Seeing the white hair of snow, and her dress that she was in while she was having her memories explored before she disappeared, hurt Enoxon. It made him trust Yushin throughout all these years, knowing he was The Lady in Red’s assistant. 

“Obviously, it’s not what you think it is,” The Spirit Walker hummed to him, “In fact, it’s quite the opposite.” He turned around, but he seemed different. When he turned around, his typical yellow shimmering eyes weren’t that. In fact, dark. He had no emotion twisted on his face. “I told you Snow was safe, did I not? Do you see her hurt? Is she still breathing?” He questioned Enoxon, crossing his arms and knitting his brows. “However, I do not remember asking you to assist me in this exploration.” 

“Exploration?!” Enoxon snapped. “What the hell is that supposed to mean? Why didn’t you tell us you had Snow?” The sorcerer demanded, glaring at the Spirit Walker. “I’ve wasted so much time and effort trying to find her, and here you are with her!” 

The Spirit Walker rolled his head back, sighing, and then turned away from Enoxon. “Have I ever put a soul in danger before?” He asked.

“Not that I’m aware of, but maybe you have,” The sorcerer replied, standing his ground as he gripped his staff tighter. 

“Shadowfall, Memory of Illuminated Dreams… What a wonderful staff that was,” He casually stated, looking at the young girl below him. “I remember the day you created it, holding the secrets of black magic, yes?” He asked him.

“Yushin, what do you want with Snow?”

“Simple. I want to help her explore the power she has residing within her,” The Spirit Walker stated. “Just as the Lady in Red asked me to.”

Disbelief washed over Enoxon as he stared at him with dark eyes. “Why don’t I believe you?” He asked.

“Enoxon, have I ever been known to hurt someone? I’m a Spirit Walker - I find lost souls and bring them to their new homes. I’m an actual spirit myself. What more could I possibly do to her?” He motioned to the lifeless girl behind him. 

“... Work for someone,” Enoxon replied, slightly lowering his guard. His surroundings were calm, and few demons knew about the Reaper’s Cove. 

Yushin scoffed, “Why would I want to work for the demon that marked her? What could I possibly get from hurting the Reaper’s Daughter?”

“Reaper’s Daughter?” Enoxon repeated.

“Snow - she belongs to The Lady in Red.”

Enoxon was caught entirely off guard when he stated that. 

He gasped. It all made sense now! The reason he couldn’t help Kurai figure out who this human was, how she had access to activating portals, or why she was marked. It all made sense now. This human was the Daughter of the Reaper. Green eyes, wide with amazement, stared at the young female. How could he be so blind? In all the years he’s been alive - the number of times she’s heard about the Lady In Red’s work. He watched Sayuri and Ren - they never had a daughter. How could he possibly be so blind? She didn’t even have the same hair color as the two sorcerers. They could not conceive a child - but here was Snow claiming to be theirs. But that didn’t explain why Yushin was obsessing over her. Sure, he found the Reaper but what now? She was still being hunted by a powerful demon that took out the entire Sayaka Tribe and the underworld’s strongest wizards - singlehanded. 

The sorcerer’s gaze flickered to Yushin, who was standing with a smug look. “How did you know?” He demanded.

“Let’s say… A little bird told me,” He told him, shrugging. “Yuna was brought to Snow as soon as she entered the Underworld - Kurai has a literal pact with her and can pretty much be summoned to her side - If only she knew how to do so. She has so much more potential, so much more power. She may be stronger than the Lady in Red herself!” His eyes locked down to the woman’s pale body. 

“Kurai didn’t make a pact, though,” Enoxon replied.

“You’re right; he was forced into it. How did you think he was instantly teleported to her to save her life the first time?” He questioned him, sitting in a wooden chair beside the sleeping Snow.

“How… do you know about that?” 

“Everyone knows the truth about Snow.”

“But that’s impossible. She was only with Kurai and I.”

“And she told the story to Astaroth, who told the story to me. I mean, she practically gave me her entire life story anyway this one time. Keep in mind I’m a Spirit Walker. My job is to protect souls and guide them to the correct area, mostly by seeing their past and judging them.”

“You never told me you could do that.”

“There’s a lot of things I haven’t told you, Enoxon. Stop being so shallow.” 

Enoxon shook his head and put his staff back before him, focusing on the issue. And that was the Spirit Walker hovering over Snow like she was his project. “You need to leave her alone,” He demanded. “If she’s the Reaper, you can return to doing your little job by guiding souls and finding Yuna.”

“Oh, Yuna? I can’t find her - only Snow can. And right now, she’s not doing a very good job at it. Instead, Mati told her that she was the Reaper - now she’s returning to our world and should be back soon. And who is the only other Spirit Walker available to teach her about her abilities? The black magic that she should be able to possess, the power that courses through her veins…”

“If anyone should teach her black magic, it’s me-”

“The one who destroyed an entire village?” He questioned the sorcerer. “The one that practically killed his fiance’s entire family?”

With that, Snow began to stir, shuffling her feet and her arms twitching. 

Enoxon quickly approached Snow’s side, trying to help her wake up a bit. “Snow, you’re back!” He exclaimed.

 

Tree of Souls and The Reaper's Cove 

The Tree of Souls is where the Reaper can see human's lights - and sometimes demons - granted they are not immortal. Most humans and monsters are mortal, meaning they do not live forever. They are provided with candles, easily blown out to end a life, yes. But to get into the Tree of Souls is damn near impossible and leads to a life of exploring halls that are consistently moving. A Reaper can read how long their soul has before they are ready to be collected - granted, they can read the candles correctly. Once a soul is released to the underworld, the Reaper leaves to go and find it after making judgment calls on where the soul belongs.