After Alex found out which school he was supposed to attend, his mood plummeted. The only bright side was that Lucina had agreed to go with him, so at least he wouldn't have to endure the school drama between Edward and Bella alone. Still, the thought of postponing the journey to that world until the very end kept surfacing in his mind.
That's why Alex decided to check the other two envelopes — the ones with admission papers for schools in different worlds. But the moment he tried to open the first one, he realized the paper wouldn't budge. For five minutes straight he huffed and struggled, trying to rip at least one envelope, but it was useless. He used a knife, magic, and at one point even the power of Destruction — yet all in vain. The paper envelopes didn't get a single scratch.
The girls, watching his attempts, could barely hold back their laughter at Alex's face, which was filled with cosmic grievance. It was obvious to everyone: this was the handiwork of the Great Creator, who also happened to be Alex's father. He had made sure the remaining envelopes could only be opened once all the problems in the first world were resolved.
In the end, Alex collapsed onto the couch, looking as if he had just lost the most important battle of his life.
"Don't be upset, Alex," Gloria said softly, sitting beside him and taking his hand. "It's just a school. Think positively: you won't have to stay there long. Just a couple of months, and it'll all be over."
"It's not 'a couple of months,'" Alex sighed tiredly, rubbing his face with his hand. "It's a whole five months in school. But that's not even the worst part…"
"So what's really bothering you, besides the thought that you and Lucina will have to sit through a vampire's love troubles with a schoolgirl?" Jill asked with a smirk.
"The very nature of the world," Alex replied seriously, looking at the girls. "Think about it: why would Nyan-Nyan's avatar stick around in such a weak world with nothing noteworthy in it? There's only one logical explanation."
"Wait…" Saya murmured, her eyes widening. "Don't tell me…"
Alex nodded, confirming her suspicion. He wasn't surprised that Saya was the first to catch on. The others just frowned, still trying to guess what he meant.
Silence filled the living room. The girls racked their brains but still couldn't find the answer.
"Alright!" Beatrix was the first to give up. "I'm tired of guessing. Just explain already!" She shook Alex by the shoulders.
"It's simple," Saya said, adjusting her glasses. "Alex suspects that the world he's going to might turn out to be the same kind as ours."
"You mean to say this world with sparkling vampires might be a special one?" Valmet asked, frowning.
"Exactly," Ada chimed in, slapping her knee. "If it combines multiple timelines, like our world did, then it makes sense why the avatar of Nyaruko's mother chose it."
"I could just ask Mommy," Nyaruko offered innocently, sitting on Freya's lap.
"There's no need to bother her, dear," Freya said gently, stroking her hair. "She's probably busy."
Nyaruko nodded seriously in agreement. No one but Alex knew that Nyan-Nyan was actually just too lazy. Truth be told, she usually had nothing to do in the Chaos except observe him through her daughter's link.
Even Lady Death, who usually had little to occupy herself with, entertained herself the same way — watching Alex through the mark she had left on him during their first meeting. The irony was that watching him was the only thing these two women shared, since otherwise they could barely stand each other.
After it was confirmed that the world Alex and Lucina were headed to might combine several timelines, the girls grew interested. But the moment Alex suggested they go with him, all their enthusiasm instantly vanished.
"So, maybe you'll come with us?" he asked, trying to sound casual.
What followed was a chorus of refusals. Alex's eye twitched; he understood perfectly well — nobody likes school.
He even tried persuading his little princesses — Jinx, Anya, and Nyaruko. But they immediately pretended not to hear. Normally, they would happily tag along with their beloved daddy, but going to school was absolutely out of the question. It was boring, and — worst of all — there was nothing to blow up.
Alex sighed heavily, watching his daughters come up with a hundred excuses just to get out of it. But in each excuse, he heard the same thing: "We don't want to go to school."
The rest of the girls felt the same way — none of them wanted to spend six hours a day listening to teachers drone on. The only thing that comforted Alex was that they'd still be able to visit him thanks to the rings he had created. For Erina, Alice, and Hisako, he even made bracelets with the same function, just in case they wanted to visit or bring him a new dish.
"So, when are you leaving?" Hephaestus asked, suppressing a smile. "Or are you going to look for excuses to stay again?"
"I think we'll head out right now," Alex replied. "Besides school and paperwork, we need to settle in, buy food, and other necessities. Might even have to find a house…"
"Couldn't your father just provide you with one?" Nobuna raised a brow. "Or, at the very least, you could just create one with magic and make it look like it's always been there."
"Maybe," Alex shrugged. "I'll figure it out on the spot."
He turned to Lucina.
"Darling, do you need to take anything?"
"Just underwear and a couple of things," she answered calmly. "We'll buy the rest there."
Alex nodded in satisfaction. The thought of not going alone warmed his heart. But what intrigued him even more was just how unusual this world might turn out to be. After all, the hardest part of his task wasn't the fighting — it was figuring out what disguise Nyan-Nyan's avatar might be hiding under.
While Lucina went upstairs to pack, Alex stayed in the living room with the girls. They threw around guesses about which timelines might overlap in that world. Alex tossed in his own theories as well. One thing seemed obvious: if there were vampires, other creatures might exist too. Most of the girls, being fans of "Supernatural," leaned on that show as a basis for their ideas.
"Um, Alex," Miu asked curiously, "what if that world is just a mashup of horror movies? Like, I don't know, maybe a space clown shows up and starts kidnap—"
"No, not clowns," Alex cut her off sharply.
"What's wrong?" Ada drawled slyly, running her foot along his thigh. "Our mighty Demon King, who's seen the horrors of countless worlds, is afraid of clowns?"
"I'm not afraid of them," Alex said flatly. "I hate them. In every damn world there's always a clown. As if there aren't enough other monsters! Why clowns?… I fucking hate clowns."
"Pffft—ha-ha-ha!" Juri burst out laughing. "My strong and dangerous husband is afraid of clowns! Want your Nuna to beat up any clown so he won't scare you?" She plopped herself onto his lap and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Of course!" Alex agreed passionately. "You can hit any clown. Even a peaceful one. Otherwise, I'll personally shove his red nose right up his—"
"Alex!" Gloria quickly clamped a hand over his mouth, throwing a stern look at Anya, Nyaruko, and Jinx.
Even when Gloria clamped her hand over Alex's mouth, he didn't stop talking. Through her palm came something garbled, but the girls didn't need words to understand — he wasn't saying anything good about clowns.
At first, they just listened, but soon couldn't hold back and burst out laughing. No one suspected that Alex's dislike of clowns had reached the level of genuine hatred. Containing themselves was impossible — each girl kept making jokes at his expense.
Gloria suffered the most. She not only tried to keep her hand firmly over his mouth but also desperately fought to hold back her own laughter. In the end, her stomach ached from the combined tension and laughter. When Alex finally finished speaking and fell silent, the room erupted in laughter — the girls were practically clutching their stomachs, staring at his stone-cold face.
"If you run into a clown like that, don't forget to take a few pictures," Cammy said through her laughter, wiping away tears. "I never would have thought you hated them that much."
"I wouldn't have believed it either," Rei added, still catching her breath. "My husband, who single-handedly smashed a horde of zombies with a golden brick… and now — clowns!"
"I feel sorry for that clown," Mari commented, shaking her head.
"Sorry?!" Shino exclaimed. "It's a monster! Why feel sorry for it?"
"Just think about what Alex would do to him if he met him," Mari replied calmly.
The girls fell silent for a moment, then started imagining various ways Alex could exact revenge on the poor clown. Each version grew crazier than the last, and the living room once again filled with laughter.
Alex, however, sat with an absolutely blank expression. To him, it was obvious: even if Pennywise himself appeared, he'd kill him. Yes, it was a cosmic being existing beyond dimensions. But so what? In his eyes, it was no different from Nyan-Nyan's avatars. Anyone could be killed; the key was knowing how.
At that moment, Lucina came down the stairs, slinging a bag over her shoulder. Hearing the laughter and seeing Alex's expression, she asked in surprise what had happened. The girls all rushed to explain their husband's "phobia."
Lucina shook her head, glanced at Alex, and, like the others, gave a small smile. She hadn't expected him to hate clowns this much either.
"Ready?" Alex asked, meeting her gaze.
"Yes," she nodded. "Everything's packed: clothes, laptop, tablet."
Alex smiled and carefully lifted Juri off his lap, who clearly didn't want to get down. But the moment he said gloomily:
"If you don't get up, you're going to school with me."
The word "school" had an instant effect. Juri, as if stung, jumped up, leaped across half the living room, and took a fighting stance, her whole demeanor screaming that she'd rather die than agree.
Alex grimaced, watching her "resistance." The other girls, especially the goddesses, turned away dramatically — none of them had any intention of sitting through boring teachers who had lived far less than they had.
"That's all your love, then," Alex said in a tragic tone, theatrically brushing away an imaginary tear. "I thought we'd have school dates… sitting together in class, holding hands… skipping for some romance. And you've cruelly rejected my fragile little heart!"
"Please," Chiquita scoffed. "You even squeezed out a tear on purpose. And I'll say it again: we're not going to school. Don't even try. If it were a magic academy or something remotely interesting — maybe. But a regular school, where teenagers can't even control their hormones? No way."
Alex sighed in resignation.
"Alright. At least I tried… Hmph. Let's go, dear."
He took Lucina's hand and, turning away, called out loudly:"GIR, MIMI, Stitch, follow me!"
A crooked smile appeared on Lucina's face. She knew perfectly well that Alex was just trying to trick the other girls into going to school. As he tugged her along, the others watched with amused expressions. Everyone had long since figured out his clever plan. Sure, the idea of a "school date" sounded tempting, but the price was far too high — sitting through boring lessons and listening to endless teacher droning.
GIR, MIMI, and Stitch, who had been sitting at the table munching on snacks, initially couldn't believe their ears. They stared at Alex in astonishment and pointed at themselves. He rolled his eyes and nodded. Time to get up. With sighs and grumpy faces, the trio grabbed their backpacks and trudged after their master and Lucina.
"Alex, we'll drop by later to see how you settle in!" Hestia called.
"No problem!" he replied. "If anything interesting happens, tune into the stream. I've got Navi, and these three are coming with me."
The girls exchanged glances and smiled: now they wouldn't have to wait for reports from GIR, since they could watch everything live.
Alex and Lucina left the mansion. He pulled his "Impala" out of the inventory. GIR, MIMI, and Stitch, still sulking, took the back seats. Lucina tossed her bag in the trunk and settled into the passenger seat. Alex waved goodbye to the girls, started the engine, and as they drove out of Orario, he opened a portal. The car shot through the glowing rift, which immediately snapped shut behind them.
Meanwhile, in the place where it all began — the Creator's workshop — nothing had changed since Alex was last there.
The workshop remained just as marvelous and alive. There was no ceiling — it was replaced by an endless sky, dotted with countless universes, shimmering like scattered stars. They provided light and warmth, filling the space with a soft, radiant glow.
The Creator sat in a comfortable white armchair. On the nearby tea table rested a glass teapot, from which fragrant steam rose. Carefully holding the lid, he poured himself a cup of fresh tea. A soft smile played across his face as he watched an old television, where a scene with his son and his family was being broadcast.
He chuckled quietly, seeing Alex's failed attempt to persuade the girls to go to school with him.
"Good thing Lucina went with him. Otherwise, that boy would have certainly caused trouble… or worse, started skipping lessons," the Creator said, sipping his tea.
"Father, I still don't understand why you gave such a person so much power," a calm voice spoke from behind.
The Creator set the cup on the table and turned. Standing before him was his eldest son — Mikhail. Stern and responsible, he never allowed himself liberties and always acted according to what he considered right. Long light hair fell over his shoulders, and his green eyes shone with determination. Behind him spread six snowy white wings.
"Mikhail, my son… You still don't understand your younger brother? Haven't you seen what he does?" the Creator asked gently.
"I have seen," Mikhail frowned. "But I still don't understand. He is closer to a being of Chaos than to us."
"I wouldn't say that," the Creator smiled. "Yes, he sometimes misbehaves like a child. But tell me, Mikhail: has your brother ever harmed an innocent person while possessing this power?"
"No," Mikhail admitted, shaking his head.
"I know the reason for your distrust. You fear he will follow Lucifer's path. But that is not the case. Your brother values family. And although in some ways Alexander resembles Lucifer, that means nothing. Moreover, even Lucifer himself began to change for the better… you just don't notice it."
The Creator waved his hand, and a projection of Orario lit up before them.
"Look at the worlds he has saved. Just look at Orario. Yes, he caused a little trouble… but that pushed people to create patrol units that now protect the streets. And the city itself continues to grow and prosper. Your younger brother is making it better, step by step."
Mikhail silently watched the projection his father showed him. He could not deny that his younger brother had indeed changed Orario. Once, thousands suffered in this city, and children often became orphans, losing their parents in the dungeons. But Alex, step by step, began to drive out the darkness, and Orario gradually became a place of hope.
Seeing that Mikhail offered no objections, the Creator simply smiled and summoned a new projection. Before them appeared Night City — not the grim and decayed place Alex remembered, but a thriving, vibrant metropolis.
"This is Night City, where your brother spent part of his life," the Creator said. "He helped people even when he claimed to work only for money. The children he sponsored in the orphanage, growing up, began to change the city themselves. Hanako Arasaka, whom he saved, also realized the world must change — and she took action. Thanks to your brother, the world moved forward."
Images shifted before Mikhail's eyes: Valhalla, where Alex had managed to reconcile mortals and gods; the last world, where he had not only solved a great problem but also given humanity the chance to be reborn.
"I understand what you're getting at, Father," Mikhail said quietly, watching the changing scenes.
"No, my son," the Creator replied gently. "You still don't understand. Even if your brother embodies destruction, he does not destroy for the sake of chaos. He breaks old orders to give a chance for something new, greater than mere progress. The worlds he saved have come back to life. Any other person—even you—would have done only what was necessary—and left. But he did more. Even when no one asked him to."
Mikhail frowned.
"But he demands payment for his deeds."
The Creator sighed and smiled warmly.
"Ah, Mikhail… You're looking at it superficially again. He asks for payment not out of greed. That is just a mask. Behind it hides the truth: he acts selflessly. That's his nature: he cannot stand praise and will always claim that he works only for payment. But in reality, that is not true."
Mikhail nodded thoughtfully.
"I think I'm beginning to understand, Father. But why did you make him a demon?"
"Me?" the Creator laughed. "I did not make him a demon. He subconsciously chose that form when I was shaping his body. In truth, your brother can be anyone. But he enjoys saying that he is a demon. In all worlds, demons are considered evil, and he takes pleasure in proving the opposite—that even a demon can be good."
Mikhail sighed heavily.
"As you say, Father. But still… he is very strange. Especially considering that he now has an offspring from Nyarlathotep."
"Don't you dare insult my granddaughter and your niece," the Creator said sternly but warmly. "Nyaruko may be mischievous, but she is a good child. Instead of pointing fingers at your younger brother, you'd better find a wife and have children yourself. Even Lucifer is moving toward giving me a granddaughter."
"Father, you know I can't do that," Mikhail frowned. "I don't have the same freedom as my brothers. One shirks his duties in Hell, the other somehow manages both work and family."
"You can do anything," the Creator waved him off. "You just don't want to."
"I really don't have time for that," Mikhail replied irritably. "I must prepare for what is coming in the world under my supervision. But by your law, I cannot intervene directly. Any action I take would violate the prohibition."
"Then just wait," the Creator said calmly. "Wait until your brother comes to the world you are responsible for. Then you will have the chance to truly know him."
"I don't think…" Mikhail began, but his words were cut off mid-sentence.
He never finished the phrase—right there, in the Creator's workshop, a shining portal opened. Mikhail immediately tensed, thinking it might be one of his brothers… or even Lucifer himself, who had not appeared here for a long time. But instead, three small figures leapt out of the portal.
Mikhail raised an eyebrow in surprise: from the glowing portal appeared the children—Nyaruko, Jinx, and Anya. They immediately began turning their heads, looking around as if searching for someone. But as soon as their eyes fell on the Creator, the girls' faces lit up with joyful smiles.
At that moment, the Creator himself smiled—not as the majestic maker of worlds, but as a kind grandfather suddenly gifted with happiness. The three girls ran to him excitedly and, laughing, climbed onto his lap.
"Grandpa, we came to visit!" exclaimed Anya, beaming with joy.
"Daddy went to work, so we decided to come see you," added Jinx, glancing around curiously.
"Yeah!" chimed in Nyaruko. "You're probably lonely here, Grandpa. So we came to keep you company!"
"Ho-ho-ho!" the Creator laughed cheerfully. "My beloved granddaughters… you've made this old man happy with your visit."
Mikhail watched in amazement as his all-knowing father transformed in an instant into an ordinary loving grandfather. He even snapped his fingers, and a tea set with treats appeared on the table—specifically for the little guests.
For Mikhail, it was almost shocking. It was hard for him to reconcile in his mind the image of the being who created the entire multiverse with this caring figure surrounded by children's laughter. But at that moment, Mikhail understood why his father had been so insistent that he start his own family.
The girls also noticed the stranger with white wings. They tilted their heads in surprise and stared at Mikhail with interest. He immediately understood: these were his nieces. So he smiled gently and waved slightly.
"Well then, Mikhail," said the Creator, still holding the granddaughters on his lap, "you may leave. I have guests now, and as a grandfather, I must give them all my attention."
"See you later, Father," Mikhail nodded with a faint smile.
"Bye, Winged Uncle!" Anya, Nyaruko, and Jinx shouted in unison, waving their hands excitedly.
Mikhail smirked, waved back, and stepped into the portal that had opened behind him, leaving the workshop.
Once the portal closed, the Creator looked at his granddaughters fondly:
"So, my dears, how would you like to spend time with Grandpa?"
"To the amusement park!" Anya blurted out immediately, her eyes sparkling.
"Yes-yes!" Nyaruko and Jinx joined in, bouncing on Grandpa's lap.
"Of course, anything for you," the Creator smiled. "Your grandpa will take you to the best amusement park in the entire multiverse!"
"YAY-YAY-YAY!" the girls shouted in unison, raising their hands.
The Creator laughed and stood up from the chair, easily holding all three granddaughters in his arms. The workshop, previously filled with calm silence, now echoed with children's laughter.
Then the Creator stepped forward and dissolved into the void, carrying his three granddaughters to the best amusement park in the entire multiverse. His workshop returned to its usual quiet.
Meanwhile, the father of these three girls was already far away—in another world, where work awaited him.
Alex and Lucina emerged from the portal and looked around. He immediately realized they had misjudged: the portal had not taken them directly to the city of Forks, where they were supposed to go for school, but instead a few dozen kilometers away. This was a bit disappointing, and Alex decided it wouldn't hurt to take a break at the nearest gas station.
There were plenty of gas stations along the highway, so soon they were sitting on the hood of the black Impala. Alex had a coffee and a hot dog in his hands, while Lucina held a cup of coffee. In the back seat, GIR, MIMI, and Stitch were making noise: the three of them were hunched over their portable consoles, eagerly discussing something.
Alex buried himself in his phone, trying to figure out the maps.
"So, where exactly are we?" Lucina asked, swinging her legs off the hood. She took a sip of coffee and squinted slightly.
"Judging by the navigator, we're in Washington State, Clallam County," Alex said, waving his phone.
"I meant more specifically, not a geography lecture," Lucina rolled her eyes.
Alex smirked.
"All right, all right. We're near a small town called Carlsborg. If we continue along Highway 101, it's about an hour's drive to Forks."
"So, another hour of bouncing around in the car… Although I'm not complaining," Lucina said, taking a deep breath. "The air here is amazing."
"Exactly. Forests everywhere, and not far off is Mount Olympic. Forks is a great place for anyone who loves peace and solitude," Alex noted, sipping his coffee.
"Not counting the vampires sparkling in the sun," Lucina added with a slight smile.
Alex laughed.
"Heh, I won't argue with that. All right, let's take a little break, then hit the road. It's Sunday anyway: we'll have time to visit the school, handle the paperwork, and even stop by the store."
"True. We still have plenty of time," Lucina nodded, stretching slightly and leaning on Alex's shoulder.
He smiled and put his arm around her, pulling her close.
All the chores of buying a house and completing the paperwork had already been taken care of as soon as they arrived in this world. The Impala's glove compartment already held all the documents: for the new house and for Lucina's enrollment in Forks High School. So Alex could afford a rare luxury—simply relaxing.
He didn't know when he would next have to rack his brains tracking down another Nyan-Nyan avatar hiding somewhere in this world. But for now, he could enjoy the quiet of the road, the fresh air, and a few peaceful moments with his beloved.
To be continued…
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