"What is called a 'demon'… is a manifestation of unacknowledged pain." – Umbra-Khalid
The world knows the Seven Deadly Sins as ancient demons, tempters of will, whisperers of forbidden desires. However, the truth is more tragic. Within their souls lies a yearning for acceptance, as if the shadows of the past continuously loom, echoing a silent voice that vibrates within their conscience. They are trapped in a labyrinth of ambiguous identity, fighting against a world that only sees their exterior.
They were not demons from the beginning. They are children of humanity who were turned into demons because people feared they could not be controlled. In every glance, there is a worry ensnared; when they look into the mirror, they do not see demons, but rather the shadows of a lost self, estranged from a world unwilling to truly know them.
In a dim and shadowy space, as if the scent of incense fills the air, a feeling of melancholy is created. A gentle voice echoes, as if it were a whisper from another realm, telling of an inevitable fall and regret. "Peace lies amidst suffering," the voice murmurs, seeming to know every scar etched upon their hearts.
"They are embodiments of fear and rejection," the voice continued, evoking buried memories one by one. Shadows flickered around them, like spirits that refuse to die. Yet, amidst those whispers, there was a faint hope—a wait for resurrection from the darkness—as if they were destined to fight against a fate inscribed by unseen hands.
Umbra-Khalid spoke seven names, with each name igniting a shard of light above the Philistines: in a deep, meaningful tone, he felt a deep resonance connecting them to forgotten origins, as if these names were the keys to unraveling the hidden wounds inside each heart.
Lyra Lucifer – The eldest, bearer of light who refuses to be wielded for war. In the soft glow of her radiance, Lyra stood, her face radiating serenity, even though her soul was tumultuous, resisting becoming a tool of chaos. The weight of that decision was heavy, but she preferred to guard her light against the stains of bloodshed. With each passing second, she felt the pull between hope and fear, like a thread so fine, connecting the meaning of her life to the fragmented ruins of reality.
Selene Satan – The one who questions the system of the heavens and asks too many questions. Behind her glowing eyes lies a burning curiosity. "Why must we obey without questioning?" she asserts, a hidden challenge etched into every word. That question shakes the skies, igniting waves of uncertainty in a world that has long remained silent. She feels as if every star in the sky is watching her, challenging her to find answers in the darkness and reach for a higher light.
Thalia Beelzebub – The one who tries to protect her siblings with lies. On the edge of darkness, Thalia harbors restlessness. She knows the truth is painful, but the web of lies she weaves confines their freedom. She prays that love will erase the coming sorrow. In her mind, the image of her laughing siblings flickers, yet that laughter is drowned out by the shadows of fear hovering over her, as if the darkness itself is targeting them.
Nyx Mammon – She loved the world too fiercely and wished to possess it. In the embrace of the night, Nyx gazed up at the sparkling stars, captivated by the unimaginable beauty. "Why can't I have it all?" she lamented, her voice echoing like the whispers of the enticing night wind. This desire, though it consumed her heart, remained inevitable. She recalled the fragments of dreams scattered on the ground, like fallen stars, each piece telling a tale of profound loss, reflecting her feelings trapped between longing and dissatisfaction.
Eira Leviathan – She cried because the sea could not be remembered. In Eira's mind, the image of the vast ocean was forced to fade, leaving behind a sharp sense of loss. The sound of the waves transformed into a sorrowful song that could not be sung, flowing through the currents of time, teasing distant memories. Eira felt like a branch severed from its roots, wandering in the wind, hoping one day to rediscover her home within the clumps of forgotten memories.
Wave after wave of sadness washed over Eira, as if the sound of distant waves erased all memories. She lay on the beach, tears streaming down her face like the tide disappearing into the sand, never to return. The crashing waves sang a lullaby for her wounded soul, whispering stories lost in the embrace of time. Her memories of home, where fish spoke and currents sang, vanished like morning mist.
Astrea's smile is a light in the darkness, even as a storm of injustice rages within her heart. She understands that the world she sees is riddled with lies and deceit. With every breath, she feels the anxiety that envelops her soul, like a tempest raging across a vast ocean. "Every ending is a new beginning, and every smile carries hope," she whispers, as if speaking to the wind, challenging the fate that seeks to claim her.
"They are not demons."
"They are the seven genetically-engineered humans, the result of a soul-energy experiment from the pre-Gaia era."
When the name "Thalia" is spoken, the entire spiral magic within Beelzebub stirs.
She screams, her bitter voice piercing the silence of the night, and her knees collapse to the ground. Amid the pain that overwhelms her, a glimmer of hope tries to surface, like a poem hidden deep within the dark ocean.
The atmosphere surrounding them grows tense, as if even the wind is holding its breath. Elyra weeps in her embrace, the tears depicting a union of love and sorrow. Fitran quickly restrains Beelzebub's body, sensing the trembling fear seeping from her soul, like a shadow lurking, ready to pounce.
"This... is impossible... I..."
"I am just a demon. I am a void creature."
"I AM NOT—!"
However, Umbra-Khalid spoke without sound, her voice flowing softly yet piercingly:
"You are a human redefined by the will of the sorcerers of Atlantis… and when your body rejected their magic, they labeled you a demon. Behind that label lies a buried story that refuses to be told—a pain born from loss and the quest for identity. Yet your body still lives. Still… fertile."
"Not because of a miracle. Not because of an anomaly. But because… you have never fully become a demon."
Fitran looked at Beelzebub, and his heart slammed against the walls of his being. Around them, the air felt heavy, filled with unspoken despair. The dim light from the ancient lanterns cast shadows on the walls, creating illusions of the creatures that once inhabited this world. These shadows were like mirrors, reflecting the chaos within Fitran's soul, demanding him to confront the darkness that relentlessly haunted him.
"The entire war, all the deaths, every search for love…
and all of it you lived in a lie that you did not ask for…"
As if absorbing each word, Fitran felt the weight of the world pressing down on his shoulders. He recalled the past—a time when their identities, as well as those of the demons, remained a mystery. His thoughts drifted to the beautiful memories that now lay in ruin, remembering the figures who once gave meaning to every second he experienced, before darkness consumed everything. The spirit of fighting against injustice blazed within his heart, reminding him that even though everything seemed bleak, hope never fully extinguished.
"If you know everything… WHY DIDN'T YOU SAY SO FROM THE START!?"
Fitran's voice echoed, as if shattering the suffocating silence. His jaw tightened, trying to hold back tears of anger. Deep down, he longed for more than just answers; he needed the truth to alter their journey. His desire burned like an unquenchable flame, igniting a spirit that refused to die out despite the downpour. He felt trapped in an endless labyrinth of lies.
Umbra-Khalid replied softly:
"Because the truth is not something that can be given.
It must be discovered by those who are wounded enough to love it…"
Every word from Umbra-Khalid seemed to inject poison into Fitran's soul. Beneath his calm facade lay fragments of a past he wished to forget. It was as if each word was a needle, piercing and reopening wounds that had yet to fully heal. He understood that to find the truth, the first step was to confront the wounds that ran too deep to heal. And amid the forest of illusions they termed home, lay the key to understanding who they truly were.
"I will erase all of this."
"I will not let Thalia—or whoever she was in the past—continue to bear the burden of a trial she never asked for." The compulsion felt like chains binding their souls, restricting free movement in their quest for identity. The atmosphere around them grew increasingly tense, as if even the wind were holding its breath. In the distance, thunder rumbled, signaling that this confrontation was part of a larger fate—a struggle between forces trapped in the shadows of lost identities.
"I will erase all the world's memories of Beelzebub's past.
Not for the sake of goodness,
but for her right to love without a forced identity." Within those words lay a profound determination, as if tearing down the walls of history that had confined Beelzebub in a shroud of darkness. On Fitran's face, a flicker of anger ignited, reflecting his inner turmoil. He knew that this decision would not only affect Beelzebub but also shake the very foundations of a world long established, like a storm altering a map inscribed for ages.
Umbra-Khalid fell silent.
Then, for the first time… he refused. In his mind, images of all that was lost flickered—memories erased and souls trapped, as if he were wagering everything in an endless battle.
"If you erase that…
then you must also fight me.
For I am the only one who will never forget."
Her words echoed, piercing the core of the darkness that engulfed them. He felt a deeper connection, one shaped not only by their shared past but also by the dreams and pain that united them in a cruel world. Within the shadows, amid the verses of her speech, not only voices were preserved but also emotions that lay trapped; sorrow flowed like an entangled river, incessantly dripping into their hollow souls, revealing the depth of unhealed wounds.
On one side: Fitran, bearing the Fourth Spiral—the ability to embrace
In the silence before the storm, an aura of energy flowed around Fitran, as if time and space obeyed his command. His expression was firm, filled with burning determination, while a gentle breeze focused attention on the impending battle. He was surrounded by the shadows of his past, where every decision, every regret became a burden that continuously followed him, as if dreams and reality danced together in an endless embrace.
On the other side: Umbra-Khalid, wielding the Impregnable Memory—the ability to exist despite being rejected
A dark shadow enveloped Umbra-Khalid, a stroke of darkness that made him appear as if emerging from the depths of eternal night. The glow in his eyes revealed a yearning for knowledge, a desire to recall all the memories that had been erased, as if he were the embodiment of all sorrow and rejection. In that gaze, a spirit flickered, a hope cultivated by pain, radiating light even amidst shadows, showcasing that even in despair, there resides strength to endure.
This is not a battle of power.
It is a clash of two philosophies:
Is love more meaningful when the past is unknown?
Or can true love only arise when all wounds are remembered?
In the suffocating longing, this question echoed in their minds, inviting a cool breeze that carried the scent of sulfur as a silent witness. Each touch of past memories seemed to transform into ghosts striving to call back lost hopes, covering the edge of the chasm between them. Amid the bitterness of solitude, the whispers of hope began to surface, subdued yet persistent, as if attempting to rescue them from the terror of uncertainty that engulfed them. This deep yearning intertwined with each gust of wind, as if it contained all the unspoken words and neglected promises.
Beelzebub lay asleep in Fitran's embrace. Elyra, with her eyes wide open, watched as her father stepped into the spiral cracks of time, confronting an entity that knew all truths… yet refused to be destroyed. She felt the tension in the air, as if every second was a chasm between the past and the future, forces within her heart pulling in opposing directions. Amidst this uncertainty, a flicker of hope arose for the discovery of her true self, even as it was threatened by the lurking shadows of darkness.
Surrounding the altar, a gentle light radiated, creating the illusion that they were suspended between dimensions. Elyra sensed the heartbeat of the world drawing closer, as if the universe were winning the war between reality and the irony of existence. With each of her father's steps, the roar of the wind surged, adding to the darkness behind her despair.