Reader POV (age 28, present)

Nacht and I flew in the shadows, taking account of all the debris left behind in the nearby village.

"How vile," I drew out my shadow blade, not liking the sight before me.

"Right? Humans disgust me," Nacht had the most disgusted look on his face.

"Whatever-hey!" I pointed to a single figure just standing in the chaos, watching their village burn.

"(y/n), NO!"

I ignored him and raced towards the child, grabbing them and pulling them into the shadows and keeping them protected.

"Kid, are you fine?" I asked them.

They removed their cloak to reveal blue eyes and raven hair. "No. Who are you?"

"We're your enemies but we're also people you can trust,"

He didn't look convinced until I proved it by showing the mark on my hand. "Wait! You're the Devil Shadow!"

"That's one of my names," I said. "But yes."

"Then if you are Devil's Shadow, you can bring them back to life!"

"No...?" I frowned. "Child, they're gone. You can't bring someone back to life. Be lucky we were able to save you when we did because of that thing."

I pointed out of the shadows to a huge moving fortress that served as a battle mechanism used by the Spade kingdom.

But then the blinker on my waist started flickering and I turned it off, knowing it was the stupid communication system that silver-haired bastard gave me for missions.

It turned off moments later but then Nacht's wrist with the mark of the Wizard King glowed.

"What's so important that the Clover Kingdom would contact us at this hour?"

"Kid, what's your name?" I asked the child in my arms.

"Kageyama Tobio," he said.

"Tobio. I'm going to bring you somewhere safe."

I continued to ignore the summons call, not wanting to talk to Nozel.

He always did call me using the device twice a year: our son's death and my birthday.

But for six years, the beeper went off and I hadn't answered it.

I didn't need to.

It was always the same message that would be left for me to listen to.

Always him saying to come back and how much he missed me.

But if he really did miss me, he would let me go.

As far as I was concerned, he was dead to me and I didn't give one flying fuck what he did.

But in reccent years, he would call but wouldn't leave a message.

When we got back to the small base, I left Tobio in the care of a close friend who promised to look out for him.

Nacht and I sat down in his room and he answered the light and it displayed the wizard king Julius Novachrono.

"Nacht, (y/n)," Julius gave us a curt nod. "We've recieved terrorist attacked recently. A group called 'The Eye of the Midnight Sun'. I need one of you to come back and investigate the situation for me."

I looked over at Nacht and saw he found sudden interest in his fingernails and sighed.

"With all due respect, why can't you send one of the other spies back?"

"Because I wanted you one of you Fausts. You execute your missions swiftly and beautifully."

"Fair point." I took a deep breath. "Fine, I will go back."

Julius nodded. "Good. See you as soon as possible."

Nacht ended the call and pointed to me. "If you should encounter that asshole, you'd better kick his fucking ass."

I snickered at his comment and put on my cloak again, not caring I was soaked to the bone. "Then I will, just for you."

"See that you do." He suddenly hugged me tightly. "And don't get killed while you're at it, eh?"

"Yeah, you'll just miss me."

"Ha." He let me go, placing a hand on my shoulder. "But seriously. Don't get killed."

I slipped back into the shadows, looking at my brother for a final time. "I won't. Same goes for you, Nacht."

I made speed to the Clover Kingdom, happy that the mountains in the grand mana zone had thousands of shadows.

I fought off shadow spirits with ease and in the very early morning, I made it to the Clover Kingdom's capital where Julius welcomed me back.

"Thank you for coming back on such short notice," he said to me, coming up to me for a hug but I held my hand up. "Eh? You won't let your former captain and caretaker hug you?"

I shook my head. "I'd rather not."

"Alright then. Now..." he looked at me with pride. "You've really grown. Good for you!"

"Julius, what did you call me here for exactly? I need the location of their base."

"I can tell you later. You're tired and I can tell you hadn't slept in two days."

"So? What's sleep when a bunch of clowns are on the loose?"

Julius sighed. "You're always working too hard. Go back to the library and I'll send someone over to inform you of your mission."

"But-"

"No exceptions. That's an order from me."

I sighed with annoyance before noticing he had food on his desk. "Say, you think I can steal some?"

"It's all for you, actually. Grab whatever you want then head home."

I did as he said, but paused briefly. "Julius? With all due respect, this kingdom was never my home."

He frowned. "That's a shame, I certainly consider you a citizen."

"Huh. Well, I'll be taking my leave right now."

I left his office and bumped into someone.

"(y/n)!"

My eyes widened and I saw it was none other than Solid Silva.

He stared at me with shock. "What are you doing back here?"

I held a finger to my lips. "Not a word of this to Nozel," I said.

He was about to speak when I heard the very asshole's voice.

"Solid, who are you talking to?"

I quickly lept into the shadow by the window, seeing Nozel walk up to his brother with a frown.

"No one," Solid said, not looking at his brother. "What was taking you so long?"

"I was speaking to Nebra about something to do with the Silver Eagles. And your mission that you failed."

I snickered, knowing they couldn't hear me.

"Right..."

"Don't mope about it," Nozel snapped. "Now, let's go and see what the hell Lord Julius wants."

"Right!" Solid followed his brother, casting me a final look as I slipped out of the shadows and waved to him with a kind smile.

I put on my cloak again and walked calmly back to the library, feeling a sense of nostolgia when I opened the doors.

"Mrs. Silva! You're back!"

I cringed at the name and glared at my assistant Siran Francois. "Don't call me that, Siran."

"But-"

"I don't care," I said. "You know you can call me (y/n). Not to mention I'm no longer a Silva."

Siran wanted to speak more, but I cut him off.

"I see you are taking care of the library. Good job," I said as I tapped a floating crysalite.

"Thank you!" Siran bowed slightly. "Ne, where were you?"

"On a mission," I said, not allowed to give him further information as he didn't have military clearance. "Now, I trust my room was kept the same way I like it?"

"As exactlty as you left it," he said. "Shall I prepare you some tea?"

I nodded and showed him the food I got from Julius's office. "And get some plates while you're at it. I want to hear about the last six years since I was gone."

I listened to my assistant speak and how his older brother Marx became Julius's head advisor, pride in his eyes.

I also learned that Siran's twin brother Shiro got accepted into the Coral Peacocks.

I let out a yawn and patted Siran's shoulder. "I believe I'll be retiring now. If you need me, hesitate to knock."

Siran snorted. "Yes ma'am."

I entered my room and saw I had everything just where I liked it, but there was something I wanted to see more: my research lab.

I unlocked the hidden door with my magic and the old doors groaned with annoyance as I opened the doors.

"Perfect..." I eyed everything with happiness that no one touched anything.

I closed the doors and locked it, not wanting anyone else to discover my research lab that the wizard king and brother knew of.

"And my room!" I jumped onto my bed with glee, missing the feeling of my sheets.

But as soon as I went under the sheets, the memories of nights spent in Nozel's arms without a care in the world haunted me.

I sat up slowly, sighing with annoyance.

"Tch." I ended up sleeping there anyway, too tired to move again.

I sent a series of taps to the communication device to let my brother know I made it to the kingdom I swore never to return to.

Hours later, I heard arguing and his voice.

"Don't make me make you move, kid," Nozel was saying to Siran right outside my bedroom.

"But the Miss specifically told me that she didn't want to be disturbed!"

"Do I look like I care? Move."

I jumped out of bed and ran through the shadows, a blade in my hand.

I left the shadows and pressed the blade up to Nozel's neck, noticing he got taller.

"What the hell are you doing here, Silva?"

He turned his head, or tried to. "Is this really how you choose to greet me after six years, (y/n)?"

"It's Faust to you, asshole."

I sent a glance to Siran and he nodded and left the scene seeing I had it under control.

"I don't believe so. We're still married."

I dug my blade deeper, resisting the urge to kill him right now. "I'm not yours, Silva."

"Really? Since when did I sign the divorce papers?"

My jaw dropped. "You didn't sign them?!"

"No. I have no need to. You're my wife. Now act as such."

"Give me one good reason why I shouldn't kill you."

"I can give you three." He turned around, removing the blade from near his neck and dropping my hand back to my side. "The first being I'm your husband. Second being the mission. Lord Julius informed me of you mission to the Eye of the Midnigh Sun. The third being you'll be tried in court for killing royalty such as myself."

"If I'd go to jail for ridding the world of your arrogance, then so be it." I held the blade up once more, hatred very obvious in my voice and eyes. "Besides, I already know what jail looks like thanks to you."

"Well, how else was I supposed to make sure you wouldn't leave me?" Nozel spat. "Yet you did anyway."

"Of course! I'd rather die than be with you ever again. Now, what is the mission?"

Nozel handed me a file, heading into my bedroom without persmission as usual.

He paused and gazed around. "Wow. It's been a long time since I've been in this place."

"And make it your last. Drop the file and leave. Now."

"No." He sat down on the bed, staring up at the painting I did of the stars so many years ago. "I wanted to talk to you."

"I have nothing to say. If you won't leave, then I'll go. When I get back, I expect you to be gone." I turned around to leave, only for him to quickly grab my hand. "Let go of me right now!"

He didn't and only dragged me closer to him. "Come now, why are you being so hostile to me?"

"I learned from the best," I spat. I stomped on his foot and he winced, but he would still not let go. "Well? What the hell do you want, Silva."

"Why aren't you calling me by my name?" His voice sounded pained, but I didn't care.

In fact, I relished in his misery.

"I believe Silva is your name, you dickhead."

"I-"

"I won't repeat myself. Let me go."

"I can't do that. I've missed you." He tried to hug me, but I glared at him with so much hatred.

"I could care less what you feel."

He frowned. "Why are you being so rude to me? Why do you hate me?"

I started to laugh. "Why do I hate you?! You hear that, Shadow?" I asked my cat familiar made entirely out of the shadows.

The cat only meowed.

"I don't have to explain shit to you, prick. Go fuck yourself. I'm sure you're flexible enough to do so."

Nozel looked shocked and I kicked him in the ankle and he let me go, wincing in pain. "You've really changed."

"Damn right." I glared at him. "And I'm done with you. You'd better be gone when I'm back."

The door slammed behind me and I hopped on my broomstick, zooming through the library to the exit, waving to the other assistants who heard that their director was back.

I saw on the clock it was 1:29 PM so I decided to get some paperwork done and get some more supplies for the library kitchens in addition to surprises for my workers as a way of showing my appreciation for all they've done in the past six years.

I spotted a girl with silver hair accompanied by some kid with no mana coming from him.

"Hm..." I walked up to them. "Girl, are you Noelle Silva?"

She stared up at me with shock. "You're Nozel's wife! (y/n)!"

"EX-wife," I corrected her. "By the gods, you really do look like your mother. I expect you to be as powerful as she."

Noelle looked down with sadness. "I doubt it."

I frowned. "Don't doubt yourself, child. You're powerful. If anything, you just lack the proper training."

"Right..." she looked over at her companion. "(y/n), this is Asta. Asta, this is-was my sister-in-law."

"Nice to meet you!" Asta bowed to me, but I shook my head.

"No need to bow to me, kid. Say, you're using a devil's power."

"How do you know that?"

An irk mark appeared on my face and I smiled sweetly. "My brother has the power of four devils."

"FOUR?!" Asta stared at me with amazement. "Who is he?"

"Someone you might meet later. I'll see you two later."

The pair nodded and Asta was asking Noelle who I was, but even she didn't know too much about me.

"So...it seems you're back,"

I turned my head and saw my best friend Charlotte Roselei staring at me with shock.

"Charlotte!"

"If it isn't my best friend," she hugged me tightly "Where were you?"

"On a mission somewhere," I said.

"Huh? But you're the librarian!"

I shook my head. "You seem to forget that I'm also a member of Lord Julius's scout regiment,"

"Right..." she sighed. "My apologies."

"It is no issue," I said. "Say, I'm here for some sweets. Why don't you come with me to the library so we can catch up properly?"

"Sounds like a plan."

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Nothing like a bit of angsty-angsty, amirite?