Lyric put on Jean's restored combat clothing. I have no idea how Dayan did it, but he has my respect. It fit perfectly and there was nothing left of the battle tracks. Finally, he combed his hair, put on his earrings and bordered his eyes with kajal. Perfect. Stylish. Then, he stowed away his weapons, which he had previously polished.

Nix had watched the whole spectacle with a grin. Hell, he's so hot. I want to eat him again. But there were more important things. During the day, he had received an answer from Sereph that he was ready to receive them. They had waited two days.

Nix had often withdrawn from Lyric, so his sighting abilities weren't subdued. Gradually, the visions came back, which put all the more strain on his body, as they now often came one after the other. They seemed to have accumulated in their absence. But it was absolutely the right decision, because last night he had seen a key moment. He was the ace in their trial with Sereph.

Together they walked through the portal and stepped out in the entrance hall of Sereph's estate. Lyric had never been here before, which is why it surprised him all the more. Everywhere the walls were decorated in a clear white with numerous mosaics of illuminated and ornamental stones. They were beautiful patterns that told a unique story. There were also numerous picturesque statues.

The stones on the floor were also laid in a flowing pattern. In addition, numerous works by artists were on the walls in selected places. He really seems to be an art lover. Each piece was perfectly staged, so that it could unfold its effect optimally.

An incubus greeted them, which was very unusual. He wore a uniform that distinguished him as the manager of the estate. Every hair sat perfectly. With a smile, he said: "Nice that you honor my Kuro with your visit. My name is Jaden and I will escort you to his meeting room. In addition, I am also responsible for your physical well-being. Are there any special requests regarding refreshments?"

Nix looked at him neutrally and didn't answer.

So the 'arrogant oracle role'? Lyric thought. "We thank you for the hospitality. In terms of refreshments, we leave the choice to you and your tastes," he replied.

The incubus nodded and told them to follow him. They walked along a corridor decorated like the entrance hall. The floor was made of black and white diamonds covered by red rugs.

At the end of the corridor was a wooden door with wrought iron decorations, which opened and the two entered the room. Wow. That was... unexpected. It was more of an art gallery than a meeting room. Numerous showcases and paintings adorned the walls, which were kept in a light beige tone. Weapons, works of art, everything that delighted the creative heart. The pieces looked very high quality. Even the tables and seating were works of art in themselves. The sofas had unusually shaped legs that looked like small sculptures and the fabric was embroidered with pictures. The arrangement was also unusual. They weren't arranged in a rectangle, but in an elliptical shape around the table, which had an asymmetrical rounded shape.

Sereph sat at the end of this table and looked at them silently with his black eyes. It was abundantly clear that he belonged to the Dorchadas demon race – down to one detail. Many Dorchadas demons had little or no body hair. This wasn't the case for Sereph, because he had dark brown, almost black hair that reached him to the middle of his back. He had braided it into a graceful braid that fell over his right shoulder and chest.

This suggested that he was only half Dorchadas demon and whose genes were only dominant. However, he had never confirmed or denied this. His skin shone bronze and was covered by a black shirt with silver buttons and matching trousers. Not exactly the typical clothing for a demon prince. With a height of about 6' 1'', he was larger than the two.

Nix and Lyric waited for him to offer them a seat, but Sereph first examined the two. Like Alas, he was rather the silent type. Then he nodded in the direction of the sofa facing him at an angle. Nix sat down and Lyric stood behind him. Sereph leaned back, crossing his arms in front of his chest.

"Then the rumors that you have become Nix' personal pet are true," he asked the rune demon, without paying attention to the oracle.

Nix narrowed his eyes.

Lyric looked at Nix as if he was waiting for permission to speak.

He plays the role of henchmen really excellently. Nix nodded.

"I am only in his service for a limited period of time. My loyalty belongs solely to Belial."

The Prince of Hell tilted his head, stayed silent, but still didn't look at Nix. "Rune demon, what happened in Belphegor's territory? What were you looking for there?"

He's doing that on purpose. Sereph ignored Nix to elicit a reaction, but he didn't fall for it. He just nodded again, as if giving Lyric permission to speak. Bored, the oracle looked around the room.

Lyric cleared his throat. "Nix had a vision that Telos would attack there, which is why we went there to warn Commander Pan. As a result, the fight broke out, in which we were unintentionally involved. The rest should be known," Lyric replied.

Sereph eyed the demon to gauge whether he was lying. It didn't seem like it, but he didn't tell the whole truth either. T­he oracle didn't make any suspicious movements either. Even his senses didn't perceive a spark of fear or uncertainty. The two of them didn't feel a bit uncomfortable.

"What drives you here then? Am I also facing an attack?" he asked the oracle this time.

Nix leaned forward and remained silent, he paid him back in the same way. "What if?" he asked provocatively.

"Beware oracle, it's not a good idea to irritate me."

However, that didn't seem to impress Nix at all, unlike Lyric, who stiffened behind him. So he hasn't lost his survival instinct yet.

"I actually came to you because of a vision," Nix said. No further information. The oracle played with him and he didn't like that. Even though Nix had some kind of immunity status, this didn't apply to Lyric.

"I'll only say this once. Don't upset me, otherwise your companion will bear the consequences."

For a moment, Nix' mask cracked and anger flashed briefly. He stood up. "If you only intend to threaten me, I will leave now."

Sereph was impressed by his cool reaction. "I don't intend to do so as long as you tell me why you are here and what you are trying to do," the Prince of Hell replied.

Nix was foaming with anger inside. Lyric was his weak point and Sereph had hit it superbly. They were on a mission, he now had to focus on it. "I have important information, but I want something in exchange for it," the oracle said coolly. He knew it wasn't a good idea to blackmail a hell prince. This also showed through Lyric's horrified face.

While Sereph had dealt with Lyric, Nix had discovered a silver clock with a large yellow citrine stone at the top end on the wall in the corner. On closer inspection, he could clearly see that it was running backwards. So it was their desired object. Astaroth was right. Now they just had to get their hands on it. They couldn't steal it. The Prince of Hell had to hand them over to them voluntarily. There was only one way to do this.

"What do you want in the exchange?" Sereph asked.

It was not unusual in itself that Nix demanded payment. He also had to live on something.

"Hmm," he said thoughtfully, looking around the room. His gaze wandered over the walls, even past the clock. Then he wandered back and got stuck on it. "I want the clock, right in the corner. It looks interesting," he said with a slight smile.

"It's not up for negotiation," Sereph said.

Shit. That could only be a trick or his seriousness. "I don't change my mind once I've formed it," replied Nix, whose eyes narrowed.

"Nix, maybe you should-"

"No one asked you for your opinion," he interrupted Lyric sharply.

Lyric winced and remained silent. The way Nix treated the demon was strange. For a moment, Sereph had felt that there might be more between them than a contractual relationship, but this didn't seem to be the case. He was suspicious, especially since Nix really wanted the clock.

Sereph remained silent. Then Nix stood up. "We're leaving, I wish you a nice day," he said, but did not look at the prince of hell.

"Pick another item other than the clock," Sereph said.

Nix now looked directly at him. "As I said before, I chose the clock. It's entirely up to you whether or not it's worth putting your heart in danger," Nix replied, turning around.

A powerful aura flared up, Lyric froze, but Nix didn't turn around.

"What did you just say?" an angry voice asked.

Nix got goosebumps, but he knew he had almost reached his goal. So he waited a moment to calm down. Without turning around, he said, "You understood me correctly. The vision I have received concerns your heart."

He wasn't allowed to say more at the moment, he had to wait for Sereph's decision. Nix walked on a very narrow ridge – one wrong step and he would regret it bitterly.

"Oracle, sit down," he heard and smiled. Nix had won.

Lyric let out the breath he had subconsciously held. Nix turned around and sat down again. The rune demon would have liked to do that too, because his legs were like pudding. Although he was a high-ranking demon himself, the caliber of a hell prince was also a number too big for him.

Sereph remained silent for quite a while and fought a silent duel with Nix. Hell again! Then came the redemptive words.

"Talk, the clock is yours."

Nix nodded and did not let the joy be noticed. "Lyric, get the clock," the oracle ordered, and the rune demon followed without objection. He carefully took the clock out of the display case and handed it over to Nix. The oracle stroked the artwork and admired it for a moment. Then he made it disappear through a portal.

"Now to my part of the deal. Lyric, translate what I say as best as you can."

The rune demon nodded and Sereph looked at him pregnant with meaning.

"Sereph, that which is your greatest desire, falls from the sky deep into the abyss. Bound. Bright lights dazzle the star, even if everything is black. When the year reaches its zenith, the battle of words is open in the city of the damned. Look for the sparkle that shines in the darkness."

Lyric looked at the oracle. He wasn't sure, but he had to try. "I cannot give any guarantee. Sereph, your heart probably appears in Lucifer's area. That will happen in the middle of the year, most likely during an... auction?" translated Lyric. He couldn't make a rhyme about the rest. Nix nodded imperceptibly.

Sereph's face had become serious. Nix had just given him an important clue as to how he could find his second half. "You can't put it more precisely, can you?" the hell prince asked.

"I'm sorry, I'm not allowed to intervene so deeply in your fate, but I don't contradict any of Lyric's words. You have to decipher the rest yourself."

Sereph nodded. He still had a little more than a month, he would use that time. "Nix, Lyric. I expect this to remain discreet. The payment also included your silence," said the Prince of Hell.

"Of course. Any further mention is forbidden to us, so you don't have to worry about it."

Both stood up, because the negotiation was now concluded. Just before they left, however, Nix said something else. "Sereph. Find your heart, the fate of the world depends on it." Then they left his estate.

The oracle's words circled through his head. He took a paper and a pen and wrote them down. Also Lyric's interpretation. Then he called Jaden, who hadn't dared to enter the room.

"Jaden, I want you to find out everything about every possible auction in Lucifer's area at the beginning of the seventh month. It is an auction at which living beings are also auctioned."

The incubus noddedand disappeared. My heart isclose. I will find you.

_____________________________

They have the fifth item. Only two are left.

Which item could be next?

What could Sereph's prophecy mean?

Your Mouse Goddess