After Lyric told Nix and Dayan that Zack had found a trace, they went to Astaroth's estate together the next day. They were the first to arrive. Astaroth greeted them with a stressed expression. The man didn't seem to have gotten much sleep in the last few days.

Nix and Lyric sat down on the sofa, Dayan leaned against the wall. Gradually, Lucan and Zack arrived and a little later Aleks and Belial arrived. The two seemed to be rather kinked. Astaroth sat down and took a deep breath.

"Well, what did you find?" he asked Nix and Lyric.

The oracle made a confused expression. "What do you think?" Nix began, but Lyric interrupted him.

"We have gathered the seven items," the rune demon said. He then got up and went to the end of the room, bringing as much distance between himself and Nix as possible. Then he turned his face to the others.

Nix looked confused at his beloved. Why did he get up and move away from me? He felt that due to Lyric's absence, the voices in his head began to speak louder. Why? He rubbed his forehead due to the headache but tried not to be noticed.

Seeing his beloved one like this caused a deep pain in Lyric's chest. Lyric hated himself and what he would do now. He hated that he had to hurt him, but there was no other way. They had agreed to it that way, there was no turning back.

"I found the place," Lyric said, raising his arm with a plain metal hoop dangling from it and looking at Dayan.

Nix didn't know what was going on – why did everyone look so depressed? Wasn't that a reason to rejoice? The voices in his head didn't make him think clearly.

"I'm sorry, Nix," sounded the voice of his beloved, which was full of pain. Why do you say such a thing? Then he felt a touch on his arm. The last thing he saw was Lyrics pain-distorted face before the voices exploded in his head. His eyes rolled backwards and he simply tilted to the side.

Lyric ran to his sweetheart and took him in his arms. "I'm sorry. I'm so sorry," he sobbed, tears running down his cheeks.

After calming down a bit, he sat upright, tightened his back. He looked into six affected faces. "Take him to the cell and no matter what happens, he must not leave it." Then he got up. "I will now go and create the key."

A hand grabbed him by the arm. "Tell us where you're going," Dayan said with an injured expression. "I at least want to know what I hurt my best friend for."

Lyric could understand Dayan's pain, the guilt almost tore him apart. So he did the right thing and told them the place. Aleks slapped his hand in front of his mouth in horror.

Dayan took Nix to a cell that Astaroth had prepared specifically for him since their last meeting and locked him up there. Lyric said goodbye to everyone once again. Then he got ready. Belial opened a portal for Lyric. He clenched his fist. I have made up my mind and will not regret it. "Think of our deal," were the rune demon's last words before he passed through the portal.

The others sat in their seats for a while as if stunned. They couldn't do anything but wait here for Lyric to come back or call them. Those were the worst hours – the hours of waiting, of uncertainty, of fear. Dayan had taken a position in front of Nix' cell. He would stand by his friend's side even in those dark hours.

Aleks clenched his fist. "This is not right," he said as his body shook.

"Tsuka, calm down. You mustn't get upset for the sake of our child," Belial tried to reassure him.

Tears run down the cheek of the pregnant angel. "I know, but it's so cruel. How can Lyric demand such a thing from us?"

Silently, the others looked to the ground, the memory of the day of the last meeting clearly in front of their eyes.

Two weeks earlier, at the last meeting...

Slowly it was time. The others seemed to digest and reconsider the story. It was the right time for the second part. Sorry Nix, but it has to be this way. He activated a rune on his upper body and placed his hand on the back of Nix' head.

Nix felt himself suddenly get tired. He snuggled up to Lyric and slowly his eyes fell shut.

"You're not going to fall asleep on me, are you?" asked Lyrics soft voice.

He began to yawn and replied, "I'll just rest my eyes for a moment, don't worry."

He looked lovingly at Nix and said, "Oh, what am I to do with you?" Lyric kissed his crown and Nix fell asleep on his chest. The others watched this scene in amazement. Everyone could see the love that was between the two, but something was strange. Why had Nix just fallen asleep?

Carefully, Lyric turned Nix' head to the side so that he leaned his cheek against his chest. He covered the other ear with his hand and his facial expression became serious. "Now we have to discuss something that Nix must never know."

Astaroth narrowed his eyes. Lyric had just confirmed his hunch. "You put Nix to sleep, didn't you?"

Lyric nodded. Then he continued in a serious voice, "Friends, there is something I have to ask you for. It's three things."

It became very quiet. Nobody said anything and the atmosphere became cool.

Lyric began. "At the moment, apart from Aleksander, I'm the only one who can create the key. We must do everything we can to make this happen. If nothing happens, you have to keep me alive by all means.... even against my will." Then he looked at Astaroth. "When I have fulfilled my task, I ask you, Astaroth, to kill me."

Silence. He saw the shocked faces, but Astaroth understood. He nodded and Lyric breathed a sigh of relief.

"The second thing I ask you to do is to keep Nix away from me during the creation of the key. I don't know what's going to happen and I don't want to put him in danger. That's the difficult part because he won't leave my side. Nevertheless, we have to try. If it doesn't work, you can use the following bracelets to put him to sleep. All you have to do is touch him. Then take him to a room where he is alone and he will wake up on his own."

He took six small bracelets out of his pocket and handed one to everyone, including Dayan, who accepted it confused. Of course, these were only for decoration, because one touch was already enough to put Nix out of action. But he wouldn't reveal this weakness to anyone.

The mood was oppressive, none was comfortable, least of all Lyric. But there was no other way. He had to suppress these feelings, because Nix' safety was most important to him.

"The last thing I ask you to do is, if something happens to me while making the key, I definitely don't want Aleksander to heal me."

Horrified, Aleks stood up, his face stunned. "What nonsense are you talking about?" he said angrily.

Lyric looked at him calmly, even if he was anything but calm inside. "Aleksander, you and your child are key figures in this war. We can't risk something happening to you. Your life is more important than mine. If I am no longer of sound mind, I want to find my end. I will not torture Nix as a shadow of myself." Again, he looked at the hell prince who understood.

Aleks backed away as if Lyric had beaten him. Warm arms closed around him. Belial felt the same as his heart, but Lyric was right. He didn't want to admit it either, because Lyric was like a brother to him. Tsuka, calm down. I know it's hard, but we have to accept his decision.

Aleks turned to his companion and looked at him hurt. No, I can't. Sadly, the demon looked at the angel.

"But most importantly, Nix never knows about this. Until the end."

Lucan cleared his throat and everyone looked at him. "Lyric, how are we supposed to explain it to Nix if you... if something should happen to you," Lucan said. He had remained silent until now.

Lyric crawled into his pocket again and pulled out a letter. He gave it to Belial, who accepted it with a questioning face. "This letter says everything. He will know from me, even if I am no longer there."

He has already considered everything. So he expects the worst, Belial thought and looked sadly at the letter. But that's how Lyric had always been, he left nothing to chance.

Lyric clenched his fists. "Can I count on you?" he asked the group, looking at everyone, including Dayan, who was just as shocked as the others. Is that why Lyric took him with him? He expected him to hurt his best friend, at whose side he had stayed for centuries?

Astaroth was the first to agree. Lucan and Zack followed, then Belial. Lastly, Dayan agreed. Aleks still refused to look at Lyric.

"Aleksander, can I count on you?"

Aleks clenched his fist. A fight raged in him. A jumble of emotions swelled in him, something he couldn't control. Finally, he opened his mouth. "I will be silent, but I will not promise you not to save you. You can't ask me to do that."

"Then I ask your mate for it. Don't let your Aleksander and your child be in danger," he said, even though he knew he was giving Aleks a blow.

Belial remained silent, but Lyric knew he would do anything to protect Aleks. If he had to choose between Aleks and Lyric, his choice would always fall on Aleks, and that was the right thing to do.

"Good. We are still missing one item – the mirror of the bird. At the moment we have no clues which is why I ask for your help," Lyric said. He described the object and everyone agreed to put their sources on it.

With that, they ended the meeting. Everyone returned home that evening with a bad feeling. The only one who knew nothing of the approaching misfortune was Nix, because he slept peacefully in Lyric's arms.

________________________________

Oppressive silence.

This reveals what Lyric said at the time.

Was it the right decision?

How will Nix react when he wakes up?

Your Mouse Goddess