"Ferdinand, wake up." Velmaia shook him.

Ferdinand opened his sleepy eyes, his hand had to cover some of the light before his eyesight could adjust to it. Right before him was a farmland overgrowing with crops that looked like it's able to feed the entire angel imperium. "Where are we?"

"We're making a stop at Havencrest."

Havencrest? Isn't that where Miranda was going? He quickly got off the cart and washed his face on a nearby stream. He sprinted across the farmlands hoping to find her. He even got on the roofs to get a better vantage point, but to no avail. Either they're too early or she's too slow.

"Ferdinand!" Aeziana shouted from below. "Come down! We're leaving!"

Ferdinand came down from the roof and sat himself on the cart again. Aeziana took the reins this time.

"So, Ferdinand. Tell us more about yourself," Velmaia broke the silence. "We didn't get to talk since you were asleep back then."

"What do you want to know about me?" he asked.

"Tell us anything," she replied.

Ferdinand proceeded to tell them about his childhood. Back when he used to perform magic tricks in front of his friends and amaze them. "They loved me. Despite being a half-demon bastard, I feel like I actually fit in."

"What's a bastard?" Haphiri invoked a different question.

That question confused Ferdinand for a while. "You seriously don't know what a bastard is?" The girls shook their heads, clueless.

"A bastard is someone who's conceived out of wedlock," Ferdinand explained simply.

"What's wedlock?" Haphiri asked again.

"Don't you demons have the concept of marriage?" Ferdinand asked. He wanted to make sure that part of his heritage aren't just a bunch of barbaric sex machines.

"No, we don't know what that is," Aeziana answered from up front.

Ferdinand's hand flew to his face. "You know what? Forget it." He looked away.

The sisters persisted that Ferdinand explain, reasoning that the journey was still far and that they had plenty of time. He explained it to them patiently and they didn't interrupt. When it's they're turn to talk, he just came to know that demons conceive children whenever they want with whoever they want and if they refuse to raise them, they just abandon their young to fend for themselves. What a harsh way of living.

They spent the night in the wilderness setting up camp fire. The sisters offered Ferdinand some demon flesh but upon looking at it, his stomach turned so he refused and ate whatever human food he had packed. He volunteered for the first shift as he didn't want to be disturbed while he was sleeping. When he's done his part, he woke one of them up to do theirs.

They continued their journey again in the morning, telling more stories as they go. Velmaia mentioned they were able to slip in to the seraphim imperium by a narrow pass in the Central Mountains. When it was Ferdinand's turn, he told them about Pandora and how she taught him how to fight.

"Is this Pandora girl pretty?" Haphiri asked.

"Why?" Ferdinand inquired.

Haphiri gave him a teasing smirk. She's like one of those girls that makes fun of another about the boy she likes. "Do you love her?"

"I suppose she's like a sister to me," Ferdinand answered.

Haphiri giggled and that made Ferdinand uneasy. "Have you ever been in love, Ferdinand?"

"Is your sister always like this?" Ferdinand asked. If she is, why does he have to be the victim now?

"Haphiri's always a flirt," Velmaia said.

The sun came down and they did the same thing they had done the day before. They ate, Ferdinand took first watch, then woke up the next one to stay on guard.

It was midday when they arrived at Lathmere forest. The demons there had already began burrowing. Ferdinand and the sisters put the eggs in one of the chambers specially made to house them until they would eventually hatch. 

There was already a carved stone frame just like the one Ferdinand saw in the cave. All that's left to do was open the portal. Aeziana stepped forward and waved her hand. A green sheet of energy began weaving itself from the corners and later met at the centre - the portal was activated.

"I'll be back," Aeziana said. "You all stay put."

"I'm coming too." Haphiri came along leaving Ferdinand with Velmaia.

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Well that's it for this chapter, adventurers! Thank you so much for reading. Hope you enjoy it. By the way, don't forget to hit that star button to vote, they're always much appreciated. Wanna suggest something to me? Just comment down below. Stay awesome, everybody 😃

I dedicate this chapter to my friend RenInugami may you be successful and get accepted into the college of your dreams.

-Zyrofern