Sheeran's Perspective:-

I got up the next morning due to the wailing of my alarm clock given to me by Noel and found myself sunken under a large heap of books. I got up, switched off the alarm, brushed my teeth, splashed some water on my face, and went outside the main door. The time was around 5: 15 am, and the sky was always covered by blue and red colors. 

I was about to start my training, when I saw Steven, in shorts and a vest, waiting for me outside the gate. "You are late by 15min and 2,3,4 sec..." he said. "Btw I bought you some gifts, hope you like them." 

Saying so he handed me a mid-sized box. I opened it and found a pair of brand new pair of jogging shoes. "Thank you, Steven! It means a lot to me, I will try to make these shoes worth their value by training hard." I said.

"I am sure you will, now if his majesty has got some time from thanking this imbecile creature, can we start training?" he said in his evergreen mocking tone. "Yeah sure, bring it on." and hence started my training montage. All the streets were empty, not a single soul to be found.

We took 2 whole laps across the city and then we went to the forest of Cthelion, where Jaggs was already waiting for me. I learned a lot of things in the long span of 26 days. Right from how to calm my mind, to Mana control which was undoubtedly the best part. 

My physical training went great, Steven taught me several things during our dummy duels. He use to cover one of my sensory organs at a time and told me to depend on the other. Man! I have to say Steven was a master in duels and close combat. He also taught me Sword fighting and Knife fighting during our training session.

It was this time when I understood the 'When you don't think about too much stuff, everything goes steady and fine.' After almost a month of training, I had mastered the majority of the tricks which a delta Yuri should know, like Mana control, Combat skills, a lot of knowledge, basis of strategy planning, et cetera. 

"Well done Sheeran, it's fascinating to even imagine how much you have achieved in these 25 days," Jaggs said, for probably the first time when we were sitting on the river banks at night, gazing at the stars and thinking about the Universe. "Thank you, Jaggs, but it would be impossible if you and Steven hadn't helped me so much," I said.

"It's fine Sheeran, it's our job to do so, Isn't it Jaggs?" I said, "Exactly! you know what, I still remember the day we all came here. Everyone became used to the environment and expected the reality, except for this man here." Jaggs said pointing to Steven. "Oh come on dude, it might not- " "Every ounce of second is the perfect one Steven, To accept this reality or to believe that it is a hoax, is dependant on the thinker," Jaggs said before Steven could complete.

"I agree with you, but now it's already late and tomorrow's the huge day." He said looking at Jaggs, "Tomorrow is the day when you will become a full-fledged delta Yuri, along with thousands of others." Steven said, looking at me. We chatted for a while and when it was time, we left the forest for our homes.

"Hey, Steven-" "Yes about the Devil Identification ritual, you will know soon, what will be happening in it when we reach the ceremony." Steven said, "Yes exactly what I wanted to ask, but I want to make a request, please don't read my mind without my permission." I said as I was tired of him doing it again and again.

"Yeah fine, I won't." He said tousling my hair. We reached home at around 8:30 pm where Noel had already prepared the Dinner. We took a relaxing bath and then all the 5 of us had our dinner together.

"Dad, isn't it the Grand feast tomorrow? we are too excited for it." Amelia, Steven's youngest daughter asked and I was a little surprised. "Yeah, Dad we just can't wait to taste those yummy sweets." Alina, who was 7 minutes older than Amelia said. "Hold on a sec, it is the Devil identification ritual tomorrow right?" I said.

"Yeah, all the three of you are correct here, while Sheeran will go under the Devil Identification, and mind you it can be a long process. Also while the ritual will be conducted in the Ritual hall of Parliament, all the citizens will enjoy the mega feast." Noel said. "You will also get to eat the delicacies after the ritual, Sheeran," Amelia said. 

"How long will it take for the ritual, I mean can you give me a rough estimate, if not the exact number?" I asked looking at all of them one by one. "You will understand everything tomorrow," Noel said with a smile, "Yeah I told you, Sheeran, we don't want to spoil the surprise for you, because the experience is Wunderbar," Steven said as his eyes went milky while saying so, probably he was remembering his experience. Dude, I can't wait for it!

We had our Dinner, I wished everyone goodnight, "Don't keep reading the entire night, sleep as early as possible, we will leave for the ceremony at sharp 10 am" Steven said and  I went to my room, cleaned it, kept the books in the drawers of the nightstand table and laid down on the bed to take a great nap.

As I rested on the bed, I felt something uneven under my back. I got up and checked the bedsheet, and found an old book which was in a very bad state, with torn cover, yellowish pages, and partially covered in dirt. I wasn't feeling that sleepy hence I decided to check it out.

I cleaned the cover of the book, and sat down on the bed, resting my back on the wall. The book's cover was covered by what looked like flowers more specifically roses. I had completed reading all the books which Jaggs gave me but I never stumbled upon such a book!

I opened it and started flipping the pages one by one carefully, as the book was in a very weak condition. It had text written in a very queer language, on the bottommost right side of each page, with the rest of the page covered with even more strange pictures. Some of them contained Obscene photos of ladies and men, which gave me Greek vibes. 

Others had pictures of a woman tied to a huge wooden rod, being burned alive and surrounded by a great chunk of people. But the picture which caught my eye was that of a boy tied to a chair in a dark house. He was surrounded by men and women in white robes. The boy was covered by a red circle covered with blood possibly.

I was thrilled to see the picture as it was the same scene that I saw in my dream back then when I was kidnapped. I immediately closed the book and kept it at the top of the nightstand table. 

I decided to report it to Steven in the morning as it was already late. I closed my eyes resting my head on the cushion and slumbered away in my sleep, thrilled for the upcoming day, but also feeling the factor of fear due to the book.

I opened my eyes the next day and to my surprise the time was 9:30 am on the wall clock. I got up immediately and took a shower, got fresh just in around 10 minutes. I got the best set of clothes from the cupboard and got ready. 

Before leaving the room, I remembered the book from last night and went to the nightstand to take it to Sheeran, and guess what it had vanished, just kidding, it was there on the table. I took it and went to Steven.

Everyone was sitting in the hall, The girls were playing with their puzzles, while Noel and Steven were having their Coffee sitting on the sofa.

I cleared my throat a bit and said, "I am ready, shall we leave?" "Yeah sure, but books aren't allowed in the ceremony Sheeran," Steven said pointing towards the old and frail wanna-be papyrus.

"Yeah I know, but-"  "No ifs or buts, we are leaving now, in a sec  have your breakfast and we will analyze the book later." He said. "I told you don't read my mind!" I said.

He went to the kitchen and brought me some porridge, I quickly finished it and in a matter of minutes we left the house as I kept the book on the dining table.

We stood outside the house, and I could see many other people and teens of my age going to it as well some through cars while some by walking. We waited for the Taxi and soon it arrived. We got in and I realized once again that this place has many aspects similar to Earth and its cities. We reached the Parliament just in time at 9:55 am.

The gate was open this time, with 3 guards checking the visitors for security reasons. We got inside the Campus, and man the beauty of the building was unbelievable, with its white marble and superb architecture, it was easily one of the best pieces of craft I ever witnessed. 

I took a look all around me, I could see boys and girls like me, who came from different parts of the earth along with their Alpha Yuris. I also saw that some of the Yuris even had families like Steven! The sight was thrilling, and as I am an extrovert, people never cease to excite me.

A huge mob was trying to enter the Parliament through the main door, including us. I entered the building along with others, there were a huge number of chairs, ready to accumulate the entire city. The interiors were just as majestic as the exteriors. There was a soothing shade of green and yellow on the walls, while the pillars [ 25 on each side ] were painted in red, which made them noticeable in the light background.

A great dais was prepared for the ceremony, there were all 7 chairs on the stage, colored in the 7 colours of the Rainbow. We all took our seats in one of the middle rows. Steven sat down to my right leaving a vacant space to my immediate left. "Please have your seats, the inauguration will begin soon!" The anchor, who was a healthy, bald man said from the dais.

Steven was talking and shaking hands with almost every person he saw, as he was a resident here for almost 16 years. Noel was talking to her friend circle, which was pretty normal on earth as well, while the girls were chatting with each other. In a matter of seconds, the program began.

"Ladies and Gentlemen we are gathered here today on the very special occasion of the Devil Identification Ritual. Today's the day we will be getting a great batch of Delta Yuris! The ceremony will be overlooked by the great  pillars of VIBGYOR, the 7 most powerful Yuris in the entire Omniverse." He said and the crowd and the crowd went silent, and everyone started looking at the dais.

"So without wasting any more time, Give a round of applause to our Mighty 7." He said so, and a screen emerged from the ceiling just above the dais, In a few seconds, a woman with a very familiar face emerged from backstage in a Blue, Ball Gown. She had a Bob-cut hairstyle with blonde hair. Everyone started clapping as she took her seat which was covered in Blue.

The screen turned on and a text appeared on it in blue with a white background, it read, 

'Hera. Duncan

7th Pillar

Devil-: Belphegor

The newest Pillar among the 7'