3rd POV. After the Purple Ant's Death.
Lamplight accomplished the mission of ending Purple Ant's reign.
This is also the second member of Serpent that Caelus killed.
On sail back to the Republic.....
The girls of Lamplight were talking about how Lilian Hepburn (Lily's Alter Ego) was called a devil and the story of her being the suspect behind the 76 murders.
But then.....when all laughter and giggles were over, they shifted the topic on Caelus.
Monika: To think that this mission allowed us to uncover Ember's true identity.
Grete: Yes. Not to mention, Purple Ant being connected to Caelus' past.
Grete: When Caelus executed Purple Ant in anger......I saw the boss' disturbed reaction.
Monika: But to think that Caelus will be that ruthless......
Monika: I mean, I understand the guy. After all, Purple Ant killed a person close to Caelus' own heart.
Erna: How unlucky.
Sybilla: Hey, Erna, you said that you went to see Caelus' hometown, right?
Erna: Yeep.
Erna: I actually got the opportunity to ask about Caelus, particularly his sister.
Lily: Oh, right. What was his sister's name again? Polka?
Grete: It's Olga.
Lily: That was close!
Sara: No, it's not.
Lily: Hey!
Sybilla: And what information did you gather?
Erna: The old man who knew Caelus and his family.....
Erna: He told me that Olga suffered from the Scarlet Fever.
Monika: That's....
Grete: A deadly disease. To think that Caelus lost his little sister because of that.....
Sybilla: And then he lost his mother during the war.
Sybilla: Not to mention, he witnessed his mother bein' killed by Purple Ant.
Sybilla: I mean, the guy recognized Caelus' face. The same goes for Caelus.
Sara: Do you think the reason why Caelus was missing for a few days was.....
Monika: Investigating Purple Ant.
Monika: Damn. He knows exactly what he's doing.
Grete: I never saw Caelus laying bare all of his emotions.
Grete: Sorrow, regret, hatred.....
Erna: H-He looked so scary.
Annette: Even I was shocked to see him that angry, yo!
Sybilla: And he's damn ruthless, too!
Sybilla: Did you see how he just straight up cut Purple Ant's best lackeys?
Lily: But probably....now that it is over....
Lily: He finally avenged his mother.....
Grete: I can't help but be afraid of what awaits next to Caelus.
Monika: Who knows. But I don't really think he'll become a spy out of revenge.
Sara: Really?
Monika: The slut said so. She believes that Caelus has a noble reason to become a spy.
Erna: A world where children won't cry.
Everyone looked at Erna.
Sybilla: What?
Lily: How did you figure that out?
Erna: Big Sis Thea mentioned that during her time at the academy, where Caelus was still in her class.....
And Erna revealed Thea's recollections about Caelus.
Lily: I see.
Sybilla: Good with children, huh.
Sara: No wonder why he exudes the aura of a big brother.
Monika: To think he still had a heart.
Annette: I mean, he's helping me, yo!
Erna: Me too!
Grete: It seems like due to his big brother instincts, he is helping us in various ways.
Grete: As a compensation for the things that he wasn't able to do for his little sister and his mother.
Grete: Boss once told me that Caelus looks so empty, like the Abyss.
Grete: But he hoped that there will be a spark to guide him back to the light.
Lily: I see.
Lily: A-Anyways......
Lily: You all seem to have bonded with Caelus, right?
Monika: And why would he? You'll just give him headaches.
Lily: HUH!? I AM THE BEAUTIFUL LILY! YOUR GLORIOUS LEADER!
Lily: YOU'RE TELLING ME I'M NOT BE ABLE TO BOND WITH CAELUS! I DARE YOU SAY THAT TO ME, MONIKA!
Sara: U-Um, Lily, is it really me or do you like Caelus?
This caused Lily to flinch and blush.
Lily: Huh!?
Annette: Oh! Big Sis Lily likes him!
Lily: No! I don't like him!
And while they're busy teasing Lily....
Monika just sighed.
Monika: These girls are too loud. Don't they even realize that he is just sleeping on the next room?
Sybilla: Man, I mean, Caelus has that natural charm.
Sybilla: But I never actually saw him use seduction.
Sara: Maybe not really.
Grete: I admit that Caelus is handsome, but the Boss already got my heart.
Monika: You're really aiming for the impossible, huh.
Sybilla: But then....we don't even know much about Caelus.
Sybilla: I know I had a talk with him a few times, but it was always random topics.
Sybilla: And when I asked him on how I can help Grete win Klaus' heart....
Sybilla: He said this.
Sybilla: "Sorry, I don't really have much to say when it comes to romance. I don't really know what it really means to fall in love."
Sybilla: And you know what.....
Sybilla just slammed the wall with her fist.
Sybilla: He said that with the most beautiful expression I ever saw! It was so damn beautiful, so damn innocent!
Monika: Are you sure you didn't fell into Caelus' charm?
Sybilla: Of course not!
Sara: Really? Then why are you also blushing?
Sybilla: The hell I'm not!
And Sybilla was really blushing.
Monika: As if a tomboy like you will have a chance to win our Prince's heart.
Sybilla: The hell you say!?
Sybilla: Oh, I'll prove it to you all right! I'll make you eat your damn words, Monika!
Lily: What did you say, Sibylla!? You're also in love with Caelus!?
Sibylla: What if I am!?
Lily: ....
Lily: Then.....on this day onward....you and Thea are my rivals!
Sibylla: Oh, you really are just down bad on Caelus, huh. I may not have the alluring body.....
Sibylla: But I have something in my sleeve that can make him fall for me!
Monika: Oh, this is going to be so fun to watch.
Grete: But I'm wondering something, Monika.
Monika: What is it?
Grete: I don't think Caelus would ever want this.
Monika: What do you mean?
Grete: Lamplight being divided because of their feelings for Caelus.
Monika: Hmm....
Grete: But then.....
Grete: Knowing Caelus...
Sara: He wouldn't want this.
Lily: Oh, don't worry! Whoever loses, no hard feelings!
Sibylla: Just make sure you won't cry when he chooses me over you and Thea.
Lily: Right back at you!
Unknown to the other members.....Klaus and Thea were listening, and she was clenching her fist.
Klaus: It seems like you'll have an Impossible Mission, Thea.
Thea: I knew it! It will only be a matter of time!
Klaus: All I can is that, good hunting.
When the ship finally reached the port, Caelus also woke up.
With the Blue Rose Sword on his side......
He remembered what happened.
He then let out his tears.....
Caelus: Mom.....
Caelus: I know you didn't want this for me.....
Caelus: You never wanted me to go down this path.
Caelus: But.....
Caelus: I will carry on your legacy.
Caelus: With grace and elegance as you were known.
Caelus: Mom, I hope you're finally at peace.
After he lets out his tears, he changed his clothes, concealed his sword, and went outside of his cabin to check where the ship is. When he saw that the ship is about to anchor, he packed his things and went to look for his team.
And he found them waiting on the top deck, waiting to disembark.
Klaus: Magnificent.
Lily: You're awake, huh.
Caelus: Took me longer than I would have expected.
Klaus: How are you feeling, Caelus?
Caelus: I feel great. I finally got that off my chest.
Caelus: In other words, I'm all good now.
Klaus: I see.
Caelus: But Teach, once we go back home.....
Caelus: Can you tell the office to give me a break?
Klaus: It's nice that you're the one asking for a break.
Klaus: Very well.
Klaus: You deserve it.
When they got back home....
Caelus decided to take a train ride.
Klaus: Why?
Caelus: I want to visit my mother and sister. I'm sure they are hoping to see me.
Klaus: Be careful on your way. Also, Caelus.
Klaus: You already have a place to call home.
Caelus: ...!
And for the first time in years.....
Caelus finally lets out a smile.
Caelus: Of course.
Caelus: I know I haven't said this but...
Caelus: Thanks to you, Teach.
Caelus: I was able to find a new home.
Caelus: After all, I finally got what my mother meant during that time.
Caelus: Oh, and Teach....
Caelus: Can you do me a favor?
Klaus: What is it?
Caelus: My room belonged to Ember......
Caelus: My mother, right?
Klaus: Yes.
Caelus: Then, read a diary that is beside a picture frame.
Caelus: And don't worry, some of them saw the picture.
Lily & Sibylla: ....
Caelus: It's fine.
Caelus: Also, once I got back, I'll answer your questions.
As soon as Caelus was about to board the train.....
Thea grabbed Caelus' arm.
Thea: Can you please take me with you?
Caelus: Why?
Thea: You remembered me, right?
Thea: Back when we were still at the same academy. Before you got transferred.
Caelus: Yes.
Caelus: Why?
Thea: I want to know what happened to you between those years until you graduated and joined Lamplight.
Caelus: Is that so?
Caelus: Is it really okay, Teach?
Klaus: Of course. Thea has the right.
Caelus: All right.
Caelus: Thea, just brace yourself. It's a long journey.
Thea: It's fine. As long as it is with you.
Lily and Sibylla are keeping their cool.
Lily: DAMMIT!
Sibylla: SHE'S FINALLY PULLING ALL THE STOPS!
Then, Thea and Caelus went to board the train bound to Magnolia.
During the train ride.
Thea: So, Caelus, after you were wrongly accused of sexual harrassment and got expelled from our academy.....what did you do?
Caelus: I just transferred to another one. The academy I transferred were very competent.
Caelus: And unlike the one where attended with you....
Caelus: That academy was full of competent students.
Caelus: Yet at the same time, they are also kind.
Thea: So, is that how you never lose your kindness?
Caelus: That could be the reason why.
Caelus: Just like Lamplight, I also got to form bonds with a team.
Thea: A team?
Caelus: Yes, we were assigned into teams.
Caelus: Hoping to produce a spy team that can be on par with Inferno.
Caelus: The team I belonged to when I was attending that academy was....
Caelus: Arbiter.
Caelus: And it composes of Seven Members.
Caelus: Fearless Baron, Beautiful Viscount, Wise Countess, Ruthless Marquess, Grand Duke, Angel Prince, and Shadow Queen.
Caelus: I was codenamed Angel Prince.
Caelus: And we were lead by Shadow Queen.
Caelus: They are the ones who took me into their team.
Caelus: They are actually different from Lamplight, I suppose.
Caelus: Baron was the strongest of us all. He may be a musclehead, but he is reliable in times of need.
Caelus: Viscount is the most elegant of us. He just makes things so beautiful, even with our drills. Although people call him as self-centered but....
Caelus: He is just a clean-freak.
Thea: Eh?
Caelus: All because he just want things to be clean and tidy. To the point that he'll invade our rooms just to clean the heck out of it.
Caelus: His infiltration skills were honed to the finest because of that.
Caelus: Countess on the other hand is our voice of reason. She is our strategist, so Grete kind of reminds me of Countess.
Caelus: Countess gave me advice when I needed it the most. She became like a sister figure to me.
Caelus: That is why I respect Countess.
Caelus: Marquess on the other hand is strict when it comes to rules. She was part of the disciplinary committee, after all.
Caelus: So whenever Baron and Duke will do their stupid antics.....
Caelus: Marquess will definitely beat their ass.
Thea: Seems like Marquess is stronger than Baron and Duke, huh.
Caelus: As for Duke, he is just like Monika, a Jack-of-all trades.
Caelus: But there is one glaring weakness to Duke.
Caelus: And that is money.
Caelus: Whenever money is involved, he'll just go crazy.
Caelus: And that's the reason why Duke and Baron would sometimes pick pockets to get money.
Caelus: And I always remember how Marquess and Queen were furious with both of them.
Caelus: Then we have our leader, the Shadow Queen.
Caelus: She maintains order to our group. A leader worthy of our respect.
Caelus: She is efficient in every task, knows what is the best for the team.
Caelus: Her specialty was information gathering via torture method.
Thea: It seems like you have a wonderful, huh.
Caelus: Of course. Then....
Caelus: It all changed during our graduation exam.
Caelus: And that exam.....was to assassinate a wanted criminal organization.
Caelus: And it was a bloody encounter.
Caelus: Everyone died......except for me.
Caelus: I killed our targets and wiped out the organization.
Caelus: We never expected that it would be that difficult.
Caelus: So, I decided that when I graduated, I wanted to be stronger.
Caelus: So that when I got assigned into a new team......
Caelus: I will be able to protect them.
Caelus: And that is how I got the name, Shadow. To remember my previous team leader.
Caelus: She would always tell me to never stop even when life throws you off course.
Caelus: "If life gives you too many downs, then just make the ups with your own hands."
Caelus: "After all, happiness that was gained with your own two hands, is much more worth it than gaining it without any effort."
Thea: It seems like your leader was a good leader as well.
Caelus: Yes, she was.
Thea: So, after you went back to the academy, you reported what happened.
Caelus: Yes. The teachers never expected the outcome as well. We were caught off guard.
Caelus: But I was still able to graduate.
Caelus: And because I just lost my teammates......
Caelus: I was sent to Heat Haze Palace, hoping that my talents would be of use there.
Thea: And that is where....
Caelus: The rest was history at that point.
Thea: So, you lost many people.
Caelus: Yes.
Thea lays her head on Caelus' shoulder.
Thea: Don't worry. This time, you won't lose anyone else.
Thea: You've been protecting us, and we'll also do that.
Caelus: Mm.
Caelus: Thank you, Thea.
Thea: That's the first time you said that to me.
Caelus: I wasn't able to thank you back then.
Caelus: You tried to save me back then, right?
Caelus: To the point that you are willing to put your reputation at stake.
Thea: I mean, I don't want to see someone like you getting hurt. After all, I knew you are so kind.
Thea: Especially when those children wanted to check on you.
Caelus: Ah, when I saved them. So those paper cranes and flowers.....
Thea: Yes. When you were recovering from the wounds you sustained while saving those children.
Thea: The kids you saved, that was their gift to you.
Thea: Which got me to question, what made you become a spy? Why did you want to become one?
Caelus: It's only quite simple.
As soon as they passed through the view of the ocean, the twilight sky came into view, its light reflecting Caelus' profile.
Caelus: To create a world where children won't cry.
Thea: A world where children won't cry?
Caelus: Yes. In this world awash in pain.
Caelus: The only ones who can heal this broken world is the next generation.
Caelus: To protect their smiles, so that in return, when its their time to lead this world, they will be able create a better world.
Caelus: And to do that, you must begin with the children.
Thea: I see.
Caelus: Maybe I was also influenced by my drive to make amends with my little sister.
Caelus: She died too early, and I only wanted her to make her happy and grant all her wishes.
Caelus: Hehe.
Thea: That's cute.
Caelus: Really?
Thea: Yes. I mean, your little sister will be happy if her big brother is a cool spy!
Caelus: Haha. I don't know about that.
Caelus: Anyways.....
Caelus: Just ahead....
Caelus pans his view to the sight of his hometown.
Thea looks at the direction where Caelus was gazing at.
Thea: It's beautiful.....
Caelus: It is as beautiful as the day we lost it.
Caelus: Now, it is finally getting back to its former glory.
When they got off the train....
Thea and Caelus had a walk around the town.
Basically, Caelus gave Thea a tour around the town where he grew up.
Thea: Wait, could this be......
Thea: I'm currently in the hometown of the boy I like, and he's giving me a hometown.....
Thea: THIS IS DEFINITELY A DATE!
Since the two of them ate on the family restaurant where Caelus would eat with his family during special occassions.
The park where Caelus and his sister will play back when they were kids.
The beautiful harbor.....
And their last stop.....
Was the cemetery.
Before they went there, Caelus brought flowers to offer at the graves of his deceased loved ones.
When they arrived....
Thea: Here lies.....
Thea: Olga Romanova.
Thea: Anastasia Romanova.
Thea: So....this is where.....
Caelus puts down the bouquet of flowers on the graves and he offered a short prayer.
After that.....
Thea decided to embrace Caelus.....
Caelus: !?
Thea: Let it all out, Caelus.
And Caelus broke down.
He already broke down when he first came to visit Magnolia, when Erna was following him. He felt alone.
But now......
He finally let out his tears......with someone on his side, ready to hold him close.
To Thea, she felt that she was holding Caelus so carefully as if he was a fragile object.
But this was the very rare moments that she will ever saw in Caelus.
Thea: Don't worry, Caelus. Whenever you need someone to cry on, I will happily lend you my shoulder.
Caelus: I....should be the one saying that......
Thea: Hehe. I would've prefer if you take me to your bed and wash away all of sadness with your body.
Caelus: Haha.....and you dare say that in front of my mother and sister?
Thea: Why not?
Caelus: Pfft! Hahaha!
Thea: What's so funny about it!?
Caelus: I just found it funny.
Caelus wipes away his tears as he smiled.
Caelus: Thank you, for coming along with me, Thea.
Caelus: I would've prefer coming here alone but....
Caelus: I guess this isn't bad at all.
Thea: I'm glad I came along.
Caelus: Mm.
Caelus and Thea lingered a little longer but then decided to leave as it was about to get late.
Thea then lingered a little bit longer.....
As she smiled.
Thea: Mrs. Anastasia......
Thea: Don't worry, your son is in good hands.
Thea: Olga, I'll make sure to protect your brother's smile.
Thea and Caelus went to board that last train ride back home.
It took them around midnight to come home.
When they did, Thea and Caelus retreat back to their rooms.
But before that.....
Thea: Caelus.
Caelus: Yes?
Thea: I won't lose to anyone.
Caelus: What?
Thea: I love you, Caelus.
Thea stared into Caelus' eyes to see his desire.
But as usual, she was unsuccessful.
Caelus: I see. You've been harboring those feelings....back then....
Thea: You were aware!?
Caelus: Of course I was aware.
Caelus: It was obvious.
Caelus: But allow me to apologize.
Caelus: I still don't know how will I reciprocate those feelings.
Caelus: As I don't know what it really means to fall in love.
Thea: Then.....I'll teach you how to fall in love.
Caelus: Heh. I'll be your worst student.
Caelus: Anyways, thank you for saying your feelings, Thea.
Caelus: I don't have an answer yet, so....
Thea: Don't worry, I may use my charm on everyone.....
Thea: But you're the one I fell in love with.
Caelus: Mm.
Caelus: Goodnight, Thea.
Thea: Goodnight, Caelus.
And so ends the day.....
When Thea returned back to her room and changed her clothes....
Thea: I finally said it!
Thea: I was aiming on confessing it during our time in Magnolia but....
Thea: At the very least, I got to know him better.
Thea: I'm sorry, Lily, Sibylla. I will not hold back any longer! I will prove that my feelings won't lose to anyone!