Starting from that day, Bael didn’t leave Thomas’ side for a moment. They would either spend time together in their rooms, read in the castle’s library, or stroll in the garden. More often than not, they would hold hands or hug, and that would help Thomas rex. He had been sleeping and eating better, and he now looked much more healthy, his skin now pale but not scarily white. He was happy, but also a bit anxious.

  “Are you sure you can stay with me without working like that ? I saw Baam looking at us strangely…”

  The king burst out ughing. He couldn’t read minds like his aide, but he could see what was hidden, including people’s intentions. And Baam’s were obvious.

  ‘I can’t tell Thomas that my own aide wants us to produce an heir, it would probably shock him.’

  He dismissed Thomas’ concerns with a wave of his hand.

  “Don’t worry, he is very happy right now. Focus on getting better.”

  They were strolling in the garden like every morning - was it really morning when the sky was always dark red ? - while bantering. Each day Thomas could walk a little further, gradually building muscles in his weak body, and it made Bael happy. Today, they succeed in reaching the secret garden, the one only the king is allowed to enter. Smiling from ear to ear, Bael stepped inside.

  “I can finally show you the ke ! In honor of our imaginary scenario, I will rename it ‘Mermaid pond’ !”

  Thomas looked at him in disgust.

  “You’re joking, right ? It was just a hypothetical discussion about what would happen if I turned out to be a mermaid !”

  The king ughed and took Thomas’ hand, pulling him towards the ke.

  “No, I’m serious ! It’s your pond, now.”

  “Stop ! I won’t go into the water !”

  Thomas pyfully pulled his arm away, at least that was what he wanted to do. Because, inexplicably, his strength seemed to multiply and he involuntarily projected Bael in the air. He stopped for a second, wondering what was happening, when he noticed his hands. They were glowing in a familiar pink hue.

  “What’s happening ? Bael !”

  The king had deployed his wings, stopping his fall, and was coming back running.

  “It’s okay, it’s normal, it’s your magic. It activated because you are in your demon form and you are healthy enough now. It’s a good thing !”

  But Thomas was shaking uncontrolbly. During his studies about Hell, he had learned an important fact. All demons’ magic have a different color, corresponding to their souls. It might be simir, but the hue is always very distinct, it was like a fingerprint to recognize people. But this specific shade of pink, Thomas had seen it before. It was on the day he arrived in Hell, before everything started, the magic that teleported him here.

  “No, how ? What ?”

  He was starting to panic, so Bael ran to him and took him in his arms, hugging him tightly.

  “It’s okay, you are alright, calm down.”

  The warm words comforted his heart, and he slowly calmed down. With a more rexed mind, he could take some time to think.

  He had already seen Bael’s magic before, when he had saved him from the princes, and it was very different, in a shade of red. So the fact that Mariane was transmigrated in Hell wasn’t the king’s fault, like everyone had thought, but due to someone’s interference. Since strange letters and symbols had also appeared at that time, Thomas had guessed that it was something else, not a demon, that brought them here, but despite searching for a long time, he hadn’t found anything simir, even amongst angel and mage’s magic. So this hint he just got, the color of his own demonic power, wasn’t to be taken lightly.

  And even if he somehow had found a way to go back in time across dimensions to teleport himself in Hell, it wasn’t a bad thing. It had allowed him to have his own body, his own life, and to find Bael. It was a good ending.

  Anyway, it wasn’t something to worry about right now. He couldn’t control his magic, so if he indeed maniputed time and space, it would be far into the future. He didn’t need to worry.

  Thomas took a deep breath and buried his face in Bael’s neck. The king was still holding him tightly, anxiously listening to his breathing.

  “Are you okay, now ?”

  “Yeah. Sorry, I panicked.”

  “Don’t be sorry, it can happen. Anyway, it’s cute that your magic is pink ! It’s a shade of red, right ? It means we have simir souls !”

  Thomas frowned, but inside he was happy.

  ‘Cute ? Talk about yourself, comparing soul colors because you want to find more in common with me.’

  He finally got out of Bael’s embrace and became more serious, looking at the pink light that was surrounding him.

  “So… How do I turn this off ?”

  The king seemed disappointed but answered quickly since Thomas seemed anxious.

  “First, you need to feel your source. The demonic power must be coming from somewhere around your heart, do you feel it ?”

  Thomas closed his eyes and focused. If he was really careful, he could feel something bubbling in his chest, circling around his body, and coming out from him.

  “Yes, I think so.”

  “Perfect. Now, imagine that you pull it back inside, as if you were inhaling all that power back in your heart.”

  He had to try a few times, but eventually Thomas recalled his magic. His wings and horns also disappeared, and for the first time he felt light. He reached for his head, touching his smooth hair.

  “Am I really like a normal human, now ?”

  Bael bit the inside of his cheeks. That man was so cute without his horns ! If his demon form made him seem a bit intimidating, without it he looked adorable. Removing the big antlers from the sides of his head took quite a bit of height away, and Bael could now appreciate a Thomas who was exactly the same height as him.

  “What ? Do I look weird ?”

  The kind inwardly took a deep breath to calm down his racing heart.

  “No, you are as perfect as always.”

  “Stop joking.”

  Thomas groaned and tried to walk away, but his legs felt weak and he stumbled on the grass. Bael caught him before he fell.

  “You might be a bit tired, since it’s the first time you’re in a casual form. Don’t overdo it.”

  “Why is it so complicated ?”

  Thomas was pouting, but he still put his arms around the king’s neck, who looked at him in surprise.

  “Aren’t you gonna carry me ? I might fall again.”

  Bael had to gather all his strength to prevent himself from kissing the slim man.

  ‘Is he getting cuter everyday or is it just me ? I might have a heart attack one day, this kind of adorableness is not healthy !’

  And he lifted Thomas off the ground, holding him tightly in his arms.

  “Should we go back to your room, if you are tired ?”

  “Yeah, that would be better.”

  A few hours ter, Thomas was nodding off on the armchair of his bedroom, while Bael was braiding his long hair. That’s when Baam suddenly opened the door wide, making both men jump in surprise. The king showed his teeth in dissatisfaction.

  “What are you doing ?”

  But the aide didn’t stop, he walked quickly towards Bael with a serious expression.

  “Mariane touched a mage stone.”

  “Yes, and ? What’s the reason for your disrespect ?”

  Baam adjusted his colr with trembling hands.

  “She screamed and fainted.”

  Bael suddenly became pale. Thomas, who had woken up, was staring at both of them, sweat dripping from his forehead.

  “Wait… Aren’t mage stones supposed to be harmless for non-mages ?”

  The king held his shaky hand in his, looking as terrible as he did.

  “Yeah. Only mages feel pain when touching this stone.”

  Baam cleared his throat.

  “She is still unconscious as of now, and it’s been an hour. So it is safe to assume that not only is Mariane a mage, she is also a pure blooded one.”

  Thomas sprung up, stumbling due to his weak body.

  “No, that’s impossible ! I’ve been with her since she was three, she has always been a normal girl…”

  But he stopped himself. After all, they were in a dating game. He had almost forgotten, since his days with Bael were always happy and peaceful, but most dating games have a plot, a story, with different events made to bring the characters together. If Mariane was the protagonist, it was normal that something would happen to her. In fact, having the female lead discover hidden powers was a common trope of this genre. The problem was what would come after.

  There is a rule that all games follow, dating games included. If the protagonist discovers hidden powers, ultimately there will be a reason to use them, a scene in the story to show their overwhelming strength.

  ‘Shit… Hell is in danger…’

  Baam was intently looking at Thomas with gleaming eyes. He didn’t say anything, but turned to the king and whispered in his ear before leaving the room. Bael turned to Thomas, who was staring into space with a worried look. He pulled the man towards him and held him tightly.

  “It will be okay, it’s no big deal. If she really is a mage, she will have to meet with the Magic Academy headmaster to have her birth registered, but nothing else will happen. Having mana doesn’t give you more rights in Hell, so you will be safe.”

  ‘You don’t know, you don’t understand.’

  Thomas finally raised his head, meeting the warm gaze of the king.

  ‘The Hell that you love so much is in danger, all because of a girl in love !’