Chapter 29

**Thyrion**


My heart was thundering in my chest. I could barely believe what I had just seen with my own eyes. Did Merianna really just construct a Gate?! All on her own?! Without a catalyst or stabilizing item?! Or did someone lure her into a gate?! It didn’t seem like she recognized me at all, had someone hypnotized her? I had gotten to know that sensation of non-recognition very well because of Orbus’s meddling. The dread creeping in on me right then was something I had hoped not to feel again. Especially so soon after the spell was lifted!

“Hezerial!” I yelled into the air.

“What’s wrong?” The angelic asked as he suddenly materialized in the middle of the room. He took in the atmosphere of the room as I barreled down on him. “Where is My Lady?” He asked confusedly.

I grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled his face up to mine. “That’s what I would like to know! You were supposed to be looking after her!”

“There were no abnormal fluctuations in her energy nor signs of any threat.” He frowned, trying to understand the situation.

“She suddenly left through a gateway! Where is she?! Is she safe?!”

Hezerial blinked at me in surprise, then seemed to lose focus for a minute and completely ignore the fact that I was in his face. With the next blink he looked down at me. “My Lady is safe and still stable. There seems to be no one else around her at all. She’s also quite a distance from here. I will go there and bring her back.”

I let go of his shirt and took a step back. “Be prepared, it didn’t seem like she recognised me when she walked through the gateway. I don’t know what’s going on, but don’t scare her.”

Hezerial’s face pulled into a concerned frown. “I will make sure to heed your words. You might want to fill Nochtandriel or Fog in on what happened. They might have answers once I return with her.”

I didn’t like being told what to do by Merianna’s Guardian, but his words had never left us in a bind before. “I’ll go tell them. You bring her back as quickly as possible.”

With a nod Hezerial popped out of existence and I was left alone in the room once again. I couldn’t believe what was happening. Never in my existence had I ever thought that situations like these were possible, yet here I was.

Quickly I turned around and made my way to Nochtandriel’s office once again. Hopefully he hadn’t left that room yet. Tracking that bastard down in the castle was as impossible as finding dusty corners when Dorris was around.

I sprinted down the hallways and practically skidded to a stop in front of Noch’s office. Luckily the door was open and I saw that he was just getting ready to put his coat on. “Merianna is gone!” I yelled before he could disappear.

Noch froze in place and immediately dropped his coat on the floor. “What the hell do you mean by she’s *gone*?!”

Heaving a relieved sigh I stepped into the office. “I just went back to our room and the moment I opened the door she was getting ready to walk through a Gate. When she looked at me it seemed like she didn’t recognize me. I asked her what she was doing, but all she said was ‘home’. And then walked right through the Gate even though I called after her.” I quickly explained.

“What about the angelic?” Noch asked.

“He only appeared when I called out to him. Apparently he didn’t notice any threat or abnormalities. He was able to pinpoint her location and said that she was stable and safe, but still, this makes no sense.”

“So Hezerial went to bring her back?”

“Yes, he should be back soon.”

“You said she walked through a Gate?” Noch asked with a frown.

“That’s the weird part. I didn’t see any catalyst or stabilizing item. It makes no sense for a Gate to have appeared in her room.”

Noch seemed to think about that for a minute. “If that’s the case then there are only two possible scenarios I can think of. One is that someone managed to hypnotize and abduct her from an outside location. Or two, which is that her memories might be a bit distorted right now and ruling the forefront of her mind, making her think that she is still in that same timeline. Remember, she has Denaue’s potential in her, if she wanted to, it wouldn’t be too crazy for her to be able to make a Gate all by herself without any help whatsoever.”

“T-that’s true… but wouldn’t both scenarios be equally bad?” I honestly didn’t like the thought of either of the scenarios playing out. One was obviously a bit better than the other, but her memories being distorted and taking hold of her as she was now was also not really ideal. So many different things could happen.

“True, but at least the one scenario would be easier to work around than the other. We don’t know exactly how many lifetimes Merianna’s had, or would be able to remember, but if they are distorting her sense of what is present and past, there is definitely a way to help with that. We just have to wait for the Angelic to come back so I can examine the Demon Spawn again.” Noch said with a sigh. I could see the wheels in his head turning with ideas and possibilities.

“Should I gather anyone specific for this?” I asked. If he was able to help her the moment Hezerial brought her back, it would be better to have him stay in one place than running off to find the needed people that could help.

Noch shook his head. “No, I should be enough. It’s something I had actually done to myself once. It really helps to put all the bothersome memories to one side so they don’t interfere with the here and now.”

I heaved a sigh of relief and plopped down on one of the couches. “I hope Hezerial comes back with her soon.” I muttered.

“Poor guy. Pretty soon you’ll be calling your own woman Demon Spawn too.” Noch chuckled.

“Shut it.” I glowered.

I heard his chuckle turn into a titter. “Trouble always needs another name other than Honey or Darling, don’t you think?”

“I definitely don’t need to hear that coming from you of all people.” I groaned.

“Pfft, granted.” I couldn't understand how on earth he could be so relaxed in some of the most stressful situations…