It took roughly a day or two, but eventually the Eternal Flames that covered the planet known as Earth began to recede. Slowly at first, then eventually like an avalanche, they began to be pulled back into Raizen's body.

Of course, that didn't quite get rid of the Infernal Qi that now covered the entire planet, nor did it get rid of the oppressive feeling that clung to the air. That would take some time, but for now the flames continued to recede, and not even a full day later, they were gone.

The man that was hovering outside of the planet nodded once before he started speaking.

"All right, good. It didn't take months this time."

He then vanished from his location and entered the planet below. Of course, the two Immortals who were still kneeling in the space outside of the planet did not move, nor would they move, not for some time.

Meanwhile, the man reappeared in the skies above the planet, where a falling Raizen could be seen spiraling toward the ground, fully unconscious. The man grabbed him before disappearing once more and reappearing at some random location.

After he landed he simply dropped Raizen, allowing his limp body to fall to the ground. After taking one long look at his face, the man then raised his hand and flicked a sliver of Qi into Raizen's body. Not even a second later, Raizen quite literally jumped up and gasped for air.

POV Raizen

I had no idea what was going on. I had no idea what I was doing. All I knew was that I woke up with every intention of murdering the rat man, only to be met with a literal smack to the back of my head.

Pah!

"That's enough. You won't remember what you just did, and I've sealed your memories to ensure you don't remember how it happened. All I will tell you right now is that members of your Clan died. You reacted to these deaths by doing something you weren't ready to do yet. That something is sealed, and you'll remember it when it's time. Any questions?"

Any questions? Of course, I had questions. But it took more than a couple of moments for me to collect my thoughts. Members of my clan died…yeah, I remember that. And the second that memory became clear to me, I had to stop myself from getting angry again, from letting it take hold of me.

Instead, I focused on the rest of the words the man said. Some of my memories had been sealed, and I suppose he wasn't wrong, because no matter how much I tried to recall what happened after I witnessed more than a few members of my clan dying, nothing seemed to come to mind.

I couldn't remember anything. All I remembered was feeling angry, hearing the voice of the rat man, hearing the voice of that mermaid Immortal, and then nothing after that point. I remembered nothing until this moment…waking up with a rush of anger and then being smacked in the head by this man.

The only reason I hadn't already distanced myself, or worse, attacked him, was because I felt the same sense of familiarity that I felt in the presence of that Matriarch. Not only was this another Infernal in front of me, but this was also another Patriarch.

Someone like me.

He was taller than me, with jet-black, silky flowing hair, but it didn't really flow straight. It flowed all over the place, constantly moving, kind of like flames. He was wearing pristine black robes that didn't possess a single wrinkle. His eyes were jet black without pupils, kind of like Elder Zal's, and his skin was a pale white. It's so interesting how Infernals come in so many different shapes and sizes.

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I collected my thoughts, at least enough to have a conversation without spiraling into a mess.

"I understand. Since you've sealed my memories, I don't think you'll explain what happened, but whatever it was, it required you to step in. Thank you. But now what?"

The man took one long look at me and raised an eyebrow.

"Kind of thought you'd be freaking out, but this is good too. And no worries, that's what family's for."

He paused for a moment and then snapped his fingers. Immediately, the mermaid Immortal appeared behind his back, kneeling on the ground, not daring to raise her head. Then he started talking again.

"The one that triggered all of this, I've sent him back to his planet. I'll leave it to you to show him his place. This one, though…"

He gestured to the mermaid Immortal .

"…She was fighting him when I arrived, so I assume she was doing you a favor. I'll leave her to you to handle. That just about wraps up my presence here. And what you see before you is just a projection. I look forward to meeting you in person when you're strong enough to no longer need my help. And little brother, remember, we do what we want, when we want, and nothing can stop us except death. But even in death, the Eternal Flame stays ETERNAL."

That was all the man said before he simply vanished. He didn't tell me his name, about his Clan, where I would find him, nor he didn't tell me the location of the rat man, who I believed he was referring to as the reason behind all of this. He didn't tell me much of anything, but he told me enough. More than I needed to know.

I took a deep breath and looked toward the mermaid Immortal, still bowing, still kneeling. Honestly, this was a bit awkward. This woman was strong enough to squash me like a bug, yet here she was, kneeling and bowing her head, even though I'm the one who owes her a favor.

"Please stand. You are not someone who has to kneel or bow before me, and I'm sorry you had to do that. I have no control over my family members."

Of course, me saying that didn't really mean much but I was also pretty positive that he was the one who made her kneel. What can I say? It's not like I can promise it won't happen again. If he were to show up here in the next second, she would probably kneel once more. So I hope she'll be fine with just this.

She then stood up slowly, but every bit of her movement contained a level of regality that I don't think I've ever witnessed, even in shows or movies. Then she spoke and I could hear her beautiful voice once more.

"It is of no consequence. This is how the world works. The weak kneel and bow before the storm. I am a Princess, but the throne of my Empire will never reach me. So as long as I am within the lands of my own Empire, bowing and kneeling to the one who sits upon the throne is normal for me. So again, it is of no consequence."

Not really knowing what else to say to that, I simply nodded.

"I owe you a favor. Please tell me how I can repay it."

She stared at me for a second, her eyes glistening in the sunlight. There was a small part of me that was worried she would bring up that marriage once more, and this time I don't think I would have the shame to refuse it, not when she apparently fought the rat man on my behalf. I know I heard her voice before it all went dark, but I have no idea what she said or what she chose to do. But the Patriarch who was just here confirmed that she was indeed fighting the rat man for me.

She didn't have to do that. So if she did ask for marriage, I don't think I'd mind saying yes this time.

"The favor that I will ask of you will involve you traveling back with me to my Empire. There are a few problems someone of your age can solve for me, of course, only if this is all right with you. Otherwise, I will think of something else."

To leave the planet, huh? To leave Earth. I thought about it for a second. It's not the first time I've left Earth, as I've been to the Tutorial, and I know for a fact that it wasn't here, though I don't think that it was on one planet in particular.

I've also been to a desolate moon where there was nothing, and I couldn't even see Earth from where I was. I've also simply floated in the void before, when I first met Elder Zal and that metal man.

But I have a really good feeling that this time it'll be quite different, that I'll be gone for a very long time, that it won't be so simple to return. I'm not sure why I have that feeling, but that's the vibe I get…that if I were to really travel to this woman's Empire it would be a really long time before I see Earth once more.

But maybe that's what I need, to get away, to leave this planet, to see the world, to explore new things and meet new people.

…To fill the void that has been slowly turning in my heart from the loss of my clan members. To curb the arrogance that I didn't realize I had grown.

To grow as a man, as an Infernal, as a Patriarch.

I then looked towards the mermaid Immortal.

"When do we leave?"

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