Hell's Academy

The next day,

Howard walked down a long, winding corridor with Monica's flush hand wrapped in his palm. She held her other hand on her neck, walking past a few of the stationed guards in the third floor of the West Branch, as she pulled up the sleeves of her green cardigan.

Her green hair got swept in the breeze coming from the window, leading her to see the team preparing to head to the surface. Looking into Howard's eyes, Monica couldn't help but reach forward and peck his lips one more time, still full of disbelief her brother had survived.

"Mm, I-I'm so happy, Howard. If we save him, you can have anything you want?"

"Including me," Harley laughed and patted Howard on the head. "Come on, guys. You're slower than one legged zombies. "If we're late, I'm blaming you Monica and stealing Howard for a night."

"I-I'm not going to let you bother me anymore," Monica smiled happily, looking into Harley's eyes. "Howard is a grown up. If he wants to spend time with you, I trust him!"

"Wow! What was that secret," Harley laughed, walking down the stairs.

Looking back at Howard and Monica playfully teasing each other, she sighed, rubbing her stomach as a bad feeling arose.

The other day, when she almost died, she realized that she'd left the entire Furnace unexplored. Left so many rocks unturned, and never really tried to her achieve her ultimate goals.

Harley always wanted to be a pilot when she grew up, being one with the air, and changing the horizon. However, since then, she'd really lost her way. Did she want to get stronger? Did she want to try and find someone to love?

On the outside, she tried her hardest to not care, but deep down inside she wanted someone like Howard the most. Vowing to herself to try harder, Harley smiled, seeing Una and Kellen waiting in front of the oasis tunnel.

"Well, good news. Barabin is coming with," Una said, crossing her arms. "Bad news. We're meeting his son. We can't have a night on the town, and… we can't go to any concerts."

"Why not? Barabin likes to dance," Harley said, walking into the fully lit cavern.

Dozens of electric lamps that had gotten scattered from various Ki Storms lined the walls, making it much easier to see on the staircase to the entrance way.

Arriving by the portal, Reece layed down on a stone bench, looking at a plan she'd painstakingly made with a smile on her face.

"They're all finally here," Reece said, jumping up. "Barabin, you sure Stella is fine with you coming?"

"I haven't seen any of my descendants in 200 years." Barabin twitched in fright, thinking about how much the world must have changed since the first year of the snake. When he left the surface and arrived in the Furnace, it had been a few days after the new years on the day of the celebration of the snake.

The snake represented the year of a thousand different roads. It meant new hidden things to be discovered.

On the year he left, he'd snuck into a carnival and drunk cartons of patrons bloods at the various stalls. Slacking his teeth into a beautiful woman, he turned only to find another holding a small trinket in her hand.

Rather than running away, seeing her mother getting bitten by Barabin, she simply tried to offer him a gift with a smile.

'I'd been so shocked at the time that I accepted the gift,' Barabin grabbed a small little trinket in his pocket, clutching it nervously as he saw her face. 'Halen, you-you had a son with me. I'm not sure if you fell in love with me to save your mother, or you actually liked me.'

'However, I-I'm sorry. I'm sorry for leaving you behind,' Barabin had met Stella before the end of the next year. His thirst for blood caused him to run around the world, violating every province with waves of death.

When Stella found him, that all changed, but it might not have if he found out earlier.

Earlier about the fact that Halen had gotten pregnant. It wasn't until 90 years until after the baby was born, weaned, and cared for that he heard its name. Luckily, his son had pretty good luck with the ladies, and created enough grandchildren that until this day a small army of Barabin's progeny lived on the surface, using their charm to conquer all.

'My great-great grandson got in with the Exland Empire. I can't be more proud,' Barabin took out the golden trinket and put it around his neck.

"Howard, don't be like me. Always be there for Monica."

"Me too. Be there for me too." Harley said, patting him on the back. "I'm serious. I just need one day a week, Monica. To just spend some time with him. Give it some thought."

"You-you're getting even worse!" Monica stomped the ground, "Howard-howard and I might get married some day! Do you want to marry him too? Then what? Chi--"

"Enough!" Reece said, "I'm the leader here! No more fighting!" Reece rubbed the back of her head, seeing Barabin floating in the air with an unamused expression. "Uhm, except for Barabin. He's also the leader."

"We're going to the surface now," Howard smiled, "I-I just let a week ago. I'm scared."

"Don't be," Monica squeezed his hand. "Barabin here, even on the surface, can destroy buildings, right?"

"I don't know. I can probably topple over a horse," Barabin said, laughing and rubbing his back. "What? Do they not have horses?"

"Let's go, grandpa," Reece pulled him towards the portal. "On the surface, remember, your horns won't be visible thanks to Blake's little devices. Let's just follow the plan, and not die, okay?"