(The previous day, Auriella POV)

Auriella’s heart pounded as she stood amidst the sea of demons in the arena, their voices a cacophony of curiosity and acclaim. 

Her recent promotion had brought her to the forefront of their attention, and while some congratulated her, others pressed her with questions she could hardly answer. 

Each query was met with her faltering responses as she struggled to keep up with the demands for information about the future she'd glimpsed.

Her nerves frayed with every shout of praise and every demanding query, her energy waning as she scanned the crowd for an escape. 

Just when it seemed she could no longer endure the overwhelming attention, she felt a firm grip on her arm. She turned to see Oriana, her face breaking into a broad smile.

“Hey! What’re you—” Auriella began, but Oriana’s determined tug silenced her as she pulled her through the throng.

“I figured you could use the assist,” Oriana said with a wink, guiding Auriella away from the crowd. 

They weaved through the sea of demons, their laughter echoing behind them as they made their escape.

Breathing heavily, they came to a halt in a quiet, abandoned hallway. The cool stone walls and the dim light offered a stark contrast to the chaotic arena they had just left. 

Oriana leaned against the wall, her cheeks puffed out as she looked at Auriella with a mixture of concern and curiosity.

“What?” Auriella asked, leaning against the wall and catching her breath.

“What do you mean, what?” Oriana said, pouting slightly. “You came back from the future??? Why didn’t you tell me before we left the barracks this morning?”

Auriella chuckled softly, her gaze softening as she watched Oriana’s childish display. 

“To be fair, you were rushing me out before I could even process my surroundings,” she said, a teasing smirk playing on her lips. 

She stepped forward, wrapping her arms around Oriana in a comforting embrace.

Oriana’s body relaxed as she returned the hug, but then she whispered, her voice trembling, “It must have been just awful for you.”

Auriella pulled away gently, her hands pushing against Oriana’s shoulders. 

“Uh uh, you’re not getting your tears on me,” she said firmly, though her tone held a trace of warmth. 

Oriana’s frown deepened as tears began to spill down her cheeks.

“But Auri…” Oriana’s voice quivered, her tears continuing to flow. “You’re such a crybaby, Ori,” Auriella said, lightly patting Oriana on the head in a soothing, almost motherly manner. 

“I am not!” Oriana shot back, angrily wiping her tears away. “You’re so mean, saying that after I was genuinely concerned for you!”

Auriella smiled softly at her friend’s reaction. “I know you tend to care more than your typical demon, but I’m fine, really.”

As the two friends shared a moment of camaraderie, a new presence approached them. 

A demon dressed in a butler’s outfit cleared his throat, drawing their attention. “There you are. Lieutenant General Auriella, please come with me.”

Auriella turned to Oriana, giving her a reassuring nod before following the butler down the corridor. The demon’s monotone voice guided her to the tall tower at the center of the military base. 

This tower, usually accessible only to those with a magic seal, loomed ominously as they approached.

The butler placed his hand on the black iron doors, a magic circle appearing and fading as the doors slowly creaked open. “Follow me,” he said, leading her inside. 

They climbed the winding staircase, passing floors where young cadets trained in various disciplines. 

The higher they went, the more sparse the floors became, until they finally reached the top of the tower.

At the summit, the Infernal Ten were gathered around a semi-circle table. 

Their varying demeanors ranged from readiness to leave at a moment’s notice to half-hearted indifference, while the majority engaged in casual conversation. 

The butler cleared his throat again, drawing the collective attention.

“Ah! You’re here, Auriella! Excellent timing. We were just discussing your display earlier. Come, sit!” Valen exclaimed, gesturing to the solitary chair positioned at the center of the table.

With a mixture of apprehension and resolve, Auriella took her seat, feeling the intense scrutiny of the Infernal Ten. 

She noted that while Valen was familiar to her, the other faces were mostly unfamiliar to her besides their names. 

From left to right, she recognized Xena, a lizard woman; Phina, a water spirit; Cyrus, an earth spirit; Rowan, a towering minotaur; and Gwyn, who seemed to be affectionately draped over Valen’s arm. 

To Valen’s left sat Caesar, an incubus, followed by Elara, a wind spirit. Finally, Isla, a Gorgon with a cloth tied around her eyes, and Magnus, a fire spirit, rounded out the assembly. 

Gwyn and Caesar appeared preoccupied with seductively wooing Valen and Elara, leaving the remaining members to scrutinize Auriella.

“Now that you’re here, we can discuss your plan,” Valen said, his tone authoritative yet welcoming. “Explain to them what you told me.”

Auriella took a deep breath, her mind racing as she prepared to articulate her plan to the formidable group before her. 

The weight of their collective gaze was palpable, but she steeled herself to speak with clarity and confidence.