*Y/N's POV*

It has been a couple of weeks since the day I began working on my painting for the upcoming art exhibit and it's almost ready to be submitted to the student council. The art organization proposed to the associated universities the weeks for us to be excused in classes to proceed with our works. In that way, I'll be able to finish my artwork on time.

I had various clothes that got badly stained by the oil pigments provided by Diavolo himself. On the latter, it wouldn't bother me a single bit because I loved seeing myself splashed with bright colors. Somehow, I feel reminiscent whenever I wear these clothes inside the house no matter how they bother the brothers that much. It makes me happy just seeing them smiling, it's enough reason to stay for a while.

It took me a long time to fill the entire canvas because I did not want to ruin the concept that resided in my mind. An artist would always want to evoke their feelings through their art, matching their mood with it as they move their tool. When I start to feel tired, I will take time to rest then come back to my work again whenever I'm ready; slowly, but surely.

"That'll do it!", I gave off a tip of enthusiasm after a final stroke of white to highlight the rest of the painting. As a final step, I coated the entire canvas with fixative to lock the colours in place and to prevent them from smearing all over. Once the canvas dried, I presented it to the crew to be displayed within the exhibit that would start after lunch.

"Oh! Please don't forget this one too. It's not really an entry but... I kinda want to let anyone see it as well", I told one of the crew who came to collect all of our masterpieces.

He responded by smiling softly at me as he took carefully what I just handed to him. "This looks exquisite and worth an entry. Why not have the two of them for more chances of winning?"

I shook my head in shyness and replied, "Nah, this is just a personal painting of mine. After all, I only wanted to express myself through this. I'm glad enough that everybody can see it."

...

*Third Person*

"The exhibit hall will be open in two minutes", the event host curtly spoke through the microphone that filled each and every ears waiting in line for the awaited moment. Devildom was now reuniting demons, angels, and humans in one place; agreeing and longing for peace. Who does not want to nullify the wicked in this world? Even demons, in their eyes who often hunger for mortal flesh, wanted peace as well.

Lucifer and his younger brothers were standing in line waiting to witness the highlighted event of the year with humans present. As always, there had been flying cow pillows as they waited and this was making the eldest irritated. Levi was picking a fight with Mammon over his debt a thousand years due from now. Asmodeus, as usual, was flirting with the human ladies to cut in line. On the other hand, Satan wasn't that troubling because he's just reading a thick book that he got from Y/N the other day. Beel's just minding his business breathing in his extra large burrito. And Belphegor throws his pillow for a sixth time towards Mammon because he just feels like it.

Nonetheless, Lucifer just chuckled as he tapped each and every shoulder of his brothers. The line moved and they were aware that the event's going to start. They followed behind him to the entrance, getting their wrists stamped with RAD's badge logo.

The crowd soon then felt the overwhelming presence of each painting. However, in Lucifer's case, only one work of art drew him to attending the exhibit; thus, Y/N's painting. As the exhibit tour guide walked with the brothers, they passed astonishing pieces created by different artists from different factions. Others were mesmerized by the pleasant sight, others were somehow just forced themselves to sightsee.

"Alright folks, let us announce the third placer from the land of the angels. This is entitled, "Vast Otherlands" by the yesteryear's champion, Nicholo Guchetti", the guide announced as the crowd clapped their hands. The prodigy was granted a trip to any places he wanted; let alone be Devildom, Celestial Realm, or the Mortals'. In all honesty, the prize was worth valuable aside from the silver trophy given to him.

"Next up, the second placer of this year's annual reunion exhibit goes to the homecourt, the Devildom. This exquisite piece is called, "The Plea of the Unknown" by your one and only art-throb, Lucas Guinevere."

The yet another silver-headed demon strutted in elegance, wore a luxurious cape attached to his back and a rare obsidian pendant necklace that complimented his tall and young figure.

"Do you think Y/N will win this year's competition? I'm really feeling nervous right now", Asmodeus clung onto Lucifer's sleeve as he whispered this. The siblings felt the same tension while waiting for the final stage announcement in front of them. Each eyes glimmering with hope that Y/N would win and claim her reward that she deserved.

"I know that her hard work will pay off, Asmo. I'm certain that she'll win", Lucifer spoke in a serious manner but somehow helped to release the tension.

Suddenly, all of the lights went out. The majority gasped and thought that there had been a power outage. Nonetheless, the halls were filled with silence once again after the spotlights from the center stage lit up. There in front of them stood two paintings.

People began chattering at the possibility that there would be a first ever tie-breaker in the history of the demon king's existence. Not a little while, a speech of a familiar person filled the auditorium. A story to unfold, to be heard by everyone.

"Is that-", Mammon discontinued this question out of the exceptional beauty displayed on the stage, as well on the bigger LCD screen behind it.

"I think it is." said Satan with his jaw dropping as he witnessed the painting being shown to them from top to bottom. "There's a portrait of her beside it. She made two?"

"One chaotic battle from thousands of years ago that separated kingdoms left us vanishing with our hopes and dreams. It took time before the pain and anguish sealed inside the pandora's box again. They say it was because of me, a powerless human being. Fragile-hearted, almost frozen."

Along with these lines, a video was flashing on the screen. Y/N standing at the very center wearing tattered clothes, and behind her was turmoil; a wrath residing within the hearts of the people from each realm. Her eyes closed, tears flowing down on her rosy cheeks.

"But there's nothing greater than hell except my life. That is subjective. Although I see myself as a living sacrifice for all the people who cared for me. This changed when I found my family, the real one. They've given me light in the darkest nights, given me tranquility like the constant flowing of streams."

The next picture were the moments of Y/N with the people in Devildom, especially the seven avatars who were frightened by everyone. But here, they looked less intimidating and laid back, powerless. Their laughters were heard and the crowd stood in awe as the story went.

"However, there's still a mere feeling inhabiting my chest; that is fear. I fear leaving as well as I fear of living. This steep cliff resembles my current feeling. If I jump, would I fear death? Or... would I feel peace again as I sink deeper in the abyss?"

The screen went back to the footage of Y/N's paintings. The first showed the cliff which she described, under the moonlight which illuminated with the still waters below it. On the shoreline on the far left were the brothers standing across the cliff, their eyes affixed to the direction where Y/N's figure floated near the end of it. She wore a peach dress printed with butterflies and its ends were being swept by the nightly breeze. While the other painting, which was a portrait of herself with her eyes closed, face almost covered by the waters. The reeds and fireflies painted on the corners of the canvas suited the very atmosphere of the picture: serenity. The common factor with these paintings is that they were all smiling genuinely.

"Ladies and gents, please give a round of applause for 'Lumen Caritate (Illuminating love)' by Y/N L/N!" And so, the entire hall was filled with awe and wonder as they applauded.

Although... The champ did not arrive on stage just like the other winners. And a lady in a formal suit whispered to the host then quickly left the stage.

"Wait, where's Y/N?", questioned by Beelzebub, who quickly noticed the star's absence.

"I apologize but miss Y/N is not able to join us here on stage due to a sudden fever. But worry not, because she prepared us her short thank you speech to address everyone who joined this event."

"She's not sick... She's lying", Lucifer said. His face covered by his obsidian locks, fists clenching as he huffed heavily. Tears were starting to fall down on his cheeks and he wasn't even trying to resist it. When the tears are for her, there's no need to hide it. 

"What do you me-" Levi's words were cut by when he realized that the eldest began tearing up silently. "Satan, Belphie, please come with me back home. And you Mammon accompany Asmo and Beel to find Y/N within the campus. I'll leave you a message if we find her."

Before leaving the auditorium, Beel hugged Lucifer without saying a word while Satan tapped on his shoulder and said, "We'll find her soon, I promise. I know that you're aware where she's headed. You go save her, okay?" Then finally, they left the event without even watching the video that Y/N prepared for them.

*Lucifer's POV*

I fell numb as I realized that she was trying to savour the nights she was with us these past few weeks. I didn't even want to think that she was trying to bid us her farewells with her performance. But what if she was?

My body shivered with the possible fact that she really was there at the cliff where we last had our hike. It's not far away from the campus, she could sneak out all by herself without anyone knowing.

"The cliff was marked on her tree notes countless of times! How would I not notice?! And here I thought she was just planning to draw what's on the notes, but I never that those are the things that slips her mind. She's been thinking about it for a long time now... why?"

Without hesitations, I ran outside, not minding the stamina that I'm about to lose. Nothing in mind except the picture of her falling from the cliff right at this very hour, trying to hope that she hadn't done anything yet. Just as when I was outside the RAD gates, my body moved on its own then teleported myself to the location where she could have headed.

The rocky ends of the lake there stuck a flower crown made of fresh roses, now soaked and afloat. The size of it was exactly the same as her homemade flower crowns she wears everyday. My heart sank as I picked it up with my gloved hands. Longing screams of her name echoed across the forest of trees.

"Y/N! Where are you?"

"Y/N, please come out!"

"Y/N, don't leave me."

When despair started to devour my entire being, I took off my gloves and cape and began searching my way towards her. I forced myself to walk in the still waters; deeper and deeper until I needed to swim. Dove to the deeper parts then I finally saw a petite maiden in a peach dress slowly sinking towards the bottom of the lake. Her eyes closed and were filled with tranquility, just like her self portrait. Then her right hand held on to the moon necklace I gave her on her birthday; grip slowly weakened while sinking.

I did not waste any time on picking her up back to the dry land. Skin of hers was almost as pale as snow, indicating that her oxygen's already blocked by the water in her lungs. She... wasn't breathing.

I performed CPR on her, hoping that she'd be saved. But she wasn't responding. I repeated it again and again but it was no use.

"Please Y/N, don't leave me alone again", I cried as I finally took a risky step of using my power just to save her. The water was being emptied in her lungs... I waited for seconds. She was not breathing.

Words couldn't express the anger swelling inside me while holding her lifeless being in my arms. Why would you leave me? I thought you would never go. However, those questions were erased by the two words I could mouth, "I'm sorry."

...

"Luci...fer"

My eyes widened and at the same time, my chest tightened. Am I hearing things after her soul left her body? I saw it.. I clearly saw it. 

"Lucifer"

No, I am not. Because right now I could feel her body shaking with her sobs as she spoke of my name. Please say my name, Y/N. I need you to say my name.

"Why?" I yelled as I held her tight in my embrace, my voice cracking from the melancholic moment we're in.

"I-I'm sorry... I'm sorry!" Her cries went louder like a child lost and alone. Countless apologies escaped her lips, felt her warm tears soaking my skin once more. I just held her in my arms, never letting her go again.

"There, there. Pour it out...", I comforted her along with my hands brushing her wet hair.

"... Lulu is here."