"Lady, is that the reason you killed Bardock? For revenge?", I asked as we were returning home."That's different, Seraph. All the people responsible for that incident are already dead. Bloody Fall happened because people were careless. They underestimated what the enemy was capable of. That's the general story, anyway.""The general story?"She nodded, "Naturally, even the stratocracy needs to answer to the people sometimes. This is the story they gave out, weather conditions, bad luck, whatnot. Some officers were removed from their offices and laid off. I suppose that seemed enough to some. All those that died, like I said before, aren't coming back.""It seems to me that you think Iori was right", I looked sternly at her as we walked on."I do think so, in fact. Bloody Fall was a conspiracy.""Then, Lady, ", I asked, "Why did you kill Iori? You could have let him escape empty handed, couldn't you?""He killed the caretaker of that so-called bank, didn't you see? That person wasn't
"Say Prophet, would you like to escort Seraph on a little mission?", Lady chippered."Ah...eh...I...", Prophet wasn't one to voice his resistance."Right you two! Get ready and set off. You've a devil to find. Now get going!"And thus, the two of us were sent on our way. When we were leaving, I saw Lady standing on the mound outside all alone. She didn't drop any advices like she always used to. She didn't even see us leave. I suppose that hectic morning had caught up to her.Now that I think about it, I got to see so little of these people unless we were traveling together. Prophet was the kind of guy who would disappear in the background, yet he was always there. He was a fidgety little guy, a tad taller than Lady but bent. He was skinny, had droopy eyes, was always looking down and smiled nervously. He spoke little, it was a struggle for him to get his opinions through to people. He had a really pale complexion, shadowed by his extremely black hair. He was always clad in black too.
"I felt alone all the time, there was nothing to turn to, no friends to listen...I thought I was drowning, stuck in an endless sea. On the very bottom...I found a friend. I met Lucifer." *****************"Ah, pardon me for my rudeness earlier", he went on as we we were led to our destination, "I assure you there isn't one aristocrat that speaks like that. I was told you'd be coming here but I needed to test things out to make sure you were who I thought you were."His explanation wasn't necessary. This familiarly named man, Benoit Valentine, led us out of that small inn and told us that he'd be leading us to where we were needed."I was told by your friend that you're a country kid, Seraph. Do you mind if I say that? I don't mean to be rude", his tone was entirely different now."This friend...how do you know him? And why are you helping us, anyway?", I asked, perplexed, although Prophet had confirmed earlier that
"Be careful not to overdue your stay, you can always try again. Remember to remember that, alright?", Benoit bid us farewell as we headed into a huge chamber that was previously locked. He then led us closer to a huge and dark iron door that was chained to keep it shut."Beyond this point I can't help you much. Try to make it back in one piece", he instructed us.I kept forgetting to ask what we were supposed to do down there. In any case, since Prophet was ready, I agreed to follow his lead if things went downhill.We were given a few minutes to prepare before the door was unlocked and the charms removed for safe passage.Benoit left the chamber as we stood in front of the dark door that was leading to the underworld."Are you ready, Prophet?", I turned his way, only to find a shivering Prophet, sweating head to toe."Y-yes...", he muttered.That wasn't encouraging but regardless we weren't going back. The dark door began to open slowly. Something began to ooze out of it and surroun
I can't remember how many years we wandered in that hell. We never slept, never ate, never drank anything. Knowing there was no death awaiting in this place, there was nothing to struggle for. Once in awhile, we'll come across something that looked bearable on the stomach and then we'd split it. But things like that were rather small and scarce, usually the carcass of a small animal, and a demonic animal at that. We'd cook it and share it between us. That would amount to one bite in months, and then we'd just move on from there.We encountered countless monsters and if this place wasn't what it was, we'd be dead a million times over by now. We had now grown used to things like that now though. We knew the right places, the right time to pass, to fight, to run. We were getting used to everything down there. We weren't aging, that's the only thing that wasn't happening down there. As the time passed, I felt like my skin was turning to the same rock that the whole place was made of. But
"So you're awake? I figured it'd be any day now", he was leaning on me as I opened my eyes.What was this place? What was happening? What was I doing? My eyes felt so heavy."Do you remember anything? Your name is Seraph, do you know who I am?""Prophet", I answered almost instinctively."Good, seems you aren't completely lost", he replied before getting up.It took me a while to come back to my senses but Prophet helped me remember everything so I was fine."It would have been impossible to recover you if he hadn't spotted you", Prophet pointed to the little demon hopping about. It was a short, red, bouncy fur ball with big round eyes and small horns on its head. It had a big mouth and a thin tail. "Nasty...the second", I said.I remembered that we'd met this little guy at some point in our journey. Unlike all the rest of the demons we'd known, this one was incredibly friendly. For that reason, he didn't make it with the rest of them. For us, he was a blessing. His saliva had regen
"Did you get into a fight?", the woman leaned down to check his wounds, "Again?!""Err...I...Mum...""Just stay where you are, I'm so sick of you", she went back in, leaving the little boy teary-eyed.He was clutching his muddy shirt, suppressing his voice, not to make a noise. Eventually the woman appeared, holding a box in her hand which she set down as she sat next to it."Come here", she grabbed the boy, "Why do you have to get in trouble all the time? You are always beat up like this, can't you understand how much of a bother that is? You need to learn to fend for yourself."She went on and on as she patched him up, "Goodness, how old are you already?! Do you think you can just hold someone's hand and go on? Grow up already, I get so tired, you have no idea. Why are you so weak?"Soon he was cleaned up, bandaged and in fresh new clothes."I...don't know...", he mumbled."What?""I...err...don't know...why I'm...um...I'm..."She sighed, "What am I going to do with you?"The woman
"What are you doing in here?", Ausirne asked as she opened the cupboard."I'm playing", the little one laughed."By yourself?", she smiled."No, with Lucy", he answered.Ausirne sighed, a concern rose on her face."Mum, do you not like Lucy? She's really nice though.""Aren't the boys nice to you too now? They don't beat you anymore, do they?", Ausirne pulled him out of the cupboard, "Didn't I tell you to pray whenever Lucy talks to you?""But I...I like Lucy. She can be a little rude sometimes...but she always helps me. I don't want to play with others...I just don't.""Right, now let's pray and go to bed, alright?"Ausirne put her hands together with him and the mother and son prayed together. She then tucked him in bed and left his room."She hates me, I told you.""No, Lucy, she doesn't hate you!""Oh, yer just a kid. Can't you tell? Say...can't you tell?"He said nothing. Suddenly everything around him was going dark, a dark mush was drowning him. "Can't you tell?"The distant v
I would like to think to myself that this isn't the end. But seeing as her story went back to where it all started, I realized that my role wasn't saving her at all. I just made sure she'd continue to exist, eternally.In eternal suffering and forgetfulness and new encounters and the last times, in every world, she'll continue to exist.As for me, I couldn't bear to live in a world knowing she was somewhere out there, helpless and torn, just as she'd been when I first found her.When did I first find her?Who can say? I had always been talking about how I wished I'd met her sooner. In fact, I had always known her. Our existences were intertwined so much that I don't think either of us could just pull away and be happy all on our own without thinking of the other.After I'd returned Lady's power to her, I floated away in an empty space for an eternity. I was foolish enough to think that the sorrow would fade away one day. But no matter how long and far I floated away, the memory and th
It was the coldest I'd felt in ages, and there was an aching heaviness in my head that I simply couldn't seem to shake off no matter how much I walked. I don't know when, how, or why I was walking through the snow towards the top of some hill I didn't even know.For that matter, I didn't remember who I was, how I'd gotten there, or where I was going.And just like that, before I knew it, I had collapsed in a den of wolves. Luckily, it looked abandoned, so I didn't get eaten off right away. I figured it'd be a long, slow death. I found the idea of such a gentle death appealing, despite the fact that I was walking mindlessly just seconds ago.I must have passed out, for when I came to, I was stiff as a rock. And yet, I wasn't that cold anymore. I lifted my head to find myself covered in a bear pelt. Someone had been so kind as to cover me up. And yet, the pelt was rather old and shoddy. Who cared as long as it could keep me warm?I stood up, looking around, getting accustomed to my surr
"I didn't imagine we'd ever come to a crossroads such as this", I let out a puff of smoke, standing opposite her."But, as a matter of fact, I always had a feeling we would", Lady answered with her signature smirk."Sure, you did", I said sarcastically.It was surprising at first. But things made sense soon enough. Lady had sent all of us away on a mission. She'd isolated herself at Valhalla. Chopper had left of his own accord. She'd sent Sight to look for him. Deli had gone to see her children. And she bid Lubbock and June farewell. She'd even given her fur coat to June. Grim was on a mission, too. And I was looking for Jean V. to deliver her letter.It was all exactly as it had been back then. When I'd return from meeting Jean V., Lady would already be beyond saving. Back then, all I knew was that the person who sent her that blank letter was the one who came to kill her. I never ventured to find out much else.It all made sense now as I stood be
"Must you leave without fulfilling my wish, Seraph?"He had some guts to ask. I looked up at the red sky. There was nothing but barren, burnt land all around us."What else could you ask for?", I looked back at him."You look so old, Seraph", he chuckled, "What exactly did you give the others?"I looked behind me without answering his question. There was no one and nothing."What? It's a long story", I answered without looking at him."We've got time to kill", he grinned."I don't", I said, but went on to answer him anyway, "I gave everyone what they wanted.""Really?"I glared at him, "Yes, really, Grim. I took a fee, of course."He laughed."And what will you take from me?", he asked, grinning.I looked around and then rested my eyes on him."There's really nothing."He seemed to agree."So how'd you manage?""Well, Grim, you could almost call it travelling back through time. Though, it really isn't that. I split the worlds to create new ones. Time doesn't exist for me anymore. Ever
"I will take death in any way and form it comes to me, anywhere and anytime."That had to be the most brazen statement I'd heard. It took me a bit to take that statement in."You really have no special requests? If I can, I'd like to make it up to you", I sat down and stared at his bloodied face.He shook his head."Make up for what?", he asked.He didn't know me yet to call me "boy" but I suppose that's the way it had to be.I had become better at rewriting the reality. I could write quite far back in certain cases. For example, in Sight's case, I made it so he never met Lady and Chopper on the night he killed the prima donna, Czarna Dalia.Before meeting them he didn't know anything about what he'd been doing. He didn't know what an outcast was, even though he himself was an outcast. Ignorance is indeed the greatest of all blisses. And I thought for Sight, it had to be the biggest saving.Lady was right. People who see things differently are the most dangerous of all. Especially tho
"This isn't what I asked for, Seraph", she complained, fixing her glasses on her tiny nose."I don't get what the hell it is that you want exactly, June", I was beginning to get tired."You don't understand at all", she folded her arms."You're damn right, I don't. What kind of crazy a-""One thing.", she looked at me sternly, "One thing I'm asking for is a place to be happy. Not a mother, not a wife, not a hero, not any of the other things you're trying to come up with.""What'll make you happy, exactly?", I folded my arms and leaned against the wall of Valhalla.Everyone else was off to fend the red sky off. June had been left behind in a protective barrier.She fell silent."How about Lady? Isn't she your favorite?""I could care less about her", she answered, bluntly, "I hate her.""Huh?", I wasn't sure I'd her heard her right."She does everything on a whim. She claims to understand everything when rea
"They are waiting for you, Monsieur Lubbock", a dark woman poked her head into the dressing room, "It's almost time for the show."The bajillion young ladies that were powdering his nose scattered away.His face was pink with heat and he wore a long fancy coat. It almost looked odd on his somewhat small figure."I'll be right there", he answered, gussying up in the mirror."Aww, you're leaving already, Monsieur?", some of the girls came up to him.He chuckled modestly."What can I say? The life of the greatest singer in the world isn't so relaxing, my dears.""You might be the greatest singer, but Monsieur is also the life of all women's hearts", one of the cheekier ones commented.Lubbock laughed. He didn't try to hide how much he loved being pampered like this."I'm sorry, girls. My audience awaits!"Saying so, he shot out of the room and hurried towards the stage. Backstage was always heated just before his shows. He was the one star that every theater wanted to have. But he was a
"Do you blame me for mother's death, father?", she asked, placing the empty cup of tea on the little side table.Her father wasn't facing her. He was still locked up in his study, reclining on his chair and looking out of the window at some distance lands.She sat straight, with her back erect. The weight of her gown was enough to tire her but she was made up, as befitting of a noble. She had to look all the more perfect since she was visiting her home for the first time since her marriage."Blame you?", the lord of the house spoke in his grave voice after a while, "I simply don't think you were worth her death. Esme was a wise woman. A level headed, understanding, noble woman."Faye looked at her lap."You refuse to carry out the will of the house of Vlad. You'll go as far as to commit a heinous crime to that end. I'm disappointed beyond measure."Faye pursed her lips. No one but she herself had been hurt the most by what she'd done."Vlad was born to you twice. And yet, you ungratef
"Tell you what, Seraph, this one time, I met a girl and she had these enormous scars all over her arms and legs. I couldn't help noticing her, of course. When she told me she did it herself, I couldn't help it. I killed her then and there", he chuckled to himself, "I didn't want to do it, of course. Something just came over me. It wasn't that she told me she did it herself. It was how she said it. She was smiling.""I'm sure she wasn't smiling because she was happy", I answered, with a solemn look on my face."I'm sure of that too. I was sure of it back then too. That's probably why I killed her. But do you know how many people I've saved?"He looked at my face. I stayed silent."I've saved more people than I've killed. I've been counting since the beginning. I know, for sure, that my atonement is over. At least, it ought to be. But does it look like I'm still repenting?", he asked, smiling vaguely, knowing my answer."You do.""That's because I am. No matter how many I save...the ato