'Leave us, Slayer of Demons.'

"Her voice carried over like the wind. A cold and chilling wind."

'This is a sanctuary for the lost and wicked.'

"While she had the voice of serene but haunting ghost, the ground I made haste upon is as warm and pungent as the air that I breathed in. The whole entire area was full of nothing but carcass and the filth worshipping her presence."

'There is nothing for you here to pillage and plunder.'

"Despite my actions I took no glory for slaying those who she deemed worthy to save," I say to my listener. "But if I didn't act the way I did and took advantage of their obliviousness, perhaps the tide of the battle would have taken things far more dire than it already ways. And that was something I didn't need at that situation."

'Please, leave quietly.'

"For obvious reasons I did not leave," The echo of my footsteps resounds within the open space of the nexus. Aside from my voice, it was the only noise that keeps this somber place somewhat lively. She remains as she usually is, a listener; that and her footsteps have no noise for she treads on barefoot. "The Demon Soul is what I came there for."

I keep my hand resting on the pommel of my sword. My armor making a clinking sound as we start ascending up the stairs. The higher we go the more light decreases for very few to none make upstairs their residence. While there is an ominous gloom that hangs over the Nexus, the one who treads beside me has a bit of light to keep the place somewhat bearable; though many has spoken that the Maiden in Black has always been a factor to the ambiance of this place rather than adding jovialness. I think otherwise.

"Thou has slain Vinland?"

She tilts her head at my direction and I do the same. Her petite pink lips lets the usual voice that is as somber as her presence; yet despite all of that I sometimes can't help but lay my eyes upon her face. Something about the way her black hair frame the peach pale form of her face. Though it may look short, her black hair does flow rather exuberantly as she has it braided which reaches the middle of her back; one could surmise that her hair is actually longer despite how it looks in the front. Her flesh has a ghastly tone yet still has a warmth that whenever we touch, its' warmth is dominant and gives me a soothing sensation. I think she is absolutely beautiful… perhaps it's the eyes that are concealed by some wax like substance that deters others from having the same opinion? Is it the eternal blindfold that keeps us from seeing the true nature of her eyes that people often find repulsive about her? Or perhaps it's her purpose? I find that my reverie had caused me to stare at her for too long; the hard thing about someone without eyes is trying to decipher if she is staring back at me.

I long to see what her eyes could have been before they were taken from her… before greed forced a judgment on her that forever changed her fate. A cruel fate that longed for her to see only in the realm of demons… Perhaps her tales are just embellished fictions to further give her a story. Something for someone like me to relate with her… something that would make me feel her pain and give me more incentive to fight for her…

"Slayer of Demons, dost thou hear my words?"

"Yes, Maiden," I answer as quickly as I can as I have found myself staring at her empty eyes… her face… for far too long. "I apologize."

"Mercy."

"Mercy?"

"Thou feel mercy for the death of Astrea, dost thou not?"

Mercy… in a world full of blood and stripped of hope what does that word truly mean? What is the definitive of mercy when Demons unleash havoc upon Boletaria? What does the word mean when I find myself slaying a Maiden and her Guardian when all they seemingly want to do is use a Demon Soul to comfort the wretched and the unworthy?

"I feel a lot of things," I say. "To lul the old one back to slumber would deter all of these unwanted emotions that lurk within."

As those words reverberate within the open space of the upper area, I find myself somewhat scoffing at the idea of putting such a fearsome creature out of its rampage. Greed is what compelled the beast in here… now demon slayers of all corners would come to this land to seek power to slay the Old One. Who would stop at nothing to be the strongest of all? What slayer would acquire so much power yet forget the true responsibility of such strength? If it leads to killing anyone or anything, would I truly stop at nothing to be the one? Or would I be ambivalent with anything I do? Maiden Astrea was a threat despite her intentions… but here I am wallowing at the act of murder instead of justice… is it her I seek forgiveness? Or is it her Guardian? I find myself stopping for a moment and staring down… all the souls left in limbo… what would they do?

"Thine mind is full of angst, Slayer of Demons. But thou hold a soul that is keeping thine self corrupt."

The soul that Astrea held on to… The Maiden in Black speaks of the truth. Perhaps it's time to finally ease these thoughts off. I have let it be a pestilence since I emerged back into the Nexus.

"There are more demons to slay… This land must be purged." Despite my doubt I know I have to overcome the guilt. I may be the slayer that this land needs and having these thoughts will not be prudent. These lost souls below me won't be able to do it. The next archstone awaits.

"Dost thou seek soul power?"

To make use of the soul I have acquired would mean I am stronger and more able to stand up to the demons that inhabit the archstone I decide to enter. Only the Maiden in Black can manipulate it so that it would be of use… it is her power. It is why she is often called the strongest of all the demons; she cannot die while she is bound to the Nexus… so many others have tried to slay her and often found her giggling solemnly… But why would anyone attempt to slay her? She is… she is the one that lights the way for us lost souls.

"Yes. It's time to slay the next demon."

"Then go forth. Touch the Demon inside of me."

I take my helmet off before turning towards her and what catches my eyes is something I didn't expect. She unclasped her cloak letting it fall to the ground, draping upon her bare feet. I watch the said cloak fall on the ground… my eyes showing how confused I am at this notion… they linger back… trailing upon her form as her tattered black clothing hugs adorns her features. Finally I am now upon her face… her hands sensually working on the rest of her clothing as if…

"Slayer of Demons, come," The remainder of clothes slides off revealing her naked form. Her black clothes joining the fray of her cloak; like a pool of black water they cover her feet as she stands a few feet from me without anything to cover her modesty. "Touch the demon inside of me."

To Be Continued...