Author's note: I forgot to specify last chapter, but Lord Aaron's voice sounds the same as Dio's from Jojo (the Japanese one, obviously) so please read his voice in accordance. And this chapter's theme is Our Fate by Elysion.
My name is Aaron. I bear no family name, for my family abandoned me in my infancy. From there, I raised myself in the slums of Nohr, filling out contracts as a murderer. There was something sweet and fascinating about the irony of it all, taking lives so I could make a living of my own. Naturally, I began to earn a reputation for my skill. I never failed a contract. Countless lives I've ended, it eventually became an obsession. However no matter how many I killed, I could never be satisfied.
One day, my search for blood brought me upon a child. She reminded me of myself, alone and abandoned, and with a fighting spirit. I took her in as my apprentice, and trained her in the art of assassination. Her name was Beruka.
Beruka grew fast, almost as well as me. Watching her completely contracts almost gave me a sense of... pride. However, this didn't last forever. I knew it was inevitable. One day Beruka received a contract to kill me. She was not the first to be sent to end me, and she was the last. I knew Beruka wouldn't stop her hunt until I was dead, but I did not want to kill her. I knew she had potential, and I desired to see her grow further in skill. When she did attack me, I faked my death. I am quite familiar with death, especially after bringing so much of it to this world, so faking it was no struggle to me.
Once Beruka was convinced of my passing, I began to stalk her from the shadows. I watched her become stronger and deadlier, Thanks to my absence, she quickly became the best assassin in all of Nohr. Watching her grow into the merciless kill that she is today was amusing, however something was missing from her. Passion. Killing was strictly business to her. Unless she came to love the art, she would only be limiting herself...
Then she met the dragon prince, Corrin. By Lady Camilla of Nohr's orders, Beruka joined him. Corrin fought on his own, trying to unite Hoshido and Nohr on his own during their war. I called it foolishness. However, he somehow did it. He managed to bring the nations together, and then they vanished from the world momentarily. I know the truth, for I followed them in secret. They went into the ancient kingdom of Valla to defeat the dragon Anankos. As strange as it all was, everything returned to normal when we returned, albeit an era of peace.
Beruka was not the same after. She seemed more... social. That's one way to put it. She wasn't the ruthless killer I raised her to be anymore. If I could feel emotions, I would say it was heart breaking. However, my disappointed did not last long. While I followed Corrin's army, I met another girl. One with true potential, and a true passion for bloodshed. My precious Peri...
Of all the beings I've ever encountered, Peri was the only one to show a true passion for our art. When I found her, Corrin and their allies were trying to shy Peri away from her true path, to tame and pacify her like some pet. I would not allow this. It was then, after the return of Corrin's army to our world, that I left the shadows and faced Peri in person, and enlightened her on her gift. We then fled together, leaving the others behind as Peri returned to her true path of murder. The rest is history...
"What'cha thinking about, Lord Aaron?" Peri laid across Aaron's lap, leaning on the armrest of his large chair.
"Nothing of importance, my dear," Lord Aaron stared ahead unblinking as he watched the fireplace waver before him. "Just thoughts of shadows from the past."
Peri left the topic alone. If she needed to know anything, she knew her lord would tell her. Her gaze turned to his eyes. Even under the flicking light, his crimson eyes felt cold. She jumped when they shifted towards her.
"You are concerned, Peri."
Peri sat up and leaned on his shoulder, "What are we going to do now? Everyone here is dead, and now we rule Nestra!" She grinned proudly at the latter.
Aaron did not share this excitement, "This venture has not quenched my ambition. This will only be a stepping stone, Peri. Our next move however, I have yet an idea..."
"Ambitious souls, perhaps I can be of assistance," a voice called from the doorway, one unrecognizable to both lord and lady.
While Lord Aaron remained still, Peri stood and faced the intruder in a rush. Just as quick, her sword was drawn. "Who are you? Don't move or I'll kill you! Actually, I'll kill you anyway!"
"Hold, Peri. I wish to speak with him," Aaron stood and turned slowly towards the man, now seeing his shrouded form, face hidden from sight. "Who are you, speak so I may decide your fate."
The couple studied the figure, waiting for a response. He drew back his hood as he answered, revealing long, flowing hair, blue as the daylight sky, "I, am Anankos."
Peri stuttered as Aaron's eye stared forward, "B-But that's impossible! We killed Anankos! We did with Corrin!"
"I'm sorry for the confusion, but I am the remains of Anankos past. The good Anankos, before evil befell him." Anankos' one visible eye, the one not covered by his long bangs, darted back and forth between the lovers nervously.
"I have little patience for those that label themselves as 'good,' so-called Anankos. Explain yourself."
Anankos turned to Peri as he spoke, "You did kill Anankos, yes. The evil Anankos. But I believe he is not finished yet, my being here confirms my worry. As I said, I am the remaining, true conscious of Anankos. But as fate would have it, I was slain by my lesser half. Yet, I stand here now, revived without so much a scar. I believe my other half will too, return from the dead if we do not act."
Lord Aaron stepped towards Anankos slowly. With each step, his silhouette seemed to grow, as if he towered over the nervous figure in front of him. "And how did such a thing happen, is Anankos free from death's final reign? Can you truly not die?"
Anankos cowered as he answered, "N-Not quite... I think that as long as a part of me remains alive, the other parts will return. If we don't take care of it soon, the silent dragon will return. I ask that you assist me in killing this remaining part of me, so I may end my life and remove Anankos from the world forever."
"And what, is that other part, feeble Anankos?"
"It's... It's Corrin..."
Aaron arched back with sudden laughter, bellowing in the light of the fire. Ananko's stance shrunk further under the lord's shadow. While regaining his composure, he turned to Peri, "My beloved! We shall spill the royal blood of dragons! Anankos!" He shouted down at the robed man while turning back to him, "Hear me! You will serve under me, Anankos! You will lend me all your power, your life, if you desire my aid. After the dragon king is felled, I will grant you the privilege of dying to my Todunendlichkeit, and Anankos will be left in history! Bow before me! I deem you Anankos Chained, bound to my will and obedient to my rule!"
Anankos Chained obeyed, kneeling slowly before the dark lord as he trembled. Peri met Aaron's side as they cackled together, their bloodlust growing as their hunt began. King Corrin of Valla, and all his subjects, will fall before them.
