"Jace," Kurai dipped his head to his summoner in mock respect.
Jace crossed his arms over his chest, "I heard we're having a new student in April. New students usually aren't accepted this late in the year."
Kurai smirked, "Here." He held out an envelope to Jace and glanced at Ral, "Make sure you two are the only ones to see this as getting my hands on it was quite the dangerous endeavor."
Jace took it and looked it over. The outside of the envelope was blank. However, it was thick and heavier than he had expected it to be. He nodded his thanks to the demon, "Alright." He led Ral down the hall, "Someone needs to take lunch to-"
"I'll do it," Kurai volunteered, "I'm headed in that direction anyway."
Jace narrowed his eyes at him. After a moment of silence he sighed, "Fine."
Kurai nodded. He disappeared out the school door. The only question now is how he managed to be accepted into the school so late. Eldric really is getting lax it seems. "Or someone here is pulling the strings." He smirked and shook his head.
Jayden looked up as Kurai opened the door, "Kurai!" He smiled happily and skipped up to him. Tempest remained on the bed and watched them perfectly falmly.
Kurai knelt down in front of the white haired boy and smirked, "What do you want for lunch?"
"Ice cream!" Jayden squeaked.
Just how old is this kid? Physical appearance leads to the assumption that he's around five. Kurai shook his head, "Lunch. You can have ice cream afterwards."
"Okay! Spaghetti!"
Kurai sighed, "Alright. Stay here." He got to his feet and closed the door behind him. That kid is odd. He's literally the physical embodiment of Jace's angelic heritage. He should be able to tell that I'm a demon and yet he seems just as happy to see me as he is to see anyone else. "Interesting." He skipped down the steps and out the door.
"Kurai?" Melody turned in surprise as he entered the kitchen.
"There's been a request for spaghetti," Kurai said vaguely.
"Oh," Melody nodded, "Tell the requester that it'll be about twenty minutes please."
Kurai nodded, "Sure." He turned away and disappeared. I guess my turn is over. Azazel. He cocked his head to the side, "Sneaky, sneaky Pride." I'm amazed Eldric is allowing this to happen. "Of course it's more than likely that he is against it but someone else wants it to happen." Ah. Elspeth. So like your mother. The two of you are always cheating. He snickered, "I'd be bored if you played by the rules though."
"Your spaghetti's being made, kid," Kurai said as he opened the door.
"Yay!" Jayden grinned, "Melody makes good spaghetti!"
"Eldric have faith," Elspeth urged.
"Elspeth, Xerxes I could understand to a point but Baphomet? The Archdemon of Greed? Azazel's lapdog? I might as well invite Azazel himself into my office for a drink!" Eldric snapped.
"How can they grow if you protect them?" Elspeth asked, "They have to be prepared and protecting them like this is only going to hinder them. Azazel's war will happen whether we're ready for it or not."
"And what about Rick? He's Baphomet's host's little brother," Eldric asked angrily, "He doesn't need that."
"He can't keep running," Elspeth reminded him, "Better his past catch up to him here where he has his friends with him than when he's alone."
Eldric gritted his teeth, "Alright, Elspeth. You win. But I will not refrain from intervening if this devolves into disaster."
"I'm not asking you to," Elspeth nodded, "I'm just asking you to have faith in them."
Eldric sighed and leaned back in his leather chair. That was almost a week ago. Baphomet starts next week. "The middle of April already? Wow. This year went by fast." He glanced at the woman leaning against the table next to him, "Wouldn't you say so Haliel?"
The assistant principal turned to him, "This year has been exciting." She handed him a clipboard, "Reports from the Lotus."
"Great," Eldric took the clipboard and looked them over. "The rift is active. More than it's been since the God's War?" This is bad! We don't need another God's War. Not now. Not when there's so few able to fight them. He gritted his teeth. His anxiety about Baphomet returned on hundred fold. "I've already spoken to Elspeth about the...interesting situation with the Demon Lord of Greed."
"She still wants us to follow through with it?" Haliel asked. She didn't sound surprised. She shook her head, "I wonder if Elspeth has too much faith in these kids."
"I don't know. Either way a war will break out," Eldric clenched his fists, "So we might as well prepare the students for it."
Haliel nodded, "Of course."
Tensions are rising. Higher and higher. This battle for power is soon to end. But the war is far from over.
"Who...Who's voice is that?" Tina looked around. She couldn't see anything. Darkness swirled around her like mist.
A young blond girl approached her through the darkness. The girl's crystalline blue eyes glowed, casting an eery light on her face.
"O-Orriyon?" Tina stared at her.
The girl walked closer. Her expression was distant and she seemed to stare through Tina without seeing her. And yet she continued to approach.
Tina took an uncomfortable step back, "H-hey! What's going on? You are Orriyon aren't you?"
"I am one of Dokuri's Oracles yes," the girl whispered. She continued to stare through Tina, "I am here to tell you something very important."
"Me?" Tina gritted her teeth suddenly, "I...can't move." What the hell? Why can't I move?
"We have seen how you will disappear."
"We?"
"There is one Oracle for all five Eras, not including Orriyon."
"What is Orriyon then?"
"Orriyon was created by a dragon of immense power in order to aid your planeswalking friends in their quest. She was not created by the Goddess. In fact the Goddess did not know of her creation until after it was completed."
"So then what did you come here to tell me?"
"We have all seen how you will disappear. The question we have for you is: do you wish to see how you will disappear?"
Tina stared at the ground. She gritted her teeth, "No. Knowing I will disappear is enough. I don't want to know how. I don't want to live with the doubt of the choices I've made-"
"But you're living with those things anyway. For no reason. Because of simple anxiety. Aren't you? Scarlet Lotus." The girl stepped closer, "I can see it in your eyes. Your pain. Your anxiety. Your fear. And yet underneath it all is a curiosity. You want to know. Don't you. But you are afraid of the choices you will make in the future if you do know. You are afraid it will change you. Permanently."
