Seirei-den. Its very size symbolized power. Easily the size of the largest of mountains, it floats unseen over the skies of earth. Within its massive walls of earth and stone is held massive quantities of Power of Existence, enough to keep it in the air and feed its sole current resident.
Deep in the monstrous, labyrinthine castle settled at the top of Seirei-den is the throne room of the most powerful of Tomogara. From what deep and dreadful darkness she came from no one knows. Neither do they know when she rose to power. It has always been, and will always be.
Alone with her thoughts sits the Arbiter of Reverse Reasoning, Bel-Peol.
As she always has, she wore a black gown with no shoulders. With similar black arm sleeves that went three quarters up her arm. A shining silver armlet on her left arm and glittering gold bracelets on her right. Her belt was brown with gold rings all the way around. Hanging from the belt were several short lengths of chain. A small weight at the end of each. Her hair was a dark red, mirroring the fires of Hell that burned within her. Over her right eye was a new accessory. An eye-patch with three red torches circling each other. Her left eye stared blankly in the darkness around her. Her third eye, in the center of her forehead, saw the fires of Existence all around her.
She abruptly slammed her fist on the armrest of her throne. Always at the forefront of her mind was her hatred. Hatred unparalleled. Hatred unbearable. Hatred for the arrogant little Flame Haze who took her eye! Thinking of that day always brought the pain of it back to her. The burning sensation in what was once her eye would probably never leave. The pain used to be agonizing. Now it was merely an annoyance.
She could never forgive that Flame Haze for what she had done.
The other thing she thought of was her revenge. Oh how that rolled off her tongue when she spoke it aloud. Revenge! She would have it one way or another. Soon, she promised herself. Soon.
In fact the first step was already in motion. Not even a day after her tragedy had she summoned several of her most powerful supporters from every corner of the world and met with them. They had become surly and rude. Killing a few of them reminded them who was Master. The rest soon fell in line and were more than willing to obey.
Bel-Peol smiled to herself. Her first order was the search and destruction of every possible Flame Haze they could find. This, in and of itself, would eventually lead to the Flame-Haired Burning-Eyed Hunter. Her second order, however, was a bit more complex. The spreading of rumors. She needed those silly little Flame Haze to know that the Flame-Haired Burning-Eyed Hunter had brought this vengeance on them. Which, in a sense, was absolutely true. Never mind the details. Her personal honor had been attacked. They needed to know that they would be dealt with.
This task she had given to her most trusted follower. Not to mention a handsome one. He was very worldly and sure of himself. She enjoyed his presence for he lightened her mood. Perhaps one day, she thought, she would have him. Along with everything else this world has to offer!
A feeling brought her out of her reverie. Her guest had arrived. She'd been waiting for him for the past few weeks. She didn't mind the wait. As her rival leader of all the Tomogara, she was sure he thought this delay would put her off. But with his arrival, the next step in her plans would most definitely be realized. She would have what she wanted. She would have it all!
Sydonay hadn't yet decided whether to kill that old hag outright, or listen to what she had to say and then kill her.
After centuries of infighting between the two of them and others who thought they should lead the Tomogara to power, this was the first time in what seemed like forever since she invited him for any sort of pleasant talk. He remembered that she was older than he was, also somewhat more powerful. It was the only reason she controlled Seirei-den.
But he was powerful too. He had an army now scarce less than hers. Any one of his loyal soldiers could stand up to hers. He was proud of his accomplishments.
Except that she had that upstart Tomogara, Shiro. He was young, and more powerful than one would expect someone of that age. And extremely smart. Almost too smart.
Sydonay had taken the form of his most ferocious and terrifying beast. A giant winged Chimera. He soared high in the skies. Below him in the distance he could see the standing structures of the Seirei-den. Bel-Peol hadn't done much renovating since his last visit. In his mind he thought back to that day. He had sought to overthrow Bel-Peol and attacked Bel-Peol with something like half of his army. After his defeat, he knew better than to underestimate Bel-Peol. And opportunity for revenge had never revealed itself.
Until about a month ago. Apparently, if rumors could be believed, a very ambitious Flame Haze assaulted and injured the great Bel-Peol. Curiosity for her condition, rather than in whatever proposals she had for him, had him flying to her castle with a single bodyguard.
Following some distance behind was an upper level soldier of his called the Thousand Martial Leader. He was useful in that he could summon hundreds of Rinne in the form of fighting soldiers. He had no real power otherwise, though overwhelming his opponents with sheer weight of numbers was what kept others from attempting to 'deal' with his arrogant attitude. He was willing to put up with it for the most part. His other choice at the time was those disgusting Aizen brats. Thinking of them made him shudder.
He drew closer to Seirei-den and found a suitable place to land. A few moments later the Thousand Martial Leader floated down. With no hands or feet, the Thousand Martial Leader floated by forcing down Power of Existence beneath him and using his will to move it to and fro.
Sydonay looked back at his follower. "Stay here." he said. He left without waiting for a reply.
He had never gotten very far inside the Seirei-den during his failed attempt to take it. But he felt his way through rather than looking for anything that might look familiar or point him in the right direction. He could feel Bel-Peol easy enough. Turn right. Turn left. Down stairs. Turn left again. Down more stairs. For what seemed like forever he went deeper and deeper into the most powerful stronghold of the Tomogara. Jealousy rose up inside him. If it took him forever to do it, he'd kill that woman and take this castle for his own!
Eventually he came to a long corridor. With tall columns on either side of him reaching immense heights for something so deep inside the Seirei-den he walked to the end of the corridor and looked up at the two large doors before him.
He didn't know what sort of greeting awaited him on the other side, but he knew he couldn't stand there for much longer. Bel-Peol surely felt him outside her doors and would know he was frightened if he hesitated much longer. Pushing open the doors he expected a bright room lit by many fires with Bel-Peol sitting high and mighty in a throne of great splendor.
As the doors parted what he saw was actually much different.
There was indeed a grand throne at the far end of the room. A pair of candles burned on each side of it. To his left was nothing. What light did reached over there revealed a bare wall and a few odd markings on one of the columns in the room. To his right was a fireplace. Within it was a dying fire with several embers at the end of their short lives. They gave off the brightest lights in the room.
Near the fireplace, placed so as to receive the best lighting, was a small round table with two chairs. Bel-Peol was seated in the nearest chair facing the fireplace. Before her were some papers and an ink bottle. He assumed she held a pen. She turned her head to her left and looked at him out of the corner of her eye.
"Welcome, at last, to Seirei-den, Metamorphosis Sydonay."
"It's been a while, Arbiter of Reverse Reasoning, Bel-Peol."
Her voice was cool and genuinely welcoming. "I'm glad you decided to accept my invitation here."
"I know you, Bel-Peol," he began. "You don't do anything you don't want to or have to. If you invite someone to meet you, you generally have something to say that's worth hearing." There, he though. That should be enough to stroke her ego.
Bel-Peol rose from her chair and turned to face him. What he saw shocked him so profoundly he felt his jaw drop open. Her right eye was covered by a patch. He attempted to form some words but couldn't. Her left eye looked twice as dangerous as before.
Bel-Peol waved for him to take a seat. He hesitated then circled the table and sat opposite her. "As you see, I've ran into a little trouble." She put her clasped her hands on the table. "I'm sure you've heard that I had a fight with a Flame Haze but didn't come out of it too well in the end." To Sydonay, those words were contained fury. There was more to that story, he was sure.
"I know what you would ask, Bel-Peol. You seek to form a union with me, to seek out and destroy whoever has done this to you. So let me tell you right now, you must offer me something that'd benefit my people and I before anything is agreed to between us."
"Oh, Metamorphosis! You do think you know me so well." Bel-Peol leaned back in her chair. An all knowing smile formed on her face. Sydonay was reasonably unsettled by it.
"Well then, I suppose I'll give you an offer. And this offer is just for listening for my plan. Whether or not you choose to accept my alliance, you still get this prize.
"The secrets and powers of Seirei-den!"
As he left Seirei-den, Sydonay felt a surge of adrenaline return. The hours he spent conversing with Bel-Peol were more productive than he ever imagined. He thought of her words to him. Magnificent! Truly awe inspiring genius! As he made his way back to his home he began all the preparations in his mind. Every way that he thought of it, he benefited. It was perfect, oh, so perfect. With a light heart, he flew through the skies. The Thousand Martial Leader was but a tiny speck of dust in his vision as he looked back towards Seirei-den. With a burst of green flame, he made all speed back to his mansions.
After a while there came a tap on her door. "Enter," she called out and as the doors opened she saw a woman of her personal guard walk in. She was extremely beautiful with short black hair and a brown eyes that seemed to lack either life or enthusiasm. When she spoke, her voice was firm.
"Bel-Peol-sama. I mean not question your judgment. But we have no need of a man such as he."
Bel-Peol looked down at her from her throne. "You are only half right. Men are worthless. But Metamorphosis has power over certain regions we cannot discount. Some of his those Tomogara who are loyal to him have useful abilities we will exploit. If all goes well, we will have a powerful ally. Our status will not be diminished and I can end him at any point I wish."
Her bodyguard bowed her head lower. "If it is your will, Bel-Peol-sama, then I will do my best to allay my concerns on this matter."
"Don't let it concern you too much. Your value to me is greater than this alliance I have formed."
"And the secrets of Seirei-den?"
"There are many secrets to Seirei-den. Not all of which I must disclose to anyone."
"I understand, Bel-Peol-sama."
"Good." She looked at the robed woman before her and smiled. "For now, I have a mission for you in need of your special abilities, Unceasing Fury, Alecto."
"Alastor."
"Yes?"
"Did you feel anything just now?"
"Yes."
"Is it a Flame Haze? I've never felt this one before."
"Yes it is. It must be a new one."
"I think we should wait for them. Maybe they'll know something."
"We're safe here for now. Do what you will."
Laughter. "I always do!"
END CHAPTER 2