Warnings: None.
Summary: Murata consults the Maou. A promise is made.
Notes: This one isn't betaed.
{++++
It was clear that the Great Sage was waiting for a response. Not that Wolfram was eager to do so. He wasn't comfortable with talking about his personal life at the best of times. Two in the morning on a rainy night with a wretched and still possibly drunk husband was not the best of times, and Wolfram's pride was hurting.
All in all it was a wonder he was able to understand a little of what he had been told. It was only the sight of Yuuri looking miserable wrapped in an oversized robe curled up in the couch next to him which had kept him here so far. The looks Yuuri was giving him hurt his heart.
He blinked at the Great Sage, sitting on the other couch.
"The Maou, it's the Maou spirit? How does that work and why should he care? Isn't he really Yuuri, the Maou is Yuuri, just…"
Wolfram trailed off, he really didn't know what the Maou was. His mother had never been gifted with its manifestation. Only certain monarchs were and as time went by it became less and less common and it had been generations since the last.
The Maou as a topic was like that of Shinou and the original Great Sage, it wasn't really encouraged to think about or question. It just was and he'd never really thought about it until now. Being married to a man who held the power of the Maou made him realise how little he knew.
The Great Sage, Murata...he found it difficult to call him his name so casually, even in his head, leaned his chin on his on his clasped hands, his glasses reflecting the fire. Even in his nightgown the Great Sage looked slightly sinister as he responded to Wolfram's question.
"I'm going to tell you a story, something that few people know and up until now it really wasn't necessary for anyone to know. The Maou as you know is the eternal spirit of the mazoku realm. It was here before humans and mazoku arose, and likely be around when we are gone. It's an elemental spirit which controls all the others. The Maou is infused in the soul of some monarchs. Shinou was the first and it's possible that Shibuya will the last now that Shinou has passed on. " The Great sage shrugged, a large log in the hearth fell and flickered up some embers, as if giving ambience to the tale.
"The Maou is infused in the soul? How does that work? How can it be placed in a mazoku without changing who they are?" asked Wolfram.
"The Maou has no sense of self. Its only purpose is to give life to the land and protect it. Its will to protect was how Shinou was able to make a contract with it. We shared a common goal. Shinou was a powerful magical user, for more talented than anyone I've seen until Shibuya. But unlike Shibuya he was very arrogant." The last words were said much more quietly, the Great Sage's eyes turned inward.
"In all fairness our decision to contract the Maou was one of dire necessity but we were ignorant to the powers we were playing with." The Great Sage adjusted his glasses.
Wolfram sighed in exasperation and mumbled. "We know this, more or less…:"
Murata ignored him. "I don't think it realised, of course it had no ability to understand, anymore than we did what the contract involved and for how long. I don't know if infused is the right word and I'm not entirely sure what it means, even with Shinou's explanation from the ascended plane it still confuses me and I've thought about it a great deal over many years." The Great sage smiled wryly.
"I don't think we from this physical plane can ever quite understand. Murata laughed out loud, the sound derisive. "The concept is such a paradox, I can only take Shinou's word and in this I believe him. When we made the contract with the Maou it was bound to Shinou's will. While in the body of a mazoku it cannot leave until that person dies and then it returns to Shinou's charge. But as time went by it become harder and harder to find a person strong enough to withstand its power. Since the Maou has no ego it takes…it took on the characteristics of the person it inhabited. It's nothing like possession. It becomes that person and that mazoku if gifted enough can channel this elemental power. Not as much as the Maou is capable at its full strength, the mortal body is fragile and limits ability but enough to make any mazoku or half-mazoku," he tipped his head towards Yuuri, "Far more powerful than any other being, and that power has saved the Kingdom a number of times."
"As time went by the Maou became...it developed a personality, an ego. I believe it started to take on the characteristics of those it had in inhabited over time. I guess it was inevitable, the element is magical, it has the capacity for learning. With that self-awareness we ran into a problem, it was slowly gaining the realisation of its contract, and I'm not entirely sure it was happy with it. Those who were later imbued with its presence had to battle the will of the Maou for control and for those who were weaker it led to insanity."
"King Slaughter, King Waltorana, Queen Sangria." Wolfram wondered out loud, suddenly so much in history made a little bit more sense.
Murata nodded. "Amongst others. The insanity wasn't always so spectacular; it's why we, why Shinou stopped invoking the Maou. Many of the monarchs of the last two thousand years weren't strong enough and they were the strongest Shinou could find in those generations. I spent a lot of time smoothing things out politically while I was in Shin Makoku, finding the right person that Shinou could select who could reign without the Maou's power. Relying upon the memory of the greatness of the Maou personified. Those who didn't follow Shinou's word were punished, but only as a last resort. I wasn't fond of such heavy handed tactics." Murata frowned.
"Shinou eventually sent me to earth. I spent so many lives there in preparation for the soul that would change everything. We thought you would come earlier. In that time things in Shin Makoku fell into further crisis. Shinou is not the best manager and it had been so long since he had lived in the physical realm he had lost the ability to empathise with mortals and didn't select the best of leaders."
There was silence for a moment, each person lost in their own thoughts.
"I'm sorry, I'm rambling. The point is that we needed you to have the power of the Maou, Shibuya, to reseal the boxes. You were our entire purpose, the one person we had waited so long for. Shinou's death and ascension, my promise to always remember, the reason I was sent to earth for so long, after all this time, after everything we couldn't let this problem get in our way...we had to find a solution." The Great Sage sounded so matter of fact about, and yet the story he told was full of sacrifice and regret.
"Yuuri has the Maou and he isn't insane." Wolfram said. Murata gave him a sharp assessing look.
"No, well...not entirely so." Murata put his put his hand up to forestall Wolfram's protestation.
Murata turned to Yuuri. "We picked your soul, as you know because it had the purity and power required for the task. We...Shinou wasn't sure if you could withstand the Maou, absorb it. Its will had gained so much strength that we couldn't risk your sanity. This was a one shot deal. To prevent any problems Shinou placed the Maou in your soul before you were born, before you were even conceived."
"That's why Julia had to die?" Wolfram burst out angrily. "How could you play with lives like that? How-"
Shibuya interrupted him with a question to the Great Sage, outwardly unfazed by this revelation, his voice sure.
"So why is that so different?"
"Because," Wolfram answered before Murata could reply to Yuuri's query. "All the Kings before made their contract as adults. Yuuri, you were never given a choice. It's always been with you, all your life. I thought your contract was made when Undine gave you the water." He was completely confused.
"No contract, but it might have activated the Maou within." Murata tiredly rubbed his jaw in consideration.
"But I did make that choice, didn't I? Julia made that choice." said Yuuri softly, almost to himself.
Was the idiot so blind. "Yuuri, that was Julia...that wasn't-
"I made the choice." The look that Yuuri gave him was apologetic but resolved and firm; Yuuri's hand grabbed his and squeezed gently. "Please, Wolfram." With a sigh he dropped the matter.
Yuuri then calmly addressed Murata again, "So what does that mean? Holding this contract from birth."
Murata shot a slow glance at Wolfram before he addressed them both. "We didn't know. Shinou thought that you'd be more resilient, absorb more of the Maou. You'd stand a better chance and be far stronger. I was to keep an eye on you on earth. Everything seemed normal as you grew up until you came to Shin Makoku and the Maou made itself known. At first I was worried that he had won out, he had taken over your soul...when you used his power...you changed. Shibuya, do you ever remember those episodes?"
Yuuri closed his eyes for a moment, and shook his head. "No, sometimes I remember bits and pieces, flashes but nothing that makes any sense."
Murata sighed. "I think that's how you've coped. You didn't absorb the Maou as we hoped, you separated yourself from it altogether, Yet it's very much like you, the strong sense of justice and compassion and its reluctance to takes lives, it's you and yet not. I think that's a form of disassociation, extreme disassociation."
"Like schizophrenia?" asked Yuuri sounding a little uncertain. Wolfram had no idea what they were talking about, more earth lingo to confuse him. But he knew this was not the time to voice his usual objections.
"Of a sort, it's a very loose analogy...that's one theory and one I find most likely. There is only one way to find out, I need to talk to the Maou."
"And will that help with that I want?"Yuuri's voice sounded flat and tired.
"I can't say, but it's a start..." Murata looked like he was going to say more but he stopped. "I'm sorry Shibuya, are you able to bring the Maou forth?" Murata asked gently.
"You know he can't do that." Wolfram objected way more loudly then he intended. Yuuri was hand was still on his, he wasn't sure if he was trying to reassure him, or find reassurance in that simple touch.
"No I can't, you always said it was something I would learn to control, but it's only when I'm angry that it happens. Bit like the hulk huh?" Yuuri laughed weakly. Wolfram sighed, more earth references he could never understand, it was like listening to half a conversation.
"There is a way I can call it," Murata said. "But there is a small element of risk."
"What risk?" Wolfram asked. He would not have Yuuri hurt for anything.
"I can't say, it could try to take control, it could try to take revenge on me. I don't know, those scenarios are unlikely. It's cooperated well enough before and it seems fond of everyone, it is you, Shibuya, in a sense, it can't be anyone other than you."
"And yet really it's not?" Wolfram asked again, knowing he was being abrasive, but not really caring so much.
Murata shrugged. "Semantics."
"I still fail to see how this...this makes Yuuri, how this..." He couldn't say it out loud, not in the presence of the Great Sage, the humiliation...he swallowed the defensive anger that arose when he felt exposed. Despite this, the Great Sage seemed to understand what he was asking.
"I think Shibuya has pushed all the emotions...everything that is frightening, or negative onto the Maou persona. Emotions like anger, fury and lust. I also find it interesting that the first time the Maou became dominant was triggered by your actions, Lord von Bielefeld. I think that might be something we should keep in mind. You were the catalyst."
What did Murata mean by that? He was afraid to ask, he wasn't going to talk more about specifics which could lead to more talk about his...their intimate life. Dancing around it was bad enough.
"What will the ritual involve?" asked Yuuri.
Murata smiled sadly. "This is how it will go..."
-{
After lying uneasily awake next to each other Yuuri was the first to cave in, crawling into Wolfram's arms. The feel of his husband warm in his arms was comforting and he could no more turn Yuuri away than stop wielding fire.
"I did enjoy it you know, you touching me. I know it's not the same and I know it's not what you want me to feel but...I liked it." Yuuri said carefully.
"You're such a wimp, Yuuri. You should have told me this a long time ago...the things I thought...having to talk about in front of another...I'm so ashamed." Wolfram replied, he tried to come off as angry, but there was no heart in it. He was ashamed of bringing the topic up with the Great Sage but he was more ashamed at the way he had treated his husband.
"I know, I'm sorry...Wolf, if this doesn't work, if this is who I am, who I'll always be, would you still want out? I mean it's something I'd understand...but I don't want you to go, I'm selfish for saying that I know..." Yuuri ended that in a shaky voice.
"Oh shut up, the only thing that matters is if you care, I only wanted it to end because I was afraid I was trapping you into something that you didn't want. He squeezed Yuuri tighter. "However, if you want me to stay in this marriage, I will, as long...as long as you say, no matter what, just as long as you care."
"I care, I...really care Wolf – Yuuri stopped when he saw Wolfram cock his head. "What is it?"
He shook his head. "It's nothing, I thought I heard something, I hate sleeping in this place. When I was stuck here before the wedding I was sure it was haunted, as if someone was watching me."
Yuuri stifled a laugh, partly nervous sounding his body shaking. "You grew up in Covenant Castle and you're afraid of ghosts."
"There are no ghosts in Covenant Castle, Yuuri," He snorted as if that was the silliest idea ever. Whatever he said made Yuuri smile and he kissed him on his brow. With a happy and sleepy sigh Wolfram accepted it.
-{
He was just dozing off when he felt a most welcome presence. He smiled despite himself, but kept his eyes shut while he listened to Yozak undress. When Yozak got into the bed he put his arms around him.
"You're cold. Still raining outside?" Murata murmured.
"The proverbial baby dragons. Now this," he shoved his body closer to Murata. "Is a tight squeeze, sweetheart."
"So how are the children?" Asked Murata in a dry tone as he shifted his body to accommodate the taller man comfortably, one leg he slid between the spy's legs. He knew that Yozak would have noticed who was sleeping in his room; it would have been the first place he visited.
He'd sent a messenger bird to the Castle before sending the couple to bed; it was way too late to send them home. It was likely that Lord von Voltaire had ordered the spy to come check that all was well. He himself was sleeping in the guest room, the one that the Prince had stayed in before the marriage.
"Fine, adorable little lovebugs, curled up against each other and whispering sweet nothings. And I'm happy to note that the Prince is getting a little better at protecting the King. For a moment there I thought he'd caught me slipping in. Of course, it would take a genius to overcome my superior sneaking skill." Yozak said with dry humour.
"That's good" Murata said with relief.
"I certainly didn't expect to see the royal couple in your bed, Ken. Something about your love life you wanted to tell me?" Yozak tone was teasing and it was funny but Murata was oh so tired. He buried his head against Yozak's chest and breathed in deeply.
"Heh," Yozak said gently, sounding a little surprised at Murata's reaction. The spy petted his long hair. "Bad day than?"
He nodded his head and was grateful when Yozak squeezed him tightly.
"I guess this is why the King and Prince are occupying your room, anything you want my help with?"
"No...not yet, but I might need your help later." He knew that Yozak wouldn't push.
There was a moment of silence, as he enjoyed Yozak's body heat. He was glad that Yozak had come, even if it was only to check up on the King.
"I think we should run away together." Yozak announced lightly. "Get away from these crazy people and settle in some nice quiet village. I've got some cute dresses, very rustic with embroidered aprons to die for. It would go well in such a setting."
He probably did, Yozak loved women's fashion. He had a particular thing for lacy aprons and garter belts, sometimes just lacy aprons with stockings held up with said garter belts. Murata didn't mind in the least.
"You'd get bored." he said to Yozak.
"Ah, but we'd pick a fishing village. Somewhere warm. I'd go off and do manly adventures on fishing vessels in summer and you could stay back in our little cottages with your books and teach the village children. On days off you would be all wifely with interior decorating and cleaning in anticipation for my return. When I came home in winter after months of manly exertion hauling fishes, we could snuggle up by the fire. You with your books. Me with my apron."
Murata snorted against his chest. "I'd be the wife eh?"
"Well of course, you are the pretty one. I'm obviously the manly man in this relationship honey." He hammed up his voice in a coy flirtatious manner.
"What do you think? Than we could grow old together..." Yozak trailed off when he realised the likelihood of this happening.
There was silence. Murata couldn't think of anything to say to diffuse the sad atmosphere that fell. Of course they both knew, always had known but had never spoke about it. He was human; he'd grow old and die before Yozak reached middle-age. Their relationship would always be transient in Yozak's life. Murata was used to change, he'd seen so many people come and go, and return in different incarnation, the world changing, karma enacted. If he had not accepted the change he'd have gone insane...he almost had a few times.
He wasn't sure if Yozak would deal half as well. Yozak still had so much to learn and he never really wanted to get too involved in the karmic ties that had the half-mazoku revolving around Lord Weller, not again. He loved Yozak, had in some measure fallen in love, had loved him before...perhaps would love him again, but he could let go if and when necessary. Except this time around he'd wanted it to last a little longer.
This final time, before his body would fail and his memories fade away, turning into dreams and imaginations, half-realised déjà-vu and vague feelings. Just like everyone else, just like normal. Finally, finally he'd have another chance with his soul mate, free of the stifling weight of time, destiny, regret and responsibility. A time to rest.
Yozak was not his soul mate. But his love for him, at this point, felt no less in spite of that. He picked up Yozak's hands and kissed his palm softly, almost in apology for the pain he was causing, will probably cause. Then he wrapped the blankets tighter around them both and let sleep take them.
-{
"I'll need three powerful element users for the circle. I'm thinking of Lord von Christ, Lady Ulrike and Prince Wolfram."
"Of course I'd be involved if you are looking for strong magical users, but I fail to see why Günter would be needed." Wolfram tone was belligerent.
"He might not be as strong as you Prince Wolfram but he is strong and he's an air user. Having different elemental users will make it easier for me to channel and his discretion can be assured." Murata gave Lord von Bielefeld a hard look. He wasn't in the mood for disagreement. It had been a long night and he was tired and starting to feel cranky.
The Prince sighed dramatically but didn't protest any further.
"Must we tell them everything?" Shibuya asked hesitantly in a soft voice. Shibuya and Bielefeld exchanged a mortified look.
-{
"So why is it necessary that this happen so soon?" asked Lord von Voltaire looking harried as usual. Lord von Christ had already agreed to the ceremony but Murata felt it important that everyone was informed and in agreement.
"Because," Murata said, carefully not looking at either the Prince or Shibuya who were sitting in their usual spot in the strategy room. "It seems the traitors are targeting Prince Wolfram. It's likely they will try to undermine him before the marriage is formalised, the better to embarrass the King. It's now more than ever that Shibuya needs better control of his Maou abilities." It was the simple truth.
-{
"I can't guarantee the topic won't be brought up by the Maou," he said. "Or that I might have to broach the topic if I have to. Perhaps it is best you bring it up with the inner circle first?" He directed this to Shibuya.
"No...no it's fine-
"Maybe we shouldn't have Ulrike though." Wolfram interrupted looking pained at the possibility of such intimate knowledge revealed to the very much female Oracle.
-{
"I will not have anything to do with this, Your Eminence, and I'd highly protest the use of the Temple in this...it's an outrage against Shinou."
You've never had anything against the Maou before he thought frowning at Lady Ulrike's growing orthodoxy. Too bad Lady Undine was too far away. He considered and discarded the idea of telling Ulrike about the dream. With such convictions he had no idea how Ulrike would react.
He did not want to make an enemy of the Oracle. It wasn't just political reasons why he didn't want to cause such a rift, but personal. He liked Ulrike; she had been a very good friend over the years and he had developed a good rapport with her while he stayed at the Temple. He didn't want any dispute with her.
"We need the Temple, Ulrike. It's the only place which can hold the elemental spirit safely." The power of Shinou still suffused the ground the new temple was built on, along with the water which came up in the spring.
With a sigh Ulrike lowered her head in dismay.
"I will have nothing to do with this, Your Eminence. The Shrine Maidens and I will stay away, Shinou protect us all." It was Shinou which led to this, he thought bitterly.
-{
"The backup will be Lord von Voltaire. He is a solid earth user if one of the others pull out."
-{
"I will do my best, but I trust that this is as safe as you said it will be. The Kingdom can ill afford any crisis at this time."
"As long as you follow my instructions all should go well. This is a fairly standard spell. It's only the Maou which makes it a little...extraordinary." Noticing Lord von Voltaire's frown he added. "The Temple should keep him contained along with the water barrier that I'll create with the spring mechanism." Running water was always difficult for spirits to breach.
"I've ensured everyone's safety. The risk to the Kingdom is higher if we do not resolve this." He knew his tone was much more fervent than his usual laid back counsel. Lord von Voltaire's eyes widened, then he nodded agreement.
-{
"Were you able to set up the devices?" He asked the tired looking Yozak.
"At the agreed signal the temple walls will implode, but there will be no time to get you out, Ken, to get any of you out. We'll barely get the Shrine Maidens clear."
"I sincerely believe it won't come to that." he touched Yozak's hand and looked into his eyes. "But even with such a small risk I need to ensure he doesn't escape. The walls should contain him and when...when the King's body is destroyed he will have no power." No focus and no will. I hope.
"You mean when you are all crushed by tonnes of falling masonry? I trust you, Ken, in this. But have you told the others?"
Murata shook his head but didn't explain further.
"This is a last resort, I'm fairly confident it won't be necessary." He assured Yozak. Compared to the time that Shibuya had confronted Shinou this was a simple matter.
"I hope you're right, Ken."
-{
"Above all, do not talk to the Maou even if he addresses you. Not under any circumstances. Elemental spirits are literal creatures. I alone will talk to him. Prince Wolfram, do not forget this."
-{
"Are you ready?"
Yuuri looked around at his advisors, his husband and Murata. Their faces washed out in the dim watery glow of the Temple's inner sanctum.
No he really wasn't. He'd never be ready, not even for the rest of his life, which is why it was so important he do this now. As much as he wanted to run and jump into the fountain, to go home back to his familiar childhood country...he faltered with that thought. Could he take Wolfram with him?
No, of course not, this was his husband's home. Now it was his. He didn't think he'd ever lose that urge to run away, to go home, but maybe that home could be replaced with his family here.
Shin Makoku needed him and he wanted to be here, despite how hard it was. How hard it would be.
"As ready as I'll ever be." Murata nodded at his reply and handed him a goblet filled with dark liquid.
"This is the concoction I prepared before. The key ingredient is the leaves of the sacred tree. The tree is the heart of the Kingdom and witness to the first contract all those years ago. It will help bring forth the Maou. The taste will be bitter, but you must drink it all in one go. The effect will take a few minutes, enough time for us to erect a barrier. Once you do this, there is no turning back." Murata's tone was soft but firm.
Yuuri nodded as he held the goblet. In that space inside of him the spirit lurched sensing that something was happening. He didn't even bother to rein it in. Soon enough it would take over.
Wolfram touched his elbow to get his attention and gave him a quick kiss on the cheek, quite surprising considering Gwendal's presence.
"Yuuri, I love you. I'll be here the whole time." Wolfram whispered.
Yuuri nodded his throat suddenly tight. He couldn't trust his voice but he hoped that Wolfram could see how much such a gesture meant and that he took comfort knowing Wolfram would be there...during the transformation.
With a quick nod to Murata and the others he tipped the liquid into his mouth. The urge to gag and spit out the bitter almost acidic taste was strong but he closed his eyes and swallowed it all down and handed the goblet carefully back to Murata. Nothing was to stay within the circle other than himself and the clothes he wore...and his pendant, which he touched nervously tucked away behind his jacket. Murata didn't think the Maou could use it, now so attuned to his soul.
He watched as his friends and husband hopped over the water barrier and positioned themselves facing him, Wolfram to the right, Murata in front of him. Günter whose hair was tied back severely matching his unusual solemn expression was next to Gwendal on the left.
At first nothing happened. He kept his eyes on Wolfram who although deep in concentration maintained eye contact. Wolfram's eyes remained steadily on his as Murata started the ancient mazoku incantation. He could feel the magic gathering in the room, the hairs on the back of his arms rose like static electricity. The Maou was now fully aware and awake in his mind, curious and perplexed. So strange to feel its power while he felt calm and not overcome by anger or fear for others.
As the ancient spirit's influence gained strength he could feel the beginning of the change. The room's dimness becoming brighter, the quality of the air altering, smells becoming sharper. And yet he kept his eyes on Wolfram, beautiful golden Wolfram. My mate. Was the last thought before thoughts ended and Yuuri ceased to be.
-{
"Why have you called me forth eldest one?" the Maou demanded, hair long, blue glow menacing in the shadowy temple hall.
"You do not know?" Murata asked the surprise in his voice plain to everyone there. "Have you not seen what has been talked about the last few days?"
"No, this one will not let me see. I can only feel what he feels, bound only by emotion. It is only when he is angry that his ties on me have loosened." The Maou made as if to move and the shield that they had erected strained. He could feel the energy from himself and the other being called upon.
"You have bound me, why?"
The look he gave Murata contained ill-concealed fury. Murata needed to tread cautiously.
"It's been a while since I have seen you. You didn't recognise me when we were on human territory, closing the box. I was afraid you had gone insane like you've done before."
"It is the vessels that give me this insanity as they give me awareness. This one is strong. I do not recall seeing you within this vessel. So much I forget." Murata had to decipher the disconnected words that were said with such a strange perplexed tone. "This one's soul is strong. Yet he fears me."
The elemental being's glow became stronger, almost blinding. Yet the strain on the shield stopped immediately. Murata had to restrain himself from being magically overbalanced. It was like playing Tug of War and having the opponents suddenly let go. The shield was tied into the spell and without one the other would fall and he didn't quite trust the Maou's assertions yet. From his left he could hear Bielefeld gasp as he also tried to keep balanced.
Wolfram's gasp brought the feline-like gaze of the Maou.
"This new soul here, the Golden one is my mate and is this one's beloved." The look he gave Wolfram was both soft and predatory at the same time. "I would not harm him even for my own safety."
That was a positive for now but alarming. The elemental being's first concern was of its safety, the safety of the land the mazoku inhabited. That Yuuri feelings had so permeated the Maou that he was willing to put Bielefeld above that and that Shibuya was willing to put him above the common good of the people was a potential problem for the future. He forcefully pushed that aside, he had to focus on the problem in front of him now.
"You have not merged with Shibuya yet, the soul you coexist with."
The Maou's attention was diverted back to Murata. He dared not get distracted by any reaction by the Prince, the 'Golden one'. Mortals were fragile when it came to their own reality. He was afraid that the Maou would reveal more about their previous incarnations, for the Maou, like himself remembered although his sense of linear time was much fuzzier and his perspective came from a truly foreign mind. He knew this session would bring questions, but the least he was afraid of was Wolfram finding out his was young and only as old as his current and first life.
There were worst things. He was glad that he had kept Lord Weller out of this, he shuddered to think what the Maou would have said to him.
"This soul is strong." the Maou repeated. "Stronger than your first mate, eldest one."
The look the Maou gave him was but a shadow of the look he had given Bielefeld. Of course the Maou would remember Shinou; his personality had been a force to be reckoned with.
He also knew Yuuri was strong. He and Shinou had worked so hard to position such a soul for the challenges of defeating Soushu, a soul that could contain the ever growing self-awareness of the element of the land without self-destructing or falling into insanity. To hear that Shibuya was stronger truly surprised him. Shibuya was such a gentle soul, but such softness covered strength untapped.
"He will not let me in. I do not think I could break through if I tried. He is afraid of losing his self, even if this self is but an illusion."
He really couldn't blame Yuuri, he didn't think he would like to be merged with an elemental spirit if given a choice. Unfortunately for Shibuya it had never been a choice, his soul was already irrevocably tied with the Maou from the moment its spirit was bound to his soul before conception.
Shibuya would never be rid of it until death, and even then the merge would leave an indelible shadow on his karma. Both he and Shinou never knew what they were playing when they had captured the Maou. They were children, naive to the long term consequences and the price that so many would pay for it.
He felt his strength faltering; he'd need to find a solution soon. Even now he could sense Lord von Voltaire's power come to its end. Voltaire had great precision, but he was the weakest user of the trio. It would take months to set another summoning, far too late, and these dreams were giving him a sense of urgency.
"You know the solution eldest one." it was as if the Maou could read his mind, and who knew, maybe it could? "You have tried it before." gently chiding. But that had...
"No, that is not an option!"
"It is the only option, this soul will not yield and I dare not break myself or it by force. If this soul needs the full power of the contract, this is the only path."
"I cannot be the anchor this time, in this body. I do not have the strength for that and channel the spell." For the first time he cursed his human weakness.
"Another can. My Golden one will anchor this soul, our time is no more." This was the Maou asserting its will, whether it was an extension of Shibuya's feelings or its own it made no practical difference.
"I will do it." Wolfram said his voice strong and steady.
"Bielefeld!" he warned, his voice cracking in alarm. I told you not to talk. You do not know what you are agreeing to.
"My life is Yuuri's, I will do whatever is necessary to keep him strong, and to keep him whole." The Prince said, ignoring Murata's warning. Bielefeld addressed the Maou "I give you my word."
"Accepted." the Maou replied with finality.
"No" he protested. Although he knew any protest now was futile. "Bielefeld is far too young, Maou, there must be another solution?"
"It is decided, it has happened, it will happen."
Without further word, the Maou's spirit left and Yuuri crumpled to his knees, barely conscious. The darkness pronounced with the absence of its blue light.
