"Why do we have to feed this stupid Barbarian?!" Lovino snapped, his arms crossed over his chest as he glared at the blonde boy sitting across the table at him, eating quietly.
"Because he is lost and needs some taking care of," Antonio said, smiling softly. "He's a child and needs to be taken care of, just like you two."
"He's nothing like us!" Lovino snarled. "Just look at him!"
Feliciano frowned as he looked over at his friend. Indeed he was different than them. His hair was a bright gold while theirs was brown, his eyes blue as the ocean while theirs amber or green. His skin was almost white compared to either of their well tanned flesh. He was taller than both the child and his brother. There was almost nothing similar between them, but yet, the child couldn't help but feel sorry for him.
Antonio had given him a bath and cleaned him up a bit, which the boy had to give some talking to with the blonde to calm him down. Even that couldn't be compared to. He didn't understand or speak any language they knew, not even Common. Everything had to be interpreted through drawing or gesturing with hands.
"Lovino, where are you going?" Antonio asked, frowning as the boy jumped off the chair. "Going to my room!" he snapped, disappearing into the room.
"Habe ichetwas falsch gemacht?" The two turned to look at the blonde boy. He was staring at his food, his lips curled into a small frown. He lost interest in eating, looking dejected and forlorn. The child didn't understand what he said, but smiled at him anyway.
"He's always like that."
The blue eyes traveled up to look at the smiling child, holding the gaze for a moment before picking up his fork again. The child made his decision then to help teach his friend how to speak if he was going to stay with them.
Feliciano stared into the scarlet eyes, frozen where he stood. He could…see him..? What did he mean by that? He looked like a normal person, apart from those strange ruby eyes that stared into the depths of his own amber orbs. The red eyed man continued to grin at him in silence, unblinking as he gazed at him, amusement written all over his face.
It soon dawned on the Convolvuan that the whole room was silent. Their eyes were all fixated on the corner that he stood in too. Wizard was the first to break the silence, his words spluttering, almost in shock.
"W-what the hell are you going here?!"
"Kesese!" The strange laugh escaped the scarlet-eyed man once more as he tucked the paper he had been writing on into his pocket and leaned back. He pushed his legs out, using his shoulders to push himself up to his feet with an unusual sense of grace in his movements. "Your silly barrier is terribly weak! It was nothing compared to my awesome strength!"
"That's ridiculous!" Wizard snapped, obviously flustered by the man's words.
"Where is that voice coming from?" the Steward suddenly butted in, his brows knitted together in confusion.
The Wizard turned his eyes to the Steward, his green eyes wide. "What? You can hear him?!"
"Of course they can!" The scarlet eyed man was suddenly beside the group, his grin never fading. In the light, Feliciano could make out that this man was very pale, his complexion almost glowing in the flickering torchlight. His hair was a glistening silvery white, almost the same color as his favorite young horse he had adored since he had traveled with the troupe. He was about the same height as the Wizard, perhaps a hair taller at a certain angle. "I'm allowing them to hear my awesome voice! I am the amazing Gilbert the Mokoi!"
"Whatever hell it is, make it go away, Arthur!" The young man on the throne was standing, his sharp green eyes narrowed, although he could not see Gilbert. The Mokoi let out one of his strange laughs again and turned his scarlet eyes onto the man. "Ah, Vash, it's so nice to see you too. Is your little sis still around~?"
There was a sharp hiss, the man named Vash stepped forward. "Don't you dare lay a finger on my little sister!"
"Of course not! I wouldn't have the pleasure to see you squirm if I did that!" His smile twisted into a sinister grin. "No, I want to continue to see you writhe as everything around you crumbles to dust."
Wizard took a step forward towards Gilbert, his mouth opening to say something, but a thin pale finger pressed against his lips. "Shh, don't talk now. Daddy is in the middle of important business."
"I-I- you're not my father!" Wizard spluttered, but a pale hand soon covered his mouth, silencing him. "Hush young wizard, do what Daddy tells you to. And Daddy wants you to take a step back. Just a little bit." Wizard just stared at the red eyes, watching the Mokoi grin. His hand left the man's mouth, before both hands were placed on his chest and pushed him back.
Wizard stumbled at the force, triggering a dark glow on the floor. His back rammed into a shadowy shell, a bubble, encaging the wizard.
"Kesese! Now you're trapped, little wizard!" The pale man clapped his hands in glee.
"This is preposterous! Let me out!" A bright flash came from within the bubble, but it hit the wall and bounced back, smacking Wizard in the chest.
"Your magic cannot beat mine!" Gilbert giggled, dancing around the bubble. "I have devoured enough sinister magicians to overpower your every attempt! Now," The man snapped his fingers, the bubble darkening. Wizard's shouting was cut short, his lips still moved, but no sound escaped it. "You will be quiet now. You are not up to my awesome standards in taste, but perhaps I'll toy with you, as you toyed with me with your silly barrier, blocking me out of this city. That was so unawesome of you."
"You let my Wizard out!" Vash snapped, stepping further down from his throne.
"No~" was all that came from the Mokoi. He seemed to enjoying the angry looks, the fear in their eyes.
"Let him go."
The voice made Feliciano jump, as it did for the others. They turned their eyes to the Barbarian, his arms crossed over his chest. He had been quiet this entire time, and he looked like he was about to explode. Listening to an argument and now this mess had pushed him way over the edge of his patience.
Gilbert slowly turned, his scarlet eyes fixating on the sea blue eyes of Ludwig's, his smile remaining but weakening a little. "Oh? Why should I, Barbarian?" He hissed the last word, spitting a little. "Do you even know the awesomness you are speaking to?"
Ludwig growled. "I don't give a damn about your narcissist ass, even I could see you. If I could, I would have slammed your face into the wall already."
"Barbarian! Don't edge the demon on!" Father Cromwell hissed, but that only seemed to fuel the flames.
"A demon? He's nothing but a fairy. He puts on airs that make him appear strong, but he is probably just another lower being on the food chain in his freakish world."
"Shut up!" Now the Steward was snapping at the Barbarian, trying to silence him.
"No. I will not. I've been standing here since early this morning listening to you dolts bicker like old washerwomen after spending the entire night up. I'm tired, my feet hurt, and I'm in no mood to deal with this nonsense."
There was a quiet chuckle that caused the others to quiet. Feliciano's eyes flickered over to Gilbert. His smile had faded at the beginning, but now the corners of his thin lips were curling up again. Soon his chuckle turned into laughter, a cackle that made the Convolvuan's skin crawl. "I like you," he managed to breathe out, his smile never wavering. "Yes, I do like you, Barbarian. You have spark."
The Mokoi suddenly flickered out of sight from where he was standing. His arms draped over the large man's shoulders, his feet dangling a few inches off the floor. Feliciano could see his friend tense up, feeling the weight on him. "Perhaps you would like to come with the awesome me?" he purred into the blonde's ear, his lips twisting into another dark smile. "It could be fun~"
"No." Ludwig's blunt, sudden response caused the smile to disappear from Gilbert's face. He sighed softly. "Oh well, if that's the case…" Dark trails of shadow seemed to seep out of the pale man's skin, wrapping around the Barbarian's large frame. His eyes widen, his face curling into a look of pain. The others stepped away, fear crossing their expressions as they watched the Barbarian shake, trying to fight back an evil that they could not see, but only hear.
"Your death won't be as painful if you let it be," Gilbert purred once more, his smile back on his face. "Kesese! This is so much fun!"
Feliciano stood there, frozen to the ground, fear taking over him. He was watching his friend suffer, grunting in pain as he slowly sank to his knees, his skin turning as black as obsidian starting from his fingertips and quickly spreading. The Convolvuan could only stare as Ludwig's eyes watered from the pain, his teeth gritted as he tried to fight back, but his strength could not beat the power of the dark magic that the Mokoi wove.
Throw me.
The voice snapped Feliciano out of his fear, his amber eyes flickering around to find the source. "W-wha-?"
If you want to save him, throw me to him.
He could feel a warmth on his chest, a soft pulse rippling through him. His fingers fumbled at the base of his neck, shaking as they gently tugged at a cord that was tied around his neck.
Facere nunc!
The words drew out a feeling from Feliciano, courage that he never had in the face of terrorizing moments. Now wasn't the time to be fearful! He had to save his friend!
"Ludwig! Catch!"
He ripped the cord off his neck, using all his strength to throw the smooth object in his hand towards the Barbarian. He could see the blue eyes crack open, watching him throw. The blackness was already wrapping around his neck, creeping up his lower jaw. Gritting his teeth, he used the little strength he had left to lift his hand up just a few inches. The Mokoi didn't notice what the Barbarian was doing until the object was almost in his grasp. And by then, it was too late.
The silver key slipped into the man's large hand, making contact with his obsidian colored skin. There was a loud crackling noise, a yelp.
Then everything went white.
Translation:
German: Habe ich etwas falsch gemacht?- Did I do something wrong?
Latin: Facere nunc!- Do it now!
Mokoi- From Australian Aboriginal mythology. Mokoi are malevolent spirits that kill sorcerers that use black magic. They also kidnap and eat small children and cause accidents and disease in people to bring them to their untimely deaths.
I feel like my flashback are getting a bit too short. Oh well. They'll get better...
Also feel like I threw all the characters under the rug to make Prussia look bad-ass. Because he is. He's also a creeper, but we won't get into that.
Anyway, next chapter is going to be different. There will be no usual flashback, just for heads up.