When Arkymikarus wakes up, he sits up and looks around. He sees Alex had apparently jerked around earlier, which had thrown off the blanket and ripped his shirt, revealing the rest of the tattoo: the wolves' tails curled around each other in intricate patterns along his back.

Arkymikarus is a bit concerned, but he walks out of the room.

When he doesn't wake up after a half hour or so, Arkymikarus walks over to him, "Alex?" He crouches beside him.

Alex tilts his head in Arkymikarus's direction, but doesn't wake.

Arkymikarus gently puts a hand on his shoulder, "Alex, wake up."

Alex groans and slowly sits up, "Hmm...? Hey Ark. How was your sleep?"

For once, Arkymikarus is wearing a simple red shirt and Black pants. He tilts his head slightly at the nickname, "Peaceful enough." He stands back up, "How about yours?"

Alex stands up, unaware that he has no shirt, "For once, not filled with nightmares. Just weird, random shit."

Arkymikarus blushes faintly, "..Yeah." He distracts himself by looking around.

Alex stretches out, still unaware.

Arkymikarus looks conflicted about something. He's looking away from him, cheeks still pink, "..You know you're shirtless, right?"

Alex looks at himself, "Oh. Interesting. I never took my shirt off." He notices the shredded shirt, "Shit."

Arkymikarus is quiet for a moment, "...Do you want me to send Veris to get you something?"

Alex shakes his head, "Reis already left to get my cloak."

Arkymikarus nods.

Baruki knocks on the doorframe as he walks in. He has several gashes his clothes that show he was in a fight, "I made you some breakfast, lords."

Alex looks at him, "What happened?"

Baruki bows slightly, "I apologize. My clothes are in shambles. I'll-"

Arkymikarus gives him a stern look, "Tell him"

Baruki nods, "..Ashe caught me sneaking around, though he's definitely in worse shape."

Even Alex gets annoyed, "Though you may be his Butler, that doesn't mean you go snooping." He chuckles, "God forbid Mikhail or Reis try that."

Baruki smirks, "I was commanded to find or, if needed, make a path straight to the Queen..Did you really never ask my master's goal?"

Alex shrugs, "By the looks, you went off of the ordered path. And now that I'm hearing of it..." He looks at Arkymikarus, "...I am rather interested."

Arkymikarus speaks calmly, "I'm going to kill both the Queen and her pesky dove."

Baruki smiles, "Whenever you're ready, we can go. I'll keep the situation under control until you're prepared." He vanishes.

Alex hesitates, "Wait...This is your goal..."

Arkymikarus nods, "Yes, why? You knew what would happen when you met Baruki."

Alex sighs. All his marks form together on his right eye, "Mikhail, Reis, Alistair, Marth, stay away from this mission. Remain at the mansion and don't leave for anything. You'll just get in the way." The marks split and all but one disappear," Very well. I'll help you." His shirt rematerializes and he puts it on, "I also notice that we can both summon Caedis at once, but the coloration will be different on mine. Not sure why, but it does."

Arkymikarus nods and has Caedis form in his hand, "It seems to accept you as its next wielder." He sheathes the blade on his belt and walks downstairs, to the dining hall.

Alex nods and sheaths Caedis, "I see..." He follows Arkymikarus. Nike bounds up and trots beside him too, sensing the nearing end. Arkymikarus pats him on the head.

Alex is hiding a grim look.

Arkymikarus stops and looks back at Alex, "Does it seem unfair?" He doesn't mind the impending death. He only really cares what he's leaving behind.

Alex looks at him, his eyes glowing crimson, "I will not let that demon so much as touch your soul."

Arkymikarus blinks, "...What?"

Alex keeps his glare, "I will not let him kill you. I will kill him first if I must."

Arkymikarus is confused, "..Okay...Um..Why?..."

Nike licks Alex's face, then trots over to the table, sitting beside Veris, who's eating a piece of bacon.

Alex facepalms, "Is it not obvious Ark?"

Arkymikarus nods a little, blushing slightly, "You can't stop a deal very easily. And I've been prepared to die since the day that it was formed."

Alex sighs and shows him the tattoo on his back again. The tattoo is moving around, "This is a mark I got from the last contract I cut off at the end. It moves when I'm present near the end of a deal and will form into two wolves by my side if I try to cut it. I've never failed before."

Arkymikarus nods and sits across from Veris.

The wolves are running around each other and attempting to jump out early, which only causes them to bounce back, "They sense how close to the end it is."

Arkymikarus absently touches the mark on his neck, thinking, staring at the table.

Alex sighs, "I know how this will work. When you kill the Queen, I will challenge him to a duel for your life."

Arkymikarus shakes his head, "No, I can't let that happen." He blushes after a moment, noticing the full meaning of his own words, but keeps a determined look on his face. Veris looks saddened but can't speak up without defying his order to stay out of it.

Alex clenches his fists and emphasizes his words, "I will not let you die. I refuse."

Arkymikarus narrows his eyes slightly, "And I'm not allowing you to duel my butler for a life that's forfeit." He sighs and gets up, having not even touched his food, "I'm going on a walk." Nike follows him out.

When they are gone, shadows fill the mansion, and only inside, can Alex's angry scream be heard.

Veris gets up and walks over to Alex, jumping over the table to do so.

Alex is still screaming in rage. Demonic and angelic energy violently surging from his body.

Veris attempts to calm him down, succeeding after a while, calming him down to heavy breathing.

Veris puts a hand on his shoulder, "I'm sorry. He accepted his fate a long time ago. I can't even try to change his mind, though I'm sure that you'd succeed." He smiles faintly.

Alex sighs, "I will not let him die. Even if he gave his life away. I will kill Baruki if necessary." He holds up Caedis, "I will not lose him."

Veris narrows his eyes, clearly having an idea, "...There is another way to bypass that part of the contract...though I'm not sure how it'd affect him otherwise.."

Alex nods, "I'm aware. But whether it would help or hurt is the problem. Which is why I'd rather go it alone. As a Condemned, I have much more power than he does. But I can't stay as one long. So I'll have to save that as a last resort."

Veris shrugs, "Baruki is odd and often unpredictable. Arkymikarus picked him for those reasons. Strength was never an issue. He wanted cunning and different points of view, hence the two of us and a hellhound."

Alex laughs, "I've dealt with worse. He's just a demon."

Veris smirks, "Come on." He hums and walks outside and into the garden.

Alex follows, the shadows around him disappearing.

Veris leads him over to Arkymikarus, who's lying on the grass, an arm over his face, and his other hand is on Caedis. He's awake, but is silent, concentrating.

Alex is silent as he sits next to him.

Veris walks over to Nike, who's chasing his tail.

Alex stays silent, tears flowing down his face.

Arkymikarus moves his arm after a couple minutes, becoming aware of them. He sits up and looks at Alex, "...Are you okay?"

Alex is clenching his fists, "I can't lose you too..."

Arkymikarus shifts and hugs him, "I'm sorry...But what do you expect me to do?.."

Alex looks him in the eye, tears still flowing, "Let me fight him. I'm a condemned. I'm much more powerful than he is."

Arkymikarus looks down, "..Fine.." He moves to get up but stops, looking at Caedis.

Alex looks at him, "What?"

His eyes are blazing. He unsheathes the blade, "We might as well take him out together. If I'm going to live, I'm not sitting on my ass and watching someone else save it."

Alex smiles, "Alright. Just be ready. He isn't going down easy."

Arkymikarus nods and gets up, "Let's go. Nike, come! Veris, watch the house.

Nike barks happily, wagging his tail.

Veris smiles, "As you wish, my Lord."

Alex summons Laevateinn, "This will be useful."

Caedis forms completely, the souls' combined anger making the blade glow. Nike teleports them over to the Queen's mansion. Arkymikarus leads them inside.