Disclaimer: I don't own hetalia!
Gilbert was both physically and mentally exhausted as he trudged up the dorm stairs to get to his floor. Lovino was already under Dr. Zwingli's care in the infirmary, and as was Antonio, so that the instructors could make sure there wasn't any lasting soul damage done to his soul by the possession. As for the report, Gilbert and Francis decided who would do it over rock-paper-scissors, and naturally Gilbert won two out of three. Finally, Gilbert reached his dorm, but when he stepped inside, his heart plummeted.
Ludwig sat on his bed, arms folded across his chest, narrowing his eyes as his brother expectantly. Damn, Gilbert had totally forgotten that Karpusi had told Ludwig everything! Aw crap...
Gilbert gave a nervous laugh, "...Hey, brother...you've been up this whole time waiting for me?"
Eyebrow twitching in irritation, Ludwig stood up to be eye level with his brother. "Yes. Now that I know what the hell you've been up to all these years, I couldn't sleep!"
"Not now, Luddy," Gilbert sighed, "I just got back..."
"Mr. Karpusi told me all about the demons and demon hunters. He told me about soul skills, too, and the assignments. I know what "Class" means now," Ludwig continued, ignoring Gilbert's last statement, "Kiku and Yao confirmed it. Feliciano did, too, and now I know how he got that wound. It was from a demon, wasn't it? This whole time, Gilbert! You've been risking your life and fighting these monsters, and you never once told me about? Don't you think that as your brother, I deserved to know?"
"No," Gilbert shook his head, voice austere, "You didn't need to know; you're mundane! Knowing would have just made things worse for you. If I could erase your memory right now, I would! I did it to protect you!"
"I can't believe you never told me sooner! What if you had been killed? I'd have never known why! I'd have been all alone. That's not protection. All those scars and bruises, now I know where they come from."
"This is exactly why I never said anything. I knew you'd worry about it, but you shouldn't have to. Maybe I just wanted you to live a normal life, a happy life," Gilbert shot back.
"Brother..." Ludwig trailed off sadly, "I don't think either of us have ever lived completely normal and happy lives." From the look in those blue eyes, Gilbert knew he was thinking about the day their parents died, and about the different foster homes and orphanages they were shuttled into. "You're the only family I have left, Gil. If I lost you too...it-it wouldn't be a happy life."
Without warning, Gilbert grabbed his brother and drew him into a warm embrace. "I won't leave you alone. I promise." When he pulled away, Gilbert added with a grin, "You don't have to worry about me, little brother! I'm too awesome to die! If Mr. Karpusi told you about my soul skill, then you should know that you have no reason to worry at all! And we have a new family here, Luddy. The demon hunters here, they're all awesome people!"
"I know," Ludwig agreed, "To tell you the truth, I really like it here. On Monday, I'll be going to Class D, but there's not much of a difference in the subjects. They're mostly mundane classes, except for a soul theoretics class at the end of school."
"I guess that's okay," Gilbert caved in, "What's done is done. Anyway, I'm tired as hell, so I'm going to crash now."
"Fine we'll talk tomorrow then," Ludwig nodded reluctantly, though it was evident he wanted to know more. As the two crawled into bed and under the covers, the blonde added in a low voice just before drifting off, "You know, even though it's really dangerous, I'm proud of you for saving souls."
"Told you I'm awesome," Gilbert grinned as he stared up at the dark ceiling. But in the back of his mind he thought about the Ouroboros Mark that was permanently inked above his shoulder blade. Perhaps he was nothing to be proud of.
Gilbert and Ludwig awoke the next morning to an urgent knock on their door. Hopping out of bed and rubbing his eyes, Gilbert opened it to see Arthur standing out in the hall, a strained expression on his face. "Gilbert," he started, laconically getting right to the point, "I thought you should know, the Council's made a decision regarding Antonio's case."
"Huh? Council? Toni's case? What are you talking about?" Gilbert asked, not quite fully awake just yet.
"You didn't know?" Arthur raised an eyebrow, "After what happened at the Empyrean Temple yesterday, the Council of Hunters was furious with the outcome."
"What's that?" Gilbert frowned, scratching his head.
"Seriously? The Council is comprised of the thirteen headmasters of the demon hunting academies across the globe. You didn't think we were the only one, did you?" Arthur explained dubiously, "Anyways, they make all the major decisions by voting. Mr. Vargas is one of them."
"So what's all this about Toni's case? The demon's gone," Gilbert inquired, puzzled.
"Well...all the mortals that were inside the temple were slaughtered, and then Ater Ignis took over Antonio's body and used it to deface the temple and attack you and Francis, and even hospitalized Lovino. The rest of the Council didn't take that too well."
"But it wasn't his fault! The demon did that, not Antonio," Gilbert objected defensively.
"I know, I know, but the Council doesn't see it that way. They said Antonio was weak by letting the demon possess him that way. They think he's not a good enough hunter, so they've decided to strip him of his Class A status," Arthur said grudgingly.
"What?! They can't do that! That demon was powerful, it probably could have possessed any of us! And Antonio was the one who defeated Ater Ignis!"
"I see that," Arthur nodded, "But the Council doesn't. After the wreckage of the temple, somebody has to be punished, so they're taking it out on Antonio. Look, Kim's at the headmaster's office right now, and I'm going there too. I just thought you should go help Francis comfort Antonio in his dorm."
"Okay, but you'll argue his case for me, right?" Gilbert demanded, and Arthur nodded again before heading out of the building. "Sorry, Luddy, but I have to go!" the albino said before immediately going to the dorm next door and knocking loudly.
Francis answered the door, letting Gilbert step inside before shutting it again with a despondent look about him. Antonio sat on his bed dejectedly, hands clenched at his sides, staring at the ground numbly. Francis returned to sitting on one side, patting his back consolingly, unable to find words that could cheer his friend up.
"I can't believe this!" Gilbert exclaimed heatedly, "Who do those Council people think they are? I haven't even heard of them before today. This is so un-awesome and unfair. They can't take you out of Class A!"
"You're not helping," Francis scoffed as Antonio sniffed softly.
"You're right, we need a solution," Gilbert said thoughtfully, "I know, we'll boycott Class A. The three of us stick together, whatever stupid class they put us in."
"No, don't do that," Antonio shook his head hollowly. "It's not Mr. Karpusi or Adnan's, or even the headmaster's fault. It's my punishment. I have to just accept it. It's what I get for letting the demon take over."
"What?! No, it's not!" Gilbert argued firmly, "You're not weak, Toni. Francis and I both know that. You belong with the Class A family."
"Yeah, no one here thinks that you should be punished, mon ami," Francis agreed.
"B-but...I failed. The demon killed all those people before I could do anything, and then used me to hurt you guys! I-I almost killed you...and Lovi...and if it weren't for you guys, Ater Ignis would still be in control," Antonio said with a shaky voice, trembling with hopelessness and distress.
"That's not true," Gilbert attested, "You weakened the attachment for Francis, and then you were the one who killed him! It's not your-"
He was cut short when there was another bang on the door, followed by a "Tomato bastard! It's me, so open up!"
At the sound of his voice, Antonio flinched, then buried his face in his hands. "It's Lovi...I can't face him right now, not yet! Not after what I did to him..." he muttered hysterically. Seeing that Antonio was clearly not ready to see his Italian friend, Gilbert sighed and quickly stepped out into the hallway where Lovino waited before closing the door shut, preventing Lovino from seeing inside.
"Hey! What's the big idea?" Lovino huffed at the albino, "I want to see Antonio."
"Look, now's really not the best time," Gilbert said evenly, "He can't see you right now."
"And why the fuck not?" Lovino demanded.
"He just can't, okay?" he snapped, "Will you at least try to be a little sensitive for once!"
"After what happened yesterday, he's just going to avoid me? I think I deserve to fucking talk to him in person."
Gilbert was about to retort, when the door behind him swung open and Antonio stood in the doorway, a downcast dreariness about his eyes. "H-hola Lovi..." He stammered softly, his voice cracking a little, "If you're here to yell at me that you hate me, go ahead. I-I don't blame you for being angry at me, after all I did...after I hurt you a-and almost killed you. I told you I'd save your soul but I only made things worse. You have a right to be mad at me." Antonio braced himself for verbal assault, but there was only silence for a moment.
Finally, Lovino answered, "You idiot! You think that I hate you? Dammit bastard, the only reason I'd hate you right now is for making me say this out loud! You didn't do any of that, the fucking demon did, all right? So quit being stupid and thinking it's all your fault and that you're a failure because you're not! And...and you didn't break your promise, okay? You did save my soul. There, I said it. You freaking proved me wrong. I... never thought that a person like me, with only the bad half of a soul, could...could ever have a friend like you." By that last sentence, the Italian seemed to be forcing himself to admit it, but Antonio's mood was completely turned upside down.
"Did I really do it, Lovi?" Antonio asked, his smile absolutely glowing.
"Y-yeah, don't make me say it again, tomato bastard," he grumbled, looking away. With jubilant spirit, Antonio flung his arms around his friend, who flushed, startled. "Get off me! And don't ever expect me to say anything like that again, tomato bastard!"
As Lovino struggled to push the happy Spaniard off, Francis whispered to Gilbert, "I guess Class B won't too miserable for him. And after a few months, I'm sure the Council will get over themselves and let him test back into Class A."
"I still think it's bullshit," Gilbert said in a low voice, "But I guess now we don't have to boycott Class A. Which is good because Elizaveta would kill me if I couldn't help her get there."
Now that Antonio had Lovino for company, Francis decided to go find Michelle and compensate for the half-of-a-date he had lost going on the emergency assignment to the Empyrean Temple. So Gilbert ended up changing into work-out attire and heading off to the Hunter's Gym. It was Sunday, so no classes would be using it today. Gilbert would rather train outside of campus in the forest clearing, but he thought maybe he could just happen to walk in and find one of the instructors inside the Gym or something, and maybe they could give him a few pointers. When he got there however, there was only one other person practicing in the middle of the chalked circle.
"Roderich? Wow, I never thought you were the one to go out and work out by yourself," Gilbert said as he strolled inside nonchalantly.
Roderich paused, a fist outstretched in the air. He straightened himself, and raised an eyebrow at him, "And why do you say that?"
"I don't know," Gilbert shrugged, "You just seem more...brains than brawns I guess."
"Both are important for demon hunters," Roderich replied smoothly. "But I am surprised to see you here instead of in the forest for once."
"Well, I though Adnan might be here or something," Gilbert answered, letting a little disappointment slip into his voice, "So he could help me with this soul projection technique I'm trying to learn."
"Is that so? What technique?" he asked curiously, his glasses glinting intelligently.
"Laura gave me the idea at the ice cream social, actually," the albino explained, "She asked me if I could use my soul skill to create weapons that could leave my hand. The idea sounds really awesome, but I'm not exactly sure how to do it."
"As it so happens," Roderich gave a small, knowing smirk, "I've studied soul projection and its different forms. I had to give a presentation on that skill a while back, so I think I can help you."
"Seriously?" Gilbert blinked, surprised. He was the last person he'd expect legitimate help from.
Roderich nodded, adjusting his glasses. "What you're trying to do requires a lot more soul energy than what you're used to expending. Creating weapons that are long lasting is similar to the kind of soul projection Arthur uses. When he releases his blasts, he shoots out his own soul's energy, and then regenerates what was lost right away, an extraordinary talent that comes naturally to him. Other demon hunters have the ability to regenerate their souls, but not as fast. I assume that when you let go of your weapon, it crumbles to dust and your energy returns to your soul?" He waited for Gilbert to nod, then continued, "That way, you have the strength to continue the fight and make more weapons. If you wanted to make a weapon that could leave your touch, you would have to invest your energy into the object itself. You'd need to focus on the weapon the entire time it wasn't in your grasp. You'd need to make sure the energy you've put into it stays solid and let that energy leave your soul for good."
"What do you mean 'for good'?"
"As in, you can't recall that energy back into your soul," Roderich said matter-of-factly, "Instead, you'd have to wait for your soul energy to regenerate itself. This technique would be very demanding of your soul and would enervate your energy quickly. The way you use your skill right now is actually more effective."
"Yeah, but if I need to arm a friend who was defenseless, I wouldn't be much help," Gilbert frowned. "Besides, it wouldn't hurt to learn how."
"All right," Roderich nodded, "Why don't you start by making a dart."
"Easy," Gilbert simpered, and within a few seconds, he held a small, sharp dart between two fingers.
"Now throw it at me."
"What? You sure? As much as I want to hit you with it, Lizzie will kill me if I end up impaling you."
Rolling his eyes, he nodded, "Yes, I'm sure. Your aim's probably not even good enough to strike me. And you're only about ten feet away."
"Okay, you're asking for it," Gilbert huffed indignantly, cocking his arm back to launch the dart. But as soon as he let go, the dart itself deteriorated, and turned to dust before it could even make it half way to his target.
"I told you, you need to focus on the energy! If you don't make your soul energy leave your body with the dart, then the weapon won't stay solid," the Austrian reprimanded.
"Okay, okay, let me try again," he persisted, forming another dart in his hand. This time, he paid special attention to the essence that was holding the dart itself intact. It was his own essence after all, so he had to stay in tune with it. As he hurled the second dart, he felt as if he were also pushing energy out from his body, the energy that was sustaining the dart. Forcing the energy to leave his soul as the dart left his grip, he concentrated on the tiny weapon astutely. However, it made the journey halfway to its target before it experienced the first dart's fate, disintegrating before it could reach Roderich.
"Better, but not quite. You didn't put enough energy into it, so it couldn't remain stabilized for very long after it left your grasp," he explained.
"Okay, I think I get it," Gilbert nodded, "One more go!" Summoning yet another dart to his hand, he took a deep breath before flinging the small blade at his fellow student. He did as the Austrian had said, pushing some of his own soul energy out of himself, putting it into the weapon. Lo and behold, the dart flew straight, staying solid and in one piece. Roderich, startled at such quick success, sidestepped at the last moment, and the dart whizzed right past his ear, so close he could feel the rush of wind as it flew by.
"Your aim's better than I thought," Roderich blinked, "I thought you didn't use projectile weaponry."
"I normally don't," Gilbert grinned, stretching his arms presumptuously, "But you should never underestimate this awesomeness right here. And just because I stick to my own soul-made swords doesn't mean I haven't used handmade ones." In fact, during his "boot camp" days with Illedris, she made absolutely sure Gilbert was well-rounded when it came to combat training. He knew how to use his soul skill blades, but also how to do a bit of knife throwing and how to shoot an arrow straight for the most part, though his accuracy was never nearly as good as Natalya's.
Roderich sighed at his innate superciliousness, but then said, "I suppose I should be a decent person and apologize for trying to make you stop the lessons with Elizaveta. It's not my place to keep her from getting better at demon hunting. And...although it pains me to say it, thank you for saving two of our classmates from that demon. Especially for seeing to it that Lovino returned safely."
"Wow, you class reps really take your job seriously," the albino remarked thoughtfully.
He nodded, "Of course. All the reps are like that. In fact, I was with Kim this morning at the headmaster's office. She can be scary when she's angry. She tried to get an audience with the Council somehow and argue Antonio's case like a trial. Arthur even offered to act as a lawyer. But the headmaster wouldn't let them. It's not good to be on the Council's bad side, and their word is final. I think they knew that deep down, but they didn't want Antonio to be treated so unfairly."
"Yeah, it's a shit verdict. You'll make sure Antonio won't have any problems in Class B, right?" Gilbert inquired seriously.
"I'll see to it that he gets along just fine," Roderich nodded again, "I'm his rep now, after all."
"Okay, I'll admit it," Gilbert cracked a smile, "You aren't as bad as I thought you were. I mean, you're still pretty uptight and all, but not too awfully boring."
"And I guess you aren't too unbearably obnoxious yourself," Roderich repudiated.
"But I'm still way more awesome," Gilbert finished, satisfied with his conclusion. Roderich exhaled in exasperation, knowing that some people never change.
After that, Gilbert sought out Elizaveta, finding her in Alice's cafe, and then the two went out to the forest for another training session of their own. Elizaveta was improving remarkably, and Gilbert was thinking that soon she might even be ready to test up into Class A, which would be awesome because then maybe he could be her partner for her first Class A assignment. Lately, they had been working on her stealth abilities, trying to maximize the efficacy of her soul skill. The idea was that if she could conceal herself well enough, and suppress her soul completely, incognito missions would be no problem, and the instructors would be begging her to move up. She was indeed a fast learner, much like Gilbert was, and he was surprised she hadn't been bumped up another Class sooner, but apparently these one-on-one lessons were just what she needed to enhance her combat skills.
And the more time he spent with her, the more confused his feelings became. He was beginning to realize that he definitely thought of her as more than just a friend, and really just thought of her more in general. Liking a girl this much was astounding to him; normally, he would just flirt or mess around with a girl, but never come to regard her with such emotion. Often, he found himself giving an unusual amount of consideration to her gestures toward him, trying to decipher what her feelings for him unsuccessfully. She was hard to read for a girl. She wasn't like the other girls he's come across, but maybe that's what intrigued him. Whatever the case, he tried to not think about it, though that never worked out for very long.
Later that afternoon, Gilbert hung out with Francis and Antonio again for a while, before meeting Ludwig, Feliciano, and Kiku at the cafe. Their previous outing at the cafe had been abruptly interrupted, but thankfully, Feliciano didn't get any spontaneous demon wounds this time. Now that Ludwig actually knew about the demon hunters' existence, their conversation was smoother, as they could say whatever they wanted without having to worry about slipping their secret. Ludwig seemed to have a lot of questions concerning the mystical world, which was only natural, but Kiku was good at explaining things. Not too much seemed to change about his younger brother's demeanor, and Gilbert admitted to himself that Ludwig knowing the Academy's secret wasn't as bad as he thought it would be.
By the time it was well after nightfall, Gilbert was lying on his bed, unable to fall asleep. He wasn't frustrated or anything, since he often stayed awake long past the time Ludwig started dozing off, and stared off into the dark, thinking, as Gilbird rested gently on his head. However, without warning, the yellow chick suddenly jumped awake, as if startled by an unseen force. Gilbert was about to ask his little friend what was wrong, when suddenly a dreadful sensation came over him.
And the Mark on his back began to burn a little. Gilbert bit his lip, somewhat alarmed to be experiencing that familiar sting once more. Why now?! It had over a month since he had last seen his she demon master, and he realized then that the whole time he had been trying to forget about her. He should have known better. There was no escaping it; his soul belonged to her now.
For a moment, he looked over at his brother, who was in peaceful slumber, and he remembered exactly why he had made the soul deal in the first place. With that in mind, he forced himself out of bed, though unable to shake the uneasy apprehension off of himself. Gilbird shuddered nervously, but remained on his cranium. Silently, he snuck out of the dorms and headed to the campus boundaries unnoticed. After summoning the grappling hook on rope and then scaling the wall, he landed easily on the other side without any problems. Gilbird hid in his jacket pocket as Gilbert jogged at a mild pace through the dark woods, though he wanted to do nothing more than turn around and head back to the Academy. He had no other choice. He hadn't been given a true choice for seven years.
Finally, a little over three miles from the campus boundaries, the stinging on his back faded, indicating he was almost to his unknown destination. He slowed his pace to a cautious walk, until he saw that smoky figure glide out from behind a tree to his left.
"It's been a while, hasn't it, Gilbert?" Illedris chuckled, seeming to be in particularly good mood tonight, which only added to Gilbert's anxieties. Her lips were a rosy, blood red as usual, and her hair continued to billow around her as she talked, as if her head was underwater.
"I guess it has," Gilbert replied, trying to act like nothing much had happened since the last time they saw each other, as if he hadn't noticed so much time had passed.
"I trust that everything is going smoothly in the Academy? Your cover is safe and secure?"
"Of course, did you expect any less?" Gilbert waved off indifferently. Now that so much had changed in the last four weeks, his words tasted sour in his mouth, and he struggled to swallow his guilt. Just the fact that he was talking to a she demon was enough to make his chest tighten as he thought of his fellow classmates.
Illedris grinned evilly, "Perfect. I know I haven't been checking up lately, but I figured you could take care of yourself. I've been busy lately."
"Busy? Doing what? Does this have anything to do with demon alliances?" Gilbert inquired, trying to sound only curious, not suspicious.
"I'm surprised you know about that. Yes, I've been doing a lot of traveling around the region, recruiting some of the more powerful demons on my side. How did you find out?" she asked, cocking her head to the side.
"Well, let's just say some of the other demons you've been trying to recruit aren't as good at keeping their mouths shut," Gilbert smirked knowingly, "Like Metus and Nidor for example."
"I see," Illedris answered thoughtfully, "Metus was never all that trustworthy in the first place. I'm glad he's been slain. Nidor accepted the alliance, but...you were the one who killed him, weren't you?"
"He wasn't the brightest demon I've ever come across," Gilbert shrugged. "He smelled pretty bad, though."
"I should be surprised that you were able to beat another major demon, but then again, I am the one who trained you so well," Illedris chortled to herself, "Perhaps it's good that you killed Nidor. I was planning on using his toxic vapor, but maybe he was too much of a liability, especially if you say he was talking too much."
"Are you the only demon that uses the Ouroboros Mark?" Gilbert asked suddenly, unable to help himself.
Illedris blinked, "It's my preferred symbol, but no, it does not solely belong to me. I know of others who also use it. Why?"
"I saw a cursed soul, and the Mark that bound him to the curse was the Ouroboros. I was wondering if that was your doing," Gilbert said casually, careful not to mention any names or give away too much about Yao's condition.
"No, I haven't cursed a soul in decades," Illedris shook her head.
"Oh." Gilbert recalled Yao saying that the demon who cursed him was Nihilum, but there was no harm in asking. Then he remembered the paifang. "And I also saw the symbol on the Empyrean Temple, written in blood by another demon."
Now Illedris scowled, as if remembering something unpleasant. "Ah yes. That would be Ater Ignis, who was part of our alliance. He was supposed to possess a demon hunter's soul so that we could access his memories, but that fool got himself slain. His soul possession was supposed to be absolute, the imbecile. If you were at the Empyrean Temple...you had something to do with that, didn't you?"
"Er..." Gilbert scratched his head, and looked away quickly, "You never told me what was going on! I was just keeping my cover, that's all. If I had let the demon survive, he'd have eaten my soul." That was partly true. But Gilbert really didn't regret the fact that Ater Ignis was gone, and was much more concerned with Antonio's soul than keeping his cover during that assignment.
"Perhaps I trained you too well," Illedris sighed.
"So why bother with alliances anyway? Only two months ago you had me killing every demon that strayed into your territory out of spite," Gilbert tilted his head to the side slightly.
"Let's just say I've had a change of strategy," she responded vaguely, grinning to herself. Then her expression grew hard again, "Anyway, now that you've had more time around the Academy, I'd like to know more about how everything works there."
When the Ouroboros Mark above his shoulder blade heated up, Gilbert knew that this was another command from his master. He was obligated to tell her everything she wanted to know, even if it hurt him inside to say it. He began by briefly explaining the Class system of the demon hunting program, and from there, she asked question after question, with Gilbert supplying each with an answer. After informing her about their combat training sessions, she asked about the defenses that surrounded the school itself, so he told her about the special detection system placed on the school's walls. "If a demon so much as brushes against the boundary wall, the headmaster will know about it," Gilbert said matter-of-factly.
"Hmm...so what about the staff? Who are your instructors, and who's the headmaster?"
"Karpusi teaches Class A theoretics and fundamentals while Adnan teaches physical training. Our headmaster is Mr. Vargas."
"Vargas?" Illedris echoed, shocked. "You don't mean Romulus Vargas?"
"Yeah, I do, actually. Why?" he frowned, confused.
Illedris cursed, then tapped her finger to his chin in troubled thought. "Romulus Vargas. He's a Purifying Light demon hunter. One of the most formidable hunters in the region. I didn't realize he'd...work at the Academy...Gilbert, how well do you know your headmaster?"
Gilbert resisted the urge to bite his lip again, not liking where this was going at all. "What do you mean?"
"Let me rephrase that. Do you know if he has any relations? A wife? Children, perhaps?" She was regarding Gilbert intently now, and he could not afford to show any disloyalty at this point.
He hesitated for a fraction of a second, but the Ouroboros grew even hotter on his back. Illedris obviously felt this was a matter of upmost importance. "He has two grandsons."
Her lips curled into a wicked smile, as if hearing great news. "Are they also demon hunters at the Academy? What are their names?"
As much as he wanted to keep quiet, it was like his mouth spoke for him, "Lovino and Feliciano. Class B and C." His stomach became a bit queasy, but he tried his best to ignore it.
"Doable," Illedris muttered to herself. Then she considered Gilbert carefully again, narrowing her eyes. "And Gilbert, dear boy, you aren't becoming attached to the Academy, are you?"
"What? No," Gilbert lied, pretending to be slightly offended by her suggestion.
"Good, because it would be unsuitable of you to grow to care for the other demon hunters," she said steadily, flashing her pointed teeth as she spoke. "Don't let any emotions of yours interfere with our deal. I don't have to remind you about what will happen if you break it, right?"
"How could I forget," he answered evenly. Gilbird shivered involuntarily in his pocket.
"I wouldn't have a problem eating the soul of your brother dearest," Illedris speculated, practically sucker-punching Gilbert with the thought. Suddenly he thought back to the illusion Metus had showed him, his greatest fear. "After all these years, it's still as deliciously appealing as it was back then, when we first met," she added, licking her lips tauntingly.
"All right, I get it," Gilbert stopped her before she could go on even more with her mind games, and changed the subject quickly. "By the way, most major demons have Latin names that relate to their power. But your name doesn't sound Latin." Even though he only brought it up to get her mind off of his brother's soul, he was genuinely curious to learn about the meaning behind her name.
"Ah yes," she smirked, "You're correct that most major demons are given Latin names that describe their attributes, but you see, I wasn't given a name by demon hunters in the Latin language. I gave myself the name Illedris, a word derived from a demonic language of the Underworld. It doesn't directly translate into a word of your language, but it would mean something like insidious or clandestine."
"Oh," was all Gilbert could say. Those words pretty much summed up her deceptive ways, there was no arguing that.
"I suppose that's all for tonight," Illedris went on, "In fact, that'll be all I need from you inside the Academy, I think. You've been a good spy, my dear boy. Now that you've given me all the necessary information, there's a lot of things on my agenda for my future plans. By that, I mean that I won't be checking up on you, not until the time is right. You'll be on your own for a little while, so watch yourself. Keep your cover and wait for the Ouroboros Mark to signal my presence again."
"Where are you going? How long will that be from now?"
"I have important errands that need to be attended to. Alliances are tricky things, you know. But nothing I can't handle," Illedris smiled to herself, satisfaction in her black pupils. "I'm not exactly sure when I'll be back, so always be ready for my return. And when I do return...it's going to be one hell of a time. Whatever you do, don't screw this up. You know what'll happen to poor Ludwig if you do."
Gilbert nodded, but he absolutely hated it when Illedris spoke his brother's name. She normally just referred to the blonde as Gilbert's little brother, but when she said his name, it meant she was dead serious.
"Good," Illedris said curtly, and her form began to fade back into the dark smoke, "Until then, my servant, when all hell breaks loose." And with that, his master had vanished completely.
Once he was sure she was gone, Gilbert clenched his jaw and suddenly threw his fist into the nearest tree, not caring that the bark cut his knuckles a little. Gilbird fluttered up in alarm, chirping in a high note of surprise. But the albino barely noticed. His head was pounding, engulfed by the guilt that bottled up inside of him. And he was angry, overwhelmingly angry of out nowhere. But he also knew there was no one to blame for his disdain but himself. None of this would have happened if he had only listened to his little brother seven years ago, and had just turned around and gone home instead of into that stupid cave. Now he had no choice but to betray his friends.
"I wish I could just die," Gilbert muttered, his thoughts hazy and chaotic. Gilbird, hearing this, chirped in protest and pecked the albino on the top of his head. "Ow! I know it sounds stupid but...I can't do this anymore, Gilbird!" His heart began to ache as he recalled all the things he had just told his she demon master.
Gilbird chirped angrily and hovered in front of Gilbert's face stubbornly. And Gilbert realized there were reasons he couldn't die just yet. For one thing, it was impossible for Gilbert to kill himself by his own hand, because that would break the soul deal, but that reason didn't count. If he died, nothing would stop Illedris from taking Ludwig's soul. And he still had to help Elizaveta move up to Class A, and help Mei find Tao's soul, and help Alfred unlock the seal on his soul, and help Yao break his curse. "You're right, Gilbird," Gilbert gave a small smile to the yellow chick, who then landed on his shoulder and brushed his fluffy feathers against his cheek. "I'm too awesome to die just yet! I've got too many things to do first!"
Now that his spirits were at least somewhat uplifted, he made his way back to the Academy. But even then, he knew that the jarring reality would always remain the same: while he could try his hardest to save his friends, he could never save himself.
From the Author: I'm wondering how many of you can see where this is going... I am soo looking forward to presenting the next chapter to you guys, I can barely wait! Anyways, thanks so much for reading, following, favoriting and especially reviewing! Your reviews have all been lovely and absolutely made my day~ You guys are simply the best~ I couldn't ask for a better audience! Thanks and until next chapter!