Disclaimer: I do not own Black Clover nor any of it's characters. They belong to the genius Yuki Tabata.
Author's Note: I recommend listening to the song "Don't Let Go" by Peter Roe if you want something to listen to while you read.
KenosDC1: Thank you again for reviewing on my work. I have been quite busy too, so I understand! I hope that school is going well for you!
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The Night is Long
By: S.C. Tucker
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It had only been a handful of hours since the conclusion of the horrendous Spade War. After opening a Shadow Corridor for the vulgar Black Bulls to return home: Nacht Faust found himself stripped of the last fumes of his magic power. Drained of energy he retreated up to the roof of the ever changing hideout away from the raucous banter and collapsed upon the overgrown terracotta tiles. Blood and soot still matted his hair, marred his face, and stained his clothes. But, none of that mattered. Not right now.
He would not rest until morning had come. But, it was still late into the night and as Nacht lifted his gaze he couldn't help but scorn the shadowy tendrils that wrapped their way around the sky. Twin glacier eyes pierced the night veil and settled upon the autumn moon. It looked as downtrodden as he felt: hanging in the sky by only the slightest sliver.
Far above him in that dark ocean a single light flickered and sailed upon the star speckled waves: burning ever so bright just for the moment. He dared not blink or he would miss the radiant arc of it's journey. A fleeting fragment of hope soaring across the heavens.
There was an old legend discovered painted upon an ancient cave wall on the edge of the Forsaken Realm. The faded paint showed how every night the sun burst apart into the stars to travel the world; then it would spend the extensive night gathering the whispered prayers and dreams of the people. And every morning the sun would gather all of it's stars and would rise into the sky as one: carrying the wishes it had gathered throughout the night to bring hope to all who basked in it's soft golden rays.
Nacht knows that he does not deserve to wish upon a shooting star, but he can't help the strong urge to do so anyway. Against his better judgement the words tear themselves from his lips before he can even put up a fight as his hand reaches up against the sky in a vain attempt to capture the retreating star. "I wish that I could stand beside you... one last time."
The sensation of his arm falling upon the roof tile and the concerned whispers of his devil-bonded were drowned out by the sound of his own heart beating erratically. The rush of blood flowing into his ears as he relived the last time he had made a foolish wish upon a fateful star. Once many years ago Nacht had made another wish on a shooting star. A very different wish. The wrong wish.
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The binary trails of hazy smoke drifted up into the sunset filtered clouds to mingle with the evening sky. A mischievous chuckle not unlike a hyena escaped around the cigarette perched upon Nacht's lips as he sat back on his heels to admire their work. Yami Sukehiro leaned against the brick alley wall behind the Faust noble with a devious mirth lighting his ashen eyes: his boots splattered with fresh red paint. The foreigner exhaled the smoke out his nostrils slowly, deliberately. "So how long before they find this one ya think?"
Nacht dipped his head back to display a hubristic grin lazily stretched across his lips and teeth to his delinquent friend. He brushed his long pristine white hair out from his glacier eyes with both hands: streaking the silken strands with thick red paint. "Long enough for all the passerbyers to understand how much of a circus show the Magic Knight's Brigades are. Buncha idiots dancing and performing tricks for a useless pathetic king."
The young noble sprang up from his crouch and spread his arms wide in veneration of their latest act of vandalism. Painted upon the brick wall was the Crimson Lion King's crest, however the lion was stylized to wear a bright green and white Jester's marotte instead of it's proud crown. "A fitting hat for a fool, don'tcha think?"
Yami smirked and nodded as he regarded the somewhat sloppy, but effective message they had spent the last twenty minutes streaking across the weathered brick.
"H-hey! What do you kids think you are doing back here?"
The pair whipped their heads to the left to see an elderly woman glaring at them from the main street. Her faded gray hair was wrapped up into a ridiculous twist that consisted in far too many bright green clover hair pins. She hobbled far enough into the alley now to see the vandalism with her aging eyesight. "Oh! Oh! What have you boys done? This is unacceptable! What family are you from?"
Nacht's boorish smile slipped downward into a sigh that reeked of indifference and nonchalance. The young noble shoved his hands into his pockets and closed the distance between himself and his companion. "Let's get outta here. This hag killed our fun and I'm bored."
Yami simply grumbled in response and turned to walk down the alley away from the ranting old woman. The foreigner was stopped by the firm hand of the other delinquent before feeling the sensation of sinking through the ground. Nacht in return was only too pleased to show off the efforts of his espionage training with the mysterious Silva man to his only friend.
"The hell was that?" the dark mage grunted as Nacht brought them both out of his spell and onto the dusk shaded grounds of the Faust manor.
"I surpassed my limits, moron. What did ya think? I could probably kick your ass with this new spell." Nacht watched with a cheshire grin as Yami's eyes darkened. The older man glared down at him cracking his knuckles.
'Huh?! You wanna say that again, Punk? I couldn't hear you over the stupid shit that just came out of your shitty mouth!"
Nacht's shadows slithered through the grass and raised up like a cobra: its grasping hands ready to strike at the Darkness Mage in hopes of strangling him into submission.
Yami shifted his weight and leaned forward placing his right hand on his sturdy katana: ashen eyes searching for a clean opening against the Shadow Mage like a circling hawk.
The inaudible agreement between them counted leading up to the anticipated clash. The silence that settled upon the neatly trimmed lawn was suddenly broken as both mages lurched forward.
"...Heh. Welcome back, Brother!"
"Tsk."
"Tch."
Nacht let his shadows fall back among the bladed grass and Yami clicked his Katana fully back into its sheath. Both refused to look at each other under the shining moon after having their duel interrupted.
"Whatever. I'm outta here. I need to take a dump. See ya."
As the foreigner departed, Nacht turned his glare onto his twin brother. "Why do you always have to get in the way? Isn't it enough to have everyone fawn over you all the time?"
Morgen winced. "I just don't want to see you do bad things, Brother."
"Doesn't being such a goody-goody get tiring?" Nacht taunted. He knew that his brother would always be what he couldn't. Good. Radiant. Kind. It was a pointless question, but Nacht was too annoyed to care.
Morgen brought his hand up to his mouth and chuckled. "Heh heh! What about you, Brother? Doesn't it get tiring doing bad things?"
Nacht couldn't help but feel bothered that Morgen shared the same smile as him. The same face as him. Yet it was completely different at the same time. He was better in every way. He didn't deserve to be around someone so good all the time. That was why he had bleached his hair and let it grow out unbound. So that others couldn't confuse someone as bad as himself for someone as good as his identical twin brother. It was his way of untethering himself from the pristine white sheep that was the Faust family. "Moron, what's tiring about being free?!"
Morgen simply tilted his head in confusion like a small puppy dog as a light twinkled behind him in the great beyond. "But that's not free, Brother. It's unjust and selfish."
It had been a stupid fleeting thought as the fury consumed Nacht's mind. One uttered out loud without any regard or caution for consequence. The kind of words spat out in malice even if they weren't true. Eyes tracking the shooting star that passed impossibly far away behind his younger twin brother he ushered the cursed words out. "I wish you would just leave me alone!"
Nacht stalked off towards the main door of the manor ignoring the sniffle that slipped from his brother's lips.
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Less than a year had passed before the impossible happened. Yami Sukehiro had joined a Magic Knight's Brigade. Nacht scowled at the fluffy Gray Deer robe that adorned the bodies of his only friend and his twin brother. The man that used to vandalize and slander and laugh at Magic Knights had become one.
And likewise Morgen's incessant pleading for Nacht to join the Magic Knights had only increased tenfold once he had earned his own robe. His peaceful day lazing about watching the clouds from the archway bannister was once again ruined by said nagging. "You still won't join the Magic Knights, Brother? With your magic, you could help a lot of people."
"Don't be an idiot! Where's the fun in that?" Nacht smirked. Becoming a Magic Knight wasn't something that suited someone like him. No. He would leave the gallantries to his twin. Besides, the brigades were filled with boring self-righteous fools.
The foreigner shifted his weight, seeming antsy. "Yo Morgen… mission time."
"Understood, Yami!" Morgen answered the other Gray Deer with a warm smile.
Nacht found the whole display nauseating. Though some part of him was pleased to admit that he found joy in Yami Sukehiro looking like an idiot. While he considered the Dark Mage his friend; he considered him first as a rival since they both possessed such unusual magic. "It's crazy that a guy like you joined up with the Knights. That robe really isn't your look, ya weirdo."
Yami turned his glowering gaze onto Nacht. His eyebrow twitched. "Huh? Didn't see you there. You're still in that whole bad-boy phase? How embarrassing."
Never one to leave a taunt unchallenged, Nacht fired back. "You're not much different, loser."
Their bickering was cut short like usual by Morgen's delighted giggle. "Heh! You two always get along so well."
Nacht felt his temple throb and exhaled a torrent of smoke. "Are you blind, Morgen!?"
Yami just delivered a thin smile before looking back towards the exit once more. He waved Morgen over indicating he was ready to leave. Glancing back he spoke one last time. "Just don't go too crazy… to the point where we have to haul you in, Nacht."
The Shadow Mage plucked the cigarette from his lips and toasted it into the air towards the Dark Mage. His words followed on a trail of hoary smoke. "Right back at ya, Moron."
Nacht shut his eyes to the image of Yami Sukehiro walking away, alongside his twin as equals. As a duo of dark and light. He resented Yami for being able to do something that he never would. It also irked him beyond belief that the once spiteful man he considered a companion seemed to be converting into a good man. Or maybe, the foreigner had started out as a good person underneath that repulsive veneer. Unlike the Dark Mage: the Shadow Mage knew that he was bad from the moment he had been born. It was poetic really. The more Nacht considered it: how darkness is created by the culmination of shadows.
Whenever he had the chance Morgen seemed to compare Nacht and Yami. Always thinking that they were very similar. It was infuriating. But, being similar to the foreigner isn't what drove Nacht mad. It was feeling as though his twin had replaced him with something better. Someone better. Nacht felt that he could never stand next to that dazzling light that was Morgen. But, the fact that Yami could. It pissed him off.
Nacht kept himself separate from his twin to keep him safe. He didn't want Morgen to experience the hate, the disdain, and the unsettling mistrust that Nacht had been familiar with since they were small children. He couldn't darken that brightness.
Nacht was the Black Sheep.
Forever an Outcast.
It wasn't hard, really.
Because Nacht... enjoyed it.
The Malice.
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It wasn't too long after Morgen and Yami's induction into the Gray Deer Brigade that Nacht had found himself bored enough to finally answer his Father's summons. Since they had their eighteenth name day the requests had come pouring in. Nacht had little interest in inheriting the Faust title, manor, and fortune. There was no fun to be had with those things. Only vexing responsibilities. So he continued to ignore the summons until one fatefully boring day.
On a whim Nacht trekked his way through the Faust manor leaving an auspicious trail of smoke on his way to his Father's study. He had received the most recent summons while he lay in bed mocking the constellations. Only a fool could look at them and see anything worthwhile up there.
"Nacht…" His mother chided him. For what? Who knows. With him it could be any number of things he's done or neglected to do. This was no fun.
He cut her off, not in the mood to be scolded. "It's kind of late to be lecturing me, isn't it? Just forget I'm the oldest son and have Morgen inherit the title."
His father's sunken gaze pierced through him. "No."
Nacht just shrugged and turned to leave. This had been a waste of time after all. Not even a scrap of entertainment to be had.
The eerie voice of his father drifted to him. "You'll be the one to inherit the House of Faust, Nacht."
A surge of mana resonated around the room and Nacht turned around just in time to see his father drop onto one knee and place his palm onto the lush carpet. Dark shadowy tendrils had begun to crawl up the walls of the room devouring the lamp light. Nacht sensed at that very moment that his life was about to finally become interesting. And so he allowed himself to be swallowed whole by the malevolent spell.
"Shadow Magic: Invitation From a Dark Garden!"
The secret room that greeted him was beyond his own expectations. Nacht cast his gaze quickly around the vaulted ceiling and the towering pillars. Each one carved to hold a vast quantity of human skulls. Scattered about the room in an orderly fashion were dark hooded figures chanting incantations under the creaking chandelier's candle light like disciples of death. Curiosity and temptation swirled within him as he drank in the sight before him. His fingers twitched, itching to scour the room that carried the promise of something forbidden. "What is this place, Father?" He couldn't keep the excited tremble from wavering his words.
His Father smiled. Teeth ripe with malice. His Mother's lips pried open with malevolent joy. "As a family, we have devoted ourselves to the study of devils for generations. You have inherited that magic and that spirit!"
The gears that had been whirling out of sync his entire life finally snapped together. A shiver raced down his spine and dangerous glee clawed its way back up. His heart quivered. All this time. It was he who belonged! This was his purpose. His calling.
A smile that mirrored his parent's bloomed upon his face. In the Faust family it was Nacht who really fit in. They were a family of black sheep. Where Morgen was the lone white sheep. This whole time Nacht had mistakenly believed the opposite to be true.
The malice in him was overjoyed at this revelation.
From that moment on, Nacht threw himself into his studies. Always hungry for more knowledge. More power. His motivation to bind devils drove him with a voracious hunger. Scarcely, he left the sanctum where he felt whole.
His Father had successfully completed the Devil-Binding ritual once. But, it had taken him many years to learn how to control the monster that he hosted. And the Devil that his father had acquired was one of the lowest ranking of its species. Nacht had greater ambitions. He would rise to heights never seen before. His very soul cried out in joy at the mere thought.
After weeks of continuous study Nacht finally came across a thin tattered text that the disciples openly disregarded. They claimed it was just a fool's tale meant to scare children. That it was so unimportant it hadn't even been written in demonic and was a waste of his energy. They often praised Nacht for his natural talent. Impressed by how quickly Nacht was able to learn and understand the demonic sigils that took them a lifetime to comprehend. It was the disciples who were the shortsighted fools. Nacht had uncovered something very special. Nacht had discovered a brief history of the Devil's Quartet: a group of devils who hid themselves out of resentment from the Highest-Ranking devils in the Underworld. Devils who had openly defied the most powerful beings in existence out of the greatest malice born from their abuse.
These would be the ones Nacht would choose for his Devil-Binding ritual. Nacht would gather his musicians and make the world their instrument: while he would become the cottage that provided them a home.
Determined, Nacht finally emerged from the ritual chamber to find his father. Adrenaline coursing through his veins he raced through the manor, chewing the stub of his cigarette in anticipation.
"Heh. Always in a rush these days, Brother."
Nacht blew past Morgen without even sparing him a glance and took the stairs two at a time until he entered their Father's study.
"I found the ones I want. I need their relics." He exhaled. Smoke spewing from his lips like an ignited beast.
His Father slowly closed the ledger he was writing upon and regarded his son with sunken eyes. "Already?"
"Yes, already. Tell me how to get the relics. I need them now." Nacht spat impatiently.
His Father remained silent and unmoving for several minutes. Only the sound of the clock hand shifting broke the quiet. "Very well. What do you require?"
A grin split Nacht's face as he recounted exactly what he wanted. "I need a lock of hair from Slotos, a fang from Grimodelo, a claw from Plumede, and a feather from Walgner."
"..."
Sunken eyes blinked at him with hollow interest. "From the fairytale?"
"It's not just a fairytale!" Nacht snarled. "They exist."
His Father blinked one more time before reopening the ledger and began to inscribe numbers on the parchment.
Nacht slammed his hands down onto the mahogany desk. "Listen to me dammit!" He refused to be ignored. "I will prove that they are real!"
Only the sound of the quill dipping into the inkwell once more to continue its task met his ears. "Look I'll even take the stupid title if you help me."
The scratching on parchment paused.
"Very well Nacht. I will gather the relics for you. But, you will take the Faust title regardless if they turn out to be real or not. That is the price of my assistance."
"... Fine!"
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It took longer than Nacht liked for his father to retrieve all of the relics of the Devil's Quartet. But, the time for waiting was finally over. Today he finally had a tuft of the devil Slotos's hair in his possession. Nacht fastened the relic onto a silver hoop and strung it through a magic chord that hung around his neck. This would be the first of four.
Once one had the appropriate relic and was positioned within the forbidden ritual circle, they would be able to start the process of the Devil-Binding. Calmly with both hands secured behind his back: Nacht spoke.
"Summon."
Though Nacht had studied diligently and paid close attention to the recollections of the disciples and his father; he was not prepared to actually see a fully manifested devil before his eyes. Rather than become frozen with fear like the several spectators outside of the ritual circle: he felt his body quiver with quiet anticipation.
From the Shadowgate a large cloven hoof penetrated the veil of the human world. Another followed. And all too soon towering above him was Slotos. The body of the devil resembled pitch and it's skin sloughed upward: dripping demonic mana into the air around him as it dragged it's long arms across the floor. Two ox-like horns curved up in a gentle slope as they protruded from either side of it's head. It's face had been twisted over many times by claw marks that left only hints of an alabaster visage. Inside it's skull resided two red garnet eyes glazed over with distrust.
As Nacht took his time to regard the great devil before him; the creature lowered it's grotesque head with ill-intent.
Seeing this his father quickly spoke up. "Hurry Son, you must fight the devil and win. Only then can you control it."
The Devil's eyes flared to life.
Like twin embers left after a raging fire.
Burning with disgust.
To the Devil's surprise Nacht quickly side-stepped its charge and pulled one hand out from behind his back to hold up an empty palm as if to stop the devil. "Please wait."
Nacht was not surprised to find that the stubborn devil had little care for his words and once more jumped out of it's feral charge. Fortunately for him the devil was built for endurance not speed. However, he knew that getting struck one time would be the end for him.
"I would like to talk with you. Not..." Nacht tried.
Again the devil charged.
Again the young noble evaded.
Frustration flickered in the eyes of the devil. "What do I gain from speaking to a human? Your kind are even more despicable than devils."
Nacht smiled undeterred. "Here let me show you." Slowly he pulled his other hand from behind his back.
Agitated, the devil bellowed and rushed at him. "I will not be fooled by your human trickery!"
Unbothered, Nacht leaped aside and held up a large purple mask that was melded into the shape of a donkey's head.
Slotos paused and regarded the object held before him.
"Nacht, stop this foolishness now! Defeat that devil!"
A smile creeped up on the young noble's face. "Sorry, ignore him. He's just one of those despicable humans."
"Why won't you attack me human?" The devil asked.
"Because I cannot defeat you. You are very tough and I am not. I would rather become partners."
"Why would a human want for such a thing?"
"So that I can become tough like you."
"Why?"
"So that I can be free."
The devil slowed to ponder these words as it's tail whipped the air with a razor sharp whistle. Slotos lowered it's head once more. "I do not want for a human partner."
Patiently Nacht dodged the devil's rush. He had spent his entire entire life being willful and doing only what pleased him. Without a doubt he knew that he would outlast Slotos in a battle of obstinance.
"But you will." He answered the devil surely. "I can give you a new life where you won't be mistreated by the Supreme-Devils anymore. They cannot find you if they cannot see your face." Nacht held up the purple mask again for Slotos to see.
"That is a trap." Slotos responded warily.
"It is not. I will give you a home if you contract with me."
"A home?"
"Yes, a home. My shadow magic serves as a gateway between your world and mine."
Slotos regarded him cautiously. "Why do you tempt me human?"
"Nacht."
The devil raised its head, confused. "Nacht?"
"Yes, that is my name. Nacht."
"Why do you tempt me Nacht?"
"So you can be free too."
The glaze lifted from the great red eyes of the devil. There Nacht completed the first pact: the foundation that gave way to Nacht's future. Overcoming the stubborn attitude of the Donkey, Slotos donned the mask.
"I trust the resolve of your will."
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Against his father's caution Nacht decided to summon the second devil less than a week after contracting with Slotos. Now as he stood within the ritual circle a large fang hung beside the lock of hair that rested against Nacht's chest.
"Summon."
Better prepared after his last ritual, Nacht wasn't at all surprised to see the monstrous twisted form of the canine devil Grimodelo as he lumbered through the Shadowgate. Like Slotos, this devil's face had been shattered apart to reveal sinister wounds that wept demonic mana. Unlike Slotos, this devil's eyes were bright and eager.
"Excellent human! I haven't had someone new to speak to in ages."
Nacht shut his eyes and smiled sincerely to the devil before him. "Hello Grimodelo, I am Nacht."
"You are Slotos's human!" The devil sat back on its haunches and let it's hackled skin relax. "If you are the contract of my friend then I shall not kill you."
Shock recoiled around the ritual chamber at the devil's words. The idea that devils spoke to one another was not a surprise, but that they too had companions was unimaginable.
"I appreciate your kindness, Grimodelo." Nacht pulled a second mask from behind his back. This one was bright orange and bore the face of a dog.
"So you wish to contract with me too, Nacht?"
"Yes."
"That sounds fun! But, first let me ask you one question."
Nacht looked up at the playful red eyes of the devil searching it's infinite depths for a clue.
"What do you plan to do with Slotos?"
Without hesitating Nacht responded: "I plan to give Slotos it's freedom."
What could only be described as steel buckling in on itself reached his ears. The shrieking rumble emanating from the devil before him caused his heart to race.
"Very well, Nacht. You continue to honor your pact with my friend so I shall reward you."
"How can you be so sure without even testing me? Isn't there something you want in exchange, Grimodelo?"
"Of course. It's what we all want. Our freedom! Slotos trusts no man or devil, but if it trusts you then so shall I."
That day, he completed his second pact: the bond that proved humanity could be found in devils to Nacht. Earning more than just trust from the Dog, Grimodelo donned the mask.
"I will be loyal to your will."
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With two contracts earned so quickly Nacht was arrogantly ready to attempt his third. After all, he had already done the impossible and formed a bond with two devils without even using violence. His father had called him a protégé and the disciples whispered amongst themselves that he was the greatest Devil-Binder to ever grace the Faust family.
However, Grimodelo refused to let him perform the summons until he learned what it meant to fight against a devil.
The canine devil chattered and cackled from his shoulder for days. "Nacht, you can't possibly make a contract with Plumede just by talking. It even hates when I talk!"
Slotos nodded quietly in agreement with the other devil.
And so Grimodelo brought out a new temptation and dangled it right in front of Nacht's eyes. One that he knew the young noble couldn't resist. An ability that even after generations of study the Faust family had failed to discover: Devil Union.
Nacht spent the next several weeks training daily with Grimodelo and Slotos. The union was easier to practice with Grimodelo since the canine devil seemed far more eager to combine with him. Slotos served as his opponent. The crushing blows from the equine devil's power were unimaginable.
The damage he had to endure after even a partial transformation left him writhing on the floor in pain. But, the power and exhilaration he felt from even an incomplete union pushed him to continue. Nacht mended his breaking body each time with medicinal treats imported from the Heart Kingdom. And each time he cursed his limits and his own weakness as he lay battered upon the floor. He vowed that he would surpass those limits and form a contract with Plumede by the end of the month. No matter what.
By some miracle he finally achieved a full union with Grimodelo. Though it only lasted a handful of minutes it was a success. A proud grin stretched across his lips as he checked the calendar to confirm that he still had one day left.
"We won't stop you anymore, Nacht. You are ready."
Nacht grinned at the words and added the third relic to his necklace: Plumede's claw.
Soon as the noble had recovered from his fatigue he stepped inside the ritual circle for the third time and called out.
"Summon."
As the Shadowgate opened Nacht watched with eagerness; his fingers clutching the mask he hid behind his back in anticipation.
Unlike the first two devils, Plumede raced out of the Shadowgate and quickly extinguished the candlelight with it's demonic mana. This devil also bore a broken face with two red catseye that pierced the darkened room. It clawed its way rapidly around the chamber dais inspecting him: skin bristled.
"I see you brought me a new face as an offering."
Nacht held out the pale gray cat mask for Plumede.
"I brought you a chance at freedom."
"I shall not be bribed as easily as those other two fools."
The devil sprinted up to him pressing it's misshapen face close to examine Nacht's. "If you have the bravery to survive my assault then I shall accept this new face."
Nacht nodded in return as Plumede sprang back and crouched low to the ground. The devil he faced now behaved in every sense like a feral predator. It stalked about him with its forked tail thrashing. Having already witnessed the incredible speed this devil possessed; Nacht wasted no time and entered a Devil Union with Grimodelo. While the canine devil wasn't as sturdy as Slotos it was his only option and a far better option than if he had been alone.
Rather than run away and evade like he had against Slotos; Nacht chose to stand his ground and face the Plumede's attack head on. There was no way he could match the agility of this devil. Surprise lit up the jagged scarlet eyes of Plumede as its gruesome claws sang deeply into the guts of the young noble; the union had been dissolved where its attack had slashed. Nacht was pleased to find that this devil's strike was nothing in comparison to the heavy blows Slotos had rained upon his body.
Plumede reared back in shock as a multitude of black tendrils shot up from the floor and immobilized the devil.
"It's underhanded, but it's the only way I could beat you." Nacht apologized as blood seeped past his lips and down his chin.
A cheshire grin curled the twisted lips of the devil before him. "I admit that you are very foolish. However, that is a form of bravery too. You have survived my attack so for that I will fulfill my side of the bargain."
As Nacht's blood stained the floor beneath them, he completed his third pact: the pledge that forged Nacht's confidence to pursue greater ambitions. Receiving partnership from the independent Cat, Plumede donned the mask.
"I have the courage to carry out your will."
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Following his third summoning Nacht remained in his bed to heal from the grievous wound he had received from Plumede. He had overtaxed his body the past couple months and could no longer rely on the enchanted Heart Kingdom treats. It was excruciating to be trapped in his room upstairs in the Faust manor. Where it was forbidden to speak of devils and even more dangerous to speak to his devils.
His loneliness however, was broken by an unexpected visit from his twin. It had been ages since he last talked to Morgen.
"What in the world have you been up to, Brother?" He looked horrified by the stitches and bandages that were tightly holding Nacht together.
Nacht gave his twin brother a sardonic smile. "Oh you know. The usual. Bad things."
"Heh… this looks like more than the usual bad things." No matter how hard Morgen tried, he could never hide the sadness in his tone. Not from Nacht.
"Whatever. You saved the world yet?"
Morgen laughed and sat down on the edge of his brother's bed. "As a matter of fact, I think I am getting close. I am just missing the one thing I need to do it!"
"Oh yeah?" Nacht asked, playing along.
"Yeah, you!" Morgen's smile was blinding and burning with hope.
Nacht screwed his eyes shut and sighed as he felt his brother grip his hand tightly with both of his own. "Become a Magic Knight like me and Yami. It would be so much fun! I promise."
"Morgen, you know I'm not cut out for that stuff." Each time his twin asked it got harder and harder to say no. Nacht was starting to run out of retorts and the truth was dangerously close to being exposed.
"Heh, heh. Well, I think you would be, Brother."
Nacht's heart lurched. In response he reached up and ruffled Morgen's hair with his free hand until it stuck up in every odd direction. "Yeah, well you used to believe that the pond in our back yard was the ocean!"
Morgen reached up to swat Nacht's hand away and smooth out his ruffled hair. "Come on Nacht. You thought so too!"
"Did not!"
"Did too!"
"Whatever, idiot. Don't you have some fancy missions to go on or something?"
Morgen flopped down onto Nacht's bed and stared up at the silken canopy next to his twin brother. "Nope! I have the next couple days off for vacation to prepare for a huge mission, so let's hang out."
"I guess that's better than being stuck in here by myself." Nacht grumbled.
"Hey, Nacht?"
"What?"
"Scoot over, bed hog."
"I'm injured, you moron!"
"Heh-heh. I know, I'm just teasing."
Not even a month later Nacht would regret not telling Morgen the truth that day. Because the next time that he saw his younger twin brother it would be the last.
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Once Nacht had recuperated from his injury he quickly set about returning to the ritual chamber. He was so confident going into the fourth summoning that Nacht didn't even gather the disciples or inform his father. Defiling the protocol.
"Nacht make sure to be very careful with Walgner. It is the most dangerous member of the Devil's Quartet."
"I thought you said Plumede was the most dangerous." The noble looked over at the canine devil annoyed.
"No! I said that Plumede would kill you."
Nacht narrowed his eyes. "What's the difference?"
Grimodelo cackled. "Walgner will trap you as soon as he gets here!"
"How?" Nacht felt his pulse quicken. Maybe he should have summoned the others as insurance. It was too late to turn back now though. He had already added the fourth feather relic to his necklace and could not leave the ritual circle without destroying it. Which was not an option.
"You shall see when it gets here!"
"What if I die?"
Grimodelo laughed even louder. "You won't die, Nacht. You are a good human."
Nacht exhaled a sharp wisp of smoke. "No. I'm. Not."
The canine devil just continued to cackle until he faded back into the Underworld.
The young noble calmed his fury and held the red rooster mask up in front of himself. If he was going to be trapped, Nacht wanted the devil to be able to see it.
"Summon."
As the Shadowgate opened, Nacht heard Walgner before he even had a chance to set his eyes on the devil. A shriek erupted from the darkness that sounded more like the wail of death, than that of a living being. Nacht found himself physically paralyzed.
Walgner the winged devil sailed out of the Shadowgate and landed heavily upon the chandelier that swung above the ritual circle. It's wicked talons crushing the golden braces as it tipped precariously to hold it's monstrous weight. The top half of its beak was missing from its shattered face. Walgner peered down at Nacht with a red gaze that was tinged with incredible intellect.
"You are Nacht. Giver of Faces."
Nacht urged his body to respond. To at least speak. But it was in vain. He couldn't even utter a single word.
"Cease your struggles. I can hear your thoughts quite well."
The Shadow Mage almost couldn't believe it. Grimodelo had been right to warn him. But, even with the cloaked advice he still felt ill prepared to face this devil.
"I shall ask you for your deepest secret in exchange for my contract."
His mind had begun to tremble at the devil's words. His deepest secret? There were a million secrets he kept inside his heart, but only one of them he refused to share.
"What is your will?"
Nacht's mind calmed at the unexpected question. His will had always been to seek freedom from the shackles that had constricted his life. He was tired of being looked at and treated as garbage by the people of Clover. Nacht knew deep in his heart that he wanted to be good like his brother, but he couldn't. So he would earn his freedom by being the worst guy around. He would take it by force.
"No, that is not what you truly want. Do not lie to me again. What is your will?"
His heart stuttered and clenched at what Walgner wanted him to admit. The real reason he wanted to be free was so that he could walk next to Morgen as equals.
"That wasn't so hard. Now was it?"
Nacht didn't even notice the devil's spell come undone as he collapsed upon the stone floor. His heart and mind both racing at the admission of his true will. As he lay there gasping, the Shadow Mage successfully completed the fourth pact: the assurance that Nacht was walking down the right path. Cementing an unwavering promise from the Rooster, Walgner donned the mask.
"I find honesty in your will."
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Nacht spent the next couple weeks training with his devils. He was overjoyed to have proved his father wrong. He hadn't even been scolded for summoning Walgner for a devil-binding ritual alone. In fact, the others seemed to revere him now.
Today his Father, Mother, and the disciples had gathered before him. Nacht felt his interest stir at their unexpected arrival. He could almost sense that his life was about to change once again.
"To think that you'd contract with four devils so quickly and that you would learn to master their power so well! You are a genius, Nacht."
He grinned at his Father's praise. Watching with a calculating eye as the older man extended his hand towards him. Pinched between his forefinger and his thumb was a tarnished silver bracelet. Set onto its surface was a single polished ruby. "You just might be able to contract with this devil as well!"
Nacht regarded the relic inquisitively. He was not interested in contracting with a devil he didn't choose himself. In fact, he was quite happy to remain bonded only with the Devil's Quartet even if they were only Mid-Rank.
Still his Father lectured him as usual. "The Underworld is ruled by three devils of Gravity, Time, and Space. One of the devil's who supports them is the Supreme-Devil Lucifugus."
Nacht's eyes widened with shock. To think that there was even a relic powerful enough to summon a Supreme-Devil was insane. Even if he was gifted he knew that his ability to contract with devils and control their power had its limits. And a Supreme-Devil was currently well outside of his set limits. Yet, his lips quivered with amusement as he spoke. "A Supreme-Devil… Huh. Interesting."
Before he could give more thought to the offer a voice shattered the quiet room. "Don't do it, Brother!"
No. No. No… Nacht looked up to see the last person who should have entered this room. His brother Morgen stood there distraught as his disguise fluttered down onto the cold stone floor.
Their Mother's voice rang out. "Morgen!"
But his twin interrupted her. "Father, Mother, forbidden magic is a crime! As a Magic Knight I can't overlook this! Besides, more than anything, it's dangerous! Any more would be-"
Nacht knew it. Morgen would never accept him as an equal. They were too different after all. Whenever he faced emotional pain or resistance he turned to the only thing he knew: malice.
"Dangerous? That's what's good about it. A Supreme-Devil… I like the sound of that! Life really should be this much of a rush!" Nacht paid no mind to the panic stricken pleas of his brother. Instead he shouted with all his might and slipped the bracelet onto his arm. "Here and now, I'll surpass my limits!" Nacht turned his back to Morgen's anguished face and chanted.
"Summon."
Before them all loomed the devil Lucifugus. For the first time in his life Nacht felt true unadulterated fear as the Supreme-Devil's mana oppressed everything in the chamber. It had to be at least twenty times larger than Slotos. It had great wings and four horns. It was a demonic being so dense with evil mana that it's face was completely shrouded. Somehow the lack of sinister eyes made the devil far more imposing. The pressure radiating from Lucifugus racked over Nacht leaving him drenched in a trembling cold sweat. Unable to move. Unable to breathe. Unable to think.
The ritual circle should have suppressed the devil's magic, but it crept out of its boundaries like a poisonous fog and prayed upon his parents and the disciples behind him. Undoubtedly leaving the one who summoned him for last. Their screams ricocheted across the stone and reverberated within the skulls that lined the pillars. Not hearing Morgen's, he prayed that his brother had escaped and run far from this evil place. Morgen was too good of a person to die here.
This Supreme-Devil was something that Nacht should have never messed with. It was then that Nacht failed his fifth and final pact: the arrogant mistake that cost Nacht everything. Learning the harsh boundary of limits from an unjust monster.
"I see failure steeped into your will."
Seconds that felt like an eternity passed before Nacht felt something crash against him. It felt as though it was trying to rip his arm off. It took all of his strength and willpower to look down. His blood ran cold at the sight of his twin trying to pry the bracelet from his body. Terror shot through him as he felt the stinging sensation of Morgen's light magic against his wrist.
His brother was attempting to destroy the relic that was linking Nacht to the devil before them. The annihilation of the bracelet would likely cancel the ritual, but what sort of risk would a third party intervention cause? He couldn't bear to think of the possibility. He willed his body to obey. Silently begging the Devil's Quartet to help him. They gifted him with just enough mana to utter two words before being snuffed out by the Supreme-Devil's oppressive mana.
"Morgen! Don't.."
But, his twin was a righteous, good man. The kind who would have sacrificed himself to save any one person. And so Morgen continued to pour all of his light magic into the destruction of Lucifugus's relic. With a blinding flash, Nacht felt the pressure on his wrist crumble away.
The presence of the Supreme-Devil vanished along with the radiant light. The twins fell to the floor. Nacht desperately grabbed Morgan and held him close. Blood spilled from Morgen's lips and life was rapidly fading from his brilliant blue eyes.
"Morgen… Morgen!"
The black haired twin coughed, spraying blood onto the white haired twin. "Heh heh… I knew my family was working with forbidden magic, but I… didn't report it… to the knights. I guess this is… what I get…"
Guilt had begun to rip Nacht apart from within. It should be him lying there dying. Not Morgen. Never Morgen "You idiot! You just… why… did you!"
Morgen continued to speak. Each word was weaker than the next. "My… dream… was to stand beside you brother and protect the kingdom's peace… as knights of shadow and light, so… I…"
"Mor...gen…
Hey…
Morgen…"
Morgen was the very picture of a good guy. Straightforward, so dazzling Nacht couldn't even look at him. That was what Morgen was like, and Nacht… he really loved him. Even if Nacht couldn't shine… he wanted Morgen to do it. If he was beside him… it felt as if… Nacht would defile Morgen's light so Nacht knew that he was the one... who should die instead.
He let out a broken whisper that his brother would never get to hear. "I wanted that too…"
Nacht raised his head and let out an anguished scream. The sort that didn't stop until his throat was ripped raw and flooded with blood and tears. Still he continued to wail.
"I'm begging you! Save my Brother! He hasn't done anything wrong! Gods, please!"
In the end Nacht's desperation was met only with silence and the cooling body of the one true good man in the world.
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No matter how hard Nacht Faust wished and prayed and dreamed throughout the night; he knew that his beloved brother would not rise with the coming sun. All that was left of Morgen were the scattered memories of those who had cherished him in life. Much like the stars that dappled the shattered night sky before him.
Without Morgen: Nacht would remain forever long.
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