"I always found it weird that rainbows are the products of a storm. Well, sometimes anyway. The point is, something that beautiful "can" arise from a "dark atmosphere" so to speak. It was hard to tell what kind of mood surrounded rainbows. Happy? Sad? It was the same with him. What was the mood like around him? Many would wonder, few would guess, none would know."
Exorcist clothing were strewn about the ship. Well, around a chair to be exact. Hyoma sat on that chair, reading a moderately sized and unimpressive looking notebook. With a pen spinning dexterously in hand and a lack of an educational environment, perhaps this was meant to be a journal. Though it was a journal and thus lacking high levels of writing and thankfully, lacking a due date, Hyoma furrowed his brows for just a bit as if it would be the deciding factor of his grades.
He wanted to write something. Something... memorable. It would be his first written words in a new world, so he had to write something great. Something... But the words wouldn't come and his pen stops spinning. The train of thoughts ground to a halt. The rain that poured on the poor ship sounded like distant gunfire, or machine guns were more like it. But Hyoma cared not for the noise. He didn't blame the noise for his lack of proper thinking. In fact, he liked the noise. It was oddly soothing. He was sure many others thought the same. Too many times, he'd been in a diner full of people, all quiet, all listening to the rain on the windows.
He would never blame nature for anything.
And with that, Hyoma gently closes his journal and his eyes, accepting that there were no words at the moment. Maybe next time. Just to get a feel of this world. Then he would choose his first words carefully. Then just as quickly as he closed his eyes, he opens them, slightly curious about the noise that overpowered the mighty storm. Being able to distinguish sound and being able to hear well are two different things and Hyoma was more of the former, not the latter. Hearing in itself was not his specialty. So to be able to hear something amidst the rain quite literally spoke volumes about the chaos caused by that noise. He looked at the direction of the massive doors he had just exited from. A battle raged behind those doors. For sure, that flowing, raven haired woman was involved in the fighting, Hyoma thought to himself, and immediately remembered other possible participants, like that samurai and the masked woman. He did keep the jester in his thoughts, but she looked like the type to watch her friends get eaten by wolves all the while putting on a game-winning smile rather than lift a finger.
"That would be fun to watch, but..." The rain wouldn't let up. In fact, it was gaining power. So much rain that it was getting harder to see the prison clearly. Hyoma was never the type to get near water, much less travel by water, so he was unsure whether this rain was safe for ships. Slowly, from within his humble abode, he extends his gloved hand towards the rain...and gets nearly dragged down with it, prompting him to retract his hand. Powerful rain indeed.
"...I'd rather stay here."
"Here, here! This way!~"
And what better way for a jester to fulfill her role than to entertain the audience? Yes, Magilou was quite active, dancing around her enemies actually, but she had no bloodstained hands. She would leave that to her "allies". And herself? Well, having such a gullible audience was an opportunity she would not waste, leading them astray with her teasing aura and oh-so alluring hat before their standing ovation is put down for good.
"Urgh...!"
And quick slashes to the neck from two daggers in the hands of Rokurou ends this one's life. As one who is suited for combat, to be tricked so easily, there's only one fitting end for you: A bowing Magilou, with an outstretched arm and the hat over her chest, and of course, looking up just a little bit to show that audience-winning smile. Standing in complete contrast was Rokurou's expression, one of indifference, or maybe an "I-knew-it" face.
"Yeah, I figured you weren't the fighting type."
"Aaaannnnd... what exactly drove you to think such a thought? Did you, for a second, peg me as a brute? Pose! Pose! Pose!" Magilou was trying her darndest to prove her innocence as one who never bathed her hands in blood, pose after various poses. But nothing about her seems innocent. Definitely, one who prances and dances around the battlefield without the fear of death are clear signs of being combat ready. Or just insane. "And this is why you are all brawns and no brains."
"Hey! Are you going to help or not?!" Velvet's enraged voice pulls the duo out of their one-sided argument. She and Seres have teamed up to fight Oscar, who is seemingly far more combat-worthy than one would expect from his pretty boy looks and a silver tongue, considering how well he's handling an outnumbered situation. A noble-like figure who could fight? Such occurrences are rare indeed.
A short stare-down to gauge each other's skills and predict the next moves.
"Now there's a surprise! You hide it well, but regardless of your weapon of choice, your combat style bears resemblance to Artorius' teachings!" Oscar charges straight to Velvet with a very predictable overhead and appropriately blocked by the edge of Velvet's "gauntlet blade", a good way to trash a weapon sooner than usual.
"Krgh...!" There appears to be little difference in strength as the two are stuck in dead lock, a perfect situation for trash talking. "A ghost of a resemblance! I am my own person now!" The two realized that there was no need to put in needless effort into the dead lock and subsequently backed off into their respective positions. From the stands were the backseat fighters.
"Shouldn't we help them?"
Ever the one with no brains or tact. Magilou can only shrug in utter disappointment. "Can't you read the mood? There's more going on than meets the eye, you know.~" She says in her usual, singy tone. "Isn't that right, our oh-so mysterious and masked mademoiselle?" Wait, did she actually know if there is some sort of personal vendetta between Velvet and Oscar. Hm, time will tell. She isolates Seres, who is now targeted by Rokurou and Magilou's glares, awaiting her response.
"This is her battle. A trial by fire, if you would. She must prove that her hatred is enough to seize liberation. Beyond her vengeance, there's no future for her outside of this prison. Such is the fate of one with a single goal." She said all of that without much change in her facial expressions. Was there nothing more to it?
"So you're saying she's no good anywhere else if she can't even possess the strength to achieve her one goal. Sounds harsh, but I can relate." You, Rokurou? You have wise words to tell? And you say you can relate? Well, you are a samurai after all, a class of people that know nothing but servitude.
Their voices are of normal volume, but Velvet is too focused on her battle to listen. Now it was her turn to charge with a predictable thrust and Oscar deflects the attack to the right, throwing Velvet off-balance, remedying the situation by using her momentum to drive home a powerful spin hook kick. A neck-breaker indeed, especially when one considers the hidden blades on her boots, but Oscar is smart, who simply ducks, strides to the left a few distances, and spins around to put distance between him and Velvet, making sure her next attack will be out of reach.
Velvet recovers quickly, having seen Oscar just finishing his most recent maneuver, and attempts a horizontal slash, "Hah!", but as expected, it was out of reach, but a cautious Oscar steps back, hoping to gain enough distance for a safe counter attack. Ah, but of course one so vengeful as Velvet would be unrelenting in their attacks, unwilling to give the weary a breathing room. So, she quickly spins the blade at the end of her slash to smoothly transition into another horizontal slash, and when that misses, she steps forward, guides her blade around for a spin slash downwards, hoping that Oscar mistakes the preparation as an attack and fails to see the real danger.
"Hyah!"
But no, Oscar manages to step away every time and for safe measure, prepares his sword in a guarding position in case Velvet's attacks connect. And indeed, when Velvet's spin maneuver forces her to recover on the ground, making her sword arm largely absent in Oscar's eyes, she uses that to her advantage for a quick upward slash, finally connecting...to Oscar's sword, "Urgh!"
…who successfully blocks the overhead yet again. No, she would not engage in another dead lock, and thus Velvet breaks off and spins behind Oscar, preparing for another horizontal spin slash. From the left corner of his eyes, Oscar sees the attack and ducks forward, using his momentum to spin the other way and further the distance. He sees Velvet continuing her spin and charges up his own attack to meet her sword. Yes, another dead lock, one that they intend to stay in.
"Hraaggh!"
How could you guys have missed that one. Rokurou, you had one job. Seres? Take off your impractical mask for once. One of the supposed corpses was still alive and it wasn't playing around. An aura of black and purple surrounded the exorcist, who was clutching his head in obvious pain.
"A malak with demonblight?!"
Demonblight? From the sound of it, it seems like the reason people are turning into monsters or demons. But there were plenty of demons Velvet encountered while she was attempting to escape the prison and not once did she flinch. Could it have something to do with the fact that it was a malak with demonblight? Was a malak not supposed to turn into a demon? Well, it would be foolish to continue that sort of thinking, especially when the malak in question has just turned into a drake.
"It's lost control!"
Well, if stress is one cause of demonblight, I can see why it afflicted one of your men, Oscar, you who hide behind a veil of angelic innocence. And it would seem the drake was out for revenge for a second as it turns on Oscar, producing a powerful gust of wind to force him against the wall. However, it did not pursue, instead turning its head to face Velvet, charging straight at her, with mouth open, teeth baring, and claws ready to strike. Velvet was prepared to execute all maneuvers possible to save her skin, but...
"Velvet!" From the figurative stands was Seres, who could watch no longer, running straight to Velvet to defend her from the drake's claws, suffering mortal wounds to her back, but not before launching a powerful fireball that knocks the drake back to the ceiling and subsequently crashing down. Also from the stands were Rokurou and Magilou, finally taking action.
"Don't worry Velvet! We've got this!" Ah, finally you learned to read the mood Rokurou. What can only happen now is a touching scene between Velvet and a dying Seres. Velvet rushes to Seres' side, cradling her with open arms. Having a change of attitude, demon eater?
"I won't last... Please...consume me." Seres was facing Velvet. Although masked, Velvet could not stand the sight of her "gaze". Her eyes stung, so she can only look away. "My form is bound by an oath whose price is my life. The time has come to pay. Feeding on my form will grant you strength to press forward."
Each word took too much energy. Seres' voice quivered, forming only shaky sentences at best. And all Velvet could say was...
"Why...?"
"A flame burns in my heart, too. A flame I cannot quench, no matter how hard I try. Just like you, Velvet."
From her belongings, Seres' brings out a simple, brown comb. It was obviously important, seeing as how it elicited a gasp from Velvet.
"This was Laphi's!"
She was ready to take it, but hesitated. "That is why I cannot abide it. This frozen world...this frozen people... I'm just that stubborn of a woman..."
And then, Seres inserts the last of her energy into her next choice of words, hoping to give them persuasive powers. "Hurry! Before my life fades! Do it now!" What was she supposed to do, dammit?! Velvet broke through her hesitation and faced Seres, acknowledgement written across her face. She knew what to do.
And thus, the empress demon continues her legacy as she unleashes the red beast within her left arm which grasped the pitiful Seres. Such a scene did not go unnoticed from Magilou and Rokurou, despite having a tussle with a monster several times larger and perhaps more danger than they are.
"Hey! We'll be short one member pretty soon!~" And as predicted, she really does seem like the type to watch her allies die as she does nothing.
"Velvet, hey! What the hell are you doing!" Every so often when he's not busy deflecting the claws and mouth of the monster, Rokurou looks towards the scene. Maybe if he wasn't under attack, he'd be more shocked or angered. Dammit, just what the hell was that woman doing?!
"I offer no apology or thanks."
A dauntless Velvet mutes the world around her. The words from the outside are drowned out. She clutches at Seres with further strength, but still she can respond. "I need neither. Our wishes...are one...and the same" Her stern mask is shattered, along with her physical mask, finally revealing her brownish red eyes for the first, and probably last time. Every word was sincere, full of emotion, and they each struck Velvet's heart, whose face showed signs of breaking down. Seres held Velvet's monstrous claw arm with such ironic gentleness and again, speaks with that same, weak voice.
"I treasured those days...when you and I...and Arthur were...together." And there were tears. And in those teardrops showed a reflection of Velvet, who once again, lost the will to look straight at her savior, Seres.
"AHHHHHH!" Unable to bear any more heavy words, Velvet crushed the head of her savior, Seres. So brutal was the execution that the mood seemed to have stop time. That would be an exaggeration, if it wasn't for not only Rokurou and Magilou, but also the drake watching the scene unfold. What would happen next, they all wondered. Seres' form dematerializes into an orange flame, absorbed by Velvet's demonic claw.
"Have you stopped crying already?"
... So says the red robe...
"I'll stay with you then. Just for now... "
...So sung the red robe... ancient music notes emitting from the red robe...
Hyoma... You remember all of that?
"Hmm..."
That was years ago. Millions of years ago. 10 million years ago. 10. The number 10 followed by 6 zeroes.
"They helped me find that memory. Why did it appear now, though...?"
…
Who knows?
So not only does Velvet absorb Seres' powers, but she can also take a glimpse of her memories? Memories of a more innocent time. Memories containing Seres with a grayish haired man whom we can assume is this "Arthur", the duo being quite content with each other's company. Lovers, perhaps? Then there were times between the entire family containing the aforementioned characters along with Velvet and a small, blonde boy, most likely this "Laphicet" figure that Velvet keeps crying about. Yes, let's go with that. Ah... then the memories show of a sadder time. With each passing memory, Arthur looked more and more depressed and his companion, Seres, followed this path of depression. Oh...then came resolve. Resolve burned within Arthur's eyes. Was this the usual upside-down bell curve trend? One who falls further into despair, and rises up as a villain hellbent on revenge, destruction, maybe some social reformation?
...
If so, what a truly hopeless and boring villain...
...
What remained in the ashes was a ring. It was now Velvet's, who now wore the face of resolution. A resolution to perfect the face of unbridled animosity.
Now she can truly run wild, to emulate the highest of sins for her own berserked, emotions.
"She absorbed that malak's power to wield as her own?! I've never seen such a demon!"
"HRAAAAGH!"
"For thine own being, kill."
What an appropriate line for you, Velvet. Velvet, with her newfound powers, along with Rokurou, work together to destroy the drake. Just a few distances away from the action, Magilou retreats into her mind, protected by a mask of an uncharacteristic seriousness.
"How high can you rise up on emotion alone before you eventually and painfully realize the necessary duality of emotion and reason? Well, it's lonely over here at the top, so I could use the companionship of another miserable child."
For once in this entire prison ordeal, Magilou finally presented an honest-to-goodness smile. No malice, no tricks, no secrets, just a small, genuine smile.
But it seems she was in her own little world for far too long as Velvet and Rokurou finally put down the drake for good. Velvet however, has a different plan in mind for the corpse. Unleashing her claw one last time, she absorbs the drake, a small step towards the grander and ironically simple scheme of acquiring power and only power. She saw this moment, a moment in which she was in complete control, as the perfect opportunity to properly introduce herself to her enemies, who are stubbornly preparing for a second round, and perhaps even to her allies.
"I will devour demon, malak, exorcist, even humans alike." After devouring the drake, she turns to face her enemies, a face possessing absolute hatred. There was no hope for her. "I am a therion!" Turning her animosity into power in the form of a raging fireball, eerily similar to what the drake was just using...
" ...A monster known as Velvet Crowe!"
Velvet's powers have yet to learn discrimination as the tremendous fireball nearly singes Rokurou and Magilou in its path towards Oscar, who takes the full brunt of the fireball and understandably set on fire, his painful screams euphoric to Velvet's ears, but alas, cuts the sublime joy short as he teleports away from death herself. Velvet meanwhile, decides, under the weirdest and most awkward mood, with Rokurou gawking at her and Magilou observing her, that this was the best time to look at a precious memento, the brown comb, from her precious "Laphi".
No, perhaps this was the best time to look at it. Velvet chose the path towards hell and perhaps she just wanted to consult the memento if this was truly the way to go.
Regardless of this somber mood, Rokurou decides now of all times to fully introduce himself, bowing beforehand as a sign of respect. Was the sword truly that important?
"Rokurou Rangetsu at your service. When you gave me my Stormhowl, you practically gave me my life back as the two are one and the same. For that, I owe you a great debt and one I vow to repay."
Velvet crossed her arms. She trusted no one, so anyone trying to introduce themselves will be painfully analyzed to the point of excessive screening. Yes, anyone is capable of backstabbing, especially when one considers that this was a prison they were in. And especially when the next one to introduce themselves looks like a damn jester!
"Magi-"
"I already know, "Maggie-lou".
So the storm retakes its throne as the one dominant force. The conflict between life is nothing but a fleeting flicker amidst the primordial forces in the grander skies. Hyoma knew that a little too well. Being a traveler, it was inevitable that he would be tangled up in such conflicts, far too many to count, and what remains are the independent steps of an eternal, solo, wanderer.
"Hm?"
"...from paradise down to hell! No, worse! A grimy prison cell!"
"Yes, we've heard it before. Can we save the theatrics for later?"
"The storm's still raging. You'd best abandon all hopes of smooth sailing."
"Yes, yes. Let me add to that. Abandon everything you learned about directions. Once we delve into the chaos, nothing will remain!"
"Did you both change into sailors as your professions? If so, you would know about the existence of compasses. Stay here and rot or brave the storm."
"Oh... You all made it."
…
Was it a demon?
It's best if you listen to the whole story before you decide that.
…
Now then, since this is sort of a field trip, I'll be guiding your eyes.
To your left, everyone.
A familiar figure clad in a large red and black twintail trench coat, clearly the most prized piece in the attire, red collared shirt, black trousers, black shoes, red gloves, an attire that preferred two colors that proved difficult to see in the darkness of that cell. Reaching down past his eyes and ears was a slightly unkempt jet-black hair. Crimson and darkness made the perfect combination for his eyes, as they have seen all, experienced all, and struggled through all. It was not something as insignificant as "malevolence" that veiled his eyes, no... There was chaos.
The yang to that yin placed below those chaotic red and black eyes, where a smile formed. That very same, genuine, small, and weak smile. These tired malice and chaos all belonged to Hyoma.
"Former prisoners, welcome back to the Living."
A/N - Yes! We're out of this place! Onto bigger and better places.