Next part. After the next chapter I'm gonna be (attempting) a Miraculous Ladybug fanfic, so wish me luck. Maybe a more lighthearted story and characters can help me branch out from my usual doom and gloom.
Oh, and the new novel's out :) In celebration of possibly getting an actual conclusion to the overarching canon plot I'm using one of the new novel pics as my cover. By happy coincidence it works with the content of this chapter as well :D
Parting ways with Ciaran had been quiet, nothing more than a subtle nod of acknowledgement. She was going to stay with Tiffania, and for once he felt thankful - He rather doubted she would be all that happy to see him given recent events. He knew he had made the right choice, there was little doubt of that, but it did little to help the miserable feeling pooling in his chest.
In the best of all possible worlds one could simply do what they wanted, but actions had consequences. What he wanted could put her in danger. It wasn't a certainty, but it was a chance he was not willing to take. Manus was a mad beast, a monster so starved of faith that he disregarded the very simple truth of his torturers simply using Dusk's image to give him false hope of sanctuary. Nevermind the fact that if she truly knew he was there and did nothing but offer comforting words then she likely didn't care all that much about him.
And here they were again, repeating history. A wounded beast that had been saved by the fair maiden, latching onto her because she brought him hope. At least her care for him was genuine, that was more than he could say for Manus' short-lived love story, but the danger he posed was equally abhorrent. One wrong move, one line crossed...and she would be the one to suffer the consequences.
He needed to stop dwelling on it. He knelt by the bank and took another look at his reflection - Even now it still felt odd looking at a face that wasn't his, but in the end what face could he call his own? It certainly wouldn't have been Julio's, but even the body he had in Lordran was stolen from another unlucky bastard trapped in that cell. His memories of Manus reached far, but anything before being thrown into the abyss was vague at best.
"...I suppose this is who I am now." He brought a hand through the water, distorting the reflection. It wasn't what he preferred, but given the circumstances he could count himself lucky a few inches in height was the only thing he had lost. It was serviceable, and it wasn't as if he was in a relationship - at least not anymore, a part of him noted bitterly - so he had little need to care for his personal appearance.
The walk back was equally silent, broken only by the occasional bite of the forest wind. He had to admit that he would miss this place; it wasn't an easy life, but it was a taste of happiness. What was it that Guiche had said once? 'Better to have loved and lost than to never have loved at all'. Granted that was before he had separated from Montmorency so he imagined that the noble had long since changed his mind on the matter.
He would always cherish the time he had spent with Tiffania even with the knowledge that it could never come to pass again. Like Siesta, it would be another instance of momentary pain. Eventually they would all move on.
Everyone was asleep by the time he had gotten back. The kids had all chosen to stay together due to the day's events while Tiffania had likewise given the cottage for the use of her 'visitors'. Agnes had gone to town in order to prepare a carriage; Julio and...and Louise were going to leave tomorrow, or even in a few hours time if Agnes proved lucky. He supposed this truly would be their final goodbye.
He would have been lying to himself he claimed to feel nothing. He would miss Louise, but Julio could protect her until they reached Tristain again. From there he could reasonably assume the Queen, her family or those Vampires would smother her with protection to make sure she wasn't lost again. She...She wouldn't need him anymore, not like Tiffania would since she only had an aging assassin and a wolf cub to keep her safe.
The cottage felt strangely empty and cold. It was only him, Louise and Derflinger here: Louise in Tiffania's room and Derflinger in his...hah, looking back on it now it felt odd to say. His room, a place that belonged to him. He had always stayed together with Louise and the idea that he would own something of his own tickled him. It had only been a month but this place had become home to him.
It was when he passed by the door to Tiffania's room that he heard it. Two voices, their screaming barely muffled by the wood. He pressed an ear against the wood and tried to focus.
"-hel he would go back with you!? Last I checked the reason he ended up losing his memory in the first place is cause you sent him on a last stand!" That was Derflinger's voice, no doubt about it. What was he doing in Tiffania's room?
"I didn't 'send' him anywhere! I told him to go back and he stayed!" That was Louise's unmistakable screech. He loved her, but her yelling could become grating, "And lest you forget, I was right there alongside him! You act as if I sent him there to die while I hid myself like a coward!"
"Well dragon boy sure showed up at a convenient time, huh? Partner would have died or turned into some fucking monster if it wasn't for some quick thinking on my part. Now you wanna do it again when he's just barely recovered?"
"You think I did that intentionally!? I tried to get Julio to come back, but I passed out from blood loss. I came back to search for him because-"
"Because you want another Familiar? Another meat shield?" And what would partner have to look forward to if he came back, more suicide missions? I like you, Pinky, but you never know when to just fucking say NO: Catch a notorious thief? Sure! Take a letter back from a castle under siege? No problem!"
"Those things had to be done-"
"Try to fight an airfleet with nothing but faith? Absolutely! Save the Queen while she's trying to kill us? Only proper! Catch spies while partner's blind and injured protecting you? No need to even ask! Oh, how about joining a war while partner's practically being dragged through death's door? Sign me up! You seeing a link here or do I gotta keep going? Cause I'm pretty sure I can find a few more-"
"You think I wanted to do those things? That I like placing both of our lives in danger? Those are things that we had to do! The alternatives are far worse than any risk to our lives!" A stamp of her foot, "And I don't see how you have the high ground considering you tried to lie to him and keep him ignorant! What would you have done if he never recovered? If he never became 'Raziel' again?"
"At least then he'd be happy, not having people stab him every other day."
"Even if he came back with me I wouldn't make him do those things again! I...I would find another way if I had to."
"Here's an idea: You go do em alone if you have to. Leave him out of it, yeah? He's done enough for you. You're not gonna force him into more suicide missions."
"I'm not forcing to come back with me , rusty piece of-" Her next words were drowned out by Derflinger screaming something at her, which she took as provocation to heighten her insults. He had to admit at how...creative Louise had gotten with her cursing. For a prim and proper noble she certainly wasn't afraid to threaten his partner with shoving him up an ogre's buttocks.
"Haaa." He sighed, hands pressing lightly against the knob. Should he even bother going in there? They were arguing about him, and while he appreciated that both openly cared for him he didn't want to be dragged into their argument. Yes he couldn't deny that a part of him resented Louise for all the troubles they went through for her best friend or that he held ill-feelings for Derflinger keeping him in the dark in a misguided attempt at keeping him happy.
Still...he had resolved to not have any regrets left unfinished. Keeping all that hate inside did nothing for him, only allowing it to fester. He didn't have to be the naive child 'Robin' was, but he didn't need to be the monster Manus was either. He had to say goodbye to Louise properly, it...it would likely be the last time they could see one another. This time there would be no loose ends.
He opened the door.
The arguing pair stopped. Louise's head snapped to the 'intruder', her mouth open since he had caught her mid-rant. Derflinger awkwardly nudged himself from his position on the bed so that his hilt was facing him. An uncomfortable silence settled into the room, only exacerbated by the awkwardly loud creak of the door as he closed it behind him. Already he was having second thoughts about coming in.
Louise was the first to speak, "Oh, Raziel...I didn't hear you come in." She stood up straighter, wiping sweaty palms against her jacket. Was she trying to pretend none of that happened? "I was just talking with Derflinger here...well, actually he called out to me and I took him to the room since I didn't want to disturb you when you came back to sleep It would be very rude and all..."
"Uh, yeah, what Pinky said!" Derflinger added, "It's been a long day so you're probably really tired. Why don't you-"
"I heard the argument."
Louise's face fell, teeth biting into her lower lip. Derflinger lowered himself onto his sheath, nearly tipping himself over in the process. They said both tried to explain, or at least that's what he assumed they were trying to do given that they kept interrupting one another and he could barely make out the few tossed words they managed to enunciate properly.
Forget second thoughts, he was halfway considering turning around right now and pretending none of this happened.
"I am not here to lecture either of you or take sides. Best if we just drop it." He crossed his arms and shrugged. He could see the visible relief on their face/hilt, "I am not worth arguing over, at least not with the time we have left."
"Yes, Julio told me that we...Agnes, Julio and I...were going to leave in the morning..." The way she emphasized that made her silent question clear. Was he going to go with them? Would he leave Tiffania to be with her again? She'd made it clear that she wished him to.
Eyes narrowing, he looked down and released a soft breath. It would make his answer sting all the more, "Yes...I suppose that means this is goodbye for the both of us."
The devastated look on her face was brief, but it didn't stop the stab of pain in his chest upon seeing it. It was fleeting, one blink and her face had returned to a slightly more neutral expression, but she was clearly holding something back. She breathed through her nose forcefully, swallowing rapidly. Even Derflinger had gone silent despite their previous arguments.
"O-Oh...I see." She shuffled in place awkwardly, "Well...I suppose that's to be expected. If I were in your position I would choose to leave as well-"
"I do not regret the time we spent together, Louise." He stepped closer hesitantly and put a hand on her shoulder, "It was...more than a little painful," He admitted, "But through all of it I survived and we both stand here now. I would do it again if need be."
"You're only saying that because you don't have to do it anymore." She forced a smile. Perhaps it was meant to be a joke but if so it certainly had more bite to it than she intended, "Look, I get it: You love that girl. You already told me you're in a relationship-"
"Not anymore." He suppressed a frown, "We...decided to end things. With my memory recovered I am not the same person I once was and we both decided it was better this way." He was lying through his teeth, but it wasn't the first nor would it be the last one he'd do.
"Then why are you staying? If you're no longer with her then what's tying you to this place?"
"She needs my help. That woman, the Witch, she...she could come after her...and I do not trust Ciaran to protect her with nothing but that wolf by her side." He paused, considering his next words carefully, before continuing, "Louise, Tiffania is...she is a Void Mage like you are."
The reaction was instant. Mouth parting, eyes widening comically as her breathing quickened. Raziel winced and stepped back as she let out a torrent of 'Wait, WHAT!?'s along with a few 'How could an ELF have Holy Brimir's power!'. He waited for her ranting to pass, ignoring Derflinger's equally spluttered disbelief at how rusty he had gotten at finding the Chosen of Brimir.
"...Are you done?" He asked, letting out a small yawn.
Louise threw him a glare, "How could you be so nonchalant about this!? You basically told me that a half-demon has Allfather Brimir's powers!"
"I am not from your world, if you recall. The closest equivalent would be a creature of the Dark being able to use miracles...which I have successfully done more than once." He shrugged, "Regardless, you know now why I cannot leave her side. You still have Julio to protect you until you arrive in Tristain and when you see your family again...well, I doubt even the witch could push through an army."
"So you're leaving me- staying here so you can protect her?" She amended it quickly, but her verbal slip was still painfully noticeable, "Just...this all too much. How could that girl be a Void Mage? The Vallieres are an offshoot of the royal family so that at least makes some sense, but this half-Elf living in the forest...how would she have royal blood in her? If anything it should have been Prince Wales or one of his siblings."
"Contrary to popular belief, blood purity ain't the only thing that determines who becomes the Void Mage," Derflinger cut in, "I mean yeah the more old magic blood you have the more likely it is your offspring get better stuff, but like with anything it's hit or miss. If it's all about purity then Queenie would be the Void Mage, not you. Old Brim left some chance to it, ya know?"
"No, I don't know!" Louise hissed, rounding on the sword, "How could she have Void magic if she's an Elf!?"
"I guess whoever did the nasty with her mom must have been of royal blood. When it comes to Void magic age or, hel, even race don't amount to much. The Void chooses what it chooses, come what may. If it chooses a royal bastard instead of a 'proper heir' then who are we to tell it otherwise? Lest you forget, Pinky, you come from a whole line of bastards yourself so maybe it just likes the underdog.""
"Tiffania mentioned that her father was of high rank, though she does not know the exact details. Perhaps he was a member of the royal family," Raziel supplied.
"Even if we assume that she has a royal blood it doesn't change the fact that she's not even human-"
"Louise."
"What, it's true!" She turned to her former Familiar now, "Look, regardless of your feeling for her she's a half-Elf. While that might not mean anything to you they're the race that we've been at war with for six thousand years. How could a sworn enemy of Brimir be an inheritor to his magic? It just...it makes no sense! I mean next you're gonna tell me that Brimir actually had an Elven wife or something!"
Derflinger was pointedly quiet...bah, he could worry about that later, "Whether you believe me or not it is the truth. Leaving her puts her at risk and you...you do not need me anymore. The war is over, and with it the Queen can search for your so-called puppetmaster without putting you in further danger. If I leave Tiffania now she would only have Ciaran for protection, and the six of us were barely able to survive our last encounter."
"I know, damn it, it's just...fuck, Raziel." She used both hands to massage her temples, "You can't just spring this on me and say goodbye at the same time. Unless that's your plan, trying to shock me out of my depression or something."
"Nothing as complicated as that," He replied flatly, "...Forgetting Tiffania for a moment, that is my final reply - I am not coming back with you."
At the blunt reminder her anger all but dissipated and she returned to her previously torn expression, "Right...yeah, uh...well, I suppose there's nothing much I can say really." She pursed her lips, "Just...take care of yourself, alright? Who knows, when I get some free time from school during the summer I could come visit you. Now that I know where this place is I can-"
"We are not staying here." He looked away. He didn't need to see how she looked at the announcement, "Ciaran will want to leave this place. A moving target is harder to attack then a stationary one."
"Where...Where will you go?"
"I do not know." He shook his head, "Knowing her, however, she will wish to keep moving, never setting in one place for long." His expression softened, "This means we will be unable to properly keep in contact with one another. Even if I sent you a letter we would likely have already left the village by the time you managed a reply."
"So you're saying this is goodbye...for good." The last two words were uttered in a whisper, "Haha...my stomach hurts." She used her hands to cover her face. This time he did hear the distinct sound of a sob, "Just...damn it, I promised myself I'd keep my dignity if this happened."
"Perhaps we might visit Tristain eventually..." He reluctantly raised his hand and ruffled her hair. It was painfully awkward, but there nothing else he could do, "Keep yourself safe, Louise. Live your life to the best of your ability."
She hugged him, arms pulling him close and her head digging into his chest. He could feel her tears running through his shirt, "...You too, Raziel...take care of yourself, okay? And if you can...live for yourself, not just for someone else." Her voice grew softer, and he could barely hear her next words, "I...I love you. You're...one of my closest friends."
"I love you as well..." He reciprocated the embrace, closing his eyes and letting his mind wander. This would be the last time he saw her, but he was thankful they could at least say goodbye to one another properly rather than him losing himself to madness and being put down. Small fortune, but it was there.
"I...I suppose we should get some sleep." He pushed her away gently, "I need to take Derflinger back-"
"Not just yet, partner. Me and Pinky still have more to talk about," The sword said.
"Derflinger-"
"Not another argument, trust me," He interrupted, "Look, if Pinky and you are really leaving then she needs to summon another Familiar. Officially there are two criteria for summoning someone, the latter of which you already filled. And since the runes don't seem to be working even if they're stuck on you she'll either summon you again or she'll get another one. Either way it's better if she goes for the first criteria since you already fill out the latter."
"What criteria?"
"Better you not know. You're free, right? Familiar business isn't any of your concern." Raziel's eyes narrowed, "Giving me that look won't change anything, so go on and scat! You can pick me up tomorrow. Don't worry, Pinky and me promise to keep the screaming to a minimum."
"It's alright, Raziel" She took his hand and squeezed it gently, "We'll be fine. I'll...see you tomorrow.
His room felt alien to him. Looking at the darkened interior, he trudged towards the bed and sat down on top of it with a sigh. He'd stayed out of it for the entire day. It was his home for more than a month...or more accurately it had been 'Robin's' home for more than a month. The room was still technically 'his', but he felt akin to a stranger living inside a room that didn't belong to him.
At least they wouldn't have to stay here for much longer. Moving Tiffania and the rest of the children town to town would prove difficult but necessity would allow them to push through. It wasn't fair to her or the children, but they had little choice. Maybe once that witch was dead they could come back here...but how long would that take? With just the three of them it would be difficult to fight her off, let alone kill her.
Their first meeting at the port city ran through his mind again. She had toyed with him and he had survived only because of her whims. And once more in the forest; she had left her toys behind and run, leaving them to fend for themselves. They could not beat her like this. At best they could take her down with them, but her master could simply summon another Familiar and start anew.
Unless...
He moved his left hand experimentally. Derflinger had sealed the remnants, but they were still 'alive'...and so too did their power remain. Giving himself to madness would solve nothing, but what if-
He shook his head forcefully. No, falling into temptation would not be his fate. Everyone thought they could control the fragments of the abyss - They would justify it themselves, claim that they knew their limits and that they would never fall prey to its calls. Eventually the line broadens and they would claim control even as they fed on their loved ones and used them as offerings to the Dark Soul.
That would not be him.
Standing up suddenly, he dragged himself to the mirror and pressed his forehead against the cool glass, eyes closing in relief. Things were becoming complicated, though he supposed it was what 'freedom' was like. In Lordran he was a puppet being manipulated by its strings; his self-awareness of this fact did little to assuage this fact. In this world he was a Familiar, bound to Louise by the runes. Now...he was protecting Tiffania, but there was nothing binding him to her. If he wanted he could simply leave right now without looking back. He wasn't obligated to keep his promise to that senile mushroom.
His chest burned as the signet ring brushed against it. Wincing, he unbuttoned his shirt and threw it on the bed haphazardly, his neckace following quickly, "Damn assassin..." He touched the ornate wound at the center of his chest. The cuts and holes lining the rest of his body had slowly but surely already started healing, and yet the scar left by the amulet remained. He touched the wound gingerly and bit back a cry of pain. It still hurt, and it showed no signs of letting up.
A permanent reminder, he supposed. He doubted Ciaran would care overtly much if he actually told her (more likely she would consider it karmic retribution) so better he keep it to himself. So long as he avoided agitating the wound it would be nothing more than a light burn.
The door opening behind him was deafening in the still room. Inclining his head somewhat he caught sight of Julio stepping into the room before closing the door behind him, a pleasant smile on his face as always. He raised an eyebrow slightly before looking back to the mirror. Whatever he wanted he saw no reason to trouble himself. They would be gone in a few hours time regardless.
Whatever it was he was going to ask, he certainly didn't expect the priest to hug him from behind.
Arms snaking around his waist, he could feel gloved hands pressing into his chest and pulling him closer. Fingers traced the various cuts spread across his chest before stopping at the scar placed right at the center. Raziel shifted uncomfortably, trying to keep himself from elbowing the priest in the gut. Whatever he was doing he was pretty sure he could accurately blame it on his soul's influence.
"...What do you want?" He turned towards the taller male slightly, looking at him from the side. It was somewhat annoying being forced to look up at him now, but he would get used to it in due time.
He didn't answer, choosing instead to press his lips to his neck. Raziel's eye twitched, though again he resisted the urge to elbow him in the gut. From a purely physical perspective it wasn't unpleasant, but he didn't exactly like Julio. Granted he didn't hate him now either, but that didn't mean he would enjoy this.
"When I first saw you in the forest, I almost didn't recognize you..." His breath was warm against his ear. Mercifully his fingers stopped tracing his wounds, settling instead on his bare arms, "I must say you look beautiful in this form, almost like your sisters in a way. I only saw one of them briefly - the one calling herself Nashandra - but I must say you hold a striking resemblance."
"If you are trying to seduce me then it is not working." He muttered flatly, rolling his eyes at the priest, "Lest you get any ideas, I am still male physically."
"You say that as if it as deterrent." He didn't need to look in the mirror to see Julio's amused smirk, "It is merely a compliment, my friend. This new form suits you."
"Better than looking in the mirror and seeing your face, certainly." He agreed, shifting once more to loosen Julio's grip on him. He was still caught in the embrace, though it was much less unpleasant now, "If you came here simply to compliment me then might I suggest that you rein in the soul's influence? I do not blame you for this, but I would appreciate it if you did more to resist."
While Julio seemed to take no notice of his vow of celibacy, he would not do this without a nudge. It was the same compulsion that made him draw out the suffering of his enemies or to feed on their still-warm corpses. If he wished to distance himself from that then he could give Julio the benefit of the doubt.
"Ah, yes, I was wondering why you didn't attack me at the first opportunity." He placed his chin atop his head, ignoring Raziel's half-hearted glare on the reflection, "I am drawn to you like moths to a flame. Light needs Dark, you should know this. Even in your time the powers of a bonfire only strengthened when fed Humanity. Even the Firekeepers give their very soul to feed the flames."
"And yet Light does not need Dark," He countered, nudging Julio's head off. He was pushing his luck, "Again, rein in Gwyn's soul before I lose my patience."
"It is difficult at times." He admitted softly, his hold faltering, "Sir. Ciaran does not suffer from this compulsion, nor will others who have a soul of Light. Gwyn was...he looked to the Light as if it held all the answers. I am compelled both to kill you, and yet I am also tempted with the idea of bending you to my will. We both need one another, and yet the hate grows ever stronger."
"The hate part I can agree with. I wanted to kill you, if you recall."
"Yes indeed." He chuckled, "I suppose it is the price we pay for the souls we have been born with."
"If you want to kill me then kill me. I know you are trying to express your...desires with less-hostile methods, but at least stabbing me is honest."
"I did leave you to die..." It was probably his imagination, but he could have sworn he heard a tinge of regret, "If need be I would do so again, but only because we are both expendable. We...our souls...are tied to the cycles. Only the Void Mages have a true chance of breaking the wheel of fate."
"Spare me the speeches of destiny, I already heard enough of that," He scoffed.
"Dismissing the truth does not make it disappear," He hummed, hands once again wandering, "...These wounds you suffer...would you like me to heal you? Offensive miracles are difficult for me to use, but if it's simple healing then it would be of little difficulty."
He looked up and blinked. Julio's face was close...a little bit too close for comfort. The priest gave him a coy smile and leaned in, lips nearly brushing against his, "...You have a vow of celibacy, if I remember right." He pressed his palm against the moon-eyed blonde's mouth and pushed him away. He had already failed in two relationships, acts of affection with one whose very nature contrasted with his could only end badly.
Still, there was sincerity in his words. That was something he didn't expect, "As for your offer...you know as well as I that it would not work." He grabbed Julio's arms and pried them off gently. He didn't resist, "I appreciate the offer, of course, but Light and Dark cannot coexist in such a way. You could no more heal me with your miracles than I could heal you with Humanity."
"You have used miracles before," Julio pointed out.
"Perhaps, but that was before he had fully awoken. Now I am a creature of the Dark," Raziel turned to face him and raised his right hand, the flesh quickly covering itself in a dark coating of fire, "Even my Pyromancy has been tainted. Even with a talisman I doubt I could use miracles now."
"And yet you stand here in front of me not as a mindless beast but as a man." Julio's laughed softly, his gaze hardening. The soul must have finally been sated, "I...thank you for putting up with my actions. I have had years to learn to deal with desires, but being near you...it as if the fire burns brighter." He eyed the scar at his chest, "...Gwyn always wanted to apologize to you. Even now, he wishes to make amends. Perhaps that explains the ease of which I am drawn to you."
"If that is so then you are alone in that regard. Even as Manus realized Velka played him for a fool he never stopped hating his 'brother'." He crossed his arms, "To get back to our previous discussion, what is it that you came here to do? I assume you did not come here simply for that clumsy attempt at seduction."
"You wound me, Sir. Raziel. Normally my attempts are not so crass," He deflected easily. Raziel's eyes narrowed, "But to answer your question fully, yes. I am curious: You are not coming back with us tomorrow?"
"No...I am staying with Tiffania." He sighed. He didn't want to talk about it, "She needs all the help she can if this witch catches up with us."
"Her name is Sheffield, or at least that is what she calls herself. I suspect she abandoned her former name," Julio replied, "Still, you do realize that this course of action is foolish, yes? As strong as you and Sir. Ciaran both are, Lady Sheffield's power is above us all. Were it not for Ms. Valliere's magic she would have killed us all."
"I am aware of that, yes, but we have little choice." His voice had taken on a harder edge, "What else do you suggest we do? Go with you and Louise back to the academy?"
"Yes, actually." Raziel's incredulous look caused a chortle of amusement, "She will not be safe moving from town to town, but it is doubtful this woman would be audacious enough to attack the Tristain magic academy, at least not so brazenly. To do so would be marking herself for death."
"The academy has been attacked at least twice now. I doubt its reputation of letting mercenaries and bandits take advantage of them will deter her," He dismissed.
"And both times it has survived and pulled itself together."
"Out of mere luck." He muttered, "Regardless, she cannot attend the school. Tiffania is...she has Oolacilian blood. Those ears of hers mark her as such. It would be akin to leading a Firekeeper into a pack of starved Undead - She will be torn apart." He winced at the image. Whether the Oolacilians or Elves were the same thing didn't matter; they wouldn't care once they saw her ears.
"I am not claiming that she has to go there as such," Julio answered lightly, "There is magic that can conceal her ears. Charms and the like, put in accessories like the necklace you wear," He walked to the bed and picked up the dull silver chain, "So long as she wears it she will be able to conceal her true identity. I'm sure Queen Henrietta will be more than eager to make the arrangement if we explain the situation."
"A risky bid..."
"As is your plan to drag her all through the country," He countered, "This will also allow her to have a semblance of a normal life and for those children to be put in a proper orphanage." His smile faltered, "Their idyllic life here cannot last forever, as you yourself can attest. Eventually they must face the harsh truths of the world and leave their comforting sanctuaries."
"Two less-than-ideal options then..."
"I asked her before coming here," Julio said. Raziel's eyes widened, "Out of curiosity, did you ask her what she wanted?" The former Familiar opened his mouth to reply but the priest cut him off, "Given her confusion I would have to assume no." He raised his shoulders slightly in an assured shrug, "You and Sir. Ciaran both believe that you are working in her best interests, but perhaps you should have talked to her first."
Raziel scowled, looking away, "...What did she say?"
"She was interested in going back to the academy if staying here was no longer an option," He dropped the chain and moved to stand in front of him again, "She was saddened, of course, but she is keeping an open mind."
"I...see..."
"She does not blame you, if that's what you're worrying about," Julio assured him, "You may think you drew that woman here, but believe me when I say it would only have been an inevitability. Void Mages are highly sought after, and they cannot remain hidden forever."
"Her life should not be determined by her magic..."
"In a fair world, certainly, but not the world we live in." Julio grabbed his chin and forced him to look up at him once more, "You must admit that this option is the best of both worlds. You can keep Lady Tiffania safe and you can still stay with Lady Valliere."
He pushed Julio's hand away and sighed. Whether he agreed or not he had to admit that both plans were equally poor in practice. Both held risks of her being exposed, both left them open to being attacked by the witch and her mother.
"Why are you so invested in her protection?" Raziel asked, "You have just met her today. I would have thought your focus would be solely on Louise."
"I have known of her for a while now, actually. I simply wasn't aware that she was an inheritor of Allfather Brimir's magic," He answered, "I had met her 'sister' a few months ago. Right now I suspect she's on her way to meet my master, so I am of course interested in her protection. I'm sure Miss. Fouquet would be appreciative as well. Worry not, I will explain the situation when I meet her next."
"You know...nevermind, I suppose I should not be surprised." He rolled his eyes, "Last question then: What is your plan for her?"
"Nothing-"
"Do not give me that. Even if you are not Gwyn there are still similarities between you." He smiled wryly, "He presented himself as an all-caring deity, but he always expected something return. Protection in exchange of worship; a dukedom in exchange for betrayal; blessings in exchange for subservience. You would not go to such lengths out of the kindness of your heart."
"Gwyn was capable of altruism, even if you couldn't see it." He replied, "Regardless, what I want is irrelevant. Her fate is set, I do not control her destiny. Allfather Brimir ensured that his descendants would follow in his footsteps to try and end the cycles that bind us all. I do not have to nudge her, but I will do my best to protect her along with Miss. Valliere."
"You plan to use her..." Raziel's voice dipped lower, almost venomous, "She is...She is not a pawn in a board for you to manipulate."
"We are all pawns, Sir. Raziel. My master and I simply see the hands that move us." He spread his arms, "Regardless, if you believe that I plan to manipulate her then you are free to kill me. If you believe that you can tip the board then it should be easy enough kill one of the pieces, yes?"
Before he could truly understand what he was doing his hand shot out and grabbed Julio's neck. Julio's smile never faltered nor did he make any move to resist even as his grip tightened and the audible snapping of bone echoed through the room.
Through dull eyes he watched the priest's body crumple to the ground. Raziel raised the shaking hand, staring at it in disbelief. There was no blood, either on him or on the dead priest. He had killed cleanly, quickly. He looked to the dead body saw empty eyes staring back at him, the smile seemingly mocking him. He had wished him dead before, even beating him when the fragments had taken over.
And yet now he felt sick.
Using a free hand to cover his mouth, he turned away from him and tried to suppress the bubbling feeling of disgust pooling in his stomach. He had killed before. Hundreds...Thousands if he factored in the events of Saxe-Gotha...and yet now all he could feel was sickness upon looking at the still-warm corpse. He had killed people for less, he had driven hundreds if not thousands insane a month prior and yet he felt nothing. But now he felt...
Guilt...he felt guilt.
Teeth baring in a snarl, he punched the wall in frustration and tried to calm himself. It wasn't guilt for Julio, but for the act itself. It was involuntary; he felt no guilt threatening Ciaran or snapping Julio's neck. But afterwards, as he looked at the dead body...he could feel the sickness worsening.
He knew the cause.
"No, I think you still got a little bit of the kid inside. Stuff like that doesn't just get erased."
He remembered the child, looking at the world through a lens of innocence and naivete. He lived life thinking one could avoid killing, blissfully unaware of the dangers of the world. He could still kill if he had to, and eventually the guilt would fade. If someone like Louise could eventually grow to become apathetic to the act of taking a life then he would be able to do so as well.
Until then this would be...inconvenient.
The bright light reflecting on the wall caught his attention. Turning back, his mouth parted in silent shock as he saw Julio sit up and rub his neck, "...Well now, I suppose that makes us even." He closed one eye and grimaced slightly, "I left you to die, and you snapped my neck. A life for a life, so to speak." He laughed, his voice hoarse, "Why do you look so surprised?"
"How are you alive...?"
"Hmm? Come now, I would have thought you of all people would not be shocked." He stood up shakily, "My body might be human, but my soul is that of a God. Miracles have healed far more severe wounds." He dusted off his pants, "I suppose I should thank you for killing me in such a clean way. While I am relatively confident in my healing abilities, the more mangled a body is the more difficult it is to revive. Had you lopped off my arms or tore open my stomach I would be dead now."
"Why tell me this? I did just kill you..." He pointed out, the bile slowly but surely falling. Looking back on it he shouldn't have been so shocked; he had come back from death more than enough times to get used to it.
"I trust that you will not do so again." He shrugged half-heartedly, "Despite our differences I do hope that we could become friends. I do not hold your previous actions against you; nothing more than an emotional outburst. I have fallen prey to losing control myself before." He chuckled, "...I am curious about something, however. I hope you will indulge me."
"Considering I killed you, I suppose I should do so." He grunted.
"Lady Tiffania...it is obvious she cares about you. The severity of this care is clear to me, but I wonder...would you be willing to be her Familiar if it came down to it?"
"I am already bound to Louise, if you recall." He raised his left hand and showed him the runes, "Why would she summon me and not someone unbound?"
"Oh, I suppose you would not know." He covered his mouth to stifle his giggles, "Familiars can be summoned for one of two reasons. The first being destiny; the runes choose a Familiar that would be the most receptive to being bound to a single master. Many great warriors would refuse to be subservient to a young girl, so they must be careful of who they choose."
"Like Louise and I."
"Precisely." He nodded, "The second is of love." He smirked at Raziel's surprised blink, "If the Void Mage cares about a certain individual, enough to spend the rest of their lives with them, then the runes take this into account. Clearly if the inheritor cares about someone in such a way they would be a viable Familiar, yes? Romantic, familial...love is love, and should it prove strong enough that individual will be summoned."
"You are saying that..." He couldn't finish.
"That Lady Tiffania would summon you? There is a possibility, yes." He continued for him, "She cares about you, regardless of her grief now. I don't know exactly what happened, but a love like that won't fade so suddenly."
"If she summons me then...I do not know." He looked away, making a sound of frustration.
"Do not worry, you have plenty of time. Until Lady Sheffield's master has been dealt with I doubt she will wish to summon anyone." He clapped his shoulder, leaning in closer to he could whisper in his ear, "Think on it for a while, my friend. Our fate could rest in your hands, after all."
"Just like Lordran." He laughed bitterly. Some things never did change.
Henrietta hated chess.
Actually that wasn't the whole truth. When she was younger she had adored the game, playing it with her father whatever chance she got. She had never been that close to her paternal parent, but she still remembered the games of chess they played with one another. It was a game of wits between the two, one she inevitably lost due to lack of experience.
As the years passed her skill with the game grew, but by then it was a bit too late. Her father passed away before she properly entered her teens and by then all she could do was play the occasional game with the Cardinal in an effort to stave off her boredom. She'd played with other nobles, some of them actually proving adept enough at the game to beat her, but eventually she grew tired of it.
It wasn't the game itself, but rather the way they discussed it. Many acted as if being adept a game with set rules and strategies made them clever, showed that they were wise to the ways of the world. More than a few prospective suits in years past had taken to using chess as a metaphor for their intelligence, claiming that their prowess in a game substituted for experience in war and conflict.
Those very same nobles had likely never picked up a sword save to pose in front of a painting.
She was no veteran of war, but she now knew the consequences. They claimed that chess was a matter of strategy: One pawn sacrificed to bait the knight, that knight to be used as a draw for the rook and so and and so forth. Save the king they were all expendable, to be used by the players for their strategies.
God, now she was substituting chess for her own experiences.
"Your move, Queen Henrietta." General Hawkins called from across her.
The General and her...well, they weren't friends in the strictest sense of the word, but they both held an understanding between them. She couldn't talk to the other commanders; she could only see them for the cowards that sent her closest friend to death and then tried to claim bravery. King Joseph proved taxing to talk to for any period of time and Emperor Albrecht III...the less said of him the better. If he thought he was being subtle with his wandering eyes then he was surely mistaken. It was clear he had regretted the marriage's annulment even now.
"Oh, yes. Apologies." She moved a pawn across the board, placing it across a knight.
"You seem distracted, Your Majesty." He placed a rook to capture her pawn.
"Nothing more than personal musings." She used her own knight to capture the rook. A simple bait, and yet he had fallen for it. Or perhaps he was willing to give her a chance to even the score.
"Would you like to discuss it?" He moved a bishop to the right edge of the board, gaining an open field to her king, "Check."
"I would hate to bother you." She moved the rook forward to take the bishop. She frowned; his knight had an open chance to take it now.
"Better than the stifling silence, Your Grace." Take her rook he did. She was down to a few pieces.
"I suppose..." She moved her knight forward, making sure to keep it away from any of his pieces' line of attack, "Tell me...what made you decide to enter the military? Was it a familial duty or a personal one?"
"A little bit of both, I suppose." He moved a pawn forward. Her eyes narrowed; was it bait or something else? "My family has long been known for our distinguished military record, but in recent generations we have grown content on taking accolades from the accomplishments of our ancestors. I wished to be able to prove that I could do more than rely on old war tales."
"Given your position, it seems you succeeded." She moved the knight forward, again careful to keep it away from any attack.
"Considering the disastrous results of last month's battle, perhaps not." He let out a dry chuckle and smiled wryly. Another pawn moved ahead, "Why the curiosity, Your Majesty."
"You are adept at this game, that is clear." She moved a bishop to take the pawn, "Many of those who I'd contended with in the past claimed experience in true conflict when questioned on their expertise." Considering how many of them had lost, it didn't bode well for their supposed experience.
"Ah, yes. Using chess as an equivalent to war is most common, if a misconception." Another pawn moved, taking one of her own. He was clearing a path, "Chess and warfare are nothing alike and any who claim otherwise have never been in a position to lead."
"Oh?" She already knew that, but it was refreshing to hear another person admit it. She eyed his Queen and then hers; that was his trump card.
"The most marked difference would be the lack of consequences. Pawn, knight, rook, bishop or even the queen; all ultimately expendable." He took one of her few remaining pawns, "One is encouraged to sacrifice their pieces if it means achieving victory." He rubbed his thick mustache, " To a degree this might be encouraged in true battle as well. It is often said that blood is the currency of war, but the mark of a true leader would be the one who achieved victory with as little cost as possible. I imagine that if many of these so-called experts were in an actual war their own men would turn on them before the enemy even comes close enough to raise their sword."
"You sound as if you speak from experience." She moved her Queen to the side. With any luck he would take no special notice of it.
"In my position, you often meet many of those types." He chuckled, moving one of his knights across. He hadn't noticed, "They do not seem to grasp that the life of a soldier is not the same as a pawn on a board, that they would not be so willing to sacrifice their lives for a mere feint. To them war is a game with rules and proper conduct. They play at battle without truly understanding."
She had played at war as well.
"Hmm..." She moved her knight ahead. He had left his King exposed, putting all of his forces on her side to try and take hers. Still, so long as he didn't move his king her knight wouldn't be able to take his head piece.
Sacrificed thousands in order to 'win the game'.
"Was that all, Your Majesty?" Another pawn lost. He was getting closer to her King.
Even her best friend had been used as a weapon.
"Yes. As I said it was nothing more than a mere curiosity." She moved the Queen right once more. From there it would be a straight shot to his king.
It should have been her.
As a child she often wondered why certain pieces could only move a certain way and why the Queen in particular was so valuable. It was only upon growing older that she realized that it only made the Queen all the more expendable; one would definitely use their strongest pawn to take as many pieces as they could. In a game like this only the king was truly irreplaceable even in spite of its uselessness in the game.
Not Louise. She should have paid the price instead.
One more move before she could take his king. Henrietta smirked and moved her Queen across the field, placing it in front of his king, "Checkmate."
She should have died instead.
The general blinked, his eyes looking across the board, before his face broke out into a smile, "Very clever, Your Majesty." He picked up his king and took her queen. He had already lost the game, but there was no shame in fighting the end. As soon as her queen was taken she used her remaining knight and took his king, causing his smile to widen into an amused laugh.
A Queen sacrificed and a battle won. If only things were always that easy.
"Well, it appears you've beat me handily." He clapped twice, "You seem to be adept in this game as well."
"I was merely taught well." A pair of footsteps caused her to look the side. A young messenger presented her a roll of parchment before bowing nervously and leaving. Opening it, her eyes widened slightly at the contents. It was the scroll she had given Agnes prior to her mission. That it would be here now could only mean she had already gotten back...though whether she had succeeded was another thing entirely.
"You must take your leave, I suppose?" He asked. She nodded, "Well, thank you for the game. If you wish for another then you know where to find me."
She watched the General leave before taking her leave as well, walking towards the entrance of the building slowly. It had only been a few days, how had Agnes finished so quickly? With every step she took she could feel hope and bile rise in equal measure. It was rather unlikely that she had found Louise and her mysterious savior so quickly and there was more likely chance that she had found Louise's dead bo-
No, she wasn't going to finish that line of thought.
Moving to the entrance hall, a pair of guards stood up straighter as she passed. The hall wasn't exactly the most private of places to meet, but there was a certain safety in the openness of it. Looking the small crowd that had gathered, she froze in her tracks.
Many of them were unrecognizable: A masked woman of some sort, a young girl holding onto her hat as if her life depended on it and a gaggle of children that pointed and looked on in awe at the architecture. A small distance away she could see Agnes standing next to Julio and another young man(?) that she couldn't recognize.
But that moment none of them mattered.
Ahead of the others stood Louise, looking at her with what appeared to be a mix of relief and apprehension. The younger girl bowed awkwardly and said something to her but she couldn't make out what it was. It could have been explanations for how she survived or it could have been condemnation of her for sending her to that hopeless war in the first place.
Right at this moment she didn't care and pulled the girl into a tight embrace, tears spilling from her eyes.
"Louise...is it really you?" She asked, her voice barely a soft whisper. Louise squirmed at her firm grip but did her best to nod regardless, "You're...You're alive..." She felt her knees go weak as more tears escaped her closed eyes. She didn't care if this was improper or that her etiquette was ill-befitting of someone of her station. They could all point, laugh and deride her for being a boorish royal.
Louise was alive. At that moment that was all that mattered.
From the side, Raziel's face broke into a slight smile as Louise continued to sputter out explanation to the relieved Queen. The entire way here Louise had been nervous, muttering to herself on how she planned to explain her unexpected recovery. Even now as she tried to explain herself the Queen ignored her, simply hugging the girl out of relief and ignoring everything and everyone else.
His attention was drawn from the pair to Tiffania's group. The children seemed to be having fun with the change of scenery, though Tiffania herself continued to look around nervously for anyone that might catch sight of her ears. Judging by the way some of the guards were staring at her she had certainly caught their attention and not in the way she might have thought.
No, he wasn't jealous. It wasn't as if they were in a relationship so he had no right to be.
Ciaran stood by herself and even with her mask he could tell she was less than pleased with the sudden change of plans. Still, there was little she could do - The children didn't trust her and they still trusted him. When he had followed Julio and Tiffania's plans instead of hers the children followed him and Tiffania would have never separated from them willingly. She would have had to leave them or follow, and the latter was the lesser of two evils for her.
"Hey, kid, something wrong?" Agnes nudged his side, looking at him worriedly.
He stopped looking at them and gave the musketeer a quick nod, "Ah...it is nothing, my mind simply wandered..."
'Kid'...even after he regained his memory she still called him by that impromptu nickname. Normally he disliked being treated like a child, but the knight seemed to hold no malice in it. It was...an affectation of a sort, and he could appreciate it for what it was. They never really got along before the events at Saxe-Gotha so perhaps this would be a chance to fix that.
After all, why would he let hate fester when there was no need?
The reunion continued for a while yet, but eventually the monarch let go of Louise and invited her to her private chambers. The others were given temporary lodgings, a favor the Queen had pulled given that the peace treaties seemed to not be making any leeway.
Raziel looked around his temporary room and let out a soft breath. Given the lavish decorations that lined the interior he could reasonably assume that it was used for visiting nobles. Plopping down on the bed, he looked up at the ceiling for a moment before closing his eyes. He wasn't tired, but he did need to think. What were they supposed to do now? Even assuming they could successfully take Tiffania to the academy and have her attend would they simply wait there for the witch to attack them?
That wasn't even getting to the fact that they would have to tell Queen Henrietta about her Void Magic. As much as Louise might have trusted her she had taken advantage of her best friend's abilities. Tiffania wouldn't be used as a weapon no matter what Julio said. He would do his best to prevent that from happening.
Tiffania and her children were given lodgings in one of the more spacious rooms. He wanted to go with them, but Tiffania's rushed 'We'll be fine, please don't worry about us' sent a rather clear message: She didn't want him there. He supposed it was only natural; kind as she was he had ended their relationship in a rather abrupt manner. Anyone would need space...and besides, Ciaran and that wolf of hers could keep her safe for now.
Off to the side Derflinger was eerily quiet. He'd questioned him on the subject of his conversation with Louise but the sword had (surprisingly) kept mum about it. Right now he was 'maintaining the seals', which meant that he would not be conversing any time soon. Releasing another sigh, he took off his shirt before lying down on the bed once more. It was only early afternoon, perhaps a nap would do him some good.
By the time he had woken up the room was dark. Sitting up on the bed, he looked to the window and saw the dark sky stained with flecks of light. How long had he been asleep? Shaking his head, he stood up and walked towards the window for a better look. The moons were high in the sky, but with every minute that passed the sky seemed to lighten. Early morning? How had he slept so long?
A knock at his door jarred him out of his musings. It was still early...who would visit in such an hour? His shoulders slackened and he rolled his eyes; great, now he was being paranoid. This place was one of the most well-guarded buildings in all of Albion, it was doubtful the witch could brazenly walk to his temporary room and knock on the door. It was probably Louise or Julio.
If it was the latter he could hopefully keep his soul's influence in check. He didn't need another clumsy attempt at seduction.
"Hold a moment." He grabbed his shirt and draped it over himself loosely. At least most of his wounds had already healed, "Yes, what is it..."
If he expected anyone to be knocking on his door at such an early hour it certainly wouldn't have been Queen Henrietta. The monarch blinked, one hand still raised presumably to knock again. As befitting of the early hour she was still dressed in her sleepwear, though she had the common decency to put a loose robe over it. Her gaze wandered from his face to the scar at his chest.
He turned around quickly, buttoning up his shirt as fast as he could. From behind him the Queen coughed politely and waited for him to finish.
"Have I...caught you at a bad time?" She asked.
"No, it is...simply unexpected..." He stepped aside and let her inside. He watched her take a seat at the small table before closing the door gently. Better not wake anyone else up, "...What are you doing here? I would have thought you would still be with Louise."
"She's sleeping now. I'll visit her again when she wakes." She crossed one leg over the other, her posture straightening. She gestured to the seat across from her and he reluctantly sat, "It was...a relief to see that she is alive and mostly unharmed. I already thanked Sir. Julio profusely for his help."
"Right..." So what did she need him for again? "I still see no purpose to your visit here."
"Louise...told me about your situation along with that of Lady Tiffania." Her hands played with the empty cup atop the wooden surface, "That she is a Void Mage would mean that we share blood...that she is related to the ruling family of Albion."
"A royal bastard, in Derflinger's words," He murmured, "What of it? As I understand royalty always have a few illegitimate children they put into orphanages, or at least that is what Julio claims."
"Yes. Many of the children are the dirty little secrets..." She pursed her lips. Clearly it was an issue for her, "I will converse with Lady Tiffania once more in a few hours time, but I have questions that I believe you may have the answers to."
"Hmm?" He raised an eyebrow. What could she need from him?
"Just to be clear, you are Sir. Raziel, yes?" She looked him up and down, gauging his appearance, "Louise told me that your physical features had changed so I wish to make sure."
"Yes...I am still Raziel." His eyes narrowed, mouth curling in annoyance. He would have preferred if she didn't announce it to the world that he was still the same person. Better to not dig up any more graves, "As for my appearance...it is a complicated story, and one I would rather not recount."
"Fair enough." She agreed, "To focus on the subject then. You told me before that you came from a land called Lordran and that you are an Undead. Is this true?" He nodded, a feeling of uncertainty suddenly running through him. Why did she need to know? "I...am aware that you might not have fond memories of the place, but I need you to tell me all you know. It is crucial."
"If possible I would rather avoid drudging up the past." He muttered, "I have escaped from Lordran already, recounting the events helps no one."
Henrietta gave a soft sigh of frustration. He had the most knowledge above anyone she knew, and he refused to speak. Alsanna knew precious little of the 'cycle before her own' so she couldn't afford to drop this.
She would have to take a risk.
"If that is all you came here to discuss then-"
"Does the name Gwynevere mean anything to you?"
And done. I had to cut the chapter again cause it was getting bloated and reached 11k words, already breaking my self-imposed limit of 8-10k words maximum per chapter. I'll post the next one when I can then I can transfer some attention to a Miraculuous Ladybug fanfic.
Anyway, this chapter was pretty easy and slow-going. The scene with Julio was a bit more difficult to write, but as my friend assures me I am a 'natural' (though I personally don't agree). If you think it's awkward or weird then yeah it's supposed to be, especially since Raziel is only playing along to let Julio 'get it out of his system' so to speak. Even then he has his limits and he nudges Julio off if he gets too close.
Just gonna put this here because I just know people are gonna ask - Julio's pansexal, it comes with having the soul of the equivalent to Zeus. Raziel is demisexual in that he experiences attraction only when he forms an emotional connection with someone whether they be male or female. There, hope that puts down some of the questions people are going to be asking. Twisted Reflections isn't primarily a romance story so just consider this extra character info that helps explain some interactions.
And no, he doesn't like Julio romantically nor is he attracted to him.
Before anyone asks; no I didn't forget about Wardes. It simply slipped Raziel's mind when he was talking with Louise given the situation. Considering he just broke up with Tiffania and is facing the prospect of saying goodbye to Louise forever it's of little surprise. It'll come in later.
Mo Eazy - I have more plans for Agnes, worry not. Granted her role has been lessened from before: If I had gone with the second segment draft Agnes would have been the POV character for more segments. Now that Raziel's stable she'll still be there, but in a less focused role. She still has some plot importance though.
The Dark being seductive definitely seems the most apt comparison, which makes Raziel's marked lack of interest in sex and the like all the more noticeable for him being an aberration. Julio's actions also definitely put a more sexual spin on some of the urges those with a Light soul have, which really isn't that surprising since Gods in mythology tend to be a randy bunch.
ArkT - Not really interested. I'll check it out for the lore, but little else. I doubt I can put any of said lore into the story since it's bloated enough as it is but it should be interesting food for thought.
Remvis - I could make that sort of relationship of 'enemies becoming reluctant friends', but it probably wouldn't be romantic. Raziel and Louise had a similar dynamic of going from Master and Familiar to two close friends willing to die for the other.
I would argue that being an asshole isn't a sign of being a good character. Meta-wise maybe, but in-universe being nice takes about as much effort as being a complete tosser. Being nice is a personality in as much as being a jerk is. It's only when a character is a doormat that they lack personality, and I argue that Siesta or Tiffania aren't doormats since they have their own opinions and choices.
Demons Anarchy of Pride - She. Chester's comments refer to her as female. But yeah, lots of Dark Souls II references though I'm going to be honest now: There's a very good chance little to none of the side-characters of DSII will show up since they'd have no role in the plot. Alsanna has plot relevance, Lucatiel doesn't.
Mingyu - What makes you say that? I mean just because people's bodies aren't found doesn't mean they're alive. And yeah, hope you guys like the more mixed writing style. There's still some doom and gloom there, but characters aren't wallowing in it.
The Taco Guy - More proactive really. Rather than waiting for Sheffield to come to them they try to make plans to dodge her. Likewise while he's reluctant to help Elizabeth he also agrees to help her, even breaking up with Tiffania rather than waffling around. To a more negative degree he's also successfully goaded by Julio to killing him, whereas before he'd probably ignore his comments.
DMD Hanafin - There's a difference between dark and edgy, you know. The overall narrative is still pretty dark, the characters just don't wallow in self-pity anymore save for that brief moment with Henrietta and even then she pulls herself together to focus on Alsanna's warnings.