Chapter theme: Someday; watch?time_continue=1&v=rqtTnEcIxgw&feature=emb_logo&ab_channel=All-4-One%28OfficialChannel%29
Terminology:
SDT: SUBTERRANEAN DEMON TRIBE, often used to describe sentient and non-aggressive demons.
USF: UNITED SUBTERRANEAN FRONT, the recognized sovereign citizens of the Ebott. Valley demon association.
NNH: New New Home, the town's name. The only city located in the USF.
Central: Central Government, central city, main human settlement where the Grand Senate is instated.
WG: World Government, The coalition of governments, cities and island states, headed the Grand Senate.
WM: World Military, the standing widespread military for the entire world bar a few states and countries.
OTS: Order Of The Sword, a religious faction mainly situated in the city of fortuna, radical Sparda worshippers.
Disclaimer: Certain aspects of this story are based on a loosely fictional and exaggerated version of reality, of what is possible, of what could be, to understand this is to understand that there is no agenda… Make your own conclusions, what you think is right.
I own nothing.
Sin Trigger
Fortuna was a place where people could make their own lives, to beat out a path by themselves… But no man is an island, and if he crumbles here…? Who will be there to pick him up, who could possibly dither to help others when faced with this question?
Well, many could. But Vergil was not one of them, especially when bared with a pure soul as she… The son of Sparda could only stand as still as stone looking upon her, a woman from the first glance was merely another of the faceless Fortuna residents… A name lost in the cold of this city. And so, this woman, promiscuous yet pure… She shuffled in place, trying to appear smaller underneath his piercing gaze. She hadn't finished her introduction, hardly stuttering it out against his piercing gaze.
Recognition in each eye, "You're the… The white haired hunter… Vergil."
"You know me?"
She gains a slight confidence, "Yes, of course! I-I mean you've been the talk of the town lately, I… Darn, I'm tripping over word-" Vergil was upon her in a moment, towering over her and staring down with those incredibly perceptive eyes. He silenced her with a single gesture, just like he would with... With...
His single finger had covered her lips, "Breathe, do not be overwhelmed. I am a man as any, I breathe, think, act, feel just as any man does." Voice softer than it was normally, even Vergil felt slightly surprised at how calm he sounded. How reserved.
It seemed to do the trick, nonetheless. "Ah, thank you kind sir… I almost let myself get carried away, gets me into quite a bit of trouble with Mother Diana." She rubbed the back of her head and adjusted her hair.
Vergil nodded, "This Mother Diana is your contractor then?" Ifalna nods as well, opening her mouth to elaborate only to keep her words silent…
"Yes…" Her already tiny voice became even tinier, giving the son of Sparda an impression of… Fear? No, maybe trepidation.
Vergil decided to nip the bud before it even grew, "Don't shy away from your past." A simple virtue, was adhering to the past with the respect it deserved… To learn from it.
"I-im not, why do you say that huh?" Mildly defensive as she is, Vergil can't help but roll his eyes, a humanizing action in Ifalna's view.
"Embrace it, I mean, your past, it's not something to run from… To face your folly, it is how we grow as people." Vergil elaborated calmly much to her chagrin, quickly the guise of a divine figure had fallen in the revelation of his true identity.
Placing her hands on her hips, "Yes yes I've heard it before, but you should explain yourself, not me… Are you a devil or a man?" She waved her hand questioningly.
He raises a brow, "Are those mutually exclusive?"
Faltering, "W-well yes? Of course, I don't understand your question."
"What if they weren't, do you think it is impossible for a devil and a woman to have children?" Vergil says, posing a question while also giving an answer.
Ifalna sputtered for a moment, no matter how hard she tried to utilize her sultry and collected persona… She just couldn't get a reign on her emotions when talking with this, this man! He was too cold, calculating and perceptive, she was no match to him like this.
Tapping her fingers together over her head, she took several deep breaths. "Okay, let's do this again…" Sticking out a shaky hand, Ifalna reached to take his own much larger one.
Shaking up and down, "Hello, my name is Ifalna! I'm a courtesan, and I hate bullies! Pleasure to meet you." Vergil merely grimaced at her louder and usual voice, she obviously wasn't very accustomed to speaking clearly and confidently.
...
"You already know my name, why tell me yours?" How rude.
"... I'll pretend I didn't hear that."
"Hmph, well… Can you pretend you're about to tell me why you thought I was Sparda?" He said, rolling his eyes.
She gestures to a space behind him where his wings used to be, "You resemble him quite a bit with those wings of yours, I guess I was just hoping that maybe… Just maybe, Sparda had come to deliver my people too…"
"Your people?"
She nods, explaining. "The weak, the downtrodden, those born without wealth or power to their name, my people… They are all my people."
"You aren't related to them, they bear no relation to you." Vergil responds, confused at why she would bear a kinship with the lower classes.
Ifalna knows better, she is sullen too. "We are all downtrodden, and that is enough… Their kindness could last me an entire lifetime, even… Even with what I am."
"And what are you?"
"A harlot?"
"No, you're kind in turn… Something far greater than anything else, a primal sort of kindness is rare in the heart of man."
"Are you patronizing me?"
"Think what you will, but it's admirable either way."
"... Well, thanks I guess…"
Vergil let the silence reign for a few moments, Ifalna didn't do much to draw attention as was the norm for a courtesan, her white hood was draped over and behind her head. But she still shivered in the cold with her red dress in tatters, but she would not impose any request.
'She's the only one… When faced with the prospect of a savior, she only begs for the well being of those she cares for… A selfless wish'
Vergil clenched his fist, it was not right… A woman like her to be relegated to the life of a harlot, merely due to circumstance of birth? The capacity of labour? The heart to exploit? He would not let his thoughts be heard regardless, a man of stoic principle.
But as a man, he values action above all else.
"You charged into the fray back then, foolish, reckless, but… But above all else…"
"Brave."
Ifalna felt her face flush red, never before has a man referred to her as brave. "I told you not to patronize me…" She spoke in a small voice, almost rebelling against his decree.
"I'm not, to be strong and to act is one thing, you are weak physically and yet… You still drew their attention, it takes bravery to do such a thing in the face of demonic threat."
She was chattering, "I… I… I guess so, but my body moved without thinking I-" Vergil suddenly transformed into his godly form, growing in height and stature. His wings alone made him seem larger than a bear, making her look like a child in comparison.
But the warmth… It silenced her doubt, "Here, this should warm you." A single wing unfurled from its resting position, large enough to wrap around her body several times… But the warmth emanating from the pulsating wing was enough, Vergil fell to a crossed position and tugged her closer to him, using his wings to cover them in a sort of bubble of infernal energy.
The only sound that remained was of his beating heart, and even now the devil towered over her in every way imaginable… His jagged and blazing visage once again gazing down at her.
"This is my devil form, my Sin Devil Trigger."
… "You look magnificent…" But… "You are truly not the savior, if not a full demon… Then what?"
"I am a cambion, the union of man and devil… My mother was a woman, and my father was a great devil."
"You said that before…"
"And you said I bore resemblance to Sparda, connect the dots yet?"
…
He watched with curiosity as her eyes lit up in mortification, "Y-you don't mean… How could you-"
"My father took a human wife. From their union… Me and my brother came soon after, twins, the twin Sons of Sparda…"
Ifalna placed a hand over her forehead, "I've heard the legends of such but the Order has always dismissed them as blasphemy, to think our lord has walked the world as a man… And relegated himself to a human abode and wife."
"Yes, but now you know… I am a son of Sparda."
It seemed so much more real now that he said it himself, an admittance in this tiny pocket of reality. A son of God in her town, in her world… It seemed too good to be true.
Ifalna desperately tugged at his clawed fingers, "Then, you can help us? It's all I could ask of you, my people… My people are lost, and those above are diseased… Only a son of Sparda can save us."
"I am no savior, but I see your people's plight…"
"So you will help them?" She pressed again, urgently.
Shaking his head, Vergil had a different plan. "No, not directly. You can't force a horse to drink from the river."
"What do you mean?" Says Ifalna with her head tilting to the side.
Vergil raises a finger, "I'm going to help them, but not directly… I'm going to show your people, and the ones blind to their suffering, I'll show them the truth." Nodding, he gestures to Babel off in the distance. Tightening his hand into a fist.
"I'll show them all their heart. By force if necessary."
Ifalna rubbed her arms, the intensity of his voice giving her goosebumps. "And how do you plan on that?"
Turning back to her, "Well, you can help me start by taking me to your base of operations."
'Base… Of operations?'
She seemed disturbed, "Why… Why do you need our services? A being like you…" Vergil held a hand up.
"No, I need information… And I need allies"
"You want our help?"
"You want to save this city, don't you?"
"Yes!"
"Then take me to your 'Mother', I'll explain more when we get there."
She had no time for doubts… This man was allegedly the son of Sparda himself, if anyone knew how to save her people, he did. And she had to trust him, she had to trust her only hope that anything could change in this town…
So she nodded, sighing. "Alright, I'll take you… But I don't want to hear any disrespect towards my sisters!"
"Hmph, you don't think kindly of me."
"It's not that, you're the son of Sparda… But even still, too many times men have come into our home only to badmouth me and my sisters… It is only precaution."
"I see."
Vergil reverted back to his human form in a flash of demonic light, his eyes becoming even more piercing than before… It was an odd thing to fear the eye of man over the eye of a devil, but she did anyway… Those eyes were constantly calculating, overly perceptive even. She was far too used to seeing the glares of men, but… He was different, he wasn't glaring with discontent or disgust, this was his neutral Ifalna soon realized.
His large and rough hand born through countless days of fighting and laboring came around her own, tugging her hand in order for her to follow him towards the edge of the roof.
"Uh, how are we going to-"
Vergil stepped onto the edge of the building, "Where is this place of yours?" She stood next to him over the edge without any apprehension, something that… Shocked him in all honesty.
Pointing down the street, "Go down a dozen or so blocks and then take a left, it's a pretty big and anachronistic building… Old style, you won't miss it." Nodding, she turned towards her savior and tried to decipher his very stony expression.
He nods as well, "I see, let's get going then." Turning towards her, Ifalna can only raise a brow.
"How are we going to get do-"
Before she can even scream, Vergil grabs her by the legs and tosses her over his shoulders in a fireman's carry, instantly leaping into the sky with her blinking green eyes following; confused.
When she was a small girl, she'd expected that one day she'd be lifted from her feet into a bridal position by a man she loved, a gentle hold… But this was anything but.
With every leap, her stomach crushed against the sharp part of his shoulder… It wasn't pleasant, but the welcome adrenaline pumping through her veins did much to make up for that fact, a primal joy lacing her face in the moon shadowed night.
She was slightly annoyed that her savior hadn't picked a more scenic carrying method, watching the ground whiz by below was nice and all but she couldn't see the moon from her with Vergil's body in the way. The courtesan didn't make her annoyance known, not to him of all people.
'It would sound ungrateful… He saved my life after all.'
It only took thirty seconds for Vergil to find the old timey building, anachronistic indeed. 'Must have been built before the industrialization period…' If the well fancied stone of the building was anything to go by, it was far more… Decorative than the average building in Fortuna, at least in this district.
Ifalna excitedly slipped from his hold and onto the ground below, clasping her hands behind. "Would you call me silly if I asked you to do that again?" Vergil merely gave her a side glance, turning to face the towering and yet beautiful compound, well lit… It seemed several women were situated outside during this nightly time as well…
Vergil took his first steps forward, "I'd say you remind me of someone I once knew." The sight of him walking towards their brothel had caused several courtesans to drop their jaws in surprise.
Ifalna began leaning into his vision, "Is that a good thing?"
"No." Vergil lied.
Ifalna merely pouted at her savior, overtaking his gait and rushing up the stairs towards the front entrance of the brothel. She was quickly met with one of her sisters, another courtesan.
She was a short woman, even shorter than Ifalna with much darker hair and a mole on her right cheek, "Hey Ifa…! What happened to your dress-" Her eyes widened into saucers when she saw Ifalna's savior, the carefully crafted sultry gaze falling away to reveal a woman as shocked as any.
"It's a long story…"
She quickly brought Ifalna into a tight huddle, "Is that who I think it is?" The other courtesan was desperate for answers, her orange eyes blazing.
Ifalna giggled, "Relax Fae, he's not here to see me, he wants to see Mother." Fae stood up suddenly and caught the gaze of Vergil's piercing blue eyes, breath hitching before once again huddling close to Ifalna.
"Isn't he a little young for her?" Ifalna merely facepalms, shaking her head.
"Get your mind out of the gutter Fae, come on, he said he could help us!"
"Help us what? Get rid of those damn lecherous Knights?"
"Maybe, but he wants to see Mother Diana."
"... He sure is tall."
"Oh really I haven't noticed."
Vergil watched with a blank gaze as the two familiar women chittered and chattered about nothing at all, allowing a small amount of frustration to slip into his visage. He pinched the bridge of his nose before frustratedly brushing past the two women, reaching for the doorknob.
Ifalna reached to stop him, "Hey wait you don't-"
Stepping through the door frame, Vergil instantly felt dozens of eyes fall on him, a sudden silence taking over the brothel as he stood in the door frame awkwardly. Posture straightening more than natural, he tried to remain stoic even in the face of a dozen or so women all staring at him. They were dressed in various colorations of promiscuous garb; in other words, they were easy on the eyes…
Not that Vergil would look, he was raised better than that. The son of Sparda merely regained his stoic disposition and let his heart rate settle.
'I didn't expect this many.'
His thoughts were interrupted as many of the more scantily clad women surrounded him with their lustful gazes, they seemed to have gotten the wrong message by his arrival…
"Hey handsome, you come here to see little old me?"
"Back off Aurelia! I saw him first!"
"You girls are out of your depth, this man needs a more civilized woman… Can't you tell?"
One of them pressed her ear against his chest, causing his stony face to crumble slightly. He remained as still as a statue as the courtesan shushed her fellow women, listening closely.
"Ohhhh his heart rate is going up, how adorable!"
"He can control that stoic face of his well, but the heart doesn't lie."
Vergil settled his breath and willed his racing heart to relax as well, eyes narrowing in frustration. He was unequivocally unequipped for this situation, and so the son of Sparda did the only thing he knew how to.
The first time since the USF, "Get away from me, harpies." His voice cracked out, much to his horror.
And unfortunately for him, that only made it worse. These promiscuous and touchy women seemed to have no qualms with his insult, instead it seems they were even more stoked than before with his voice cracking…
"He's shy too! Must be younger than I thought!"
"He does seem pretty young now that I look at his… Face."
Suddenly, a strong voice broke out at the top of the stairwell leading to the upper floor of the brothel…
"Ladies! Behave yourselves now, leave the poor boy alone!" They quickly separated from his proximity and lined up in a strict formal sense, a complete one eighty from before.
Vergil let out a breath he didn't know he was holding, shaking his head slightly before shooting his gaze towards the top of the stairwell. It was at this moment that Ifalna decided to come up next to him and whisper, "I told you not to go in…!"
Vergil didn't listen to her then either, his eyes entirely focused on the new figure. A woman obviously, but not the woman she was expecting… Based on the courtesan, Fae if he recalled, based on her description… Mother Diana was supposed to be an old woman, a crone!
Not… Not stunningly beautiful.
She had darker than black hair that went down all the way to her knees, her womanly body draped in the finest emerald robes and silk one could buy with money, she had high cheekbones and a very striking gaze… Two bright green eyes much like Ifalna, but somehow even brighter and softer…
Vergil wasn't expecting this…
She slowly descended from the stairs as if gliding down, the echoing voices had all but died down as well… Silenced by her presence, these women didn't pay her this out of fear, but out of respect… She must've been a good leader to them.
'Why is she staring at me like that?'
Those green eyes of hers weren't exactly unsettling, but what was unsettling was how she looked almost as if… She'd seen a ghost.
She smiled as she passed through the path made by her courtesans, "Well, it's been quite some time." Gesturing calmly towards the woman behind him, Ifalna quickly skips over and leans up to whisper into her ears.
Eyes widen slightly only to regain their calm, almost as if she had an inclination to whatever Ifalna had told her already…
She pursed her lips before grinning mischievously, "Hm, I thought he'd be taller… I suppose his brother could be?" Mother Diana hummed for a moment, "But then again, that is if the legends are true or not."
One of the courtesans raised her hand, "What legend?" Blurting out a question, she was shushed by Mother Diana before the woman came ever closer to the son of Sparda. "Run along now my dears, this young man is very special, I need to have a word with him."
In no time at all, the dozens of courtesans had dispelled from the room leaving only Vergil, Ifalna, and Mother Diana.
Diana came closer and closer to the half devil with an almost hopeful gaze, faint recollection filling her green eyes.
She tentatively reached out to him, pausing to see his reaction… Vergil merely blinked at her. Diana then softly cupped his cheek and began to smile, warmly gazing up at him.
"It's been so long since I've seen a face like yours, so so very long…" She whispered so softly that Vergil could hardly hear, even with his advanced senses. This woman has touched him so casually… Vergil grunted and tore away from her grasp.
"Mother… Do you know him?"
"No, I knew his father."
Vergil felt his blood run ice cold at that, for the first time since seeing her he was snapped out of his trance. "What? You knew… You knew my father?" He manages to speak through his flush.
Diana nodded solemnly, "Although… I suspect he's long passed if you're here now, only someone of his calibre could've released the SDT onto this world again… That was you, wasn't it?" She prodded with a slight murmur, wondering herself what it meant in regards to his strength.
Ifalna looked between them with a confused expression, "Can someone please tell me what's going on?" She pouted to herself when neither responded, two juggernauts had met… And the world faded away.
Vergil watched with well kept shock as the mistress' lips curled into a small smile, "No matter, our friend here… You've done wonderfully Ifalna." She turned and beckoned him to remain where he was, and for some odd reason… Vergil felt almost compelled unnaturally to do so.
Diana turned towards the wall, her shadow silhouetted against a finely brushed painting of a man dressed in fine garb and a gigantic sword draped over his shoulder, one of metal darker than night… Behind him was the curve of a red heart, bleeding blood red and bright. Vergil felt almost shadowed by the immense stature of this painted man, his gaze strong and… Filled with determination.
But he was a greater man than that, "Who… Who are you?" She let Vergil's question ring out for a moment, stopping in place before meandering a smug gaze towards the son of Sparda.
"I am Diana of the Green."
