Chapter 5: A new beginning.
One week has passed since the incident that day. It was like a dream for Zazu already. Living in hell certainly is much worse than dying. You'll get tortured constantly, and the environment alone will continuously challenge the very sanctity of your mind.
Zarah had enrolled Zazu in the training facility in Vanagdrassil. The training there was very brutal, as you could die there if any mistakes were made if you are not careful. Luckily for Zazu, Hild had given direct orders to the trainer not to kill him. Unknown to Zazu, Hild was giving orders around to make sure that his grandson was as safe as he could be in hell.
"WHAP!" As Zazu files 20 feet across the room after his instructor smacked him hard in the gut.
"Keep it up that way, and you will die in no time when you fight a god or goddess," his trainer said.
Zazu held his stomach and grunted. It hurt terribly and he could fell his heart beating at the spot the instructor smacked him. It thudded strongly as he felt very sensitive at the spot.
Zazu muttered to himself, "Yeah, right. If I use my 'other' powers too, you will be nothing but a pile of trash." Nevertheless, Zarah told him to keep his godlike powers at bay, because he would be begging for trouble if he decides to show it out. It would be like a beacon to everyone in hell that a being that's opposite of your alignment had invaded your place.
Zarah also told him that he should practice hard at the training center because his combat lacks of any finesse or any skill. True, he had the power and the speed, but none of the skill. Zarah told him that he was like a Pentium 10 processor but with a "very" dumb user handling it.
Still, Zarah was much more helpful towards him after the incident with Mars that day. She began watch him more often now, and often he spotted her looking over him when he decided to venture out around the residential areas by himself. Sometimes, he accidentally picked up a few fights, but Zarah or sometimes Mara would quickly interfere, and put his opponents scurrying away in fear. What he didn't know was Zarah was receiving orders from Hild, ensuring that others touched not even a strand of his hair unless she wants him to be hurt.
True, in hell, sometimes you need to be beaten up to become stronger and to learn from your mistakes. It's either you succumb to your weakness and rot in hell or emerge as a strong demon; capable of handling anything that was dished out towards you.
Zarah and Mara are heroes now. The word that they have defeated Mars spread like wildfire throughout the caverns of hell. Zazu told them that he disliked fame and popularity, and asked both of the demonesses to take all the credit.
Mara of course quickly agreed, realizing that she could get a lot of fame from it, because tons of demons will be after her. Of course, the demons wanted to "subdue" a heroine that defeated a powerful god, but Mara was happy to play along with it. It was a contest of wills, and she could practice her torture techniques to her best at the demons that lost to her will.
Zarah reluctantly accepted, as she didn't want the popularity because she will be ogled at every corners of hell in the military then. However, Zazu persuaded her that it was the only way to reinstate her rank back to rank 9, the top second-class rank in the military. Furthermore, her demonic mates will taunt her less after receiving the rank and the fame.
He felt pity with Zarah during the entire week in hell. He knew she was suffering deep inside with her self-imposed guilt, but she was trying to hide it to the best of her ability. He guessed that none of the demons or any of the demonesses there knew what Zarah truly felt, except her caring sister, Mara.
Except him as well. He knew all to well what it means by an inner pain. The pain from the guilt is not the worst of all, but....
The worst of all is having a pain in your heart and having no one to share it too.
Zazu felt helpless at his inability to help her. He wanted too, but her mind was encased with a layer of bricks. It was nearly impossible to penetrate. He often tried to start a conversation with her, but when it touched her pain, she shut him off.
'Kindergarten' was the usual for him. The demonic kids there, indicating that he looked too 'old' to be at a place like that, continuously taunted him. Although he was significantly younger than them (nearly 500 to 700 years old younger), he was taunted nevertheless. It really wanted him to kick the living s**t out of them, but he was very patient, as he was well practiced with the encounter with the two sisters.
He was progressing very fast though, and he could 'graduate' from his education in a week or two. He was the best there in 'elementary' math and vocabulary. Face it, how hard was 'integrals and differentials' when he learned it at the university already? It was just a matter of time. He was looking forwards towards secondary education, as he could have his first class in alchemy then. Chemistry was his favorite subject.
He often returned to earth during the day to take his 'humanly' education. He took the classes with half-dead eyes, as he was very tired with his two-time education and life. After classes, he would often collapse on his bed and slept for a few hours. Usually it was until Zarah picked him up through a portal she opened for him in the forest behind his university.
None of his friends remembered anything that happened during the exam period two weeks ago. They expressed their concern when he missed his fluid mechanic exams that day. After a long, lying explanation towards the lecturer of his most hated subject, he had to take it again, along with others who didn't attend the exam that day.
KABOOM!!!
A fireball landed on his face. He flew 20 feet again. He was beginning to get used to flying diagonally after being hit by a fireball or an impact, especially if it came from Zarah or Mara. He predicted that a few more slaps coming from Zarah and he will be immune to it. It was getting less and less painful. "Maybe my cheeks are toughening up," Zazu guessed.
Maybe Zarah was dropping her strength in her slaps lately. Zarah was beginning to get used to his naivety and innocence. Even she was not as pissed as usual with the often "accidental" contact with her two.....
"Argh!" Zazu screamed slightly, as the instructor made a small cut over his left shoulder. Damn! How could he concentrate when all he could think was her? Dammit! He didn't mind the light wounds, as he could cast the healing spell towards himself. He heard that not many demonic beings in hell knew about the healing spell, as most of them preferred the regeneration spell to the healing spell, as it was continuously on when you are in battle.
Casting a healing spell on yourself when you are getting attacked often spelled death for yourself. However, the healing spell has its advantages trough. The effect was instant and your wounds will immediately close after casting the spell. That is, if you have time to cast it in the first place.
Zazu began slashing hard towards his instructor, hoping that he would strike him once or twice, but the instructor parried with his sword easily.
It was going to be a long day.
In Hild chambers:
"Mara, please summon Zarah and my grandson to my chambers," Hild ordered.
Mara rolled her eyes as she went off to call Zarah and Zazu. It was going to be a real interesting session later.
Mara went to Zazu's room, through a CD that contained one of his favourite computer games. What she didn't realize is that he didn't took out the CD after playing it. Mara banged her head hard on the computer, and that pissed her off.
"ZAZU!!!"
A few moments later, Zazu's was running around the room like mad, avoiding Mara's fireballs and screaming all the way for help (like he was going to have any). Zarah is going to be really pissed at her and Zazu after this, because Zarah had to restore the room again. Often, there were explosions, fires, infernos and many other flame related incidents that happened in his room. All because of Zazu's naivety and the sisters lack of patience. It will be the sixth time Zarah have to fix his room today in one and a half weeks.
After having a satisfying session of burning Zazu up (and mostly all of the other things in his room), Mara finally told him that Hild had summoned him and Zarah towards her chambers. She then left, giggling at what will Zazu receive from her sister next.
Zazu didn't even have a chance to explain to Mara what was the reason he forgotten to take his CD out. All he could do now was wallow himself up in self-misery.
"Sigh, another day of torture. I really can't stand this treatment anymore. I'm really going to have a mental breakdown if I don't take a break from hell," he felt like crying, but he held it in. "And now I have to meet with the mistress of the underworld herself? Argh!"
Hild was looking over her grandson again, and saw him in a crumpled form over a corner in his room. She moaned with misery looking at the condition of her grandson. Perhaps hell was still too much for him. She had to fix him up real soon.
Zazu summoned his companion out. Angi-dev, a mixture of an angle and a devil, was his only true companion when he was lonely. Angi-dev often encouraged him to be strong no matter what, as being weak will make him succumb to pits of hell. He often talked with his companion, in order to help himself from his misery.
Ever since Zazu discovered his demonic heritage, he had no one to turn too. He couldn't tell anyone about what he felt with his mixed blood. Not his friends in earth, not any of the demonic creatures in hell. Sometimes, Zarah will listen to him, but said nothing in return. Nevertheless, Zazu was happy though having her in his presence. Having a listening ear was more than enough for him nowadays.
"Angi-dev, do you think that Zarah is a nice demoness compared with all the other beings in hell?" His companion agreed, but told him that her temper was still a bit out of check. His companion suggested to him that he should tell her to be more patient with him.
"Well, I'm not so sure about that, as she often throws fire at me with my remarks." Angi-dev pressed on, telling him that he will 'mentally' die if she continued on like that. "I'll I need is a break from being a demon. I wish I didn't know my demonic heritage at all."
Now Hild was feeling moody too looking at her grandson. How could he meet her, the core of evil at a condition like this?
Than an idea popped up in her mind.
Zarah came back a few hours later after practicing at the academy in hell. Seeing Zazu's room in ashes again, her temper flared up. Usually Zazu will be preparing himself for his punishment, but today it was different. She saw him crouched in the corner of his room, looking very tired, tortured and worn out. His eyes were red, as he was holding his tears in.
Zarah felt pity at an instant, as she remembered herself at the Alps a few weeks ago. Looks like she has to give him another lecture again about being a demon.
She began, "Zazu, don't you understand what you are? You are a demon. D-E-M- O-N. You have to harden your ....."
"THE (F Censored word) HELL I EVER CARED FOR YOUR S**TTY WORDS!!!!" Zazu screamed suddenly in an enraged mood. "DON'T YOU HAVE ANY FEELINGS AT ALL?"
"True but...."
"True what? This is hell, and I'm very sick of it. I hate it to the core of my guts! Don't you ever understand what other people is going through in their misery?"
Zarah felt a pang, as his words measured word for word with what she felt when she was down a few weeks ago. "Zazu, please listen to ...."
"Why should I?!!" Zazu was stubbornly mad with anger.
"Zazu, please..," a softer voice.
"Don't you even have a single compassion for others? I WAS SAD when I saw you in a heartbreaking session this week with your military stuff. Worse of all, I couldn't even do a single thing to help you. I felt so useless. You are such a stubborn girl to talk with. DID YOU KNOW HOW TERRIBLE IT FELT???!!!!"
That even digged deeper into Zarah. She felt pity for Zazu too, but she never knew how to express it. She was never taught to do that.
"Zazu, I'm sor.."
"Get out of my sight! Just bring me back to earth! I'm very sick of you. You never cared for me anyway! I don't want to see you anymore!!!"
Zarah didn't want to lose someone that understood her. He meant something to her. Now she knows what it means now. He tried to understand her.
"Zazu, please ..."
"GET OUT!!!" black flames were erupting from the very palms of his hands.
"Zazu, I'm so sorry," Zarah broke down and cried.
That brought a paradigram shift towards Zazu's emotions again. He never expected that he could make her cry. He knew she had hardened her emotions to the point of no remorse, but a demoness like her broke down in front of him.
Zazu felt guilty at his sudden uncontrolled outburst of anger. Why would he direct it all at Zarah? Is it because she was the nearest companion available to him to scream at? Often, people tent to let go of their feelings at other people that tend to be the closest to them, people that were willing to listen. Usually, it would be the form of sadness or love. Sometimes, it would accidentally be released in an outburst of anger. Usually, it tends to end up in a lose-lose situation, where none of the sides will benefit from it. Zazu finally realized this, and it brought shame to the very core of his heart.
"Zarah..... ,"Zazu paused.
"I'm sorry.... ," another pause.
"I shouldn't let it all go at you," Zazu approached the crying demoness.
"Please forgive me," he crouched down, and hugged her, softly.
Zarah cringed and tried to push Zazu away, but he held her firmly. He held both of her shoulders, and brought her head close to his chest. Hoping that the comfort would ease her pain.
And then Zarah cried, cried as she had never cried before in her life. All her frustrations throughout her entire 200000 years life as a demoness were released that moment.
All her painful memories...
All her guilt...
All her regrets....
All the shame...
And all the mistakes she had made throughout her entire life.
Her body shuddered hard as he held her, as drops upon drops of tears flowed down from her cheeks. Zazu felt very wet at his abdomen from her tears, but he didn't care. He continued to hold her, trying to give assurance that he was there for her.
She cried for hours until her eyes were red and dry. Still, she was still shaking with sobs.
Zazu held her the whole day until she slept.
Mara was sobbing at the scene Hild projected in her chambers. She had never seen her sister acting like that for a very long time, ever since they were both imprisoned in a comatose state for 50 years and the time after that. She didn't understand Zarah enough. She was too busy with her work. She was addicted towards bringing sadness towards the mortals in the human plane that she had forgotten what is the sadness that was residing within her sister. What a fool she was all the time.
How could a hybrid of a demon, a god and a human that had only met her sister for one and a half weeks, successfully brought the very inner feelings of Zarah out? It is because opposite sexes tend to release their emotions easier towards each other? She couldn't do it for 10 years. She felt very ashamed of herself.
Even Hild's eyes were red. She has an image to uphold as the dark mistress of Vanagdrassil, and she was trying her best to keep it. Seeing her grandson with that sense of maturity after his sudden childish outburst of anger brought some pride to her, as she realized he was one of the youngest demons in the Vanagdrassil. It looks like she has to postpone the summoning his grandson until further notice. She really wanted to meet him, but not when he is like this.
Zazu held Zarah in the painful position for hours. His back and neck was aching severely from the position he was holding her, but he refused to move. It's because any motions might awaken Zarah from her sleep. Let her sleep heal the wounds in her heart. Let his comfort heal her. He didn't have a bed anyway to lay her on. Mara burned it down. He slept a few moments later.
Zarah was awaken from her sleep a few moments later. She felt comfort surrounding her body. Zazu was holding her, asleep in an awkward position. She noticed something, that he was holding her tightly. She felt comfort, something that was not felt for a very long time.
Suddenly, she cringed.
Somebody was sensing her.
What will Mara or the other demonic beings react if they see her in an awkward position like this? He entire life would be compromised! Rumors would be spreading like wildfire throughout the entire Vanagdrassil network that she had succumbed to her emotions of softness and self-pity. She began to tense up, and she wanted to push Zazu away.
She sensed the probing aura within the vicinity of Zazu's room. She tried to sense it, determining the aura was originating from whom, but it was hard. She has to hunt and take down the demonic being before he or she decides to tell it to other beings. Then she paused as if a shockwave had hit her.
The aura came from the ruler of vanagdrassil itself.
Hild.
Doomed. She is doomed to eternal suffering. Death would be a better option.
Wait, why is she still snugly comfortable in Zazu's arms? She should be in the torture chambers of hell itself by now. Did Hild let her go? Impossible. This act of weaknesses is the very breach of the etiquette of a demonic being.
Then she realized something.
Hild's grandson was holding her. If Hild wanted to punish her, she has to punish the so-called companion that she shared her emotions to. And Hild couldn't do that, not to her own grandson.
Still, Hild could always blame it on another unlucky being.
"Stop it! Paranoia will not help you," Zarah said in her heart. Might as well enjoy this moment. It was a moment that she had not felt for a very long time, and probably not again anymore.
Comfort.
She snuggled closer and slept again.
(A day after)
Zazu woke up and found out that he could not move. His body ached severely. Zarah woke up at the same time too. And they looked at each other. Both of them blushed at the close intimacy.
"Er, Zarah, my whole body seemed like it couldn't move. I'm aching severely here. I feel like my bones are joined at odd places," Zazu muttered. "Could you do the honors of getting out of my embrace?"
Zarah blushed a little more, and exited his embrace. Zazu fell backwards like a slab of stone, as his body couldn't support the position any more.
"Give me a few minutes, ok? I need make sure my limbs are connected with each other."
Zarah realized what Zazu did. Can a demon be really that kind? "Baka," she muttered, and made a few incantations to make him feel better.
"Er, please don't say anything about what happened yesterday to anyone, ok?" Zarah told Zazu.
"Sure," Zazu replied.
"Or I'll burn you up," Zarah added, back to her usual composed self.
Zazu gulped, Zarah was back to the stern and meanly attitude again. Well, at least he got her to open up yesterday. It was more than good enough for him.
"I forgot to tell you something, Zarah. Mara told us to be at Hild's chambers yesterday, and told me to tell this news to you."
"WHAT!!! You only tell me that now? We are going to get roasted alive because of this! Do you know what happens to you if you keep the mistress of the underworld waiting??!!!"
"Er, no." Zazu replied innocently.
"Argh! I'm with an ass here!" said Zarah as she pulled the wings at her head. (refer to chapter 1 if you want to know how she looks like)
"We have to go now to Hild chambers now! I can't even imagine the punishment she will give us for being late."
Zarah grabbed Zazu's hands and went to Hild's castle as fast as she could.
It is the first time Zazu visited another place in Vanagdrassil other than the residential area or the training facility. Along the way, he passed a tall, cylindrical structure. The dark structure, with bright yellow lights emitting from it, was very high, and seemed to touch the red clouds above. Lightning ran up and down the exterior part of the building, and it seemed to be charged full of electricity.
"That's the factory to produce demonic weapons," Zarah added.
One thing made him shocked in dread. He saw souls that were trapped in square meter cubes, being loaded by a conveyor belt towards the weapons facility. Some of them were screaming in pain and dread, others were crying and some were crazily banging themselves upon the walls of the cube.
Zarah then explained that those condemned souls would be forged into the weapons, where their pain and hatred would amplify the power of the weapon by a few magnitudes. Their souls will be trapped forever in the weapon, and they will be in the mercy of the being that would wield the weapon in the future.
Zazu turned his head away from the sight. Even thinking about it made him sick.
Wait a minute, how about his weapons?
"Don't worry, your swords are underpowered. They do not have any souls contained within it," said Zarah, sensing Zazu's tension.
A few moments later they reached Hild's castle. Zazu did not have the pleasure to go sightseeing, as they were in a rush to meet Hild. However, he was treated with the 'terrible' view of Hild's castle.
It was an island surrounded by lava, with a huge "waterfall" of lava flowing down behind it. It stood beside a very high cliff, as if it was watching everything that was around it. Viewed from above, it looked like a pentagram, with five jagged towers that pierced the clouds. Lightning was continuously striking on the towers that surrounded the castle. As usual of all demonic structures, Hild's castle was black, but it had an eerie red glow coming out from all it exits. One thing was funny for him through. They entered the castle from the top, at the center of the pentagram. They passed two demonic creatures, guards probably, which has so much teeth, fangs and claws that you couldn't count it. They were hunched low, and looked like very large hellhounds to him. Definitely not to be messed with.
"When you enter her majesty's chambers, remember this things. Bow once at the entrance to her chambers. After that, walk on the ground; do not float, until you are about 5 steps away from her. Kneel and bow, and say this words 'hail our high and supreme mistress of Vanagdrasil, Hild. Queen of all demons in Hell' and then walk 20 steps back. Finally, pay full attention to the mistress. Do not talk unless allowed to." Zarah said in a serious voice. "You don't want to be tossed out to meet those hellhounds out there if you made a mistake."
Now that made Zazu sweat.
They entered Hild's chambers and successfully performed the etiquette without any unwanted incidents. It was like in the movies to him. They stood nearly 5 meters away from the mistress after that. They were flanked by all kinds of high-ranking demons. Zarah noticed Archibald, supreme general of the demonic forces, Kizzime, leader of magical studies in hell, and many other leaders. Zarah then spotted her elder sister about 10 meters away to her right. Mara was the head of the Demonic Mischief Office, after all.
"Zazu, you forgot something while attempting to address me," Hild, ruler of Vanagdrassil, supreme leader of all demonic beings of hell, said in a powerful voice.
"Oh s**t!" Zazu said to himself. This is not going to be pleasant.
It was a long pause, deliberately to make Zazu sweat more, before Hild continued, "You are my grandson."
"WHAT???!!!"
KABOOM!!!!
A lightning hit Zazu. It made him look burned as black as charcoal.
"I apologize, my queen," Zazu said through a strained and painful voice.
"That's much better," Hild said. Then she smiled broadly, "Do you mind telling me why the both of you were late nearly a day?"
Zarah cursed silently at the statement. As if the queen didn't know about it. Then she heard giggling from her right. She turned to her right, and saw her sister giggling, trying her best not to laugh out of control. Dammit! Her sister knew about the incident!
"Er, we went into some unsuspected complications, my mistress," Zarah answered. She was doubtful that the queen would believe it.
"Is that so? Anyway, I have more pressing matters to attend to. Zazu and Zarah, I have orders for both of you."
"Yes, my queen?" Zazu and Zarah answered in sync.
"Both of you are to leave hell and stay on earth. Zazu, you will be transferred to Nekomi Tech University, where you will be studying there with Zarah. You will be presented with a new identity, and all old records of your existence will be deleted."
"WHAT?" now both of them screamed in unison.
________________________________________________________________________
This is the ending of Chapter 5.
Well, in the next chapter, Zazu will begin his new life in Japan with Zarah. Wait and see what happens when they began their studies at Nekomi.
And one more thing, don't forget the lightning that rained down upon Zazu and Zarah after accidentally screaming in Hild's chambers again. :)
One week has passed since the incident that day. It was like a dream for Zazu already. Living in hell certainly is much worse than dying. You'll get tortured constantly, and the environment alone will continuously challenge the very sanctity of your mind.
Zarah had enrolled Zazu in the training facility in Vanagdrassil. The training there was very brutal, as you could die there if any mistakes were made if you are not careful. Luckily for Zazu, Hild had given direct orders to the trainer not to kill him. Unknown to Zazu, Hild was giving orders around to make sure that his grandson was as safe as he could be in hell.
"WHAP!" As Zazu files 20 feet across the room after his instructor smacked him hard in the gut.
"Keep it up that way, and you will die in no time when you fight a god or goddess," his trainer said.
Zazu held his stomach and grunted. It hurt terribly and he could fell his heart beating at the spot the instructor smacked him. It thudded strongly as he felt very sensitive at the spot.
Zazu muttered to himself, "Yeah, right. If I use my 'other' powers too, you will be nothing but a pile of trash." Nevertheless, Zarah told him to keep his godlike powers at bay, because he would be begging for trouble if he decides to show it out. It would be like a beacon to everyone in hell that a being that's opposite of your alignment had invaded your place.
Zarah also told him that he should practice hard at the training center because his combat lacks of any finesse or any skill. True, he had the power and the speed, but none of the skill. Zarah told him that he was like a Pentium 10 processor but with a "very" dumb user handling it.
Still, Zarah was much more helpful towards him after the incident with Mars that day. She began watch him more often now, and often he spotted her looking over him when he decided to venture out around the residential areas by himself. Sometimes, he accidentally picked up a few fights, but Zarah or sometimes Mara would quickly interfere, and put his opponents scurrying away in fear. What he didn't know was Zarah was receiving orders from Hild, ensuring that others touched not even a strand of his hair unless she wants him to be hurt.
True, in hell, sometimes you need to be beaten up to become stronger and to learn from your mistakes. It's either you succumb to your weakness and rot in hell or emerge as a strong demon; capable of handling anything that was dished out towards you.
Zarah and Mara are heroes now. The word that they have defeated Mars spread like wildfire throughout the caverns of hell. Zazu told them that he disliked fame and popularity, and asked both of the demonesses to take all the credit.
Mara of course quickly agreed, realizing that she could get a lot of fame from it, because tons of demons will be after her. Of course, the demons wanted to "subdue" a heroine that defeated a powerful god, but Mara was happy to play along with it. It was a contest of wills, and she could practice her torture techniques to her best at the demons that lost to her will.
Zarah reluctantly accepted, as she didn't want the popularity because she will be ogled at every corners of hell in the military then. However, Zazu persuaded her that it was the only way to reinstate her rank back to rank 9, the top second-class rank in the military. Furthermore, her demonic mates will taunt her less after receiving the rank and the fame.
He felt pity with Zarah during the entire week in hell. He knew she was suffering deep inside with her self-imposed guilt, but she was trying to hide it to the best of her ability. He guessed that none of the demons or any of the demonesses there knew what Zarah truly felt, except her caring sister, Mara.
Except him as well. He knew all to well what it means by an inner pain. The pain from the guilt is not the worst of all, but....
The worst of all is having a pain in your heart and having no one to share it too.
Zazu felt helpless at his inability to help her. He wanted too, but her mind was encased with a layer of bricks. It was nearly impossible to penetrate. He often tried to start a conversation with her, but when it touched her pain, she shut him off.
'Kindergarten' was the usual for him. The demonic kids there, indicating that he looked too 'old' to be at a place like that, continuously taunted him. Although he was significantly younger than them (nearly 500 to 700 years old younger), he was taunted nevertheless. It really wanted him to kick the living s**t out of them, but he was very patient, as he was well practiced with the encounter with the two sisters.
He was progressing very fast though, and he could 'graduate' from his education in a week or two. He was the best there in 'elementary' math and vocabulary. Face it, how hard was 'integrals and differentials' when he learned it at the university already? It was just a matter of time. He was looking forwards towards secondary education, as he could have his first class in alchemy then. Chemistry was his favorite subject.
He often returned to earth during the day to take his 'humanly' education. He took the classes with half-dead eyes, as he was very tired with his two-time education and life. After classes, he would often collapse on his bed and slept for a few hours. Usually it was until Zarah picked him up through a portal she opened for him in the forest behind his university.
None of his friends remembered anything that happened during the exam period two weeks ago. They expressed their concern when he missed his fluid mechanic exams that day. After a long, lying explanation towards the lecturer of his most hated subject, he had to take it again, along with others who didn't attend the exam that day.
KABOOM!!!
A fireball landed on his face. He flew 20 feet again. He was beginning to get used to flying diagonally after being hit by a fireball or an impact, especially if it came from Zarah or Mara. He predicted that a few more slaps coming from Zarah and he will be immune to it. It was getting less and less painful. "Maybe my cheeks are toughening up," Zazu guessed.
Maybe Zarah was dropping her strength in her slaps lately. Zarah was beginning to get used to his naivety and innocence. Even she was not as pissed as usual with the often "accidental" contact with her two.....
"Argh!" Zazu screamed slightly, as the instructor made a small cut over his left shoulder. Damn! How could he concentrate when all he could think was her? Dammit! He didn't mind the light wounds, as he could cast the healing spell towards himself. He heard that not many demonic beings in hell knew about the healing spell, as most of them preferred the regeneration spell to the healing spell, as it was continuously on when you are in battle.
Casting a healing spell on yourself when you are getting attacked often spelled death for yourself. However, the healing spell has its advantages trough. The effect was instant and your wounds will immediately close after casting the spell. That is, if you have time to cast it in the first place.
Zazu began slashing hard towards his instructor, hoping that he would strike him once or twice, but the instructor parried with his sword easily.
It was going to be a long day.
In Hild chambers:
"Mara, please summon Zarah and my grandson to my chambers," Hild ordered.
Mara rolled her eyes as she went off to call Zarah and Zazu. It was going to be a real interesting session later.
Mara went to Zazu's room, through a CD that contained one of his favourite computer games. What she didn't realize is that he didn't took out the CD after playing it. Mara banged her head hard on the computer, and that pissed her off.
"ZAZU!!!"
A few moments later, Zazu's was running around the room like mad, avoiding Mara's fireballs and screaming all the way for help (like he was going to have any). Zarah is going to be really pissed at her and Zazu after this, because Zarah had to restore the room again. Often, there were explosions, fires, infernos and many other flame related incidents that happened in his room. All because of Zazu's naivety and the sisters lack of patience. It will be the sixth time Zarah have to fix his room today in one and a half weeks.
After having a satisfying session of burning Zazu up (and mostly all of the other things in his room), Mara finally told him that Hild had summoned him and Zarah towards her chambers. She then left, giggling at what will Zazu receive from her sister next.
Zazu didn't even have a chance to explain to Mara what was the reason he forgotten to take his CD out. All he could do now was wallow himself up in self-misery.
"Sigh, another day of torture. I really can't stand this treatment anymore. I'm really going to have a mental breakdown if I don't take a break from hell," he felt like crying, but he held it in. "And now I have to meet with the mistress of the underworld herself? Argh!"
Hild was looking over her grandson again, and saw him in a crumpled form over a corner in his room. She moaned with misery looking at the condition of her grandson. Perhaps hell was still too much for him. She had to fix him up real soon.
Zazu summoned his companion out. Angi-dev, a mixture of an angle and a devil, was his only true companion when he was lonely. Angi-dev often encouraged him to be strong no matter what, as being weak will make him succumb to pits of hell. He often talked with his companion, in order to help himself from his misery.
Ever since Zazu discovered his demonic heritage, he had no one to turn too. He couldn't tell anyone about what he felt with his mixed blood. Not his friends in earth, not any of the demonic creatures in hell. Sometimes, Zarah will listen to him, but said nothing in return. Nevertheless, Zazu was happy though having her in his presence. Having a listening ear was more than enough for him nowadays.
"Angi-dev, do you think that Zarah is a nice demoness compared with all the other beings in hell?" His companion agreed, but told him that her temper was still a bit out of check. His companion suggested to him that he should tell her to be more patient with him.
"Well, I'm not so sure about that, as she often throws fire at me with my remarks." Angi-dev pressed on, telling him that he will 'mentally' die if she continued on like that. "I'll I need is a break from being a demon. I wish I didn't know my demonic heritage at all."
Now Hild was feeling moody too looking at her grandson. How could he meet her, the core of evil at a condition like this?
Than an idea popped up in her mind.
Zarah came back a few hours later after practicing at the academy in hell. Seeing Zazu's room in ashes again, her temper flared up. Usually Zazu will be preparing himself for his punishment, but today it was different. She saw him crouched in the corner of his room, looking very tired, tortured and worn out. His eyes were red, as he was holding his tears in.
Zarah felt pity at an instant, as she remembered herself at the Alps a few weeks ago. Looks like she has to give him another lecture again about being a demon.
She began, "Zazu, don't you understand what you are? You are a demon. D-E-M- O-N. You have to harden your ....."
"THE (F Censored word) HELL I EVER CARED FOR YOUR S**TTY WORDS!!!!" Zazu screamed suddenly in an enraged mood. "DON'T YOU HAVE ANY FEELINGS AT ALL?"
"True but...."
"True what? This is hell, and I'm very sick of it. I hate it to the core of my guts! Don't you ever understand what other people is going through in their misery?"
Zarah felt a pang, as his words measured word for word with what she felt when she was down a few weeks ago. "Zazu, please listen to ...."
"Why should I?!!" Zazu was stubbornly mad with anger.
"Zazu, please..," a softer voice.
"Don't you even have a single compassion for others? I WAS SAD when I saw you in a heartbreaking session this week with your military stuff. Worse of all, I couldn't even do a single thing to help you. I felt so useless. You are such a stubborn girl to talk with. DID YOU KNOW HOW TERRIBLE IT FELT???!!!!"
That even digged deeper into Zarah. She felt pity for Zazu too, but she never knew how to express it. She was never taught to do that.
"Zazu, I'm sor.."
"Get out of my sight! Just bring me back to earth! I'm very sick of you. You never cared for me anyway! I don't want to see you anymore!!!"
Zarah didn't want to lose someone that understood her. He meant something to her. Now she knows what it means now. He tried to understand her.
"Zazu, please ..."
"GET OUT!!!" black flames were erupting from the very palms of his hands.
"Zazu, I'm so sorry," Zarah broke down and cried.
That brought a paradigram shift towards Zazu's emotions again. He never expected that he could make her cry. He knew she had hardened her emotions to the point of no remorse, but a demoness like her broke down in front of him.
Zazu felt guilty at his sudden uncontrolled outburst of anger. Why would he direct it all at Zarah? Is it because she was the nearest companion available to him to scream at? Often, people tent to let go of their feelings at other people that tend to be the closest to them, people that were willing to listen. Usually, it would be the form of sadness or love. Sometimes, it would accidentally be released in an outburst of anger. Usually, it tends to end up in a lose-lose situation, where none of the sides will benefit from it. Zazu finally realized this, and it brought shame to the very core of his heart.
"Zarah..... ,"Zazu paused.
"I'm sorry.... ," another pause.
"I shouldn't let it all go at you," Zazu approached the crying demoness.
"Please forgive me," he crouched down, and hugged her, softly.
Zarah cringed and tried to push Zazu away, but he held her firmly. He held both of her shoulders, and brought her head close to his chest. Hoping that the comfort would ease her pain.
And then Zarah cried, cried as she had never cried before in her life. All her frustrations throughout her entire 200000 years life as a demoness were released that moment.
All her painful memories...
All her guilt...
All her regrets....
All the shame...
And all the mistakes she had made throughout her entire life.
Her body shuddered hard as he held her, as drops upon drops of tears flowed down from her cheeks. Zazu felt very wet at his abdomen from her tears, but he didn't care. He continued to hold her, trying to give assurance that he was there for her.
She cried for hours until her eyes were red and dry. Still, she was still shaking with sobs.
Zazu held her the whole day until she slept.
Mara was sobbing at the scene Hild projected in her chambers. She had never seen her sister acting like that for a very long time, ever since they were both imprisoned in a comatose state for 50 years and the time after that. She didn't understand Zarah enough. She was too busy with her work. She was addicted towards bringing sadness towards the mortals in the human plane that she had forgotten what is the sadness that was residing within her sister. What a fool she was all the time.
How could a hybrid of a demon, a god and a human that had only met her sister for one and a half weeks, successfully brought the very inner feelings of Zarah out? It is because opposite sexes tend to release their emotions easier towards each other? She couldn't do it for 10 years. She felt very ashamed of herself.
Even Hild's eyes were red. She has an image to uphold as the dark mistress of Vanagdrassil, and she was trying her best to keep it. Seeing her grandson with that sense of maturity after his sudden childish outburst of anger brought some pride to her, as she realized he was one of the youngest demons in the Vanagdrassil. It looks like she has to postpone the summoning his grandson until further notice. She really wanted to meet him, but not when he is like this.
Zazu held Zarah in the painful position for hours. His back and neck was aching severely from the position he was holding her, but he refused to move. It's because any motions might awaken Zarah from her sleep. Let her sleep heal the wounds in her heart. Let his comfort heal her. He didn't have a bed anyway to lay her on. Mara burned it down. He slept a few moments later.
Zarah was awaken from her sleep a few moments later. She felt comfort surrounding her body. Zazu was holding her, asleep in an awkward position. She noticed something, that he was holding her tightly. She felt comfort, something that was not felt for a very long time.
Suddenly, she cringed.
Somebody was sensing her.
What will Mara or the other demonic beings react if they see her in an awkward position like this? He entire life would be compromised! Rumors would be spreading like wildfire throughout the entire Vanagdrassil network that she had succumbed to her emotions of softness and self-pity. She began to tense up, and she wanted to push Zazu away.
She sensed the probing aura within the vicinity of Zazu's room. She tried to sense it, determining the aura was originating from whom, but it was hard. She has to hunt and take down the demonic being before he or she decides to tell it to other beings. Then she paused as if a shockwave had hit her.
The aura came from the ruler of vanagdrassil itself.
Hild.
Doomed. She is doomed to eternal suffering. Death would be a better option.
Wait, why is she still snugly comfortable in Zazu's arms? She should be in the torture chambers of hell itself by now. Did Hild let her go? Impossible. This act of weaknesses is the very breach of the etiquette of a demonic being.
Then she realized something.
Hild's grandson was holding her. If Hild wanted to punish her, she has to punish the so-called companion that she shared her emotions to. And Hild couldn't do that, not to her own grandson.
Still, Hild could always blame it on another unlucky being.
"Stop it! Paranoia will not help you," Zarah said in her heart. Might as well enjoy this moment. It was a moment that she had not felt for a very long time, and probably not again anymore.
Comfort.
She snuggled closer and slept again.
(A day after)
Zazu woke up and found out that he could not move. His body ached severely. Zarah woke up at the same time too. And they looked at each other. Both of them blushed at the close intimacy.
"Er, Zarah, my whole body seemed like it couldn't move. I'm aching severely here. I feel like my bones are joined at odd places," Zazu muttered. "Could you do the honors of getting out of my embrace?"
Zarah blushed a little more, and exited his embrace. Zazu fell backwards like a slab of stone, as his body couldn't support the position any more.
"Give me a few minutes, ok? I need make sure my limbs are connected with each other."
Zarah realized what Zazu did. Can a demon be really that kind? "Baka," she muttered, and made a few incantations to make him feel better.
"Er, please don't say anything about what happened yesterday to anyone, ok?" Zarah told Zazu.
"Sure," Zazu replied.
"Or I'll burn you up," Zarah added, back to her usual composed self.
Zazu gulped, Zarah was back to the stern and meanly attitude again. Well, at least he got her to open up yesterday. It was more than good enough for him.
"I forgot to tell you something, Zarah. Mara told us to be at Hild's chambers yesterday, and told me to tell this news to you."
"WHAT!!! You only tell me that now? We are going to get roasted alive because of this! Do you know what happens to you if you keep the mistress of the underworld waiting??!!!"
"Er, no." Zazu replied innocently.
"Argh! I'm with an ass here!" said Zarah as she pulled the wings at her head. (refer to chapter 1 if you want to know how she looks like)
"We have to go now to Hild chambers now! I can't even imagine the punishment she will give us for being late."
Zarah grabbed Zazu's hands and went to Hild's castle as fast as she could.
It is the first time Zazu visited another place in Vanagdrassil other than the residential area or the training facility. Along the way, he passed a tall, cylindrical structure. The dark structure, with bright yellow lights emitting from it, was very high, and seemed to touch the red clouds above. Lightning ran up and down the exterior part of the building, and it seemed to be charged full of electricity.
"That's the factory to produce demonic weapons," Zarah added.
One thing made him shocked in dread. He saw souls that were trapped in square meter cubes, being loaded by a conveyor belt towards the weapons facility. Some of them were screaming in pain and dread, others were crying and some were crazily banging themselves upon the walls of the cube.
Zarah then explained that those condemned souls would be forged into the weapons, where their pain and hatred would amplify the power of the weapon by a few magnitudes. Their souls will be trapped forever in the weapon, and they will be in the mercy of the being that would wield the weapon in the future.
Zazu turned his head away from the sight. Even thinking about it made him sick.
Wait a minute, how about his weapons?
"Don't worry, your swords are underpowered. They do not have any souls contained within it," said Zarah, sensing Zazu's tension.
A few moments later they reached Hild's castle. Zazu did not have the pleasure to go sightseeing, as they were in a rush to meet Hild. However, he was treated with the 'terrible' view of Hild's castle.
It was an island surrounded by lava, with a huge "waterfall" of lava flowing down behind it. It stood beside a very high cliff, as if it was watching everything that was around it. Viewed from above, it looked like a pentagram, with five jagged towers that pierced the clouds. Lightning was continuously striking on the towers that surrounded the castle. As usual of all demonic structures, Hild's castle was black, but it had an eerie red glow coming out from all it exits. One thing was funny for him through. They entered the castle from the top, at the center of the pentagram. They passed two demonic creatures, guards probably, which has so much teeth, fangs and claws that you couldn't count it. They were hunched low, and looked like very large hellhounds to him. Definitely not to be messed with.
"When you enter her majesty's chambers, remember this things. Bow once at the entrance to her chambers. After that, walk on the ground; do not float, until you are about 5 steps away from her. Kneel and bow, and say this words 'hail our high and supreme mistress of Vanagdrasil, Hild. Queen of all demons in Hell' and then walk 20 steps back. Finally, pay full attention to the mistress. Do not talk unless allowed to." Zarah said in a serious voice. "You don't want to be tossed out to meet those hellhounds out there if you made a mistake."
Now that made Zazu sweat.
They entered Hild's chambers and successfully performed the etiquette without any unwanted incidents. It was like in the movies to him. They stood nearly 5 meters away from the mistress after that. They were flanked by all kinds of high-ranking demons. Zarah noticed Archibald, supreme general of the demonic forces, Kizzime, leader of magical studies in hell, and many other leaders. Zarah then spotted her elder sister about 10 meters away to her right. Mara was the head of the Demonic Mischief Office, after all.
"Zazu, you forgot something while attempting to address me," Hild, ruler of Vanagdrassil, supreme leader of all demonic beings of hell, said in a powerful voice.
"Oh s**t!" Zazu said to himself. This is not going to be pleasant.
It was a long pause, deliberately to make Zazu sweat more, before Hild continued, "You are my grandson."
"WHAT???!!!"
KABOOM!!!!
A lightning hit Zazu. It made him look burned as black as charcoal.
"I apologize, my queen," Zazu said through a strained and painful voice.
"That's much better," Hild said. Then she smiled broadly, "Do you mind telling me why the both of you were late nearly a day?"
Zarah cursed silently at the statement. As if the queen didn't know about it. Then she heard giggling from her right. She turned to her right, and saw her sister giggling, trying her best not to laugh out of control. Dammit! Her sister knew about the incident!
"Er, we went into some unsuspected complications, my mistress," Zarah answered. She was doubtful that the queen would believe it.
"Is that so? Anyway, I have more pressing matters to attend to. Zazu and Zarah, I have orders for both of you."
"Yes, my queen?" Zazu and Zarah answered in sync.
"Both of you are to leave hell and stay on earth. Zazu, you will be transferred to Nekomi Tech University, where you will be studying there with Zarah. You will be presented with a new identity, and all old records of your existence will be deleted."
"WHAT?" now both of them screamed in unison.
________________________________________________________________________
This is the ending of Chapter 5.
Well, in the next chapter, Zazu will begin his new life in Japan with Zarah. Wait and see what happens when they began their studies at Nekomi.
And one more thing, don't forget the lightning that rained down upon Zazu and Zarah after accidentally screaming in Hild's chambers again. :)