Woah, did I actually manage to get an update out for my side story? Weird. I need to get this done quick, so who knows I may update more than one a week just to get it done. There's not a lot left, I could finish it right quick. I think I might. Gotta get it done!
Gin hoped he wasn't dragging Anna took quickly along, but he was really panicking right now. This was not something he had expected, and they were going to pay for it if they didn't do something quickly.
"Gin, let me go!" Anna called, sounding annoyed. "Master Xeros said we have to get some supplies!"
"We'll do that in a minute," Gin replied. "Right now I need to find my friends and have a talk. I-I forgot to ask them all something" Walking into the lobby, Gin found The Cross waiting for him, just like he'd asked them too through their telepathy.
"Gin, there you are." Quinn said as they reached them. "What's going on, man? you sounded really stressed out."
"That's an understatement," He hissed. "We've got a problem, a big one."
"Which is?" Abigail asked. Gin frowned and looked back at Anna, who now looked scared and confused. The aura he was giving off was clearly scaring the girl, and now he felt bad that he'd reacted so poorly.
"Anna," he said. "Why don't you go and wait for me outside?"
"Why?" She asked. Gin just pressed his lips together tightly at her pout.
"This is a grownup conversation, I just wanted you to wait for me," he replied. He should've acted smoothly taking her back ,but he hadn't. Now he had to work his way around it. "Go and wait, okay?"
"Okay." Anna walked off at this, leaving the older members alone.
"What's going on, Gin?" Tristan asked. "Why're you sweating so badly?"
"It's Anna," he hissed. "She's a Demon Lord." This sentence stunned The Cross into silence, nobody saying a word for a while.
"You've got be joking," Abigail said weakly.
"I wish I was," Gin replied. "But she could see Mortavius clear as day. Not only that, she also had one by her side. You guys heard of Quinxotic?"
"The Blood Priestess," Abigail responded. Quinn shivered at this.
"What is it with these demons having messed up powers?" He asked.
"It's kinda their shtick," Tristan replied. "What do you know Abby?"
"I know that her magic circles around blood," she replied. "As the name implies obviously, but other than that I'm drawing a hard blank."
"So what do we do then?" Gin asked. "Do we tell Xeros?"
"I don't know," Abigail responded, looking down at her feet as she thought. "It would be for the best not to hide it from him, but I worry about his response."
"I vouch we don't." Quinn said, all eyes turning to him at this.
"What?" Tristan asked. "You want to keep a secret like this from the guy running an anti-demon guild?"
"That's exactly why we should keep our mouths shut," Quinn replied with arms crossed. "If Xeros finds out two Demon Lords of all things have found their way into his guild, she's done for. Gin has Neptu and our protection, but he won't feel bad about kicking her out."
"The guild won't like it either," Tristan muttered, a hand on his chin. "I doubt they like that Gin is here, but if they find out Anna is one too..." The group went silent, no one knowing what to say to fix this situation. All in all, they were screwed no matter what they did.
"But if we vouch for her and say she has no where else to go, do you think he'd kick her out?" Gin asked. He didn't like the idea of hiding it from Xeros, but telling him was a pretty big risk too.
"He's got a rep to uphold," Abigail added. "Did you see how Arno reacted when he found out about Gin?" That was also a good point. Xeros might not have even been their biggest problem.
"Let's just keep this between us for now," Tristan said. "We'll figure out a solution when Neptu and Liz come back. They might be able to vouch better."
"I like that idea," Quinn said. "It takes the responsibility off of us."
"We'll do that, then." Abigail said. "We'll wait. Until then, don't treat her any differently. She is just a kid, but if she finds out something's up she might put two and two together after Gin's little outburst." Great, so now he might have messed the whole operation already.
"Just take her to town and act normal," Quinn said. "Maybe ask her about it. Get some info out of her." Gin swallowed hard, but nodded. After all, there was nothing to prove Quinxotic was violent. Perhaps she was just Anna's takeover and that was the end of it. Taking a deep breath, he turned and walked back over to Anna, who was just sitting on a nearby bench twiddling her thumbs.
"Done?" She asked with a bright smile. Gin managed a smile back and nodded.
"Yep, all done." He said. "Ready to go?"
"Uh huh!" Jumping to her feet, Anna burst out of the front door and ripped down the beaten path to New Avalon, Gin close behind. No matter what was happening, the boundless energy she had was incredible. Even more so given how he'd found her on the street.
"Anna!" He called, making her turn and look at him. "Come here, I wanted to ask you something." Nodding, the young girl ran back to him and kept his pace, bouncing still to keep her energy levels up.
"What's up?" She asked. Gin took a deep breath. Here went nothing.
"How long have you had that friend of yours?" He asked. "You know, the one no one else can see."
"Ah! You mean Quinxotic right?" Gin nodded, and Anna smiled.
"I've known her for as long as I can remember!" She said. "She's always been with me, even after I lost my home." Oh man, he hadn't asked about that either. But did he really need to? He could guess.
"Do you remember how that happened?" He asked as carefully as he could. Anna was young, so maybe she wouldn't pick up on his reasoning. Anna shook her head sadly.
"No, I don't remember." She said. "I remember I felt super sick for a while beforehand, and when I woke up one day everything was gone. I was all alone, but Quinxotic was still with me. She guided me to this city, and then I met you! It must have been fate!"
Was that a good thing, though?
"I suppose so," Gin replied weakly. If he guessed right, that was probably Quinxotic taking over the girls feeble form and using it to wreak havoc. Then she would have lied to the girl once she awoke and told her she was a friend. "Is she good to you?"
"Yep!" Anna said. "We always told me what was good to eat and what wasn't and made sure I didn't stick my nose anywhere it didn't belong! She could only do so much though. She said something like she didn't have a physical form for this world or something? I don't know what that means, but I suppose that means she's a ghost or something?"
Now Gin wasn't sure what to do. From the sounds of it Anna was oblivious to what Quinxotic really was, and that wasn't good. Was he supposed tell her, or just wait for a more opportune time? No, he needed to wait for Neptu to get back. It would be better that way.
"Well that's good," he said, opting not to answer her question. "I'm glad you had someone to help you through those rough times."
"Yep!" She agreed. "What about your friend, Gin? What's his name? Is he nice?"
Oh boy.
"Well, uh, I suppose so." He said. He didn't want Anna to worry about him by saying Mortavius was the last thing he considered a friend. He just hoped said demon didn't appear and say some shit. "He's a bit harder on me than Quinxotic might have been to you, but it's just because that's how he is."
"Some people are like that huh?" Anna asked. "Enough talk! Let's go and get those supplies!" With this Anna bounded off again, leaving Gin in her dust. He frowned as he watched her go off, not knowing what it was he was supposed to do.
He just hoped Neptu would have a plan.
Neptu had followed Mesa deep into the temple, Zynna and Elizabeth close behind. They had taken many twists and turns so far, so it seemed that whoever this Mother figure was she was very important to the people here.
"Allow me to clarify something before you meet her," Mesa said, looking over his shoulder. "Mother Chiyoko is the leader of the secret sect devoted to the Devil Slayer problem. Although she may appear young, do not be deceived; she's lived a hundred lives and will live a hundred more."
"Could you be anymore cryptic?" Elizabeth asked, sounding annoyed. Mesa laughed at this.
"I apologise," he said. "You see, we at Zentopia believe that the Mother reincarnates after death. Mother Chiyoko is the most recent reincarnation, and she holds all of the knowledge to help you, Neptu."
"Sounds like a plan," Neptu said as they approached a door. Mesa knocked, and there was silence for a moment before he nodded.
"You have been given permission to enter, Neptu Skylancer." He said, moving out of Neptu's way. Giving both his sister and Elizabeth a look, Neptu carefully walked forward and opened the door, which shut right behind him as he entered the room.
"Ah," A woman's voice sake. "Gabros' son has finally found his way here." Looking ahead of him, Neptu met the eyes of a woman sitting on a chair overlooking a terrace. Outside the terrace was the sky around the Zentopian church, and a slight gust of wind was entering from outside.
"You knew my Dad?" He asked, moving farther into the room. The woman nodded.
"Indeed I did," she said. "As the Mother before me served Demon Slayers, and her before her. I am Mother Chiyoko, child. What is your name?" Neptu swallowed at this.
"My name's Neptu," he said. "I was told you could help me make up my mind about giving up my power." Nodding for him to sit, Neptu did as was instructed. Getting a closer look at her, Neptu found it hard to believe that this woman wasn't as young as she looked. The illusion was very convincing, as her dark black hair showed no signs of grey and her golden eyes shone with hope. It comforted him the more he watched her. The white robes she had one shone with a similar feeling, and it was a very graceful appearance.
"What is troubling you, child?" Chiyoko asked. "Why is it you pause to give up this curse?" Neptu wrung his hands together and frowned.
"It was never a curse until I found out what it was doing to me," he said. "I used this power to save people, to kill unholy creatures who'd dare attack them. This power, it's been in my family for as long as we've been a family at all. To have to give it up..."
"Feels as though you are giving up a part of yourself," Chiyoko said, relief flooding through Neptu. She understood him. "That by giving it up you're somehow failing those who gave it to you."
"Exactly," Neptu replied. "But I don't want to hurt the people close to me. If I don't give up this power, the demon will consume me entirely. And I'll become exactly what I always hunted down." Chiyoko simply hummed in understanding, eyes lost in a faraway place out in the open sky.
"What is it you fear more, Neptu?" She asked as she turned back to him. "Turning, or hurting those close to you?" Well, that was no contest.
"Hurting people," he replied. "I've worked my entire life to save people, especially those closest to me. I can't risk hurting them."
"Than why do you give pause?" Chiyoko asked. "Because of your family legacy? Or are you scared to lose your entire identity along with the magic?" Now it felt like he was being attacked, and he didn't like the tone she used at all despite how soft it was.
"I never said that," Neptu replied.
"That is what you're implying," Chiyoko replied, looking back out the window. "You speak of your family legacy and how long you've had this power, but pause to give it up even though it may eventually cause harm to those you love. If that is not your reason, than what?" That made sense, but that wasn't his reasoning at all. But then again, what was upsetting him? She made perfect sense.
"I don't know what you want me to say," he finally replied, feeling even more lost than before. Chiyoko smiled at him softly.
"It is not weakness to be scared of losing yourself as you know it to be," she said. "No one would throw themselves into such an abyss without due pause."
"I don't need that," Neptu said, finding his voice. "I'm already different than I was."
"In what way?" Neptu took a deep breath and looked Chiyoko in the eye, determination flooding him as it clicked in his head.
"For a long time i didn't pause when it came to killing demons," he said. "For the longest time if I knew they were there, I'd have them killed. I didn't care who was attached to it, I just needed them gone. But, recently, a boy taught me that that line of thinking isn't healthy. He's a demon, but one of the most caring souls in the world. Had I used this power to kill someone like him, I..." Neptu paused as his guilt closed his throat up, making him take a moment before continuing speaking. How many lives like Gin had been cut short because of him? How many times had people died on his orders, crying for their mother or father? He felt disgusted just thinking about it.
"Please continue," Chiyoko said, voice so soft it gave Neptu the strength to continue speaking.
"I was so careless with the power given to me for so long," he said. "I used it even on an inkling of a chance I was killing a demon without even thinking. I've been disgracing my families heritage. I'm supposed to protect people from demons, not just kill them too. I've already changed so much in such a short time. But, to give it up..." Neptu just didn't know. Sure, maybe he wanted to keep it because it was a gift, or he was scared of change. But to just give it up seemed so extreme to him. Chiyoko just watched him quietly for a moment before she leaned back and sighed.
"You know, your father was hesitant to give it up as well," she said. This caught Neptu's attention, and Mother kept speaking. "He was worried that by giving it up, he was dooming humanities chances, if only a little.
"But father didn't give it up," Neptu replied, thinking back to his childhood training. "I remember him using it, him training me to use it."
"You're right, he didn't." she said. "Your father could not bare the thought of giving it up either. Gabros was a strong willed man, one willing to give his life to protect those close to him." That was a painfully accurate statement. "So instead of following the general rules, your father attempted the harder route."
"Wait, what?" Neptu asked. "Mesa said there were only two options." Chiyoko sighed.
"Mesa is not of the Demon Sect," she replied. "He is a devout man, and a excellent Cardinal, but not everything is so cut and dry. I'm certain Mesa spoke of two ways, correct?"
"Yeah," Neptu replied. "One that cures me and the other than just makes it easier to handle." Chiyoko nodded at this.
"There's a third way," she replied. "One less traversed and known about because of the dangers involved." Neptu already didn't like the sounds of this, but he was willing to listen. "Gabros went down this path. To make the infection bow down to him, to make it subservient to his will, not it's own."
"How is that possible?" Neptu asked, growing curious. "Is it possible?"
"All things are," Chiyoko replied. "This way is very much similar to the other ways. If you heard the stories of Magnus, than I'm certain he did not tell you. Because this was only discovered after he passed. Roughly two hundred years ago, a Demon Slayer named Isamu developed a certain sacrament; one designed to cage the infection during the battle, and force it to bow down to the host. This cleanses the body of the infection as do the other ways, but this one keeps the demon inside the slayer. Caged, ready to allow the user to draw out it's power at any time without risk."
"What's the catch?" Neptu asked. "All ways out like this have a catch. What's this one?" Chiyoko nodded.
"Astute observation, Neptu." she said. "There is a catch. During the battle, your magic will be incredibly weak. Demon Slayers end up drawing power from the infection the longer they go. By separating the infection and the slayer, the magic weakens considerably. And the same rules apply; if you lose the battle, the infection wins. And you become a demon."
Great, so really he still had limited options will all the risk of before. From the sounds of it, this was the path his father had gone down. One that made the demon infection subservient and eliminated the risk of turning into a demon. But he could still die and lose his body to the demon.
"What will you do, Neptu Skylancer?" Chiyoko asked. "Will you follow your father and serve the human race with your power dutifully? Or will you gave it up to protect the people you hold dear to you?"
Well, that was the question of the day wasn't it?
Neptu thought about it. He thought about all the people he'd hurt with this power. So many countless and unnamed people, even including his own sister due to his own incompetence. Did he deserve to keep this power?
But then. he remembered what he was up against. Demon Lords. Being so powerful only certain types of magic could hurt them. And whether or not the person attached to them wanted it, they were a blight on this earth. Just like every other demon on this earth. Was he going to walk away when humanity needed his power? Or was he going to keep at it and make sure no one else had to suffer the way he did, but follow the path of the light this time? To make sure no one died, and not just slay who he desired?
Finally, after a few minutes of deliberation, Neptu took a deep breath.
"Teach me the sacrament," he said to Chiyoko. "I've got an infections ass to kick into line."
Like I said, more frequent updates are being guaranteed! Right here, right now! There actually isn't a whole lot left as it is, so I could totally get through it quick. I hope you all enjoyed, leave a review!