Hi hi!

I don't really got much to say, so let's just stop wasting time.

ONWARDS!

"Hello?"

"Hi, is this the one who left the message?"

"Yes, that is I."

"Alright, cool, then… Ah, here we go. Yeah, we can get you a direct link to Abraxas."

"That would be great. The sooner the better, if you'd please."

"Yeah, about that… It's gonna cost you."

"…I'm sorry?

"Come on, man, don't be like that. You know how things are, can't just start handing out services for free. Would give us a bad name."

"Ah, I see… Who is this, if I may ask?"

"Umm, Jinn."

"So, Jinn, do you normally take that tone with possible partners, or am I a special case?"

"Don't try to act all high and mighty with me, you're the one coming to me for help, remember?"

"I'd advise against that tone with me, boy. When speaking to someone of my caliber, holding your tongue may prove beneficial."

"How about you shut your mouth and watch yours, huh!? I know some pretty powerful people on this end, wouldn't be too hard to track your ass down and have you sacrificed or something. Add you to the boss's coat."

"In that case, you can go ahead and tell Skinner I said hello."

"...I...Excuse me?"

"Don't assume for even a second that I don't know everything about you, Jinn. Do not mistake my common courtesy for friendliness; if I'd known better I would have gone around you and went directly to Skinner."

"Hey, okay, hold up a sec-"

"As for your insubordination, well, I don't have the heart to bring it up with your boss, the poor man has enough on his plate as is. No, why do that when I can get this cleaned up in-house?"

"Alright, okay, wait-"

"Maybe I could pull in some favors, I'm sure the Nightwatcher won't be happy to find someone preventing us from reaching out to my dear brother."

"…You're bluffing, he isn't real."

"I can assure you, she can be quite the force to reckon with, especially when she learns this same person mistook her gender. She's quite touchy with that subject in particular."

"Okay, fine fuck, I got your point before you threatened me with a cold-blooded killer, jeez! I'll get you the link, hang on."

"Thank you for your service."

The moment Kuro took a step back, more than content with her work, a knock came to the door. Her once proud smirk was replaced with a weighted frown, stomping over to the door in a huff, "What!?"

"May I come in, Miss?"

Kuro nearly missed the voice at first, pressing her ear to the wall as she braced her hands on either side of her head, "...I'm sorry?"

"May I come in?"

Kuro stared at the wall, as if it could convey her confusion. The voice was female, no doubt, but… It was also kinda high. Like… Like a child's voice.

"Umm… Yeah, sure."

Kuro heard a series of locks and flips shift from inside of the door before it was pushed open, moving from the wall in order to get a better look at the small figure shuffling into the room. She nearly did a double take, taking in the little girl's rather tiny statue as she seemingly shrank into herself. She looked no older than maybe 10,000 at most, her long lavender hair a sleek yet tangled mess behind her head. Her large cerulean eyes were so soft, nothing about them besides their odd color even hinting she was a demon.

She took a moment to fix her white maid's dress, closing the door behind her before bowing her head down, "Hello, I've been assigned by the Crow prince to serve you as your personal maid. My name is Vanth, but I will respond to other titles if you so wish it."

Kuro's surprise was quickly drowned out with irritation by the mere mention of the Crow, scowl set on her face as she looked around the room for something to break. She wasn't exactly a child-advocate (she liked to think she was the exact opposite, if anything), but having this spineless thing working in a place like this? Something about that just… It didn't sit right with her.

Most kids she'd ever had the displeasure of working with were the Rifter runts that ran around like they owned the place; too young to understand fear but too old to blindly accept the twisted reasoning of those around them. Long story short, most of everything that came out of the Rift was rotten and conniving, so why would the children be any different? You either adapt or you didn't make it, and being how the kids easily outnumbered any of the gangs, they seemed to take to adapting pretty quickly.

Kuro was brought back when the girl, Vanth, crossed the room towards the vanity, pulling out a small stool from underneath it before gesturing to it, "If you could please sit here, Miss, I can help you get ready."

"...Yeah, yeah sure." Kuro mumbled, shoving her hands into her hoodie pockets before stalking over. She had to fight to keep her hands there, knowing that they'd do something drastic if this kid moved too fast or out of her line of vision.

"Oh, you can drop the Miss, ya know." Kuro sat down, fingers intertwining and tugging at each other as she felt her hair shift, fighting the instinct to whip around and grab the offending wrist, "Just Kuro is fine."

She watched as the little girl's reflection jumped back a bit, surprised by the request, only to shake her head, "I'm very sorry, but I c-can't drop the honorific, the Crow prince would-"

"You're supposed to be serving me, right?" Kuro cut in, slowly growing more agitated. It wasn't the kid's fault, it was just really weird to respond to anything that wasn't her name. It took a long time for her to warm up to nicknames, especially if they reference… unfavorable memories.

"T-that is true, yes."

"That means that you'll be answering and working directly under me, yeah?"

"M-more or less. At the moment I will be-"

"I just need a yes or no, kid."

"...Yes."

"Then I'm going to ask that, when and if possible, you just call me by my name." Kuro felt the fingers massaged into her scalp relax, as if a great burden had just been lifted from them.

"I can try, K-Kuro." With that, she relaxed as much as she could, slowly pulling her hands from her pockets as the tension bled out of her fingers. She nearly laughed at the situation: she just had to fight a kid to get her to lose the mannerisms she was probably raised with.

Jeez, now that she thought about it, just what had they done to instill that amount of respect and fear? What kind of training did they force the kid through?

"How would you like y-your hair?" Vanth asked softly, eyes trained on the back of her head.

"Umm…" Kuro shrugged, "Whatever you think looks nice, go with it. Surprise me."

The girl nodded, quickly getting to work if the tugs and pulls from the back of Kuro's head were anything to go off of. All the while, the girl hummed a little tune to herself, getting lost in Kuro's hair as well as her work.

The near silence left Kuro's mind to race about, unable to keep her leg from bouncing under the vanity. She felt like her brain was bouncing around in her skull, the visual enough to give her a headache.

"Hey, do you mind if I ask you a few questions?" Kuro asked, unable to keep herself to, well, herself anymore. As much as she wanted to sink into the chair and take a quick power nap, there was nothing to recline against, and she wasn't about to fall asleep on this little maid.

"Of course. I w-will do my best to answer any questions y-you may have."

"Great," Kuro took a moment to put the proper words to her thoughts, "What do you know about the Devils, the princes?"

"Well…. Am I right in assuming that you understand t-the whole 'choosing ceremony'?" Vanth asked, tugging Kuro's hair as she began the basis of a braid from the left, weaving it to fit into place alongside her skull.

"Oh yeah, I've had first hand experience with that." Kuro all but shuddered, doing her best to keep still as Vanth worked on her hair, "But… What about the temperament of these guys? The Crow, specifically, I guess."

"I'm… Sorry?"

"Oh, umm, how are they normally, I guess?" Kuro had to fight down the urge to scratch the back of her head, "Sorry, my neighbor likes throwing around words like that. Guess they finally rubbed off, who'da thunk?"

Vanth went silent for a moment, her fingers returning to their stiff state, before whispering, "Promise you won't tell?"

"Yes, pinky swear, cross my heart, all that jazz." Kuro hoped she didn't sound dismissive, she'd meant to sound casual like this wouldn't be an issue, not sarcastic, "Not telling."

Kuro didn't let out her breath until Vanth went back to her hair, eyes fixed on the dark knots as if willing them to untangle themselves, "He can be a bit scary at times," Her voice was so soft, Kuro thought she was talking to herself for a second, "But, then again, he is a Devil."

"Scary huh?" Kuro shuddered, rubbing her arms as a nonexistent draft blew past, "yeah, I can see that."

"But I'm sure he can be very kind!" Vanth insisted, backtracking so fast that Kuro was sure the kid almost fell over from the mental whiplash. She took a moment to calm herself before going back to work on the right side braid, joining it with the left braid in the back of her head to form a sort of crown, "I won't like, he d-does look nice, but…"

"But what?"

Kuro watched Vanth's head whip about in the mirror, scared eyes scanning the walls as if they could tell on her, "He and his brother do NOT like each other. They'll fight often, but it's the mental fights they wage that you need to look out for."

"Sibling rivalry?" Kuro had to suppress a laugh at that. Fighting amongst siblings, from what she'd seen with Abraxas and Shax, was something to be expected. Surely, it couldn't be anything past the crap Abraxas used to pull, "Don't worry, I've seen a few of those in my lifetime."

"I assure, never to this l-level." Vanth murmured. Before Kuro could ask, the maid stepped away, a soft smile gracing her face as she turned to the mirror, "Do you like it?"

Kuro couldn't help but feel impressed with the maid's intricate handiwork, her hair making her look more like a princess than some Rifter rat, "It's great. Thanks."

"The pleasure is all mine." As sweet as it was, her pitch was practiced, the following bow feeling staged and rehearsed rather than casual and natural. Before Kuro could ask, the maid made her way over to the bed, noting the odd placement of the green amongst the blacks and reds, "Do you require help with the dress?"

"Nah," Kuro didn't bother hiding her cheeky smirk, spinning herself around in order to enjoy the maid's sure surprise upon seeing what was left of the garment, "It took me a while, but I think I finally got it. Just had to… break it in first, is all."

Kuro got to watch it all: Vanth's confusion turned to surprise, lifting what was left of the dress, eyes going wide as they snapped between Kuro and the fabric in her hands, "...Is this…?"

"Yep."

"And you just…"

"You know it."

For a split second, Vanth looked like she was about to lose control, the tremble of her lip and the stuttered yet present giggles fighting to escape her with each passing second. Finally, she took a deep breath, exhaling as she put the d"dress" back down.

She then turned on her heel, fully facing Kuro with that practiced smile, eyes alight with a similar gleam to Kuro's own, "The Crow prince gave me strict orders to help you in any way you may need, so please do not hesitate to ask me for anything."

"I'll be sure to keep that in mind." Kuro rose from the chair, stretching against the aches in her back after sitting hunched over for so long, "I, umm, I don't mean to sound rude, but do you mind getting out?"

"No, not at all." Kuro breathed out a sigh of relief when Vanth didn't push the matter, instead making her way towards the door. She had gone through a lot of firsts already, being stripped and dressed by a child was not something she wanted checked off. Ever. "I was ordered to escort you to the dining room, so once you're finished, I will be right outside to show you the way."

"Great." Kuro sighed, grinning widening as the door was closed shut, stalking over to the bed like a cat about to pounce, "It's just you and me now."

Her eyes bore down upon the helpless cloth, all but cooing as she began to pull her own hoodie off, throwing it off somewhere to her left.

It was a stupid thing to do, she knew it. Hacking away at a dress in a fit of rage and stretch for control, while fun while it lasted, was easily one of the dumbest things that Kuro had ever done. There would be repercussions for wearing this, hell, she was probably going to pay for the damages and whatnot at this little "dinner".

The idea only helped her grin to grow wider, tank top and shorts quickly joining her hoodie on the floor, standing over the "dress" as if it were her masterpiece.

Sir Beaks-a-lot could play the power card all he liked. He could easily control every aspect of her life at this point, but that was no matter. No matter his order, his command, his will, Kuro would find a loophole and exploit the shit out of it.

"Try putting a leash on me, I dare you." Kuro grinned, slipping on what was left after she had fun with the scissors, "No one said that I'd just roll over."

"What do you want?"

"Come now, there is no need to sound so bitter." Corvus smiled from the head of the table, fingers unfolding from under his chin in order to gesture to the open seat at his left, "Is it wrong of me to ask my brother to dinner for some… family time?"

"Don't try to dress this up as something it isn't." Arc scowled, glaring down the seat before shaking his head, slowly making his way over, "It's never been that easy between us, and you know it."

"While that is true, is it really that hard to believe that I'd like to change that?" Corvus' smile only grew as his brother took a seat, reveling in his discomfort as he adjusted those stupid glasses on his face, "Doesn't our constant bickering get sick, brother?"

"I am not in the mood for your games, Corvus." Arc's hands slipped from the table, the action alone nearly pulling a chuckle from deep within Corvus. While a small victory, he counted it nonetheless. Seeing his brother's false mask crack, even just for a second, was more of a treat than he'd ever admit.

There were few things he loved more than setting a match to the fuse of his brother's anger, especially with what he had planned…

"For what it's worth, I did ask the chefs to prepare your favorite." Corvus said, his warm smile only growing wider with Arc's cold and calculated expression, "While finding the soul in question was difficult, I'm sure that it will be more than enough to indulge in your refined taste."

Arc said nothing, instead tuning his brother out in favor of staring down at the table cloth. He could feel Corvus' smug expression, Corvus made sure of it. Arc knew his brother well, there was either something he wanted or he was being vengeful. But, other than that, Arc knew little to nothing.

What kind of game was he trying to play?

Footsteps from down the hall snapped him from his head, turning to the doorway as a small maid came through the doorway. This was a private dining room, a small yet comfortable area that held a rectangle table and a few chairs. To know that someone else might be joining them sent shivers running down his spine.

Corvus watched the maid fiddle with the bottom of her skirt, taking a deep breath before bowing her head, "Prince Corvus, I would like to announce your betrothed's arrival."

Arc turned to give his brother a look, Corvus's smug expression only made the more condescending with his shit-eating grin. "That is the game you wish to play? Attempt to make me jealous of the floozy you've chosen?"

"That may have been the idea, yes," Corvus sighed, waving the maid away as he straightened himself in his chair, "It was hard to choose from the multitude of women; many were devoted to me without the slightest suggestion. I had quite the selection, really."

"I'm sure you did." Arc rolled his eyes, "I can imagine it as clear as day: the women throwing themselves at you in an attempt to marry into power and wealth. Truly an appealing thought."

"With that said," Corvus continued, as if Arc had said nothing and he was just trying to fill the silence, "I've made a choice, and as my closest brother, I'd like you to be the first I personally introduce to her."

Arc couldn't help but wonder what his brother had gone with, perhaps he'd gotten himself someone as provocative as she was dull? Or no, he recently had a thing for tall blondes, maybe that new-found infatuation was what-

For what it was worth, neither of them were ready for who walked in.

Arc refused to acknowledge the small hitch in his breath as the familiar face walked in, his surprise quickly melting into dread, only to reform as… He wasn't exactly sure what was welling up in his chest, but whatever it was, it was quickly becoming overwhelming.

Even then, he wasn't sure if it was due to the person, or what she was wearing.

If Arc could, he would have laughed at his brother's expression. The smug look was gone, replaced with a polite smile, fingers digging into the fabric of his pants.

Kuro walked in without a second thought, as if she wasn't wearing the shortest dress skirt known to man, or the loose-fitting top that looked suspiciously similar to a corset being ripped down the front and slipped on. Nothing held the vest close, leaving the bottom to flare out with each step,revealing the lack of a shirt if the thin black string reaching across her chest underneath was anything to go by.

It wasn't that that got to the two of them, nor was it her insistence on keeping those dirty old boots on. No, it was the fact that she wore a confident smile, walking in as if she owned the place and this was nothing new.

It was a good look on her.

Finally, Corvus cleared his throat, "Aranea, I would be most honored to introduce you to my soon-to-be, Kuro."

At the name, Kuro stopped, eyes narrowing as she studied Arc's face, almost as if she was expecting him to be some sort of hallucination. Her calculating look was broken by the wide grin that spread across her face, her hand thrown out in his general direction, "Arc, hey! How's it hanging?"

Arc stared at the hand that reached for him from across the table, head tilted to the side. What was he supposed to do? Was this a way of saying hello in the lower class?

Sighing, Kuro leaned over the table to take hold of his wrist, holding it up with one hand while the other slapped his open palm, "It's called a high-five, buddy. It won't kill you, I promise."

With that, she took a seat at the chair the maid had pulled out for her, the small girl bowing and leaving the moment Kuro was sat and pushed in, "I'd greet you with a fist bump, but the last thing I need is you thinking I'm about to punch you in the face."

Arc was still, hand having yet to return to a more comfortable position. Corvus seemed to take great joy in this, laughing as something sinister crept into his eyes, "I don't suppose the two of you are already acquainted?"

With just that look alone, it all clicked into place, "To a point." He growled through his teeth.

Despite his unease, Kuro was quick to make herself comfortable at the table, throwing her boots up as she leaned back against her chair, "Aww, no need to act all coy." Arc nearly gagged, everything from her actions to her words just felt so… commoner-like. It all screamed "filthy casual", and honestly, it had no place in a room like this, in a room with them.

He couldn't help but be more intrigued.

The maid came back in, this time pulling a dinner cart in with her. Kuro eyed the silver covers over all three of the plates, moving her feet out of the way as one was placed in front of her. The only way she could describe the aroma was "rich", something that would never have the change to exist in the Rift.

She stared at her polished expression, eyeing the distorted image giving Corvus a look, "...You planning to poison me, or something?"
"It pains me that you'd think that, dearest." Corvus insisted, his sweet voice sickening rather than reassuring, much too fake to belong to him, "The castle will only ever serve my princess the finest, you need only ask."

"Here's a brilliant idea: never call me that again." Kuro growled, picking up the fork before poking the silver cover with it. When it didn't bite back, she pushed the cover off, narrowed eyes widening as Vanth moved to fully remove it.

Her eyes latched onto the source of the dim, light blue light, mouth watering ever so slightly before poking at it with her fork, "Is...Is that… A soul?"

Arc scoffed, eyeing his plate as if it stood for everything he hated, before moving the look to Corvus, "It's rather underwhelming, don't you think, brother?"

"I don't recall promising you the best, Aranea." Corvus smiled, tucking a napkin into the collar of his shirt, "Besides, I don't see the problem here. I did my best to have all of your boxes checked: early teens, male, bipolar, a Scorpio-"

"That isn't the issue here and you damn well know it." Arc cut in, bringing his hands to rest on the table instead of slamming them down as he had wanted to.

Oblivious to the tension between the two, Kuro poked at the light blue orb on her plate, head tilted to the side as if she'd been presented with an impossible puzzle. Corvus turned to her, seemingly bored with Arc's stuttering irritation, "Is something the matter, Kitten?"

She had to physically bite her tongue to keep from hissing, swallowing down the curse in the tip of her tongue as she coughed into her elbow, "It's just that… How do I eat this?"

"...Pardon?"

"How does this soul go from Point A to Point B?" She asked, one hand pointing from her to the plate while the other continued it poking onslaught.

"...Kitten, have you never eaten a soul before?"

"I have!" Kuro squeaked, taking a moment to bring her volume back down when Arc jumped from the sudden spike, "It's just… I don't really do it often. I haven't had a contract in a long while, and Gehenna isn't exactly open to Rifters…"

"I see." Corvus murmured, setting his fork down as he laid his hands on the table, "In that case, I apologize. I didn't even think to ask what you would have preferred. For future reference, how do you normally prefer your soul?"

"Umm… Raw?"

Arc did his best to hold back his revolted shudder, nearly choking back up the bite he'd just eaten. The very thought of what "raw" implied, "How?"

"Close your eyes and swallow, duh." Kuro took another poke at it, her fork bouncing off of the gelatin-like surface, before finally pushing her plate away, "I can't eat this."

Corvus looked like he was ready to stand up and demand the chef's head on a platter, "If it isn't to your liking, I can have something else-"

"No, it's not that, if anything it looks delicious." Kuro pushed her seat out, jumping to her feet as she threw her arms up, "It's just too… fancy for me. I've been living off of grime, muck and alcohol for years, I'm not about to let your rich bitch food ruin me."

Arc watched as she quickly wiped away at the corner of her mouth, one hand over the other as if to restrain it. She looked antsy, like a compressed spring seconds away from release. Why she subdued herself in such a manner he had no clue, it wasn't like consuming it would kill her. If anything, eating the soul would be most beneficial, especially if she hadn't done so in a long time.

Stuck in his head, Arc almost didn't notice when Corvus also rose from his chair, straightening out his coat as Kuro made her way for the door, "Allow me to-"

"Don't bother, I can figure it out." Kuro insisted, before shooting over the most fabricated smile, "I'd hate to get in the way of your dinner, especially since it'll be spent with your brother. Please, don't stop on my behalf, you feathered fuck."

With that, she did a little curtsy before walking out, calling for the maid as she left. And just like that, she was gone.

The silence that engulfed the room felt as suffocating as it did ceaseless, only broken when Arc awkwardly cleared his throat, "Feathered fuck?"

"She has… an affinity for nicknames." Corvus mused, taking a moment to get comfortable back in his chair, "But are already aware of that, are you not, 'Arc'?"

"Is that what all of this has been about?" Arc all but snarled, rising from his chair. He didn't need an answer, the smug expression on Corvus' face was telling enough. He would not take this, especially not from this feathered fuck, "To think you'd go as far as this. Granted, you never did know where to draw the line."

"Oh, the irony, my own brother lecturing me about drawing lines." Corvus mused, reclining in his chair regardless of his biting tone, "Oh, if only your mother could see you know."

Arc nearly crushed the part of the table he'd been holding himself to, using it as a sort of anchor to stay in the moment rather than flipping out with the pure rage that boiled under his skin, "Of all the childish things you've done, this by far is the most petty."

"You dare speak to me about pettiness?" Corvus snapped back, finally rising to his own feet. Arc couldn't help the small huff of laughter, taking pride in knowing that he would always be slightly taller, "You should have waited your turn, but no, you thought you could get away with stealing something from right under my nose. And at my own party, nonetheless."

"Is that what you think I was doing that night!?" Arc growled, refusing to sit back down as he ripped his hands from the cloth, shoving them across his chest as if he had to restrain himself, "I did nothing of the sort! You're just throwing a fit like the pretentious brat you are because your arrogance fooled yourself into thinking you were wronged. And now, you're now stuck with someone else who doesn't want to appease you. How hilariously pitiful."

"Pitiful, you say?" Corvus sneered, "Stop dancing around the fact and admit it; your envy is written all over your face."

Arc nearly laughed at that, taking a moment to adjust his glasses before staring down his nose at his brother, "Envy?"

"Yes. In fact, if I didn't know any better, I'd say that someone is a bit envious. Come now, no need to be coy, is someone a little jealous?"

"Does someone want me to be?" Arc rumbled right back.

For a second there, there seemed to be no way out of this without an altercation. The two of them, despite Corvus' cavalier smile and Arc's steel-cold anger-induced frown, held the same murderous look in their eyes.

Finally, Corvus shrugged, sitting back down to recline in his chair, "Admit it, don't admit it; it's all the same to me. In the end, I got my prize, and you get to go on knowing you did this. She will be mine-"

"No she won't."

Corvus chuckled at that, throwing one leg over the other before bracing his elbow against the table, leaning his cheek against his fist, "And what makes you say that? Wistful thinking? You know nothing about a proper lady, nor do you have the slightest clue as to what they want."

"But she isn't a proper lady now, is she?" Arc mumbled, eyes flashing with an unsaid challenge as he too finally took a seat, "Even then, there's no doubt that she at least sees me as an acquaintance, a familiar face; where does that leave you, Crow?"

"As her betrothed." He said it with such fervor that, had it been anyone other than Arc, they would have agreed without a second thought, "She will learn to love and adore me, as all the others in the past have. She will be mine."

Corvus grinned as he eyed Arc over, sizing him up like a slab of meat, "It bothers you, doesn't it?"

"There's no reason for me to be bothered by such an unrealistic claim." Arc scoffed, much to Corvus' irritation. The two eyed each other for a moment longer before Arc finally rose, "I'm done."

And with that, he was gone as well.

Unbeknownst to the other, both brothers wore a dark grin as Arc left, their composure just barely kept together as the game fell into place before them. It had been too long since their last challenge, and even longer since it included such a fun toy.

Surely, this would be fun.

"Umm, hello? Who be there?"

"Shax."

"…Hey, Shax, buddy! How's it been?"

"Business as usual, as per usual."

"Honestly didn't expect any other answer out of you, I don't know why I asked-"

"Granted, your sudden disappearance put a lot of unneeded strain on the team, not that you'd know of course."

"Aaaaaaand there's that irritated snark I've been missing! Just get your husband to curse me out over the line and I'll feel right at home."

"You could do yourself one better and come back."

"But there's so much to do up here! I mean, where else am I going to find bagged milk? Hell, do you even know what bagged milk is!?"

"...Abraxas, surface smuggling is illegal."

"That just makes me wanna stay more."

"That's not the point. In fact, I don't care what you do, and I don't care if you get caught."

"I don't know if anyone's ever told you this, Shax, but you really need to work on your convincing skills, especially if you're gonna constantly take charge and boss everyone else around all the time."

"I'm not asking you as a boss, I'm telling you as your big brother that you need to get your fat ass back down here now."

"Oh, look at Shax, using big boy words, and in his head honcho voice no less! Riddle me this, what if I refuse to?"

"Abraxas, it's Lilim."

"Oh, how has our little Nightwatcher been doing?"

"You know how much she hates it when you use that name."

"Yeah, well, I'm going to take a wild guess and assume that she fit perfectly into that Abraxas-sized hole I left behind-"

"She was chosen."

"…I'm sorry?"

"Out of all the others there, she was the one to be picked. As we speak she's in the castle with the Crow prince and without any kind of backup."

"No way, you're just pulling my leg here. No way, out of everyone there, Lilim got… She actually got…"

"In all the time you've known me, tell me, when have I ever lied to you?"

"…I'll be down in a few minutes."

"Good. Now, was that so difficult? We could have saved time had you just listened to me in the first place."

"Do us both a favor and just hang up already, Shax."