Mairimashita! Iruma-kun: Shadows of the Past, part 62
Deep underground, the air was tense while Kalego decided what to do next. Opera tried to appear unphased by their near death experience (and meeting with Aria), but Iruma fussed over them to rest anyway.
A lot of emotions that had been long locked away were fighting deep in their eyes and somehow their young master knew. That alone warmed the security demon's heart.
Meanwhile, Sage rested hazily beside them. She had spent a large amount of mana over the last few hours for such a young child and it had left her drained, like the others. Opera wasn't really used to small children, but they made an exception for the tiny half-breed.
Nearby, Kalego held his pensive silence as he thought everything over. He had no doubt that Victoria was well aware that Persephone was currently unable to defend herself after the strain of Garuda. It was the perfect time to make a move on one of Ai's many threats and there was no way he was going to let her anywhere near his beloved, let alone eat her heart.
The mere thought of Victoria harming anyone at this point was infuriating and Kalego refused to lose Persephone again. Beyond that, the very idea of Ai rewriting his memories to make him fall in love with her turned his stomach. It was enough to make him feel physically sick at the thought.
Then there were the others... Sage could easily be carried, but did anyone have the strength or enough magic left to carry Persephone? Certainly Iruma could walk and Opera seemed relatively back to normal, but Kalego, himself, was still irritatingly shaky. Ai and her damned bloodline had really done a number on him.
Perhaps 'fractal' would be enough to let him carry the fallen healer, but had he recovered enough mana yet for even such a simple spell? After all, Cerberus had had to manifest again and that alone was a troubling sign.
Sighing in annoyance at being so weak, there was at least one thing he needed to take care of. Kalego beckoned Iruma away, leaving Opera and Sage to rest. Once out of earshot, the air turned serious again.
Out of earshot, the duostared at one another in strained silence. Neither was particularly looking forward to moving their battered group, but they had little choice. Thus Iruma nervously awaited his sensei's plan.
"Iruma...Victoria has her eye on you", stated Kalego darkly.
Iruma tensed. He already knew that, but being reminded by the target she'd chased for decades only deepened his understanding of what the mad woman was capable of when she truly wanted something.
The sight of his teacher's tortured remains still burned brightly in his mind and it sent a shiver down his spine. Swallowing hard, he nodded grimly as he stared into his lap.
"Yeah..."
The dark look awaiting him when he finally looked back up was almost scary. It was obviously bad news even without the previous warning.
"She's dangerous, especially to you... Why she hasn't eaten you yet is beyond me", grumbled Kalego as he glanced aside.
He knew better than anyone what lengths Ai might go to in order to break the boy, mind and spirit, but not for what purpose.
"About that...", trailed Iruma, nervously.
His entire body had tensed as he spoke. After all he had already witnessed, he was taking this very seriously. Even his previously shattered arm ached and he held it close instinctively.
The boy's unusually serious behavior spoke volumes and it set Kalego on edge. Just what had he missed in his absence?
After a deep breath, Iruma told him everything - Ai's plans for the both of them, about the Forbidden Tomb, and even Cornelius. When he'd finished speaking, his sensei sat in an eerie, almost frozen silence, a look of moderate shock upon his face.
"...Sensei?", ventured the boy.
Kalego narrowed his gaze as he processed his thoughts. His only verbal response was, "So that's what she's after."
The thought of a new immortal was certainly troubling, but the concept of Ai becoming a deity was simply too much to bear. There was no way that could be allowed to happen, even if it meant shaking the entire netherworld.
Eventually, the tense quiet that followed broke. Kalego eyed the boy sharply, but he didn't seem angry just then. It was more as if he was actually starting to worry.
"You've certainly learned a lot these past few weeks...Too much...", he uttered.
Iruma steeled his nerves. Was he going to get a lecture about keeping his teacher's privacy? Or about burying forbidden secrets? Would Persephone or even Sullivan wipe his memory later?
Though he was nervous, he held Kalego's stern gaze. Finally, the dour demon sighed dismissively.
"I can't promise what will or won't happen to you after this. Whether or not you're returned to your world isn't my call... Whatever happens, though, you've been burdened with too many things better off forgotten", he said.
Iruma was screaming inside of his mind.
"Don't make me forget! Don't make me go back! Please, I'll do anything! I want to remember all of you! I don't care about the cost! Please!!!", echoed as a deafening plea inside.
He was so desperate to remain in the demon world that he would shoulder all of its terrible secrets so long as he could stay there with his loved ones.
His thoughts must have been playing across his face again because Kalego smirked in moderate annoyance.
A flick to the boy's forehead brought him back from his thoughts.
"Ooowww! What was that for?!", he whined, plaintively holding the sore spot.
"You're doing it again - planning to put yourself in danger. Don't forget you're not alone here, you fool. You don't have to save the world by yourself. You have dozens of demons you can rely on, so let us help you,...idiot", chided Kalego.
Iruma grinned bashfully as he lowered his hand from his head. His sensei was right, of course, and had seen right through him as usual.
"Right", he ceded.
He recalled being told such things before. He really did have a habit of needlessly endangering himself for the sake of others. The fact that he was in the compound was proof enough of that.
Kalego smirked, glad he'd gotten his point across. Now they could start planning.
"We're bound to run into either Victoria or her lackies as we head toward the surface. Having a special interest in you makes you a bigger target. That being said, watch out for her familiar… I know you've already seen it, but it's even more dangerous than you think. That fox has highly caustic saliva, the kind that can melt a demon's flesh in seconds... There's no telling what it could do to someone like you", warned Kalego.
Suddenly a few of his scars made sense. Still, it was a worrisome thought. Just what would such acid do to a mere human?
Iruma gulped, clearly getting the message. Kalego was serious in his warnings and he could imagine how Iruma might perish while protecting Sage all too easily.
The exhausted teacher had no intention of explaining such an outcome to Sullivan, nor did he really want the kid hurt. After everything Ai had put them through and learning the truth of his existence, the stern demon had already sworn to himself that they had come too far to simply let Iruma get devoured.
Taking a deep breath, Kalego smirked faintly.
"It's powerful, but not unbeatable... You're lucky Barbatos took you under her wing; She gave you the perfect skill set to take that fox down a few pegs", he stated.
That gave Iruma a glimmer of hope. Meeting his sensei's eyes, he resolutely waited for more information. After all, there was no point in despairing. It certainly wouldn't solve anything or get him out of the situation. Thus he had to take his fate into his own hands yet again.
Seeing his resolve, Kalego had a growing feeling that the boy would pull through. He'd already survived several things that would crush the average human. Having been proven wrong so many times in the past, he was finally beginning to see a glimpse of the shine that drew so many to Iruma.
"You'll have to hit multiple targets at once to take it down. The trick will be seeing them... That fox has three concentrations of energy orbiting around it. Striking all six at once will make it revert to a less fearsome form... Thus far, Cerberus is the only one who has accomplished that."
"Energy?... Like orbs?", asked Iruma in wonder.
He didn't recall seeing anything like that before, but then again, he was much more focused on the beast's fangs during their previous meeting.
"Wait…Even if I can shatter all six at once, what will that even do?", he asked, curiously.
His teacher smirked almost evilly. It seemed he wasn't going to tell him.
"Hopefully it won't come to that, but if it does, you'll see", he said with a cryptic grin.
Across the room, Opera twitched their keen ears.
Ai's plans for Iruma? To make him immortal than devour his heart to claim it herself. How dreadful… It was true that only humans could achieve such a state, according to the lore, but can it be stolen?
Annoyed, Opera silently cursed their broken radio. If only they could use telepathic magic to communicate with the surface…but it was decided early on to be too risky. If Ai intercepted anything their plans to stop her could fall apart. Thus a more technical method had been adopted. Still, the vile demoness had countered their electronics with the help of Baal's stolen lightning.
Pulling back from their thoughts, they noticed the small girl had awoken and was staring at them pointedly.
"Are you okay, Kitty-san? Do you still feel weak?", she asked in earnest concern.
Opera grinned fondly at her and assured her that they were fine. She didn't need to be burdened with Ai's crazy plans or to worry about her new big brother any more than she already was.
Back at the surface, the medical tent had grown quiet again. Xui had made her rounds and all of her patients were resting while she made notes in the corner.
Bachiko had ended up back in her seat beside Valiant again.
That idiot… How could he be using magic in his sleep? Didn't he know how fragile of a state he was in? Did he have a death wish or something???
Relaxing her tightened jaw, the archer sighed under her breath. At least he was able to rest despite the added pain he was taking on.
Then a tiny sound from overhead caught her ear. Glancing up, a small creature peered down at her from one of the support beams.
…..A mouse????...Wait…That was no ordinary rodent.
She stared in mild shock as it jumped down, landing safely on Valiant's chest. She fought off an eye twitch as it straightened its tiny, feathered hat.
That kind of obnoxious flare… Was this his familiar?!
The mouse made its way toward the sleeping demon's face, then tucked into his bloodsoaked hair before squeaking into his ear.
Bachiko watched as Valiant hazily opened his eyes.
"Pierre?...What?...Slow down….Ow, my head…", he muttered.
Slowly sitting up, he held onto his pounding skull as the small mouse tumbled down his shoulder and onto his stomach with an annoyed squeak and twitching its wings irritably.
Bachiko smirked to herself, knowing how out of it Valiant was.
"So, this must be one of your secret contacts", she teased, glad to see him awake.
Valiant slowly turned his head to face her. He seemed to have forgotten where he was at the moment.
"Hime?", he uttered, but the theatrical rodent on his belly was waving its tiny arms and squeaking vehemently.
Finally snapping back to reality, Vincente lifted the tiny creature in his palm and listened closely.
"I understand….And what of Ettiene?...I see….I'm sorry I have no food for you right now, but thank you."
The mouse nodded in understanding before turning to look at the archer beside them. As annoying as its master, it took off its hat and bowed to the lady before disappearing in a puff of smoke.
Now Valiant looked at Bachiko in subdued wonder.
"Hime, have you been here with me the whole time?", he uttered.
Turning red, she quickly averted her face.
"Like I have that kind of time!...So what did your familiar say?", she replied, changing the subject.
Valiant grinned bashfully. Not many had ever seen one of his rodents. The fact that Pierre had appeared in front of her was a good sign that she was trustworthy. Still, he wondered how she would react to the others. Phillipe and Ettiene weren't quite so cute, after all, and not many ladies were fond of rodents and raptors.
"My contacts rarely show themselves. Pierre must like you", he grinned.
Fighting off the urge to smack some sense into him, Bachiko glared in mild irritation.
Dropping his act, Valiant yawned deeply, and told her what the mouse had said - Kalego, Opera, and Iruma were currently exhausted, but safe.
That news put her mind at ease.
"And the others?", inquired Xui without looking up from her journal.
Valiant swiveled his face toward the intruding voice. Staring for a moment, he realized who it belonged to.
"Akiyama-sama?...Persephone-sama and Sage are with them….When did you get here?", he asked, still hazy.
Finally closing her notebook, Xui approached him with skeptical eyes.
"A while ago... The children will be fine, but you have a curse. Nene can take care of it once she gets here, then I can fix those teeth…How is your pain?"
She inspected him carefully as she spoke.
"Tolerable", he uttered, knowing what was coming next.
"Good. Then - ", she began, followed by a prompt smack upside his pounding head.
"What kind of fool are you?! Turn off your bloodline immediately!", she spat.
He held his head with an apologetic grin. He'd been caught, unsurprisingly.
"Yes, ma'am", he ceded with a muffled sigh of relief.
Bachiko watched agape. Just how well did Xui know Valiant?
He bashfully averted his gaze.
"I was only trying to help", he said under his breath.
"I'm sure the kids will appreciate what you did, but the fact remains that you could have easily pushed yourself into a coma, and for what?! If you die, then who is going to stop Ai?...Dumbass", grumbled Xui.
"Yes, ma'am ", he repeated in defeat.
Taking a calming breath, the healer tilted his chin to get a better look.
"Open", she ordered.
Obeying, he let her inspect his demolished teeth.
"Clever bitch", she mumbled.
As she let him go, she explained, "Victoria put a curse on the roof of his mouth preventing anyone from repairing his fangs until it's removed. It's a low blow for a fellow vampire, but I'm not surprised… It doesn't look too complicated, so I'm certain my dear sister can easily remove it. Until, try not to talk too much, lest you start bleeding again. Understood?".
He nodded, grateful for her help.
"Barbatos, watch him for me, won't you? I'll be right back", she said, walking away without waiting for an answer.
"Sure", replied the archer, still mildly surprised.
She glanced back at her fallen comrade. She had no idea that he'd been cursed as well as tortured. Yet it made sense. That must be why he was recovering so slowly. She wondered what other curses he'd been hiding until he sent her a reassuring grin that he was okay.
As they sat quietly, he occasionally stretched or flexed his sore fingers experimentally. That was when she first saw the mark on his wrist. His tattered sleeves must have made it visible this entire time, so why was she only now seeing it?
A dark emblem clearly marked his skin - three bird claws spiraling out from a center point. She'd seen it once before in an old book of legends as a child…but that meant that the legend was real…
Valiant tilted his head in question, aware she was staring at it. He was trying to follow Xui's orders not to talk, but there was so much to tell Bachiko if only he were allowed.
With a defeated grin, he quietly grasped his marked wrist and uttered, "The Aviary…You could call it my home."
Bachiko had a million questions, but knowing she wouldn't likely get any answers, she simply nodded as she glanced away as if to say, "I see."
The Aviary was a shadow organization of legend. No one could prove its existence, but stories tell of a legion of loyal agents that served some kind of forgotten god to maintain balance in the world and beyond definitely made a good story.
Did that mean he was no ordinary spy? Was his master really that scary? And did 'beyond' mean the human realm???
Too many questions flooded her mind, but they would have to wait. Someone else was stirring nearby.
Shax yawned deeply as he slowly sat up. Somehow, he'd expected to feel way more sore. After all, he'd completely puppeted Kiriwo. How strange…
Underground, on the eighth sublevel of the collapsing compound…
Kalego had gone to check on Persephone after his talk with Iruma. He vividly remembered his meeting with her phoenix and the warning that Bennu had given him.
Could he really stop her from using Garuda again? Who was she willing to die for? That was an easy list. Thankfully he, Shichiro, and Opera could defend themselves under normal circumstances. Nene, too. That left Pandora.
She'd recovered well since her rescue, but twenty years of abuse, neglect, and malnutrition won't fade away so easily. She needed to become stronger. Thankfully, she had a good support network and he knew Balam wouldn't let anything bad happen to her ever again.
That meant Persephone was safe, didn't it?...
Lost to his thoughts, his exhaustion slowly took over as he sat beside her and he drifted off, resting his head near her hand.
Yet nothing was going to be easy until Victoria was defeated. Not even rest. Being in such close proximity, her nightmares found him all too easily.
In his mindscape, Kalego glared at Ai, back in his bonds against the wall of his torture chamber. She was grinning wickedly at him.
She had a nasty habit of plaguing him with nightmares, but the horrid visions he had just seen were definitely real.
Victoria had shown him every awful thing that Pandora had endured while captive. No detail was spared. Every tear, each drop of spilled blood, and every agonizing injury and insult were played out as if he'd been there, helplessly letting it all happen.
Now, she was thoroughly enjoying the look of contempt on his face.
"That's right. Everything that happened to that rat was your fault... It was bad enough you were kind to her, but to think you'd even consider something more. It makes me sick...Did you think I didn't know?"
Ai really was twisted. Yet all Kalego could do in his wretched, chained state was glare at her and maintain an icy silence, unwilling to give her the satisfaction of a response while bound.
Thinking back, he recalled his mixed feelings from the past. He hadn't been in love with Pandora in a romantic way. They were close and he had been confused briefly, perhaps no more than a week. Ultimately, he understood it was a sibling type bond he'd had with her and everything else that had been created by his confusion melted away.
Besides, she really did belong with Shichiro. They were perfect together, and, in the end, Pandora had opened his heart to the idea of love, even leading him to the demon who had claimed it, Persephone.
"Aww, why so angry? If you hadn't gotten close to her, your sweet little Pandora could have had a wonderful life…But no. You chose to like her and everything you saw was - All. Your. Fault."
In reality, Kalego suddenly woke up with a jolt. How long had he been out? He hadn't meant to nod off, but being forcibly resurrected had taken its toll.
That was also no ordinary dream. It was a memory from his confinement.
Ai wouldn't let anything go and there was no doubt in Kalego's mind that whatever Victoria had planned for Persephone was even more horrific than what she had done to Pandora.
Glancing at Persephone's sleeping form beside him, he grimaced. She was truly at her most vulnerable due to using Garuda and he could only blame himself.
Bennu's words rang loudly in his memory. If she ever used that spell again, she would die and no magic in the netherworld would be able to save her. The cost of such powerful magic was high indeed…
Still, he'd have to argue the point with her later. For now, he needed to focus on getting everyone out alive. They'd all come and fought for him despite the danger. Now it was his turn.
Turning his attention, he got up and peered out the doorway toward his comrades.
Watching Iruma calm Sage with a game in the next room, he made up his mind. He would restore pride on both a personal level and to the Naberius name. He'd never let Victoria touch a single one of them again.
As his anger boiled back to the surface, Opera smirked in pleased silence. The air was beginning to crackle around the dour demon, a sure sign his mana was coming back.
Even the faint outline of a large beast shimmered just barely visible behind him.
Saying nothing, Opera hid their grin and turned their attention to their young master. They had no doubt that both Kalego and Cerberus would bare their fangs the moment Ai showed her face.
In another part of the complex, Victoria sneered at the blood seeping from her broken horn. Opera would definitely pay dearly for such an insult. She'd make certain of that.
Unlocking a door, the sound of hundreds of tiny, fluttering wings filled her ears.
She smiled darkly at her collection of golden insects. After all, a single one had taken out both Robin and Iruma. The damage an entire swarm could do was so tempting, she nearly drooled at the imagined carnage.
Best of all, no one would be expecting it. Her enemies would be so focused on her basilisk that the chaos of realizing they were done for would be absolutely delectable.
Mesh cages lined the room with dozens of insects in each. Her research had made the breeding program a success. Now she only had to unleash them.
In the center of the darkened chamber, a single demon was tied to his seat, thoroughly drained of way too much blood and barely clinging to life.
She grinned as she gently stroked his face, waking him.
"Hello, my pet. Your work is almost done. Once my darling swarm bites the fools destroying my property, your pain will end. I'll slice your throat and you can take all of those wretches with you… Won't that be lovely?"
The poor wretch she'd held captive wanted to lash out or at least swear at her, but he was far too weak. He sincerely hoped that Ai's plan would fail, but either way, he'd finally find peace.
Sullivan stared at the looming basilisk, lost in thought. His body was tense, wanting desperately to help, but knowing Balam could handle it.
Glancing back toward the crumbling mansion. He sighed as he forcibly relaxed. He truly was worried for his beloved grandson, yet he was unable to move in to help. At least for now.
His thoughts suddenly shattered at the sound of a deep voice he hadn't heard directly in decades.
"How are you holding up, Sully-kun? It's been a while", said the masked figure beside him.
Tensing in sheer surprise, he quickly regained his composure as he turned to face the voice's owner.
"Lord Omen! Forgive me, I - ", he began while starting to bow.
Yet the hooded figure raised his hand in dismissal.
"There is no need to be so formal. No one else can see me right now and it would be strange, if not frightening, for one of the greats to suddenly appear so humble amidst the battlefield...Don't you agree, Sully-kun?", said the man.
Sullivan was grateful for the reprieve in the rare lapse of manners. He really was in no mood to put on airs. Besides, Omen was right. He must keep his composure for the morale of those around them.
Looking wistfully back toward the dilapidated mansion, he sighed faintly under his breath.
"Your grandson is in no mortal peril at the moment. Be at ease", said Omen, clearly knowing far more than he let on.
Sullivan offered a thankful grin.
"Thank you for that comfort...As well as for lending Vincente-kun to me again. His help has been invaluable", said the old demon.
The being beside him seemed to smile faintly behind his plague mask, albeit briefly.
"Be sure to look after Valiant and his protégé, the young heir", he said, alluding to Soi.
"They are both valuable pieces in this horrid game we've all been forced to play. I would hate to see either of their lights snuffed out early."
Sullivan slowly dropped his guard. Omen sounded despondent and exhausted, yet he nobly remained at his wretched post in the shadows.
"How long has it been now?", asked the old demon in concern.
He knew he wouldn't really get an answer. That was simply Omen's nature - a master of secrets, someone who pulled the strings unseen, and above all, a tired and lonely soul who longed for the one thing he could never have.
Omen sighed, allowing his weakened state to shine through.
"Far too many millennia...", he uttered, picturing a long-lost face he knew he'd never see again.
Straightening his posture, his emotions seemed to evaporate as he resumed his duties.
"Old friend, I trust you will stick to the plan until the end. I cannot lose this time. None of us can afford the luxury of letting the world end... Once Victoria is detained, be sure to hold up your end of the bargain. Soi must follow the path to his destiny organically and Valiant must stay his course..."
"I've lost many agents over the centuries; Such is the cost of my line of business, but those two must survive into the new era... You do understand, do you not?"
Omen's words were heavy with the weight of his duty and Sullivan felt every note deep in his soul. Blurring his own presence from the battlefield, he crossed his arm over his chest with a deep bow of total and utter respect.
"Your faith has not been misplaced, Omen-sama. I swear to you that all will be done according to plan", he said, solemnly.
A faint breeze blew between them as the strange being known only as "Lord Omen" accepted Sullivan's words.
"Del-kun would certainly be proud of your dedication", he said, almost fondly. Then added, "I'm sure she appreciates your loyalty, as well."
Sullivan froze briefly, both reminded of his lost king and unsure of which "she" he was referring to. Was it princess Shura or - ?...
The reflection on the pronoun was wistful, nostalgic, and soaked in pain. Surely it wasn't the princess.
Of course. Omen's missing half. What a burden to carry in the name of a better world…
As he rose and let himself be seen again to prevent his absence sparking panic amongst the fighting demons, Sullivan faintly lowered his head in respect for the unnamed.
Meanwhile, Omen looked out over the slowing chaos surrounding them as if trying to pinpoint an individual. After a moment, he seemed to find them.
"Do not fret, Parisa. Your child will be returned to you. Young Sage is also an important figure for the future. She will need guidance, but I know she will do great things for realigning the worlds", he uttered into the wind.
Nearly amused, he added, "I look forward to the changes she and her big brother will make... May they shake reality back into its intended form."
Then he was gone without a trace. Sullivan stared at the spot where he had stood. He knew Parisa was somewhere nearby, keeping her promise, but who in the celestial realm was Sage's brother? Parisa had no other children...Did she?
To be continued…
