Vows Renewed, A Devil Returns

It had been a long time since Ruvel had been this far away from Tolgalen but he had some business that had to be taken care of. He remembered the old guild hall that Cirven had taken them to when they had first met. Cirven's former home, a home that he hated so much, a home that had been filled with so much sorrow. He had no idea as to why he was returning here but there was a pulling, something telling him that he had to. Within the pit of his stomach he felt a twisting that was only second to the dread that was within his heart. At current he was flying on the back of Bennu and looking over the side seeing if he could find any sign of the guild that been destroyed completely not more than a year ago. "It has to be here somewhere Bennu, are you sure we're in the right area?" he asked looking up and towards his summons head only to be met with a disgruntled chirp letting the blonde haired youth know if they were lost it was his own fault he was just following the directions he was given. This made Ruvel sigh and nod "Yeah I kn-" it was then he cut himself off as he noticed something from the corner of his eye, it looked like smoke. He didn't know of any cities here so decided that it best to go and take a look in case a caravan was being attacked or something.

"Bennu, towards the smoke and quickly." he instructed completely forgetting why he was there, at least for the moment. The moment he heard his summoners request the giant fire bird changed directions and headed straight towards the location he had been instructed to. As it wasn't to far away it had only taken the youth a few minutes to be flown there, he seen the city being attacked and his eyes narrowed, he didn't care who these people were they didn't deserve what was happening to them. Hovering for a moment it was then he heard it briefly, a familiar voice, a voice he had been wanting to hear again for some time "C... Cirven..." he stuttered "Bennu go back home to mother, I'll be fine from here." he instructed jumping from the back of Bennu's back and landing slightly harshly from the fall but he paid little notice as he ran towards the direction of the voice he heard only to stop dead in his tracks as he seen Cirven for the first time in such a long time.

Something however didn't seem right, he knew his sensory of magic couldn't pick up Cirven's magic type so that wasn't it. He was about to say something but his eyes went wide as he seen the elder brother that he had come to respect, trust and love take a life without remorse, not once but twice in a matter of moments. It wasn't until after the initial shock had passed that he jamp down using the closeness to his advantage. Slowly and cautiously he started to get closer only to see what Cirven was wearing and a symbol he recognised all to well "C... cor torva..." he whispered hoping that this was all some sort of stupid trick his brother was playing on him, to try and take out the people that hurt him once and for all. Biting his lip he proceeded to move forward biting his lip just a little "Cirven!" he called out though his voice shook a little, something didn't seem right as much as he wanted it to be his imagination, he knew that just wasn't the case.

Ruvel heard everything that was being said word for word even over the destruction of the city, he hoped he was wrong. That his eyes were deceiving him but it just wasn't the case as he saw his brother the man that had taken him from the hell he had once called 'home', protected him, taught him how to defend himself, manage to start the progress of helping him getting over his past and trained him to take on the heavy burden he now held thanks to his mysterious absence. He thought that the worst was over but it seemed like that was far from the truth, something had seemed to have happened to the man he once called brother and left the impostor that he now seen in front of him "Cirven, what's going on? We don't kill innocent people!" he tried to remind him hoping that his words would stir back some of the guilds ethics in him, it was true that much of the city had been destroyed and the people who lived there were now few thanks to the onslaught. "Cirven, this isn't you! You never wanted to lose yourself like this!" his voice begging him to listen to reason but he wasn't sure just how far gone the other was at this point.

He stopped in his tracks once more as his full name was used by one of the very few that never did, that confirmed this all to well that this wasn't right. "Cirven, what's happened to you? You'd never have done this before" it was clear he was trying to make sense of it all but coming up with a blank, he had knots in his stomach that he would eventually have to fight his elder brother. Something that he really didn't want to think of, something he wanted to avoid at all costs. How could he even think about fighting someone who had given him so much when he had nothing? Closing his eyes he took a deep breath clarifying with the twins if Demi was okay, the last thing anyone needed right not on top of a twisted Cirven was a wayward reaper that would claim without thought. He was notified that Demi was still within the void however that their cousin Korvin was not, his eyes started to dart around almost as if he was looking for the former summon. He was now starting to wish he kept his contracts in place but the strain was just far to much for him and so couldn't keep the magic that was never his to begin with.

Hearing the question he turned his head not really wanting to answer it, how could he say he was going back to the place that had given him so many other so much pain to pay respects. That he went hoping that he might find him there by some chance however slim that might have been given his past. This was all to much for him. After a moment he turned to look at him once more "Why I'm away from Tolgalen and here is none of your concern Cirven. The fact of the matter is I am." he said hoping that would be enough of an answer for the other to accept, though he really wasn't sure. He sensed the other's eyes piercing him as if he expected him to back down due to actual pain that they caused but he stood his ground. He couldn't afford to be like that right now and he knew his true brother would have kicked his ass for even thinking about it. "It doesn't matter what you want right now Cirven, where the hell have you been and why did you leave me with a responsibility we both know I'm not ready for?!" he said his voice calm as he spoke but it was clear that the youth had had enough he wanted answers and he wasn't going to stop until he got them. He just wanted to understand the goings on so he could figure out how to stop making a bad situation worse.

Seeing the glare Ruvel took a step back, it had unsettled him enough to want to make a little more distance between himself and the older male. This wasn't the person that he remembered, sure he was wearing the same face but still this wasn't the one who had helped him when he needed guidance. Ruvel could only shake his head at what the other said, it made absolutely no sense to him, why would he have done such a horrible thing. The dual coloured teen looked at the destruction and waste around them and could only feel a deep unending well of sorrow, one of the few people he actually trusted and cared for was committing crimes he swore he'd never commit. His entire world was once again flipped on its head leaving him questioning what was going on and how it could have ever came to this. "T.. they were innocent Cirven." he whispered to himself more than anyone else but he knew that his elder brother's sense of hearing was just as keen as his own so would have been able to pick up on it even over the continuing crackling of fires, screams of people and buildings falling.

He swiped his hand in front of him as it eventually registered what the elder male had said about a warmer welcome given the circumstances. He wished he could have given it but with all this going on how could he? "Are you out of your mind Cirven?" his voice still calm but it was clear he was upset trying to make sense of everything that was going on in such a short amount of time "I want to be warmer to you, I truly do, but..." he stopped clenching his hands as he pushed back tears his heart hurting at everything he had gone through recently "Look at the destruction you caused... a destruction you said you never wanted to do." he said moving his hands towards the rubble of that was now the ruins of the city "You became their dog again... you submitted..." the tears that had been welling up now falling down his cheeks as his voice trembled "You submitted when you told me never to do it... and I haven't" he knew that before this meeting had he ever dared submitted to those in his former life he would be bounced around every continent in Earthland several times over so was working to become stronger, someone that his older brother could be proud of so he could show him when he returned just how much he had grown.

The next comment out of the devil's mouth would have proven somewhat fatal if it hadn't been words, he had to wonder how the other could be so cruel with his words. Sure he had never been one for jokes or seen humour in them but there were reasons for that, reasons that his elder brother was privy to. "You know the reason behind that..." he whispered his head turning to the side as to divert his gaze, the youth was emotionally stunted so though he looked like a fourteen year old he had the understanding of a four or five year old when it came to the emotional spectrum and had been punished if he ever showed the wrong emotion at the wrong time. He could mimic them but that was more than a stone throw away from actually understanding the emotions themselves. "It's cruel to bring that up... besides... I've been getting better at showing them... all be it I still don't really understand what I'm feeling at times but I'm still trying to do better." as he said that statement the further he was getting into it, it was more like he was trying to convince himself rather than convince the other on the subject matter.

Hearing the sigh he looked to the other as he began to talk not understanding "Loose ends?" he said faintly showing he didn't understand what he meant "Wasn't this the town that you said had peaceful demons inside? The town you wanted to bring me to one day?" he said eventually coming to the realisation that if it hadn't been for the smoke he would have never found this place, it was far to hidden to be found unless you knew where to look. "They trusted you Cirven and you are..." he couldn't bring himself to say the last word as he moved towards the other and gripped his arm "Please stop this, come home everyone's been missing you." he pleaded with the older man but something told him that wasn't going to happen any time soon if at all given his state of mind. He didn't need to ask the twins what was going on to know that something right now wasn't right with his older brother. "We.. we can notify the authorities of what happened here and we can keep your name out of it after all you're not yourself right now..." he was trying to think of ways to make this better but he was deluding himself and he knew it.

The next statement he didn't understand at all, they had been accused of being blind and unable to see the errors of their ways. As far as he knew these people just wanted to live their lives in peace, a peace that didn't interfere with the world outside their town. Seeing the rippling portals he took several steps back feeling like he was going to trip over his own feet more so as he seen those who came from the portals, he had met many of them before in a job a few months before Cirven went missing. They had all turned their back of who they once were and the organisation that had once controlled them. Korvin herself had once been one of her summons and due to a series of events had been altered to fit into Demi and Oykai's family as a little sister. It was true he didn't know much of the race that Shindara, Amuul, Demi, Oykai and now Korvin were part of but one thing he knew all to well was that affecting their minds was no easy task, in fact Oykai had once told him unless the conditioning had been there from a young age it was damn near impossible to alter their minds. Then again Korvin had been conditioned from a young age like Demi and the others of family had been, Demi had even given her the gift of keeping her memories so she could remember Cirven but that decision could have just bitten them in the ass.

He sent a message to Shindara, Amuul and Oykai to keep Demi in the void as he remembered she would have had the same conditioning as the others, to make it worse he knew of the budding relationship between her and Cirven and didn't want her to be dragged into this insanity due to it. "Nothing is perfect Cirven you know this!" he eventually called out taking out the information "Even your envision is flawed!" he was trying to reason with the other but he knew deep inside that he had a sinking feeling that he would get a brick wall to see his side of this argument. "There is no such thing as a pure being or world to think such a thing..." he couldn't help shudder as that's how their 'homes' came about in the first place "You'd be no better than those who tormented us... in fact you'd be far worse!" he was starting to feel emotionally sick through this emotional roller coaster and wanted the ride to stop already.

Ruvel watched as they each tore their former symbols away showing that they no longer held allegiance to those they once had, that thought terrified him more than if they were still under the organisations control. It was clear that this had taken a life all its own forsaken by whoever might be out there pulling the strings. "Cirven, I don't know what you're talking about when it comes to so called prophecy's, those at 'home' were never told any of this, we just done as we were told hoping that it didn't come with a punishment." he tried to get the other to see sense, he watched as a hand was offered to him with a request that he help them in what they were trying to accomplish, there was no way he could agree to doing such a thing, it went against every fibre of what he was and his moral compass. Without hesitation he moved his hand forward only to slap it away "I refuse big brother, this isn't my path and it never will be." he felt his heart wrench at saying and doing what he had just done but he was taught to follow what he believed right and stand his ground no matter what, that was exactly what he intended to do come what may.

Ruvel looked to the man he called his elder brother as face twisted into showing its sorrow, he wanted to move forward to comfort him but he knew better than to even dare. He wasn't acting like the man he knew and cared for, it was when he seen the tears he moved forward a little his hand almost touching him but ended coming back before he did knowing that it was just a bad idea. "How can I agree to such a foolish task Cirven..." he said shaking his head this wasn't exactly the easiest thing for him to do, he never wanted to deny the elder male anything if he could help it, this however was just something that he couldn't do without being true to himself "Forgive me big brother but I'm not a warrior, we both know this." his voice trembling just a little as the tears fell more steadily, his heart breaking at everything that was going on right now. His eyes going back to the bodies that littered the floor, he seen the blood and though difficult he managed to keep himself calm and not panic "How can you expect me to understand the loss of life? How can you expect me to stand by your side and take life after all I've been through and seen? How do you expect me to understand your way of thinking? Most of all what makes you think I would see a path of blood as a way to save the world?" the questions came in quick succession as he was trying to understand the elder males way of thinking hoping that he would come to the same conclusion on his own.

The distance that closed seeing how Cirven was he had pulled back seeing the smile, the only time he had ever seen a smile like that was when he was that crazed self, his eyes going to study the elder males, the last thing he wanted to see was them orange because that meant he was screwed and he knew it. "You're outlook is flawed big brother, there is no utopia as much as we would wish it... people are flawed." he said keeping what seemed to be eye contact "Besides you have no right to play judge, jury or executioner... no one does... especially those like us..." his hands clenching a little "We're broken Cirven by the very people who thought that a utopia was even possible." he said his head shaking showing he didn't believe what the other was believing in, to him it was madness, pure insanity and he wanted nothing to do with it regardless of the outcome that would happen to him, he was a god of Ishgar now and that meant that he was meant to stand as a beacon of good, the first and last line of defence against such things.

He seen the tears were still falling and shook his head once more "Those tears don't match that smile Cirven, even part of you still knows this is wrong and is mourning your actions." he might have not understood his own emotions that well but he sure as hell understood that like himself his brother could fake the emotions needed, but those tears... those tears weren't fake not this time at least. "Stop all this foolishness, turn your back on this darkness and come home... you'd all be safe." he tried to reason with the members of 'family' showing that there was another route they could take other than the path they had been currently travelling. Hearing the laughter suddenly from the one he called brother put his fight or flight reaction on high, he was ready to run from them at a moments notice but looked at the two he addressed silently unsure what to say on the matter. He didn't doubt that these people likely done some horrible things but at least the leader of this town seemed to have wanted to turn his back on his former ways and atone. To the blonde teen it seemed as if he just wanted a peaceful existence and there was nothing wrong with that. "He was trying to repent Cirven, you had done horrible things too... I seen remember... you even tried to kill me before" he said to him trying to see if he remembered it but he was afraid a little that he did remember and felt joy about it or even worse ashamed that he hadn't finished the task. No, right now he couldn't afford to think like that.

He slowly moved to the elder demon and knelt next to his eyes closing as he covered his mouth with the flats of his hand, as he did he said something a small faint golden glow came around him briefly while a silver surrounded the dead body before he stood walking back to where he was originally his eyes glowing a little. He had just done an ancient prayer that allowed the soul of the one that had just glowed safe passage to the afterlife. The other he knew he should care what happened to him but he didn't, it was because of that man he and Cirven were in this predicament and that his brother had been gone from him for so long. He truly had no empathy for the man, still it didn't mean that he deserved such a death. "It doesn't matter Cirven, death is a universal force that comes to all in time, it's not for us to decide when that time is at an end." he explained truly believing his words by this point he knew he wasn't going to change his way of thinking but he didn't want to try stopping, he just couldn't not if there was even the slimmest chance to change his mind.

He chewed his inner cheek for a moment as he analysed the last part of what he was said a sigh escaping his lips as his eyes closed "Family is currently a threat to the world and those who live within it, are you about to kill yourselves to put an end to some of the suffering?" he asked calmly knowing that the answer would likely be no, the reason for this is because he knew that Cirven and the other members of Family believed that they were doing the correct thing for the world. Why would they believe themselves as a threat if they believed themselves the solution after all? His eyes opened both of his eyes glowing a bright gold and for the first time in his life he made eye contact "That path is not mine big brother, it is true I have felt pain and sorrow in my life but this proves that I am still living. I will not walk down a shadowed path just to please you, I refuse to bend my will to another." he said his voice completely calm as he spoke to the other his eyes narrowed a little "You are delusional if you believe that taking any life is easy for me, I have been through hell and it has taught me to cherish life that much more." his voice never changed tone as he spoke "I have never experienced joy in harming another much less killing another being regardless of wh-" he was cut off as he seen a sword going through Cirven's chest out of nowhere, he wanted to move but knew better than to make any movements right now especially sudden ones as he had no idea what the hell just happened and didn't want to get between his elder adoptive brother and the one and that had dared attack him.

Ruvel remained silent as he felt something at his neck a sigh escaping from his lips being the only movement he made, he was starting to get sick of people doing such things to him as he watched a hooded person seemed to form with a shadow blade at each of the necks of those of Family. "I'm guessing someone you know Cirven?" his voice showing he was less than impressed at what was going on. His eyes moving to the young woman who was seemingly holding him hostage as he listened to the short back and forth conversation between her and Cirven only to find out that she was his adoptive sister much like he was his adoptive brother though the circumstances weren't the same. He watched unable to stop the onslaught that was happening in front of him his eyes showing horror in them as each member member of Family took out the one who attempted to call them hostage shaking his head "They didn't need to die... they didn't deserve such fates!" he called out to them but he seen just how much they had taken pleasure in doing what they had just done, this made his stomach twist, to him it was uncalled for. "Miss, please take the blade from around my neck I don't want to harm you... you really don't need to die today..." he said to her his voice showing sorrow but this seemed to fall on deaf wars as he felt a sting on his neck though he didn't wince though a trickle of light was seen falling down his neck.

He could only release another sigh as she had chosen her fate, he didn't blame her given everything that had happened here. "Please forgive me miss..." he said his tone showing he was now having to do something he really didn't want to, his hand flicking by his side, as it did a light seal appeared in under her quickly as tendrils of light not only engulfed her in a cocoon but dispelled her sword thanks to the amount of light there was he turned to look at her for a moment "I don't take satisfaction in killing, I've seen to much pain, sorrow and death in my life I don't want to cause it miss... please understand." he said cancelling the spell he cast allowing her to stand on the ground without harming her, he didn't want to leave her unable to protect herself "Take my advice and go find any survivors you can of this place and flee... go to Tolgalen and you can seek refuge." he said waiting to see what would happen next he hoped that sparing her would prove to her that he wasn't like the others killed her companions but wasn't sure. His eyes going back to Cirven and family once more "Enough of the mindless killing" he said his voice holding conviction as he spoke.

Ruvel looked to his elder brother listening to everything that was being said to him, when it came to the last job they done with each other, Sol and Johann his eyes closed for a moment "I didn't kill anyone there Cirven, even Demi didn't though she almost did a few times including Mr. Terumi himself in order to keep us safe." he said calmly, he was fully aware that people could be forced into things they didn't want to do, especially in places like those. To go against the status quo would only lead to trouble and it wouldn't only affect you but those you love the most. "So to answer your question, yes I did think of that. I can not control the actions of you and the others, I could only control mine and at that point the summons that I had a contract with." he said sighing, he disliked causing harm if it could be avoided, Cirven himself would know that given how hard it was to get him to train in the first place and how long it took to get him to understand that it was needed to survive and not to be a burden to others. He looked up quickly his eyes opening wide as his alias was used by the one who swore never to betray their guild in such a matter, he was shocked and in pure disbelief when it came to this of all things. "C-Cirven!" he called out as if he could try and get him to stop, it was out in the open now just luckily there wasn't anyone around really that would take it to the Rune Knights or there would be issues for the youth.

When he spoke of him wearing a mask he turned his eyes away for a moment before smiling sadly "I am wearing a mask even now Cirven, you know that." he looked at his hand looking perfectly normal but he could see right through the glamour he wore seeing the glowing scarred skin that laid beneath it. It was something he had come to terms with when he was within the facility he only knew of as 'home' it didn't mean he was okay with letting the world see the scars that laid over most of his body, it would bring up so many questions he wasn't prepared to answer and then due to his abuse so many people saying that he wasn't fit to do what he was. He wouldn't let that happen, he would protect his current home and those that lived upon and worked for it. Hearing the rest of his words he lowered his hand and the glamour that he always wore revealing the glow around his skin, his heavily scarred hands, neck and face. "Being a god of Ishgar gives me the courage to keep moving forward for those who need that beacon of light within the darkness..." he paused looking to the sky as he released a sigh for a moment and looks back to him "Still I am against killing as I always have been even when there is no other option but to do so I still look for another way!" he said swiping his hand in front of him again, he knew his elder brother knew he couldn't lie so knew this was the truth of things.

"When I was sent to deal with those thieves that stole from us in Hargeon, I took them out but again none died big brother and I was wearing my mask then, so no, wearing my mask will not make me change my stance on things." he said his voice holding conviction in every word he said to the other. "All life is sacred Cirven. We've seen far to much bloodshed to be the cause of more, why don't you understand this? Why have you forgotten?" he was starting to lose hope that he could get through to his brother and that he would have to fight him, that thought alone make his heart feel like it was being squished under not only a foot, but his elder brother's foot of all peoples making it that much worse. It was when Cirven started to speak about harming the place he was taught to protect with everything he had that golden runes started to faintly appear over his body, his eyes turning red for a few seconds his hand going to his head as he started feeling strange 'Our summoner calm, you must keep your balance when dealing with him. You know this as does he, he is trying to unsettle you and so force you into an action you wouldn't normally take' the twins said together, it was the first time he had seen them speak in unison but it was enough to keep him calm breaking the concentration of the words the other was saying the golden runes slowly fading.

Ruvel's eyes closed "Big brother, who would believe you?" he said calmly his heart beating like a drum "When I would be questioned about such a thing, I will know nothing of it and like you know I'm paranoid so the entrances and location of the guild have been changed the moment you went off the grid for so long." he continued showing that he wasn't going to leave anything to chance, he had learned from his older brother how to keep those on Tolgalen safe and how to keep the guild he was now the guild master of protected from the law with measures not even Cirven would have known about. He didn't want to fight the other but knew it was getting to that point "If you want a fight fi-" he was cut off when he felt a hand on his shoulder, he looked to see who it was his eyes going wide as he seen Demi standing by his side shaking her head "Rui, not now... it's not time" she said her blood ruby eyes on the ones she once knew as her family, how much they had changed from the last she seen them. "D-Demi?" he stuttered. His eyes turning back to look at Cirven and the girl that was once classed as his adoptive sister. He didn't bother running instinctively he knew there was no point in trying, his hand went to the necklace he wore and for the first time in his life activated one of the abilities in it where he would have small stars around him as he was covered in a shield.

Demi looked to Cirven and sighed a little "Trase, how about leaving the children alone so the adults can talk." she said looking at the other, she was no longer linked to Ruvel but they had been through hell together and he had protected her even in his weakened state when she knew she could have been able to take the brunt of the punishment "I'm calling 'family' rules Trase" she knew that this was antiquated but it was still something that they would have all went by it had been ingrained in them and was a method of which they found their lives just a little bit more bearable, she just never thought she'd have to use it on him for the safety of one they both cared for "Set your terms." she said taking a step in front of Ruvel, his eyes going wide as he didn't want her to get involved, he had been told that she had been hurt to the point she was in a coma and yet here she was ready to fight, he had to wonder if this was what it truly was like to be amongst the ones trained with the purpose of cleansing the world so those in his 'home' would rule over those who survived, that indeed was a scary thought to him. "Demi, don't do this..." he tried to get her to see sense only to blink seeing her smirk almost in a what that Cirven had "Get the girl and the others to safety and let me worry about my family Rui." she said her voice chilled the youth to the bone only allowing him to nod as he grabbed the girls hand and ran in a random direction leaving Demi to deal with Cirven.

Ruvel couldn't help tremble at the last words he heard Cirven speak, it was true that he had shown him what it was to be safe and truly cared for by someone other than he was forced to be with. It was that way with him and Demi and himself at least at first, he was scared of her for her appearance as she seemed like someone from a ghost story but she had tended to him the best she could when sick which confused him "No, big brother..." he began as he took a step towards him against his better judgement "You're flawed once more it would seem so this time I will educate you so you might learn." he continued moving closer "You taught me of my new home, you taught me to defend it, you gave me the tools to defend it and the guild even from you, you showed me what it was to rest without the fear of abuse or punishment." with each word he got closer Demi watched on silently wanting to pull him back but knew that this was something that he thought needed to do "But I knew what family was before I met you, I learned that from Demi." he whispered after leaning into his ear "One day we'll meet again and I hope not as enemies because if we do, I will kill you to protect my family and home like you so taught me and I've evolved since you stopped teaching me." he said before almost seeming to vanish.

In truth he had one of his abilities to bend the light around him but because of his strange talents it was as if he was gone, he moved back quickly grabbing the girls hand once more and ran off to find a way out of the city ruins. Demi blinked a little in confusion, her designation had been wraith within 'family' so it confused her as to why he would be calling her by her job title. In honesty she preferred it over her designation but it still bugged her. "Trase, we both know that was neither my designation nor is it my name." he corrected him crossing her arms as it seemed like she put all her weight on the right hand side of her body, Cirven would know she would have never done something so stupid as it would have been easy for the other to knock her on her ass. She had been keeping in contact with her cousin's due the telepathic bond her race had so she'd know if Ruvel had made it out of harms way, her eyes never leaving the one she trained with as they grew, defended to the point she was sent away and loved the entire time.

She watched as the attack stopped as Cirven had completely lost his composure seeing sudden appearance, she on the other hand was caught off guard by his accusation "Trase, I never left you or the others willingly... not back then and not now." her voice and eyes showing that she was truly hurt that she was being accused of such a betrayal to the only ones she knew for most her life before she had been thrown away like some dysfunctional asset. "I.. I remember the last job we were on, we had been given some information but.." her hand went to her head as the memory became a bit more fuzzy "It was a set up... we got attacked.." she looked to him it was clear she was struggling to remember what happened "It all wend black for me Trase, the next thing I know I was waking with Oykai's face uncomfortably close to mine... he looked exhausted." she said her voice gentle, she barely knew her twin but hated seeing him like that "From what he and my cousin's told me I was in a coma when Oykai retrieved me, he wanted to save Korvin too but he could only save one and chose me." she tried to explain, she would have never left them willingly not after everything they had been through together.

She sighed her blood ruby eyes disappearing behind her eyelids "As for me coming to help him, he didn't want me to. He told my cousin and cousins to keep me in the void, he didn't want me in a position were I would need to choose." she opened her eyes and looked at the dead people that her family just killed "I unfortunately was the one who was sent to claim them so I couldn't ignore what was going on between the two of you and so here we are now." she said her eyes moving back up to see the one she had tried to defend all those years ago only for her own life to have changed, he was deemed a failure because of a mother filled their son's head with nonsense to the point they didn't care for the rules and almost killed a member of family thinking he had the right to. She knew Cirven had seen red the moment he stumbled across the scene and they were all taught to defend each other at the cost to themselves, it still made no sense as to how the outcome that was reached took affect, they had done nothing wrong after all but done as they had been taught.

She felt the energy surrounding her body and took note of the glowing orange eye, she knew he was beyond pissed and though knew she take a step back she stood her ground. She was taught never to back away from an enemy and so she would definitely wouldn't back away from him regardless of what harm would come to her. She had watched him briefly fall to the to his knees and had to fight her every instinct to go and help him back to his feet but right now she wanted to air on the side of caution. It was after she had called in the old family rules the other seemed to stand and yet again caller by her job title "Don't call me reaper you clown." her voice was gentle towards him, almost warm even at a time like this "I didn't abandon you, it is kinda hard to do such a thing when you are in a coma." she explained her hand going face for a moment she really couldn't believe that he would thing she'd ever take a course of action given their past. "Was that what lies they filled all your heads with this time around, that one of your own betrayed you?" she shook her head in disbelief "We don't turn our back on our own for any reason lest we be classed as a traitor and hunted." she wasn't an enemy to them because of that but right now it was clear they were on completely opposite sides and that was something that really had to be rectified one way or another. "I defended you all that time ago and ended up being sent away to a place that made our daily trials, training and education seem like summer camp and you really think I would betray you of all people?" she sighed bringing down her hand once more her blood ruby eyes connecting with his glowing orange "If I wouldn't do it when we were kids Trase, I wouldn't have done it this time either! We were in everything together for better or worse we defended and protected each other no matter the cost! That was our code!" The normally calm and collected woman was struggling to keep herself that way but it was clear she was upset at the whole situation.

After a moment he gave the ante of the fight they were about to have, the price he was asking for was high, to high in her opinion. She cared for both men but in different ways "Trase, the price you ask is a high one. I still owe him a life debt as you understand we don't take those lightly." she said her eyes keeping a firm lock on him as she walked towards him, she could feel the hatred he had towards her and still it didn't seem to phase her outwardly internally however she wanted to break down under it but what good would come from that? She stopped in front of him and brought up her hand to cup his cheek in her hand, her thumb caressing his cheek, her eyes soft towards him showing no fear. "Trase, he's not ready to be on his own yet even you can see that in your hatred." she knew that fight would eventually come to a head but right now wasn't that time "My terms, I come and take my place by your side as it should have been but you and the others leave him, your former guild and home alone until he is ready to face you..." she brought her had down finally "The stipulation is if you or one of the others happen to cross paths with him then a fight can happen but he is not killed." she said calmly willing to see if the terms would be accepted without the fight happening, if not they would have to renegotiate and she knew a fight would have to happen and then it was winner take all so to speak. She hated the fact that for a second time she was playing with Ruvel's fate as a prize but these were the rules they had been raised with.

Demi looked to him her hand coming back hearing the words that came out of his mouth hurt her more than anything she had been through her entire life, she wanted to hit him just for those words but remained calm. She knew the moment she called for terms that if she hit them then she would have to deal with more than just him but the others too, she might be able to able to evade one or two but the entire unit even she knew she was more likely to be wipe out an entire continent without being caught. "I had no say on the matter Trase, like I said I was in a coma because of that attack." she tried to get him to understand, her eyes lowered as she understood how the others would see it as she was the only one who didn't go through everything they had the second time around. She was an outcast to the only family she really knew and it didn't really sit well with her, in honesty she was angry at her twin for doing it but what was done was done and there was no way to turn back the hands of time. "I am not in the wrong here Trase, I didn't betray any of you... I would have rather have perished than to have betrayed you." her voice began to tremble as tears fell from her eyes almost a glistening purple, she had only done this once or twice before and it was only when it had to do with him and he knew it.

She moved her left hand to her forearm as she listened to him trying to figure out what she apparently wanted, he wasn't exactly wrong but at the same time he wasn't exactly right either "I have no reason to repent for interfering then Trase, I owe him a life debt many times over." she explained in a small voice "I've never liked being in anyone's debt so I am paying back the best I can one act at a time." she said her eyes moving to meet his own gaze "He was the only one I had when I was separated from you and the others..." her eyes went up to the sky, it hadn't been easy for her, she was use to hearing their thoughts and always having what she knew as her family around her. This made what she had to go through and the tasks she had to do more bearable, she had always had a moral compass and it seemed to be the one thing that Cor Torva could never break in her no matter how hard they tried. "So no I do not wish to repent that so called sin Trase and I never will if I am put in that situation again." he said knowing that this would make things a little harder but she had no choice.

She closed her eyes and balled her fists a little her scythe instantly coming to her hands making her open her eyes to look at it, she could hear its song and calling to her. It confused her why it came now she had no scroll nor did she want to fight right now she moved it to be behind her, this single motion showing it wasn't an act of aggression "I failed to save you all, I failed to defend you..." she took a deep breath as she understood that even though there was nothing she could have done she still had betrayed them and Oykai wanting to protect her from the same fate as them made it that much worse in the long run "For those sins, yes I wish to repent." her voice was a whisper but the other would have heard the shame her broken voice heard, she knew she had no reason to feel like this but at the same time she couldn't help it. This unit had been her entire world for as long as she could remember, from the corner of her eye she could see his grin growing ever wider meaning that there was another term coming from the other and so regained her composure.

"I gave one term and one stipulation to that term." she said her voice once again calm, she felt like she was on and emotional roller coaster and she just wanted to get off the damn thing already. She then went through the entire conversation and realised she gave the stipulation a stipulation meaning it could be classed as a term "You are correct, I gave two terms and a stipulation to one of them, so yes, it is only fair that you gain another" she said as she listened to what he wanted from her she bit her bottom lip a little as she went through the pros and cons that came to agreeing to such a task. It sickened her to her stomach thanks to that stupid moral compass she had but closed her eyes and moved to a shadow nearby and gave a weak smile "Cousins..." she said gently listening to the information they sent back to her in the way that was only natural for them "You don't need to tell me that Shindara I'm fully aware." she said sounding a little irritated "Keep him safe for me okay because I won't be able to do it myself that often if at all." she replied back to them listening once more "And try and keep Oykai as calm as he can be given the circumstances." her voice soft for a moment she went silent her hand coming up holding a a flame that was white in the centre, purple surrounding it and black surrounding it and held it out to the shadow. "If I wasn't sure then I wouldn't be doing this now would I..." she said watching as a hand almost escaped the shadow and moved her own within it only to remove her own hand from it without the flame.

She sighed and nodded "Of course he's going to be upset but he's stronger than he looks, you both should know that." she said with a smile "Besides he'll need that eventually so you both and Oykai will need to teach him how to use it for when that time comes." she said her "Tell him...." she paused for a moment "Tell him..." she sighed closing her eyes for a moment before turning to look over her shoulder to Cirven "Tell him I have returned to my family where I should have been this entire time." she said and without another word turned her back on what was now her former life walking back to Cirven as if with new purpose, it was true he could only hear her part of the conversation she just had with her cousins and what she had done wasn't known but still her mind had been made up on the path that she would choose "Terms are agreed upon Trase." she said her scythe vanishing her voice steady "That foolish dream has ended and the fake family gone. I am who I am and belong with my own." her heart broke with every word she spoke, her very essence was telling her that this was the wrong course of action but still it was the most logical on many levels for her and didn't regret her decision "I still refuse to wear that hideous uniform and I don't care what you say about it." she said with a smirk as she moved to cup his cheek once more "I refuse to be separated from you again Trase" her voice tender towards him though she was curious to see what he had planned next because she knew for a fact he was bound to test her loyalty to him and the others so he knew she wasn't playing them. Then again she had never broken the terms of an agreement still times changed people so she still anticipated it.

Demi smiled a little she was fine with her decision, she had made her peace before she accepted the terms and that life was now behind her. She was back with the ones that she called family and though didn't completely agree with their outlook, she did understand the world had flaws and while these flaws where within the world that people like Ruvel would always be at risk. On the other hand she realised that she herself was part of that flaw and would need to be removed at the end of this mission to cleanse the world. She was completely at peace with that too as she would have so much spilt blood on her hands that shouldn't be there, she wondered what the punishment would be for her when she reached the point of her soul being recycled but that was still a long way away at this point. She knew together they were an unstoppable force, they supported and defended each other no matter the cost to themselves. That part she had come to hate as she had been exiled from her family and placed into a facility to which she believed she would never see them again. She knew she hadn't broken the rules and had done as she had been taught to do regardless of whom the enemy was, but they took the scene as evidence without getting all the information and she was the scapegoat.

She was within her rights to fight against it and she knew she should have to remain with them but she allowed it to happen as she knew the outcome if she hadn't. Cirven would have been killed for killing one of their own as he had already been deemed a failure and her loyalty to her family but her love for him told her that she couldn't allow this to happen, she took the fall in the hopes that they would once again meet each other. As it turned out they did years later with the help of Ruvel, she was just glad that he really didn't remember what happened after her death. It was part of the secret living within his form came out and gave him the anger needed long enough to get him out of there, it was a darkness she long found out he never possessed on his own and wouldn't be able to handle if it ever came to the surface it was there. Her hand remained on his cheek as she spoke, she knew that his was a risk in many ways as most who had even dared were struck down dead in the past but then she wasn't like most people.

She watched as it seemed her touch had caught him off guard as was easily shown but the fact that he had to pause mid sentence, there was also the fact that she hadn't been hit for touching him even now. Her eyes moved to the wrist that he decided to grab for a moment, it wasn't hard enough for her to be hurt but at the same time she knew better than to try pull away or he would try to break it. It was when he began to speak she tilted her head slightly to the side "Trase, I do not require you to give me my designation back, it has been mine since the moment those fools stole me from the failures that were my parents." she said back to him, her voice steady as she spoke "Proving I am worthy to be at your side again is another matter entirely, though I have technically broken no rules of the units I understand the need to test my allegiance once more." her tone hadn't moved as she spoke as she was waiting for the other foot to fall knowing that everything up to this point had been far to easy. When her loyalty was once again called into question she sighed breaking her wrist free of his grip she rolled her eyes before moving to sit on the blade of her scythe crossed legged "I never betrayed you the first or second time..." she started cupping her own cheek in her hand as she seemingly was getting bored of that constant accusation "First time I was sent away for saving you from what would have been death Trase for killing one of our own after they they almost tried to kill Ves..." she explained her eyes closing for a short moment "The second time I couldn't have betrayed you even if I wanted to, I was in a coma... Oykai took me." she said with a slightly heated voice.

Hearing how she was protecting someone that could ruin everything for them she could only roll her eyes once more. "Oh boo-hoo, we agreed on terms Trase. Deal with it." she snapped at him as she had several times in the past when terms had been reached and she had ended up winning against her opponent. She watched him intently as he seemed to try and brainstorm a way for her to show her loyalty. She had to admit it was pretty endearing that he had to think so much for a suitable try, cute even in a psychotic type of way. Hearing that he finally had a test worthy of her she gave him her full attention as she was interested to see what his twisted mind would think up, she really wished she hadn't. Within a moment her little sister Korvin screamed out, her head turning quickly just in time to see what happened to her. She was fighting every urge in her body to run to her side but knew that would instantly be the wrong move and she would have failed even before the terms of the test had been given to her. On hearing his words once more she closed her eyes as she thought over all outcomes unwavering from where she sat.

It was eventually she moved to let her legs dangle over the side as she heard the others move from beside her. Demi's eyes opening as they heard Korvin's voice. "There are a few flaws here." she said her voice calm as she listened to her sister. "Problem one, this test would be catch twenty two.." she began her eyes going back to Cirven for a moment "I attack her I become an enemy of you all proving that I am indeed a traitor which I have already told you several times over I am not. That being said, if I do not attack her then I fall into default due to the terms we just agreed to." she said calmly her eyes not turning to Korvin "You broke your bond to him the moment I did and so hold no loyalty or allegiance to him..." she sighed and rolled her eyes "And yes before you say anything I did break my contract with him, I still hold a different type of bond with him but that will not be an issue." she said in a matter of a fact way as she jumped off her scythe and walked towards Korvin at a slow pace her scythe remaining where it was, as far as she was concerned she didn't need it at current.

She shook her head to what Korvin was saying "I have no need for such assurances, I have made sure he and the others will be safe until he is ready to fight and be a worthy challenge to Trase." her voice ice cold as she placed it onto Korvin's wind pipe "The second problem I have however is..." she paused for a moment and put her entire weight on the others windpipe a smirk on her face as she looked back at Cirven "That wasn't really Korvin, we don't beg even if we know we're about to die." she said knowing that was just one thing that had been rooted out of them as an unneeded weakness, if they were to die they would die someone begging for their lives would give up secrets and information and they were trained not to do either. "Problem three Trase it was Ruvel who saved her the last time, not me." she corrected him as she moved back to her scythe and once again sat upon the blade looking at them "Now, are we done with the childish games or are we going to be in this trash pile all day and Korvin get out here before I find an opening to that pocket realm your in and really kill you." her voice showing annoyance but no more than when the last set of tests had been administered to them and it turned out Ves cheated to get ahead.

Demi couldn't help roll her eyes as Cirven seemed to pout like a small child that had his favourite toy taken away from him. "Deal with it Trase, you done such tricks so often with me and the other even a blind person could see this coming, besides with how the others were acting it was clear that this wasn't real." she said sounding fed up with these constant trials that she was being to go through, she had done nothing to warrant this in her mind but that didn't matter as the others felt slighted. She didn't ask to be removed from the rest of them the first time let alone the second time but here she was being blamed for it. "Had it really been Korvin the others wouldn't have allowed you to harm her due to how it was back in the past, they would also prevent me getting anywhere near her. Do us all a favour and get some new tricks, these parlour ones are beyond ancient." she said calmly to him letting him know that she wasn't amused in anyway. In honesty she expected him to do something like this and had she been a lesser person she may have fallen for it, but she wasn't a child anymore and falling for such things could have been the difference between failing or completing a mission, failing was never an option at least not for them.

It was when she felt the thing she believed to be her sister Korvin's throat under her foot shift she raised it watching as it elongated into something she could only describe as a snake. "Really Trase.." she managed to get out as she lifted her foot "You ruin my shoes and you're buying me some more." she wasn't one for clothing but she currently liked the shoes she was wearing, they were comfortable and went well with the dress she usually wore when she worked as a reaper. She was about to open her mouth to ask him if he was done clowning around yet but her eyes went wide as she was caught off guard as she was kissed and then to hear what he said afterwards. She couldn't remember a moment he had ever called her by her full name, it took a few moments for her mind to fully process what had happened making a few of the others chuckle as she normally wasn't so speechless. It might have taken a few minutes but she did regain her composure, she hadn't even noticed that there was now blood on her face at least at first.

She watched him float around for a moment cackling like a maniac, there was a reason he had gotten his nickname and this was it "Trase, who's blood is on my lips?" she asked her tone unfaltering as she started to get her train of thought back. She just couldn't fully comprehend what he had said to her and at that current moment in time she just believed it another sadistic test or trick to try manipulate her so refused to say anything on it. She had to admit however her heart did skip a few beats but she was just gonna be foolish if she really did believe in such a thing, besides they had the task for taking out the flaws within the world she didn't believe his mind was on romance especially with someone he wanted to kill not so long ago. Then again she also knew just how unpredictable he could be at the best of times. "I swear you clown don't te-" she stopped mid sentence realising exactly were that sentence was going and given the goings on she knew the other would get a laugh at her poor choice in wording. "Korvin I swear if you gave him that idea..." she crossed her arms before shaking her head and smiling, it felt as if part of her that had been missing was back but at the back of her mind she knew that this wasn't right, still for now she was going to enjoy the brief moment of happiness she had with the others.

Her eyes went to look at each of them and chuckled a little to her self "You all look so bad dressed like that, almost like carbon copies of your past selves... it's disturbing." she said covering her mouth as she chuckled a bit more before settling down instantly the moment that Cirven began to speak once more. "Trase, I swear to everything unholy stop calling me reaper." her voice showing she was getting more than a little annoyed with it "I've never broke an agreement in this life cycle so you'll never know." she said in a matter of fact way, she knew that when they done such a thing the stakes were always high and right now they had never been higher as there were lives on the line that weren't hers to gamble with. "Yes, I am with my family and that dream I had has left so no I wouldn't flinch." she said her voice stern as she knew she couldn't falter in anyway. It was on hearing the next part she raised an eyebrow for a moment "Vulgar." she said but sighed "He's a ten year old child that is in a world he doesn't understand Trase, his support structure is all but gone..." she said her eyes closing as her voice saddened, she wished she could lock that emotion up right now but she couldn't, she had spent six years of her life with him and she knew emotions weren't switches even to ones like her "He needs time to adapt and grow besides he might never be ready, he was raised... well you seen first hand ad that was him getting off easily." she said opening her eyes, she never wanted to see him go through such a thing again, that was why she agreed to go through this so he would never have to, so she could make a world were he could live without fear or fighting.

She knew he wanted the fight to happen and for one of three outcomes to happen, the first was that Ruvel died at his hands for daring to go against him, the second was for Ruvel to defeat him they both knew he would never have the heart to kill Cirven regardless of what was done or the third being that he joined them but she never seen that happening given his views on life and it went against his nature entirely. Hearing it was time to go she clenched her scythe still sitting on the blade she hadn't cared that she had just cut her hand, she did however raise it for a moment before jumping off her scythe and it vanishing "I will catch up, I have things I have to do" she said a portal of her own turning up "I am still a reaper after all and it comes with its own responsibilities." she knew that this would stop soon but right now she had souls on her that had to reach their judgement and resting place. Without another word she headed through the portal only to hear the final fate of the town as the portal closed.