Chance Encounters

This was a more than a slight annoyance to the blonde haired youth as he had been within Talonia for what seemed like a month but it actually had only been ten days. He was led to believe this was only to be a quick day task and then he could head down to Magnolia, were he had hoped to surprise the emerald eyed fairy that he had seemingly started to date. For several days now the recently released magazine had been commented about and how he and Arcadia seemed like such a cute couple, that they hoped they would have such a long relationship. He had no idea what the hell they had been talking about, he hadn't seen the magazine and even if he had it wasn't exactly like he could read it given his disposition on reading anything so new. He could only smile and thank them for such kindness and saying that he too wished the same for them the people would believe him sincere on the matter he was faking it as much as he was about knowing what they were talking about, though when thinking on Arcadia a small blush had come to his cheeks. This was something that he had no power over as much as he did try and control it he just couldn't.

Rubbing his forehead he looked at the air dock master for a moment and rubbed his forehead "What is the problem this time Mr. Charles?" he asked trying to get this over and done with just so he could go get ready for another unneeded gala or was it a ball this time? He couldn't remember he just remembered the client was important and so couldn't just ignore it. "Oh Mr. Mizune, I didn't think it would be you to deal with this." said the elderly male looking up from his clipboard, Mr Charles looked to be in his mid to late sixties, white hair, dressed in a black pair of trousers and white shirt with an open beige jacket. "Well as always Mr. Charles if I'm in the area I'm the one who deals with the problem it prevents additional work for everyone." he said with a smile making a small soft chuckle come from the elder man who handed over the clipboard over to Ruvel as if to allow him to see the issue. "There is that young sir, then again you've always been very diligent in taking care of things when you can." he said in a voice that you would wear made Ruvel seem like his grandson.

Ruvel started looking over the papers but had one of the two void princes in his shadow reading over his shoulder "I am still not seeing the issue, the cargo is in order, the ship arrived on the specified day and..." he couldn't help but groan a little as he now seen the issue there was the customs tax that had to be paid, it had seemed that his client hadn't paid customs and had failed to inform the company so they could have the funds in waiting that could be taxed at a later date from said client when the bill was sent. "I see the problem now, the fault is mine you have my deepest apologies." were this could be seen as a lie to everyone else the youth genuinely believed that he was at fault for not checking with the client to see if the customs had been paid or not so felt the fault fell on him. It wasn't really known that he couldn't lie as people could use it to their advantage and he knew it so he made sure to have fail safes and protocol's in place so he could keep guild and company secrets just that. He looked to the captain of the ship "Start getting the cargo to the warehouse." he called out and as soon as he did the wheels started to get into motion.

Ruvel handed the clipboard back "Mr. Mizune they can't unt-" he was cut off as Ruvel brought out a pouch of jewel and handed to the man "Nevermind.." he said giving the custom stamp showing that the cargo was approved to enter "Once again my apologies Mr Charles, I will make sure something like this won't happen again." he said placing his hand to his chest and bowed just a little "I do hope your evening will be a good one and if there is any further issues please have the captain contact me and I will arrive at my earliest convenience." he said standing straight once more Mr. Charles was going to say something but before he could he ran forward to help one of the crewmen who seemed to have almost dropped something. He might have seemed old and somewhat infirm but he was still a strong spiritly man. With a light chuckle he waved his goodbye and Ruvel took off down the street from the air docks and into the high street, he though he may have a look around since he still had a few hours to kill before having to get ready for the trials to come.

Ruvel as always was wearing a completely white suit with blue trim on the cuffs and front hem, his company pin on his collar showing proudly that he was a member of the West Fiore Trading company. It was strange that they were called that in his opinion as they also offered some of the most highly trained diplomats in the whole of Earthland, then again that seemed to have been something that his elder brother seemed to have implemented in shortly before his disappeared he believed so Ruvel could do something he was comfortable with and could do without issue. So now he did think on it, it did actually make quite a bit of sense, he was busy in his own world as he thought of his elder brother that he hadn't been paying full attention to his surroundings but was more than aware to make sure he didn't bump into any one.

Ruvel continued walking down the street without really paying attention to anything at the moment as he started running through the things he still had to do here, then there was likelihood of something going wrong back at the company that he had to deal with when he got back to Tolgalen. Recently it seemed like it was never ending so released a small silent frustrated sigh 'Cirven, where are you... I need help...' he thought to himself, he had wondered what happened to his elder adoptive brother that came from the sister facility of the one he had been raised in, he knew it was a dark guild from his brothers side but that was neither here nor there at the end of the day. One was making those who were to destroy the world the other creating the puppet gods of the future, he couldn't help but shudder thinking about it his hand going to his arm band as he remembered Demi. The woman whom he had been betrothed to when he was younger, they had technically been married but they never developed like that but more like brother and sister but that didn't matter to the facility it was what they said that went.

He was just glad to be out of that hell but his turning up with Cirven one day had left people with a lot of questions, Cirven refused to answer and he wasn't about to say anything about his past. The scars were fresh then and even now they hadn't even begun to start healing, the people that knew about his passed seemed to have up and left him and that made this all that much harder. People had taken note to some of his more than a little strange mannerisms such as resting at the back of the company headquarters he was now in charge of. He didn't believe he had to explain himself of the matter it was true he had a room inside the building itself, even several homes that he owned but he had always remained in that one spot when he slept unless he was sick were he was forced to remain in his room within the company until better. He knew that there would be little chance of getting disturbed from anyone thanks to the protections surrounding it, to his knowledge only Cirven, himself and his summons could get within twenty feet of the room meaning that most of this floor was off limits to everyone bar the ones with the correct clearance, right now the only one who did was the one who owned to room. He dreaded getting sick these days because it wasn't like he didn't trust the vice presidents his brother had chosen but there were things only the CEO could tend to and that was him at current.

He hadn't noticed the slight chill in the air but that might be because he was use to weathers that were far colder but that didn't exactly matter much. He didn't really pay much notice to the area he was in, it wasn't like he was about to get mugged and if he pitied the person who dared try to do it. No one even batted an eyelid towards him as if seeing someone like him around the area was just a run of the mill thing, his eyes moved to the light shadow rapier that was attached to his side as he remembered the warrior summon who had broken his own races laws to get it made for him so he had something he could defend himself with. Since it was given to him he could only remember using it once and ended up having a giant demonic bug landing on him for the trouble, he couldn't help smile as he remembered everything that had happened from his escape from the facility. It had been one hell of a ride that was for sure but he wish it would stop stacking trial after trial on him but somehow he knew that wasn't about to happen. "I should really see about doing that..." he mumbled to himself thinking about perhaps getting caught up with the dark mage Dahau, it was true the guild rules said you had to wear a mask when dealing with dark mages. Ruvel unfortunately had met Dahau before he was a guild member and if he turned up with a mask on he would likely put two and two together given that his pets always seemed to be around him since the day they first met.

Ruvel was about to put his left foot down to cross the road when he heard a voice through the common noise of the hustle and bustle, it was faint but he could hear it as clear as day. His eyes went wide as what little colour he had drained from his face, it couldn't be, he had taken all the precautions he could have to protect himself from his past. Sure running the biggest trading company in Ishgar didn't help or the fact he had become a god of Ishgar a few months ago. He guessed this was going to eventually happen but he didn't expect it to happen so soon, nothing was going to change that he had now been found away from the safety that was his home. His instincts were screaming for him to run, hide, find somewhere anywhere safe, it honestly didn't matter where so longs it wasn't there so close to one of them. He could physically feel his body shaking though he felt completely numb all over, his mind had went completely blank so stood there unable to do do anything other than to accept whatever was about to happen unable to cry afraid that it would be reported and he would be punished for it. Sure he had magic and could defend himself but that didn't do him much good right now when he couldn't move and with his mind blank he couldn't even call the twins to help protect him.

Ruvel remained stiff and still for the longest time before he turned to look at the elder gentleman, the fear never leaving his dual coloured eye. In that moment everything came flooding back to him as much as he wanted to yell out he was afraid of what would happen if he did so, there was a lot of rules, laws and expectations that those like him had to follow and making a scene broke a lot of them. He felt his chest tighten making it that much harder to breath, he needed to get out of there, get away from the man but as much as he was trying there was nothing that he could do he was frozen stiffer than an ice statue. He just wanted to break down there and then crying but that broke so many rules of his former home he knew better than to do such a foolish thing, it was then he had a cohesive thought and it was about the first act of defiance he had done when he got free and that was to cut his long hair to how it was now. At the time it seemed like a good idea but now he was regretting such a thing as he remember the punishment when he went back last time, this time if he was dragged back he knew he'd be on his own and there would be no way to escape their would have been no safety net.

He looked far better than he once had and he knew it, this was thanks to his former and current summons but the people he had come across since ending up in Fiore. The first person whom he ever came across was a dark mage by the name of Dahau who had helped him with some food and new clothing. At the end of things he ended up running from him after summoning Barthenz due to the fact he thought something was going to happen, little did he expect the two to become friends of sorts, that actually scared him more than Dahau himself did for some reason. Then there was the man who had adopted him as a little brother, Cirven had taken him under his wing and taught him some of what he needed to survive in a world that was all but new to him even trying to break some of his conditioning. The ever enigmatic Rasparov had helped him in more than one way helping him understand that he wasn't the only one who was always wearing a mask to the world to hide their true self. On a job they done together he had seen a side to the perceived butler that no one else had and so shared part of himself, this gave them a mutual destruction pact but they seen each other as friends he was sure. The third and most likely closest to himself was the elder male that he himself helped recruit into the company.

Johann... now there was a sensitive subject to the blonde haired youth at the moment. He didn't understand fully what was going on or why he couldn't have come to speak to him instead of leaving a letter. When he gave the letter to Shindara he told him to go to a room that he wouldn't be able to be disturbed, the elder prince knew just how close the two had become from that first day on the beach of an island little over a year ago. The day Ruvel seen a part of Johann and shared the only memory of his own family he had left as painful as it was, even then he was doubting that the memory was real and it was starting to fade over time as much as he fought to keep it. He had went to his office and locked it before Shindara told him word for word what was said within the letter, it broke the void prince's heart to see his young summoner who had been through so much already break just a little more as he realised something else had been taken from him. It had been one of the very few times that he had ever left his summoners shadow and bore the pain of the light to support his small and fragile summoner as he fell to the floor and began to cry.

Ruvel might act like an adult but that was only because to survive where he was raised you had to mature quickly to survive, the fact of the matter he was only a child, he hadn't even turned eleven yet and seen more pain than most people did in an entire lifetime. It was later found out that Johann was the guild master of a new legal guild, he didn't feel betrayed and wished his former associate the best in his future. Many would likely believe this strange but Ruvel understood there was likely more to the story that he didn't know, well there was that and he knew Johann well enough from that first day that duty an honour meant a lot to him. The only thing he personally could think of was to protect him and the company that he held so dear to him, if this was the truth of the matter then whoever caused this would get their punishment in due time. For now he had to bide his time but knew he would have to catch up with the elder male if he actually made it through this.

It was then something caught his eye, he was to busy with the past that when he came back to the current goings on, the elder male was crouched in front of him to get on his eye level, normally this irritated the hell out of him but given the circumstances and whom it was he remained silent. He was short not an idiot or anything of the likes but still he remained still only shaking, it was only after a few long moments that he took a few small steps back to make some space between himself and the other though almost tripped over his own feet. It was then he watched as the still crouching man held out his hand as if he was wanting something, he didn't have anything to give that the other couldn't just take from him, he was pretty sure of that. It was when he spoke asking for a weapon he blinked absent minded for a moment, he had all but forgotten the rapier that he wore on his right side. His eyes slowly creeping down to his sides to see what he was talking about his eyes lingering on it as he seen it. The rapier was a gift that his former warrior summon gave him braking many of his races ancient laws to give it to him, he couldn't just hand it over... could he?

The answer on that was yes, as if working on auto pilot his body started to move to undo the binding that kept the weapon to his side. Once undone he held out the rapier to the other from under his sleeve a little colour would be able to be seen, from his mouth he whispered the words 'forgive me' under his breath if heard his voice mimicked the shaking of his body, he would have went through the normal procedure of the facility when apologising but couldn't as he had something in his hand, he was half expecting punishment for that later too. What the other wouldn't know if he heard his whisper was that he was saying it to more than just him but those he was close to, for breaking his promise to never be like this again.

Ruvel turned his head away as the weapon was taken from him he fought back the need to cry, he felt like he was betraying everything that he had become and those who had help him become more independent from what they had made him. Sure there was a lot of work still to be done but still there had still been growth in some ways. All that hard work over the last year.. gone.. it was all gone in a matter of moments of hearing the elder males voice. He felt like he had failed those he held closest as few and far between as they may have been and betrayed everything that he was working towards to better himself, his company and guild. How could he look out for them if he couldn't even protect himself from his past? The tightness in his chest was getting tighter with every passing moment, he felt so light headed he swore he was about to pass out but out of sheer power of will he remained standing. The blonde haired youth was afraid what would happen if he did pass out, he was pretty sure the other would be pretty mad at him for making a scene and that would lead to another punishment so remained as still as he could outside the uncontrollable shaking.

For a brief moment he dared to look up making sure not to make direct eye contact as his rapier was taken from his trembling hand, he noticed that the elder male had been looking at his left wrist. The wrist that proudly showed his guild symbol, the one thing that reminded him that his past was just that the past. Instinctively he grabbed his sleeve in his left hand as if to hide it, protecting it from the one he believed that would take him from his safety and back to the hell that he once called home. His arm coming to his chest trying to keep as much distance between him and the symbol himself, he was still running on auto pilot it was all instinct. "Jo.. Johann..." he whimpered in a small voice hoping the one he was closest to would hear his weak attempt of a call for help but he knew here and now he was on his own at current. It would have actually surprised him that he had called Johann by his first name for the first time since he had met him if it hadn't been for how scared he currently was.

He followed the others eyes as he started to study the rapier, it was clear he was taking in every small detail of the gift, he had been given to protect himself from the warrior summon he once had a contract with. He came to understand that the metal was very rare within the realm that the summon came from, so rare that it wasn't allowed to be taken outside the realm itself yet he had done just that when he gave him the rapier. He was told that the metal was called light shadow and it worked off the purity within a persons heart, the warrior had continued to tell him that it would weigh next to nothing for him though for the warrior himself the weight was light he was trying to carry several mountains. The youth didn't understand how a metal could do such a thing but knew better than to argue with people that would make his training that much more difficult. He didn't know exactly what was going through the elder male's head and the words wouldn't come, even if they did it wasn't like he would ask anything it was never the place for someone like him to do such a thing unless permission was given. Well he could have however there were protocols that had to be followed and he wasn't fully even to process his old life ways at current.

Hearing his compliment he looked down again his right hand went to his mouth the index, middle and fore finger and touched it for just a quick moment before he moved his index finger to his forehead. the elder male would know that this was the way those like him said thank you without saying a single word, he would also know however that this was usually done with the dominant hand something that Ruvel hadn't done as he still held the sleeve and hand close to his chest trying to protect the only thing about himself he cared about. He didn't care if he was going to get punished for not doing it correctly, he would allow his marking to be damaged or even worse taken from him. Seeing the others hand moving forward towards him he flinched his eyes clenching as if he was expecting to be hurt by the other. His hands moving to be slightly in front of his face but fully covering everything as he bowed a bit, this was how those like him often apologised without words it was clear that he believed he had done something wrong.

Feeling that nothing happened he parted his fingers a little and seen that the elder man had pulled his hand back and so stood straight his hands lowering to where they had been before again he kept his symbol close to his heart, it was obvious it was important to him. Ruvel noticed how the elder male seemed to be finding some difficulty with the blade that he had no issue holding, though it did surprise him that the weapon had changed from the blade he was use to to something he didn't recognise. If he hadn't been the one to have given it to the elder made he could and would have swore it was a different weapon completely is was kind of scary in his opinion that it had happened. The shaking teen hoped that the blade wasn't going to be taken from him permanently or be damaged in anyway he would hate himself even more he did at current if something like that was to happen to such a gift as he had been given.

He hadn't even paid attention to those walking past them, part of him wished they would look at this and say something but they seemed distracted in their own needs. He was a god of Ishgar after all he was a beckon of light in the darkness why would they think he was in trouble in a busy street? It was then he was caught off guard when the other had asked him if he was hungry, he didn't see the smile of the elder male as his eyes had been firmly on the ground but he shook his head to the question he had been asked. "I... I... I... eat at m.. m.. m.. my n.. normal times s... sir." he stuttered out still very quietly though, the elder male would know that those within the facility normally one ate during certain intervals and these intervals often came down several factors.

Ruvel kept his left hand to his chest covering the symbol that bound him to his guild and home as if it was going to be taken away from him, though through the spaces of his fingers something golden crimson could be seen shining lightly. This was the rune that Johann had placed on him only a few months beforehand and he gave one of his own in return, though the one that the elder male had was of a silvery blue. It showed their bond, they could tell where the other was and when they needed help or were in distress, this was also the proof they had no secrets from one another. The youth knew that the elder male had returned home to Amber Island and had become a guild master in his own right and wished him the best though of yet they had not crossed paths since Johann had taken his leave. He knew when it came to matters of state and guild issues there would be secrets between them and he had no issue in this, it was how guilds worked and how guild masters kept those under their banners safe. Right now he truly wished the elder man was here with him, he wouldn't have cared that the person from his past had stumbled across him, he knew he would have been safe but that wasn't the case right now and so would have to deal with it on his own.

Ruvel wasn't ashamed of his mark or the rune he wore, it reminded him he was loved and cared for, that he wouldn't have to return back to the place he once called home, that his past was behind him and he would only get stronger moving forward. The reason he was protecting them as he was, was because he was afraid they would be taken from him and everything he had been striving for would be taken with them. He had no idea what the elder male was thinking seeing him react in such a way, he had never came across someone acting like he was at current so he couldn't even fathom the thoughts that would cross his mind. Then again if he had he would have an understanding that not many do within the world that would give him a way to put them at ease, this man was nothing like him. He was one of them in his mind and that made him the enemy, all be it an enemy he was to scared to combat against. He knew with every fibre of his being if Cirven, Rasparov or Johann seen him acting like a meek pathetic child they would take care of the problem and either put him out of his misery or kick him up and down the length and width of Tolgalen till he got the point that he couldn't act like this.

Hearing the elder man finally talk he looked to the ground and was about to shake his head but then realised that this could work to his advantage. "I.. I've never e.. eaten sweets." he stuttered biting his lip, this wasn't a lie as even when he was offered them during the blood moon festival he had always kindly refused saying that one such as he was unworthy of such things, that they would be best suited to someone of a higher station. He was the only one who wouldn't eat more than the normal amount that he did on a regular day, he only drank water even when juices, teas, coffees and wines were offered to him and he never ate the sweets, he even went so far as to keep on his scheduled eating and drinking times. The reason for this was he didn't trust them, they always had another motive if they were being kind, it turned out he was the only one that always survived. The others always seemed to go missing and that scared him more than a little as no one knew what happened to them, some people said that the meat they were given was from the bodies, he couldn't help but be sick after hearing that.

He turned his eyes to the right for a moment, he could tell the other wasn't genuine when he was smiling, he was pretty sure the blind could see that but he was trying, was he trying to lure him into a false sense of security? he had no idea but for now he knew it was in his own best interests to play along "You don't have to pretend sir, I can't like and I know I have to answer a questions I'm asked." his voice didn't stutter as it did before but it was quiet and shaking but he was trying his best not to draw attention to them because who knew what would happen. "Mr. Mizune!" a voice called snapping him back to what he was normally like, if he didn't act normally then it would arouse suspicion and then he would just get in more trouble later, running up to him there was a man in his mid to late twenties with black hair and sapphire blue eyes, he was wearing a white suit with green trim on the cuffs and collar "Mr. Lockheir, what's wrong?" he asked his personality completely switching as he forgot the elder male standing behind him "It seems there are slavers in the city sir, but the guards are to thinly based at the moment. They're asking for help, I said I would go find you." he said holding out an envelope "Whereabouts are they apparently based?" he asked the elder male bit his lip "That's the problem sir, they don't know... just that people are going missing and a grizzly scene is left." he said his voice shaking "Okay then show me to the last scene and I'll see if I can figure out something..." he said nodding watching the elder man run down the street and moved to follow him.

He honestly didn't care about the man he was leaving behind or if he was followed at that point, he had been asked for help and he always gave it if he could, regardless of the pay given if any. If the older man followed their would be a scene within a warehouse blood splattered up the walls runes painted in a black oily substance but no bodies or equipment. Ruvel himself would be given the authority to go right ahead the elder male however would be forced to wait outside the tape by guards. It was now up to the elder male what to do, would he use the power he knew he held over the youth to get past the guards or wait with the riff raff crowd and hope that he would be able to gain some information on what was going on.

Ruvel had given the elder man the information he required, that he knew that he would have to answer any questions that he might have, more than that he told him he was unable to lie when it came to answering him. He knew that outside the facility that people fabricated information, gave half truths, omitted details or just full on lied, even he himself found it hard at times to tell truth from untruth but he had been managing. It was true that he could omit details but he couldn't give half truths, fabricate information or full on lie, he still didn't understand why this was this case but it was what it was. Of course he had ways to make sure he didn't speak of things he couldn't, he would have the twin princes Shindara and Amuul hide the information from his mind. He couldn't lie about things he didn't know about after all. He knew that the elder male was likely about to ask questions but it seemed that one of the members of the company would be his saviour at that very moment. He had snapped out of the child he once been into the person he was now thanks to his new life, he had even made a mental note to give the male who had called his name a bonus when his wages were due.

As the elder male in white suit ran off he he quickly moved after him, anything to get him away from the elder man that had made him feel so scared. He didn't want to return to his former life and was afraid that if he had remained with him any longer than he had that might have been the way things went. It was true the moment that he was spoken to by the man that worked for him his personality changed dramatically but he really didn't need questions being asked or his past being looked into so tried to act as normal as one would expect from him. As he moved through the city he couldn't help but think how strangely the others who took part in the blood moon festivals acted. It was almost like they were different people, of course they were all obedient and respectful because they knew the alternative but this went far beyond that, things they would usually panic and be afraid of they didn't react to. He had to wonder if they were doing something to them, but the only way that would be possible and for him not to end up the same way was if the food outside their normal quantities and times hand been spiked with something. He kept to the rules even during these so called celebrations were the others gave in and enjoyed the lavish life they were normally denied. Even when it came to sleeping he wouldn't sleep on the bed they gave, he would sleep in the middle of the floor uncovered.

He had to wonder if the 'carers' even found him to be odd as he didn't act like the others had, the thing was he had always had the feeling that something was wrong. It was almost like a whispering in his ear telling him the best way to stay safe, to stay himself. He didn't believe in gods or fate because if those higher powers truly existed then why did he and many others have to and still currently did go through such horrors. That was something he would need to look into but it also meant he would have to return to the hell that raised him, that thought made him visibly shake in fear even as he continued moving towards his destination. He feared Crescent Island and had never stepped foot on it since he left with Cirven, any additional dealings there, someone else was always chosen to go deal with it, even if he had been personally requested.

Stopping at the warehouse it seemed like a well run paper mill, but it had been closed for renovations of late, so it had been completely gutted so the machines could be cleaned, fixed and or replaced. As the tape as lifted for him he moved to go under it and looked around, he wanted to shake given all the blood he seen around him but kept his cool. It done him no good to give into such fears here and now so took a deep breath and looked at the scene from where he was standing "Maera" he whispered it was then a small jingle would be heard, his hair moved even though there was no wind, to all those around him the youth still had no magic so it was like he had done nothing "Big sister, could you look around for me please? Any information that you can find to lead to what happened here will be helpful." he whispered still and like that his hair moved the gentle jingle started to move around as he moved deeper into the warehouse to have a look around "Mr. Lockheir..." he said turning abruptly and looked up to the elder male who almost seemed to move to attention "Yes Mr. Mizune?" the other had said in return "Clear the streets, have the guards go about their normal duties but remain cautious and on alert. I will deal with this matter personally." he said to the elder male calmly who nodded "Yes sir, about the social gathering though?" he enquired knowing that someone needed to go to the ball that was being held.

Ruvel had completely forgotten about that with everything that was going on and given this was a matter that couldn't wait he was in a bit of a bind. He smiled "Take your wife and children to the gathering, you deserve a good time and it would do the children some good to make friends now for later in life." he said warmly, the elder male blinked as he was caught off guard as these occasions were a big deal and normally dealt with by senior staff. "Are you sure sir?" he asked just wanting to be clear that this was indeed what he wanted. The blonde nodded "In fact it would be a great favour you would be doing for me, I will make sure you are compensated accordingly." he said his voice gentle as he spoke, the man shaking his hands in front of him as he shook his head "No, no, no... no need for that sir... I'll go get the tasks done." he said quickly running off to do the task he was requested before going to get his wife and children ready.

He was about to turn back but he heard his name being called and looked to the guard at the door. "Is something wrong Mr. Aeuna?" he asked confused unsure why he was needed. "Is this man with you?" he asked motioning to the elder man outside the tape, this caused the youth to freeze for a moment. He could say no and be done with him but at the same time he knew that would just be inviting trouble "Let him pass please." he said calmly, if nothing else the man had his weapon and he'd like it back eventually. The guard lifted the tape to allow the other to pass it keeping everyone clear of it, Ruvel looked to the side for a moment before walking towards the gentle jingling sound careful not to step in the blood.

Ruvel sighed he really wished he had shook his head to the question if the elder male was with him but in truth he was afraid of what would happen if he had done such a thing. He didn't know anything about this man other than he had connections to home, if he was to take him back and they be told he had been defiant then he was afraid about what could happen with his punishment. At least he really didn't have to worry about a double punishment as they themselves had killed Demi, though he was likely still going to get the blame for that though he still to this day didn't remember how he got to Tolgalen after Demi's passing. He did remember that he couldn't bare her passing and so before she could go through a new life cycle had forced a contract with her, he felt bad that he had done such a thing but he couldn't bare the thought of losing her because of those people. When he had done it he had no idea that Cirven and Demi had known each other but then Demi never spoke of her life, she had always said that if she told him he would be in danger and he didn't want that for him.

These days he believed that maybe it was because she pushed the memories back not wanting to think on them, he could only imagine how difficult it must have been for her to be away from those she cared about. It did make him wonder what she had done to get taken away from the ones known as family, he didn't look into her past as he never wanted anyone looking into his even though she pretty much knew everything knew everything about him. He was starting to believe that the single memory that he had of his life before that hellish place was nothing more than a nightmare induced by one of the experiments as each passing day he was forgetting more and more details within the memory. He was pretty sure if it hadn't been for the twins that he would have forgotten completely by now but they done their best to help him remember the memory even though it was painful for the youth. That however was of little consequence at the moment as he had taken on a task to help the city he was in, his own personal strife would take a back seat for now as it would help no one in the long run especially those who had been taken.

It wasn't that the guard worked for the company, he was indeed a city guard, however, the youth had taken the time to get to know each guard and recruit in the city with the same scrutiny that he gave the nobles and businesses that he worked with. Due to this he could hold a decent conversation with them all. When asked why he got to know the guards he explained that they were just as if not more important than nobles in his opinion. They put their safety and at times lives on the line so others didn't have to fear the things that went bump in the night, he admired the dedication that these people put into their job. He understood that some people were born without magic, he himself after all didn't have use of any of his until he got free from home and so gave them the respect he believed they deserved even within his now home continent of Tolgalen. His way of doing things was nothing to do with the elder male as far as he was concerned, he was free for now but he didn't know just how long that would last now that he had been found.

He continued to walk around keeping his ears on the gentle jingle that was moving around quickly as he knelt by the blood, he moved to touch it but he stopped, it was easy to see that he was having a difficult time with this but he was trying to push past it. His hand moved forward once more and touched the blood a little his eyes closing as he breathed a little heavier, he heard the bell moving quickly towards him and shook his head "big sister, I'm okay. Please find the information" he once again whispered the jingling moving away once as she heard the request from him, he brought it to his nose and smelt it his nose wrinkling as he watched the carmine red viscous liquid turn a deeper red before drying on his fingers "That's just wrong on so many levels..." he said to himself more than anyone else as he stood forgetting about the elder male as he moved to a sink nearby and washing his hands "I should take a sample for Mr. Terumi to study perhaps, he'd likely find it interesting to study." she said as if contemplating with himself on the matter as he washed and dried his hands, once done he decided to walk around once more looking at the symbols on the wall all of which seemed gibberish to him.

He could feel the weight in the air that was around them but it didn't seem to phase him in the slightest, he had been brought up in a place that had been far worse than this so this was more like a summer camp to the youth. He started to walk around once more as he tried to find anything that might be of interest as he couldn't imagine people walking out of a place like this covered in blood, there was just to much chance to be noticed and the guards to be called and thus be called so they needed a way to get out of here at least. Then he had to wonder why the paper mill of all placed and then there was the questions of why the blood and the symbols that happened to be all over the wall that seemed to be placed their out of convenience or to set a scene of something more morbid. He had to wonder if this was nothing more than a lure with just how everything was set, but then, who was it a lure for? It couldn't have been for him as his movements normally weren't known until the very last moment if at all for his own safety. He walked towards where the light jingling of the bell was and tilted his head looking around, the back of his hair moving just a little though their was no reason for it to do so as they were so far inside the building "What did you find out big sister?" he whispered quietly "Not everything is as it seems, they use things like this to lure the guards away from the rest of the city." she said he crouched down noticing what seemed to be a small book on the floor and touched it "Is this how you know big sister?" his voice still low as he spoke "Yes, it has some details but not a lot, sorry little brother." she explained to him making the youth sigh as he picked it up.

The book fell from his hand however as he flinched tensing up feeling the elder males hand on his shoulder, up to that point he had even forgotten that he was there in first place "My name is Ruvel..." he managed to say hearing the other use his adoptive brother Cirven's last name, he hadn't even realised that last names were a thing until he had escaped from home. "My designation is 003792649-X" he continued explaining to the elder man, he had no idea if any of this made any sense to him "I was often called Rothe by the others." he finished giving all the information he could on who he was within the facility his tone had become small devoid of emotion or the strength it had held only a short time ago. He was trying to fight the want to be like this with every fibre of his being but he was unable to, he closed his eyes and bit his bottom lip "Please, before you take me home allow me to help these people..." he began not knowing if he would be permitted his request "I know I don't have a foot to stand on but I said I would help them and even if it means I take more punishment for it I will do so... I would just rather not have to go against anymore rules but will if needed." he said not realising that the little fairy hidden in his hair had just kicked the elder male's hand as he had been speaking.

The kick itself would feel more like hitting a finger into a wall by accident or even when it got trapped in a drawer, so it would be a dull throb after the initial shock of what had happened. He would wait only a few moments to see what the male said before he picked up the book and placed it into his jacket pocket "As I said I can't lie and I know I have to answer all questions or I can get punished so I will do as ordered while I help these people." his voice had once again began to shake while he was talking to the man, he knew right now his fate wasn't his own and so was at the mercy of the other. He had seen him a few times and even once at the blood moon festival but then Ruvel himself looked far different from his day to day life within home when he dealt with his duties as a 'maiden' he hated that term now he knew that maidens were girls and he himself was a boy but he kept his thougths to himself on that one, last thing he needed was to give him any more reason to want to punish him.

The young blonde hair mage remained completely still as he felt the elder male's hand on his shoulder, he wasn't good with touch thanks to what he had been through, he expected anyone that touched him to want to do him harm and this was no fault of his own. It was something he was trying to work on but he still shied away from it unless it was a formal thing and even then it was always when he was wearing gloves. It was true he wore a glamour to make him look normal to the outside world, to hide the scars that covered his body, though knew it done nothing to hide the truth if touched. He wanted to separate himself from his past as much as possible, this was one of the ways he learned that he could do such a thing without offending clients or nobles, he didn't want people poking into his past because who knew what would happen then. There were very few ways that was going to turn out and he didn't see any of them being good, that was for sure. The way he was of course made him an enigma so there was questions but those in the company respected him enough not to go looking for the answers.

In truth the youth had no idea what the elder male was thinking about him or what he had observed of him, as much as he knew he shouldn't care he was afraid that he was doing the wrong thing and that was beyond worrying in all honesty. He thought those days where behind him but then he knew that his freedom would only last so long, he had wished it would have lasted a bit longer but it was what it was. He had refused to bow like he once had and even now his nerves were telling him that he should be but he fought against with everything he had. That was no longer who he was. No longer who he could accept to be. No, he was happier with how he was altering, though he knew the progress was far slower than those who knew would like it was still progress from how he once was. He moved to take the book from the ground after taking a deep breath, he would need another to read it because he just wasn't taught to read. When Johann had found this out he had told him that it needed to change for him to better himself and got him a tutor, this fact was kept quiet and the tutor had to sign a non disclosure agreement also as if it got out then it would be bad for the company.

The problem was of course that he still had duties and things he was expected to do as a CEO of the company, a mage, a mentor to up and coming mages and of course a God of Ishgar. Then there was also his personal matters he had to deal with such as trying to find his missing adoptive brother, he had put out jobs under a pseudo name looking for information on Cirven and the pay was substantial it wasn't like he was hurting for it, nor was he really going to use it for anything. He himself had even went looking and found no trace no matter where he looked, he knew Cirven and Demi had left together and that they were a force to be reckoned with due to their training, still, something in the pit of his stomach had told him something was wrong weeks ago. From the moment that feeling had arrived it had slowly gotten worse until his stomach felt like it was in knots, he really didn't like it, it was like a storm was coming and he had no idea what to expect, he just knew it was going to be bad so he had to be prepared for it. Still he held hopes that they would be reunited sometime in the future and hoped they could face it in the future, it however didn't seem like this was ever going to happen with the turn of fate he seemed to be given.

What the older male didn't seem to understand about him was that he wore a mask of confidence, he had to in his line of work but it wasn't who he was, what lay under the fragile mask was who he was. The scared child that he seen was who he truly was but knew if he showed this to the world then he would be eaten alive. The world outside of the facility was filled with unknown variables and outcomes he didn't know exactly what was expected of him or how those around him would treat him at any given time. Within the facility he only knew as home, everything made sense to him. He knew what was expected of him, when he could eat and drink, what he could and couldn't eat and drink, how others would act when it came to him. It was structured and though he understood now it was beyond abusive sometimes he wanted to go back to the world that made sense, the world that he understood. Thing is he also knew that if those who cared about him knew this they would yell at him for thinking stupid things but it was how it was. He fought to keep his mask in place and live his life as if it was the one he had always had and it seemed to have everyone fooled from what he could tell.

He couldn't help but let out out a weak yelp as he was firmly turned by the elder male, his eyes turning away from his. He had always had issue with looking people in the eyes, it was because in the facility it wasn't permitted for them to look at someone deemed as their superior in such a way. He believed himself free from that hell but now he was unsure, it was when he spoke Ruvel's hands clenched and he turned his eyes to the elder man the submissiveness gone, he still wasn't looking at him directly in the eyes "I wasn't asking for your permission to help them, I was going to do it regardless..." he said his tone stern and unfaltering as he spoke on the matter "Like I said I told them I would help them and I will. I was only asking you as a formality because I would rather not be punished anymore than I already going to be." he said his voice not changing, it was determined "And I don't like any of them... I am not a number, Ruvel means cursed moon and Rothe means slave." he said turning away from him "Now let me do my job and then we can leave if that is what has to happen." he took a deep breath after a moment feeling Maera's hand patting his neck trying to tell him it would be okay.

"I am Ruvel Mizune, adoptive younger brother to Cirven Mizune, younger brother to Dies Irae's ambassador Johann Von Weiss, the current chief executive officer of the West Fiore Trading Company, current caretaker of the continent of Tolgalen and one of the four God of Ishgar." he said telling the other what who he was and what he had made of himself since he got his freedom, he seemed to hold some pride as he spoke his brothers names, internally he was still shaking but he wasn't willing to let the other thing he was going to back out of something that he himself had agreed to, he would take any punishment for defiance but he would never turn his back on people he himself had agreed to help, it just wasn't in his nature. It never had been. He had only recently found out that he was a prince of a now ruined and destroyed kingdom to the far north of the Silent Glaciers but kept quiet about that, that to him wasn't important not at the moment, it had been stolen from him when he was only a toddler but he would make sure the ones who had caused that destruction would pay for their crimes no matter the cost to himself. To do that he needed to remain away from the facility or he would likely fall into his old ways, this was something that he wouldn't allow, not now. He needed to know why... he needed them to pay for their crimes... and he would be the one to bring their justice come hell or high water, nothing would stop him.

After saying his piece he started to walk around the hall once more, he knew that their had to be another way in and out, there had to be after all there was noway with all the blood that was around this place a person wasn't going to get bloody, especially since they seemingly took the body with them. It was then he remembered the notebook that he had picked up and moved back to the elder male, he then took it out of his pocket and held it out "As you know in general we aren't taught to read and write... so I don't know what it says, I would like you to read this and enlighten me of its contents." It was true that he could just has his summons to do it but he wanted to test the elder male to see his true intentions "Also don't touch me, I don't like being touched." his tone was no longer timid it was that of an assured leader, he remembered the ones who had taught him, the ones that cared for him and the ones that relied on him. He couldn't afford to be timid and so this gave him the strength that he had previously been missing.