As Raven and Siren flew towards the city of Revise, very few words were spoken.
"You certainly don't want to talk, do you~" said Raven as they descended down.
Siren, again, didn't answer. She held a strong face and refused to show any emotion near this person. Raven on the other hand was very nonchalant as they walked the last mile towards the gate.
Revise was one of the mining towns of Radia. Located near a rich iron deposit, it was well known for the use of many magical means for more effective means of mining. Perhaps, it was once filled with joy, live and people. Now, all that remains are ruins and occasional Behemoths.
Raven took care of them without breaking a sweat, yet as they walked the streets, he started to notice a higher concentration of that black substance. He once again lowered himself to examine it closely. Same result, it tried to take over his arm before being dealt with.
"Live without soul or mind…" said Raven to himself quietly.
Siren apparently heard that, since she looked at him with a curious look. "What did you say?"
"This substance is definitely alive. It has body and life, yet it isn't capable of thinking nor does it have a soul. Many artificial things such as higher-tear golems or constructs share this trait." Raven looked at the remains of one of the Behemoths that was now cut into two. "These big guys seem to posses some sort of mind, maybe a hivemind of sorts, yet they do not have a soul. Perhaps that's why they feed on the souls of others." Raven stood up.
Both went around the city and all they could find was nothing. Then their attention was drawn by the entrance into the mine. It was covered in the same black substance, but instead of a pool, it was like vines. They blocked the entrance and wiggled chaotically. When Siren approached them they lashed back and she just snapped her fingers as this globe of golden light protected her from these tendrils.
"Ain't that convenient~" he said as he readied himself for a big swing with his scythe.
Siren stood aside as Raven cleared the way into the mine. It was pitch-black and neither could see even a few meters before them.
"Wait a moment." Said Siren as she clutched her hands together. She brought them closer to her chest and closed her eyes. As she opened her palms, it looked like she was offering someone something. In her palms, a small globule of light formed. Then another, and then another one. Three globules of light began to circle around the two winged intruders as they went further into the mine.
Walls were completely covered by that black substance. From time to time, a swarm of spider that were too covered in black substance attacked the two, but they were dealt with, without an issue. The black substance apparently took control of the body like a parasite. As Siren was looking at the corpses, she was beginning to look sadder. As if she felt pity for these creatures.
"What's wrong?"
"These spiders meant no harm. They were attacked by that thing too. It controlled them, before or after death, it doesn't matter. This kind of spider is passive towards humans, even though their size would point otherwise." She explained as the two neared diverging pathways.
"They attacked us. They would have died either way Siren." He said, somehow, his voice felt colder and colder as they went deeper.
"You said that you are a God of Death, can't you do something for them?"
"It isn't that easy, Siren. Death isn't a thing to be feared." As he was telling this, the tunnel began to feel more and more linear. This tunnel was definitely dug with magic, as it drag on for miles and miles deep. No monster in sight, and those that appeared were somehow afraid of the light emanated from the globules.
"Death is an end to life. It is the natural enemy of all things alive." Said Siren in a stern voice.
"Do you really feel like that's the case? Let's say for instance there would be no death, what do you think would happen?"
"Well…the life would blossom. Trees would grow, plants would spread, children could play with their great-grandparents."
"Exactly. After a while, there would be no place for them though. There would be only life, but how to get rid of it? You can't cut down trees, so they would feel cold, since there would be no wood to burn for heat. They would be exposed to elements, since they wouldn't be able to build houses from wood, or fiber."
As he was telling her this. It felt for both of them that this conversation would last a very long time, but they had plenty of it in this long tunnel.
"You asked me if I could do something for them. I actually did." He pointed to his scythe. "You see, this weapon isn't a mere scythe. Unlike any other weapon, it can actually sever any connection a soul has. With body, and with anything else. In other words, it cuts it free." And he puts out his hand. In this dark tunnel, with so little light, it almost looked like something was flying around Raven. Small, tiny little globules of bright white color and black holes, that resembled eyes.
"What are those?" she asked loudly.
"I call them remnants. They accompany me. Whenever I kill a thing with a soul that I don't want to imprison for some reason…"
This statement hung in the air for some time and Siren narrowed her brow. "I give them a choice. They can either go to the realm of the dead, where they will be reunited with their ancestors…" and the remnant began to circle around the blade. "Or they can accompany me. Some take form of a raven, some stay like this. But whenever I ask them for help, they oblige." Raven looked bittersweet.
"That is a strange magic…" was all that Siren said.
"Oh, it isn't magic. You see, me and my brothers, we stumbled around some huge rocks. They called to us and when we touched them, each one of us received a different kind of power. I got this."
"But still, to call yourself the God of Death. That isn't a way to introduce oneself."
"You're right. But I didn't choose that title. The stone did. It told me what my role now is."
And the remnant returned to the blade. Raven's voice was still sweet as a nectar, but now it held some weight. Unlike before. Siren somehow preferred this voice.
"And what is your role."
"Have you heard of the cycle?"
"The cycle? Of life and death? Yes I did. We all live and die. That is it, right?"
"There is actually more to it. The original statement is this: All that lives and breathes, must die, from it's corpse however, a new life will sprout." Said Raven and he looked at the walls. Completely covered in this substance, for him, it was an irritating sight.
"That…is weird? It makes sense, but why do you tell me this?"
"Because my role, the role given to me by the Shadow Aspect is to preserve this cycle. I make sure that no one is immortal. That those who live for eternity by consuming others are shown their place. I make sure that no massacre takes place that would annihilate all life. That is my role. I am Death, the guardian of life." The last line was said with a lot of irony and sarcasm, but it had a bit of truth behind it.
"That's why you came here. You felt the massacre."
"Yes…but there was something else. I couldn't stay in Laxoria, because I have killed all the immortals there. But there are still some here…excluding me."
"What did you say?"
Raven looked at her sadly. He sensed that inside her, there was life. She was so full of it, she could breath life into others. That shield she manifested was one of the things she could do.
"Somehow, I have this feeling that if I am the manifestation of death, you are the manifestation of life. I have heard of a Valkyrie general. She was so great that her foes were relieved when killed by her. But after the great war…she resigned. So much lives, even though they belonged to the Old God army, they were lives nonetheless. She created sanctuary and gave birth to a daughter. That daughter is you…right?"
Siren was silent. This tale was just a tale for children. But Raven's mother was a Valkyrie. She could have known that general.
"My mother was a kind woman. She gave all to the garden…it is special to me…whenever I need, I think about her and the garden, and somehow, I got the power to preserve life. No matter how small."
They walked the tunnel. Still talking, but now with more familiar tone.
"Am I a bad person, Siren? You always look at me like I am one…"
"…you are strange Raven. You are cold, relentless…but I can sense that you show mercy to as many people as you can…" she placed her hand on his shoulder to comfort him. "You are a good man Raven…" and she went on ahead. "You just act like a dick" she said with a smile.
Raven couldn't help himself but smile too.