The pitter-patter of rain drops grew as the billow of clouds cover the sky. An impending storm has started to build as streaks of white light painted across the dark canvass in the horizon. These forecasts aren't a common prospect especially at the center of a vast arid wasteland, but to the people who live here, it was a miracle. As the sky begins to pelt and a gentle breeze swept, the flag started to ring violently on its pole . This day is yet another ordinary day at [Paradise Falls].
The guards stationed on one of the toll-gates seem to be reluctant, as the stiff winds kissed their face. Since there had been zero incidents of the usual shenanigans, they took it to themselves that nothing big would happen. Not that it matters for a few immigrants to get in.
As some of the guards try to stay awake, the bigwigs were busily playing cards and drinking an absurd amount of alcohol while betting their next month's salary. The novices that seem to just arrived from their training were obligated to stand outside as some started to shiver as the rain started to get stronger.
The usual amount of travelers entering [Paradise Falls] were quite few unlike any other day. Since Balthazar's army of Demonic beasts and creatures reached the southeastern coast of the continent, people started to evacuate north, near the capital city. However, large numbers of wagons have been arriving in and out lately delivering what is rumored to be "special cargo". Some contain large crates that were hauled in nonstop.
[Paradise falls] is known to be a self-sustaining fortress and is said to be able to last several years before they run out of supplies. It was the perfect fortress. The precarious location gives it an upper hand and impervious to attacks on land. The [Magical Fusion Reactors] sustain an impenetrable shield that can withstand any long range or any airborne attack. It also powers the long range artillery cannons sitting on the outermost walls. Magic Scholars identified this to be a [Primordial magic] due to its complexity.
This architectural wonder can be located at the center of the [ERA of Man] as it hangs itself over a borehole that spans 150-miles wide, and held by three huge unbreakable chains which holds the entrances towards the the fortress. Being at the heart of all civilization, the culture displayed and multitude of races shows how diverse the amount of travelers pass by.
Everyday will feel like a festival for the streets are always full of people eating, drinking and dancing with their heart's content. Merchants can also seen to flood the Shopping district with wares across various [ERAs]. But as the rainwater dampens the stone paved streets, only the sound of the of trickling rain from the gutters and canals can be heard.
[Paradise Falls] is independently run by an organization bound by an [Ancient Treaty], in which to this day is still in effect. The tight security is not just for show, nor just to regulate the immigrants. Under the guise of the prestigious place hides a very awful secret. At the peak of the fortress lies a restricted area, where only a select number of people are permitted to enter. Walking up the [Steps of Repentance] and through the [Iron Gates of Purgatory], one may never see the light of day again.
Inside [Paradise Falls] is a maximum-security prison that holds the most notorious people antagonizing every [ERA] on the face of the map. This prison is special though compared to other prisons. This place does not hold ordinary crooks and murderers, but the most feared individuals across the world, the [Diabolus].
[Diabolus] are fallen angels that found themselves into host bodies, or manifested into a form of consciousness and using their powers for destroying the Gods' creations. They say [Diabolus] were once angels and rebelled against the [God of Creations]. They were then banished and fell towards the world finding themselves in the [ERA of Man]. They are now set on enacting revenge, sought to destroy all creation.
As the havoc of the [Diabolus] begin to spread, and the [God of Creations] caught word of this. They sent out angels to inhibit the beings they created, giving them the power to match the [Diabolus], thus Magic was born. They were then called [The Gifted].
Even with the ability to conjure and transmute creation itself, it proved to be a difficult for [The Gifted] defeating even one [Diabolus], let alone groups. They didn't expect how creative and strong the [Diabolus] has become. Decades of hunting, landed them close to nowhere. As the [Diabolus] caught wind of the situation, they began to prey on [The Gifted] which resulted to a multitude of deaths.
Kill or be killed. This is the unwritten rule of this world.
But three years ago, following the events that lead to the destruction of Suez City, the first well-known and notorious [Diabolus] is incarcerated at the prison. Deep below the lowest level of the Ninth level lies one of the [Diabolus] that was involved in the said incident, and is well known to have caused the massive genocide in the capital city of the [ERA of Man]. They call him the "Devil of Morningstar".
"...Cheeky."
Walking around, nothing seemed to be different from the past years. It felt like decades since the people here have tasted air from the outside, to be more precise, breathed it. The feint taste of rust and metal remains upon these dry lips of those who are locked up, wanting to quench their desires. The smell of blood that vandalized these walls became nothing, as the unpleasant smell became much more of a norm inside the thick walls. The rattling of chains still echo beyond these impenetrable steel doors. Pure darkness, and nothing but the light from a hole on the stone walls entertained each prisoner's dying thirst for freedom.
Has death yet to greet them as they lay wait for their time, eternity.
Oh yes, I remember now. Every painstaking day one may not forget how such a people like us ended up here.
"The promise I made is all but a lie...--even she knew I was lying through my teeth."
The Ninth level is the lowest level of the prison. A reserved special solitary confinement for [Diabolus] of "high caliber". Light barely scratches this level that is why a blanket of mist shrouds the floor and the whole place is illuminated by lamps emitting blue flame.
On the winding staircase, footsteps became more apparent, as each step started to sound louder and louder. The only prisoner full of restraints raised his head as he puts out a menacing grin.
"Fancy you coming down here...Chief."
The footsteps then stopped.
"Leave us." The voice said in a commanding tone with multiple sounds of heavy boots and chain-link armor lessened.
The footsteps then continued as it walks toward the cell of the man in chains and as it reached at a certain point, the footsteps stopped. The sound of keys unlocking the door can be heard. And, for a few seconds, the thick steel door separating these two people creaked open.
The mysterious person who opened the cell of one of the most dangerous man leaned on the door frame. Him being here means he is of high authority as he pulls out a lollipop from his pocket.
"You want one...?"
"..." The room stood remained silent. Neither a response nor an insinuation of a conversation was made.
"Well, suit yourself." The person said as he quickly removed the wrapper and threw it on the ground.
The chained prisoner's hand twitched apparent from the restrains holding him so tightly. As the prisoner took in a deep breath, he finally spoke. "Want me to tell you a story...Chief?" The prisoner then flicked his fingers .
The dim lanterns lit up revealing the the whole room, covered in never-melting-ice, [Judecca's Tears], surrounding the prisoner as he is completely restrained by anti-magic chains. There revealed at the doorway was the only one who has access to this level. The one they call "Virgil", a code name awarded to the person in charge of the prison, the Chief Warden of the Prison of [Paradise Falls].
"You never fail to impress me, Jinn." Virgil replied with an amused look in his face. "Now you make me more interested, to you in particular. What do you have in store for me this time? I hope you'll finally tell me everything, more than whats inside the thinnest looking file they gave me."
"Heh-your presence is enough my dear. I must warn you though, my story isn't a promising one." Jinn then replied.
"You know Chief, my story, my life, is all but feint memories. People like me were never meant to ever live a happy life, my reason to live, my happiness, comes from being by her side..."
"Then why did you let yourself be caught? Why not leave and keep up with this---with this facade?!" Virgil angrily replied.
"Why...didn't I? Well dear, that is up to you for interpretation..." Jinn said as he lowers his head.
"Is parting with her really what you would have wanted?---"
"It's for the best---"
"---you know what I see?" Virgil interrupted Jinn. He then approached Jinn and slapped him with the Jinn's portfolio. Virgil's hat then fell off revealing him to be a woman. "I see a broken man who has given up on life, pathetic. So much for one of the strongest [Diabolus] held in captivity."
"..." Silence. As Virgil's words stabbed right through Jinn.
A piece of paper then fell down inscribed are the words;
"WANTED --- The Demonic Duo, Jinn Ragh and Ryuu De-Vil --- Dead or Alive".
Jinn caught a glimpse of their Wanted poster. A red cross was slashed on his face and the girl he was encircled and written with the symbols "M-I-A-?" below her face.
Virgil notices Jinn's small reaction to the poster. She then ripped a piece of the wanted then handed it to Jinn. "So, anything else you want to tell me?"
"Nothing in particular. " Jinn replied.
"Want to tell me anything about her then?"
Jinn was hesitant to give a reply. Virgil then changed the topic as Jinn doesn't look like he wants to talk about her more. "Eh...I should thank you by the way, ever since you came, a lot of budget is allotted for the prison now. If only you could see how massive my office has become." Virgil said excitingly.
"I believe I did take a peek." Jinn replied as he smirked at Virgil's remark.
"You know, you should thank me by not reporting you. I always knew you can move freely from this place." Chief Virgil said as she facepalmed. "I might get reprimanded if the higher-ups know about his. Plus do these anti-Diabolus restraints even work on you?"
"I do not know myself why this is an occurrence but, do you wan't a demonstration?"
Jinn then snapped his fingers as the chains restraining him all fell apart and smashed into pieces like glass. "Does this answer your question?"
Suddenly, Jinn fell on his knees and keeled over the floor. His skin turned pale and the room became much colder than before. The fog started to thicken as the ice crystals begin to chip off into small pieces.
"You're getting worse, Jinn..." Virgil said with a worried expression on his face.
"...am I? Funny you should know, I'm healthy as an ox." Jinn replied with a low voice as he started coughing.
Virgil then rested Jinn on her lap as she checked Jinn's wrist. "No pulse?"
"Don't worry Chief, that's just the side-effects of my magic. I haven't gotten any sleep for a few months now, but I'll be fine." Jinn replied a he coughed some more.
The Chief then held Jinn on his chin and removed the metal braces on his face. "Small signs of [Magic Necrosis], but...with these amounts of restraints, it should've inhibited the growth."
"Don't sweat it Chief. It did inhibit one of my magic, but this being...this demon inside me isn't allowing that to happen."
"Demon? Wait, you have more than one Demon?! Isn't that supposed to be impossible?!" Virgil said in shock. "I thought you told me everything?"
"I did, I was very truthful from the first day we talked as a matter of fact." Jinn replied.
Jinn started to convulse as his body started thrashing on the floor violently as Virgil took a step back. The burning souls from the lamps begin to burn brighter and the floor begins to tremble. The [Magic Necrosis] on his limbs began to worsen.
"I need to figure out whats causing this. I cant risk a high profile prisoner dying on me." Virgil said as she quickly grabbed from his inner pocket a magical item, [The All-Seeing Monocle].
Virgil started to invoke a spell as chains from the ceiling started to appear to restrain Jinn. She then used the magical item as an interface begins to appear and locate the [Stigmata]. Some might call it the "Cursed Tattoo" for it discriminates who is a [Gifted] to a [Diabolus].
"You'd rather not use this on me---Chief, if you know what's best for your eyes." Jinn said in agony. "I myself don't know what 'it' is inside me right now." As he tries to hand over his file that the Chief had earlier. "What you see here, is what the only thing I know as well."
The two of them looked each other in the eye. Virgil wasn't completely convinced but,"I believe you" the words she uttered as she grabs the file from Jinn as his spasms stopped entirely.
"Thank you…" Jinn said as he breathes heavily as he regains his gentleman-ish composure.
"You know you shouldn't scare me like that." Virgil said as she started to laugh hysterically. "So, I brought cake. This was a gift from one of the Barons that lives near here. Hehe."
"You've got duties you know. Being the head honcho of this place and all..." Jinn said as he puts out a small coffee table and two sets of chairs. He then started to brew coffee from a makeshift pot.
"Coffee again--really? Well your brew IS really good---if I might add" Virgil said as she sits down and enjoys coffee poured on a teacup. She then hands newspaper to Jinn. "Here, I thought this might interest you."
Jinn flipped through the pages, and on the front-page article, it show a picture of a well-known Magic Scholar Balthazar Drake, the pioneer for Magical Physiology. As Jinn read through the article, he was shocked by a certain phrase.
'...[Diabolus] found a way to disguise their stigmata as Gifted...'
"...with how clever the [Diabolus] has been, it isn't a surprise they infiltrated the ranks of the [Gifted]..." Jinn said as clicked his tongue.
"So Balthazar Drake was a [Diabolus] after all. No wonder he can surpass the Elders from the Arcane Wizards at the Conclave of Magic in terms of prowess." Virgil replied. "This world's getting more and more crazy and deadly each passing day. The unwritten rule really is no joke. You better be careful out there, Jinn. You're good in putting up a fight, but how long will you last?" Pointing at the Magic Necrosis scars on his body. "...or maybe the reason you don't want to leave this place is because of that? Let me ask you Jinn, are you afraid to die?"
"It's not that I'm afraid, nor I want to leave this isolation. This...this demon inside me doesn't want me to die. Every-time I use 'its' power,it brings me unbearable pain that I just got used to it. I'm just afraid that...I might hurt her in the process if i keep repressing this 'demon'." Jinn replied as the atmosphere became somber. "Death is the only thing that can save you in this dreadful world."
"Kill or be killed..huh?" Virgil added.
"...I'll be fine Chief. I won't be leaving anytime soon... and I assume you'll keep me company?" Jinn said as he poured coffee on Virgil's cup.
Virgil, embarrassed, look away as her face turned bright red. "I-I guess... After I do my daily rounds, I'll--I'll visit you from time to time."
"Splendid."
"-we--well, it's been nice chatting with you, but I still have work to do. I never wanted to be the Warden in the first place, but this silly Treaty is just... absurd." Virgil said as she finished her drink.
"--by the way Chief, before you go, I never got to know your name. It would be unfair that---that you know so much about me." Jinn said as he fidgets on his cowlick.
Virgil was caught off guard as her face flushed pink. She tipped her hat down to hide her embarrassed expression. "W-why-why do you want to know? How can I be sure you won't curse me...?"
"Good grief, do you still think I'm that kind of a [Diabolus]? Brave of you to assume we're all alike" Jinn replied as he rested his chin on his hand. "Look, I don't even remember my own spells. Coffee is the only magic I can conjure at will."
"It's Encia. My real name is Encia Allatu-Irkalla. There, happy?!" as she started to storm towards the door. But before she reached the doorway, she was halted by him. Jinn held Encia's hands. Encia trembled as it made her more flustered.
"Encia...Encia... Encia!"
"Uh...yes? D-Don't say my name that casually---I'll slit your throat!"
"A pleasure to finally meet the true you---Ms. Encia. I'll be looking forward for your next visit." Jinn said with a smile on his face.
Inside of Encia's head, she was both surprised and amazed on how a [Diabolus] such as Jinn could be more human than anyone she has ever encountered. How genuine the emotions and how the world affects them more than anyone else. The preconceptions about them are unjust. It must be hard to feel that the world is against you.
"So this is the Devil of Morningstar."