Loi didn't expect it, he didn't expect Haru to charge at him. The two of them tumbled to the ground, almost hitting their heads has it not been for Quetz holding onto their shirts. The tanned boy felt wet tears rolling down his silk shirt as he was being pulled up, along with his brother's arms wrapping tightly around his neck. It took everything he had to keep himself from crying, hearing the high pitched whimpering coming from his sobbing brother as he stroked Haru's snowy white hair. It pained him so much, knowing full well what the white haired boy was crying about.
- Shh…shh…it's ok, I'm here, I'm here. - The tanned boy said comfortingly, caressing the back of Haru's head.
- We should go inside. - Jean suggested, the smirk has surprisingly been removed from his face, leaving behind a blanked, somewhat worried expression as he walked into the house.
- Why? - Loi snapped, eyes burning a hole into the back of the blond man's head. - Why are you here? What are you going to do?
- He'll keep you safe until I return. - Quetz answered for his friend, standing up from the huddling children and started to walk toward the gate. - I have to go, for now.
- W-wait! - Mitsuki called out, bolting toward the white haired man. - Y-you can't leave! We need you here! Haru needs you.
Quetz stopped in his track with a jerking motion, as if doubting his own actions. He turned around, only then did Mitsuki realize how much has been levied upon him. He looked haggard, tired and weak, though his youthful features were still the same as the day she first met him, something about that scorned expression on his face made him looked a thousand years older. Yet at the same time, the girl understood that he has already knew that, it was difficult for him, for anyone in his situation to make such a decision to leave at a time like this. Still, it's his duty as a chief to His people, he could not stay.
The white haired man took quick steps toward the boy whom he loved so much, wrapping his arms around him and embracing him, pressing his lips against his head, before turning on his heels, disappearing behind the great doors leading to the cold streets outside. Left behind, Haru wordlessly followed his family back inside the house, huddling on the cushioned wooden bench crafted so intricately on one side of the living room, while their caretaker eyed them from the table in the middle of the chamber. Like most people here, the white haired boy soon realized that Jean was…amused, for lack of a better word, by his presence. He sat cross legged on the chair, chin resting on one arm, the smirk has already returned to his face as he took another gulf of his beverage.
- So, he's finally brought you back. - Jean suddenly spoke up, making Loi and Mitsuki flinch as they didn't expect him to speak at all.
- Wh-what? - The tanned boy question. - Who?
- Well, King Kuntea of the Elves, El Douché of the Shadow Realm and Boss Bastard of the Xolotl Dynasty, Quetz himself of course. - The blond giggled. - I still remember how much of a fit he threw when we suggested giving Runty here to you…people, though I didn't expect him to bring you back so soon.
The man stood up, his slender, lanky form and ghostly pale features, so vibrant against the dark red and black clothing he's wearing made him look even more…threatening, than he was. Jean was not as monstrous at Quetz, he's not as towering, not as fearsomely looking, his body, no matter how eerie looking, was still that of a normal human. Yet he was able to instill a deep, dark and unreasoned fear into their mind, almost complete opposite to the white haired man's aura. Whilst Quetz's aura was that of a thousand suns exploding, raging like a stormy sea and burning like a wildfire, cutting deep like the frost of winter, clear and distinctive, Jean's was that of a cold, dark night in the middle of summer, vague and unknowable. His was the Silence, the unknown reason why all life ceases their sounds, plunging the lively forests into utter quietness. And though he may looked like normal human, his speed and strength were beyond them, almost on pars with Quetz's inhuman feats. In a blink of an eye, Jean has already moved from his seat to kneeling on one leg in front of Haru, his pale, clawed hands cupped the boy's face, amused as he saw the fear spreading across the white haired boy's face.
- GET AWAY FROM HIM! - Loi shouted, having jumped from his seat, frightened by the man's speed, so fast was he that the fringe of his trench coat was still falling.
- HARU! - Mitsuki shrieked, reaching for her naginata, not even bother to unsheathe it and swung at the man.
- Noisy companion you've got there, Runty. - Jean said joking, catching the naginata with a swift motion and held it firm, as tight and strong a grip at Quetz's.
- Let…go…! - The girl grunted, pulling as hard as she could to free her mother's weapon from Jean's hand.
- Yeesh, feisty one, aren't you? - The man chuckled, standing up from a mortified Haru, turning his crimson eyes to this human girl who's tried to attack him. - Well you're Shinju's daughter alright.
Mitsuki froze, once again her mother's name were spoken by a stranger in such casual a fashion. Her expression must have been that of such shock and confusion, so great that Jean couldn't help but smirk harder as he released his grip from the weapon's shaft, leaving burn marks where his skin has touched it.
- What do you know about my mother? - The girl asked, cautiously but eagerly.
- So, she didn't tell you about it huh? - The pale man chuckled in amusement. - Not a single thing about her service? Her heritage, your heritage?
- Wh-what are you talking about? - Mitsuki narrowed her eyes in suspicion, letting Loi and Haru hiding behind her.
- Oh sweet children, - Jean giggled, pulling out a wooden smoking pipe out of thin air with a burst of deep orange flame. He lit the pipe with a spark of flame from his snapping fingers and took a deep drag, before billowed out a thick screen of dark grey smoke. - you have so much to learn about.
***
- You're offered one last chance, human. - Lucious hissed, the blade of his rapier so close to Quang's neck that he thought he could feel its cold touching him, so sharp was the crimson steel blade that he thought it could cut him before it even touches his skin. - Give me some names.
- No…! - The old chief hissed in pain, his limps outstretched by an unseen yet searing force, keeping him in place in midair while filling his body with a burning sensation.
- The more you resist, the more suffering you'll just bring upon yourself. - The Inquisitor grunted, retracting his blade and walked around the human in circles, his golden eyes gleaming in the shadows of the dark room, illuminated by a single column of light from a hole above the ceiling.
He reached out his hand, the old chief could hear footsteps in the darkness, then something was placed upon Lucious' metallic gauntlet. Something hissed as its slender, flexible form was dragged through the air, ending with a deafening crack like that of a lightning bolt. Another hiss, another crack yet this time Quang's scream quickly followed, as the unimaginable pain erupted from where the whip has landed on his back. Snickering giggles could be heard emanating from the darkness, sounded so faint to his own whimpering of pain, but Lucious' footsteps overwhelmed them all, purposefully stepping hardly onto the cold stone floor of the chamber, making the sounds of his metal-classed talons hitting it sounded even louder.
- Give me names! - The Inquisitor roared, another crack of his whip followed to prove his point, amplified by others howling in support, a deafening, dreadful symphony. - All I ask for are names! Names that defiled our young master! Names that tormented him! - They cheered and roared in support with each sentence. - Give me NAMES!
- N…n…ne…NEVER!
A series of gasping sounds reverberated across the dark chamber, hissing, whispering, hushed voices quietly arguing, discussing what to do to this stubborn human, this…lesser species. Quang panted, closing his eyes tightly as he heard Lucious grunted and the whip singing its dreadful song, tensing his muscles, preparing for another burning pain. He screamed as it landed on his chest, feeling like a bar of red hot iron has been placed on his bare chest, passing through even the thick lair of leather and fur clothes still on him. Another roar of excitement rose from the hidden crowd, cheering from the anguish inflicted to him, through his tear-filled eyes, blurred by the salty water and the pain, he could see shifting figures of elves, Anacondrai and valkyries, howling in ecstasy as Lucious swung the whip again.
- Enough.
A familiar voice rang across the room, immediately the crowd was silence, towering shadows lowered their heads, some falling completely to one knee as He walked by them. Metallic blades classing his talons tapped the floor, his noble armor rattled as Quetz made his way toward the old chieftain, dark as the night itself, trimmed with the purest of gold, blue gems encrusted in the chest plate, shoulder plates and gauntlets thrummed with power. Quang felt armored fingers clenched around his neck, lifting his face up to look into the face of Wrath itself, amber eyes seemed to shoot out liquid fire as they burned into the old chief's soul.
- Your order, Father. - Lucious walked into the light, the whip dragging on the floor behind him like an ominous serpent.
Quetz said nothing, snorting before turning around and started to walk away, much to his son's confusion. Suddenly, he unsheathed his sword hanging on his hip, the azure blade flared and hissed, slashing through the invisible bonds holding Quang in the air, causing the old chief to fall down as the crowd gasped his shock.
- Leave. Now! - The white haired man hissed, sheathing his sword with anger clear in his voice. - Take your people with you and get out of my sight before I change my mind.
- Father, you can't just let him go! - Lucious protested. - What he did to Lord Haru, what they did…
- Is a failure on my part! - Quetz roared, immediately silencing his son, making the boy turning his gaze to the floor. He let out a sigh of frustration before continuing. - See to his people's need and escort them out of the canyon, get them as far away from my sight as possible.
- Father…please! You…you cannot! - Lucious hissed, his words became choked with rage and unmistakable distress. He struggled with his words, wanting to say something, but not knowing how to put it. - They told me…they confessed… - He tried to speak, clutched hands and lips trembling in disgust. - Did they…tell you…what they have done to him? To the Young Lord?
- No. - Quetz turned to face his son, his Lord Inquisitor, already he could hear the anguish hissing in the dark from the others inquisitors. - What did they do to him?