- Xiao -
(Past)
A slim figure with scaly skin covered in feathers towered over Xiao. They had long wings that were draped on the ground. They held the severed head of a man in one of their hands. The being spoke in a soft tone.
["Do not hate me for this, for it is simply the will of the true flame."]
["MONSTER!"] Xiao shouted as he tried to run at the being.
Xiao's face was covered in deep cuts. The cuts bled as he struggled against the hold of the woman behind him. She whispered into Xiao's ear.
"He's taken his toll. Attacking him now will only cost more lives."
The slim being's serpent-like eyes blinked as they shifted their gaze. Hundreds of headless corpses stretched out in every direction. The being sighed mournfully and tossed the head to Xiao's feet.
["Your kind stepped too far."]
Xiao struggled as hard as he could against the hold of the woman behind him. His clothes and skin began to tear as he screamed at the tall being. His voice went hoarse and his mouth spat blood as his anger overtook him.
["I'LL KILL YOU! YOU'RE NOT GODS, YOU'RE MONSTERS! YOU DESERVE NOTHING BUT AN ETERNITY OF TORTURE!"]
The tall being walked up to Xiao and leaned down. They looked deep into Xiao's red-cracked eyes. Their eyes blinked once before they spoke.
["I pity your anger,"] They placed their blood-soaked hand on Xiao's head. ["But anger is only strength when wielded by gods. Let the blood of your fallen remind you of that."]
As Xiao felt the blood run down his head, his eyes widened with even more violent hatred. The woman holding him placed her arms around his neck and put him into a chokehold.
"Forgive me," The woman said as she tightened her hold around Xiao's neck.
Xiao struggled but to no avail. He passed out, blood and drool falling from his lips. The woman that choked him stood up. She looked the tall god in the eyes and spoke with restrained anger.
["I assume this is sufficient, Lord Quetzalcoatl?"]
Quetzal didn't respond. He bent down and put his hand on Xiao's chest. He sent a pulse of healing magic through Xiao's body, closing the cuts on Xiao's face. He removed his hand from Xiao's chest slowly and stood up. A deep look of regretful sorrow filled their expression.
["Such a waste,"] Their wings lifted from the ground. ["Don't you agree, angel? The life force is sacred and yet these creatures waste it!"] their wings began to beat, causing a large gust of wind.
The woman didn't respond. She felt a deep well of anger in her stomach that warned her not to speak. Quetzal's expression showed that he had clearly expected a response. His look of sorrow deepened as he flew off.
- Death and Lucifer -
(Present)
Lucifer was looking at Xiao with sympathy as he spoke to Death. "I didn't know Xiao was a part of that massacre."
Death's expression lost emotion. "That tragedy is already restricted information, Xiao's part in it even more so. I was certain there would be a war between Purgatory and Llamear. I never thought they would send me three of their commanders' heads as appeasement after I threatened them."
Lucifer scratched the back of his head. "Huitzil, Quetzal, Tlaloc, Tezco, and Chicome believe in strength above all else, even more than Odin. That, combined with their different fanatical beliefs, makes that 'appeasement' easier to believe. Still...I can't imagine Xiao would be happy with anything less than Quetzal's head."
Death spoke monotone, "Quetzal ripped his way through hundreds of Grim soldiers with ease. He only spared Xiao's life because of Myriel's intervention. Quetzal respects angels to the point that the other gods joke about him being one."
Lucifer made a quick exhale through his nose. "Feathers and a worship of the life force, doesn't get more angelic than that."
Death glanced over at Lucifer. He could see a clear hatred in Lucifer's eyes. His own anger always had to be suppressed for the sake of Purgatory's survival. He desperately wanted to tell Lucifer about all the plans he had made to ride to Llamear and fight the Aztec pantheon. How he had readied himself for what could have been his final battle. He sighed.
'My words carry too much weight. If I told him, if I told others, it would put things into motion that couldn't be stopped easily. I'm sorry, Kahvis, but I have to pass this burden on to you.'
- Xiao, Kija, and Yvere -
Kija grunted as Yvere healed her. "I've seen that weapon of yours before, what is it?"
Xiao crunched down on a piece of candy. "It's a three-section staff. My kind from my past life designed it. Truthfully, I don't care for weapons but it's Grim protocol to learn the use of at least one."
Kija clicked her tongue, "You can't rely solely on magic and your hands. Every tool you can add to your arsenal is a boon."
Xiao mumbled, "You sound like Zac," He spoke up. "I answered your question, answer mine; why were you trying to lead a rebellion against the Izas?"
"Do you mind?" Yvere interjected while pointing at Kija's arm.
"It's only fair after the healing," Kija held up her arm to Yvere. "My father was one of the orc chieftains and my mother was a yuki that migrated from Han'ei after hearing about Zero's journey to Hell."
Yvere sunk her fangs into Kija's arm. Kija continued.
"My mother has a bit of a...let's call it 'preference' for the stronger types. She decided she was going to stay in the orc territory temporarily before going to Hell to meet Zero. My father's piece of the territory was at the border, so when my mother arrived she was immediately forced to meet him."
Yvere lifted her head off of Kija's arm and mumbled. "An earthy taste with a mix of mint," She healed Kija's arm and started healing Xiao.
Kija rotated her previously broken shoulder as she continued. "My mother ended up headbutting my father when he demanded she stays in his part of the territory. The two had a duel and my mother fought my father to a draw."
Yvere chuckled. "I remember Lucifer telling me a story of how an orc chieftain wanted him to marry their daughter after he nearly killed another orc in combat."
Kija laughed. "Most orc love stories start that way. Anyways, the two fought more and grew closer as days passed. Eventually, they had me. My father stepped down as chieftain because he didn't want to risk being sent to war. He would have been outcasted for the decision had he not fought anyone he heard insulting him."
Xiao grinned and then flinched as he felt Yvere's healing magic shift his bones back into place.
Kija grasped some of her white hair as she spoke. "My appearance caused immediate problems. My mother and father practically went to war with the territory given all the fights they got into over the comments they would overhear. My oldest memory is of my father's bloody face as he rubbed my head, his reassuring words followed by a cracking sound and my mother's shouts."
"The moment I was old enough to hold a weapon I was taught how to fight. Mother wanted me strong, father wanted me smart. I fought every single day I could but it never seemed to be enough; my kind still looked down on me. Despite what others might think, I didn't hate it, I welcomed it. Strife is the mind's whetstone."
"Done," Yvere said to Xiao.
"Thank you," Xiao rubbed his arm. "You follow War's teachings?"
Kija shrugged. "Most orcs do, though some bastardize them," She shook her head. "Regardless, I kept fighting. I wanted to be chieftain but my parents wouldn't have it. Orc chieftains are required to fight in any wars the territory goes to as compensation for the power that comes with being chieftain. I wanted something more but I knew I wouldn't get it for as long as I stayed in my home."
Xiao sighed, "So that brought you to Han'ei?"
Kija nodded, "Yes. I wanted to see the land my mother came from. Given what my mother had told me I knew the yuki wouldn't welcome me. When I arrived here and went to see the yuki land I was told to 'Go to the wastes with the others' by the matriarch. I desperately wanted to strike her when she said that but I, unfortunately, knew better."
Xiao chuckled, "Nobility doesn't make you immune to being a cunt."
Kija grinned. "While I was in the wastes I met the Jötunn first. The ice giants respected my strength after I beat a few dozen of them in combat. Then, the oni, and eventually, the male yuki. I had created a following of outcasts. The breaking point for this was when the 'The Absolute' texts started to spread. My followers were inspired and wanted to prove themselves."
Yvere asked Kija a question, "When you say 'Zero' are you referring to the male yuki that originally migrated from the territory?"
Kija nodded yes, "The very same. I was actually hoping to meet him after hearing he had arrived in the territory but given his affiliation with Lucifer, I had to restrain myself. I told my soldiers to do the same."
Xiao looked at Yvere. "How well-acquainted is Lucifer with Shiri?"
"It's complicated," Yvere responded. "I don't know much about it but that's what I can guess given the differences in how they think about Satan."
Xiao hung his head. "Whatever," He lifted his head and looked at Kija. "Can you trust your soldiers to just give up on this rebellion? I trust your words well enough but given past interactions, I can't just leave things as they are."
Kija exhaled deeply, "I'd say more than half of my forces will follow my decision. The others will probably destroy each other while they try to figure out who the next leader will be."
"Good enough, assuming you're right," Xiao crunched down on his candy. "It's nice knowing my squad's part in this was mostly irrelevant."
Kija looked confused. "Your squad played their part in this decision. If you hadn't been here we might have fully committed to the war sooner. Losing soldiers to your squad slowed down our plans," She hesitated. "My rebellion was a mistake. Maybe I should have stayed in Sunder and became a chieftain against my parents' wishes."
Xiao's eyes narrowed with fatigue as he walked away. "Sometimes decisions will be wrong no matter what you choose. Don't confuse bad luck with weakness."
Kija responded with a quote. "'You are not guaranteed the correct paths. The acceptance of being wrong is not the acceptance of weakness,"' She grinned. "I wouldn't think a Grim would follow another Rider's teachings?"
Xiao tilted his head back slightly. "You don't know the Grim then."