- Lucifer, Peter, Kamlai, Jaa -
Lucifer and Peter were sitting in chairs along a massive pool. Waves were being made by slender beings controlling the water. Peter watched the waves as he took a sip from his cup. Lucifer scratched the side of his face as he noticed an approaching figure.
"It's her," Lucifer nudged Peter.
Kamlai waved to Lucifer and Peter while flashing a wide smile. The upper half of her face was wrapped in an orange cloth. Her chest and hips had a matching tight purple wrapping, with the rest of her body being exposed, showing rows of damaged tattoos. She spoke as she got closer.
"I'll ask, mai bpenrai. I'm sure they mean well, Jaa."
Peter whispered to Lucifer, "I guess the rumors about her being friendly with her contract were true."
A bright yellow eye opened up on Kamlai's cheek and glared at Peter and Lucifer.
"So protective," Kamlai chuckled. "He means well, really, it's just surprising that you would ask of me."
Lucifer sighed as he turned to face Kamlai. "Well, Peter and I have been doing some research on archdemon contracts, and we figured it'd be best to speak with you while we're in the territory."
Kamlai fell to the ground, quickly crossing her legs and placing her hands on her knees as she leaned in. "I'll help as best I can but I don't know much about archdemon contracts. Can't say I know much about the eldritch ones either," Her voice switched to a deep tone. "What do you two want from her?"
Lucifer asked carefully, "Is it true that you have a tendency to walk around with fresh wounds all over your body?"
Kamlai spoke in her voice, "Yes, though Jaa tends to get upset with me if I do it for too long. What relevancy does that have to archdemon contracts?"
"Peter," Lucifer handed the explanation over.
"Right," Peter scratched the back of his head. "So, when ya got yer contract ya lost yer sight. When I got my contract, I essentially became a eunuch. There's a theory-"
"Sorry to hear that," Kamlai interrupted. "Oh, sorry for interrupting."
"Yeah..." Peter continued, "There's a theory that has to do with archdemon contracts and the seven sins. Apparently-"
"I'm telling them," Kamlai interrupted again. "I understand, Jaa, but it's clearly about that thing we discovered. They were willing to share the information so I should return the kindness."
The eye on Kamlai's cheek narrowed with melancholy.
"So," Kamlai placed her hands together, "I would assume this is about the disappearance of the mana costs for the archdemon contract?"
Peter held out his arm as it turned black. "Is it the same for yers?"
Kamlai held her arm out as it turned black. "It's strange hiding it, isn't it? Jaa warned me that information is power and that I shouldn't tell anyone unless I have something to gain from it. I thought it was selfish but I understood his position as one who shares this body."
Peter and Kamlai's arms returned to normal. Kamlai asked a question.
"What was it about the sins? Jaa wants to know."
"Oh," Peter hesitated. "So the theory goes that if the holder of the archdemon contract does somethin' related to the sin their contract might represent, then they can remove the mana costs of the contract."
Kamlai placed her hands back on her leg and rocked slightly as she spoke, "So in the case of Xiao The Glutton, I would assume he either had to starve or gorge himself?"
"That's the idea," Lucifer said.
Kamlai rocked her head side-to-side, "So if your contract makes you impotent, and that is meant to represent lust..." she stopped rocking. "Hmmm, I guess that's more complicated."
Jaa's voice came through Kamlai's mouth, "What are you saying about Kamlai?" his tone grew more accusing. "I'm guessing you believe her contract represents vanity-"
Kamlai put her hand over her mouth.
"We meant nothing by it," Lucifer assured.
"Who cares, Jaa?" Kamlai said. "They aren't suitors, they're just trying to confirm a theory," She stood up. "I hope I could help!"
Peter held out his hand, "It was nice finally meetin' ya. Yer a huge inspiration for the humans that learn about ya."
Kamlai slapped her hand against Peter's and clenched her fingers. "I appreciate it greatly."
Peter hid his discomfort as he shook hands with Kamlai. Kamlai left, waving goodbye as she went. Jaa's eye appeared on Kamlai's neck, glaring as the two went.
Peter shook the pain from his hand and mumbled. "I've blocked punches that hurt less."
- Lucifer, ??? -
While the group prepared the carts to leave Cosm, Lucifer was on his own in an empty room. Lucifer told the group that he was feeling aftershocks of frenzy and just wanted to be alone temporarily so he could gather himself mentally. Lucifer spoke in his mind to the figure that was appearing in front of him.
'All right,' Lucifer sighed deeply, 'who and what are you?'
Before Lucifer, a muscular figure with front-facing horns, long black hair, and red skin appeared. The figure's only clothing was a torn pair of salwars.
'Lucifer, Warden of the Hell Layer,' The figure answered.
"Fucking figures," Lucifer clenched his jaw. 'Do you mind if I call you 'Warden' to ease confusion?'
'I'm actually more used to that name than the other,' Warden shrugged as he looked Lucifer up and down. 'Do you mind if I ask what cultivation layer this is? I've never been to this one.'
Lucifer's anger was slowly being replaced by confusion. 'It's not one?'
Warden chuckled, 'Interesting~'
Lucifer got Warden up to speed on what the Otherworld is.
'Otherworld?' Warden questioned. 'That's your name for it?'
'Not my name, no,' Lucifer answered. 'When the name of this world was taken to a vote by the ruling gods, they argued for so long that the world was given a placeholder name. The name itself is an A.L.E.'
'Ale?' Warden questioned.
'All language equivalents,' Lucifer informed. 'A-L-E or 'ale' as most call them.'
Warden gave a hearty laugh. 'Bickering gods! At least that seems to be the same here!' he tilted his head as he stared at Lucifer's arms. 'Rather...slim, aren't you? Do you even know how to fight?'
Lucifer sighed and gave a brief summary of the various combats he had been through in the last few years.
'Interesting~' Warden said. 'I look forward to learning more about this Layer! Feel free to ask any questions you may have for me!'
A knock on the door of the room signaled Lucifer to wrap up the conversation. 'We'll talk more later.'
Lucifer stood up and made Warden disappear. Lucifer wiped the confusion from his face as he opened the door.
- Fensyr -
(Around the time Lucifer's group arrived in Han'ei)
Fensyr stood over the throatless corpse of another lycan. He wiped the blood from his mouth and started walking. He was joined on either side by two male lycan guards as an announcer declared his victory.
"Wi-winner, Lord Fensyr."
Fensyr spat out a chunk of flesh and spoke. "That SHOULD be the last one for a while. What's next?"
"There's still the matter of the runt that was born near Fenzul," One guard said.
"The white-haired one?" Fensyr assumed. "Such bad fuckin' timing."
Fensyr arrived in a shrouded village, soft lantern light illuminating the small buildings and road. He immediately noticed a group of lycans in an alley.
"What's going on here?" Fensyr said from behind the group.
The group all scattered, except for one cowering female lycan child with white hair and red irises.
"Sorry sorry sorry" The scared girl kept muttering.
Fensyr examined the child, noticing the bald patches and scratches on her head. As he approached, the girl's head flicked up and she started crawling backwards, crying and shaking her head.
Fensyr lowered his posture to the girl's level and closed his blind eye. "Sorry about the eye, I can't help it. Do you mind if I ask your name?"
The girl stammered, "N-n-n-am...Name...Namele...L-l-lord Fensir," She covered her head. "I mean Fensyr! Please please please, forgive...forgive," she started to hyperventilate.
- Fensyr, Namele -
Fensyr felt something deep within his chest. Whether it was anger or sadness, didn't matter. He turned around and transformed partially, creating his tail.
"Grab on as tight as ya can. If ya get scared, squeeze with all yer strength."
Namele hesitated for a few minutes. Fensyr didn't rush her, despite the growing fury in his mind, he maintained a calm and welcoming expression. Once Namele grabbed on, Fensyr spoke again.
"If you get scared, let me know and I'll walk slower, okay?" he turned to one of the guards. "Heal her."
As the guard bent down to put his hand on Namele's head, Namele flinched and squeezed Fensyr's tail as tight as she could.
"Wait," Fensyr stopped the guard and turned to Namele. "We'll heal the scratches whenever yer ready, okay?"
Namele nodded. As Fensyr walked out of the alley, the two guards couldn't help but stare. Grabbing a Lycan's tail was considered highly disrespectful. The two guards whispered.
"Did you hear his slurring? He's nearing the peak of his anger."
"Namele...She's not an orphan..."
The guards moved alongside Fensyr and whispered to him. "What are you planning on doing?"
"Depends," Fensyr looked back at Namele. "Depends on what the vermin hafta say fer themselves."
The group eventually arrived at a house. Before Fensyr could knock, two lycans, one male, and one female, came out. The look of disgust on the two's faces when they noticed Namele holding onto Fensyr's tail prompted one of the guards to speak to Fensyr.
"We'll look after Namele while you talk with them."
Fensyr could feel a tight squeeze on his tail. Namele had been hesitantly holding onto the tail the entire walk prior but now was practically hiding in it. Fensyr crouched down and put his hand on Namele's back.
"I won't be long, promise," He motioned to the two guards.
The two guards created their tails and offered them to Namele. Namele reluctantly let go of Fensyr's tail and grabbed the guards'.
"Inside," Fensyr ordered Namele's parents in a calm tone of voice.
Fensyr was led into the dimly lit house. Before either parent could speak, Fensyr gave another order.
"Show me where...Namele..." he took a breath to calm himself, "sleeps."
The parents looked at each other, confused by the interest Fensyr seemingly had with their daughter. The two led Fensyr to a small closet door. Fensyr opened the door and thought to himself.
'Not a strand of hair, but there's dried blood stains?' Fensyr's eye twitched.
Fensyr slowly closed the door.
"We're terribly sorry for her!" The father said.
"It's just bad luck on our part," The mother added.
Fensyr turned around and kept his head low. He desperately wanted to avoid eye contact with the two in front of him. He spoke in an uneven tone that sounded almost out of breath.
"H-how about I," He took a breath, "take Namele into my family? I-I," He took a few quick breaths and spoke through his teeth, "think that would be best."
Fensyr's extreme anger was misinterpreted by Namele's parents.
"If you're looking to buy her then we should discuss a price."
Fensyr bit down on his bottom lip, tearing through it. "Price? Of course. I have a very generous offer for you two."
The two noticed the blood spilling from Fensyr's mouth. Before they could ask, Fensyr put his claws to their throats.
"How 'bout I let ya two monsters keep yer throats?"
The parents froze with fear.
"I am enacting the law of bloodline ending. You two are hereby forbidden from having children so long as you're in this territory."
Fensyr retracted his hands and walked to the door of the house. "The 'Name' moniker is meant for orphans," he reached for the door handle.
Namele's parents misunderstood what Fensyr was implying. A call from one of the guards outside startled the parents. Fensyr tore off a piece of shirt and wrapped his mouth, looking back at the parents with a clear hatred in his good eye. He opened the door and softened his expression before turning to look at Namele peering out from behind the two guards' tails.
Fensyr closed the door behind him and offered Namele his tail as he approached.
"W-where are we going L-lord Fensyr?" Namele asked.
"A proper home," Fensyr assured.