Song recommendation: Passengers (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SRdZTZE5pOA)
"This place is so creepy," Albaric grimanced.
"Are you sure you used to be a general?" Michael mocked.
"I'm just saying," Albaric pouted. "The demon world gives me the creeps,"
"It is indeed an unpleasant place," Rena cast an eye on a pile of bones lying at her feet.
There were bones scattered outside the walls of the golden palace. Its gleaming pillowy pillars looked almost red under the crimson sky. The wind shifted and black clouds blended in with the blackened metal around its spires.
"And you're certain Ace is here," Michael questioned in his usual condescending manner.
"Yes," Clover answered reluctantly. "My men said he was being held in the Palace of coins. This is it,"
"And there are four palaces in total?" Rena enquired.
"That's right," Clover answered, "the house of swords, coins, cups and clubs,"
"And the demons obey the masters of these houses," Rena asked.
"You're very curious sister," Michael smirked, "rethinking your plan to kill them all?"
Rena glanced at him reproachfully, "Be aware that I can restrict your speech if I chose, wizard,"
"You can call me Michael, sister," he grinned, "Everyone does anyway."
"That would assume that we are friends which we are not," Rena said briskly.
"I like you, sister," Michael laughed, "I really do!"
"Don't let Kalandra here you say that," Albaric frowned.
"Lucky for you, she refused to come," Michael crossed his arms with agitation.
"It's better that she didn't," Clover said quietly, "You realise that we are about to enter the palace of the Empire's enemy? We should be prepared to be attacked on sight,"
"I thought you said there are laws to prevent demon lord's from attacking each other," Michael questioned.
"Lord Varseille doesn't seem to be interested in the rules of the demon world any more than I am," Clover smirked.
"This person stole the weapons from the Empire and killed hundreds of my sisters," Rena said gravely, "We should kill them,"
"Though you are an impressive fighter sister," Michael watched her with a smirk, "We would be outmatched. Especially if Ace is here."
"But Ace was brought here against his will," Albaric glanced up once more at the ominous opaque arches of the palace, "he might be glad we've come,"
"Let's hope so," Clover exhaled.
After crossing the silent and dilapidated courtyard and burnt metal gates. Surprisingly they had been led to the throne room with ease. Even now, as they presented themselves to the lord of coins, the prying demon eyes that had followed them since they entered disappeared back into the shadows. A masked figure sat on the gold throne at the head of the hall. Clover stepped forward with a smile. However, the lord of coins remained with a disinterested posture leaning back on one hand.
"Lord of the west, to what do I owe the pleasure? " Varseille addressed Clover.
"You know me?" Clover smiled placidly.
"Who doesn't?" Varseille returned impatiently. "Your sins are all anyone seems to talk about,"
"I've heard you have a human here. " Clover said unprovoked, "Will you show me their face?"
" What will you do if I do?" Varseille laughed coldly.
"It depends. Why don't you bring them out?"Clover smiled.
"I'm not sure we have the kind of relationship where you can order me around," Varseille sat up and leaned forward.
"A request from one demon lord to another?" Clover suggested.
"A request?" Varseille stepped down from their throne and inspected Clover, "What a pretty face you have,"
Clover glanced down coldly, "Thank you."
"But I'm not really into such faces," Varseille laughed. "And I think you're quite a bit older than me. "
"Right," Clover stared back with an annoyed smile, "I don't think I was offering,"
"Weren't you?" Varseille titled his head to one side.
"No, lord Varseille," Clover exhaled, "I was asking to see the human you have here."
Varseille turned and walked back to the throne. He paused just beside the seat and looked back.
"But you should be. I know you've been having talks with the south and I see you have humans at your side. Have you come here to kill me, Lord Clover?"
"It depends," Clover answered.
"Upon?" Varseille sat down indifferently.
"Whether you can answer my questions," Clover reiterated more adamantly, "do you have a human here or not?"
"I think not." Varseille tapped the throne restlessly.
"We know Ace's here," Michael interrupted, "We only want to talk to him,"
Varseille glanced down, "You're more my taste, human."
"Keep quiet," Albaric shot Michael an annoyed glanced.
"Forgive my friends," Clover smiled, "We're just eager to see our friend,"
"No wonder he was so fond of you," Varseille chuckled, "You are quite relentless,"
"We'll go as soon as we've seen he's alright," Clover replied.
"Okay," Varseille shrugged. "But see that you keep your word," He gestured to the guards. Ace was brought into the room.
"Ace!" Albaric exclaimed.
Ace didn't so much as glance at them. He walked straight to Varseille.
"You called for me?" He asked flatly.
"Your friends are here." Varseille motioned.
Ace turned to them all slowly. His whole demeanour remained without emotion. He cast an eye over them and turned back to Varseille.
" I told you I have no friends, " Ace said.
"But the demon lord of the west has been quite adamant about seeing you," Varseille chuckled." Take another look. It's a face that's hard to forget. "
Ace's eyes finally came to Clover with cold disregard.
" Well?" Varseille challenged.
"Well, what?" Ace shrugged.
" Do you know who that is?" Varseille motioned to Clover.
"Yes." Ace answered.
"And ? Don't you have anything to say? "
"No, I don't, "
"Isn't that a bit too cold?"Varseille chuckled.
"Ace?" Albaric entreated, "We're here to help you,"
"Please Ace come talk to us," Rena enjoined. " We're not angry about what happened. "
" Speak for yourself, " Michael murmured.
" How much longer do I have to stand here?" Ace turned back to Varseille.
" Come sit if you want," Varseille pulled him forward by the hand.
Ace fell across Varseille's lap but instead of pulling away, he leant back against Varseille's chest.
" Ace," Clover finally spoke," come down here,"
Ace didn't move.
"Ace, we came all the way here to help you! " Albaric entreated.
Ace stared down with dark, vacant eyes, " As you can see I don't need your help so get lost."
"Ace!" Albaric reproached.
" If he wants to stay, just leave him," Clover said coolly.
"I told you this wouldn't work," Michael sniffed.
"Ace, we only wish to talk to you," Rena said unwavering, "we can help you."
Ace rolled his head back looking up at Varseille, "This bores me, Varseille. How much longer?"
"Do you want them to go?" Varseille asked.
"Yes," Ace answered, bringing his eyes back down coldly. "They annoy me."
Varseille waved his hand and the guards whose faces had since been covered in shadow filled the hall. They were all dragged out of the throne room and banished beyond the borderline.
"I told you that wouldn't work," Michael scoffed.
"We needed to confirm whether he was a demon or not," Rena interceeded. "Were you able to tell Clover?"
"No, I have to get closer." Clover looked at the burning red palace in the distance, "we have to go bacck,"
"Clover is demon lord Varseille the one you were talking about?" Albaric questioned, "the person with the power to compel others?"
"I don't know," Clover said in a subdued voice.
"What do you mean you don't know?" Michael snapped.
"That ...person has many appearances," Clover sighed, "I don't sense that energy from them, but the mask that lord Varseille was wearing, it can conceal energy. I can't tell while he's wearing it,"
"But given the situation, it seems likely," Rena posited.
Clover stared into the distance apprehensively "There's only one way to find out."
After waiting until nightfall, Clover opened a portal. The rest followed. They came out in the throne room and began their search. They started through the great hall and up to the towers. Upon reaching the first floor they were set upon by a pack of demons.
Rena's flame lit up the dark passageway as she cut through the first. By her side, Albaric sliced through the others with his sword in hand.
Micahel and Clover went on ahead and began searching through the room. Upon opening one of the doors in the hallway, Michael found a gold faced broad statue staring back at them with their face lit darkly. He stepped away from it apprehensively.
He met Clover in the hall.
"Anything?"
"No," Michael answered.
Rena and Albaric joined them in the passageway.
"There's just a library and some bedrooms here." Albaric said. "It looks like there was a fire of something. Most of the rooms are ruined,"
"We'll have to check the next floor," Clover went on quickly.
"Clover!" Albaric whispered, "Gods, what's gotten into them?"
They followed behind. Unfortunately, another group of demons were waiting. The fight carried up into the upper echelons of the palace and the highest floor in the tower. As Michael cut through another round of demons with a slice of water magic he stared down into the darkness suspiciously.
"This is too easy," he breathed.
"I agree," Rena said as they reached the top.
"It's probably a trap," Albaric followed behind Clover as they reached the door at the end of the dark hall.
"If things look bad, I can open a portal," Clover propelled forward without hesitation and flung open the door.
The room was lit brightly with candles. Ace was sitting back on the bed with a book in his hand. He slammed it shut upon seeing them rush inside. He let out a sigh, staring ahead indifferently.
"Ace!" Albaric began," We..."
"Wasn't my answer clear enough before?" Ace interrupted, " I said I'm not coming back,"
"You're not thinking straight. You've been exposed to the demon world for too long. Let Clover heal you and then we can talk," Michael whispered, stepping toward him.
"Don't touch me,"Ace pulled away at once.
"Ace, please," Albaric entreated.
Ace let out a sigh. "You want the necklace, is that it?"
Clover grabbed Ace quickly by the face and inspected him.
"Well?"Michael gestured anxiously.
"He's already.."Clover said slowly.
"I said don't touch me!"Ace exclaimed, pushing them back ."Are you deaf?"
"Will you watch the door?," Clover sighed, "I need to speak to Ace alone,"
With some reluctance, the rest adjourned out into the doorway. Once they were alone, Clover turned back to him with a grave expression
"You're sick Ace. You have to come back with us so we can get someone to heal you. This is beyond my power," Clover faltered.
"Sick?"Ace grinned," is that what you're calling it?"
"You want me to say it, I'll say it! You're a demon! We need to bring you to the temple," Clover grabbed his arm but Ace pushed them back with enough strength to unbalance them. Clover stared back wide-eyed.
" I said, don't fucking touch me," Ace spat. He picked up the sword from the adjacent table. "You touch me again, I'll kill you,"
" What? You love me anymore?" Clover scoffed, " I don't believe it. Demon or not, some things don't change. "
"Let me ask you this," Ace glared, "Did you kill Terre Sol?"
"Why are you asking that now?"
"Because lord Varseille said you didn't,"
"We can talk about that later,"Clover exhaled. "For now we need to leave,"
"So you didn't..." Ace surmised.
"It's not like I lied to you," Clover continued hurriedly, "You just assumed on your own. I was ordered by the demon king to kill Terre Sol, but when arrived, he was already dead,"
"I see," Ace said flatly.
"You aren't seriously angry about that are you?" Clover's brow furrowed.
"No, I'm not angry," Ace sniffed. "I don't really care anymore. I just wanted to hear it from your mouth,"
"Well, you've heard it so let's.." Clover motioned impatiently.
"I'm done with you Clover," Ace stared at Clover with a blank expression,"I have no reason to go anywhere with you,"
"What are you talking about?" Clover said with agitation, "You're not thinking straight. We'll go back and we'll talk about this properly,"
"I'm not going back,"
"You're so damn stubborn. I'm not arguing with you!" Clover returned sharply, "You're going back. End of story,"
Clover grabbed Ace by the hand. Ace flung the hand away.
"Let go off me!" he exclaimed.
The other's came in at the sound of the raised voices.
"They're going to hear us at this rate," Michael hissed.
"Ace, I know your angry" Clover dropped their voice to a whisper.
"I'm not angry with you, Clover," Ace smiled, "I'm nothing with you,"
"Please will you at least hear us out?" Albaric levelled
Ace ignored him, looking straight up to Clover with a smile. "The only reason I loved you was because I thought you killed Terre Sol," he whispered, "And now I know you didn't even do that...well.."
Clover inhaled sharply, "You're obviously angry, so i'm going to pretend you didn't just say that me,"
"You can pretend if you want," Ace answered, "Now I know the truth, my mind isn't going to change. I told you last time I don't want to play anymore,"
"What are we playing?" Clover scoffed.
"Guys, can we do this later?" Michael whispered from the hallway, "You can have your lover's quarrel when were not knee-deep in enemy territory,"
"No," Clover snapped, "Let him finish,"
Micahel let out a sigh and turned back to the hall.
"What game are we playing?" Clover gave a mirthless smile."What fucking game are we playing that I came all the way out here for you? I don't want to do this the hard way and force you. I'm trying to be a friend to you,"
"We're not friends," Ace said categorically, "I never wanted to be your friend. You decided that on your own. What do I need your friendship for? It's like some sort of fucking consolation prize you hand out when you want an easy out. I'm sick of being used by you,"
"Did they hit you over the head on the way here?" Clover sneered, "Since when did I force you to be my friend? And how am I using you? What exactly do I get out of being at your beck and call?"
"The same thing you always did Clover," Ace smiled, "A distraction. That's all I've ever been to you. The idea that we're friends is something you invented to justify your half-hearted attachment for me. You say you never lie, but you never tell the truth either. You don't love me so why don't you just let me go? You're just selfish,"
"You can call me names if you want," Clover smiled, " You wouldn't bother if you didn't care. You're angry and you don't mean what you're saying,"
"Let me clearer then," Ace said darkly, " I'm saying I don't love you anymore. I'm saying I'm bored of you! I AM SAYING I don't want you!"