[ Location: Realm of Candida Aeternitas ]
" The White Demon was here? " Yukino asks the Lord as he confirms it.
" Yes, when you entered this place, he also enters too, spiritually. "
" As we had our conversation, the White Demon knocked you out again in this place, so I guess you won't remember more of what happened here. "
" Leaving me and that brat had to talk many things. " the Lord says to Yukino.
" You both talked? "
" Yes, the White Demon seems knowledgeable for his young age. "
" Young age!? " Yukino asks in her surprise.
" Pft! He's younger than you! "
" I could tell despite him being taller than you already for his age, that damned brat! "
" You seem to know him well, my Lord. " Yukino says.
" Oh, about that... "
" Yes, I only 'know' him, but not to the point of 'understanding' him. "
" But you do. " the Lord says to Yukino.
" Me? " Yukino asks.
" Yes, I get a feeling that you were once acquainted with the Demon before, back before that. "
" Besides, about your relationship... "
" I began to wonder about how the hell he was called the 'White Demon' anyway? "
" Was it you who named him that? " the Lord asks Yukino as she scratches her hair.
" Yes, it was translated from 'Shiro Oni' in Japanese. "
"( But actually... )"
" I received the name from the local hunters in the Dungeon that the Demons called him that for some reason, hence why the name was created weeks after the Abyss Tower Event ended. "
" Wow, that's some origin there, *shivers* gruesome. "
" He must've killed them all, right? " the Lord asks as he guesses.
" How did you- "
" You guessed too accurately, Lord! " Yukino was surprised and the Lord says that he already knows how it probably goes.
" That kind of result is always done so many times. "
" Usually, that kind of person must've left one alive so the person could spread the name and tell the story. "
" After all if you killed all the people, then no one will know what you just did, hence how every story of a great massacre could be told till now. " the Lord explains.
" It has been done so many times. "
" The branch might've been spread and strayed so far to be seen, but the roots are still the same as all things should've been. "
" Yes, I believe so... " Yukino agrees.
"( What does the Lord mean, was it a proverb? )" Yukino wonders.
" Just like the White Demon himself... " the Lord continues.
" That guy had strayed so far from his roots. "
" The strayed branch he's going to make must be cut off, before it spreads to other trees and destroys them, breaking the beauty of the things. "
" Hah... " the Lord sighs.
" Sorry if my words couldn't be understood, it is something that I used to hear all the time. "
" It's alright. " Yukino says to the Lord.
" But my lord, about me being here... "
" What's your purpose for me? is there something you want to tell me? " Yukino asks.
" Oh that, that was... "
" Your mother is dead, your eldest sister too just like the other two. " the Lord tells Yukino.
" Your younger sister had already fled from the Yacht, sparing her from the massacre, I've sensed it while waiting for you in this realm. "
" What did you say!? " Yukino asks, surprised as she gasps.
" They're all dead!? "
" Aside from your sister Minako, yes. "
" The 'White Demon' killed them in his revenge. " the Lord tells Yukino which breaks her heart as she delved into tears.
" White Demon, again... " she grunts while crying, breaking down as she hears this.
Seeing it, the Lord approached her, using one of the wings to pat her head.
" I'm sorry, my dear. "
" I'm sorry if you ask me why I don't interfere.. "
" The fact is, I've been bounded to your soul since the beginning with no way to be free. " the Lord wipes her tears with the wings.
" I'm sorry if I can't save her, but based on what I've sensed through your mother's connection to you, she did some crime against the Demon that he couldn't forgive. " the Lord hugs Yukino.
" I'm sorry if I let this happen, but... " the two began to hug each other as Yukino still cries after hearing it.
" Why? What did she do to him? " Yukino asks.
" I believe your mother killed someone close to the Demon back then, I could sense him since I already marked him through my ability during his time here, hence I could secretly spy on him. "
" The Demon simply want to bring retribution, since he only targets your mother and your elder sisters for they are all responsible in his eyes. "
" After all, they betrayed the person who was close to him, that's what I could tell after spying on him for some time. "
" Again, I'm sorry..., I- "
" I see... " Yukino replies.
" So he's one of Mother's victims, huh? " Yukino says as he frees herself from hugging the Lord.
" I already realized something was off with her hence I escaped by having my education in Trinia back then and becoming a Hunter. "
" Despite we still share blood, we share no heart. "
" For she's a cold woman who only cares for the Clan and not for her daughters whom she received from many husbands. " Yukino says, telling the Lord that she already knew about her mother for being Poliandric (having many husbands).
" I'm sorry, I... " the Lord responds.
" I'm sorry if you had to be born into that kind of family. "
" But at least from that cold-like family, you were still blessed by your ancestral richness. "
" Be joyful, Fubuki Yukino. "
" Despite it all, you're still the heiress of the Fubuki Clan after her death. "
" Even though the White Demon might've killed her and made you suffer in your heart, at least his crimes bring another gift for you. "
" Use it well and make sure you did it better. " the Lord tells her.
" Yes, I will my Lord. "
" I will make use of it so I can fight the White Demon one day! " Yukino swears to herself as she talks more with the Lord within the realm.
...
( Meanwhile. )
" Atchoo! Now? " Ragna asks.
" Really what? " Twelve asks him they go to the place they want to go.
" You had flu? "
" No, not flu Twelve. "
" I feel someone just mentions my name, it just... "
" Well, that was probably the people from the globe mentioning you since you are famous now after the Niigata Sea thing. "
" Get used to it, for perhaps you will sneeze more. "
" Right. " Ragna responds.