Vin sat still in the tub. The surrounding wasn't one to admire. He sat uncomfortable amidst skulls and skeletons of various beings scattered around on the ground covered with stale blood.
"Bloodlust?"
"Yes!" Vittaya answered. "You asked me to put your bloodlust under control. However, I couldn't find the possible medium, due to the type of being you are, Lord Dravil."
Vin tried sitting up, but every ounce of strength he had, lingered away.
"Why can't I move?"
"It is part of the ritual. You shouldn't move. Not even an inch, or else it would pose useless" Vittaya floated closer, his body, a bit away from Vin's. "Why do you always hide your mark?"
[If only I knew what he was talking about? What is going on? Does Dravil have a mark?. Not that I've paid attention to this body.]
Vittaya touched Vin's shoulder, a sharp pain followed suit in his limb. Making him quickly retreat.
"Why are you hiding your mark?!" Vittaya screamed at him.
Vin was surprised. For the first time, he saw Vittaya break character.
"I didn't hide it. I only covered it up"
"Why?"
"......."
Vin stayed quiet for sometime, he had to say one thing or another to hide his true personality. In all that, Vin knew not why Dravil hid the mark.
"You are going to be on the throne soon and you are hiding your mark? It symbolizes your strength!"
Vin stared in disbelief.
[Wait a second! Sit on the throne? Am I going to rule hell?.]
"My Lord," Vittaya placed both hands on his chest, "Forgive me!"
Before Vin could decide why Vittaya said this. A different sharp pain, he could feel burning on his shoulder.
Memories flashed into his head. Dravil's memory, mixed with his.
The rustling of chains…
The burning lava
Screams filling the air…
The screeching sound of a car…
A woman screaming…
The siren of an ambulance…
Death…
The pain grew stronger. Yet again, the memory flashed rapidly before his eyes and a symbol appeared on his forehead.
The symbol spreaded into a single form on his shoulder, forming a snake head which went all the way down from his shoulder to his left leg.
Although the pain unleashed was truly unbearable, it had a smoothing feeling.
Every pain, came a feeling he could not contain.
The pain continued and he screamed out so loud, he thought his vocal cords would break at any point.
"Stop fighting the pain My lord!" Vittaya said, increasing the volume of the spell.
'I have to say this is impossible. I've done spells for more than a century, and now I can't help this. I will confess, Dravil is strong!' Vittaya frowned. Everytime he tried releasing an excessive amount of energy, the spell would get repelled. All because of Dravil.
"Why do you want me to show the mark?" Vin asked, blood spilling from his mouth.
"It's part of the ritual and trust me, you don't want to–"
"You are multiplying my bloodlust by two!"
Vittaya stopped, seeing the visible anger in Vin's eyes.
'He knows!'
"I never told you to decrease my bloodlust!"
[Dravil will never, when he enjoys seeing the suffering of others and when he feels they are mere entertainment with no use in living. Weaklings before his eyes.]
"My Lord!--"
"You lied!" For the first time ever, Vin managed to gather up seventy percent of Dravil's power into one fist. He could not control what he wield, the world around him was nothing but pure red. "I'll end this myself!"
Suddenly, Yika appeared in front of his sight.
"Vin, No! This is part of their plan! To confuse you. Their real aim is to see how you respond!"
"What?" Vin said, his words only audible to Yika.
"Reveal your mark now, I'll explain everything to you after the ceremony ends!"
"What am I going to do? I cannot allow such–"
"Use that energy to break the seal Dravil placed in enclosing his Mark! Break it, and turn the tables instead. Confuse them with your action, show your mark and multiply the bloodlust by two!" Yika told him. "If you don't, there will be a problem."
[Reveal the mark, multiply the bloodlust by two or else there would be trouble.]
"Okay!"
'BLAST'
He struck his chest with this energy, Completing the ritual all by himself.
[Worse day Ever! I hate this!.]
Vittaya gasped in shock when the tub broke, with writing all over the room, red symbols in the air, runes floating around.
"He…. H-he… is completing the ritual…. All by himself!"
"Time to end this!" Vin stretched out his hands, and with a flick of the wrist, all was back to normal.
He stood up, dripping wet from blood.
"Vittaya!"
"Y-yes My Lord?"
"Don't ever perform anything without my knowledge. And find me a real bath!"
Vittaya stood, motionless. He was now sure who stood before him was a full blooded Demon Lord, with unimaginable powers and abilities.
"Yes, Lord Dravil" Putting himself together, he called, "Lin, Kyle!"
Two women, more like succubus appeared in front, both having breath taking appearance.
"He needs your help!"
They both nodded, showing fear as they led him away into a warm bath.
"One more thing Vittaya!" Vin said before he left. "Do not underestimate my power just because of my attitude. And if this ever happens again, I'll behead you."
"Yes Lord Dravil," Vittaya smiled.
'This is the Dravil I know. This is the fear I want to feel. He wasn't slacking off after all. Everything I said contradicts him. He truly hasn't changed a bit'
_____
Soaked in pure clean water, Vin relaxed alone in this new beautiful surrounding. Earlier, he asked Lin and Kyle to leave him alone. Being reluctant at first, they were quick to not anger a monster again.
"I am sure to purify myself over and over again before resuming school. The kind of darkness that smells isn't one to ignore."
Looking around, he was truly marveled at the sight. Everything about the room, spoke fluent wonder.
"I never knew a place like this would be in hell."
"I reserved this place for you my lord" A feminine voice said.
Vin lazily looked up. Seeing the face, he groaned within.
[I thought I would never see her again.]
"My Lord, forgive me for disturbing your bath."
It was Nina. She looked stunningly beautiful and dressed more revealingly, making Vin take a deep breath.
"What do you want?"
"To give you some fruits. You always like the taste of Fraberry and wine."
(Fraberry, a delicate grape-like fruit growing only in the garden of ends— A garden in Aragon's Mansion.
With a sweet yet Rancid taste, it has a delightful texture in the mouth, only edible to Demons, a pure poison to mortals.)
Nina knelt down before Dravil, she bowed, showing the tray of Fraberries to him. A wine by the side.
Vin took one, he looked at it closely. Realizing it had nothing suspicious, he took a bite only to be taken back in surprise by such delightful taste.
"Whoa!" He said, making Nina smile. "Such taste."
Seeing how happy he looked, she smiled again, noticing this was the second time they were alone without him despising her presence
Meanwhile….
Sebastian hummed while walking down the hall, he was heading out for the afternoon class.
Reaching the field, he saw Snow, Akio and another unfamiliar man.
"Who's that?" He asked Eden.
"Mr Rukamon. He is the one also handling Rank A mages. A tough one to start with." Eden replied.
"Him and Mr Snow?"
"Yes!."
'Such Aura. He's powerful and I can feel it just from here. Such great power, I wonder how he will die' Sebastian stared at him with a wide smile.
Rukamon on the other hand looked around, his eyes glancing at each and every object and people.
"This feeling. Darkness is in our midst, there is a Demon here. Someone among the students isn't human, but who is it?." He muttered.
"Okay!" Akio spoke up. "Today, Rank D will be gathering an amount of 300pts, through one on one combat with Rank A. The reason for this test is to focus your energy on winning and not feeling Underestimated. Every student has been assigned a partner and remember, this is just part of gathering points, so don't do anything shady!.
"Begin!"