"WELCOME HOME SIR" Greets the head butler.
"Thank you Charles, it's good to be back." Ajax replies having calmed down a bit after his departure from the Judas Residence. "I trust that nothing urgent came up while I was out."
"No sir. If there had been, I would have sent for you post-haste."
"Very well. I'll be in my office for the remainder of the night.
"Very good sir." Charles gives a slight bow. He remains that way until Ajax has left the room.
Ajax enters his office, places the box on a small table next to the door, and sets about lighting a few wall lamps. Once done he retrieves the box and takes a seat behind his cherry oak desk. Lifting the lid on the box he plucks out one of the Memory Pearls, channels some mana into it. His mind is flooded with the memories within.
****
On a small grassy hill about three meters away from the main gate leading into the school.
"Heed my call and come forth Thunder Wolves." One by one a pack of six grey wolves appear. The biggest of the six, or better known as the alpha of the pack walks over to ask in a low growl.
"𝑊ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑑𝑜 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑤𝑎𝑛𝑡, 𝐷𝑎𝑚𝑖𝑎𝑚?"
"𝐷𝑟𝑜𝑤𝑠 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑎𝑡𝑡𝑎𝑐𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑠 𝑠𝑐ℎ𝑜𝑜𝑙."
"𝐷𝑜𝑛'𝑡 𝑐𝑎𝑟𝑒."
"𝐸𝑛𝑖𝑠 𝑠𝑤𝑒𝑒𝑡𝑦, 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑦'𝑟𝑒 𝑎𝑝𝑎𝑟𝑡 𝑜𝑓 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝐶ℎ𝑎𝑜𝑡𝑖𝑐 𝐸𝑣𝑖𝑙 𝐴𝑙𝑖𝑔𝑛𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡. 𝑇ℎ𝑒𝑦'𝑣𝑒 𝑏𝑒𝑒𝑛 𝑡𝑜𝑟𝑡𝑢𝑟𝑖𝑛𝑔, 𝑟𝑎𝑝𝑒𝑖𝑛𝑔, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑘𝑖𝑙𝑙𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑙𝑖𝑡𝑡𝑙𝑒 𝑘𝑖𝑑𝑠 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑙𝑎𝑠𝑡 𝑠𝑖𝑥 𝑦𝑒𝑎𝑟𝑠, 𝑜𝑟 𝑠𝑜. 𝐴𝑛𝑑 𝐼 𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑤 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑙𝑜𝑎𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑘𝑖𝑛𝑑 𝑜𝑓 𝑠ℎ𝑖𝑡 𝑗𝑢𝑠𝑡 𝑙𝑖𝑘𝑒 𝐼 𝑑𝑜."
"𝐺𝑟𝑟𝑟. 𝐹𝑖𝑛𝑒, 𝑤𝑒'𝑙𝑙 ℎ𝑒𝑙𝑝. 𝑊ℎ𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑎𝑟𝑒 𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑦 𝑎𝑡 𝐷𝑎𝑚𝑖𝑎𝑛?"
"𝐷𝑜𝑛'𝑡 𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑤. 𝑌𝑜𝑢'𝑙𝑙 𝑗𝑢𝑠𝑡 ℎ𝑎𝑣𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑡𝑟𝑎𝑐𝑘 𝑑𝑜𝑤𝑛 𝑎𝑛𝑦𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑛𝑜𝑛-ℎ𝑢𝑚𝑎𝑛. 𝐼 𝑘𝑛𝑜𝑤 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑏𝑜𝑦𝑠 𝑒𝑛𝑗𝑜𝑦 𝑎 𝑔𝑜𝑜𝑑 ℎ𝑢𝑛𝑡."
"𝐴𝑛𝑦𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑒𝑙𝑠𝑒."
"𝑁𝑜 𝑜𝑛𝑒 𝑔𝑒𝑡𝑠 𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑎𝑙𝑖𝑣𝑒. 𝐾𝑖𝑙𝑙. 𝐴𝑙𝑙. 𝑇ℎ𝑒. 𝐷𝑟𝑜𝑤𝑠."
Enis lets out another low growl. "𝐷𝑒𝑎𝑙."
Ahh-woooooo!!! With a howl from Enis the pack takes off.
(Character Bio.)
Name: Damian The One Who Converses. Age: 31, Species: Human, Gender: ?
Job: Paladin of the Holy Order, Class: Summoner, Subclass: ?, Rank: S
Description: H 182 cm, W 91 kg, A Kathoey With A Lithe Figure.
Appearance: Long Ringlet Purple Hair, Purple Eyes. Light Brown Skin.
Gear: Red Suede Vest With Four Decorative Buckled Straps In The Front, Black Canvas Pants, Brown Jackboots.
Weapon: A Teal Stone Summoning Necklace.
****
𝑊𝑎𝑠 𝑡ℎ𝑎𝑡 𝑎 𝑤𝑜𝑙𝑓? Wonders one of the Cardinals as he patrols around the outside perimeter of the female barracks.
"Excuse me sir. Where are you taking the children?" Asked a female instructor.
"By order of his Holiness. We are to escort all the children here back home."
"But why? The school year has only just begun."
"Sorry ma'am I do not know. I was only told to escort these children home and that's what we'll do. Now if you don't mind I need you to leave."
The man turns his back and starts walking away. The female instructor pulls out an s-shaped dagger; a purple gleam on the blade. She takes two quick silent steps towards the man dagger raised ready to strike.
𝑃𝑖𝑛𝑔.
"What the?!" The sudden noise startles both of them. The man turns in time to see the woman lunging at him.
"Shit!!" He goes to draw his sword but stops when he sees her head violently snap sideways and her body crumbles to the ground. It takes a bit for him to notice the blood pooling around her head. Then someone tap𝑠 his shoulder.
"𝐴𝑟𝑒 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑜𝑘?" Signed Otama.
"Y-yes I'm ok"
"𝑊ℎ𝑦 𝑑𝑜 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑡ℎ𝑖𝑛𝑘 𝐼 𝑠ℎ𝑜𝑡 𝑡ℎ𝑒 𝑑𝑎𝑔𝑔𝑒𝑟 𝑓𝑖𝑟𝑠𝑡, 𝑎𝑛𝑑 𝑛𝑜𝑡 ℎ𝑒𝑟?"
"To allow me to gain experience in battle."
"𝑆𝑜 𝑤ℎ𝑦 𝑑𝑖𝑑 𝑦𝑜𝑢 𝑔𝑟𝑎𝑏 𝑓𝑜𝑟 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑠𝑤𝑜𝑟𝑑 𝑖𝑛𝑠𝑡𝑒𝑑 𝑜𝑓 𝑦𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑜𝑤𝑛 𝑑𝑎𝑔𝑔𝑒𝑟?"
"I don't know."
"𝑌𝑜𝑢𝑟 𝑔𝑜𝑖𝑛𝑔 𝑡ℎ𝑟𝑜𝑢𝑔ℎ 𝑇ℎ𝑒 𝑇𝑜𝑤𝑒𝑟 𝑎𝑠 𝑝𝑢𝑛𝑖𝑠ℎ𝑚𝑒𝑛𝑡."
"That's fair."
"𝐺𝑜𝑜𝑑. 𝑁𝑜𝑤 𝑙𝑒𝑡 𝑢𝑠 𝑏𝑒 𝑜𝑓𝑓."
****
"Damn it. How are they so strong?" Grumbles a male cardinal.
"Is this the best you insects can do?" Taunts Female Drow.
"Fire Magic: Fireball."
"Ha, ha, ha. You call that a spell. Try this Dark Magic: Shadow Binding."
The man's own shadow rises up and wraps itself around his body.
"Now, Shadow Manipulation: Iron Maiden."
"No stop." The man cries out in vain as his shadow transforms into the iron maiden piercing his entire body.
𝐶𝑙𝑎𝑝, 𝑐𝑙𝑎𝑝, 𝑐𝑙𝑎𝑝.
The slow clapping comes from behind the female drow, gets her attention as she whips around, and finds no one.
𝐶𝑙𝑎𝑝, 𝑐𝑙𝑎𝑝, 𝑐𝑙𝑎𝑝.
Again it comes from behind her.
"Coward, stop hiding and face me."
The drow is met with silence. Standing as still as she can she strains her ears trying to locate whomever is taunting her.
"Hrk." The drow looks down at the four blades sticking out of her stomach. "...Well fuck."
"You're not the only one who likes playing with other people's shadows" Whispers Calypso into the drows ear. She grabs the drow by her hair pulling her head back while twisting the blades. The drow begins gurgling and choking on her own blood before dying.
"Over there hurry. Someone killed one of ours." Shouts another drow.
"Like flies to shit." Calypso remarks hopping into the shadow of the dead drow.
(Character Bio)
Name: Calypso The Unseen, Age: ?, Species: Human, Gender: Female. Job: Paladin of the Holy Order, Class: Assassin, Subclass: ?, Rank: S Description: Height: 161 cm, Weight: 48.53 kg, A Slim And Well Toned Body. Appearance: Light Brown Hair With A Basic Pixie Cut, Amber Colored Eyes, Pale White Skin. Gear: Black Long-Sleeve Shirt, Black Canvas Pants, Black Leather Hood, Black Leather Pauldrons, Black Leather Half Cape, Black Leather Torso Armor, Black Leather Bracers, Black Leather Belt With Skirt, Black Leather Greaves, Black Pouch, and Black Leather Boots. Weapon: Modified Tekko-Kagi.
****
"Alright children this way please. Stay next to your buddy." Instructs one of the female cardinals.
"Can I hold my buddy's hand?" Asked one of the little girls.
"I want to too."
"I want to."
"Me too." A course of 'Me too.' starts making its way down the line.
"Alright, that's fine go ahead girls. Boys you can as well."
"Want to hold my hand?" Asked a cute little blonde girl.
"No." Replies the boy.
"Why not? Is it because I'm a girl?"
"No."
"Is it because I'm a commoner?"
"No." The boy bluntly replied.
"Well why not?" Whines the girls as tears well up in her eyes.
"I don't hold hands with strangers."
"That's so mean." Protests the girl as she stops walking and begins to cry. "I'm…not '𝑠𝑛𝑖𝑓𝑓' a…stranger"
"What's going on you two?" Asked a male cardinal.
"He called… ℎ𝑖𝑐... me a… ℎ𝑖𝑐... stranger." The girl explained the best she could through tears, snot, and hiccups.
"You are a stranger. And I can prove it."
"Alright, I'll play along if it gets you guys walking again." Replies the cardinal.
The boy looks at the girl straight in her teary eyes and asks. "What's my name?"
"..." The girl stands there dumbfounded by this question.
"Well? I'm waiting."
"What's my name?" The girl fires back.
"I don't know you. So why would I know your name?"
"Little girl, can you please say his name so we can get going." The male cardinal asked.
At this point everyone has stopped walking and are now watching the two.
"I don't wanna."
"Come on please."
"No, no, no." Replies the girl stomping her feet.
"I'm done playing games with you. It's time to end this." Said the boy. "I know the names of everyone in my class, but not you. I've never seen you until a few minutes ago."
"I just got here today."
"Tell me your name then."
"It's Annabelle."
"Annabelle, what?"
"Annabelle Angelos." The girl replies with a smug triumphant look on her face.
"You said your name is Annabelle Angelos. Is that right?"
"It sure is." The girl replied, hands on her hips, her small chest puffed out.
"That's odd. I wonder why my own sister wouldn't recognize her big brother." Remarks Ajax.
The girl doesn't reply. She just stands there, a blank look on her face.
"I'm gonna count to three, and if you don't tell us who you are. I'm gonna smash your face in." Ajax threatens as he squats down to pick up a rock next to his foot.
"Hold on now kid. Where did you learn that kind of language?" Asked the male cardinal.
"Niklaus Angelos, my father. That's one… that's two…" Before Ajax says three, something grey blurs past him.
A child's shrill shriek fills the air, followed by the sounds of snarling beasts coming from behind. Ajax turns around to find the girl has been pinned down by Enis. No one tries to save her as the rest of the pack begins ripping her apart. It ends when Enis bites through the girl's tiny delicate neck, and with a loud crunch followed by a violent jerk of his head, the girl's head is removed. Enis now stands there with it dangling from his mouth by a few neck tendons.
"Fuck me." The remark slipped through the man's lips before he knew it. The illusion spell the drow had cast on herself to look like a child had broken, revealing her true form. Then he snaps out of it remembering the children had been watching. But yet no one has made a peep. He turns to find them all standing there, a blank look on their faces.
"No need to worry. I placed an illusion spell on them. They'll be just fine. Go stand by them if you would please." The man does as he's instructed.
"Uncle Michael, where's my father?"
"Fighting."
"What about Annabelle?"
"She's…"
"Michael, stop! Don't you say another word." Warns Sophia. As she and Damian make their way over to them.
"She's dead then." Ajax states matter-of-factly.
(Character Bio)
Name: Michael The Sage, Age: 58 Species: Human, Gender: Male. Job: Paladin Of The Holy Order, Class: Mage, Subclass: Arcane Magic, Rank:S.
Description: Height: 176 cm, Weight: 52 kg, Slim Build.
Appearance: Long White Hair And Beard, Golden Eyes, White Skin Tone.
Gear: A Orange Cowl, Dark Green Mage's Robe, Red Double Lined Ring Belt, Black Boots. Weapon: Michael's Custom Tome Of Spells.
Name: Cardinals, Job: Military Force.
Gear: Canvas Robe, Chainmail, Steel Helmet, Cuirass, Goret, Spaulders, Gauntlets, Tassets, Gloves, Boots, Buckle Belt.
Weapon: Depends on the class.
****
"Hey Eddie, how are you?"
"I'm doing just fine Francis. How are the little ones?"
"Visiting my parents for the next few days."
"Frank, still out of town?"
"No, he came back at the crack of dawn. So while he's asleep I figured I'd get my shopping done."
"You want the usual then?"
"Yes. Oh what is that awful smell?"
"Smells like smoke. Can you see where it's coming from Francis?"
"Oh my, that's the nobles district."
"Water Magic: Isolated Showers!!" Cast a random bystander.
"Ice Magic: Hailstorm!!" Damit, why won't this fire go out?" Shouts another.
"Does anyone know if the family made it out?" A woman asked.
"No, I think they're still inside."
A crowd has gathered in front of the burning house.
"Somethings not right." Surmises a male mage.
"What do you mean?" A different mage asks.
"Look closely at the trees; the grass, even the surrounding houses. Not one of them is scorched by the flames. It's as if the flames have a mind of their own."
"I'm not giving up, until I've exhausted my mana."
"Same here."
"I'm with you guys. Let's try a combined water spell."
"Alright, I'll count it down. Three-two-one."
"Water Magic: Tsunami!!"
Try as they might the fire rages on. Everyone inside, burns alive. But why could no one escape? It's because the fire was created by the God of Death: Ah Puch.
This house belongs to the Angelos's family. And as payment for summoning him, he took the lives of everyone Cariot loved or cared about. His parents; his yet to be born sibling, the party members his father worked with, Mary who he considers an aunt, everyone single one of them burned alive, all because he wanted to protect the people he loves and cares about.
****
𝑇𝑎𝑙𝑘 𝑎𝑏𝑜𝑢𝑡 𝑖𝑟𝑜𝑛𝑦. 𝐼 𝑤𝑎𝑠 𝑎𝑏𝑙𝑒 𝑡𝑜 𝑙𝑖𝑣𝑒 𝑎𝑙𝑙 𝑏𝑒𝑐𝑎𝑢𝑠𝑒 𝐶𝑎𝑟𝑖𝑜𝑡 𝑛𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟 𝑙𝑖𝑘𝑒𝑑 𝑚𝑒 𝑤ℎ𝑒𝑛 𝑤𝑒 𝑤𝑒𝑟𝑒 𝑘𝑖𝑑𝑠. 𝑊𝑒𝑙𝑙 𝑡𝑜 𝑏𝑒 𝑓𝑎𝑟 𝐼 𝑛𝑒𝑣𝑒𝑟 𝑙𝑖𝑘𝑒𝑑 ℎ𝑖𝑚 𝑒𝑖𝑡ℎ𝑒𝑟.
Ajax smirks at this thought as he places the last of the Memory Pearls back in the box. No sooner does he close the lid on the box when three knocks on his office door echo out.
"Enter." Ajax calls out.
"Sir, you have a visitor." Charles informs him.
"Send them away. I'm not receiving anybody today."
"Sir, I must..." Charles is interrupted mid sentence.
"Oh, and here I came all this way to speak with you."
Standing in the doorway is His Holiness The Pope.
"Have you eaten yet your Holiness?" Ajax asked as he rose from his chair.
"I have not."
"Charles, please inform the chef that his Holiness will be joining me for breakfast."
"Of course sir, I shall inform him straight away." Charles gives a slight bow and departs. Closing the door behind him.
"Come sit. I know you didn't travel here just to have breakfast with me."
"What's wrong with a father wanting to visit one of his sons."
"Surrogate father. Nothing more nothing less." Ajax bluntly points out, sitting back down. The Pope takes a seat across from him.
"You've never been one to mince words, even now. Tell me how would you feel when this old man passes on?"
"Spare me the old man routine. As long as you have the three Devine Relicts enchanted to give the user longevity, spares them from every ailment, and every element attack. You'll outlive us all."
"Maybe, but I can still be harmed by physical attacks. I've only made it to the ripe old age of one hundred and sixteen because I go to great lengths to make it difficult to be assassinated."
The two sit in silence staring at each other.
"Hee-hee, Ha-ha-ha." The Pope starts laughing. "Thank you, I needed that. It's actually refreshing not to constantly stand on ceremony. Even when I tell people there's no need for it. I can tell they still do it, but not you. You tell it like it is regardless of someone's position in office. You speak to me on equal standing. The only other person who treated me that way was your mother Mary. Rest your soul."
"Why are you here?"
"Cariot contacted me last night shortly after you left."
"Of course he did. Well what did he say?"
"First I owe you an apology. It was my decision to keep the truth from you about your sister. And for that I am sorry. You both suffered great losses that day. I felt it best for you not to know what happened." The Pope bows his head to Ajax
"But why now?"
"Cariot did give you the Memory Pearl that explains everything did he not?"
"He did, but now I want to know why you waited this long to tell me."
"Very well I will tell you. But let's save it until after breakfast."
"Fine by me."
****
Later that evening Ajax makes his way downstairs to the wine cellar. He walks past rows and rows of dust covered bottles; he stops in front of the far back brick wall, and raps on it three times with his knuckles.
The wall slides back a bit revealing more stairs leading down. At the bottom he opens the big metal door with ease. Ajax walks into the chamber with six other doors. Standing in the center is a suit of white armor.
"Welcome back sir." The suit of white armor greets him.
"How is she?"
"She refuses to eat, sir."
"Is she awake?" Asked Ajax.
"Yes, sir."
"Alright I'll talk to her first, then we'll get to work."
"As you wish, my Black King."
Ajax enters the third door from his left. With the exception of a bed, table, chair, and a floating ball of light there's not much here.
"I'm sorry I was gone for so long. Do forgive me." Ajax apologizes, but gets no response in return.
"Giving me the silent treatment I see." Ajax pulls up the chair along the bed, and takes a seat.
"I saw Cariot yesterday."
Still no answer.
"It's fine if you won't speak to me, but I must insist you eat. You need to get stronger."
Silence.
"Starting tomorrow I'll be away again and I don't know for how long. So be a good girl and listen to White Knight.
Again no answer.
"I must go now. Try and eat once I leave here would you?"
Ajax returns the chair to its proper place; heads for the door, opens it, walks through, and just before he closes it he says.
"Goodnight my White Queen."
Ajax then closes the door softly behind him.