Chapter Text
"Did we have to come here of all places?" Yōsei grumbled under her breath, voice hoarse from unuse and thickly accented with an accent that any would know as being from a country far east, specifically Kuni. Though, hers was diluted with a Vesuvian accent that came from years of living in the city.
As she sliced through vines with magic and her trusty sword alike, she neglected to see the animated vines reaching for the small party of creatures.
She only noticed when one of the vines reached out and wound itself around her wrist. It yanked her arm into the air, eliciting a yelp of shock from the girl.
She was quick to slice the vine in two, shaking the half that clung to her wrist off frantically. She cursed under her breath, looking around the clearing they had stopped in for a slight break wearily.
She could see more vines writhing amongst the branches and roots of the mangrove trees that surrounded them.
"Um... Scout? I think we should... go," she murmured loud enough for Scout to hear her.
Scout nodded her head and took off, the other three following close behind. They ran until they reached another clearing. This one was familiar to Yōsei. She recognized it as the clearing with the street lamp that Julian had spoken to the Hanged Man in. Though, one detail was off.
In the middle of the clearing stood at door with a sign. It wasn't there the last time.
As Yōsei looked over at Scout to gauge her reaction to the door, Malak cawed once and flew towards the door. Scout and Yōsei, who had Orochi wrapped loosely around her neck, rushed after him. When they got close to the door, they could see the name the sign was inscribed with, 'The Hanged Raven' was what it read.
"That's a very... Julian-esque name... Not to mention... oddly remenicent of the Rowdy Raven..." Yōsei grumbled under her breath.
Somewhere, deep in her mind, a spark of hope ignited. The very hope that she had snuffed out some time ago, the hope that they would find Julian without having to find the Devil's realm, reignited in an instant. And as she eased the door open, she allowed herself to hope, just this once.