Chapter Text
The place is freezing cold, the walls are frozen and there are no visible lights around.
The arcane level mage should have woken up by now but judging by the amount of mana Zenon has used can predict he will be in that state for a few more hours. If he hadn't been weak in helping the other members, surely it would have been a true battle between life and death.
The great William Vangeance, the next king, according to the tongues of the borders, now lay hanging on the wall by the tangled spell of bones as an ornament rather than a person. If the young Zogratis had emotions he would be smiling but a well cultivated character prevented him. The tree of life would soon bring perfection on earth so it had to be treated for the injuries it gained in the confrontation.
A curse? The mark this stranger wore was curious for the bearer of the devil, not that he was disgusted, he only wondered how a face that showed confidence could be stained. A young Captain who demonstrated the loyalty, the honor, the talent of the Capital. Adored by the populace, favorite of Julius Novachrono, talented by nature.
His power came from a cursed noble caste, it would only be fair if he was part of the plan to bring chaos. The door opened announcing the arrival of the healing mage.
—Your Highness Zenon, please release him so I can treat him.— the man asked.
The bones then slid down the wall, dropping William's bloody body to the floor.
It was not necessary to kill him but he would have no special treatment.
—I'm sure I didn't go too far with him, he'll live.— the youngest of the triad argued, placing hands behind his back.
—He is only badly injured but being only human it is difficult to regenerate, without a grimoire it will be impossible for him to heal himself.— The healing mage treated the holes that the bone magic had made in the Captain leaving him intact again.
There was no other word from Zenon as the healer left. Making the bones grip the body again he placed it on the dungeon wall again.
—You will be the prosperity of the kingdom, rejoice in the wonders of the forbidden magic.— the younger brother claimed, studying the knight's face
Zogratis allowed himself to raise his hand, thinking of taking the captured man's chin, but... those ideas were what disgusted Beelzebub.
He refused to do so, returning to admire this creature in the deep silence. The dungeons were under the castle, yet Zenon could hear the snowstorms impacting the walls.
Would it take time to wake up? He could have a sword through his heart and keep walking without any exaltation but a human would take a complex melee attack to knock it out.
The other guy... yes, the Yami guy. Both fundamental to the tree, both linked by a thin thread of fate. It seemed an unfunny anecdote that both were Captains of orders. An ordinary man like Sukehiro was Vangeance's equal in power but the two differed in so many things.
Dante was impulsive as Vanica was, his unconscious older brother and exhausted second sister leaving him in the greatest position possible. The three of them used a lot of their power to fight against the arcane level magic knights.
The younger of the family sighed as he left the dungeon as he opened the portal directly to the meeting room.
The soldiers waited for his presence, marveling at the strength and intelligence the last in line of command could have.
—Mr. Zenon...— The soldier who was in front of everyone hesitated to speak.
—Let the troops secure the borders, we don't want any more unwanted visitors. Let the soldiers guard the conquered lands, these are the only orders I can give now that my siblings are unconscious.— he ordered quickly, causing several members to split up in the castle
—We won't attack the other kingdoms?— asked the superior of the mercenaries
—No, the ritual must be celebrated, I will not take unnecessary risks.—
Dante would have done so if he was still in command, how ridiculous to think he had lost with the power of the king of demons himself.
Those present revered before leaving him alone, gazing at the large glass window overlooked the exterior.
"You think in the knight of the Golden Dawn." Beelzebub accused causing him to squeeze his fingers until they turned purple.
—We need that mage.— the man hesitated, denying ideas with his guest
"Any particular reason? Want to kill him?" the devil doubted
—It's a piece for the greatness of the strong, I shouldn't repeat it every minute.— the human murmured, hearing how the candles were going out.
"Still... your human features come out." Contradicted the evil spirit
—You are the only owner of my heart and body, I don't see the point in this pathetic discussion.—
"I take it into consideration but you mortals crave things we don't."
Maybe there was a part of William that could be considered perfect and it was his look. His eyes were, in theory, radiant. Two drops of perfect harmony just like two drops of poison for the bone user's peace of mind.
—He is foolish, he could have won if he had left the rest of knights aside but he continued to protect them to fall directly under my spell.— There was no point in continuing to think about a battle won.
The youngest of the family refused to continue with the absurd question, admiring the snow falling to the land of the pike. He would have to ascertain the status of his siblings.
>•<•>•<•>•<•>•<
Dante was still unconscious after the battle with the Black Bulls. Foolish to the bone, he destroyed an entire part of the clover kingdom to fall, after such a speech for Zenon was something incredible as well as ridiculous.
Vanica, on the other hand, had left her room to prepare what would be Lolopechika's jail. The image of the queen of the heart on what looked like an altar gave the place a gloomy touch.
—Does it seem right to you to have kidnapped the queen of the heart? Worse still, leaving her alive.— the brother denied
—You don't understand, Zenon, you're boring as a piece of ice, the only thing that matters is that Lolopechika is with me, do you know how hard it was for me to convince Megicula not to kill her?— Vanica spoke, lighting black candles around the girl
—Dante surely won't blame you because he would do the same, but you have to be aware that I'm against it.— The mage of bones clarified his position
—Yes, yes, your moral codes don't affect me at all, Lolopechika, silly Zenon doesn't understand us, it's as if we were made for each other.— she mentioned tenderly, as one would speak to a child
—How long you intend to keep her unconscious? Someday the queen will wake up.—
—And that day it will be a joy to be able to manipulate her, you don't know how hard it was for me to find flowers.— The flowers that were in the basket were not from the kingdom, Vanica admired this woman more than she swore to hate her but the reasons were the same, she considered her a strong person
—You are behaving just like a girl.— Zenon whispered
—You are so strong, so beautiful, I'm sorry the curse makes you suffer pain but everything will be different when the world is a better place.— Approaching the queen's body, the second of the triad arranged her hair, even daring to lean down to brush his face
Zenon used both magic trying to reach his sister who avoided him with the blood technique.
—What's the matter? Learn your place, how still don't understand you are the little brother?— Vanica yelled pointing at him
—I remind of your position, we do not kidnap people for something vain as physical attraction.—
—Tsk, why don't you go play with the Captain you caught instead of bothering me? It wouldn't hurt to meet new people.— she huffed, placing the flowers around the sovereign
—I never play with people, they will die in a few days.— And raising the grimoire he opened a portal out of the strange place
The room he was given was almost always empty, when was the last time he used it? The ashes in the fireplace froze at the same time that the misted windows did not allow us to see the outside but it would not be necessary. The eternal cold was heard in constant gusts hitting the castle.
Play with people? No, if the two of them took up the task of bringing demons to earth as a hobby, it wasn't his problem.
What a waste of talent... all that magic flowing through a captain with the natural gift of mana. Would it be too daring to check on the condition late at night?
Opening the portal to Vangeance's cell the image was still the same, a surrendered man hanging by bones.
—Are you sad?— Zenon whispered, approaching —Sometimes the spirit is so fallen that the only thing you want to do is die, I know what I'm talking about, but in the end we all must die. Tomorrow you will wake up and feel your body broken in half.—
Perhaps the tears escaped from the closed eyes of the sacrifice spoke for him, even unconscious the pain was real although Zogratis doubted it was about the body.
Of course... his magical knights. Was there room in his mind for all the other people?
—You cry in vain, do what you please.— The soldier minimized taking a crystalline drop on his finger before opening the portal to leave.
That drop was nothing more than a reminder of a forgotten humanity.