Chapter Text
The last ray of light disappeared from the small cell window, night rolling in. The lone prisoner glanced down at his blade that was chained in its stand in the middle of his cell. The legendary Nyaxcalibur, and he was its spirit. The blade that could defeat all evil was nothing near its strength now it was in the hands of such wicked beings. And with it sealed away, its spirit was trapped too. He sighed, flicking his hair over his shoulder. All he had to do was wait for destined heroes to arrive but they were taking an awfully long time. His pondering was interrupted by the sound of someone descending into the dungeon. He sat with his back against the bars, preparing to give them no notice like usual.
“You’re sulking again.”
Nyaxcalbur felt his eyebrow twitch in annoyance. “I don’t know why you just won’t give your blessing to me.”
“Nyaxcalibur is a sword used for peace. I would never give its power to you. Seihai no Yami.” He stood, turning to glare him down. He was a being of pure evil created by the darkness of humans hearts. They were complete opposites in every way.
“So you’ll rot down here forever, your choice.” Seihai shook his head with a smirk.
“Or you repent, perhaps then I would aid you.”
There was a pause before he burst out laughing, the snakes on his head hissing wildly as if they were laughing alongside him.
“Pah! Never! I was made for this.” He clasped a hand to his chest. “To spread hatred and disaster across the land and make it my own.”
“What you came from does not define you! You can choose your own path!” Nyaxcalibur spoke up harshly. Though they were opposites, as a being of good, he couldn’t help but see hope in the man before him.
“Don’t act like you know better.” Seihai scoffed, “I’m done with you.” He mumbled as he stomped away. The sword was an issue, if it fell into the hands of the heroes he was fighting against, it would surely lead to his downfall. He would fell them before they even reached his palace. The blade was strong but not indestructable. He could very well shatter it there and then and aleviate any worry but the spirit it held struck a nerve within him. He couldn’t make him disappear. Was it that strong expression and rich gaze perhaps? The steadfast tone that made his hollow chest pound. He growled, clutching at where a heart would be at his chest. Idiotic thoughts. If anything, he wanted to crush him under his foot, make him be unable to give a retort.
“My Lord.” A harsh voice called out, breaking him free from such muddled thoughts. Anto Gin bowed before him. “The heroes have made it to the coliseum at Oe City.”
“I see. The chalice has been planted with the king?”
“Yes, as you asked for.”
Seihai nodded, glancing towards one of the windows of his palace. It was surrounded in a perpetual storm to repel any intruders. Although he felt well defended, the heroes had always managed to fell any Yokai he’d sent their way.
“You possessed that cat, yes?”
“Indeed, the knight, and our eyes are on the magician girl too.”
“Good. We can use them if needed. I hope that Dondoro will fell them this time.”
“My Lord, what of the sword you have sealed?”
Seihai’s ears pricked up and he turned away in a vain attempt to hide his expression.
“What of him?” He grumbled.
“You could still use its power. My sisters and I’s possession magic is free to use any time. We could easily make him a willing slave with our powers combined!”
“No.” Seihai snapped. “You surely could not… do not speak of this again.” He stormed off leaving his servant a little surprised.
He could not force him to do anything. Why? He didn’t particularly know. Perhaps it was that unsteady feeling that haunted him, a small glimmer of intrigue that made him not want to bring harm to that being. He knew the witch sisters were strong, of course they were, they too were made from the darkness of peoples hearts. They could easily control at least the soul of Nyaxcalibur. Perhaps he could do so too with force. He cradled his forehead with a scowl. Yes things could be so easy but he was the only one standing in his way. He’d think it through a little more, he didn’t need to control such a trump card just yet.
“Hmph, where are you?” Seihai snapped, banging a fist on the cell bars. Nyaxcalibur’s blade glowed as its soul reappeared. Although he didn’t need to sleep, staying in his blade made time pass a little faster.
“You don’t often visit me so much.” Nyaxcalibur let out a cheeky smile, perhaps to try and enrage his captor. Seihai merely huffed, crossing his arms.
“Come with me.”
Nyaxcalibur raised an eyebrow,
“For what purpose?”
He was merely met with another huff. Of course, he’d clocked straight away this would be some kind of ploy to persuade him to the side of evil. But getting to stretch his legs could be a welcome change. “Fine. I’ll entertain you for a little bit.”
“Entertain me… “ Seihai scoffed, “Don’t act like you have any agency here.” He held a hand up to the cell door, the dark magic smothering the handle disappearing. He didn’t want to do a single thing for his enemy but he found himself opening the door for him. It was annoying to have him so close now. An infuriating aspect was the fact that Nyaxcalibur was half a head taller than him. He desperately wanted to glare down at him. Perhaps if he channelled more of the grail’s energy, he could grow a few inches. With a disinterested huff, he gestured for Nyaxcalibur to follow.
“I think I shall enjoy seeing more of the palace. A dungeon is no good. But then again, I don’t imagine your sense of style will be interesting.”
“S-shut it you!” Seihai turned abruptly, claws shooting to right beside his face. They hadn’t even made it upstairs yet and he already wanted a fight. “I could destroy your blade any moment you know?”
“But you haven’t.”
“You’re much more useful alive.” He sneered but desperately hoped he wouldn’t press any further.
“It gives me hope.”
Seihai’s eye twitched, he was fully expecting something now that would spark his anger further. “You do not wish to destroy without thought. I have hope there is light in you too.”
“Of course there isn’t!” Seihai snapped, flexing his claws in hopes to intimidate him. “Darkness is darkness, I don’t care about you one bit!”
“I see.” Nyaxclalibur smiled. Just that simple expression made him want to explode again but he managed to keep it contained. Seihai simply continued on though with more force in his steps. He wouldn’t let him make a fool of him. He would win.
They arrived at the courtyard at the back of the palace. What would usually be a verdant, grassy area in a place like this had wirey trees and unnatural purple earth. Nyaxcalibur frowned as he looked around. If Seihai was trying to turn him this certainly wasn’t a good start.
“Watch.” Seihai stepped forth. “Witness the strength of darkness.” He held out one hand, a purple mass of magic spiralling upwards. Goop dripped from a form that slowly grew into shape. A wind whipped up around it, forming the figure of a cyclops amidst the cyclone. “A copy of a Yokai whose strength is already immense. Embued with darkness, it is tenfold.”
Nyaxcalibur sighed and looked away, making him wince. “Y-you’re not impressed?!”
The sudden break of character made him laugh,
“Of course not! Showing a being of light the strength of darkness..! Just boasting how great it is won’t change my mind at all.”
“Th-then what will?!”
“If you change your mind.”
Seihai growled, gripping at his forehead. His Yokai that he was so proud of fizzled away above him. “Make this garden bloom, then I’ll be impressed.” Nyaxcalibur smirked as he perched on a low wall.
“What good would that do? Merely a waste of magic!”
“But… didn’t you want to persuade me? I told you what I wanted.”
Seihai looked down at his hands, then to the earth below his feet. He daren’t admit he had no idea how to create plants. But he wouldn’t give in. He knelt on one knee, pressing a hand to the earth. Magic came so easily to him yet he was struggling to find that link now. He bit at his lip, begging for that well of power to aid him in this moment. Slowly, roots began to spread from his palm, stretching out across the ground. Black thorned vines slithered up in numerous spots, blooming dark pink roses.
“Hm, well… I suppose it’s what I asked for… “ Nyaxcalibur looked around at the gothic display, seemingly not fully impressed.
“I did it! What’s wrong with that?!” Seihai snapped as he stood up straight.
“Plants are usually green you know. And you chose such a spiky flower.”
“Nghhh!”
“But. I am impressed. I didn’t expect you to be able to create something not fully malicious.” Nyaxcalibur stood and leant in to one of the roses. He smiled as it smelt as sweet as the real thing. The image of him against the beautiful flower made Seihai feel a little strange just for a moment.
“So I persuaded you! We can make flowers with dark magic!”
“No, you have not. I merely said I’d be impressed, and I am.”
"Ugh, you're impossible!"
Nyaxcalibur gave him a cheeky grin before turning away to look around the newly bloomed garden a little more. Seihai kept on his tail but was silently fuming. What on earth could he do to impress him more? "I can get you treasure, how about that?"
"Treasure..?" Nyaxcalibur glanced over his shoulder. "And why would I want that?"
"Eh? Humans love treasure and riches!"
"I understand why you would think that. It's a senseless greed I'd say."
Seihai growled, slamming his fist into the palace wall. Nyaxcalibur jumped, his demeanour finally breaking as he stared back at him.
"How dare you talk to me like that!” Raising his hand sharply, dark magic shot forth, impaling Nyaxcalibur’s form. In an instant, he disappeared, fizzling away as the spirit returned to its sword. The wall sustained another few beatings as he vented his anger. As he turned to look back at the plants he’d grown, it merely inflamed that frustration more and he cast out his arm to fell them. The rose heads tumbled to the ground, scattering petals across the dark earth.