“Mercedes…”
He echoed behind her, as the beautiful elven Queen sat delicately on her chair, reading.
“Mercedesss….”
“What?!” She finally replied, slamming down the book, annoyed.
“I’m thirsty….” Demon slayer whined as he stared longingly at her neck, wondering what would elven blood taste like. “Go ask cannon shooter” she waved him off before she continued reading her book. “He’s not home…” He whined yet again.
She could take it no more, slammed down her book and stuttered, “F-Fine! Just one bite!” At that response, Demon Slayer immediately perked up and smiled, showing a set of sharp, canine teeth. As he approached her, he went straight for her neck and bit it, blood immediately gushing out. “AAAHHHH!” Screamed the Queen, “Not the neck you idiot!” She quickly yanked herself away from him, covering her wound with her hand. “Anywhere but the neck! Why did you have to go there?!” She scolded him.
Puzzled, before Demon Slayer could even utter a word, she slapped him so hard he flew right out of the hut aallll the way to the Temple of Time!
At the Temple of Time, Lyka, Dodo and Lilynouch were having an intense game of black jack. Dodo and Lilynouch stared hard at their cards, hoping some miracle would befall on them, but to no avail, “checkmate” Lyka announced proudly, before slapping her cards down on the table; 4 Aces. Both girls stared at the cards in disbelief, wondering if Lyka bribed Phantom or something. “Why do you always get Royal flush?!” Lilynouch pouted, crossing her arms as the floating ice crystals around her vibrated softly. “I don’t know. I just do it. ” Lyka replied proudly, flipping her hair at both girls before walking off triumphantly.
Just then, the girls spotted something flying across the sky at high speed. “What on Aion is that?!!” Dodo yelled in pure disbelief before it came closer, and closer to them. “Hold on I think it looks like D-” before Lyka could finish, Demon Slayer fell flat right on top of all 3 girls with a loud thud.
He quickly got up, slightly dazed, to find the three girls all lying in a heap on the floor. He widened his eyes, knowing that they would probably slaughter him when they woke up. He swiftly spread out his Demon Wings and was about to take flight from the girls, he heard, “DEMON SLAYERRR!!!” That voice was all too familiar. Lyka. “U-Uh, h-hey L-L-Lyka!” He stuttered, sweating. “What the hell just happened?!” She demanded, as she slowly got up, her horns glowing a dark, purple shade. “GAH!” He exclaimed in terror as she charged towards him like a bull in full speed. Before he knew it, she threw him off the grounds of the Temple Of Time and back to Mercedes’s hut.
CRASH! As Demon Slayer flew right through that very same hole in the roof he created when he was thrown out by Mercedes, he crashed onto her and overthrew her table and tea, and she screeched in shock. That was when they found Demon Slayer lying right on top of Mercedes, as her face was barely inches from his, both panting. There was a momentary pause before she screamed yet again, piercing poor Demon Slayer’s ears as he quickly flapped his wings and flew right out of the hut, frightened.
Not knowing where he was flying, he crashed into a few shrubs in the forest nearly and got entangled with the branches. “Why does everyone hate me…” He sighed.
Back at the now-destroyed hut, Mercedes slowly got up to take in what just happened. That was when she found cannon shooter standing at the doorstep, smirking at her. “Speechless?” He started, before bursting to laughter. “It’s NOT funny!” She yelled, grabbing her Bowguns and blasted, “Piercing Storm!!” A hoard of long, spinning spiritual arrows flew towards cannon shooter at lightning speed and struck right at him, throwing him back, out onto the grass. Though semi-conscious, he was still chuckling, chuckling till he fainted due to breathlessness.
Chapter 2~
The full moon was out up in the starry night sky, illuminating the dark forests. Demon Slayer lingered around the stream, fireflies roaming everywhere around the bank, lighting up the stream and giving it a spectacular glow under the moonlight. It was a beautiful, cooling night. He sat by the bank as the fireflies hovered round him, like they were attracted to him. “What a lovely night…” He mused. “Indeed. ” he heard a voice behind him, as he spun around, he found Phantom leaning onto one of the tree trunks with that infamous, charming smile of his. “What brings you out in this lovely night of June?” Phantom asked, twirling a rose on his fingertips.
Demon slayer returned his gaze to the river, before replying, “Nothing wrong with appreciating nature.” He felt Phantom approach him and plop himself next to him by the bank. There was a momentary silence, only the nighttime crickets and the sound of gushing water could be heard. “You look troubled.” Phantom finally asked after a while. “Oh do I?” Demon questioned himself. Furrowing his brow, Phantom continued, “Would you like to talk about it over a cup of tea in Lumiere? The view there is spectacular at night” he smiled. Demon simply shook his head, “no thanks” he mumbled.
Phantom frowned. Soon after, he got up saying, “Well, I’m just trying to help here. I seldom bother about others’ welfare or problems but you looked particularly troubled today, but it looks like you’d prefer solitude. Suit yourself. ” after which he whizzed away in a flutter of cards silently.
After a while, Demon got up and decide to wander around for a while. He was not one but tired at all. Demons rarely sleep or get tired even. However, just as he reached a huge clearing, a massive blast of wind blew in his direction, pulling him off the ground! He tumbled backwards but got up swiftly to find any enemies; no one. Puzzled, he raised his guard, scepter in one arm, force shield in the other. That was when suddenly, a dark force hit him violently and was forced to defend himself with his demonic shield. He stumbled back a little, unwavered, when the force hit him again. This time, he had no time to defend and it hit him fully in the gut.
Demon gritted his teeth as he got up, demonic vision scanning the whole clearing for abnormalities. He definitely sensed a strong force around. “Show yourself and face me, coward!” He yelled out. After a brief pause, someone darkly materialised in front of him, his outside overflowing with dark energy. His hood was up, covering all features except his mouth and cheeks; which seemed as if there were intricate carvings or patterns on them. The dark force circled around the stranger as he smiled a crooked smile, before raising a gloves hand. The ground around Demon opened a huge black hole, as hundreds of dark, clawing hands emerged from the hole and tried to grab him.
Demon tried to fight them off by swinging his scepter at them, but it just passed through them like water. Panicking, he shouted “Vengeance!” However, the buff had no effect on the attack. More and more hands kept grabbing him and dragging down into the abyss. “Chaos lock!” He yelled yet again, but nothing. He widened his eyes, completely shocked speechless. If those 2 attacks could not work, he would not be sure the other will. Slowly, he felt all his demonic energy being sucked out of his body, feeling weaker and wear as the claws pulled him further down. Exhausted, he dropped his scepter. He was hopeless. “Why are you doing this?!” He cried, but the stranger said nothing. “Why me!?” He demanded, yet no response. He can’t die now. Not when he had not gotten his revenge on the black Mage yet.
*is there really no escape now?* Demon thought to himself, as he slowly let the hands pull him further down…
“Ishtar’s Ring!!” A female voice rang behind him before hoards of spiritual arrows flashed past him in lightning speed, annihilating the stranger. However, the stranger did not really get hit. He completely disappeared, leaving the cloak on the ground. Exhausted and relieved, he saw Mercedes rushing towards him with a worried expression on her Elfen face, asking “Are you okay?! Demon Slayer??” He voice gradually became softer and more fuzzy or cloudy, as he slowly closed his eyes, passing out.
Chapter 3~
The next morning, Demon Slayer woke up to find himself in a familiar surrounding; Mercedes’s hut. He slowly got up, his head throbbing with a terrible headache. The first thought that came to his mind, *who was that weird stranger? What did he want with me…?* all the questions started flooding in, but were all flushed away as he spotted Mercedes outside, not in her usual battle armour, but in a lovely sky blue dress, tending to her garden. As he stood by the door, Mercedes noticed him, and quickly hurried up to him to ask “Are you alright?!” He nodded slowly before watching her sigh in immense relief. “How did you find me?” He asked. She blushed tremendously before stuttering, “I-I was just l-looking f-for you… I mean, it was real cold and dark out in the forest at night y’know” she looked away biting her bottom lip. He smiled, one of those rare smiles Demon Slayer displayed once in a while.
To quickly change the topic, Mercedes perked up, saying “Phantom came earlier this morning. It was to discuss about the strange people in hoods- the one who tried to attack you last night. He did some spying and found out they were from this unknown island… Called “Masteria…” She twitched at the thought of it. However, Demon Slayer widened his eyes. He knew that area. He kept it a secret his whole life.
It was his birthplace.
“Any idea what’s on this strange island of Masteria?” Mercedes asked thoughtfully. Sweating, he pulled his collar and shook his head. “I see…” She mumbled, as if her hopes were somehow crushed of not knowing anything of this strange, unheard island. “When you’re well enough, we have to go investigate that island. Phantom is going to give us more info later on.” She continued, as if in deep thought. Demon just nodded nonchalantly, contemplating whether he should just play along or not.
The next day, they moved out of the hut and proceeded to Leafre, the only supposed place that could be accessed from that strange island. Phantom met them there at the port, as he said, “Basically these weird hooded people have slightly darker skin, different face tattoos and black wings at the back. They use some sort of dark magic and the island, Masteria, is populated with this species. Luminous has instructed you two to investigate that place, and hopefully make some connections there with a fake identity. Well then, good luck. ” he smiled politely, as he disappeared in a flash of cards.
“What help he is” Mercedes retorted as she proceeded to the small airship Phantom provided them with. Demon Slayer just kept silent. Soon after, they left the port and ascended into the misty morning air. It was incredibly foggy that morning, making visibility extremely low and more susceptible to Balrog attacks.
After an hour of awkward silence and waiting, they saw a tiny island in the distance. As they got closer, they saw several things flying around the island, only to find out that these creatures were actually flying with real wings! Mercedes widened her eyes at the sight she’s never seen before. The airship landed at a deserted area before completely disappearing in a flush of cards.
Mercedes quickly hopped out, looking as if she was excited and interested to venture this new place known as Masteria. Demon slayer shifted uncomfortable as he followed closely behind. Before they reached civilisation, the trekked through some dense woods and finally reach edthe central area, the city. They put on their disguises – demon slayer a Vendetta mask, Mercedes a Targa Hat. As they entered the city, they got strange looks from the people, but nobody said or did anything, so they continued on anyway.
As Mercedes closely observed their behaviour and features from afar in her disguise, she realised they looked incredibly Similiar to Demon slayer. They had wings, sharp canine teeth, face tattoos and mostly drank blood. All of which matches Demon Slayer. They spoke the same language, and it seemed as normal as a normal city on Victoria island. They soon settled down at a cafe, as the waiter gave them each the menu, staring at their weird disguises. They got disapproving and judging looks from the citizens, as well as whispering and pointing of fingers, but they just concentrated on the mission instead.
When Mercedes took a look at the menu, she widened her eyes in surprise as the food there were all meat. Strange meat cooked strangely from strange animals. Drinks were blood. In her opinion, completely inedible to her. Unable to order anything, Demon simply ordered a glass of blood. As they waited for their ‘beverage’, she looked around nervously. The people looked so frightening and creepy to her, it gave her the chills. On the other hand, Demon was feeling strangely more comfortable, and some sort of sense of belonging here, but he was more worried about how he would break the news to her.
Their drink came and Demon took small sips of it. He perked up at the taste, raised his eyebrows and have a low whistle. “This is some quality blood I must say!” He commented rather loudly. Overhearing, that same waiter approached their table and began to explain “yes indeed! Taken fresh from a Taurospear in the caves of Masteria!” He declared proudly. Demon widened his eyes in amazement, before questioning, “whoa, you have Taurospears roaming freely around here?!”
“Indeed! They are plentiful in our caves. ”
Demon nodded thoughtfully before thanking the waiter as he whisked away to another customer’s help. “What was all that about?!” Mercedes hissed under her disguise hat. “What, a little trivia or culture won’t hurt!” Demon replied, slightly annoyed. She simply pouted as Demon continued to happily sip his quality blood.
There was a short pause before Mercedes just declared bluntly, staring straight at Demon Slayer in the eyes, “These are demons right ” she glared at him, he felt bad and nodded guiltily. She scoffed, “Hmph, I noticed it ever since I stepped into this town. It’s so obvious!” In fact, Demon wasn’t that surprised she guessed it. Demons were quite different yet unique in their culture and features compared to humans or elves. As Demon called for the bill, the waiter responded almost immediately to take the bill. As he calculated it, he asked “I haven’t seem you around here. Where are you from?”
“Um… Leafre. ” he replied as casually as possible.
“Ah, I see! It’s odd how some demons like migrating there. I mean, the halfringers look so small and vulnerable and we even eat them here- I just wonder why they would rather live in peace with them. “He chuckled as he passed the bill the Demon.
“Ah well, I don’t think Leafre’s that safe either. Just 100 years ago, one demon family migrated there, never came back. Why? That damned black Mage just happened to attack Leafre then and 2 of them were found dead there. The last one went missing I think. Probably dead too. Scary, huh? Tragic man. “He continued as casually as possible, but Demon Slayer looked down and not one bit pleased at all.
“Thank you for coming! Have a nice day!” The waiter finally said before going away.
Chapter 4~
Demon Slayer sat there in forlorn, all those horrific memories coming back. He did not want to be reminded. “You were raised in this city…?!” Mercedes broke the silence, hopefully trying to lift the mood. He nodded slightly. “Well that’s interesting! Then you should be quite familiar with this place, no?” She continued asking as casually as possible.
“Not exactly- my mother was forced to bring us to Leafre because of my father. And that time Damien was not even born yet. So I don’t know. ” Demon slayer replied lifelessly. Mercedes sighed. “Like it or not, we have to continue with this mission. Come on. ” she got up and helped him up.
They walked along the streets of Masteria, and a tremendous number of beggars kept grabbing their feet and stopping them for money or food. Mercedes was extremely creeped out and disgusted by their behaviour. One begger especially blocked their way and actually demanded for money. “No” Demon replied firmly, before grabbing Mercedes’s arm and going through an alternate route. However, this one was persistent. He followed after them and blocked their way again. He kept pleading for money, he even tried to grab Mercedes’s arm. However, Demon Slayer snapped.
“STOP. ” He yelled at the beggar, his fists balled up. “We won’t give you any money or food and stop pestering us or I’ll have to go to extreme matters. ” just as Demon was about to walk past him with Mercedes following closely behind, the begger murmured, “heh. I remember years ago I had a friend with the exact same personality as you, and even looks just like you. Hot-tempered fella” he chuckled. Demon simply rolled his eyes and continued on. “You remind me so much of him. He had a family. He worked so hard to support them. He helped support me in life. He was a great man who did great things. I’d never forget him. So the moment I saw you, I somehow instantly saw him in you, and I just… I can’t let go man. Please. ” now he just sat there, cigarette in mouth, his wrinkly wings sagging greatly.
Demon Slayer stopped. The beggar continued. “In fact, he brought me home before. He provided me food, shelter, and even helped me find a job. I was so grateful for him. During those times, I got to know his family. They were really pleasant, his wife, and his kid.” He gave a lifeless, breathless laugh. “His wife was beautiful. Everyday she’d read to her kid, sing to him lullabies to sleep… She’d bring him out to hunt etcetera, they looked so happy together. But the kid never liked me. ” he laughed a bit better this time, his dull, dilute and lifeless eyes stared at the dusty ground.
“However, during the time he helped me, he made many enemies. From gangs and such. He soon fell into debt and came back torn and tattered everyday. Soon, these gang of demons started spraying blood at the door, throwing stones in windows all that. It was becoming so bad, that one day when the kid was alone at home, they barged in and tried to take the kid. But oh boy, he ain’t no ordinary kid. I don’t know what his parents had been teaching him or anything, I was just hiding in the closet when they came. When they came to kidnap him, he had a freaking Demon Scepter with him at his age! He took it, yelled something like ‘infernal concussion’ or something like that, soon, they were flung into the air like feathers by some dark force and spikes speared out of their chests, penetrating straight through them without fail. It literally rained blood all over and the scene was horrible. When his mother came home, she got such a shock of her life. She claimed she taught nothing of that sort! We were all puzzled indeed, what, he was only like, 7!? But anyway, one day, my friend’s wife received a message from him saying to flee to Leafre and never come back to Masteria again. They were so shocked, but did so. He promised he’d be back. But in the end, he never came back. I stayed at Masteria, and well, my story ends here. ” the old beggar gave a long, pained sigh.
“After which we heard news that kid became the new commander of the black Mage. I wasn’t surprised, after seeing that horrifying attack and all. He was quite a dark kid anyway. Well then I heard the black Mage attacked Leafre, and never heard from his mother again. I wondered why he would wanna kill his own mom, she did nothing wrong! But as I said, he looked like a troubled kid anyway. I was horrified. After that, I never heard from him again till now. ” the beggar sighed yet again.
After which he turned around the face Demon Slayer, who was now on his knees. The beggar continued; “I was just wondering… You’re that kid, aren’t you? ” there was no response, just a soft, controlled sobbing. The beggar looked at him, eyes full of pity and sadness. Mercedes looked at him incredulously as if he was some kind of god or something. “I’ll never understand you anyways. Why or how you learnt that killer move, why you joined the black Mage, why you killed your own family… Like I said, you were a troubled kid. ” he gave a sly smile, and discreetly crawled away.
Demon Slayer sat there, with his tear-streaked face, questions popping out: why? Why? Why?!
He remained there and kept asking himself those same questions. It never escaped his mind. It couldn’t.
He was a troubled kid, after all.
Something I scribbled out about 3 years ago ahahah
Fiction from the soul 