喰魔 ベルベット

“Velvet!” Laphicet‘s cheeks puffed out, looking every bit the put off child his shape suggested and in that moment centuries disappeared from his eyes. “Alright fine, but only you can call me that.”  For a small second he let himself indulge in that feeling, that everything was exactly how it had been back then.

But then that moment had to end.

By the time he was sitting on the floor the weight of his years was back behind blue eyes, even though he chose to keep the shape she would remember, he was a child only in stature. There was a quiet wisdom behind his expression, an age in his smile that the years has left upon him.

A lot had happened while she was asleep, but it was maybe because of all that happened that a day like this was finally possible. That he could finally talk to Velvet again, that she could see the world she had saved. He hoped that she would feel the same.

From Velvet’s answer it was clear she didn’t really want to talk much about it, no matter how necessary it would be to answer her question. He wasn’t entirely sure what she had last seen before fading into that sleep, but he would just have to start from the beginning.

“After you sealed away Innominat’s power, he ceased to be an Empyrean,” Laphicet began, staring at the space around them. Even after all this time he could still see the other four Empyreans towering over him, could hear their voices resounding in his ears. “Without a fifth Empyrean, the power of the other four would have gone out of control and destroyed everything. We couldn’t let that happen, not after everyone had fought so hard.” It wasn’t hard to tell where the story was going, especially to someone who knew him like Velvet did. “Someone had to take his place as the leader of the Empyreans.”

“So I did.”

There was a small smile in place, a clear sign she was pleased with the victory and yet she knew she shouldn’t tease him too much. Laphicet made it clear he preferred his full name to any nickname given, she knew when she should use it. Though she had honestly expected more of a resistance. The fact that he had accepted it… meant that he didn’t mind it nearly as much as he made it out to be.

Laphicet was insistent on keeping quiet about things until he could properly explain them. Usually she preferred short stories and actions over all, but in these moments it didn’t matter. Why the need to rush? She had done everything she needed to do. She had questions-- so many questions that for a moment, she was distracted from her own suffering.

Why was she back? Not that she was truly alive in the first place, but… How? Clearly Laphicet was responsible for this somehow… and then there was the matter of time. Just… Just how long had it actually been. Laphicet looked the exact same, but he was a malakhim, wasn’t he? Eizen was supposed to be a thousand or so years and he looked around thirty at best. As for herself… being sealed away? Being a daemon, the Lord of Calamity… Could she even age anymore? She never really thought about it before.

The only thing really left for her here now was… Laphicet himself.

From the first sentence alone, Velvet closed her eyes, knowing what she had practically forced him into. Laphicet may have chosen, but he truly had no choice, especially with her own parting words to him… Removing the fifth Empyrean? The balance in the world would fall. There were already those warnings when it came to just waking up the other four, so removing one entirely? More ensuing chaos of course. Asking Laphicet to save the world in her place… It was like she had asked him to be the next Empyrean herself, even if indirectly.

Besides that, he was always too kind for his own good. If he could give everything to save everybody, he would. He always was her light, so to speak.

Laphicet let out a measured breath, took a second to digest her words. He should have expected as much, had known from the beginning that what he doing was ultimately selfish. Had he ever really thought about whether Velvet would want to come back? Whether it would be hard, even painful for her? Would she hate him for it? A shake of his head scattered those thoughts. If there was anyone who had taught him to seize what he wanted, it was her. 

“I see you still don’t remember much about boys,” Laphicet answers with a smile and a faint chuckle echoes in his tones. “We still don’t like cute names, you know.” Not that he was really a boy anymore but- well here with Velvet he almost felt like he had back then. Like the years of bearing the burden of his Empyrean role didn’t weigh on his shoulders. Like the malevolence he’d succumb to, the years he’d been a curse on the world didn’t sit over his heart like an anvil.

“Let’s sit down then,” Laphicet says and without a moment’s hesitation, plops down on the ground. If Velvet was admitting it, then it really must be bad. He had to trust that it would get better, she’d been asleep a really long time. “It’s a bit of a long story.” 

“Can you tell me the last thing you remember?” 

There was a quick, almost defensive cross of the arms when he challenged her memory like that. It wasn’t that she didn’t remember-- in fact in the dream-like state she was prior, she did not exactly get much of a chance to continue forward from when she originally slept. No, the reason why Velvet had ultimately chosen to call Laphicet by such a nickname was so that to him and to herself, he was not her younger brother, but his own person. 

A name that, dare she say it..? Suited him far more than it did the other.

“I remember just fine. Phi.” she ultimately retorted. Velvet may waver between using his full name and that nickname, but she would always gravitate back to that nickname. Though unlike Laphicet, for Velvet time really did start to move again from this point. While it certainly felt like a long and unimaginable amount of time had passed, it also felt like everything happened just a moment ago.

Her eyes only followed when he just dropped to the floor like that, and soon enough she followed in suit. She no longer had to force herself to stand so she was more than welcome to letting go of that, even if in her mind she hated how weak she felt and how much it must be showing presently. 

Outside of the dream? In reality? What did she remember?

“Velvet, you look like you’re about to fall over.”

That alone told him far more than anything she might have. It may have been awhile, but he still remembered his time with her with a crystalline clarity. He knew that if he could tell, even slightly, that something was wrong, then something was definitely wrong. He’d grown a long way from the silent obedient malak child she’d first met tied to Theresa all those years ago, and he wasn’t going to tell her anything until she at least sat down. 

So far everything seemed okay, he couldn’t sense any unusual levels of malevolence from her, and Innominat didn’t seem to be stirring either. Good. 

“There isn’t any rush, let’s go somewhere safe so you can rest a bit. You’ve been sealed away for a long time, its going to take a bit for all your strength to come back.” 

There goes the ‘hopefully he did not notice’ plan. Even after all this time, especially on the young malak’s end… He still saw right through her. The only one that knew her better than anyone else… and perhaps the only one still alive that Velvet truly loved. It seems like some things, no matter how much time had passed, would never truly change. Even standing here? For both of them? It was like a day hadn’t passed since then.

A defeated sigh quickly left her lips. Velvet wasn’t the type to give up, but she knew when she had been beaten on this front.

While she desperately wanted some answers to her current predicament, Laphicet would never explain anything if she didn’t comply. He had full control over this situation… whether she liked it or not. “A bit you say?” but in getting her strength back… was that really such a good idea? Wouldn’t that bring back the danger she posed before?

“Phi, I’m not going anywhere.” and this time, she removed the front, the excuses, because if she wasn’t honest here they would only go in circles… and she was not keen on admitting this either. “I… don’t have the strength to. It’s taking everything I have to stand right now… and even standing-- just being here right now… it’s painful.” in more ways than one.

“Of course! You wouldn’t be taking the brunt of that alone, you know.” She beams in turn, quite pleased that Velvet accepted the offer.

“I even had a spot in mind already…”

She directs the other to the stern of the ship. Sure enough there was an area less tread from Aifread’s crew. Eleanor deemed the space appropriate for them both, especially to accommodate her lancework and Velvet’s rather unique fighting style.

–And perhaps this has also been because she had actually seen Rokurou train in this exact spot.

“What do you think?” She was rather confident that there’d be no issue, but the other party deserves a say as well!

Eleanor would bring up that she would also take the fall with her... But she would rather hear that such a thing wouldn’t happen at all, not a reassurance that the faults would be shared.

“You do?” raising an eyebrow at the statement. Eleanor... had this all planned out from the start even before she asked, didn’t she?

Following the other to a different section of the ship, she looked around the designated spot wondering if such a place really would work out. What did she think? Velvet wished there was a little more space than this, but she supposed it would have to do. It was just sparring, she wasn’t actually going to kill Eleanor.

The lack of a more open space could be considered as training as well. She wouldn’t always get that luxury in battles after all.

“How are you feeling?” 

He shouldn’t be surprised that was the first question she asked. Even after so many years, she was still the same Velvet. It seemed like the slumber she’d been in was still lifting, the way she was squinting at him like that, looking a bit confused. 

“It’s… kind of complicated,” Laphicet answered. He wasn’t sure how much she knew of what had happened back then. Had she heard his decision before the other Four Empyreans before falling asleep? Did she know the power he held, that he’d bequeathed to the world? 

So much has happened… and I want to tell you all about it Velvet. About the world you made possible. 

“It’s kind of a long story. Why don’t we go somewhere better to talk?” The Empyrean’s Throne had definitely seen better days.

As if the look on her face didn’t already tell him the full story. Velvet was good at hiding her pain, so if even a little of it managed to show on her face? It should be self explanatory. There wasn’t much he could do about it anyway… She wasn’t exactly injured by normal standards. Though, perhaps she was lucky and he had mistaken it for mere tiredness.

Nothing was ever simple, it always had to be complicated. All Velvet could recall were her final moments, and the fact she definitely shouldn’t be standing here. What in the world had Laphicet done to change that? And… what had she done to deserve this? Choosing to seal away the Great Empyrean with her life, forever, that was her own way of atonement...

“And what if I said I wanted an answer right now?” shifting slightly as she folded her arms, Velvet was trying to look somewhat imposing as she did so, though due to her own tiredness it was failing on all accounts.

“Velvet would you…like to spar with me?”

She holds her breath for a bit after asking the question. It felt a tad weird to ask given that the only instances of them fighting had been on less….friendlier terms comparatively. With a gentle exhale, she continues:

“I…just figure that it’s such a long voyage and all this inactivity at sea would be bad for our bodies. It seems there’s plenty of space on the main deck of the Van Eltia that we wouldn’t be in the way…” (Rokurou was plenty testament to that!)

Velvet glances over from her chosen seat on the edge of the ship. Sparring here? On the deck? So long as the waters were fairly calm and the rest of the crew didn’t mind, she had nothing against doing so. That didn’t stop Rokurou after all.

“That’s not a bad idea at all.” and there was a small smile. She didn’t like remaining in her thoughts for too long and sitting around here like this only made her restless. Eleanor didn’t need to justify her reasons for asking, she would have likely accepted it regardless.

“Just don’t do it again”

Shirley nodded in acceptance at the order, but now that she had come out of hiding she couldn’t help herself from staring, perhaps a bit too obviously. She had had so little contact with any other humans besides the FelNes and this woman’s long, ebony hair was quite striking.

Her gaze eventually fell back to the shore line and she tilted her head, confused, when the woman beside her responded in negative to her earlier question about the sea. Strange. For some reason, Shirley had thought she had looked as if she had been ruminating. But, perhaps she had been mistaken.

“Miss… Velvet? It’s nice to meet you,” she spoke the new name carefully as if it were a gift. It felt like a gift, but then Velvet had given her a warning and Shirley was now thoroughly confused. She may have only just come from the village, but she was fairly sure this was not how first meetings usually went.

“Um, i-if that’s what you want, alright. I apologize for bothering you.”

Of course, there was still quite a bit of beach before Shirley could go anywhere else. She hesitated - should she start walking again and leave Velvet to her thoughts?

“But… I’d like to say, if it’s for my own good, isn’t that something I should decide?”

It may have been a question but Shirley’s voice came out stronger than it had before in this exchange. She had left the village for that reason, after all - so that she might find her own answers, instead of being told what to do.

The insistence on staring made Velvet turn away. Was she embarrassed? Not quite, only that she found the stare somewhat unnerving. While she was used to that typical death stare or the ones she received when killing someone, this kind of stare Shirley was giving was far worse. Ugh, she felt so ridiculous right now.

Shirley was still a child, she shouldn’t be so harsh on her… Though she was only being this way to keep her out of harm's way. Conversing with someone like her would only get her killed or worse. There was no sense in bringing more strangers into her troubles.

They clearly didn’t know any better, and there might have been a small smile at those very thoughts. The way Shirley spoke? It almost reminded her of Laphicet, and she couldn’t muster up any coldness or deflections against such a powerful weapon.

But they took the hint, good. Leaving her to her own devices was the best solution. Velvet’s goals were completed, the Lord of Calamity had no goals on harming the world or the people in it, not when she had tasked Laphicet to saving it and he had done just so. She was only here to observe with that extra time he had so selfishly given her.

As the younger talked back however, her gaze snapped sharply to them, the action alone being more than enough warning to show that it was not something the other should question. Velvet held it in place for several seconds before she sighed heavily. Children in these times were more of a handful than they used to be. Shirley can’t be that old and yet she knew what she wanted. People were free, you should never take away that from someone.

“Hi Velvet.” His voice is almost small, quieted by emotion. How long had it been since he had seen her, really seen her. Not trapped in an eternal slumber to place a seal on Inominat, but awake and aware and alive as she was in all the memories he held carefully tucked away in his heart. 

“It’s been quite awhile. Did you sleep well?” 

What had she-- no, she couldn’t find the words to describe where she had been prior, everything was a mess. Even standing here, awake? It didn’t feel natural, perhaps this was the real dream or... she was seriously out of touch with reality. Thinking back to her last memory took a while, but it brought some more understanding to her situation and how... This shouldn’t be even possible.

“Eeh?!” Shing was trying to be nice! …He figured this was one of those moments where he had to be more careful with his words, but that was the Soma User’s biggest weakness. “U-uhm… then I won’t carry you if you need it?” He attempted to correct his mistake even though it usually only made things worse.

“If one stung me, I wouldn’t really be saying anything.” Shing answered honestly and finally zipped up the pack he was carrying. “They’re easier to miss, but they’re more venomous too! Or that’s what I heard.” He never really knew what to believe when it came from Hisui.

“Hey, I don’t need watching!” What was that supposed to mean?! Shing threw the pack over his shoulder and got ready to run. “We should get out of here as fast as we can if we don’t want to fight.” The two scorpions who were far larger than these little ones were now visible as they climbed down the nearest sand dune. “Come on!”

When Shing ‘corrected’ his mistake, she only sighed in response. Velvet could tell that he was trying his best to please her, to say the right thing and keep her happy. It was because of that kind of thinking that she honestly couldn’t bring herself to dislike him. But that didn’t make him any less of a pain to be on a mission with of all things. His survival rate was incredibly low in her eyes.

“Do you take everything you hear literally?” she questioned back in a tone that sounded barely curious and more dismissive if anything. “The smaller ones can be more venomous. That goes for any insect.” Velvet confirmed. That was probably the smartest return he had come out with yet, at least he knew that much. Sadly he didn’t show the same caution that should go with that information.

A glance to the area outside, he returned and leaned against the wall. Rokurou was caught by surprise. Was she trying to be funny? Oh, God. Is Velvet alright? She did not bump her head or anything, right? Oh, wait. It’s just her being herself.  

“I still NEED food to go on cutting people, you know?”

It’s true. The two previously mentioned are things he won’t give up on. Why? because that’s him. If he is not drinking nor cutting people, then who is he?

“Anyway, what are we going to do now? How do we reunite with the other? It would great to have a sylph jay to communicate.”

Arms crossed over his chest, Rokurou pondered for a while.

If Rokurou could somehow gain sustenance from just cutting people alone she wouldn’t have been surprised. Though she had seen him eat before, so she was aware that he needed something. Velvet was no different there though because of her devouring capabilities that could double as eating... as unpleasant as that was, it could be efficient.

Taking advantage of the safe haven for now, she moved to take a seat on the ground opposite the other. Despite how much Velvet would love to just rush through all of this, she knew the value of slowing down... if necessary.

You’re going to kill it, right? The dragon?

“I can save this one.” If they could sever its connection to Heldalf, and the malevolence, they may just have a chance to purify it. It could very much cost them all their lives, but the world could not afford to lose Maotelus in this state. It was a price they were all willing to pay.

It was eerie to see someone so calm and unaffected by the malevolence. It felt like drowning, breathing in thick paste rather than air, but here Velvet was standing as if nothing was wrong. She lived in such a different world.

It reminded him of facing Heldalf on the hunting grounds.

The next words sent a shock through the group, the Shepherd stopping in his tracks.

“What…? The Lord of Calamity was a man named Heldalf.“ He remained tense, watching the woman warily. Like Heldalf, she seemed incredibly coherent and in control of herself, unlike most Hellions he’s faced. She radiated an immense amount of malevolence too, but what she claimed didn’t make any sense.

“Damn, you just cut right to the chase don’t you? Always liked that about you.” Zaveid adjusted his hat with a sigh. A flash of yellow light and a second seraph appeared, opening up her umbrella calmly, dropping it over a shoulder as she spoke.

“You’re hardly the only Lord of Calamity, dummy. You’re not even supposed to be here.“ The earth seraph gave Velvet a flat stare. Edna may never have met velvet before, but Eizen had written enough about the woman in his letters for Edna to figure it out. “So, you gonna fight us or what? We’re kinda busy so we’d appreciate it if you’d just get it over with.“

“Whoa, easy there– geez, since when was I the peacekeeper?“ Zaveid subtly moved himself between the two parties. Sorey waved for him to move back, and after a moment of hesitation he shrugged and did so. The Armatus stood their ground facing Velvet.

“Despite what you call yourself, you’ve known me as the Shepherd until now. We’ve been able to work together and we have a common destination. As we’ve already agreed, I won’t get in your way if you don’t get in ours. However…“ The flame in their hand flared brighter. “What do you hope to accomplish with that title? Are you trying to bring Calamity onto this world too?”

He could save a dragon? Really now? Velvet had watched Laphicet try so very hard to try and bring Silver back, but all it resulted in was many failed attempts and one finally dead dragon. Once a malak became a dragon, there wasn’t much left you could do, though there were methods that hinted in possibilities, possibilities that... hadn’t been truly discovered fully or tested quite yet.

“If you think you can, suit yourself.” she wasn’t going to waste her breath telling him otherwise. Sorey could do whatever he wanted, so long as he wasn’t getting in her way, that was really all there was to it. If he died on some fools errand that was his own choice.

Was there a second Lord of Calamity? Was that even possible? There were a lot of things not adding up, and Velvet didn’t like it one bit. “What reason would I have to lie, ‘Shepherd’? The exorcists came up with the title and it stuck. I don’t really care what they want to call me, but if they think I’m someone who brings calamity to the world then so be it.” so she used it for herself.

But with one compliment from Zaveid, a new malak appeared, and Velvet’s eyes quickly widened at the resemblance. It matched too well to be just... someone that looked similar. Though the blonds comments made her quickly frown at how they were delivered. “And what is that supposed to mean? Are you trying to start a fight with me?” that attitude, but Velvet ended up glancing to the side, as if this truly were Eizen’s baby sister... She wouldn’t lay a finger on her.

Sorey... Watching him, how he acted, how he spoke, how he cared for the people around him. This Shepherd was nothing like the man she sought vengeance on. Staring the younger down through the flame on their hand, she unfolded her arms and sighed. “I’m going to end the life of the man who calls himself the Shepherd, Artorius. When I do, it will eventually throw the world into chaos, but who would want to live in a world where nobody can even think for themselves.” it was the lesser of the evils really.

“Following you.”

A smirk curled his lips. The anticipation for a GOOD fight is his drive. Drawing his short blades again, he dashed right after the raven-haired female to take down these pitiful guards and break through them. Once they managed to go past them, the two were now running to find a safe zone to rest and plan their next move.

“Over there!”

Rokurou pointed to a hidden cave, running to hide in there. Time to lay low for now.

“Phew. I’m actually hungry now…”

Velvet figured the other was still following her. So long as there was promise of a good fight he’d tag along. That excuse of him remaining by her side because he owed her no longer held much meaning. If that’s what he wanted to use to justify his stay then so be it. She wouldn’t deny that Rokurou was useful, she could use him and she would use him.

The guards didn’t really carry much of a threat, so breaking through them and leaving them with a couple dead (a couple may have lucked out with injuries), was an easy task. They just had to make it to the end and continue on from there, like they always had done.

When Rokurou pointed out that cave, she shifted direction and made a line straight for it. She had to give credit to the twin swordsman, he had a good eye.

The battle took no more than 2 minutes before eliminating their pursuers. Rokurou places his swords back and looks at Velvet.

“Now what? You think we are already busted? Do we continue or retreat for now?”

He peeked around, no sign for more exorcists following them. 

“I can still go if you are going.”

As her hand returned to her side, the blade did the same. Her... companion seemed fine after the battle, though not much would have stopped Rokurou anyway. He did say he lived for this sort of thing, a daemon of war, right?

“If we retreat that just gives them more time to gather their numbers. We don’t do this now, we wont get a second chance later.”

Velvet didn’t really have the patience to wait for that hopeful opening, if there was a chance they could make it through, she’d take it, no question.

“Hmmm…” It was kind of hard to understand that Velvet wasn’t a human, yet looked exactly like one and was pretty much one in a lot of ways… but wasn’t. But he’d had to understand more confusing things than this, so he went with it. “I guess so.” Even if the cold was his weakness, it’d be sad to not have that feeling anymore.

Shing nodded while he gathered the materials they needed, and took note of Velvet’s warning. “I wouldn’t make you do that!” Though he had to add, “But if you need me to carry you, I’d be happy to!” Even if it’d be near impossible to carry this older woman through the searing heat while being pursued by scorpions and who knows what else, Shing still offered.

Multiple scorpions popping out from under the rocks was one thing, but Velvet simply stabbed one to examine it…?! Shing’s eyes widened as he paused for a moment, staring at the little scorpion. “Poor little guy…” But in response to Velvet’s words, the Soma User shook his head. “They’re not really a big problem… the parents are! But I’ve heard the littler ones are more dangerous.” He wondered aloud and went back to gathering what they needed.

Somewhere in the distance, a screech sounded that caused others to respond with that same cry. “Ah, those are the bigger ones! That’s their battle cry.” Shing pointed out as if it was perfectly fine.

What Shing had to add quickly caused Velvet to glare in his direction for even considering such a thing. “If you even try something like that and I’ll leave you here to fend for yourself.” she said she wouldn’t go fighting with any guild members anymore as... she didn’t want to get locked up again in the basement on the ship after the last time she acted to rashly. Leaving him behind if Shing had pissed her off too much... surely they’d understand. Velvet’s cooperation came with many warnings and conditions after all.

With a swift motion, she flicked the scorpion away and her blade clicked back into the gauntlet. “You’re too soft. If one of them stung you, would you still be saying that?” it made sense that the parent scorpions were more of a problem, though the smaller ones would be more dangerous considering their small size and number. “That’s because they are small and easier to miss.” shaking her head, she could hardly believe someone like this could honestly survive out on any mission if they were this naive.

They walked in silence after their little exchange. He did his best not to second guess his offer to house the demon and her companions on the Van Eltia. Thinking over it, it was indeed a tense situation. Best not to take every little spat personally. Given the group would spend a lot of time on a confined ship, disputes were bound to happen. As they come across the building, Eizen glanced up to a broken window and a door that’s definitely seen better days. With a smirk, he turned to his companion, “Looks like our kind of place.”

Clearly this place had seen better days, though the condition of it didn’t bother Velvet. The only concern would be if they could actually stay here with some level of security, or was it worse in there than it was out here. It was just more hassle otherwise, but they’d find out soon enough.

Hopefully Eizen’s curse wont collapse what was left of the place.

Frankly she hadn’t expected that plan to work, but that alone was the last of what she needed to confirm her own suspicions. Illusions are never really capable of fully capturing a being at its core–no matter how experienced the user. An illusion can miss so many finer details: quirks and ticks that no one but the original would be aware of. After watching herself and her own movements that the only conclusion she can make is that there were simply two of her. That’s it.

The blade’s tip was pressed against the bare flesh of her neck as to provide slight discomfort–a single move from the other would make quick work of her. Knowing herself however, this was not a time to call upon her usual reckless antics.

“I have.” Velvet’s own blade retracts into the gauntlet and the daemon arm is furled back into its bandages as she eases off the other. “I can’t begin to think how or why, and I don’t really want to.” She’s back on her feet, brushing dirt from her coat and skin before deciding to make another bold gesture: Velvet offers the other a hand.

“I doubt you’d be able to answer anything–much like how I won’t be able to do the same.”

When the other Velvet had seen the same truth as this one did, it quickly brought their battle to an end. Honestly? She was thankful, though she wouldn’t admit that. Fighting yourself? Things wouldn’t have went well for either of them. Now they could maybe look into a way of getting out of this mess, or figuring out which one was in the wrong place and go from there or whatever.

Perhaps even use the clash to their advantage?

Once she saw the blade retract and the arm disappear, she retracted her own blade from their neck so they could move, knowing she wouldn’t do that hasty turn and make the cut. But once the second Velvet was off of her, she stared up at the follow-up comment. “You’re telling me. What a waste of time that was.” though it would have been unlike them to talk it out before the blades.

But when they offered her a hand, she raised in eyebrow, half in surprise, the other half in confusion. Yet there wasn’t much to fear from herself. To stop the battle now to only stab each other in the back later? It wouldn’t make sense. To defeat Artorius with two of her? That bastard would have no hope in hell of winning now. They both wanted the same thing-- using each other would work.

So she took the other Velvet’s hand.