Jijo found himself in a void.
There was nothing in any direction - left, right, forward, backward, up or down. Not a single thing. Frightened, the small assassin looked down at his own hands - they looked normal, but what is that to say? He clenched his fists a couple of times, testing their feeling. Seemed normal there, too, but...
A flicker in his awareness jolted Jijo from his self-inspection and he looked across to see - No! No, impossible. Jijo stared out at the silhouette in front of him, just a couple paces away. Slowly, shakily, he reached out to the shadow, and a voice, so terribly weak he failed to realize it was his own, croaked out, "Mina.."
The shadow turned to him and revealed herself, a small smile on her lips. Her eyes were clear, seeing. She was clean and uninjured and at peace, and Jijo's heart wrenched at the sight of it. "Mina, wh-.. You're-.."
"Yeah." She looked down at herself, examining her hands similarly to how he had done moments before. "Yeah, I'm pretty dead, huh?" She looked up and caught Jijo's eye, a mischievous smirk there. "But not really. I mean, I'm talking to you, right?" Jijo shook his head, baffled, and Mina approached him, taking his hands in hers. "I don't know why I'm here- it's been but moments since I died, at least in my perspective.." She tilted her head in question to Jijo, who shook his head again.
"No, no. It's been .. a couple hours now, probably.." He furrowed his brows, utterly lost. "W-.. I want to ask so much, but I know you haven't the answers and I don't.. I don't think I'm alive anymore either," he crooned sadly, thinking of his friends still battling in reality.
"No, you're alive," Mina cooed, a spark in her eyes still. "If barely. Gryph's working really hard to make sure you stay that way. Can't you tell?" She inclined her head behind Jijo, and he turned to find a faint shimmer of gold circling where they stood. It looked like a puddle of yellow diamonds, working its way around his very being.
Jijo stared in awe for a few moments before turning back to Mina with increased urgency. "W-wait! So if I'm being healed then I won't - I'll have to leave you!" His voice sounded panicked and pained, and Mina stilled his hysterical heart by holding his head in her hands. "I'm still here. That's how I'm talking to you, isn't it? I gave myself to you. I'm in here." She placed a hand on his heart, and then gestured around them. "Well, here, technically. But it could be worse. I've evaded Wrath yet," she grinned with a hint of her usual mischief. She then turned her gaze to the 'ground' once more, and Jijo followed suit. The gold around them was much more obvious now; almost blinding. "I think it's time, my love." Jijo turned to say something more to her, but she was already gone, and he was alone in that abyss again; just him and the yellow diamonds.
There was nothing in any direction - left, right, forward, backward, up or down. Not a single thing. Frightened, the small assassin looked down at his own hands - they looked normal, but what is that to say? He clenched his fists a couple of times, testing their feeling. Seemed normal there, too, but...
A flicker in his awareness jolted Jijo from his self-inspection and he looked across to see - No! No, impossible. Jijo stared out at the silhouette in front of him, just a couple paces away. Slowly, shakily, he reached out to the shadow, and a voice, so terribly weak he failed to realize it was his own, croaked out, "Mina.."
The shadow turned to him and revealed herself, a small smile on her lips. Her eyes were clear, seeing. She was clean and uninjured and at peace, and Jijo's heart wrenched at the sight of it. "Mina, wh-.. You're-.."
"Yeah." She looked down at herself, examining her hands similarly to how he had done moments before. "Yeah, I'm pretty dead, huh?" She looked up and caught Jijo's eye, a mischievous smirk there. "But not really. I mean, I'm talking to you, right?" Jijo shook his head, baffled, and Mina approached him, taking his hands in hers. "I don't know why I'm here- it's been but moments since I died, at least in my perspective.." She tilted her head in question to Jijo, who shook his head again.
"No, no. It's been .. a couple hours now, probably.." He furrowed his brows, utterly lost. "W-.. I want to ask so much, but I know you haven't the answers and I don't.. I don't think I'm alive anymore either," he crooned sadly, thinking of his friends still battling in reality.
"No, you're alive," Mina cooed, a spark in her eyes still. "If barely. Gryph's working really hard to make sure you stay that way. Can't you tell?" She inclined her head behind Jijo, and he turned to find a faint shimmer of gold circling where they stood. It looked like a puddle of yellow diamonds, working its way around his very being.
Jijo stared in awe for a few moments before turning back to Mina with increased urgency. "W-wait! So if I'm being healed then I won't - I'll have to leave you!" His voice sounded panicked and pained, and Mina stilled his hysterical heart by holding his head in her hands. "I'm still here. That's how I'm talking to you, isn't it? I gave myself to you. I'm in here." She placed a hand on his heart, and then gestured around them. "Well, here, technically. But it could be worse. I've evaded Wrath yet," she grinned with a hint of her usual mischief. She then turned her gaze to the 'ground' once more, and Jijo followed suit. The gold around them was much more obvious now; almost blinding. "I think it's time, my love." Jijo turned to say something more to her, but she was already gone, and he was alone in that abyss again; just him and the yellow diamonds.
Jijo woke with a start, gasping heavy, heavy breaths, in and out, in and out. Except.. No - this isn't Jijo. Mina startled, looking down at her hands - no, Jijo's hands - and then looked up, at the sky, oh the unfamiliar sky she missed so much from her time with sight - and then she patted her (his) chest, as if doing so would ensure her Jijo was still in there somewhere. Of course he was, right?
And then she looked, finally, at her present company. Gryph. The King was there. She blinked a few times, forcing her (his) heart to calm, and she spoke - Jijo's voice. Gods, what was going on? This wasn't part of her plan. "G-Gryph, you saved him- You saved Jijo." She panted still, just a bit, staring in awe at Gryph, and saw in his own eyes herself (Jijo?) reflected. His eyes were silver. Bright, bright silver. Almost ghostly white. But Jijo's eyes are gold! Mina scrambled to her feet, completely unaware of how she should probably NOT be doing that. "Gryph, what's happening?" Her (his) voice rose in a panic, and she forced it down. "Y-you must've brought me back in Jijo's conscience when you healed him. Th-that's gotta be it, right?" She looked down at Jijo's body and examined the wound that had nearly killed him - it was now just an ugly scar. She rubbed it and swallowed hard. "Th..thank you. I- I'm sorry, you must be even more confused than I - we - are? .. I don't .."
Suddenly she felt very tired. Extremely, bone-tired, except as far as she was concerned, these weren't her bones. She sat down where she stood and cradled her head in her hands, closing her eyes just a moment - just .. one moment..
And yellow flooded into those eyes again, and the gasping returned. Were the situation not so utterly confusing, it'd be comical how Jijo said the exact same words Mina had, having been unaware of Mina occupying his body moments before. He repeated her shpiel word-for-word, probably scaring the living Xhen right out of poor Gryph, before he finally settled and fell quiet for a few moments.
He rose to his feet and approached Gryph, who already looked incredibly dumbstruck (Jijo didn't know why; he hadn't seen or realized any of the things with Mina had happened, nor Gryph's confusion at his own skills prior). He took his King's hands in his own and stilled his own shaking this way. "G-Gryph, I don't know what you did, but.. Thank you so much. I .. didn't deserve you helping me this way. I didn't think anyone was going to come. I was prepared to die." He met the King's eyes, his own watering slightly. "I'd made my peace, you know? Yet still you came.. Thank you." He'd never meant words more sincerely than he meant them now, and he released Gryph's hands and backed away, rubbing his forehead.
"I met Mina, on the border of death. She was.. She transferred her Soulsight to me, just before she died. But apparently her soul itself, too.. S-somehow, she evaded death. Avoided Wrath." He smiled weakly, confused still. "So she's.. still in my body I guess?" At this, he realized there was somehow some time between when Jijo had been healed and how he'd ended up where he awoke - how did he get from the blood puddle he'd been laying in, to over here?
"Oh- oh no. Did she..?" He looked over at Gryph, concern written all over his face. "Can she use my..?" Just as he was about to finish the question, he heard a voice, clear as a bell, ringing in his head.
Yeah, numb-nuts. It's really tiring though. Don't worry, won't do it again.
And Jijo freaked out all over again.
And then she looked, finally, at her present company. Gryph. The King was there. She blinked a few times, forcing her (his) heart to calm, and she spoke - Jijo's voice. Gods, what was going on? This wasn't part of her plan. "G-Gryph, you saved him- You saved Jijo." She panted still, just a bit, staring in awe at Gryph, and saw in his own eyes herself (Jijo?) reflected. His eyes were silver. Bright, bright silver. Almost ghostly white. But Jijo's eyes are gold! Mina scrambled to her feet, completely unaware of how she should probably NOT be doing that. "Gryph, what's happening?" Her (his) voice rose in a panic, and she forced it down. "Y-you must've brought me back in Jijo's conscience when you healed him. Th-that's gotta be it, right?" She looked down at Jijo's body and examined the wound that had nearly killed him - it was now just an ugly scar. She rubbed it and swallowed hard. "Th..thank you. I- I'm sorry, you must be even more confused than I - we - are? .. I don't .."
Suddenly she felt very tired. Extremely, bone-tired, except as far as she was concerned, these weren't her bones. She sat down where she stood and cradled her head in her hands, closing her eyes just a moment - just .. one moment..
And yellow flooded into those eyes again, and the gasping returned. Were the situation not so utterly confusing, it'd be comical how Jijo said the exact same words Mina had, having been unaware of Mina occupying his body moments before. He repeated her shpiel word-for-word, probably scaring the living Xhen right out of poor Gryph, before he finally settled and fell quiet for a few moments.
He rose to his feet and approached Gryph, who already looked incredibly dumbstruck (Jijo didn't know why; he hadn't seen or realized any of the things with Mina had happened, nor Gryph's confusion at his own skills prior). He took his King's hands in his own and stilled his own shaking this way. "G-Gryph, I don't know what you did, but.. Thank you so much. I .. didn't deserve you helping me this way. I didn't think anyone was going to come. I was prepared to die." He met the King's eyes, his own watering slightly. "I'd made my peace, you know? Yet still you came.. Thank you." He'd never meant words more sincerely than he meant them now, and he released Gryph's hands and backed away, rubbing his forehead.
"I met Mina, on the border of death. She was.. She transferred her Soulsight to me, just before she died. But apparently her soul itself, too.. S-somehow, she evaded death. Avoided Wrath." He smiled weakly, confused still. "So she's.. still in my body I guess?" At this, he realized there was somehow some time between when Jijo had been healed and how he'd ended up where he awoke - how did he get from the blood puddle he'd been laying in, to over here?
"Oh- oh no. Did she..?" He looked over at Gryph, concern written all over his face. "Can she use my..?" Just as he was about to finish the question, he heard a voice, clear as a bell, ringing in his head.
Yeah, numb-nuts. It's really tiring though. Don't worry, won't do it again.
And Jijo freaked out all over again.
Gryph’s attention spiked as he caught the sound of the other’s breathing, his own heart about to jump from his chest while feathers stood on end at the sudden spook though as the other so quickly got up and began to speak, he’d begin to fall into confusion. What in Xhen’s name.. Speechless he sat still and tried to make sense of the happening before him- still unaware that he had even had the power to resurrect the other and now this? Squawking of the other seemingly aware of himself as not, but as someone else entirely.. The King couldn’t help but give a bit of a tilt to his head as if silently questioning. Ruby gaze could see the change in the other’s eyes as well- those weren’t Jijo’s eyes.. Did he accidentally call on the wrong soul for the other’s body? If so, then how?
“M-Mina?” He’d pause a moment, shaking his head as if hoping it would break his mind free of the bindings of confusion but to no avail. “I haven’t the slightest clue what’s happening or what I’ve done but..” Voice trailed off as his companion sank to the ground and hung his head. He wanted badly to jump to his side but as he’d attempted to push himself into a crouch his muscles faltered with fatigue leaving him to his knees besides where the other once lay, his head pulsating with a nagging ache that was almost debilitating in itself.. Hand would raise and press tips of fingers firm against temple where they’d rub gently while an eye closed, the other watching Jijo curiously.
Suddenly, the entire skit had played out the same as before- word for word, action for action and it left and uncomfortable sense of deja vu in the others mind. Instant replay. Gryph couldn’t help his dumbstruck expression and his confused stare- words hadn’t bothered to form themselves up and instead he’d just sit with a million thoughts scattering within his own mind- bumping into each other as they attempted to surface into sentences and questions. Crimson gems narrowed and a brow would raise as hand pulled from his head to rest on his feathered leg with lips finally ready to form words.
“Jijo?”
Silently observing, as Jijo had held his hands he’d fall back into reality; this was real. He was back and alive by some miracle.. This wasn’t just a weird vision but actual reality. Chest heaved with a heavy intake as eyes fixed in the other’s own gaze unwavering all the while ears listened intently to his friend’s voice. He was thanking him.. Of course he came back; of course Jijo deserved his help.. The sacrifices he had made for not only Gryph but for a Kingdom he had no obligations or ties to were so much more honourable than anything he had witnessed within his young life by even the noblemen of the guard. That gaze would soften and glaze over as well as the other’s words sank in and a gentle smile tugged at the corners of ash coloured lips.
“You’re very welcome.. Though, Jijo, my friend.. You’ve done so much for me and my Kingdom. Even at peace with yourself, I had to return to you and while selfish as it may seem I couldn’t stand the thought of returning; hiding behind my walls while you were somewhere out here- fighting till the end. You’ve shown a bravery unlike anything I’ve seen and to that it is I who must lay my thanks unto you. Without you, I fear we wouldn’t have made it out alive. The lot of us”
As the other backed away and rubbed his forehead Gryph’s attention spiked again at the other’s talk of Mina and her transferring of her soulsight leaving him bewildered and intrigued. This world of theirs was full of so many surprises- Soul transfers, healing powers, contracts with gods. As if it couldn’t be gathered from the fact the world existed suspended within the clouds these discoveries really put things into perspective.
All seriousness melted away though as Jijo had another round and the King couldn’t help but chuckle at the sight. His friend would never cease to surprise him- one minute he’s flustered and frantic while the next a serious, stray-killing machine to a puddle of sincerity and wholeheartedness. It was a refreshing sight though, to say at the very least. To see his friend back to a .. semi normal state. He was alive now by some miracle and Gryph couldn’t be more content with it all, letting out a few more chuckles that soon found their way into full on laughter all the while eyes began to shed glaze in a few tears and ribs beginning to ache, a hand lifting to wipe away at the corner of each eye.
“I’m glad you’re back, Friend.” Laughter would slow to a few sparse chuckles before he shook his head, that smirk still tugging upon his lips. Lower body would work again to lift the King upon stilts shakily standing while he gathered his bearings and turned direction towards the sun who began to set behind golden clouds and with a deep inhale, Gryph returned attention towards the other before speaking softly.
“Egret’ll have my head for not keeping my word..” Voice twisted into a small chuckle at a thought before lips continued, “By now I suspect he’s but a puddle of feathers and tissues.. I had told him I’d return by sundown.” The king would raise a feathered hand, signalling towards the already darkening sky as Sun quickly began to fall into slumber.
“What say you, Jijo- will you return to the Kingdom with me?” Eyes scanned over the other momentarily while pointed ears awaited the other’s response though within his mind he could already envision his dearest companion’s outbursts- his cries and wails, his scolding squawks and accusing points of his fingers. Those two toned eyes fired brightly with both passion and concern. Thinking to himself, he almost looked forward to it- and he’d promised himself to make it up to the white bird one way or another; cheeks warming with the thought.
“M-Mina?” He’d pause a moment, shaking his head as if hoping it would break his mind free of the bindings of confusion but to no avail. “I haven’t the slightest clue what’s happening or what I’ve done but..” Voice trailed off as his companion sank to the ground and hung his head. He wanted badly to jump to his side but as he’d attempted to push himself into a crouch his muscles faltered with fatigue leaving him to his knees besides where the other once lay, his head pulsating with a nagging ache that was almost debilitating in itself.. Hand would raise and press tips of fingers firm against temple where they’d rub gently while an eye closed, the other watching Jijo curiously.
Suddenly, the entire skit had played out the same as before- word for word, action for action and it left and uncomfortable sense of deja vu in the others mind. Instant replay. Gryph couldn’t help his dumbstruck expression and his confused stare- words hadn’t bothered to form themselves up and instead he’d just sit with a million thoughts scattering within his own mind- bumping into each other as they attempted to surface into sentences and questions. Crimson gems narrowed and a brow would raise as hand pulled from his head to rest on his feathered leg with lips finally ready to form words.
“Jijo?”
Silently observing, as Jijo had held his hands he’d fall back into reality; this was real. He was back and alive by some miracle.. This wasn’t just a weird vision but actual reality. Chest heaved with a heavy intake as eyes fixed in the other’s own gaze unwavering all the while ears listened intently to his friend’s voice. He was thanking him.. Of course he came back; of course Jijo deserved his help.. The sacrifices he had made for not only Gryph but for a Kingdom he had no obligations or ties to were so much more honourable than anything he had witnessed within his young life by even the noblemen of the guard. That gaze would soften and glaze over as well as the other’s words sank in and a gentle smile tugged at the corners of ash coloured lips.
“You’re very welcome.. Though, Jijo, my friend.. You’ve done so much for me and my Kingdom. Even at peace with yourself, I had to return to you and while selfish as it may seem I couldn’t stand the thought of returning; hiding behind my walls while you were somewhere out here- fighting till the end. You’ve shown a bravery unlike anything I’ve seen and to that it is I who must lay my thanks unto you. Without you, I fear we wouldn’t have made it out alive. The lot of us”
As the other backed away and rubbed his forehead Gryph’s attention spiked again at the other’s talk of Mina and her transferring of her soulsight leaving him bewildered and intrigued. This world of theirs was full of so many surprises- Soul transfers, healing powers, contracts with gods. As if it couldn’t be gathered from the fact the world existed suspended within the clouds these discoveries really put things into perspective.
All seriousness melted away though as Jijo had another round and the King couldn’t help but chuckle at the sight. His friend would never cease to surprise him- one minute he’s flustered and frantic while the next a serious, stray-killing machine to a puddle of sincerity and wholeheartedness. It was a refreshing sight though, to say at the very least. To see his friend back to a .. semi normal state. He was alive now by some miracle and Gryph couldn’t be more content with it all, letting out a few more chuckles that soon found their way into full on laughter all the while eyes began to shed glaze in a few tears and ribs beginning to ache, a hand lifting to wipe away at the corner of each eye.
“I’m glad you’re back, Friend.” Laughter would slow to a few sparse chuckles before he shook his head, that smirk still tugging upon his lips. Lower body would work again to lift the King upon stilts shakily standing while he gathered his bearings and turned direction towards the sun who began to set behind golden clouds and with a deep inhale, Gryph returned attention towards the other before speaking softly.
“Egret’ll have my head for not keeping my word..” Voice twisted into a small chuckle at a thought before lips continued, “By now I suspect he’s but a puddle of feathers and tissues.. I had told him I’d return by sundown.” The king would raise a feathered hand, signalling towards the already darkening sky as Sun quickly began to fall into slumber.
“What say you, Jijo- will you return to the Kingdom with me?” Eyes scanned over the other momentarily while pointed ears awaited the other’s response though within his mind he could already envision his dearest companion’s outbursts- his cries and wails, his scolding squawks and accusing points of his fingers. Those two toned eyes fired brightly with both passion and concern. Thinking to himself, he almost looked forward to it- and he’d promised himself to make it up to the white bird one way or another; cheeks warming with the thought.
Jijo's heart was still hammering in his chest with all the commotion going on inside his own body when the King asked him to return to the kingdom. He stilled then; apprehension and anxiety washing over him in waves. He was a traitor to the people. He had killed literally countless of their families, friends, parents, siblings.. and their King. Jijo glanced at the King wide-eyed before averting his gaze to the ground, biting his lip. "I'm not sure that is a great idea, my friend." His voice dripped with sadness at the notion, and he felt a stirring within him that he identified as Mina shifting about uncomfortably.
You saved a lot of people today, Mina offered, her voice clear as bells in his head. You can't possibly be labeled a traitor.
Yes, I can, Jijo retorted internally. I've killed far more than I saved in this battle. And the battle is far from over - more lives are yet to be lost, he reasoned, a hard logic falling over his expression. A minor fraction of the severity he had upon his features after Mina had died, but still reminiscent of that cold.
He turned this cool gaze to the King again, shaking his head more confidently now. "No.. I can't return. Not yet, at least. I.. I want to make it even, somehow." He placed a hand on the jewel that acted as a clasp for his cloak, rubbing it a little, as a fidget. "For every single one of your citizens I've taken, I want to save another." He felt a stirring inside him again, and grinned. "Mina doesn't like the idea. She thinks it's foolish, and that I may never add up completely. May never cancel my sins out. But.." He shrugged overdramatically, smiling just a little now. "If I don't try, surely that's worse, isn't it?" He turned and located his daggers, as somehow during the commotion since his brush with death, they dislodged and fell to the ground. He picked them up and examined them, half-expecting that obsidian cover to leap from his soul and coat his blades, but they didn't, this time. He sheathed the daggers carefully and reverently, as if conducting a delicate ritual in doing so. He then turned back to the king, a peace settling over his heart for the first time in - who knows, honestly?
He bowed lightly to his friend, and pulled his hood over his head, concealing his features. "I lost myself today. I lost Mina, and then myself, and then I got her back, somehow. But .. I'm afraid I'm still not the Jijo you knew. I don't think he's ever coming back." He gave a sad smile, though it was covered by the shadow cast on his face. "I hope that, in time, you will be able to be friends with the one that came back from death today. I'm afraid this impostor Jijo isn't nearly as pleasant." He began moving towards the castle, ears pricked for any signs of leftover strays - in particular, the cruel and sadistic leader that had nearly reunited Jijo with his evil god. He stopped at the edge of the clearing and turned, ensuring the King was coming as well. "We can't leave your mate waiting, can we, Gryph? You're right - he must be very worried."
He paused, thinking of what he just said, and cleared his throat. "Please understand this doesn't mean that I'm returning with you to the castle for good. I still don't believe that's wise. Most commonfolk still see my face and think a murderer of me, and they aren't wrong. However.. For tonight.." He tilted his head, a sad smile creeping across his face. "Well, while Egret is surely waiting for you, a funeral awaits me." He thought of Mina's body, propped up against the city walls, and sighed. It was then that again that peculiar shift within him made itself known, and the sad smile turned just a little happier.
It's just a body, you know, Mina chirped almost too happily. I'm with you. Closer to you than we ever could have dreamed possible were we both perfectly safe. Her tone softened as she spoke, a loving undertone to her words that warmed Ji's heart.
"That is true," Jijo replied out loud, softly - unsure of whether the King heard him, and frankly, he didn't care. The King knew of his over-occupied body. "It is true, but I'll still miss your sharp eyes and your touch." And at that, Mina had no optimistic response.
Then, after another pause to let the King walk with him should he choose, Jijo moved forward in a sudden urgency that probably would have left Gryph behind anyway. He had a sudden desperate need to see Mina one last time; to hold her,to lay that small body to rest with his own hands, instead of by the hands of someone who never knew her- never knew her quit wit, her sharp tongue, her compassion, her struggles.
Jijo moved with swiftness through the lowest branches of the surviving trees, finding it the quickest and easiest way through the flooded kingdom. Upon nearing the city gate, Jijo was able to set foot back down on solid ground, and though the ground was damp and mushy, it had somehow survived the onslaught of the dam. He figured the guards he had scared the piss out of before had moved Mina inside the gates when he dam broke, and he moved inside the city cautiously. Pulling his hood down to show openness, townsfolk gazed at him in fear and open disdain, some struggling with whether they should report him: he was a treasonous traitor, a murderer, so brazenly walking through the gates, and yet amongst the day's chaos in battle they could not find the will to arrest him.
Soon, Jijo came upon the guards he had charged with Mina's protection, standing alertly near an apothecary, Mina's body resting against the wall of the worn building. Upon approach, the guards immediately tensed, a shift in their armor betraying their frayed nerves. One of them shook blatantly, but spoke to him, voice wavering and even failing completely in some places. "P-please.. W-we just moved her so sh-she wouldn't... the.. the flood.." Jijo looked over to the speaking guard and he nearly fainted from it, evoking a sympathetic glance and a sigh from the assassin. "Stand at ease, man.. I'm not going to hurt anyone." He walked past the guards tiredly, kneeling next to Mina's body and brushing some of her hair from her face. "Thank you for relocating her instead of abandoning her to the dam," he spoke softly to the guards, who were utterly confused by his change in attitude. This was not the death machine that had threatened them before.
"All due respect, sir, we just did it because we were 'fraid you'd pluck us and tar us if we left her." The guard sounded more okay now, and Jijo looked at him with a soft smile.
"Ha, indeed," he assented, feeling the guard was pretty on the nose on that one. "I must apologize," he stood and faced them fully, eyes sincere, if still a bit cool. "I was not myself. She was.. is..." He looked down to the body of his lover, shaking his head. "Everything." Mina's presence stirred within him as if embarrassed and he smiled fully, dazzling the two guards and putting them fully at ease.
"I must ask, however --" he started, and the guards alerted again, instantly fearing him once more. "--Hey, stop, would you? I'm not.." He looked sad then, utterly sad for how he let himself be, how he threatened these two innocent men so badly they feared him as they feared death itself. The guards forced themselves to relax, and so Jijo continued. "I ... Just, for today, hold off on arresting me for treason, yeah?.. I'm.. really tired." He smiled brokenly, and the one of the guards - the one who hadn't spoken - swallowed, conflicted.
Neither guard would admit out loud that never in ten trillion years would they attempt to arrest him, after they saw the full brunt of his malice earlier that day.
Taking their silence as agreement, Jijo turned back to Mina's body, hooking an arm under her neck and knees and lifting her to his chest. Mina giggled inside him, which was beyond odd considering the circumstances, until she chirped, Wish you'd held me like that while I was alive!
Jijo smirked, moving again to brush hair from Mina's body's face, retorting silently, You'd have punched me if I had tried. .. And Mina agreed.
He carried her body in reverent silence through the town, the commoners giving him wide berth as he neared, fearing him and his reputation that preceded him. He reached the castle shortly because of this, and even the guards at the castle gate simply moved aside for him, seeing his precious cargo - angry as the people may be, you just don't mess with someone burying their dead. Jijo nodded his thanks to them and he passed, leaving them confused in his wake. The royal graveyard was, luckily for his tired self, pretty near the front, and he made his way there swiftly now, unimpeded by people. Once there, he laid his apprentice down on an especially green, sunny patch of land, took a shovel from the nearby groundskeeper, and set to work laying his girl to rest.
You saved a lot of people today, Mina offered, her voice clear as bells in his head. You can't possibly be labeled a traitor.
Yes, I can, Jijo retorted internally. I've killed far more than I saved in this battle. And the battle is far from over - more lives are yet to be lost, he reasoned, a hard logic falling over his expression. A minor fraction of the severity he had upon his features after Mina had died, but still reminiscent of that cold.
He turned this cool gaze to the King again, shaking his head more confidently now. "No.. I can't return. Not yet, at least. I.. I want to make it even, somehow." He placed a hand on the jewel that acted as a clasp for his cloak, rubbing it a little, as a fidget. "For every single one of your citizens I've taken, I want to save another." He felt a stirring inside him again, and grinned. "Mina doesn't like the idea. She thinks it's foolish, and that I may never add up completely. May never cancel my sins out. But.." He shrugged overdramatically, smiling just a little now. "If I don't try, surely that's worse, isn't it?" He turned and located his daggers, as somehow during the commotion since his brush with death, they dislodged and fell to the ground. He picked them up and examined them, half-expecting that obsidian cover to leap from his soul and coat his blades, but they didn't, this time. He sheathed the daggers carefully and reverently, as if conducting a delicate ritual in doing so. He then turned back to the king, a peace settling over his heart for the first time in - who knows, honestly?
He bowed lightly to his friend, and pulled his hood over his head, concealing his features. "I lost myself today. I lost Mina, and then myself, and then I got her back, somehow. But .. I'm afraid I'm still not the Jijo you knew. I don't think he's ever coming back." He gave a sad smile, though it was covered by the shadow cast on his face. "I hope that, in time, you will be able to be friends with the one that came back from death today. I'm afraid this impostor Jijo isn't nearly as pleasant." He began moving towards the castle, ears pricked for any signs of leftover strays - in particular, the cruel and sadistic leader that had nearly reunited Jijo with his evil god. He stopped at the edge of the clearing and turned, ensuring the King was coming as well. "We can't leave your mate waiting, can we, Gryph? You're right - he must be very worried."
He paused, thinking of what he just said, and cleared his throat. "Please understand this doesn't mean that I'm returning with you to the castle for good. I still don't believe that's wise. Most commonfolk still see my face and think a murderer of me, and they aren't wrong. However.. For tonight.." He tilted his head, a sad smile creeping across his face. "Well, while Egret is surely waiting for you, a funeral awaits me." He thought of Mina's body, propped up against the city walls, and sighed. It was then that again that peculiar shift within him made itself known, and the sad smile turned just a little happier.
It's just a body, you know, Mina chirped almost too happily. I'm with you. Closer to you than we ever could have dreamed possible were we both perfectly safe. Her tone softened as she spoke, a loving undertone to her words that warmed Ji's heart.
"That is true," Jijo replied out loud, softly - unsure of whether the King heard him, and frankly, he didn't care. The King knew of his over-occupied body. "It is true, but I'll still miss your sharp eyes and your touch." And at that, Mina had no optimistic response.
Then, after another pause to let the King walk with him should he choose, Jijo moved forward in a sudden urgency that probably would have left Gryph behind anyway. He had a sudden desperate need to see Mina one last time; to hold her,to lay that small body to rest with his own hands, instead of by the hands of someone who never knew her- never knew her quit wit, her sharp tongue, her compassion, her struggles.
Jijo moved with swiftness through the lowest branches of the surviving trees, finding it the quickest and easiest way through the flooded kingdom. Upon nearing the city gate, Jijo was able to set foot back down on solid ground, and though the ground was damp and mushy, it had somehow survived the onslaught of the dam. He figured the guards he had scared the piss out of before had moved Mina inside the gates when he dam broke, and he moved inside the city cautiously. Pulling his hood down to show openness, townsfolk gazed at him in fear and open disdain, some struggling with whether they should report him: he was a treasonous traitor, a murderer, so brazenly walking through the gates, and yet amongst the day's chaos in battle they could not find the will to arrest him.
Soon, Jijo came upon the guards he had charged with Mina's protection, standing alertly near an apothecary, Mina's body resting against the wall of the worn building. Upon approach, the guards immediately tensed, a shift in their armor betraying their frayed nerves. One of them shook blatantly, but spoke to him, voice wavering and even failing completely in some places. "P-please.. W-we just moved her so sh-she wouldn't... the.. the flood.." Jijo looked over to the speaking guard and he nearly fainted from it, evoking a sympathetic glance and a sigh from the assassin. "Stand at ease, man.. I'm not going to hurt anyone." He walked past the guards tiredly, kneeling next to Mina's body and brushing some of her hair from her face. "Thank you for relocating her instead of abandoning her to the dam," he spoke softly to the guards, who were utterly confused by his change in attitude. This was not the death machine that had threatened them before.
"All due respect, sir, we just did it because we were 'fraid you'd pluck us and tar us if we left her." The guard sounded more okay now, and Jijo looked at him with a soft smile.
"Ha, indeed," he assented, feeling the guard was pretty on the nose on that one. "I must apologize," he stood and faced them fully, eyes sincere, if still a bit cool. "I was not myself. She was.. is..." He looked down to the body of his lover, shaking his head. "Everything." Mina's presence stirred within him as if embarrassed and he smiled fully, dazzling the two guards and putting them fully at ease.
"I must ask, however --" he started, and the guards alerted again, instantly fearing him once more. "--Hey, stop, would you? I'm not.." He looked sad then, utterly sad for how he let himself be, how he threatened these two innocent men so badly they feared him as they feared death itself. The guards forced themselves to relax, and so Jijo continued. "I ... Just, for today, hold off on arresting me for treason, yeah?.. I'm.. really tired." He smiled brokenly, and the one of the guards - the one who hadn't spoken - swallowed, conflicted.
Neither guard would admit out loud that never in ten trillion years would they attempt to arrest him, after they saw the full brunt of his malice earlier that day.
Taking their silence as agreement, Jijo turned back to Mina's body, hooking an arm under her neck and knees and lifting her to his chest. Mina giggled inside him, which was beyond odd considering the circumstances, until she chirped, Wish you'd held me like that while I was alive!
Jijo smirked, moving again to brush hair from Mina's body's face, retorting silently, You'd have punched me if I had tried. .. And Mina agreed.
He carried her body in reverent silence through the town, the commoners giving him wide berth as he neared, fearing him and his reputation that preceded him. He reached the castle shortly because of this, and even the guards at the castle gate simply moved aside for him, seeing his precious cargo - angry as the people may be, you just don't mess with someone burying their dead. Jijo nodded his thanks to them and he passed, leaving them confused in his wake. The royal graveyard was, luckily for his tired self, pretty near the front, and he made his way there swiftly now, unimpeded by people. Once there, he laid his apprentice down on an especially green, sunny patch of land, took a shovel from the nearby groundskeeper, and set to work laying his girl to rest.
The King’s attention pulled back towards the other as he spoke words of treason, traitor, and his fears of the kingdom’s views upon himself though while Jijo began to speak of redemption his heart and expression softened. The other had changed quite a bit from all this and even before when Ji had left the kingdom. This was a new bird before him yet he couldn’t shake the fondness from his heart even after his frustrations with him prior to this scuffle; no. Jijo had reasons behind his actions and Gryph had learned to accept his past as just that- his past. After all, you can never alter or change it but instead, learn from it and grow to change your future. Head would dip in a deep nod towards the other and a soft smile pulled at each corner of ash lips in understanding. It still stung to know the other had no intentions of coming back with him but in time he had hoped the other would accomplish his goal and return behind the golden walls- a selfish, hopeful thought that stirred within his own mind.
“I think that’s a great plan, Jijo..” Eyes softened upon him as he spoke even all the while his smaller companion spoke of being different than before. The King could see this clearly but accepted it and deep within him he had hoped to become good friends again with this ‘new Jijo’.
Talons pressed against the hard earth as he advanced onward behind the other though face flushed at his words and he couldn’t help but stop dead in his tracks if for just a moment and nearly deafened by the thought he had only barely caught what was said after. His mate- Did Jijo happen to see the two .. interacting in a much more friendly way or- then he let out a loud, deep exhale and closed his eyes recalling his quick liplock with the other before Gryph had took off towards the dam. Heart now fluttered within his chest. His secret wasn’t out yet though.. he could easily blame that on the heat of the moment if anyone bothered to question it- at least for now.. it would be the safest idea for now.
“Er..” he’d pause a moment and shake his head to clear his mind before continuing forth one foot before the other. “I understand, Jijo- you need not explain to me your reasons behind your decisions though I do appreciate it. Know that even with all that’s happened.. all that you’ve done in your past that I do not hold ill feelings against you.” Gryph gave a swallow and attempted to calm his rapid heart and hurried breath before placing a gentle hand on the other’s shoulder and give a small smile. He’d let the other lead the way though ears twitched at the other’s scrabbling to himself; to his guess, talking with Mina in some way or another which only stirred a warmth within his own self and caused him to turn attention besides him saddened slightly at the realization his dearest companion was not there. It was such an alien feeling to him as he had grown so used to the other being on his heels at every waking moment. He imagined that’s how Jijo felt without Mina- even if in some way she was within him still he must still yearn for her physical form.
He’d follow silently to the gates of the kingdom and once inside he would leave Ji to his business- they both had important things to see to and Gryph hadn’t wanted to make his partner wait another moment more in fear he’d have his head. He’d round the corner and push through the heart of the city and then ticktock his way across the cobblestone path that lay out before his home, resting a moment on the steps as his guards and people gave small bows and relieved sighs to see their young King was still alive. Yes- he was alive though body was bruised and cut, feathers in mats and ruffles even missing a patch here and there. It was worth it though- wounds can mend but a fallen Kingdom could not. Gryph would give a gentle wave to his people and a nod before continuing on up the staircase and rounded towards his room only stopping just before the thick drapes that covered the entrance to his chambers and gulping hard. He could hear beyond the drapes his companion sniffling and stuttering coos and while it broke a part of his heart it also warmed him all the same, causing a fiendish grin to tug at a corner of his lips until finally, he’d push beyond the heavy cloth and step a few feet inside the room.
Egret opened an eye at the sudden sound of the other emerging in the doorway and froze if for only a moment before jumping off of the lush, padded bed and bounding towards Gryph who knelt down to his own eye level. He’d stop in front of him with a scowl on his face- tears soaked his cheeks and eyes narrow in a glare up at the younger bird all the while hands balled into fists and not long after hit them softly one after the other upon the King’s chest. The gesture alarmed the King for a moment though he had expected as much and accepted it all the same but as Egret became aware of his current actions the older bird only began to sob more and withdraw, melting away in guilt and apology- oh why had he hit his King?! That was no way for anyone to treat their king or their best friend! Frantic now he’d bring hands to his own face and attempt to wipe away the steady stream from his eyes though to no avail as they continued to pour only soaking the feathers along his wrists. He was an absolute mess. He’d pull away and turn himself from Gryph a moment though was pulled back and stood face to face before the King pushed lips against his own- silencing his hysteria. Egret stood for a moment in dismay though soon leaned into the kiss and reciprocated with his own, enjoying the firm but gentle hold the other had upon burning cheeks.
The two waited a moment, exchanging a few kisses before they each pulled away just a few nose-lengths from one another while watching deep into eachother’s eyes. Egret found himself within those ruby jewels, ceasing all sobbing to just a few whimpers and quivers though ears flicked forwards as Gryph pulled farther away and flopped upon his rump all the while an elated burst of laughter began to fill the room which only caused Egret to fluster and puff his cheeks at the other.
“Haha- you should have seen the look on your face! You were SUCH a mess!” Gryph couldn’t contain himself now and instead let loose with his laughter despite his bruised ribs. Tears of joy mixed with other heartfelt emotions, glazed over his eyes and he’d use a hand to wipe it away while Egret sounded a frustrated grunt squawking loudly, pointing his fingers at the other and then out towards the window and back again accusingly as he attempted to defend himself in any way he knew how. The other’s laughter only feeding his frustration, he’d ball a fist and slug the other right in the arm causing the King to flinch a little and ‘Ow’ through his chuckles however, after not too long Egret too joined with a few chuckles before they’d fall silent together.
“I told you that I’d make it back to you, Egret. I’m here- and I promise I won’t leave your side again. I figured you’d have had my head for it anyways. Thanks for your kindness in sparing me.” Gryph would speak in all sincerity though joke towards the end and giving a gentle, playful push of the hand against his smaller, older companion. Egret squawked and narrowed eyes in a fiendish look as if telling the other he had thought about it; not to be so quick to think he was out of hot water yet to which the King would just give a scrunched face and a furrowed brow as if egging him on. Moments passed and the two gathered their wits, Egret wasting no time checking the other’s wounds over with ears flattened against his skull. He hated seeing the other hurt and beat up though he himself was quite a mess too. Missing feathers, blood stained patches and a good amount of cuts on his face that only reddened and stung with the salty waterworks prior. They looked like hell but wouldn’t have it any other way.
“I think that’s a great plan, Jijo..” Eyes softened upon him as he spoke even all the while his smaller companion spoke of being different than before. The King could see this clearly but accepted it and deep within him he had hoped to become good friends again with this ‘new Jijo’.
Talons pressed against the hard earth as he advanced onward behind the other though face flushed at his words and he couldn’t help but stop dead in his tracks if for just a moment and nearly deafened by the thought he had only barely caught what was said after. His mate- Did Jijo happen to see the two .. interacting in a much more friendly way or- then he let out a loud, deep exhale and closed his eyes recalling his quick liplock with the other before Gryph had took off towards the dam. Heart now fluttered within his chest. His secret wasn’t out yet though.. he could easily blame that on the heat of the moment if anyone bothered to question it- at least for now.. it would be the safest idea for now.
“Er..” he’d pause a moment and shake his head to clear his mind before continuing forth one foot before the other. “I understand, Jijo- you need not explain to me your reasons behind your decisions though I do appreciate it. Know that even with all that’s happened.. all that you’ve done in your past that I do not hold ill feelings against you.” Gryph gave a swallow and attempted to calm his rapid heart and hurried breath before placing a gentle hand on the other’s shoulder and give a small smile. He’d let the other lead the way though ears twitched at the other’s scrabbling to himself; to his guess, talking with Mina in some way or another which only stirred a warmth within his own self and caused him to turn attention besides him saddened slightly at the realization his dearest companion was not there. It was such an alien feeling to him as he had grown so used to the other being on his heels at every waking moment. He imagined that’s how Jijo felt without Mina- even if in some way she was within him still he must still yearn for her physical form.
He’d follow silently to the gates of the kingdom and once inside he would leave Ji to his business- they both had important things to see to and Gryph hadn’t wanted to make his partner wait another moment more in fear he’d have his head. He’d round the corner and push through the heart of the city and then ticktock his way across the cobblestone path that lay out before his home, resting a moment on the steps as his guards and people gave small bows and relieved sighs to see their young King was still alive. Yes- he was alive though body was bruised and cut, feathers in mats and ruffles even missing a patch here and there. It was worth it though- wounds can mend but a fallen Kingdom could not. Gryph would give a gentle wave to his people and a nod before continuing on up the staircase and rounded towards his room only stopping just before the thick drapes that covered the entrance to his chambers and gulping hard. He could hear beyond the drapes his companion sniffling and stuttering coos and while it broke a part of his heart it also warmed him all the same, causing a fiendish grin to tug at a corner of his lips until finally, he’d push beyond the heavy cloth and step a few feet inside the room.
Egret opened an eye at the sudden sound of the other emerging in the doorway and froze if for only a moment before jumping off of the lush, padded bed and bounding towards Gryph who knelt down to his own eye level. He’d stop in front of him with a scowl on his face- tears soaked his cheeks and eyes narrow in a glare up at the younger bird all the while hands balled into fists and not long after hit them softly one after the other upon the King’s chest. The gesture alarmed the King for a moment though he had expected as much and accepted it all the same but as Egret became aware of his current actions the older bird only began to sob more and withdraw, melting away in guilt and apology- oh why had he hit his King?! That was no way for anyone to treat their king or their best friend! Frantic now he’d bring hands to his own face and attempt to wipe away the steady stream from his eyes though to no avail as they continued to pour only soaking the feathers along his wrists. He was an absolute mess. He’d pull away and turn himself from Gryph a moment though was pulled back and stood face to face before the King pushed lips against his own- silencing his hysteria. Egret stood for a moment in dismay though soon leaned into the kiss and reciprocated with his own, enjoying the firm but gentle hold the other had upon burning cheeks.
The two waited a moment, exchanging a few kisses before they each pulled away just a few nose-lengths from one another while watching deep into eachother’s eyes. Egret found himself within those ruby jewels, ceasing all sobbing to just a few whimpers and quivers though ears flicked forwards as Gryph pulled farther away and flopped upon his rump all the while an elated burst of laughter began to fill the room which only caused Egret to fluster and puff his cheeks at the other.
“Haha- you should have seen the look on your face! You were SUCH a mess!” Gryph couldn’t contain himself now and instead let loose with his laughter despite his bruised ribs. Tears of joy mixed with other heartfelt emotions, glazed over his eyes and he’d use a hand to wipe it away while Egret sounded a frustrated grunt squawking loudly, pointing his fingers at the other and then out towards the window and back again accusingly as he attempted to defend himself in any way he knew how. The other’s laughter only feeding his frustration, he’d ball a fist and slug the other right in the arm causing the King to flinch a little and ‘Ow’ through his chuckles however, after not too long Egret too joined with a few chuckles before they’d fall silent together.
“I told you that I’d make it back to you, Egret. I’m here- and I promise I won’t leave your side again. I figured you’d have had my head for it anyways. Thanks for your kindness in sparing me.” Gryph would speak in all sincerity though joke towards the end and giving a gentle, playful push of the hand against his smaller, older companion. Egret squawked and narrowed eyes in a fiendish look as if telling the other he had thought about it; not to be so quick to think he was out of hot water yet to which the King would just give a scrunched face and a furrowed brow as if egging him on. Moments passed and the two gathered their wits, Egret wasting no time checking the other’s wounds over with ears flattened against his skull. He hated seeing the other hurt and beat up though he himself was quite a mess too. Missing feathers, blood stained patches and a good amount of cuts on his face that only reddened and stung with the salty waterworks prior. They looked like hell but wouldn’t have it any other way.
Jijo smiled sadly down at the small grave he'd dug before him. However, as tender the moment should have been, Jijo felt only extremely impeded upon - for behind him a small crowd had gathered, and not to respect Mina. In fact, he was furious about it, and it took all his restraint to not turn and scare the crowd away with some Wrath-based sorcery. He knew they were there out of curiosity as to why he wasn't being arrested; indeed, it was as he thought: he was no hero to them. Certainly not yet.
Jijo turned and scowled openly at the crowd as he attempted to lay his lover to rest; the complete lack of decency astounded him. Guards, commoners, palace servants, all gawking at the pariah in what should have been a reverent moment alone. Finally fed up, and wanting to lay Mina to rest in peace, Jijo drew both his daggers and faced the crowd. This alone made them uneasy, but not back away, and so Jijo did all he could short of attacking them: he threw his daggers down in a showy display of his power and anger, the daggers sinking completely to the hilt in the wet earth inches in front of the small crowd. Startled, shrieky sounds came from the birds and downfeathers flew up in a poof as they scattered, leaving Jijo once again alone with his apprentice with a wicked grin on his face.
You know you should have expected that, Mina scolded him, though amused. But even I have to admit it was funny.
"It was funny," Jijo said hesitantly, "but it never should've happened. There never should have been an opportunity for laughing during this. I just wanted to be alone with.. with you." Jijo struggled with the technicalities of the funeral; was it really a funeral when the soul carried on? Especially when the soul resided within a body still, even if it was his own. Mina sensed his struggle and seemed to emanate warmth from within him, comforting him.
Don't sweat the petty stuff, Mina chirped, and don't pet the sweaty stuff either.
Jijo scowled, but still let out a chuckle at the terrible joke. Shrugging his shoulders to work out the kinks, Jijo finally moved to Mina's body, picking it up bridal-carry has he had before and hopping down into the small grave. "I'm sorry I don't have a coffin for you," he murmured. She seemed unconcerned, but he continued, "it feels wrong; you gave your life defending this kingdom and people will never know it, and while you lay in a plot of honor you haven't even the protection of an oak sarcophagus to protect your earthly remains. It's so.. disrespectful."
Then make them recognize it, Mina said with passion. Make them realize what I did, what you did, what you'll continue to do. People will constantly say that working without recognition is all the nobler, but those people weren't on the brink of exile or sentencing when their work goes unnoticed. Mina seemed to grin, that warmth coming through him again. You need a Mark.
Jijo's confusion played out plainly on his face as he hopped out of the grave and set out to burying Mina's remains. "A Marque?" He obviously misunderstood. "Marques .. I can't leave those, that's Wrath's doing. They disappear once they're dead, too," he grumbled.
Not a Marque, you dolt. A mark. A calling card - something that tells people who you are and what you did and that something going on was your doing. Something for your assassinations and your charities both. They will come to recognize what you do for them.
And Jijo understood. It was a perfect idea, really - a symbol to show the people his intentions without ever openly showing himself and risking his hide in the process. It allowed him to do his work without interference but also with the comfort that others were seeing the good he was trying to do.
An hour later, Mina's grave lay full and covered, and Jijo wiped the sweat from his brow with a triumphant smile. As much as he had wished Mina had something better, he assured himself he would make it so on his own effort. Rather than relying on the King's kindness and resources, he would build his way back up from the very bottom of the kingdom's caste. He was worse off than a peasant right now - peasants were not as hated as he, and he knew it. So he would have a lot of work to do - and it began now.
Jijo pulled his daggers from the mushy earth and cleaned them on his cloak before sheathing them, the metallic ring bringing attention to a couple of guardsmen nearby. Jijo recognized them as the ones who had protected Mina's body; they probably came while he was working on the grave without his notice. He simply nodded his thanks to them for not arresting him as promised and skirted by, turning the corner of the castle and scaling it to the roof.
Ah, yes, this was familiar. The cold bite of the wind as it ran off the palace roof and nipped at his face. The darkness of evening descending upon the kingdom. And while Jijo knew that the battle with the Strays was far from over, he couldn't help but feel at ease; feel like things were, just for a moment, normal. He stayed here, atop the palace, for a couple of hours more, simply enjoying the simplicity of it. And then, finally, he got to work.
He felt a small sense of urgency - one he remembered well from his early, mindless days working with Wrath. He identified it as the pulling of a Marque, a sixth sense of sorts that drew him close to a target. And while slightly perturbed that a Marque would present itself literally the evening after battle, Jijo went to carry out his work. He felt, strangely, no animosity towards his dark God any longer - the goods and bads had finally balanced each other out with Mina's death and Jijo's brief parley with insanity. The delicate truce between Jijo and Wrath was restored, and it felt utterly right.
When Jijo approached his Marque from atop the roof of an old general store nestled on an alley corner, Jijo could see exactly why he was so Marqued. Mina's Soulsight gave him this - though he had always thought her sight simply gave her a general rundown of a person's being (are they generally good people or bad people?) he found he saw much more than that. In this Marque he saw a coward; someone who very obviously, at least to him, deserted the battle today and left his fellow soldiers to die at the hands of Strays. At this revelation, Jijo looked up at the sky and smiled, feeling at peace with himself and his duty and feeling so, so glad he now could understand Wrath's workings even better than before. Then, with the familiar metallic ring of his blades, Jijo descended upon the deserter, Wrath judge his soul.
Once the job was done, Mina reminded Jijo of the need for a mark and he started, nearly having forgotten. Standing in the alley where he'd killed the betrayer, he felt odd and in the open next to the body while he considered, but he forced himself into the eerie calm he had adopted earlier that day and let cold logic determine his course. Finally, he smiled, having an idea for his mark. He tore a small portion of his already tattered robes and, using a nearby black stone, drew on it, then tucked the cloth on the corpse's front lapel.
The cloth displayed two sun-like symbols, intersecting in the center, as though sharing a too-small space. One was white and the other was black.
It's us, Mina mused, equal parts impressed and warmed.
Yes, Jijo replied silently. It is.
Jijo turned and scowled openly at the crowd as he attempted to lay his lover to rest; the complete lack of decency astounded him. Guards, commoners, palace servants, all gawking at the pariah in what should have been a reverent moment alone. Finally fed up, and wanting to lay Mina to rest in peace, Jijo drew both his daggers and faced the crowd. This alone made them uneasy, but not back away, and so Jijo did all he could short of attacking them: he threw his daggers down in a showy display of his power and anger, the daggers sinking completely to the hilt in the wet earth inches in front of the small crowd. Startled, shrieky sounds came from the birds and downfeathers flew up in a poof as they scattered, leaving Jijo once again alone with his apprentice with a wicked grin on his face.
You know you should have expected that, Mina scolded him, though amused. But even I have to admit it was funny.
"It was funny," Jijo said hesitantly, "but it never should've happened. There never should have been an opportunity for laughing during this. I just wanted to be alone with.. with you." Jijo struggled with the technicalities of the funeral; was it really a funeral when the soul carried on? Especially when the soul resided within a body still, even if it was his own. Mina sensed his struggle and seemed to emanate warmth from within him, comforting him.
Don't sweat the petty stuff, Mina chirped, and don't pet the sweaty stuff either.
Jijo scowled, but still let out a chuckle at the terrible joke. Shrugging his shoulders to work out the kinks, Jijo finally moved to Mina's body, picking it up bridal-carry has he had before and hopping down into the small grave. "I'm sorry I don't have a coffin for you," he murmured. She seemed unconcerned, but he continued, "it feels wrong; you gave your life defending this kingdom and people will never know it, and while you lay in a plot of honor you haven't even the protection of an oak sarcophagus to protect your earthly remains. It's so.. disrespectful."
Then make them recognize it, Mina said with passion. Make them realize what I did, what you did, what you'll continue to do. People will constantly say that working without recognition is all the nobler, but those people weren't on the brink of exile or sentencing when their work goes unnoticed. Mina seemed to grin, that warmth coming through him again. You need a Mark.
Jijo's confusion played out plainly on his face as he hopped out of the grave and set out to burying Mina's remains. "A Marque?" He obviously misunderstood. "Marques .. I can't leave those, that's Wrath's doing. They disappear once they're dead, too," he grumbled.
Not a Marque, you dolt. A mark. A calling card - something that tells people who you are and what you did and that something going on was your doing. Something for your assassinations and your charities both. They will come to recognize what you do for them.
And Jijo understood. It was a perfect idea, really - a symbol to show the people his intentions without ever openly showing himself and risking his hide in the process. It allowed him to do his work without interference but also with the comfort that others were seeing the good he was trying to do.
An hour later, Mina's grave lay full and covered, and Jijo wiped the sweat from his brow with a triumphant smile. As much as he had wished Mina had something better, he assured himself he would make it so on his own effort. Rather than relying on the King's kindness and resources, he would build his way back up from the very bottom of the kingdom's caste. He was worse off than a peasant right now - peasants were not as hated as he, and he knew it. So he would have a lot of work to do - and it began now.
Jijo pulled his daggers from the mushy earth and cleaned them on his cloak before sheathing them, the metallic ring bringing attention to a couple of guardsmen nearby. Jijo recognized them as the ones who had protected Mina's body; they probably came while he was working on the grave without his notice. He simply nodded his thanks to them for not arresting him as promised and skirted by, turning the corner of the castle and scaling it to the roof.
Ah, yes, this was familiar. The cold bite of the wind as it ran off the palace roof and nipped at his face. The darkness of evening descending upon the kingdom. And while Jijo knew that the battle with the Strays was far from over, he couldn't help but feel at ease; feel like things were, just for a moment, normal. He stayed here, atop the palace, for a couple of hours more, simply enjoying the simplicity of it. And then, finally, he got to work.
He felt a small sense of urgency - one he remembered well from his early, mindless days working with Wrath. He identified it as the pulling of a Marque, a sixth sense of sorts that drew him close to a target. And while slightly perturbed that a Marque would present itself literally the evening after battle, Jijo went to carry out his work. He felt, strangely, no animosity towards his dark God any longer - the goods and bads had finally balanced each other out with Mina's death and Jijo's brief parley with insanity. The delicate truce between Jijo and Wrath was restored, and it felt utterly right.
When Jijo approached his Marque from atop the roof of an old general store nestled on an alley corner, Jijo could see exactly why he was so Marqued. Mina's Soulsight gave him this - though he had always thought her sight simply gave her a general rundown of a person's being (are they generally good people or bad people?) he found he saw much more than that. In this Marque he saw a coward; someone who very obviously, at least to him, deserted the battle today and left his fellow soldiers to die at the hands of Strays. At this revelation, Jijo looked up at the sky and smiled, feeling at peace with himself and his duty and feeling so, so glad he now could understand Wrath's workings even better than before. Then, with the familiar metallic ring of his blades, Jijo descended upon the deserter, Wrath judge his soul.
Once the job was done, Mina reminded Jijo of the need for a mark and he started, nearly having forgotten. Standing in the alley where he'd killed the betrayer, he felt odd and in the open next to the body while he considered, but he forced himself into the eerie calm he had adopted earlier that day and let cold logic determine his course. Finally, he smiled, having an idea for his mark. He tore a small portion of his already tattered robes and, using a nearby black stone, drew on it, then tucked the cloth on the corpse's front lapel.
The cloth displayed two sun-like symbols, intersecting in the center, as though sharing a too-small space. One was white and the other was black.
It's us, Mina mused, equal parts impressed and warmed.
Yes, Jijo replied silently. It is.
As the night completely fell upon the golden city the inhabitants began to wind down with the end of day- counting their blessings for having survived the battle prior and mourning their losses. The injured were lay to rest on lush, padded beds in the kingdom’s infirmary while gentle handed medics tended to their wounds and bandaged their deep gashes. One by one, small lights flickered a lit behind shaded windows and began to light the kingdom in a warming glow, families inside giving thanks for the meal they shared in the great hall.
Meanwhile, within the thick, sturdy walls of the palace the King and his adviser would accompany each other for their nightly rituals and tuck themselves tightly between silk sheets and heavy quilts. A yawn would emit from one and followed by the other and both boys would exchange soft smiles before slipping away into dreamland. For now, the city was safe and after their long day sleep was very much needed and as the night grew old and most of the kingdom deep in their slumber the King shifted and wiggled while dreamscapes vividly painted themselves behind sealed lids. He could see before him a burning gold light surrounded by an orange sky and after a few seconds memory recalled where he had recognized previously- almost anxiously anticipating what he had hoped would follow. A soothing voice echoed through his ears now, rattling the clouds that surrounded in its power and he could hear it calling his name as if beckoning attention in every which way until finally he could fix eyes upon the familiar figure. Antique white scales glistened in the light above along serpentine body that edged closer before him- his god in full glory. Xhen.
Without another moment Gryph dropped to his knees and bowed his head towards the ground, eyes not daring to pull from their stare to the ground and instead allowed ears to focus fully on anything his lord had to say. To his surprise, a hissed chuckle vibrated through the wind and into his body before familiar voice rang again.
“King of the golden city..” the beast paused, creating suspense in the other a moment before continuing, “I needn’t remind that I ssssee all- everything and all that happens in this world above, below, and center.”
Gryph could feel the god’s eyes burning down on him and guilt churned within the deepest part of his guts to the point he felt suddenly nauseous, frustrated with himself prior and cursing softly under his breath. He was a fool who had allowed his selfishness get the better of him, weakened by the fault of feelings and emotions most every bird lost himself to from time to time. He didn’t expect the God to forgive him but he didn’t expect him to hold it against him either.. Lithe frame trembled slightly as mind replayed his moment of weakness and to his surprise it was most a blur. He couldn’t remember anything.. nothing besides his cruelty towards his dearest friend and his shutting concerned townspeople out, staking hideout within the thick walls of his chambers. A fool..
“I’m not here for that, I assure you.. Be calm and do not fret. I saw what you had done for your friend, my child, and I must ask out of curiousssity if you yourself understand exactly what happened.” Voice was calm and gentle as if motherly in its own way though twisted in a delighted curiousity as the magnificent God now loomed over Gryph a good hundred times larger than himself. “How did you feel? How did it happen?” Xhen began to prod for an answer more quickly.
Gryph would cease his thoughts for a moment before squinting his stare upon the ground and reflected upon the day. “I.. I had brought my dead friend back to life..at least I think? I’m.. Not I don’t understand, My Lord.” Admittedly, he had no idea really if it was him who had even brought Jijo back or Mina for that matter thought attention was brought back to the booming chuckle that rumbled within the serpent god’s throat who only offered a few words in return.
“Would you like to?”
The king nodded softly and wearily rose eyes as a bright flash came over his vision before it finally settled and revealed a figure before him that stood at about his own height- it was the creature he had seen earlier that day before he had save Jijo! Eyes blinked quickly and body followed the figure’s lead as it brought him to spurred feet and offered nothing beyond a gentle smile and soft eyes. He couldn’t help but lock gazes with the creature before him as if baffled and entranced all the same, the only thing swaying his vision being his own lids every so often. “It.. It was you. You were there with me- you showed me how to save him.” The figure nodded though words still escaped it. “C-can I do it again? Does it work for everyone? Are there consequences? Why me?” Questions flowed from ash lips like a rushing river and the figure silently chuckled and gave a slow blink at the young bird before it as if bashful- elated even.
“In time you will learn the extent of your power, young Gryph. In time. I’m afraid I cannot give fuller information on the matter but.. yes. It was you who brought your friend from the depths. You have the ability to transfer your soul into energy and with it, you can mend the broken. This is my gift to you and my only wish is that you use this gift wisely. I have given the kings and queens before you various gifts.. all very different. Some had corrupted themselves while others destroyed themselves but alas, that is not my decision. Each bird of power is under his or her own free will, you see. “ The creature would pause and allow the other time to catch up in their conversation before continuing. “Take for example your father Rukaia. A promising King. Very much like yourself really, though I need not remind the path he had chose. He was given a gift at his turn of Kingship and with it he had defeated and destroyed many of my children which ultimately he atoned with his own life.”
Gryph couldn’t help but pull his gaze away in scorn and resentment while cursing again at the memory of his father and his two-faced ways that only left him feeling ignorant and ashamed.
“But that was his demonstration of his own free will, Gryph, and he couldn’t have been changed otherwise. You need to understand this.”
“I have come to terms with this.” He’d grit his teeth and speak through clenched jaw while eyes narrowed slightly if daring to the creature as if feeling the need to defend himself. The white creature only pushed closer so noses were but inches apart- fiery eyes dwelling deep into scarlet.
“You need to understand. You’re afraid. Afraid that you will become him- that you will fall under foot and ultimately collide with the same ending. I see all; above, below and center, Gryph. I know this.” The King’s eyes softened and he’d pull gaze away once more and release a soft sigh, defeated.
“You can’t be afraid, my child. Fear leads mortals to make dumb decisionsss..” Voice cooed in a less than formal way before a clear of the throat interrupted. “Ah- but we’re not here for that. Your abilities. I recommend you experiment further with them and figure your limitsss. Be wary of pushing yourself too far however as I’m sure you experienced first hand how draining it was. Every time you use your power your soul is drained and of course, it regenerates over a few days of rest but this leavesss you vulnerable and using it too much well..” King’s attention directed back at the other with worry and confusion painted upon his face and the creature stood silently, dumbfounded as it searched for the right words before finally, “Sssometimes, for the good of the Kingdom there has to be sacrifices. Example- a bird can survive without a toe but not without a head.”
While the other was slightly confused at the being’s dark analogy the more he thought on it, the more it made sense. As a King he knew there had to be a balance to his kingdom. There had to be hierarchy and classes despite how tempting it was to make everyone equal. He knew there were places for everyone and without a head there would be no order.
“Yes, I understand..”
With his words his vision began to flood with a blinding light once more and the figure before him pushed foreheads against one another firmly until finally the light overcame his sense of sight all together and in an instant he had slipped back away into dreamland until dawn break.
Dusty skin warmed at the gentle kisses the solar rays laid upon body from head to toe causing a ruby eye to peek behind lid a brief moment. Body shifted and arms worked to push Gryph to a sitting position while his one opened eye now fixed on the lump besides- sure enough Egret who had somehow seized every blanket on the bed and lay burrowed beneath it; one of the other’s odd yet amusing quirks. Soft smile now painted upon lips and a gentle hand placed upon the lump, a moment later it wiggled and the small bird pushed through just enough so that from the bridge of his nose up was poking out. Those two toned eyes watching up at the other before blinking slowly and softening while heavy quilts hit his gentle grin.
A few hours had passed and the boys made their way to the royal kitchen, picking up a bushel of grapes which they shared as they walked along the cobblestone paths that riddled the city. Rounding a corner the King stopped to offer half of their bushel to a few small owlets who looked a little malnourished and in turn thanked him deeply before running off. Gryph made his way to check in on his people and take a mental note of those fallen. He’d make plans for a mass burial ceremony in the next few days and run his plans to the birds appointed to handle these delicate events. He’d check in with the guards at the North, West, and East but was stopped by a guard who ran at full speed towards him and bowed quickly.
“King Gryph! There seems to have been a murder within our walls.”
Curious, Gryph looked down at Egret and exchanged a look before directing attention back at the guard. “A stray made it inside the city?”
“N-no sir. The kill was clean and the birds at the morg claim it happened sometime in the night. But that’s not all. Some sort of insignia was found at the site.”
“Do you recognize it as any of the surrounding Kingdoms’ crests?”
“Not at all- this isn’t anything we’ve seen before. If you follow my lead, Sir, I’ll take you to the scene. We’ve left it mostly untouched aside from moving the body. Respectively, of course.”
Gryph pondered in thought though he followed his guard with Egret on his heels until they came to a halt before the crime scene- a darkened stained mass indicating where crimson life-force had drained. Crane was silent a few more moments as eyes took in the site until finally lips would part in question. “Was it one of our own?”
“Rhogen, sir.”
Carefully, the King tick-tocked around the scene and eyed at any possible clues that would break way of this mysterious death until finally he came face to face with the insignia. It was far from anything he had seen before and nothing about it gave any hints towards the culprit. “This isn’t just some hired assassin working for some measly gold.. A goon like that wouldn’t have left any sort of mark at the scene- a good one anyways. This was someone who wanted to be known.” The mark intrigued him and the mystery behind it even more so.
“Maybe it was a cocky one with an ego to stroke.” The guard grew defensive and gave a snort as he puffed feathers slightly before the king had asked to be taken to the body where he would be escorted to the morg by the same guard. Coming upon the body in full rigor, Gryph would pause as if lost in a sudden thought- why in Xhens name would this bird be picked out of all the others? Why not come after the King or those closest to him if there was some sort of message behind all this. Why a classed bird like Rhogen? Then it dawned on him- He couldn’t recall seeing Rhogen for the last few days. Not while the city trained and definitely not amid the battle grounds.. Did memory serve correct though?
“Guard.. do you recall seeing Rhogen during battle yesterday by any chance?”
“N-no Sir. Not for the last handful of days- figured the plague mighta turned one over for him.. But I do remember seeing him at the meeting you called before.”
Gryph would pause, weary to give out any ideas on who he could possibly think the suspect to be and more importantly, not wanting to feed any false information that could lead the guards on a wild goose chase. No, he’d not let any ideas be spoken and instead shook his head before silently speaking. “Thank you. Please, if you could, ask around and see if anyone might have caught sight of this assassin and Rhogen's whereabouts these last few days. Ask them about the insignia and have a scribe draw it out to avoid bringing further attention the location where the body was found. I’ll need someone to fix up that area before people make their way through there. I don’t want anyone getting upset.” The guard and morg birds nodded in understanding before Gryph and Egret pushed from the building entrance and continued their city assessment. Smaller bird peeping up at his King in question.
“Jijo’s alive, by the way- I went back yesterday to see if I could help him. He brought Mina to the royal graveyard and laid her to rest.. We should go visit and pay our respects.” King would speak nothing of the events after he found Ji. Not yet.
White ears drooped a bit and together, the two would sit upon the grassy null besides a freshly dug grave but not before Gryph reached up to pluck a small bunch of peach blossoms handing one down to Egret before setting them down atop the grave. Egret wiggled a bit closer so that his side hugged tight against Gryph’s own as eyes closed and their warm regards for Mina sounded within their minds. Thanking her and showing their utmost appreciation for her efforts as well as their deepest apologies that her life had ended- wishing the best for her soul in the beyond despite Gryph knowing it resided within the body of her mentor. Here, the boys would stay for a handful of passing moments, giving her resting body their quiet, undivided company.
Meanwhile, within the thick, sturdy walls of the palace the King and his adviser would accompany each other for their nightly rituals and tuck themselves tightly between silk sheets and heavy quilts. A yawn would emit from one and followed by the other and both boys would exchange soft smiles before slipping away into dreamland. For now, the city was safe and after their long day sleep was very much needed and as the night grew old and most of the kingdom deep in their slumber the King shifted and wiggled while dreamscapes vividly painted themselves behind sealed lids. He could see before him a burning gold light surrounded by an orange sky and after a few seconds memory recalled where he had recognized previously- almost anxiously anticipating what he had hoped would follow. A soothing voice echoed through his ears now, rattling the clouds that surrounded in its power and he could hear it calling his name as if beckoning attention in every which way until finally he could fix eyes upon the familiar figure. Antique white scales glistened in the light above along serpentine body that edged closer before him- his god in full glory. Xhen.
Without another moment Gryph dropped to his knees and bowed his head towards the ground, eyes not daring to pull from their stare to the ground and instead allowed ears to focus fully on anything his lord had to say. To his surprise, a hissed chuckle vibrated through the wind and into his body before familiar voice rang again.
“King of the golden city..” the beast paused, creating suspense in the other a moment before continuing, “I needn’t remind that I ssssee all- everything and all that happens in this world above, below, and center.”
Gryph could feel the god’s eyes burning down on him and guilt churned within the deepest part of his guts to the point he felt suddenly nauseous, frustrated with himself prior and cursing softly under his breath. He was a fool who had allowed his selfishness get the better of him, weakened by the fault of feelings and emotions most every bird lost himself to from time to time. He didn’t expect the God to forgive him but he didn’t expect him to hold it against him either.. Lithe frame trembled slightly as mind replayed his moment of weakness and to his surprise it was most a blur. He couldn’t remember anything.. nothing besides his cruelty towards his dearest friend and his shutting concerned townspeople out, staking hideout within the thick walls of his chambers. A fool..
“I’m not here for that, I assure you.. Be calm and do not fret. I saw what you had done for your friend, my child, and I must ask out of curiousssity if you yourself understand exactly what happened.” Voice was calm and gentle as if motherly in its own way though twisted in a delighted curiousity as the magnificent God now loomed over Gryph a good hundred times larger than himself. “How did you feel? How did it happen?” Xhen began to prod for an answer more quickly.
Gryph would cease his thoughts for a moment before squinting his stare upon the ground and reflected upon the day. “I.. I had brought my dead friend back to life..at least I think? I’m.. Not I don’t understand, My Lord.” Admittedly, he had no idea really if it was him who had even brought Jijo back or Mina for that matter thought attention was brought back to the booming chuckle that rumbled within the serpent god’s throat who only offered a few words in return.
“Would you like to?”
The king nodded softly and wearily rose eyes as a bright flash came over his vision before it finally settled and revealed a figure before him that stood at about his own height- it was the creature he had seen earlier that day before he had save Jijo! Eyes blinked quickly and body followed the figure’s lead as it brought him to spurred feet and offered nothing beyond a gentle smile and soft eyes. He couldn’t help but lock gazes with the creature before him as if baffled and entranced all the same, the only thing swaying his vision being his own lids every so often. “It.. It was you. You were there with me- you showed me how to save him.” The figure nodded though words still escaped it. “C-can I do it again? Does it work for everyone? Are there consequences? Why me?” Questions flowed from ash lips like a rushing river and the figure silently chuckled and gave a slow blink at the young bird before it as if bashful- elated even.
“In time you will learn the extent of your power, young Gryph. In time. I’m afraid I cannot give fuller information on the matter but.. yes. It was you who brought your friend from the depths. You have the ability to transfer your soul into energy and with it, you can mend the broken. This is my gift to you and my only wish is that you use this gift wisely. I have given the kings and queens before you various gifts.. all very different. Some had corrupted themselves while others destroyed themselves but alas, that is not my decision. Each bird of power is under his or her own free will, you see. “ The creature would pause and allow the other time to catch up in their conversation before continuing. “Take for example your father Rukaia. A promising King. Very much like yourself really, though I need not remind the path he had chose. He was given a gift at his turn of Kingship and with it he had defeated and destroyed many of my children which ultimately he atoned with his own life.”
Gryph couldn’t help but pull his gaze away in scorn and resentment while cursing again at the memory of his father and his two-faced ways that only left him feeling ignorant and ashamed.
“But that was his demonstration of his own free will, Gryph, and he couldn’t have been changed otherwise. You need to understand this.”
“I have come to terms with this.” He’d grit his teeth and speak through clenched jaw while eyes narrowed slightly if daring to the creature as if feeling the need to defend himself. The white creature only pushed closer so noses were but inches apart- fiery eyes dwelling deep into scarlet.
“You need to understand. You’re afraid. Afraid that you will become him- that you will fall under foot and ultimately collide with the same ending. I see all; above, below and center, Gryph. I know this.” The King’s eyes softened and he’d pull gaze away once more and release a soft sigh, defeated.
“You can’t be afraid, my child. Fear leads mortals to make dumb decisionsss..” Voice cooed in a less than formal way before a clear of the throat interrupted. “Ah- but we’re not here for that. Your abilities. I recommend you experiment further with them and figure your limitsss. Be wary of pushing yourself too far however as I’m sure you experienced first hand how draining it was. Every time you use your power your soul is drained and of course, it regenerates over a few days of rest but this leavesss you vulnerable and using it too much well..” King’s attention directed back at the other with worry and confusion painted upon his face and the creature stood silently, dumbfounded as it searched for the right words before finally, “Sssometimes, for the good of the Kingdom there has to be sacrifices. Example- a bird can survive without a toe but not without a head.”
While the other was slightly confused at the being’s dark analogy the more he thought on it, the more it made sense. As a King he knew there had to be a balance to his kingdom. There had to be hierarchy and classes despite how tempting it was to make everyone equal. He knew there were places for everyone and without a head there would be no order.
“Yes, I understand..”
With his words his vision began to flood with a blinding light once more and the figure before him pushed foreheads against one another firmly until finally the light overcame his sense of sight all together and in an instant he had slipped back away into dreamland until dawn break.
Dusty skin warmed at the gentle kisses the solar rays laid upon body from head to toe causing a ruby eye to peek behind lid a brief moment. Body shifted and arms worked to push Gryph to a sitting position while his one opened eye now fixed on the lump besides- sure enough Egret who had somehow seized every blanket on the bed and lay burrowed beneath it; one of the other’s odd yet amusing quirks. Soft smile now painted upon lips and a gentle hand placed upon the lump, a moment later it wiggled and the small bird pushed through just enough so that from the bridge of his nose up was poking out. Those two toned eyes watching up at the other before blinking slowly and softening while heavy quilts hit his gentle grin.
A few hours had passed and the boys made their way to the royal kitchen, picking up a bushel of grapes which they shared as they walked along the cobblestone paths that riddled the city. Rounding a corner the King stopped to offer half of their bushel to a few small owlets who looked a little malnourished and in turn thanked him deeply before running off. Gryph made his way to check in on his people and take a mental note of those fallen. He’d make plans for a mass burial ceremony in the next few days and run his plans to the birds appointed to handle these delicate events. He’d check in with the guards at the North, West, and East but was stopped by a guard who ran at full speed towards him and bowed quickly.
“King Gryph! There seems to have been a murder within our walls.”
Curious, Gryph looked down at Egret and exchanged a look before directing attention back at the guard. “A stray made it inside the city?”
“N-no sir. The kill was clean and the birds at the morg claim it happened sometime in the night. But that’s not all. Some sort of insignia was found at the site.”
“Do you recognize it as any of the surrounding Kingdoms’ crests?”
“Not at all- this isn’t anything we’ve seen before. If you follow my lead, Sir, I’ll take you to the scene. We’ve left it mostly untouched aside from moving the body. Respectively, of course.”
Gryph pondered in thought though he followed his guard with Egret on his heels until they came to a halt before the crime scene- a darkened stained mass indicating where crimson life-force had drained. Crane was silent a few more moments as eyes took in the site until finally lips would part in question. “Was it one of our own?”
“Rhogen, sir.”
Carefully, the King tick-tocked around the scene and eyed at any possible clues that would break way of this mysterious death until finally he came face to face with the insignia. It was far from anything he had seen before and nothing about it gave any hints towards the culprit. “This isn’t just some hired assassin working for some measly gold.. A goon like that wouldn’t have left any sort of mark at the scene- a good one anyways. This was someone who wanted to be known.” The mark intrigued him and the mystery behind it even more so.
“Maybe it was a cocky one with an ego to stroke.” The guard grew defensive and gave a snort as he puffed feathers slightly before the king had asked to be taken to the body where he would be escorted to the morg by the same guard. Coming upon the body in full rigor, Gryph would pause as if lost in a sudden thought- why in Xhens name would this bird be picked out of all the others? Why not come after the King or those closest to him if there was some sort of message behind all this. Why a classed bird like Rhogen? Then it dawned on him- He couldn’t recall seeing Rhogen for the last few days. Not while the city trained and definitely not amid the battle grounds.. Did memory serve correct though?
“Guard.. do you recall seeing Rhogen during battle yesterday by any chance?”
“N-no Sir. Not for the last handful of days- figured the plague mighta turned one over for him.. But I do remember seeing him at the meeting you called before.”
Gryph would pause, weary to give out any ideas on who he could possibly think the suspect to be and more importantly, not wanting to feed any false information that could lead the guards on a wild goose chase. No, he’d not let any ideas be spoken and instead shook his head before silently speaking. “Thank you. Please, if you could, ask around and see if anyone might have caught sight of this assassin and Rhogen's whereabouts these last few days. Ask them about the insignia and have a scribe draw it out to avoid bringing further attention the location where the body was found. I’ll need someone to fix up that area before people make their way through there. I don’t want anyone getting upset.” The guard and morg birds nodded in understanding before Gryph and Egret pushed from the building entrance and continued their city assessment. Smaller bird peeping up at his King in question.
“Jijo’s alive, by the way- I went back yesterday to see if I could help him. He brought Mina to the royal graveyard and laid her to rest.. We should go visit and pay our respects.” King would speak nothing of the events after he found Ji. Not yet.
White ears drooped a bit and together, the two would sit upon the grassy null besides a freshly dug grave but not before Gryph reached up to pluck a small bunch of peach blossoms handing one down to Egret before setting them down atop the grave. Egret wiggled a bit closer so that his side hugged tight against Gryph’s own as eyes closed and their warm regards for Mina sounded within their minds. Thanking her and showing their utmost appreciation for her efforts as well as their deepest apologies that her life had ended- wishing the best for her soul in the beyond despite Gryph knowing it resided within the body of her mentor. Here, the boys would stay for a handful of passing moments, giving her resting body their quiet, undivided company.
That night, Jijo too met with a divine.
Jijo's encounter was much less pleasant, however. His haunted dreamscapes took him through dark tunnels, dripping with an unknown viscous substance that reeked of sulfur and rot. These halls seemed to descend forever, until finally they dropped off into an antechamber, with a ceiling so high it was invisible, yet still dropped that disgusting ooze, gathering in a syrupy puddle that covered the entire floor of the room and went up to his ankles. The smell was overwhelming and beyond simply dreaming, and Jijo knew what was coming.
From the darkness of the chamber a figure stepped forward - stepped, which confused the assassin, as his god was a beast, not a person - and yet he was just so. A dark figure, clad in a cloak much like Jijo's own, though seemingly made of both smoke and liquid at the same time. The material was sheer and gaseous, but dripped down rather than wisped upwards as smoke did. Gleaming eyes peered out from under the hood of the unreal cloak, a crooked and fanged grin beneath.
"It seems we have achieved... balance," the figure drawled, its voice akin to flesh dragging across stone. "We are back at square one," he purred out, a disgusting noise that delivered a massive shiver down Jijo's spine.
Jijo looked to the puddle surrounding his talons, not daring to meet eyes with his deity, Wrath. He simply nodded his reply, knowing better than to speak to the god when not asked. Suddenly, though, his attention was drawn elsewhere, as a shimmering green mist formed beside him and slowly took the shape of his dead apprentice, Mina. As the mist solidified, Mina gasped out as if taking her first breath, and she looked to Wrath in awe and undiluted fear, then to Jijo, utterly confused and scared out of her wits. She spoke not at all, and eventually her gaze too reached the floor of the chamber. Her fear rolled off her in waves, and Jijo wanted nothing more than to reach out to her.
"Mina," Wrath cooed out in a mock sing-song voice, obviously toying with her. "You evaded me. By sheer willpower alone, you escaped my grasp." His voice turned cold, malicious. "I'm not pleased about it." Mina began to shake, the ooze around her rippling with the movement. "But there is nothing more I can do to you. You are dead, as is the arrangement, even if there are.... technicalities." His eyes pierced into her, calculating and icy. "You will continue to serve in undeath, then. You have no choice." He paused and nodded, as if pleased with this arrangement, and Mina nearly collapsed from the relief of knowing Wrath could do no more to her than he'd already done.
Wrath's attention turned to Jijo once again, making his blood freeze in his veins. "You're taking many liberties, assassin," he spat the word with obvious disdain. "Insignia and charitywork - really, you'd think you don't work for me at all," he murred. "But.. I think it shall be interesting. Your King is already so overwhelmed with his duties, and you add to them by marking your kills, forcing him to address you? Tsk, tsk. How ... selfish." The cloaked figure grinned again, rotting fanged teeth causing another shudder through Jijo's entirety. "We shall see how it plays out. But do not forget me, assassin. I raised you. I taught you everything. You've no family but me, and you shall obey me alone. Your love affairs have no place in your sacred duty, and you are easily enough replaced. Remember this!" Wrath growled out these last words with enough force that the chamber they stood in creaked and groaned with the power of it, and then Jijo sank again into empty dreaming.
--
Jijo awoke with a start, grasping his chest and taking heavy breaths. He hated these meetings with Wrath. All his life they haunted him so, left him feeling utterly helpless in the grand scheme of things, and so totally worthless. Easily replaced, as Wrath himself had said. And, since it turned out that despite it all, very little had changed, Jijo did what he always did after such hauntings: he threw himself into his work.
Jijo strapped his daggers to his waist and set out from the temple belfry, intending first to check on yesterday's Marque. When he approached the scene, he found it absolutely swarming with guards, and pressed himself against the chimney of the building he stood upon to mask his presence. Peering over the edge, he found Gryph himself standing there, assessing the crime. Jijo's ears swiveled toward him, attempting to pick up on what the King thought of it. He heard bits and pieces only, but important ones, implying Gryph knew why this bird had been singled out. He couldn't help but smile to himself at this, even if it seemed Gryph did not yet understand the insignia's meaning. He would, soon enough.
Jijo backtracked from the crime scene and hopped away, feeling the pull of another Marque a few blocks away. When he approached this Marque, his heart sank if only a little: one of his poison suppliers. Even since before Rukaia's assassination, Wrath had him picking off these suppliers, forcing him onto thinner and thinner ice with his tools of trade, and now only a few remained. With so few alive still, Jijo had little choice but to exploit these men before their ends.
Scaling down the wall of the smithy he had been watching from, Jijo pulled his hood over his face and blended in with the commoners, skirting amongst them as a shadow, until he approached the poisons dealer.
Jijo tapped the dealer on the shoulder as he looked at a merchant's wares, and the dealer turned around, growing immensely pale at the sight of the assassin. "Hail, Gharren," Jijo chirped in a friendly enough manner, though it dripped with underlying intent, and the dealer knew it. "Been a while, no?" Jijo asked, discreetly pulling Gharren from the merchant into a side alley, as per their usual dealings.
"Y-you.. You're wanted, you know?" Gharrin was shaking in his boots, and Jijo couldn't help but tilt his head and grin at the sight. Rukaia's nobles have fallen far, indeed.
"Yes, well, haven't I always been? Never stopped you before, did it, 'Nightshade'?" Jijo emphasized the dealer's underground nickname, making the man wince visibly. "You're late with your shipment, Gharren," Jijo murmured under his breath. "By, about, say..." He looked up at the sky as if making mental calculations. ".. Well, gee, I'd say almost a year now? Gosh, it's amazing you made it this long without a visit from me. Guess I've been busy," he shrugged, though his piercing gaze at the dealer suggested anything but nonchalance.
"Busy murdering kings, you mean," Gharren dared utter, though shaking like a leaf. Jijo shot him a glance and he gulped, though Jijo nodded as if nothing. "Yes, busy murdering kings. Surprisingly easy targets, you know - they get... Comfortable in their positions," he growled, inclining his head towards Gharren, making it known he referred not to the King but to Gharren himself. He got the point rather quickly, shaking his head repeatedly.
"No, no no no. Please," he whined, a pitiful noise from a pitiful man. "I'll get you everything you need. I have it now, actually. I-I do, it's .. It's in the usual place, you know? It always is!" Well now, wasn't that useful information? This man's dealings were always in the drop location? How convenient!
Jijo simply smiled at Gharren then, a seemingly sincere smile, and Gharren relaxed. Jijo clapped the bird over the shoulder as if pals heading to a tavern, and turned to walk away. "Knew you'd come through, friend! Say hello to your wife for me, yeah?" And then Jijo slipped around a corner, losing any eyes on him amongst the sprawling buildings.
Gharren seemed utterly convinced this was the last he'd ever see of Jijo, and was quickly moving back into the streets - but not quickly enough. Before he could move back into plain sight, a blade found him between the eyes. Without even time to react to his death, Gharren slumped into a heap on the alley cobblestone, blood dripping down his beak.
Jijo emerged from a cranny nearby and approached the dead dealer, yanking his dagger from the man's face with a sickening schlick!!, cleaning it off on his robes, and sheathing it again on his waist. He knelt next to the corrupt nobleman now, a mock sympathy playing across his face. "Nothing personal, ol' Gharren," he crooned as he searched the man for any further information on his dealings. "Surely you knew this day would come. You'd seen the others," he droned as he worked. Once finding a single scrap of paper with the name of a bakery on it (surely another drop location), Jijo stopped his search and leaned back on his haunches, letting out a sigh. As much as he still hated to admit it, the thrill of killing always seemed to 'fix' him and cure any of his worries. It always put him at peace.
Jijo now moved to a newly placed pouch on his waist that he fashioned the night before out of scrap fabrics from various elderhouses - scrap the old women didn't find worthy of their knittingcraft. Inside the pouch lay more insignias than he would ever hope to need, made before bed in an attempt to ease his mind before sleep. They were drawn to be exactly identical - to match the exactness a press would give - on a thick parchment that would not weather under rain. He pulled one of these now, writing the word 'poisons' on it before tucking it (rather gruesomely) into the "slot" his dagger made in the bird's forehead, a grim calling card. He hoped the single word would alleviate some of the King's duties in figuring out the "why"s of the killings - that these were, indeed, intentional and not randomly picked. And then, his work for Wrath done, Jijo moved to do some work for himself.
Ever since the assassination of Rukaia, Jijo thought frequently of the decrepit building the late King had kept the elderly. A disgusting building with disgusting staff, taking little to no care of its residents until Rukaia's son took the throne and whipped it into shape. Though it was now a prospering and bright place to live for those who could no longer care for themselves, the establishment still leaked into Jijo's thoughts at times, reminding him of what once was.
He remembered when his own mother was placed there and died of neglect.
He wasn't old enough to remember this event himself when it had happened; when his mother fell ill with some strange, non-contagious disease that left her unable to care for herself or Jijo. She had submitted herself to the 'care' of that terrible place, just to die under its cruel and incompetent staffs. He didn't remember this nor the consequent days where the temple sages came and took him from there after his mother died, but Wrath showed him.
And you don't forget the things Wrath shows.
Jijo found himself in front of this building now, his feet taking him there without much thought on the matter at all. He looked up at it now, a building brought back to what it should have been: a sanctuary, a safe place, a haven. Jijo's ears fell back against his head as he looked upon it, wishing his mother could have seen what it became under Gryph's rule, though knowing if she had that ability, he would not be where he was. Jijo the hand of Wrath would not exist.
Under a sudden impulse, Jijo moved himself from the doorstep of the home and into the noble's district. From here, he entered windows, chimneys, cellars. Moved through their halls as a shadow, taking first a large back pack here, then stealing blankets here, a basket of breads there and stuffing them inside. While the home was by no means impoverished any longer, he knew they could never have enough of these things - especially since the plague likely wiped their stocks entirely before it was lifted by Wrath. These things would surely not go to waste there, as they would in these homes of those who would not even notice their disappearance.
Once again Jijo brought himself to that front step, to the home where he himself began, and his hands shook only a little as he placed the bulging pack on the threshold. With a quick enough flourish to not draw any attention, Jijo again pulled an insignia from his pouch, stuck it upon the front flap of the bag, and vanished, blending in once again with the common rabble.
Jijo's encounter was much less pleasant, however. His haunted dreamscapes took him through dark tunnels, dripping with an unknown viscous substance that reeked of sulfur and rot. These halls seemed to descend forever, until finally they dropped off into an antechamber, with a ceiling so high it was invisible, yet still dropped that disgusting ooze, gathering in a syrupy puddle that covered the entire floor of the room and went up to his ankles. The smell was overwhelming and beyond simply dreaming, and Jijo knew what was coming.
From the darkness of the chamber a figure stepped forward - stepped, which confused the assassin, as his god was a beast, not a person - and yet he was just so. A dark figure, clad in a cloak much like Jijo's own, though seemingly made of both smoke and liquid at the same time. The material was sheer and gaseous, but dripped down rather than wisped upwards as smoke did. Gleaming eyes peered out from under the hood of the unreal cloak, a crooked and fanged grin beneath.
"It seems we have achieved... balance," the figure drawled, its voice akin to flesh dragging across stone. "We are back at square one," he purred out, a disgusting noise that delivered a massive shiver down Jijo's spine.
Jijo looked to the puddle surrounding his talons, not daring to meet eyes with his deity, Wrath. He simply nodded his reply, knowing better than to speak to the god when not asked. Suddenly, though, his attention was drawn elsewhere, as a shimmering green mist formed beside him and slowly took the shape of his dead apprentice, Mina. As the mist solidified, Mina gasped out as if taking her first breath, and she looked to Wrath in awe and undiluted fear, then to Jijo, utterly confused and scared out of her wits. She spoke not at all, and eventually her gaze too reached the floor of the chamber. Her fear rolled off her in waves, and Jijo wanted nothing more than to reach out to her.
"Mina," Wrath cooed out in a mock sing-song voice, obviously toying with her. "You evaded me. By sheer willpower alone, you escaped my grasp." His voice turned cold, malicious. "I'm not pleased about it." Mina began to shake, the ooze around her rippling with the movement. "But there is nothing more I can do to you. You are dead, as is the arrangement, even if there are.... technicalities." His eyes pierced into her, calculating and icy. "You will continue to serve in undeath, then. You have no choice." He paused and nodded, as if pleased with this arrangement, and Mina nearly collapsed from the relief of knowing Wrath could do no more to her than he'd already done.
Wrath's attention turned to Jijo once again, making his blood freeze in his veins. "You're taking many liberties, assassin," he spat the word with obvious disdain. "Insignia and charitywork - really, you'd think you don't work for me at all," he murred. "But.. I think it shall be interesting. Your King is already so overwhelmed with his duties, and you add to them by marking your kills, forcing him to address you? Tsk, tsk. How ... selfish." The cloaked figure grinned again, rotting fanged teeth causing another shudder through Jijo's entirety. "We shall see how it plays out. But do not forget me, assassin. I raised you. I taught you everything. You've no family but me, and you shall obey me alone. Your love affairs have no place in your sacred duty, and you are easily enough replaced. Remember this!" Wrath growled out these last words with enough force that the chamber they stood in creaked and groaned with the power of it, and then Jijo sank again into empty dreaming.
--
Jijo awoke with a start, grasping his chest and taking heavy breaths. He hated these meetings with Wrath. All his life they haunted him so, left him feeling utterly helpless in the grand scheme of things, and so totally worthless. Easily replaced, as Wrath himself had said. And, since it turned out that despite it all, very little had changed, Jijo did what he always did after such hauntings: he threw himself into his work.
Jijo strapped his daggers to his waist and set out from the temple belfry, intending first to check on yesterday's Marque. When he approached the scene, he found it absolutely swarming with guards, and pressed himself against the chimney of the building he stood upon to mask his presence. Peering over the edge, he found Gryph himself standing there, assessing the crime. Jijo's ears swiveled toward him, attempting to pick up on what the King thought of it. He heard bits and pieces only, but important ones, implying Gryph knew why this bird had been singled out. He couldn't help but smile to himself at this, even if it seemed Gryph did not yet understand the insignia's meaning. He would, soon enough.
Jijo backtracked from the crime scene and hopped away, feeling the pull of another Marque a few blocks away. When he approached this Marque, his heart sank if only a little: one of his poison suppliers. Even since before Rukaia's assassination, Wrath had him picking off these suppliers, forcing him onto thinner and thinner ice with his tools of trade, and now only a few remained. With so few alive still, Jijo had little choice but to exploit these men before their ends.
Scaling down the wall of the smithy he had been watching from, Jijo pulled his hood over his face and blended in with the commoners, skirting amongst them as a shadow, until he approached the poisons dealer.
Jijo tapped the dealer on the shoulder as he looked at a merchant's wares, and the dealer turned around, growing immensely pale at the sight of the assassin. "Hail, Gharren," Jijo chirped in a friendly enough manner, though it dripped with underlying intent, and the dealer knew it. "Been a while, no?" Jijo asked, discreetly pulling Gharren from the merchant into a side alley, as per their usual dealings.
"Y-you.. You're wanted, you know?" Gharrin was shaking in his boots, and Jijo couldn't help but tilt his head and grin at the sight. Rukaia's nobles have fallen far, indeed.
"Yes, well, haven't I always been? Never stopped you before, did it, 'Nightshade'?" Jijo emphasized the dealer's underground nickname, making the man wince visibly. "You're late with your shipment, Gharren," Jijo murmured under his breath. "By, about, say..." He looked up at the sky as if making mental calculations. ".. Well, gee, I'd say almost a year now? Gosh, it's amazing you made it this long without a visit from me. Guess I've been busy," he shrugged, though his piercing gaze at the dealer suggested anything but nonchalance.
"Busy murdering kings, you mean," Gharren dared utter, though shaking like a leaf. Jijo shot him a glance and he gulped, though Jijo nodded as if nothing. "Yes, busy murdering kings. Surprisingly easy targets, you know - they get... Comfortable in their positions," he growled, inclining his head towards Gharren, making it known he referred not to the King but to Gharren himself. He got the point rather quickly, shaking his head repeatedly.
"No, no no no. Please," he whined, a pitiful noise from a pitiful man. "I'll get you everything you need. I have it now, actually. I-I do, it's .. It's in the usual place, you know? It always is!" Well now, wasn't that useful information? This man's dealings were always in the drop location? How convenient!
Jijo simply smiled at Gharren then, a seemingly sincere smile, and Gharren relaxed. Jijo clapped the bird over the shoulder as if pals heading to a tavern, and turned to walk away. "Knew you'd come through, friend! Say hello to your wife for me, yeah?" And then Jijo slipped around a corner, losing any eyes on him amongst the sprawling buildings.
Gharren seemed utterly convinced this was the last he'd ever see of Jijo, and was quickly moving back into the streets - but not quickly enough. Before he could move back into plain sight, a blade found him between the eyes. Without even time to react to his death, Gharren slumped into a heap on the alley cobblestone, blood dripping down his beak.
Jijo emerged from a cranny nearby and approached the dead dealer, yanking his dagger from the man's face with a sickening schlick!!, cleaning it off on his robes, and sheathing it again on his waist. He knelt next to the corrupt nobleman now, a mock sympathy playing across his face. "Nothing personal, ol' Gharren," he crooned as he searched the man for any further information on his dealings. "Surely you knew this day would come. You'd seen the others," he droned as he worked. Once finding a single scrap of paper with the name of a bakery on it (surely another drop location), Jijo stopped his search and leaned back on his haunches, letting out a sigh. As much as he still hated to admit it, the thrill of killing always seemed to 'fix' him and cure any of his worries. It always put him at peace.
Jijo now moved to a newly placed pouch on his waist that he fashioned the night before out of scrap fabrics from various elderhouses - scrap the old women didn't find worthy of their knittingcraft. Inside the pouch lay more insignias than he would ever hope to need, made before bed in an attempt to ease his mind before sleep. They were drawn to be exactly identical - to match the exactness a press would give - on a thick parchment that would not weather under rain. He pulled one of these now, writing the word 'poisons' on it before tucking it (rather gruesomely) into the "slot" his dagger made in the bird's forehead, a grim calling card. He hoped the single word would alleviate some of the King's duties in figuring out the "why"s of the killings - that these were, indeed, intentional and not randomly picked. And then, his work for Wrath done, Jijo moved to do some work for himself.
Ever since the assassination of Rukaia, Jijo thought frequently of the decrepit building the late King had kept the elderly. A disgusting building with disgusting staff, taking little to no care of its residents until Rukaia's son took the throne and whipped it into shape. Though it was now a prospering and bright place to live for those who could no longer care for themselves, the establishment still leaked into Jijo's thoughts at times, reminding him of what once was.
He remembered when his own mother was placed there and died of neglect.
He wasn't old enough to remember this event himself when it had happened; when his mother fell ill with some strange, non-contagious disease that left her unable to care for herself or Jijo. She had submitted herself to the 'care' of that terrible place, just to die under its cruel and incompetent staffs. He didn't remember this nor the consequent days where the temple sages came and took him from there after his mother died, but Wrath showed him.
And you don't forget the things Wrath shows.
Jijo found himself in front of this building now, his feet taking him there without much thought on the matter at all. He looked up at it now, a building brought back to what it should have been: a sanctuary, a safe place, a haven. Jijo's ears fell back against his head as he looked upon it, wishing his mother could have seen what it became under Gryph's rule, though knowing if she had that ability, he would not be where he was. Jijo the hand of Wrath would not exist.
Under a sudden impulse, Jijo moved himself from the doorstep of the home and into the noble's district. From here, he entered windows, chimneys, cellars. Moved through their halls as a shadow, taking first a large back pack here, then stealing blankets here, a basket of breads there and stuffing them inside. While the home was by no means impoverished any longer, he knew they could never have enough of these things - especially since the plague likely wiped their stocks entirely before it was lifted by Wrath. These things would surely not go to waste there, as they would in these homes of those who would not even notice their disappearance.
Once again Jijo brought himself to that front step, to the home where he himself began, and his hands shook only a little as he placed the bulging pack on the threshold. With a quick enough flourish to not draw any attention, Jijo again pulled an insignia from his pouch, stuck it upon the front flap of the bag, and vanished, blending in once again with the common rabble.
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