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skvaderarts · 7 months

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Petrichor Chapter 54: Referral

Chapter 54: Referral

Note: Hello everyone! I hope you’ve been having a good week! Enjoy and thanks! And sorry the update was a few hours late. I lost track of time!

(-~-)

Sirrus hung up the phone in his living room by pressing a button on the receiver, his conversation with his contact now over. They’d spent the last little while discussing the details of where they would meet, when, where they would go, and what would happen after that. The itinerary was more or less concrete now. But he needed to make one final phone call. Then he would be content for now.

Taking a moment to close his eyes and relax his mind a little, he took a deep breath before exhaling slowly and steadily. He was relieved that things had not taken a turn for the worst. But he knew a woman who was not privy to that fact who had probably spent the last few hours pacing about her flat, stressed and riddled with read and anxiety as she wondered what had become of the young hybrid that she’d cared for on so many occasions and had genuinely come to adore. Magnolia deserved to know how V was doing.

After composing himself, Sirrus took inventory of all the numbers he knew by heart and managed to recall hers as he had the night before, dialing it before initiating the call, hopeful that she would pick up quickly. And that assumption was not incorrect. She picked up on the third ring, the tone of her voice giving away a tentative sense of hopeful caution that told him that she desperately needed to hear some good news.

“Oh, good to hear from you, dear. Anything to report?” She said softly, clearly expecting the worst but still hoping for the best. She sounded like a parent who had just received a sudden call from their child’s school, hoping it was to tell them how wonderful of a job they were doing in class and how good their grades were, and not to inform them that their precious child had fallen ill at lunch or gotten into a fight with another student.

Sirrus smiled softly to himself, thankful that he had been afforded the opportunity to be the bearer of good news for once. He was happy to know that he had no misfortune to report on. Not this time, at least.

“Thankfully, no. I just wanted to keep you in the loop. He’s doing much better now.” His smile brightened as he heard her sigh in relief, probably overwhelmed by worry that was hopefully starting to dissipate now. “We have to go and meet someone shortly. If anything changes during that time, I will update you. You have my word. And my phone number.”

Despite everything, Magnolia found the energy and vitality required to chuckle at the comment. Sirrus was nothing if not disarming and charming, two of his better qualities. He was uniquely talented when it came to putting her at ease when she needed it most. They were both happy to hear that V was doing better, that much was certainly true.

“Good, good. So he isn’t exhibiting any additional symptoms, then? He’s more or less fine?”

He shook his head at her inquiry before it occurred to him that they were having a phone call and she couldn’t see him. He knew that, obviously, but it was still a matter of reflex. It responded twice in many situations, but he didn’t mind. At least he was capable of formulating a response at all.

“Aside from some general bewilderment and a bit of disorientation, no. He says that he feels different but fine. I will keep a close eye on him, of course, but I do believe him, even if I am confused about how that could be the case. He recovered at an impossibly rapid rate, even by inhuman standards. He’s normally so slow to heal… ”

Sirrus glanced over at the door to V’s room. The water had just turned off. He was willing to bet that V would be out of the room shortly, but for his friend’s sake, he wouldn’t go to the door. He’d been embarrassed enough in the last forty-eight hours or so to last him a good, long while. He would spare him that indignity. Or he would knock, at least.

Magnolia picked up on the subtle tinge of concern and disquietment in this voice. That was something to be concerned about. And he was correct, it was strange. But perhaps that was a good thing in this circumstance? Perhaps something was happening to him that would result in positive change? As far as she was concerned, V was already something of a late bloomer. Perhaps this was the bloom that they’d all imagined might occur but had quietly decided might not ever come to pass?

“His bloodline is just exceptional like that. And incredibly unpredictable to boot. I’m not surprised to hear about this turn of events. And something tells me there is more to come.” She said with a sigh, again wishing that there was more that she could do to offer guidance. She could contact Vergil, but she didn’t want him to worry or work himself up as she knew that he would unless she had a reason to. And at the moment, the situation seemed to be under control. “As is your prerogative, I would second your desire to keep a close eye on him. I will hold off on notifying his father for now.”

“Very well, then. I thank you again for your consol. Your guidance is much appreciated, Magnolia.” Sirrus said as he checked the time. They would need to leave soon. He wanted to give V as much time as possible to get to their destination in the event that he became winded and needed to stop and catch his breath. That was a distinct possibility. “I hope to speak with you again soon. Under better circumstances.”

“I do, too, love. Take care. The both of you. Come home safe.” Magnolia said softly as she prepared to hang up the phone. Sirrus might be over twice her age, but his demeanor was still so much that of the young man he visually appeared to be. She was always happy to lend him an ear and offer him her assistance. The three of them had been through so very much together recently. In truth, V’s health wasn’t the only source of medical concern for her. She wondered about his well-being as well. He was still recovering in his own way. She was willing to bet that he hadn’t fully recharged just yet.

Sirrus politely bid her adieu and then returned the phone to its rightful place on the receiver, turning his attention to V’s door. Perhaps it was time to politely check in on him and make sure that he was alright.

Heading over towards V’s door, he stopped in front of it for a moment and then knocked softly, unwilling to startle V should he be in the middle of getting dressed again. He heard a quick shuffle from the other side of the door as the young summoner beckoned him to open the door, the fact that he had probably just been putting his pants on when he came to the door apparent by how he was only now putting on his shirt and the look of slight embarrassment on his face denoted by the pale tinge of pink on his cheeks.

“Do you require any assistance with getting ready?” Sirrus asked softly, noting that V was still in the process of putting on a shirt. Another turtle neck or something similar although made of different material, by the looks of it; this one a dark green that matched his eyes nearly perfectly. A detail that he certainly noticed. V had an eye for color, something that they had in common. Perhaps he would show V his tailoring space at some point. One thing at a time.

V glanced up at him once he got the neck of the garment over his head, a look of weary calm in his eyes. He didn’t need help. Sirrus could tell his answer just by looking at him. “I think I’ll manage, but thank you.”

V stood up and held out his hand, calling his cane to it. He did so with such a casual air to him that Sirrus could only chuckle to himself. It would never cease to amuse him that V had skipped all the practical applications that his powers could be used for, only to take on much more advanced material with a degree of natural proficiency that most would envy. All except for that very practical and simple recall trick. It was perhaps the most practical thing he’d seen him demonstrate knowing how to do. He imagined he was very pleased to know how to do it at a time like this. He knew from personal experience that it was certainly a useful skill to possess. It always seemed to come in handy under the most unexpected circumstances.

“You're ready, then?” Sirrus said somewhat playfully, holding the door to the bedroom open for him.

“I am, yes.” With a slight smirk and a single nod of his head. He couldn’t think of anything else he needed to bring with him or that he might be leaving behind. He was ready to meet this mystery individual that Sirrus had arranged a sit down with. He was eager -if not cautiously so- to see what they might be able to accomplish. “Please, lead the way.”

Sirrus stepped back and out of V’s way, gesturing out of the door and towards the front entrance, nodding politely as the same small smile that adorned his lips spread to the rest of his face. He was happy to see V doing better. He wasn’t sure how long it would last, but that was a bridge that they would cross if they arrived at it. They were in this together, after all. Neither of them were alone. And there was much that could be accomplished today should they keep their wits about them. An exciting time, indeed. So long as they didn’t miss the meeting for a second time. That would be… impolite.

“After you.”

(-~-)

Not the longest chapter, but the real fun starts next week LOL! I have some fun planned for all of you! I hope you enjoyed this chapter and I’ll see you next Friday, September 29th. I think I have an appointment this week, but I’m determined to show you the next chapter. I’m just so excited for it! Spooky month is upon us. How fitting considering what I have planned for you *evil laugh*. See you in the comment section, and I hope you enjoyed the chapter! Bye bye!

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skvaderarts · 6 months

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Petrichor Chapter 60: Lore

Chapter 60: Lore

Note: So… I might have gotten carried away. Like 22 pages and 10.3K words over the course of three whole overnight writing sessions carried away. So enjoy! It was fun! I even published it like 6 hours early!

(-~-)

The forest was dark, devoid of any semblance of life or levity. No birds chirped. No air blew through their hair as they walked along the nearly invisible path set out before them. Every second that they continued onward was enough to play at the anxieties of the average mortal, pulling at the strings that controlled their subconscious, making them question their senses; their very sanity. The sanctity of one’s mind was the price for entering a place like this.

But V had not come this far to let his nerves get the better of him. He had work to do.

Knowing the forest’s game was the first challenge. It wanted to warp his perception of his environment, make him second guess anything and everything that he thought he heard or felt. Its goal was to get him to retreat. To turn back the way he’d come. Perhaps to ensnare him within its web as he fell to madness and despair within its grounds. Either way, it had one the game by that point. Whatever that game might truly entail.

As soon as he’d accepted that, then he’d been able to reclaim some ground. Forcing his subconscious to remember who it belonged to and who it served. He would not bend to the will of a forest, even a supernatural one like this. His will was not weak enough for that. But he had to admit that he did feel something stir within him. Something he hadn’t felt since they’d left the devil prince’s domain. A power he couldn’t place tingling at the tips of his fingers, waiting eagerly for his beck and call.

This place… something was very wrong with it. And he didn’t seem to be the only one who’d notice that.

Sirrus’s nerves had continued to fray the deeper they ventured into the woods, his mental endurance clearly running thinner and thinner by the moment despite no direct cause that V could detect. Sure, something was very… off about this place, but he didn’t get the impression that something like that could have such an undeniable effect on his beloved companion. He genuinely seemed to be struggling. And as V drew closer to him in an attempt to assess his condition better, he noticed the fatigued look on his face, his posture, and his ability to keep his eyes fully open both systematically failing him. He looked awful, quite frankly. Unwell.

This place was taking some toll on him. Asking a price that he could only barely afford. And he was paying for it. Heavily. Every action he took was labored, and he appeared to truly be giving it his all. V couldn’t help but worry about him, unsure as to whether or not he should take a moment and snap him out of his stupor, or leave him in his trance-like state. Would it do him more harm than good to break his concentration?

“You’ve become uncharacteristically quiet, Sirrus,” Gustave said quietly, not turning back to look at either of them as they continued forward, their destination still invisible to him from where they currently stood. Everything was in this damnable forest aside from the glow of symbols in the air around them, revealing the path for them as they outlined the trees they walked between. They were probably carved into them. The symbols were the same as the ones he’d seen back in the city, and they were still just as unreadable, but he imagined that they did mean something. Gustave seemed to know where he was going.

Sirrus didn’t respond. Only continuing to walk forward as if by sheer force of will alone. His lack of response alone was enough for Gustave who appeared to pause for a moment before continuing his oneward march. This was an eventuality that he didn’t seem all that surprised by. Almost as though he’d expected it. He didn’t even need to look back to verify the state that the adjudicator was in. He already knew.

“He doesn’t seem… “ V wasn’t even sure how to say it in a way that made sense, so he opted to just spit it out. There was no point in beating around the bush. Everyone present knew that something was very wrong here. “He isn’t doing well. In what way, I am none the wiser, but… “

Gustave glanced in his direction and nodded before turning his attention back to the path ahead of them. He didn’t break pace at all, seemingly unalarmed by Sirrus’s current state, something that made V more alarmed than he’d previously been. What was it about his friend’s condition that didn’t worry Gustave? Everything about the way he looked screamed trouble in every way possible. In fact, he looked as though he were on the brink of needing medical attention…

“Yes, I would imagine he’d only subconsciously following along now. He is fortunate indeed for our guideposts.” Gustave gestured by spreading his arms out around himself, more than likely towards the forest around them. More specifically towards the glowing icons that encompassed them. They clearly wouldn’t have made it this far into the forsaken forest without their aid. “I know you can see them. You’d be lost otherwise.”

V stepped a bit closer to Sirrus, gently gripping his lower arm as though he were concerned that he might lose track of him as they ascended an incline of sorts. He could barely see where they were going, let alone the angle if not for the wards. As such, he nearly had a quiet stroke the moment Gustave disappeared ahead of him, only to come back into his line of vision a handful of seconds later as they once again stood upon the same topography level of the forest. But for a moment there he’d been certain that they’d lost track of him. He exhaled quietly, releasing Sirrus’s arm as they continued onward. He didn’t want to trip him up due to the differences in their gait now that they were on level ground.

“What are they,” V asked, his topic of inquiry obvious. There was only one thing in this forest that anyone was capable of seeing in the first place. Well, unless Gustave was able to see things that he wasn’t. And honestly, he wasn’t willing to put that out of the realm of possibility. All things considered, it wouldn’t surprise him one bit if that was the case.

“Enochian wards. They are unreadable to you, but the fact you could even see them before in town… ” Gustave almost seemed impressed as he spoke, but there was a note of something else in his voice something V wasn’t sure how to interpret. But as the older gentleman glanced back at them before returning his attention to the task at hand, V got a glimpse of what almost seemed to be intrigue in his face, something that he hadn’t expected to see. And then Gustave continued, adjusting the collar of his coat as they ventured further into the depths.

“Humans cannot properly comprehend Enochian. Your ability to even behold it properly is a dead giveaway of your inhuman nature.” His voice took on a deeper, much more sinister air, the seriousness of his next words all but guaranteed. And that was not something that V failed to notice. “You would do well not to reveal your knowledge of it amongst the wrong company. Such things have… consequences.”

V considered his warning as they ventured deeper and deeper into the woods wondering to himself if Griffon had ever heard of it. Perhaps it was worth asking…

“Before you ask, hell yeah, I’ve heard of it. Just didn’t know that was what those silly little squiggly lines were. Shouda known. No wonder I can’t read it. Guess the ol’ brain’s just not big enough. Ask him for the details, though. Like I said, I can’t read it. Or speak it. It’s gibberish as far as I’m concerned. Totally out of my wheelhouse, V. You’re on your own. And while you’re at it, get out of this damn forest. I’ve got a bad feeling about his place… ”

Griffon’s sudden interjection was enough to take V by surprise, the summoner genuinely somewhat surprised to learn that his avian summon had any knowledge of the topic. Especially after their previous conversation. He’d hoped that he might, but still. Hope alone rarely made things go his way.

Just as quickly as he’d spoken, he fell silent once more, leaving V alone with his thoughts once again. He sounded better, at the very least. His headache had hopefully dissipated somewhat since their last conversation. The last thing he wanted was for Griffon to be uncomfortable longer than he needed to be. And he had to agree with him. Everything about this place was a massive red flag. He didn’t exactly feel as though he were in danger… but he didn’t feel entirely safe, either. It was hard to describe.

“You’ve become quiet again.”

This time V had a better sense of how long the conversation had lasted. Yes, indeed he had. Perhaps his timing had been sudden, but at least this time he didn’t need to worry about losing track of time since his little conversation had been brief and rather one-sided. He didn’t need to focus on responding. Just his surroundings. And possibly Sirrus, lest they lose him in this place. But he certainly hoped that the last part wouldn’t come to pass.

“My familiar was lamenting our continued presence within this forest,” V answered nonchalantly, something that, to his surprise, earned him an amused scoff from Gustave. The older man shook his head briefly, obviously entertained by the prospect of a demon being uncomfortable in a place like this. Not because it didn’t make sense, but because it was simply funny by principle alone.

“Afraid of the dark, is he?” Gustave said, his amusement carrying forward in his voice, even if only slightly. But to his continued amusement and the surprise of his summoner, Griffon suddenly manifested before them and settled atop of V’s left shoulder. A perch he quickly swapped for the top of V’s head, perhaps in a bid to be taller than the older gentlemen. The young summoner could think of no better reason for him to do that. Well, other than just to mess with his master.

“Oh, I promise you, I’m not! This place just gives me the creeps. I’d say it makes my skin crawl, but it can’t do that due to the, well, you know, the feathers.” Griffon chimed in with an almost hushed tone to his voice. He spoke as though he were whispering, but not at the correct volume. Perhaps the concept of “quiet” was something he only had cursory knowledge of. And considering how he’d reacted to seeing Cavalier Angelo and Malphas the first time back in Redgrave City, V was willing to guess that might be a distinct possibility. “And what’s all this I hear about Enochian, anyhow? Yikes, it’s written everywhere, hu? All this holy crap makes my head hurt. Ugh.”

Gustave deviated from his path and turned to face Griffon, folding his arms in front of him as V came within comfortable speaking distance of him. Despite sitting quite a bit taller than the older man, Griffon was still at a distinct disadvantage. If his experience with him thus far had taught him anything it was that the gun the older man was packing was no joke. He didn’t want to go for round two with it today. He’d probably be instantly stalemated, no questions asked. He wouldn’t even get a chance to blink.

“Many would consider it a holy script, but I do not. I do not see it as anything such, much in the same way that the language of the hells does not register to me as unholy.” Gustave said sternly as though he were lecturing a disobedient student who had answered a question in a manner so woefully incorrect that he felt compelled to clarify things for him. He wasn't upset in any way, however. Perhaps the faintest trace of annoyance at something V couldn’t place, but otherwise unbothered. Still, he continued, giving Griffon an answer just as he would anyone else. “Domain and origin of birth alone do not intentions make. Things are rarely that absolute. You are proof of that. It is all a matter of perspective… And I stopped taking sides long ago.”

“You know what he is?” V asked, a note of surprise to his tone. Now that was something he had a hard time believing. He wasn’t sure how often demons like his were created, but he got the feeling that they weren’t exactly common. After all, how many people were walking around with enough physical, mental, and emotional trauma to create a living being from and the magic sword required to create it? It was unlikely.

Nodding his head in confirmation, Gustave stepped forward and gave Griffon a once over, seemingly quietly intrigued by his overall appearance. He hadn’t gotten much of an up-close look at him before. And if his stoic nod of approval was anything to go by, he liked what he saw. “No. But I can tell what he isn’t, and that’s an average run-of-the-mill demon. And I’d hardly wager that he asked for your soul as part of your contract.”

V’s surprise deepened as he found himself once again impressed by Gustave’s deductive abilities. That was… startlingly accurate.

“Correct. He did not.” He said softly, glancing over at Sirrus as he noted to himself that he’d paused at that moment, perhaps realizing that they’d stopped walking for a moment. V had been so invested in this conversation that he’d almost lost track of him for a moment. He refused to even think about what kind of fate would befall him should he become ensnared by the woods in the state that he was in…

“My point exactly,” Gustave said, extending his gloved hand in a manner that implied that he wanted to touch the avian demon. Griffon gave him a wary look before adjusting his stance and hesitantly allowing the man to take a better look at his iridescent wing feathers, the older gentleman nodding in apparent satisfaction.

“What made you guess that?” Griffon asked, genuinely wondering what was going through their companion’s head. He seemed to be going somewhere with this, but neither he nor V were any less confused as to what that destination might be. But to their collective surprise, Gustave leaned back slightly, allowing him to take in the pair of them more easily. And as he unfolded his arms and adjusted his sleeves and shirt collar again, he nodded to them both, regarding them quietly before turning his attention back to the road ahead, a glimmer of something uncertain in his eyes as he turned away from them.

“Because I know loyalty when I see it, little bird. It’s something you possess in spades. The kind of bond you share cannot be purchased for any price. Only forged in adversity.”

Griffon almost seemed flattered as he hopped back down off of V’s head and only his shoulder, the white-haired summoner fixing the hairs upon the top of his head as he did so. V… couldn’t disagree with that assessment of his relationship with Griffon. He really couldn’t. The circumstances that had brought them together had been challenging, to say the least. But if there was one thing that V had never questioned, it would be the loyalty of his companions. Well, except one… but that was understandable, all things considered. Just establishing that contract had been challenging.

“Heh. He didn’t call me chicken. How bout that?” Griffon chuckled, obviously genuinely surprised that the older gentleman hadn’t insulted him or something similar. For a moment there he’d wondered how things were gonna go. But as he adjusted his neck and yawned, the avian demon stretched his wings before closing them again, craning his neck over so that he could look V in the face before speaking. “Call me when you get wherever it is you’re going, V. I’ve got a nap to take.”

With that, Griffon dematerialized and returned to his place as sever of V’s many tattoos. V took a moment to adjust his posture before continuing after Gustave, taking a moment to attempt to better assess Sirrus’s current state. And noticing for the first time that his eyes had changed color. Black. Just as they had been that night on the balcony. Just as they had been on the train. Just as they were again now. Now he was concerned.

“What is the veil?” V asked as he took in Sirrus’s current state, gently pulling him along as he opted to continue following Gustave. Something more than a little bit of brain fog was affecting him now, that much was clear.

Upon hearing the question, Gustave let out a soft sigh, slowing to allow the two of them to catch up as he began to round a blind corner. It seemed that he had no interest in losing them and having to track them down in this damned forest. And as Sirrus and V rounded the corner behind him, the young summoner blinked slightly, his eyes struggling to adjust to something he couldn’t quite place. He couldn’t tell if it had just become darker or lighter, but he was nearly blind regardless.

“A part of the darkness that enshrouds this place. The result of what happened here eons ago. Long before your conception. Beyond that of even your grandfather’s era.” Gustave clearly didn’t plan to go further into it than that, at least not for the time being. But still, it was a fascinating thing to ponder. Just how long ago had this happened?

V chuckled at the prospect of that possibility. Yes, this place felt old. He wasn’t even sure how to quantify the age of this place in relation to himself. But even still, could it be that old? After all, a thousand years was old, but over two thousand years? If the stories he’d heard about his grandfather from first-hand accounts and in the myths and legends he’d grown up with were to be believed… then he was unfathomably old. Just like this place. So perhaps that checked out. “So it’s thousands of years old, then? Fascinating.”

Gustave’s tone changed to one of profound perplexment as he glanced over his shoulder at V, seemingly missing the part of the conversation where he’d given any concrete estimate of the forest’s age. Or even ballparked it with a general number. Where had he gotten that figure from? “What would lead you to believe that this forest is that ancient?”

“You said it was older than- “ V immediately stopped speaking, realizing what he might inadvertently give away with that statement. But if the look of perplexed consideration that crossed their escort’s face was anything to go off of, he’d already said quite enough. He didn’t look as though he’d come to a conclusion that satisfied him just yet, but he had certainly tipped him off as to something that was perhaps better kept secret for the time being. He wondered if it was enough for him to deduce via the process of elimination. But then again, he knew nothing of what Gustave knew, or who he knew, for that matter. Hell, he didn’t know virtually anything about him, now that he thought about it. Nothing that mattered, anyway.

“I did not mean that literally, but I think you do.” His tone darkened at that statement, halting both V and Sirrus in their tracks simultaneously. Gustave stopped with them, turning his attention squarely to V as he turned his back on their destination and focused his full attention on the young summoner before him. He looked at him as though he were examining a piece of fine jewelry for the first time, intent on assessing its value. But perhaps not its monetary yield. No, V suddenly got the impression that he held an entirely different significance to the gentlemen that stood before him, and if the utterly baffled look on Sirrus’s face was anything to go off of, he wasn’t alone in sensing a shift in the tides. It seemed that he might finally be snapping out whatever had been going on with him for the past while. But only barely. To say he was lucid would be a bold-faced lie.

“Your summons masked the tells, but I see it now. You are of ancient blood.” Gustave concluded correctly, something that V’s shift in demeanor and the slow closing of his eyes gave away readily as he accepted that he’d walked himself directly into a trap of his own creation. Gustave was right, and he wasn’t going to lie to him and say that he wasn’t.

“Unfortunately, you are once again correct,” V said simply, unable to meet his gaze. This conversation could only go one of two ways and, quite frankly, he wasn’t liking his options either way. He doubted that his escort would outright attack him, but he hadn’t come here to make enemies, either. Especially if they were friends of Sirrus’s. Or at least acquaintances. He wasn’t sure what Gustave and Sirrus were. They could be hated enemies or ex-lovers for all he knew. The dynamic between them was just so… strained.

Gustave shifted on his feet, folding his arms in front of his chest as a faint look of self-satisfaction made its way onto his face. He looked as though he’d just figured out a mystery that had been bothering him for quite some time in much the same way that a person who’d just found that one sock they’d been looking for for the better part of a year did upon finally locating it. Despite being absolutely certain that they’d already searched that exact spot months ago. It wasn’t the look of a person who was bragging or showing off. It was the look of a person who had just had their curiosity piqued and now required further information.

“So tell me, then… Is your grandfather the first human to live to such an unprecedented age in recorded history… or is there a story to your lineage, perhaps.” He obviously knew the answer to that question already. There was no mistaking it. That glint of knowledge in his eyes was a dead giveaway. He was simply waiting for V to put the last piece of the puzzle into its proper place for him. Then perhaps all the things that didn’t quite add up for him finally would and he could close that chapter in this little story of theirs.

V sighed as though he’d just been caught red-handed and knew that he was going to spend the foreseeable future grounded. And he wasn’t too far off, to be fair. Something told him this would be an interesting conversation once Sirrus snapped out of his all-consuming stupor. “I presume you have some idea as to what I am by this point.”

“I have assumptions, which means I have next to nothing as that is what all assumptions are. Largely unfounded nonsense.” Gustave said as he gestured for V to follow him once again, his pace now much more conversational and less exigent than it had been previously. V wasn’t sure entirely why, but he got the impression that there was a reason behind that. Perhaps they were close to their destination?

“Fair enough,” V said with a resigned scoff. He shared that same sentiment, in all honesty. Assuming was always a quick and easy path to the most embarrassing of situations, large and small. No point in arguing there. “You are correct. My grandfather isn’t exactly… conventional. Although I can’t say anything as to his personality. I’ve never had the pleasure of meeting him.”

Gustave glanced over at him momentarily, something in his eyes that he couldn’t place. It reminded him of the way he’d looked at him on the boat. A certain air of something about him that was nearly impossible to discern. Was it perhaps the knowledge that he might be overstepping? Sympathy? He didn’t get the impression that it was either of those things, at least not fully. But either way, they continued onward, their path clear.

“I see.” He said, giving something akin to a polite nod. He didn’t seem keen to ask him what had led to that specific and unfortunate quirk of circumstance. Not only was it not pertinent to the conversation at hand, but it wasn’t the kind of question he was keen to ask. Some things were better left unknown. Private. Within the minds of those to whom those memories and thoughts belonged, unless they decided otherwise. “Are you not familiar with who he is, then?”

V contemplated the pros and cons of telling Gustave the truth for all of about three seconds before deciding that, despite being fairly conflicted about the man overall, he could trust him enough to reveal this particular secret to him. Sirrus would not have introduced him to someone who would harm him over such a revelation. And although Gustave was… well, Gustave, V didn’t get the impression that he was particularly violent. Perhaps inpatient and difficult, but not brutish and brash. He would extend this particular olive branch. And not a single other if he came to regret it. Perhaps he could ask some questions of his own after that.

“... My grandfather is the Dark Knight Sparda.” What a strange thing to say out loud. He knew that it was the truth, but it just didn’t seem real until that moment for some reason. It was an odd thing to admit to someone, including himself. That he was not entirely human. Everyone around him knew as much. Many of them were not human themselves. But even still, it was a strange thing to ponder, much less say to someone else. Perhaps the nature of Dante’s small inner circle of companions made more sense than he’d originally thought, now that he thought about it. “The one from all the legends and tales, though I cannot corroborate any of the details therein, or vouch for their authenticity. You would have to ask my father about that. Or my uncle, his younger brother. They are his children. They would know better than I do.”

Gustave suddenly slowed to a rapid stop, his shoes clicking against the ground beneath him. V barely registered the fact that they were no longer walking on the wooden path that had guided them thus far. Now they stood on stone. Moss-covered stone, but stone nonetheless. And as he waited with bated breath for the response of the man who stood before him, a thousand mixtures of emotions began to overflow from within him, something he did his very best to conceal. Instant regret. Hesitance. He was on guard now. This had the potential to turn deadly. He should have thought this through. He didn’t want to know what it felt like to be on the other end of a gun that rendered him motionless and pushed him to the brink of insanity from the sound of its shots alone. And what of Sirrus? Even if he wasn’t caught up in the crossfire, he certainly didn’t deserve to be mixed up in this. Oh no. What had he just done?

Looking at him in utter silence, Gustave didn’t move an inch. Even his breathing was rendered imperceptible as he seemed to consider something. V could tell that he was thinking, but his expression left everything up to his imagination. He could just as easily brush off his statement with disinterest as he could move to end him, and he would be equally unsurprised by either outcome. And that uncertainty combined with the older gentleman's general aura of vagueness and his general inability to be read only heightened the sense of unease that V now harbored deep in his gut. He felt every hair on his body stand up on end as he pondered his next move. He would not attack first, but he had to be physically and mentally prepared for the possibility that an attack could be coming. This was the worst place he could think of for that to happen, but it was too late to do anything about that now. He would have to play with the cards that had been dealt to him. There was no simply other way.

Registering the change in the atmosphere between them and the blanket of unease so thick that it could suffocate a raging inferno, Gustave changed his expression ever so slightly. He curled an eyebrow and let out a very soft scoff before opening the inside of his coat and reaching for something. V didn’t move, waiting to see what the older man did so that he could attempt to come up with some method of counteracting it, his focus as intense as it was unwavering. Everything seemed to happen slower than before as his focus intensified. Every sound seemed louder and clearer, every flicker of light or movement more noticeable in his hyper-aware state. He felt the hue of his eyes shift in the darkness but he paid it no mind, his only thought being that of survival should the worse come to pass. He only hoped he wasn’t putting Sirrus in harm's way.

Withdrawing his hand from within his coat, he revealed some sort of amulet. A series of circles encircling one another overlapped by a pair of feathered wings that formed an X over the circle’s center which seemed to be comprised of a clear white gemstone of some sort. It was pearlescent, round, and just barely opaque enough to not see completely through, but light came through it regardless. Or perhaps from within it? It almost seemed to work as a sort of flashlight, only it had started to glow just as Gustave had fixed his coat back into place, revealing no further intention to do anything else. At least for the time being. Perhaps it was reacting to something V could not see.

After raising the amulet up into the air above them, he lowered it, looked into it, and turned his attention back towards V, his own admittedly rigid body language loosening somewhat, even if only slightly. It seemed that V wasn’t the only one on edge. And even with that acknowledged, V was still struggling to relax even a little. He couldn’t place what it was about Gustave that put him so on edge. It was as if he were instinctually repulsed by him or something; some core part of his being utterly provoked by his very existence. Every time he did something even slightly outside of the young summoner’s comfort zone, it made his skin crawl, activating his fight-or-flight instinct in a way that was uniquely unpleasant, even by V’s standards. And as he stood there and looked at the older gentleman who stood before him, an epiphany hit him like a tilde wave of ice water on a freezing winter day. A revelation that was as sudden as it was perplexing and disquieting. It felt like a dam had just burst within him and unleashed a swirling torrent of knowledge that he hadn’t known it held back.

It wasn’t the human part of him that felt put out by Gustave, he realized. It was his demonic side.

On a personal level, he wasn’t all that bothered by the man who stood before him. But his demonic blood practically boiled just from his presence alone. Ever since he’d realized that Gustave could use that weapon and that it had such a profound effect on him, the demonic part of him was wholly unable to overcome its own gut instincts, and none of them were positive. He was fighting himself just as much as he was fighting the urge to fight Gustave in his own conscious mind. He didn’t dislike Gustave… but hell, whatever consisted of the quarter of his DNA that was demonic certainly did. Venomously. Venimantly. Unyielding. He was glad this was something he now had conscious knowledge of… but why?

“You are the son of the eldest son of the Dark Knight Sparda?”

Gustave’s statement took him completely off guard. Neither of them had moved for over a minute, the two of them simply standing and staring at one another in silence, awaiting an action that neither of them would take if the other didn’t act first. Gustave was perceptive enough to notice the shift in V’s demeanor, just as the young summoner had been towards him, but despite the fact that both of them seemed to be more or less the same level of deeply uncomfortable all of a sudden, they were both smart enough to realize that their reasons for feeling that way differed and they both silently came to the conclusion that neither of them meant harm towards the other, even if it certainly felt like it for a moment there. They began to relax slightly, letting down their guards. There would be no fight. There was no need. They hadn’t crossed that line. Not yet, at least.

“... Yes. I am.” V said as calmly as he could, actively suppressing the part of himself that fueled that rage, that desire within him to continue to amp up his fight or flight instincts in preparation for a battle that wasn’t coming. He was starting to become somewhat irritated with himself, if he was being honest. He didn’t like feeling like this. He wasn’t in danger, he told himself. He truly believed that, but a part of himself just refused to accept that. To believe that. And it had never been as vocal as it was now.

“That would make you his direct bloodline heir, then.” Gustave seemed to ponder the gravity of that reality, his own words slowing ever so slightly as he reached the end of that statement. His surprise was as evident as it was undeniable. He’d clearly expected to hear something out of the ordinary, but he obviously hadn’t considered that to be a possibility. Not even remotely. They resumed walking in silence for another minute or so before he seemed to fully compose himself, returning to his stoic and more or less unreadable state. That had certainly been a surprise. Their pace was slower, but they were making progress now, at least. “Sparda was a singular individual. Truly a being of legend. One worthy of the legends told of his exploits. I imagine that is quite the legacy to be a part of. Quite the burden to be beholden to. I imagine you know no peace.”

“I may be suffering the ill effects of that right now.” V practically grumbled under his breath, irritated with himself in a way that he hadn’t been in quite some time. He glanced back over at Sirrus, his companion’s state still the same as it had been. He’d seemingly improved for a second, but he’d regressed now. It was clear to see. And upon realizing this, something in V simply… stopped. The feelings that he’d been so overcome by moments ago softened noticeably and he felt nothing but concern for his friend in that moment. He’d been so angry, and now he only felt sorrow and a flood of emotions he couldn’t properly perceive, his eyes brimming with unspent tears as he felt a wave of utter terror overwhelm him. He felt like he hadn’t been himself now for far too long.

What… What was happening to both of them? What kind of hold did this terrible place have on the both of them?

Stepping towards Sirrus, V rested his hand on his friend’s shoulder for a moment as he looked down at the ground, closing his eyes as he grounded himself. He felt tense, irritable; short of breath. Now this wasn’t a sensation he enjoyed feeling. Not since his time in Redgrave City had he felt like this. Not since he’d relived Vergil’s trauma in his own broken state. A state he’d spent so much of his own life in. And it always came with this sudden, building realization that something was just off. Even when he’d found relative peace in his teenage years, he’d still felt so disconnected and unsure, ever wondering when his visions, his nonstandard viewpoint on reality would come back around. And they never had. Until they did. He’d seen things that weren’t visible to others around him back in that city. Back in Redgrave City. And he’d thought himself crazy, but now he knew that wasn’t the case. Perhaps this was worse in a way? Because now he had to face it… No. He could face it. The difference was that now he could. He was no longer that scared child. And he refused to be ever again.

The reality that what he saw was real was disquieting, but he would own that fear. He would face that reality. And he would concur it. He just needed to know how. That was what had brought him here, after all. He didn’t desire to grow stronger. He desired the proficiency to no longer be afraid of… himself. Of what he was capable of. He wanted that kind of freedom, and he only knew one way to get it. He’d tasted it before when he’d taken the chains off against Belial. He wanted to know how to face his own power without fear that it would consume him. And something told him that could only be achieved through some degree of proficiency, if not mastery, if what he was capable of. That seemed to be a trend he’d witnessed within his family. Only through acceptance of one's power could you control it, and only through that came some form of equilibrium. He couldn’t run from his demons. He was a demon, literally and figuratively. He had to conquer them. Like it or not, he was going to have to at least try. It was his only chance. He just wondered if he could handle that. If he was physically and mentally ready. And there was only one way to know for sure. But he liked to think he was ready to find out.

… Maybe he should talk to Nero…

But first…

“What is wrong with Sirrus?” Gustave was a direct person. He seemed like he preferred direct answers to his questions. Perhaps the inverse was also true. Maybe he should just ask him what it was that he wanted to know about Sirrus. There was no denying that something was happening to him. Neither of them were clueless enough to not notice.

Gustave took notice of V’s change in tone. He was clearly still struggling with a myriad of things internally, but he’d subdued them for the time being, his focus on something more immediate and tangible to him. His friend. He needed to know that Sirrus was alright. That he would be alright. And right now he didn’t. And that was unacceptable to him.

“The Veil. It fluctuates constantly. It was caused by the intermingling of Inferno and Paradiso. We stand in the null zone at its core. The Void. It is one of the rare places where the two dimensions bleed into one another… “ Gustave paused for a moment before continuing, seemingly considering whether or not he should say anything further. “And one of the rare places where Sirrus’s duel nature becomes most problematic.”

“How so?” V asked, genuinely intrigued as to how the place they stood in could be affecting his friend so negatively. He could tell it was having a negative effect on them both, but having some details would be beneficial. At least, he hoped it would be.

“It affects everyone negatively, typically in regards to your emotional state. Something I gather you’ve just experienced. Extended exposure to the void takes training. You must build a tolerance to it but… “ He stopped speaking, his pupils moving subtly from side to side as though he were checking to see if he was being watched. He stepped just a bit closer, within whispering distance as he lowered his voice to a noticeable but not imperceptible degree, speaking quietly like one might in a library, but not whispering. “How much do you know about his parentage?”

V blanched. He… hadn’t expected to be asked a question of that nature. Did they have something to do with this place? He knew nothing of the limits of their power. He barely knew what they were. And considering the things that people in his family were capable of doing or had previously already attempted or succeeded in doing, he wasn’t willing to put anything out of the realm of possibility anymore.

“Enough to know that I am not fond of his parents,” V said plainly. It was the honest truth. He hoped to never meet them. They didn’t seem like the kindest folks, even when measured against his own previous opinions of his own family when he’d first met them. He’d held drastically different opinions about his entire immediate family when he’d first met them, but he’d never disliked any of them the way that he did Sirrus’s parents. He’s mostly just been frightened of their potential to kill him should they wish to or mildly frustrated that he had to work with them. Something both. But those feelings had quickly fallen by the wayside as soon as he’d gotten to know them. Vergil had taken more time for obvious reasons, but Nero had grown on him almost instantly, and Dante was just Dante. He had no negative feelings to account for when it came to his uncle.

It was rare that he held such a strong opinion about people that he’d never met, but there were certain things that were utterly unforgivable, and Sirrus’s previous statements about them were enough to go off of, as far as he was concerned.

“Then you know enough,” Gustave said, his tone filled with discontent. His speaking volume didn’t change in any noticeable way, but he was still obviously displeased about something that V was not privy to. Not yet, at least. But something told him that he was about to find out.

Gustave looked at him closely, perhaps evaluating the necessity of what he was about to say. But after a moment, he sighed softly and adjusted the collar of his shirt, perhaps more out of discomfort than an actual need to. Was that his one tell, V wondered to himself. He didn’t seem to have any others that he’d noticed. Was he uncomfortable?

“His parents knew of the turmoil that his birth would bring. Of the fundamental natural order it would violate…” His tone darkened ever so slightly, his volume staying the same if not increasing ever so slightly as he glanced over at Sirrus, a look of consideration crossing his face as he almost appeared to seem sorrowful for a moment. It seemed that he didn’t like to see him in such a state. Had that been his reason for not checking on him at any point earlier in their journey, perhaps? “Of the ceaseless torment that he will experience every waking moment until his end. The tightrope he constantly walks is unfathomable. I do not wish that he’d never existed in the first place or that he’d been otherwise taken care of after his creation, but I do hold contempt for his suffering.”

Gustave had succeeded in garnering interest from the young descendant of Sparda, a look of confused concern making its way onto his face. He recalled Sirrus speaking less than fondly about his upbringing and parentage but… “Elaborate, please.”

He stopped to consider his next words carefully, his eyes not leaving Sirrus until he was certain in regards to what he deemed appropriate to reveal to V, especially without knowing how much Sirrus had already told him. He’d not been there for their other conversations, but if V already knew about his less-than-favorable relationship with his parents, then he doubted Sirrus would object to what he had to say. He probably would’ve told him himself if the scars hadn’t cut him so deeply. It was a hard topic to speak of for very obvious reasons, and the adjudicator didn’t do so lightly.

“Even by the standards of a bloodline such as your own, his blood inherently conflicts with itself in a way so unprecedented that I dare say you know very little of the absolute hell he has endured to gain any semblance of the functionality you know him to possess. Humans are seen by demons and angels alike as prey, and as such human blood strengthens those with mixed heritage of one or the other. Typically.” Gustave leaned in closer, his tone lowering just as his voice did, a sparkle of something utterly incomprehensible in his eyes as he spoke. There was a gravity to his presence and words that was undeniable. He spoke the truth, and nothing but. As awful as that truth might be. “But demons and angels hate each other. With very little exception. Viciously. More than perhaps anything in this universe does. And his blood reflects this. One side of his nature is always vying for control, making a stalwart effort to destroy every molecule of his being that is not of its nature. His nature shifts with the moon and the sun, and in this place specifically, the constant uneven fluctuation is enough to drive one mad on a primal level. Even worse than the effect my ward had on you back in town.”

“... His parents knew this would happen to him?” V’s tone was a mixture of horror and disbelief. The idea that they had known that they would be bringing this fate upon their own child… and had chosen to subject him to it. He understood that their desire for a child might have simply been that powerful, but to think that Sirrus had essentially been cursed from the moment of conception by his bloodline alone was horrifying. Had they simply thought that his suffering could be mitigated? That there might be a chance to save him from his own nature? That was simply tragic to consider. He didn’t deserve such suffering. Had they actually been that sure that they could overcome any difficulties he presented, or were they simply that indifferent to the possibility?

“I dare say they did. They had designs to cull this aspect of his nature, but it is a fool who thinks they can bend a will as strong as his to anything, let alone their flimsy desires.” A soft, almost fond chuckle escaped Gustave’s lips as he regarded the man with the mostly red hair, shaking his head ever so slightly. “No, Sirrus continues to exist in the state of mind that he does because he is too strong to break and too willful to be commanded by even his own inherently cursed blood, and anyone who dares say otherwise is a fool. His bloodlust alone should have driven him to madness by now, yet here he remains. At least somewhat sane, if not clutching the last remnants of his sanity by the purse strings. I almost pity him. But he would seethe at the very notion.”

“They knew with absolute certainty that Sirrus would be cursed?” V was admittedly reiterating that to himself more than anything else, but Gustavestill noticed, shaking his head ever so slightly. He cleared his throat, looking down at the item he’d been clutching in his hand as if it were a clock that he was checking. He didn’t seem pressed. Just conscious of the ever-flowing passage of time in a way that V currently wasn’t.

“Perhaps I should rephrase that. His father knew. A clever if not entirely morally corrupt omission of his. He concealed his true nature from her until after Sirrus’s birth when it became undeniably clear. He left out that little detail when planning his conception with Sirrus’s mother. She wouldn’t have gone for that should she have known. And he knew that. But he picked her for the purity of her bloodline, and not for any other reason. Something she discovered much too late. And something Sirrus has been made to suffer immensely for his entire life.” Gustave shook his head, a look of distaste appearing upon his face. It seemed that V’s assumption that Gustave had known Sirrus for a long time was correct. But for how long was still a mystery to him. But to think…

So that was what Sirrus had meant when he’d previously said that he was the result of a sort of eugenics project…

No wonder he’d tried so hard to warn Aluta… The helplessness he must have felt watching her become his next victim… The guilt and anger that must have overtaken him when he hadn’t succeeded. V felt a cold shiver crawl up his spine. Sirrus…

How did he still have even an ounce of humanity left in him? How did Sirrus still have the compassion and empathy to show V such unwavering friendship despite the cruelty he’d no doubt been shown for much of his own life? How had he managed to be there for him despite such inner turmoil? The day of peace they’d just shared with one another suddenly felt more special than it ever had, and it was even more meaningful than he ever could have imagined. Sirrus had needed that day off just as much as he had. Now he understood more than ever while a simple bottle of wine as a potential gift from either of his parents had been enough to reduce him to tears. To render him nearly immobile. He’d never known true love from his parents. Not even once. Only manipulation. He was a shared pawn that they both utilized as a means to an end.

V gestured towards the object that Gustave held. Judging by his unwillingness to put it away, the summoner was willing to guess that it was important. Anything to change the subject at this point. His sadness towards the unfathomable quantity of horror Sirrus had been forced to endure was disheartening, to say the least. “And that device?”

“A compass of sorts. Used to find the core of the veil. As I said, it fluctuates. All the more reason to stay on schedule. We chart its movements in much the same way a meteorologist would. But navigating it is still… treacherous.” He held up the device, pivoting in a circle as he seemingly searched for something unseen, much to the white-haired summoner’s curiosity. “That is why I am here, after all. If you could come here without an escort, why wouldn’t you?”

“Fair,” V said as he watched Gustave continue to scour the area around them. Moments later, the older man lowered the device, focusing his attention on something in the middle distance before raising it once more and proclaiming something loudly in a dialect that V could not properly comprehend. Considerably louder than his normal speaking volume, in fact. So much so that V physically stepped back when he began his invocation, suddenly uncomfortable standing so close to him. He was willing to bet that it was more Enochian, but he had no way of being completely sure.

Opting to take inventory of Sirrus’s current state, V stepped towards him, gripping his forearm gently and bringing him over closer to the both of them. He seemed to still be very much in his trance, his eyes still just as blank as they had been the majority of their trip. He was probably going to need help finding his way. He just seemed tired.

Just as V pulled Sirrus closer, the space before them was ripped open, a gust of staggeringly strong wind nearly knocking them off of their feet. Gustave didn’t budge, gesturing for them to follow him through the tear before them, and not in a way that indicated that they should do so at their leisure. It seemed that he’d found the proper point of entry with his compass after all.

Stepping through, they were greeted by utter silence. Not quite as severe as one might experience if they stepped into a soundproof room, but something similar. Their footsteps actually echoed slightly as they took their first steps against the moss-covered stone-paved ground. Ah, so that had been how Gustave had found his way. The changing of the pavement had probably been a dead giveaway. It had been the thing that led them to this large circular clearing in the woods, the sky above them glittering in unknown shades of dark pink, vibrant reds, ominous purples, stark scarce blues, and black. Utterly pitiless black. He didn’t even need to ask if they were still in the human world. It was obvious that they had transcended that plain of existence and gone somewhere else. Somewhere not quite known to him. Something primordial and cold.

“There are different segments of the Void. They are not connected to one another.” Gustave said, perhaps guessing at what V might be thinking. He wasn’t far off, but V wasn’t all that focused on his environment at the moment. Sirrus’s eyes appeared to be changing back to their normal hue, even if it was at a snail's pace. He had just blinked for the first time in what seemed like forever. And a moment later, he audibly shivered.

Shaking noticeably, he seemed to gradually be snapping out of the trance he’d been in, perhaps due to the shift in the environment. A look above them revealed that the sun and the moon had eclipsed one another and that they were now nearly indistinguishable, seemingly unmoving. They probably held about as much sway over him here as they would if he were inside of a building with no line of sight or a roof over his head. And if his sudden, labored breathing and full body quivering was anything to go off of, that was a welcome respite, indeed. He looked as though he were breathing fresh air again for the first time in ages. Like he’d been locked in a dark, airless place and had forgotten what it felt like to be free and to feel the breeze upon his skin again. It was delightful to behold.

V couldn’t resist the urge to crack a small genuine smile. “Welcome back.” He said softly.

He didn’t know if Sirrus understood him, but if the way he looked in his direction was anything to go off of, he’d heard him at the very least. Sirrus reached down and closed his eyes for a moment as they continued, using his right arm to grip V’s, the same arm that the summoner had been using to guide him along. More out of a need for reassurance than guidance. Even in his current state, he knew that V wasn’t going to lead him astray. And if he did, at least he wouldn’t be alone.

But as V turned his attention away from Sirrus, what stood before them certainly caught his eye.

A large stone mountain jutted out of the forest before them, easily thousands of feet tall. It was jagged, almost as though it had pulled away from something or been sheared clean off of a larger structure by some unknown force eons ago. It went up so far that the top seemed to disappear into the clouds, although even those seemed lower than normal, if only by a small margin. The air didn’t feel as thick there. Perhaps they were at a high elevation?

That was when V noticed the structure built into the mountain. A tiered fortress of some sort but half into the mountain, overgrown with moss and plant life in much the same way as the stones they trod to reach their destination. A long bridge that they now crossed led them from a stone structure of some sort -seemingly a doorway or arch similar to the stone altar he’d they’d seen back in Lympha before departing to fight the devil prince- having served as a conduit for the tear they’d entered through. He tried not to look down, knowing that to be foolish. He wasn’t a fan of extreme heights. But after seeing the bottomless abyss that reflected the sky above them looming below, he knew for certain he would never look down again. The abyss was so deep that even the colossal waterfalls that carved a path down the mountain before them couldn’t reach the bottom, seemingly falling into eternity. He couldn’t see the top or the bottom of the waterfall, and something about that was uniquely disconcerting.

After what felt like an eternity of walking, they made their way up what felt like several stories of stone stairs, an exercise in repetition that V thought might finally rob him of his ability to walk. As they reached the front door, a towering structure composed of impossibly heavy carved stone, V couldn’t help but wonder what had possessed Gustave to work here in the first place, let alone to come all that way just to meet them and escort them back here. But at least the strange overgrowth of the canal they’d traveled up to get here and the dense woods now made more sense. Everything here seemed to be similarly overgrown from what he could tell. It would be positively whimsical if not for the ominous, foreboding, and frankly flat-out creepy atmosphere that the entire place exuded. V hadn’t felt that put off of entering a structure since he’d stepped into the entrance to the Qliphoth and had a vivid vision of a giant skull leering down over him and seen and felt the hands of the damned attempt to drag him down into the floor with him.

He paused for breath for a moment, utterly taken aback by the entire structure. If Griffon had gotten bad vibes from the forest, then he was going to hate this place. But as the door slid back into the mountain and rolled to one side in much the same way that the entrance to the tunnel back in the city had, he knew he couldn’t go back. If there might be someone worth seeing who resided here, then he had to proceed. Even if every fiber of his being screamed in terror at the very sight of this place. He’d come too far to give up. That and the prospect of telling Gustave “Thanks anyway, but I’ve changed my mind” and leaving now was paramount to asking to be the victim of first-degree murder.

“I have not done this much explaining of things long since passed in quite some time. What a trip down memory lane this has been.” Gustave made no effort to hide the discontent that he made that statement with. He spoke those words as though he’d just tasted something unpleasant. Their entire conversation had clearly been a trip down the unpleasant side of memory lane for him, and he was eager to change the subject. He bowed politely, more to the benefit of their unseen benefactors than for anyone else, his introductions to his traveling companions having long since been made. He then stood up and gestured up the staircase before them. There was a grand staircase, curved and covered in vines. Presumably, a resting area of sorts was to be found at the top. Or, at least someone who could escort them to one. “If you have any further questions, please direct them towards Sirrus once he fully awakens from his stupor. Welcome to the house of Nihil. Make yourself comfortable. Something tells me you will be here a while.”

With that, Gustave excused himself for the time being and disappeared through a doorway to their left, vanishing in a puff of multicolored smoke. It seemed that the doorway had been a portal of some sort. That made sense. Otherwise, there would be an unfathomable amount of stairs in this horrendous place. V shuddered at the thought of even trying to walk up the hundreds of flights of stairs that would require.

But as he stepped forward, he felt Sirrus’s grip on his arm tighten ever so slightly. Not enough to be uncomfortable, but just enough to be noticeable. He’d barely been able to feel his grip at all before. V turned and faced his companion, noting that for the first time since they’d entered the forest, his eyes were their usual stark gray again. He’d seemingly snapped out of his previous state, his grip on him more to ground him than anything else given the circumstances.

And Sirrus looked utterly and entirely confused. Not to mention flustered. He clearly didn’t remember much of what had just happened, if he’d been cognizant enough to hear what they’d been talking about at all. But if the shift in his expression was anything to go off of, he certainly recognized where he now stood. And he looked just as displeased to be there as V felt looking at the place. Obviously, he’d known their destination, but it was clear that he didn’t want to be here any longer than necessary either way.

Sirrus then looked over at V, the tired look in his eyes fading to a barely noticeable degree as they lit up at the sight of his friend. Despite it all, he even managed to crack a small smile. He looked genuinely glad to see V, their current location be damned.

“Hello, V. Sorry if I frightened you, mo chara daor... What did I miss?”

(-~-)

A few little tidbits!

If you’ve not read Visions of V, yeah, there is a part in there where V has some super missed-up visions as described above. It’s chapter 15 if you are wondering. It’s free online! It accidentally/unintentionally corroborated some of my ideas for V since I wrote those chapters before that chapter came out, which was cool!

I wonder if I’ve ever said this directly in one of these notes before. Probably in the comments, but I figured I would just in because it’s fun to discuss stuff like this, and why not? This is already 22 pages long LOL!

I like to think V is similar to Vergil but still different. They are on different paths by this point, but they are still similar. V is realizing that he is not as helpless as he was made to feel his whole life, trying to harness the power he felt he never had that was within him all along, practically bursting at the seams to be set free. And Vergil is no longer looking to other sources of external power. He's finally realizing that he’s enough. And that desire for power and usefulness can be found in other tasks just as worthy of his time. Like helping to repair his broken family as best as he can. Nero has found his sense of purpose and somewhat overcome his own insecurity about himself and what he believes he is, although he's still a work in progress. I think he needs some intrinsic personal fulfillment for himself that isn’t rooted in how others view him since his childhood sucked canonically. Maybe hanging out with V could help… Then he will finally fully he understands how truly awesome he is. He needs to prove to himself that he’s not Deadweight, once and for all. But he's like 90% of the way there, so good for him! I think patching things up with Vergil has certainly helped. But he’s still gonna roast his old man every now in then! Who would he be if he didn’t? And Dante... well, he's just happy to have a family again. Give him some time. He's working on it. ALL OF IT. He’ll get there!

Ahem. I hope you liked this chapter! Gosh, it was such a marathon to write, but in a good way. Truthfully, due to the holidays, I’m not totally sure I’ll be able to upload a chapter next week, But you better believe I’m going to try because I’ve been having a blast writing recently and I want to keep up that same momentum as long as I can! I’ve got inspiration! So yeah, hopefully, I’ll see you next Friday on the 24th, but if not, then I will let you know! Let me know what you think in the comments, and I’ll see you soon! Happy holidays if you have any coming up (Shout out to Native American Heritage Day here in the US! Yay!), and take care! Thanks for reading! Bye bye!

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