Kuh...
Eventually, the daemon recovered enough to muster enough strength to climb down from his throne. His steps were weak, but decisive, and his gait left no hesitation in its firmness. If her memories were correct, then what he needed should be beyond this door. Without ceremony or gallantry, the bulbous mass of goo and flickering veins of energy opened the gate beyond his goal. The creature bore no face or smile, however it was relieved to see that the materials were in such an orderly manner.
He stepped lightly forward and gazed down at the pile of bodies, lightly caressing a homonculi's cheeks. It was almost a bad joke, for him to have grown so soft over a mere doll. However, it's touch wasn't so unpleasant. it was almost like...
"Ooooooh? Are you in despair yet?" A sneer called behind him, or rather within him. He could feel a slithering mass wrap around his waist sensually, mocking him with its many eyed gaze. How troublesome.
A condescending cackle echoed within the halls of the castle. Or perhaps this was in his mind, a mind that had already gone mad since long ago. He didn't really care.
"Seriously, it must be sooo frustrating, to think that you were so close this time around. Lemme see your face, c'mon."But he merely ignored the anoyance, much like one ignores the buzzing of a fly, or the cries for help far beyond one's reach. His eye was instead drawn to the different bodies, observing their shapes and folds down to the every fiber of their muscles, the pores of their skin, the luster of their hair.
"Tch, you're no fun yknow? Aah, but doesn't that bring us back to the good old days doesn't it? You could've saved her easily, you could've called Relius and your allies, summoned them to turn the tide of battle. But you just had to let your meaningless pride get in the way. Jeez, and they call me a demon, but at least I'm honest about it. It's wasn't that vixen that killed her, or fate, or whatever yadda yadda you came up with."Whatever had slithered out of Theodore's consciousness laughed silently at it all, as mocking as ever. It's eyes were filled with madness, loathing and an anger far too rooted to be described as anything but inhuman, but its words were as sweet as fruit while as dark as poison.
"It was you."The demon simply gave an uncaring glance to the crawling insects covering his body, unfazed and beyond any preoccupation. No, there was a trace of amusement in his heart, but he did not express it beyond a curious and nonchalant response.
"So what?"The crawling stopped to a halt with his words, and began to fill him with a burning sensation, one that left him as unfazed as ever. He just sighed and glanced at one of the homunculi's blank lifeless eyes.
"Tohuw Balagan- no, Karl. You really haven't changed since the last time I saw you, have you? Always blabbering and blabbering on things already known. A mouth ill suits a worm, but alas."For a second, the whole world seemed like it was trembling, distorting, as the searing sensation within his being grew infinitely more excruciating. The eyes covering the demon, as cold as they had been, twisted and turned into scowls of scorn.
"Don't you dare utter that name..." It growled on the inside, picking at it's possessor's soul apart like a fruit's entrails. However, the demon's careless expression did not shift, instead he simply raised an eyebrow, feigning surprise.
"Oh? This is new. Grown sentimental? For a mere vessel you sure like to order people around. For trash to name itself king of trash, it is quite poeti-" A burst of various limbs and extension of different creatures burst from his form at once, tearing and ripping out of him without mercy in an instabnt. But it was merely superficial, the pain was as shallow as the damage it had caused, and the blob merely crawled back into a more humanoid shape. "Fufu, you're regaining control it seems."
"I could say the same to you. Perhaps this pile of trash of your making suits you more than me. It seems to have taken a liking to you." The eyes sneered in irritation, failing to conceal their anger. The demon shrugged and looked at his own body without much concern.
"Perhaps giving you an intellect was a mistake. Heh, it's no matter of concern. You did get one thing right though. I've given it... some thought. I wished to save someone, but failed and lost pathetically. This is far from the heroic eddas and tales of yore we would share on a campfire. This is reality, and reality is no different from back then."
For a second, it looked like he was smiling, but there was no joy in his voice. Only an ironic mocking tone that belittled everything and everyone, including himself.
"But what of it? This was never about saving the world, or saving anyone really. After all, if I really wanted to save anyone, I would've done so wouldn't I? Maybe if it had been someone else, she wouldn't have died. No, saving anyone was never the intent. This isn't about world salvation or anything so noble. This was always about me. I'm no hero of justice, i'm just a child throwing a tantrum. This form does suit me better. But I'm afraid it would be... inconvenient to claim it as my own. No, this won't do at all. Garbage belongs in the garbage, and I am no garbage. Perhaps when all is said and done, I will let you writhe for me some more.""...You've planned quite the scheme, beast of imaginary numbers." The mass of flesh within Theodore muttered, this time without any of the mocking it used to bear. It was further from sarcasm and closer to disgust, to which the demon merely chuckled.
"One you will have part in, whether you like it or not. After all, your wish and mine are mutually inclusive. It would be in your best interests to cooperate."For a moment, the castle turned silent, cold and filled with deathly intentions. However, it quickly receded with a laughter, an ugly laughter that no sane human could muster. It was befitting of a madman, or a monster.
"Tch, you really are scum. But it doesn't seem I have a choice. Very well, the contract is settled."Theodore smiled and merely waved his hand, to which the creature vanished, leaving him once again to his lonesome schemes. He stroked the body's cheek one last time before glancing up without any kindness.
"Now then, I pray you're wise enough to follow my advice, Sakura-san."And with that he walked through the door, leaving the ravaged halls with the same bored expression as always.
