Dark Crow Rising

"The President is waiting for you, would you be fine with me escorting you, if only part of the way?" he asks kindly despite how he is looking at the one who put this large hole in his chest. Not by accident or as a reversible joke, but because I needed to steal the powers bound to his soul. His ability to create such fine conduits of demonic and heavenly power was very useful for my ritual. As my emotionally tormented existence proves so aptly.

"If it puts Her and the club at ease." I answer with a small nod as he turns back slightly, swinging his arm gently as I am silently told to go first. A slight smirk comes to my face as these mirages act as if nothing is wrong, the pretty boy is still a pretty boy to them. The fact I am in my kingly robes of a nation far from what was here is ignored. To them, they can only see me as the student I once was.

However, blank moments are spoken throughout this fawning. Many of them wave to me and offer a greeting, some slight, others greater. But, my name, my powers blank it out as I don't want to hear it. Even hearing Iakb say it left me shivering...

"Kyrvern." he goes, again, disturbing my mind.

"Hm?" I go, turning to face him as we walk into the school.

"So, she has grown into quite the woman. Has she been keeping up with her training?" the walking corpse of a friend I killed asks with only polite kindness.

Even after everything I have done to everyone and him, he still speaks to me like this. He is still the same kind man I knew before even with what She has become. He's still the friend who hears out those who have taken a drastically wrong turn in life. Though, how much of this is him taking heed of when he was once in that position, I do not know.

"Clohniq is the Goddess of Technique, she was skilled from the get-go. Training is pointless for her."

"But does she do it?"

"Aye, she does." I nod.

"That's nice to hear, and pardon my saying, but I look forward to testing my blade against her."

"Blades." I correct as I come to a stop by one of the clubs. Sliding the door open, my eyes linger on the contents inside of it.

He chuckles gently, "Yes, sorry, sometimes I forget how many I tend to go through."

"I am surprised you never felt the need to make a collection of them. Maybe boast a little of what you had which Greenstrip didn't." I remark as he joins me in looking inside the old Kendo Club room. For a mere school club, it is quite storied with its lineup of trophies and prizes. Replica swords, gold cups, silver and bronze medals. A little armoury for all those of the club.

Which, curiously, neither he nor Greenstrip were actually a part of despite their swordsman and girl statuses.

"Well, I am the collection, after all." he rightly points out as he keeps a patient smile as I tear myself away from the sight.

"Did you ever worry you might forget about a sword type?" I ask as I recall how many blades he can make. Pretty much everything bar the most sacred and unique of blades he had the capacity to emulate. Short of warping reality on the level me or my children can do, his imagination is the limit.

"No, we often had it figured out what the fight might need. Besides, it all sort of lost meaning as I won the right to wield more legendary blades."

"My daughter out there deserves only the best." I remind him.

"Of course, despite our history, I hold no ill will towards Clohniq or any other of your children. You have my word, I will not act in a mocking manner towards her." he tells me and I nod at that, his word could ruin an economy with its value.

"Oh, really?" I ask anyway, to test his sense of humour.

"Accidental patronisation may occur." he tacks on with a chuckle as a small smile comes to my face.

"I am somewhat surprised you think of them as my children. I often dismiss them as just being creations..." I let out as I think about how I hugged Clohniq. I can't seem to get my head on straight right now.

"Kyrvern, you may let your mouth get the better of you at times. Your mind might not keep up with it. But, your heart has always been firmly set on what you feel is right. Even with your notorious habits of self-doubt and self-flagency. It's why I can't grow to hate you for what you did, even with the influences in my undeath. I despise the actions you took, but, I cannot do the same with the man who took them." he tells me, patting my shoulder firmly.

Coming out of the school's main building, we arrive in an almost forest-like area. Off in the short distance is a Victorian-style clubhouse, the preferred architecture for demonkind. I never got why, but, it's what they like, I suppose in the sense of we fight only for what we lack. The Old Building, as many used to call it.

My Schoolside Home.

"Have fun with your fight, you're going to get your arse kicked." I tell him as I try to put on an uncaring expression.

"Good luck, Kyrvern, I hope you manage this time." Iakb says to me as I watch him head back the way we came. I wave to him as he waves to me and the door gently thuds shut.

Left alone to stare at the daunting path ahead, my gaze shifts towards the trees. All of our little outdoorsy spots, I can recall them all, where we went during school hours and where out of them. The little clearings for lunch when the sun was out and the spots we did a bit of sneaky, cheeky magic. We weren't supposed to and a certain Council President gave us Hell whenever she caught us.

But, we kept it up anyway.

There was sincere sense to it, though, ever since the original destruction of my kingdom all that time ago. Before even the men of Augustus sailed the sea or the armies of Darius set out from the Persian mountains. People often wondered why miracles were vanishing, but, there was a purpose to it. World wars unlike that which the mortal world can comprehend, in compliance with the Smoldering Council.

The start of my walk is uneventful, but, when I hear the rustle of leaves and the snap of twigs, I stop. White fur slips into view and I struggle to figure out if I should smile or cry. Turning to the top step of the stairs ahead of me, I notice the owner of that pretty shine. Miss Rose Goggles Sweet Shop has quite the treat for me right now.

"Hello... Kone..." I greet with a sigh as I start to wonder if I am allowed to keep looking at her. I do not know, after everything I have done, do I deserve to? At the very least, I am glad she is now bound in the form of a small house cat. It hides the injuries I dealt to her behind a soft coat of fur.

She mewls with her unique style of smothered excitement and her ears stand, "Do you have any chocolate for me?"

I don't want to be involved with her, but, I can't help myself, I miss my friend so much... I miss her small smile and easily broken stoic nature. So, I sneak a hand into my pocket and create one of her favourites. Something I am quite proud of as it is an import from my homeland that I introduced her to.

"I do, yes I do." I tell her with a contradictory expression. I am smiling, but, my eyes are as sullen as they can be, rimmed with water.

"Yay!" she meows as she bounces up and down with joy as her paw smacks at the golden foil wrapper. Carefully, I twist it open without putting my fingers on the easily broken chocolate. But, before she goes for the sweet treat, her purring head rears itself under my hand. She rubs me with all the love she can manage without even glancing at the chocolate.

It takes me gently tapping her nose with it before she even nibbles...

The packet is erased from existence as easily as it was made and Kone's face shows off its new freckles. Inconsistent splodges of brown that smear and vanish in accordance with her sweet tooth-abiding tongue. When what is in my hands is gone, she cleans the pathway of any bits she can. Every tiny little flake is picked up.

She comes around to my leg and rubs me, asking without a word for uppies.

"Fine..." I let out reluctantly as I do as she wants with my powers cleaning her of chocolate. She purrs away in my arms as I gently carry on walking towards the Old Building. I want this moment to last forever, but, I know the longer I hold her... A finger idly disturbs her back.

A spot of water hits her fur, flattening and darkening it.

She just wants a simple, happy hug from her best friend but all I can think about is that moment. Back then, all she wanted was a hug, she begged me to come closer. And, I was forced to kill her, less she killed me. I felt how all of her internal energies were set to blow in that moment... And I acted.

I realised that it wasn't me she was crying for. She didn't want to see me, really, I killed so many of her friends at that point. She was crying because it hurt to keep the bomb intact as it arrived at the target. The way I killed her, it let the bomb defuse safely, but, I was forced to see that expression of hers...

Those eyes as the life vanished from them.

"It's... It's time for me to go, Kone, you best get going too. Do you know who Waionr is? He's at reception, he has a pet lion, I am sure you will have lots of fun with him." I tell her as she meows demandingly, she doesn't want to go. Yet, she goes anyway, a slight spring in her four steps as she got to meet her friend again. Her dear, bestest friend.

In the whole wide world...

Looking towards the immediate building, I place my hand on the door handle. A ripple of destructive energy ripples through this isolated realm of reality. Pushing the door open slightly, someone else opens it the rest of the way and I barely let go. A smile is up in my face as I am left with unstable footing.

However, it is only a slight glance to notice the signs of a broken, chain-choked neck. The way the flesh is seared by her own lightning. It all ruins an otherwise perfect body, one I once preferred over Hers as I was an idiot. Snow-like pale skin, destroyed forever more by me.

Okena steps forward and gives me a tight, loving hug that I do not deserve. How these three have managed to get over my actions despite myself having not baffles me. Even with all the negative influences in their undeath as Iakb put it, they still found it in themselves to forgive me. I am a god now, but, even with the new packed schedule, my mind has time for them all.

I jump slightly as a shock enters me as a sneaky kiss suckles my neck. She giggles innocently as I step back in her arms, though, not escaping them. Despite her otherwise serious-looking maid attire, she swings from me like a girl in love. Our hands soon lock together and her mischievousness vanishes for the sake of innocent blushing.

"Kyrvern, it is nice to see you again. I have already made a pot of tea for the meeting and cups are out along with some cookies. I hope you like them." she explains before giving me a kiss on the cheek.

"They're called biscuits..." I correct, knowing she is teasing me with that colonial speak of hers. Familiar softness presses and brushes me as she steps outside with more exaggerated swinging than her attire would suggest.

She winks my way, "Go get her, then, me."

I smile at her stuck-out tongue as I continue to watch her, "Not going to get your broom?"

The wooden stick in question is hidden quite badly behind the door.

She laughs and carries on walking like the temptress she is, "Do not worry about me or you will keep forgetting what is important."

Looking away as she messes with the orange ribbon holding back her lengthy ponytail, I close the door. Sensing out for her, I overhear the communication she received regarding my onsite children. Of all the gods for her to face, Thurnmourer is probably the worst one. A specialisation in lightning makes her easy prey for my firstborn.

But, she is right, I am here, once again like I always am. I am here to speak to the woman in this building. To try and get somewhere with it, anywhere at all. Anywhere...

"And, here we go." I say with a tremble in my posture as I slowly move to the meeting room. I keep delaying my approach as much as possible by trying to recall all the memories I have of this place. As many nice ones as I can so I can calm and improve my mood. But, it's not enough.

And, I reach the final set of doors keeping me from Her, right beyond them, the unforgiving love of my eternal, forever life.