Its flesh clung to its bones like a child being torn apart from its parents. The lacerations were deep, enough to kill any ordinary person. But a person, this creature was not. The large bony protrusion ripping through its skull curved like the crescent moon, its grotesque head and face resting upon its bony shoulders. A face not even a mother could love. Its milky white eyes burned with a fiery rage, their focused gaze fixated on its gnarled right hand, the left having been torn off leaving nothing but a bloody stump.
The gray rat-like demon sat upright upon the bricks lining the alley, the chilling air surrounding it as if to say, 'you are completely and utterly alone'. The city of Ygdransi peered down at the creature, every spiteful and hate filled demon within it could sense the presence of this maniacal beast. Hatred radiated from it, like a toxic barrier to keep anyone and everyone far away.
"Black hat... golden watch... golden hair... wind... black hat... golden watch... golden hair... wind..." It muttered, repeating the words as if it were afraid to forget them.
A sudden gust of wind burst forth from the other end of the alley, throwing the demon off balance and onto the cold hard ground. It wasn't used to this weakness; its physical body had never been so useless. It was a disgusting feeling, being filled with such animosity, only for its own body to betray itself in the end. As it tried to pick itself back up off the ground, a voice echoed through the alley, bouncing off each moss-covered brick lining the wall and ground alike.
"Black hat, golden watch, golden hair, wind... how do you know them?" A quiet yet powerful voice projected, reaching the rat-like demon's ear holes and filling them with a sense of dread. Whoever this voice belonged to was much stronger than the rat demon itself, and it was fully aware of that fact. Nobody had dared to approach it in this state, its burning hatred alone was enough to keep even the strongest of demons at bay.
"Who are you... what do you want, stranger?" It rasped, trying to conceal the fact it had been too badly wounded to put up much of a fight. It's voice alone sounded pitiful in comparison to this monstrosity speaking to him, hidden within the shadows of the alley.
"You don't seem to know their names... but I do." The voice said, echoing slightly louder now, "The tall man dressed in all black, with his gold pocket watch brazenly displayed. And the other, the girl with the short golden hair who controls the very air itself."
The rat-like demon felt a wave of quiet desperation fall upon its shoulders. If this strange demon knew of these two, then perhaps it could use this stranger to its advantage. Find out their names, hunt them down, and finally end the one who caused its suffering.
"You... you know of them? Tell me... who are you?" It croaked.
"I'm afraid that information is not any of your concern. However, I have no issues telling you who they are and precisely where to find them... if you're interested, of course." The voice said, its sinister tone growing ever so hate-filled. Whoever this demon was, they most certainly harbored the same thrashing anger towards the two.
The rat-like demon stood slowly, using its bone protrusion to stabilize itself as it caught its balance against the brick wall. It tried to peer into the shadows surrounding it to catch a glimpse of the other demon, but it was far too dark to see any details.
"Tell me! I want nothing more!" It screeched, its raspy voice making a horrible gurgling noise as it spoke, as if its throat had been torn out and replaced over and over again.
Laughter shortly ensued, echoing through the alley with a ferocity that made the rat-like demons anger pale in comparison. As quickly as it began, it abruptly halted.
"The man in the hat's name is E, while the golden-haired girl is May. As for where they are... I'll need to know your intentions before revealing that." The voice said, a small snicker following its statement.
"I would do anything... anything at all! Take me to them! Take me! The only reason I'm alive is to find them... and end them. I want the river of their blood to flow beneath my feet!"
"Then you should know, we want the same thing. I want them dead, by any means necessary. If you work under me, and successfully kill them, I will grant you power beyond your wildest dreams. You will never be weak again." The voice said, temptation coursing through its sweet words.
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"Fine! I'll do anything! I-" It spluttered, coughing up blood between words, "I promise you, stranger, I will not fail! I know an opportunity when it knocks, believe me." It sneered a devilish grin, giddy with excitement and anticipation for its long-awaited revenge.
"I'm so very glad to hear it. Now then, what is your name?" The voice asked, but was met with several seconds of silence before receiving any answer.
"I am one of the unnamed... one of the demons who has crawled through the pits of Hell to be here amongst the powerful, for I myself was once filled with strength. Those two... E, and May... have taken that strength from me, and destroyed the path before me." It said, wallowing in despair as it spoke.
"I see... no matter, I shall simply bestow upon you a name, for I have the power to do so. I can give you a true name that only I can use against you, no matter whomever else hears it." The voice said, its words echoing in the rat demons mind. The only type of demon powerful enough to bestow a name like that upon another demon is a Rootlord, and there was no reason for a Rootlord to be slinking around the slums of Ygdransi such as this.
"...What? Who... are you?" The rat demon asked, its mind racing with the possibilities. It was unheard of for a Rootlord to be caught anywhere near lesser demons such as himself, no matter how powerful. It would tarnish the reputation of the Rootlord, condemning them to unbelievable backlash from masses of the other powerful named demons.
"As I said... that is not any of your concern." The voice said angrily, obviously irritated in having to repeat itself.
The rat demon was about to apologize, but the steady click of footsteps cut off its words. The demon in the shadows was making their way over to it, step by step. The echoes of their footsteps were like gunshots to the rat demon, with every step it flinched back in fear.
Its milky white eyes grew wide, panic coursing through its black veins. As it fell to its knees, the bone protrusion sticking out between its legs, it began to shake uncontrollably. Its body twitched and convulsed as it shook like a tremor through the ground.
Yellow eyes. Fear. Hate. Rage.
These were the only words the creature could think of when the eyes opened, staring at him through the darkness of the alley. They shone like golden beams of light, piercing through the rat demons very soul. The eyes were wide with resentment, as if every ounce of its being were consumed with the fiery passion of hatred.
"Your name... will be Pestarrem."
The rat demon looked up towards the gleaming yellow eyes, the same rage-filled look fixated to them, unwavering. He had never had a name before, it felt... good. It felt better than anything he had ever experienced. The screams he had conducted during his time in the sewers, the torment he had put others through, and the pain he shared with his victims were nothing compared to this feeling. This feeling of power. Names hold power, and finally having one meant everything to him. Pestarrem. A name worthy of cowering before.
"My name... is... Pestarrem!" He shouted, his voice full of a newfound strength. His body felt lighter somehow, stronger, faster, and more agile. Just being given a name from this yellow eyed monster had given him the strength of a thousand demons, maybe more. He could feel this new power surging through his body, giving him an unbelievable rush of adrenaline. As he picked himself up off the ground, for the first time in forever his legs didn't feel so frail and weak. The bony protrusion felt lighter than ever before, almost as if it wasn't there at all.
"My name... is... Pestarrem! Pestarrem! Pestarrem!" He roared, a guttural and animalistic screech bellowing from his very own mouth. As he raised his arms and looked to the black sky above, he let loose a chillingly triumphant wail, enough to send shivers down his own spine. This energy was something completely new to him, something capable of destroying anyone and anything in his way.
"I can see it! The path before me... has been restored!" He grinned, showing off his gap-toothed smile, "and it's all thanks to you... I owe you my very life. I am at your service." Pestarrem said, giving a solemn bow to his new master to show his immense gratitude.
"Good... I expect great things from you. However, do know that if you fail me I will not hesitate to destroy the very path you follow now. You will know nothing but tragedy by my hands." The voice said, its yellow eyes never once glancing away from Pestarrem.
"I'd expect nothing less from someone such as yourself... I promise you, I will not fail. I will kill both E and May, but I do have one question..." He stopped, noticing the eyes narrow slightly, "... why do you want them dead?"
The yellow eyes suddenly vanished, leaving Pestarrem behind in the cold darkness of the alley. But before he could call out to his benefactor, the voice rang out once more.
"You will arrive at Palace Estella in exactly one hour, and be greeted by a gray haired maid. If you are one minute late, I will strip you of your name and cast you into the abyss for all eternity."
Pestarrem smiled to himself, mentally patting himself on the back for being correct regarding the possibility of the eyes belonging to a Rootlord. One of the most relevant and powerful ones for that matter. Not a single demon in all of Hell didn't know the name of this particular Rootlord, for he wielded the power to rule all of Hell one day.
"As you command... Aberlain."