Echo 5 – Through the Veins of Night. [12.0. Scarlet Requiem]
On November 26, 2024 By Fang Dokja In Arc 12. Scarlet Requiem
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This story contains some intense moments, and readers should be aware of the following potential triggers and content:
1. Violence and Threats of Violence: There are scenes where characters engage in physical confrontations, including threats of harm, knife fights, and moments where characters hold blades dangerously close to each other’s throats. Some scenes may be unsettling or intense.
2. Foul Language: The dialogue includes strong language and curse words, with some characters using coarse, aggressive speech throughout the story.
3. Psychological Tension and Manipulation: There are moments where the characters engage in mind games and subtle manipulation, creating a sense of emotional intensity and psychological pressure.
4. Alcohol Consumption: Characters drink alcohol throughout the story, with some instances of excessive drinking and references to rum and wine.
5. Themes of Identity and Deception: A significant plot element involves a character grappling with issues of identity, deception, and the revealing of a hidden truth, which could be uncomfortable for some readers.
6. Emotional Tension Between Characters: There is a tense and sometimes antagonistic relationship between the characters, marked by sarcasm, mocking, and simmering distrust.
7. Unresolved Conflict: The narrative involves moments of conflict that remain unresolved, contributing to an ongoing sense of unease and suspense.
8. Psychological Themes: The story explores themes of mental instability, madness, and the psychological toll of power and contracts. Characters wrestle with internal struggles, and the narrative reflects dark psychological states that may be unsettling for sensitive readers.
9. Toxic Masculinity and Machismo: There are elements of toxic masculinity portrayed in the behavior and attitudes of certain characters. This includes overt displays of dominance, bravado, and reckless behavior, which could be triggering for some readers.
10. Aggressive and Intimidating Behavior: The characters in the story display aggressive, confrontational behavior, particularly during the fight scenes, where physical and verbal intimidation are employed.
11. Emotional Manipulation: The psychological manipulation of characters, especially in moments of tension, may be present, where one character pushes another’s emotional limits as part of the psychological struggle.
12. Dark Humor and Intense Situations: The characters often use dark humor and sarcasm to deal with grim or serious situations, including the occasional mocking of violence and death.
13. Threats of Harm and Intimidation: There are verbal threats and challenges involving physical violence, and characters engage in aggressive behavior, including intimidation and the implied risk of severe harm.
14. Mentions of Past Trauma and Death: The story alludes to prior violent incidents that have left lasting emotional scars on characters, contributing to an overall atmosphere of danger and discomfort.
15. Mentions of exploitation and ruthlessness: Some characters engage in exploitative behaviors and display a lack of empathy or compassion for others.
16. Mild Body Horror – Some descriptions may be unsettling due to the nature of the physical dares or the characters’ reactions to high-risk actions.
17. Alcohol Abuse and Recklessness – There are several scenes featuring excessive alcohol consumption, where characters drink large quantities of alcohol in reckless and potentially harmful ways.
18. Explicit Substance Use – The consumption of strong, potentially lethal substances like high-proof alcohol is depicted in several scenes, with characters drinking to extreme levels.
19. Moral Dilemmas – The story includes questions and dares that force characters to confront moral boundaries, making them choose between loyalty, power, and survival in brutal ways.
20. Sexual Innuendo and Suggestions – There are moments of suggestive language, particularly involving one character’s comment about a potential “date,” implying an undercurrent of sexual tension.
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Status: Draft #1
Last Edited: November 26, 2024
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The door to Archduke Light Valor’s office crashed open with a force that made even the massive oak door shudder on its hinges. The room, typically a well-organized sanctuary of power and discipline, was suddenly filled with the chaos of the outside world. The subordinates in the room jumped, their brows furrowing in frustration as they scrambled to their feet.
“By the gods, Captain Kingston! What in the hells—” one of the men began to protest, but his words were drowned out by the unmistakable sound of boots thudding against the stone floor.
Captain Knox Kingston swaggered into the room, a grin spreading across his rugged face as he took in the sight of the office. He was a mountain of muscle, dressed in a loose shirt that was just tight enough to highlight the strength beneath, his skin marked by scars of battles long past. His blue hair, wild and unkempt, matched the defiant gleam in his emerald green eyes. A pirate captain to his core, he seemed to have little respect for authority—or for anyone else, really.
His piercing gaze scanned the room with disdain, taking note of the stiff, nervous posture of the Archduke’s subordinates.
“Oi, what is this? A bloody church service? Get outta here, you bunch of bootlickers,” he sneered, waving a hand dismissively at the men who quickly shrank back, trying not to meet his gaze. Knox was many things, but diplomatic was not one of them. “Light’s too busy ‘fiddling with his papers’ to even show his ol’ mate some hospitality. Well, ain’t that a fine treat!”
Without missing a beat, Knox strode up to the desk with his characteristic arrogance, placing his large, calloused hand on the wooden surface with a thud that sent several loose papers scattering into the air.
Light Valor, sitting behind the desk with his back straight, didn’t flinch. His expression remained the same—cold, calm, emotionless. His piercing red eyes barely flickered up from the papers he was reading. The man exuded an air of dangerous composure, like a predator pretending to be a statue. He didn’t even look up as he spoke, his voice smooth and controlled.
“I’m busy, Knox,” he said, his words as heavy as iron. “I’m fixing things. You’re wasting my time.”
Knox scoffed, rolling his eyes dramatically. “Fixin’ things? More like brooding in here like a damn hermit. You couldn’t even be bothered to show your face at the harbor when I arrived. Instead, you sent some lackey to tell me you were busy. Busy? Really, Light? You’re avoiding me, and you’re makin’ it real obvious.”
With a loud, exaggerated sigh, Knox began to pace around the office, his boots echoing off the stone floors. He glanced at the shelves of scrolls and expensive-looking books, then eyed the bottles of aged wine behind a nearby cabinet. His grin widened as he walked over and pulled one down, making a show of uncorking it with exaggerated flair.
He poured himself a generous amount of the dark liquid, not even sparing a glance at Light as he sank into the chair in front of his desk. He didn’t offer the Archduke any drink, of course. He didn’t share with anyone—least of all with Light, who, despite being his best friend, had a reputation for being a stoic, no-nonsense sort of bastard.
“Y’know, I don’t get it,” Knox continued as he swirled the wine in his glass, taking a long, dramatic sip. He looked back at Light with a shit-eating grin. “We’ve been friends for how long, and here you are, sittin’ all prim and proper like a damn statue while I’m out there gettin’ attacked by every damn sea creature known to man. And you couldn’t even make time to see me when I docked! I should be celebratin’ my bloody safe arrival with a welcome feast! But nooo… instead, I get a cold shoulder and a messenger boy.”
Light’s calm gaze never wavered as he folded his hands neatly on the desk, leaning back slightly. His voice was flat, but there was a hint of something almost like humor hidden in the coldness. “You’re here now, aren’t you?” he replied, though the underlying tone was clearly one of irritation. “Why waste time on trivialities when there’s real work to be done? You’re not here for pleasantries, are you?”
Knox snorted, leaning back in the chair and crossing his arms behind his head, the wine sloshing around in his glass. “Pleasantries? Ha! I’m here ‘cause I’m bored, Light. Haven’t seen my best mate in too long, and you’ve got me sittin’ here like some stray dog beggin’ for a scrap of attention. So, come on—what’s the deal? You’re makin’ me work for it, huh?”
Light finally looked up at him, the coldness in his eyes sharpening for a brief moment. He took a slow breath, then relaxed once more, his gaze flicking to the papers in front of him. “There are matters of more importance than whatever nonsense you’re prattling about.” His voice was icy, like a winter breeze. “I’m dealing with the Empire’s problems. You’re… here. Enjoy your drink, but don’t expect me to entertain you.”
Knox leaned forward, eyes glinting mischievously. “More important than me, huh? You sure about that, Light? You sure you’re not just makin’ excuses? What’s the real reason, eh? You scared of somethin’?”
Light’s jaw tightened slightly, but he said nothing. He wasn’t one for these kinds of games, and yet Knox—damn him—always found a way to drag him into it.
Knox chuckled, taking another long sip of wine and settling back in his chair. “I swear, you’re a bloody mystery. But hey, I get it. You’re always so damn serious about everything. Always the grim bastard. But if you need help with any of this ‘Empire fixin’ stuff’, just say the word. I’ll be your man.” He gave Light a cheeky wink, then added, “Just don’t expect me to start playin’ politics or wearin’ those stuffy suits you love so much.”
Light’s lips twitched, but the smile never quite made it. “I’ll keep that in mind, Knox,” he muttered. But they both knew, in that moment, that Light would never ask for help.
Knox smirked to himself, content to stay in the tension of their silent understanding. He had already won, as far as he was concerned.
“Alright, then. Enjoy the rest of your bloody papers, Light. I’ll be in the corner, waitin’ for ya to stop being so damn uptight.” With that, he leaned back in his chair and took another swig of the rum, the deep burn of alcohol igniting his insides.
The office, for a moment, was filled only with the sound of Knox’s contented drinking and Light’s ever-stoic silence.
Both men knew that nothing would ever change between them. They were best friends, after all. Best friends who could clash and laugh and mock each other, yet still, somehow, find a way to trust one another.
And maybe, just maybe, that was the only thing worth having in a world like theirs.
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The moment was deceptively calm, filled only by the low murmur of shifting papers and the occasional creak of the old wooden floor beneath Light Valor’s boots. But then, without warning, the air snapped with tension.
Knox Kingston moved faster than a viper, launching himself from his chair, a flash of steel cutting the space between them. He wasn’t aiming to kill—at least, not immediately—but the intent was clear: the pirate captain wasn’t one to back down, even from a man like Light Valor.
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His knife flashed in the dim light, sharp and lethal. But Light was faster. In one fluid motion, his hand shot out, his own blade—a wickedly curved, deadly weapon—appearing in his grip as if it had always been there, ready to defend him. The two blades collided with a sound like thunder, their tips locked in a deadly embrace.
For a long, suspended moment, the two men stood locked, their faces inches apart, each one silently measuring the other. Knox’s emerald eyes gleamed with mischief as he smiled, a grin that never quite reached the cold emptiness of his gaze.
“Who are you?” Knox’s voice was low, dangerous, but laced with mockery. “This Light Valor might have fooled everyone else, but you don’t fool me, mate. Who the hell are you, really?” His laugh was a sharp, mocking bark, the pirate’s confidence unwavering. He’d known Light too long to be intimidated by this.
Light’s red eyes narrowed, his grip on the hilt of his blade tightening ever so slightly. There was no hesitation in him as he kept the weapon poised against Knox’s throat, the blade so close it could pierce the skin with the slightest movement. He could feel the tension build in the air between them, but Light didn’t move an inch. He wasn’t afraid. He never was.
“You’re still too naive, Knox,” Light murmured, his voice cold, calculating. “You think you know me? You don’t.”
Knox chuckled again, the sound like the clash of waves against jagged rocks. “Oh, don’t I? I know exactly what you’re about, Light. You’re not fooling anyone. Hell, even the body is here. Can’t fake that, can you?” He paused, leaning in, eyes gleaming with an unsettling familiarity. “But you’re not him, are you? Not really.”
For a moment, the air seemed to freeze. The world outside the room stopped moving as if the very earth held its breath. Light’s gaze hardened, the icy fury flashing behind his eyes. His blade remained steady, the edge still perilously close to Knox’s throat. For a moment, there was only silence—the type that presses into your chest and makes you feel like you’re suffocating.
Knox wasn’t one to back down from a challenge, especially not from someone like Light. He leaned closer, his lips curling in a cruel grin. “So, you’re a damn imposter, huh? This is all some damn game, and you’re just playing dress-up with the body of a dead man, huh? Light Valor my ass.” He sneered, taunting. “But you can’t fool me, mate.”
Light’s hand trembled slightly—a rare moment of uncertainty. His gaze hardened, his decision made. There was no killing here. Not today. Not yet. Not unless he had no choice.
“Don’t forget who’s the strongest here,” Light said, his voice as cold as steel. His blade remained pressed against Knox’s throat, but now it was a warning. A threat. The barest amount of pressure, and Knox would be bleeding out on the floor before he even knew what happened.
Knox’s smirk didn’t waver. He was still grinning like a damn maniac, but a flicker of something darker, almost like understanding, passed in his eyes. He raised his hands slowly, as if surrendering. The humor never left his voice, but there was a trace of something else beneath it. Something dangerous. Something that knew he was playing with fire.
“Alright, alright, mate,” he said, leaning back in his chair as Light withdrew his blade with a slow, controlled motion. “I get it. You’re the big bad Archduke now. You wanna flex that power, huh?” Knox’s grin widened as he flopped back in his chair, taking a deep swig of rum, his pirate accent thick and thickening with every word. “But I’m still gonna make your life hell. You know that, right?”
Light sighed, his shoulders stiffening in a way that suggested a mix of frustration and resignation. “I have other matters to deal with. I can’t be bothered to entertain your nonsense, Knox,” he muttered, pushing his papers aside and picking up his quill, resuming his work as though the near-death experience hadn’t just occurred.
Knox didn’t let the tension slide that easily. “So, what’s your name, huh? You know, since you’re not the real Light Valor, it’d be nice to know who the hell I’m dealing with.” He swirled his drink lazily, watching Light closely, as if studying him for a reaction.
Light didn’t even glance up from his papers. He wasn’t interested in playing Knox’s games. But the pirate wasn’t going to let it go so easily.
“Deon,” Light said at last, his voice barely a whisper in the otherwise tense room. The name dropped like a stone in a still pond, reverberating through the room with unexpected weight. “Deon.”
Knox blinked, his cocky demeanor faltering for the briefest of moments. “Deon, huh?” he mused, a grin tugging at the corner of his lips. “Well, that’s a bit of a twist. Didn’t see that coming.” He leaned back in his chair, laughing loudly, but the sound was tinged with something darker. “Oh, this is gonna be fun. I’m definitely gonna keep messin’ with you, mate. Gotta get some entertainment out of this.”
Light didn’t answer. He was back to his work, his focus absolute. But there was a sharpness to his eyes now, a razor’s edge of calculation behind every movement.
Knox took another drink, grinning like the devil himself. “You know, Light—or should I say, Deon?—you’re a real piece of work.” He paused, eyeing the Archduke as if the thought amused him. “But it’s fine, mate. I’m not here for small talk. You can go back to whatever ridiculous plan you’ve got in that head of yours. But don’t think I’ll go easy on you. Ever.”
Light said nothing, his pen scratching furiously against the paper, as if he were writing his own fate into existence with each stroke. Knox’s voice continued to ring out, but it no longer mattered. It was just noise, like the constant slap of waves against a ship’s hull.
Knox might have been annoying, relentless, and completely unpredictable, but that was just how it worked between them. Nothing ever changed. They both understood that.
And so, as Knox continued to drink and chat with his usual brash tone, Light remained silent, ever aloof, ever calculating, preparing for whatever would come next—because in a world like theirs, it was only a matter of time before everything exploded again.
And when it did, Knox would be right there, laughing as if it were all just another game.
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Light closed the manuscript with a sharp snap, his fingers momentarily pressing into the edges of the paper as if he could feel the weight of the words lingering in the air. The room felt suffocating, heavy with the silence that only he could bear. His gaze flicked toward the door, and with a quiet command, he spoke with the cold precision that was so characteristic of him now.
“Spar.”
It was more of an order than a request, and the simple word sliced through the stillness like a blade through silk. Without waiting for any more acknowledgment, Light stood, his expression as unreadable as ever. The crisp sound of his boots against the stone floor echoed briefly before he walked toward the training grounds, his movements calculated and effortless.
Behind him, Knox Kingston didn’t hesitate. He chuckled to himself, his voice booming in contrast to the quiet of Light’s demeanor.
“So, what’s with the new, uh, quiet act, mate?” Knox’s voice was thick with his pirate accent, as usual, like the guttural rasp of an old shipwreck that’s seen far too many storms. “The old Light Valor was a bit more… chatty, eh? You’d think a man who’s always a step away from insanity might like to talk a bit more, eh?”
Light snorted coldly but didn’t turn back. The sharp sound of the snort was all the answer Knox needed. It wasn’t a reaction of anger—Light’s emotions were a carefully controlled fortress—but it was a response. Knox’s grin widened as he caught up, matching the pace effortlessly.
“Trivial,” Light muttered under his breath, his tone flat but deliberate. “The disguise is perfect, to me.” He didn’t elaborate further, but the words held a strange finality in them. Knox’s grin faded just a touch, but it never fully disappeared. He knew better than to push, but curiosity gnawed at him like a dog with a bone.
Knox tilted his head, rolling the idea over in his mind, before laughing loudly, the sound reverberating through the hallways. “Aye, mate, perfect disguise, sure.” He let the silence drag on a little longer, the smile never quite leaving his face. “But you know, don’t you? You’re not fooling me, not even for a second.”
Light didn’t respond, but the faintest flicker in his eyes betrayed the thoughtfulness behind his impassive exterior. Knox was smart. Too smart for his own good sometimes.
“And how exactly are you so sure, Knox?” Light’s voice remained unflinching, though there was a slight edge to it now. “What is it about me that gives it away?”
The pirate’s gaze sharpened, though he didn’t stop his boisterous banter. “You’re quieter than a damn ghost, mate. And you’re not just staying quiet for the fun of it. It’s like… something’s off. Something’s different, deeper than just the usual ‘stoic’ nonsense. You’re—what’s the word—harder, y’know?”
Light’s lips twisted ever so slightly into a thin line, his stoic expression barely shifting, but his eyes flickered with something darker for the briefest of moments. A flash of something that made Knox’s grin falter, just for an instant.
“Madness,” Light finally said, the word as casual as any other. The answer was short and clipped, but it resonated heavily. “That’s your theory, isn’t it? Madness.”
Knox stopped walking, eyes wide as he let out a low whistle, clearly impressed. “Bloody hell, I was only half-joking, but… you’re spot on.” His voice softened, no longer mocking, but genuinely curious. “How’d you figure that out, mate? Been getting a bit too cozy in that insane little head of yours, eh?”
Light glanced over at him, his expression unreadable. “It’s not something to figure out. It’s something to survive.”
The tension in the air shifted, growing thicker. Knox’s usual bravado faltered for a second as he processed what Light had said. He took a long drag from his flask, trying to mask the seriousness of the moment with another drink, but the pirate’s gaze was locked on the other man, waiting for more.
“So, what’s the deal, eh?” Knox asked, this time quieter, his usual pirate swagger slipping away just for a moment. “Did you find a cure for it? You know, the madness?”
Light didn’t answer immediately. His steps didn’t falter, but the air around him felt denser now. The silence between them stretched for a long beat, the only sound the muted clatter of boots on stone.
“No,” Light said at last, his voice a soft murmur. “It’s incurable. A contract. A fair exchange.”
Knox’s eyes darkened just a fraction, his expression unreadable. “A contract, huh?” he repeated, the words thick with understanding. “What price did you pay for that, mate?”
Light didn’t look at him, didn’t pause as he reached the doors to the training grounds. “Power.”
Knox let the word sit in the air for a moment. His lips pulled into a twisted, almost rueful smile as he followed Light through the door, his heavy footsteps echoing loudly in the expansive room.
“Well, I’ll be damned,” Knox muttered under his breath. “You are a mess, aren’t you? But a damn impressive one. You’ve always been able to handle it better than the rest of us, haven’t you?”
Light didn’t respond, but as the two men stepped into the open air of the training grounds, the distance between them shrunk as their eyes locked in a brief, sharp exchange.
The training grounds were vast, a barren expanse where the sounds of sword and steel rang out like music to a warrior’s ears. It was an arena for the best to clash, a place where even the most perfect of warriors could be shattered by the wrong move. Knox didn’t hesitate as he pulled a sword from the rack, its steel gleaming in the sunlight.
“You ready to really spar, mate?” Knox called out with a wink. “Or are you just gonna stand there and look all moody?”
Light’s lips twitched, the barest hint of a smile that was gone before it fully formed. “Let’s see if you can keep up,” he replied, drawing his own weapon with a swift motion.
The sparring match that ensued was anything but ordinary. The air hummed with tension, the clashing of steel ringing out with each movement, each swing. Knox’s boisterous laughter rang out as he danced around Light’s calculated strikes, his movements quick, unpredictable—just like the pirate himself.
But Light, silent and controlled, moved with the grace of a predator. Every movement was purposeful, every step measured. He didn’t waste energy. He didn’t need to. And when their blades met, it was with the weight of a thousand unspoken words, the fury of battles fought in silence.
Knox’s grins only grew wider with each strike, the pirate delighting in the challenge, in the chaos.
But for Light, it was nothing more than another fight, another day. The madness simmered beneath the surface, but it didn’t control him. Not today. Not yet. The game wasn’t over, not by a long shot.
Knox’s voice rang out one more time as they broke apart, laughing louder than ever.
“I’ll admit it, mate,” Knox called, twirling his sword. “You’re a hell of a lot more fun to spar with now. Didn’t think that madness thing would work so well for ya!”
Light simply nodded, wiping the sweat from his brow, his gaze already shifting back to his next move, his next target.
It was just another fight. Another day.
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Link to Full Chapter: Echo 5 – Through the Veins of Night. [12.0. Scarlet Requiem]
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