Third Person

~

The feeling of being wildly jostled around during teleportation was something Kira would never get used to.

Thankfully, as they didn't have to drop in from the skies this time there wasn't the scary falling sensation, only the intense tumble and shakiness before the glare and winds dispersed to reveal their new location.

The chilled air pushes past Kira's face in a frenzy, the ground beneath her feet feels rough and uneven and the moon bathes the environment around in an ethereal blue glow almost like they're no longer in the same world.

She's unable to stop an impressed gasp leaving her lips as she comes to the realization that they're on the peak of a hill, she can make out the silhouette of a vast forest beyond and the shimmering stretch of a river that looks so still it's almost mirror like.

At least that's how it looks from how high they are.

She takes an absent step forward without looking but Troy grabs her cloak before she can make a very stupid mistake.

Her halted foot kicks a small pebble that skips down the side of a hill adorned with very steep-looking marble steps.

A low whistle escapes Kuro's lips, "Long way down huh?"

The blond shakes his head disapprovingly before yanking Kira back, "Our mission is that way, Vermillion," he points and Kira spins on her heels only to be taken in awe as the giant, ornately carved wooden gates standing just a few feet from them take up all room of her vision.

Thick walls stretch out on either side of the imposing structure and two watchtowers bearing black flags with a strange-looking seal are erected on either side and soft reddish-orange lights glowed from within.

She's barely done taking it all in when there's a booming male voice that descends upon them from above.

"State your business on Overseer property!"

They look up to see several of the guards atop the wall have energy spheres trained on them while a form dressed in dark robes stands front and center glaring down at them.

Sweat drips down Kira's brow, these guys sure didn't play around.

"You fu-" Kuro's curse is cut off by Troy's hand silencing him.

"Get us through, Vermillion," the blond hisses.

"Give me a sec, will you," she coughs to clear her throat before turning back to the gates, her eyes fixed on the lone figure at the top, "It is I, Demona, my team and I were summoned for a trail before the council at midnight."

The energy spheres vanish almost immediately and the guy at the center jumps off the ledge. He flips through the air, landing gracefully before them and Kira finds herself facing a guy probably a bit older than she and Troy; raven black hair falls to his shoulder and a broad sword is strapped to his back.

Even more surprising, he doesn't use a Mask, giving them a clear view of his very irritated frown. Deep brown eyes fix the trio with a look that can only be described as disgust.

"Captain Inoue Tsukito, leader of The Overseers' Second Division, I shall be escorting your team to the Council's Chamber," he gets out in a gruff demeaning tone that Kira has half the mind to show displeasure to. They're the good guys just as much as these guys are.

The doors let out several long loud groans as they're pulled open, widening to give sight to a large sprawling courtyard lit by the same floating glowing lanterns with the red tint.

The path to the towering temple at the center is led by a sleek red carpet with gold trims. On either side, Kira can see many in the same uniform variants as Inoue sparing beneath the moonlight while some adults watch over.

Some use Masks while others don't and she's always thought it a sort of necessity.

'Most exorcists don't have families or already come from known ones with ties to magic, some don't see the need to hide,' Mammon informs her as the trio match Inoue's steps and follow into the courtyard.

"There's a barrier around the path so attacks won't hit you," Inoue informs when he sees where she's watching.

"Who says one of your puny attacks could hurt me?" Kuro jeers just before Troy smacks him over the head and Kira can see Inoue's eyes flash back at them with menace but he keeps his air of professional cool.

Something Kira is struggling with the closer they get to the doors. From the coldness, she can tell they're not well-liked, and not just by Inoue. The air is tinged with hostility toward them and she's more than ready to turn back but she has to change their minds.

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'It has nothing to do with you child, it's a centuries-old thing,' Lucifer says with an air of nonchalance.

"What does that mean?" She asks out, forgetting where they are and drawing Inoue's attention just as they ready the double doors into the temple's first floor.

"Who are you speaking to?"

She points to her head, "Just the demons, they're harmless up here, I swear."

"Summon them."

"I see no need for that," Troy says, Kira knows he's only saying it so he doesn't have to deal with there being more people to embarrass him.

"We like to keep eyes on all our targets, you are on Overseer territory after all," he answers stiffly.

Kira raises her hands in surrender and brings the demons forth, they wouldn't be fighting so she could keep them here for a good while.

The demons appear on either side of her; horns, menacing auras and all, causing the guards at the entrance to tense up immediately and draw weapons.

Mammon smirks flashing fangs at everyone and Lucifer merely huffs his displeasure.

Inoue examines them both then turns to Kira, "Just two, Keeper?"

"Cut me some slack, I only got this job a couple of months ago," she replies with a shrug.

He nods once in understanding before turning back to the doors. He snaps his fingers at four of the guards, "I need two on the rare end, open the doors."

Two guard dash to the tail end of their small group, while the remaining push open the doors leading into the grand hall held up by brilliant jade pillars.

Kira stares in awe, he looks way too young to have such power over people but she's impressed nonetheless.

"Feel honored as no demon has come this far on sacred ground," he scoffs, obviously addressing the demons.

"I'm pretty sure the time we and Kazue-chan kicked your ancestors' asses to accept the pact counts as being on sacred territory," Mammon jeers.

Kira sighs, the hostility is starting to make sense now.

Kuro snickers, "So that's how it happened?"

"We'll see if that attitude holds before the Council, you lot are formidable but you're insects compared to them."

"We're not here for a fight, just to clear up misunderstandings and leave," Kira says before Kuro and Mammon can escalate things any further.

"We'll see," he beckons them down the hall and they're left with no choice but to follow despite the unknown of what awaits them.

On stepping in, they're assaulted by an oppressive energy of overwhelming authority, it weighs thick and heavy in the air and Kira feels like her body is far heavier than it should be.

"Something feels off about this place," she whispers to Kuro who has made his way to the front alongside her.

"Special wards and spells, they're carved into every inch of the place to weaken intruders who aren't used to them," He explains, he's agitated and she knows it's the aura getting to him as well.

"It's a common thing for all Temples so only students and Masters have an advantage against intruders," Troy adds, "We had similar measures back home, although he intensitytends to differ."

Lucky him, Kira on the other hand feels like her shoulders were being pushed to the ground by some invisible force

"We're approaching the Council Chamber," Inoue announces, he turns back to them, "I hope you are ready."

Kira's eyes land on the wide open doors ahead of them leading into a well-lit room. She hopes to get a clearer look of the inside but her attention is taken instead by a small train of people coming from the adjacent hall ahead. They're heading for the door as well, a handful of guards in uniforms, escorting an elderly man with snow-white hair and a tall blonde woman in cargo pants and a tank top.

"Do we get to go to the bathroom before going in?" Kuro asks while raising a finger.

She ignores shutting him up to get a better look as the strange old man has an air about him that draws her in. Her spying is interrupted by Troy's whisper of a single word.

"Master?"

Kira gawks, turning back to him and then back to the old man who is now looking back at them, he has an aged bony hand raised to his lips before disappearing into the hall with his group.

She watches, so that was Troy's Master? What the hell was he doing here? She wants to ask but the last echoes of Inoue and Kuro's argument reach her and she clamps the younger boy's mouth shut before he wears their escort's nerves thin.

"We're ready," she says resolutely, eyes on the door.

Inoue gestures toward the door, "Then we may proceed."

In a few steps, they're at the threshold of a circular chamber. Seats are lined up against the walls on either side and a carpet at the center leads the way to six ornate, gleaming thrones at the far end of the room.

This is where their fates would be decided, to be watched by those who she can only assume to be other members of this quaint little organization.

She takes in the empty thrones, unable to stop her thoughts from wondering what kind of people these council members could be. The atmosphere surrounding the temple gives a different vibe to what she'd been expecting. Red lights and dark clothes were the last thing you'd expect of those who were opposed to the dark forces.

"Your Council members are running a bit late captain," Lucifer muses eyeing the thrones just as Kira is.

Inoue has no time to respond before someone else does for him.

Ryoichi appears on the other side of the red carpet from where their group is, "Have your Demons hold their tongue, 'Keeper', this isn't a place to make bad impressions."

Kuro lets out a low growl at his appearance.

"It's a fact," Troy throws in plainly and Kira is thankful for the effort.

Ryoichi scoffs, "So it is, hope you've exchanged goodbyes though, this may be the last our dear Keeper is a part of your world."

Kira can't ignore the confusion that swims through her, what's more, the look of dread on the other's faces does little help. Like they knew something she didn't.

She's about to ask what the hell he's talking about when the loud piercing sound of a gong vibrates through the room, the pressure of powerful winds push out in time to the ominous ring.

Six pillars of energy flair up before the thrones.

The trail is about to begin.