Hello all, this is the last chapter special, I had fun writing it, I hope you have fun reading it. In other news, my new fic is called Redemption and I'm posting it today, so if you're interested or like my style of writing, be sure to check that out. For the umpteenth time, thank you guys so much for reading this story I had a blast creating this world and the characters.
Weryn was skipping down the hallway to Erebus’ throne room. Behind him was a blob of dark, depressed energy, formerly known as Dark Mist.
The reason for the change in Dark Mist could be explained simply: he lost.
Yes, to this midget child, Dark Mist had lost!
Dark Mist had been hiding in the library and trying to find a book in the medical research area that wasn’t related to Vyne’s gruesome experiments. He was then told by a demon who worked under Magnus that Vyne had written every single book in that category.
The other creatures of the castle were surprisingly a pleasant group. Unlike their superiors, they didn’t have incredibly strange quirks that made Dark Mist very uncomfortable.
Like the time Lilian had allowed Dark Mist in her room so that he could escape from Magnus and Stone who wanted him to dress up.
It was then that his image of Lilian had shattered. Every time he passed her room he couldn't help but shiver violently.
But gratefully, the others who worked there could be considered normal (ignoring their love to Lord Erebus). So, Dark Mist didn’t find himself completely alone in this place.
Anyway, Dark Mist was attempting to tough it out and read one of Vyne’s research books. It seemed like even though the majority of the investigations he did were legitimate and interesting, Vyne found the most brutal way to carry it out.
The subjects for his experiments undoubtedly went through unbearable pain.
“Dark Mist,” the succubus named Alura who worked as a maid called his name. “Leader Lilian told me that Lord Erebus was requesting you.”
Dark Mist’s mood plummeted. He had only met the Lord a few times, and each time he found himself cowering in the corner. Erebus was freakin’ scary! Not only was he a dragon, but one time, a recently recruited demon stepped out of line and was promptly beaten to a bloody pulp.
That wasn’t the worst part, Erebus and his subordinates continued on talking about business as a man was screaming in pain as he was being grinded into the ground by Erebus’ foot.
Their tolerance for this was way too high! Lilian read her reports without even looking downwards at the bloody mess.
“Did he say what he wanted?” Dark Mist asked and Alura shook her head. “I will go there immediately,” Dark Mist said with dread in his voice.
And so! It lead him to the next situation.
Erebus had said in such a frivolous tone, “Spar with Weryn. Everyone else is too busy.”
“Eh? Is there a need for me to do that?”
“Just do it.”
And then! Dark Mist and Weryn stood in the training arena.
Dark Mist was a little reluctant to fight Weryn, as he was a child. He had been told Weryn was a dragon like Erebus, still, the kid was obviously weaker.
“Let’s go!” Weryn said with a kind and cute smile that made Dark Mist’s heart melt a little.
How could he fight such an adorable person?
And then the world was spinning. Actually, it wasn’t the world, but Dark Mist himself as Weryn grabbed him by the ankle and began to spin him and then launched him like this was the hammer throw.
Dark Mist found himself incredibly dizzy when he stood up, but Weryn was already there pinning him down and thus winning the spar.
In essence, he was quickly defeated.
And then again.
And again.
Dark Mist snapped after the tenth time Weryn had defeated him, saying their sparring was done.
And thus, he was changed into the blob of lost hopes and dreams. The kid was terrifying! Dark Mist had tried to cast magic on him, but Weryn dispelled it and charged at him using his crazy strength.
No matter how he looked at, Weryn was playing around. The big smile still hadn’t left his face. Dark Mist sighed heavily and the mass of despair grew darker.
“Cheer up! Stone and Magnus are the strongest after Lord Erebus, and they have to get serious to fight me. It wouldn’t be a stretch to say I’m one of the most powerful entities here,” Weryn said proudly.
That didn’t make Dark feel better at all. To think those two eccentrics were the strongest! “Then, out of the seven, who’s the weakest?” Dark Mist asked Weryn.
“Probably Tear, she’s strong in her own right, but the others are just crazy powerful. Lilian is hailed as probably the best necromancer, and even though Vyne’s actual strength isn’t that high, his magic aptitude makes his power skyrocket.”
“Then, if Tear’s the weakest, why is she the Overseer of the other six?” Dark Mist was very intrigued by this. She didn’t really act like it, but in terms of ranking, Tear was the second-highest. The other six were more or less equally ranked, the seven of them were collectively called the Leaders by everyone else, even though they actually weren’t called that by Lord Erebus.
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“Lilian said it was because Tear has served Lord Erebus for the longest amount of time. Other than Yvick, she was the first to ever become his underling. I think it was either Vyne or Lilian next, then Stone and Magnus have been here for the shortest time.”
Dark Mist nodded his head in understanding. “Why did they all come to serve under Lord Erebus?”
“No idea! I never asked.”
He still wanted to know more, though, he had even evolved back into his human form from a shapeless blob. “What would be my ranking here?”
“Probably something under the Leaders? You’re like me, I don’t really have a standing, but people listen to me.”
Weryn, I’m pretty sure it’s because you’re a dragon, Dark Mist thought. What kind of idiot would intentionally go against a dragon?
“Well, whenever there are meetings with the Leaders, I’m also called in,” Dark Mist said. “So, they must consider me to be of some importance.”
Weryn shrugged, he obviously didn’t care so much. “Let’s hurry up, Erebus is waiting.”
Dark Mist took that to that to mean Weryn wanted him to shut up. Still, there was more to learn, the lower subordinates didn’t know much, so this was Dark Mist’s chance! Dark Mist opened his mouth to say more, but Weryn suddenly grabbed Dark Mist by the hand and yanked him forward with so much force his shoulder almost dislocated.
A large clap sounded and the entire building shook. Then exactly where Dark Mist had been standing, two figures burst through the wall, engaged in a fight.
“Oh no! They began without us,” Weryn whined loudly. “Tsk! It’s because you took so long.” The young dragon kicked Dark Mist in the shin angrily. “It’s all your fault!”
Dark had no idea what was going on and was too proud to bend down and nurse his pained shin, so he stood there with a blank expression.
The two fighting were Vyne and Magnus. Their movements were blindingly fast and precise, yet not a single attack landed on their opponent.
“Uh, what’s going on?” Dark whispered to Weryn who was watching the fight.
“Do I have to tell you everything? Well, whatever. There’s a tournament going on between the Leaders for fun, Lord Erebus wanted one more so he chose you and me. Whoever won would get to enter!” Weryn’s eyes flashed. “Come on, we have to go to Lord Erebus.” Weryn grabbed Dark Mist by the hand and began running at full speed.
Dark Mist glanced back at the two people who were destroying the castle. “Is that okay? It’s going to collapse.”
“It’s fine, the castle will be repaired the second they leave the spot by workers. Lord Erebus told them to go all out, so they are,” Weryn explained desperately.
Once again, Dark looked back. No matter how he spun it in his head, he would have definitely died if he had stayed there another second, right? The two burst through the wall like a wild animal ready to kill.
“Thanks for saying my life,” Dark Mist told Weryn because of this.
“That was only natural, it was no problem. But you owe me a favor now, no matter what it is, even at the cost of your life.” The beginning was fine but at the end he totally added on something that sounded incredibly unpleasant coming from a child’s mouth!
Dark Mist decided to act as if he didn’t hear that.
They burst through the doors to Erebus’ throne room. Weryn suddenly let go of Dark Mist, who he had been dragging, and made the man fall flat on his face. The four already inside of the room all looked at Dark Mist and then glanced away as if to help him save his dignity.
Weryn ran up to Erebus who sat on his throne looking ready to fall asleep. “You started it without me! You said you’d wait.” Weryn tugged on Erebus’ braid furiously.
“You took too long, I couldn’t hold them back,” Erebus said unconvincing words.
“That’s a lie. If you just told them to wait, they would have. You just wanted it to start already because you’re bored!”
Erebus removed Weryn’s hand from his braid. “So what! The two are running around my castle, now I can’t even watch it all.”
“Shall I drag them here to fight?” Lilian looked as if she seriously would step in between the two demons and break them apart.
Stone laughed. “My brother would just drag you into the fight! It’s fine, Lord Erebus. They’re sure to come back sooner or later.”
Erebus sighed and slumped in his throne. “So, who was the winner?” He turned his head to Weryn.
“It was me, Dark Mist is actually strong, though! He was a fun opponent. I’m sure he can rank with Vyne and the others.”
Everyone’s eyes turned to the figure that was dusting himself off after falling. “Why do you all look so surprised! I told you I’m not that weak, didn’t I?” Dark Mist snapped at the confused expressions they wore.
“Well, the truth is,” Tear began hesitantly.
“No one believed you.”
The one who delivered the truth in a chilling voice was none other than Lilian. Dark Mist promptly reverted back to a blob of dark energy.