Chapter Fourteen
The History of Asturdorm
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Yushin.
The name echoed in my head. Yushin - the Spirit Walker. I sat up straight, unraveling in the blanket and taking off the jacket I borrowed from Enoxon. “Well, when… Yushin was able to access my memories and find the demon. It was strange because things began to morph into the demon attacking us. And knowing that this thing could remove this Spirit Walker from this memory and replace itself with it… I don’t know, it’s weird…” I murmured, my voice trembling off.
Then, I was pulled into a tight hug, which completely startled me - embarrassing me. I stared over Enoxon’s shoulder at the wall and sighed. I could feel a whirl of emotions race through me, the jealousy that was familiar earlier burning in me.
“Cut it out, you creep,” Kurai grunted. He stood up quickly and shoved Enoxon off my body. He then reached for my hot chocolate, holding it while he helped me up off the couch.
“But I’m not done talking to her. This is a serious conversation,” Enoxon replied, whining.
“Enoxon,” Kurai growled, giving him a glare. “Stop. You’re lucky I don’t incinerate you for letting her wander off alone.”
“Oooh, that's so scary. The big firefox is going to incinerate a sorcerer who controls magic,” Enoxon retorted.
“Just… Get your hands off her. She doesn’t want to be touched,” Kurai growled as he let go of my wrist while Enoxon tried to continue conversing with me.
“I’m glad you came across Yushin,” Enoxon stated. “You know, he used to be a human—like you. He worked for the Reaper, but he hasn’t been seen in 20 years due to the mysterious disappearance of the actual Reaper. So I’m not sure where he went into hiding or why.”
“Crazy that you just trusted him almost immediately—has anyone ever told you not to trust strangers?” Kurai stated.
“I mean, I trusted you, didn’t I?” I replied, raising an eyebrow at him and giving a soft chuckle.
Kurai rolled his eyes, but a small smile tugged at the corner of his lips. “Seriously, we don’t know much about Yushin’s motives. Just be careful.”
Enoxon nodded in agreement. “Kurai’s right. Even though Yushin is known for his integrity, we must verify his intentions. The fact that he’s connected to the Reaper makes things even more complicated. Especially since he revealed himself to you.”
Sighing, I crossed my arms and nodded. I understood their concerns, but I still argued with them. “He seemed genuinely concerned about Yuna and the demon, though. He seemed like he wanted me to help him.”
“Don’t be dull - Spirit Walkers are very controlling.”
“They are not,” Enoxon argued, glaring at Kurai. They literally send souls to their afterlife.”
“And what about the last 20 years?” Kurai replied.
“I…” Enoxon frowned, shuffling his feet.
“Until we know more, don’t chase blue sparkles,” Kurai shook his head.
“Don’t go talking to Astaroth and Lord Mundus about every detail,” Enoxon warned me. “Not until we know what’s going on. I don’t need you to mysteriously disappear, either. If you do run across Yushin again, tell him to stop by and see me. But in the meantime, I want to research the blood that Kurai provided me more.”
“Blood?” I questioned.
“Yeah, the demon’s blood that marked you,” he explained. I'm trying to find out if I can connect it. Besides, I think it’s time for another healing session.” The sorcerer’s gentle gaze locked with mine, and he offered a friendly smile before turning away.
“Oh, okay…” I murmured as I began to get dragged off by Kurai. I waved to Enoxon as he glanced over his shoulder, smiling at us and making a silly face while mocking Kurai. I couldn’t help but giggle a little at his mockery of Kurai, who glanced over his shoulder, causing us to immediately stop. As he looked back over his shoulder, the sorcerer mocked him again and then watched us leave the living room up the stairs, me being dragged along and against my will practically.
Upstairs, Kurai pulled me into his room and shut the door, still holding my hot chocolate from earlier. Awkwardly standing in the middle of the room, I took in the scenery again and smiled, feeling serene as I admired the plants that lined his room. Without even thinking, I began to trail the edge of the room, looking over all the plants while Kurai set the hot chocolate down.
I came to a halt at a large pink-flowered plant in one of the corners. It was taller than me and almost resembled a cherry blossom. The leaves were intricately detailed, primarily pink with dark red-brown veins. Hesitantly, I reached out to touch one of the leaves, but Kurai’s voice stopped me.
“I’d recommend not touching that plant,” he said. It’s called Banshee Raspberry. It’s used in many spells, and Enoxon asks me to keep it here because I ensure it stays well and is taken care of.”
“What does it do?” I asked, curiosity piqued.
“True to its name, it’s a very hallucinogenic plant—and not in a good way. If used raw, it will cause you to hear a banshee’s cry consistently in your ears until the effect wears off,” he explained, wrapping his arms with some golden tape. “A lot of these plants here have wild side effects. I’d recommend not touching any without being taught what each one does.”
“Yeah, yeah. I remember the rules,” I murmured as I joined him. Sitting down in my spot from the other night, I noticed he hadn’t washed his bedsheets—they were still a mess from the morning. Perhaps he hadn’t had a chance to do so? I couldn’t help but feel a bit bad.
“I’ll wash these for you,” I told him.
“Don’t worry about it,” he said quietly, his black hair falling in front of his dark amber eyes, which were glowing ever so slightly—just like last time—as he worked his restorative magic into my body. Kurai had a rugged handsomeness about him; his chiseled features and rough edges were softened by the kindness in his eyes. His strong, defined muscles were a testament to his physical prowess, yet his touch was gentle and precise.
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His warm hands took my arm, and the process began. I could feel the warmth of his restorative energy drip into my skin, mingling with the sensation of a cold liquid being moved about. I winced, as I’d never be able to get used to the awkwardness of the movement between the two. I took the opportunity of the awkward silence and turned it into something, hoping to get some answers. He was a demon, right? So perhaps he had some knowledge. But before I had the chance to ask anything, I could sense a deep worry blossoming within him. He didn’t show any form of sadness or worry on his face, but I could feel that emotion as he ran his hand up my arm and to my shoulder area.
“What’s wrong?” I immediately asked him, feeling worried myself.
“Ah—nothing,” he simply lied, straight through his teeth.
Narrowing my eyes at him, I asked again, “What’s wrong?”
His hand tightened a little, and I could feel the healing flame within me constrict around my shoulder. It almost hurt, but I endured the pain because it seemed to be a tough spot for him. “I don’t worry,” he stated.
When I looked up at his face, I studied his features. His fox ears typically gave him away, you know, besides feeling it. The ears twitched slightly, betraying his inner turmoil even if his face remained stoic.
“Don’t lie to me,” I insisted, “I can feel your worry.”
“Kurai's amber eyes lifted from my arm and locked onto mine. "Snow, you were heavily poisoned by that demon. And now, knowing that he could come after you in a memory—something that hasn’t happened in hundreds of years..." His voice trailed off, and for a moment, his usual stoic expression softened into something almost sad. "He's just trying to get the Underworld back to normal, right?" I questioned lightheartedly. I didn’t like Mundus’s methods, but what would I know?
"You don't understand, Snow," Kurai sighed. "Yeah, he's a God or King or whatever you want to call him. But he's not the original one. He's not supposed to be on that throne."
"What do you mean?" I asked, confused.
"The only reason he's on that throne is because he was working under the previous King and Queen before they disappeared almost 25 years ago. Same with the Reaper and the Spirit Walkers," Kurai explained, clearly getting worked up about the previous rulers.
"Astaroth told me there were seven brothers who appointed Mundus to be the Overlord or Leader or whatever you call him down here in Hell," I said, trying to piece things together.
"It's a long story," Kurai sighed.
"Well, we've got time, haven't we?" I asked, slightly excited to learn more.
Kurai paused momentarily, glancing up at me with his deep amber eyes that seemed unusually full of life today. A small chuckle escaped him, and his eyes lightened a little. "You really are an interesting human," he replied.
A blush crept up my cheeks when he said that, and I immediately looked away.
Kurai took a deep breath, his expression growing more serious. "Alright, I'll tell you. But remember, this is a history of betrayal and power struggles."
I nodded eagerly, leaning in to listen while he continued to work on the demon markings.
"King Zonoth and Queen Serelia ruled the Underworld with wisdom and strength. They were respected and feared by all. Under their reign, the Underworld was stable, even though it was a natural place of chaos and darkness. They had a way of maintaining balance," Kurai began, his voice steady.
"Twenty-five years ago, they suddenly disappeared without a trace. Their disappearance threw the Underworld into turmoil. The power vacuum left behind led to chaos and infighting among the powerful entities here. Mundus was one of the seven brothers who served King Zonoth and Queen Serelia. These brothers were like the right-hand men of the King and Queen, each powerful in his own right," Kurai continued.
"Who are the other six brothers?" I asked, intrigued.
"They are known as the Seven Brothers of the Underworld," Kurai explained. "Each with unique powers and roles. Mundus, of course, is the current Overlord. Then there’s Astaroth, who you’ve met. He handles manipulation and espionage. The others include Zarak, the master of shadows; Thalrok, the beast tamer; Vexor, the keeper of ancient knowledge; Draegor, the enforcer; and Nyx, the master of illusions."
"Why did they choose Mundus to be the Overlord?" I questioned, trying to understand the dynamics.
"They didn’t exactly choose him. After the King and Queen's disappearance, there was a power struggle among the brothers. Being the most ambitious and ruthless, Mundus managed to outmaneuver the others. He didn't win their loyalty; he won their fear," Kurai explained, his voice tinged with bitterness.
"So, Mundus isn't the rightful ruler?" I asked, piecing it together.
"No, he’s not. King Zonoth and Queen Serelia had no heirs, worsening the situation. Mundus took advantage of the chaos and claimed the throne. Loyal to the previous King and Queen, the Reaper and the Spirit Walkers couldn't stop him. They had their own battles to fight," Kurai said, his face darkening as he spoke. “Of course, he promises to the Underworld and all the Spirits and Demons here that the frozen terrain is only temporary, but you’ve seen it first hand - he’s obviously not the nicest guy in the world.”
"Astaroth was a loyal servant to King Zonoth and Queen Serelia. He served them faithfully and was deeply affected by their disappearance. When Mundus took over, Astaroth had no choice but to serve him, though his loyalty remained with the previous rulers. His history is complex, and his manipulation powers make him a valuable asset and someone to be wary of," Kurai explained.
"Do you think King Zonoth and Queen Serelia are still alive?" I asked, my curiosity piqued.
"Some believe they are. There are rumors, whispers in the shadows, that they might return one day. But it's been twenty-five years, and no one has seen any sign of them," Kurai said, his voice softening.
"Thank you for telling me, Kurai. It sounds like things are even more complicated than I thought."
Kurai nodded. "Yes, they are. And that's why you need to be careful. The Underworld is not a place for the unprepared. There are forces at play that even I don’t fully understand."
I looked up at him, feeling a mixture of gratitude and determination. "I’ll be careful. And I’ll learn. I promise."
A sly smile peeked out from under his shaggy black hair. "Yeah, well, you've already failed that," he said gently. "Considering you've been attacked... what, four times now?" he questioned.
"Mmm, I’m not sure. But maybe there's a reason I was brought here. There was a reason I saw that little blue spirit at the tree and why you were called to me. I wish I knew," I said, gazing out the window of his room at the dark, snow-covered world outside.
"I wouldn't get your hopes up too high—I don't detect anything special in your blood," he remarked softly.
"Sheesh, okay," I muttered, sticking my tongue out at him.
"Watch yourself," he warned. "Cat might get your tongue."
"But you're a fox," I teased back, a playful glint in my eye.
Kurai leaned back, the playful banter fading as he grew more serious. "Look, I understand your frustration. But the Underworld operates on its own rules, which aren't always easy to understand or predict."
I nodded, still processing everything. "So, what do we do now?"
He sighed, running a hand through his hair. "First, we must figure out who is chasing you and why. Hopefully, we can find out what happened to the Reaper and the Spirit Walkers along the way. Luckily, we’ve got our first step of Yushin coming into the picture. Way to go, Snow, you’re doing it already,” He chuckled gently, “But anyway, Mundus's efforts to maintain order are only temporary fixes."
"Thanks, Kurai," I said softly, watching his glowing fire hands pull away from my skin. I felt renewed today, and it was beautiful. His restoration magic had indeed alleviated the pain coursing through my body. I sensed his embarrassment welling up inside him, and I couldn't help but smile. Whatever connection I had with Kurai, it was lovely. It was strange to feel these secondhand emotions, but I already knew they were his.
Kurai's amber eyes flickered with a mix of emotions as he pulled his glowing fire hands away. "It's just my job," he muttered, his usual grumpiness surfacing to mask his embarrassment. His shaggy black hair fell into his eyes, and he quickly brushed it aside.
I could feel his discomfort mingled with a genuine desire to help, which made me smile even more. "Still, it means a lot to me. You've been really kind, Kurai."
He huffed, crossing his arms. "Don't get used to it," he replied, though his tone was softer than usual. "Just because I'm helping you doesn’t mean I want to continue babysitting.”
"I know," I said, my smile widening. "But I appreciate it nonetheless."