Chapter Thirty-Eight
Searching for Options
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“You know it’s an option,” Mati’s voice calmly said to Astaroth, his heterochromatic gaze locking with the demon across from him.
“I don’t think it is, Mati,” Astaroth replied, a deep sigh resonating. He scanned the clearing to ensure it was just the two of them. “I don’t like the idea. Her demon almost consumed her in Tartarus.”
“Tartarus enhances everyone’s demonic side, Astaroth,” Mati replied.
“But Snow is different,” Astaroth shot back, his purple eyes narrowing. “She’s not just any demon. She’s the daughter of Lady Serelia. The stakes are much higher.”
Mati crossed his arms, his shaggy red hair falling into his face. “And that’s exactly why we need to consider all options. If we don’t, we risk losing her completely.”
Astaroth’s regal demeanor faltered momentarily as frustration bubbled to the surface. “You think I don’t know that? I’ve been around long enough to understand the risks. But throwing her back into a situation where her demonic side could take over? That’s not a risk I’m willing to take.”
Mati’s expression softened, but his resolve remained. “I know you care about her. We all do. But sometimes, the only way to save someone is to let them face their demons—literally and figuratively.”
Astaroth clenched his fists, his long, teal, and purple hair swaying with the motion. “You saw what happened in Tartarus. She barely made it out. I can’t watch her go through that again.” He has been around long enough to see many people taken over by their personal demons, changing them and making them an entirely new figure. He was lucky enough to witness the battle in Tartarus but could not interfere. He watched Lady Serelia die, and that’s what broke him. Now, all he wanted to do was make up for her death and protect Snow for Lady Serelia. It hurt him knowing she was gone, but if he could at least make things up to Lady Serelia, even in spirit, he needed to ensure his best friend's daughter was okay.
“Then what’s your plan, Astaroth?” Mati challenged, his yellow and red eyes piercing the demon’s defenses. “We can’t keep her in stasis forever. Mundus would find her.”
Astaroth’s jaw tightened as he struggled to find the right words. “My plan is to protect her, no matter what it takes. I won’t let her be consumed by the same darkness that claimed so many others.”
“And you think I don’t want the same?” Mati’s voice rose, uncharacteristically fierce. “I’ve dedicated my life to guarding her, to ensuring her safety. But we need to be realistic. If we don’t take decisive action, we’ll lose her anyway.”
“And how did that go?!” Astaroth snapped, losing his cool for once. “Lady Serelia is gone!”
“How do you think I feel?!” Mati replied, his inner turmoil getting the best of him. He was slightly taken aback by Astaroth’s outburst. “You don’t think I haven’t carried that weight since I watched her go down?!” His voice trembled with emotion. “She was my Reaper, too. I watched her grow, just as I was watching Snow! It’s my job as the Dream Walker. You know we can’t interfere with destiny!”
Astaroth’s eyes blazed with a rare fury. “Destiny? Is that what you call it when we stand by and do nothing? Lady Serelia was more than a Reaper to me. She was a beacon of hope, a reminder that even in the darkest realms, there could be light! And yet, you, Dream Walker, who meddled with fate, couldn’t save her?”
Mati’s mismatched eyes narrowed. “And you, Overlord, who commands legions, who could bend the very will of darkness, what did you do? Sit on your ass and watch? You won’t even take charge now when it matters most! Mundus took over that throne only because of your loyalty to Lady Serelia. Admit it, you were too afraid to stand against her, to be turned down once again.”
Immediately, Astaroth lifted his hand toward Mati and gave him a cold glare. “Don’t you ever say that again,” he growled at him, his voice cold and dangerous.
Mati held his ground, his own anger mixing with sorrow. “It’s the truth, Astaroth. You loved her, but she didn’t love you back. And now you’re projecting that failure onto Snow, trying to protect her in ways you couldn’t protect Serelia.”
Astaroth clenched his fist as he barely restrained that fury. “You know nothing about what I’ve been through for her. Every decision I make is haunted by the memory of Lady Serelia. I vowed to protect Snow because I couldn’t save her mother. I won’t fail again.”
Mati’s eyes softened, and a small, wry smile tugged at the corner of his lips. “Astaroth, we’ve been at this for so long, we’re starting to sound like a couple of ancient relics. Two old geezers bickering over the past when we should be looking to the future.”
Astaroth blinked, momentarily taken aback by the sudden change in tone. He recomposed himself, feeling embarrassed for lashing out so hard. An ancient sorrow weighed heavily on his shoulders, a burden of countless years. “Perhaps, Mati. Perhaps we are,” he admitted, his voice tinged with a reluctant acceptance.
Sensing the shift, Mati sat back down at a chair with his legs crossed, trying to mask his inner turmoil with a touch of levity. He had always been the one to find humor in dire situations, a coping mechanism that had become second nature. “So,” he said, forcing a casual tone, “What are we going to do?”
Astaroth’s voice grew quiet, almost a whisper, as he looked away. The memories of Serelia’s fall still haunted him, a wound that had never fully healed. “She’s still learning, Mati. I can’t watch her fall like I did with Serelia,” he confessed, the pain evident in his eyes. It was a struggle he faced every day, the fear of repeating his past failures with Snow.
Mati leaned forward, his own eyes reflecting a mixture of sympathy and determination. He understood Astaroth’s struggle all too well; he had his own demons to battle. “We can’t watch her be caged by fear. We both want what’s best for her. Kurai is going to lose it if we can’t figure this out,” he said, his voice steady but urgent. “You have to let her face her challenges, or she’ll never be ready to lead.”
“Lead?” Astaroth questioned, his gaze shifting over to Mati. The word struck a chord deep within him, stirring a mix of pride and fear.
“She’s the Heir to the Throne, Astaroth,” Mati reminded him gently. The weight of those words hung in the air, a reminder of the immense responsibility they both carried.
Astaroth clenched his fists, wrestling with the internal conflict between his desire to protect and his need to prepare Snow for her destiny. Mati’s words echoed in his mind, a reminder that they were not just guardians but mentors. Finally, he nodded, a weary but resolute acceptance in his eyes. “You’re right, Mati. For Snow. And for the future.”
Mati nodded back, his own resolve solidifying. “For Snow. And for the future,” he echoed. The two stood in a moment of mutual understanding, their shared pain and purpose forging a stronger bond. “Shall we prepare for the ritual?”
“Do you think we’ll need the Reaper’s Heart first?” Astaroth questioned.
“I think she’ll be fine without it,” Mati replied, though his confidence wavered slightly. He glanced over his shoulder as yelling from outside the doors grew louder. “Though, we must find out if she can reaccess the Reaper’s Realm. Mundus completed the ritual; he needs to be stopped. I don’t know what kind of ancients he’s facing in the Reaper’s Realm right now. I’m not sure if Snow will still be able to go there,” he murmured, worry etched in his features.
“Well, I guess we’ll have to find out,” Astaroth said, his resolve firming. “Yushin and you will have to be her guides, right?” He extended his hand to Mati, a gesture of trust and solidarity.
Mati looked at the hand momentarily, then stood up and shook it firmly. “Absolutely,” he said with a grin. “Come on. Send Yushin and Jenieva in; you handle Kurai.”
“Of course,” Astaroth replied. With that, the two nodded to each other. They left in separate directions, each carrying the weight of their responsibilities and the hope for Snow's success.
Outside, Astaroth could see Jenieva and Yushin teasing Kurai. “Will you please go inside and meet with Mati?” the Duke of Asturdorm asked the two.
“Ah yeah, absolutely!” Jenieva said with a bright smile. She turned toward Kurai, blowing a kiss at him. “Thank you for the fun time, loverboy.”
Kurai growled, giving her a cold glare.
“I didn’t realize how powerful succubus could be!” Yushin chuckled as the two of them walked away.
“Kurai,” the Duke of Asturdorm spoke calmly, his voice echoing through the snowy gardens to the young fox-demon left alone on the bench.
Kurai seemed defeated, slumped over and staring at the ground. His thoughts were rampant, knowing the truth of everything crumbling down on him. The reality of it all tore him apart the most—knowing who the demon was and witnessing what he did to his Snow. Knowing that he had trusted the Mundus for so long, it destroyed him. What hurt him the most was that he couldn’t reach her faster than the Enoxon and Mundus had done. How could the Underworld be okay with their supposed-to-be ruler acting this way?
Though he ignored the Duke, Kurai was flicking flames into the snow and watching it melt. Mundus’s demon form's power was astronomical and always has been. The demon form of his brother was corrupt, malicious, and so much worse than he could imagine. The more he thought about it, the stronger he could feel the flames within him grow. How could he?
“Kurai,” Astaroth repeated.
The nogitsune turned to quickly glance at Astaroth but had no intention of conversing.
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“Come, walk with me,” Astaroth invited him with a gentle smile.
“About what?” Kurai muttered, sending a bigger flame to the ground.
“Mostly about how disrespectful it is to burn my garden. Stop that!” Astaroth scolded, his tone shifting to one of mild annoyance.
Kurai's eyes flickered with frustration and guilt as he extinguished the flames. He continued to sit there as his thoughts ran wild.
The nogitsune had trusted Mundus since the day he was introduced to him. They had been raised together for so long. Mundus was much older than Kurai, but Mundus still treated him like a brother. The fact that his own family turned against him and Lady Serelia took him in with Mundus hurt him.
The day he got the message from his family's tribe, he had just earned his third tail—at 15. He found out that his tribe was preparing for war, and the tribe was asking for help. But being that the tribe was about to be attacked, that’s when the bond between him and Snow became official. It’s strange because Kurai had little to no knowledge about the bond. He was told that if he could protect his ward, then he would rejoin the tribe. Sadly, Kurai was never given the chance to rejoin his tribe after the demon utterly decimated it. The same demon murdered Snow’s family.
He’ll never understand how the demon killed the world’s strongest sorcerers, Ren and Sayuri, and he feels it wasn’t done alone. There had to be a battle about it, but no one knew. The underworld likes to say they were murdered within the human world—where any magic done between either party would have caused significant disasters.
Once the demon could rid Ren and Sayuri, he went after the Sayaka Tribe. The tribe even knew ahead of advance and asked for allies from the Lords. They did their best to help with the war, sending a few extra demons to watch over the Fox gods. However, it wasn’t enough. The demon swooped in with his own army and took them out—leaving Kurai to hear about the broken tribe within a week. He was shattered to know that his own family was decimated, but he also couldn't care less about them. They removed the nogitsune from their tribe—for being the Curse of the Darkened One. That’s what they called him as a young cub when they removed him…
Their words echoed from the other kids and even some adults in his head. It was heartbreaking. Even his own mother turned her back on him eventually. Weren’t mothers supposed to protect their children? His father, the leader of the Tribe, turned him away because it gave the family "a bad name." Why would they allow a demon to live within a group of Gods? Thus, the contract began.
After he was brought into royalty by Serelia and Zonoth, he continued training to earn his tails - taking extra classes and learning side-by-side with Mundus. His brother saw potential in him, which opened up to training beside the Lords rather than just being watched by them. He gained more and more experience when the Lords trained him directly. By the time he turned 20, he had gained a fourth tail; 23 was his fifth, and recently, he gained his sixth tail at 24. He’s worked hard to get where he was, and now he had a mortal to protect.
Just because the bond was shattered doesn’t mean he didn’t want to protect her. He shared a moment with her back at the Abyssal Gardens, kissing her and strengthening their bond. Snow had believed in Kurai since the day they met. And he wanted to protect her. He wanted to gain his next tails - his seventh, eighth, and ninth. But how could he do that without another nogitsune or even a Master of the Fire Arts?
“Kurai?!” Astaroth’s voice brought him back to reality.
“Oh,” Kurai murmured, blinking and raising his head to look at the Duke. “You’re still here?”
“Yes, I am,” Astaroth sighed as he began to walk away. “You know something, Kurai?” He asked him.
“What’s that?” He replied.
“I’ve been with Lady Serelia way before you were even born. I watched you grow.”
“Yeah, yeah. You were their servant, a Duke, their closest friend, blah blah.”
“I was there when Lady Serelia and Lord Zonoth took you in. I trained you, helped you harness your powers.”
“I remember,” Kurai said softly, his eyes fixed on the ground ahead.
Astaroth stopped and turned to face Kurai. “You were always strong, Kurai. Even when you were just a cub. Stronger than anyone gave you credit for.”
Kurai clenched his fists. “Strength didn’t matter to them. To my own family. They saw me as a curse, a disgrace.”
“They were wrong,” Astaroth said firmly. “You’ve proven your worth time and again. You protected Snow, and you’ve grown into a powerful warrior.”
“But at what cost?” Kurai’s voice cracked. “I’ve lost everything. My tribe, my family…”
“You have a new family to protect now, Kurai,” Astaroth explained. “You still have Snow. You still have all your Celestial Realm and the Underworld friends.”
“Friends?” He scoffed. “They’re allies.”
“I’ve seen how you interact with them,” the Duke chuckled.
“Why do you even care so much?” Kurai growled.
“Because,” Astaroth started, pausing and looking at the young demon. “I see the Kitsune in you. I’ve seen it since the beginning, even before the contract was put in place,” he said with a gentle smile. “You’re not just a Nogitsune. You’ve far beyond redeemed yourself. If your tribe was here, they’d see how strong and full of heart you’ve become.”
Kurai's eyes widened slightly, taken aback by Astaroth's words. He had always seen himself as an outcast, a curse. The idea that someone saw him differently, especially someone who had been a part of his life for so long, was foreign to him.
“Redeemed myself? After letting Snow get hurt, I don’t think that’s even possible. My pact with her was cut the instant she lost her life, Astaroth!” His voice choked, actually letting emotion spill. “I’ve failed Snow - she was the only thing that mattered to me.”
Astaroth’s expression softened, and he took a step closer to Kurai. “Kurai, the pain of losing someone you care about never truly disappears. But Snow’s death wasn’t your fault. You did everything you could to protect her.”
Kurai shook his head, tears welling up in his eyes. “But it wasn’t enough. I wasn’t strong enough.”
“You were strong, Kurai. Stronger than anyone else could have been in your place,” Astaroth said firmly. “The bond you shared with Snow wasn’t just a pact but a testament to your heart and loyalty. And those qualities are still within you.” The Duke reached out and patted the heated nogitsune’s shoulder.
Kurai shook his hand off immediately and could feel his anger and heartache grow stronger. “She’s dead. I’ve failed - my contract is null.”
Astaroth withdrew his hand, respecting Kurai’s space. “I understand your pain; believe me, I do.” He said as if remembering his own sorrow. “But this isn’t about the contract. It’s about who you are and what you stand for. Snow believed in you, and that belief wasn’t tied to a contract.”
“Believed in me?” Kurai spat, his eyes flashing with a mix of fury and sorrow. “What good is belief if I can't save her?”
Astaroth remained calm, his voice gentle but unwavering. “Belief isn’t about outcomes, Kurai. It’s about trust and faith in someone’s character. Snow saw something in you that goes beyond your power or success. She saw your heart.”
Kurai clenched his fists, his anger melting into deep sadness. “I don’t know how to live without her.”
“Then let’s fix this,” He said, calming the Nogitsune.
“What?”
“There’s a way to change the fate of Snow, but it’s not easy.”
“Astaroth,” Kurai’s voice said shakily, almost desperate, “If there is a way to save Snow, I will do it. I would give my own life to her, please.”
The demon nodded and smiled. It was incredible to Astaroth because the only emotion he ever saw from Kurai was anger and hatred. The memories of watching the young Nogitsune training with him and even Mundus it was always promising. Astaroth knew that Kurai was capable of many things, even the path of redemption to becoming a Kitsune and lifting his curse.
“Your determination has always been admirable,” Astaroth said softly.
“So what do we need to do?!” Kurai said, his tail no longer dragging.
“We’re going to awaken Snow,” Astaroth said quickly.
Kurai’s ears dropped once more as he tilted his head. “Awaken? Wait, you mean…?”
“We are going to discuss the pros and cons of releasing her from her stasis,” Astaroth explained, nodding his head. “Come along.”
With that, Kurai and Astaroth returned to Miserth Keep, though Kurai’s mind was racing with thoughts again. The rest of the group was sitting once more in the room with Snow’s crystal, all in their same seats.
“Have you cool down yet, Foxxy?!” Jenieva called out to him as she grinned widely. “Did I kick your butt enough?”
Kurai silenced her with a cold glare but kept his mouth shut. He was focused solely on Snow and redemption for her death. Well, half-death. He still wasn’t sure if she was alive or dead. Her heart was beating the moment Noxaris told him to give her some life essence - which he still didn’t understand fully. But he didn’t care. That ‘life essence,’ whatever it is, gave her a chance to breathe.
Back in the room, Mati was once more in his owl form, hovering above Snow. His heterochromatic gaze jumped from each person, acknowledging their presence once more.
“I want silence as I explain the process,” Mati explained, his wings stretching far from his sides. With one swoosh, he immediately blew out all the candles that lit the room. The only light available was the light that was harnessed inside Snow’s crystal.
“We can awaken Snow, but if this is our chosen path, we cannot be sure what will happen. Her demon may very well be the first to awaken, holding onto the little bit of life she may or may not have left. Demons are ruthless—the Reaper’s demon is powerful and strong. If Snow is to win this battle, we must avoid interfering. Any negative energy we provide may only feed her demon,” Mati’s voice boomed across the group, his eyes glowing slightly.
“A demon mark is not something to tamper with lightly,” Astaroth’s voice spoke, stepping beside the owl. “A demon’s mark is a demon’s way to show that they own something—and only so many demons have access to this type of black magic. It marks them as their prey. But it can also be used for worse, such as Enoxon.”
“Enoxon wasn’t marked, though,” Yushin replied.
“We don’t know that,” Astaroth silenced the Spirit Walker. “We don’t know why Enoxon did what he did.”
“Probably because he wanted Nova,” Jenieva grumbled under her breath.
“A human, halfling, or whatever else is marked by a demon belongs to that demon. Typically, only Overlords have this power,” Astaroth continued, ignoring their comments. “I can mark and erase.”
“It’s not just a curse of death,” Mati called out. “It’s similar to making a pact with a demon, but in this case, it’s akin to black magic and curses. Snow is a special case—she is the daughter of the Reaper. She is strong. Probably the only reason she could resist Mundus’s call,” he explained. “Most Overlords can only mark a single human or halfling. This causes an easy feed of the human’s emotions and pain.”
Kurai watched as the Duke’s head dropped. He seemed to be just as concerned as he was with Snow. He hadn’t had much play in the relationship with her, but the demon did seem to be worried about her. If he was as close as he states to the previous Reaper, maybe keeping Snow safe was a priority? Perhaps he felt like he failed the previous Reaper and Snow, such as Kurai.
“You knew all along who Snow was, didn’t you?” Kurai suddenly asked him quietly, his gaze avoiding the demons. “You didn’t think to tell us?”
The Duke looked up, his expression a mix of regret and determination. “Yes, Kurai, I knew who she was,” he admitted. “But it wasn’t my secret to tell. Snow’s identity and her powers are her own burden to bear. Revealing it prematurely could have put her in greater danger.”
Kurai clenched his fists, trying to control the surge of emotions. “But we could have helped her, protected her better if we had known.”
The Duke sighed. “I understand your frustration, Kurai. But sometimes, knowledge is as dangerous as ignorance. The more people who knew, the greater the risk of her being exposed to those who would exploit her lineage.”
“You could’ve at least told me,” Kurai said calmly, staring at Snow. “If I had known who she was and where she was from, I could’ve understood better.”
“So if we do this whole… Revive her from the dead kind of thing; will she be dead, or will she be mortal?” Yushin asked.
Kurai glared at Yushin. He still hated him. “She’ll be here - that’s what matters!” He snarled.
“It was a simple question. Jeeze, calm down, Fox-Brain.”
“FOX-BRAIN?!” Kurai snapped. Despite the heat of the moment, his words were cold and angered as his eyes began to glow in the dark. “Who the hell–”
“Don’t make me take you outside again,” Jenieva’s wicked voice sounded, her red eyes returning his cold glare. “Momma wasn’t done earlier.”
Astaroth sighed, pinching the bridge of his nose. “Stop the bickering,” He muttered to the younger group. “Anyway. Yushin has a good question.”
The tension in the room grew thick, but Mati’s voice cut through it. “Enough. This isn’t helping Snow or any of us. We need to focus.”
Astaroth nodded in agreement, stepping between Kurai and Yushin. “Yushin’s question is valid. We need to understand what we’re dealing with.”
The Duke cleared his throat, returning the group’s attention to him. “Reviving Snow isn’t just about bringing her back. It’s about whether her soul and essence remain intact. She may return as she was, or she could be changed. She may very well live the rest of her life out as a demon.”