Chapter 39
A Guardian's Dilemma
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Mati glanced over the entire group again, spreading his wings far away as he explained the following process. “We have two options as of right now,” he stated. “Option One, we attempt to let Snow fight her own battle with her inner demon. Or option two, another demon,”—his wing extended to Kurai and Astaroth—“marks her as their own.”
Kurai’s fox ears flattened against his head when he heard Mati’s instructions. “Those are our only two options? Either let her possibly be consumed by her own demon in hopes that she would be free, or have one of us do it?!”
“She will have to find her own way out of the demon’s skin to be able to shine once more, being able to conquer her inner demon controlled and bound to her by the black magic she possesses,” Astaroth explained, glancing at Kurai. “Most newly fledged demons are hungry and ravenous for food,” he sighed. “I’m not sure how she would react to doing so.”
Mati agreed with him. “A newly fledged demon will seek out to find their own food - which could lead her to find a way into the human realm to feast. And being that she is a Reaper’s Demon, who knows how many souls she would look to consume.”
Casielle frowned, “Are we sure there is no way a Celestial Magic can fix this?” She asked, pulling a spring of her pink hair down to her shoulder.
“It would be a temporary fix,” Astaroth replied calmly. “I am unable to mark her. Only an Overlord of more power can remove a mark from a halfling. And… Right now, I do not believe my power equals Mundus’s.”
Kurai shifted awkwardly as he said that. The more he heard Mundus’s name, the more agitated he would get. However, the nogitsune did catch a smirk from Mati just barely. What’s going on in your head, bird?
Jenieva stood there, feeling completely out of place. She didn't know Snow very well, but she understood humans intimately. Running a bar frequented by humans, halflings, reapers, sorcerers, and all manner of beings, she had formed incredible bonds with many. From her few interactions with Snow, she knew this woman was strong-willed and loyal. But Snow was still just a woman thrust into a world she never asked to be a part of.
Slowly, a feeling twisted inside Jenieva. It was almost like resentment but directed inward. All these people had gathered to help Snow, yet no one had asked what she wanted. Jenieva wanted Snow to have a choice in her life. That’s what bothered her the most.
Humans should be able to make their own choices. But Snow was about to be forced into whatever the group decided without a say. Jenieva, despite being a succubus, despised people taking advantage of others, especially the Celestials.
“Snow didn’t ask for any of this!” Her voice rang through the corridors. “She’s what, 25 years old? She has an entire life ahead of her, full of love, laughter, and wonder. But you want to turn this beautiful woman into a demon? Demons are incapable of so much! Sure, we have strength and magical ‘fairy’ powers,” she said, mocking the word fairy. “But we’re also immortal, nearly impossible to have families… And we’re forced to do things we don’t want!”
The red-headed demon had no idea what had come over her, but her fists were clenched, and her face twisted with anger and tears. “She’s a mortal, and you want to be like, POOF, HERE YOU GO! MAGIC POWERS AND DEMONIC RESPONSIBILITY. LIKE WHAT THE ACTUAL FUCK?!” she screamed at them.
The sudden outburst left the room in stunned silence. Jenieva’s words echoed through the corridors, reverberating off the stone walls. The group looked at each other, their faces mixed with guilt, confusion, and contemplation.
“Ah,” Yushin murmured gently, shuffling awkwardly next to the demon, resting a hand on her shoulder in hopes of calming her. “Jenieva,” He started, getting her attention. “Life isn’t fair, unfortunately. But we’re saving her life so that she could adapt to and learn. The Underworld would be free - no more stupid ice and cold. Don’t you miss your human friends? I know for a fact you have some,” His voice was gentle like a river.
“Snow’s soul is in limbo; if we don’t act, we may lose her forever.”
“Her soul will be lost forever if this demon takes over!” Jenieva argued.
Kurai remained silent, but one could see he was still hurting. “Jenieva, we need to try,” he halfway begged her.
Jenieva’s anger didn’t dissipate, but she softened her tone slightly. “I get that you’re trying to save her, but she should have a say in her fate. She deserves that much. We can’t just decide for her like she’s some pawn in a game.”
Casielle stepped forward, her expression earnest and her voice filled with determination. “Jenieva, we’re not trying to strip Snow of her agency. If there’s a way to communicate with her soul and get her consent, we should pursue it. But time is running out.”
Jenieva froze, feeling the gentle touch of Yushin on her arm and hearing the sincerity in Casielle’s voice. Her gaze shifted to the Spirit Walker, and with a heavy heart, she collapsed to her knees beside him. “I… I’m sorry,” she murmured, her voice barely a whisper. “I barely know Snow, but she wants to be happy. She can’t be happy sleeping there like a rock… She’s a joyous person, a strong and beautiful woman. She has a good heart.”
Her voice grew stronger as she continued, “If the return of the Reaper means releasing the Underworld from the shackles cast upon us,” she glanced over at the Celestials on the other side of the table, her eyes burning with defiance, “then do whatever it takes. I don’t care.” The demon turned away from the group, her face flushed with embarrassment and shame. She was aware of the many stories, especially Enoxon’s story, about the Celestial world’s inherent unfairness. It bothered her deeply. She hated the Celestials passionately but knew she didn’t fully understand them. “I need to go back to the bar; they need my help,” she added, her voice breaking slightly.
Casielle frowned, understanding that the demon wasn’t entirely comfortable with her kind. But Casielle had a heart of gold and was determined to do her best to befriend Jenieva, even though she knew Jenieva wasn’t quite ready for that yet. Casielle’s eyes softened as she watched Jenieva walk away, feeling sympathy and resolve. She silently vowed to find a way to bridge the gap between them, no matter how long it took.
“I’ll go with her,” Yushin stated firmly, turning away from the group. He glanced over his shoulder at Kurai, his eyes severe yet playful. “Make the best choice, will ya? I need my Reaper,” he added, giving the fox-demon a wink and a smirk before moving to join Jenieva. “Good luck; call us back if you need anything.”
With a wave to the remaining beings, Yushin gently took Jenieva’s hand. The two of them exchanged a brief, understanding look before they teleported out of the keep, leaving a shimmering trail of light in their wake.
Astaroth dismissed the Celestial’s feelings, “You can tend to those feelings later, Casielle.” With that, the Duke cleared his throat and stood tall beside Mati. “The magic I have access to can turn her full demon,” He said, his hand raising with a blue light shimmering around it. “I can turn her, and she’d immediately become a demon, and the process would be painless and fast. She will simply just… Become.”
“Why don’t we… attempt to replace the mark first? If we can remove Mundus’s mark, then he will be less aware that she will be alive,” Mati suggested, his voice calm but resolute.
“I can’t do that,” Astaroth sighed, lowering his hand in frustration. “I cannot remove Mundus’s mark. His power is more than mine, especially with access to the Reaper’s Heart.”
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Mati put his wing up to his beak, tilting his head thoughtfully as he stared at Snow’s still body again. “Kurai can do it then,” he dismissed simply as if it were the most obvious solution.
“I am not an Overlord,” Kurai argued, his ears flattening against his head in frustration.
“No, but you’re still a Nogitsune Spirit,” Mati countered. “Nogitsune Spirits possess a unique blend of celestial and infernal energies. While only Overlords typically have the raw power to remove such marks, your unique nature might allow you to bypass Mundus’s influence.”
“You said only Overlords have that power, though,” Zarall commented, his eyebrows knitting together in confusion. “Is Kurai a special case?”
“Yes, he is,” Astaroth replied thoughtfully. “Nogitsune and Kitsune are Entities with a distinct combination of divine and demonic essence. Kurai, in particular, has a rare ability to manipulate life essences due to his dual nature. This might give him the edge needed to counteract Mundus’s mark.”
Mati nodded in agreement. “The point is, Kurai has unique abilities that might be enough to neutralize Mundus’s mark. It’s worth a try, at the very least.” He hooted loudly and spread his wings again, gazing at the remaining group below him. “You have a bond with Snow. Your bloods have been mixed already since you were both very young. Even if you are not strong enough to remove it entirely, you may be able to split it.” His gaze narrowed on the Nogitsune as if he had known something. “Granted, your pact has been severed. You are the strongest bond here with her.”
Astaroth nodded, “You were raised as brothers - even if you weren’t truly brothers,” he commented. “I can prepare for the removal of the stasis. Everyone would have to wait outside, except for Kurai…” His voice trailed off as he locked gazes with the Nogitsune. “You do realize what this ritual will do if we do it this way, correct?”
Kurai lifted his head, “What is that?”
Mati shook his head and frowned, “He’s not going to like that Astaroth…”
“He will do it, or I will have to turn her into a full-fledged Demon. Which could, potentially, be ten times worse for her.”
“I’ve heard that for a demon to mark a human as their own, they practically have to poison the human,” Zarall interjected.
“Correct, Zarall,” Astaroth paused, focusing on Kurai once more, “But a Halfling is different.”
Casielle chimed in, her hair bouncing as she jumped up, “For a demon to mark a Halfling, they have to fight past the original demon’s blood and the Halfling’s demon blood - overtaking both of them with his or her own!”
Kurai frowned, his head tilted. “What does that mean?” He asked her.
“You will have to bring her to the brink of death again to save her,” Mati’s low voice rumbled.
Kurai's heart raced as he heard the news. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. Scared and angry, he clenched his fists, his amber eyes intensely burning. The black-haired man tried to control his emotions, but it was too much to bear. Being the hot-headed Nogitsune, he could only feel anger towards Mati. Did he just suggest that he physically hurt Snow? He couldn’t even think about wanting to break this innocent woman. She’ll probably feel betrayed and hurt—angry towards him. Knowing that he immediately shook his head and backed away, fear spiking in his amber eyes.
"No. I can’t do it." He glared angrily at Mati, his voice quaving. “I can’t do that!”
“Kurai, it’s the only—”
“No, shut the hell up!” Kurai snapped at him, his body and mind feeling conflicted. “There’s got to be another way!”
“You let her wake up and hope that she knows how to fight a demon off, or let Astaroth turn her,” Mati said, pointing to the demon a few feet away from him.
Astaroth stepped forward, placing a reassuring hand on Kurai’s shoulder. “I understand your fear, Kurai. But this is the only way to fully remove Mundus’s mark without turning her into something she’s not. You have to trust us.”
“Trust?” Kurai scoffed, his amber eyes wide with fear as flashbacks of Enoxon and Mundus came into his mind. He avoids all contact with anyone in the room, his fists still clenched, his mind a whirlwind of conflicting emotions. He thought of Snow, her gentle smile and kind eyes. He couldn’t bear the thought of causing her pain. But he also knew the stakes—they fought for their lives and freedom.
Taking a deep breath, Kurai looked up at Mati and Astaroth, his eyes still burning but now with a new resolve. “No,” he said quietly but firmly. “There has to be another way. I need more time—more training. I can’t half-ass this and risk hurting her.”
Mati and Astaroth exchanged a worried glance. “Kurai, we don’t have much time. Mundus’s power is growing stronger.”
“You said a demon who marks the halfling, or human or whatever,” Kurai murmured, “She… Belongs to the demon? She would no longer belong to Mundus?”
“That’s correct. It’s strange to hear, but another demon or overlord could take her as their own. It’s similar to a pact between a human and a demon - except in reverse. Typically, halflings cannot be marked. But Snow… She’s different from most halflings. You need to accept this,” Astaroth said quietly.
“I know,” Kurai said, backing away. “But I won’t be responsible for hurting her. Not again. I need to get stronger. I need to find a way to do this right.”
Before they could react, Kurai turned and ran, his footsteps echoing through the cavern. Fear and determination fueled his flight as he vowed to find a way to save Snow without causing her any harm.
As Mati and Astaroth watched him disappear into the darkness, Astaroth sighed. “Do you think he’ll come back in time?”
Mati shook his head, a worried frown on his face. “I don’t know. But we must trust that he’ll find the strength he needs.”
“He’ll be back,” Casielle’s sad voice sounded. “Are we sure we don’t want to talk to Michael?”
“No,” the remaining three said at the same time.
Astaroth turned to Casielle, his expression softening. “Michael’s methods are too extreme. We need to handle this our way.”
Casielle sighed, nodding reluctantly. “I understand. I hope Kurai finds what he wants before it’s too late.”
Mati placed a reassuring wing on her shoulder. “He will. If anyone can beat the odds, it’s Kurai. We just need to be ready for when he returns.”
As the quad stood in the dimly lit cavern, their thoughts turned to the challenges ahead. They could only hope that Kurai’s quest for strength would lead him back to them in time to save Snow and defeat Mundus’s growing threat.
Leaving, Casielle and Zarall said their goodbyes to Mati and Astaroth, once again leaving them in the dark with the crystalized body of Snow.
Astaroth groaned, throwing himself back into his chair. Very unlike him to just throw himself around. "Why are kids so difficult?" he asked the air surrounding him.
Mati returned to his human form with a quick shift and gazed at his friend again. "Let's get her put away," he commented.
"Put away?" Astaroth raised an eyebrow at him.
"Safe place—you know what I mean. I'm so damned tired," Mati sighed as he placed his hand on the crystal.
"I didn't know Celestials got tired," Astaroth commented, looking him up and down.
"I didn't either," Mati murmured. "Come on, open your special portal," he said.
Astaroth stood up, shaking off his fatigue. He walked over to a dark corner of the cavern, muttering an incantation under his breath. A shimmering portal appeared, its edges glowing faintly with celestial light.
“There,” Astaroth said, stepping aside. “Let’s get her to safety.”
Mati nodded, carefully lifting Snow’s crystalized body with surprising ease. He carried her towards the portal, his expression weary yet determined.
As they passed through the portal, they entered a hidden realm—a place of absolute neutrality, untouched by the influences of the Underworld and the Celestial World. The air here felt different, almost timeless, and the light was a gentle, soothing glow that seemed to emanate from everywhere and nowhere at once.
Astaroth helped Mati place Snow gently on a pedestal in the center of the realm. “This should keep her safe until Kurai returns,” he said, looking around the sanctuary.
Mati nodded, brushing a strand of hair from his face. “I hope so. We can’t afford to lose her.”
They stood silently for a moment, the weight of their responsibilities pressing down on them. As they looked around, their eyes fell upon another pedestal at the far end of the realm. Encased in a similar crystal but with dark, swirling energy within was the imposing figure of Lord Zonoth, his hair as white as Snow's, which was frozen with his body.
Mati’s gaze lingered on Lord Zonoth. “It’s still hard to believe, seeing him like this. Why haven’t you removed the stasis, Astaroth? You respect him more than anyone.”
Astaroth sighed, his expression filled with a mixture of respect and sorrow. “I do. Lord Zonoth is a great leader and a powerful being. Saving him from Mundus was the least I could do. But there are... complications.”
“Complications?” Mati echoed, his curiosity piqued.
Astaroth nodded. “Yes. Releasing him isn’t just a matter of undoing the stasis. There are factors at play that I’m still trying to understand. And until I do, it’s safer for everyone—him included—that he remains as he is.”
Mati’s eyes softened with understanding. “I see. It must be difficult, knowing he’s here but unable to help.”
“It is,” Astaroth admitted. “But I’m not giving up. I will find a way to save him. For now, we must focus on keeping Snow safe and dealing with the threats.”
Mati nodded, placing a reassuring hand on Astaroth’s shoulder. “We’ll figure it out together. Just like always.”
Astaroth offered a small, grateful smile. “Thank you, Mati.”
With one last look at Snow and a respectful glance at Lord Zonoth, the two friends left the realm, the portal closing behind them. They knew the road ahead would be challenging but determined to see it through.