#yuu's selling their soul for a way home

[unknown--author]

Crowley Slander Part II

Crowley: And because I am so gracious Where are you going, Prefect?

Yuu: I'm gonna go summon a demon. At least they'll be able to get me home in exchange for my soul.

[elaemae]

The premium version of human is here to wreak house, mfs.

[Twst x Obeyme!AFAB!reader]

CHP. 1.1: The start of the Blood Rose Tyrant.

Thank you, my amazing readers, for all the likes, comments, and reblogs🥹 It makes so happy, like– almost nothing can top the joy of seeing y'all liked my work :)

Btw, If you have any questions about my tagging and/or literally anything you wanna ask me bout the fic, just reach out to me and I'll try my best to answer you.😊

CW: Cursing, Idk what else... There's also the pronoun schtick I've been yapping about since pr. 1. (i.e MC will get mistaken for a pretty guy a lot -Mc is AFAB referred to as they/them- because the NRC cast have come to expect only boys to be in the school. Excluding the paintings ofc.)

(My pic)

Fun fact: While all of your ornaments act as containers to very *nom*-able amounts of magic, such a thing can be dangerous as it may give away your location if you need to hide or run away from someone.

Therefore, all of them were cast with a special spell developed by Solomon that makes it so that people can't sense that magic unless they're really close to you physically.

(Not to mention, only exceptional mages can actually have the hope of picking up on that magic as your all jewelry were also cast with a heavy magical concealment blessing from both Micheal and Luke.)

• • •

'What the hell is this?'

You think as you fiddled with the fancy pouch in your hands.

You had opened the gift box to find the pouch containing some basic skincare products and just went; ( •_•)..?

Like– What the hell? Who does that?? Are they saying that you're ugly and needed to start taking care of your face?! Well excuse you, I'll have you know –whomever you are– that this face was approved by Asmodeus himself you rude lil' shi—

*Ehem*

So like any sane person is supposed to do in that situation, you checked if the products were cursed or charmed and then pocketed it to maybe sell it in the future for some cash. (Lovely gift but you were taught never to use/ingest things given to you by strangers.)

Leaving the infirmary, you venture into the botanical garden, hoping you'd find some edible plants that you and Yuu can nibble on until you can procure other food options and some all important moneh. (Ugh, if only that damn crow didn't escape and hide away from you, you would've extorted his cowardly-ass and bought some food instead of needing to resort to this bs.)

'Trying to find a stone in a long abandoned mine is simply a fools errand.'

You thought as you absent-mindedly skipped past a certain tall, dark, and handsome man with horns, unknowing of the look of pure curiosity pointed at your back as you continued your musings.

'But oh well, they wanted to try so they might as well be those fools.'

You're not gonna stop them if they wanna try to fix things even though you've mostly stabilized the situation. (Not that they know.)

Damn, you also need to go to the library later so that you can learn what changes you'd need to do in order to adapt and know the problems you'd likely experience in this world.

Knowing yourself and your history for being a magnet of chaos, It'd probably involve almost dying more times than you have fingers and unearthing some deeply-buried soul-crushing trauma in which the only thing you'll get in return are the friends you've made along the way.

Aside from that though, you'd need to gain yourself a foothold in this society.

Preferably, there would be a lot of rich and influential people in this school to suck up to, but if those aren't enough then maybe you can venture into industries where you can kiss-ass in peace.

As much as you'd love to be optimistic, Crowley is the almost literal embodiment of a dead-beat dad barely pays child-support and your own search for a way home may take years before coming to fruition.

Tsk. You can feel your stress levels transcending the mortal plane of existence again as you can already envision the figurative mountain-range you'd need to climb just to achieve stability in this place.

$°\•m°n.. p/€∆$3.. H€\₱ m£...

Times like these just make you wanna curl up onto the floor in a fetal position and let the earth consume you whole.

Oh! And you also need to obtain a stronger blackmail material against Crowley to make sure he won't try anything remotely against you.

'Hmm... But maybe...'

You think as you took a quick and discreet glance to a security camera that had been "coincidentally" pointed at you.

Well, not really a coincidence.

If the mf behind these creepy-ass cameras —that have been watching you since your arrival here, mind you—, can lend you a hand then that would be the optimal outcome. There are a lot of security cameras after all...

Though there's also a large possibility that the fucker wanted you dead because of either boredom, simple bloodlust, money, vengeance (for some reason), your organs or all of the above.

You sighed as you entered the botanical garden, telling yourself to just worry about that later and focus on finding food.

If you get in trouble for taking plants here, you'll just throw Crowley under the bus. (figuratively and literally if he decides to be a bitch about it.)

• • • •

Yuu, Grim, Ace, and Deuce stumbled out of the mirror, finally away from the creepy forest and back into the college.

They all flinched and turned their heads back when they heard a dramatic 'Tsktsktsk–' from behind them.

"Well well well~ Look who finally decided to show up at–"

*checks imaginary wrist watch*

"46 minutes past midnight.. Huh.. If you all got any curfew for your dorms then you're both toast. Can't believe y'all spent more than five hours looking for a single rock..."

You said, referring to the two first years who flinched under your words and judgemental eyes.

"You all look like shit by the way."

Yuu awkwardly scratched their head.

"Thanks?"

*Sigh...*

"You're welcome, bbg."

"Just hurry up and give that rock to the fuckin crow already so that you all can spare the world from having to witness anymore of your gross, sweaty, homeless-lookin selves."

Deuce shrunk even further behind Yuu. (funny because Yuu was at least half-a-head shorter.)

Ace meanwhile, has too much ego to not say anything back.

"We wouldn't be looking like this if you at least helped!" He snarked.

"Why should I?"

You Dwayne-the-rock-Johnson raised your eyebrow at him.

"I don't owe any of you a smidgen of literally anything so why should I help?"

It wasn't a question, but a statement. Because why should you help? They should be grateful you even talked Crowley out of expelling them immediately. Not that they know but still...

But of course, audacity is gonna audacity. Because, Ace really had the nerve to look offended by your words, as if you weren't saying something as truthful as the sky being blue, the grass being green, and your ass being a literal masterpiece from god.

"Don't even try to pass off the blame, Weasley-wannabe. I know it, you know it, your mom knows it, your dad if you have one, your entire bloodline and your non-existent cow knows it, there's literally no point."

Ace literally almost snarled at you like a damn dog, pft– That's what he gets from pissing you off by existing earlier.

"Oh shut up!"

He then looked like he was about to start a rant of how unfair his life was and how he totally didn't deserve any of this and blahblahblahblahblah–

You swear on Diavolo and Luci's fruity man-boobs, you'll hang this bitch upside down like a bat if you had to hear another complaint about things being unfair for him.

What about you? or Yuu? Isn't life more cruel and unfair to you two? Taking you both away from loved ones and shoving you into a world where you two need to fight for a temporary sanctuary as you both try to go home with no real proof you'll actually be able to make it back?

Isn't life more unfair to you? Right when you almost finally achieved the start of your happy ending.. You were taken away from the people that you fought tooth and nail to be with.. And now, they're all too far away for you to reach... again.

Deuce elbowed Ace, thankfully making the jab to the ribs painful for the annoying ginger.

You dramatically sighed again, turning to Yuu and Deuce.

"Remember kids, don't copy Ace's attitude okay? Lest you want to end up single and with no bitches for the rest of your life."

Ace's right eye twitched erratically, shouting at you to shut up and to stop messing with him.

• • • • •

Talking with the crow is an annoying affair as expected. At least now, Yuu is finally an official learner of the school. Even if they're just half-a-student with the loud talking cat. (That kinda reminds you of Mammon, now that you think of it. Also very funny because the cat's name is grim of all things..)

Oh, and you're a prefect now. You're definitely going to make that everyone's problem. Hehehehehe~

"So the abandoned dorm we were supposed to live in is fixed now? How? Hasn't it only been like– a day?"

You ominously beamed at the question, releasing a sinister little giggle that caused Ace, Deuce, and the now wide-awake Grim to subconsciously shiver while Yuu refrained from asking further questions and just wisely snickered instead.

Unseen by everyone, you sent a quick devious little smile to a wall where a certain electrical device was mounted, biting down a snort when you saw the security camera suddenly snap into another direction, as if it was a person embarrassed that they got caught by someone they were staring at.

You then had to hold back a cackle as you remembered how easily this newly made stalker friend of yours snitched on the headmaster, like– you literally didn't even do anything, the flustered boy just gave you the blackmail material that you needed. Well, maybe you did corner him a little bit by using his own electronics against him but you're pretty sure he enjoyed it for some reason if the way he literally blurted out 'mommy-' at you was anything to go by—

Haha, the benefits of having a hacker as a fren :3

• • • •

Kicking away the two idiots and telling them to go back to their dorms already, you dragged Yuu inside the now newly fixed dorm.

The two of you needed to talk about a few things and arrangements..

• • • •

Quickly opening the door in hopes that the fucker that was banging on it gets mash-dabbed face-first, you saw nothing but disappointment as the bastard — Ace — had actually moved away from the door in an impressive display of intuition and spidey-sense before you had even wretched the door open.

"What the fuck do you want, you ugly punyeta?"

It hasn't even been a few hours since this mf parted ways with you and Yuu, so what could be the problem now?

. .. . . . . ..

"No, you're sleeping on the couch."

"What?! But why?!! There are perfectly good rooms here!"

"All the other rooms besides the one we're using are still unfurnished. The beds in them are yet to be assembled and the floors are dusty because of the quick renovations." Yuu stated, rubbing the bridge of their nose.

"Ughhhhh! Just let me squeeze in, I promise I won't take up too much space!"

"Nice try but no."

"Tch, You're all so stingy and inhospitable.."

"Yuu, Do you hear that?" You said, theatrically cupping your ear with a hand.

"Yes, It seems that a forever virgin is talking." Yuu answered with a smirk.

"Hey!"

"Sorry, you oompa-loompa lookin ass— we unfortunately can't understand the language of people who can't pull."

"You guys are the worst."

"Thanks bbg." you and Yuu paused.

"Pft–"

"Oh dear~ It seems you're starting to take after me."

"Indeed it seems." Yuu replied, even subconsciously copying the fancy accent you used.

"Oh no, you're multiplying. :0"

"Haha, we're still dragging you to apologize to your Housewarden later."

"Aww shucks.."

← Pr.7 | Chapter List | Chp. 1.2 →

Thanks for reading this far, my amazing readers ＼⁠(⁠^⁠o⁠^⁠)⁠／

Pls don't forget to reblog and like, it really helps me so much <3

Taglist;

@f0uerleafedcl0ver @a-traveling-void-human @leviathans-tail-scales @nimko @solarixstar @sugarrush-blush @im-in-love-with-fairytales @irisxiel @meigalaxy @nightw-izhu @refridgeratorplus @moonieper @certified-twst-simp @immakittybear @iris-arcadia @caprinaesprout @mc-glare-is-king

Pls if I forgot to tag someone, pls tell me..

Tumblr is fuckin with me again.

Reminder; Just tell me if y'all wanna be added to the permanent taglist.

[raven-at-the-writing-desk]

I enjoyed reading your last imagine! Can I request a scenario where Yuu (gender neutral) “borrows” the Octavinelle Trio’s Fedoras and is caught red handed wearing it?

Aaah, at this point I don’t know which “last imagine” you’re referring to. Still, it makes me happy to know you liked it!

Haha, this was an interesting request to come up with a backstory for. Hopefully you find it as amusing as I did.

Imagine this...

The trouble had all started with a midnight game of truth or dare--and Ace, that ignoramus, had been the one to spark the ensuing shenanigans.

His challenge?

“I dare you to steal a hat from those creepy Octavinelle guys!”

Yuu had protested, only to be met with his jeers in return. Deuce, Grim, and the ghosts managed to placate him very little. It was Ace’s voice--the loudest and perhaps the dumbest--that had won in the end.

Well, Yuu was no scaredy-cat--they would prove Ace wrong! Then he’d be sorry.

Damn him, damn him, Yuu thought.

It was all Ace’s fault that they now found themselves in this predicament in the middle of the night, fiddling with the knob on Azul’s office door. They jiggled around the hair pin they had inserted into the lock--until the door knob gave way.

Jackpot!

Yuu quietly slipped inside and flicked the lights on. As usual, the Octavinelle dorm leader’s office appeared immaculate and well organized. It seemed like not even a single speck of dust polluted the space.

But Yuu was not here for the books that lined the room, nor the contracts that were stowed away in the vault. Their eyes landed on a coffee table, upon which sat three familiar fedoras in a neat stack. They were surprised that the Octavinelle trio had neglected to take their hats home with them, but Yuu was not about to complain about their stroke of good fortune.

Yuu pulled the topmost fedora off of the stack and peered inside, checking for lingering miasma or hexes that might have clung to the fabric. They could never be too careful when it came to Azul and his lackies.

When they detected nothing malicious from the hats, Yuu cautiously turned it around in their hands.

It looked normal.

It seemed normal.

So maybe it was normal.

Yuu breathed a sigh of relief. All that was left to do now was to return to Ramshackle while spinning the fedora on one finger and rub it in Ace’s face.

No, wait—an even better idea struck Yuu.

They tentatively placed the hat on top of their head, tucked a hand under their chin, and consulted their reflection in the glass pane of the coffee table.

Oh, yeah. I definitely look like a smug bastard in this, Yuu thought. They could see it now: strolling in while donning the fedora, a jacket draped over their shoulders, and a long twig in hand to emulate Azul’s cane.

Perhaps Yuu would even provide their friends with a show of melodrama. They made a face in the glass, trying to copy the Octavinelle dorm leader’s usual facial expression.

“Ooh, look at me, I’m Azul Ashengrotto. I’m a big, bad mafia boss,” Yuu said in a sing-song. “Wanna sell your soul to me for all of eternity?” they asked of an invisible person.

Of course, there was no response.

“Anything you want, I can give you--for a price,” Yuu continued, having a little too much fun with the situation. “A heart, a brain, courage--what’ll it be?”

No response.

“But certainly, I’ll offer you a special discount.” They paused before tipping the fedora and adding, “milady.”

Yuu snickered to themselves. Yes, this was the perfect way to cinch their victory.

“I take it you are having fun playing pretend, Prefect?”

“Yeah, it’s loads of fun!” Yuu laughed.

Wait.

There wasn’t supposed to be anyone to respond to.

“W-WHOA, AZUL?!” Yuu leapt back, falling onto the ground and knocking over the remaining two fedoras on the coffee table. They pointed a shaky finger at him. “W-What are you...why are you here?!”

“That’s my line,” Azul snapped, rubbing his temples. “I came to retrieve some documents to submit tomorrow--and what do I find instead? A cat burglar wearing my hat while doing a poor impersonation.”

“Um...l-look, I know it looks bad, but I can explain.”

“Then by all means,” Azul folded his arms across his chest and leaned against the doorway, “explain.”

“Gee, well, um...you see, it’s a really funny story, actually!”

“So I am told.”

“Uhhhhhh...H-Hey, look over there!”

“Surely you don’t believe I’d fall for a trick like th--”

Yuu moved quicker than Azul did. They were up on their feet in a flash and charged at Azul with as much force as they could muster, knocking him aside and setting his glasses askew.

“You--” Azul stumbled back, trying to recover from the blow--but Yuu knew that physical strength and endurance were never his strong suits. They flew right by him.

“Really sorry for intruding!” Yuu shouted over their shoulder. “Send your complaints to Ace!!”

They sprinted all the way back to Ramshackle, their heart hammering in their chest and a stolen fedora on their head. They’d remember to return it to its rightful owner when they were done bragging about their escapade--but for now, it was theirs.

[eurekq]

got my full fanganronpa designed with names and backstories and personalities and everything... character info is under the cut! all the bios took about a week to put together so i hope you give them a look <3

basic premise: 16 fresh-out-of-highschool prodigies are invited to star in well-respected and widely-watched reality tv show, which takes place on a cruise ship. what they weren't expecting was for the show's 25th season to be a killing game! the students: TOMOKO KAITA: a peppy and outgoing astrology guru who can read your deepest flaws and strengths with just your date and time of birth. known worldwide for her extremely accurate personal horoscopes. despite this, she strongly believes in the ability of an individual to defy their fate through hard work and self improvement. she dislikes giving negative horoscopes, and does her best to focus on the positives that the stars hold in store. her smile brightens the whole room! she is intensly loyal to her friends, to the point of self-sacficing emotional labor. KENJI MINAMOTO: a formal and eccentric olympic fencer whose strange insistance on not wearing protective gear during practice (he believes it makes him better by giving him a stronger motivation to not get hit) has earned him many a scar over the years, and has left at least half of his joints in braces at any given time. he follows his own bushido-esque moral code, although he will not put himself above whapping the occasional really annoying person in the ankles. his épée is his best friend and he carries it most everywhere. most of the scars on his face and hands are actually from trying to put in his very sharp industrial piercings while drunk. despite his oddities, his lightfooted and elegant fencing has been compared by many to a graceful dance. HAZUKO KAGENO: a secretly sweet and polite orphan who took up puppetry as a child in an orphanage to amuse the younger kids. years of retreating into her puppets' personas has left her unable to communicate normally, and she prefers to talk through her puppets, her favourite being lady ravensdale, a proper lady in victorian fashion. she doesn't take very good care of her actual appearance, with long, tangled, split-ended hair and rips in her clothes. the only exception is her hands, which she keeps meticulously maintained and manicured, since they're the only part of her body visible during shows. her creepy smile and wide, glazed-over eyes are offputting to most she meets, but she is a truly kind and passionate person whose animated and lively puppet shows can bring a smile to any childs face. EISUKE ITOU: eisuke grew up sewing clothes for his younger sisters barbie dolls, and he particularly loved dressmaking. he gained exposure in his first year of highschool by handmaking gorgeous outfits for his class's booth at the school festival, and, through application to various junior fashion competitions, he was eventually noticed by a big-name designer in paris. however, he found learning french next to impossible and has spent the year prior to the game in relative isolation, unable to have any real human conversation. his pyschological state was fairly severely impacted by his long hours spent sewing and designing on internship with no company to get him by, and he is now debilitatingly socially anxious and finds conversation difficult and awkward. SHIN TOKUGEN: a silver-tongued and charistmatic human interest and general news reporter who specializes in getting personal accounts from those affected by newsworthy events. growing up billingual in english and japanese due to his american mother, language comes as easy as breathing to him. in addition to his mother tongues, he fluently speaks chinese, korean, arabic, spanish, and russian. news outlets pay hefty prices for his emotionally provacative and insightful interview stories, which covers all his travel expenses. he has a unique talent for getting complete strangers to reveal to him things that they might not even tell close friends. actual casual conversation with can be a little offputting, since it always feels like an interview, even when he's trying his best to not. MARIKO MIKAMI: mariko was a sickly child, and spent a large part of her elementary school years in hospitals. around the age of seven, she began folding paper cranes as something to do, and wished to live normally after she folded her 1000th. she soon recovered, and feels that she owes her life to origami. she is precise and calculating in everything she does, which shines through in her art: every delicate, artful piece of origami that she makes is creased and folded perfectly. she also dabbles in wet-fold origami. she's most famous for her dry-fold though, and her pieces are well known for their complex, precise, mathematical beauty. she refuses to fold paper cranes anymore, feeling that they are too sacred for her to touch after they saved her life as a child. a calm, slightly disconcerting smile is always on her face, no matter the circumstance; her manner is consistantly cool and polite. YUU IROIKE: yuu iroike isn't even his real name, and it's a mystery as to how show staff even tracked down his mailing address to get him on the show. he's a well-known public figure for painting huge, sprawling, colorful murals in tokyo, yet who he really is remains unknown. he paints faster than his murals can be scrubbed away, and has somehow never been prosecuted for vandalism because his graffiti is generally considered an improvment. he's sly, mysterious, and teasing in person, and gets a bit of an itchy trigger finger when he hasn't painted in a while. His skill with spray paint is so great that it seems as if the paint bends to his very will. MARIYA HAN: born and raised in rio de janeiro, mariya moved to her father's home country of japan at the age of eleven. inspired by the more vibrant trends in brazil as opposed to japan, mariya broke out of her mold at the age of 13 by experimenting with dramatic makeup and dying her hair blonde. she has adopted a delinquent-ish persona over the years due to general disapproval from teachers because of the looks she presents. her impeccable sense of all-around style has made her one of the very few half-japanese models to appear on the covers of magazines like kera and zipper. she has an uncanny sense of color and structure and is able to create attractive and stylish looks for almost any face. HARUMI HAMANAKA: harumi is a sweet and bubbly girl, if almost cloyingly so. her good luck is a fairly stable force (nowhere near as chaotic as komaeda, for example), generally acting in the favor of wishes of people around her. her mother intensly wanted for her to be on the show because of the exposure it provides, and this is what harumi attributes to her being selected. despite the way her luck operates, shes no doormat and in fact has an overwhelming force of personality, and her sweet demeanor can become rather passive aggressive if challenged on pretty much anything. MOMOTAROU KOBARA: momotarou, born into a rich family that fufilled his near-every want, made a name for himself in the world of collecting at the age of just eleven by, through luck and love for the series, collecting every pokemon card. from then on he set onto collecting just about anything non-perishable: pins, collectors set bandaids, vinyls, etc. he has exceptional luck in finding deals on ebay and other sites. he cant really be called a hoarder, since he likes to have just one of everything; he resells, gifts, or uses any duplicates. his mood swings between a dreamy, chilled out, flirtatious persona and periods of numb depression when it hits him that his whole life revolves around material possesions and that he has no real human connections. CHOUMI YUKIYAMA: exceptional among even her fellow shsls, choumi made her historic mark on ballet by becoming the world's youngest ever prima ballerina at the age of 13 and japan's first ever prima ballerina assoluta at 18. fans flock to her ethereal, angelic grace on stage as well as to the percieved sense of otherworldlyness surrounding her albinism. on the darker side of her popularity, repeated sexual harassment from fans and male dance partners alike has hardened her world view to make her not quite cold, but definitely reserved in her emotions. she adapts fairly easy to stressful situations and pushes through pain with almost no visible outward struggle due to her all too common experience with dancing through foot and ankle injuries. because of this she usually ends up taking initiative in difficult scenarios if no one else steps forward. she is also a quite talented hobbyist figure skater and is fluent in both english and russian. REN KIKUHARA: a fairly odd florist in that instead of ordering flowers to arrange into bouquets, every flower he sells is grown himself. although this means that his selection is seasonally and fairly regionally limited, he has an incredible talent for working with plants and can even sometimes coax out-of-zone flowers to grow. he's fluent in hanakotoba and is surprisingly good at flirting through flowers without it seeming cheesy, although he doesn't do it very often. people often remark that his bouquets often seem to have more love and life in them than store-bought ones. ren is a calm and kind soul and prefers listening to talking, with what he does say always seeming to be just the right words for the situation. JUN TENSEI: born jun harada, many believe that his spiritual connection is the real deal, but a few critics hold that he is most likely just an incredibly talented bluffer. the real truth about him is unknown, but many say that his seances do accurately reflect the personalities of their deceased loved ones and help them feel at peace. he is deeply religious, but not to any one traditional faith (although he does use traditional christian symbols such as crucifixes and items such as holy water on occasion). he believes strongly in the power of the soul and its ability to exist beyond death. his voice is soft and low, and he has a penchent for gentle teasing and riddles. he comes off as pretty shady to most, but he's fairly harmless. SARA KUROKAWA: a talented young woman from a long line of popular backalley tattoo artists. she combines traditional symbolism and youthful influence in her designs to make something new and more appealing for the younger generation, and is a huge proponent for tattoos being shown off for fashion rather than hidden away in the traditional style. sara does have (illegal) tattoos done by her older siblings on her arms despite the minimum age being 20, although her being homeschooled, looking older than her actual age, and having a tendency to wear long sleeves year round has led her to encounter few problems. she and her family are among the many who simply choose to ignore the statute requiring a medical license to tattoo. sara is a fairly rude person in a backhanded way, acts stereotypically catty, and enjoys making herself the center of attention, whether through her appearance (dyed pink hair and white contacts) or the things she says. the only two things that can break her shell and make her excited and genuine are tattooing and piano, which she has played from a young age and loves. SHOU KATSUKI (PROTAG): pushed to succeed in the game from a very young age, shou is japan's reigning chess champion, a FIDE-certified grandmaster, and went to international competition the year before the killing game. he played through to the finals with influenza, which worsened through the matches due to lack of treatment and culminated in debilitating pneumonia that left him in the hospital and unable to play for first. because of this, he's cultivated a sort of inferiority complex that he tries to cover for with self-confidence, which actually comes off as condescending rudeness. he has a natural talent for cause and effect analyzation and is good at planning ahead. he gets flustered easily over trivial things and is a sore loser, but tends not to crack under actual pressure. shou doesn't like to be associated with his family due to the intense pressure they put him under only to steal his winnings the second he began to succeed and thus prefers to be referred to by his given name, even by near-strangers. he does genuinely love chess, but his favourite board game is actually risk. (no one ever wants to play with him, though.) MIKI SHIMAZAKI: a child prodigy from a family of cheerleaders, miki learned to love the sport over years of family pressure. famous for winning back to back nationals from age 13 to present, she's well aware of the image of unintelligence and sexualisation that comes along with being a young girl in cheerleading, and these two topics are sort of trigger points for her. after a while she grew tired of people telling her that they were suprised she was nice and were expecting her to be a bitch, so she adopted a fake-nice, popular girl type persona to basically give people what they were expecting. miki trusts very few people due to the many creeps shes encountered, but her few friends are the most important thing in her life and she would stop at nothing to protect them.

[aeternallis]

Title: The City of Nightless Blossoms // Chapter I

Series: Owari no Seraph Pairing: Hyakuya Mikaela x Hyakuya Yuuichirou Rating: M (18+) Summary: The year is 1814. Isolated from the rest of the world, and under the strict military rule of the Tokugawa Shogunate, Japan successfully enters a period of social and economic stability, ending the political upheavals from centuries past. Even so, beneath the veneer of peace lies corruption amongst the ranks of government, excess and decadence, and the threads of the established social order slowly beginning to unravel.

Hyakuya Yuuichirou is a young samurai from the daimyo house of Hiiragi, a powerful vassal to the current shogun. Vowing his allegiance to the master who had taken him in as a child, Yuuichirou soon finds his loyalties torn when the childhood friend he's been searching for abruptly turns up...as a member of a rebel group looking to dismantle the current regime.

AO3

It was on nights like these when the memories had a tendency of coming back more forcefully, invading his senses like a dam that's been thoroughly broken in, sweeping him away until the very core of his soul has been transported back to the past, even as his body anchors him to the relentless present. It was rare for him to remember everything so vividly, but perhaps that's to be expected...and tonight of all nights, too.

He was on the cusp of adulthood yet at that very moment, he never felt more like a child as he did then.

Outside his window, the pretty sounds of the chimes hanging on the ceiling jangled against the wind, the soft melody carrying itself through the air and shyly drifting its way inside his room, gently, unobtrusively.

He blinked slowly, forcing himself to sit up, though his muscles felt utterly heavy with weariness, rubbing his eyes with the back of his hand as shadows danced across the thin walls and lulled him into a half-sleep. Images from years ago waltzed across the stage of his mind, the nostalgia fresh and just as unforgettable. Even now, he could still recall the day he had first met his best friend, could still summon the ocean breeze that caressed his face within the recesses of his memories, the roughness of the rocks he'd played with, the happy smiles of his adopted siblings.

That time seemed so far away now, like trying to reach for the brilliant light of a firework that had long floated away into the night air, as vigorous as its sound would have been alive, how deafening the silence that would follow even more still.

Then inescapably, his mind fluttered to the sounds of swords clashing, of anguished cries, and the startling echoes of gunfire and pillage.

Looking out towards the tranquil picture of the moon and inhaling the scent of the cherry blossoms that wafted inside his quarters, he felt a gust of the cool, evening wind and tightened the yukata around his shoulders, laying back down on his futon. His long hair fanned out all around him, he looked up at the ceiling with a dazed glance, traversing through the world of recollection. Letting out a weary sigh, he closed his eyes...and remembered. 

Hirado-shi, Nagasaki, Japan September 1804 (Bunka 1)

He had been playing by the beach with Akane and the others when their caretaker abruptly called out for them to return home immediately. It was around their usual play time when it happened, their eyes searching each other out for answers, but their faces all mirrored the same questioning look, Ako's shoulders lightly shrugging in confusion while Fumie's mouth pouted cutely.

It was silent amongst them for a good number of seconds, and all they could hear was the waves crashing against the rocks and sand.

Yuu's eyes narrowed in displeasure, before he too let out a sigh of disappointment.

It was unusual for the old lady to call them around that time of the day, but none of them wanted to upset her, unless of course they were looking for a harsh tongue-lashing. Annoyed though he was that their game had been interrupted, Yuuichirou nonetheless dropped the flat stones that he had been piling up against the sand and dutifully instructed his playmates to do as the old woman told them.

He grabbed the small slippers he'd tossed aside earlier and waddled his way towards the waves momentarily, his teeth chattering as he felt the cold water wash away the bits of sand between his toes, shaking his legs dry afterwards. He dropped the sandals on the ground and slipped them on quickly, following after the other children.

The weather was mild, the towering trees that dotted their small village vivid and remarkable as the stunning colors of the autumn leaves swayed vibrantly against the backdrop of the cloudy skies. Despite the pleasant wind, he felt a raindrop hit his cheek every once in a while, the color of the clouds slowly becoming grey and foreboding. In the back of his mind, he wondered if the rains would be heavy for the upcoming month, making a mental note to gather more firewood and kindling to stock up for when the cool climate gave way to winter.

When he finally walked through the door, taking off his slippers as he did so, he saw that the other children had already gathered around the main room, their voices giddy and excited as they fired a thousand questions all at once towards a young boy who seemed to be roughly his age. It was a startling scene in his mind; he didn't know that the old woman had recently picked up another stray.

The young boy was sitting formally on the tatami, an unusual picture, his hands folded neatly on his lap. The brown, threadbare yukata he wore was a stark contrast to his sunshine-colored hair, his cobalt eyes.

A foreigner, Yuuichirou thought immediately, his brow lifting in surprise. In the three years that he has lived in this seaside village, he has never before laid eyes on one, and the childish curiosity welled up within him in a split second, even as he clenched his hands to stop himself from joining the others.

"He snuck away from the ship," a voice said right next to him. Yuuichirou turned around just in time to see their caretaker holding a pot in her hands, the expression on her face patient and kind. "While he's staying with us, I trust you'll teach him the ropes around here, right Yuu?"

"The ship...? Ah—the one that arrived a few days ago?" he asked a little too loudly, his gaze wide with sudden interest, answering her request all but forgotten.

In the past couple of days, the village has been abuzz with rumors going all around regarding a wooden ship that had landed near the harbor, carrying dozens of strange and exotic goods. Though most of the townsfolk regarded even just the very thought of non-natives as abhorrent and something to be fearful of, Yuuichirou and the other children were, in contrast, quite fascinated, their childish minds inventing stories of far off places, creating worlds of fairytales and make-believe.

While they would often see enough ships and boats in the distant horizon passing by their island, they had never heard of one ever getting this close to their shores, with the obvious intent to disembark, of all things. It was more than enough to get their imaginations going, and they had sincerely hoped, impossible though it may be, to meet some of the passengers onboard the ship, to observe how different they were, so that their small world inside this village may expand just a tad bit beyond what they were used to.

Yuuichirou gulped in excitement and nervousness, staring intently towards the caretaker as she tried to understand the expression on his face, before his mouth turned to a grim line when he finally understood what she had said earlier. "Wait...you say he escaped? But...but why would he—?"

The old woman shook her head, placing the pot on a nearby table and pressing her index finger against her lips. "Now is not the time, Yuu. Go be with the others, I'll have dinner ready soon."

She nudged the boy forward to join the other children while she went to gather the bowls and chopsticks, chuckling as she did so. While Yuuichirou fidgeted in the corner of the room for a short while, looking down at his calloused feet, Akane was the first to spot him, waving her hand enthusiastically for him to come closer.

"Oh Yuu, you're here! Come meet our newest member!" she exclaimed animatedly, her braid whipping out from over her shoulder. She held out a hand, as if beckoning him, then patted the empty seat right next to her, looking at him with encouragement. Yuuichirou nodded with some hesitation, before he moved next to where she sat, staring at the foreigner with intense curiosity, his eyes serious.

"Ummm...nice to meet you. I'm Yuuichirou, but you can call me Yuu," he said gruffly, somewhat amazed by the other boy's peculiar looks. From up close, his young mind could immediately understand the other children's fascination; his skin was moonlight pale, and his eyes were the deepest color of blue he'd ever seen, like the azure jade bracelets the jewelers would sell in the markets. His features were very delicate, and the beauty of his face was ethereal.

He gave Yuu a small smile, and extended a hand, introducing himself in return. "My name is Mikaela, but please call me Mika, Yuu...chan," he finished off shyly, his voice quiet. His cheeks were tinted red, and he was clutching the sleeves of his yukata tightly.

All this went unnoticed however, as Yuuichirou could only stare at the outstretched hand, his head tilting sideways in confusion. It wasn't long before Akane moved to his side, whispering in his ear excitedly while Mikaela waited patiently for him. "You grab his hand and then you shake it! This is how foreigners greet strangers apparently."

Yuu let out a small noise of understanding, before doing as the girl suggested, with Mika letting out a small giggle. He blushed in return, his emerald eyes widening as his brain registered the low timbre of the foreigner's voice; his Japanese was good, fluent even, and the heavy accent that accompanied his words was interesting to hear. He clenched his fist at his side, biting his tongue from asking too many prying questions.

Mika's voice tended to drawl out certain words, and he couldn't help but want to hear more of what he had to say, his eyes bright with eagerness.

"So...so you came from the ship that arrived a few days ago, right? How is it that you know how to speak our language?" he asked carefully, his tone dripping with wonder until his questions broke forth unwittingly. "What was it like traveling in the ocean? Were there many people? What did you bring with you when you came here?"

Mikaela blinked at the sudden enthusiasm of his voice, before his mouth broke out into a full grin, letting out another laugh.

Yuuichirou found that he couldn't look away, the foreigner's voice sounding like bells in his ears. His hands fidgeted, feeling embarrassed, before Mika answered his questions one by one, his eyes filled with amusement. "Papa was from this country, so we spoke in Japanese all the time. Yes, I traveled here from Russia. I didn't like traveling by water, the ship swayed too much. There were many people who went on the boat with me and my father, but..."

His voice abruptly trailed off, his gaze drifting to the open window, his eyes seemingly looking towards the ocean. "Many people died getting here, and many more are sick right now on the ship. I was lucky to get away..."

The children were all silent, and from the corner of his eye, Yuuichirou could see the old woman standing by the entryway, the towel she had been using to wipe her hands having gone still. Noticing the silence and abrupt awkwardness, Mika let out a small gasp, remembering himself before he continued on, cheerful once more. "Ah! I didn't bring much, but..."

Standing up suddenly, he ran towards one of the smaller rooms, whereupon the children heard him rummaging through some things for a few seconds. After awhile, he walked back in the main room, carrying a small wooden box. Once he had settled down on the ground once more, he slid the cover off of the container, urging the other children and Yuu to look inside.

As they peered down, their eyes landed on the most beautiful egg they had ever seen, sitting against a cushion of white cloth. The porcelain shell was painted in a vivid indigo color, each stroke lovingly applied in a clean and even manner. The widest girth of the egg was decorated with gold lotus flowers, its vines and leaves twirling all around the rest of the surface. At the top, an intricate pattern of circles and geometric shapes crowned the entire piece, looking as if it were some sacred fruit from the gods.

Upon taking a closer look, Yuuichirou could see how the flowers were artfully done; in the back of his head, he recalled the many stories of pirates stealing wondrous treasures and jewels from lands all over the world. Without a doubt, if a pirate saw something as marvelous as this, they wouldn't be able to help themselves, as lovely as the ornament looked.

"It's an Easter egg," Mika began quietly, placing the box on the ground while he gently picked up the egg between his fingers, passing it all around for the children to see. "We have lots and lots of them in Russia. My mama made this one for me when I was a baby. She was an artist...that's what papa told me, anyway."

Akane, being fully aware of how clumsy some of the children could be, quickly took over and kept a close eye on the younger kids while the egg was passed around, each of the children's eyes twinkling with curiosity and awe, their hands turning it this way and that. When it finally came for Yuuichirou to hold it, he cradled the egg carefully between his fingers, being extremely careful not to drop it on the floor.

After studying the ornament for a moment, his gaze turned to Mikaela, his interest more than peaked at that point. "What's 'Easter'?"

"Ah...umm..." Mika's eyes widened, his mouth opening to say something, before he closed it again, a slight look of confusion overcoming his expression while he scratched the back of his head bashfully, chuckling good-heartedly while he turned away from them. "Actually, I'm not so sure either. It's some sort of festival people celebrated back home, but papa and I never took part of it."

"How come?"

The blond shrugged, his mouth quirking up in a small smile. "Papa liked to keep to himself when we lived there together, so I don't know much about the painted egg mama made me, except that it's my most important treasure...and it's pretty to look at."  

At that last comment, Akane and the others couldn't help but giggle at how honest their new friend was. He was easy to talk to, his kindness natural and not at all overbearing; they had a good feeling that Mika would fit in with them in no time at all. As for Yuuichirou, he couldn't help but give the other boy an eager grin, before he became self-conscious and quickly wiped the smile off his face, coughing out loud as he placed the egg back inside its box.

He handled the fragile item as best as he could and slid the box closer towards the blond, for which the latter thanked him softly.

Interrupting the moment, the old woman called for them to gather around the fire for dinner, the children cheering out loud when they realized that supper was ready. As they all sat around the huge pot of soup, Akane and Yuuichirou helped with serving the bowls of rice, while the younger ones chatted amongst themselves. As they all waited for the food, Mikaela kept them entertained with songs and lullabies he'd heard when he was onboard the ship.

From the corner of her eye, their caretaker looked at them all fondly, before her eyes landed on Mikaela. Letting out an uneasy smile that the blond didn't catch, she turned away, her eyes unreadable and guarded while she scanned the outline of the distant ship from whence he came.

As they had predicted, it took almost no time for Mikaela to get used to his new home. The other children were patient with him, and he was a quick learner, more than willing to do his fair share of the chores and tasks, going about their day-to-day living. He was particularly useful with helping Yuu when it was time to bring in their weekly catch, and they would both haul the small net full of fish and shrimp for the old woman to sell in the market.

They would spend some time early in the day cleaning and gutting the fish for her, before the usual throngs of people begin to flood the small gathering of street sellers. While they were at it, they would also use this time to prepare their stall, washing the wooden crates thoroughly to make sure that no mold grows inside and counting the change inside their money box, with the latter writing down the numbers while the blond sorted the bills properly.

Meanwhile, Akane and the younger children would go about tending to their small garden behind the house, pulling out any weeds and watering the soil to keep their produce healthy and fresh. It was not yet harvest time, but rodents and small garden snakes tended to sneak in every once in a while, and they would spend a good portion of the morning inspecting the entire span of the garden, the sun beating down on their backs while the old woman made them all a heavy breakfast.

Once the morning activities in the garden were done, the children would walk back inside the house just in time to see the two boys striding in with their money box in tow, their hands and clothes smelling like fish. Although it made her nose crinkle on more than one occasion, Akane particularly loved that smell; the lingering scent of the ocean reminded her of home, of the old woman and how hard she worked to provide for them all, even in her old age.

They would all come together afterwards, chatting together cheerfully as they ate their breakfast, the food filling enough to last them through the afternoon. Akane would wash the dishes when everyone was done, while the children took turns getting water from the well.

It was at that point that the old woman would head out to the market for the day, one bag full of fish and one bag full of shrimp, each one tucked underneath an arm, while Yuu and Mika helped her by carrying the crates and money box. They would walk along the beach, watching as the fishermen and ama divers went further out to sea, and they would all call out to them to be more careful in the deeper waters and to come back to shore safely.

Once she was settled on her chair by their stall, her pipe full and burning in one hand, the old woman would wave them away, signaling that they can go about their day now, without interruption, until they needed to come back to help her again later.

As the afternoon sent in, they would all head to the nearby temple, where the monks would teach them Chinese characters, arithmetic, and grammar, often lending out simple books for their students to read. Some of the younger children in their group were often lazy and didn't care too much for the monks' free lessons, but Akane and Yuu—and now Mika—were strict with them, reprimanding them for such behavior.

It was a routine that was very much easy to get lost in, the pace of life leisurely and relaxed, their childish minds at that point unable to comprehend if or when it would ever end. The only thing that mattered to them was if there would be enough time to continue their game from the previous day, and if the waves were calm enough that they could go swimming near the shore, building miniature fortresses out of sand, and playing tag.

Before they knew it, more than half a year had passed since Mika's arrival.

And so it was one of those normal days when they both laid on the grass, their feet dirty from the tracks of dirt after an intense game of chasing each other around and playing hide and seek with the others, enjoying the warm rays of the sun, when Yuuichirou felt brave enough to ask, even as his voice sounded uneasy, as if he were intruding on something he knew he shouldn't. "Where's your father, Mika?"

The blond's shoulders flinched, his body visibly tensing when he realized that his friend finally caught on. Although he was turned away from the other boy, Mikaela could feel Yuu's gaze piercing him, the hairs on his neck standing on end. He gulped before clearing his throat, his voice subdued. "Isn't it obvious by now, Yuu-chan?"

Yuu was silent for a moment, choosing to play dumb while he played with a blade of grass. "Is he still on the ship?"

Mikaela shook his head, before turning around to face him, his hand tucked underneath his head, his eyes melancholy and looking past him. "No...no, he's not. He got really sick during the voyage here, and they..."

The other boy's eyes widened in alarm, realizing his mistake too late while he shook his head internally.

The blond has been with them for a little more than nine months now, naturally assimilating himself to the seams of their lives, almost as if he's always been there. In these past few months that he'd stayed with them, he and Akane, as well as the other children, had found themselves growing more and more at ease with his presence each day, until it grew to a point where he could even admit to himself that he sometimes felt a prickling of jealousy when Mika would spend time with the younger kids, forgoing his company altogether for the day.

There was so much about him that made Yuuichirou so curious and fascinated, not just because Mika was a foreigner, but simply because he couldn't help but genuinely...like him. He knew to himself that he was a hard person to get along with; even when he first arrived at the old woman's house after losing his parents to cholera, he'd mostly kept to himself for a good number of weeks until Akane finally got through to him, encouraging him to open up to the other children.

And even then, it took some time for him to become friendly with his adopted siblings. They had been just as curious as he was now with his new friend, his questions incessant and coming out of his mouth faster than he had time to blink.

Before he'd wandered into this seaside village, he had originally lived in the neighboring town about four or five ri away. His parents have always thought of him as a burden, another pest of a mouth to feed when there were already three others who were considered just as big of a nuisance as he was.

The life of a peasant was by no means easy and more than once, he had felt the bitter pangs of hunger in his stomach, the ruthless gusts of a cold winter when they had no money to spare for firewood, let alone anything else to buy warm furs and pelts for their small shack of a hut. He was an unwanted child from the beginning, and so didn't know what it was like to receive compassion from another person...until the old woman came upon him one day while he had been out begging for food door to door.

By that point, the outbreak of disease in his village had wiped out his entire family.

Although the old woman never pried, her example to the other children proved to be fruitless. Fumie and the younger kids wanted to know everything about him, and even the usually shy and polite Akane couldn't help but ask him a probing question or two. Their earnest interest in his own past confounded him many a night, until he finally gave in, allowing them all to know his story, his common tale of woe: he was born to a peasant family who were dirt poor, not a single prospect to their name, and he was lucky enough to survive while the rest of his relatives perished.

He loved his newfound family, he truly did...but he couldn't deny that those early days made him feel like he'd been cornered by the very people who have come to welcome him into their home. Although he can now say that he no longer cared to remember such memories, he can most definitely understand Mikaela's hesitation now.  

No...it wasn't right for him to force Mika to reveal his past, all for the sake of wanting to satisfy his itch to know about him...especially if those memories were as unpleasant as his were regarding his own parents. As Mikaela was about to open his mouth to continue, Yuuichirou shook his head, his index finger pressing against the other boy's lips, silencing him.

The blond blinked, looking down at Yuu's hand.

"Forget I asked," Yuuichirou told him, his voice hurried and apologetic. "I shouldn't have asked out of the blue like that...I'm sorry."  

Mika shook his head gently, quietly turning his head away so he could speak once more. "No, not at all. I've been here with you all for quite some time now, and it's a fair question."

He let out an uneasy giggle, turning his gaze away in abrupt embarrassment. Yuuichirou asked him what was wrong, his tone tense, until Mikaela turned to him once more, his blue eyes unreadable. "I...know when I've overstayed my welcome, Yuu-chan—"

Yuu's eyes widened in protest, and before he knew the words that were coming out of his mouth, he was up on his feet, about ready to smack the blond on the head. "No, that's not true at all! That's not what I meant, and—and you know it!"

Mikaela blinked at him once more, letting out a hearty laugh a couple of seconds later, his shoulders shaking uncontrollably. Yuuichirou turned away, feeling self-conscious of himself, plopping back down on the ground once more with his arms crossed, a pout making its way on his face. "I mean it though...that's not what I meant...at all. I was just...too curious, I guess."

His laughter gradually dying down, Mikaela softly placed a hand on top of his friend's, looking at him directly. "I'm sorry, it was low of me to say something like that. It made me sound ungrateful. Thank you, Yuu-chan...for welcoming me into your home."

"It's your home now too, idiot..." His voice came out as little more than a whisper, his heart pounding in his chest while he turned away from him, his face flushed crimson.

Regardless of how Yuuichirou looked in front of him at that moment though, Mika felt his eyes well up with unshed tears, the expression on his face stunned while his fingers unconsciously tightened around Yuu's hand, sincerely touched at his friend's words. Unable to help himself, he lunged towards the boy, wrapping his arms around him as they both fell back against the grass, burying his face on the crook of his neck.

"Thank you so much, Yuu-chan..." the blond murmured, his shoulders quivering as the tears threatened to spill out, overwhelmed as he felt in his heart at that moment.

Yuuichirou was surprised at first, before he let out a deep sigh, his cheeks blushing, and patted the top of Mika's head tenderly, leaning his forehead against his friend's. "Are you...sad?"

Mika shook his head, his voice distant once more. "No...not really. Papa and mama are dead now, and there's no reason for me to go back. Haha...not that I want to go back to the ship anyway. I don't like the way it rocks so much and how it makes me so queasy, so there's nothing for me there now."

The other boy nodded solemnly, his gaze steady towards the horizon. "You won't miss your old home?"

The blond was silent for a while, breaking away from their embrace, only to adjust his position and lay his head on Yuu's lap, looking up at him with a delicate smile. "I will miss it, but this is my home now, right Yuu-chan?"

Yuuichirou nodded his head, looking out towards the distance; the sun was setting, and soon they would need to go back to the house and help the old woman with dinner when she came back from the market. They took in the gentle currents from the ocean for a brief moment, each of them lost in their own thoughts. They were both silent for the time being and simply enjoyed each other's presence, taking in the peaceful atmosphere of their village.

Still, there was something that Yuu wanted...needed to say. The words were on the tip of his tongue, but the hesitation was still there, unable to give him courage to finally say it out loud, until Mikaela noticed the look on his face, tugging at his sleeve, persuading him to continue. "Out with it, Yuu-chan. We have to get back to the house soon."

Yuuichirou looked down at his friend, before his hands tightened at his side, his toes curling. "Obaa-san told me something this morning."

"Hmm?"

"The ship that came here from Russia...the crew is to set sail within a few days. They're leaving for good," he said neutrally, biting his lip as he watched the play of expressions on the blond's face, his heart thumping loudly against his chest. There was a look of surprise on Mika's face at first, his throat gulping as the array of emotions passed through him. Nevertheless, when he realized that Yuuichirou was staring at him with an apprehensive look, his body visibly relaxed, his fingers uncurling from the tension.

He gave his friend a small grin, putting him at ease. "Then I wish them a safe journey."

Yuu held his breath for the longest time, not realizing that he had released a sigh of relief unconsciously. He jumped up playfully without warning, so that Mika's shoulders dropped on the ground comically, his bright hair tracking bits of soil and grass. The blond yelped out loud as the back of his head hit the soft ground with a light thump, his hands flailing in front of him.

Yuuichirou snorted out loud at the funny sight that his friend made, yelling out when Mika huffed in indignation and began to chase him throughout the field. As the sun began to set, their shouts echoed in the air as they both laughed loudly in mischievousness, while Yuu led them back to the house, where Akane warmly welcomed the both of them home.

Inside this small dwelling they relished the warmth of the fire, the familiar scent of rich rice and newly cooked miso soup, their stomachs grumbling when they finally noticed how hungry they were while spending time outside. As the two boys washed their hands and prepared for dinner, their caretaker strode into the house with a triumphant smile on her face, hauling a generous round cut of meat and announced to them all that it had been a good day in the market, and their dinner would have something extra special that night.

Taking a moment to look around at the familiar scene in front of him, Yuuichirou felt a tingling sensation inside his chest and couldn't help but smile widely, his eyes bright with hope.

Life at that point was wonderful and he was oddly content, his days made all the better because Mika was staying with them.

Truth be told, he couldn't have asked for anything more.    

Three days later, the large wooden ship that had arrived in their shores nine months ago lifted its anchor and began its journey home, carrying with it the disappointed crew's rejected goods for trade, their pleas for a peace treaty, and their dead.

A crowd had gathered near the beach, their eyes watching the ship intently as it disappeared towards the horizon.

While they all watched the barge get farther and farther away, Yuuichirou discreetly glanced at his friend, the blond's face neutral and emotionless as his cerulean eyes rested on the pristine white sails of the ship, the large mass of cloth carrying the barge away from land. Some of the other villagers were staring at him too, eyeing his sunshine-colored hair and strange eyes with barely disguised suspicion and hate.

The foreign ship had forgotten one of its own, they thought, stranding this half-blooded Japanese boy on their shores. They looked at him as if he were a bug, unwanted and unwelcome in their small world. It made Yuu fume silently (the old woman had already warned him earlier not to make a scene), reminding him of the malice-filled eyes of his parents, the way they looked over their shoulders, whispering to each other of their distaste.

Still, they didn't bother giving the blond a second thought; he was but a mere child, and there were more of them than there were of him. He wouldn't be a problem to deal with if he ever stirred up any trouble.

Aware of the other villagers' eyes on his friend, without thinking, Yuuichirou sought out Mika's hand, and held his fingers gently within his palm.

The months bled into a year, then to another, until the image of the wooden ship sailing away from their shores had become but a distant memory, one to look back on every once in a while, but for the most part, there were other things to keep them preoccupied. Their lives went on at its usual, brisk pace, immersing themselves in the hubbub of their everyday routine.

At the very least, it was much easier to think that way. In the back of their minds, there was an awareness growing in each one of their hearts; they felt a disturbance in the air, unspoken, but still there all the same, a force of nature they couldn't help but feel was waiting around the corner to pounce on them.

The old woman's strength was weakening, her joints aching with pain each day even as she tried her best to go about her usual activities while being careful not to push herself too far. It was becoming harder and harder for her to go to the market every day and sell their catch, and there were days when she could not remember the faces of old customers, the number of bills she had been counting just seconds ago.

She would often forget the names of her cherished loved ones, the winding path that would lead from the market to their house, what she did the day before.

It was a sight that was a little more than difficult for Yuuichirou and the others to endure, to witness a vital woman gradually break into pieces of herself, when she had once been a vibrant whole. Even more arduous was trying to smile for her despite the pain, no matter how much their heart broke for their beloved caretaker.

Having no choice but to make up for this, Akane had become accustomed to going with her all the time now, becoming proficient with her arithmetic, enough to make change and not be cheated with the more sneaky customers. She spent most of the day in the market trying to bargain and sell every piece of fish Yuu caught, forgoing her lessons at the temple .

With her also gone from the house, the daily chores of tending to the gardens and maintaining their household fell to Yuuichirou and Mikaela, with the latter cooking their meals and making sure their house was spotless, while the former hauled fresh fish from when he would go out to sea with the fishermen, enlisting Ako and Chihiro to help him with the cleaning of their catch.

At this point, the eldest ones of the group—being Yuu, Mika, and Akane—had all recently gone through a growth spurt, the length of their limbs outpacing the sleeves of their clothes. The two boys were twelve summers old, while Akane had blossomed into a young lady at eleven. Some money had to be kept aside to buy new clothes for them, but Mikaela was particularly adamant about refusing the aging woman's generosity, not wanting to burden her when money was scarce nowadays.

"We could just buy scrap cloth, and I can mend our shirts," he had offered quietly, his voice subdued. He had given the old woman a reassuring smile, even as her wrinkled hand held out some coins for him to take, so that they might go to the local seamstress and buy whatever they needed. He shook his head and placed a hand on the bony fingers that struggled not to shake from just the amount of strength she had to expend at holding up a couple of coins, closing them so that the money was still on the palm of her hand when he let go.

"There is money for you to use, Mika," she insisted once more, her voice weak, but the blond could be as stubborn as a rock, and he merely shook his head, squeezing a damp cloth from the basin of hot water he had right next to him and placed it on her forehead, the smile still on his face.

The rain had been quite heavy earlier that day, and she and Akane couldn't get home in time. By the early evening, a chill had descended on her decrepit body.

While Kota tended the fire for her, Chihiro tucked the covers closer to her side so she could keep warm, a worried look plastered on her young face. Regardless of her weakened state, the old woman smiled at them all, telling them not to worry, that she'd be as good as new the following day.

From the corner of his eye, Yuuichirou clenched his fist and tried not to dwell on the helplessness he felt.

It happened one day, coming out of nowhere—without warning—disrupting the flow of their lives and tearing away the naiveté that Lady Fate seemed to believe they had languished in for far too long. How cruel She could be sometimes, when inevitable change was imminent, and they had no choice but to take part in Her whims.

Yuuichirou had been walking with Mika and the rest of the children on their way home from the temple when they first heard the sounds of gunfire and crude guffaws, ringing in the air like the screech of ravens, unnatural and frightening. They had looked at each other in bewilderment for a few seconds, with Fumie squeezing Yuu's arm when a second round of shots rang out, much closer to them this time.

The air was deathly still as the bullets shot through its targets, Fumie's grip on Yuu's arm tightening in fear as the others all huddled together. "Big brother, what was that just now?" her small voice whispered, muffled against Yuuichirou's sleeve.

Then, a brief silence.

By the third round, Mika's eyes widened in panic as the sounds finally registered in his mind, familiar and unsettling.

"Yuu-chan, we need to get back to the house right now," he said quickly, turning to his friend, the tone of his voice urgent. Yuuichirou could only look at him in confusion as understanding began to dawn in his eyes, his throat gulping in fright. Nodding his head determinedly however, he ushered the children towards home, running as quickly as their legs could carry them.

As they ran on the dirt path that would lead them home, their sense of direction mechanical and precise while adrenaline pumped through their veins, there was no more time afterwards to try and figure out what they'd just heard, for ahead of them, a few hundred meters from where the town market was, they could see the local magistrate's house up in flames, the gray smoke a beacon for the chaos to come.

And just like that, the peaceful life they had all known had shattered into a thousand pieces.

Out of nowhere, the villagers came rushing out from all directions as a number of masked men came out with swords and rifles in hand, slashing their way through the town indiscriminately, their laughter threatening and dangerous. Bellows of horror and panic could be heard as one of the men released the horses from the magistrate's stables, creating even more frenzy amongst the townsfolk, which in turn frightened the poor creatures.

'They're bandits...!' Yuuichirou realized with sudden clarity, his fists clutched at his side while he urged the children to run faster.

The fire that began from the large house was beginning to quickly spread, overtaking the nearby huts and shops that surrounded their village. The sounds of hysteria unnerved the cattle in the nearby grazing field, but they had no more chance to react either, not when one of the men took his torch and set the grassland ablaze, killing the vegetation and animals as the heavy smoke began to escalate, engulfing the entire village.

In the distance, they could her the shrill cries of some of the women, trying to fend off the intruders while some of the fishermen tried to fight them back, but to no avail. The sounds of gunshots were unfamiliar to them, and armed only with their kitchen knives and sticks as weapons, they were no match for the burly thieves who began to plunder their homes, loading their sacks with anything they deemed valuable.

Some of the other prowlers began to smash the floorboards of the huts they went inside in, tearing down meager furnishings, destroying the brittle frames; for some of the wealthier houses, they snapped open the cages of poultry, releasing precious stocks of food and income.

Everywhere at once, the townsfolk ran in all directions, the men carrying their pregnant wives and the women carrying their children as they tried to avoid the thieves who were determined to raze their village to the ground.

"Someone—" a stranger called out, his voice coming out as a loud, desperate cry to anyone who might listen to him. "We must alert the Lord Matsura, his men will come to our—"

An abrupt gurgle could be heard from his throat as one of the masked thieves plunged his sword straight into the man's chest, pulling it out just as quickly so that the blood immediately sprayed forth, coating the ground in rich crimson.

An elderly woman's voice cried out in horror, falling into hysterics as she ran towards the fallen villager.

"Quickly now, we're almost home!" Mika called out to them, holding Ako by the hand as the other children followed suit, willing their legs to go faster as they pushed themselves to get back to the house. The onyx-colored smoke burned their lungs, made their eyes water while they covered their mouths with the back of their yukata sleeves. Yuuichirou shielded them all from behind, looking over his shoulder often to see if any one of the bandits were following them, his teeth gritting in frustration.

Just a little ways away until they could get back into the house, Mikaela thought, ignoring the cries of fear and agitation as they went past the burning huts and abandoned rice farms. The other children were close at his heel, and as soon as they made it past the wooden gate of their home, they made a beeline for the main room, calling out to the old woman and Akane.

While Yuuichirou tried to keep the children together, Mikaela rummaged through their small kitchen, grabbing a small knife before joining his friend once more.

Suddenly, a loud screech came from one of the rooms, followed by a loud thud, as if something had dropped to the floor.

Not wasting another second, Mikaela bolted towards the shoji, with Yuu staying behind to guard the others. As soon as the blond slid the screen open, he was greeted by a horrific sight, his expression shocked as his eyes fell on the old woman, her mouth wide open and her eyes seeing nothing, while a sharp blade protruded from her chest, her blood staining the crumbled blankets on the futon.

A masked man held Akane by her throat, lifting her off the ground as he turned her chin left and right, inspecting her for any blemishes. Tears ran down her face, her voice whimpering in fear while her hand tried to reach for their beloved grandmother, her eyes drenched and filled with dread.

"You'd fetch a fine price in the brothels," he stated with a light smirk, before he unexpectedly dropped her to the ground when he felt a sharp pain in his calf, his voice hurling a slew of curses as he looked down to see a blunt blade stuck to his flesh. Rivulets of blood pooled around the straw sandal he wore, a sickening image.

Turning around while he groaned in pain, he saw Mikaela help the young girl stand up, pulling her towards the door as they both ran out in panic. While he tried to stem the flow of blood from his wound, brusquely pulling the knife out and throwing it against the wall, he had caught sight of the young boy's unusual looks, the peculiar color of his eyes.

"Well well...what do we have here...?" he hummed out loud, unsheathing the sword at his belt. For a brief moment, a menacing smile crept its way onto his face, his profile becoming crazed while his own eyes became mercenary, counting the numbers in his head. Stalking out of the room, the pain in his calf having gone numb, he walked out of the house, looking around to see where the children could have gone.

As Akane ran to keep up with her adopted brothers, she didn't see the piece of rock that jutted out from the path, falling to her knees as she held out her hands to instinctively break her fall when her toe got caught on the sharp edge. She fell on the dirt with a loud yelp, her gaze unseeing while her mind replayed the scene from mere moments ago. Unable to contain the fresh set of tears, she shook her head in helplessness, her shoulders quivering in defeat.

She couldn't find the strength to get up, her legs stuck to the ground. The horrific scene of the old woman's death was all she could focus on, and she felt a lurching from deep in her throat, the bile threatening to rise up.

Without warning, Yuuichirou was by her side and trying to pull her up on her feet, tears streaming down his own eyes. "You have to get up, Akane...! We need to get away from here—"

"I can't...! I can't—Yuu, I...!" she stuttered helplessly, her head shaking, her face filled with grief. "I saw her die, and I couldn't do—"

Without finishing her sentence, she screamed in terror as the masked man came up from behind Mikaela and grabbed him by his collar, lifting him high up in the air as the boy kicked and screamed, trying to bite at his hand. Licking his lips, he lifted a hand to clench at the blond's chin, amazed by the rarity he found. "Now, you...you are worth more than a transaction in a lousy brothel. I'll wager even Ienari himself would want you in his bed."

Seeing red, Yuuichirou ran towards the thief, his mind blank as he yelled out in rage, throwing useless punches on the man's arm. "Let go of him, you bastard!"

But the thief was much stronger, and Yuuichirou was no match for someone much larger than his small body. He tried to crawl towards his feet, intending to bite him, but the masked man was more careful this time, and his lips formed an arrogant smirk as he kicked the boy hard on the face, sending him sliding across the dirt as a piece of rock slashed his forehead. Yuu cried out in pain, blood dripping down the side of his face as he huffed out loud, yelling at the other children to stand back, moving towards the man once more.

Another one of the masked men came running towards them, barking at his comrade to hurry up with the children as he led a horse by its bridle. "Hurry up, Tatsumori! Matsura's soldiers are here, we need to grab what we can and go, now!"

And as expected, a cavalry of thirty or more soldiers wearing armor and carrying the daimyo's seal and military banners could be seen in the distance, making its way towards the desecrated village.

Snarling out loud in frustration, the man who held Mikaela quickly mounted the horse, carrying the boy at his hip with his partner following him afterwards.

Still seeing stars in his immediate vision, Yuuichirou was struggling not to sway back and forth, a wave of dizziness threatening to overcome his consciousness. His view of what was in front of him was starting to get blurry, and he held out his hand, trying to reach for his friend.

"Stop...! You're not...taking him—anywhere...!" His voice was slurred and he could barely see where he was going, but the horse was just about ready to gallop away, taking the blond with it. With his last ounce of strength, he pushed forward and gave a loud cry of desperation and willpower, quickly running and making a grab for the horse's bridle. The creature neighed in fright at the sudden appearance of a stranger's hand, kicking up clouds of dust.

"Yuu-chan...!" Mika called out to him, trying to reach over the thief, his gaze wild with consternation. His kidnapper was taking none of it however, and holding him tightly to his side, he growled at the blond to keep his mouth shut, drawing his sword.

"Out of the way, you brat!" he grumbled, his patience running thin. With the back of the katana's hilt, he brought the pommel down hard on Yuuichirou's forehead, effectively knocking him out.

At the force of the hit, Yuu's fingers slowly let the bridle slip away from him, unable to see anything for a split second.

M...Mika...

He collapsed to the ground, his eyes exploding with white static, a racking pain reverberating throughout his skull. As he watched the horse dash away, he saw his friend struggling against the man's grip, looking back over his shoulder as he cried out in panic, his hand reaching towards Yuu.

As the other children tried to run after the horse, their eyes filled with tears and anguish while Akane crawled over to where her adopted brother lay, Yuuichirou could hear the sounds of hooves rumbling against the earth, making its way closer towards them. As his consciousness gave way into darkness, the last thing he saw hovering over him was a red-colored banner with the insignia of a large maple leaf.

He closed his eyes, the blood from his wound mingling with the tears that fell on his cheek.

If you made it this far, thanks so much for reading!

[jessethejoyful]

The Auchenai Tome

(( Reposting this because the old version got messed up. Working on continuing this with @thetomatofaerie because I miss wow RP and Yuulis. Check it out if you’d like! Closed thread ))

Yuulis

The city was dark, all the lanterns glowing with only a few embers. Yuulis was not sneaking; she was perfectly entitled to enter the Aldor’s library after dark. Still, each clack of her hooves made her wince. Perhaps I should consider purchasing a pair of the silencers that woman tried to sell to me a few weeks back.

The slightly snoozing guards at the entrance to the library nodded at her; they were used to the anchorite’s night time wandering habits. She smiled, and withdrew two small parcels from her bag, which she handed to the peacekeepers. As she entered the building, they opened the packages to find several cookies and a small potion, which rejuvenated their bodies and allowed them to finish their nighttime watch without falling asleep.

In the soft light of the lowered braziers, Yuulis flitted among the shelves, dragging her fingers lightly across some of the bindings. She adored the feeling of a bound book, and the smell of new parchment. The priestess stopped at the end of one section of shelves, a small frown upon her smooth, clear face. Her nimble fingers reached out and plucked a book from the shelf. She looked at the book, and the thought that it might be aware flitted through her mind. When she focused, the tome seemed to have a slight glow to it, similar to the light she could detect around many people. How can a book have such an aura? For some inexplicable reason, she felt nervous as she cracked it open.

She really was not sure what she was expecting to be inside. The words were in a language she could not understand, and she could speak and read Eredun, but the symbols and letters seemed to come off the page, dancing before her eyes. Light sparked off the sheets, disappearing into the shadows around her. Her eyes were wide and full of awe as she flipped through a few pages. Somewhere in the back of her mind, she could hear a soft, distant singing…

With a gasp, she opened her eyes. She had been unaware that she’d even closed them. With a quick survey of her surroundings, she realized she was still in the library, but settled in a plush armchair in one corner of the main room. Yuulis looked down at her hands, and realized instead of the strange book, she held a handwritten note with a pendant attached to it. The note was very short, written in smooth, scrawling letters.

There are many things in this world that are likely best left alone. A gift for you, for your trouble and your concern.

Frowning again, Yuulis looked down at the mentioned ‘gift,’ which she assumed was the pendant that had been carefully attached to the parchment. Upon close observation, she noted that the pendant was a very intricate design, made of similar metals to match her prosthetic, and glowing with a soft light she could only see when she concentrated, just as the book had. To say she was baffled by the situation was a bit of an understatement.

She stood and ran her fingers through her long silver hair and glanced out the nearest window. With a start, she realized the light outside signaled the early morning. Moving quickly, she untied the string around her neck which already held several different pendants, and added the new one to the bunch. Then, she collected herself and hurried out of the building, her mind buzzing with so many questions she might never find an answer to.

Surala

From the shadows cast by the dawning light, Surala watched as the Anchorite hurried from the library, no doubt wondering a thousand questions upon the origins of the gift. There would be hell to pay later… but the innocent curiosity of an unsuspecting Anchorite could wait. What truly mattered was the book.

With a relieved sigh, she murmured a protection spell and slipped it into her satchel. Drawing her cloak across her thin shoulders, she briskly walked past the prying eyes of the guards and into the Lower City.

The pale sun of the Outlands began to rise across the broken horizon, casting Shattrath in a dreary light. Once, the city shone in the sunrise, with thousands of crystals catching the rays of the morning… and now, all that remained were the broken remains of the crown jewel of Draenei civilization, corrupted by the presence of the sin’dorei. She quickly brushed past several Scryers, returning their haughty gazes with a cold smile.

Surala reached the World’s End Inn with a relieved sigh, thankful to avoid other anchorites in her haste. Nodding tightly at the innkeeper, whose name she could never remember, she sat in the darkened corner of the tavern and began to inspect the book.

It held a curious aura and to an unsuspecting reader, it would appear the book glowed with the Holy Light, but under the gaze of an Auchenai, the book practically pulsated with the burning corruption of Shadow. Powerful spells written in Eredun decorated the delicate pages, written for rituals in binding souls to vigilant constructs, for calling upon the Dead to serve their needs…

The curling tendrils of dark magic whispered to her, beckoning her with promises of power. Centuries of hardening her heart against such temptations made it easier for her to resist, yet it troubled her that such a dark artifact was found in the library of the Aldor. If some unsuspecting youngling happened upon it… or perhaps a curious Anchorite simply browsing the shelves…

She shut the book abruptly, standing up and nearly knocking the table over. The book was clearly Auchenai in origin and yet the Aldor somehow possessed it, though it was believed all artifacts of the Auchenai had burned. Perhaps there were more spell books to be found among the ruins, more artifacts left in the rubble than she hardly dared to imagine.

She needed to return to Auchindoun. That much was certain. With a determined nod, she rushed out of the tavern to prepare for the oncoming journey.

~

She stood before the Exarch Council. The High Vindicator was an enormous man in shining plate armor that almost hurt to look at in the afternoon light, and he carried a crystalline mace bigger than herself. It held a wicked glint like broken glass and she wondered how many unfortunate souls found themselves on the receiving end of it. Swallowing hard, she forced herself to maintain eye contact, despite feeling the curious gazes of the other Draenei upon her.

There was the grand arcanist Tunk’halor, who gave her a smile that chilled her to the bone for reasons she could not fathom, and the sorceress Astaylia, who bowed low before her and gave her a kindly smile. Beside her was a small child who seemed to inherit her mother’s serene features, shyly waving and hiding behind the mage’s long skirts.

“…and this is Grand Anchorite Yuulis,” said the High Vindicator, gesturing to the female draenei beside him, who bowed her head in greeting. The anchorite was exceptionally beautiful, with silvery hair and golden eyes that shone bright with intelligence, but there was something familiar about her that Surala couldn’t quite place.

“An honor to meet you, sister. I welcome you into our order,” said Yuulis, smiling at her, yet Surala simply stared for several moments. She had met this woman before, she was absolutely positive, but not from Auchindoun nor Telredor.

But that silver hair… could it be… the anchorite from the library?

It was her, the unfortunate who nearly fell into the clutches of the shadow book still safely kept in her satchel. Realizing she was beginning to gape stupidly at the priestess, she quickly bowed low before her and gave an unsure smile of her own, still nervous at what precisely she was getting into.

“I look forward to working with you, Grand Anchorite. The honor is mine.”

Yuulis

With some heaviness in her chest, the small priestess stepped through the portal that would take her to the Shattrath she knew, not the alternate one that was still so pristine. Pristine, but so wrong in her eyes. Yuulis felt some guilt, the weight on her chest, because it had been so long since she had returned to the place she once called home. Months, honestly; the last time she was there, she had experienced a great confusion that she could not puzzle out.

Absently, her slender hand reached up and touched the detailed pendant she wore around her neck as a reminder. A reminder that there were still many things in this boundless world that she did not understand, and perhaps never would. Still, this priestess was not the type of person to leave such mysteries alone.

She felt a tug on her dress, and looked down at the small draenei beside her. Yuulis’ adopted daughter, Melena, stared up at her with wide eyes. “Can I go now, mum? They’ll be waiting for me!” The girl had spent most of her childhood in the orphanage of Shattrath’s Lower City, and upon deciding to make a trip there, Yuulis encouraged Melena to inform her friends who remained that they would visit. Touching the girl’s hair lightly, Yuulis nodded and smiled.

“Go on, sweetheart. You know the way. I’ll come and find you in a bit, okay?” Barely pausing to nod, the girl raced off, tiny hooves clicking on the stones. With furrowed brows, Yuulis turned her head toward Aldor Rise, silhouetted in the late afternoon light.

Thinking about the book always set Yuu’s nerves on edge. On her way up the elevator, her mind strayed to it, and the way the book had reacted to her energies. Something about it had seemed so off, a small discrepancy that still baffled her, as she could not put her finger on it.

Yuulis gave a small wave to the bored looking peacekeepers stationed outside the Aldor’s library, a different pair than the last time she visited. They smiled and dipped their heads in respect for her rank, but offered nothing else in the way of a greeting.

The soft natural light of day still filtered in through the library’s many windows, and this small difference from her last visit soothed her. This was a place in which she had always felt comfortable; to come in here and feel upset would have been far more stressful to her. The anchorite walked through the rows of books, a small frown on her face and her hands by her sides. Slowly, the smell of books and the even light of the cluttered rooms calmed her.

As she began down one row, Yuulis saw another draenei leaning close to a shelf, peering. A woman, from the cascade of curls hiding her face and the smooth curves of her body. Yuulis waited, watching to see if this other woman would move and reveal her face, but she remained where she was. Finally, impatient as she tended to be, Yuulis approached quietly, her hoofsteps light, and gently touched the other draenei’s shoulder. “Archenon poros, sister.”

Surala

She had spent weeks in the library, tearing through the shelves in a vain effort to find more tomes of the Auchenai. A few scattered prayer books were left behind, in between varying random collections, but nothing of particular value had been discovered… yet.

The library was massive, a shining jewel in the ruined city, and it was miraculous the orcs hadn’t burned the archives in their bloodlust. It was, perhaps, one of the few buildings to survive the siege, though scorch marks of felfire could still be seen on the stone walls… a reminder of the tragedies the solemn walls had witnessed. For this, she was grateful– however comforting the library was, it was a reminder of vigilance. Of the need for awareness of her surroundings and that the relative safety the gentle light of the sanctuary provided was merely an illusion.

She held the book tightly to her chest, almost afraid someone would snatch it from her grasp, as she browsed the seemingly endless shelves filled with dusty tomes.

“Archenon poros, sister.”

She whirled around, startled out of her thoughts, only to face the Grand Anchorite herself. Gaping stupidly for a moment and hastily hiding the book beneath the billowing silks of her cape, Surala awkwardly cleared her throat.

“Greetings, High Priestess,” she said, her voice assuming a forced formality as she bowed low before the other, secretly hoping her eyes didn’t betray her guiltiness and need for secrecy. “Is there something I can aid you with?”

Yuulis

Blinking, Yuulis takes a step back and peers at Surala, recognizing the girl from the order. “Oh! Soulbinder.” She seems somewhat taken aback by the greeting, noting the speed with which the other woman hid the book behind her. “Ehm… you can’t aid me, no, I’m just looking around…”

She raises her eyebrows at the Auchenai, nodding toward her back. “Something you have there? You seem a bit harried.” She chuckles; Yuulis is many things, and observant is definitely one of those. Her tone remained flippant and light, trying to not stress Surala out.

Surala

Surala bit her lip, briefly considering whether or not to share her discovery with the Grand Anchorite. After all, they remained the highest-ranking priestesses within the Nor Kure and were under orders from the High Vindicator to collaborate on religious matters and no doubt she would find the book of shadows simply fascinating to explore, if puzzling in its appearance… Slowly drawing the book out from her satchel, Surala pulled her hood down to face Yuulis. “I found this in the library of the Aldor,” she said, trying not to rush her explanation all at once and hoping she didn’t recognize it or inquire on how precisely she obtained it. “It contains Auchenai lore, soulbinding constructs and necromatic rituals and other spells of shadow magic… though I was told that nothing remained of Auchindoun after its destruction.”