The return walk home was filled with an eerie air of silence. Imuru hadn't looked Slite's way since the brief conversation. Feeling down, knowing he brought up a tough situation.
Imuru felt some relief near the, once he caught a glance of home. "Right, there!" He exclaimed, pointing ahead.
He hurriedly along, breaking into the clearing first. "H—"
"Imuru!" Le-va-none rushed off the step of the porch, to greet Imuru, arms spread open. He gave a quick hug, and looked up to see Imuru's companions.
"Well… what do we have here?" He thought, a hand rested on his hip, as he levitated in the air.
The first one he approached was Ori. "Hello. I'm Le-va-none," He introduced himself, levitating just high enough to look down on her.
"Hm. Down," Ori said. Le-va-none lowered himself down to her level, his hand holding the other behind him. "Good. I am Ori."
"Oh. That's a gorgeous name," Le-va-none gave a subtle compliment.
"Pff. Yes, of course. As well as everything about me," Ori replied, a smug demeanor on full display.
Imuru was a bit taken aback, though glad the two seem to hit it off, but for some reason not surprised. "...Oh, wait. Forcent!" He thought, slightly panicked, noticing the Ennom is nowhere in sight. "Where did he go?"
"Okay…" He took a deep breath, holding his head high. "Well… For starters, he was warned by Him, secondly I haven't heard much… Forcent's not exactly the quiet type if he's up to anything big, at least I hope so," He thought, gazing off into the sky.
Standing at the doorway to Imuru's house, like a guard, Forcent eyed the new faces. Arken left his post, and approached Imuru. "Who are these people?" Arken asked.
"Oh, yes. That young lady is Ori and her grandfather Slite," Imuru introduced, pointing them out.
Arken glanced over at the old man, then at his granddaughter, chatting it up, with Le-va-none. The Dark Devider shook his head and straightened himself. "More enemies," He muttered under his breath.
Slite took the initiative and greeted Arken. The Dark Devider, narrowed his eyes and sticked his head high. "I am Arken, the most fearsome Dark Devider… Second to none," Arken proudly proclaimed.
"Yes, of course you are," Imuru thought sarcastically. Yosho could've helped it, but chose to give a little smirk towards Arken, self proclamation.
Imuru sighed. "Well, Slite, how about a tour to the village?" Imuru offered.
Slite gave a simple nod to this offer. He excused himself for a brief moment to speak with his granddaughter right after. "Ori, I've been invited to take a tour of this Young Lord's home, care to join me?"
Ori paused, gave Imuru a quick glance, and shook her head. "No thank you, waste of time," She remarked with nonchalance.
"Hmm. I see," Slite murmured, a second after a sigh.. "I'll be gone for some time, behave." With that said he returned over to Imuru, and gestured for him to lead the way.
On their little trip to the village, Imuru almost forgot to enlighten Slite on Forcent. So he turned to him with an enthusiastic spin. "I almost forgot to mention… I also have another companion, he's an Ennom called Forcent. He's pretty incredible actually…"
"An Ennom?" Slite said his interest piqued. "I haven't seen a Great Wolf in my time. I've heard they're the most fearsome of their kind. Truly fascinating creatures at the core." He chuckled lightly. "I look forward to meeting this companion of yours."
Imuru brightened up hearing this, a wide smile on his face. "Oh! you're gonna love him."
A few more seconds passed, and the village crept into sight. "We're all new here, but it's all functional," Imuru said contentedly.
They reached their destination, and Imuru began to show Slite around. The Dark Deviders that took notice of Imuru, greeted him with utmost formality and respect.
"Take a look around at your own pace, no rush," Imuru assured Slite.
The two leisurely strolled around, at Slite's pace as Imuru wanted. Imuru halted at a structure that seemed new, he watched as a Dark Devider placed a sign at the door, that read out 'Tavern'
"Oh." Some mumble caught his attention above the tavern and he looked up to a duo of Deviders, seemingly chatting about the roof. One glimpsed Imuru and swiftly made the other aware.
"Morning! Great Demon Lord," The Duo said in unison.
"Morning! Morning!" Imuru replied back quickly. "Oh, please don't let me disturb you, carry on."
The duo nod, and as said by Imuru they carried on with their duty.
Slite observed Imuru's interactions closely. His behavior, he found somewhat strange, far from what he expected. "Seems this Young Lord may be exactly as presented," Slite thought.
"Young Lord, if I may. How did you come about these Dark Deviders? I've heard they are not known to form alliances, nor follow anyone but their own kind," Slite expressed in an articulate voice.
"That…" Imuru smiled contentedly. "Well, they weren't very hostile; besides one." He cleared his throat. "I sorta saved them from Forcent… Whilst I was working on this, I allowed them to stay here for the time being… Or as long as they please."
He gestured out. "But as you can see, mutual benefit."
Imuru's smile faded, as he went silent. "I know it's none of my business, but you said something earlier about your home, Fernum correct?"
"Ah, yes. It's been only a few days since the attack happened. I am unsure, but my own people turned into something; I believe they were possessed," Slite murmured, his gaze sharpened.
"Possessed? Just a few days ago?" Imuru thought, his shoulders tensing up and cold sweat building. "Slite… I could—" He paused this thought. "Take a moment Imuru."
"I'm an old man, I would've made my last stand there, if my son didn't run into battle leaving me no choice. Ori is a complicated child, I doubt she'd grow up right, without her family," Slite paused, a swift and sudden disappointment grew onto his face.
"It doesn't do much, but my apologies," Imuru murmured sympathetically, unable to imagine what Slite might be going through.
Slite locked eyes with Imuru momentarily, a subtle solemn look in his eyes. "It means more than you could imagine," Slite assured Imuru. "Oh, I meant to ask. You're referred to as the Great Demon Lord."
Imuru straightened himself and cleared his throat. "Yes. That would be me. Just a title, you know, nothing much." Imuru replied, fiddling with his hair. "If it's too much just Imuru is fine," He dismissively expressed.
"Think of owning it with confidence," Slite politely suggested through a light chuckle.
"Ah!!!" Imuru subconsciously took a step back, and looked away. "I need to be more subtle," He thought.
Finished with his part-taking in the tour, Imuru encouraged Slite to continue on. "Oh, yes, of course. You could use it so you can get to know your company better, hm?"
"That would indeed be ideal. I appreciate the suggestion, Young Lord." Slite gave a nod, and carried on his own.
With that said and done, Imuru's attention drifted back to the young lady back at his home, Ori. He had his doubts whether she'd behave or not, but after his talk with Slite, he wanted to know how she's keeping up emotionally.
He moved in a hasty fashion that went unnoticed to him, but subconsciously he knew didn't want to take his eyes off her for too long.
Closing in to his house, he heard the sound of struggle, which prompted him to act, rushing in, a hand on his blade ready to take action. Just as swiftly he halted, and stood there, the perplexing scene of Ori in a tussle against Yosho on full display, something he didn't quite know what to make of.
Imuru quietly walked over Le-va-none, where Arken also stood. "Care to explain?" Imuru inquired, a perplexed look plastered on his face.
"She's venting her frustration… Rightfully so," Le-va-none murmured, his attention glued to the situation on folding in front of him.
"I—It could be dangerous," Imuru swiftly murmured back through a worried stammer. "Does anyone want to stop it? Or should I?"
"No!" Arken sharply replied. "She's grieving, in her own way… Let her," He said calmly in an articulate voice.
"R—Right," Imuru stammered, caught off guard by Arken's words. He scratched the back of his head in slight embarrassment. "...."
The scene went on for minutes on end, until Ori finally gave up, and burst into an uncontrollable sob, falling to her knees. She hid her tears behind her hands, and did her best to compose herself.
Yosho took immediate initiative to kneel down comfort Ori. Gently Yosho embraced her, gave her a light squeeze, and rubbed her back.
"Aw…" Le-va-none turned to Imuru, a look of pity expressed in his eyes. "Just give her some time, hm?" Le-va-none requested. He promptly attended to the no longer sobbing Ori, as she stared off down onto the ground.
Imuru let out a sigh of dejection. "My apologies Ori…" Imuru thought, reflecting on the way he may have seen Ori.
"Think there's anything I can do, that can help?" Imuru inquired, seeking advice from the Dark Devider Arken.
Arken shook his head, knowing Imuru might be feeling very down, but thought of nothing Imuru could offer for the situation at this point in time.
Yosho and Le-va-none gently guided Ori inside for her to take a break. Imuru watched her, having an understanding of what she's going through, he wanted to jump in and assist in any way possible, but he just doesn't know how.
Arken crossed his arms across his chest. "It's quite clear. She desires Power," Arken muttered, a sense of familiarity in his voice.
"Oh?" Imuru looked up at him bemused. "Sorry, I didn't quite catch that?"
"Now listen," Arken requested. "I've seen those who have lost; what they would consider their reason for living. They gained the power they desired in the end, but it always led to them meeting their end, by that said power."
"Were you close to these Deviders?" Imuru inquired, a daunting expression on his face.
"I was quite little back then," Arken began. "We were at one of our outposts, we knew each other well around there. Your kind would consider that close, presumably."
Imuru gave a subtle nod. "Yeah. We would." Imuru closed his eyes, feeling a grave sense of sadness falling down upon him. "Arken—"
"They were weak," Arken said abruptly. "A true Dark Devider, doesn't fall to their own power!" Arken proudly expressed, a broad grin on his face. His demeanor, bursting out with unmatched enthusiasm.
"Ack?!" Imuru stared at him, taken aback by the sudden and dramatic shift in tone and emotion. "Wait~Weren't we having a moment here?"
Arken enthusiasm plummeted in a matter of seconds. Which does even more to confuse Imuru, until he took that split second to pay attention to what Arken pointed out.
Imuru's eyes lit up, for a split second, only for his emotions to abruptly plummet, as he witnessed a bloody Forcent. "F-Forcent?.... What happened?" Imuru murmured, staring baffled at the sight he had his eyes upon.
"Hmm. What a pity," Arken said, expressing a faux sense of remorse. "I was starting to like him, but clearly, pure evil cannot be changed."
He bravely stepped forward with great intentions. A hand gestured for Imuru to step back, as he dramatically took his stance in front of Imuru. "Stand back, I shall deal with him."
Forcent didn't give Arken the light of day of his attention. "I was merely hunting," Forcent said nonchalantly, addressing Imuru. "It's the natural order. Predator eats prey." He turned to Arken. "Is that simple enough for you?" He mockingly intoned.
Arken found his head instinctively rising, as he glared down at Forcent, and gritted his teeth.
He made a subtle movement that Imuru caught wind of, and loudly clasped his hand. "Okay, okay, that's enough!" Imuru loudly Interjected.
This interjection brought a swift close to the drama and tension that was building between the two, much to Imuru's relief. "...Besides, what's really important here…" Imuru cautiously approached Forcent. "Is to get you washed up."
"Tch!" Forcent scoffed at the idea. "I refuse!" He said adamantly. "I don't require some water for me to be clean. My fur requires more maintenance than that."
"Hey! I can't have you walking around like that," Imuru firmly replied. "You still have an image to uphold… Especially with the Dark Devider's, now that you basically live with them," Imuru thought to himself.
"It will be cleaned in due time." Giving his final words, Forcent casually turned and strolled off.
Imuru stood in place, and blankly observed Forcent for a moment. "Forcent," Imuru gently called out.
The Ennom took a nonchalant glance around at Imuru. His eyes landed on Imuru, and his expression morphed into slight disbelief.
Imuru sat on the ground, looking up at Forcent, his feminine face on full display, as he pouted and tears swell up in his eyes. "Could you not do this for me?" He asked, almost pleading.
Forcent growled to himself, and just stood in place. He had not a single thought to process. Without reason he gazed off up at the sky, then strolled off again.
Imuru watched Forcent closely, a contemplative expression, and his curiosity, if his plan worked, was being expressed. Imuru wiped his tears with his sleeve, and sighed.
Forcent came to an abrupt stop. "This once," He mumbled with indifference, before he continued on to the Well.
This was more than audible enough for Imuru to pick up, and he rushed up to Forcent's side. "Excuse me?" He said, trying to confirm what he just heard.
All he got in response was a growl, that he pleasantly took as an answer to his question.
They walked around to the Well behind Imuru's home, and with some light gestures Imuru managed to get him to lay down, so he could deal with the blood splatters on top.
"This is thick…" Imuru thought, as he strolled around Forcent. "Might take a bit, to get it all out," He thought with contempt.
"?..." Imuru paused. Noise had caught his attention, he looked out to see Arken with buckets and brushes within, in hand. He threw the buckets on the ground and crossed his arms across his chest, and gave a subtle, disapproval nod.
Imuru looked at him in disbelief. He excused himself from Arken's path, as he took the initiative, to fletch the water from the Well, though he periodically gave Forcent a glance, between each.
Forcent showed no particular judgment or fuss at the situation he's in. Contempt for the moment, his spirit flame around him weakened.
Arken gave Imuru the brush, and he stepped aside to allow Imuru to do the cleaning. Imuru held the brush with both hands, the accessory being also half his height.
Even though baffled, Imuru carried on. Washed and brushed on his own. Arken being there filled the buckets for him whenever they got empty, and they did this process in utter silence, through the evening into the night.
Once Imuru was finished, Arken took each of the other buckets up, along with the brush and returned them to where he got them.
Forcent stood up, shake-offed himself. His spirit flamed around him, grew in size, and he glowed as he walked off.
"O—Okay…" Imuru muttered, lost for words.