So there were two children Despair had hidden from Ixion!
Just what did Ixion know about one of his closest companions in life?
'Now, now… how many more layers of this onion were there to cut through?'
Ixion could feel as Dia's face contorted into a mix of disdain, remorse, and rage.
Therefore, this sister was seemingly a sore topic for her.
Before Dia could even spit out her rebuttal, Despair was gone, replaced by the thrall.
"What a pitiful excuse for a father you are…"
Dia's body went limp, letting the chains contain her in an almost praying motion.
'Now, Dia, what's this I hear about a sister?'
The tortured beauty didn't even move. Her head tilted down, her eyes closed. Her body had shut down.
'I see… In that case, I'll be off. And, sadly, my visits may be sparse or nonexistent. Can't let Despair know, after all. But, trust, I will co back to free you — or at least try.'
With that, Ixion left Dia's body.
***
It took a couple of hours, maybe more. Ixion wasn't really keeping track of ti. But, eventually, he'd been lucky enough to catch the correct ride out of Despair's Realm.
With his soul freed, he montarily sent it south to check on the convoy, which had indeed begun their march.
But, as he was floating back inside the walls, he noticed sothing peculiar.
The two sentries lay next to each other at the base of the wall. Both soulless. Their lifeless hands crossed over one another. One shelled in steel. One bare.
Ixion watched as the sentry ant to take Gerald's place looked over the wall and spotted the two corpses below.
As alarming as the sight was…
The one who'd spotted the two rely clasped his hands together and prayed from where he was. This sight? It was anything but rare. It was common, all too common. In fact, to do that very stunt was the reason many sentries took this line of work, leading to quite the rigorous screening process to get the position.
And to what god or goddess did the man pray? Who knew.
Ixion sure didn't.
However, it seed the realization dawned on the man mid-prayer as he noticed that Gerald's armor was entirely missing. Sure, he'd taken it off, perhaps to ensure his death, but where had it gone?
It was then, and only then, that alarm crossed his face and he sounded a warning.
'I wonder how that will develop?!'
Where would the investigation lead?
In an ironic twist… Ixion, Veritas, may one day be found to be the culprit!
Though, that was if there was an investigation at all.
A rank-and-file soldier?
Why did their life matter more than the hundreds starving daily?
Or the current thousands poisoned and knocking on death's door?
This incident was minor in the grand sche of Catatran, the kingdom of ideals.
Ixion left the scene behind to develop on its own.
Before he returned to the palace, Ixion found himself in the Oathsworn headquarters where Yehran, who'd assud all responsibility, sat on a bucket talking to Porter.
Eavesdropping for a little, Ixion learned a few things of what was going on — besides what he already knew.
Mainly that the Oathsworn intended to make themselves known soon.
Not as a rebellious force, but rely a group of individuals looking to unite the slums and make living overall better.
'Like that's anything other than a rebellion under the current order.'
Having confird their directive, he finally made his way back into the palace and toward his body.
'Man, this headache is going to be a killer!'
He'd used [Noble] a fair amount.
But, as much as he'd like to complain about the impending headache…
The mont his soul breached the chamber door, he found his bedroom in quite the disarray. Papers were strewn about, the canopy lay half undone, a few paintings were marred or even fallen. The only thing untouched by calamity was Ixion's reinforced desk.
The cause?
Two rowdy individuals who continuously jumped around… 'fighting?'
That wasn't really an apt term for what he was witnessing.
The jester was laughing and taunting Zabaniyah as Zabaniyah dipped in and out of shadows, trying to kill the wily jester.
Before the two could destroy his room any further, Ixion slid into his body.
"Ow… my head."
With a groan, he picked himself up and slid out of bed.
"Would you mind explaining what's going on?"
The jester looked over and waved frantically.
"Ixion, Ixion! This she-devil attacked !"
Zabaniyah growled, an onyx blade of shadow cradled in her hand.
"She tried to slip into bed with you."
"Well, well! Yes I did! But that was only because he promised ! A promise of sex!"
Zabaniyah glanced over her shoulder at the king, a slightly annoyed look on her face.
"I don't care what he promised, you are only to co close to him if he allows it."
Ixion grumbled as he clawed at the sheets and pulled himself to his feet.
"Ah, Zabaniyah, you can let it go." Walking toward the two, he added, "Trying to stop her is a fruitless trifle. Besides, she won't kill ."
"Kill you?!" The jester began to cry. "Oh, why, oh my… what have I done for you to even consider that?!"
Zabaniyah placidly glanced at Ixion.
"So, let her do as she pleases?" Then her glance returned to the jester.
Zabaniyah didn't say anything more, but she held her blade still, pointed at the busty woman.
With not a word extra, Zabaniyah let herself dissolve into a shadow, lding with the floor and disappearing completely into the background.
After she vanished, the jester ran to Ixion and jumped into his arms. A new tear spawning from her eyes with each step.
"Thank you, thank you! She's so scary. I thought she was going to kill !"
'As if she could kill you…'
Not even Ixion knew the jester's exact prowess, but it seed above Zabaniyah. Maybe even his own.
'Seriously, where did such a woman co from?'
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