A man stood seemingly alone in a wide, dark room, barely illuminated...However, it would soon become apparent that he was not alone.

All around, eyes were on him.

“Azuma.” A voice bellowed out, a wide balcony circling around the entirety of the dark room from above. “Are the rumors true that you’ve taken in yet another Demon?”

Cloaked figures, their faces unseen, stood all around the wrapping balcony, their gazes fixated on Azuma down below.

“That is correct.” Azuma replied on the dime, not even batting an eyelash.

“Preposterous!” Another voice boomed. “We’ve dealt with your outrageous antics for long enough!” The voice continued, clearly agitated with Azuma’s decision. “It was absurd enough, allowing that first one into the Society...Do you intend to turn this into a den for them?!”

“Calm yourself, Alacard.” A more level headed voice silenced the man. “I trust you have a reasonable explanation for this brash decision of yours, Azuma? Despite his agitation, Alacard’s worries hold merit. Taking in Demons like this is no laughing matter. What are you to do if they turn on us?”

“That won’t happen.” Azuma reassured the man confidently, a grin playing about his face. “As for my explanations...For one, might it mean anything if I were to say this Demon is not Raoulian, but Farronian?”

Astonished murmurs broke out from the men gathered above.

“Farronian?”

“What is a Farronian Demon doing so far into the mainland?”

“Consider the timing...The situation in Farronia is supposedly not going smoothly at all…”

“All the more reason to not concern ourselves with this nonsense!”

“Gentlemen, please.” Azuma chimed in, waiting for their murmurs to die down before continuing. “Would it not be beneficial to jump at the opportunity to observe a Farronian Demon more closely? The more we learn about their kind, the greater our advantage in this battle of ours...After all, they say to defeat your enemy, you must know them first, do they not? Do you not desire the destruction of the Demons that continuously ravage mankind? Is doing so not the creed of the Society? There is a limit to what Humans can achieve alone.” Azuma’s voice trailed off for a moment, his hazel eyes reflecting a pensive light. “...Besides...I feel as though we can expect great things from this one.”

“What makes you so confident of such a ridiculous statement?”

An amused laugh broke free from Azuma’s throat in response.

“...Who knows…? A hunch, perhaps?” He finally replied with another chuckle. “So gentlemen...Do we have an answer? Shall you bet on my little gamble here??” He grinned widely. “To have Demons themselves turn the tides on their own kind in this war...Or to continue to struggle with Human means alone...I leave that decision to you.”

Silence ensued for several moments, a sense of unease hanging within the air as the men glanced between each-other, searching for the right answer.

However, Azuma had no doubt about what that answer would be.

That very answer would be unanimous.

“Very well. We shall leave it in your hands.”

“I’m so very glad to hear that.” Azuma hummed with a bow, turning on his heel, and leaving the room.

And those doors shut with a heavy, definitive slam.

As though solidifying Fate’s current course.