Thursday, 26th February, 9:18am
(Gamer's Pov)
Jackal emptied out a small bag of gemstones onto a table.
Currently, we were standing in Hell's Palace or more of its ballroom along with Angel standing a little behind me and Death out on the ballroom's balcony. It's only nine weeks into the year, and already Death seems to look as if it had been a long horrible year... it doesn't help but make me worry a little about him.
I looked down at the stones Jackal had laid out on the small table he had earlier dragged out into the middle of the room. "They're... stones?" "Look closer" Jackal told me. I couldn't exactly see what Jackal wanted me to, but... I could feel it. Each stone, the power and magic buried deep within each one, the different scents and auras I felt radiating off each of them "...they're souls" I stated "Good- these are soul stones" Jackal told me as Angel folded her arms... clearly she already knows this. Aristomache wants me to be taught all I can about Hell and all the celestial stuff the angels back in Heaven couldn't be bothered to teach me. "So... this is what a soul stone looks like?" I hesitantly asked "Yes, well this one at least... soul stones are known to reflect an image of their owner" Jackal pointed out "These are never made, only created when someone is born or when a person arrives in either celestial realm, sometimes people can summon their soul stone" Jackal continued. Angel quietly signed in boredom as Jackal continued to talk "Their purpose though is to help the owner control and strengthen their powers whilst also becoming the owner's weakness-" "The price to pay for having a soul stone is having your soul become the stone" Angel interrupted as Jackal gave her an annoyed look. "I getting to that-" "You were also taking your sweet ass time and some of us just want to get to the point" Angel interrupted Jackal again as the reaper prince rolled his eyes, now ignoring Angel "If another person gets hold of someone's soul stone or destroy it, it would bring agonizing pain or possibly death to the stone's owner... therefore, the stone is usually kept on the owner's person at all times" Jackal explained.
The prince looked to Angel "For example, the big red stone of Angel's necklace is a soul stone" Jackal stated as both Angel and me looked at her necklace with wide eyes "Wait- seriously?!" "Yep, that's why you are here on your day off" Jackal told her "But also to demonstrate something for Gamer". I turned back to Jackal and the soul stones "These stones are the ones Death collected in the recent Cleansing Day weeks ago..." Jackal stated before holding his hand over one of the stones. His hand dimly glowed purple as dark orb of soft light slowly floated out of the stone. "Kuirthoda, or more commonly known as 'soul taking' but it's the same thing" Jackal said as he lowered his hand, the orb of light floating back down into the stone "This is something commonly known and done throughout Hell, and sometimes for festivals and events... it can be rather beautiful" Jackal motioned me to move away before gesturing to Angel. She took a step back and... did this dance, so graceful like the dances a couple of the priestesses of the Light Temple in Heaven had done. Her hands and eyes glowed this beautiful enchanting purple. At the same time, dim orbs of light gently rose out of the gemstones laid on the table before quickly yet gracefully floated over and around Angel, meeting her moves as she danced. I swear I must've been gawking at her or something because out of the corner of my eye I could see Jackal trying to hide a laugh yet further out of my view, I could see Death still out on the balcony, still in whatever mood he was in but... for a split second, it looked like he was glaring at Angel out of the corner of his eye. Now he was looking straight ahead, back turned to us and ignoring the small dance taking place. But just looking at him now, I could almost feel his anger radiating off of him.
Angel lowered her hand, the purple glow fading as the dim orbs of light returned to the gemstones. "That looked so cool!" I blurted out as Angel folded her arms, looking away from me yet keeping her cold face. "What was that?" I asked "It's an ancient soul dance the reapriestesses do... and upon Angel's wakening last year, both me and Aristomache made effort for Angel to be taught all we could about reaper heritage" Jackal told me, placing a hand on my shoulder "Maybe one day, you'll see them perform during many future festivals" Jackal smiled. I smiled a bit before looking down at the stones "Death told me that he talked you through how to collect souls during Cleansing Day" Jackal stated ..."To collect souls of the dead, you have to focus on the person you're taking it from and imagine the soul floating into your hand" Death explained "It'll then turn to a tiny stone, then you put it in the bag... the memory replayed in my head. "Yeah, he did but I still haven't done it before" I told the prince as he separated one stone from the others "It's fairly easy, just focus on the soul" Jackal said as he took a step back as if to give me room. I hesitantly held my hand out over the stone, hand dimly glowing green- ...Death summoned his sword before hacking off my arm... right before freezing... I immediately backed away from the stone "Gamer?" Angel's voice rung throughout my ears, completely muffled. ..."You..." he growled through clenched teeth, eyes glowing dark red as he switched out his sword for a knife before stabbing me multiple time in the chest to the point I felt as though I couldn't breathe... I held my chest ..."IT WAS FUCKING YOU!" he spat before stabbing me in the eyes as I screamed in pain... I stumbled and fell onto the ground, a couple tears rolling down my face as Death rushed over to my side. "Gamer-" I flinched a bit as he went to touch my shoulder. Death raised a brow in worried confusion before Angel pushed him away, holding my shoulders "Gamer, you alright?" she asked, slight worry buried within her voice as I continued to stare straight ahead at the stone.
That guy's last few minutes of his life. Jackal did say those stones were a couple Death collected but... he killed that guy with horrid anger yet he tortured him first. Death had told me himself that he was a torture demon, but to actually slimly catch a glimpse of it like this... it scares me, to the point that I feel like I should be second-guessing our friendship but also in the back of my mind, something's telling me not to. Doesn't make me a little less scared of Death though.
Angel caressed the side of my face, turning my head towards her so I was looking at her and her alone. "You alright?" Angel repeated her question, I nodded my head a bit before she stood up, grabbed my hand and pulled me up to my feet "Right" Angel turned her head to Jackal "Maybe it's best if he learns more about Kuirthoda before attempting it" Angel suggested to the prince. "Of course- not everyone gets it first try" Jackal smiled yet I could easily tell it was a lie. Angel turned back to me "I know a few books in the castle library on the subject, I'll give them to you later" she stated as Death straightened himself up, still somewhat continuing to glare at Angel. "Right, I'll escort Gamer outside for today's training and Angel, Aristomache wants to speak with you" Jackal stated, right before Angel somewhat rushed out of the ballroom "Wait-" "Death, go see if Jadarius needs you" Jackal said, turning to Death "But I'm stationed here today-" "Go" Jackal somewhat snapped. Death glared at the prince before forcing himself to walk out of the ballroom as Jackal turned back to me "Let's go to the courtyard" he suggested, motioning me to follow him out of the ballroom which I hesitantly did.
(No One's Pov)
A white-hooded woman walked into an old building, closing the door behind herself right before she was met with a spearhead to the throat "It's me" was all she said before a bright orb of light appeared in front of her face, lightening up the room to reveal eight other women, all in white... all angels. "You're back" one stated, lowering her spear "Yes, I am... and no, on one was willing to give any more directions nor information about the fallen angel in this region" the hooded woman told her fellow sisters, walking by them into the old building's dining room "The sinners of this town act as though it would be a horrid mistake to tell his location" the hooded woman continued. "What do you mean?" a sister asked, following the hooded woman into the dining room whilst the other sisters hung by the door. The hooded woman turned to the sisters "They're all scared" she stated as the sister holding the spear raised a brow "Of the fallen?" she questioned "No... someone else" the hooded sister corrected, drawing out her sword. It's blade made of demonglass with the engraving 'Stainthrope'.
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