The Ferryman

The passage.

As the vial breaks, the phantoms of the Demon Queens and Demon Lords appear, fair skin, beautiful red eyes, some had horns by their sides, they wear their battle armour as they stand by Demon Queen Riellanzer,she turns to face all of them. Jaghateria picks up Grave’s mask, then looking at him. Grave walks towards him with Cerberus approaching him.

His face, not a scratch on it. Handsome for even the standards of Demons. For a human to have such a face, for those features that one may say to have been blessed by the Gods. The pale blue eyes that would resemble the skies above them. Black hair that is the colour of the midnight sky. It was as if the Gods had decided to make this man’s hair and eyes to resemble the day and night cycles of the sky. Yet his red eyes, if the humans look into them. It would be easily confused for the sun, while his white hair shines brightly like the moon. Jaghateria keeps staring to which Grave looks at him with confusion, as he offers his hand. Wishing for his mask.

Grave scoffs loudly as he attempts to get Jaghateria’s attention, which Jaghateria passes it to him, while Cerberus moves to its master. The Demon Queen Riellanzer sees her deceased brethren, her parents reaching for her. Each of them lining up, connecting their final messages to their heir through forehead contact. One by one, they exchanged their thoughts to their heir in their own language, Grave puts on the mask. Turning his head as he walks to the sides, pulling out a chalk. Drawing a circle pattern, forming various patterns as he writes them with chalk.

Queen Riellanzer holds her family members tight as they give one last hug before departing. They turn to Grave who stands there calmly, nodding to him. Grave pulls out the knife, slashes his palm. Letting the blood ooze out to a few droplets to the floor.

“Diskenth,I offer you my blood. As a humble offering to deliver these souls in your care. They have been waiting for their time. Please, allow them to rest peacefully from their tiresome life.” Grave whispers to which the circle glowed, Queen Riellanzer’s tears fall as she watches how her family fades. A few steps taken to the Ferryman, who looks at her feet.

“I… I hope you will forgive us, I saw what my family did to your people.” Grave keeps quiet as he turns away from them. Cerberus runs to Queen Riellanzer, who licks her face happily as they try to cheer up, with Jaghateria kneeling before her.Slipping away into the darkness.

“Wait!” The Demon Queen runs to where Grave went, only to find him standing by the cliff. Overlooking the town below, the demon village behind him. Jaghateria and Cerberus rush out to chase their master. Sunset being seen. To which the Fire Oni tribes rushed below, seeing the sunset. The Onis screamed happily, rejoicing at the sight of the sun while the orange sky and the blanket of clouds above. The darkness had disappeared, what? How? How did the darkness be removed? Grave takes a seat by the cliff, dangling his feet by the ledge as he keeps his hands to the side. Taking a deep breath, tapping his earpiece while taking out a communicator, it is small and links to the earpiece he has.

“Sheppard. My resignation with the Crusaders. With what has happened in Lands of Bar. It has me questioning the very integrity of our organization. Our hands have been stained by blood Sheppard. My task as a Ferryman. I believe that is the job I will keep doing until I expire. To deliver the souls, to kill when I have to. Sheppard, I will still be working with you, but only to you. I may not answer the Ministers. Though the King and Queen’s roders will have”

“I understand. Grave, I’ll renew my tenure for Grand Paladin. I’ve already made it clear to the Archbishops, Chaplains, High Priests. They are not to refuse to bless your weapons when needed, they also cannot question your actions and are to comply as much as they can with your orders. I’ve disclosed to them of your status as the current Ferryman. The topic of you came up, and I’ve made it clear. That you are a Ferryman who will not be tied to the Estrenza Order anymore. The records of you as a member of the Crusader had already been redacted and I’ve eliminated all traces. Grave, if this is the life that you wish to lead. I will not stop you, but it will be lonely.”

“It will be Sheppard. Delivering the souls from the Lands of Bar. I plan to come home to Estrenza after this. I will call you in a while. To let you know when I will make my way home and to inform you of my plans. A Ferryman is a wanderer after all.” Grave ends the call as he taps on his earpiece, then turning to Queen Riellanzer.