Entha

Chapter 7: The 5th Child of Areath

With its shattered sword, the Angel stood alone, immovable, in a pitch black room with a hole in the roof, like a machine, a broken machine that had lost its purpose.

[Reporting, Morpheus unit 567 to Morpheus, Lamb had escaped, analysis of location based on the magic formation, Helliun] said the unmoving Angel with its mechanical apathetic voice,

[Order, Morpheus to Unit 567, Report confirmed, consume and dispose of any witnesses, then return to Ship] responded another, whose voice only the immovable angel could hear.

The unmoving angel began to move, turning its head around and performing a 360-degree rotation before leaping off the roof and soaring into the night sky with its white mechanical wings.

[Compliance, Morpheus unit 567 to Morpheus, Order confirmed, no presence of witnesses, returning to ship]

-

‘My eyes, The Purple eyes of Veracity, can discern truth from lies… Truly wonderful Calix, truly you are a bit knowledgeable about swords, but to what extent, now that, makes me curious… Ohhh humbling one self aren’t you, but I don’t need such pleasantries, do show me the extent of your knowledge… A cutlass would suit you I think, oh! Aporeas would be ideal… there, there, I like those eyes, but why hold the cutlass like that Calix? Is that perhaps a new form the human invented, humans truly are innovative, well then Calix show me, do enlighten me of your limits!… MARVELOUS, AHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHWELL DONE, CALIX, TO HAVE AVOIDED MY STRIKE MEANS YOUR EYES, THOSE BEAUTIFUL SHADE OF GREEN, ARE TRULY THE EYES OF THE ALL SEEING, PLEGIA’

‘I guess there’s no turning back now, Duke Areath seems to have made up his mind, why would you even say that, its not as if you’ve got any pride to take back anyway, grow up immature bastard... now what do we do about this sword, I hate to admit it but it looks cool, what does its engravings even mean, Aporeas? And, how the hell am I able to read this unfamiliar letters, it appears to be printed by printer but looking at this medieval era period like castle of this duke then does this mean that it was done by hand, if so that’s admirable… Holy s**t! is that the sword the duke would be using, How the heck is that a cutlass? that’s definitely a long sword right, hell, I’d call that a super long sword…wait how do I hold th-…start!? Eeek, Oi wait wait a sec,… eh? Is that a mirage or what? I could see it, I could see the duke’s swords trajectory…shit I’m too slow, it’ll graze’

Calix avoided the dukes first strike, however not entirely, his shoulder had been grazed by the dukes massive sword, revealing the plump flesh. A feat that made the capacious room gave an eerie silent, some were awestruck, some gave a small sigh of relief and some harbored ill intent, but the duke gave a heartily laugh as he ungrip his buried sword on the ground. The duke twisted his hand, held the sword and swung it diagonally.

Along with a faint glint from his greenish pupil Calix responded with a block, he held the base of the sword with one hand and the back of the sword’s blade with another, a millisecond passed and both swords clashed, the sheer power of the Dukes strike that was in fact slowed down by gravity as he swung it upward, sent Calix flying towards one edge of the rooms wall. Calix assumed that his back would be splattered at the cold concrete wall but instead he was caught by Gale,

“Well done Sir Calix” the butler muttered,

Along with the Butlers words, the silent room applauded, praising the determination and the lousy skills Calix had shown earlier in his battle with the Duke,

“I told you! He has the real one” shouted Esteroth, intent on boasting she held out her chest.

“HAHA Now that confirms it, formerly human or not you do have the Eyes of Plegia, as to how you possess it, unfortunately I do not have the answer” said Areath, as he casually sheathed the cutlass and patted his wrinkled vibrant long coat embellished with ornaments.

Amazed at the battle that unfolded, Heather, the demon standing by the dukes side with a medium build that of an Olympic runner, his golden hair and yellow eyes complimented his pale thin face which would surely charm the majority of women on earth, he clapped and made an announcement,

“Calix, that was marvelous would you perhaps be interested in being my subordinate”

“Huh older brother Heather!? Isn’t it obvious that he’d be my subordinate” instantly replied Esteroth, she’s not willing to hand over Calix whom she thought she had made a contract, forgetting the fact that Calix hadn’t desired anything, plus this brother of his was someone he doesn’t get along with.

“Isn’t he much suited in combat, given that I am a warrior of our kingdom, I think it makes better sense that he should be my subordinate, compared to you, my little sister you’re a contract holder with no means of battling whatsoever, do you intend to waste such talent?” said Heather, berating the immature wish of her younger sister.

“No, but” Esteroth fell silent, she didn’t have the words to rebuke his brother, she specialized in forming contracts which she devoted her entire life with, she neglected even the basics of sword fighting, reasoning that she doesn’t need such skills in her summons, remembering those old days she gritted her teeth and regretted not studying such skill, she had realized this earlier when they were attacked by an angel but was reminded yet again.

‘That’s right, it is a perfectly sound decision for Calix to be a subordinate of Heather who in fact had great skills in swords, but why, why am I against it?’ contemplated Esteroth.

Calix watched Heather and Esteroth argue, but he didn't understand what they meant when they speak of him being their subordinates; he knew what a subordinate meant in human terms, but he didn't know what it meant in demon terms, so he turned to Gale next to him and whispered,

“Mr. Gale what would it mean if I became a subordinate of either those two?”

“There are three fates lying in wait for a human who made a contract with a demon, a servant, a subordinate and what the demons call “Asun”. Serving the demon as its servant is the common payment for the service you have received, first your mana or life force would be squeezed out empty and would be shattered, rendering you unable to use mana ever again, then you’d be converted to a demon and work for the demon obeying his/her every order, however once you have done the time needed for compensating the service granted to you, then you’d be free to roam Helliun. Same thing with being the demon’s subordinate, the difference are that when you’re a servant, you’d be robbed of your own will and would be worked so hard you’d want to die whereas being a subordinate, allows you the freedom to use mana, the demon contracted to you would train you and would raise your skills depending on his specialty. Well that only applies to humans with no demonic eyes like me, thus I don’t have any idea what the duke had planned out for you” whispered Gale

Listening to Gale explanation, Calix felt dizzy at the complicated meaning of servant subordinate relationship, contracts, and mana, he listened carefully to Gale meticulous explanation but to no avail he cant keep up, but he did understood that serving as a servant is no good,

“Compensate for a service? Contract? Mana? What is Asun?” Calix asked,

“to compen-“

Gale, who was about to explain about the compensation, contracts, mana and the meaning of Asun was interrupted by the Duke’s roar who had returned to his seat, even the arguing Heather and Esteroth fell silent.

“Come Calix”

Calix followed Gale's lead to the elevated platform at the far end of the room, where he stood below the platform and kneeled. He wasn't sure if kneeling was appropriate, but he wanted to avoid the Duke's intimidating stare.

The Duke announced, with dignity and pride in his voice,

“Mark this day as one of the De Val Duchies day of celebratory, for this day shall be the day, that my 5th child had been born, and his name shall be...Calix De Val”