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Fantasy i am the villain











scroll
adelaide st.clair





location





interactions





tags











Adelaide watched as Virgil started walking away, laughing softly at how excited Varik was. At Marinus's words she turned around, eyeing the flask in his hands. Was he drinking already? She glanced up at the sky, the sun still shining brightly down upon them.

"I have not seen them yet, Sir Marinus. Now excuse me, I must go find the second prince."
She gave him a small wave as she turned, heading towards the training dummies she had gotten a clue from Virgil about. As expected, there sat a dummy completely charred, the sand around it turned glassy. She crouched down, fingers gently reaching out to sift the sand through her fingers. It was still hot, the sand gently burning her skin. With the warmth, she could only assume he was still somewhere close by. Her eyes wandered the area, before landing on a tree above the dummies. Adelaide lifted an eyebrow, staring at the young prince who was perched comfortably in the branches. As she stared at him for a few seconds, something about him felt so familiar but she couldn't quite put her finger on it.

"Your majesty."
She called softly, leaning against the base of the tree.
"It's time to train."
It had been a long time since the two had seen each other, and she had heard that he had become much like his brother as he grew, and frankly it kind of worried her. As his brother iced her out, would her also ice her out? The answer was pretty obvious, but she had to try her best given the situation.

"I don't know why we were paired. Maybe because our powers are somewhat similar?"
She hummed,
"But I guess we should try and figure something out? Without my powers, I am quite skilled in archery if that's something that's worth working on."
she had really no idea what they were supposed to do, or really why she had to be his partner. The powers they had were similar in some ways, but while hers was defensive, his was more destruction based. How could they work together? She guessed she could buff him, but she had no idea how she could be of total use too him. Maybe her flash? She hummed thoughtfully as she waited for him too descend from the tree, deep in thought about what the two could work on together.

Though, what she really wanted was to get her hands on a bow. It was pure luck that she had woken in the archers body, and it was really the only skill she truly had confidence in. She missed the feeling of the arrow flying from her fingertips, the thrill and excitement of the sport. Her chest ached as she thought about her previous life and the promise she had as an athlete, and how her family must feel back home. The competition had meant a lot to her father, and she knew she would never be able too compete and make him proud ever again. Sadness softened her gaze, but she quickly brushed away the feeling, turning her gaze back towards the second prince.



♡coded by uxie♡


A Murder Of Corviknight A Murder Of Corviknight
 
Alder Llewyn
the advisor
A final, elegant loop, and the gentle scratching of a fountain pen ceased keeping time to the aged but clear voice speaking on the matters the Crown Prince’s Advisor had ordered him to look into. The report was concisely worded as they always were, given that the duke’s son detested explanations that were verbose and meandering in nature, but it was difficult not to raise a brow at the lack of details relevant to the ballroom incident. Had it been anyone else, Alder would’ve questioned the competence of the steward’s informants. He supposed there was a limit to the efficacy they boasted about when put under such a narrow time crunch. Alder sighed. Locks of sunlight spun into gossamer threads draped messily over the warm, mahogany surface of his desk as he hung his head upon his left hand. Slowly, he pushed forward a small piece of paper and two envelopes sealed with the Llewyn insignia. The first paper contained three names familiar to the steward who nodded in tacit understanding. After all, when there’s transactions, there’s a trail. The blonde just hoped that the odd colluding between certain noble houses and the church was nothing more than their usual antics. At the time of the incident, the priests involved in the rough-handed detainment of Lady Rosegrave had offered Ophelia their prayers of contrition for laying hands upon an innocent soul protected under her gaze. However, the haze of distrust in the eyes of those at the forefront made it clear they sought not forgiveness but merely a false display of penitence to appease the royal family. Alder himself had subtly questioned their loyalty to Parlton in his own way after the funeral rites. Those clever enough to understand the weight of his words exploded into enraged outbursts at his claims as expected, yet a select few had desperately hidden away the brief flash of fear in the depths of their eyes. Was it fear of the unknown extent of the Rosegrave lass’s dominion over demons, or was there more to it? While handing off his letters to the steward, Alder rose from his seat.
“Hand off the letter addressed to Marquess Reneau to the courier, but deliver the letter to Lady Vilina’s current residence personally.”
He couldn’t trust anyone else with such an important matter, though he was already beginning to have second thoughts on the potential engagement. The more he learned about the young lady, the more he felt that his hasty decision that night had been a result of something other than sound reasoning. They were different in more ways than they were similar, yet he couldn’t help but be intrigued. As far as he knew, Lina wasn’t a noble, while Lady Vilina had grown up in a house of aristocrats, disgraced as they were. There really wasn’t much to look into regarding her background aside from the shameless manner in which the Tremaynes continued to accept the invitations the Crown Prince had only sent out of courtesy. However, with each new detail came a new question. Had Lina also had a younger brother? Was it a mere coincidence that the Tremaynes lived close to his uncle’s estate? Had Lina’s affinity for the woodlands and animals been magic all along? Memories lost to the curse of time failed to give him the answers he sought, frustrating him to no end as he wondered if it was simply desperation driving him to fit Lady Vilina into a set of puzzle pieces she didn’t belong within. For several days, he’d deliberated over whether he was better off rescinding his offer before anything permanent. Though the young Tremayne ticked off every box for what he needed in a fake fiancee, it didn’t have to be her. If anything, it would only wear him down if he developed a habit of projecting someone she wasn’t onto the young lady. She wasn’t her. In the end, Alder handed off the letter and dismissed the steward who in turn informed him that the carriage bound for the palace was ready. Like everything else in his life, his heart would cool and his emotions would settle. He was never shaken for long: that was his one specialty. There were also more important matters at hand. Alder had dug his nails into his palm to keep himself from showing his shock when the king had announced that the eight of them—including Alder himself—would make up the last line of defense for the capital. He wasn’t proud of the fact, but he’d secretly shot General Delmar a nasty look, questioning if the general had ratted him out to the king. The blonde knew for a fact that the only person who knew the full extent of his abilities, Prince Virgil, wouldn’t ever bring the matter up to the king unless the circumstances were that dire. Why had the king mentioned the name of someone who’d only ever been seen holding a sword for ceremonial or recreational purposes? All those years of suppressing instinctive uses of his magic, and for what? To end up on the battlefield he’d been so desperately avoiding regardless of his efforts? Already stewing in his bad mood, Alder’s scowl deepened the moment he spotted the last person he wished to see lying in wait at the end of the hall. Rhodri. “I heard the king ordered for you to attend training under General Delmar’s instruction,” the bastard child of Alder’s father scoffed while gazing upon him like a vulture awaiting its time to swoop in and filch its share of spoils. His tone suddenly shifted, taking on a sickly saccharine, pitying tone. “It would be such a shame if an accident occurred in the capital, and I lost my dearest older brother like I have my eldest.” After a dramatic pause, his expression once again turned mocking. “What could a weak-willed pansy like you do, anyway?” Gently pushing his brother away by the shoulder, Alder reigned in his irritation and continued toward the entrance of the estate. However, he didn’t forget to toss back a retort:
“I don’t wish to be rebuked by a child who still hasn’t been weaned off his father’s lap.”
In the end, Rhodri’s taunts were harmless. He was nothing but a wastrel who could only hide behind their father’s influence. However, none of that mattered if he didn’t survive. The day Alder perished was the day that rodent got his filthy paws all over his older brother, Gerant’s, legacy and drove their fief and dukedom to ruin. He couldn’t afford to die. Now the question was, would he be able to weasel his way out of fighting once more, or would it be more beneficial for him to drop the act? By the time the carriage had slowed to a standstill and the blonde made his way to the training grounds, Alder still hadn’t found his answer. Fortunately, finding Lady Salacia was a far easier mission. Though their prior encounters had all been brief, she was a face that was difficult to forget. When he’d first spotted the blonde situated behind her father, he’d initially assumed that the foreign merchant had brought along his protege to study under him. Imagine his surprise when the man answered that the young woman was part of his guard personnel, given her thin and unassuming stature. However, their second encounter would put a swift end to his doubts the moment he spotted the mermaid within the harbor. She was a force of nature, both in terms of personality and her powers while at sea.
“Lady Salacia,”
Alder greeted,
“I hope the day has treated you well. I’d like to express once again: I’m honored to have been entrusted under your tutelage today. Though I have little confidence in my abilities, I do have a keen eye, so I’ll do my utmost to be of aid as well.”
After saying his part, the blonde’s eyes naturally trailed toward the Crown Prince and his entourage. Prior to turning his gaze, he’d planned on speaking with Prince Virgil out of courtesy but quickly changed his mind. Behind General Delmar was a rather quaint collection of animals, likely brought in consideration for testing Lady Vilina’s powers. However, if he were to say whether or not he trusted the general’s animal handling ability—well… Alder turned back toward Calliope, still wearing the polite smile he’d first greeted her with.
“There’s a pond just a few ways from the training grounds. If you’d feel more inclined to partake in our training session there rather than here, I’d be more than glad to lead the way.”
Code by Nano
 



the demon princess.





‎ Lacia Arcaela Ataraxia Rosegrave



































Tragic

















mood

Determined || Motivated || Tired






location

Training Grounds










mentions

Adelaide ;; Calliope ;; Virgil
















Following the attack on the annual ball, events unfolded with remarkable swiftness. Lacia was apprehended and placed under arrest as the authorities launched an investigation into the incident and her potential involvement. Despite her notable actions and her many acts of goodwill, the undeniable truth was that demons had played a role in the chaos…and who better to serve as a scapegoat than the Princess of Demons? Lacia didn’t harbor animosity toward them; she couldn’t bring herself to, but still, a bitter taste lingered on her tongue.

‘If I am rightfully exonerated, I suppose I shall have to conduct myself more conspicuously to avoid further suspicion,’
Lacia mused with a heavy sigh, her gaze fixed intently on the ancient, leather-bound tome before her. The book reeked of mothballs and dust.
‘That is, if I am...’


A funeral was held to honor those lost in the demon invasion. While Lacia would have liked to attend to pay her respects, her arrest prevented any such public appearance. Moreover, her presence might have only exacerbated the already tense atmosphere. With emotions running high across the kingdom of Parlton, the Princess opted to offer her prayers in private and hoped they reached those grieving.

Within a mere day of her detention, Lacia was acquitted of any involvement. She could hardly comprehend the speed with which events had transpired. Fully prepared to spend her time in solitude, immersed in her studies, she was instead whisked from the dungeons and brought before the King and his Council. Perhaps the urgency of the situation had expedited her release but even Lacia was taken aback by how quickly matters had progressed.

‘REQUESTING… how quaint,’
Lacia thought dryly, her expression impassive as she listened to the proceedings. Her curious mind absorbed every word spoken, as well as the unspoken implications.
‘I’m quiiiiiite certain this is more a command than a request. Am I allowed to object?’
The King’s request, thinly veiled as it was, held the weight of an order. While nothing compelled her to comply, Lacia’s concerns ran deeper— there was something insidious at play here and the use of her kind to strike against the kingdom she was meant to one day belong to troubled her.

Once released, Lacia returned home, sighing with relief as she crossed the threshold of her sanctuary. There was something undeniably comforting about the familiar warmth and solace of her own dwelling, however as soon as the door closed behind her, the Princess rushed to the nearby couch and grabbed a cushion to smother against her face. She screamed into it, her frustration and helplessness pouring out until her face flushed bright crimson and her head spun from the effort. A nightmare could be escaped from...you could wake up from one, but this?

This was pure, unrelenting terror.

"Better?" came the soft, silken voice of her familiar.

Lacia lowered the cushion to find herself face to face with Arcaelus, whose expression was one of mild amusement. His red gaze flickered to her shoulder and darkened— there was no time between her arrest and the subsequent meeting and she still wore her ruined gown stained with a large patch of dried blood on the bodice.

“Here. Let me—”

“No,”
Lacia interrupted, raising a hand to stop him as he moved toward her.
“I… I can tend to it myself. I don’t want it fully healed— I want to remember. I need to remember.”
The conviction in her voice was unmistakable and it piqued Arcaelus' curiosity. There was a fire in her gaze now, a newfound determination that had not been there before.
“What you can do, however, is rid me of all the glamoured jewelry I possess. I no longer have need to conceal who or what I am. They know…so let them see.”


In the days that followed, leading up to the training session she had been volunteered for, Lacia sent heartfelt letters to Adelaide and Noah St. Clair. Given the gravity of the situation, material gifts felt inappropriate so she chose to offer her condolences and support through written word, along with a bouquet of sunflowers to offer a fleeting moment of brightness in their mourning. She also reached out to Calliope, hoping the Mermaid was faring well. There had been little opportunity to converse after the ballroom attack so Lacia simply wanted to check on her longtime friend whose shared memories with the Demoness were both numerous and pleasant.

Once these pleasantries were concluded, Lacia redoubled her focus on her research. While Arcaelus tended to her wounds manually, honoring her wishes for slow healing, the Princess immersed herself in books, scrolls, and grimoires in her relentless pursuit of knowledge. There were many differing schools of thought…though the task seemed daunting, nothing would sway the Princess from acquiring the information she so desperately sought.

On the day of her scheduled meeting with the Crown Prince, Lacia arrived with her nose buried in a tome, barely lifting her gaze as she meandered toward the training grounds. The circling crow above her head offered the only guidance she needed.

‘A little to the right, my Lady,’ the familiar’s voice murmured.

Lacia corrected her course with a quiet sigh— there was no time for productive study while her mind was distracted by this peculiar meeting. She spotted Virgil on the field and approached, her defenses instinctively rising. This was Sirius’ brother who had previously chosen not to engage with her. It was an oddity, considering she was betrothed to the Second Prince, making her his future sister-by-law, yet she didn’t hold it against him. He was always known to be a man of few words and as cold as his powers; the inner workings of the royal family were a mystery to most— perhaps only the royal Advisor had any hope of understanding but even that seemed an impossible task.

Virgil greeted her with little formality or warmth. Lacia sighed softly, closing her eyes for a moment to steady herself before meeting him. The flare of pain from her shoulder was a sobering reminder of what had transpired and why she was in her current predicament but it did not take away from her good manner.

“Good day to you, Prince Virgil,”
She smiled politely.
“I’ve been known to possess such abilities, though I’d caution you against referring to my familiar as a thrall,”
Lacia replied, offering a respectful dip of her head.
“The demon I ordered to protect the King and Queen has been by my side for most of my life. A familiar is far more than what I am assuming you are referring to by mentioning thralls. For example, a familiar’s bond is unbreakable and they serve a singular Master. They take many forms, and—”
Lacia paused, her brow furrowing slightly.
“My apologies, I tend to ramble when discussing certain matters.”


She clutched the book to her chest, glancing across the training grounds.

“What sort of training are we meant to be undertaking here, Your Highness?”











 



















Marinus



the general












"Hmm,"
Marinus could only offer a small nonchalant smile with a wave before he flips the cap of his flask back on then sliding it into his pocket. He looks at Adelaide walking towards the dummies where the scent of burnt sand could be smelt. His nose wrinkled as he lets out a heaved sigh, looking at her disappearing figure.

My poor, poor sand... Melted by an eager fireball.


His nose wrinkled as he lets out a heaved sigh, slightly annoyed.

He's lucky we live next to the coast. Too bad, her healing doesn't unfuck burnt sand.


He looks at her disappearing figure,
happy healings, Adelaide St. Clair.


He leaves, wondering what kind of damage Sirius could cause or the limit that Adelaide could heal. He'd imagine she would be more worried than annoyed considering her church background and teachings.

His legs walked towards the forest as his turned eyes met with Alder's golden hair paused near another long-haired blonde. He looks at the mermaid in the distance amused as his feet marched on.

His eyes meets the Mermaid's own, and the cocky grin on his face could only grow wider and wider, knowing she's just close by enough for them to meet again, before his face turns towards the small patch of forest in the large royal garden.

He'd stand a bit longer to wave "hi" but the animals need constant stimulation, lest they run amok on the training grounds with their panic energy. He takes a pack of seeds out of his pocket as he shakes them out onto his hand. The birds around him dance around him, chirping at the sight of the seeds on his hand. The dogs wag their tail as they look at his pocket excitedly, their nose knowing the meat hidden in his pocket. The two does follow Marinus expectantly as the pheromone potion he rubbed beforehand on himself lures them to him.

He finally reaches the small forest with the animals following behind him as his eyes scantily looking around for the Beast Witch but mostly focused on the animals, searching their reaction to see if they react if and when she's here.











































♡coded by uxie♡
 
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Calliope Salacia
The Mermaid​



The sights in front of her were stunning. Despite the circumstances, seeing how humans rallied together for a greater purpose always seemed uplifting to her. Or maybe she was just deflecting from the fact that she was about to go to war.

Either way, this was about to get interesting. She’d played Alder’s routes a time or two. She hadn’t completed all his routes, but she read about them online. He was an enigma to her, to be honest. He was the kind of man she’d expect to see as either a CEO, making billions from behind a screen, or like Deborah from Suits. Working for the CEO but the poor guy couldn’t function without his trusty advisor. Speaking of…

“Lady Salacia,” the name surprised her enough to make her jump. Not far, just a small jerk of her shoulders as she turned to her right.

“Oh, Al-! I mean, Lord Llewyn.” She presses a smile, somewhat awkward. Her demeanor is… completely different from how alder would remember her. The cold, exasperated, crushing presence that she used to have has evaporated, replaced with something… softer. Much kinder. She actually smiles, a real smile that has no undertone of cruelty. “Oh, don’t sell yourself short. I’m sure there’s more to your powers than just what you use them for on the daily.”

She follows his eyes, looking to the Prince, Adel, and Marinus. Oh. Marinus. She watches him for a moment, never having seen him in such a… casual getup. At least not from her memories. 2D drawings only do so much justice.

His eyes meet hers, and her world blips ever so slightly. The cocky grin on his face grows wider, and she resists the urge to frown before he looks away. What was that? Was he making fun of her? Or was that his way of saying hello. Either way, the very simple reaction leaves her mind reeling. He turns to the animals and begins to keep them in check, something that makes Calliope giggle softly. He looked very… out of element.

“Oh… thats quite a few animals. How much do you wanna bet that one of them bites Marinus?” She says slyly, completely forgetting about titles for a second. She never used them back home. She didn’t bring up addressing the Prince because, to be honest, she forgot about that too. It made her seem… maybe a little aloof? Like she was flighty, or simple. Alder probably would have heard that she’d been different recently, but this was ridiculous.

The Calliope that he had heard of was vile, vicious, and straight up psychotic. Publicly embarrassing young ladies, dragging along poor men until they made fools of themselves, and using her wealth and father’s lack of involvement to trash investors and piss off their competition.

Her attention is stolen by Lacia. Her highness looked beautiful… with a crow circling her head. Her familiar, she assumes. Adorbs.

“A pond.” Calliope says absentmindedly, looking to Marinus again for one last look before to turns to Alder. “Sounds perfect! I’d like to see your defensive skills. You will need them while you lean more into your powers.” She doesn’t particularly mince her words. She’s not going to pretend she’s all that right now, but Calliope’s memories and body know her powers by heart.

After such a disastrous run in at the ball, Calliope has concluded that this is more than a dream. Whether it’s permanent or not she can’t tell, but she does know that she needs to actually work to live this life. It won’t be terribly temporarily.
 
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Vilina Tremayne
The Animal Whisperer
The Training Grounds





An invitation to the castle, though curiously void of details. The moment it arrived, it sent Vilina’s mother into a frenzy, her excitement spilling over in frantic bursts of activity as she flitted across every inch of their crumbling manor. What it could be for, her mother hadn’t the slightest idea. She filled the silence with wild speculation, each theory grander than the last. A request for a new political alliance? A secret royal ball? A proposal, perhaps? Vilina couldn’t bear to tell her that all of it was wishful thinking.

Truth be told, Vilina didn’t know much more than her mother. Her suspicions, however, lingered on the events of the night of the ball. The chaos, the demons, the rescue missions - everything felt tied to that harrowing evening. But what exactly the castle wanted from her now was a mystery she wouldn’t solve until she stood in its shadow once again. Sighing, she straightened her dress in the mirror, her thoughts spinning as she prepared to leave.

In the end, the summons was for a political meeting, a gathering of nobles and key figures from the kingdom. Vilina sat silently among the others, her hands folded neatly in her lap as she observed the room. Many of the faces were familiar, soldiers and strategists from the chaos of the ball. Still, a few were strangers to her, their names eluding her memory despite the nagging feeling she should know them.

Her gaze wandered, tracing the intricate patterns of the room’s decor, but eventually, her eyes landed on a figure that sent her heart skittering - Alder. The golden haired advisor sat with the same composed confidence he carried the night before, his mere presence a magnet for attention. Before their eyes could meet, Vilina turned away sharply, her cheeks warming as her stomach twisted with unease. Perhaps it was the lingering bashfulness from their dance, the foolish agreement she’d made to meet him again, or the stark reality of who he was - a man whose actions could lead her to her doom. Whatever it was, it left her feeling restless, her nerves frayed.

Vilina clasped her hands tighter, her fingers interlacing nervously as if trying to anchor herself. Her wandering thoughts came to an abrupt halt when her ears caught the sound of the king mentioning her name. Her breath hitched for just a moment - so this was the reason she’d been summoned. Curiosity sparked within her. She wasn’t exactly the kingdom’s most accomplished soldier, nor its most reliable. Why would they want her? If it involved sharing the secrets of nature, the thought made her stomach churn. Those secrets weren’t entirely hers to give.

But then the king mentioned the one who had specifically requested her presence - Virgil. The name alone tugged at her heartstrings. She straightened slightly, her lips betraying the faintest smile before she quickly schooled her expression. It was foolish, perhaps, but knowing Virgil wanted her here brought her a sense of warmth she hadn’t anticipated.

And that, unfortunately, was how Vilina found herself standing at the mercy of General Delmar's training regimen. It took her a moment - a few long, deliberate blinks - to fully take in the man before her. He was energetic, eccentric, and brimming with an enthusiasm that seemed utterly incompatible with her own caution.

His voice boomed as he barked out instructions, his presence larger than life, filling the training grounds with an air of relentless energy. Vilina felt her shoulders sag slightly, already dreading the hours ahead. She couldn’t see a friendship forming here - not with someone so opposite her in temperament, and certainly not under the weight of grueling drills and exercises.

For a fleeting moment, she considered running off, retreating into the comforting embrace of Mishka. The thought of her bear's quiet, steady presence was infinitely more appealing than Delmar’s exhausting exuberance. But no, she couldn’t. The memory of the king’s ‘request’ kept her rooted in place. Her duty to the crown, or more like her mother wouldn't allow her back home as a disgrace.

Taking a deep breath, Vilina squared her shoulders, determined to endure.. Vilina stared at the animals General Delmar had gathered before her, her expression caught somewhere between disbelief and concern. A couple of dogs wagged their tails enthusiastically, deer stood poised but hardly intimidating, and a few birds fluttered about, their feathers catching the light as if they were simply on a leisurely outing.

Delmar, on the other hand, looked thoroughly pleased with himself, as though he’d just presented the finest warriors in the kingdom. Her eyebrows furrowed, her gaze sweeping over the mismatched menagerie. This wasn’t exactly the fearsome battalion she’d envisioned when she thought of the kingdom’s potential allies in battle. No snarling predators, no powerful beasts ready to charge into chaos - just an assortment of creatures that seemed better suited for a peaceful forest picnic than a battlefield.

“These…” She started, struggling to find the right words. “These aren’t exactly… intimidating.” She glanced at Delmar, hoping her tone wasn’t too harsh, though she suspected her skepticism was evident. “What exactly are we supposed to do with them? Charm the enemy into surrendering with fauna?”

Vilina glanced around, her gaze eventually landing on a weapons rack stationed at the edge of the training grounds. Without a word, she strode over, her fingers brushing past swords and spears until they settled on a curved dagger. Its blade was jagged and gleamed under the sunlight.

She held it up, turning back to Delmar with a faint, almost diplomatic smile. “I like your thinking, General. I really do..” She flipped the dagger in her hand, testing its weight before gripping it firmly. “But maybe… this would be a better fit.”

“Animals are incredible aids, and they’ve saved my life more than once. But they have their own instincts, their own roles to play. They aren’t always by my side when things turn dangerous. And that..” She said, maintaining the blade in clearview. “Usually leaves me defenseless.”

“So…” Vilina stepped closer, with a flick of her wrist, she twirled the dagger, letting the curved blade catch the light. Her stance shifted subtly, her weight balanced as if preparing to strike at any moment. Hesitant, with a touch of steel. “Let’s dance?”
Atamita Atamita
Code by Serobliss
 
Sirius Parlton
The Hot Head
Eventually, ironically, Sirius felt himself settled into a light doze. It started with his eyes only closed to pray or will for patience to manifest while waiting for others to trickle into this particular training field. But the combination of the gentle comfortable dappling of sunlight that filtered through the branches and rhythmic rustling of the leaves swaying in the wind seemed to be the perfect recipe for a nap. The familiar background noise of voices muffled by foliage was the only thing that kept the second prince from settling fully into a nap. And the unfortunately familiar sensation of being stared at. Thankfully, eventually the feeling of being watched went away. Though the culprit was quick to dash his dreams of being left alone to sulk in peace by calling out to him and reminding him of the reason why they were all gathered in this remote training field. Blue eyes opened and slid over to silently regard her from his perch with contemplation and a bit of irritation. Expression clearly a bit grumpy. While the temptation to just ignore her was great, the threat of another rage-inducing “conversation” with the King or Queen was greater. (Contrary to popular belief, the second prince didn’t go looking for trouble. Trouble just happened to find him. Frequently.) With a heavy audible sigh, the blond left his perch with a leap. He landed on two feet next to his training partner with a near silent thud that spoke of years of sneaking about. He regarded the familiar face, though the years made them more like familiar strangers now, with a carefully blank face. He figured it was more polite than expressing his reluctance outright.
“St. Clair,”
he greeted carefully. Frankly, he was a little surprised that she was…open to topics that weren’t related to his brother. Though it could be for duty rather than a change of heart. At the core, people did not change that easily.
“I don’t think anyone is expecting you to be a vanguard,”
he replied frankly without any malice. He stepped away to gather a quiver of arrows by a nearby weapons rack and pass it to his training partner.
“But you should at least be able to protect yourself so archery is a good skill for yourself to work on. I’m not familiar with what draw weight you would prefer but there’s some bows here. Though, if you’re confident enough in archery maybe we would start with magic.”
“Frankly speaking, while our elemental affinities are similar, we both know that our fighting styles are polar opposites. Did they want you to make me less destructive or more destructive. Or maybe just more efficient. Or make an environmental advantage.”
Code by Nano
 
fluticasone fluticasone
Virgil Parlton
location
Training Grounds, Parlton Palace
interactions
Lacia
If Lacia held any animosity towards the family, she hid it well. Far from the nights, he and Sirius spent howling to the moon, Lacia remained cooperative during her stay in the castle and quiet during the meeting. Whether through the forceful words of his father or her settling her misgivings with the kingdom, she greeted him cordially. He didn't feel any hostility emanating from her, yet he could see Varik's lips forming a snarl. Body tense, he began barking at the Demon Princess as if possessed by an otherworldly spirit.
"Varik down! What is wrong with you?" Virgil whispered, grabbing the wolf's scruff. While they never spent time together, Virgil was sure that Varik had met Lacia at least once in the time since she and his brother were betrothed. At the time, his companion had been wary of every new presence, but he'd largely ignored those he did not deem as a threat. Yet Varik's eyes did not waver even as Virgil brought him to heel. Was it the scent of demons or did he sense something that Virgil was not privy to?
"You'll have to forgive him. I suspect the invasion has him on edge," he said before gesturing for her to speak. The bond she had with her familiar was akin to what he had with Varik. The only difference was that his wolf could bond with other humans if it desired. He hadn't expected Lady Tremayne to be one of them, but that would be no detriment to the team.
However, for all of her rambling about her familiar, she had been vague about the other aspects of her abilities. If summoning the winged unicorn was the only thing she accomplished, then there would be no need to pry; however, reports from the guards included controlling demons, growing horns, and disappearing in a plume of shadows. Virgil cared little for the latter two abilities as their utility was self-serving but matching the enemy's army would spare many Parltonian lives and potentially, turn the enemy against themselves.
"Do not be ashamed of your knowledge. If we are to fight alongside each other, I'd prefer transparency regarding our strengths and weaknesses." He unsheathed his sword. "I do not doubt your bond with your familiar, or your partner if you prefer, but my interest lies in testing how far your command extends. Though our military is well trained, our methods of fighting the Infernal are limited. If you are truly as powerful as we predict, your thralls will turn the tides of battle."
More importantly, he needed to gauge which side of her heritage she aligned herself with. Sympathy would be tolerated--mercy would not.
 










scroll
adelaide st.clair





location





interactions





tags











Adelaide watched as her partner jumped from the tree, landing on his two feet beside her. That's when it hit her. He looked just like Milo. The grumpy face and cat-like personality mirrored her own cat, and it took everything in her to not burst out laughing. She quickly looked away from him, face breaking out into a grin as she held back her laughter, taking a second too contain herself before turning back to him.

"I'm more confident in archery then I am magic."
She hummed thoughtfully, taking the arrows he handed her. It was a lot heavier then those she had practiced with back in her previous life, and she silently reminded herself to start weight training more. Her fingers slid over one of the bows, before pulling it off the rack. The bow was flimsier then the ones she used, but it felt natural in Adelaide's hands. As he spoke again, she drew back an arrow, pointing towards the target sat twenty yards away.

"Probably more destructive, and then if you hurt yourself in the process I can fix it. That's the only reason I can see them pairing us together."
After she spoke, she let the arrow fly. Bullseye. The arrow struck through the fabric in the middle of the target, and she laughed softly. Her mother would fall over if she had seen that.

"I can give you a buff to your powers and then I'll be there too patch you up if you nearly burn yourself alive."
She said simply, turning towards him again as she pulled the bow over her shoulder.

"The light from your fire in turn would help me if we ever had to fight at night. Offensively though, I don't see much of what we could do together as my powers are mainly defensive."
She shrugged,
"I can work on supporting you and the others. Do you have an item or anything you bring with you everywhere? If you're far away from me and I can't get to you, I can channel some of my power into something you have on you, and it should keep you alive until I can get to you."




♡coded by uxie♡


A Murder Of Corviknight A Murder Of Corviknight
 



the demon princess.





‎ Lacia Arcaela Ataraxia Rosegrave



































Tragic

















mood

Determined || Motivated || Hopeful






location

Training Grounds










mentions

Virgil
















Lacia quickly averted her gaze from the wolf as she noticed its lips curling into an unmistakable snarl, a clear warning of the beast’s rising aggression. Her intention had never been to provoke it but her reaction came too late; the wolf’s growls grew louder, its barks harsh and filled with menace as it sought to protect its’ Master. Despite the clear threat, the Princess stood her ground. She didn’t flinch, didn’t step back. The creature was only following its instincts and in that moment, she could hardly bring herself to blame it.

‘“There is no need for forgiveness, Your Highness,”
the Demoness spoke gently, offering a reassuring smile to try and dissipate the tension in the air.
“I would never judge a creature for acting in accordance with its nature.”
She deliberately avoided meeting the wolf’s gaze, wary of provoking it further. Lacia, with a measured step backward, hoped the gesture would bring some sense of calm to the beast. If nothing else, it was a gesture of respect.

The Princess’s attention was drawn to the Crown Prince and the words he had chosen struck her with an odd note of confusion. Ashamed? There was no shame in her deep understanding of demons or their complexities as her kind bore many distinctions and similarities to humankind themselves and she was their Princess; if anything, it was the stark absence of that understanding in others that caused her deepest frustration and most heartfelt pain. She had long been aware of how little the commonfolk cared to truly comprehend the world of the Infernal, to peer beyond the surface prejudice and see the intricacies of Hell’s denizens.

As this thought lingered, she watched Virgil draw his sword, his actions causing her brow to lift in silent question. The pairing of the two of them for a training exercise felt increasingly out of place. Their differences were vast and the logic behind such a pairing had yet to truly reveal itself to the Princess. The dissonance between them was glaring and their approaches to the present situation could not have been more opposing. Lacia sighed softly, allowing the Prince to continue speaking.

“Am I to understand that you wish to fight me, Your Highness?”
Her voice carried a note of incredulity, as though the very idea had caught her off guard. She had expected something else of their partnership.
“I do not know why we were paired for this…exhibition…but I highly doubt it was for meager exercise. If your intention is to cross blades with me, then by all means, I shall oblige. But tell me this— what do you stand to gain from it? What possible purpose could there be in drawing your sword at me? If it is true knowledge you seek— the true power capable of altering the course of a war— then you may as well have drawn a whipping switch.”


A soft sound cut through the tension as wings beat the air. Lacia’s gaze flicked upward just in time to see Arcaelus descending, landing with effortless grace upon his Master’s shoulder. The crow made no sound, no call or caw, his piercing ruby-red eyes never leaving Virgil’s form. Lacia’s lips curved into a faint, affectionate smile as she reached up to stroke the crest of the crow’s chest with the back of her finger. The small, tender gesture was one of comfort, and her eyes softened with a quiet warmth.

“I understand the fear that plagues your thoughts, Your Highness. They are the very same that I have for my own kind.”
she said, her voice quiet but unwavering as she met his gaze out of the corner of her eye.
“It is not the Infernal that poses a true threat to you or your kingdom…but those who seem to have embraced their utility as an organized fighting force that stand to be your undoing.”
Her words were sharp, though there was a deep sadness that underlined them.
“I could summon thralls for you or your soldiers to strike down, to experiment and slay until your arms grow weary and your spirit drained. But what, pray tell, would you gain from such cruelty? Would you be so quick to summon your lowest caste to suffer the same fate?”
She turned fully to face Virgil then, her expression now resolute, yet the sadness in her eyes lingered— an echo of the harsh truths she bore within her.

“I stand as an envoy for the realm of the Infernal and seek to unite our people. I would upon call them to fight and die for Parlton, bleed as I have bled, but will not subject them to needless slaughter. We are sentient beings, the very same as you and your kind.”
She wasn't entirely certain if her words would reach the Prince but she had to try and appeal to his humanity. As frozen as his heart appeared to be from the outside, she knew it simply was not true.










 
Alder Llewyn
the advisor
Alder blinked once—stunned, but the immediate lowering of his eyes into a pensive expression left none privy to his inner musings. Years of delving into the pits of aristocratic depravity honed the blonde’s ability to rely on his intuition and prying into outside sources to understand his opponent’s character. At times, his efforts were all for naught, while others only affirmed his belief that virtue was a true rarity among the privileged. In the end, the best liars were those who understood the identity of the devil they were dancing with, and he always committed the minutiae of both his enemies’ and allies’ characters to memory. That didn’t mean he was infallible. He was only human, after all. Calliope Salacia was a cruel woman, playful in her own right, but in a manner befitting a predator aware of how her prey was nothing more than a pitiful plaything whose fate she held captive in a clawed palm. She was regal and proud yet tarnished with an arrogance stemming from her level of influence that was little more than a forgery. Money could buy much, but it had its limits, a fact that rumors claimed the mermaid knew quite well but refused to acknowledge. “Insecure,” they claimed, though the traitorous tongues who dared utter such words would no doubt never speak again. Neither the young woman he’d seen accompanying her merchant father as his guard nor the mermaid keeping careful watch from the docks showed off a side as vicious as the rumors, but she’d never hidden her lofty demeanor even before those of a position far higher than hers. The mermaid was much like select members of his maternal family in that regard, and he’d always found both to be equal parts difficult to deal with on a personal level. As for the person whose behavior now puzzled him so, her bubbly mannerisms and sheer expressiveness starkly contrasted with the image of “Calliope Salacia” he’d built over the course of their past meetings and his personal research. Had she always been someone who’d casually joke with him while shooting the general a teasing tone? He’d heard the accident had caused some rather drastic changes, but he wondered just how much of it was turning over a new leaf rather than the blonde learning a few new tricks. Calliope’s clear, keen interest in General Delmar based on her staring led him to wonder if he had anything to do with her current odd behavior.
“I cannot say defense is my specialty.”
Alder finally spoke after ‘thinking’ for a few moments,
“The word ‘nuisance’ may be the best I can achieve with the size of the metal objects I can manipulate with my magic.”
While providing the mermaid with a vague description of his capabilities, the advisor gestured down a stone pathway leading away from the training grounds with his palm. Not more than a two minutes’ walk away from where the rest of the group had situated themselves, a small bed of water sat among the vibrant shrubbery, a bit off to the side but still within clear view of the training grounds. With a gentle smile inviting the mermaid to accompany him to their next destination, he continued to walk and talk.
“I’ve always favored finesse over power, so I fear I have little direction on what manner of training will benefit both of us,”
Alder said before turning a question to Calliope.
“I don’t suppose General Delmar consulted you regarding a training plan?”
Inwardly, he hoped that none of what the general had mentioned involved a gratuitous amount of running and evading. Upon stopping by the pond, Alder glanced upon the clear surface of the cool water reflecting the bright rays of sunlight from above. He then turned his gaze back toward the mermaid, wearing an almost sheepish expression, as if he were truly at a loss.
“I’ve seen your abilities, while I have nothing but a simple sword, a few coins, and miscellaneous objects here and there at my disposal. If the general gave you instruction, it’s best to follow his words. If you’re amenable to suggestions, however, how about a few rounds of directly aiming your magic at mine? I’ll see if I can place enough speed and power behind an object to make it through the water or at least not be completely blocked as you adjust. I do suppose that may be quite tedious and crude, but it’s a simple way of practicing power for myself and accuracy for yourself.”
Code by Nano
 









Calliope had never quite seen that expression on Alder’s face. She didn’t like the concept, about how she had never seen a particular expression on a fantasy character, but that was a whole other can of worms. Completely blank, as if he barely had a passing interest in this conversation. She tried to rack her brain if she had ever done something to offend the man, but had come up short after determining he was simply one of her father’s business partners.

So, she dismissed the idea, turned on her heel, and began a brisk pace to the pond. If anything it culled the awkward air of tension. She followed the man and listened to his descriptions of his own powers, that word nuisance in particular made her raise her eyebrows. His limitations, his strengths, his attitude toward his powers all screamed a lack of self-confidence, and yet Calliope didn’t quite believe that was it. As he downplayed his prowess, Calliope scoffed. In her eyes, he was potentially the most dangerous of them all. If he’d harness it right. She never played many of his routes, but that had always been a background thought when she did.

“Lord Llewyn, if I may?”
She raised an eyebrow, almost like she’d wait for permission to give her opinion. But she was never that kind of woman.
”Nuisance isn’t how I would describe it at all. An arrow has very little metal in it, yet can take down a stag or a fully grown bear if the archer has the right amount of precision. In my opinion, you’re just as capable and dangerous as the rest of us. You just haven’t shown us yet.”
A reassuring smile soon followed.
“Your precision may very well be what saves your life.”


‘Save your life’. Callie struggled with the concept of going to war. It wasn’t a realistic worry in her time, being sent off to kill and die. A battlefield, death, murder. It all seemed very… unsettling. She saved that woman and her daughter at the ball, and helped Adel heal, but she’d taken life to do it. Was that price worth the outcome?

To boot, she would be expected to sink entire ships. Her whirlpools had reached the ear of the king; her control over the waves was practically folklore. She wasn’t the most powerful of them until they reached the sea, but once they did she was a death sentence. The only fear she’d ever held in the ocean was Virgil himself, who very well could freeze her in her place. How did the original Calliope feel, committing genocide on her father’s orders?

All of her musings came to a screeching halt when Alder spoke again. Had she asked Marinus about training? No, she supposed she hadn’t. Why she hadn’t asked the general for his opinion had to be chalked up to lack of forethought at least.

“I didn’t ask him. What an idea, wish I’d actually thought that through.”
She said with a good natured laugh.
“I think your plan works well though. Keeping up the defense. Though for my own curiosity, I’d like to see how fast you can swing a pen or small pellet at a tree.”


She pulled in hand in a sweeping motion from the pond to her hip, and smiled in a giddy manner. She’d never get over her new powers. The water moved fast, gathered around her feet and arms, making soft spiral patterns as it moved.

“I won’t make the water sharp. You won’t be hurt. But act as if you could be, right?”
She was nervous herself. Who wouldn’t be? Calliope had certainly been in battle before, sometimes even with other mermaids. But Emily? Not on her life. This training session made her incredibly uneasy, but no rest for the weary supposedly.
“Tell me when you’re ready then?”









the mermaid



Callie.








  • filler tab!





♡coded by uxie♡
 
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New Marinus.png
“These…” her words pause for a moment, “These aren’t exactly… intimidating.”

A look of skepticism dawns on her face much to his disappointment as he had hope she would recognize their worth easily but his slight nonchalant smile remains on his face as she continues, “What exactly are we supposed to do with them? Charm the enemy into surrendering with fauna?”

His watchful eyes follows her steps as her slender arm reaches into one of the weapon cache. Her hand passes through a selection of them until pausing onto a curved dagger. Her hand grips onto it, cementing her choice as she holds it up. Her body turns back to him, revealing the small polite smile that Marinus is all too familiar with. It's a smile he's seen on Alder and on himself if he practiced enough in the mirror to not look annoyed or divulge his murderous intent towards Marquis. Virgil can do the same but usually prefers a cold expression. It's fitting, Marinus thought, keeps the enemies at bay and no one too close.

“I like your thinking, General. I really do...” she flips the dagger over in her hand, seemingly testing its weight before gripping it firmly as he tries to discern whether it's too heavy in her hand or not, “but maybe… this would be a better fit.”

He looks down at the dagger with his lips parting to grow into a bigger smirk for a moment before looking back to Vilina with his usual nonchalant smile.

“Animals are incredible aids and they’ve saved my life more than once. But they have their own instincts, their own roles to play. They aren’t always by my side when things turn dangerous. And that...” she holds the blade in front of him still and to his impression as if trying to protect herself, “usually leaves me defenseless.”

His eyes narrow down onto her figure as she steps closer.

“So…” she twirls the dagger as she approaches him, allowing the glint to slide across the curve of the blade. Her stance shifted subtly, her weight balanced as if preparing to strike at any moment. He looks at her stance, hesitant but brave enough to try to face him, “let’s dance?”

A moment of silence passes by between them before a complete smile breaks out onto his face, unable to hide his amusement with her choice.

"Why, I thought you never ask after brandishing that dagger to get my attention like that," he approaches her direction but swoop to the side as he circles her, studying her unconfident form.

"Looks are deceiving and I'm sure you know. I was hoping you would recognize-" his eyes give a quick glance to the animals that are standing still as they're still lulled by the potion he used earlier, "their worth by a look alone but I'll indulge you in your little move."

His circles back to the front of her, his eyes still on the Beast Witch as these words leaves his mouth, "Skound. Rask."

Among the frolicking dogs, the grey wolfhound and light golden shepherd dog raised its head, heeding his voice and their names. His hand moves into his pocket and reveals a dagger in a flash. His free hand unsheathes it in one second as it glints in the light. The dagger was straight in its length, never deviating or curving from its path, just the way Marinus likes it— never deviating from the target.

"Hunt."

The two dogs immediately lunge at the does as the birds flee for the air, the danger disenchanting them. A gust of wind gathers and surround Marinus. The dust from the floor gives way to the movement of the wind and makes it apparent. His fingers beckon her, inviting her to the chaos as the animals revel behind him. His free hand grips the dagger, unserious and free of its fighting intent juxtapose to the grey-haired woman in front of him.

"Ladies first."
Tags:
Dicentra Dicentra
 
Last edited:
fluticasone fluticasone
Virgil Parlton
location
Training Grounds, Parlton Palace
interactions
Lacia
"I intend to stretch my legs after several days of mourning," Virgil replied, spinning his sword. "A blade left to rust is useless in battle just as a mage who reads but never practices. I imagine that whoever bewitched those Infernal does not sit idly by."
Perhaps she thought herself above these exercises or perhaps, this was a form of petulant passive resistance. It would explain why you're hiding your abilities under the guise of inquiry.
With how highly she surpassed Sirius' estimations, both his father and Marinus must have wanted someone who could better match her capabilities. Unfortunately, an understanding of one's power did not mean understanding how to cajole her into action.
"I ask for only what I have stated: to fight together--you leading an army of Infernal and the kingdom's generals, leading their own soldiers." For a woman who claimed to be a scholar, she couldn't parse the different purposes a fight could have. Her fear clouded her judgment--the emotional wounds finally showed themselves in the form of bad faith accusations.
At best they were a farce and at worst, a subtle declaration of her mistrust. The notion that he would need to explain every detail, to lay a defense so impenetrable that the Demon Princess wouldn't find a a chink in its verbal armor caused his heart to bristle with irritation. Still his face remained impassive compared to her melancholic demeanor.
"You assume there is a dichotomy where none exists. It is not in my best interests for my allies to beat each other to death, much less turn them into test subjects. It would however not be unreasonable to ask that they hone their skills against one another--just as I would have trainees spar on a regular basis, as equals."
More than her fear for her thralls, her eyes betrayed her tender heart. He understood the desire to protect one's subordinates; it was one he experienced while simulating battles against his father. However, to put their lives above that of his subjects would be breaking the oath his soldiers swore before heading into battle. Even without the threat of the Church, their enemies would not stop at slaughtering Parltonians. The malevolence they displayed at the ball was proof that they would attack the Demon Princess just as easily as they would attack the Queen. Unless she planned to keep her thralls confined to the Infernal realm, their death would be an inevitability.
"Seeing human and demon coexisting in an army would sway Parlton towards acceptance, wouldn't you agree?" He eyed the crow by Lacia with some interest before continuing.
"If it quells your heart, you may send your own representative to negotiate the conditions of your subjects."
 
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Alder Llewyn
the advisor
Words of encouragement tinged with sympathy made Alder’s skin crawl. This Calliope Salacia’s smile held the warmth of kindness, yet her reassuring gestures brought only an icy numbness that crept up from the soles of his feet to the pit of his stomach. Everything she did seemed to be out of kilter in some way or form, incongruous with the choleric image he’d drawn of the merchant’s daughter over their insignificant yet handful of encounters. Perhaps it was a result of never acquainting himself with the woman closely, but that ever creeping paranoia of his ran through a million accusations of what potential motives could drive her shift in demeanor. Nonetheless, without so much as twitching in discomfort, he responded gently in kind to her admittance that she hadn’t picked the general’s brain before departing.
“Take no fault. I am just as guilty for not seeking more insight into General Delmar’s plans, and it doesn’t hurt to evaluate our weaknesses and develop a sense for how to adapt.”
However, the gears continued to turn furtively and silently in the recesses of his mind. As Alder carefully observed the water pooling around the mermaid in a practised yet playful manner, he nearly wished he were disciplined enough in magical arts to differentiate how individual personalities affected the way they weave magic into a spell. The more insight he had, the better. Alas, he was a mere advisor who held little interest in scholarly pursuits outside of his purview.
“I find that I don’t have a particular enjoyment for bathing in pond water,”
Alder lightly jested, though if he were being honest, he hoped that no accidents would occur. Accepting Calliope’s offer to make the first move, the blonde nodded and produced a coin roughly three centimeters in diameter.
“Shall we?”
With a flick of a finger, a high-pitched ringing reverberated throughout the clearing, followed by the sharp whistle of a small object cutting through the air. Nothing, save for the coin’s velocity, seemed out of the ordinary whether it be the silver sheen reflecting the morning sun’s rays or the sound akin to a coin bouncing off of cobble. Those particularly keen on such banal, everyday sounds would nonetheless barely notice a strange and unnatural frequency that seemed to overlap with the ringing. Alder braced himself to avoid the potential spray of water coming his way, while a second round of metallic ringing sounded from the hand opposite to the one he’d used before. However, as he felt the second coin leave his hand and propel itself toward the ground by Calliope’s feet, he found himself briefly distracted by a sudden conjecture. A sudden shift in personality. If it wasn’t being faked, then could it be? He distinctly recalled cases in which he’d observed similar behavior arise in individuals who’d allegedly found enlightenment. In less polite terms, they’d been lured in and brainwashed by a cult. No, surely not. As far as he knew, no one had reported anything strange during their recent dealings with the mermaid’s father, and the likelihood of his daughter running off to partake in a seedy religion on her own was low. No matter how deep her inferiority complex ran, the Salacias weren’t an easy family to take advantage of.
Code by Nano
 
Sirius Parlton
The Hot Head
At the comment, Sirius rolled his eyes but gave her a wry smile,
“Contrary to what the rumors say, I haven’t ‘burnt myself alive’ since I was a child. Though, a few sleeves and gloves here and there may have been sacrificed. But here–”
Skipping the more ornate pocket watch in his jacket, the younger prince fished out a surprisingly plain and well-worn bronze pocket watch from the pockets of his pants. While the ornate pocket watch fit his station more, Sirius only kept it around for formal occasions to appease the Queen’s…delicate sensibilities. Another fancy leash, rather than a useful tool that sees everyday use. Before he casually tossed the sturdy pocket watch at his partner, he thankfully hesitated and thought twice about throwing a metal object at someone who was probably as frail as Llewyn. This wasn’t his brother after all. St. Clair would more likely get clobbered than actually catch a flying pocket watch. Ah, and it was supposedly rude to throw things at people. Even though it would be a much faster handoff… After passing the pocket watch to St. Clair, he turned towards the wooden targets across the field. He nodded at her in thanks and wordlessly accepted the “buff” that gently washed over him. Feeling how unintrusive it was, he figured his training partner wanted to start more lightly. Not thinking too much of it, he flicked a small (but oddly bright…?) ball of fire to hit the bullseye of one of the targets across from them.
“We could start with stationary–”
BOOM!
“...Targets.”
Instead of leaving a small scorch mark for her to take aim at, the small flame had imploded loudly behind Sirius and completely incinerated three of the wooden targets. Leaving the two closest to the site with ringing in their ears. Birds and other animals scattering away from the training grounds like the devil was after them. Even as the caster who had his fair share of incidents, he was speechless. Uncharacteristically open shock was written all over his face.
“...Holy shit.”
@.others
Code by Nano
 



the demon princess.





‎ Lacia Arcaela Ataraxia Rosegrave



































Tragic

















mood

Disheartened






location

Training Grounds










mentions

Virgil
















The Demon Princess' gaze hardened as she regarded Virgil, the faintest flicker of irritation dancing behind her otherwise calm expression. Arcaelus, on the other hand, grew more unimpressed with each arrogant and entitled word falling from the Prince’s mouth. The crow ruffled his feathers and settled closer to Lacia’s cheek, his posture relaxed.

‘Is this…BOY…not aware that you ARE the representative? I am CERTAIN your Mother and Father would be pleased to negotiate in your place, my lady.’

Despite her familiar’s keen observation and support for chaos, Lacia’s voice, when she spoke, was measured.

“I will not entertain your questioning of my observation,”
she began, each word deliberate, cutting through the tension between them.
“There is, most certainly, a dichotomy between humans and demons. You refusing to admit the obvious just shows me how far removed you are from the suffering of others,”
She took a soft breath, the edges of her words softening but not losing their conviction. Perhaps his heart truly was as frozen as he would have others believe.
“However, to placate you, I shall meet you half way.”


Taking a step back to put more space between them, Lacia tapped into her dominion over the Infernal. The air took on a feeling of tenseness as the Demoness’ eyes flashed with a brighter, more brilliant pinkish hue. A swirling portal opened up between them, darkness and shadow mingling to bring forth creatures from beyond their realm. Four figures rose up from the hell-gate abyss before the portal slammed shut behind them, a deafening silence left in the wake of its tumult. Lacia, standing behind the cadre of demons, held her closed hand out to Virgil.

“I hold in my hand…something of great importance to your family. Your exercise is to breach through my guards and claim it. Use this as an opportunity to test them– to sate your curiosities and discover what the Infernal has to offer…as your enemy has already so clearly embraced.”
Even with the gate closed, Lacia’s eyes still remained ever vibrant as she regarded the Prince from beyond her blockade of demons.

“I give you a demonstration as a sign of my cooperation.”


Standing before Virgil were towering figures, their red eyes burning with hellfire, staring directly at him. They shared a similar goal between them: keep the Prince away from their Princess. The four approached, their steps synchronized with each other as though they shared one singular mind for action. With measured strides that seemed practiced, though really just a testament to their affinity for combat, the demons broke rank in unison and began circling Virgil.

“They have no fear. They do not hesitate. They do not stop until they are destroyed. They are single mindedly focused on whatever command they are given and will execute as ordered. They would be an incredible asset to bolster your army, Prince. Test them.”











 










scroll
adelaide st.clair





location





interactions





tags











Despite having seen it coming, she still jumped at the loud noise. Her body reacted first to the noise, a flash of light enveloping the two. She groaned in pain from the ringing in her ears to now the pain in her eyes from the flash. She stumbled forward, nearly falling face first into his chest, only managing to stay upright by gripping his shoulders. As the pain slowly subsided and the black spots in her eyes dissipated, she let go of him. Her eyes widened in alarm upon realizing she had just grabbed her brother in law, who also happened to be the prince of the country and someone she shouldn't be touching.

"I apologize for grabbing you, your highness."
She said quickly,
"Oh right, and the flash. My powers tend to react to my emotions."
Her eyes flickered towards the training dummies, the fire slowly dwindling.

"Bet you didn't expect the buff to be that strong, huh?"
Adelaide raised an eyebrow at him, letting out at a soft laugh.

"General Marinus might kill us."
She breathed out, running a hand through her hair as she watched the dummies burn, leaving only a pile of ash in there wake. Though, an idea occurred to her a second later and her eyes widened.

"Wait! That's it!"
She gasped, eyes lighting up as she turned back to him excitedly.

"If I flash them and you go in after, they won't see the explosion coming. That could be really good for taking out the front lines. Though, we'd have to figure out a way to make sure you wouldn't get flashed in the process."
She hummed thoughtfully. Did this world have sunglasses? No, probably not. She couldn't think of them ever being mentioned in the game, and had never once seen anyone wear any. Maybe she should invent them? No, she wasn't smart enough for that.

"A mask maybe?"




♡coded by uxie♡


A Murder Of Corviknight A Murder Of Corviknight
 
fluticasone fluticasone
Virgil Parlton
location
Training Grounds, Parlton Palace
interactions
Lacia
Was she so removed from the war that she couldn't see the long term consequences of hiding from the war?
Or do you think your subjects are immune from the same fate as those at the ball? Virgil thought. It would be foolish for her to ignore the person who gained control over the Infernal--only marginally more foolish than attempting to track them on her own. The dichotomy of abstinence and enslavement didn't exist for her subjects despite her insistence. She saw only the immediate consequences of the week's events and not the long-term efforts necessary to bridge the gap between species.
Such sentimentality would have me disowned. Nevertheless, the Demon Princess compromise--a first in their drawn out negotiations--to summoning several demons and a relic. Unlike the lesser demons at the ball, the four bore halberds and marched rather than ran. Whether by coincidence or as a means of enticing him, the demons she summoned acted closer to soldiers than wild beasts. It begged the question of how much sentience these creatures had compared to the ones at the ball or Lacia's familiar. Obedience was one matter but servitude was another; how deeply did their loyalties lie?
Virgil raised his sword, pointing out towards the figures who circled one another. He formed two icicles behind his back, both poised to strike. Immediately the demons stopped their march and turned towards him, recognizing the call to battle. Cries erupted from the squad, echoing across the training grounds.
The first demon charged forward while the other three ran to the sides in an attempt to cut off his exits. Virgil shifted left, evading the first demon's stab and bashing the pommel of his sword into the back of its neck. Briefly the creature staggered, giving Virgil enough time to knock it down with one of the icicles. The fire faded as the enemy fell to the ground--seemingly unconscious.
The second demon swung from the left but found no purchase as the Crown Prince's sword caught the brunt of the attack, wedging itself beneath the halberd's blade and forcing it into the ground. A swift kick split metal from wood, rendering the weapon useless. From the right, the third demon thrust their weapon into the Prince's back, only for Varik to enter the fray. The wolf tackled the demon, sinking its teeth demon's arm before the halberd's tip could pierce Virgil's armor. He seized the opportunity to throw his icicles towards the last demon, pinning it's feet to the ground.
In a battle with men, he would have been declared winner and the fallen, wheeled to the royal healers; however, these demons were not mere mortals. Of the two demons still standing, the first ran towards him with the remnants of its weapon while the other ripped the icicles in its feet. There was no pain, vengeance, or fear behind their burning eyes--the screams that came from their mouths brimmed with nothing but blood lust. Even as he severed the oncoming demon's hand, it showed no signs of stopping. Blood poured from his enemy's arm as it swung with its good arm.
The Crown Prince's eyes flickered toward their leader. Despite her conniptions, she remained firm in her decision; as a watcher she provided no support and no direction. For that, he would deliver her thralls a swift death. Rather than dodge the demon's flailing, he merely caught the wooden pole with his prosthetic hand and let ice consume the Infernal's torso. A hefty kick shattered it and allowed Virgil to turn his attention to the demon hobbling his way. One final slash left the battlefield empty and Lacia wide open.
Sleet formed across the grass, growing more solid as it advanced towards Lacia's position. Virgil raised his hand, attempting to freeze her legs in place."Your cooperation is appreciated."
 
Vilina Tremayne
The Animal Whisperer
The Training Grounds




Vilina’s grip tightened around the hilt of her dagger as she watched Marinus beckon her forward, that ever present smirk playing on his lips. The sheer confidence - the audacity of him, welcoming her to strike while standing so openly, so unguarded, made something in her bristle. Just how certain was he that she wouldn’t land a hit? Or perhaps the real question was: how sure was he that she couldn’t?

Her eyes flicked away from him, trailing instead to the scene unfolding nearby. The dogs lunged at the deer, their movements precise, calculated, but the deer stood still - lulled, almost as if resigned to its fate. They were close to the predators. Maybe too close.

Vilina wasn’t one to play favorites with nature; it was what it was. The predator hunts, the prey runs - or doesn’t. And if a rabbit found itself between the jaws of a wolf, then so be it. The world didn’t care about fairness, about cruelty. It was survival. Omnivores had to eat too, after all.

At the very least, a fighting chance would have been more tolerable to witness. Watching the deer stand still, practically inviting its own demise, unsettled her in a way she hadn’t expected. Survival was brutal, yes, but submission without struggle without even the attempt to escape felt like a cruel joke.

Still lingering near the weaponry, Vilina reached for a spear, one light enough to hurl with decent force. She wasn’t aiming to wound, not really. Just enough to disrupt the moment, to startle the dogs, to give the deer a fleeting opportunity to abscond. With a quick flick of her wrist, the spear cut through the air, landing hard between predator and prey. The sharp thud against the earth sent a shock through the animals - the deer bolted, the dogs hesitating for only a breath before instinct drove them forward in pursuit, disappearing into the woods.

Vilina exhaled, watching until the last traces of movement vanished between the trees. She rolled her shoulders, reminding herself that it wasn’t her job to feel relief or regret.

It was time to focus on her own fight.

Turning her attention back to Marinus, she found him still watching her, expression unreadable, yet distinctly amused. The way he stood there, waiting - small weapon in hand, no defensive stance - made the tension in her body coil tighter. She adjusted her grip on the dagger, taking slow, deliberate steps forward. “You’re awfully sure of yourself, General.” She murmured, circling him, eyes flicking up to meet his with a sharp glint.

Suddenly, Vilina lunged forward, dagger poised, her aim set for his right rib. A clean strike - if it landed.

Except it didn’t.

Her foot caught against the uneven ground, her balance betraying her just as she propelled herself forward. A startled yelp escaped her lips as the momentum nearly sent her sprawling. Panic surged through her chest, and in a desperate attempt to salvage her dignity, she scrambled backward, retreating as quickly as she had attacked. Her breath came out in sharp bursts as she straightened herself, her grip tightening around the dagger once more. How the hell did people make this look so easy? The movies, the stories - dammit, real life was so much harder.

She stole a quick glance up at Marinus, dreading the look she’d find on his face. Gritting her teeth, she tried to recompose herself, shifting back into a ready stance. “I meant to do that.” She huffed, flicking a stray lock of hair from her face.

If he laughed, she was stabbing him for real.
Atamita Atamita
Code by Serobliss
 



the demon princess.





‎ Lacia Arcaela Ataraxia Rosegrave



































In the End

















mood

Despondent






location

Training Grounds










mentions

Virgil ;; Sirius
















The demons that fought on behalf of their Princess were unwavering in their loyalty, every bit as dedicated and relentless as she had described. They didn't strike first…they waited until their assigned target was ready to face them but when the moment came, they surged forward with savage precision. Lacia observed with fierce focus, her eyes tracing every shift in Virgil’s stance, every movement he made. She’d commanded them to keep him moving but just so– he wanted to exercise and so she gave that to him. What she didn’t expect, however, was for the Prince’s familiar to join the fray. It was the only moment she showed hesitation, an unexpected pang of concern sweeping through her as she would hate to see the wolf in danger.

The sparring demonstration took a turn for the violent as a limb was suddenly severed. As expected, this didn’t stop the demon from performing its duty and the roar that bellowed from the two remaining hellspawn rumbled across the field:

“F̵̜̜͎͉̯̜̓͂ŏ̸̡̼̺̫̥̻͈̞̍͆̏̓́͜͝ͅr̵̡͕͈͚͍͍̼͕̍̀̈́̽̎̍͗̍́̏̚͜͠ ŏ̸̡̼̺̫̥̻͈̞̍͆̏̓́͜͝ͅu̷̬̩̰̫͕̘͎̔́̃̄̍͋̓r̵̡͕͈͚͍͍̼͕̍̀̈́̽̎̍͗̍́̏̚͜͠ P̷̛̛̛̩̺͇̊̅̍͂͗͑͐̎̂̏̐̐r̵̡͕͈͚͍͍̼͕̍̀̈́̽̎̍͗̍́̏̚͜͠i̶̡̹͈͎̳̞͙͖̾̂̀͑̀͆̑̓̽̉͐͘͘ͅǹ̷̨͍̮̥̹̘͙̗̻̬̬̜̥̮̃̒̈́̽͗̿̍̄̂̏͆͠͝c̵̛̥͊ë̸͓̮͉͈͇͍̖͎̩̞͈́́́̋̇̾͋̈́̾͆͑͘͘͜͠͝s̴̹̀̎̇͗̍͗̾̋̏̈͐͒̕͠͠ͅs̴̹̀̎̇͗̍͗̾̋̏̈͐͒̕͠͠ͅ”

Lacia’s teeth clenched hard, jaw tight with anticipation. Behind her, another portal swirled open as she called forth another contingent of demons while watching one of the original summons be consumed by ice; its eyes glanced back at Lacia as its movements slowed during the freeze.

‘My lady—’ Arcaelus’ voice crackled with concern, the edges of his tone sharp and growing in anger as his wings flapped once more, lifting him from Lacia’s shoulder. The shadows around him thickened, twisting to shift his form. In a flash, he was no longer her crow familiar…but the magnificent winged unicorn that had been called to protect the King and Queen at the ball, his hooves struck the earth with resounding force.

Lacia’s gaze was unyielding as Virgil shattered the frozen demon before her with a kick. The portal behind her snapped shut, a hellish scream of agony cut short in an instant. The moment of demonstration was long past and what had once seemed like a training exercise had descended into brutal violence. Still, Lacia remained composed, her expression a mask of cold indifference. Ice spread across the battlefield, creeping toward her at Virgil’s manipulation, but she did not flinch even as the cold crawled up her boots. She summoned the shadows from their immediate vicinity to wrap around her, merging her body with them as if they were an extension of herself. Her grip on the prized object in her hand tightened until her knuckles turned white— she trusted him.

‘Take the fallen. I will finish this.’
Lacia’s command was clear, her voice cutting through the chaos. Without hesitation, she slipped into the shadows, leaving the ice to crawl up harmlessly. The vital essence of her soldiers were beyond her now…gone.
Arcaelus snorted, fury boiling beneath his calm exterior. Dark smoke billowed from his nostrils as he flapped his wings, propelling himself toward the fallen demons. As he passed them, their forms melted into the darkness he cast, merging with the shadows to be called back home. From his horn, a portal burst forth.

‘A sparring match— A SPARRING match!’ His voice seethed with rage, each word laced with venom. ‘Just say the word, my lady…and I will destroy them. It would be my PLEASURE.’

Lacia re-emerged from the shadows mere feet from where Virgil stood. The light of the sun shone down on her, yet the fury in her gaze turned the air around her thick with a palpable heat and tension. Her eyes, once a serene shade of pink, now burned red with the intensity of a fire barely contained, glowing with the raw emotion she had kept hidden for so long. The shadows around her grew restless as if responding to her inner turmoil, swirling and thrashing violently, guided by some unseen wind. Her every step was deliberate and as she drew closer to Virgil, her mind spiraled. Who was feeling these emotions? Was it Mina or Lacia that felt the loss of hope? So often Mina questioned how she could be related to her own family…they felt so out of touch to her and on a grander scale, she felt the very same in Lacia’s shoes. The difference between them was that Lacia had her own authority and Mina wouldn’t allow herself to fall into the same subservience she was used to in her own world. Was this still a game?

Her heart ached with a sorrow she could no longer ignore. In that moment, she knew one undeniable truth: the real monsters were not the demons of her realm, but the humans she had tried to understand.

The shadows around Lacia grew wilder, expanding, twisting in all directions as though they, too, were driven by her rage even under the weakness of direct sunlight. Soft whispers, barely audible but full of venom, echoed through the air, their hisses sharp and angry. When Lacia finally stood before Virgil…everything fell silent. The chaos, the darkness, the turmoil— it all dissipated in an instant. All that remained was Lacia.

“I do not seek power. At the end of the day, there is nothing I truly need from you, your kingdom, or this realm. I came here…years ago at my Father’s behest, seeking a better life away from the judgement of humans where we lived to ease the burden of guilt from his heart. And what have I found? More hatred. More disdain. The kind of rejection that only deepens the divide between us no matter what I do to try and build tolerance.”
Her voice was steady, though the emotions simmering beneath the surface were violently buffeting against her composure.
“I helped your brother once...many years ago out of goodness…out of kindness because it was the right thing to do and I could not simply let him suffer even though I had no reason to believe in a human stranger. He was different then…from what he is now— I didn’t know then that I would be drawn into your family’s games with such a farce against us both. The promise of marriage, one unfulfilled, has kept me bound to them. And for what? My loyalty? My demons?”


Lacia’s voice remained calm, but her fury was clear.
“I am not a pawn, Prince Virgil, and neither is your brother…and neither are you. My loyalty is not something that can be bought or bartered so cheaply and my demons are not fodder for your kingdom’s prosperity when there is no respect for them. I have tried, I have truly tried, to understand you but I am no closer to understanding humans now than I was when I first arrived.”


She took a breath, her voice softer now, but still laced with undeniable emotion.
“I know the love of my Father, my HUMAN Father, and that is why I suffer— for him, and for the demons who have placed their trust in me. I know that you were not blessed with such love in your life and I pity you for it, but it does not mean that it cannot exist for you in others. You are capable of more, Virgil. You and your brother deserve more than the generational trauma you’ve inherited by those who foolishly and childishly view emotion and sentiment as weakness and yet would still call themselves your parents. I am living proof that such is not the case.”


A single tear trickled down Lacia’s cheek. It was a tear born of sorrow, of a decision she had not wanted to make...but also of a cathartic release from letting go and speaking her heart in a way that she was never allowed to as Mina. As she gazed into the swirling portal that had opened behind her, she felt the weight of the loss…the loss of hope. Her gaze lingered on the familiar, somber figures standing at attention beyond the veil. The soldiers and denizens of Hell that looked to her for guidance. Darkness, like tendrils, wrapped around her, cocooning her in its familiar embrace. Despite how she felt, she was not alone and that was enough to keep her head up.

At Virgil’s feet, Lacia’s engagement ring rolled free from her clenched fist, bouncing softly against the ground before settling in the grass at his boots. It glittered there, a symbol of a promise now broken.

So this was the price of compromise.

“I am going home– to remind myself that humans are capable of goodness.”











 


















good evening...





The night had been stormy, the night sky lighting up with bright flashes, and loud thunderous booms echoing through the kingdom. It had been just a normal night for heroes and villainesses, coming home after the long training session they had that day, but none of the girls had expected for one of their biggest fears to finally come true.

Maria Woodcrest had shown up at the castle gates, her dress torn and covered in blood. Her trembling fingers revealed a letter addressed to the king himself, but General Marinus had intercepted it. The letter was a threat, the Kingdom of Zulbric declaring war alongside the demons against Parlton, wanting to take back the kingdom they had tried to overrun all those years ago. General Marinus had brought her inside for basic first aid and she had been given a small room where she would be under watch 24/7 and interrogated.

That leads us to where our characters are now. General Marinus has called for a meeting and to go over the letter they had received that night and to start the preparation for war, but the girls can't help but feel like something is off. Why is Maria Woodcrest the one delivering the message? In the original game it had just been a random insignificant NPC, but why was the main character the one doing it instead? The story was changing, but was it for the better or for the worst?

The girls did not have any answers, and now faced with the beloved main character who could potentially lead them to their dooms, they now need to work a little harder to capture the hearts of the men in front of them. Or at least be kind to the woman, but who knows, a villainess is always a villainess.





























villain - k/da












♡coded by uxie♡

 










scroll
adelaide st.clair





location





interactions





tags










"Maria Woodcrest.."
Adelaide paced her room, biting down on her bottom lip. A small paw touched her leg and she glanced down, Milo's bored expression staring up at her. He raised his arms and she picked him up, letting the large cat settle into her arms. He gently nudged her cheek with his nose as if comforting her, and her body relaxed, letting the ball of fur in her arms ease her anxiety.

She had heard the rumors of Maria Woodcrest showing up at the castle gates from church goers, and she figured that was what the letter asking her to return to the castle was about, but she couldn't help but worry what that would mean for the game. If Virgil saw her, would he fall in love? Adelaide sunk to her knees still cradling the cat, the familiar feeling of jealousy crawling through her chest. No. She quickly pushed it away, shaking her head. There was no use, Virgil would definitely fall in love with Maria. Why wouldn't he? She was the perfect female lead, and Adelaide St. Clair was the villain. If anything, she should try to befriend her. If she didn't cause any harm to Maria, it would be fine right? She hadn't even noticed she was biting at her nails until a fluffy paw slapped her across the face, unsatisfied with the amount of scratches he was getting.


"You little brat."
She muttered, but a small smile played on her lips as she rubbed her face into his fur.

-=-

It seems she had been the first to get to the meeting, her heels gently clicking against the wood panels as she made her way into the room. She sat at the front, figuring Virgil would either take the head of the table or next to it. She was definitely early, but her mother had planned it that way, ushering her out the door as soon as she was ready. Something about 'making good impressions'. She sighed softly, drumming her fingers gently on the table. Her fingers were still slightly singed from the training she had done, the two had gotten a bit overzealous and she had touched the fire out of curiosity more then once, but she was more confident in her ability then ever. She had a lot more synergy with Sirius then she had realized, and was confident he would be a strong ally for her in the war to come. He was also a really good teacher and had taken his time with helping her learn to control her powers better, and they had figured out the combo they had been working on so she wouldn't be flashing him again anytime soon. He was a bit awkward with his praise, and she had to force it out of him once or twice, but she had a fun time. Though she wasn't sure he felt the same.

It seemed as though others training sessions had gone well, but she hadn't heard an inkling about Lacia since the training day. It had only been a day, but she had noticed her disappearance when her and Sirius had parted ways and she went to ask Virgil how his training had been. He had spoken about how he didn't see her as emotionally fit for what she was supposed to be doing, and that she had since disappeared, but then the conversation had delved into speaking about the war. She had never heard Virgil speak or even look that way before as he spoke about how it does get to him that so many people might die. Despite the harrowing conversation, Adelaide had been excited about the fact that he even slightly opened up to her and said what he was thinking. Though she was worried she would scare him off too much if she had reacted strongly, so instead she had just assured him that she'd do everything in her power to prevent that from happening.

She leaned back in her chair, fingers playing with the hem of her dress as she waited for more people to arrive. The anxiety of the unknown growing stronger with each tick of the clock. Would Maria be attending this meeting too?




♡coded by uxie♡
 
New Marinus.png
A look of indignation flies across her face as she looks at Marinus or rather the animals behind him but since they're both in the same direction, Marinus could only assume the look is for him in all his selfishness. His eyes follow the path of the spear closely as it flies over him and without looking back, he could only guess it might have been towards the animals behind him.

What is this? Annoyance at the dogs not finishing the job?

His body stood still as he felt the slight shake of the ground from the landing. A look of surprise slightly dons his face as he wasn't expecting such a force from her own strength.

Good throw.

When her shoulders rolled back along with the worries on her face as he hears the dogs chase the now-running does, he sighs again like an exasperated sibling at the younger one's gimmick.

And here I thought you understood nature.

Her body tightens up again like it was initially as she moves her way towards him. He takes no steps closer to her but neither further to her.

Great, you're finally paying attention to the actual threat.

"You're awfully sure of yourself, General," she circles him, reminiscent of his earlier actions towards her.

"Who else will have that much confidence in me besides myself in this world?" he gives a nonchalant shrug before a small mutter, "my mom didn't-"

The last few words quickly died in his throat as a look of shock appears on his face realizing what he was about to say. His comfort quickly gets cut off as he catches himself before he gets a little too comfortable talking about... mother. His breath unsteadies for a moment as a look of anxiety flashes across his face. Though his sidestep is faster as he sees the glint of her dagger aiming for his ribs.

"Not the first woman to want that done to me~"

He chuckles nervously but not from immediate threat that came swiping at him. He lets out a sigh of relief, a look of gratitude on his face to her. Being the General really gives no break to being sad sometimes. A small yelp breaks his concentration as he moves his hand quickly to grab her as she launches forward but she remains out of his reach when she scrambles backward. Marinus could only retract his hand and chuckle, seeing that the poor woman in front of him is okay but just shaken.

"I meant to do that," she recomposes herself as if one of those noble ladies who were caught being uncouth in his mind. It's always funny seeing how people recuse themselves after being seen so intimately.

"Sure you did," he throws his dagger up into the air before catching it with a firm grasp, "I'll tell you a little secret."

Gusts of wind blow towards Vilina as if dusting off her body.

"Pissing people off and making them feel off is how I usually win. I get what you're trying to do but the next time you let these animals bother you again is the next time you die," his smile melts into look of concern, a look he usually doesn't don on his face, "I don't save people. I win wars. Casualty or not, I'd hate to see the look of Alder's face if he had known he was responsible for your death by bringing you into this."

_____

When the disheveled woman in front of his doorstep is blonde, blue-eyed, and covered in blood, his first words could only be, "Calli-"

But before his words could finish, he saw her face clearly, all her visage mismatching the ones he was looking for. Her shaking hand grasps a crumbled letter that's just as bloodied and battered as she is.

To King Cepheus.

On the letter was also the royal seal of Zulbric.

Now, how did you get your hands on this.....

His narrowed eyes flicker back to her before a small sympathetic smile appeared on his face, covering up his initial shock and suspicion, "Come on in."

She protests for a moment as she tries to tell Marinus that the King must be given this.

"Of course."

Not happening.

He yanks a rope with a plaque labeled Kerus before he goes over to his desk to pull out a first aid kit. He gently dabs her blood away with warm hands and a careful gaze that studies her wounds carefully. His brows furrow at times but it was more towards patching her up well back to health. Marinus was never the type to know how to bring someone back to full health just only keeping someone alive enough to say goodbye.

The two converse a bit, learning each other's name, exchanges chuckles, one question leads to another as Marinus searches for answers from her but a strange tension never leaves the room... not when Marinus is suspecting her but still having to be kind. Each misstep in his move or a slip of his masks spells the end of their little civility. The last thing he or this kingdom needs is a pandemonium of people screaming war and doing nothing but screaming. It is also why he didn't even call a doctor for her. No one must know.

A knock happens on the door as the two turn their attention towards the door before the tall soldier steps in, "You called?"

Marinus sighs before finishing up the some of the touches before moving the first aid kit off of him, "Only the most trusted can be called for this."

He swipes the letter immediately off the desk and goes over to the soldier. Kerus looks at the woman then at Marinus as Marinus speaks without looking away from blonde woman at all, "Keep our guest entertained and occupied. I'd like us to know her well."

Marinus leaves immediately as the two are left to their own with Kerus giving Maria sympathetic look that is never really too authentic given Marinus' earlier command. Still, he picks up where Marinus left off in caring for her wound.

_____

Marinus marches into the meeting room, his demeanor still the same as usual, his clothes still the same signifying nothing grand. Not a sign of stress or disheveledness, but he'd prefer it that way even if he was feeling stressed on the inside.

Seeing the early Adelaide, "It's pleasant to see you here, Lady St. Claire."

He doesn't offer the usual smile that he would but he does not frown either to her to avoid disrespect. He takes the crumbly letter, still decorated by dried blood, out of his coat and slides it on the table. His hand still remain on the letter, rough fingers flicking off some of the dried blood flakes.

"Please, take a seat. You may want to save the energy from standing to thinking once it starts."
 
Last edited:
fluticasone fluticasone
Virgil Parlton
location
Parlton Palace
interactions
Marinus, Adelaide
Though Virgil had "won" the battle, he lost Lacia's goodwill, the little that existed. With the death of half the demons and the injury of another, she delivered an impassioned speech that quickly, turned into dramatics. He understood despising his decision to slay her brethren--he'd been too eager to push the limits of those demons, who by her admission would not stop until they were destroyed; however, speaking on the relationship between him and his parents was more than enough reason to disregard her ill-informed assessment of the royal family.
Lacia was living proof that too much emotion made you equally weak and short sighted, a trait his parents failed to vet during the betrothal process. In that way, his parents were incorrect. Based on her paternal side, they overestimated her pliability. She had the powers of a demon, the heart of a lamb and the means for sabotage. While he doubted that she would defect to Zulbric, her discarded engagement ring remained proof that her heart wore thin.
Rather than trust Sirius to soothe her or pick a fight with the Queen, Virgil decided to keep the ring in his pocket. It felt more prudent to focus on the war the kingdom was currently preparing for. Not a day after training finished, Maria Woodcrest came upon the castle bearing a declaration of war from Zulbric. Due to her family's past of treachery, the head of the castle guard originally wanted to turn her away; however, the information that could be gained from rehabilitating her would far outweigh the risks of her being a spy.
In the mean time, Virgil pushed himself to continue training until slivers of ice formed across his body. He allowed himself a small amount of respite by visiting Adelaide to discuss logistics, training progress, and for once, not Varik. Rather than the awkward silence that often accompanied longer conversations, he confided the truth that he'd long accepted: people were going to die in the name of Parlton and he would be the one responsible.
Though her words didn't soothe the worries in his heart, speaking with her last night felt more comfortable than in previous years. Even if she were backed by all of Parlton's healers, physicians, and apothecaries, Adelaide was no god. If healing three individuals across the kingdom tired her out, her services would not extend beyond the castle.
And though Virgil address it, he doubted she would leave his side. You always try to follow me, he thought as he entered the meeting room.
"Good morning to you Lady Adelaide, General Marinus." He took a seat at the head of the table before turning to the General. "Do you know if Lady Woodcrest will be joining us?"
 
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