The Eighth Sin - 69 A Demon's Pride

A weak voice echoed inside the pitch black.

“Riy…”

The voice echoed again, faint growing louder.

“Riyku….”

It seemed echo once again.

“Riyku!” The voice that had repeated in echo had become loud enough for the person behind called to hear.

Riyku’s eyes shot open, and he sprang up, breathing heavily. A cascade of darkness and stars were within view moments before a familiar and cute face was there. Pink hair and bright-eyed, the kunoichi stood looking over to stare Riyku in the face. Riyku’s eyes widen when he saw who it was and clung to her without wasting a moment. His arms were wrapping fully around her while pushing off the ground as if tackling her in the process. She was surprised that she was hugged, so much so that she was not prepared for the tackle that came with it. “Riyku!?” The pink-haired kunoichi would call in confusion. “Mina!” Riyku shouted at the top of his lungs. Tears were dripping from his eyes. “Mina!” He repeated with an exclamation. “Mina…” He recycled her name again in a more inside voice. Mina could see something was bothering… she could see just how much he was hurting, and instead of criticizing him, she would comfort him—brushing his short hair softly while humming a gentle melody.

“It’s okay.” Mina would speak up. “Everything is okay.” She would add her voice in reassurance. “I may not know what happened, but everything is fine.” Mina would continue. Her hymn gentle and soothing, her words reassuring. Riyku’s sobs and trembling had started to settle. “You are… here?” Riyku would speak up, still a bit in disbelief. Mina would stop her hymn and muse with a light question mark, “Hmm?” Riyku would ask once again, “Is this all real?” Riyku would inquire. After all, he remembered the last thing fighting against the Overlord of Crimson Ash and escaping that place with Instructor Rina and Astraia.

“I am not sure what you mean… did you have a bad dream?” Mina would inquire with slight confusion. Riyku took a moment of silence to himself. ‘A dream?’ He would slowly release Mina and nod at her. “Yeah. A terrible dream. The Neuromorphics attacked our village and killed almost all of our tribe. I ended up sacrificing myself to save the rest of you and ended up in Hell all because something was latched onto me. It was scary. Everyone, there was just consumed by their desires. They did whatever means necessary to fulfill their desires. I was almost used and kill, but…” Riyku stopped mid-sentence when he was about to speak Astraia’s name.

“Ha… So this is where you were.” A sinister voice interrupted the hymn and caused Riyku’s eyes to shoot open just before they closed. It was in-depth and alluring like that of a demon’s. Mina’s voice came with a hefty sigh, and Riyku eyed the person before him. The devil in violet-colored skin, ruby-red eyes, and snow-white short spiky hair, and a single sizeable demonic horn could be seen from the left side of his forehead. A second one was on the right side, but it looked as if it had been cut clean off, so it looked more like a stump than a horn. The demon who was well built, lean but not bulky, and dressed in tattered robes fit for a fallen king of a Netherworld had been standing before them. Sexy and Sinister were the perfect words to describe the man.

“Skeith!?” Riyku exclaimed while picking himself up from Mina’s lap.

“Took me a while to find you, kid. When that bitch used [Time Lock] the first time, I was a bit confused. But, you managed to break free from that time stasis. I was going to help you the second time it came around, but my power had been siphoned; although, it seemed like someone crept in and came to your aid. So tell us who the hell are you.” Skeith would notion with a wave of his chin towards Mina, who was looking downward. Her hymn had stopped, and she no longer held this aura of comfort.

Riyku turned his gaze from Skeith to Mina, quickly he started to back away in disbelief and horror. “W-Who are you!?” Riyku exclaimed with a demand for answers. The would-be Mina sighed heavily and stood up, dusting herself off. She would go for one last attempt to fool Riyku would a smile upon her face, “Mina!” Although that festive look did not fool anyone. Riyku’s gaze of disbelief remained unfixed, and Skeith just crossed his arms over his chest.

“Ah… If only you had stayed out of this. What a mess.” The look-a-like Mina would exhale with annoyance in her voice before snapping her fingers. The scenery around them cracked and shattered like glass to reveal an empty black space. All three of them were standing in mid-air. Riyku had shock and confusion written all over his face, and Skeith seemed amused. “Damn demon…” The look-a-like Mina would mutter before turning on her heel. “Heh, you let yourself get greedy with the body. Should have just stayed put, bitch.” Skeith would call out. The look-a-like Mina started to walk off without a retort but stopped when Riyku called out, “Wait!”.

Skeith shifted his eyes from the girl towards Riyku, who was no longer in child-form, but his proper demon form. His appearance had turned the moment the illusion was dismissed, and even if it was, the girl still appeared as Mina. “Please… who are you? Why do you look like Mina?” Riyku would call out. The look-a-like Mina did not answer; she was silent and would not look back. Perhaps she was in thought?

“You already know my name. You were the one who called out to me after all.” The look-a-like Mina would continue off, fading into the black without another word even after Riyku called out to her again and again. Skeith would place a hand on Riyku’s shoulder. “She’s gone, kid. This is all just a dream. You passed out after getting the girls to safety.” Skeith would comment in a ‘friendly’ manner. Riyku had his gaze downcast. “A dream…” He would mutter. “Of course…” He would make one final remark before light would encompass the darkness—a sadness dwelling within his voice.

Riyku’s eyes slowly opened, the light peering in. Once again, he would sit up, his eyes shifting to each side of the room. Once again, he was alone. A hand came to his chest. “A dream…” He would mutter once again with the same sadness as before. After a brief moment of collecting his thoughts on the ‘dream’ he had, he decided to shake his head free from them. “Instructor Rina and Astraia are most likely downstairs.” Riyku would comment before removing himself from the bed. His bare feet touched the flooring with a ‘pit-a-pat.’ Looking down, he noticed somebody removed his shoes. “Must have been, Astrid.” He would comment with a soft smile. The rest of his clothing was still in place, even if it was in tatters like he had just gotten out of a dogfight.

Riyku would make his way towards the door but seemed to stop the moment his hands touched the doorknob. His pointed ears twitched as he focused on what he had previously heard. It was faint, almost notable, but it was a rough voice.

“Really? We can burn this entire building down if you do want to show us where he is at.” It was an adult male who spoke. Turning the knob, he would slowly open the door and quietly make his way down the hall only to lean against the wall and peer from the railing. There he saw a group of five men heavily armored in black and crimson armor with the Crimson Ash crest on the chest plate. Three of the men had swords strapped to their waist. One of them had a broadsword, and the other, who seemed to be of a higher ranking than the other four, had two long swords strapped to his hips—one on each side. The tavern was filled with patrons who were glaring at these men. Astrid is standing before them with Astraia on the left and Instructor Rina on the right.

“Besides, you mean to tell us that this whore here is regular? Ha!” The man exclaimed with a bold laugh. He would reach out to cup her breast, and Instructor Rina, albeit with a disgusted facial expression, let him. “I highly doubt it. This whore is probably still working at that house after her little day job. Once a whore always a whore, am I right, boys?” The man continued to bolster with a laugh which the others seemed to proceed. Astrid and Astraia were glaring at the men, and the rest of the patrons had a disgusted look on their faces as well. Then, the laughter stopped.

Astrids and Astraia’s eyes widened in surprise. Instructor Rina seemed to step back, and the patrons within the Tavern had various looks of shock. The man’s arm went flying. Three of the guardsmen drew their blades, while the now armless man flung back with a shriek. The man with the broadsword caught him and started to use some kind of healing spell. Riyku was standing in between the ladies and the soldiers. A long sword covered in demonic blood, which he angled at the three men. “Leave.” Riyku’s eyes, which were once pure and warm, were cold and dark. They peered at the group of five. “That’s him, men! Catch him! Kill him! Do something!” The armless soldier exclaimed, and the three charged at him.

“Why….” Riyku would mutter to which no one could hear him. However, Astraia and Astrid managed to catch that single word. Quickly Riyku would bring his long sword up to parry away one of the soldier’s swings. He was tripping that soldier while passing by him only to brush aside the swing of another sword with his right hand-claw and slash at that soldier’s throat. He was getting the thin blade entirely in between the creases between the helmet and the chest guard. He left the sword there since removing it would be a hassle at the moment. The next soldier who came at him decided to kick in the stomach while avoiding a slash. That soldier was sent towards the tavern door. Turning around, he would make his way over towards the other soldier and stomp upon his back, forcing him back into the ground before leaning over to remove the helmet.

“Why….” Riyku would mutter again as he picked up the soldier’s blade, which he dropped and placed it against the soldier’s neck while grasping his hair, slitting his throat and killing him off. He would release the corpse and turn around to hear a battle cry along with an overhead swing. It was the soldier he had kicked earlier. Man must have some good recovery to be on his feet and attacking again. However, it meant little when Riyku stopped the swing with his left hand by catching the soldier’s wrist only to counter by slamming his right hand-claw through the soldier’s torso and began draining him off his Essessence until the man was nothing more than a shivered up sack of flesh and bone.

“Why….?” Riyku finally called out while looking at the remaining two. Removing his right hand-claw from the armor and releasing what was left of the wrist came with the clanking of armor against the flooring. The more bulky man drew his broadsword with a determined face, but his expression shifted when he saw something… abnormal.

“Riy…” Astraia murmured gently as she saw it.

“Riyku…” Astrid did the same, holding her hands together.

“….” Instructor Rina was silent, but she saw it as well. As did everyone else. Riyku had tears streaming down his face. The entire time he was crying. “Tell me, why can’t you all just leave us alone? Why do you all seek to fight? Why do you all desire death? Why do you all desire power? Why do you all desire to hurt others? Why?” Riyku would repeat, over and over as if he were broken. The ladies could see it. Astrid and Astraia knew it more so than anyone else in the room. They knew just how much Riyku was hurting. How much he was suffering. They knew he did not like killing. They knew he hated taking lives. They knew it well.

“Silence! You want to know why!? Because you are a threat! You have harmed the Overlord of Crimson Ash! You have disrespected him! You will be sentenced to death! That’s why! Curse your own life for even existing!” The man who was holding his limbless arm in pain shouted hysterically at Riyku. “Kill him! Kill him now!” He gave an order to the soldier holding the broad sword in both hands. Riyku looked at the soldier, who looked at him and tightened his grasp on the hilt of his broadsword with both hands. Riyku would cast his gaze downward. Tears still falling from his cheeks. “I just don’t get it…” Riyku would mutter as the man charged him, bringing the sword overhead and downward. The blade stopped just before impact with Riyku’s head, though. Several shadow tendrils had pierced through the solider, draining him dry and then retracting back into the shadow. Now there was one soldier and a room full of stunned personal.

“Of course you don’t, kid. Over the past year, I have come to understand a bit about you. You were not meant to be here. Something happened, and someone forced you here. However… Look…” Skeith’s voice peered inside of Riyku’s mind. Riyku could tell which direction Skeith was asking him to look in, and there he saw the final soldier shakily drawing his blade. “Demons are prideful creatures. Most will continue to fight on even in the face of death. Others may not but will surely come back with a vengeance. Even if you spare one, you will surely end up with a lot more trouble later than it is worth. That is just how things are in the Underworld. There is no law. No rule. Demons are only after one thing, what they desire. That desire may morph and change over time and even if it is fulfilled. Demons will find a new desire. It is a neverending cycle. The only freedom is death.” Skeith would finish, and Riyku would kick up the broad sword, catch it by the hilt, and cut down the soldier that charged at him.

Riyku held no pride in what he had done. There was no confidence, no glory in his eyes. There was only sadness. He truly disliked killing. Even when he was in the Hunting Party, he opposed it. He only killed when it was the only option left. If he could reason with wildlife or others, he would do so. But here, there seemed to be no reasoning. Riyku would drop the blade down on the ground and move towards the bar, only to take a seat at one of the barstools. No one said a word; no one made a move. They just waited. They did not know what to expect.

“Tell me… Why are you all here?” There was no threat in Riyku’s voice. No malice. He wanted answers. That much could be understood from his tone of voice. Finally, one person spoke. “To be able to relax and have a good meal.” The voice was shaky, but it was from one of the regulars. Hell, all of them were regulars, but this person, in particular, was a bit older and wiser than the rest. “Boris…” Astrid would murmur as she looked at the old demon in traveling clothing.

“I see… Then forgive me.” Riyku would stand up and make his way towards the door. “The longer I stay here, the more trouble I will cause. I overheard their conversation. They were looking for me. I do not wish to cause you all any further trouble. Thank you for everything you have all done for me…” Riyku would comment, and just as he was about to push out the doors, Astraia and Astrid both called his name in sync. He stopped but did not look back at them.

“Riyku!”

“So you are going to run away?” Astrid would inquire.

“You are just going to walk out?” Astraia added.

Riyku trembled. He could hear the emotion in their voices. They were upset but worried. They were scared but concerned. But most of all, they did not want to lose him. He could hear it so clearly, that it caused other tears to stream down his face.

“What are you scared of?” Astrid would ask.

“What has you so terrified?” Astraia would ask.

“We won’t understand unless you open up to us, Riyku.” Both Astrid and Astraia spoke in sync.

Riyku did not make a move, nor did he speak a word. No one did. Only, Instructor Rina; “Riyku. I have only been around you for a short amount of time, so what I am about to say may mean nothing to you but… Are you going to walk away? Sure, when I read over your file, you were a complete mystery, and I did not know what to expect, and yes, when I heard what you had, I was scared. But as I learned more about you, I realized that you are not what I once thought you were. Yes, learning about the most recent things connected to you was frightening, but I have had time to go over those thoughts. I had time to reassess what I learned and compare the information. Riyku, you are a great demon!”

Riyku’s eyes widened, stunned in awe and shock at what he was just told. He did not understand why, but the emotion he felt was… relief.

“So, if I learned all of that over a few weeks, I am sure that everyone in this room which has spent longer with you has already made up their mind about you. That you are no trouble.” Instructor Rina would finish off with a cherry on top. Everyone in the room started to agree with her. Astrid and Astraia began to smile, and tears began to form as they saw just how resolved everyone was. “Riyku.” Astrid and Astraia called out to him with open arms as if asking him to come towards them. Riyku stood, his face looking at the door with his hand still hovering against it. “I…” He would mutter. “I…” He would continue. “I will–“