What is a Man?

XI. A Deal with Death

Summary: A series of somewhat disconnected oneshots that explore the alternate universe life of Hans, formerly known as The White Star of ancient legends. Ancient White Star Hans, Dark!Hans AU.

Warning-torture

XI. A Deal with Death

The White Star had always been able to answer the question of his life's meaning. At least, he had been able to answer it before he achieved his goal.

Alberu Crossman the First's meaning in life had been to conquer the world. That was what he had declared for himself.

He had crushed most of the rebels and subjugated both continents. The remnants of the dragons only consisted of one or two elderly that had hidden themselves in the mountains. The deal with the demons was almost complete.

The world was in his hands. The White Star, called the lord by his followers, could do anything he wished. He had freedom, safety, wealth, fame....

He really had everything he could want and yet, he found himself dissatisfied once he took the time to examine himself.

And he was left wondering. . .was any of this worth it?

—

They had drugged his dinner. He had become too preoccupied with his own thoughts to notice.

He stayed in a half-conscious state as he was hauled into one of the castle's secret passages. His head came close to being knocked against the wooden sides.

He watched with half lidded eyes as they shackled him.

This was...a private dungeon, from what he could remember. It was sound proofed, to ensure that no one heard the screams of whichever special prisoner of war was being tortured at the moment.

They waited in the cold, damp dungeon.

Alberu Crossman the First was able to move his tongue, but refrained from saying anything. He wouldn't get out of this just by insulting his former followers. He thought, while he had the time.

They had reforged the deal with the demons and cut him out. Or, they were going to try to reforge the deal soon and decided to just discard him now. He had served his purpose and perhaps he did not seem willing to go through things. His recent hesitance was seen as a problem they could do without.

A sliver of light entered from the corridor.

"Is this the man?" The new person asked. He had a grin on his face as he walked in the room. He was thin and wiry, deceptively weak looking. "Wow, so many powers," he gushed. "This is going to be painful." He was one of the rare few born with a power. His ability was to steal other people's powers...albeit through a painful process that took some time.

Not giving your torturer a reaction was a noble pursuit. However, it was sometimes impossible.

The White Star, conqueror of the two continents, screamed. His throat went hoarse and his eyes flooded with tears.

Some people feared fire. Some people feared war. Some people feared drowning. The White Star had experienced all of those, but they paled in comparison to the pain that occurred when parts of his soul were ripped out. His very sense of being was invaded and chipped away at, choice parts being broken off to steal or dispose of. It was as if a sick artist was carving into the marrow of his bones.

Hueh walked in after knocking on the door. He was just back from a mission on the Western Continent. His eyes were cold. He stood behind the two that had the light and dark attributes. He seemed to be watching the two in front of him, more than the torture being carried out on his former friend.