The broken gear

Instructions

-Inside-

"I do what I do for a reason, to help you all," Death explained, "Although, the frequency of my appearance will definitely shorten. There will be a few exceptions along the way, however."

"I see, so you just want me to kill everyone there?"

"No, not all."

"So, who?"

"You should know them when you see them."

Thomas looked at his reflection in the crooked blade as it seemingly shimmered in the darkness.

"It's fine if you can't do it, I'm sure your friend will be able to find someway to do it."

"No, I can uh, I can do it."

"It doesn't matter as both of you will be able to save them."

"Save them?"

"Yes. Trust me, it's better to continue with the blade than to let them live."

Thomas took a deep breath while holding the dagger with both hands.

"There's someone here."

"What?"

"You heard me."

"Where?"

"Outside. In your yard."

Thomas felt a jolt of panic. Was he being broken into? It would make sense with all that he encountered.

He then blacked out. He woke up in his room. He felt something cold and heavy in his hand. It was the dagger. He gripped it as he turned on his lamp and room light. He pulled the curtains back barely noticing feathers and a robe behind some trees.

"They won't try anything with me here," said a voice from behind him. He let go of the curtains and turned off the room light before turning back.

The figure stood in front of him, the antlers almost touching the ceiling.

"When will I go to the place?"

"Soon."

He looked back outside. The figures were gone.

"I would recommend preparing yourself. One can never know what might happen."

"Will anyone get hurt?"

"That is not up to me?"

"What will we face?"

"A few things that might change you as a person. For the better or worse," it said as it looked to the sides of the room.

Thomas thought about this for a moment. The event would likely be inevitable. Yet he hoped it wasn't. He figured he should prepare for the event. He decided he would do so first thing in the morning. As of now, he would try and rest, he did feel tired after all of this of course.

"I'm going to rest, I'll prepare in the morning," said Thomas as he placed the dagger on his desk next to his bed.

"Good luck trying," the entity said as it faded into the darkness once Thomas turned off his lamp.

-Nelle-

Nelle was in her room practicing light constructs with the curtains closed and the door locked. She tried to make more complex constructs but decided to focus on smaller ones. She stopped when she heard a noise outside. She peeked outside and could see an angel and demon. She was shocked. She could tell that they were having a conversation. 

She made a small sword more akin to a dagger than a traditional sword. She attempted to listen but couldn't make out what they were saying. She stepped back and put her hands together near her face. She tried to focus as a small orb in her hands started dimly glowing. She continued to focus. She tried and tried but it was all in vain as it dissipated before her. Frustrated she walked around the room as she tried to figure out what to do. Just then, she could see them hide behind some trees. A faint light could be seen on the grass. She could tell it was coming from the window next to hers. Thomas' window. He must be awake. She decided to watch for a while before the light turned off. She saw them go their own way after a while. 

She went back towards the center of the room. She cupped her hands over her eyes before seeing a fainted yellow light. She tried to see into what dangers the future would hold. The light stayed consistent before seeing faint blobs of colors acting as a blurry image. She could hear disoriented voices but couldn't make out what they were. She continued to concentrate before seeing the destruction of the North American continent. She grew in rage as she tried to focus on the cause. Her anger caused the image to form cracks. The frustration was enough to disrupt the image causing a blurry face in the rubble. She saw the face looking around. She decided to check to who the face belonged to cutting to a demonic entity engulfed in pink flames. She kept seeing cut after cut to each victim of the demon's slaughter.

She had enough and stopped cupping her hands. She couldn't belief that that demonic piece of filth would do something so horrible. She placed her hands over an empty area in the room before a solid circle illuminated before an angel rose from the light. The angel was a few inches shorter than her. The top of her head reached Nelle's nose. She bowed once the light dissipated.

"How may I be of service, my goddess?" the angel said.

Nelle clenched her fist as the angel finished the sentence, "State your name."

"Azora."

"From the Hunting Sect, am I correct?"

"Yes."

"I need you to keep an eye on any out of the ordinary activity in North America. Specifically any imbalances caused by demons."

"Of course," and with that the angel proceeded to glow before fading.

Nelle proceeded to go to her bed and fall asleep.

-Valeria-

She paced around her room about her family's extended stay in the manor. She hoped the maids and butlers were alright. She often conversed with them and usually got advice from them. She hoped that her sisters, Valerie and Mary would hold up well in the manor.

She heard a noise from the front of her window so she peaked through the curtains. She saw an angel and demon arguing before a dim light shined onto the grass. It must've been Thomas' window. She quickly closed the window before heading ton the center of the room. She held her necklace and pointed at the wall which producing a translucent red circle that allowed her to see into Thomas' room. Nelle's as well, just as a precaution. She saw a tall entity that looked to the angel on its left before it looked back at her. 

She immediately closed the circle covering her mouth with her hands. She took a few deep breaths to calm herself down. She looked back to the window and saw that the entities were gone. She decided to go to her bed rather than look at the rooms again. She wanted to get information out of the others but didn't know how.