Servamp: In Our Next Life

The Theater of Greed

The boy groaned as his sight returned, his body aching like he'd been fighting some vampire in an alleyway. He was lying on his back on the floor, hands still in his hoodie pocket but now he forced himself to get to his feet.

He was standing in the middle of a stage- a concert hall or a theater, he couldn't tell- maybe both. The audience seats in the dark before him were empty- he was alone. The pieces of a human-sized white crystal ball still stood at the edge of the stage glinting in the blinding stage lights.

"Goddammit!" the boy snarled to himself as he hopped off the stage.

He flinched as his sore feet landed on the floor but he paid no attention, instead dashing up the staircase between the audience seats. When he reached the top he grabbed the door handle and pulled as hard as he could.

Locked.

...he could kick it down.

The boy took 3 steps back paying careful attention to where the edge of the step was.

He then ran at the door footfirst.

The door didn't budge, but the boy did. The force of his kick launched him back down the stairs and sent him crashing into the foot of the stage.

"Ow... dammit... I break outta that stupid ball thing at last and now this garbage..." the boy muttered sitting up carefully. He looked up glaring at the door at the top of the staircase.

Well.

After this long, he knew more ways to break something than just kicking.

~○●○~

None of them had worked.

The boy was thoroughly exhausted, hurt and gasping for breath. He had tried everything he could think of- slamming his body against the door, prying the door with smashed wooden planks and crystal pieces from the stage or throwing them at it, wrenching and pulling the handle and just flatout kicking it harder.

Not a scratch.

The boy was about to try again when his body finally gave in and collapsed into the nearest audience chair.

"Jesus fucking christ..." the boy muttered. "I guess even angels like me need to rest sometimes..."

...wait.

Was he an angel?

Who was he again?

What was his name?

The boy groaned, screwing his eyes shut so tightly his forehead creased. He muttered, "God fucking damn you... we're not doing this again you damn demons I fucking refuse..."

He remembered arguing with someone about his identity while being trapped inside that ball, fighting like all hell and heaven to be heard but... who'd he been fighting with? Why? And for how long? Why couldn't he remember if it'd been hours or years? Why couldn't he remember where this place was?

A music tone came from below him.

The boy turned to see a piano had appeared onstage.

He didn't know why, but something compeled the boy to sit down at the piano. He felt in his element at this seat, like everything in the world was suddenly okay. Like he was doing exactly what he'd been born to do.

He began to play a tune he couldn't name, but knew by heart.

As the music flooded his senses, he remembered voices from long ago... ones he hadn't heard in so long...

"You did amazing Licht! A talented pianist just like your mom!"

"Licht honey... I know it's scary... but I'm sure you'll be great up there. You've worked so hard for this."

"Promise me you'll never stop playing... okay Licht?"

"Bonjour Licht! I'm here to help you spread your music across the world!"

"A- ah- Licht-san!! Didn't I tell you not to eat the cake yet?!"

"LICHT TODOROKI THIS IS MY DAMN HOUSE- I ORDER YOU AND GREED TO STOP FIGHTING RIGHT NOW!!"

"Licht! There's an entire world out there waiting to hear you play the piano! What were you gonna do if you injured yourself fighting like this?!"

"Thanks for your help Licht-san!"

"Ah hahaha~ Licht-tan~! You love me really~ don't you Angel-chan~?"

"Are you alright, Licht-tan?"

As the last note fell and his hands rested lightly on the piano keys, the boy smiled and closed his eyes.

I am Licht Jekylland Todoroki.