Calamity

A R C I. | S C E N E I.

Scene I: Affairs of An Innkeeper

Cold smoke kept crawling up on one’s spine as they descended to Eladrin. Enormous dark-painted buildings framed Eladrin’s streets, most of them reaching the sky. Their walls were all thin and nasty traces of destruction and claw-marks decorated them all. There were parts of downtown where you could feel that chilling sensation creeping up on your back from knowing you are just having been watched from a shadow. A shadow: somebody or rather, something is lurking toward you.

All sorts of monstrous beasts wandered around the only “civilised” part of Hell. Despite what certain saints deceived mortals with, Eladrin very well was the home of cold-hearted delusions and monsters rather than sinners’ souls. Mortals had no idea what actually happened to Lucifer – now a low-life murdered angel once in the so-called god’s favourite one – , or any other entity mortals were so fond of when it came to story-telling. His remaining body parts were scattered on random walls throughout the city, some had been munched and eaten. The smell of rotten flesh thick at every corner wherever one goes.

In the parade held by the Dead Realm, ruled by Lady Celestia the goddess of the Dead and the Afterlife, a man slipped out of the crowd. His delicate chocolate skin and short, fair white hair gave it away in a mere second to anybody serving in the East of the Mortal Realm who he was. His slender figure and lively purple eyes were all tell-tales as well as his clothes; a bleached tuxedo with occasional purple lacing on the sides, and a flawless white trench coat made of thick fabric and pure, milky lace. A swordsman, a tiny bit more talented than a samurai would be. A little more secrets he held than one would think. And he was gone in a flash, teleporting away in a fraction of a second.

Wariness masking his features, he stepped out at an ordinary wall of a small-town building, sliding his hand to his katana while taking cautiously light steps to a ryokan. He was very well not taking the risk of getting an Eladrin creature onto mortal lands.

The nameplate read “A Thousand Stars Inn” at its gate. Although the handwriting wasn’t quite distinguishable from natives’, the man’s classy handwriting reflected on the plate.

The inn had traditionally been decorated with beige walls and dark wooden gates stood idly by. Two lanterns hung by themselves, emitting dazzling light into the early night sky.

His firm grip melted away on his katana as he stepped into the hall, head bowed slightly at his employees.
“Good evening, Vanitas-sama!” Greeted a lady not more than forty years of age, bowing to him deeply.
After a swift exchange of greetings the man discreetly asked the lady, “Where’s Kazuha?”

Upon getting to know the youngster didn’t even leave his room, Vanitas headed upstairs on the crooking wooden staircase, and knocked on a door, right after a second he stepped in without excusing himself.
There wasn’t any use for that anyway.

The aforementioned boy was nowhere to be seen so taking the initiative Vanitas checked the whole room. A few seconds later a shadow came upon the corner of his eyes, soon accompanied by a glum remark of, “You’ve left again Vanitas-san.” Nonetheless to the boy’s feigned distaste he went over to the swordsman and threw a death glare at him, crossing his arms in feigned annoyance. Unsurprisingly, Vanitas stayed unfazed by his attitude.

“I clearly told Kazuha he cannot come with me – it’s dangerous.” Said the man, then paused as his gaze fixated onto a reddened part of the boy’s clothes. “Were you wandering around?”