The Arcana ~ The Requiem of Lost Memories

XXI- The World ~Upright

1. At long last

A figure slowly melts from the shadows, perched on a sarcophagus.
It lifts its head as we approach, and offers us a familiar wry grin.
"Ah, you are here, just as he said.
Countess. Magician.
And... Oh! The Count too? What a surprise. Ah... And a murderer."
For a moment I don't recognize him, for his visage is so twisted.
But it is unmistakably Consul Valerius, idly sipping from a wine glass filled with a black liquid, watching us in the candlelight.
All around him are skeletons in ancient robes of office, gilded and bejewelled, peering at us through through lifeless sockets over his shoulder.
I could swear I saw one of them move, leaning slightly towards the Consul, but it must have been a trick of light.
Nadia blinks a few times.
"Valerius. How... unexpected. And what, exactly, are you doing here?"
She very carefully avoids the topic of his appearance.
"What am I doing here, in my estate, you ask? I wonder. Perhaps I am scheming up a revolution to depose you."
He arches a brow, looking down his nose at us.
It seems, whatever Valerius has lost, his pride is still firmly in place.
I clear my throat.
"Consul Valerius. We are not in your estate."
Lucio shrugs.
"Not unless your estate is now filled with skeletons, Val."
Julian scowls.
"Honestly. After everything I've heard and seen about him... It wouldn't really surprise me."
Valerius stares blankly at the six of us.
"What are you talking about? Of course we are in my estate.
Class must be very foreign to you, Akiko, not to speak of the Doctor here too, so that you do not recognize it when you see it is not much of a surprise.
However, I expected more from you, Count. You had taste."
Nadia arches a brow at the remark, but looks otherwise only faintly amused.
"I see, we are in your estate. Then tell me, dear Consul, what room are we in?"
"We-"
Valerius pauses, glancing around at his surroundings as if seeing them for the first time.
When he answers, the words are slow and unsure.
"The West Parlor..."
Portia looks at him.
"Err, well. Look closer, Consul."
He gives her a startled look and then glances around the room once more.
I can see the moment he realizes. He almost drops his wine glass, eyes wide in horror.
Portia places her hands at her hips.
"There we go."
Nadia nods.
"It took you quite long enough, really."
"What...? What is happening to me?
What...am I?"
Nadia sighs deeply, but the expression on her face is not unkind as she next speaks.
"When did the Devil come to you?"
Valerius takes a deep breath, reeling back at the question.
"So it is true then..."
"What is true? What happened to you?"
Valerius swallows hard. His hands are shaking a little.
"...Three years ago. He came to me in a dream... But he was a man just like any other. It was right after you fell into your three year slumber, Countess. I was about to become acting ruler of Vesuvia.
I... I was scared. I was inheriting a city on the brink of collapse. I didn't think they'd accept my rule."
Asra scowls.
"So you accepted a deal?"
"........Not just one. With the time, it became easier. Just small concessions, little things here and there..."
Portia looks upset.
"Why the hell would you think that this was a good idea?!"
"I just wanted things to be orderly! I wanted structure! People are so chaotic, so unpredictable-"
Julian pierces him with a glare.
"You let the poor starve in the streets and their homes flood!"
"They should have thought of that before they became poor!"
He snarls, visage growing more ferocious. The corruption on his body spreads more, starting to engulf the last brink of humanity he has within himself.
And, like a ghost caressing his skin, I can see the hint of chains binding him.
I fix the Consul with a long, neutral stare.
"Look at what you have become, Consul Valerius. You are barely human anymore.
You are on the brink of losing yourself completely."
"....... I don't think I was always like this."
Nadia gives him a look.
"Well your personality always was a little... trying. But no, you were not always this cruel.
Luckily for you, there is still a chance to redeem yourself."
"...How?"
Emi steps up, hands at her hips.
"You simply need to ask my sister for help."
She gestures towards me, and I can see Valerius swallowing hard, conflict clear on his face.
"....
I am scared. And I do not want to be like this.
...Please, help me."
I nod, summoning the power once again to my fingertips.
I can see the chains more clearly now. They look brittle...
As soon as I reach out and my fingers brush over them, they crumble and dissolve into dust.
This dust now whirls in the air, blotting out my sight...