“Hehahahaahaheheheeh- *hack, cough*! Zavus, your mine- *cough* now! How does it feel to be- *wheeze* enslaved?” I was practically hysterical, already thinking up many torturous scenarios for Zavus.

“…Bro, that beast can speak?” Was all that Zavus said in response to my crazed question. Bro? Who is?

“It’s a manna spirit you putz. You let your greed get us into a lot of trouble, you know? Do you even know what punishments you receive from the gods for summoning a manna spirit?” Ira was the one to respond. Wait. Ira and Zavus are… BROTHERS? But, Ira sold out Zavus so easily… and they look nothing alike, much less from the same species of demon!

“Ah, well I guess I will have to give it up then… At least no one else will ever have it…” Zavus solemnly shrugs.

“I swear, sometimes you sound exactly like envy.” Ira responded with an irritated gesture of his hand.

“Kwon-si.” Zavus spoke. As soon as that phrase had finished a ring made purely of amethyst shattered into a beautiful dust, and along with it, the band around Zavus’ neck and the ring in my claws.

“W-what? But… My plans…” I hung my head in sorrow. It was a glorious opportunity, and it vanished like a short and sweet dream.

“It’s ok Veloth, we can get back at the idiot later.” Ira consoles me, patting the back of my neck… feels good.

“A little lower, Ira, just between the shoulders… mmm, yes…”

Zavus looked at us like we were mad. What? I can’t help it. I can’t explain it, but it feels irresistible when in my natural form. That aside, what to do about Zavus? I need to get back at him for taking my chance at a, at least somewhat, proper childhood.

“I can’t forgive what you have done to me Zavus. I WILL punish you, mark my words.” I warned him as we moved on toward Pandemonium. Even though Ira was so willing to assist me with Zavus, knowing they were brothers made it difficult for me. My morals may be tainted, but they are not so depraved as to pit family against each other. I will deal with you later, alone, Zavus. As we passed Zavus, he had a look of resignation about him. I wonder if it’s because his brother sided with me? Or perhaps this talk about the god’s punishment? Probably both.

Upon reaching Pandemonium, Ira guided me to… the throne room? Wasn’t there supposed to be some sort of request to receive us? Seems like a pretty lax demon king. Ira thrust open the massive ornate pearl double doors the lead to the throne room. The throne room, unlike the rest of the castle, was entirely made out of pearl, ivory, and white marble. It was a massive contrast to the rest of Pandemonium.

There, I saw the demon king, err… Kel’thul, was it? He sat upon a throne made of a dragon’s up-turned skull. Embedded in the skull’s eye sockets were a massive ruby and a massive sapphire. Each fang of the skull was capped in silver. It seemed appropriate for a throne, and surprisingly, didn’t appear too gaudy.

Kel’thul wore a robe of the darkest black I had yet to see, as though any shadows in the room were created from it. It looked soft, but simple. The king himself had pure white skin – you couldn’t call that pale. Was his skin made of bleached paper? His eyes were completely black- sclera, iris, and pupil were all the same black, and you could not tell where one began or ended. His hair was as orange as… well, an orange, and it was waist-length and thick. Upon his right ring finger was what appeared to be a signet ring. He had short ivory claws protruding from his fingers.

“Ira! I told you to make an appointment to come see me! For fucks sake! Do you not learn?” The king immediately lost his cool, and was shouting at the top of his lungs at Ira. Ira just shrugged and continued to saunter right up to the throne’s pedestal of about 10 steps, I right behind him.

“Well, this is important after all.” Ira nonchalantly responded to Kel’thul.

“The last time you said something was important, you ended up taking half, HALF, of the army to catch a wild boar! I’m not giving you a single soldier this time! And where is your personal guard? I heard reports saying they were not seen with you! They’d been with you a mere two weeks!” The king had left all pretenses of a kingly posture the moment Ira had entered. The guy was furious, and he seemed to have good lungs.

“Oh, them. They died.” Ira now seemed a little anxious. I guess this is a reoccurring topic for them.

“By the gods Ira! Dead! WHAT IS WRONG WITH YOU!? What compelled me to make a fool such as yourself a general is beyond me!”

“It’s because I am strong!” Ira proudly replied… Yeah, that’s kind of all you got going for you buddy.

“You are an imbecile who can’t hold onto a weapon nor a soldier! First of all, how did you even manage to break the god-hammer Indissolubiles!? That was crafted by a god specifically to be indestructible!”… This seemed like it would go on all day, so I should probably jump in here somewhere. *gulp*

“Um...err…, my liege Kel’thul? I am Veloth, and Ira brought me here to introduce me to you…” I stated hesitantly.

At once Kel’thul stopped screaming at Ira, and spared me a brief glance of surprise.

“Ira. Did that beast speak to me? Telepathically? Pray tell, what is its species?” Ira was sweating bullets now.

“M-manna…spirit…” He could barely mumble those words out. Immediately after, it seemed as though Kel’thuls hair became flames and his eyes glaring black holes.

“And how did that creature come to be here, Ira?” His voice was dripping venom.

“Z-Zavus! It is most definitely Zavus’ fault! He performed a summoning!” Ira blurted out. He looked like he wanted to be anywhere else right now. Is Kel’thul really THAT scary?

“Zavus? A summoning? You brothers…” Kel’thul calmly repeated Ira’s words. He no longer looked to be angry.

“Ira, bring Zavus back here immediately. I am going to punish the both of you.” Kel’thul simply stated with a smile, displaying rather large and viciously pointed teeth. He seems to have gone beyond the point of displayable anger and came full-circle. Is he a Tarkatan? Shokans and Tarkatans, perfect. The punishment is probably going to be a brutality, announcer and all.

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