Visions of Beyond

[Trydian]

Trydian was used to form fitting clothes and he had no idea how to put on their traditional uniforms. The power from the Magatama pulled him forward, but it was in an unexpected fashion. Chizuru's sudden change, caused him to reconsider entering. He could feel the power emanating, literally calling to him in a sort of ethereal way. It was all unnerving, but there was no other option for mending his soul.

Chizuru's voice was like a guide, beckoning him come closer to her. Without fear, he touched the translucent stone, feeling its power course through his veins. The warming sensation happened first, followed by an almost instantaneous sense of serenity.

Trydian didn't feel weak, but the sudden calmness forced him to kneel in front of Chizuru. His eyes were closed, his body locked down from responding to the outside world. He would be able to hear her, but she would be the only one controlling the ritual and his actions.

[Kirin]

"Do you feel that sense of tranquility?" Chizuru asked. "That is the Kirin, speaking to you. She is not related to any sort of religion nor does she represent light."

Chizuru's eyes closed and after Trydian touched the stone, the stone emitted a light that was flickering like fire. The "fire" spread across the room and shadows appeared on the walls. Various spirits appeared in the room. Each spirit was female, all emissaries of the Kirin's teachings. They were all different races and classes, as well. The spirits sat peacefully, each with the warm, content smile that Chizuru seemed to always have. They sat still, watching the pair. A pair of hands held one fragment of Trydian's soul. It was a piece of a blue-ish orb. Another pair of hands produced another piece. The other six emissaries stared silently at the ritual, fading in and out of existence.

A pair of reptilian eyes appeared behind Chizuru. They were open, watching Trydian. A reptilian tail wrapped around Chizuru's waist. Chizuru moved her hand out to the left and a fragment of Trydian's soul was placed in her hand. It floated above her left hand. She did the same with her right hand. The creature appeared behind Chizuru fully and the spirits of the dead emissaries disappeared, forming into the body of a Kirin. A pair of hooves appeared on either side of Chizuru. Slowly, she began to bring the two soul fragments together. As soon as they moved closer, light streamed from the fragments and both fragments were surrounded by the orange and green flames. Both fragments were being mended, which would be very painful for Trydian. No physical marks of pain would appear on Trydian's body.

As soon as the flames swirled away, they were absorbed back into the Magatama. The Kirin let out a satisfied sounding huff, which blew Chizuru's hair into her face. She smiled, feeling very euphoric. She giggled, not because Trydian was in pain, but because she felt genuinely happy. A peace filled her body like none she had normally experienced. There wasn't a care in the world for her.

The Kirin spoke to Trydian directly. "Once you take your hand from this stone, your soul will be put back into your body."

Chizuru looked down at her hands, which were now both glowing from the contact with Trydian's soul. The bond would be stronger than before. Her fingers moved slowly, mesmerizing her. The Kirin nuzzled Chizuru, who fell over, laughing. The Kirin disappeared, back into the Magatama and the Magatama's glow dimmed. Chizuru was looking at Trydian with a smile.

[Trydian]

The instructions sounded so simple, but the pain escalated when he barely removed his hand. The sensation felt like hot oil being poured over his chest. His breath was quickly knocked out from him, forcing him to inhale and writhe in agony. Blacking out would have been a sweet release, but his mind was quickly invaded by memories. There would be no mercy with the ritual, it was a painful reminder of who he was. Mending souls is never an easy thing to accomplish, yet Chizuru had done so almost effortlessly.

Memories of Sebilla flashed in his mind, including his own hate and resentment toward her. At least by being half of something, he would have lost some of that connection. Now that his souls were being forged anew, it was coming back with a tenacity he hadn't foreseen. The memories halted with Sebilla and transitioned to his moments with Chizuru. His mind fell at peace, following the melodic sound of her voice of command.

With the demonic soul returned, his senses became hazed. Chizuru giggled in the background, his mind feeling as though it had been thrust into some type of wonderland. He wanted her and only her. Trydian would make sure that she was his and no one else's to claim.

Trydian wouldn't be able to move, his body still riddled with pain, but his mind would be filled with a surreal clarity. After a few moments of recuperation, he slowly joined her side. The bond was there, but something else as well. Chizuru was in an odd state, her nature causing him to rethink his actions. She was in some sort of euphoria that he couldn't reach.

“Be with me, Chizuru. I want you to be mine.” Trydian watched her reaction, but he more than likely wouldn't remember his own words the next day. He felt himself begin to faint, the blackout a welcome relief.

[Kirin]

She placed the Magatama in its box and when the box closed, the engraving on the lid faded. Chizuru told the guards to return the Magatama to storage. She ordered food as well then turned to Trydian. She was about to reply when he blacked out. Chizuru just tilted her head and laughed softly. She sang softly, mostly to herself and an unconscious Trydian. Once the maid appeared, she ordered one of the guards to appear as well.

With a smile, she told him that she wanted the Imperial Artifacts moved and she wanted replicas put in their places. Chizuru's food came and it was clear that she wasn't sharing. Chizuru picked up a bowl of rice and began to eat. While she spoke to the guard, she made sure to keep her speech low until the guard rose and ran off. The castle seemed to now be in a frenzy and all Chizuru did was watch over Trydian while she ate.

Once he would awaken, the candles were dim and Chizuru was still eating, now moving onto eating raw fish with greens seasoned with a citrus soy sauce.

"How do you feel?" She knew the answer would be obvious. A maid filled a cup of tea for Chizuru and retreated away from her.

[Trydian]

Trydian's sensitive ears picked up the hurried sounds of footsteps and a familiar voice. Waking up slowly, he vaguely remembered the ritual. Trydian only recalled the onslaught of pain and hysteria. Chizuru then asked how he felt and that was when he was reminded of his question to her. He would pretend like it never occurred. Smelling the food made him practically salivate. Trydian hadn't had a chance to feast on the guards she had promised him, but he wouldn't dare take her food from her.

“Hungry...what's going on, are we under attack?” Trydian asked, catching glimpses of people hurrying around each other. The atmosphere felt tense, as though he should whisper his thoughts. His new body felt renewed, his demonic senses in overdrive.

[Kirin]

Chizuru smiled. "Oh, no. We're not under attack." She continued eating. "That ritual made me sooooo hungry!" She said with a soft laugh.

She seemed to be avoiding Trydian's question directly. "Can you stomach this sort of food for now? Because I'm still not going to watch you eat a dead body." Chizuru was still smiling.

Everything was numb and she was still in a state of euphoria. The Empress felt a lot lighter than before, having expressed what was on her mind and she wouldn't let Trydian know about things until something came up. The guards were still moving around quickly, ordering each other around.

"They're preparing for our wedding, Trydian." She picked up a piece of fish and slurped it down. Her eyes left Trydian's body and the maid retreated to grab more food.

"The Empress is hungry," the maid whispered, not knowing of the ritual.

Eventually, the maid returned with a soup of fish, vegetables and noodles. The soup was in a large enough pot for sharing. There were two bowls and the maid served both Trydian and Chizuru regardless of whether Trydian could eat the soup or not. It was just what she was trained to do. She poured tea for Trydian and retreated again.

"Aren't you excited for our wedding?" Chizuru seemed genuinely serious. Her eyes held a gaze of what appeared to be love.

[Trydian]

Trydian gaped at her, while she comfortably ate. When the maid whispered to him, he felt as though he were invading her privacy. Eating the meal quickly, his awareness returned, but he could hardly speak. He hadn't expected her to agree to it, considering the state of mind he had been in. Trydian ate from the bowl until it was empty, his nerves were too bound to really enjoy the meal.

Sipping on the tea, he stared into its depth. He skillfully ignored the guards and maids, who constantly bustled about and attended to their empress. Trydian didn't think he had to express his excitement, but he was surprised to see genuine fondness radiating from her. If she really wanted to marry him, than why should they wait any longer?

“Let's get married tomorrow then. If they're already preparing, it shouldn't be any trouble.” Trydian said, getting up from where he had been resting. The tea had been abandoned, but hardly enjoyed. When he did declare feelings for someone, it was always genuine. Part of him dared her to test him, wondering if it was partially an act, but the other half hoped it was a sincere gesture.

[Kirin]

Chizuru's eyes focused on Trydian suddenly. She paused with her mouth full of fish. Closing her eyes, she swallowed. A blush colored her cheeks and she felt maybe a little sick. The blush drained from her face and it paled. She thought of marrying Trydian and was wondering what that would be like. She had to come up with a response quickly.

"You..want to marry me?"

Her voice was edged with disbelief. He better not be lying. Chizuru put her bowl down gently and looked up at him. "I was halfly joking about the wedding thing, but we can prepare for a wedding. We should give it a few more days. I have to attend a couple of funerals. How about a week? All right. The guards are rushing around to clean the mess that was made in the castle tonight."

She was serious about giving things a week. She didn't expect Trydian to immediately be ready to marry her. They hardly knew one another, but they were forever bonded. They could never leave one another. In a sense, they were already married.

"Do you wish for me to send for your family?"

What she didn't want was for Trydian to explode. For some reason, Chizuru thought that would happen.

[Trydian]

Trydian thought about his response and listened to hers. He didn't pace, but stood thoughtfully. She hadn't exactly changed her mind, yet she appeared to be stalling with the ceremony. That was fine, he could wait it out. When she asked about his family attending, he looked toward her with a disgruntled expression.

“I'd rather not, but I don't need my mother hunting me down for not inviting her. You can contact her.” He said, giving her the name of his mother. He wondered what his families reaction would be. They would more than likely consider him insane, or abandoning them. Sebilla wouldn't support his decision, but he was here to make Chizuru happy...not his sister. Suddenly, his appetite returned and he ate the remaining food provided. He would have to go hunting that night, considering he ate three times as much to compensate.

Trydian felt awkward, as though he were being watched by all of her servants. If he were going to be with her beyond the bond, he would have to get used to the atmosphere. He felt more shock, rather than confusion, or resentment toward her decision.

For the first time in his life, he felt home. When he was near Chizuru, he felt as though she thought of him as an equal and not a servant. He hadn't forgotten about his reason for being there, but everything had just shifted to the edge.

Walking back to Chizuru, he kissed her deeper than before, making one of her maids regret her presence. “I will be out hunting while you arrange everything. I don't want you to see me in a blood rage.” Trydian left her with those words, but it would be something she would have to adjust to- especially if they were going to be married. He would be hunting almost every night, fueling his demonic tendencies. The marriage to a demon, was not meant for the weak hearted woman.

[Kirin]

Chizuru nodded. "Very well. I will send for a messenger." She smiled slightly.

Her body tensed as he kissed her, even deeper than before. Her heart raced and she held onto Trydian. She returned the kiss, but soon relaxed as he broke the kiss and she let him go. "I'll be here. I'm not sure if I will be awake, but I'll be here." At least she'd keep that part of her word. Chizuru smiled as she watched him leave. After slurping down a bowl of noodles, she turned to the maid and in the native tongue, she spoke in a hushed voice.

"Get me the Yata no Kagami." She needed to know. She needed an answer.

Once the Yata no Kagami was brought to her, she took it and carried it to her chambers with an escort of bodyguards. The palace was still brimming with life. Chizuru was used to this until late in the night when the servants slept, but the bodyguards always remained awake. She clutched the mirror tightly to her body as she walked. The mirror was warm to the touch. She needed to know certain things and her intuition was still telling her not to trust Trydian despite the now more powerful binding. She knew he was being honest with her about King Pendaran. She knew he was being honest about the family.

The messenger, a teenager by the name of Yuji, knelt down behind a screen.

"I need to take down a message for me. I will tell you where once Trydian returns, so stay here, please."

Chizuru told him what to write, and the teenager wrote quickly. The wording was formal, but rather blunt, as was her style. Chizuru laid in bed and idly began to talk with the boy. The boy seemed full of life, much like many of the people in the castle. She asked of his studies and she asked about his master.

"Makoto-sama is as stubborn as ever. She's been having a lot of the apprentices paint rather than learn the sword or polearm." He stretched. "It's rather tedious."

"I'm sure there is a purpose to her actions." Chizuru clung to the Kagami tightly.

Once Trydian returned, a guard was waiting to escort him to Chizuru's chambers.

[Trydian]

Trydian found his own euphoria with the hunt. Chizuru would never know he hunted her own people, except maybe from reports of a random murder. The kill had been quick, but not necessarily flawless. His blood lust had taken control, forcing him to unleash his strength and fury on the villagers. After he feasted on the bodies and gorged on the blood, he returned to Chizuru finally satisfied.

Bathing first, he watched the water turn red from his efforts. Maids and guards alike, were too afraid to assist him, even though they knew of his relationship with Chizuru. After his gorging, he wouldn't have to feed for another couple of weeks. Unfortunately, he hadn't crossed paths with any vampires, or he would have been sporting their teeth as trophy accessories.

Trydian got dressed in his new uniform, noting the difference in his ability to hunt more efficiently. He could move at ease, the outfit less cumbersome than his usual armor. Retreating from the bathhouse, he was quickly escorted by a silent guard. Keeping pace, he wondered if something had happened during his absence. He had only been gone a few hours, but the guard wasn't letting go of any information.

The guard brought him to Chizuru's chambers, disappointed that she had company present. He was hoping that they would have some private time together. Nodding at the boy, he looked at her with a puzzled expression.

Eying the object Chizuru clutched, it gave off a wary aura that made him stop in his tracks. “Who's the kid? What's that thing?” Trydian stared at the Yata no Kagami, with an intensity expected of a demon who had just fed. It appeared to be a simple mirror, but Trydian felt something alarming emanating from its aura.

His eyes went from her, to the object in question and back again. Was she tricking him? Trydian felt like going into a stance, but decided to act nonchalant about it, regardless of his questioning.


He couldn't doubt her now.

[Kirin]

"It is called the Yata no Kagami. It is a mirror that sort of allows me to see into the future." Chizuru's expression was grave. So much different from before when she couldn't stop laughing. "Perhaps this is paranoia, but we can avoid the whole 'Look into the mirror' thing if you answer me honestly right now."

Yuji looked between the two, feeling quite awkward.

"Will you ever betray me to anyone? I demand complete loyalty. I will treat you as you deserve to be treated, but it's just plaguing my mind. If you now or have ever had plans to betray me or take anything else that belongs to me, I demand to know the truth." She clutched the mirror tightly still. The mirror was still warm within her grasp. "I will tell you anything you want to know. I will give you my undying love and affection, but if I feel that I am going to be betrayed, I'm not going to go any further."

She glanced at Yuji. "Oh. This is Yuji. He's just the messenger I sent for. He will be letting your mother know about the wedding."

Chizuru looked like she was thinking about Trydian for a long time after he had left.

[Trydian]

Trydian tensed, watching the mirror as if it were sentient. Looking toward Chizuru, she held his gaze, rather than the object she cradled. There was good reason for her suspicion, but that had passed after being in her company. That wasn't to say he would be sin free, but he would find it difficult to plot against her.

His words escaped him, before he had a chance to realize what he was confessing. “I was plotting with Nicoli, or Del'Taro as you know him. I feigned my defeat, so we could steal the items together.” Since she had sent Nicoli away, he had not been able to share any vital information with him. He doubted he would be able to have gone through with it- although it had been tempting.

Trydian wouldn't go near her, with the mirror in her possession. It acted as a shield against him, surprising him with its magical properties. When he saw the doubt in her expression and eyes, he felt a sudden heaviness in his heart.

“I am not betraying you now...I do want to be with you. I do not give my loyalty to just anyone, or my love.” His words were soft, his movements still. “I told you that I would kill anyone who tried to harm you, or betray you.” Through the dimmed lighting, his eyes flashed an animalistic crimson. Trydian watched her carefully, waiting for her response.

[Kirin]

Chizuru's head tilted slightly to the side. She couldn't hide the immediate hurt from her gaze. It soon faded as she looked away briefly. The minutes of awkward silence that followed everything that Trydian had said seemed to be agonizing. Even for little Yuji, who had no idea of what was going on. The woman's mind was working, trying to figure out what to do or say. She bit down on her lower lip, chewing on it on thought. Such a strange habit for her.

Her head bowed and she finally spoke. "Fine. I appreciate you being honest with me. Here is what I desire." She faced the mirror so that Trydian and herself would be reflected upon its surface. "This mirror is sentient, but it doesn't speak exactly like we do. It merely shows us things if we let it see us."

Chizuru's gray eyes studied Trydian for a moment. "I wish for you to swear to me your loyalty as a knight would. In front of Yata no Kagami and in front of Tenzo no Yuji. I will give you my heart, my love for you unconditionally if you would do this one thing for me."

Her eyes were red, but she was not crying.

[Trydian]

Trydian kneeled, keeping his head bowed. It wasn't the first time that he had been sworn into something, but rarely had he done it for love, or to prove himself to another. Bowing his head, he spoke to her and ignored the boy. The mirror was no longer threatening, his mind concentrating on words meant to be expressed. It was as if they were sharing vows, but he knew it was an oath to the empress.

“I pledge my undying love to you, through flesh and spirit. My loyalty will never falter, or sway onto another path. I, Trydian Xanathi, give my word to always protect you above all others.” Trydian didn't move, or dare speak after his oath was given. Yuji would be a witness to his change in character. There wasn't anything else to say, so Trydian waited for some sort of judgment.