I was in my bed chamber and a few years had passed by, too little to bother keeping track of. Not too much has changed, Vert for some reason is now spending more time in the castle as she has finally moved her headquarters here. It is nice though to see more of her. Kali is still working alongside her, supporting in anyway she can, I told them they can do what they want as long as they put someone competent in charge. They both denied my idea stating they wanted to be of use to me still. I let them be for now.
Jaune has joined The Pillars, she seems whenever I see her to always be raring to go, very energetic. However, I noticed the respect she has for me. Not the normal daemon respect for power but more like her recognising a formidable opponent as one warrior to another type of respect which is refreshing.
As I sit there on the bed there was a light knock on the door. I knew who this was just from the knock. My heart pounded slightly in my chest as I anticipated the visit.
"Get a grip, Gris..." I whisper.
"Come in."
The door opened and in walked Kali, her black as midnight hair flowing straight down her back, her maid attire hugging her slim body and her black eyes that seem to hold so much warmth, a lot directed at me that I felt slightly undeserving of.
"Master, how are you today?"
"Kali... How many times have I said recently to call me by my name while in private?"
"Ah! Yes mas- erm Gris..." She said shyly at the end.
"Better. Come sit next to me." I pat the spot next to me on the bed and Kali seems to hesitate before slowly making her way over.
As she sits down an awkward silence takes hold.
"So, where is Vert today?"
"She is a workaholic. So, trying to improve her spymaster qualities."
"Sounds like her, always trying to prove her devotion... I will be heading out today I am going to go and collect the final piece on my board."
"Noir?"
"Yes, he is most likely getting impatient."
She laughed. "Considering the type of person he is that is most likely."
I nodded before turning from her and looking out the window at the desolate view, then turning and staring at her. I hesitated, before reaching out and stroking her head lightly. She seemed to lean in to the touch of my calloused hand.
"Kali, I am not good at this... At knowing what these feelings are. I never have been and it will take time for me to understand them fully. But know that in the future, when I have made Hell mine and go to the central world, you and Vert will be the first I summon. That day when I make myself known and set down my roots will be the day I want you both at my side not as Pillars or servants... But -"
The words get caught in my throat as I pull away my touch and look out the window again. I hear Kali speak gently.
"I will look forward to that day Gris. I-"
She hesitates. From her body language that I can see from the corner of my eye, it is like she is fighting to say the next words.
"I understand that you feel equally this way with Vert too and I am prepared for that."
I turn back and look at her face, where a pinkish red, has painted itself upon her pale white skin.
"Thank you, Kali." I say with genuine care. "I know I am being greedy but that is just who I am. And I think that is one of the things you love about me." I said in what I thought was a slight teasing tone.
She harrumphed as she crossed her arms and looked away. Trying to act offended. To me though, she just seemed adorable.
Yes. I will build an empire that will last for eons, not just because it has been my chosen purpose in this life or because I am trying to compensate for something that was missing in me, something I denied myself. But now, I want to also do it to be able to share it with you and Vert because you both are that something I was missing. You two give me the love and warmth that I was denying myself because of fear. I thought silently. As I stared at this woman I have shared a mortal era with.
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A few hours later:
A man was seen flying at incredible speeds as he catapulted across the dark and shadowy sky of Hell, seemingly following an energy signature.
The man, Gris, stopped suddenly as he spotted a building that was out of place for the current environment. Like it had been created by magic. He landed right outside and before he could say or do anything the wooden door opened on its own.
He walked in leisurely not even worried if it could be a trap. Suddenly, a voice pierced the eery and quite environment.
"Well if it isn't my favourite past time. Finally decided to grace me with your almighty presence?" Noir said in a overexaggerated bow before sitting at a table. Pointing to the opposite seat.
Gris stayed quite and calm as he walked to the seat. Noir looked at him and an eyebrow was raised.
"Interesting indeed! You not even a century ago, would have for sure tried to assert your dominance for my way of speaking to you. I still remember that time in the throne room." He shuddered jokingly.
"Those eyes though, they were quite... freaky."
"Enough. Noir. Do not mistake my restrained and calm demeanour as weakness." Gris said low and dangerously.
Noir raised his hands in mock surrender. "I know, I know. I probably know more than anyone, well outside of your inner circle that is, what you are truly like. If I am being honest with you if you had stayed as you were I would have denied your offer. Even if it meant my death, though again, I am the only one outside of you and Vert that know we cannot die. Nice bluff by the way."
Gris seemed to show momentary shock before his face went back to its normal expression.
"Where was I? Ah! Yes! I would have denied your so called offer. Yes you have always peaked my interest and my natural desire to learn and experience new things and people. Your power then and as the years went on matched that of Rouge himself. But... that way of thinking of yours. It seemed dangerous and not in a good way. You know this just as much as I."
"And now?" Gris said in a low and steady tone.
"See? Look at that response! Calm and collected, I like that. You and Rouge are quite similar, or you used to be, you know? You both are powerful and confident in your strength but the similarities mentally were where the real likeness was. He was and still is held back by his innate pride. You were held back by your own mental... lets call them issues shall we? I did not want to follow either of you because of this." He said with some unlikely seriousness.
"But now? Now you unlike that prideful idiot, have somehow overcome your inadequacies to a certain extent so far and that has interested me more than anything else. The grand visions of conquest, the power, the benefits of being your subordinate. All of that pales in the face of a Primordial Daemon like you overcoming themself. And becoming a better a version."
Gris seemed to smile lightly. "Noir you are just how I imagined you to be. Under all that curiosity and oddness lays a very intelligent and calculative man. One that I wanted to be mine for centuries. So, what will your final answer be?"
"Yes. Of course it will be yes... Master." He then stood up more seriously than before and knelt before me.
The same gnawing feeling of ecstasy tried to dominate my body and mind as my black claw-like nails dug into my hands to hold it off. Noir seemed to look up at me with a knowing smile.
"Yes master, this is what I want to see more of. That self-control will serve you and the rest of us well in the upcoming era of daemons in the central world."
He paused before continuing "Just one more hurdle stands in your way to becoming the dominant force in Hell. Once Hell is under your full control, we can start planning our dominance in the central world while we wait for the inevitable summoning of those mortals."
"Indeed Noir." Gris said as his breathing equalled out again. "It will be mine for the taking."