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***
... There's been a difference since last time, and not a small one.
If before it had been a mishmash of black images, in which he could only vaguely make out human figures, now he could distinguish approximate silhouettes. No, earlier he could logically assume that the larger phantom was a man and the smaller one a woman. But now he could even approximate the style of clothes, of course without colors and details, but progress.
This time he managed to identify two figures in some kind of closed, windowless room. The sparse flickers of some kind of space on some parts of the walls could indicate the presence of some kind of candles. Not certain, but very likely. Around the two persons was a light clutter of various equipment and numerous notes, which most likely these figures had arranged.
The room was vaguely familiar. He was sure it was the same basement where he'd found the silver medallion. He couldn't say for sure, but his gut, which was already giving off some incomprehensible decoded signals, was telling him so. There were more and more questions about it, by the way.
The first figure is definitely female with long hair and a slender figure. Suspiciously slender, indicating possible supernatural origins. The second had short hair, taller than the first, but not by much. Most likely male. If you look closely, you can see a sword on his belt. We assume that these events took place not hundreds of years ago and conclude that this is either a cosplayer, which is very unlikely, or a person who can do various gypsy tricks with this very sword. I mean, it also has something to do with the other side of the world.
«I'm sorry, Masaomi," the female figure snuggled up to the male figure and began to cry. - I'm sorry that I'm such a mediocre person! I'm sorry that my weakness didn't work out!
«What are you saying that for? - It was obvious that the man, presumably Masaomi, was barely holding back himself, but he didn't let such an emotion take over due to the presence of the girl. - Cleria, we both knew what we were getting into...
«We don't have any more options! - She tried with all her might to comfort herself against his figure. - They'll kill us, Masaomi! The Great King has already figured me out!
Cleria, who was probably her, cried even harder while Masaomi tried his best to comfort her. A real aura of despair hung between them.
«Я... - Cleria wiped her tears with her sleeve and pulled out the cherished medallion, which could be seen incredibly clearly. He was the real oddity in this surreal picture of dark images. - This is the locket my brother gave me, it is very dear to me. Maybe it will bring you luck," she gently placed it in Masaomi's hands. - They won't let me go, but I can still run from them. I'll distract them, and you run.....
«What are you talking about, Claria?!
Masaomi's shout was full of indignation and betrayal. It was obvious that for him to even hear such a thing was an insult.
He gently took Clary's face in his palms and looked straight into her soul, judging by her abruptly interrupted sobs.
«I love you, Clary," he told her in a heartfelt tone. - Do you?
«Of course I love you too, what kind of nonsense are you asking! - Indignantly she replied.
«Then let's do this," he carefully stepped away from her to walk over to a nearby box.
Emeric immediately realized that there was really something wrong with this particular item. It was as if this thing was the most important piece in this mysterious puzzle.
But, to the demon's displeasure, Masaomi did not open it, but placed Clarya's locket beside it. He stroked the box thoughtfully one last time, then walked over to Clarya and hugged her tightly, the love that was evident in his gestures.
«We'll give them a fight, right now," he dictated his intentions confidently. - You'll see, we'll win, and then," he looked back at the box. - We, as winners, will return for our things and together we will flee to the other side of the world. No one else will be able to dictate to us who to love.....
With the end of this confident speech, Masaomi and Claria kissed affectionately and lovingly...
... He did not return to the club room as he had expected, but found himself in a huge throne room.
The details were also unclear, but he could make out the huge columns that ran along the hall. Another curious detail was the absence of a ceiling. The columns went so far up that he couldn't see the end of the room.
And at the end of the hall, a figure slept on a huge throne. A cascade of vaguely familiar sensations began to assault his mind. He couldn't decipher them, too unfamiliar to his young mind.
The figure opened its eyes.
Gold.
Golden, incredibly clear, just like the medallion from the vision of Claria, amidst the dim surroundings.
They inspired Power. They inspired Awe. But most of all, they inspired an inner Knowledge that simply made him freeze in place.
The lips of the figure on the throne barely opened.
«Early...
«...yourself, Emeric-sama!
Akeno slapped his cheeks in panic and pleaded for him to finally respond.
«Finally! - She pressed his head against her chest.
He recovered somewhat, getting rid of the buzzing in his head, and looked at his hand in bewilderment.
Instead of the familiar locket, all he had left was silver dust. There wasn't a single piece of the previous accessory, just dust that had already managed to seep through his fingers.
«I was so afraid...
Emeric finally turned his attention to his bishop. Akeno was stroking his head with two running rivulets of tears on her face. She hugged him and was afraid to let go, as if right now he would pass out again.
He lifted his hand and stroked her cheek with tenderness.
«Sorry to make you worry.....
*****
The term "Yamato Nadeshiko" can be used to describe an idealized image of a woman who embodies traditional Japanese values such as meekness, obedience, respect for elders, and caring for family. That is, a description of the ideal in the eyes of a Japanese man.
To those around her, Akeno always appeared in this idealized image. She was perfect not just physically, but also in her character. That was the first layer of her mask. So to speak, for strangers.
The second layer of the mask was a flamboyant sadist who hated the fallen, even though she was half of them. She was merciless to her enemies and never showed weakness. Such was the way she was known to superficially familiar individuals.
But the real Akeno was none of those things. She certainly had the characteristics of the first two images, but you can't just make up a "mask" out of nowhere, it had to be based on something.
But in the real environment, Akeno was as fragile as porcelain glass.
It didn't matter exactly how she'd gotten to him. It wasn't the most interesting story, though it was still peppered with some curious details, really nothing close to the fake Hell epic. You just had to know that the Akeno he was just recruiting was diametrically opposed to the Akeno who was currently sitting with her back to him with her uniform down to her waist.
She was unsociable and didn't trust anyone but him. He had to sleep with her for the first six months because she cried at night and called for her mother.
And there was a peculiarity about her that he couldn't eradicate even years later.
She hated to reveal her wings.
In fact, every Biblical Faction has a specialty and that is wings. Angels have them like birds and demons have them like bats. Why is that? I don't know.
Depending on the strength of their wielders, there may be several pairs of these wings. It can be considered that six pairs of wings, that is, twelve in total, is an indicator of strength above the highest rank. They, by the way, have a purely decorative function. That is, they are a consequence of strength, not a cause. The wings are not even necessary for flight, in the sense that you can learn to fly without opening them.
Pretty much everyone in the Biblical Faction has these wings. And Akeno, as a half-fallen and reborn demon had a rather interesting mutation. One half of her wings were like demons, the other half had a pinnate covering, like fallen angels.
It didn't make any difference to Emeric. Wings and wings, so what? They need them like men need their nipples. Just a useless vestige left over from a fickle thing like evolution. Or in their case, theology.
But to Akeno, her wings were just her worst enemy. It was as if, once she saw them, everyone else would just start stoning her, she was so afraid to reveal them. Her hatred of the fallen and the inner complexes that had developed because of her mother's clan's bullying played into it. It's a fiery cocktail.
So sometimes, to help her blow off her inner steam, like now, Emeric made her open her wings and show them to him. To keep a complex like that out in the open so it wouldn't fester.
«Don't," his bishop grumbled uncharacteristically. - So you want to beg my forgiveness, Emeric-sama? First you make me scared half to death, and then you humiliate me?
He stroked her angel wing affectionately.
«No need to belittle yourself, my little angel," he smiled at her displeasure at the nickname. - Your wings are beautiful, as are you....
She wanted to pull away, but he hissed preemptively, thus forcing her to stop.
«They're ugly," she muttered resentfully. - So am I...
He sighed tiredly. And so every time, year after year, she refused to listen to his assurances.
What did she say? The very thing that will seal the bond between you two?
He slowly hugged her from behind to put his palms on her flat tummy, just under her bare breasts. Emeric lightly kissed her neck from behind a couple times, and Akeno couldn't resist, she just melted from his caresses.
«You are the most beautiful angel that walks this world... - Akeno reached her hand to his hair and started stroking it. - You are unique, there is no more perfect combination of tenderness and fierceness...
He began stroking her belly affectionately as she moaned lightly. His bishop's red cheeks were also in the palm of his hand.
«Let's consider this round taken," the usual mischief and flirtatiousness returned to her voice. She pulled back her wings and turned fully toward him, showing off her magnificent breasts in all their glory. - I made arrangements with Valerie yesterday that we would be alone in the club room tonight, yes it's exactly what you think," Akeno began to slowly unbutton his shirt. - 'Despite some unforeseen circumstances...' - She shot her beautiful eyes judgmentally. - I haven't canceled my plans yet. Especially you were so persuasive now that a defenseless and modest Japanese girl like me had no chance....
The atmosphere began to heat up to unbelievable heights.
«So what are we going to do today, my lord? ~
***
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