Monarch Of Darkness, Arsene

"Little Bro!" I shouted, leaping upon Arsene's back, "What you up to?"

"Bloody hell, do you have nothing better to do?" He angrily asked, vanishing from my hold. Catching myself in the air, I grinned, flashing my teeth towards him.

"Nope, and what's with that permanent scowl? I have not seen you smile since I came here."

Rolling his eye, he eyed me, "I do not do that anymore."

"Yes, yes, by the way. Why have you not gone to see Lilith?" I asked with a smile, knowing I was stepping on fragile glass.

"Eroma," he patiently said, yet I could feel the rage growing within his heart. "I think you need to go."

"Afraid not! I am here to get you to speak with her.." I shouted, stepping up to him with a solemn expression, "Or are you afraid to? I hear soul bender can communicate with one another, that you are never separated."

"This time we—"

"come now, little bro, I know when you lie. You are scared, and you're hiding something. I believe she will more than be joyful enough to meet you during her torment."

"I cannot; Sitri has her. Any forceful forms of communication will be for not." He pitifully said, getting a cold punch upon his head.

"Tell me the truth," I demanded, punching his head once again. "Why everyone is brushing around the bush with you is a mystery. I have known grey for a long time. I know what he went through, and I know what she means to him. You would not be this sain if she was fully disconnected."

Pushing me away, his eye turned into that of a stranger. Pausing for a second, I snorted, sending a cold punch towards his face. I knew he could dodge, even kill me with a simple slap, but he remained still, allowing my fist to land.

Touching his chin that had begun to bleed, I frown, knowing that it should not have been enough to make him bleed.

"I am communicating with her, but it's faint. My eyes... there is a reason they bleed endlessly. I am taking her pain. We share an emblem. Her's are in mine, and mine is in hers. That is all I can do for her. She is not alone. The other part of me speaks with her every day, sharing everything."

Gripping his shirt, I suddenly began to smile, "Is that truly it, Arsene? I think there is more to it. More you are not telling me. I figured something like that out quite easily. While I am not as smart as you or grey, there is one thing you don't all have that I do."

"Oh, and what is that my dare uncle," he mockingly asked with hollow eyes.

Crashing my head against his nose, I grinned, enjoying his blood flow from my head, "I know when a fucker is hiding something from me. Now tell me, Arsene, we are family. Lilith aside, why even bring us back? I had thought Father or grey would ask, but no. They are blinded by what you are giving them, but I am not."

Staggering away, Arsene sighed, showing no signs of pain, "You truly are annoying. But I can also offer you something."

Pursing my lips, I shook my head, "No thanks, I am good. I take what I need. Shit, just a few hours ago, I got rejected by Elsa."

"Still pining over her? You were like that even at the auction house." He mocked, pulling out a bottle of wine. Healing his injuries in an instant, he poured me a glass.

Eying the scarlet liquid in my cup, I looked up towards him, "Arsene, I want a job."

"you have a funny way of showing it, but I figured as much. You have grown into Nascent soul, quite a feat for a rogue cultivator, but you cannot do anything within my kingdom."

"I know, but before you say anything, tell me why you brought us back?" I hastily repeated, almost getting sidetracked. No doubt his way of tricking me!

Sighing, he swelled the entire glass, "Because when Lilith is back, we may be broken for a while. We will need time to recover, and you three are the only ones I trust. I will not speak more about it." He grimly said, pouring himself a glass.

"you're going to die," I whispered, whirling the wine within his glass.

"In a sense... maybe."

Lowering my head, I frowned for a while, "Then I will tell you something. When Sitri..."

Entering that realm of darkness once again in an instant, I shivered, watching Arsene stare at me with frightening eyes. Gulping down, I continued.

"Sitri and that woman, Freya's mother. I didn't quite get her name. They know each other. I don't know-how, but I think they are in league with each other. I think you should call Freya back."

"how do you know of this?" He asked with a heavy heart.

Hastily shaking my head, knowing he was alluding to some kind of betrayal, I retreated away, "hold up! It's a god-given gift. I can always tell if someone is hiding something. I've had it since birth, and it's how I found out about grey's wife. Everyone tried to hide it, but I sniffed it out. To put into words simply based on their real actions, I can tell what's going on, where I know it or not."

"Sitri eyes never landed upon Nerthus... but maybe something else did." he hushedly whispered, "I think I do have a job for you, Eroma. Have you ever had your own organization?"

"No, I was far too irresponsible too."

Flicking me back in the head, he chuckled. "Than this will be hard, at least for you. Tell no one, not even grey or myself. But I wish for you to be our protector. I want you to create a Secret Order within Vaevictis. That reports only to you. Use those that are loyal, not to you but to what we represent.

"And what is that?" I asked, getting a bitter gleam.

"why to keep the order of our land. I may be king, but times are changing. Not everyone can simply be turned into my slaves. I need you, Eroma, to be our eyes, our ears, and our Shield. You are our hidden Blade and Shield."

"Me? Arsene, are you high? Did you put something in that wine?"

Rolling his eyes, we reappeared within his chambers, "I see why grey held you so close to his side. Good luck, and remember to tell no one."