Chapter 27

They met Ulx in his usual frenzy of floating and reading several books, sheets and crooked objects.

"Very good, Seraph, I'll be with you soon."

Those were the token words he'd given Seraph before asking them to wait outside for several hours. Already, Jonn has begun speculating the Lord Crimson had simply forgotten in his haste of very important business and Lavinia's stomach continues to growl. It is only because it was not yet dinner time that she doesn't mind the wait while Seraph's strictly believes this is some test of her worth as a Trirax.

Shaking her head, Lavinia endures her growing hunger with a tree of springing thoughts, specifically savouring the lingering flavours from lunch; a wrap of shredded meat and other obstacles Deran had only permitted her a single bite of. It is a popular choice among even the Trirax and in the settlements of the Caldri and Kimpe, but an expensive one as well. Seraph nigh took off her head when she nearly indebted them to Deran for a mere second bite— Lavinia resolved then to put in as much work as four of those wraps called for, Ulx promised Auramotes for service and this should be the start of her rewards.

While Jonn can't stop pacing and muttering the worst scenarios, Seraph's an unfeeling statue beside her, single eye boring a hole in the wall and fists clenching down on her would-be giddy knees.

Even if she doesn't get to have the wrap tonight, Lavinia does wish a word with Ulx. The start of missions means the return of the GroveStaff and though waiting for a guaranteed meal is mildly annoying, being away from her property this long because she was curious is the true test of her patience. With a breath, she calms down the growl that would bubble to the surface, Ulx is still trustworthy— as long as she can see him, touch him and smell him then there's no need to fear anything he might do because consequences will be quickly applied.

A subtle and sporadic throbbing of her cursed scars remind her where the real trouble is though. Henry Vanavil. His name is the clearest right after Lucy's and her own but his is the only one that incurs a deepening dread within Lavinia's waking thoughts and dreams.

Ulx will know. She tells herself, resisting another urge to growl albeit poorly as her stomach lets its displeasure known a bit louder than her disturbed growls would have. Seraph glances at her, offering a strange smile that doesn't reach her dry eye, "He'll call us in soon, he will, Lavinia."

Lavinia shrugs, it would be another day wasted if he doesn't but at least they'd leave once its dinner time. Blinking, it occurs to her that pacing, panicking Jonn and odd Seraph may not share the same concerns, "Dinner time soon. We'll leave, yes?"

Jonn pauses, looking relieved at Lavinia's words as his own imagination of a trip outside devours him, "Yes, yes? Seraph?"

Head bowed and fists curled Seraph belts out a scream and springs to her feet, arm raised to assault Ulx's tall marble doors only for them to split open and his words sing out, "Sorry for the wait, Seraph Squadron."

Stumbling into the room, Seraph gapes, "Seraph Squadron?"

Jonn and Lavinia trail in beside her, finding the Lord Crimson's chambers even more of a mess than when they first arrived— there's barely a free spot on the floor without paper or splayed scroll or book.

Ulx nods and drawls in a formal tune, "Yes, you have permission to recruit your own demons, Trirax or otherwise to complete your squad and fulfil the interests of your Lord Crimson and Corym's Primes as need be." He half-heartedly shares Seraph's grin before adding, "And yes, you do have a mission."

The newly christened Seraph Squadron lines up at the far foot of his desk, all hesitant to journey any closer as the mess grows complex the closer to Ulx. The Lord Crimson himself looks like he could do with some rest, all three of his eyes suffer the dark shade of sleeplessness, a sentiment Lavinia can sympathize with as Henry Vanavil invades her dreams of late, interrupting the preferred broadcasts of bountiful feasts she enjoyed in the thick of Ruishia's forests.

"I'm hungry." Lavinia says.

Ulx huffs and sinks into his chair, "Then we better get to it then, Commander?"

Seraph snaps a salute Jonn emulates a second later, the nervousness on his face never leaving. Lavinia sits legs crossed on the ground, though very aware what Ulx and Seraph's piercing stares want her to do.

"Can we just…let's…she's that way, sir." Seraph says as excuse for Lavinia.

"It's fine. She wasn't trained and I'm sure a many of the demons you'll come to work with won't be, not all can be Trirax and not all should be. However, it is your job to instill the desired discipline to your recruits, Commander." Ulx says but in the same breath he leans forward and crosses his fingers as his eyes narrow on stubborn Lavinia, "That said, Lavinia is essentially my recruit and she is key to this mission. Take yourselves to the North-Western part of the forest, and I mean North. Map the area to the best of your capabilities and report whatever you find through your rings if you have to, that said, come here Commander, it's time you got a direct line."

He pulls out a ring from his drawer and Seraph happily prances through the sea of paper to exchange the old for new, "Thank you, Lord Crimson I-"

Yanking Seraph close, he taps his head to hers and Seraphs shudders, panting heavy breaths as both her ring and Soul Crystal glow in sync. The light dies abruptly and Seraph stumbles back through the minefield of scrolls and material. She snatches her foot to balance in a hasty salute, "Yes, Lord Crimson."

Nodding, Ulx inhales and taps his desk, "Refrain from combat engagements where you can but in the end it's your call to make, Commander."

Confused, the only thing that makes sense are Jonn's hesitant mutterings so Lavinia announces his muttering on his behalf, "If we have to fight as an official squadron, does that mean we get protection?"

All eyes fall on her and Ulx lets a sly smile reach his eyes, "Yes, Jonn, of course you do. That doesn't mean you're immune though, be careful out there. Meet with Deran and requisition whatever items or weapons you'll need; don't forget you're mapping the area."

Seraph snaps another curt salute, "Yes sir! We leave…now, sir?"

"Yes, now."

Seraph turns on the spot, snatches Jonn by the arm and starts marching out with a barely contained smile, "Lavinia, let's go!"

Lavinia remains seated on the floor, gazing up at Ulx, "Deran doesn't have the GroveStaff. Give it back."

As though returning the favour, Jonn adds, "She means that but she also wants to, uh, know about some curses? I think."

"Yes."

Looking disturbed Ulx lifts a hand warped in mana and pulls out a dark blade from the seamless pocket dimension, "The GroveStaff is with me, yes, as was this. Lavinia's gotten her hands on some very interesting weapons and I've been studying them."

His words mean little to Lavinia but he floats out chair to crouch before her with a contemplative stare taking up the scars on her face, "I've wondered about this curse too, Lavinia, do you mind?"

He snatches up Lavinia's chin, his thumb as long as any of her fingers digs into her left cheek as he pivots her face in circles, "A Soul Reaver, you said? Hmm, well, Lavinia, I've only read so much about Soul Binding. It's a topic of conquerors and oppressors, but I'm beginning to suspect we both have some learning to do for our own safety."

His dark tunes turn cheery as he releases her chin and hovers midway of the tall room, "You're welcome to share my library, I'm certain you can find something about your-"

"The GroveStaff, where is it? Give it back." On her feet, Lavinia couldn't care less about using his library, she couldn't read anything in it either so it was moot. What matters now was the GroveStaff.

Ulx descends gracefully, his shoulders sag and all three eyes peer down at Lavinia in a pitiful collage, "I cannot trust you to return or abide by our agreement, have the dagger, the GroveStaff will remain with me until you stop sizing up Jonn and Seraph each time you're annoyed."

How could he know that? Lavinia's claws extend as she bares her fangs up at the Lord Crimson. He shrugs, "I have knowledge of Soul Bonds somewhere here and I will ready that for you, Lavinia. I only ask you aid Seraph Squad in their missions and you will have both, the GroveStaff and knowledge of your curse."

Lavinia's growls deepened. It is fair enough. She often feasted on them in her thoughts and till now she's only seen Ulx as a particularly strong prey. She's sure in time and with a few generous meals he would be as easy to subdue as Seraph was. The reality before her is different though, the prey is cautious and those eyes belay the same menace she sensed within Ken.

With a grunt, Lavinia recedes her claws and collects the smoky dagger. She sees no need to protest his demand and it serves her goals in the long term as much as the short— by the time she returns to Ulx, she will be strong enough to have her way and the GroveStaff will be hers by force or otherwise.

Seraph coughs, "Can we…go now?"