A Pact With The Gods

As the sun rose, the Ghost was in the courtyard honing his skills, the Grand Demon Army of the Demon King was spying on him. All of the demon knights eager watch him train. As he set down his hammer, the Ghost began to pull in massive amounts of energy into himself. His muscles and body pushed to their limits as he compressed the energy more and more. 

Sir Ghost, how is that you are able to wield such power? As a mere human from beyond the barrier, I was told your people lacked the ability to harness magic.

You would be right if this were magic Captain Revos. However, this isn't any such thing. Tell your other eyes to have a seat and I will tell you the story of how I became like this, how I became the Ghost of Ottawa.

As the knights sat around the Ghost, he took a deep breath and closed his eyes.

In order to understand my story, I must start at the beginning of my life. As a child, I had a good family, good friends, and a great life. My family existed in a time where nobility was only classed by wealth, but our family had helped build and mold Ottawa as the state grew and matured. I enjoyed the hard work that I did alongside Archie. He taught me many valuable lessons and the value of what happens when we, a popular family, helped those around us with the idea of compassion rather than flaunting wealth. 

The Ghost paused a moment, his eyes still closed as the memories ran across his mind as if he were watching a movie.

Once I had achieved my teenage years, we'd moved out of the city limits into the nearby countryside. That my eager demons, is where I saw the divide within my family. You have all met Archie, my grandfather, but none of you met my father, and you were all spared from meeting my mother.

The demons looked confused. In their species, female demons were powerful, but none of them could leave a mark on the high ranking males of their kingdom. I don't want to sound rude... started a demon knight, but how could one woman influence you and your family?

It is rather simple knight, she commanded a different strength. Although not physical, her mind worked in a way that would rival the greatest minds of your kingdom.

The group gasped in shock.

I was raised on the principles of Loyalty, Honor, and Justice. However, my mother found out, I would call out injustices as I saw them, even against her. My mother wanted absolute control, control over the family and she soon made it her goal to hold control over me. You see, I wasn't born into the family, I was adopted from a troubled family, a family that was less than reputable. I had known this for quite sometime, however, I took the lessons I was taught to heart, which made me her enemy. I stood up to her time and time again, yet my father was always the one to punish me for my voice. So as a teenager, I stayed silent most of the time, simply observing everyone and that's when the fire of rage was first ignited. I was told to contradict myself, call out injustice and wrongs amongst my peers and stay silent at home. I couldn't keep my mouth shut, after all, it would've been an insult to Archie. 

So what happened?

Things hit their breaking point when I saw my mother raise her hands and voice to her own mother, then tell me to stay quiet. I was raised never to lay a hand on a woman, I was taught I was the ultimate offense. I instead raised my voice. I should've stayed quiet, because at that exact moment, I became the object in her way. For the next five years, she tore at my mental armor, trying to breach the walls of my mind's fortress. She had decades longer to build her fortress within her mind, but she hadn't thought that everything I had been observing would've been my counter to her attacks. While she employed my father to harm and restrain me physically, she continued to chip away at my friends and my own mind. Finally, I had enough. I enlisted in the Grand Army of the United States, Ottawa's parent country, and trained not only my body, but also my mind. My instructor saw the fire within me had begun to consume my soul, eating away at me as I had been unable to fully unleash it. 

The crowd of Demon knights nodded and remained focused on the story.

My instructor began to teach me how to truly become a reaper. I broke my body and mind so that nobody else could. However, at the end of my training, I was severely injured and discharge from service. Upon returning to the castle my mother called her domain, I contemplated and even attempted to take my own life...

SIR GHOST! Why would you?

I say no way out, but it was Busch who reminded me of what I was fighting to protect. I saw to it that I never attempted anything of the sort for at least the next few months. One day, that wicked woman ordered my father to restrain me, as he began to, I took a deep breath, I remembered my training. Once my back had arched, I began to fight back. I used that fire that I'd been stoking to fight. Once I had overcome his strength, I broke free of his grip, and shoved him backwards. He tried to come at me once more, but with a regrettable hit to the face, he stopped. He was startled that I'd actually hit him. I told him, "You will never lay a hand on me, EVER again." For the first time, my mother and father had seen the results of my training and the results of keeping me silent. 

You...Actually hit your father?

I wish I hadn't at times. It was too far in hindsight, but within that moment, I had never felt more seen or heard. I saw for the first time the power that I could command with that rage, so I allowed it to flow freely within my body and mind. From that day onwards, my father refused to put his hands on me. I kept fighting to honor my teachings and to repair my reputation amongst family and strangers alike. 

As the Ghost told his story, Demon Lord Kazuto and Nolan walked up.

Captain, what are the knights doing?

Lord Kazuto! We are listening to the Ghost tell us about how he came to wield such power. 

I know this story.

You do? 

At least I should, if I am to call him my best friend.

And what makes you say that?

I witnessed much of his younger rage. The fire behind his eyes, the cruelty of his mother... I'm not sure I would've handled it better. Although, whatever god made him, must have shook with fear when they saw what kind of monster his parents had turned him into.

The three turned and tuned into the story once more.

So, when did you realize your power fully?

One day, at this time I was living with my grandparents, Archie and Patricia May. My mother, losing control over me, decided to try and exert control over them. I could sense it, feel it even. When she twisted her words and tried to make me into a monster from their view, I decided to give everyone a front row seat to my power, my rage. When my father tried to stop me, Archie stopped him, allowing what came next to pass.

The Ghost closed his eyes and bowed his head.

She came at me with her twisted tongue, spouting lies and words of terror. When I saw this, it was as if I grabbed that very tongue and staked it to the table, as a trophy for everyone to see. I showed my friends, and family the incredible rage all at once. My first and only time of full release. She was a force to avoid, however, I revealed myself to be a tidal wave of death. As I stood up from the chair I was seated in, everyone went quiet, she fell silent. I looked her in the eyes and spoke the words I had been dying to tell her for ages. "You don't scare me, I'm not the child who had to run and hide anymore. I will not back down from this. Should you continue your foolish endeavor, I shall make it so you cease to exist within memory and physical form. You have been warned in front of friend and kin. I will not bow my knee, I shall crush your empty heart you pathetic excuse for a human being. I AM THE MONSTER YOU CREATED AND THE BANE OF YOUR GOD-DAMNED EXISTENCE! YOUR SOUL IS MINE AND I SHALL DRAG IT TO THE DEPTHS OF HELL WITH ME!"

The Ghost's body had become enveloped within an aura of rage. The knights gasped in awe as he pulled the rage back inside of himself.

Well, what happened after that? 

Well, we ceased to speak. It wouldn't be until the death of Patricia May that I would have ever found a reason to be proud of that family, my father specifically. 

What did he do? It seems to me he was partly responsible for your rage.

Yes, he was. However, Patricia May was his mother. When she died, my mother boldly tried to influence Archie, trying to extend her dying influence. However, my father, who I had seen as spineless and cowardly, finally found his voice. He stepped up to her, told her that her words have no place within such a somber setting, and her advances to gain influence were foul, rotten to the core, unlike Patricia.

So, in the end he stood up to her. What do you think of him now?

If he were alive... I'd be alright standing beside him. However, I wouldn't forget what he did to me.

The Ghost stands up and takes off his shirt. To the demons surprise, he was covered in scars and blemishes.

He did that to you?

Some of them... Others were mental wounds that manifested a physical wounds. New bridges could've been formed, however, scars of this magnitude aren't so easily forgotten. 

As the Ghost put his shirt back on, he looked over to see his best friend.

Nolan...

Why did you never tell me?

I didn't have the heart to ruin the image you and your family had of me old friend. 

Don't be like that. You should've told me.

Looking back, I should've. However, knowing you, you would've gotten involved and she would've targeted you. 

Nolan stopped, his mouth unable to form words.

I should be off, I have duties to attend to. Demon Lord, Captain, thank you for allowing me to tell them my story.

As the Ghost walked off, training resumed, however, after he's rounded several corners, the Ghost began to cough. He tried to stifle it, however, he coughed up blood and collapsed to the ground.

What...the actual hell is happening?

Be still, I can help you?

Who are you? Why is so bright?

I am Arvos, God of Fire, and to my left if Mithos, Goddess of Reincarnation.

The Ghost was speechless. 

I've had my eye on you for quite sometime. said Metos as she knelt down and cleaned the blood from his hands.

Am...am I dead?

Heavens no. You just entered a state that we can speak to you. 

Why would gods want to talk with me?

We have a proposition for you....