After the Ashes
The world came back to Hadrian in a haze of dull throbs and muted colors. He opened his eyes to a faint golden light filtering in through a window, casting soft shadows across the room. The sterile scent of healing potions hung in the air, mixed with the hum of subtle magic pulsing through the walls.
"Oh, look. Sleeping Beauty has finally decided to wake up," a familiar voice remarked dryly, breaking the silence.
Hadrian blinked, his gaze focusing on Hedwig perched on a nearby table, her feathers slightly ruffled and her golden eyes gleaming with amusement. Beside her, Oryou lay coiled with a smirk curling over her reptilian features.
"About time, too," Oryou hissed in a teasing tone. "Do you know how hard it is to watch you drool in your sleep?"
With a soft groan, Hadrian tried to push himself upright, feeling every muscle protest. "Drool? Really?" he muttered, casting them both a half-hearted glare. "And here I thought near-death experiences would bring out some sympathy."
Hedwig tilted her head, her gaze sympathetic but firm. "If you're hoping for a sympathy card, you're looking in the wrong place. But congratulations on surviving, at least."
"Lucky for you, someone was willing to drag you here," Oryou added, gesturing with her tail.
Hadrian glanced around, noting the distinctive glowing runes and soothing ambiance of a magical healing ward. "Where exactly is 'here'?"
"Sankthavn Hospital," Hedwig supplied, her gaze softening. "In Nordhavn Magisk Kvarter. Sieg brought you here himself."
Hadrian managed a faint, grateful smile, his mind flickering back to the battle. "He really carried me out? Guess that guy's more dependable than he looks." His eyes drifted to a nearby table, where two bundles wrapped in cloth lay waiting. Oryou's gaze flicked toward them, drawing his attention.
"He left you a few things," she said, her voice carrying a hint of solemnity.
Hadrian leaned forward, pulling the first bundle closer. He unwrapped it slowly, and the cloth fell away to reveal a collection of twisted, shattered metal—the remnants of Kanshou and Bakuya. The sight hit him like a punch to the gut. Those blades had been with him through every battle, loyal extensions of his will. Now, they lay broken, nothing more than fragments of what they once were.
He traced a finger over the jagged edges, his expression tightening as a quiet grief settled over him. It wasn't just the loss of weapons; it felt like a piece of himself had been left behind on that battlefield.
Hedwig's voice softened. "They served you well, Hadrian. They were part of you."
He nodded, swallowing hard as he wrapped the shards carefully back in the cloth. Finally, he turned to the second bundle, his movements slower, more hesitant. When he pulled away the cloth, a sleek, dark blade came into view—a katana, its edge tinged with a faint, ominous red glow. Energy pulsed faintly along its surface, as though it held a consciousness of its own, waiting for his command.
"That," Hedwig said, her tone shifting to something proud and approving, "is your first Demon Arm."
Hadrian hefted the blade, feeling its weight settle naturally in his grip. He swung it in a slow arc, testing the balance. It felt eerily familiar, like an extension of himself, each movement effortless, each shift of his grip answered with a subtle hum from the blade.
"Not bad," he muttered, giving it another swing, the air parting with a low hiss. "Not bad at all."
Leaving his familiars to watch in silence, he moved toward the window, summoning his well-worn white plastic chair with a casual flick of his fingers. He sank into it, gazing out as the sun dipped toward the horizon, painting the sky in shades of amber and violet. Resting the katana across his lap, he watched the colors shift and fade, the weight of the day pressing heavily on his mind.
Oryou slithered over, curling around his chair. "Sieg left a message for you, by the way."
Hedwig perched on the windowsill, her gaze gentle. "He wanted you to know it was an honor fighting beside you. And he promised to keep your heritage a secret."
Hadrian's mouth lifted in a small, rare smile. "He's got honor, that one."
His gaze dropped to Bradamante, his fingers tightening around the hilt as memories of Jin's wrath flooded back. That nightmarish power, the ease with which Jin had overwhelmed him—it had been a humbling, chilling reminder of the battles yet to come.
"We only won because of luck and a few surprises," he said quietly, bitterness lining his voice. "Jin was barely trying."
Hedwig's eyes narrowed. "Don't sell yourself short. That knight's rage blinded him. You're here because you adapted. You survived."
Hadrian let out a dry laugh. "He was more interested in throwing fists than using his sword. If he'd really wielded it…" He trailed off, casting a wary glance at Bradamante, feeling the latent power radiating from the blade. "We wouldn't have stood a chance."
Meanwhile, in the maze-like alleys of Nordhavn Magisk Kvarter, Sieg walked in silence, the familiar shadows casting long, jagged patterns on the cobbled stones. His mind drifting back to the battle, the thrill of victory tempered by the weight of what they'd encountered. Shadows stretched along the stone walls, darkened further by the faint haze of evening.
His solitude was short-lived.
"Did you have fun?" The voice was dark, teasing, with a hint of amusement.
Sieg stopped, his senses sharpening. From the darkness stepped a striking figure—a woman with short, choppy platinum hair, eyes the color of molten gold that gleamed with a fierce, unyielding intensity. Her armor was dark, almost black, adorned with jagged, flame-like patterns, giving her a menacing presence. A cape of tattered black and blood-red billowed behind her, the fabric shifting like shadows clinging to her form.
"Jeanne," Sieg said, his tone calm but edged with familiarity. "Enjoying the view?"
She smirked. "More than expected." Her gaze lingered on him, sharp and assessing. "And what of you? How was your hunt?"
"Interesting, thanks to a Devil Hunter I ran into. Hadrian Redgrave." His words were cautious, the name slipping out carefully.
Jeanne's eyebrow arched. "Oh? And who exactly is Hadrian Redgrave?"
Sieg's expression didn't waver. "Just a name. I gave him my word to keep the rest to myself."
She gave a short, disdainful laugh, though her eyes softened just a fraction. "How very noble of you."
They shared a silence that held unspoken words, a fragile truce of mutual respect. But the quiet was shattered when both their gazes snapped to the clocktower. Perched on the top was a raven, its beady eyes trained intently on them, a silent observer cloaked in shadow.
Jeanne's irritation was instant. Her expression twisted in disdain. "So much for privacy." She turned to Sieg, her eyes blazing with a fierce determination. Before he could react, she grabbed him by the collar and pulled him into a heated kiss, a mixture of defiance and something darker simmering beneath the surface.
The raven cocked its head, watching them as Jeanne lifted her hand, extending a pointed middle finger at their watcher.
With a flick of her wrist, black flames erupted around them, consuming both her and Sieg in a flash of dark energy leaving behind only smoke. The raven cocked its head, letting out a sharp, dissatisfied caw before taking flight, its form blending with the night as it returned to deliver its report.
In the dim light of Eldrun's shop, Huginn and Muninn settled onto their perches, feathers fluffed and irritated from their interrupted watch. Eldrun, the guise of Odin, stood before them, his gaze piercing as he awaited their report.
The ravens cawed in unison, relaying the events they had witnessed. A slow smile spread across Odin's face, his fingers steepling as he considered the implications.
"So... the two lads are becoming... acquainted." His voice was a murmur, tinged with satisfaction. "The pieces are moving, then. Soon, they'll all be where they need to be."
Turning, Odin's gaze shifted out into the night, his expression thoughtful and calculating, as though already seeing the paths his players would take.