Chapter 14

The Caster sprinkles some dirt in the hole Lucy rests in, whispering incomprehensible words before nodding over at Lavinia. They said she could toss some dirt in as well and tell Lucy anything she wanted, as if she would hear it.

It didn't make sense but so far these humans have been the first to help, they dug the hole and even made Lucy look like she did before, a bit so. Lavinia sprinkles some dirt in the hole as well, it gathers all over Lucy's legs, spilling onto her torso until Lavinia's hand is empty. Now for the words— Jeriko's smile persists though the Caster frowns slightly, waiting with her staff in hand to seal the grave and set Lucy to rest.

Searching her mind Lavinia's hand falls by her side, forming a fist as the right words make themselves known, "I…I can't eat that."

The team share looks for a moment before the Caster clears her throat and taps her staff. The pulled earth drips back into the hole with lamina flow, the Handler stabs the grave with a slab Jeriko cracked off the Unrefined crystals, he's etched onto it a single word; Lucy.

"Feels like there should be more on there but…yeah I'll stop talking." He dusts his hands off and handles the Sniffer.

"Personally, I won't stop talking about how letting a demon have a GroveStaff instead of your own Caster is bull." The Caster tosses her chin at Jeriko who deftly ignores her as he approaches Lavinia.

Hands set behind his back he stands by Lavinia at the foot of Lucy's grave, "We're leaving now, I'm not sure what you think of humans but I know what humans think of you, of your kind. But, I don't think that way and neither do they. Would you help me understand something?"

Lavinia's ear perks from the hood of hair on her head and he takes it as a sign to press his request, "What happened here? What happened to you, to Lucy's team? Who did this?"

Ear drooping, Lavinia remains silent, staring off at the impromptu headstone and the name scratched into the refracting crystal. Lucy. It's been three weeks since they met and barely a week since she died, now sealed in dirt with the maggots and friends to graze on her corpse.

Lavinia breathes without threat of utter annihilation, only now recognizing her freedom.

Jeriko grunts a sigh, "Look, I know you're smarter than you let on. I know you understand me. We're going deeper into this dungeon and I want to protect them." He crouches by, Lavinia, laying a hand on her shoulder as he peers at her, "Please say something."

"Soul Reaver." She starts and Jeriko's eyes widen, "Berserker Nei and the Soul Reaver, Henry. Henry killed Lucy, Nei killed Ken. Henry...cursed Lavinia." Her hands rise to graze the marks scarred onto her face.

Jeriko nods intently, waiting for more words from Lavinia but she only tightens her grip on the Grovestaff and kicks the foot of the grave as she turns to leave.

"Thank you, Lavinia." Jeriko says, smiling bright as he has since they met, "That knowledge is invaluable, I'll avenge Lucy on your behalf."

At this she stops walking off, tilting her head as she asks, "What is…avenge?"

Scratching his head at this one, he says, "Well, it's when you give back the evil someone has brought into the world, it's when you punish people for taking away loved ones, or bringing ruin to you. Revenge…I…it may be a human thing."

Lavinia hums, casting a glance over at Lucy's headstone, "Punishing Lucy?"

"No, punishing Henry for taking Lucy away. For hurting you too."

In the end Lavinia shakes her head, walking away without asking of more from Jeriko and before he can think of more to ask of her. Their goodbyes fall silent in the sea of thought Lavinia delves into as her feet carry her back up the path she came down a week ago.

The scent of rotten meat permeates as she passes under the balcony Lucy meant to cook, a last dinner Ken and she never had. Under the balcony a corridor curves out of the darkness, more of the usual glowing crystals stick out here instead of the caverns glowing shrubs.

Lavinia looks up the balcony and then down the corridor ahead of her, two ways leading out somewhere— hopefully out where she can hunt a proper meal for herself. She takes the corridor over reliving the camp site and the grotesque stench of spoiled reptile stew.

"Avenge…revenge." She says to no one as she stomps down the inclined corridor, tapping the Grovestaff in little puddles of water as she goes. The word's contextual meaning is evident to her, Lucy made sure she could understand things like these with her last moments.

But why? What was the purpose of any of it? Why did she feed her that rock? Why did Lucy sacrifice her life instead of handing her over to the Soul Reaver? It wouldn't have mattered if Henry decided he'd domineer over Lavinia like he's promised he would return to do. Does her sacrifice even matter now?

"Avenge." She whispers again, the echo of the corridor carries her soft voice out an opening where light and a strong scent of salt and ore waft through. Maybe Lucy knew it wouldn't matter and that all that mattered was Lavinia knowing enough to someday avenge her.

If that's what she wanted, Lavinia isn't sure what to do against a human as strong as Henry and since Lucy died, she wonders more if any of her obedience was true. The memories before Lucy and Ken, the wild rages of the young demon she was remain clear in her mind, as clear as how much they hurt that demon as well.

"Revenge." She says again, speaking loudly as she reaches the steep end of the corridor. If anything, Lavinia would've first gotten vengeance on Lucy and Ken, righted all the evil and hurt they brought on her. Alas, they're gone and with them every opportunity she didn't know she had.

Beyond the corridor, Lavinia's splays her feet into the sand covering every inch of land around. She wanders out, enjoying the cold breeze and the boundless sky above and the feel of the sand between her toes. Ahead, a crashing tide of water splashes against the sand, as if threatening Lavinia with its presence.

Its roar stops short of the beach head and using {Inspect}Lavinia learns its name— [Ruishia Sea].

Breathing in the cool salty air, Lavinia readies herself for a new hunt— an unending hunt for strength beyond what she knows. "Soul Reaver, Henry Vanavil."

Believing his words, Lavinia is sure she'll meet the human again and that day she'll have to fight to preserve the freedom he granted with Lucy's death and fight for the wild demon she was to return, to enjoy the slightest slice she does now without anticipating subjugation.