CHAPTER 33: SONGS OF DEATH: DETERMINATION

damion was still running towards the security room along with elyze and fynn, it's passed 7 in the evening by now but the surroundings was so dark as a midnight. the moonlight and the stars was the only thing that illuminates them, which is why they didn't notice that there are assassins hiding in the shadow, waiting a right time to kill them. not even elyze itself.

suddenly, they heard the sound of piano, playing the tune of mozart's requiem which make them stop from running. not only that, it also reaches inside the gymnasium. it's full of sorrow and at the same time, a regret. those people hearing this sound couldn't help but to reminisce their past mistakes, they couldn't help but to question themselves, why did they turn out like this?

"this sound.." damion frowned as he know that the only person who loves to play this was keir, but why this one was different to keir's style? is this real him?

"mozart's requiem in d minor.. this is different to keir's play style, is it? unlike him.. this one is.. full of emotions as though he wants to pertains something." even fynn couldn't help but to felt confuse, as a musician like him, of course he knows how to differs the professional to an experience person, fynn though keir as an experience person, but the person who was playing this was a professional, no, it's above the professional!

he didn't realize that he already close his eyes, he started to reminisce something, it was when he still a child and made a lots of mistakes, when he became teenagers and met rufus, when he confessed at caitlyn and became his girlfriend. at the same time, the face of those people that he and his family killed, their lives that he stole to them for their own satisfaction as well as their future. tears started to drop from his left eyes as he look at his palm. another tears dropped. he was crying as he couldn't help but to thought, why did he turns out like this?

even damion who doesn't show any emotion and doesn't care about the lives of people couldn't help but to overthink as well. why did he turns out like this? if he didn't just born in del luna family, will his life be peaceful?

if he didn't just born as the first son of family, can he laugh like the others?

if all of them was just born as ordinary people, with no pressure nor problems from their family, but only a laughter. won't they turns out like this?

if that's the case then... that would be beautiful.

damion just realize that his tears had been falling down to his cheeks since then, so he wipe it off and look at it. 'I'm crying..? I'm really crying..?' he thought, he started to wipe off his tears and tried to avoid his gaze from the music room while holding back his tears.

"I'm really crying.. damn it." he said while biting his lips and calming his self down.

meanwhile, elyze already knew that it was devian who's playing, but unlike the others, she's not crying. or more like, she can't cry as her tears had been already run out since then, which is why she was not affected by it.

silence covers them whole, only the sound of piano can be heard as well as the crickets coming from the forest, until their vision was triggered when five knives suddenly appear Infront of them so they went om the side to avoid it as a group of black assassins suddenly emerge from the shadow holding a guns that have a silencer and started to shoot them. elyze click his tongue after seeing the pentacle key chain on their waist as she didn't expect that devian would send some of his lackeys to kill them.

"Is he out of his mind..? does he wants me to kill them?" he whispered, as she just keep running to avoid the bullets. but then, his eyes widened when he saw someone holding a dagger and dare to attack him so he arched his eyebrow and before he even stabbed elyze, she kick him on the stomach as hard as she could causes him to spit a mouthful of blood and lose his consciousness.

"not even your leader itself dares to touch me and yet you.. you surely have a guts huh? Maybe I should recruit you to be part of ars goetia." she murmured with a smirk on his face, when she felt that another attack from his back, she moves rapidly and avoid it by running quickly to the attacker's back, then after that,, she hit his neck so hard causes him to fell on the ground, unconscious before taking the gun he was holding and glance at fynn and damion who was still fighting the remaining assassin.

"just how many are them?" fynn complains.

"I don't know either.. they just popped up out of nowhere as though they expected us to come here."

when elyze gaze landed on damion, her eyes widened as he pointed the gun at his direction, and as soon as he saw this, he glance coldly at elyze using his poker face.

"what are you doing..?"

"..."

but instead of answering his question, she just keep walking towards him before stopping at least two meters away from damion, she stare at him and so as damion. they just keep staring to each other, while feeling each other out, knowing who would launch a surprise attack first. after a few minutes, a small smile formed on elyze lips before pulling the trigger. damion close his eyes, but then, he heard the sound of thud coming from the back. so he opened it and gasped as soon as he saw the gun pointing beside him, so he slowly follow it's direction and found a corpse lying on the ground with a shot on his forehead.

turns out that damion didn't realize that there's another man hiding at the bush on his back, waiting the right time to ambush him from behind and elyze happens to saw this, so she killed him to save his life.

"sorry for not telling you. seems like the assassin was having fun on imagining what would be his reward if he killed you and presented your head on their leader. quite funny, isn't it?" elyze said casually while wiping the side part of the gun he was holding using his hands. even if damion believes on her reason, the way how she look at him earlier, it's not the eyes of a person who wanted to help or save someone. but a person who found his situation rather amusing or interesting. this makes damion feel chills and fear at the same time. so he just smirk.

"thank you for saving me.." he took out a small dagger on his pocket in discreet way before turn his back to her, just as elyze was about to follow him again, her eyes widened when damion suddenly grabbed his hands causes her to fall on his chest as damion lift up his dagger while glaring at elyze and stabbed.. the throat of the assassin that was near to them. this gives crystalle a surprise as his heart skipped a beat, and when he look at damion, she saw him snickered.

".. now we were even." elyze lips twitched a bit when he notice a hint of sarcasm on his words, she distance her self away from him, before ask him.

"that's an intention right?"

damion just nudge the bridge of his glasses before smile to her meaningfully, "what do you think?"

elyze just glare at him, but soon after, he just close her lifeless eyes and laugh softly while crossing her arms. "rohan was right, you're such a crafty person."

"oh..? rohan said that..?" damion remove his glasses, revealing his ocean-blue eyes filled of coldness that could make a person tremble in fear, elyze felt anxious after seeing this, as he knows that the first son of del luna family was twice as dangerous as his father itself once he remove his glasses or someone remove his glasses. just like what he did to her that time in dormitory.

"It would be better if you heed his advice.. listen here, elyze. I have been easy on you ever since you enter in the academy, that's because you caught my attention, however.. if I found out that you are related to this incidents, there will be no mercy."

elyze grin, "will you kill me then?"

damion stare to her once more and shook his head, "you don't fear death, that's why I won't do that, let see.. it is something that you wouldn't wish for, as doing it means you'll be bounded to it forever. I heard to Chauncey that you like playing mysteries and game of wits so much. could you guess what it is?"

elyze stare at him, and give him a fake smile. "I need hints tho."

".. it is something that devian knows but you didn't know. a secrets that I know but devian didn't know. and the secrets that we know but you didn't know. did you get it?"

elyze eyebrow just twitched while looking at damion, but then their conversation had stop when they heard fynn shouted on them, "Hey! you still not done flirting there?! I'm having a hard time here, you know?!" he said while confronting four assassins one at the time, hearing his words, a small smirk curve on elyze lips before step back and watched him.

"You're a strong person, Mr. clemency, how come you decided to stay in A-class..? didn't damion recruit you?"

"Fuck! this is not the right time to talk about it!"

damion also give him a teasing smile and nudge the bridge of his glasses, "Indeed.. if you tell me why did you reject my request of your transfer in class-zero last year, we might help you."

fynn's lips just twitched in irritation especially when he saw their mocking smile while looking at him, due to this, he stop attacking and when four assassins dashed towards him, he rushed on elyze and damion's direction as he pushed them towards the attackers that makes them gasp, so they have no choice but to take out their knife, elyze slashed the throat of two assassins while damion stabbed the other two as they give fynn a death glare who was smiling at them.

"you really dare.."

"I mean~ If I didn't do that, I will die~"

yet again, elyze lips twitch in annoyance, ".. you just use a lady as your shield earlier.. aren't that a cowardice?"

"That's not a cowardice, moriarty. it is called strategy."

"that's quite strategy you have.. it pisses me as hell."

"..Right?"

an imaginary volt appears between them, they just keep throwing frosty words to each other, until, they stop from fighting when another group of assassins appears and surrounded them.

"damn.. where did they come from?" fynn asked in bored way.

damion's mind started to work again, as he tried to connect every puzzle pieces from the start, whoever the instigator behind this, that person must have an ulterior motive in doing this. but what is it?

"What are we going to do, damion?" asked elyze that makes damion went back on reality, he just stare at the large group of assassins before letting out a sigh.

"Slaughter them. and leave one alive for further investigation."

...

when Chauncey heard the tune of requiem getting played in piano, it looks sad, and sorrowful as though the one who's playing it was intentionally making the tune to be look like melancholic as if there was a funeral happening. but after realizing that person from behind the scenes motive, he laugh bitterly and grin as he glance hurtfully to keir.

"who would have thought that we will come to this far.. keir."

keir, who was clenching his fist tightly just pretend that he have no idea what is he talking about and asked, "What are you saying..? I don't understand you.."

chauncey just laugh softly as he just sitting on the floor and still looking at him, ".. enough with acting, your brother was part of phantom's knight, right? and the person who's playing piano right now was also him. seriously, do your family really loves music that much?"

"..."

keir didn't speak up, as he have no idea what would he say to him, he was just standing there as the wind blew off his silver hair. the moon was still illuminating him, revealing his handsome features with a slight of sadness on it. he hold his sword as he avoid his gaze on Chauncey. keir already knew that this will happen yet.. even if he doesn't want to admit it, a heart never lies. be it an angel, or a demon, or even a human. people could try to lie as much as they want however.. the heart won't.

that is why humans was so interesting, no matter how they tried to conceal their dark side, the heart will keep revealing it over and over.

"keir.. I wanted to ask you, will I really die..?" as soon as keir heard chauncey's question using that pitiful face of him, this touches keir's heart. he wanted to say something to him, but someone was telling him not to do it, which is why all he could just do is to avoid his gaze while saying such a hurtful words to him.

"... yeah, you need to die."

when Chauncey heard this, he froze on where he sat as he glance up to keir, even if keir was avoiding his gaze to him, chauncey knows that this is not something he wanted to do. he believes that he has a reason in doing this. what kind of person would want to kill their own friend whom they put their trusts too much? even the demons themselves have a reason why did they become fallen. there is also a reason why did the god have to kill christ by nailing him onto the cross and revive him. everyone has a reasons, be it in doing good or bad deeds. if there is nothing, then what's the point of living in this world?

that is why, there's something we called as 'chances' as the people believes that they have reasons. if there is a chance, then there is also reason.

once again, Chauncey laughs. " is that so..? you must have a reason why you need to kill me.. could you tell me what is it?"

"I'm sorry I can't. it's a very nonsensical reason."

"a nonsensical reason.. I think I already know it."

this time, keir already glance up to him, with a solemn look on his face, "will you let me kill you then?"

hearing this question, Chauncey let out a bitter grin as he took out his dagger from his back in secret,

"heh.. let you..? I'm sorry keir but just like you, I also have a reason why I can't surrender here.."

"what is it?"

"a very nonsensical reason as well. but even so.. even if it's nonsense, I couldn't back down!"

"you have no chance against me.. damn it."

chauncey just pointed his dagger on keir's direction, and at the same time, there's a hint of smile on his face, it is a genuine smile that keir always sees everytime they are hanging out together. it is that annoying friendly smile that he keep seeing when chauncey was always with him. an annoying smile that he always sees even if they were in the brink of death.. that smile when he first met him and at the same time, the last smile he would see for the rest of his lives.

"even if I have no chance, I will keep trying. don't you forget, keir, no.. siren. I'm also one of the inner members of black butterfly organization, the rank 10, psalm. as well as the 'camellia' of supreme 10, at the same time.. I was also the reason why you manage to defeat damion del luna at the sword competition two years ago.. I betrayed him and leak his techniques to you, and now you're telling me that you will kill me?! don't give me that fuck! I swear if I survive here, I'm going to tell to the higher-ups that you planned to kill me so that they could give you a punishment! after that.. I.. I'm going to hunt the person who dare to do such things like this to you!"

when he saw how determine does Chauncey is, keir couldn't help but to smile as well. but he knows that no matter how huge his determination are, he would only end up as a dying man in the end. after all, the death had been on keir's side since then. as he sees jotaro casually standing on the shadow fifty meters away from Chauncey holding a scythe and a black notebook while watching them.

this makes jotaro click his tongue.

"if that's the case.." finally, keir already took out his weapon, which is a rapier out of it's sheathe as he also pointed it on Chauncey.

"Come at me.. with all your strength!"

...

inside of the security room, you could see rohan sitting leisurely on the swivel chair with six corpses lying on the ground. these are the people that edwin moran put to sleep earlier however, since a sleeping gas is just a temporary one, they have woke up one hour after edwin leaves, yet unfortunately, by the time they woke up, rohan and rheyne already came and killed them earlier just now, that explains why the whole security room were so messy right now. but this didn't mind rohan at all, as he was already use to this.

looking to the monitor, rohan just whistle when he saw how the gymnasium turns into a bloody battlefield, with tons of corpses of lying on the ground, it took an hour before the headmistress manage to calm them down. it suppose to be a banquet for newcomers, but then it turns into bloody banquet. from one thousand guests, it came down into half. there were only five hundred people who got survive, which the headmistress didn't expected to happen.

rohan click the screen that shows the gymnasium situation, and when he saw the headmistress frightened and anxious expression, he laugh in satisfaction. "heh.. that's quite an expression you have there, Ms. amara, who would have thought that I would see you getting frightened like this."

Miss amara was also one of his target, as she was part of ten black lambs as well, the rank 4, pitch. furthermore, she's a del luna, there's no way rohan would let her get away from his grasp.

but as he indulging his self in satisfaction, his eyes diverted on darius who's staring at him for quite awhile, so he just arched his eyebrow. ".. what?"

"did someone already told you that you're so creepy for such a human..?"

"says the one who loves to eat human soul and flesh, and drink a blood ."

"I'm different idiot! I'm a demon fox, of course I have to eat flesh and soul! it's my lifeline! yet you.. you're the only human I know who enjoys watching bloodshed so much!"

rohan give him a weary smirk, "aren't that's the reason why you approach me?"

that makes darius stop from speaking and avoid his gaze, "Nevermind!"

seeing this, rohan laugh silently as he look up at the time, just then, rheyne enters inside the security room before leaning against the doors and looking at him seriously.

"hey, damion was already approaching, it's time for the 'curtain' to close." he said meaningfully, so rohan just nod as he started to scroll all the panels and tried to find Chauncey's whereabouts, few minutes later, he already saw him, having a one-on-one battle with keir as his body was full of wounds and panting so hard.

when they saw him fighting for his life with determination, they narrowed his eyes with a pitiful look on their face.

...

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