Demon's Broken Promise The Adventures of Revan and Glumisun

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TMITM

Megalomaniacal Arbiter
In the boundless void, a hooded man made a silent request.

.̵.̷.̶R̶e̶a̵l̵l̴y̶?̶

The Man, however, a weird Man that wore a trench coat and hat, not the aforementioned one, didn't understand.

Y̸o̴u̴ ̵w̵o̷u̴l̶d̴ ̷g̴o̷ ̷b̶a̴c̴k̵ ̷t̸o̵ ̴a̶ ̶w̶o̸r̶l̴d̷ ̴t̸h̶a̶t̸ ̶h̷a̴t̷e̴d̵ ̶y̸o̶u̵?̶ ̵T̵h̵a̷t̷ ̷b̶a̸n̴i̵s̶h̷e̵d̸ ̵y̸o̶u̴?̸

The Hooded man nodded silently.

The world formed, slightly. A dark hallway with towering pillars on either side, and teardrop-shaped windows between them. The Man stood in front of a throne, a strange flowing mural sitting behind, made of segments of video, all memories. The Hooded One remembered them, somehow. And he did want to go back.

T̶h̴a̷t̵'̴s̴ ̸n̴o̸t̶ ̴h̴o̷w̶ ̸t̶h̵i̵s̵ ̵w̵o̷r̸k̷s̷.̷

The Man raised his Cane, stepping so that his shoulders were perpendicular to the Hooded One's chest.

Y̷o̸u̴ ̵c̵a̷n̴'̶t̵ ̸g̸o̷ ̵b̵a̷c̸k̷.̵

The Hooded One didn't care. He'd waited long. Enough.

The Hooded One raised his arms and bladed chains flew out of them, slashing at the Man. They hit him, black ink flowing out of his chest instead of blood. He chuckled. He was otherwise engaged right now, and they both knew he didn't have the energy for this fight. The Man grew sad.

J̴u̷s̷t̷.̴.̴.̵ ̵d̶o̵n̷'̴t̶ ̶s̴a̵y̵ ̵I̷ ̴d̵i̴d̶n̸'̴t̸ ̶w̵a̴r̵n̶ ̴y̵a̶,̸ ̶k̸i̵d̷.̴

The Man's body imploded, teleporting him to somewhere else.

The Hooded One gazed at the Mural, stepping around the throne, memories slowly coming back, and lowering his hood.

Revan reached out to touch the Mural, unsure of what it might do, but there was one thing he did know.

"I'm ready."

̵̘̖͂͂ ̴̳̄̆ ̵͔̌
 
Revan sat in his room, his cloak still on.
At this time, he was usually in the skies, drinking in the cool night air and watching the people of the city go on their way, making sure to quickly dispel any crime that may have happened. When he was leader, most of it had disappeared overnight, funnily enough. He guessed he might have done a good job on that front. On others, though... Revan sighed. It seems he had failed.
To jolt him out of his stupor, a knock came at his door. This alone was peculiar, as the entrance to his room was hidden, and even more peculiar because his servants never came this late at night. What was more peculiar, however, was the voice that sounded next.
"...Revan?"
It was Glumisun.
Revan opened the door, confused, and revealed her, who was looking worried.
"Can... can I come in?"
Revan thought about it for a second, and then opened the door, gesturing for her to come in.
"How did you - " Revan started, but as soon as he saw Huginn on Glumisun's shoulder, he stopped. Of course. Huginn had let her in, or at least shown her the entrance. Many assumed the large raven statue was just decoration, but it in fact had it's wings over the door to his room. So, he changed his question to a different one.
"Why are you here?"
Huginn flew from Glumisun's shoulder and perched on one of the spots on the ceiling, gazing piercingly at the pair.
Glumisun looked around the room, her curiosity appearing to have gotten the best of her nervousness. She peered at his kitchen, at his bedroom, and at the thoroughly dismantled training dummy, rocking from side to side on the mat where that was, feeling the softness of it. Revan just leaned against the wall, enjoying watching her.
When Glumisun realized she was being watched, her nervousness reappeared and she looked at where Revan's eyes would be, appearing apologetic.
"...sorry"
"It's okay," Revan said almost immediately, not wanting her to feel sorry. He was nervous, too, but he didn't know why, the regular source of his frustration returning to him. He sighed, keeping his frustration in the back of his mind.
Glumisun's curiosity returned and drifted over to his birds, a question coming up in her mind that she couldn't help blurting out.
"Do they poop?"
Revan laughed for a second, a genuine, laugh of amusement. One he noticed Glumisun's expression and realized that she thought he was laughing at her, he stopped.
"No, you're fine, it's just... nobody's ever asked me that question." Revan thought about it and realized - "I've never really thought about that before. If they do, I've never seen them. I'm not really surprised, though. They can do a lot of things." This was usually about the part where people's eyes started to glaze over, but Glumisun just looked at him with a strange attentiveness, so he continued. "They can read people's minds, see if they're lying, they can bend distance as they travel, they can cast spells, they are immune to all spellcasting, they never eat, they never sleep, and they never seem to eat food. " Glumisun was still listening, so he provided her with another tidbit of information. "I believe they can also see the future."
Glumisun was surprised at this, and inquired, "How?"
Revan shrugged. "Many people have theories, of course. Some think it's just a particular brand of oricular magic, some people think it's a mathematical equation they perform in their heads to find out. I don't know."
Revan sighed again, coming to the question he had asked earlier.
"Skulblaka'hjarta... Why are you here?" Revan inquired, a little more than curious. He didn't understand.
It was Glumisun's turn to sigh now. "I... I didn't see you in the skies tonight, like I normally do, from my balcony, and I... I wanted to make sure you were okay."
"I'm okay."
"You're not."
Revan sighed and slid his body down the wall, his exhaustion and the heaviness of his soul finally showing. As Glumisun came over to sit next to him, He sighed. "You're right. I'm not." Revan looked over and Glumisun's attentiveness pulled answers from him again. "That storm took a lot out of me. I didn't know my powers could be that taxing. But that's not just it. I -" Revan started, then faltered. Glumisun picked up for him.
"You feel like a failure."
Revan nodded. "I'm - I'm supposed to protect these people, Skullblaka'hjarta. Instead I just put them in more danger. I could have hurt people."
Glumisun sighed. "Well, on a certain level you're right."
Revan frowned, not that she could see. "That's not helping."
Glumisun punched him on the arm playfully. "There was a 'but' coming."
"Oh. Okay. continue."
Glumisun rolled her eyes. "...but we all make mistakes, Revan. I magically injured a few people, well, more than a few, when I first played Chaos' Song. Kasdeya, well..." Glumisun trailed off, not wanting to reveal anything about her friend.
"And Avaddon's perfect." Revan said, part-jokingly.
Glumisun laughed, and nodded. "Yes, and Avaddon's perfect."
They sat like that for a minute, just enjoying each other's company, before Glumisn continued. "My point is, Revan, we all make mistakes. We all fail. But that doesn't - make - you - a - failure," she said, poking him in the chest with each word. "It doesn't make you any less of a leader, okay?" Revan nodded to show that he understood.
"But they can kick me out for it," Revan lamented, looking down at the floor.
Gluminsun nodded, leaning her head back against the wall. "Yeah, they can. And they probably will." She turned to Revan. "But you're not allowed to give up, you understand me?" She said, poking him again before standing up.
Revan laughed. "Yes, I get it."
Glumisun made her excuses and made to leave. Before she did, though, Revan stopped her.
"Skullblaka'hjarta."
"Yes?"
"...thank you."
Glumisun smiled.
"You're welcome, Revan."
And she left.
God, this girl was going to drive him crazy.
 
@Lish
Revan sat on top of a building, the cool night air feeling like it was drifting through him slowly, and the hardness of the building below and the shroud of his wings surrounding him, he enjoyed himself. He felt on top of the world, and his image was of death. He felt powerful.
He watched the ruins of the four leader statues in the Neutral zone, people milling about and occasionally glancing sadly at the rubble, that had once been the pride of their race. It was sad to him, the human's need for destruction.
Huginn perched on Revan's shoulder, the other bird, Muninn, having been sent on a... special mission.
Revan's wings rose, making a slight rustling noise, Huginn taking off a moment after, his wings launching him almost vertically back into the night sky. Onlookers watched in awe as the power of his wings launched him to another rooftop, where he alit softly, despite the power of his launch.
He scanned the place below him, watching as people went about their business, taking interest in what other people were doing.
While he was doing this, however, he heard a voice. He'd recognize it anywhere. It was Glumisun's voice.
He scanned the streets, eventually finding her with a strange man, both of them acting drunk. She was out on the town? Now? He'd thought... Never mind. He would go over and see what was going on.
Revan landed gracefully between the pair, pushing the other man away.
"Skulblaka'hjarta. I thought you were having your... problem."
Glumisun was acting like she was drunk, but there was no drink in her hand. All of a sudden, he realized. She was having her problem.
Revan frowned. "You're supposed to be at home, Skulblaka'hjarta." The other man advanced again, but Revan lifted up his sleeve and stopped him with a hand, plus the hanging threat of the sharp edge of one of his chains peeking through. The man wandered off, then, the threat apparently outweighing his desires. He didn't blame him, though, as anyone without filters in his mask, like he had, probably would've done the same thing.
Glumisun spoke then, leaning in like she wanted to tell him a secret. He didn't also lean in.
"...I escaped," She said, seemingly happy about it, proud that she had done it. Revan kept frowning, not that anyone could see.
"Yew's probably looking for you," Revan said, trying to convince her. "He's probably worried."
Glumisun seemed unimpressed. Would it really take more than that?
"So? Yew is a worried old man. I've only been gone for a few minutes. Besides, what're you going to do about it? Are you gonna pick me up and carry me over there?" Glumisun challenged, smiling.
Revan thought about it for a moment, then grabbed her hips, his wings stretching straight up.
"Yes."
Revan launched them into the air, the two spiraling up in the sky, Glumisun looking down, surprised, as they slowed down, the cool air tickling his feathers as they ascended, slower now.
"Well," Glumisun said, surprised, "This is very romantic, Revan, so why don't we - eeep!" Glumisun squealed as he let go of her hips and picked her up so he could carry her better, his arms supporting her back and the space behind her knees. He just let them fall like that for a while, until they reached a good altitude for him to launch towards serpent's kiss and her house. He glanced down and saw Yew looking up, gazing at his carrying her.
"Well, this is even more romantic, Revan. because I'm in the perfect position to - " Glumisun leaned in for a kiss, but her lips hit the meal of his mask, and she pulled away, surprised.
They arrived at Glumisun's balcony, Revan spreading his wings and creating drag so that he could reach his legs forward and land softly on the railing, partly for Glumisun's sake, and partly for her balcony's.
He set Glumisun down, who immediately turned to face him.
"Revan, I know you want this. Why don't you - "
"I do want this, I'm not going to lie to you, but..." Revan faltered for a second, and then just decided to speak his mind." I want it to be real. I don't want to be another toy."
Glumisun stared at him for a minute, probably trying to think of a way to continue, but the moment was broken by Yew opening the door behind her. Glumisun didn't notice and continued badgering him.
"Revan..."
Revan looked at Yew, a mixture of confusion, relief and - was that respect? - shining in his eyes.
"Get some rest, Skulblaka'hjarta."
Revan leaned back from where he was crouched, on the balcony's railing, wings shrouded around his cloaked form, straightening out as he fell, cloak flapping about him, his arms to the side. He saw Glumisun look over the balcony, seemingly worried, Revan stealing one more glance, before his wings give a powerful flap, flying fast over the cobblestones, another flap of his wings would send him, folding his wings over his chest spiraling over a house that was in his way and up into the sky, wondering of the consequences of his actions.
 
@Lish @Lila Renn
“C’mon, we’ve gotta go.”
Destrier walked with a few of his human compatriots, Jonathan included, trying not to run towards the extraction point. It had been a few days since the explosions, and since then they had been trying to lay low until the Demons stopped scurrying around. Eventually they ended up waiting in an alleyway, waiting for the signal to extract. They all could feel a nervousness. They were deep in enemy territory. And the fact that their getaway was late was making him worried.
A Raven cawed, catching his attention. The Raven looked normal, but instead of normal eyes it had clear, milk-white ones. Almost like it was blind, but those empty eyes stayed trained on him, a strange piercing gaze that he did not like. Not one bit.
“Boss?” Shinji, one of their operatives, who should be waiting in another location, said over an earpiece that had been switched on a moment before. “Boss, we’ve got a problem.”
“What kind of problem?” Destrier badgered immediately, turning his head to the side as the others looked at him worriedly.
“Well, it’s uh - It’s about the extraction.”
“What about it?”
As soon as Destrier asked that question, an explosion pierced the night, a splash of water and a caw from the raven beside him.
“Well, it’s, uh, just that… we don’t have one.”
Destrier turned his head towards the Raven, who was now… laughing. It was laughing.
“And, well, besides that, we, uh - have another problem,” Shinji’s voice came over the earpiece with his own running footsteps and a swish of feathers. “You’re - we’re - “ The communication went silent for a minute, a bit static - like it was damaged. Then, an altogether different voice came over the earpiece. A voice deep and electronically modulated, a rebreather sounding. The voice was dead serious.
You’re being hunted.
Then, the earpiece exploded into static and went silent.
The other people that were with Destrier looked at him, on the verge of panic. The voice in the earpiece had been loud, and all of them had heard it.
“What are you waiting for?” Destrier shouted. “RUN!”
The small group of humans ran, along the streets to Shinji’s hideout. That might be a place where they could be safe - Until they regrouped, that is, and found a way to get the hell out of here.
They ran, demons casting looks at them. They didn’t know what exactly was happening, but they probably found it weird. The black raven, the one with those horrible eyes, following, still laughing.
Is it revenge he’s seeking
Or seeking someone to avenge him?
Stuck in a paradox
You cannot break free

“SHUT UP!” One of his companions yelled, firing a bullet at the bird from where he ran. The bird dodged, tucking in it’s wings and rolling out of the way, continuing momentum, some feathers being dislodged, but the bird just screeched Vindr! And the feathers came pelting at Destrier. They didn’t hurt, but they annoyed him, and that was probably the goal.
The Angel of your Death is coming
And keeps on getting closer
And the Shadow in his soul
Keeps getting bolder

Destrier just growled and ran faster. They couldn’t keep this up for long, no matter how fit they were. The adrenaline pumping through their veins would keep them going, for sure, but they would be losing people soon.
It’s been so long
Since I’ve seen you humans run
Forgot I enjoyed it
The fear of a puppet

Destrier’s eyes caught a shadow on the floor. At first he thought it was the raven, because of the wings, but it genuinely looked like the angel of death. A demon. Whoever was hunting them was here.
They reached the location of the hideout, finally, but before they could open the door a hooded figure, dripping in darkness, landed behind them, his wings spread out to block them from the alleyway where it was, the door locking from the inside as the raven spoke another word.
You know, I wouldn’t have killed you if you hadn’t done this,” The hooded figure said, what Destrier recognized as Revan, former leader of Ravinca. He had actually been kicked out that morning. His fear only heightened. There was no way they could take down the clan leader, not in their condition. His lungs felt like they were going to burst.
...But you -” Revan said, approaching them. They felt his anger, god, they could FEEL it, dripping off of his mouth as he spoke, in every movement of his body, they could feel it. No wonder this guy had made a mini-hurricane. He almost believed that there was one now, just invisible. The purity of his anger was just… indescribable. He was at a loss for words.
You destroyed my home,” The leader said, just standing there. “You killed my family.” The Clan leader of Ravinca looked at them menacingly. “There will be no forgiveness.
Destrier lead them, pulling out his gun and firing a few shots off, the others, now in front of him, doing the same, but the leader just advanced slowly, spinning the chains that had burst out in circular motions, blocking bullets as he slowly advanced on them.
A scream signaled the first of his companions down, being sliced in half across the stomach, blood splattering the wall.
Destrier just kept shooting.
Another scream.
Another didn’t get the chance. The only noise was the leader’s deep growl.
And then it was only Destrier and the Leader, Revan standing in the middle of a gore-splattered alleyway, his chains slowly coming back into his sleeves while Destrier frantically reloaded his pistol. Why wasn’t Revan attacking? Destrier didn’t care. If Reavn wanted him to shoot him, then he would happily oblige.
Because of my station, and my abilities, people expect me to be able to slaughter entire legions of humans - and I did. I have. My question is…” Revan said, as Destrier finished reloading, quickly aimed the gun at Revan’s chest, and fired, “What makes you think you are any different?
Revan had stepped to the side at the last moment, but the bullet had still grazed his shoulder. What Revan had done, however, was far worse - his chains had slashed open a tiny wound on Destrier’s chest. He immediately began to feel dizzy.
“The… hell?” He said, confused.
I have just injected you with a poison of my own design,” Revan said as Destrier slumped down on the floor. “Unless I give you the antidote, you will die in thirty seconds. Now, tell me…” Revan said, using the same chain to slash his gun in half before it slithered back into his sleeve, “Why did you do it?
Destrier sighed and leaned his head against the wall, breathing heavily. “You -” Destrier said, spitting on the floor, “You broke a promise. We’re here for revenge...”
Revan frowned and turned away, spreading his wings.
“Wait! Aren’t you gonna - aren’t you gonna give me that antidote?” Destrier said, feeling betrayed.
Revan turned his head. “All it’ll do is put you into a deep sleep,” Revan said. He didn’t actually ever carry deadly poisons. “But you will tell Avaddon everything you know, do you understand me?” Revan said, Muninn flying in from the corner of his vision to rest on his arm.
Destrier nodded. He understood this was mercy.
He then fell asleep.
Revan started to take off, then reconsidered and took something from inside of his cloak. He threw the detonator, the one Shinji had been carrying, right beside Destrier’s limp form before taking off and perching on the side of the alleyway, right before Avaddon got there, and looked around at the sight of the Human’s slaughter. He then looked up and saw Revan, looking like the embodiment of death, before he took off.
 
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@Lish
Revan sat alone in his room, on the matted floor, cloak still on, again, trying to bandage his wound. The bullet had only grazed him, but still, it hurt, and it getting infected was more trouble than it was worth. He had wounds on his shoulder before, and was grateful for it not hitting his shoulder directly, but still… it kinda hurt.
Next, he heard a knock on the door and a voice that was familiar.
“Revan?”
It was Glumisun again, and she had probably heard what he had done with the Humans.
Come in,” Revan said, prepared for a reprimanding from the other Leader.
But as soon as the other leader entered, she looked at Reven, bleeding, not too much, but still, and rushed over, shocked, dropping Chaos’ Song as soon as she got to him.
“Revan!”
She rushed over to him and inspected the wound, rolling up the cloak’s sleeve past his shoulder. She didn’t even notice that nobody had done that before - and that she had revealed his bare arm.
Glumisun inspected the wound, before quickly helping him bandage it further.
It’s not too bad -” Revan tried to say, goosebumps running up his arm that had nothing to do with the cold of his room.
“It’s a gunshot wound, Revan,” Glumisun said, cutting him off. She bandaged it, before looking at where his eyes could’ve been, and then grabbing a cushion from the side of the mat and smacking him with it - multiple times.
“Diyablo, you - are - not - immortal - Revan!” She said, smacking him once more for good measure.
Okay, okay!” Revan said, smiling. “Duly noted.
Glumisun could hear the amusement in his voice, so she growled and turned away, before cautiously looking back and frowning.
“Is something wrong?” Revan asked.
“I know what you did with the Humans tonight, Revan,” Glumisun said, scrunching up her form a little more, cautiously. “Avaddon called me to make a magical recreation of it. We saw what you did. Revan I could, God-” She faltered, probably thinking about it. “I could feel his fear, Revan. It was so strong… I could feel your anger.”
Glumisun looked back up at him, suddenly noticing how close they were, and that Revan’s arm was uncovered by his cloak, like it normally would’ve been. She saw the scars on his arms, and saw the new one that he had been stubborn about just a few days ago. She opened her mouth to talk, but Revan spoke before she could, wanting to explain.
I… wanted to show everybody that that would not be tolerated. That… there were consequences. That the Humans’ challenge would not go unanswered.” Revan looked at the floor. “I wanted that to be my last act of protection for my territory.
Glumisun looked at his queerly. “Why are you talking like that?”
Revan sighed. “I… I’m leaving.
Glumisun was surprised by this, and started, “Wh-”
Revan plowed on, trying to explain Glumisun’s half - asked question. “There’s nothing for me here. Once I get kicked out - don’t tell me otherwise, we both know they will, and I…” Revan trailed off, it seemed, for good this time, so Glumisun, not mad, just shocked, said,
“Where- Where will you go?”
Revan sighed. “I think I'll go to Sundavrblaka’baen. I think, maybe… If I see where I came from, then maybe… I can see where I’m going?” Revan shrugged. “I don’t know.
Glumisun looked at the floor, too, and said, mostly to herself, “But then we have so little time…”
Revan looked at her queerly, and smiled under his mask. “You could come with me,” he said, cautiously.
Glumisun considered this, then changed the topic. Revan could tell that it had been bothering her.
“That’s not your real voice, is it?” Glumisun said, her curiosity shining through her awkwardness.
Revan sighed again. “No… no, it’s not. It’s my mask.
Glumisun sighed. “I - I remember last night.”
Revan nodded, Glumisun continuing. “I.. actually came here to thank you. “
Revan cocked his head. “For what?
Glumisun looked at the floor again. “For not taking… advantage… of me - last night.”
Revan nodded. “No problem. You weren’t yourself.
Glumisun’s hands started up, went back down again, and then came back up again, curious, and slowly and cautiously reached inside his hood and felt his mask, grabbing the edges and tugging, Revan reaching behind his jaw to disengage the air pressure, his finger grazing hers, and Glumisun took off his mask, looked at it, and set it on the floor, reaching up and pulling his hood down.
Revan smiled, never really have been in this situation before, and looked into Glumisun’s eyes, which were locked into his own. He looked away, turning his head for a moment, then looked back at Glumisun.
“Let’s start again,” Revan said, his voice was still recognizable, but significantly less deep. This was the real him, not some cloak-wearing person that was secretly too insecure to show his face.
“Hi,” Revan said, looking Glumisun straight in the eyes. “I’m Revan.”
Glumisun smiled at him for a little while, not saying anything, before she threw her arms around his neck and kissed him, suddenly on top of him.
Once she pulled away, Revan, despite smiling, was apprehensive. “Sundavrblaka’baen. You remember what I said.”
Glumisun nodded. “You said you wanted it to be real. This -” Glumisun grasped his hand, and held it up so they both could see. “This is real.”
Now, dear reader, I was actually planning on continuing with this scene a bit, but… whatever. There are some things you don’t get to see - and that makes them all the more special.
 
@Lish
Glumisun had woken up the next morning, the top half of her body completely covered by one of Revan’s wings, staring up at a canopy of dark feathers. She had closed her eyes and smiled at the thought of last night, looked at Revan’s sleeping form, then wiggled out of the wing’s roof and got up, stretching.
Last night had been… Glumisun trailed off in her mind as she thought about the previous night. Of course, she had done that before, but she had never felt the way she did. It was - it was like Revan said. It was real.
So now she stood with the cup of coffee that had miraculously been set on the kitchen counter - she suspected that Revan’s servants knew more than they let on - clothed only by the shirt that she was wearing - one that hung past her hips, and the smile that graced her face, just watching Revan sleep.
It amazed her - the way that his eyes had the power to send a lightning bolt through hers and straight down to the ground, leaving electric tingles all the way down. The same feeling she had when she kissed him.
It amused her, too - the vulnerability of his position right now. The Revan she had known yesterday - the immortal, godlike Revan, was just a facade. An illusion. She had always known it was, somewhere deep inside, but she knew more now. This wasn’t just the tantalizing cracks in the mask, or when you could only see their eyes, this was a full rip it off and stare into the sun moment. She was the only one he felt comfortable enough to share it with, and that made her feel special.
She smiled at this restless warrior, in such a vulnerable position. Glumisun grinned mischievously and pointed a finger gun at him, pretending to shoot him. Bang! She shot an imaginary bullet at him and smiled, satisfied that her prey would’ve died.
Revan’s eyes flew open.
“...you done?” He said, smiling.
“Uh… yes?” Glumisun said. How long had he been awake?
Revan chuckled, then rose from the bed, smiling and putting his wings away. Glumisun wondered, and then asked - without really thinking, “How does that work? They… come off?”
“What, my wings?”
“ - yeah.”
Revan pointed to his back, his wings bursting out again with a shimmer on his shoulder blades.
“Do your arms come off?” he said, looking at her, and then putting the wings back again, standing up. “No, it’s just a natural glamour mixed with a pocket dimension, or was it pocket reality…? I don’t know,” Revan said, filling her in.
Glumisun moved from where she was leaning on the wall and felt his back, running her fingers over where his wing joints were, feeling bone sockets where his shoulder blades were, and the sparse feathers that were there, too.
“Pocket reality or pocket dimension? They’re different things,” Glumisun said, removing her hands when Revan shivered.
Revan shrugged. “They both do the same thing, right?”
Glumisun sighed. “I guess…”
They stood in silence for a while before Revan went to go make breakfast. Glumisun leaned against the wall again, afraid to mention the glaring fact waiting for them this evening.
“The... trial’s today,” Glumisun sighed, cautiously.
Revan stopped, rested his hands on the counter, and sighed. “... I know.”
Glumisun walked over and put her hand over his, knowing he was feeling anxious. She rested her head on his shoulder.
“It’s going to be alright,” Glumisun said, wanting to comfort him.
“I know, it’s just -” Revan sighed, trying to collect his thoughts. “It’s a big change. I’m so used to being in charge of everybody, being responsible for everyone, I just… it’s weird to not be.” He looked at her and smiled. “It’s… strangely freeing.”
They stood like that for a while, just enjoying each other’s company, before Glumisun said she had to leave to get ready for the trial. Revan nodded, but before she left, Revan spoke up.
“I, uh, have something for you,” Revan said, before moving out of her sight and returning with the Black Rose. He returned to Glumisun, who slipped something into her pocket before looking at it. Her eyes lit up.
She knew the story. Her father had actually told her, on one of the days that he had spent with her when he didn’t have anything he needed to do.
Glumisun smiled and accepted it, smelling it’s sickly sweet aroma before giving Revan one more peck on the lips before leaving.

-----
Revan turned up at the Trial already kind of knowing what was going to happen.
The other leaders, and their seconds, started to come in after him. People regularly joked that the leaders were only good for arguing and it was the seconds who did all the work, which was more true than he wanted to give them credit for, but he did do a lot of things to make sure his territory was always safe, and always just.
Ironic that he would be the person to most endanger it.
But, anyway, Kasdeya filed in, followed by her second, Functner, the one who had aimed a gun at him. He should be on trial next, he thought. Next, Avaddon made his dramatic entrance with his second, probably hoping that the other leaders had already come, as he was fashionably late.
But Glumisun hadn’t arrived yet, and Revan had a suspicion that it was something to do with the mysterious and mischievous smile that had graced her face while she left his room with the Black Rose.
When Glumisun finally made her entrance, followed by Nelvyvia and a very disgruntled-looking Yew, the other leaders had queer looks in their eyes, and it wasn’t very hard to see why. Revan smiled and almost laughed at the looks on their faces, smiling at the shrewdness of her move.
Glumisun was wearing the Black Rose, braided into her hair. And - if that hadn’t been provocative or statement - inducing enough, one of his feathers, his feather, which Revan assumed she got from his room, was braided into her hair on the other side. They all knew, or at least, most of them, knew the story of the Black Rose concerning the Ravinca clan, and the feather she wore proudly, which was definitely too big to be from a regular raven, or Huginn or Muninn, sealed the statement.
In short, Revan hadn’t expected this.
Glumisun looked at him first, looked at him first, didn’t greet all of the other leaders first, but looked at him and gave him that mischievous smile again. She knew what she had done. This was definitely on purpose.
“Well,” Avaddon said, coughing into his fist. “It seems we are all … here.”
Avaddon glanced back again at Glumisun, and then at Kasdeya, who was grinning, but still keeping her poise, and then starting with the trial. “Revan, we have called you here today because you are charged with…”

--------------------
After the trial, Glumisun met up with Revan outside of the coliseum, who she could tell was grinning, despite the fact that he was no longer the leader. Maybe the week’s notice had helped? Anyway, she could tell he was smiling.
“How did I look?” she asked casually, smiling at him.
He laughed. “Very pretty,” he said, his posture conveying definite amusement. “That stunt… I don’t think anyone is going to underestimate you anytime soon.
“Good,” Glumisun said, satisfaction playing out across her face. Kasdeya exited the Coliseum, barely holding in a laugh. Glumisun held her satisfied poise for a second longer before it came crumbling down. She just couldn’t hold it.
“God, Revan, did you see their faces?” She squealed, bouncing on the balls of her feet. Revan laughed, and nodded.
Yes, I did. That was very clever of you,” Revan said, more than happy to let her have her fun reminiscing about this.
Avaddon stalked past, stealing a glance at them. He had been uncomfortable and was trying to compensate, but Glumisun just waved at him happily, like she always did, prompting another laugh from Revan.
They stood there, Glumisun looking up at Revan at the sun slowly lowered itself toward the horizon. Revan would be leaving soon, and Glumisun had almost made up her mind - she knew what she was going to do. She had told herself that there was no way that she could leave everything she knew, including her position as leader, behind for the promise of adventure, but she knew she could.
Why?
She was inexorably, inevitably, wholly and unconditionally in love with Revan of Ravinca.
So, they met up again later, when the sun was already dipping towards the horizon, when she had packed the few things she wanted to take with her, and Revan held out his hand.
You ready?
Glumisun sighed pushing air through her teeth, looking back at everything, and then looking at the misty barrier, preparing herself.
She looked back at Revan, who had taken off his hood, baring his green eyes, with that little splash of gold in there that captivated her so much, and she nodded, taking his hand.
“I’m ready.”
 
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The rails clanked as the train moved along the tracks of the above-ground train system that the humans had built, bringing the pair, Revan and Glumisun, closer to their destination. Revan could've flown them, of course, but not as quick and not as far. This was, albiet a very risky mode of transportation, but the best and the fastest, as they would have had to stop several times on the way. Revan had talked it over with Glumisun and they both had agreed that the risk was worth it.
Right now Revan was sitting contentedly on a bench, with Glumisun leaning on him, asleep. He had his hood up, and his mask on, because air breathed by humans was toxic to him without it, and had gotten more than a few curious glances by the other occupants of the car. This amused him because in the Haven they would not have gotten any. Demons tended to keep to themselves more often than not, and Revan found it queer that so many were so curious about them. They looked strange, for sure, but not that strange, in his opinion, and they certainly didn't warrant the glances that the humans cast their way.
The train ride was silent for almost the entirety of the ride, and Revan was just about to thank whatever gods there were for good fortune, but about halfway there was a group of four, dressed for combat, that arrived in their car. Revan kept track of them in his peripheral, the strangers moving steadily closer to them as they questioned people.
In short, this was bad.
He nudged Glumisun awake, and she looked at him, obviously wondering what was wrong. Revan tilted his head toward the strangers, and when Glumisun saw them she snapped up, grabbing Revan's hand and squeezing it.
As the strangers got closer, Revan stole glances to get more information. One of the strangers was carrying an oddly shaped peice of luggage that Revan recognized to be his chestpeice and chains, which he had put in the back as cargo, which seemed to be the smartest option at the time. Another of the strangers looked disfigured and was muttering to himself the same phrases over and over again. Revan almost shivered as a cold feeling came over him, and almost growled.
Magic.
Humans using magic felt unnatural. Magic used to be the demons' realm exclusively, until humans learned if they took parts of demons and replaced them with their own, that they could use the magic inherent within. It was an abomination and no self-respecting demon would stand for it.
Revan realized he was clenching the hand that had Glumisun's in it and released the pressure, much to her relief.
The strangers grew closer.
It made sense that the humans were taking awhile to locate him using magic. Human's magic was nowhere near as precise as the natural inheritors of the power.
But eventually the strangers approached them, Revan in a black cloak, and Glumisun's pale skin sticking out hugely. Revan's shroud of darkness wasn't activated, but they still looked suspicious.
"Follow my lead," Revan whispered urgently as the strangers faced them, determined looks on their faces.
The leader, one with a jet-black demonic arm, took the chestpiece from one of his comrades, uncovered it, and dropped it with a clang in front of them.
"We know who you are," the leader said, crossing his mix-matched arms in front of him whilst his three comrades grasped what he was sure were guns.
"We aren't bothering you," Revan said, trying to be reasonable. "Just leave us alone."
The leader scoffed as if this was a preposterous idea.
"Surrender. It's four on two."
Revan smiled under his mask, and the leader could see it in his exposed eyes. Dark, black mist began to leak out of Revan's cloak, alarming the strangers and the others in the car, who were already leaving.
Two more strangers arrived through the car doors on either side.
"Six on two," the leader admonished as they covered the exits.
Revan smiled, flipping on his voice modulator.
"I like those odds."
Glumisun slipped chaos' song out of a bag she kept it in, and the others' eyes widened as they realized who she was, too. Revan, taking advantage of the confusion, tried to reason with them again.
"Look at me. Guns won't stop us. Your... " Revan acted as if he was trying to find words, when in fact he had already found them. "... abominatory attempts at magic won't stop us. We do not wish to hurt you, but we are leaving," Revan admonished, as the black mist swirled around him and Glumisun, who was preparing to help out with chaos' song.
The strangers glanced quickly at each other, and then back at Revan with evermore determined faces.
Revan sighed. It seemed that nothing would sway these humans. He glanced at Glumisun and tried to communicate the plan. It seemed she understood.
"Fine," Revan sighed as he grabbed his chestpeice, his wings springing to life and his legs propelling him out of the window behind him, the strangers firing at him, missing, of course, allowing Glumisun to dash over to the opposite window, playing an elegant melody and chanting a quick spell that when she turned around, breaking the window behind her, a blast of pure force shot from the instrument, the sound suddenly deepening and amplifying to shove the four humans out of the window that Revan had broken, the few shots that were headed for her either disintegrating entirely or being shoved out the window harmlessly with the humans.
Glumisun experienced a few moments of terrifying free-fall before landing on Revan's back, who had quickly donned his chestpeice and was currently flying away, toward the mountains that were now vaguely in view.
A few moments later, Revan noticed that Glumisun had blacked out, probably from the effort of the spell she had just performed. Amplifying and deepening sound waves was no easy feat, even for someone as powerful as her. Plus, Revan suspected she had come up with that on the fly, and hadn't had time to make it more energy-efficient.
And so Revan and Glumisun flew into the sunset, Revan grabbing Chaos' song so it wouldn't fall.
 
@Vague o3 @Lish
Glumisun woke up the next morning, having a slight headache.
She was in a plain that seemed to stretch infinitely on in all directions, only seeming to end at the mountains that were silhouetted in mist at the end of her vision.
She seemed to be in a small camp, the fire doused and smoldering in front of her. Revan was sitting opposite her.
"You're awake," Revan observed astutely.
Obviously.
Glumisun looked around, confused. "Where are we?"
Revan looked around. "We're on the final stretch of the journey. If we keep going, we should get there by tonight."
Glumisun nodded, but Revan hadn't answered her question. "But..."
Revan chuckled. "We're on something the Humans call the Endless Plains right next to the Door of Orpheus, sandwiched between the mountain range that houses Sundavrblaka'baen. It's called Du Fells Welden, or the Guarding mountains."
Glumisun frowned as she recognized some of the names. Geography had been a dwindling subject in the Haven, as many demons became comfortable there and felt no need to learn about the outside world, as they thought that they would never see it. With her as one of the main exceptions, demons never really felt the need to know the names of places, or where they were.
Glumisun recognized one of the names from a story she had read.
"The Door of Orpheus? Where's..."
Glumisun fell silent as Revan pointed over her shoulder.
When she looked around, she realized what she had thought had been a mountainous cliff had actually been a gigantic set of doors, with weathered carvings.
Glumisun's mouth hung open. "Isn't that..." Glumisun trailed off, and Revan answered.
"Yes. The story goes that a very, very gifted human with a magical instrument could sing songs that were so powerful and so emotional that the rocks themselves would make way for him. And, once he had lost his lover, they did. He walked straight down to hell and, with the power of song, convinced satan to let her go."
Revan shrugged. "The validity of this story is questionable, but that is how demonkind escaped - " Revan gestured to the Door. " - Through this door."
Glumisun nodded. She'd heard the story before. "And that's where..."
Revan nodded. "Yes. My grandfather's legendary duel with death. That's where it took place, giving us long life by taking Death's scythe."
Glumisun frowned. "Death's scythe?" she said, confused. "I never heard that."
Revan chuckled. "Yes, and we still have it. It hasn't seen the light of day in centuries."
Glumisun gaped. "Why don't you use it?"
Revan frowned. "It's powers are addictive. My grandfather discovered that quickly and equally quickly hid it in the bowels of his estate. Last I saw of it, my father entrusted it to the Caretaker."
Glumisun's frown deepened. "Your family..." she said, her curious eyes staring into Revan's, "It must be hard to live up to."
Revan chuckled. "I have made peace with the probability that I will never do anything as legendary as dueling Death."
Glumisun nodded. Seemed like a reasonable expectation.
Revan stood up, stretching his wings. "We should get going."
Glumisun nodded. It was time to go.
 
Towards the end of the next day, Glumisun could see the walls surrounding Sundavrblaka'baen.

As the sun was setting, the pair had arrived at the gate, a majestic stone raven with it's wings folded over the entrance. With the sun setting over the majestic raven, Glumisun was in awe. She glanced over to Revan, who looked even more enamored with this piece of his lost heritage. Something he had never gotten to see.

As Revan noticed Glumisun looking at him he snapped out of his trance and approached the wall, looking for a way they might be able to get in without flying over, which as they discussed before, would be tedious and Glumisun had no idea if there were spells, or fragments of them, (which could be even more dangerous) still intact that might prevent them from doing so.

Revan looked around the gate and found a hole in the right side that would be just big enough for them to slip though. Revan went first, and when Glumisun accepted the had that he offered, she stepped right through.

She emerged into a dilapidated town square, with the circular cobblestone piece that marked the center cracked and broken, and a fountain that no longer worked, with unkempt grass filling all the areas where it could. It looked like nature had started taking this back in the years that it was abandoned.

Revan started walking around, inspecting the square and the disarranged buildings that surrounded it. Glumisun guessed he was trying to put together a mental image of the way it used to be, and Glumisun bet it was glorious.

As Glumisun joined him in inspecting the area around them, her curiosity got the better of her and she started asking Revan questions.

"Why is this place called Sundavrblaka'baen?" She asked, looking at the ruined buildings that should have stood for centuries more. "And why is this place so ruined? The architecture of these things is secure enough, why?"

Revan sighed. "After the humans started to be more agressive towards demons and the Haven needed to be formed, the community decided to leave. They feared for their lives, as most demons were peace-loving and didn't know how to fight, or use the rare abilities sprinkled across the population. They're more common now, but back then only a few select demons had abilities, and almost none of them were as powerful as you or I," Revan explained, sighing. "The humans bombed the city for good measure. The city's remaining magical defenses blocked the brunt of it, but a few spare bombs were all that were needed to do this," Revan said, looking around at the ruined city.

Revan pondered the first question that Glumisun asked. Glumisun guessed that he never had to translate it before.

"Sundavr means 'shadow', and blaka means 'flapper'. Shadow-flapper is the figurative name for a raven." Revan paused as he translated the next phrase. "The pause in the word, which is written as an apostrophe, which is meant to emphasize the importance of the word, and baen is... " Revan paused. "It's a very complex and deep form of grief. It's correlated with loss and sorrow. Combined, it's the Shadow-flapper's sorrow, or the Raven's Sorrow."

Glumisun nodded. That made sense, the feeling of loss of being forced to move out of your home. She had experienced it on the rare occasions that she had gone into the Ravinca territory, the feeling of being misplaced, even after about three generations. The older people had settled in, but not as much as they would have liked, and there was still that feeling of sadness, like refugees.

With her questions answered, another soon rose up to the surface of her mind as she surveyed the landscape. Among the ruined buildings stood a white marble structure, vaguely familiar, that seemed entirely undamaged, in fact it looked brand-new, although the architecture was old, she could tell. She pointed it out to Revan, who only smiled mischievously.

Grr. That was her thing.

She elbowed him in the stomach for that, and then went over to the building, pulling out chaos' song as she went to check if there was any magic in the area. Revan just followed close behind, still wearing that grin.
"You don't think this is strange? How is this still standing?"
Revan shrugged. "I think I know, but how about you investigate first?"
Glumisun growled at him intentionally keeping her in the dark, not something she enjoyed, but something he seemed to be enjoying thoroughly.

Glumisun walked around the building, singing a song that would reveal to her any trace of magic in the area.

Nothing.

Glumisun walked over to Revan again, who was still smiling, annoying her even more. "Well, I can't find anything. This building seems completely natural, even though it's not."

Revan nodded. "Are you ready to go inside now?"

Glumisun nodded. "Sure. Let's go."

Revan took her hand and led her inside, a wonderful panorama of carvings throughout the entire building, and even on the ceiling. That wasn't the wierdest part, though, the weirdest part was the person standing, carving them. Once they came in, he looked over his shoulder and smiled.

"Ah, there you are, Sundavrblaka. And who might you be?" The person asked as his gaze shifted from Revan to Glumisun, who was standing there with her jaw open beside him, still grasping his hand.

Revan smiled visibly. "You know who she is."

The person smiled. "Yes, I do, but it's polite to ask. Welcome, Islingr."

Glumisun shook off her awe and looked at the strange person. "Who are you?"

The person smiled from his eyes as he introduce himself. "You may call me the Caretaker. It's a pleasure to meet you, Glumisun Palma Christi."

Revan looked at the Caretaker then to Glumisun, and then addressed the Caretaker. "Ebrithil, We've not much time before it gets dark. Do you know of somewhere to stay?"

The Caretaker nodded. "Yes, I figured you would want to find one. There is actually a vacation home that your grandfather and his his wife had used when they wanted to get away." The Caretaker snorted. "She actually had to drag him away from his work in some instances." the Caretaker smiled and looked at the wall of the two, smiling to himself. Before long, the Caretaker came back to reality and said, "Oh, yes, the house." The Caretaker gave them directions to a home in the mountains, far enough away from the city to survive the bombings. Revan thanked the Caretaker and made to walk out of the Sanctuary.

Before he could walk the entire way out, sudden darkness enveloped Revan, leaving him in a black void with only the Caretaker behind him. Revan felt... weird, and the Caretaker's mood suddenly turned from good-natured to deadly serious.

The Caretaker looked at him for awhile, eyes boring straight into his soul.

"You really don't know what you did, do you?"

And all of a sudden, it was over, and Revan returned to reality. He stopped walking, Glumisun stopping too, and paused for a second.

"You okay?" Glumisun asked.

"... yeah. Let's go."
 
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