Calguas was on the verge of departure, prompting Suman to hastily finish his wine and inquire about the reason for his early exit. With his goblets placed delicately on the center table, Suman reclined on the couch, his gaze fixated on the ceiling. After a deep breath, he calmly turned his attention to Calguas.
"Pray tell, what urgent matters demand your attention? Surely, you're not-not in search of an Ixartxist girl as well?" Suman questioned, curiosity lacing his words.
Calguas, clutching a hidden necklace beneath his garments, pivoted and responded, "Why should I concern myself with her? There is an important task that requires my immediate attention, Suman. Forgive me."
In a sudden twist, Calguas vanished before Suman's eyes, leaving him perplexed. Rather than leaving Ixartxist's room, Suman remained, his gaze still fixed on the ceiling.
"Important indeed. Why does everyone seem so preoccupied? It's not-not that I lack concern for Quart, for I do care deeply. Quart has changed, consumed by melancholy, as has Ixartxist," Suman mused, raising his left hand to admire the ring adorning his finger.
"The three of us have been altered by her tragedy. She will forever reside within our hearts," he whispered, pressing a tender kiss to the ring.
Abruptly, a maid knocked on the door, inquiring if Ixartxist required any assistance. Suman calmly invited her in, but the maid hesitated, explaining that she was forbidden from entering, citing it as the primary rule. Undeterred, Suman rose from his seat, opened the door, and beckoned her inside. Bewildered by the presence of a stranger in her master's room, the maid instinctively grasped Suman's hand and cautiously whispered her concerns. She questioned his purpose in Ixartxist's quarters, prompting Suman to gently free himself from her grip and step into the room.
Seated on the couch, facing Ixartxist's bed, Suman inquired about the maid's name. However, instead of providing an answer, she swiftly closed the door to maintain their privacy. Urging Suman to leave before they were discovered, the maid's words fell upon deaf ears as he approached her with a smile. Leaning against the door, he raised her head to meet his gaze, encircling her waist with his arms, drawing her closer. The maid found herself speechless as Suman tenderly caressed her face. However, upon noticing the wedding ring adorning his left hand, she gently pushed him away.
"What do you want, sir?" she asked, her voice tinged with a hint of disappointment. "You wear a rare diamond upon your finger, a beautiful ring indeed. I'm sorry, but I cannot entertain the affections of a stranger, no matter how charming. The phrase 'I love you' should not be uttered lightly. It requires commitment, and as a married man, you are bound by that commitment. Love entails enduring until the end. Please, cease your displays of affection and devote yourself to your wife, as true lovers ought to. Moreover, it goes against the laws of God. I apologize, but I must go, and so should you. I shall buy you some time."
Suman merely smiled at her, and in an instant, he took her soul, extinguishing her life. Carefully laying her on the couch, he remarked, "I am heartened to know that there are still those who abide by the commandments of my God. They may be few, but they are steadfast. It matters not how much food is in your bowl; only that which is worthy to eat is necessary."
Ixartxist's Visit to the Police Office and Unleashing Chaos. Ixartxist stormed into the dimly lit police office, his eyes filled with determination. He demanded that they halt their relentless pursuit of Tassa and allow him to take matters into his own hands. However, the police officers, their faces etched with weariness, informed him that they were powerless to intervene. The higher authorities had taken over the investigation, leaving them with no jurisdiction. Intrigued, Ixartxist inquired, his voice laced with suspicion, "Higher authorities? Are you referring to the military?"
The police officer hesitated, his gaze shifting uneasily. "Most likely, sir. But may I ask why this concerns you? Do you have a personal connection to Tassa? What is your relationship with her?"
Ixartxist's piercing gaze bore into the officer, his voice dripping with secrecy. "I am her lover, the one who bestowed upon her the knowledge of that spell. However, I fail to see any reason why you should be privy to such information." In an instant, Ixartxist's fury consumed him, and with a swift, merciless motion, he severed the officer's head using nothing but his bare hands.
The grisly scene unfolded before the eyes of an elderly janitor, his trembling form frozen in terror. His legs, once nimble, betrayed him, rendering him unable to flee. Desperation etched across his face, he pleaded with Ixartxist, his voice quivering, "Please have mercy! My grandchildren need me. They are still young and depend on my care." Ixartxist, sensing the truth in the janitor's words, recognized the genuine fear in his eyes. With a flick of his wrist, he teleported the old man to the safety of his own humble abode, even bestowing upon him his own watch—a token of unexpected generosity.
Bewildered and trembling, the old man mustered the courage to ask Ixartxist why he had spared his life and shown him such unexpected kindness. Ixartxist's gaze met his, a glint of mystery in his eyes. From the corner of his eye, he handed the old man a card, his voice laced with enigmatic purpose. "From this moment forth, I shall alleviate the burdens that weigh upon your shoulders. Financial woes shall be but a distant memory. I shall assist you and your grandchildren in every way possible. Should you choose to report me, the choice is yours. I offer you an option."
The old man, his voice trembling with skepticism, retorted, "Do not mistake your acts of kindness for true virtue. I saw you brutally behead the officers earlier."
Ixartxist's lips curled into a cold smile as he regarded the old man. "His life was naught but a wasted existence—a pedophile and a protector of the drug trade. His actions facilitated the perpetuation of inhumanity and the elusion of justice. He was unworthy of the very life he squandered."
Having accomplished his grim mission, Ixartxist vanished from the old man's humble abode, leaving no trace behind. With a snap of his fingers, he effortlessly obliterated the surveillance cameras, erasing any evidence of his presence. Nonchalantly, he strolled away, his mind consumed by a singular purpose.
Back in the sanctity of his room, Ixartxist brooded in the flickering shadows. The air crackled with an energy that mirrored his restless spirit. "Futile, so futile," he muttered to himself, his voice heavy with frustration. "It is still not enough. I must ensure that they capture her alive. I will not allow anyone to lay a finger on her. Unless, of course, that someone is me." His words hung in the air, a testament to his unwavering determination. The room seemed to pulsate with his unwavering resolve, as if echoing his burning desire to protect Tassa at any cost.
Lost in the depths of his own tormented thoughts, Ixartxist's restless pacing brought him closer to the couch. As he glanced at the exquisite glass vase, a flicker of movement caught his eye—a woman lying there, her presence hidden within the reflection. Intrigued, he approached her cautiously, his gaze fixed on her figure from the corner of his eyes. A sense of emptiness, akin to an abandoned cave, emanated from her being.
Compelled to investigate further, Ixartxist gently placed his hands above her, his fingertips barely grazing her ethereal form. Closing his eyes, he delved into the depths of his own supernatural perception. In that moment, his worst fears were confirmed—her soul had been stolen, leaving behind only a hollow vessel.
Driven by curiosity and a sense of urgency, Ixartxist's attention was drawn to a demon note concealed within her dress. With meticulous care, he examined her chest, his fingers tracing the contours of her attire. Squatting down, he tore through the fabric, revealing the hidden message that awaited him.
"I had a message for you, Ixartxist, my friend. Try to look inside," the note whispered with an otherworldly voice.
Ixartxist's gaze shifted to her exposed chest, uncertainty clouding his features. With a mixture of trepidation and intrigue, he extended his hand, penetrating the depths of her being to retrieve the gem mentioned in the note. As he held the gem in his palm, a voice resonated from within, its tone unmistakably that of Suman.
"Thank you for remembering her," the gem spoke, expressing gratitude in Suman's voice.
Ixartxist's confusion was palpable as he stared at the gem, his mind racing to comprehend its meaning. "Is he referring to Aretha?" he questioned aloud, his voice filled with uncertainty and curiosity.
As Ixartxist held the gem in his hand, its explosive demise caught him off guard. The shards pierced his demon skin, causing searing pain to course through his veins. Though it couldn't claim his life, the gem's power left a lasting mark. Despite its cracked state, the gem managed to convey a final message, echoing through the air.
"Do you like it? Isn't it great? But seriously, thank you so much for remembering her. Oh, and uh, I took her soul because she's an eligible fruit to eat. Bye."
The revelation struck a nerve within Ixartxist, igniting a blazing anger towards Suman. He wasted no time in dialing Suman's number, his voice seething with fury. But instead of remorse or fear, Suman's laughter echoed through the phone, mocking Ixartxist's rage. "Relax, relax, it was all just for fun, to cool your head. Did it work?" Suman taunted. In a sudden twist, Suman's phone transformed into a snake, sinking its fangs into Ixartxist's flesh.
"Classic, classic, Ixartxist. But you know it can't kill me. A snake can't kill a demon, you know that," Suman jeered, reveling in his invincibility.
Ixartxist's response was laced with a chilling determination. "It was never my intention to end your life. I desired only to inflict upon you a pain so excruciating that you would feel as if death were near, even though it was not."
As the venom coursed through his veins, Suman's demeanor shifted. Dizziness overwhelmed him, forcing him to question the nature of the snake that had bitten him. In a blink of an eye, Ixartxist materialized at Suman's house, his presence looming over the weakened demon. He reached down, grabbing the snake that slithered beside Suman, and revealed its origins.
"Lucille's snake, a creature designed to torment lowly demons like you," Ixartxist declared, his voice dripping with sarcasm. He squatted in front of Suman, his eyes filled with a mix of pity and derision. "Oh, how heartwarming. You call me your best friend."
Suman's smile remained unyielding as he uttered words that defied conventional understanding. "You are my best friend, a bond forged in our childhood. And you are also my best fiend, don't you see?"
Ixartxist drew closer, his grip tightening on Suman's face. "We share a connection, a twisted kinship. We are more alike than the world could fathom. Should I say, 'same-same'? That's your word, isn't it?"
A flicker of recognition passed through Suman's eyes. "You truly understand me, perhaps even better than I understand myself."
Ixartxist's smirk deepened as he stood up, turning his back on the weakened Suman. "The pain will subside in due time, lasting only an hour. Enjoy your reverie on the floor, for a while. I have matters to attend to."
With that, Ixartxist vanished, teleporting to a destination unknown, leaving Suman lying on the floor, laughter echoing against the walls. Instead of succumbing to anger, Suman embraced the pain coursing through his body, his laughter blending with the agony.
You and your snake are quite a team. But he still wants Quart and can't stop thinking about her. So, what if I help him find her?" Suman's laughter continued, a cacophony of madness, as he contemplated his next move amidst the throes of pain.