Ocsic 30 years ago…
The council hall
The tyrant king and a strange looking man are having a private meeting
"Well? Did you find it?"
"No…but I have my men looking—"
"Excuses, excuses, excuses…"
"A little more time? Perhaps?"
"I've given you more than enough time, King. Maybe it's time we did things my way?"
The man smiled wickedly, revealing his brilliant, white teeth. An incisor on the left had gone missing and was replaced by a gold tooth that sparkled anytime he smiled. Something about that smile sent shivers down the king's spine, causing him to tremble before the man. Even though he was the king, even though he controlled millions of citizens, even with his royal guards and elite army, to this man he was nothing but a frog in a well. He tried so hard to pull himself together as he felt his limbs go numb. His palms became sweaty and he couldn't stop shaking. Just who was this man? Had he signed a deal with the devil? Could it be that he would gradually take everything from him until he took his soul? Why couldn't he bring himself to calm down? What was this commanding power?
"You're as pale as a ghost, King."
The man leaned forward, causing the king to trip as he gave him a very intimidating look.
"Do I scare you?" He asked showing his golden tooth again.
The King felt his skin crawl in an unpleasant manner. This man had definitely set out to humiliate him! He was the king, how could an insignificant outsider like him make him cower in fear like a weakling? Unforgivable! This man meant trouble…real trouble.
The stranger stood up and calmly walked towards the king's seat, his aura rising and darkening with every step he took. He slid his hands into his pockets and continued making his way toward the king. He was dressed in a formal green suit with a golden brooch that was shaped like a dragon. The head of the dragon had an unusual shape with a red eye cut out from a diamond. He wore a hat that covered his face when he looked down.
"I can smell fear all over you…" He said as he got to the king's seat, holding the chair in both ends.
The king felt a heavy force pushing him down and rooting him to his seat. He felt the man's aura growing and growing as if the darkness would consume him. He adjusted himself slightly on his seat, afraid that he would trip and fall into the darkness that now surrounded and suffocated him. He heard creaking sounds from his chair; the man was holding on to it so tightly that he feared it would snap if he held on any longer. Indeed, he'd signed a deal with the devil! He heard a deep, guttural growl coming from behind him and the man began to slowly claw at the chair. He felt a shift in the man's presence as it moved towards his face, his body was covered in goosebumps and sweat as he trembled in fear.
"Should we try this my way?" He said again, this time in a more threatening tone.
The king turned to look at his face but the man was quick. He swiftly grabbed the king by the neck and pinned his head on the table so that the king was facing the opposite direction. For the first time in his life, the king felt what it was like to be afraid and powerless. This man meant trouble! He really was bad news, and he needed to be stopped. He tried to speak, but the man was holding on to his neck so tightly that he felt it would snap.
"Hmm? Begging for mercy now?" The man said as he bent forward, his ear directed at the king's lips.
"I'll..find it…" came the king's weak response
"You'll what?!"
"I'll…find it. With…without fail."
The man sighed
"Fine." He let the king go.
He calmly walked back to his seat, drawing in the darkness that had spread across the room. The king sat up coughing as he held his neck. In that moment when the man had him cornered, he had thought that was the end for him. He was ready to accept his fate right there on that chair. Or maybe not? He caught his breath and held his neck still, looking at the strange guest seated right in front of him. The man just sat there quietly with his legs crossed and his arms folded as if nothing had happened, facing down as his hat covered his face.
"So? Shall I expect good news when I visit again?"
"Most…definitely yes!" The king coughed
"You said so last time and look at you now"
"No! This time for sure! I'll have my men search endlessly! Even to the depths of the sea."
"Now, now. That's more like it, king." He leaned forward and tapped the king's cheek.
"I'll be on my way. Fail again and you know what happens."
The king watched him walk out of the hall, still as calm as ever and he detested it. How dare he act so calm and innocent just after attacking him. He made sure the man had left, then he summoned one of the guards who had been keeping watch outside the hall and told him to gather the council.
"And tell the prince to be in attendance." He ordered.
"Yes sir!"
He leaned back on his chair and began to think of ways to get rid of the man whom he now called The Devil. He suddenly remembered he had heard scratching sounds from the chair and he turned to look at it. He froze with fear as he looked at the damage on the chair. He began to sweat, swallowing hard and harder as his throat dried up, his hands and feet became cold as he kept looking at the chair; there were claw marks on both sides of it! Huge marks that ran deep into the chair's frame. He then remembered the man had had those same hands on his neck. Had he gotten lucky enough to have been unharmed by the man's claws? Or did the man purposely avoid hurting him? Just what was this man? First it was his physique, then it was his aura, and now claws? He realized that in order to bring his enemy down, he was going to have to be more careful and calculative. This was no ordinary human being. He had dined with the devil!
"Father you sent for me?"
The prince burst through the council room, swinging the doors with full force.
"Mmh, yes. Sit down."
"Did something happen, Father? A council meeting by this time?"
The prince looked at his father with worry. He knew it was unusual to gather the council especially at an odd hour like this one. He noticed his father was trembling, sweating profusely and taking deep breaths. He looked like he had just seen a ghost or an evil spirit. What could have shaken his father so much to make him tremble like a coward? Who was it that dared to humiliate the king in such manner?
"Father…are you alright? Is there something wrong?"
The king gave no answer.
"Father! Did something happen?!"
The king looked at his son, fear written all over his face as he saw a faint image of the strange man's smile, his golden tooth sparkling in the brightly lit room. He shut his eyes and shook his head violently like a mad man. The prince grabbed him and tried to calm him down, confused as to what happened to his father that scarred him so deeply.
"Your majesty! Get a hold of yourself!" The prince barked at him.
The king seemed to have pulled himself together after his son's voice jolted him back to his senses. He could feel the bloodlust reeking from his son's body, his aura darkening as it grew, almost as suffocating as that devil's. Of course! His son! He could have faith in his son. Afterall, no one matched his son's physical strength as well as his intellect. If anyone could defeat that devil, it would be his son. He had no doubt in his strength or his skills. After calming himself down, he tried to speak, but words failed him. How would ge explain his shady deals with a monster? Would anyone even believe him? Would they take sides with him? Or would he end up disappointing his son and his subjects?
"Father…" The prince began to grow impatient
"Father why are we holding a meeting this late?" He asked again.
The king looked at his son, fear written all over his pale face.
"The devil was here…"