[Footsteps are heard ringing through the room]
Soma: Aoto get up, someone's coming, you can't be seen like this.
Still unable to reach Aoto, Soma watched as everything unfolded.
[Footsteps getting closer]
A large, burly man hidden away in the shadows could be seen by Soma.
Soma: AOTO WE NEED TO GO!
Walking forward, the man stepped out of the shadows and into the light, leaving Soma speechless.
The man carried a large Axe strapped to his back, and had a long, bushy beard that made him look ancient.
His stature was even greater than Garius's, towering over anyone Soma could think of.
Soma: Thadius
Thadius unlatched the mighty axe from his back, swinging it around momentarily.
Thadius: My neck is killing me, UGH
[rubbing his neck]
CURATOR!
He yelled out, not noticing Aoto mounted on the Curator's lifeless body.
Holding his axe, he gently placed it along a nearby table, making sure to angle it so it wouldn't fall.
The smell of blood reached Thadius' nostrils, making his face go from discomfort to caution.
Thadius Siprel, the war lord of the empire, otherwise known as the "Timber Beast", for being as mighty as an oak tree and carrying his mighty axe, did have one fault.
His vision, Thadius, was never really fantastic when it came to seeing anything of importance, only being able to see clearly what he called "Spirits of the sea".
Hundreds of stories about Thadius and his adventures have been written, including losing his axe.
In short, the story says that Thadius misplaced his axe in a neighboring city. He could not do so when it came time for him to take to battle, since he was missing his axe.
Supposedly, he ran from where he was back to the city in one night, returning to the battle by midday, showing his physical capabilities and intellect regarding memory. In battle, he is known as a fierce and some tactician.
[Back in the room]
Unable to see clearly, Thadius relied on his senses, walking closer and closer towards the smell of blood "Aoto".
Soma: Aoto, this will either go two ways, or leave here badly beaten but with your life, or you don't make it out of here.
Soma's words finally reached Aoto and brought him back.
[Aoto heavily breathing, looking around]
Aoto: Soma, what's going on?
"Thump"
Thadius: Found you.
On top of Aoto's head, a large hand was placed on Aoto's skull, as if it were a briefcase.
[Thadius' hand tightening around Aoto's skull, picking him up]
Aoto: Oww Oww Oww
Aoto, hovering over the ground, looked up to see a mighty man picking him up as if he were a child.
Thadius: Who are you, boy?
Thadius raised Aoto even further, making direct eye contact with him and bringing him as close to his face as possible.
Admiring Aoto's face, Thadius ran his fingers up and down Aoto's, getting a feel for it. He then noticed the halo wrapped around his skull.
Thadius: So, you must be the boy.
Aoto: Who are you speaking of? You must be mistaken.
Thadius, still examining Aoto, had yet to mention that Aoto was drenched in blood.
Let's see, boy, would you mind telling me where the Curator is? We have much to speak of, and please stay up.
Aoto: He's dead.
They're all dead.
[Thadius' expression showed interest]
Thadius: Oh, they're dead, you say, boy, you wouldn't happen to have anything to do with that??
As Thadius spoke, it was clear to Aoto that his eyes were fixated on Aoto's blood-stained clothing.
Before Aoto could speak, he felt something creep up his throat.
Running towards the nearby corner, Aoto let out black liquid from his mouth, causing him to fall back down.
Though it was blurry, Thadius could tell what had come out of him and what it meant.
Thadius: You switched with the devil, didn't you, boy?
Tears began to sweep out of Aoto's ducts, but he kept his composure, not defaulting to wallowing.
Aoto: Yes, and the devil swapped.
Thadius smiled, saying, "Good, very good, now we know that you have the control to come back".
Rage began showing its head within Aoto, "YOU THINK THIS IS GOOD! THIS LOOK AROUND, LOOK AT THE BODIES I'VE KILLED! ME THAT I'VE KILLED.
Aoto looked around for a moment and, finding the sharpest object he could reach, he attempted to stab himself in the neck.
He picked up the knife, wielding it in his right hand, and as quick as he could, he aimed for his neck and went for it.
"SHUMP"
The marking around Aoto's body spread quickly, all meeting at his neck, to make a shield.
Hitting his neck, the knife bounced off, beginning to wobble around in Aoto's hand, the markings had become as hard as stone, hardening around him for his own protection.
Thadius: It's useless, boy. You might as well give up.
Aoto: HOW CAN YOU ACT SO CALM AMID THIS ROOM LOOK AROUND!?
[Thadius raising his hand and slapping Aoto]
"smack"
Thadius: WATCH YOURSELF, BOY.
[Aoto lay on the ground due to the sheer force of Thadius' slap, unconscious, unknown to Thadius.]
I have seen bloodshed worse than this room a thousand times over. The Curator and these slaves were nothing but pawns in the empires rule, they rape, pillage and enslave what happened here today in my eyes is nothing more than divine retribution.
Thadius walked towards Aoto's body lying limp on the ground, flipping over Aoto, he realized that he was unconscious.
Thadius: Looks like I went a bit overboard.
-At the Inn with Garius-
Garius: AOTO
[waking up in his bed back at the Inn]
Where am I? Is this the Inn, what happened to Aoto and that F**k Curator?
Looking around the room, Garius could smell the stench of old blood, making him nauseous, and bringing him over to the toilet.
"UGH"
After excusing himself, Garius sat down and, looking at his clothing, could see heaps of blood sprawled all across.
Garius: WHAT?
WHO BLOOD IS THIS?
Calming himself down Garius tried to place together exactly what happened "Okay so I was caged, then told that someone is coming, did he say who F**k I can't remember, then I see Aoto come through a Gate?! And land directly in the cage next to me and then poof it's all a blur."
Garius stood up, deciding to find out what was happening. He got changed, putting on a suit covered in flowers but still wearing his eyewear, even though it was stained.
Walking down the stairs, he exited the pub to see a ginormous line of people crowding the Guild.
Bystander: He's here, isn't he?
Bystander 2: I indeed saw him walk in.
Bystander 3: It looked like he was heading towards Arcad HOW COOL!
Seeing this, Garius chose to walk towards the Guild and tapped one of the bystanders on the shoulder.
Garius: Sorry, but what's everyone doing at the Guild today?
Bystander: Oh, you didn't hear? Our Warlord Thadius Siprel has graced us with his arrival in Nycon. We're all here waiting.
Garius: Thadius [Silence] Siprel.