Betrayal

Errezila says, "Morning lord Zaruma."
Zaruma says, "Yes, morning..."
Errezila says, "I have evolved."
Zaruma says, "--Tragedy. We have a converesation due."
The demon, however, seems incredibly enthused.

Clap! Clap! Clap! The demon's 'excitable' claps are immensely booming due to the twisted size of his hands, slamming together thunderously as he beams excitably! "Impressive! I had thought they would be keen to elude you."

"I take it she saw none of it coming?"
(Eiphraem)
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Tragedy says, "Certainly."
Misato Kusaragi says, "S-sir zaruma..."
Misato Kusaragi asks, "Could I have my collar removed?"
Tragedy smiled softly... cute and cherubic, if not for her deadly aura. "No, Eiphraem. She was blind to the truth of the matter. This entire war- it was nothing but a trial for my apprentice. Once it was over, Hatsune's usefulness ended. So I disposed of her."
(Tragedy)
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Tragedy says, "And perhaps you could all shut up and leave Zaruma for the moment."
The Archon spends no time to listen, speak, or even gaze at anyone else.

A pair of crimson hues are only pointed at Tragedy for a moment, before Zaruma makes his way to the fortification. He had neither time nor patience to deal with anyone else's concerns at the moment, that much was evident.
(Zaruma)
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His gaze was promptly turned towards Tragedy the moment they made their way to the temple; immediately, he noted one thing - she kept her distance. The Archon could already take a hint.

Regardless, he had no violence in his own stance. The Archon's arms were crossed, cautious, weary if anything, but certainly not violent, not just yet. Displeased would be a good word to match his expression.

With a silent inhale, he speaks up.

"Why?"

"What's the meaning of this, Tragedy? I want answers."
(Zaruma)
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Yes, she would keep her distance. After seeing him dispose of Noxim- a similarly Umbral demon- with his bare hands, the Archon was suitably wary of Zaruma. She looked over at him with her crimson gaze, expression mild yet certainly not apathetic as it would be with others.

"What do I say..?" Her hands rose, palms-up in a half shrug as she smirked. "The game was rigged from the start, Zaruma. The Coalition were never going to win. This is a 'surrender'- something that -I- negotiated, with an apprentice that will never defy my will."

Her smile faded. "We have lost many Archons already. But I have killed Hatsune. I have orchestrated a surrender that does nothing but benefit us. I have formed it in such a way that Jianghu will -inevitably- break it... and then we will be ready to shatter them. Without Cruxati to protect them. Are you displeased?"
(Tragedy)
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Certainly, those were the words that should only please him, convince him that everything is going according to the plan - and those words were true as well, they have indeed lost many Archons in this war.

Zaruma was in thought. Despite such words, his gaze was no less weary and cautious of Tragedy. At last, he decided to speak of his mind truly.

"I'll be honest--"

"How do I know this isn't a trick of yours to side with Coalition instead, and make yourself comfortable in position of power among humans?"

"How do I know this isn't a simple attempt to pursue power, even if in an odd way? How do I know that I will not end up with yet another knife in my back?"

"How can I trust anything you say?"

It was clear that he had no particular issues with the plan's execution itself, no- he perfectly understood the motives, and didn't object to them.

The real issue was having any faith in her doings.
(Zaruma)

"Perhaps it is better to ask.. what grounds you have to suspect me at all."

The Archon glanced down at her hand, observing her fingernails idly. She did not seem perturbed by the situation. Zaruma was the pragmatic one, of course- even his rage was more refined than the childlike rampages of Tragedy.

"I have no reason to profit by working with weaklings. I have not betrayed Gaiar in the past. Kayeliun is my apprentice through and through, and I do not intend to be humiliated by letting her lord over me."

She turned around silently, hands clasping behind her back.

"To be frank. This move sways very few humans. If anything, it only agitates them. A swarm of hornets shaken and stilled in an instant. Do you think they will calm in that same instant? No. You will trust me, because it is an insult to my intelligence to think that this is some plan to side with humans. If I wanted to destroy Aetherius, I would do so with my own strength."
(Tragedy)

The Archon had suffered too many betrayals to trust such plans easily - even if he were much younger in number of years that he existed in comparison to Tragedy, he learned such lesson quick. You could not trust anyone entirely, least you wish to find yourself with another knife resting in your back.

Or perhaps that was still the pain and anxiety that plagued his mind, along with hatred and silent fury to those who caused it. In his eyes, Tragedy just might be on the other side already.

Oddly, the Archon came closer. A palpable aura of such emotion was drawing near Tragedy, and despite the clear essence that she'd easily pick up and sense, Zaruma remained with expression of indifference over his face - unnerving, stoic, unmovable cold before the Tempest could come crushing down.

"My grounds to suspect you are those that none of such plans were ever discussed with me, nor my opinion was asked."

"Perhaps it could be blamed to immediate action being required... perhaps you were simply an opportunist who grasped the situation, without having time to speak to me--"

"But the fact remains a fact. It's a work behind my back, Tragedy."

"And last time it happened, I was betrayed."

He neared even closer, perhaps more than she would prefer or feel safe with.

"As it stands--"

"This move puts you and your apprentice on top. Perhaps you do not humiliate yourself, but you humiliate the rest of us."

He paused.

"Even then. My pride, the pride of other Demons, the emotion of humans aside. Let us think objectively- that much I can do to attempt to understand your plan."

A pair of crimson hues were staring her down, and with emotionless tone, he spoke.

"What do you plan to do with all of this?"
(Zaruma)

You have 1 hour, 49 minutes left until your next check. You currently do not qualify for an RPP reward in the upcoming check.

Her teeth grit as the tension in the room changed in an instant. The Archons small frame stiffened with Zaruma's approach as she paused, looking over her shoulder before finally turning to face him. Her expression grew more stern.

"So you have been betrayed before," she spoke quietly. "I understand. To be frank, the plan after this is unclear. This is a victory. United beneath the Coalition, with Jianghu doubtlessly frothing at the mouth in outrage. I will simply begin teaching Chaos magic more freely, prepare for Illyotha once more, and see where Kayeliun's whims take her."

She paused. "But if you were to ask me what I think will happen..? I think it will crumble, and not in the distant future. It will all crumble and everything will resume- Cruxati and Aetherius against Jianghu, doubtless. Then we can finally rid the world of those that dare to point their swords at us."

"This is less of a seasoned plan for thefuture. And more averting the constant failures of the lesser Archons. Now there will be time for more to ascend. I take great amusement and pride in my apprentice's ambition, and I will see through what she intends to do. But I will always be there to guide her. I will not let her betray me. And, by extension, you."

A long breath escaped her as she looked over Zaruma warily. "You understand, do you not? I am not so altruistic to say I work for the greater good of all demons. But all that I have done so far manages to benefit Aetherius. If you understand, then I am glad."
(Tragedy)

A while after, with failure, Atro loomed inside the temple, watching two higher powers- Archon speak while he's far more weakened. His teeth grit and eyes fall half-lidded briefly.

An air of suffocation passes with the occult, his teeth grinding harsher, but he remains, watching the two and listening.

But there's doubt in his cold blue eyes- and where he stares is more towards Zaruma than Tragedy, remaining silent as the conversed.
(Atro Gwyn)

The Tempest kept his gaze pointed towards Tragedy the entire time she spoke- as if entire world around them did not exist, a pair of crimson hues remained closely observant, and all of his attention was set on her.

Doubt. That much could be said about his feelings.

"Ah. So you believe that Jianghu would turn against this idea..."

Zaruma's gaze shifted elsewhere. He considered the idea, really, but there were certain members of Coalition that he could not trust, he could not hold any faith in. Kayeliun, Tragedy's apprentice, was among them.

"I still stand by my view. I hold little to no faith that this plan would not backfire upon us- we've lost many lesser Archons, those that failed to pass their trial, that much is true--"

"But what if it comes to losing ascended Archons?"

A wry smirk appeared on his face. Oddly, his hand extended towards Tragedy's face - not for violent purposes, no, but instead the back of his hand caressed against her cheek. Why? Perhaps that's how the Tempest understood others better, perhaps an oddity of his own.

And should she put no resistance to such, she could clearly feel his nails grace along her cheek - those very nails that were used to savage Noxim Florus, much like they were Kaor's claws.

"I do understand. Your plans are--"

"Bizarre. Twisted. Odd."

"I would not call them reliable... chaotic, perhaps like the very nature you claim, but such Chaos--"

"It could become, ah..."

"A tragedy, to you."

The hand was moving back, and with a pause, he continued.

"We shall see how this works. For now... I shall be patient about it. Mind you, that--"

His gaze was pointed towards Atro, and by extension, Kayeliun in the distance. Even with this... surrender accepted, the Archon still couldnot help but express a part of pride.

"I would not tolerate someone attempting to act as a Lord in my city and attempt humiliate me."

That much could tell Tragedy what he felt about this.
(Zaruma)

She'd entered the temple silently, after arriving in Gaiar.

In most part, she'd been looking for Atro... for Tragedy as well, really. Her nerves were frayed and she felt an immense amount of paranoia that was common for occultists of her calibre, a subtle tug at the back of her mind that told her to trust no one.

But maybe she was founded in that, now.

Silent still, she stood behind Atro and folded her wings behind her, glancing over at him- but mostly keeping her gaze fixed towards Tragedy and Zaruma, not bothering to disguise the fact that she was listening in on them.
(Kayeliun)
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Zaruma's words, his threats, his commentary and his assertions about the plan... they disappeared like ash scattered into the wind. The world closed in on them, even as she became aware of the presence of the watchers.

When he dared to reach out to touch her. To stroke her cheek as if she were a child. It was something that Tragedy did all the time, a playful act and one to establish mood and dominance. She did it when she was in a pleasant mood, willing to humor even the blandest of requests.

But that was -her-. That someone would dare to reach out and touch her like that?

Her entire figure froze, as if captured in ice. Those vapid red eyes were utterly still- even her arcane aura crawled to nothingness. Several long seconds passed after he finished speaking before Tragedy finally moved again. She leaned forwards.

The world around them shook. Nearby chairs and tables fractured instantly, as if under intense force. The tiles around her cracked ina spiderweb of unseen power and the pillars shook, dust and debris falling in small chunks. Her arcane power reverbrated almost instinctively.

"... do not ever. Reach out towards me like that again. I am patient too, Zaruma- but I was already an Archon while you still crawled mindlessly through the lower stages. By the time you reached my level, I had surpassed it long ago. No human will humiliate you."

Her eyes narrowed, voice low and poisonous. "But you should not forget yourself. I can destroy you in an instant. Take a blow to your pride for once. This city cannot afford to lose another Archon- and it certainly will not be me."
(Tragedy)
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Listening, Atro's mouth parted, closing abruptly and blinking as Zaruma caressed Tragedy's cheek. That action seeming more startling than the chaos that bellowed.

Only now, where his eyes glance to the side does he notice Kayeliun, grasping her shoulder while his eyes drifted back to Zaruma. A finger over his mouth briefly and narrowing his gaze on the archon. His voice dropped.
(Atro Gwyn)
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Atro Gwyn whispers something.
Kayeliun whispers something.
It stung her dearly.

And that much Zaruma expected. Everything around them was under intense pressure, showing the reflection of her Arcane the moment he touched her- it was a test, if anything, to see what she felt.

To help him understand her, and it worked as intended.

But Zaruma's attention was not shifted at all; the cracking and breaking noises of furniture surrounding them did not agitate or startle the Tempest, a pair of crimson hues remaining upon the Umbral Archon with indifference portrayed over his expression.

Perhaps it was a stand off, or a staredown to onlookers- but whatever sort of activity the two Archons engaged in, it certainly looked dangerous to see two entities of power act like that.

"I see. I have my answer."

Despite Tragedy witnessing his power previously, despite Zaruma's achievements, she still viewed him as inferior- that much had to be expected, of course, but to see her true reaction wasnecessary.

To see if she would dispose of him, should it come convenient - and he had what he wanted to acknowledge.

"Carry on, then."

"I will be... elsewhere. Focusing on something else."

"It appears all of us do forget themselves sometimes, after all..."

On that note, the Tempest walked right past Tragedy, towards the exit. If she had anything else to add, that was the time.
(Zaruma)
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Every fibre in her body itched for destruction. Her arcane presence was like a mirror to her emotions. Shock, quickly transcending to a deep set anger, nearly akin to betrayal. Tragedy had killed for less. She had no desire to slay a fellow Archon...

Yet there were some boundaries that were easily pushed. Even a child could tell as much.

".. I suppose we do," she barely managed to breathe out, closing her eyes and bowing her head as she worked to contain these emotions. After a few seconds, the foundations of the temple finally rest easy.
(Tragedy)