Conversation with Tragedy

Tragedy says, "Zaruma."
Zaruma asks, "Yes, Tragedy?"
Tragedy asks, "Have you stepped into the arcane arts yet?"

Zaruma says, "Yes. I already did."

Tragedy asks, "Telekinesis..?"

Zaruma says, "Correct. I wield it."
Tragedy says, "Then, I suppose... it is time."

Landing lightly on the grass, the Archon threw away the weird feeling Kaor with a flash of telekinesis, since he was really hogging the view. She looked over to Zaruma, red eyes dull as ever as her lip curled slightly.

"As a student of the arcane. And with your not so secret plans against my apprentice. All roads now align to a single choice. I offer you my pact to accept. One that will grant you further power, if you choose to pursue it... and one which will, of course, leave you unable to betray me."

She tilted her head to the side.

"With how powerful you have grown, I cannot allow you to progress down your path unless you accept. You surely understand."
(Tragedy)

Inevitable.

One day, Zaruma knew that such thing would happen. After all, Archons struggle against each other in power, and the fact that she'd be cautious of Zaruma has already been established- one day their powers could be coming close to equals, another he could spiral out of control.

Although not particularly amused by such sudden assertiveness, there was a wry smirk portrayed on his face. This, to happen so soon, just as he stepped into Arcane? She certainly wastes no time when it comes to matters like this.

"Here I wondered when this would happen."

But Zaruma could not just agree to anything right away. Who knows what exactly Tragedy had on her mind?

"And this pact includes?"
(Zaruma)

It was no coincidence. The Arcane was her domain- and the fight between her and Zaruma had shown something important. It was the greatest edge she had over him, and all the other Archons.

For the good of all her ambitions, such things would have to be contained.

"Why, little more than what I have said," she drawled in her tone laced with faux gentleness. "A seal from myself to you, letting you pursue a more durable form- though as an immortal it would not hold the same appeal were it offered to a human."

Doubtful mortality... even for a demon it was useful, but it was not an easy thing to attain. Power had to be sacrificed through the pact.

"You'll become more wraithlike if you pursue the power. Even if you don't, the pact remains. Then you are free to become as powerful as you please- since the pact cannot be broken even if you were a hundred times as strong as I. It will leave you unable to betray me."

Andall the things that could entail.
(Tragedy)

The eyes of Tempest were narrowed at such offer. It could almost sound seductive- a pact that could grant him the power out of nowhere, if only to be loyal to Tragedy. One could almost say it's an excellent deal with little downsides-

But the devil is in the details. Zaruma knew such very well.

"And what sort of guarantee I have that you will return such loyalty?"

"That I will not be disposed of as a rusted tool, when our interests no longer align?"

If Tragedy wished for a backup plan, Zaruma wished for one too. No doubt, while neither of these Archons could extend their presence to rule over entire Agartha at once, they could come awfully close- yet, one Archon may deem another no longer useful or safe to keep around.

(Zaruma)

The corners of her eyes crinkled as her lip tilted into a smile- but there was nothing pleasant about it. Predatory, even, an expression that didn't fit well on her normally cherubic face. There was no room to beat around the bush when it came to things like this.

"I cannot think of any reason to destroy someone unable to betray me," she muttered. "It is a serpent that bites its own tail. So we are bound both ways. Even so..."

Her teeth flashed briefly, small incisors showing themselves.

"It is better for all demonkind that the Archons work together- even if it needs a little, ah. Insurance. If you don't accept... I'll just kill you here. Even if it would break my heart."
(Tragedy)

The corners of her eyes crinkled as her lip tilted into a smile- but there was nothing pleasant about it. Predatory, even, an expression that didn't fit well on her normally cherubic face. There was no room to beat around the bush when it came to things like this.

"I cannot think of any reason to destroy someone unable to betray me," she muttered. "It is a serpent that bites its own tail. So we are bound both ways. Even so..."

Her teeth flashed briefly, small incisors showing themselves.

"It is better for all demonkind that the Archons work together- even if it needs a little, ah. Insurance. If you don't accept... I'll just kill you here. Even if it would break my heart."
(Tragedy)

There was doubt, always.

A trail of mixed thoughts came crossing his mind, a voice of thousand expressing their opinion inside his head about this matter; to accept, to refuse, to attack, to walk away, to ignore, to bargain- so many options, yet so little of them actually made any sense.

But he knew one thing- the fight with Tragedy is the one that he was not so sure he would win. If anything, in single combat, she's among very few that could potentially end him after all. That's not the risk he could take right now- especially, if he's currently injured.

Curses to this war and her immediate act to Zaruma's ascension.

"--Very well."

A pause was made after he voiced his acknowledgement of her offer, seeing no other reason to keep asking; he had his answers and details cleared out, after all.

Almost with a hint of being reluctant, suspicious and cautious, he exclaimed.

"Your offer is accepted."
(Zaruma)

"Wonderful. It is awfully busy here. Perhaps, for a moment, all of you could... quieten down."

Her hand shot up into the air like an eager student about to answer a question- from it glowed a baleful yellow light. There was a ring upon her finger, arcanium and inscribed with ancient runes that defied modern sensation. The ground beneath her feet stirred with force only the arcane could sense, before a great runic circle appeared beneath both her and Zaruma.

For all her games, all her ridiculous pandering to children and whimiscal nature, the Archon struck fast when she need to. This was nothing to do with submission- it was simply a safeguard. It was control.

"This is best for both of us. Undoubtedly, in time, you can surpass me in strength... but in arcane knowledge, I always have more to offer. Now we can put away the daggers behind our backs. And relax. Are you ready?"

Was she really intending to do it right here? Oh yes. And she looked ready to beat up people who didn't take their conversations elsewhere, or quieten them down.
(Tragedy)

To chain the hurricane.

This was almost poetical, but that's what Tragedy was going to do; to restrict what actions the Tempest could perform, yet Zaruma had little choice in the matter- indeed, she struck at exactly the moment she needed to. Considering their differences in strength, the battle between them would be rather dangerous for Zaruma, if only for the differences in Chaos alone- certainly, his wounds did not make the matter better for Zaruma.

Yet, the Tempest patiently waited. Perhaps this could become something beneficial, after all- if all that he had to trade for Arcane advancement and relatively large power over Agartha, combined with assurance that Tragedy would not attack him, all he had to do is provide assurance that he would not betray her?

Such ultimate price, the price of one life upon entire Agartha... it wasn't too much to sacrifice, in the greater image of things.

"So be it."

"I'm ready. Begin your ritual."
(Zaruma)

The malefic light shone brighter as she closed her eyes. For a moment, everything was still- those nearby had wisely decided to stop talking and pay attention, or at least take it to whispers. Anyone with half an interest in power should have their eyes practically glued to the scene. Pacts like this were rarely done in public.

"Zaruma, Archon, leader of Aetherius and unrivalled in martial prowess. This is the pact between you and I- an unending hymn to bring us together, another notch in the endless cycle of rebirth."

Whether the Archon was waxing poetic or had some hidden meaning in her words is unclear. The Arcane surged her around her in a flash of purple, washing over the scene in an instant as her words echoed throughout the settlement.

"So arise- and may the Archons live forevermore!"

There would be a sudden burning pain across Zaruma's totally ripped right pectorial, a smouldering that sizzled like it was a brand- upon inspection now or later, it would reveal what resembled a tiny little 'g' in cursive script, some sort of rune to symbolize the pact.

The light flashed again, before fading. Somewhere in the midst Dante was thrown off the cliff.

The runic circles gradually disappeared and Tragedy leaned back, panting.

"So... there we are."
(Tragedy)

The crimson hues examined carefully what Tragedy has conjured, his eyes almost never coming off from what he witnessed; this was useful to know, if anything- after all, he may need such pacts in the future on his own.

Her words were ringing through his mind, almost like summoning, beckoning him to her, perhaps an effect of the pact slowly taking it's place- not for long before he'd experience a sudden burning pain upon his body.

Yet, it was easily ignored, only met with a silent grit of his teeth. Perhaps to a keen eye, one could notice that he certainly experienced something on the physical level, but otherwise? It was hard to tell for onlookers that Zaruma felt anything whatsoever.

Once it began to settle, Zaruma couldn't help but throw a glance to the place where he felt such brand rest upon his body. With quite a pause too, he pondered, just how much would change in his life with it? Hopefully, not much at all.

"--I see."

"So that's settled, then?"
(Zaruma)

For Zaruma, it would be clear that the source of the pact was two fold- it rest in Tragedy and in the ring itself, which clearly had some sort of enchant. The ring was not the same one Illaron had forged... it had become something greater, able to even pact with demons that were her equal.

There was a gentle weight upon the mans spirit- an opportunity lingering there, to be grabbed at his liesure, or ignored like pushing away a cushion. Otherwise, apart from the dull pain of the mark, all was done.

The pact was concluded.

Tragedy looked a lot more worn out than Zaruma- one could suspect that these pacts did not come for free. She wiped her brow and smiled.

"Oh yes, it is settled. Now that we are both secure, I can begin instructing you on more advanced arcane abilities. After... a days rest, of course. Any questions?"
(Tragedy)

Noting her apparent fatigue, Zaruma made a notice of such for future references, should he ever come to repeating a similar pact of his own- but his mind was focused on the matters at hand, so he responded promptly.

"Very well. We can return to such Arcane instructions another time, then."

"And no, there are no other questions to be had."
(Zaruma)