Aidon Haruke: Hades' First Deal (Failed)

As of recently, it appeared as though his younger brother had outright vanished, leaving Aidon to venture about the immediate confines of the cavernous city to no avail. Eventually, one came to the conclusion that they were lost to the depths, to eventually return. There wasn't reason to panic, for he could've easily have been found once again by wandering skeletons of the underground village.

Here, Harukeans, Malpercians, and Yokai spawned under Sinh Mourn reigned supreme, all under the iron fist of Eutan Haruke, son of Arachnis.
By the gate, taking up observations was a single Harukean, meditating just beyond the opened bars.

An individual's approach would summon the attention of Aidon, or better known as Hades. A pair of vermillion hues opened up, locking on for whomever was to approach. The transmunic tattoos upon his flesh adopted a mild saffron glow, and one's conjurations seemed to come in close.

Ethernal beings, matching his eye color seemed to close in for the gate's bars, obstructing one's path prior to entering, and surrounding them upon entry.

"Who goes there?" asked the trio of spiritual manifestations in unison, leaving the hivemind master to fall mute, keeping a stern glare upon Eren.
(Aidon Haruke)
Who went there? The spirit blinked, looking amongst the others, his own and the strangers. His own just milled idly, lost behind him, but for some reason drawn along with him. The spirit stood there for a few... TRying to figure what it called itself, before grinning brightly. "Mulkern." It said with a tilt of its head. However that may be taken. The spirit held itself in a peculiar manner, but it was definitively stable, more so than many others lately, despite the weakness of Acrux.

"This one is caussing issues then?" It questionned. "As it can easily leave, it just... Fails to remember ever even seeing places like this... But it fails to remember lots of things muchly. Even if something leaves it so many offers of discovery." Its purpose here now readily apparent. It went to lean back, one of the spirits behind it going to act as a lean to. Green eyes, staring towards the stranger, from the red haired ookami cloaked in green.

Its shadow danced, more so than anything else, even in the flickerring torchlight of the underground. It wasn't quite sure it liked this place, but it kept hearring appreciation that it wasn't certain of.
(Eren Mulkern)
Aidon stared at the Ookami spirit, quite knowledgeable of Acrux for some time now. He was aware of the war that was waged upon the surface, but cared not to investigate it's progress. A spirit down here mean't further progress of his abilities, finally finding use for the Arbitor's Mark.

The Harukean truely didn't care for a word that spouted past it's lips, merely staring at it with a blank expression behind the row of spirits he conjured to act as though capable of a full blown conversation. The hivemind manipulated them like puppets, moved their lips in sync with a voice that belonged to them, but words transmitted directly from his own mind.

The glowing transmunic markings upon his flesh never ceased, a clear depiction that his art was still art work, though a non-Harukean couldn't truly tell unless they've seen it in action once before.

"Mulkern." A spirit spoke out from one's side, one of Aidon's own.
"What is your purpose here?" It asked, not conscious of the fact that the man was indeed a spirit himself. He didn't show transparency, and was infact quite opaque.

"What is your allegiance?" Another spirit continued,
"Are you followed?" Finished the final one of the summon trio; All of which was concluded by the husky tone of Aidon's own voice:

"Answer quickly..."
(Aidon Haruke)
It shrugged. "This one said it knows not much of any of its own purpose. Already has said as such muchly. Perhaps finding its own purpose will be this spirit's goal? It could suffice. And allegience..." It blinked. It rubbed its forehead. "It remains unsure of any from life... And believes it lacks any in this state, so... None. Yes. Survival! That can be one, yes? And if this one is followed, it wouldn't think so, with its nose. Unless the follower was quite sneaky enough to outwit a nose and ears."

It nodded to itself, believing it had tackled each of the brought up points accordingly, and somewhat pleased on that behalf. "Now then yes... These were my spirits yes? Or are they being mischeivious and not listenning? Can replace if need be. Call on their replacement, but it prefers not to do such as often. Quite muchly so."
(Eren Mulkern)
Venus, another Haruke who was brought here to Morgmeil on some slim chance of meeting one of the others. Once there, he got to meet everyone, and speak with a few other cool Harukeans like Mars and Aidon. After getting himself dressed up, and what not he decided to go to the popular spot of Morgmeil, the gate oddly. Once there though, he noticed the odd scene of Aidon and his spirits summoned as well as some Ookami and his spirits summoned.

"You two showing off your skills?" he questioned with a small chuckle. Walking forward with his arms crossed, simply awaiting them to speak back to him, or to just spectate the little scenario unveiling.
(Venus Haruke)
A hum of wonder escaped the likes of Aidon himself, encroaching with a slow limber in his step. The spirits he telepathically manipulated shifted at the cognitive demand, paving way for the Harukean Arbitrator to close in upon.

"A spirit?" He asked for confirmation. "So, a spawn of Nostvale? The Empire? The creation of the Empire... I've heard and seen the stories of the spirits that wander under it's sapphire star. Amazing to say the least, but perhaps Dominic should've invested in more progressive achievements. A star for infinite power could easily be useful, but what use has -he- brought with it? I see nothing thus far. Though, I could be exercising strong ignorance." He continued onward--

His attention was cut short somewhat, at the sound of another voice chipping in, but rather than turn his head, a single spirit branched out from the direct vicinity and wandered for Venus to close the distance. The hivemind took up repliance to allow Aidon to speak in multiple conversations at once to conserve time.

"Showing off skill is but an inane method taken up by the fearful, and the boastful. Though, it is a satisfying deed to say the least. No, this is not a display of capability, young one. It is but merely, practice, of the Arbitor's Mark." stated the spirit.

Meanwhile, Aidon himself spoke out towards Eren directly.
"So, if you're a spirit, your existence requires a host to sustain from. I'd suspect the host in -your- instance, is the infinite supply of the Acrux..." Aidon hypothesized.
"...But what if the Acrux vanished? Poofed... Exploded? Destroyed... Siphoned? What if it was no longer there... You'd cease to exist. Am I correct?" He didn't allow the spirit time to respond. "Of course I'm correct, spiritual practice and mentality are the subjects I study most. You Ookami, Humans, and Drakanites are all an open book to me..."

He crossed his arms, lowering his head slightly to give way to a weak smirk upon his lips.
"But... I can help you... I can rid you of that little weakness... If you are willing to accept the plausible consequences..."
(Aidon Haruke)
Still that eternal grin. It's tail swayed quietly, to something or other. "Well..." Arbitor's mark? It thought to itself. "Acrux is changed, so... This one has began alternate means of existance. Acrux is... Odd. And it cannot be certain how much so to explain now." As if Acrux wasn't always odd. "And as such, it just takes from nearby areas... Which is why this one thinks it could not survive for long too much down in these caves, unless it could take energy of people. But it believes such is generally frowned on."

An eternal solution? It lilted its head. "Oh, wait, you speak of ridding such, it remains uncertain. And, this one isn't really any spawn of Nostvale, as it recalls. Of those woodlands off North, yes? It really is curious on this offer, but it knows so little on it. And it has a friend already trying to piece together things. However... What is your offer thing?"
(Eren Mulkern)
Venus looked at the spirit that came wobbling on over towards him to speak for Aidon. This was something usual, at least something Venus saw a lot of Arbitors do when they wanted to have multiple conversations or whatever. A smart bunch they were, not as strong, but they could be as strong as they want to be if they take the right steps. Venus smiled, happy to see someone who wasn't branded with the mark of the Oracle. How useful he could be to him, and his training for the future.

"I see...Well continue uh..With your deal." Venus smiled then and gave a little nod to the spirit before him before walking over to the table nearby, and taking a seat on it. Now looking down to his arms. That being where his Oracle tattoes were. "Hmm..." he then looked over to Aidon, and continued to watch his process of offering Eren more power. An intriguing offer for sure!
(Venus Haruke)
So it seemed as though the Yokai was interested! Such was a great feeling in itself. Aidon loved the idea of expanding his powers upon actual entities aside from the ones he's dominated thus far. Finally, he'd be making a step to true influence... All he needed to do now, was play his cards right.

The sly grin upon his visage was unearthed from the darkness that crept over his face, no longer shrouded by shadow but allowing the torchlight in the distance gleam off the crimson pupils that locked upon Eren.

A spirit, descending down the treacherous caverns of the Sarrabian desert, to an occultistic wonderland of the undead, Yokai, and abnormalities--
Found himself in a hellish setting, and striking a deal with one of the places many 'demons' about: A deal with Hades.

"Yes. A permanent solution to your weakness. One in which, you'd no longer be damned to return to the Acrux under requirement but free to consume from it at your own leisure. Such is, what a cosmic magi would do, am I mistaken?" The Harukean's pupils shifted over to the sight of the spirit's followers, passing over each and every individual one, arising to a conclusion.

"I suspect these are your partners of the past life? Your fellow... 'Pack', according to Ookami nature, yes? They too, will be fixed of this issue that plagues you, though, I'm drawing too much suspense... It's about time I got straight to the point."
He reached out his right arm, allowing for the palm's portion of the Arbitor's mark to glow it's vibrant orange, as though an organic casting iron aimed to sear it's mark upon it's target. Assuming Eren would not resist, and materialize enough for a falling hand to rest upon his shoulder, Hades would do -just- that.

"You can call me, Hades, Mulkern." A burning sensation could be felt with an extended touch applied, soon accompanied with a baring feeling, akin to a force pushing down into his physique, attempting to contort and invade his mana circuit.

"Do you feel that?" He asked, "That is my reserve... Do not resist it's flux. Accept it, and you shall grow in potence. Know, that once you do, your existence will be dependent on my volition. I will have access to whatever memories you bare. I will see all you percieve. I will hear what you hear. I will know your thoughts, as though reading them like an open book."

"Your intention will be nothing more but open conversation to my mentality. You, will be the window to further my knowledge... When called upon, I will take control of your boundless vessel, only if needed be. Consider such, for your own benefit, alongside a surge of energy from yours truly." He finished with a smile.

The idea of earning the ability to permanent existence and a power boost was conflicted with the potential enslavement at a moment's notice-- Hade's Deal.
It was a tough bargain, but had it's own benefits and consequences.
(Aidon Haruke)
The spirit pulled away sharply, a minor flicking, as the animated shadow went for Aidon, and tried piercing into his foot. Sharp. But little more than a manifestation of the occult. The spirit glared towards the shadow, as if it lacked total control of the thing.

"This one isn't seeking permanence. It is seeking to complete its existence, a permanent hollow existance.... Is not a thing, and these? They be little more than strangers..." It shook its head. "Utter strangers. This one... Is told it never travelled with pack. Or such it hears. And it believes it should be going, yes?" It would rather maintain freedom, at the least. Even if it failed to follow the pack mentality of many ookami, it sought freedom at the least.

It turned, towards the gate, beginning to walk off, unless stopped. The three spirits with it, going along.
(Eren Mulkern)
Whilst on the table, Venus began to watch the scene unfold further and further. Aidon was done beating around the bush, and told Eren fully of what would happen if he accepted the contract and what not. Venus eyes began to narrow, and he could really only focus on Aidon and how good he was with his mark already. It was evident that he had enough control to actually control others at will, although, even with a quick glance Venus could tell Aidon wasn't as strong as him in some aspects.

Though, the Oracle mark was supposed to do something as well. Something that Venus was supposed to be mastering at this time, though he didn't really know where to start. Since Aidon was a Harukean brothern, he figured he'd just ask the man. No better way of actually mastering his own mark unless getting some pointers from the man before him. Venus continued watching, seeing how denied the contract, and was getting ready to leave.

"Almost had a friend." Venus said with a small sigh. Watching to see if Eren could continue walking out, or if Aidon would stop him.
(Venus Haruke)
The Harukean's attempt to grant the Ookami a portion of his power went a lot less peaceful than he would've imagined. He wasn't expecting such to occur, nor was he and his spirits particularly observant enough to notice the creeping of one's shadow upon one's approach, molding upward to pierce at his foot!

The sharp sensation cutting through his boot, cutting into his flesh immediately earned the same reaction one took up upon stepping on a tack. He hopped up on one foot, and clutched at it nigh childishly, gritting his teeth at the familiar cold sense of occultistic energy making it's mark on the sole of his foot.

Perhaps in a different setting, one could simply walk away from the scene without any expectation of consequence, should the victim prove weaker. However, -this- was Mormegil, home to all Harukeans, Malpercians, and Yokai alike. The spirit made the mistake of harming a Harukean within his homeland, and thus an angry proclaimation was announced throughout the caverns, turning the heads of Eutan's Undead from every nearby corner.

"DAMN OOKAMI! CUT MY FOOT!" He exclaimed, leaving eyes of all sorts from all crevices to settle upon Eren.
"CUT HIM DOWN TO SIZE!" He grimmaced, granting the spirit and his companions more than enough reason to high-tail it out of the underground caverns. The reanimated cavaders, mana siphoning Harukeans, and flesh consuming Malpercians were more than capable of withering spiritual presences to oblivion. Perhaps, incentive to run?
(Aidon Haruke)