Ouster Underground

Born Again

???? - ????

The world faded to black as Shairo exhaled his last breath, while his struggling body went limp. "Wake up, little boy," a gravelly voice exclaimed. It was like he had just finished a long nap, but instead of the familiar sight of his room, Shairo found himself floating in a black void. "So, you were dead. But now you're not!" the voice continued, "Sorry, but I thought perhaps a second go would be good, wouldn't it?" Shairo listened as witnessed a figure form before him. Starong into his own eyes were large eyes located on a giant head made of black mass; a black bush of hair sat ontop with dark red curved horns protruding. It's face had a snout with razor teeth, the lips forming a sly little grin. The rest creature's body was made of the dtrnage black texture, though it's claws resembled its horns in color. Despite it's bestial appearance it actually wore clothes: A strange black robe with a short dark brown cape. "Now now, be not afraid," the creature ominously giggled, "I won't bite." Shairo had no reply -besides his stunned face. "Look it's too much to take in I know," the creature went on, "But main thing is, You're getting a second shot at life! Isn't that swell?!" As Shairo's lips parted to speak and as his eyelids closed to blink, his environment changed to a mass of smoke and soon a strange interior. A sparkling chandelier hanging from a domed marble ceiling that looked over walls ornamented in rich red and blue patterns. Wooden furniture with gold filled engravings populated the spacious chamber, as did two figures.

Castle - ????

"What?!" yelled the young woman who's blue eyes he was looking into now. "By the Gods... a human," mired a man equipped with a short grey beard; tilting his head he took an observant look at the young man. The woman had a different reaction: crossing her arms with an embarrassed face. Well that was her reaction before she stormed out of the room, with the old man in robes chasing her. "Kia, fetch me and Marsi tea. And help him." the man ordered as his figure exited the room. "Yes, sir!" a woman's voice replied, followed by a head peeking from the door. Her stature was short and her hair was light brown, but what caught his attention were cat like ears on her head. "Please wait patiently, Dr. Warris will be here," she meekly said, giving an awkward head nod before scurrying across the hall that lay infront.

"Sorry, for the abruptness chump," spoke the being from the void; it's harsh voice now directionless yet very close. But a startled Shairo couldn't see it as he frantically looked around. Despite a visible source the voice continued to speak, sounding as if the sound were originated from the inside of his head, "Now look, this place, well - so, Dr. Warris will give you a nice sugar coated introductory lecture. I'll summarize it for you: you're a lesser and are to serve this house, including that little bitch Marsi. Sucks ain't it eh? Now now, don't be mad at me. I've seen the sorrow, anger and hatred in you; feelings that led to your resignation and search for another life, since you couldn't fight back. Well this is it boy. This world, ho ho, is so much different! So, little chump, just listen to what I say; and I promise you'll get a happy ending. Mkay?"

Shairo really had no time to process what was occuring. Piecing together the fragments of what his mind could put together, he finally spoke, "Ye - Yeah Ok-k. Who are you?" His eyes darted across the strange place; an aristocratic abode being the least strange thing so far. "I'm Kia," announced the young woman with cat ears, her green eyes attempting to give him a reassuring look; though her sudden - and mistaken - reply jumpscared the man. "Shairo..." he replied confused. Her arms were carrying silver tray with ornate steaming cups, which clinked against the wooden table some distance infront of him as she placed them neatly. She quickly stood upright, then turned to him sharply; but the efficient movement was contrasted by her voice awkward voice, "S-sorry There's none for you." Shairo gave a small nod to the cat-woman-thing in an apron and dress, who returned the nod and a smile as she hurried off elsewhere. "Other ones can't hear me boy, only you can! Anyways, name's Iblis. I already know your name, Shairo," it resumed, "Oh look... here they come now."

The two figures from before came back, taking positions at the table where the tea was placed. The young woman was supposedly called Marsi. She had blond hair, was of his height and was dressed in white and bright blue clothing that he had never seen before. She was still grumpy as she refused to acknowledge his presence; contrasting the older man draped in darker blue robes, who ushered him to sit with them. At the table lay only two chairs and one stool. Shairo, his mind now somewhat properly stitched together, cautiously approached the stool, already accepting the voice in the head had jut been vindicated; though he wasn't fully on board with the idea of working for Iblis.

"A voice in my head, great," thought the anxious man as he sat at the stool, his mind drifting to all the possibilities that may happen to him. Still, he was secretly grateful to have a personal companion; as anxious as the invasion of private space was, it comforted the greater anxiety of his transportation to this nonsensical realm.

Lezeila Shrine - 0600

Dawn's light had just revealed a fresh pile of corpses. Roughly 8 bodies layed in a row at the rear of the sites perimeter. Their elegant robes and coats in disarray, leading to an obvious conclusion: the bodies were looted after death. Six of them possessed atleast one hole on their body. "Yes, they're musket mounds. Size and damage fits it." said Samuka. Arach walked over to her, watching over her shoulder as she scanned the bodies. "You can save the details for the doctor," replied Arach, as he turned his attention to the two on the side. "Those two? Hacked up. Deep cuts it looks like," he said as he tilted his head for a better view, "Isishi and Karisa, they were at the gate....." He paused, gazed up at the top of the shrine. "My guess? Silently killed those two, climbed up there and that's where the firefight commenced," he suggested, before shrugging and focusing back to the grim sight. "Possibly," replied Samuka, still staring at the six slain infront of her, "if it were possible to get a live one I'd know," she added with a subtle hint of frustration. "Well," exhaled Arach, "better go brief Warris with what we've seen." Samuka stood up finally, nodding in agreement. "Btw, heard Castle A La Faya has been trying to get a house familiar," she added. "Pffffft," dismissed Arach, "unless it's another human, I don't care."