Demonically Innocent [Loveless x Syllana ]

[Loveless]

The uneasy feeling remained within her, as she felt something really wrong was about unfold and happen sooner than she would ever expect. At this, Vethis had noticed on how the lovely female ruler was distracted and voiced out his concern, "Is there something wrong, my dear? You don't seem to enjoy our dance together."

At his words, Akira quickly shook her head and forced a smile while moving her body in tempo with the music played, along with his own, "No, no. Of course not. I... Well. Just.." She trailed off, uncertain on how to respond. But fortunately, Vethis did not pressure her further and just allowed for their dance to continue.

Suddenly, the large doors of the ballroom were pushed open as a few of the guards of the castle rushed in; panic written all over their face and their sudden entry interrupted the music as the musicians suddenly stopped playing, and disrupting the people from their dance. "... My sincerest apologies, Your Majesty, but... We seemed to be.. under attack. By the Paladins of the Holy Citadel.. We spotted their army in our boundaries, and heading to the castle." At the news of this, the attendants inside the ballroom began to panic and mutter among each other.

For Akira, she parted from Vethis and quickly rushed over to Ryu. Indeed, now she knew that this was what she was warned about from before, but to hear about the Paladins coming to her own castle was just something else. "... Ryu... Why do you think the Paladins want to even attack us? We did nothing to them, didn't we?"

[Syllanna]

"It is in their nature to hate us for what we are." He said quietly. His entire body was relaxed, but his eyes glowed as though with fire. "Do not worry yourself, milady." He smiled and it was a thing of cool hatred. "Unfortunately for the Paladins, we happen to have every demon lord of significance here with us tonight." He smiled sweetly at his lady. "Would you like to watch milady?"

His fingernails, already sharpened into claws, grew a bit with magic and shone an unnatural way. Golden light began to circle him as he laid a gentle hand on her cheek. "I will protect you, but you need not see this if it will make you uncomfortable. Perhaps you would rather stay here with some of the younger men?" Already his mind was on the coming battle. His thirst for blood was beginning to show and the others in the room were eyeing him. He turned his attention away from his lady and barked out orders to the shuffling servants that had them moving quickly out of the hall and out to prepare. "It is not the first time they have deigned an attack and it will not be the last." He murmured, voice laced with loathing.

"It won't take long, I promise. And then you will find your King tonight, milady."

[Loveless]

She grew worried, and indeed, it was shown on her face. Instead of feeling calmed and reassured by her guardian, all she felt was even more worry. She had seen this side of him before — it was the first night when they had both met and she had known on how much he had despise humans. The anger and loathe was understandable, but still, she never like to see him like this. He was a warrior though, and she knew he only did so mostly for her safety and to protect her.

"I don't think we could talk with them, can we? I would not like any blood to be shed. Not at my kingdom." She knew it was a foolish request, especially when the Paladin were intending to do kill them off once and for all. How did they even want to attack at this time was beyond her, but still, watching as Ryu gave orders to the servants and them hurrying off to do as they told.

Akira then pulled herself away and rushed over to the nearby window to peek out. Indeed, she could see silhouettes of soldiers and some on horses under the rays of the moon and she could see plenty of them really. Her heart sank at the prospect of this turning very bloody and gorey.

For the Paladins, High Paladin Remiel eyed the castle of Eden as he rode on his stallion. Seemed like the demons within the castle were already alerted, but that didn't matter. Pulling out his sword from its sheath, he began his orders to his troops and letting his high ranking comrades to lead their own troops forward. There will be blood shed on the ground, but this was a chance they will take. With a hand raised up, he then signaled to his troops and with a loud cry, he spurred his horse forward to charge.

[Syllanna]

Ryu nearly died on the inside. I would not like any blood to be shed. Not at my kingdom. It was practically an order and she didn't even know she'd said it, with her casual manner and then running off to look outside. "Vethis!" He called to the young demon who looked up. "Keep an eye on the Lady." Once he was sure that Vethis had heard him, he teleported himself directly in front of what appeared to be a charging horse.

To the horses' credit, it did not balk or panic but it did slow down as Ryu lit up the night sky like a second sun, temporarily blinding everyone. When vision returned to the rider of the horse, Ryu was still standing calmly in front of him, frowning. Then his voice came out, enhanced by magic so that all in the opposing force could hear him with ease. "I believe you to be the general of this particular army. Therefore I will speak with you. My Lady wishes there to be no blood shed upon her lands, so you can either speak to me or...." He gave a delighted smile. "You can all die right here."

As if to emphasize his words, the rest of the warriors and Demon Lords fit for battle wound their way out of the halls and came up soon before them, just on the edge of the land that belonged to Akira. "Personally, I would prefer it if you chose the second option, however it might disappoint my Lady."

[Loveless]

The High Paladin raised his armored hand up to shield his eyes, as a sudden bright light flashed before him and he ushered his horse to slow down to a halt. His horse neighed a bit but nothing more, and Remiel waited until the light died down before moving his hand away to see someone standing before him and blocking his path. No doubt that it was a demon, and a powerful one at that, but Remiel seemed not phased about this presence nor did he show any fear. Instead, was a still, stern face as the demon spoke. "So, this land does have a Demon Lady ruling.. The land of Eden had fallen that low ever since the late Lord Akira, it seems," the Paladin spoke all calmly as the middle-aged paladin stared down at Ryu with his eyes.

"Is your Lady naive and foolish to think that we would have a peace treaty? That we would back down because she does not want any bloodshed? Tell your Queen that if she would want to rule a kingdom, she would need to understand the ways of the world and war, and face reality." His words were harsh, and yet, he said them so calmly with his voice. Even more was how he raised his sword and then aimed the edge of it towards Ryu, a deadly glint within his eyes. "If you all think you could kill us, think again, demon..." As he said those words, his sword begin to glow gently and permeated of holy magic. Indeed, Paladins were known to be able to wield holy magic for the longest time. So it was not a surprise that he manage to wield it.

At this, Akira's eyes widened as she watched from the window and she instinctively moved from the window, as if running down to the scene to stop this, yet a pair of arms wrapped around her, stopping her and she gasped out. "No, my Lady! Please, stay within the castle where it's saved! You can't go out there!" Vethis pleaded with Akira as the female struggled within his grip.

"B-But.. Ryu... is out there! He will get hurt!" Akira responded, feeling all sorts of worry and fear that Ryu would get injured, or even worse, lose his life. The aspect of him might die from this instilled a fear within her.

[Syllanna]

In the light of the holy blade, Ryu's eyes slitted and he bared the fangs that rarely showed. He seemed to grow wilder by the second, his countenance more demon than human now. "You mock my Lady, sir, and that is not wise of you. Surely even you know the history of demon Lords and Ladies." He growled. "Stupid, ignorant fools that you are, even you know that each successive Lord or Lady is stronger than the last."

He lifted from the ground, the familiar wings of light spreading out behind him, and some of the demons around him joined him in the air, displaying great power as they summoned the elements to do their bidding. "And our Lady's name....is Akira." Ryu smiled at the holy man. "You look old enough to know of the previous Lord Akira and just how strong, and cruel, he was. If I were you, I would take this gracious offer of peace for the night and return home to your family. Hold them close. Because if my Lady chooses to fight, you will face an even stronger Akira than the one who felled armies with a whisper."

[Loveless]

The Holy Paladin remained unmoving, and having that pokerface as Ryu continued to speak. To him, Ryu was just blowing hot air to him and thus, the Paladin raised his sword once again, signalling for the soldiers behind him to draw out their own sword and weapons at hand. Indeed, they did — swords glinting gently from the rays of the full moonlight. They were not intimidated whatsoever, as the soldiers began to take an offensive stance; their shields forward and sword raised up. Eventually, Remiel pointed his sword forward and once again, a shout from him to signal to attack and indeed, the troop behind him began to charge to attack on his signal.

The demons at Ryu's side charged as well, swooping down with elemental magic at hand and began fighting with the soldiers of the Paladin order. At this, Akira could only watch with horror written all over her face; her silver eyes widened at the sight. Blood spilled to the ground as the battle ensued; sword clashing with sword, magic clashing with magic as cries of battle could be heard even from how high she was in the castle.

No, she didn't want this! No, no, no. Akira shook her head and her body shook in Vethis' arms, as the male demon watched over her worriedly. She want to be down there, to assist her people, but knew how useless she was. How useless in a sense that she can't stop this, and even more, on how helpless she was, as she could only watch from up where she was, and even seeing Ryu have to be on the battlefield. At this, her heart sank — tears forming on her eyelids and then, suddenly something snapped within her. Her body grew limp all the sudden, worrying Vethis even more before Akira gained consciousness though, something within her had changed.

Her eyes had turned sharper, for some reason, and a serious expression upon her face. Pushing herself away from Vethis and without saying a word, she began to move down from the castle and apparently, heading to where the battle was happening. Of course, servants and guards protest but Akira gave stern, hard glares; just like how the previous Akira would had given before. Standing at the gate, a powerful gust of wind suddenly picked up from behind the young Queen and the harsh wind blew across the battlefield, almost with a vengeance. At this, the paladins and soldiers were taken by surprised but held their grounds, raising their arms to shield the wind from their eyes though the wind disrupt the demons as well.

[Syllanna]

The paladin charged forward anyways and Ryu merely laughed. He had honestly tried to stop the bloodshed, as per his ladies orders. Part of him had hoped that reasoning with the army of humans would work and that he would not have to bleed them onto the ground. Most of him had been eager, though that small part of him worried Ryu to no end. He had never wanted to let humans live before. Always he had wanted them dead and dying in the most agonizing ways possible, usually at his own hands. Merciful was never a word used to describe him and his reputation of ruthlessness was well earned.

As they charged forth, he let loose. So long as they were intent to fight, he intended to wipe out as many of them as he could. His wings lit the sky like flashes of lightning as he moved over the field of battle, decapitating holy warriors with his clawed hands. He took a single hit to his thigh, a shallow cut, but the unlucky soldier who landed it soon found himself without a heart as Ryu ended his life swiftly. When the helm fell off the paladin, Ryu was slightly surprised to see a boy, barely able to hold the responsibilities of a man. Regret came slowly and froze Ryu in place as the soldier's weight increased when the last breath of life left him.

Then the wind came and Ryu dropped the soldier and stood, letting it ruffle his air. The wind was telling him who it was and his heart was glad. Lady Akira had recalled some of her power. He moved until he was at the side of the holy paladin in charge of the forces, unsurprised to find him still alive. With a quick lift into the turbulent air, Ryu snatched the man from his horse and beat against the wind, calling on all his powers to make any progress. He found his lady and landed before her after dropping the paladin at her feet. Ryu knelt. "My liege." He said, covered in blood splattered from the fight. "What do you command?"

[Loveless]

The passing wind had died down, letting the demons see the arrival of their Queen while the Paladins and their soldiers could see the form of the petite female. Even when Ryu came to her side though not alone as Remiel breathed out a small oath at the sudden retrieval from his horse to find himself now sprawled at the Demon Queen's feet. Scowling loudly, the Paladin scurried onto his feet and picked up his sword quickly before wielding the weapon in his hands. "You bloody demons!" He shouted out, hatred was seeping through his voice as his eyes then fell upon the figure of the Queen. The woman may look like a normal human, but he knew better.

His subordinates had tried to rush to his side, but they were too busy on their own already as their swords clashed and summoning holy magic to their aid. The female only gave a glance towards Ryu and indeed, something was rather off with her; especially with her eyes looking not as warm as before. It was like as if she was someone else alltogether. "... No. Let me handle these vermin." Her voice sounded blank, empty, void of any emotions; a total opposite on how Akira would act.

Raising a hand upwards to the sky, she then pulled her hand downwards in a sweeping motion, "Fools. Do not underestimate the might of Akira. Suffer and die." Suddenly, the earth ground shook beneath where the battle was going and before long, the surface split beneath their feet. Soldiers fell into their deaths, screams and cries spilling into the air as many fell. At this, Remiel stood and watched in horror at this powerful display of magical power. Isn't the Demon Queen supposed to be weak?!

With a battle cry, the High Paladin charged at the young Demon Queen with his sword, while the weapon glowed once again with holy magic; all intended to kill the young woman right there and then. And yet, Akira just stood there, emotionless and even turned her head to the side to watch with a blank stare as the Paladin charged at her.