[center][img]https://i.pinimg.com/564x/5c/ad/32/5cad325a05cc8f5dc1069a034f2031eb.jpg[/img][hr][h2][color=red]Arena of Gods and Men (and Women)[/color][/h2][hr][hr]Collaboration between: [@Force and Fury], [@jasbraq], and Myself[/center]

It was a grand place, rising up from the idyllic countryside, busy and bustling and much in contrast to its bucolic surroundings. People of all shapes, colours, and sizes thronged about. There were the usual humans, yasoi, hegelans, and eeaiko, but also more exotic sorts: cazenax, ogauraq, sirrahi, and even cherune, meerami, and... another reptilian sort that Desmond, Edyta, and Fiske had never before laid eyes upon. 

There were sights, sounds, and smells that were incredible. Of the first, a marketplace with wares from across space and time, constructs of metal and other odd materials that moved as people did to train and fight with them, and fantastic beasts both real and competely imaginary. Why, there was a three-headed dragon: a real hydra! There was a winged horse! There were centaurs, griffons, and unicorns, as if plucked straight from arists' and children's imaginations! People seemed to come and go from nowhere. There was a tall and ornate platform in an Avincian style and they either appeared or disappeared when they stepped upon the bullseyes there. Some great beam of light swept down to either extract of deposit them in this place. 

A hundred different languages were spoken, yet all understood each other. From inside the great arena could be heard the clash of swords, the sizzle of magic, and the thunderous shocks of explosions, rising above or falling below the surging voices of a great crowd. 

Then, there was the food and drink: all sorts of food, aromatic and perfectly prepared and utterly delicious-looking. The fine scents rose above the usual reek of sweat, blood, and ash that one might expect in a place of combat. Wine, ale, juices, milks, and other unfamiliar drinks could be found by the great barrel.

All about them were statues and monuments to the greats. These lined the roads, in addition to great cypress trees, swaying in a refreshing breeze. Angels stood at the doorways of some of the larger public buildings. Others seemed to be directing souls one way or another. Then, in a handsome public square where souls of every sort imaginable bustled about, there stood three great leaderboards: 

[u][b]H U N T E R
W A R R I O R
R E A P E R[/b][/u]

This was but one of the five great hubs of Eshiran's heaven, and they walked through it, both strange and familiar. Manfred twisted and smiled. [color=2E8B57]"You like it, huh?"[/color] he teased, and Edyta nodded in her birdlike manner. There was an expansive garden, somehow serene, full of trees of innumerable types that seemed to commemorate the lives of people. Souls came and went from these trees, which opened up to embrace them and release them. The nun could not say why,  but perhaps it allowed them to somehow interact with the living world. 

Erika seemed quite at home: an 'old hand', so to speak, while Manfred at least appeared to know his way around. [color=2E8B57]"You see, the afterlife isn't just some idyllic thing,"[/color] the latter remarked to his companions. [color=2E8B57]"There really is a lot going on. We're preparing for something, always. At times, we're called upon to intervene. Those who've made good with Dami can always reincarnate and..."[/color]

Erika shook her head and he trailed off. "Sorry," she interjected, "but the less you know, the easier it will be to return you to the land of the living, assuming that's where you want to go." She shot them a sympathetic glance. "Now, we need to find the Ministry of Semi-Damned Souls. Let's see..."

Desmond began to look around at the wonders of this arena. At first, he would have assumed a place like this would have been a place where arms were sold to be used within Colosseum. A constant arms race to create the greatest weapons to prove who is the best.

Yet here it was different than he thought. It was a bazaar, filled with countless wares. Beasts who transport people. There are even strange platforms that seems to make people appear and dissappear in a pillar of light, possibly some kind of temporal magic manipulating space-time.  Even stranger was where trees enveloped people and let them out.

Yet what was most interesting to Desmond at this moment was the 3 large billboards that read: Hunter, Warrior, and Reaper. He was curious what it meant as he tried to see them more closely and see what was on them.

Fiske rode the hand of the hunter as they passed  what seemed to be beyond the previous hunting grounds. The decorations around them were the things of beauty, even if he didn't like the whole idea of putting others up a pillar of supposed greatness. Leaderboards that seemed to venerate the most boorish of the people here, this really was one of the heavens he prayed he would've never had to set foot in... the only other that was worse would be Dami's.

It was clear to Manfred that these friends of his from the other side were curious about various things they'd seen, but they still appeared as animals. He blinked. [color=2E8B57]"Oh, I can take you there, but Erika's right, and she's been here for a good while. You'll be stuck as animals until we can get you sorted."[/color]

"[i]If[/i] we can," the huntress amended.

[color=2E8B57]"We'll do it,"[/color] Manfred responded with absolute confidence.

"Didn't that kind of typical hero bullshit get you killed?" Erika teased.

[color=2E8B57]"But then I ended up here, didn't I?"[/color] he joked, but those who knew him well could probably see that the accompanying smile did not quite reach his eyes. 

"I don't like their bureaucracy any more than the next person who isn't stupid," Erika admitted, "but you see that leaderboard that you're looking at so inquisitively there, big guy?" She regarded Desmond directly for a moment. [color=2E8B57]"The only reason they're not coming to fuck you up right now is -"[/color]

"Because you're handsome little devil," Erika interjected.

Manfred arched an eyebrow. [color=2E8B57]"And because you're with us. Hunter score is based on bagging animals. Some are golems of Oraff's heaven. Others are damned souls. People gun extra hard for those."[/color] He glanced down at Fiske. [color=2E8B57]"More times dead means more sins burned away and a quicker trip to heaven."[/color]

"Basically, we've gotta deal with the angels if we wanna get you three back to normal or at least the two of you who aren't damned."

Out of all the things he saw, the one thing he had full interest in were the trees that seems to be rather busy.  What would be so significant about these trees, he wanted to see. 

The rat tapped on Manfred's palm and pointed towards the trees that seemed to house souls.

Desmond listened as he looked at the score boards. When he heard about what they were, he was a little upset.

He was hoping it was a board about the great hunts of people in the land of the living. He hoped more he was actually on the list.

However, it did feel pretty good when Erika called him a handsome devil. He chittered and cooed in response.

Yet, they were right. They needed to get into a more human form. As if they were animals, they could be hunted down. Who knows what happens if they die here.

Desmond didn't wanna find out.

He nodded to Manfred and looked to Fiske trying to say, [color=gold]"We. Go. Angel. Body Good"[/color]. 

Fiske overheard the one thing he did not want to hear. 

Why did he have to die over and over to cleanse himself of his sins? What kind of messed up god gets off on seeing people die until they barely even register dying as a big thing in existence? 

The little rat shivered in Manfred's palm. He didn't want to go to this heaven, let alone any of the heavens for there was so much good he could still do. The boy just couldn't accept his fate [i]yet[/i]

Then he heard Desmond speak to him, giving Fiske a little more hope. [color=FF00FF]"Me. Body Good. Too?"[/color]

Desmond couldn't be certain. Fiske actually died. He was sent here and was expected to fulfil his sentence. Yet that was no reason to say it. There was no reason for Desmond to allow Fiske to saty, when there might be a chance. He chittered and nodded as he said, [color=gold]"Yes. You Too"[/color].

Fiske couldn't help but doubt the other. He had actually died whilst Desmond was here with something weird. [color=FF00FF]"Let's. Hope."[/color] He did not try to show through his mannerisms. He was nearly considering asking Manfred to kill him continuously.

Edyta did not strictly follow them, for what it was worth. Largely, she soared overhead, taking in this place. She'd found that having wings was a revelation. Certainly, she could hover and even fly with the Gift, but it took energy and constant focus and was far from the effortless ease of [i]this[/i]. 

Eshiran would not abandon her, she knew, or Desmond. Of Fiske, she was less certain and she cared less as well, though she'd not be so uncouth as to say so. Gradually, they zeroed in on a midsized building between two larger ones, and she came in to land, walking awkwardly in her avian way amidst the others. 

They were ushered into a small foyer, almost impossibly ornate with its scullery, marble floors, and illuminated walls and ceilings. A number of doors led off of it but, first, there was an obnoxiously cheery-looking angel sat at a desk. Immediately, upon them entering, she perked up. [color=HotPink]"Well howdy-do there, friends!?[/color] She had the shiniest blonde hair that Edyta had ever seen, the rosiest cheeks, and the most perfect frilly white outfit. [color=HotPink]"What brings ya here today?"[/color] she chirped.

The building they entered begged to be inspected with a closer eye. It's a building of the gods, they wouldn't mind a little piece missing, right? . . . But alas his thumbless dexterity for grabbing things were nearly non-existant.

This angel, she was practically blindingly shining with how cheery she was. It made Fiske want to analyze the looks of the  woman. Her hair, her face, every small detail was being forced into remembering.

Then the important answer to her important question arrived. Fiske puffed up his chest and bravely proclaimed.

 [color=FF00FF]"Squeak."[/color]

Desmond looked around at the countless beauties in this world. The building they entered was a gorgeous with a very modern baroque style. 

The building even had the slight gothic design within the gaudy and pristine white walls. All of which seemed to lead them to this almost too happy to be there angel. She spoke with such a high and happy tone that it felt as if she was speaking with a child's voice or even that of a chirping bird.

Desmond leaned over on Manfred as he chirped and whistled as he tried to act suave even in his small form.

Manfred seemed taken with the angel. [color=2E8B57]"Why, clearly the pleasure of your company, Hilarix."[/color] He reached for her hand and kissed it and she blushed even redder. [color=HotPink]"Oh my, Manfred!"[/color] she giggled. [color=HotPink]"Not [i]here[/i]!"[/color]

Then, Erika cleared her throat. "Manfred, sure you shouldn't be in Ipte's?"

Manfred winked, casting a sly glance at Desmond, but then he cleared his throat as well. [color=2E8B57]"Actually, we're here about these three."[/color] he gestured towards the people-animals. [color=2E8B57]"Anything we can do to get them back in some more... familiar forms?"[/color]

Hilarix considered, pursing her lips and making a 'thinking' face. [color=HotPink]"Welp,"[/color] she answered after a moment, [color=HotPink]"The stork and this cute little honey badger -"[/color] She smiled at Desmond. [color=HotPink]"Those aren't damned souls."[/color] She leaned forward quite interestedly. [color=HotPink]"Quite a rare occurrence."[/color] She glanced Fiske's way for a moment. [color=HotPink]"You know what he is, though. Right?"[/color]

Before Manfred could answer, Erika nodded. "Semi-damned."

[color=HotPink]"Sadly, yes, for our little friend."[/color] She extracted a small amethyst gem from her desk and held it out to Fiske. [color=HotPink]"Watch what happens when I hold this out."[/color]

Desmond raised and lowered his eyebrows as rapidly as a badger could to both Hilarix and Manfred before he chirped and laughed. He began to listen, taking in the information, much of it already being what he knew, yet now with some demonstration.

Desmond looked to the small gem and wondered if Fiske could resist touching such a lovely shiny.

Fiske's tiny little eyes stared at the man holding him with what seemed to be disapproval, though it would most likely go over the flirting man's radar.

Then, this devil in a angel's disguise tempted him. Oh, how she tempted him. A small amethyst gem that he could hold. It looked so shiny and the cutting was perfect. One of his little rat paws reached out as he tried to resist the urge to just jump out of Manfred's hand to grab it. A anguished squeak followed suite.

The angel nodded somberly. [color=HotPink]"You can take it, little fella. It's okay."[/color] She twisted to face the others. [color=HotPink]"You can see the clear strain on his face as he attempts to resist the temptation."[/color] She shook her head. [color=HotPink]"My diagnosis is terminal scumbaggery."[/color] She made a pouty face. [color=HotPink]"Sadly, he will have to burn off his sins through repeated deaths."[/color] She blinked a couple of times and her smile returned. [color=HotPink]"But then he'll be welcome in heaven and we just can't [i]wait[/i] to have him here!"[/color] She clapped excitedly, bouncing up and down.

It appeared to be an effort for Erika to keep an even face. Once things had calmed down a bit, she had a question about the others. "So... how about them?" She arched an eyebrow. [color=2E8B57]"The direstork was a Rezaindian"[/color], Manfred clarified. [color=2e8b57]"The badger was a cool guy."[/color]

Hilarix considered once more and one could almost imagine the steam coming out of her ears from all the thinking. She held up a finger, advising them to 'hang on', ducked behind her desk, brought out a large book, and dusted it off. [color=HotPink]"Oh, by the way, if you want to see how many deaths Mister Guupguup here needs, I can give you a ticket and you'll just go to the second room on the left!"[/color] After that, she spent the next couple minutes flipping through pages and reading. 

Finally, she perked up and rose. [color=HotPink]"Good news is that we know what it is! It's a special backdoor ticket into heaven - sort of bypasses our system."[/color] She furrowed her brow. [color=HotPink]"Usually, only really high ranking angels - well, and of course the Gods themselves - can give those out."[/color] She stood, scampering around the desk, for 'scampering' was the only way to describe her movement. [color=HotPink]"Bad news is that you'll have to meet the boss directly."[/color] She pointed to the end of the foyer, where a forbidding-looking staircase led up to a landing with a single imposing door.

Desmond chuckled and laughed as Fiske was given the professional opinion of 'Terminal Scumbaggery'. Though repeated death did not sound like a very good treatment to solve it. Yet she was the professional. She even seemed excited with the idea as it would mean he would be welcomed into heaven.

After her time of thinking and figuring out things, Desmond finally received an answer that would get him a step closer to regaining his body. He would have to talk to the head honcho himself.

Which in the heaven of Eshiran, was not at all intimidating.

[hider=In the Audiance of Death]
The stairs creaked with every step and, while Laska flapped and squawked in excitement, Manfred swallowed nervously. [color=2E8B57]"We should be on our best behaviour,"[/color] he advised. [color=2E8B57]"I've only met him once, you know, and once was enough."[/color]

They arrived at the top and... something had been 'off' about their perception of size earlier, for the door was truly colossal. They stood there, hesitating over whether to knock, wait, or just enter when, all at once, the door opened with a creak. It was a vast space, and a great oak desk stood before them inside the room like a fortress. The room itself was full of rich dark woods, hard-edged metals, and the busts of various beasts bested in the hunt mounted on the walls. 

A towering angel with great black wings slouched in a high-backed chair as light streamed in from the windows behind him. All at once, upon their entry, he rose. [color=000000]"Desmond Catulus, Sister Edyta Laska, and Manfred Hohenfelter."[/color] He scowled, looming over them. [color=000000]"You have thirty seconds to convince me not to liquidate you three."[/color]

The moment Desmond reached the top of the stairs, the feeling of ominous and foreboding fear set in. Whoever this was, they wanted to be feared.

As the stepped into the room, there stood a monster of a man. He knew their names, and knew of their arrival. So he mist have known why they were there, and he still threatened to liquidate them.

That must mean he wanted them to fight for their lives, with words.

Desmond couldn't do anything, except try and squeak out, [color=gold]"I'm. Too. Pretty. To Die!"[/color] Joking was his first and last defense mechanism as in this situation he hoped that Manfred can think of something to say to not have them to get turned into mush. As Desmond is unsure what would happen here if he died.

The pentangel began to draw his sword and Edyta Laska flew straight for his face, beak sharp and needlelike, but his reflexes were preternaturally fast and he batted her away. She swerved at the last possible second to take only a glancing blow, and landed gracelessly on a chair, squawking at Desmond not to talk but to fight! Manfred moved to step in, but the black-winged titan held up a hand, shook his head tightly, and the Kerreman froze in place. 

Taking to the air once more, Laska squawked out a simple instruction: [color=f26522]"You left. Me right. You below. Me above."[/color] However, short of attack again, she pulled up, avoiding the deadly swipe of the pentangel's sword. She let out a horrifying shriek that caused everyone in the room to recoil in pain... except for the honey badger, tough little S.O.B. that he was.

[center][youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kpnW68Q8ltc[/youtube][/center]

Desmond dashed into the fray, there was no need to tell him to fight. The moment the man was getting ready, Desmond knew what this meant. In a land of death and combat, it seems everyone only speaks in violence.

He dashed to the desk, using it to obscure line of sight of him and the large bastard. Desmond aimed to follow up with Laska distracting him to one side by going around the other and trying to slash and bite at the Pentangel's achilles tendon. An attempt to either bring down the bastard or force him to look his way to let Laska breath for a moment or attack him while he's distracted.

The pentangel was stupidly nimble for his size and he leapt over the desk, nearly coming down with a heavy steel-toed sabaton on the honey badger's head, but Desmond was able to dodge and slash at his achilles tendon. It was a clean strike, but he met with nothing but steel and couldn't break through. 

This bought Edyta enough time to swoop in at the titan's head, but he got a wing in the way and deflected her. Tumbling through the air, she caught herself and circled around, darting again for the back of his head. A sword stab narrowly missed Desmond and now, he appeared to have an opening!

An opening is an opening no matter the situation. If one believes every opening is a trap, may it be found by luck or not, then they would never win. And Desmond is a winner.

Desmond used this moment the giant missed his sword stab and his partner coming for his head as a moment to strike. He dashed forward, lunging as he leapt high and mightily. Aiming for the one spot almost every animal has a weak spot.

Desmond just hoped the man didn't have a cod piece. Because biting metal sounded quite painful.

The pentangel made not attempt to even dodge and, when Desmond's teeth closed around the place where he'd aimed, he met with the steel he'd expected. 

[center][youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j3DKl3BXgNU[/youtube][/center]

However, such was the honey badger's bite force that his victim flinched and grimaced anyway, batting at him desperately. Heavy fists pounded the small creature, which remained doggedly latched on despite the barrage. Meanwhile, Laska closed in and raked his scalp with her talons. 

Then, that was it. The pentangel clapped his hands together and both animals found themselves seated on a pair of chairs in front of him, with an alarmed-looking Manfred and a recently-arrived Erika to either side.  [color=000000]"Great showing!"[/color] their former opponent announced, adjusting himself with a grimace before he sat and dabbing at his scalp. The wounds seemed to disappear, as did any on either of the animals. [color=000000]"And sorry for the violence, but we're all rough types here, right?"[/color] He cracked a grin, leaning forward with his elbows on his desk. [color=000000]"That backdoor you two were given into here comes with strings attached, you know. You've gotta prove yourselves worthy."[/color]

[color=2E8B57]"Some warning might've been nice,"[/color] Manfred grumbled, [color=2E8B57]"No?"[/color]

The pentangel smiled smugly. [color=000000]"No!"[/color] Then, he clasped his hands, businesslike, and all in the room could feel a sizable surge of energy. It focused on a large globe that was sitting on the desk. [color=000000]"Please touch it and regain your human forms."[/color]

Desmond had from one moment aimed to take the manhood off of a man to now talking to him in a corgial manner. What a strange place, and no wonder it was so strange. They were given the pass into heaven after they had to prove themselves!

Desmond chitter and laughed at the situation as he looked to the man and those standing at the sides of the desk.

Then to the orb that will return to him his body. As with his small badger hand, he reached out to the orb.

The stork that was Edyta blinked in its avian way, before reaching hesitantly out. It laid a wing upon the globe and then, all at once, there was a skinny human girl with red hair and freckles standing there in a nun's habit. She looked over at Desmond and, sure enough, he was himself again. [color=6ecff6]"Oh thank Eshiran!"[/color] she exclaimed, nearly giddy at the sound of her own, true voice. She immediately made the sign of the Pentad and began praying.

Desmond stretched in the moment he saw his hand change. He brought one hand to the back of his neck as he said, [color=gold]"Oh man! You don't know what kinda crick in the neck you have when when you gotta walk and fight on all fours"[/color].

Desmond could tell he at least had what he had on him from when before he bit the apple. Which meant he had clothing and his gun at least. Sadly not his pistol, however he had no clue where that was. Once Desmond finishing checking himself he did one more stretch as he saw Erika and gave her a smile with a light wink to Erika before he said, [color=gold]"Alright seems we've got our bodies back. Guess that's step one done"[/color].

He lightly slapped his knees, [color=gold]"Now just gotta do everything else and then some"[/color]. As he looked to the big man behind the desk. He was curious of what the man would like to say. As there was no need to keep them here in this way if the magic of the Pentangel would be enough to return their forms.

The Pentangel loomed over the trio, but he no longer seemed the hostile force he'd been earlier. [color=000000]"Well, I take it you've come to retrieve Manfred, here?"[/color] His eyes flicked the Kerreman's way and he cracked a lopsided smile. [color=000000]"You're welcome to ask, of course, but it must ultimately be his -"[/color]

[color=f26522]"We are not,"[/color] interjected Edyta, standing there in her clerical robes once more: pale and cold as ever. [color=6ecff6]"He is, of course, ever welcome to return with us should you see fit to grant this, but I would never deign to pull a soul from his well-earned eternity."[/color]

The angel furrowed his brow. [color=000000]"The little rat, then?"[/color] he arched it questioningly.

Edyta shook her head once more and looked to Desmond. So did Manfred and Erika.

Desmond cleared his throat, [color=gold]"No, we originally came here for a man named Thomas Kavanaugh"[/color].

Desmond tossed a light smile to Laska, [color=gold]"Someone important to her-"[/color]

He continued, [color=gold]"-and myself. Yet we have no clue where he may have been sent"[/color].

Desmond chuckled as he rubbed the back of his head, [color=gold]"So I guess step 2 is: Do you know anything on where he may have ended up?"[/color]

It came to Edyta that she had not even found out how Fiske had died, so focused had she been on besting one challenge or another on her path to recover Tommy. She glanced Desmond's way and nodded deferentially. [color=6ecff6]"It's as he said. Tommy is a dear friend of ours, taken in a manner that I doubt -"[/color] [color=f26522][i]follows our lady Eshiran's will.[/i][/color] [color=6ecff6]"- any party involved is satisfied with."[/color] She barely avoided the blasphemous statement. [color=6ecff6]"We humbly seek an overturning of his sentence."[/color] She bowed deeply at the waist. She'd have been willing to prostrate herself before this black-winged angel if it might've made any difference. In fact, she began sinking to her knees to do exactly that.

[color=000000]"Hold."[/color] said the pentangel, and she could more not another inch. hesitantly she rose. He pulled a great tome from a nearby shelf and flipped through it. The very letters on the page seemed evanescent: shifting and changing even as he read. [color=000000]"Kavanaugh, right?"[/color]

[color=6ecff6]"Yes, my lord. Date of death: Velles the 13th of this year."[/color]

He nodded and continued to scan, his finger tracking down the page until - [color=000000]"Ah!"[/color] he straightened abruptly. [color=000000]"He's... in Oraff's hell."[/color] Regarding the two of them, eyes flicking briefly in Manfred's and Erika's direction, he pursed his lips. [color=000000]"That is... summarily outside of our jurisdiction."[/color]

[color=f26522]"Is there a way we can travel there?"[/color] the rezaindian pleaded.

[color=000000]"Between heavens, yes. Between this heaven and this hell, yes again, but to travel to another God's hell, you'd need special permission, especially as non-residents."[/color] He shook his head in both confoundment and regret. 

[color=khaki]"You know how long that will take, Ostiarusand."[/color] It was Erika, and Manfred grimaced at the words.

[color=000000]"One year, seven days."[/color]

Manfred winced at the number. [color=2E8B57]"Plenty of time if yours is unlimited,"[/color] he remarked, glancing Desmond's way, [color=2E8B57]"But for the living..."[/color]

Desmond listened, he knew Tommy wasn't going to be easy to find, however he didn't expect it to be this hard. He listened to them as they broke down the situation.

Leaving nothing much in actual choices for them.

Desmond nodded his head as he continued with what Manfred was going to say, [color=gold]"We don't have that kind of time. Is there any other way? Maybe some way to speed up the time it will take for us to get that special permission?"[/color]

[color=000000]"And, truly, you feel he is worthy of returning to the land of the living?"[/color] Ostiarusand crossed his arms and narrowed his eyes skeptically.

[color=6ecff6]"I..."[/color] Edyta Laska looked down, threading and unthreading her fingers. She both took and released a deep breath. [color=f26522]"...was sent to gain his trust and kill him."[/color] The rezaindian did not hang her head. She held it high, jaw tight. She twisted to regard Desmond. [color=f26522]"In truth, I wear a robe darker than that of the Red Rezaindians."[/color] Anyone with a half a mind would know what she meant. [color=6ecff6]"He willingly accepted the possession of a demon that must've been..."[/color] She trailed off. [color=f26522]"At least of the fifth tier."[/color] She shook her head. [color=f26522]"He endangered everyone around him without saying a word of it."[/color]

[color=000000]"And, yet, here you are begging for us to return him to the land of the living."[/color] The pentangel hardly shifted, but for his eyes, to evaluate Desmond, Manfred, and Erika briefly. [color=000000]"Bit of an extreme change of heart, no?"[/color]

[color=6ecff6]"He..."[/color] Edyta swallowed. [color=6ecff6]"He was good,"[/color] she said simply. [color=6ecff6]"I soon got a sense of him and I believe he did nothing out of malice. He was a fool because he was raised to be and never had the chance to be more."[/color]

[color=000000]"I can see right through you,"[/color] said Ostiarusand. [color=000000]"You love him."[/color] The angel was implacable and the nun's cheeks flushed deeply. [color=6ecff6]"I..."[/color] She swallowed and looked at her feet. [color=6ecff6]"It is not within the rules of the order to abstain from all pleasures of the flesh."[/color] Her eyes flashed for a moment as she met his. [color=f26522]"I serve."[/color] She went to a knee. [color=f26522]"First and foremost, I serve. I..."[/color] She seemed to stop herself from saying something else, but he noticed. [color=000000]"Out with it, girl."[/color] Ostiarusand was commanding.

[color=6ecff6]"Forgive me for it sounds arrogant, I know."[/color] She bowed her head deeply, not meeting his eyes anymore. [color=6ecff6]"Mother Eshiran came to me in a vision and offered me two black apples. One for myself -"[/color] She gestured at Desmond. [color=6ecff6]"- and one for him."[/color] Hesitantly, her gaze slid up towards the pentangel's.

[color=000000]"This is known to me,"[/color] he replied, [color=000000]"and it is not what you believe."[/color] He shook his head. [color=000000]"I cannot approve this. He is a sinner who has earned his just desserts."[/color] His arms fell to his sides and he pushed off from the desk to stand straight. [color=000000]"Your other friend: there may be hope for him. His sentence is light and, if he makes amends with Dami, he may yet live another mortal life."[/color] He reached out to close his book. 

[color=f26522]"I beg you to reconsider, Lord Ostiarus!"[/color] Edyta prostrated herself before him. [color=f26522]"I beg of you only this! I was visited by -"[/color]
[h3][color=000000][b]"SILENCE!!!"[/b][/color][/h3]
The pentangel's great black wings unfurled and the tips seemed to stretch the entire room, end to end. His eyes became fathomless pools of black. [color=000000]"I am Ostiarusand: arbiter of the gate!"[/color] His sheer power was [i]crushing[/i], humbling, [i]divine[/i]! Manfred and Erika were driven to their knees as well. Desmond, alone, managed to remain standing. [color=000000]"Your associate has committed a cardinal sin for which he is unrepentant and I have made my declaration,"[/color] he roared. [color=000000]"Be gone from my presence!"[/color]

With that, they found themselves standing in the hallway outside the great twin wooden doors. Their eyes darted amongst themselves and Edyta hung her head. Then, Erika spoke. [color=khaki]"Actually, you know what,"[/color] she said, [color=khaki]"I think there [i]is[/i] a way."[/color]

[center][youtube]https://youtube.com/clip/UgkxUIOuA6DKegIFN0h7wOIGXsdh68TvslDw?si=tfH_vqNJUngEal-X[/youtube][/center]

Desmond stood at the door now rolling, his shoulder and neck as he said, [color=gold]"Never liked it when they do that shit. Always gives me a crink in the neck"[/color]. He hoped that would give some reprieve for the moment, at least showing them there still was fight in him. 

Because for Edyta, Desmond knew she was the one who must be closest to breaking down because of this. What was in front of her was her struggles personified: her duty versus her own wishes. It was a story of a woman who loved a man and her struggles of what she was raised to believe and do. And right infront of her, when she thought she had the blessing of the gods, a Pentangel stopped her and even admonished her.

Desmond rolled his shoulders once more before he tossed his head to Erika, [color=gold]"Oh? And what way is that?"[/color].

Erika smirked. It was the exact same devious little smile that came to Desmond sometimes when he had a subversive idea. [color=khaki]"Well,"[/color] she said, [color=khaki]"once every year, as a way of marking time - it tends to bleed together once you've been up here a while - we hold a tournament."[/color]

Manfred's eyes widened. [color=2E8B57]"Ah! Yes, that!"[/color] he exclaimed. [color=2E8B57]"I'm entered in the Hunters' section."[/color] He turned to face her, brow furrowed. [color=2E8B57]"But... isn't it full?"[/color] He was walking towards the stairs and he tilted his head. [color=2E8B57]"It...[i]has[/i] to be, right?"[/color]

Erika smiled as she waved them down. [color=khaki]"Well, the hunters' bracket is, and I imagine you'll be spending twenty-five hours straight blowing up various beasts."[/color]

Manfred nodded. [color=2E8B57]"Naturally."[/color]

They began to descend and she twisted about to regard them. [color=khaki]"The reapers' tends to fill quickly as well,"[/color] she admitted, hopping the final two steps. They made their way towards the door and she smiled sweetly, [color=khaki]"But not the warriors'."[/color]

[color=2E8B57]"But why not?"[/color] asked Manfred. [color=2E8B57]"Occurs to me that should be the most popular of them all."[/color]

They approached Hilarix at her desk and she looked up from whatever she was reading. [color=khaki]"Well it historically [i]has[/i] been,"[/color] Erika countered, [color=khaki]"But, for the past couple decades, it's become increasingly dominated by a few... overpowered souls. Nobody feels like they have a real chance to win."[/color] She shrugged.

[color=HotPink]"Aren't [i]you[/i] entered?"[/color] Hilarix pointed out, having overheard them. She leaned forward with a twinkle in her eye.

[color=khaki]"But naturally, Hillie."[/color]

[color=6ecff6]"Well, then... not to be rude,"[/color] Edyta began, [color=6ecff6]"but why'd you enter if you have no chance?"[/color]

Erika shrugged. [color=khaki]"Well, the reward is an audience with Verusand himself, who can grant you just about anything, and... it's something of a family obligation. One of those big bullies is from the family I married into back in life."[/color] She winked. [color=khaki]"I've got to at least [i]try[/i] to sock it to him, huh?"[/color]

[color=HotPink]"You're not an Avalon by birth?"[/color]

[color=khaki]"Gods no!"[/color] Erika retorted, rolling her eyes. [color=khaki]"If only I [i]were[/i]!"[/color] she laughed.

[color=2E8B57]"You were a Steinbauer,"[/color] Manfred added, [color=2E8B57]"Right? Married into those Enthish."[/color] He nodded in Desmond's direction. [color=2E8B57]"No offense. You've actually got teeth, unlike the others."[/color]

[color=khaki]"Something like that."[/color] Erika leaned her elbows upon the desk's railing. [color=khaki]"Say, Hillie, I had a crazy notion. Do you know how many places are left for warriors? I thought we might make our way over to signups."[/color]

Hilarix held up a finger to tell them to wait a second, took out another book, and flipped through it. There was an extended pause. [color=f26522]"I would fight,"[/color] said Edyta, smirking, sidelong, at Desmond.

[color=HotPink]"Ah!"[/color] exclaimed the desk-angel, looking up with a big smile. [color=HotPink]"Three!"[/color]

[color=2E8B57]"Three!?"[/color] Manfred sputtered, [color=2E8B57]"When I checked this morning, there were a dozen!"[/color]

[color=HotPink]"Oop!"[/color] squealed Hilarix. [color=HotPink]"Two!"[/color]

Desmond chuckled and laughed as they spoke. At least there was some light to be had. They just had to fight, some of the greatest souls in one-on-one combat. [i][color=gold]What could go wrong![/color][/i]

Desmond smiled to Edyta, [color=gold]"I would too, but it seems like they are already getting taken up"[/color]. Desmond then began to lightly jog away, [color=gold]"Last one there has to carry the trophy of the winner for the rest of their life!"[/color]

Desmond laughed as he began to speed up to run over to the sign up boards. He remembered seeing them and even being told about them when they were heading over to this place.

Desmond's takeoff was so sudden and so fast that it took everyone but Edyta by surprise. [color=f26522]"I promise to be merciful in victory,"[/color] she taunted back, disappearing into greyspace. Moments later, Manfred was there as well. [color=2E8B57]"Wouldn't wanna lose to a girl, wouldya limey boy?"[/color]

But then there was a flash ahead of them and it was Erika. Manfred laughed at the absurdity of it. They were there at the boards not two minutes later. Desmond was just pulling up to a stop when, suddenly, the space in front of him wavered and Edyta appeared. She shot a look back at Desmond, though it was only seconds before Manfred and Erika showed up as well. [color=khaki]"I'd like to sponsor these two for the warriors' event,"[/color] Erika added breathlessly, hands posted on the desk, leaning forward.

[color=magenta]"These two backdoors?"[/color] The angel manning the desk looked up.

[color=khaki]"No, Michaelis, the [i]other[/i] two backdoors."[/color] She rolled her eyes.

[color=magenta]"Yes yes."[/color] He waved her off dismissively. [color=magenta]"No need to bring out the snark, now."[/color] He looked down at a pamphlet and pursed his lips. Then, with some alarm in his eyes, he looked up. [color=magenta]"Names!"[/color] he called out, [color=magenta]"Quickly!"[/color]

[color=6ecff6]"Uhh... Edyta Laska!"[/color] the nun practically shouted.

[color=gold]"Desmond!"[/color] added her partner, [color=gold]"Uh, Catulus!"[/color] It wasn't a real last name, for bastards didn't have those, but it was what he'd always gone by.

[color=magenta]"Fingerprints!"[/color] the angel chirped, motioning for them to quickly bring their hands forward. He all-but grabbed them, pulling them forward and pressing them onto an inkpad. [color=magenta]"There's only one spot left. We need to reserve it. Decide who's going out of you two."[/color] He grimaced and shook his head quickly and regretfully.

Edyta swallowed and looked at Desmond. [color=6ecff6]"Rock paper scissors?"[/color] she suggested, and he didn't have time to think about it. He could read her, and he'd always had luck on his side, just in case. [color=gold]"Bet!"[/color]

[color=6ecff6]"Rock."[/color]

[color=gold]"Paper."[/color]

[color=6ecff6]"Scissors."[/color]

[color=gold]"S[/color][color=6ecff6]h[/color][color=gold]o[/color][color=6ecff6]o[/color][color=gold]t[/color][color=6ecff6]!"[/color]

Both came up with paper.

[color=6ecff6]"Rock."[/color]

[color=gold]"Paper."[/color]

[color=6ecff6]"Scissors."[/color]

[color=gold]"S[/color][color=6ecff6]h[/color][color=gold]o[/color][color=6ecff6]o[/color][color=gold]t[/color][color=6ecff6]!"[/color]

Both rock.

[color=6ecff6]"Rock."[/color]

[color=gold]"Paper."[/color]

[color=6ecff6]"Scissors."[/color]

[color=gold]"S[/color][color=6ecff6]h[/color][color=gold]o[/color][color=6ecff6]o[/color][color=gold]t[/color][color=6ecff6]!"[/color]

Edyta was rock, Desmond was paper. He'd risked it for the biscuit and lost. [color=magenta]"Registered!"[/color] the angel replied, almost before they were finished. He stamped a form with her print and clapped a book shut around it. Magically, it disappeared. He looked up at Desmond. [color=magenta]"Sorry, lad. Wish you could've gone too."[/color]

[color=2E8B57]"Well, could I... possibly give up my spot in Huntrers'?"[/color] inquired Manfred. [color=2E8B57]"I probably have a good number of these left in me."[/color]

Michaelis nibbled his lower lip, slid another book out from his desk, and flipped rapidly through it. He looked up and regretfully shook his head. [color=magenta]"Heh, sorry, kid. You need to be related - sibling or in the same direct line. I was hoping you might be, but no dice."[/color] He paused before the disappointment could set in too deeply and, biting that same lip again, flipped through some more pages. He paused and let out a snort. [color=magenta]"Well ain't that something..."[/color] he murmured, looking up. [color=magenta]"You, on the other hand -"[/color] He pointed at Erika. [color=magenta]"You can. You know he's your great-great-grandson."[/color]

Desmond turned to Erika, a silent moment was had. He couldn't believe what he was hearing. His great-great-grandmother was her. The luck of such a feat was incredible, however more so, who she was. Apparently she was of the family of Avalon, which meant so was he. 

He was some bastard child of a noble. The thoughts began to flow through his mind, what his life could have been like. What he would have been without the struggle, the pain, the loss, the sacrifice.

The...

[color=gold]"Well, ain't that crazy? Never would have thought to meet someone who is actually blood related to me"[/color]. Desmond chuckled as he shook his head. Coming a little closer to Erika, [color=gold]"So you're my Sin-seanmháthair(Great-grandmother)? Hu. Never would have thought she'd be a young as me"[/color]. Desmond then began to laugh as he rubbed the back of his head.

[color=khaki]"You shoulda seen me when I was old,"[/color] she laughed, a little bit overwhelmed by the entire thing herself. [color=khaki]"I was pinching cheeks and baking cookies and kissing my grandkids right near the ear so they'd ring."[/color] She winked, but then she shook her head in disbelief. [color=khaki]"The gods work in mysterious ways... Wow!"[/color] She let out a low whistle. [color=khaki]"I'll give him my spot, by the way,"[/color] she told Michaelis, but then she turned back to Desmond. [color=khaki]"Come here,"[/color] she said, holding out her arms and motioning him forward. [color=khaki]"You're family: flesh of my flesh, blood of my blood. It's... an honour."[/color]

Desmond smiled as he opened his arms and took hold of Erika. He chuckled as he held her as he said, [color=gold]"Yeah I guess the gods really do"[/color]. Desmond held her for a little longer than needed and a little tighter than would be expected. More feeling than needed, more personal than he wanted.

He was here for another.

To help a friend retrieve another. He was here to save him with the grace granted upon Edyta. Not himself.

This was not about him.

However.

He might allow it to be about him for a little while.

Just long enough to feel it.

This feeling.

Of another's love.

Erika squeezed back, perhaps longer than she'd wanted, longer than she' meant to. It was easy to become disconnected here in eternity, but here was living proof of a future in the world of the living: that her existence had created something and made a difference. She tightened her grip momentarily. [color=khaki]"You're gonna tell me all about it,"[/color] she told him. [color=khaki]"Everything, and I'm just gonna listen and -"[/color] She shook slightly with laughter in his embrace. [color=khaki]"- maybe ask questions like a five year old."[/color] She let her arms fall away and flashed him a confident smile, though her eyes were definitely a bit red-rimmed. [color=khaki]"But first, you're gonna win, 'cause that's what we do."[/color] She punched him lightly on the shoulder. [color=khaki]"And stick it to our revered ancestor, huh?"[/color]

Desmond shook his head in agreeance, a smile resting on his face all the same it has. Just this time, his smile was soft and sat on his face calmly.

 [color=gold]"Yeah, I can't wait to tell you-"[/color], he chuckled as he then continued, [color=gold]"Let's see if our ancestor is all that they say he's cracked up to be"[/color].

[color=khaki]"Well, [i]yours[/i], technically,"[/color] she corrected, [color=khaki]"I just married in. Found me a sugar daddy."[/color] She winked.

Manfred looked from Desmond to Girl Desmond. [color=2E8B57]"This explains... so much,"[/color] he remarked. [color=2E8B57]"Well, at least [i]we[/i] didn't turn out to be related."[/color] It was his turn to wink, and he winked at Erika.

She shot him a warning look.

Manfred grinned. Even his mustache seemed somehow... pleased. [color=2E8B57]"Hey Desmond,"[/color] he called, leaning in with a sly smile.

Edyta's eyes darted between the three with growing trepidation. 

[color=2E8B57]"HeyDesmondIfuckedyourgreatgrandma."[/color]

Desmond's smile never dissappeared as he turned to Manfred and says, [color=gold]"That rat you carried to the desk bangs your sister"[/color].

Erika was in hysterics. [color=khaki]"It's great 'cause it's [i]true[/i]!"[/color] she hollered, [color=khaki]"and you were the last one to know it!"[/color]

Manfred blinked. He blinked again and his mustache drooped. In that moment, he just may have found motivation to consider returning to the living world. [color=2E8B57]"I..."[/color] He considered, brought up short. Then, all at once, he threw an arm around Desmond. [color=2E8B57]"Well, now that we know who you are, ol' buddy, just keep in mind that none of your family is safe! By the time you make it back here for real, you might have to call me papa."[/color] He grinned, but there was just a tiny hint of uncertainty to it, deep below the surface.

[color=6ecff6]"Desmond,"[/color] said Sister Laska, [color=6ecff6]"I am happy that you have learned of a new family member this day."[/color] She smiled. [color=f26522]"Manfred, I am happy that you, too, have gained a new family member."[/color] She smiled... sweetly.

On that note, they departed for the colosseum. Visitors from other heavens - Darhannic, Angic, Creed, Tosatsu, and even Femrigr - were arriving from those strange trees they'd sighted before, but they weren't the only attractions. There was, not so far outside of the colosseum, a listing of all 256 contestants and their odds. Edyta found herself appearing on the board ranked 149, with Desmond ranked a good deal further down at 237. [color=6ecff6]"It's because I'm greyborn,"[/color] she tried to assure him, but there was probably more to it. He'd always been underestimated for his low RAS and this appeared no different than usual.

Yet, there were certainly opportunities to prove these naysayers wrong. There were myriad training grounds all around, each focused on training any one of a hundred different skills and even combinations of skills. Anybody could watch, and the oddsmakers certainly did. If it wasn't money that the people up here gambled with, it was prestige, dares, and favours.  In any event, it took the rest of the day for Edyta's and Desmond's tour to finish. 

Eventually, after wishing them both luck, Manfred headed off to train for the hunt. [color=2E8B57]"Three days,"[/color] he told them. [color=khaki]"Use every hour you're not sleeping,"[/color] added Erika. She shook her head. [color=khaki]"Some of these guys train year round."[/color]

[color=2E8B57]"Good luck,"[/color] said Manfred. [color=2E8B57]"I'll be around. I'll check in."[/color] He scowled. [color=2E8B57]"I'm going to bag me a Fiske or ten."[/color]

With a snort, Erika turned back around. [color=khaki]"They're all going to be looking for you to fight as a greyborn,"[/color] she told Edyta. [color=khaki]"They'll have traps for it. They'll have counters."[/color] She wagged a finger. [color=khaki]"But they're hardly paying attention to your icevein skills, and greyborn are rare enough that most won't even know how to fight you unless they watch you train."[/color]

She turned to Desmond. [color=khaki]"When people without substantial magic come to heaven, the Gods unlock their magic, at exactly a RAS of five."[/color] She smiled conspiratorially. [color=khaki]"You're so low 'cause they all think you're one of those, and you're new, too."[/color] The smile became a smirk. [color=khaki]"No idea how to use magic."[/color] She shook her head. [color=khaki]"They'll have no idea what hit 'em."[/color]

She regarded both, then. [color=khaki]"Train in secret. Hide your techniques, hide your special weapons."[/color] She gestured at Desmond's rifle and Edyta's sickles. [color=khaki]"Hide your true strength."[/color] The sun was hanging low in the sky now and she reassured them that she'd had quarters made for them. This was heaven, after all, and anything could be had when one wished it.

The next day, they began training.

The day after, the six elites arrived.

The final day before the event, the bracket was announced.

Then, on the fourth day, they fought.
[/hider]

[color=FF00FF]"Squeak. . . "[/color] He knew it would be like this, there was no true way out of this. He did not even want to tell her off for her rather irritating 'diagnosis', but the motivation to rebel waned. 

Fiske stared at Desmond, his laugh stung harder than the words of the angel itself. [color=FF00FF][i]"Hope. Gone."[/i][/color] he squeaked before carefully jumping out of Manfred's palm and next to the amethyst. carefully grabbing it and hugged it, making himself a ball around the gem.

[hider=Waiting For Death]
Erika sighed. "Well, I guess you're with me." She glanced up at Desmond again as he bounded awkwardly up the stairs. She plucked Fiske, still holding the gemstone, with a single hand from his place, and headed towards the second door on the left. 

[color=HotPink]"Oh, wait! No no no!"[/color] Hilarix cried, and Erika twisted about, brow furrowed in annoyance. "One," she counted, pairing it with a gesture, "two." 

[color=HotPink]"Look down,"[/color] the angel advised and, when they did, there it was: a tiny little door that a full-sized human couldn't [i]possibly[/i] have fit through. Erika blinked, twisting up to regard the others, who were close to the top of the stairs. "Well, Fiske, I didn't know you in life but, hopefully, I'll get to meet you for real soon enough." She lowered him towards the floor. "Looks like this is where we part ways. 

He still had his amethyst. He still had himself - in a sense. The brightly-lit door beckoned.

Fiske stared at the woman who lowered him down and nodded as a response to her words. He faked a sense of confidence to at least try and reassure Erika. He awkwardly walked on his hind legs towards the small door as he held the amethyst. 

One more look back at the two women before he entered. [color=FF00FF][i]What's the worst that can happen. I'll probably be hunted by a 'angelic' cat of some sorts seeing how ironic this hell tries to be.[/i][/color] He snickered to himself as his doomed fate began to sound comical to him.

Fiske blinked and the moment that his eyes adjusted to the light, he beheld an... unexpected sight. Inside was, simply... a waiting room: an animal-sized one. There were five kiosks behind glass barriers with tiny, bored-looking angels attending to the needs of various... critters.

As the guupguup entered, a rabbit on a bench looked up from a newspaper. A pair of geckos sitting beside each other chatted. A cockroach paced anxiously, and a handful of mosquitoes eyed the others with hunger and suspicion from a corner.

There were at least four other rats of various sorts, a shrew, a grape dragon, three worms, a stag beetle, three centipedes, and a rather bored-looking lobster. A buzzer sounded and a letterboard displayed a symbol that looked like a... a shiny white round ball with the number 37? Fiske watched as a sparrow hopped up eagerly to one of the windows with a pearl in its mouth. 

Most of the critters were small and harmless, but that grape dragon was worrying, as were a pair of snakes, a scorpion, and... a large and hungry looking black cat that already seemed to be eyeing him. Fiske's eyes flicked between the cat and his treasure, and he noticed the number 64 on it. He would have to last... [i]that[/i] long.

Fiske was rather amused by the tiny angels, perhaps in some way they were even less fortunate than him. Tiny and working for the bureaucracy. He looked around the room and sat close to the bored lobster,  he hoped to have become blessed by crustaceans after being mauled by them. They at least weren't much of a enjoyer of rats like the snakes or the... cat. 

He impatiently stared at his little amethyst then back to the letterboard, then back to the amethyst and so forth. But he had come to realize that all he could really do now was wait. 

[center][youtube]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7nhRr5VGwjc&pp=ygUbaG9zcGl0YWwgd2FpdGluZyByb29tIG11c2lj[/youtube][/center]

And wait, he [i]did[/i]. One my one, numbers flicked by. Mosquitoes buzzed up to the desks. Rats scampered over, and the lobster clicked and clacked. Thankfully the cat was one of the first to be called up and, after shooting him a sidelong glance, she was gone.

Time passed, Fiske's stomach gurgled, and there was an unusual sort of music that softly filled the room's background. This, surely, must've been an extension of hell, for the sheer [i]tedium[/i] was almost unbearable. Yet, new animals came in: a couple of spiders, a ferret, two frogs, and a sparrow, and they broke up the monotony somewhat. Old animals scampered out after heading to the desks. Others seemed to glow and then disappear. 

Up ticked the numbers and, once sixty was reached, he was officially on notice. Rapidly, sixty-one appeared, and then sixty-two, but it was ages before sixty-three was called, since one of the clerical angels had gone on break. The clock on the wall ticked almost mockingly. The frogs kept croaking in a tone that could only vex. Then, sixty-three! he tensed up in his seat and checked his amethyst again, but he need not have worried. 

He had a further ten minutes before the noticeboard let out a click. His ears perked up and his eyes darted over. It was, indeed, sixty-four. [i]He[/i] was sixty-four! Lugging his crystalline treasure, Fiske scampered up to the cubicle. The angle regarded him tiredly, managing something like a perfunctory smile. [color=LemonChiffon]"I'll need your full name, your sin, and your pawprint here, please."[/color] A large paper was slid out from behind the desk, along with an inkpad.

He looked at the paper, what name was truly [i]his[/i]? Are the names he gave himself and acted under not his? Are the names he stole to get into places he wasn't allowed allowed to even be his? Most of the people knew him as Fiske, but was he Fiske or was that just another role he played. At times it would even confuse the owner of said names. But there was one name they would probably ask for. The one name that he wanted to forget, the identity he wanted to fade away. 

His birth name. An obsolete, failed identity. . . But still the groundworks of what is, or rather was Fiske. 

The rat grimaced before dumping his nail in the ink and writing the name that the gods would probably see as his [i]true name[/i]
[b][i]||Floris Hohnstein von Albesatz-Danzau||[/i][/b]

Sins? Life-preservation would be a sin of the goddess of death, of course. They probably wouldn't accept that wording, so it would require the word he disliked. 
[b][i]Cowardice[/i][/b]

And to finalize the documant the rat inked up his paw and pressed it on the paper.

ฅ

[color=LemonChiffon]"Excellent, Mr. Hohnstein."[/color] The angel took up the document, his eyes poring over it approvingly. [color=LemonChiffon]"Just a moment, please."[/color] With that statement, he reached below his desk and pulled out a very large book. In the background, a frog eyed some mosquitoes and the clock ticked. 

The angel flipped through pages and it was difficult to miss that the very letters and pictures on them changed, sometimes so rapidly that no human - much less a rat - could've hoped to keep up. Finally, they stopped, and the clerk looked up. [color=LemonChiffon]"I sympathize with you, Mr. Hohnstein. You do not strike me as an evil man whatsoever, but my discretion in this matter is limited. I hope you'll understand."[/color]

What, truly, could Fiske have said?

[color=LemonChiffon]"In order to purge the effects of the cardinal sin of cowardice and the lesser sin of recklessness - quite contradictory, if I do say so myself - from your soul, you shall be required to remain in this lesser form and, in it, to die..."[/color] He paused, poring over the book once more and scowling. [color=LemonChiffon]"Ah! Six-hundred-thirteen times in the hunt."[/color] He looked up. [color=LemonChiffon]"I'm very sorry but, should you approach this with vigor and expediency - and should you find a good hunting ground to occupy - I anticipate you'll be finished in less than a month."[/color] He tried on a supportive smile. [color=LemonChiffon]"It takes some centuries, you know."[/color]

With that, he flipped some more pages and there appeared, in the oversized book, something like a ticket. This, he handed to Fiske, also producing a stamp. [color=LemonChiffon]"Hand out, please!"[/color] He waited for a moment. [color=LemonChiffon]"This will stay with you, through deaths and through transformations."[/color]

One of the mosquitoes fell prey to the frog in the background. [color=LemonChiffon]"It will count down your remaining sins to be purged. You shall lose your fear of death and then, in the end, your hunter may find himself the hunted, yes?"[/color] He nodded. [color=LemonChiffon]"Godspeed, sir."[/color]

[color=FF00FF][i]Dying hundreds of times? How is losing the fear of death going to solve anything?! That would just be losing a part of the human soul. The desire to survive would just be weakened.[/i][/color] The rat shivered at the thought of having to die so many times. The only thing that made him somewhat less scared or stressed was how supportive the angel was. He was a much better judge of character than the woman was before. . .

Fiske puffed up his small chest to respond to the other's encouragement with vigor. He was right, there was no point in being scared if he just comes back time and time again, right? He saluted the angel before his little paw was extended outwards towards the stamp.
[/hider]