Eyes blinked a couple times in confusion as she was unsure who the individual was that stood before her. Wendy tried to think if she knew anyone similar to him but her mind continued to draw a blank. Would saying hello and introducing herself be the right course of action?
“Hello…”
He heard her, but he made no move to acknowledge her at the moment. Instead, he turned and walked towards the stone wall on the side of the road. It was odd for him to not have his throne, but he enjoyed sitting while he spoke; this would have to do for now.
“Don’t all Dragon Slayers make lives difficult?” After all, they had both been around long enough to experience the age of them, where there had been more that just seven, though, one could say the number was down to six now.
“He might have been human, but it seems he still had some access to my power, however small it was… and the Demon Slayer, well, hes quickly paying the price for his actions.” He gave another chuckle, rather glad indeed to see that smile after so long. “And indeed, the human hid more damage to himself than most were aware of. He was a bit of a fool that way.” Shaking his head for a moment and giving an almost uncharacteristic shrug a small sigh would pass his lips. “Ah, I wish I just had come here to see you to catch up. But…”
The work of the Demons of Zeref was never done.
❝ Indeed, I agree with that. Dragon slayers do indeed make life difficult. Mard Geer believes the demon slayer may come of use to us in the future though, ❞
He knew the consequences of demon slaying magic were the same as dragon slaying magic. One might say he was intrigued by the possibilities of what could happen to the son of the dead man. Maybe he won’t resist like his father did. Returning his attention to E.N.D, his smirk remained on his face.
‘Hey you just kinda remember that time we where beating your ass , but you decided to use that shitty curse? and remember how clever i was to absorb it as a sponge? well i want to know about it, because i fucking inhered a shit that was supposed to kill zeref the most feared mage of all time’
❝— I’m interested to know, how a curse like that can kill Zeref but not actual magic…❞
He contemplated the boys words, and finding no reason to not answer his inquiries he chose his words carefully.
❝ Memento Mori, does not kill the victim… It completely destroys them. Erasing them, and they become nothing for eternity, ❞
The smirk then turned into a smile, there it was, the seldom seen side of the ‘King of Hades’’ lighthearted side. In fact, it was not often seen in any of Zeref’s Demons, E.N.D had always been the only one that was so loose and free with his emotions. If by design or thanks to his different creation, it was unclear. Something that surely seemed as wonderful as it was annoying to the others.
“Break me? Oh, I’m so flattered.” He chuckled. “You could have at least put me in a bookshelf or something instead of just wherever was closest.” Taking a few steps even closer head would tip to the side, bright hair flopping to the side as he did so. “You didn’t seem to have any worries about breaking my body though. I still needed that.”
He let slip a slightly larger smile as E.N.D continued to speak, and then he shook his head slightly.
❝ The human inside your body was making our task rather difficult, Mard Geer had no choice but to try to maim him the best he could. Clearly I failed, the human somehow being stronger than me. Either way, no matter how broken the body is the moment you return it will be fine; being a demon has nice benefits, yes? ❞
Of course he’d had no worries about the body at the time, it was human and it pissed him off.
❝— Believe it or not, there is, for the man who took my father as a puppet❞
Bitter about it, Gray indeed needed a real powerful reason to be standing there without attempting to m u r d e r that demon, as far he could remember he was barely able to do a thing with Natsu’s help, by his own he was insecure of his own abilities by the moment, he had always been a mad of pride , but as well idiot he was not.
❝— I came to ask…what the hell is memento Mori? what kind of spells it exactly?❞
❝ Memento Mori? What an interesting question, ❞
His smirk dropped as he continued to stare, his eyes void of emotion; but his mind was working quickly, what could he possibly want to know about Memento Mori? It was a curse not magic, it was of no use to the boy.
The smirk grew a little more at the reaction to his words, if there was one thing E.N.D had always enjoyed, it was prodding a little fun at the other Demon, they were always all so, serious, even himself at times. They needed to have fun every now and then.
“No? Are you sure? Duty is one thing. But I heard you never put my book down unless someone got the better of your anger.” Which, was hardly ever. Maybe only once, something that his sealed self had witnessed. “It’s okay, you can admit you missed me~”
At the mention of his angered outburst he raised an eyebrow. It was true, he had set the book down but merely because he didn’t know what would happen if he let loose the anger inside him. Damage to the book was out of the question, it could not happen.
❝ You have not changed; still trying to be the comedic relief to a serious life. I had not felt anger like that in so long, I was merely worried that I would break you if I did not put you out of the way, ❞
His smirk itched to stretch a little further, last time he had poked fun at something was the last time E.N.D had stood before him, before he was sealed away. Something he would never say aloud, was the thought that if he missed anything it was the fellow demon’s ability to evoke any emotion other than rage.
He was coming home, at last, even if it wasn’t exactly the way he remembered it, but one thing seemed to be the same, the figure that sat proud on his throne, an aura of collected emotions as always.
“Oh? Ye of little faith, Mard.” Was the reply, a small smirk of his own fluttering on tanned features, some things never changed, especially when it came to ageless beings such as themselves. “From the information I have, it would appear you missed me quite a lot. Carrying around my book like that.”
He gave a small huff – not quite a laugh or grunt – before his features settled back into their regular arrogance and he finally raised his eyes to look at the man who’d walked in on his peace. The only man who could walk in on his peace and not be punished.
❝ I wouldn’t quite call it missing you, You know our duty, Etherious Natsu Dragneel. Mard Geer was simply doing his duty of keeping you safe. ❞
It was one thing for humans to act like Mard Geer it was a completely different matter for one to assume his form. This must be some kind of sick joke to get under the king’s skin. He would not allow anyone to be, think, or act like himself. He was one of a kind demon ruler and this fake would be put in his place.
“Imitation is considered a form of flattery, but Mard Geer considers it a disgusting insult!” He said refusing to even look at the fake’s face.
❝ I would think the same of you, because indeed Mard Greer does not find this flattering in the slightest. It would be wise to drop the act, Mard Greer does not like to be mocked. ❞
He would not admit but he was slightly confused, humans had the weirdest of behaviors: to take on the face of another and act as them. The pitiful, insignificant insects that littered the earth revolted him. He wanted the one before him gone.
