The Arch-Demon Astaroth

“Wilhelm, take this notebook and get out of here now, go the others immediately!” Wilhelm hesitates.

“Go now, that is a direct order. Try to get a hold of Layrn as soon as possible, use this whistle.” Wilhelm takes the journal as a whistle is briskly was shoved into his hands. As his comrade leaves, Joshua mentally visualizes what he saw in the last entry after skipping forward a bit.

Entry 47- I think it’s time to pay a visit to my dear friend Ghislaine, After all, Blackwood would make a perfect sacrifice to my new lord What could be better than killing off the future of the damn Terra Clan. I can’t wait for the look on his face when he sees what the black sun truly is. Maybe Astaroth has been guiding me and orchestrating things longer than even I thought.

And with this final page, I mark the end of this journal, a new life awaits. A strange demonic symbol drawn with blood stains the final page.

“By Serox…” Joshua gasps. “I knew something was up the moment I saw that man.” Draxis growls at the discovery.

“To have sold his soul to an Arch-demon, how low can you get. Kid, we need to get a move on, staying here is a bad idea.” Joshua begins to turn around only to stop in his tracks.

A static humming could be heard echoing as it paralyzes him in place. “Looks like someone's been snooping around. I wonder who it was. Layrn? No, she’s too smart for her own good. And I don’t think it would be Ghislaine. What do you think Asta…” But no reply ever comes leaving Andric to shake his head in annoyance.

Walking around to check out his desk a thought occurs to the man. “Perhaps it was that little runt, Joshua. Asta warned me to be wary of him. I don’t know why though, what can a child do?”

Andric chuckles mildly amused. “It matters not, the preparations are in place, as soon as sun travels through the next portal, this place is finished. It won’t be long now; I just have to have patience.” A smile creeps across his face as his piercing green eyes survey the room. Completely missing Joshua standing by a bookcase.

“What the hell is he doing here, at least it seems like the runic ritual is work as intended. I’m not sure I could fight him as I am now. He’s much stronger than last time. I can feel the demonic pressure.”

Walking around his room, Andric nearly bumps into Joshua’s invisible visage, but hearing the sound of metal slamming open he quickly makes his way out of the room with a sigh leaving Joshua breathing heavily. “These stupid things just don’t listen do they…” Andric groans as he leaves.

Now alone as he originally intended, Joshua closes his eyes and uses his aura to calm himself down alongside sensing his immediate vicinity. Eventually he picks up on something in another room across the hall; quickly making his way there, he slips in the door undetected shutting in silently to not attract attention to himself.

The room is bathed in a green glow; strange candles sit around in formation upon a demonic sigil. Blood splatters the walls, and skulls and bones litter the place. Pulling out his journal he copies the formation down as he makes his way around the room being careful not to disrupt anything.

A small single page lay on a stone stained with fresh blood. “I’ve seen demonic sigils before, but this is far too complex.” Joshua mumbles to himself.

“You’re telling me kid; just how long did he take setting this up? I don’t know much about this Astaroth as he didn’t exist back then, but this is creepy even for me.”

“I just hope this is what I was looking for. I don’t want to in be here any longer than necessary.”

Approaching the altar, he picks up the paper and his stomach churns at the sight. “Pure Evil...” Clutching his head, the words written try to gnaw themselves into his mind. Something overcomes his mind stopping the madness. The only thing that remains is the seal of Astaroth’s domain.

“Gugh.” Joshua groans. “Got it.”

Joshua grunts quietly as he puts the paper back down. “Thanks, Draxis I appreciate the help. I needed the seal of Astaroth to create the counter to his demonic domain.”

“But I didn’t do anything.” Draxis replies.

“Huh, then what stopped the demonic influence in that letter.” Joshua confusedly mutters as he brushes his hand through his hair. Shaking his head, he makes his way to the door finally having what he came here for.

He quietly opens the door only to hear groaning off in the distance. Trying to ignore it, he questions Draxis. “How long has it been since I marked myself with that rune?”

“I think it’s been about two hours.” Pausing in the middle of the hall, he sweat drops. He didn’t realize that’s he’s been in here that long already. The groaning only gets louder as Joshua unable to ignore it any longer makes his way down the corridor quickly and he ducks onto a branching path.

Eventually he reaches a locked door, fiddling with the lock for a few minutes he just gets sick of it and just cuts it off with the dagger on his side. As the door gently pops open, the smell of decay gnaws immediately on his nostrils and lungs.

Gagging for a moment, he re-lifts his mask over his face as he makes his way inside. Blood, metal and rusted tools are scattered amongst the place as a man wearing white steel gauntlets with the tatters of a yellow surcoat stick to his coagulated wounds.

Looking forward, he see’s straight through Joshua’s invisibility. “I’m grateful you heard my calling child.” Pausing to take in the entire situation the man continues.

“You can’t hide from the eyes of Serox child, come forth.” Unable to speak clearly, Joshua approaches the man careful not to make any loud noises. Leaning in close to the strange man, he continues. “There isn’t much time left.”

Joshua interjects with concern on his face. “Who are you?”

“I’m a mystic from the holy order of Serox, and you child must be the youngest son of Roderic.”

“How can you tell?” Joshua questions, through a pained smile the dying mystic answers.

“You look just like your mother, young Joshua.” The man chokes out, the pain evident on his face, even though he also seems to be at peace.

“How the hell do you know her?” Reacting rashly, Joshua draws his blade and holds it to his throat.

“Apologizes there’s not enough time.” The mystic coughs up blood. After stepping back and holding his blade steady, the man continues.

“Oh Serox, please forgive me.” The man laments the sin he’s about to commit.

“Please give me your hand,” the mystic calls out as Joshua waves his hand in his face confused on how he’s supposed to do that as he sees his arms bound up.

“Let’s just get you out of here. You have some explaining to do” As Joshua reaches for the chains a black energy strikes at his hand knocking it back. Searing his flesh. Gritting his teeth, he holds his burned hand. “It’s pointless to even try, the pawn of Astaroth made sure I couldn’t escape.”

“Please, I don’t much left in me child. Just place your hand upon my head.”

The mystic’s struggles to finish his sentence coherently as his mouth begins to continuously ooze blood.

“Very well.” Joshua replies as he places his hand on the mystics head. Soon both of their eyes glow with a golden light. Memories of the past few months are transferred into the boys head as Joshua drops to a knee sweating.

“Find Cyrus and tell him what's transpired here. Just please don’t be too harsh on the man, he has much pain buried within. I trust in you Joshua Von Terra, you have the same glow as your mother.” Soon after the man’s light fades from his eyes as his form dissipates into a soft golden light ascending to the heavens.

“Darius. Just what did you know about my mother…” a single tear rolls down Joshua’s cheek as he stretches his hand out towards the golden light.

Shaking himself back to full cognition he reflects on the man’s words. “He said he knew mother, and to seek out Cyrus. That means not only was he was a member of our clan; he directly worked alongside the current saint.”

“I so want to kill Andric right now, stupid child body.” Joshua mutters as he turns around ready to make his way out of this place. As he walks towards the door, he takes one last look around, the sickening sight staying within his mind.

“Andric will not leave Blackwood alive…” A cold rage reverberates through him. A look of pure malice shines in his eyes.

“Those are some concerning words kid. I hope you know what you’re doing since you don’t stand a damn chance on your own.”

“Darius’s memories, they reminded me of something else the holy knights used to retake control of Belphegor’s territory.

“I know, I saw the memories too. Don’t the holy knights use aether though and absolutely nobody in Blackwood has it?”

Joshua pauses before revealing information Seraphina taught him in passing. “Demons can only be harmed by spiritual energies, that includes aura as well.” Exiting the door, he makes his way back to the long staircase and swiftly climbs up.

Finally reaching the upper office, Joshua takes a deep breath as his nerves finally begin to calm. As he starts climbing the final steps however, a chill shoots down his spine at the sight he witnesses. Another cadet’s corpse all mangled, nearly ripped in two with marks across his face.

The commandant stands over the boy’s corpse in frustration. Andric sits down at his desk across the room looking to his superior with little concern in his eyes.

“WHAT THE HELL ANDRIC, IF YOU REINFORCED THE GATES, HOW THE HELL DID THIS HAPPEN?” A wave of anger washed over the commandant as he gestures to the boy’s corpse. Joshua’s fist tightens, his teeth clenching.

“When I said I wanted to be entertained this is not what I meant. These children are the future of Terra. You of all people should know that.”

“That thing didn’t come from outside Ghislaine. You already know the black sun’s arrival is nigh, casualties should be...” Andric responds briskly and coldly with a slight laugh as the commandant takes a deep breath. "Expected."

“Just properly dispose of the boy’s body Andric, I’ll send the letter to his family. We’ll discuss this at another time vice-lieutenant.”

“Very well Ghislaine.” Andric replies holding back a scowl.

As the commandant turns to leave, his gaze wanders towards the position Joshua is standing, a faint outline somehow visible to the man.

“I don’t know what you’re doing Joshua, but I’m very curious. Don’t get caught by Andy he has been very distant recently. If anything happens to you Roderic will have my head.” The commandant gaze continues to linger on Joshua catching him off guard as he opens the door. He eventually turns back to his ‘friend’ and leaves after a momentary pause. Andric lets out a frustrated groan.

“Of course you leave me the cleanup, as usual. You pretentious bastard.” Soon his voice fills with malice. “Just you wait, I can’t wait to see the look on your face when all of your life’s work is washed away.” Wicked cackling fills the room as he collects the body and begins the process of taking him down stairs.

As Joshua is left alone again, he mumbles. “At least the mission was a success, now I know why Andric is so different. I wonder if his body failed to acclimate to Astaroth’s power last time.” Two images of Andric flash to the forefront of his mind

“Butterfly Effect…” Draxis mumbles through a groan. Eventually moving from his spot, he sneaks out the front door back into the ‘fresh’ air of Blackwood. The cool wind blows the leaves all around as Joshua he makes his escape back to Shiraia.

After climbing over Blackwood’s gate, it takes him another half hour to reach the top, his invisibility dispelling along the way. In the midst of this, he also lowers his mask and gazes towards his hand. Under the moonlight the rune scarring becomes clearly visible. “Damn it, I didn’t think it would start this fast.”

Pulling out his dagger he carves a shallow rune into his opposite palm as a golden light envelopes it quickly he clasps them together as the light both sears and soothes his hands at the same time. , After letting out a sigh of relief he finishes the climb.

Walking through the front gate, Wilhelm lets out a sigh of relief seeing Joshua return unscathed. “Captain, how did you make it out. I thought he caught you after I left, I saw him make his way into his office.”

“He nearly did, if something hadn’t caught his attention. Thankfully, otherwise I would have been screwed.” Joshua let out a sigh of relief mixed with a laugh.

“That must be what nearly ran into me, it burst out of a metal door. It looked like a gray dire wolf and it was leaking some green liquid from its mouth. Thankfully it couldn’t sense me.” Joshua nods his head, knowing that it must have been the creature Ghislaine mentioned.

“Also after getting out, the damn creature slaughtered Churey. I had to watch.” Wilhelm clenches his stomach.

“Churey?” questions Joshua.

“A cadet from Gytha’s squad, poor kid was brutalized, but at least his death seemed quick.” Seeing the look on his captain’s face, Wilhelm tries to change the topic. “Were you able to find anything out about the ritual?”

Lifting his face up with a smile Joshua nods. “Yeah, I think I found a way to stop the ritual, but I’ll need you, Vil, and Orthon’s help.” Raising his brow, Wilhelm questions why they need Orthon instead of Anna.

“We all have to have aura if it’s going to work. Tomorrow morning I’ll explain it in better detail.”

“Very well, get some rest yourself Joshua.” Wilhelm bows his head waving his hand as he heads back to his tent.

“So kid, didn’t want to tell him about that mystic?” Draxis mentally questions.

“No, he probably wouldn’t even know what that is, and I don’t want to burden anyone else with my problems. It’s my burden to carry and honestly, I’d prefer not to see whatever it was in that void again.” A slight trembling over takes Joshua as his breathing becomes shallower.

Draxis responds nonchalantly. “Heh, fair enough kid. You should probably go get some sleep while you can though, there’s no telling how long until that bloody ritual begins.”

“I know. I’m more curious on what Andric meant by the sun moving through portals.” Joshua questions his draconic master.

Draxis mentally shrugs. “No idea kid, I could care less about the sun, moon, and stars.”

“You’re supposed to be old; how come you don’t know these things.” Joshua whines.

“I’m the Crimson Dragon not the Stellarium dragon, I know about war and battle kid, the others dealt with all that fancy mumbo jumbo. It wasn’t very interesting to me.”

“I can tell, aside from teaching me combat skills you’re relatively quiet in there aside from getting on my nerves.” Joshua rolls his eyes.

“You know you love me.” Draxis cheekily responds.

“Yeah, yeah, yeah, keep feeding that ego.” Joshua sighs with a laugh as he heads over to his chambers, eventually laying down as he drifts off to sleep.