Blood is Thicker Than Water (Part 1)

     Murmurs and hearsays swarmed the grandiose hall, which consisted of several large stone columns with the only furniture set being a long oval table surrounded by thirteen chairs, two of which were empty. A shudder of the double doors finally silenced the room. The first discernable sight through the crack of the doors was a tall figure draped with a crimson robe, who flicked his cigarette to the side as he walked through the doors. Most of the other specters held their tongues as he made his way to his seat, but not the Specter of Regret, who despite being younger than Wraith, maintained the appearance of a stern old man both physically and in personality.

“For you to be unpunctual and dilatory at a time such as this is disgraceful.” Barron rebuked with a scowl adorned on his visage.

“Can it, old man. You should be glad I even showed up at all.” Wraith relaxed into the chair, placing both of his feet on the table as he lit another cigarette, the other specters, excluding Lavina, were both discernibly disgusted and disturbed by his deplorable disrespectful actions.

The Specter of Merriment, Madeline, who was quite child-like in appearance although being a few centuries old herself, tried to defuse the situation quickly, as Barron nearly rises from his seat in anger. “W-Well! Y-you know why we called for a counsel right? I mean what am I saying of course you know I can be so stupid sometimes-”

Adelard, the Specter of Loneliness, interrupts her, half annoyed. Unlike the others, he has a more teenage appearance, borderline young adult. “Why did you devour Ianthe?” He gets straight to the point, knowing that the entire conference is a waste of everyone’s time.

Wraith tosses his cigarette into the center of the table, stretching in his chair. “She invaded my territory. I’m sure that’s good enough of a reason?” He sarcastically responds.

Barron, not buying the excuse in the slightest, retaliates, slamming his fist onto the marble surface. “Why would Ianthe antagonize you willingly, knowing full well that it would lead to imbalance due to the loss of the specter of guilt?!”

“Apparently you don’t know her well enough then. She had this conspiracy theory in her mind and she was willing to attempt to kill me over it. In her little world, she thought she could win. And obviously, she was wrong.”

     There’s visible doubt on the vast majority of the other specter’s faces, the story seeming too anomalous to be believable. As such, they turn to Lavina as a source of information. As the Specter of Curiosity and Knowledge, she takes an unbiased account of all that occurs, so her word is always taken as truth, even in matters regarding Wraith despite their past history together.

“Does he speak true?” Barron directs his question to her.

Lavina, as a sign of respect, didn’t bring her kiseru pipe. Often do people wonder how Wraith and Lavina came to be at one point and time, considering their completely opposing personalities and mannerisms.

“He’s telling the truth. Ianthe deliberately invaded his territory in an effort to battle and defeat him, as she knew full well that he wouldn’t humor her otherwise.” 

Whispers fill the hall once more from Lavina’s words, since no one could wrap their heads around why. Such a foolish act could only have one result. 

“Ianthe believed Wraith to be a man who manipulated others by fear, and as such, she declined to believe that he held any strength.”

Despite the fact that everyone knew she wouldn’t lie, they still found it hard to believe. What could possibly cause her to come to such a conclusion?

“You happy now?” Wraith kicked the table in order to push out his chair as he stood to leave while shooting a glare towards the Specter of Hate, Vahan, who for the first time, had nothing to say. “You got your answers, so I’m seeing myself out.”

Barron clicked his tongue and tightened his fist as Wraith left, many of the other specters sharing his resentment, yet they were unable to stop him.