@Erklings25 Glad to have you aboard and good choices in fc's. Can't wait to see what you come up with using him! 
Altered Tundra
Member
amaze amaze amaze!
STATUS: A decade ago when we made that meme "get kid", this isn't exactly what we meant... 14 days ago
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14 days ago
Current
A decade ago when we made that meme "get kid", this isn't exactly what we meant...
1
like
1 mo ago
Do you think the reason Jesus Christ doesn't rise again is because we keep putting up crosses and he gets flashbacks on how that went last time?
5
likes
6 mos ago
Happy almost crisis!
9
likes
9 mos ago
it's not just a rock IT'S A BOULDER!...or whatever Spongebob said
1
like
10 mos ago
I will never show empathy for a bigot or a man who believed empathy is a made up term. Simple as that.
9
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Bio
Most Recent Posts
@eclecticwitch Wonderful! We can't wait to see what you produce! =)
Blood // Water — grandson — a modern tragedy vol. I
Humility — Gorillaz (feat. George Benson) — The Now Now
Crossing A Line — Mike Shinoda — Post Traumatic
1950 — King Princess — Make My Bed
Ride or Die — The Knocks (feat. Foster the People) — Unknown Album
Miracle — CHVRCHES — Love is Dead
Body Talks — The Struts — Unknown Album
Say Amen (Saturday Night) — Panic! At the Disco — Pray For the Wicked
I Feel Like I’m Drowning — Two Feet — I Feel Like I’m Drowning (Single)
&Run — Sir Sly — Don’t You Worry, Honey
Humility — Gorillaz (feat. George Benson) — The Now Now
Crossing A Line — Mike Shinoda — Post Traumatic
1950 — King Princess — Make My Bed
Ride or Die — The Knocks (feat. Foster the People) — Unknown Album
Miracle — CHVRCHES — Love is Dead
Body Talks — The Struts — Unknown Album
Say Amen (Saturday Night) — Panic! At the Disco — Pray For the Wicked
I Feel Like I’m Drowning — Two Feet — I Feel Like I’m Drowning (Single)
&Run — Sir Sly — Don’t You Worry, Honey
Reserving as well~
Kim Yong Sun (김용선) // Mamamoo Solar || ##FBB32D
Nicki Taylor || #35A2ED
First off, allow me to speak on behalf of the Palms GM team and thank you for your interest. It means a great deal to us!
Now, I did google your FCs (I was curious) and I did notice that Nicki Taylor was in her 40s. I don't know if she is actually the one you meant or if you're using a younger version of her, but if I got it wrong, then I do apologize. But if not, then I would say she's just a tad too old to portray a teenager. If you want, we would be willing to offer up alternates for you.
Lots of fun
Time is an illusion,
But memories never forget..
But memories never forget..
Time flew by Raiko’s eyes at a rate that he had not yet realized until he took a step back and looked at himself in the reflective sheeting of his bed. As a boy, he was reckless and fearless, yet entirely sure of what he was, though he didn’t know where he came from. Still, to this day, he wasn’t any closer to figuring that out. Those who took him all those years ago, while they had similar abilities to that of his own and promised to look after him as if he was one of their own. Unlike most demons, the Shadows of Serpent Mountain kept their word.
For the past decade, as the seasons changed, Raiko was raised by the one they called Ryoshi. The one who bore the Serpent Gauntlet also happened to be the defacto leader of the shadows. He also was the one who personally took the responsibility of young Raiko. But it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows. While the weather around him changed as often as the seasons themselves did, something was always the same: Ryoshi’s off-beat personality. Truly, when Raiko was initially taken by them, he wasn’t sure what to expect. His human side alone was fearing the worst, but it was the complete opposite. As intimidating as he was, underneath his rough exterior, Raiko soon learned not to judge a demon by their reputation.
“Can we not do this again, Yoshi?” Raiko let out an annoyed sigh.
He had come to Ryoshi’s home, which was just a glorified hut with a lot of human-made alcohol and various trinkets.
“Oh, come on, Raiko! Where’s that fun-loving spirit of yours?”
“It’s taking a vacation. Now please, for the last time, will you stop acting like a baffoon and help me train? Or do I have to kick your ass again.”
“Hah! I’d like to see you try, ya arrogant punk!”
Just a few feet behind Raiko and ryoshi, were Ryoshi’s right and left-hand men, Kage, the one often referred to as Lord Shadow and Aoi, the Blue Serpent. Along with Ryoshi, Raiko has known those two for the past ten years he’d been living with the Shadow Serpents. They also were two who knew Raiko’s pseudo-father the most. As much as they respected him, it couldn’t be denied just how much this demon they called their leader often presented himself in a rather - well, to put it into a word - embarrassing.
“This is the fifth time this week the Young Master has asked to train,” Kage commented, echoing Raiko’s sigh.
“It’s not like he is asking for much. Honestly, if Ryoshi would put some thought into teaching the boy - erm, he young master - something to hold him off, it wouldn’t be as bad.” Aoi rubbed his scaley chin.
“You’ve said it.”
“So what should we do now? Train him ourselves?”
“Not a bad idea, but you remember what happened last time, right?”
“How could I forget, Aoi? Ryoshi nearly had a meltdown when he heard we tried teaching the boy that technique.” Kage started to shiver, remembering last month when Ryoshi nearly killed him and Aoi for showing Raiko about how to control his demonic energy in a way that would project itself as an aura.
“Would you two pipe down, already! I can’t hear myself scowl!” Raiko snapped, turning his head around, red eyes flickering at both Kage and Aoi.
“Sorry, Young Master!” Both said simultaneously.
Truth be told, Raiko was at a loss when it came to Ryoshi. He thought, of all days, he would be willing to make an exception for drinking. Today was the tenth anniversary of when Raiko left Seiki. It had been exactly ten years since he last saw the faces of the villager of Seiki, since he last saw Ren, since he's been to his hut, and since he was a menace to the farmers of the lands surrounding it. Ten years since he picked on Ren when she would go for her daily strolls or when the Elder Tanaka would berate him for running too fast and not bearing in mind he could hurt someone.
Ten years since he had forsaken all that he was used to so that he could save the village from the then-scary Shadow Serpents. Did they warm up to him? Or were they simply a lot frightening when he was eight years old? Looking back, while Raiko didn’t necessarily fear for them, he felt drawn to them. It was almost as if there was something to them that had seemed familiar, though Raiko wasn’t really sure what it was. They had rarely told him anything in the ten years he’s been all around these mountains. Though, for the lack of information shared, he’s gained some useful new tricks.
“Ah, forget it,” Raiko shrugged, giving up on today’s training session. “I’m going to go train in the grasslands. Don’t worry, I’ll be sure to keep out of sight. Wouldn’t want you guys to have to come to get me like three years ago.”
‘You better not. Our deal with Seiki, while still in place, revolves around you keeping away.” Kage reminded Raiko.
“Still can’t believe that facade you lot put on just to get me. Low blow.” Raiko laughed, letting his laugh carry him as he went sliding down the mountain. Something, something oh he’ll be coming down the mountain when he comes~
Getting from the Caverns of the Serpent Kings to the main roads of the mountains was easy enough. In his time here, Raiko has acquired some skills that allowed him to navigate the terrain with relative ease. His Shadow Skin, for one, has evolved into something that was no longer a simple cloaking ability that hid his presence. With it, he could manipulate his own shadow to blend with it and follow wherever the sun created shadows, though the time limit for this was not that long at all. At most, he could only maintain it for a few minutes. That was plenty of time for him to get to where he needed to be.
In record time, Raiko had made it from the peak of Serpent Mountain to the base of the mountain where it met the Eternal Grasslands. And all while being able to keep to the shadows. “That’s gotta be a new record.” Rai let out a proud chuckle, admiring his new feat.
He took in the morning air, letting the familiar breeze take him in. It wasn’t like when he was younger. Back then, this breeze would’ve been enough to throw him off his game. It was so crisp that, had he been eight years old again, Raiko was likely to be at Elder Tanaka’s, asking for an extra wool blanket, or something to heat him up. But now? Well, now Raiko felt nothing but a feeling of joy when he let the wind embrace him.
Opening the sparkling, matured silver eyes of his, the first sight he took in was Seiki. Even from this distance, the village was as clear as ever; maybe even more now that he had acquired the Sense Skin. His senses were enhanced to the point where he could see, feel, and hear everything that was going on in the village and the land surrounding it. Some things were out of his reach, but something he picked up wasn’t exactly the kind of thing that Raiko was expecting. The sound of some woman being harassed by two men. He didn’t hear the last thing the woman said, but these two men by a broken down cart were obviously being insistent about something that wasn't appropriate.
“Technically, if I’m not setting foot inside Seiki, I’m not breaking any rules.” That was the only justification that Raiko needed. “To be safe, I better use the Shadow Skin,” searching his reserves, Raiko felt his demon energy recovering. He probably had about a minute to get across the grasslands before it ran out. “It’s time!”
With great speed, Raiko wrapped himself in a transparent cloak of sorts and hug to the shadows created from the sun and the long blades of grass. The sounds of his rustling through the grass were hindered by the wind that had picked up. So this created the perfect cover to surprise the two men. Before long, he was behind them and with two motions, he had effectively rendered them unconscious. For one, he used a left roundhouse kick to the jaw, sending that one flying through the already-broken down cart. The other, who had seen his friend wasn’t ready for Raiko’s one-two-three jab combo to the stomach, which sent him flying, hitting a tree just three paces behind him.
And as the minute ran up, Raiko’s Shadow Skin ran out. “Whew, that’s gotta be a new record, too,” Raiko collapsed on the ground, his butt making contact. He looked up at the woman. “Sorry about that. Those guys were real creeps, weren’t they?” He said, breathing heavily.
For the past decade, as the seasons changed, Raiko was raised by the one they called Ryoshi. The one who bore the Serpent Gauntlet also happened to be the defacto leader of the shadows. He also was the one who personally took the responsibility of young Raiko. But it wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows. While the weather around him changed as often as the seasons themselves did, something was always the same: Ryoshi’s off-beat personality. Truly, when Raiko was initially taken by them, he wasn’t sure what to expect. His human side alone was fearing the worst, but it was the complete opposite. As intimidating as he was, underneath his rough exterior, Raiko soon learned not to judge a demon by their reputation.
“Can we not do this again, Yoshi?” Raiko let out an annoyed sigh.
He had come to Ryoshi’s home, which was just a glorified hut with a lot of human-made alcohol and various trinkets.
“Oh, come on, Raiko! Where’s that fun-loving spirit of yours?”
“It’s taking a vacation. Now please, for the last time, will you stop acting like a baffoon and help me train? Or do I have to kick your ass again.”
“Hah! I’d like to see you try, ya arrogant punk!”
Just a few feet behind Raiko and ryoshi, were Ryoshi’s right and left-hand men, Kage, the one often referred to as Lord Shadow and Aoi, the Blue Serpent. Along with Ryoshi, Raiko has known those two for the past ten years he’d been living with the Shadow Serpents. They also were two who knew Raiko’s pseudo-father the most. As much as they respected him, it couldn’t be denied just how much this demon they called their leader often presented himself in a rather - well, to put it into a word - embarrassing.
“This is the fifth time this week the Young Master has asked to train,” Kage commented, echoing Raiko’s sigh.
“It’s not like he is asking for much. Honestly, if Ryoshi would put some thought into teaching the boy - erm, he young master - something to hold him off, it wouldn’t be as bad.” Aoi rubbed his scaley chin.
“You’ve said it.”
“So what should we do now? Train him ourselves?”
“Not a bad idea, but you remember what happened last time, right?”
“How could I forget, Aoi? Ryoshi nearly had a meltdown when he heard we tried teaching the boy that technique.” Kage started to shiver, remembering last month when Ryoshi nearly killed him and Aoi for showing Raiko about how to control his demonic energy in a way that would project itself as an aura.
“Would you two pipe down, already! I can’t hear myself scowl!” Raiko snapped, turning his head around, red eyes flickering at both Kage and Aoi.
“Sorry, Young Master!” Both said simultaneously.
Truth be told, Raiko was at a loss when it came to Ryoshi. He thought, of all days, he would be willing to make an exception for drinking. Today was the tenth anniversary of when Raiko left Seiki. It had been exactly ten years since he last saw the faces of the villager of Seiki, since he last saw Ren, since he's been to his hut, and since he was a menace to the farmers of the lands surrounding it. Ten years since he picked on Ren when she would go for her daily strolls or when the Elder Tanaka would berate him for running too fast and not bearing in mind he could hurt someone.
Ten years since he had forsaken all that he was used to so that he could save the village from the then-scary Shadow Serpents. Did they warm up to him? Or were they simply a lot frightening when he was eight years old? Looking back, while Raiko didn’t necessarily fear for them, he felt drawn to them. It was almost as if there was something to them that had seemed familiar, though Raiko wasn’t really sure what it was. They had rarely told him anything in the ten years he’s been all around these mountains. Though, for the lack of information shared, he’s gained some useful new tricks.
“Ah, forget it,” Raiko shrugged, giving up on today’s training session. “I’m going to go train in the grasslands. Don’t worry, I’ll be sure to keep out of sight. Wouldn’t want you guys to have to come to get me like three years ago.”
‘You better not. Our deal with Seiki, while still in place, revolves around you keeping away.” Kage reminded Raiko.
“Still can’t believe that facade you lot put on just to get me. Low blow.” Raiko laughed, letting his laugh carry him as he went sliding down the mountain. Something, something oh he’ll be coming down the mountain when he comes~
Getting from the Caverns of the Serpent Kings to the main roads of the mountains was easy enough. In his time here, Raiko has acquired some skills that allowed him to navigate the terrain with relative ease. His Shadow Skin, for one, has evolved into something that was no longer a simple cloaking ability that hid his presence. With it, he could manipulate his own shadow to blend with it and follow wherever the sun created shadows, though the time limit for this was not that long at all. At most, he could only maintain it for a few minutes. That was plenty of time for him to get to where he needed to be.
In record time, Raiko had made it from the peak of Serpent Mountain to the base of the mountain where it met the Eternal Grasslands. And all while being able to keep to the shadows. “That’s gotta be a new record.” Rai let out a proud chuckle, admiring his new feat.
He took in the morning air, letting the familiar breeze take him in. It wasn’t like when he was younger. Back then, this breeze would’ve been enough to throw him off his game. It was so crisp that, had he been eight years old again, Raiko was likely to be at Elder Tanaka’s, asking for an extra wool blanket, or something to heat him up. But now? Well, now Raiko felt nothing but a feeling of joy when he let the wind embrace him.
Opening the sparkling, matured silver eyes of his, the first sight he took in was Seiki. Even from this distance, the village was as clear as ever; maybe even more now that he had acquired the Sense Skin. His senses were enhanced to the point where he could see, feel, and hear everything that was going on in the village and the land surrounding it. Some things were out of his reach, but something he picked up wasn’t exactly the kind of thing that Raiko was expecting. The sound of some woman being harassed by two men. He didn’t hear the last thing the woman said, but these two men by a broken down cart were obviously being insistent about something that wasn't appropriate.
“Technically, if I’m not setting foot inside Seiki, I’m not breaking any rules.” That was the only justification that Raiko needed. “To be safe, I better use the Shadow Skin,” searching his reserves, Raiko felt his demon energy recovering. He probably had about a minute to get across the grasslands before it ran out. “It’s time!”
With great speed, Raiko wrapped himself in a transparent cloak of sorts and hug to the shadows created from the sun and the long blades of grass. The sounds of his rustling through the grass were hindered by the wind that had picked up. So this created the perfect cover to surprise the two men. Before long, he was behind them and with two motions, he had effectively rendered them unconscious. For one, he used a left roundhouse kick to the jaw, sending that one flying through the already-broken down cart. The other, who had seen his friend wasn’t ready for Raiko’s one-two-three jab combo to the stomach, which sent him flying, hitting a tree just three paces behind him.
And as the minute ran up, Raiko’s Shadow Skin ran out. “Whew, that’s gotta be a new record, too,” Raiko collapsed on the ground, his butt making contact. He looked up at the woman. “Sorry about that. Those guys were real creeps, weren’t they?” He said, breathing heavily.
Let's do this shit!
ALso, making the reservations of Hailee Steinfeld (color pink), Dylan Everett (color dark orange), and Joseph Marco (color teal)
So, the post kind of got away from me. I might've jumped the gun a tad, so if you want me to edit some of it out, I can. I just got inspired for the direction I took it, so let it guide me. 
A man is willing to do anything for those he cares about.
Anything.
Anything.
Despite everything that Ren was trying to do in her words and how she was comforting him, it simply wasn’t enough to stop the consistant itching feeling that crawled all over Rai’s body as if he had a bad rash. No matter how hard he scratched or squirmed to get a second comfort, the purifying nature of the shrine kept at him, almost daring Raiko to itch even harder. The intensity had gotten to the point where Rai’s anger started to boil past the surface, profanities that shouldn’t be uttered around women, much less in a place of worship, had escaped his mouth. This received a sort of gasping reaction from the younger priestess. Raiko offered up an apoogetic glance, unable to speak in-between the hellish scratching.
When he heard Tanaka telling him to stop scratching or else he would draw blood, apparently it was too late because he was already bleeding on his back, which was fine. Rai wasn’t used to a little blood. But he did stop after he was handed some tea. He was up for anything to quell his antsy feeling that had spread throughout his body ever since placing one foot in the general circumference of the hilltop. It only worse when he actually entered the shrine. So, a cup of tea was looking pretty great right about now.
Sitting there as still as humanly possible, Rai sipped his tea slowly. He focused only on the steam and the herbs that was mixed in and the natural sweetness from the wild berries that grew around the village. He had picked some of these from time to time. He also noted a hint of cherry blossom. It wasn’t uncommon for that to be used in tea, especially to sooth the nerves of someone. Before he even realized it, Rai’s jitters, though not completely gone from his body, had seemed not be as severe and at the forefront of his mind. Perhaps ignoring it was the best thing he could’ve done. No, that wasn’t it.
Something in the tea, perhaps?
As he pondered that, Rai started to tune into the conversation between Ren and Elder Tanaka. It would just so happen that he started to tune in when the elder started to explain how Ren was born on a certain day and how that made her a True Priestess. Not long after, the conversation took a turn that made Rai stop sipping his tea. When the elder mentioned how Ren would be able to rid Japan of demons, he zoned out then, his own mind sinking into what most would call a dark place. In the village, he knew he was accepted, but down at the core of his soul, he had always felt as if they didn’t truly accept him. Belonging to neither race, he wasn’t fully human nor was he a full demon. Even though he knew that Tanaka didn’t mean it in the way that Raiko was thinking, he just couldn’t help hiumself; and as a result, he suddenly was phasing out of the moment and deeper into his own negativity.
Around the time that Raiko came out of his own funk (as it were), he, much like everyone else, heard the screaming winds, startling everyone. Raiko was more surprised by the sudden increase of the winds after zoning out for a few minutes. His surprise soon kicked in his protective instincts. He stood up after Tanka had prepared to go outside. He didn’t realize just how frightened he was until the sight of all of the shadow figures with the piercing red eyes were in front of the shrine.
“Those are..”
Rai found it difficult to get the words he wanted to say out of his mouth. His entire body was sweating and the feeling from before was coming back again, this time it nearly jumped ten times the intensity. Before it was just a large itching sensation, but now--now it was beyond his own control. It not only paralyzed him where he stood, it forced him to his knees and hands, sweating at enormous numbers. He also wasn’t able to breathe. Every breath he tried to take only left him more fatigued and increased the fear within his body.
“Serpent Shadows.”
When he uttered those words, Raiko’s right eye went from its usual pale red (like a pink rose) and deepened in the color. He was holding his head, screaming with pain in his voice; and even though Raiko’s body had the mega-jitters (as one would call it), his body was being drawn to the door. Even when Yuu protested, Raiko felt a force surge through him that had forced Yuu to the wall on the other side of the room. The sounds of her crashing into it could be heard. And when Rai opened the door, his hand covering his now-red eye, he saw all of them still there, fending off the priestesses efforts.
“We have come to take The Boy where he belongs,” the voice from before said again, though this time it was coming from just one. This demon rose from the ground, no more than a few yards away from where the shrine was. “Do you cherish these humans, Raiko?”
What? What was this demon saying. “Y-yes! Of course I do! They’ve accepted me as one of their own. Despite my demonic side, they don’t care.”
“So, you wouldn’t want them to get hurt, now would you, Raiko?”
“Y-you wouldn’t!”
“I won’t, but I can’t say the same for the others.” There was a laugh among the demons.
At this point, the one speaking would extend its arm out forward, removing itself from the shadow and revealing a dark blue arm covered in scales much like the one that Raiko has had recurring dreams about.
“That’s..”
“Yes, I’m sure you recognize it, Raiko.” The Demon spoke again, this time looking directly at the half-demon. “Come with us.”
“What?”
“Come with us and this village will be spared. If you willingly come with us to the Serpent Mountains, then by my word alone, no more demons from the mountains will ever harm this village again. That, I can promise you.”
Just for a minute, Raiko wasn’t sure if he could believe the word of a demon. What merit did that carry? He wanted to believe what this demon was saying. Maybe that was the demon side of Raiko wanting to believe that. Or perhaps it was the human side that cared deeply for the all - for Ren. Oh, Ren, what would happen to her if he didn’t go with them? Demons weren’t likely to forgive the refusal of what seemed like an once-in-a-lifetime offer. How frequent was it that demons were offering a peace negotiation to a human village?
As he contemplated the offer, Ren was the first thing that came to his mind. It was Ren and not the others who Raiko was solely focusing his decision on. If he didn’t go with them, then the demons could just end her life, his life, and all the lives of everyone in the village. If he accepted the offer, however, then he’d find solace in knowing that she’d be safe.
Taking one last moment to gaze upon Ren’s form, Raiko stepped forward. “If you swear to me that no harm will come to them, I will accept.”
“As I’ve said, Raiko, you have my word.”
Upon hearing those words, Raiko took the exposed hand of the demon, looking back at Ren. “I’m sorry. I’m doing this to protect you.”
Raiko was lifted off the ground, floating with the demons. Soon, they faded into the black clouds hovering above them, returning to their source: The Serpent Mountains. For the villagers of Seiki, the storm had passed. But it did come with a heavy price.
When he heard Tanaka telling him to stop scratching or else he would draw blood, apparently it was too late because he was already bleeding on his back, which was fine. Rai wasn’t used to a little blood. But he did stop after he was handed some tea. He was up for anything to quell his antsy feeling that had spread throughout his body ever since placing one foot in the general circumference of the hilltop. It only worse when he actually entered the shrine. So, a cup of tea was looking pretty great right about now.
Sitting there as still as humanly possible, Rai sipped his tea slowly. He focused only on the steam and the herbs that was mixed in and the natural sweetness from the wild berries that grew around the village. He had picked some of these from time to time. He also noted a hint of cherry blossom. It wasn’t uncommon for that to be used in tea, especially to sooth the nerves of someone. Before he even realized it, Rai’s jitters, though not completely gone from his body, had seemed not be as severe and at the forefront of his mind. Perhaps ignoring it was the best thing he could’ve done. No, that wasn’t it.
Something in the tea, perhaps?
As he pondered that, Rai started to tune into the conversation between Ren and Elder Tanaka. It would just so happen that he started to tune in when the elder started to explain how Ren was born on a certain day and how that made her a True Priestess. Not long after, the conversation took a turn that made Rai stop sipping his tea. When the elder mentioned how Ren would be able to rid Japan of demons, he zoned out then, his own mind sinking into what most would call a dark place. In the village, he knew he was accepted, but down at the core of his soul, he had always felt as if they didn’t truly accept him. Belonging to neither race, he wasn’t fully human nor was he a full demon. Even though he knew that Tanaka didn’t mean it in the way that Raiko was thinking, he just couldn’t help hiumself; and as a result, he suddenly was phasing out of the moment and deeper into his own negativity.
Around the time that Raiko came out of his own funk (as it were), he, much like everyone else, heard the screaming winds, startling everyone. Raiko was more surprised by the sudden increase of the winds after zoning out for a few minutes. His surprise soon kicked in his protective instincts. He stood up after Tanka had prepared to go outside. He didn’t realize just how frightened he was until the sight of all of the shadow figures with the piercing red eyes were in front of the shrine.
“Those are..”
Rai found it difficult to get the words he wanted to say out of his mouth. His entire body was sweating and the feeling from before was coming back again, this time it nearly jumped ten times the intensity. Before it was just a large itching sensation, but now--now it was beyond his own control. It not only paralyzed him where he stood, it forced him to his knees and hands, sweating at enormous numbers. He also wasn’t able to breathe. Every breath he tried to take only left him more fatigued and increased the fear within his body.
“Serpent Shadows.”
When he uttered those words, Raiko’s right eye went from its usual pale red (like a pink rose) and deepened in the color. He was holding his head, screaming with pain in his voice; and even though Raiko’s body had the mega-jitters (as one would call it), his body was being drawn to the door. Even when Yuu protested, Raiko felt a force surge through him that had forced Yuu to the wall on the other side of the room. The sounds of her crashing into it could be heard. And when Rai opened the door, his hand covering his now-red eye, he saw all of them still there, fending off the priestesses efforts.
“We have come to take The Boy where he belongs,” the voice from before said again, though this time it was coming from just one. This demon rose from the ground, no more than a few yards away from where the shrine was. “Do you cherish these humans, Raiko?”
What? What was this demon saying. “Y-yes! Of course I do! They’ve accepted me as one of their own. Despite my demonic side, they don’t care.”
“So, you wouldn’t want them to get hurt, now would you, Raiko?”
“Y-you wouldn’t!”
“I won’t, but I can’t say the same for the others.” There was a laugh among the demons.
At this point, the one speaking would extend its arm out forward, removing itself from the shadow and revealing a dark blue arm covered in scales much like the one that Raiko has had recurring dreams about.
“That’s..”
“Yes, I’m sure you recognize it, Raiko.” The Demon spoke again, this time looking directly at the half-demon. “Come with us.”
“What?”
“Come with us and this village will be spared. If you willingly come with us to the Serpent Mountains, then by my word alone, no more demons from the mountains will ever harm this village again. That, I can promise you.”
Just for a minute, Raiko wasn’t sure if he could believe the word of a demon. What merit did that carry? He wanted to believe what this demon was saying. Maybe that was the demon side of Raiko wanting to believe that. Or perhaps it was the human side that cared deeply for the all - for Ren. Oh, Ren, what would happen to her if he didn’t go with them? Demons weren’t likely to forgive the refusal of what seemed like an once-in-a-lifetime offer. How frequent was it that demons were offering a peace negotiation to a human village?
As he contemplated the offer, Ren was the first thing that came to his mind. It was Ren and not the others who Raiko was solely focusing his decision on. If he didn’t go with them, then the demons could just end her life, his life, and all the lives of everyone in the village. If he accepted the offer, however, then he’d find solace in knowing that she’d be safe.
Taking one last moment to gaze upon Ren’s form, Raiko stepped forward. “If you swear to me that no harm will come to them, I will accept.”
“As I’ve said, Raiko, you have my word.”
Upon hearing those words, Raiko took the exposed hand of the demon, looking back at Ren. “I’m sorry. I’m doing this to protect you.”
Raiko was lifted off the ground, floating with the demons. Soon, they faded into the black clouds hovering above them, returning to their source: The Serpent Mountains. For the villagers of Seiki, the storm had passed. But it did come with a heavy price.
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