The Weight of Control
Serena's breathing was uneven. The forest road had gone quiet, too quiet for someone who had just lost a powerful ally. "Where is Arnes?" she asked, her voice steady on the surface but trembling underneath. Ruko stood a few steps away, his shadow stretching across the dirt path as the afternoon light filtered through the trees. "She's gone," he said simply. "And you're next." The words landed like a silent verdict. For a moment, Serena didn't move. Her mind refused to accept it. Arnes wasn't someone who fell easily—especially not to a single opponent. Yet the man standing in front of her didn't look like he was bluffing. Instead, he looked… calm. Too calm. "You're thinking I shouldn't be able to do that," Ruko continued, tilting his head slightly as if reading her thoughts. "You're not wrong. But you're also not in a position to question it either." Serena clenched her jaw. "What do you want from me?" she asked. Ruko smiled faintly, though there was no humor in it. "I want information. And I'd rather not waste time getting it." Without another word, Serena raised her hand sharply. "Attack him." The guards behind her moved instantly, their expressions empty, their bodies responding to her will like puppets pulled by invisible strings. They charged. Ruko didn't. He didn't step back. Didn't draw a weapon. Didn't even shift his stance.
For a split second, it almost looked like he was going to let them hit him. Then—They fell. One by one. No sound. No resistance. Just clean, precise movement that Serena couldn't even track. By the time she blinked, it was over. The bodies hit the ground in uneven pieces behind him. Serena's eyes widened. "…What?" Ruko looked down briefly, then back at her. "What? You didn't see it?" he asked casually. "That's disappointing." "You… you killed them?" she said, her voice tightening. Ruko shrugged. "They were already dead the moment you turned them into tools." "That doesn't mean—" "I decide what it means," he cut in, his tone flat. That shut her up. For the first time, Serena felt something she rarely experienced. Uncertainty. Still, she wasn't done. A dark aura began to form around her body as she activated her abilities. "Then try touching me," she said, forcing confidence back into her voice. Ruko stepped forward.The moment his hand grabbed her wrist—Pain exploded through his arm. He immediately let go and jumped back, narrowing his eyes as he flexed his fingers.
"…So that's your trick," he muttered. "Damage reflection." Serena smirked, regaining a bit of control. "Exactly. Every bit of harm you deal to me comes right back to you. You can't win this by force can you." Ruko stared at his hand for a second longer. Then exhaled. "…Fucking annoying," he said..Serena lifted her chin slightly. "What, cursing under your breath. Now you understand. So if you value your life, you should be in death—" Ruko collapsed. Just like that. No warning. No resistance. His body hit the ground, completely still. Serena blinked. Then laughed. "…That was easier than I expected." She approached cautiously, watching for any movement. Nothing. He wasn't breathing. "…Pathetic," she muttered. Then her expression shifted slightly as an idea crossed her mind. "If you're this strong… you'll make a perfect puppet." She raised her hand and activated her ability. Nothing happened. Her brow furrowed. "…What?" She tried again. Still nothing. "That's not possible…" She stepped closer. The moment she did—
Ruko's hand shot up and grabbed her breast. Her breath caught in her throat. "Got you."
Before she could react, he pulled her down and flipped her balance. In a matter of seconds, her movements were restricted, her arms bound, her control completely taken away. The ground beneath her shifted as stone rose up, forming a crude chair that locked her in place. Another formed across from her. Ruko sat down like this was nothing more than a casual meeting. Serena stared at him, stunned. "…What are you?" Ruko leaned back slightly, resting his arm on the stone. "Someone who doesn't like being controlled," he said. She glared at him. "There's nothing you're going to get from me." Ruko chuckled. "Everyone says that at the start." Then his expression changed. Sharp. Focused. Cold. "Serena," he began, his voice steady. "Also known as Seresdina. A Dark Priest. And one of the Devil King's Generals." Her heart skipped. "…How do you—" "Who specializes in curses. Resurrection. Holy magic. Puppet manipulation. And strategic infiltration." He continued as if she hadn't spoken. "You also have a calm exterior. Well...Twisted interior in fact. Likes control more than power itself." Silence.
Serena's confidence cracked. "…Who are you?" she asked again, this time more quietly. Ruko leaned forward slightly. "The one asking the questions." His gaze locked onto hers. "And you're going to answer." The pressure in the air shifted again. It wasn't physical. It was something heavier. Like resistance itself was pointless. "…Fine," she said, looking away. "Since you have a handsome face. What do you want to know?" Ruko didn't hesitate. "Why Kazuma's party. Why Axel. Why Aqua left. How you got caught. And what the Demon King is planning." Serena let out a slow breath. "…That's a lot." "Then start talking." And she did. She explained everything—her infiltration into Axel, how she built influence by replacing Aqua's role, how the people turned toward her, how Aqua began to feel unwanted and eventually left. Ruko listened without interrupting. Not once. When she finished, the silence returned. "…That's everything," Serena said. Ruko leaned back, thinking. "Not quite the answer I'm looking for from you," he said after a moment.
Serena frowned. "What do you mean?" Ruko looked at her again. "You're missing the part where you messed up." She stiffened. "…And what's that?" Ruko's voice dropped slightly. "You targeted my family." The words weren't loud. But they carried weight. A different kind of danger. Serena felt it instinctively. For the first time since this started—She wasn't thinking about control. She was thinking about survival. "…So what now?" she asked carefully. Ruko stood up. "For now, you stay here." Her eyes narrowed. "You're not going to kill me?" He paused. Then gave a small, unreadable smile. "Not yet." That answer didn't comfort her. If anything, it made things worse. Ruko stripped of her clothes leaving in her lingerie. Serena feel suddenly surprised by the unfold he committed. Ruko start stripped his clothes has well leaving his boxers has to not let her be the one left to uncomfort. "What the hell are you doing? And why are you taking off my clothes and yours too." He stared at her intently. "Did I give you reason to speak. If not then just shut up." Ruko has his way with Serena till dawn. They at the bottom of the trunk, covering in ther clothing, while sleeping away there fatigue.
Serena slept beside him like a couple. The sun hits her face that she start open her eyes. She started groaned and feel her hand touching something warmth with comfort. She look and saw that her hand was at Ruko's chest. She's started to get flustered at the site they're at. Then get up to look at something important. "...I lost my virginity. And we have been doing it for a half a day nonstop." She looking at Ruko slept away his sarrow. Starting to feel paranoid to her problems. "Hmhm!... He had quite the stamina for doing this long. And his been pent up for so long without any certain release." She smile and started to snuggle to Ruko for comfort. Ruko wake up from his exhausted slumber, starting feel a sudden softness and look right at her. "Um?! Why are you here again. I thought you had ran off somewhere." Serena look at him in a luster way. "What are you talking? Don't you remember that we've been doing this for a half a day." Silence. "...Eh! What we doing half a day again...!" Serena started to chuckled by the amusement. "You clueless, you were like a wild beast that was ravaging his pray." Ruko look at her in livable smile and relax his worryness. Then look at the state they're in.
"Um?... Was I your first time." Serena stared at him. "Yes! And it was wonderful master." Ruko flinched and start to feel the awkwardness in the air. "Uh. Wah. Ah... why are you calling me master so suddenly. "Um hello! You dominant me nonstop that I start to give in to you. How dense can you be." Ruko chuckled of how he had that much energy to begin with. "...And I love the way you treat me. That's why I want to stay has your servant." Ruko chuckled that she's cute and get up making the sun shine on him. "Serena...!" She look at him of what was he implying. "...Let's talk about you for now." "Uh yes, whenever you say master." The sun hit at noon. Then Ruko discuss somethings with Serena of how she will do when entering Alcanretia. "Serena. Do not the let a priest name Zesta touch you or have sex with you." Serena is fold her arms in way she don't comply his meaning. "Really! Why ask would I do that since I'm yours master."
Ruko start pulling her cheek to get her brain to function. "Because I don't want your sorry ass of excuses to get the better of you. So pay attention." Ruko take a breath but feel irritated. "That son of a bitch wants to try lay his hands on you, since me and him are close to certain extent of knowing women. That he will try to take what I own but that won't ever happen." "Wow I can state the pervertness emanating from you. That he will try to do his way on me—" "And for the record! If he ever did, I'll cut his tentacle and his balls off if he did." Serena chuckled and burst into laughter. "Has you wish master. I won't, since I'm only yours. And for any certain scenario!... Any woman you been with have to deal with me first. So don't forget I'm your number one got it." Ruko turned away, looking down the road ahead. Serena followed his gaze. "…Where are you going?" she asked. "Forward," he replied. A brief pause. "Toward the real problem." The wind passed through the trees again, quieter this time. Serena stand there, watching him, uncertain. And for the first time in a long time—She realized something. Control didn't always belong to the one pulling the strings. Sometimes—It belonged to the one who could cut them.