***[1]
...
''Huh?''
Another beeping noise came from the device in his pocket, he opened a single eye to look down at it.
''In X-corp'' he added ''Kill every single member of the kurokumo clan in X-cor-''
'''YEAH YEAH I GET WHAT WE'RE MEANT TO DO BUT, WH-'' Byron sealed my lips before i could complain further,my outburst quickly becoming nothing more then muffled incomprehensible noises.
''I...seem to not understand what the issue is here, the prescript has demanded something, and you are to do it.''
Since his hand was still over my mouth, i couldn't speak, which meant...this time, Byron decided he would be carrying out the conversation for some reason
''I apologize sincerely, noble messanger, my kindred is easily frightened, but.'' He tilted his head ''If i may prod as to why you desire us to commit such an act?''
''....Because the prescript willed it, what is not to understand.''
''...''
''What is a prescript...''
''...''
''...''
Once again, the silence was broken only by the beeping of the small device in his pocket, the white cloaked man's eye fluttering open slowly to look down at it.
Another few seconds of silence followed, before the white cloaked man spoke up.
''What is your name.''
''Byron''
''...Byron..'' A thoughtful look crossed his face, like he was tasting the word on his tounge.
''It's a fine name i suppose, you may refer to me as Bishop, messanger of the index.'' Atleast this time i'd be in luck, Byron's hole riddled patchwork of knowledge seemed to know about the Index more then about any other asociation or syndicate, although i gave up explaining to him what prescripts we're a moment ago....shame.
''...''
''It must be difficult to act as a messanger while only being able to move diagonally.''
''Not funny.''
The device in his pocket beeped again, he took it up to his face to inspect the new message.
''Very funny.''
...Maybe it was better if he didn't know about the index...
''Now that the pleasantries are out of the way, may i ask what bussiness do you have here, this is the territory of the thumb, no?''
''I've...told you already, im here to deliver that prescript to you, you are to kill every single member of the Kurokumo clan in X-corp.''
''....And why must i do such an act.''
''The will of the city has decided that you must.''
''....''
Byron's brows furrowed, he squinted at the man standing before him.
''Cities don't have wills...''
''This one does.''
''Impossib-''
''Sighfor fuck's sake my patience is beggining to be severely tested, honest to Hermes ungag your second kindred so i can talk to someone mildly more intelligent before my blood pressure spikes any higher''
''...''
Byron's brows furrowed deeper.
''Don't speak to my son in such a manner, he will not be discussing any of these ''Precrypts'' with yo-''
SHINK
THUD
I'd never heard of any member of the index actively having a temper, or losing it like this, so i suppose there's a first for everything first.
He lunged forward faster then one could even blink, brandishing the golden tipped spear with perfect poise straight at Byron's chest, something that shouldve atleast frightened me to some degree, fortunately, by this point my faith in the oaf whos hand was currently over my mouth had grown to a reasonable degree.
Byron was good at meeting expectations (when it came to combat atleast) he'd stopped the spear head on with a punch, the blade's tip lodging itself into his knuckles, a trickle of blood rolling down onto the floor.
''....''
The man stood in a half crouch, attempting to push the spear further for another seconds.
''...''
A long, long, and very annoyed exhale followed.
He slowly stood up, clearing his throat.
''Apologies'' He flourished the spear, placing it beside him once more. ''My temper seems to have gotten the better of me.''
''It happens to the best of me-''
''My admission of guilt is not an open invitation to continue discussing this, or any other matter, about literaly anything ever, further with me, kindly ungag your second kindred.''
''...''
''Hmph!'' Byron used his signature move...pouting and frowning, and then doing what he was told, gently lowering me onto the ground in this case.
''Finnaly...'' I dusted myself off, felt wobbly to stand on my own two feet again after being carried for 3 hours...need to get him to stop doing that.
''Ahem'' I cleared my throat aswell.
''Your name's Bishop, right?''
''Correct?''
''You're a messanger of the Index.''
''Also correct.''
''And you came allllllllllll the way to thumb territory to deliver a prescript telling us to kill every single member of the Kurokumo clan.''
''You have a talent for hindsight.''
''...''
''Is the prescript just trying to get us to do the Index's dirty work.''
He went silent for a brief moment, until the device in his pocket beeped once more, hand drifted down to the pocket, brought the thing up to his eyes, then slowly opened them, irises tracing along the newly written text on the device.
It was placed back into his pocket just as quickly as it was taken out, the closing of his eyes followed.
''...''
''If the ''dirty work'' you are reffering to is disposing of the kurokumo clan, then it seems you are under a misconception here.'' The man crouched down till his eyes we're leveled with mine.
''The will of the city knows the wills of all of it's residents, and it knows that your will, is to be at the top of the metaphorical food chain of the backstreets.''
''W-Oi!? How the fuck do you know tha-''
''Anyone with a functioning brain knows that such an absurd idea as that of a backstreets rat being content is the most idiotic fantastical drivel one could possibly spew, even someone such as i wouldn't need the will of the prescript to spell that out for me.''
''That syndicate has wronged thousands in these backstreets, like all syndicates have.''
''But the job of a rat, is to be wronged, it is the very reason that you and your kind exsist, to be the pawns and rooks and knights and bishops of those who play this twisted game of chess.''
''If those at the top of the ladder did not have those at the bottom to enact their wills upon, they would enact them upon those currently still climbing it like myself.''
....
He leaned forwards, till his forehead was touching mine.
''Fortunately however.''
''Every''
''Single pawn''
His finger drilled into my forehead.
''Can become a queen.''
''And all i see here.''
''Is a queen'' He withdrew the blood soaked digit to point at Byron
''And a pawn currently making its journey to the end of the board.''
''The will of the city has given you a queen to ensure you can reach the end of that board, and finnaly, for once in your miserable, pathethic life, secure a checkmate with your own wooden frame.''
''And you, in all your obscene incompotence, continue to ask the almighty, why it implores you to reach the end of that board, why it tells you to climb the ladder, why it tells you to do what you are supposed to, it's given you every incentive it possibly can, revenge, fear, practice, power, the threat of failiure, and yet you still slither in your own dirt when the opportunity to strike back at the bird is right infront of you''
''So i will ask, just, one more question.''
''Have I.' His finger once again poked at my forehead.
''Made.'' It moved like a drill, slowly beginning to draw blood.
''Myself.'' Then it was jabbed even harder, drawing a sharp inhale of breath from me in an attempt to ease the pain.
''Clear.''
''....''
''Y-....Y-Y-Yeah....you...h-have...''
The answer satisfied the man, who finnaly relented, slowly standing upwards, the device in his pocket beeping once more, the messanger payed it no mind, for he already knew what prescript had been assigned.
''Good.'' He spun on his heel, cape billowing behind him. ''May our paths never cross again.''
Silence followed after he left.
''....''
''Father.''
''Yes?''
The ruffling of my clothes replaced the sound of the messanger's footsteps as the only noise in that alley as i turned towards him. ''Carry me.''
Byron obliged without question.
The blood from my forehead had trickled down to my lips, my tounge darting out to lick it.
''3rd apartment building to the right.''
''...Wha-?''
''You're teaching me how to make hardblood.''
[1] Kindly play ''Library of Ruina OST-Netzach Story Theme'' for optimal experience