The Heavens Shall Fall

Nobody moved when the duo appeared, and Siu kept one foot half a step forward, his body still gathering the rising tension, ready to strike. From the corner of his eye, he saw how Joren stood slightly to his right, also focused on the new arrivals, clearly in his own battle stance. Seloryn had not lowered her flute either, and Ruben remained on the rooftop above the alley, his umbrella still spinning above their original target, but he was clearly facing off with the new arrivals.

“That one is not alive,” Arya spoke up suddenly, glaring at Titus, "I can't smell it like I smell the fat one."

"Me neither..." Marly trembled against his neck. “And it stinks like rusty metal...”

Siu did not answer, because he felt the weirdness too. He could sense the thing standing there, pick up on the essence within the 'creature,' but it was more like feeling an energy source, a larger CC, than how it should feel when checking on a human. However, there was another thing to think about now... A dangerous fugitive? A killer, even worse than that, someone who killed his own elder? When the rotund, bald man said it, Vael’s face did not change much, and perhaps he was too tired for it. However... Siu saw his jaw tighten, and that was enough to know that information wasn't a lie.

“You have placed yourselves in a very delicate position,” Seloryn spoke up suddenly, her voice clearly frustrated under the pleasant chime.

"Tell me about it!" The bald man’s eyes shifted toward her. “I know. We were just about to capture him when you lot showed up... This day can't get much worse now.”

"Sorry, not sorry," She chuckled, “Well, I guess now that we are all here, you should introduce yourself before this situation... mmm... becomes less delicate.”

"Sure..." He sighed through his nose, shaking his head. “I'm Grael,” he said, pulling himself a bit taller. “I'm a licensed head hunter under the Wolfsong Guild.”

"Affirmative," The metal giant beside him inclined his head, speaking in its monotone, modulated voice, “I'm Titus. Registered construct under Guild operational charter. Independent employment status confirmed.”

"..." Joren blinked once, raising his brows, looking between the two.

"Tsk..." Ruben looked down from the roof, right at the man who was now surrounded by everyone. “You got yourself some pros after you, huh?”

"Naturally," Titus’s red eye-lights shifted toward him. “Accuracy was prioritized.”

"Stop talking," Grael grunted. “Stay professional.”

"Huh," Seloryn’s gaze did not leave Grael in the meantime. “Wolfsong Guild? Do you have any proof?”

"Of course," Grael reached into his coat, and every person in the alley tensed when he did so.

“Slowly,” Seloryn said.

“Obviously.” He rolled his eyes before he pulled out a flat metal case, opened it with his thumb, and tossed something downward to Seloryn.

Ruben’s umbrella turned at once, and a thin string of water caught the item midair, enveloping it in case it would explode, and carried it gently to Seloryn without letting it touch the ground. She took it, examining it, letting out another sigh because she knew what it was the moment Grael threw it down. It was a license plate. When she held it up, Siu saw a guild symbol stamped into it, which was a wolf's head, howling before a full moon. Around the edge were a few smaller characters, too fine for him to read from where he stood.

“It is real,” she said, throwing it back up.

"Oh my..." Ruben’s nose twitched at that. “How inconvenient.”

“They are licensed to operate in Kavernacht,” Seloryn continued, explaining it to Siu. “They are under Hollow Song territorial authority. Although," She looked back at the duo, "They are restricted to official and documented mercenary work. If I recall right, you are specialized in recovery contracts. Bounties in short.”

"You remember right." Grael nodded. “That's why we are here.”

“However," Seloryn spoke again, "Involving yourself in a matter concerning Hollow Song disciples inside a city under Hollow Song authority can become illegal very quickly.”

"That's not exactly what this is!" Grael’s frown deepened, not afraid to argue back. “Which is why I announced myself.”

“After following us.” Ruben joined in, making Grael shoot him a look without any fear.

“After following him.” He pointed toward Vael. “You just happened to catch him first.”

"Hah!" Vael laughed once, and it was not a healthy sound, more like a half-choking cough. "Like you could catch me, even in this state... You followed them because you knew I would try to make contact."

"Khm," Ruben spoke up, clearing his throat. “I hate to interrupt this touching reunion, but I would like to know whether any of you intend to explain why our afternoon has become threatened to force us to do paperwork this evening, hm?”

"As I began telling you all," Grael looked at him, then back at Seloryn. “We have a contract.”

With that, he pulled another item from his coat. This one was a folded sheet sealed in a transparent casing, with a red cord looped through the corner and several wax seals pressed around it. However, he did not throw it down this time.

“May I?” Seloryn asked, and after a bit of hesitation, Grael held it out as water came down from the umbrella and Ruben guided it to himself first, inspecting the casing from above before letting it descend into Seloryn’s hand.

“Their tamper seal is intact,” Ruben said in the meantime, "It looks genuine."

"Yeah," Seloryn studied the document, running her fingers through the container, her essence making the seals react. Siu wanted to ask what it said, but he held back and kept his eyes on Vael instead. By now, the man had gone very still, and he could feel he was gathering his energies for a breakout. “You do have a wanted notice issued by the Stormglass Pavilion, Head Disciple Vael,” Seloryn spoke up in the end, now looking at their original pursuer.

"..." Vael’s mouth tightened when he heard the name of the Stormglass Pavilion. Siu did not recognize it, but from the way Seloryn said it, she did.

“Stormglass?” Siu asked before he could hold it back.

"Mhm," Seloryn nodded, studying Vael, “They are one of our subordinate sects. Makes sense... They are lightning-specialized; all of their disciples carry the same affinity. They are pretty small compared to us, but have the authority to oversee some of our border regions. They operate our relay formations there and are responsible for several outer defensive lines.”

"I never visited them, but," Ruben suddenly landed lightly in the alley, his umbrella folding itself as it drifted back into his hand. “This is getting complicated.”

“It was already complicated,” Joren muttered after hearing the man's origin.

“No, this is a worse kind of complicated.” Ruben looked at the document in Seloryn’s hand. “Our Hollow Song rarely interferes in subordinate sects and their internal politics unless the matter spills outward and begins poisoning the land or threatening stability within our territory. A wanted disciple fleeing his own sect is usually not our concern... but... A kin-killer and traitor could be troublesome if he was really the Head Disciple. Someone like that may know things about our arrays that they are overseeing, too...”

"..." Vael turned his head toward him, speaking as calmly as possible, “That is why I am being hunted.”

"Duh," Ruben’s gaze sharpened. “That's obvious.”

"But that's just the justification for it," Vael’s raised hands lowered slightly, though not quickly enough to make him look threatening. “Stormglass calls me a traitor because I refused to bow and accept my death.”

"Look... Before you go into a sob story; I don't fucking care." Grael folded his arms, interrupting him. “That is what the contract says, that's why we are here, and that's why we are going to drag you back home and collect our reward.”

“Yes, you would do that,” Vael said with a defeated smile. “Because the contract was written by people who want me silenced.”

"It is pretty detailed," Seloryn spoke again, still holding it. “Vael Renwick, previous Head Disciple under Elder Logan Whalfur. Expelled. Wanted for theft of restricted sect materials, flight from lawful punishment, and the murder of Elder Corvin Hale. Suspected of transmitting guarded techniques to outside parties.”

"I. Did. Not."

Siu looked at Vael when he spoke, and Vael met his eyes, without blinking, right until Seloryn spoke again.

"Which part, though? Let's break it down, shall we? So... Did you kill him?”

"..." Vael closed his eyes for half a breath, then opened them slowly, and Siu could tell that when he relived the memory, he almost smiled. “Yes. I killed that bastard with my own hands.”

“Can we get the move on then?” Grael said at once, "See? He doesn't deny it.

“If you want to find a kin-killer,” Vael snorted, not even sparing him a look, "Then he was one before me."

Siu almost smiled despite himself, before Vael coughed, then winced as the movement made him shiver from whatever Titus had left inside his body. He pressed one hand to his ribs, then slowly lifted it again when Seloryn’s flute angled toward him as a warning.

“I was ordered to submit and let them cripple my cultivation and then subject myself to memory sealing,” Vael continued, his breathing becoming laborious as his essence kept churning inside him, brewing up a storm. “Elder Corvin came to me personally, so that I did not have a chance to run before judgment. He was gloating in the fact he would become the next Pavilion lord, now that my Master was gone... Dead.”

"Blah, blah, blah." Grael’s expression darkened. “Spare us the dull politics! We are taking him.”

"Not yet!" Seloryn’s eyes moved back to the contract, stopping Grael from jumping down with her voice alone. “Interesting. The notice does not mention much about internal conflicts.”

“It would not.” Titus added, "Internal politics are not for the public to know."

“It does mention theft.” Seloryn argued, "Which should be in his mind, I assume."

"Naturally," Vael smiled thinly. “If I did not hold our secrets within me, would I still be alive? I learned from the best within our sect; I know things they don't want to leak. It was my late Master's gift that allowed me to take my revenge on that greedy fuck...”

"See? The warrant for his head is justified! Let us work already," Grael took one step forward on the roof again, and Siu felt the alley grow heavier as the bald man's essence enveloped them all, beginning to push down on everyone equally. He was a high-level Blood Resonance cultivator that Siu could finally clearly feel.

“Careful,” Seloryn said, her eyes flashing, and once again, stopped Grael from moving forward.

“I have been careful,” he replied coldly. “For weeks. Months by now! If we count the trail before we reached Kavernacht, I have followed every rule I was paid to follow. I did not attack him in the city, I did not attack you, and I showed my license. I even showed the contract you are holding in your hand! What else do you need? The target admits to killing the elder named in the notice. This is out of your hands, Hollow Song disciples. I ask you again, politely, please step back and let us do our job.”

“He also requested asylum,” Siu said suddenly, and just then, everyone looked at him as Grael’s brows lowered, throwing him a hateful look. “He requested asylum,” Siu repeated, “under Hollow Song authority. We cannot ignore that.”

Ruben gave him a sideways glance, probably thinking about shooing him away or overriding him... but, in the end, he kept his mouth shut, just as Seloryn.

"Boy," Grael spoke slowly, holding back his temper, “Do you understand what he is asking?”

“No,” Siu said honestly. “Not fully.”

“Then stay out of it!” He yelled, which resulted in Arya starting to growl, her mismatched eyes glowing, actually beginning to shine.

"Watch your tongue, headhunter." Seloryn’s smile faded completely by now. “Do not tell a Hollow Song disciple to stay out of a matter brought under Hollow Song authority. Who do you think you are?”

Grael looked at her now, and for a moment, the alley was very quiet... Then he bowed his head, just enough to show restraint without appearing submissive.

“My mistake.”

"Haaah..." Ruben sighed, shaking his head. “Good. We are all being reasonable; let's keep it that way, okay?"

"So," Joren spoke next. “What happens if we hand him over?”

“I die,” Vael said before anyone could say anything.

"Hmph!" Grael snorted. “You do not know that.”

"Really?" Vael looked at him with a sarcastic laugh, “I know my sect better than you. I was already dead the moment they killed my Master and took over the Pavilion.”

“Your sect issued a lawful contract.” Titus spoke up next, "The contract was marked and published through all the proper channels, with every relevant sealing by the current leadership of your origin."

“Hmph!” Vael snorted, not wanting to argue anymore.

“What proof do you have?” Seloryn suddenly asked, examining Vael.

"Only my word." He answered, knowing he couldn't say much more than that in this situation.

"That's not much..." Seloryn turned slightly, placing herself between Vael and Grael without making it obvious. “However, you did ask us first... Under Hollow Song custom, a request for asylum cannot be dismissed by words of contracted hunters in the street.”

"Excuse us?" Grael’s eyes narrowed, hearing her speak.

"You heard me," Seloryn ignored his anger. “If the request is frivolous, he will be returned to the Pavilion. If he is lying, he will suffer for wasting our time.”

"And let you reap our reward?! FAT. FUCKING. CHANCE! We are taking him, now!" He waved a hand, and Titus's head snapped down at Vael.

“I am done running.” The man muttered, inhaling, and this time, there was no coughing. "I have spent years following every rule,” he said, smiling in a very much desperate manner. “Then, I got rewarded with years of running and hiding...” By then, lightning flickered beneath his coat. “I will not go back to die like a dog.” His eyes suddenly flashed just the same, throwing a look at Siu, "If the Hollow Song wants to hear me out, I will speak gladly and honestly. And... If the Hollow Song decides to hand me over after that, then at least someone heard my tale and knows the truth.” Then, his gaze snapped straight at Grael. “But I will not be dragged home in chains and executed in a cellar after some damned paperwork is signed! Fuck. That.”

And by the time he spoke the last two words, lightning burst from him, and the alley turned blue-white. Vael moved first of everyone, flashing upward, his body thinning into a lightning bolt, heading toward the clear skies. However, Titus moved at the same time. For something so massive, the construct was impossibly quick. One moment he stood on the roof, the next he was dropping into Vael’s path, his arms held together, frosted over like they were covered in ice, coming down at Vael's body like a hammer.

Grael raised one hand too, and everything became extra heavy, while Siu felt his knees almost buckle. Vael’s lightning-shaped body staggered in midair, as if something held him down, and Titus's arms opened up; he was clearly aiming not to strike him back down, but to capture him.

It was then that Siu moved as well. He did not even think. Something... made him do so. Vael had asked to be heard, and Siu wanted to give him that chance. Releasing the tension in his body, the Snake Form propelled him forward as he shot out with a bang, like thunder, heading straight for Titus.

“Siu!” Seloryn shouted, almost groaning, but it was too late.

Sensing his arrival, Titus’s red eyes turned toward him, while Vael’s lightning body flickered, startled as he reappeared completely. In the end, Siu didn't try to actually hit the metal construct. His masked strike made the thing react, go into a defensive posture, and abandon capture, which was all Siu wanted. With a quick, sweeping hand, he grabbed Vael, bringing him back down into the alley, as everyone landed in a very much agitated state.

"He asked for asylum," Siu said without hesitation, now standing between Grael and Titus, "Until we looked into it, he can't go with you."

However... their answer was simple...

Because Titus was already moving, making a new grabbing motion towards Vael's body.