Shadow Heart [Algos/Lethe]

Quiet. That is what this night was. Despite the erasure of the Chaya Nation, this section of the demon world would still remain its grip of power. And as such, the influence of its Princess was not one many dared to cross. So as the blood gaze of the scarlet moonlight flowed down on the forest below, the steeled gaze of Algos's own crimson stare pierced through the darkness as she made her way to a clearing. Detecting something familiar, her own sense of curiosity was at play here because through the abysmal noise of this realm she felt something faint calling out to her and it was beginning to grow on her nerves not knowing what that thing was.

Thus, as the warm winds of the evening air brushed past her pale white hair, she came out of an assortment of trees in order to see this snowy demon that was laying ahead for herself.

"So, are you the one I'm looking for?"

It was a dry, calm voice. One which was different from Algos's usual gleeful and downright amused or sadistic self. Too much was going on for her to really bother with any theartics today. The world felt too dead for that. Instead, she just wanted clear and precise answers. And whatever mark she had was akin to that which she bestowed upon Ulv. Bearing that in mind, they lived in a supernatural world, so purpose whatever this person was had been whatever was left of her knight.

It was weird for a woman to fight what nobody could see, so Lethe went to somewhere a little out of the way. She had been getting feelings recently, like she needed to learn how to move better. Or rather...needed to remember how to move better. Her head was a whirlwind at the best of times, and most of the time she just ignored it, but it had been getting harder recently. So, in the middle of a clearing, she was facing off against a woman. She didn't exist, it was merely a creation of her mind, but it was still real to her.

It moved first, lashing a roundhouse kick at her head. Without knowing the strength of her opponent, trying to oppose it was a foolish move, so she left autopilot take over and just watched. Her back leg shifted further back and she bend over, before snapping back up and slamming her forehead into the woman, pressing the advantage to throw a punch into the sternum that was dodged by the woman rolling backwards from the impact of the headbutt, cartwheeling backwards only to immediately flip forward and lash an axe kick. Lethe would roll to the side, more of a controlled collapse than a real roll, but avoiding the kick. It didn't avoid the second snap kick however, and her nose broke from the impact.

Not to be perturbed, she landed on the back of her shoulders and launched herself at the woman, dropping her foot down at the last moment and snapping up to drive her knuckles into the fleshy face. Whoever it was who had taken control of her body like this was amazing to watch, amazing to feel. But, attempts at solidarity were not as good as she thought, since someone was here.

Watching Lethe fight absolutely nothing with such confidence could be an interesting sight, but conversation was always nice, so Lethe looked to the new person and gave a warm smile. Clearly her mind was beyond her body, since she was sweating and panting even from such a short workout. A Danava of some description, the Origin of the woman seemed....indistinct. As if it couldn't fit in the weak, near-powerless body that had the barest wisp of Spiritual Energy.

"Probably~ I've had people want me for a lot. The adult entertainment woman who I never got the name of. And my dream friend Calypso Vael Asthavon. They both left and never came back, so I guess they aren't actually looking for me. People tend to come back when they are looking for something" Lethe rambled a bit and then shrugged it off. There was no point being worried about stuff that happened in the past.

"If you tell me who you are looking for, I can tell you if that is who I am. And if not, I work in a cafe, so I can look for them for you. You'll have to come back though, I don't know how to tell people things without them being here"

The deadened gaze of the demoness brought with it a sense of neutrality. To her, there were always things the mind and heart weren't always aware of. And given the viciousness of the realm they reside in, The Princess merely took these precise movements Lethe took in her training as a means to defend herself. At any time someone could come and slit your throat open, so why not invest in the very thing that may save your soul? Regardless, that wasn't why she was here.

Hearing such sentiments as her knowing Calypso only made a sense of digest grumble in the belly of The Asthavon. After everything that has happened between them, and the death of a potential niece or nephew, it's better to just disregard the existence of her half-kin at this point. If she had never been tempted by that fellow demon, perhaps things wouldn't have been so twisted as they are now. So, after spitting on the ground at the thought of Caly, the eyes narrowed on Lethe before deciding to answer.

"That mark on you: I once gave it to someone known as Ulv. She was my knight and ended up bearing some of my children. I only came because I sensed that same marking on her."

Now approaching Leethe, the likes of the demoness continued to gaze at the visage of the ghostly demon before her. It was hard to know what to feel at this point since there was so much blackness swirling in that heart of hers, but she knew this was something she needed to confront as this person's entire soul had been birthed from her own desire to seek Ulv out. Even if Algos felt exhausted with the state of affairs, if she were to continue on her path, these uncomfortable things need to be faced.

"I did promise her I would find her in whatever form she morphed into in her next life. And after everything she gave up for me at the end of her existence, that is the absolute least I can do."

"Ohh!" Lethe exclaimed as Algos told her why she was here. It was great, she was finally getting somewhere after 8 months of working in a cafe and having everyone leave her. "I'm a Knight! Of Astavon! The world is confusing and I don't really remember anything about why or what or who and I just sort of appeared on the first of May without any warning or consideration. But that is something I did remember" She'd almost shout, nodding rapidly as she got into this idea that she could help find the woman's friend. Lethe was, if nothing else, nostalgic. A beautiful voice, graceful as the flow of water, and loved to chatter inanely at any opportunity.

"So that means I can totally help you find your Knight friend. Because Knights attract....or is that opposites?" She'd frown for a moment and then shrug. And then, as if a switch flicked on inside her, the woman stopped seeming on the verge of forgetting that she existed, and looked at Algos. Care and comfort were loud in her pale eyes, even as her voice spoke the same emotions softly.

"You look tired. Are you should you should be tromping around forests, and not taking a nap?"

Algos continued to just gaze at the visage of Lethe as she seemed to be delighted at the notion of being a knight. Yet, what was more important to The Princess was the fact that Lethe stated her creation into this plane of existence at that date and time. It meant that she was indeed the respawn of whatever was left of Ulv's soul. So, her gaze narrowed before softening over.

In the meantime, the demon just remained quiet before she walked over and gave a cold hug to the ghostly companion before giving her dull gaze upwards at the other demoness.

"You are what I'm looking for. So I would not strain yourself rushing to be a knight as my enemies are things only I can skewer with how this world has changed."

Soon, Algos closed her eyes and just let herself do as she pleased for a moment as she placed a wisp of her energy on the chest of Lethe as it's scarlet aura pressed downward on her.

"Worry not about my tiredness, but about that spirit that lives in you. Are you certain it has not said anything to you...?"

"Excellent, this a happy day!" Lethe exclaimed, encompassing Algos in a tight hug. Certainly had Ulv's exuberance if nothing else. Though, with the energy connecting Algos to Lethe's spiritual energy, she could feel the state of the woman's soul. Scarred and scorched, it screamed in agony like a man only recently doused from an oil fire. It was not merely the fact that she was weak, but the fact that her soul was so hurt it could not sustain strength more than the softest breath of wind across the desolate plains.

But then, came confusion. A deep and confused frown of confusion.
"Spirit? You mean Calypso? I think she was her own thing rather than a spirit. I wouldn't know though because she just left and never came back. It made me sad. But she is the only person who has been inside me"

There was a sense of familiarity when held in the embrace of Lethe when it came to the spiritual wavelength of her essence. Yet, in terms of physical hold, they held the same stature to a degree and that was something new to take note of in this form. Still, Algos was tired and just continued to savor the warmth as she listened in to the words flowing from the fellow demon's mouth. Well, at least until she uttered the name of Calypso. Something she'd rather forget at this point.

"Do not utter the name Calypso in my presence."

Drenched in coldness, there was a slight jolt of energy that twitched in the core of Algos's body, but she seen recalled it and the air grew chill as she continued to hold on to Lethe. Of course she had no desire to harm Lethe, that was just her own foul reaction to all of those memories and parts of her own downfall when recalling how deep into the pits of depravity her lust and hunger for affection grew her in. Something she didn't want to repeat as she had no way of repairing what was broken with that woman or with herself.

No time for that.

Those memories only bring shame and despair. She didn't come here for that.

Algos focused in on Lethe and just asked a simple question:

"If nothing else, I want to hold on to you. Do you feel that same sense of familiarity to follow me to the ends of hell itself?"

Ohhh, The Big Sad was there. In Algos' words and in her heart, it was clear that she was deeply aggrieved of the whole thing that was Calypso. Maybe for the same reason Calypso thought she'd die, coming here? But it was something for later because Algos asked her if she felt the same sense of familiarity. The smile that Lethe had slowly slid off like honey off a spoon, until there was nothing but a stare as empty as her skin.

"I....don't feel anything. People prefer happiness to unhappiness, so that is what I show, but I don't feel either" she admitted. Why to this woman, she didn't know. But that was how things were. She'd stare off into the middle distance for a few moments, and then intone, like a machine.

"When I get up in the morning, it's a struggle to convince myself I exist, because half the time I don't feel like it. Like something huge is missing. Like I am as insubstantial as moonlight reflected off a pond. My chest has this constant, numb pain to it and nothing I can do fixes it. They've stopped selling me medication at every pharmacy because I buy too much. But nobody can tell me what is wrong. And I don't even feel sad about it. There is....intent. A desire to feel like what I think I should, but I dont"