Who knew getting lost was so easy (leaf)

[Calmay]

Elric had never been in the palace and he had never expected to enter it in his lifetime and yet here he was. He was walking withing the castle the only problem was that he was lost. He had been sent on an errand to pick something up from a person in the palace and could not leave at the present to deliver it. Having no one else to send, Elric was ordered to pick it up. It was much better than the job that he was about to get assigned if the current problem had not occurred. The problem was that with wall like this Elric had problems finding where he was going without a map. Therefore leading him to his current predicament.

Getting in had not been a problem. He had a note from the person he was to pick up the item from and all he had done was shown it. He himself had not read the letter, but he guessed that it said something about letting him pass and enter the palace without much hindrance. Seeing no one there to guide him he had gone inside and went in the general direction he had been told to go. The only other thing he knew was that he would know he was there when he got there. Which had only made him more worried about going to pick up the package. However, he had not questioned the job yet. He was still hoping he would find the place.

As he continued to walk he noticed the stares of a few of the people that worked here. He looked at himself trying to figure out if there was anything wrong with him. His blade was hanging correctly and he was wearing one of his more formal outfits so that he would stick out as a commoner. He wondered if it was that obvious that he did not belong here. He stopped at a window and looked outside. The clouds were coving the sun today making the whole place look darker and more sinister than it normally was. He sighed as he tried to get his bearing from what he could see from the window. He needed to know if he was still going in the somewhat right direction.

When he saw that he was he continued to walk forward. He was getting tired of walking around not knowing where he was going. For all he knew he had been walking around in circles. He was going to have to check if he was. He started to use his blue flame on every candle and torch had passed. If he had gone in a circle he would notice the flame and finally give up and take the outside back to the front of the palace.

[Leaf]

Footsteps echoed in the corridor of the grand palace, the pride of Daika. Deveric was irritated. For the last week or so he had been bothered by several "Captain, we need your approval of this!" and "Captain, will you attend the next meeting?" and other things that he paid no attention to. What was even going on in the flipping kingdom that was causing all the ruckus? And to add to that, memories of an old... pest was brought up the other day. That old freak LaRosa... Just because he was a fire demon didn't mean he had to light fires around him 24/7! Deveric was fumed by the very thought. And every single time he would put on an innocent look and ask, "Oh I'm sorry. Did it bother you?" when he knew the very answer. Even though he hadn't shown himself around for a few years, Deveric just could not forget that sneering arrogant face of his.

Steps turned to stomps as Deveric felt the irritation weigh down more and more onto his mind. At first he thought it was his memories of the flames, but the heat he started to feel was too real. Blue flames crackled upon the torches of the castle and though a normal person couldn't feel the radiating heat, Deveric certainly could. He was extremely sensitive to fire and he absolutely detested it. No one he was acquainted with could light blue flames, so Deveric knew the person causing this had to be from outside the palace. "GUARDS!" He roared out of fury and a couple of sentries left their nearby posts and stood at attention though they were trying their best to keep their knees from buckling in fear. "Yes, C-Captain?" One stuttered. "Has any one been lighting these torches? ANSWER ME!" Deveric demanded, his fist shaking with rage. "Was it not my order to keep any source of flame from my sight?!" The guards shrunk back a little and mumbled, "It wasn't us, sir. A boy was here walking around and around. Then he started lighting the torches somehow without touching them." A sneer arose on Deveric's face then quickly faded into a grimace. He grabbed the collar of the soldier who had spoken and flung him down the hall. "THEN CATCH HIM YOU FOOLS!" He roared and the other guard scrambled down the hallway, unwilling to dawdle any longer.

This was unusual for the guards to see. Actually for everyone. Usually, Deveric didn't care about a thing and most minor transgressions were ignored or overlooked. However, when it comes to fire, he becomes all riled up and nobody would want to approach him. He stood in place, fuming. Lighting fire without touching. Blue flames. That boy they spoke of was definitely not human. The blue flicker upon the torches danced in front of his eyes, as if mocking his weakness. With a whip of his chain, the torches around fell and were extinguished, leaving lines of smoke trailing up to the ceiling.

[Calmay]

Elric continued to light the torches as walked unaware that the guards were after him. He was just thinking on how to get to his destination. So far he had not crossed any other blue flames,which meant that he was not going in circles. However it was still not clear to him what he was suppose to be looking for. How was he suppose to know when he saw it. The palace was strange enough as it was, what could stick out so much that he would notice with ease. It better be some sort of sign. He looked back when he thought he heard something coming, but saw nothing. It had to be his imagination. He continued forwards again.

He soon saw a bunch of guards running down the hallway behind him and he stepped to the side to let them through. He had no idea that they had been sent to retrieve him. However when they stopped in front of him he knew he was in danger. Before they could say anything he broke into a run trying to get away from them. He hated guards and he did not want to deal with them. He turned into corridors without thinking to avoid them. He knew he could easily fight them, but it was not worth the time and running away was much easier. He doubted they could keep up with him when he ran at a fast pace. He turned corners over and over until he saw a blue flame. He had run in a circle and was back close to where he started. Those guards had made him back track. He took a deep breath to keep his anger at bay. He just had to walk forward and make his way back. The blue flame would leave a trail.

He followed his earlier path making sure not take a wrong turn. Hearing nor seeing any guards allowed him to take some time. That was until he saw someone in front of him. He entered the door next to him and found himself in an empty office. He was glad that there was no one there. That would have made him look bad in front of that person and highly suspicious. He held the door slightly open hoping that the person would pass by and then he could continue down the corridor. The problem was that he had no idea to whom this office was and if they would return before that person blocking his path left.

[Leaf]

Watching the smokey remains of the torches, Deveric clicked his heels irritably. What was with those guards? Was it that hard to catch a boy running in circles? But he couldn't do too much about it. If that boy wasn't human, then he may prove to be hard to catch. Just then the two soldiers that Deveric had sent came rushing around the corner. "Sir! Did you see the boy by any chance! We were chasing him and he came this way." Deveric glared at them. Such fools, not even able to seize a suspicious character running amoke in the castle. "No. May I ask how you are doing your jobs? If you can't even catch a suspicious person, then how are you fit to be guards here? I most certainly did not see anyone of the sort come by. He must've left the corridor! Now go search the rest of the palace and alert the other men about this trespasser." Deveric hissed and the two sentries scampered away, not wanting to anger the captain any more.

The demon paced around, agitated. The boy that the guards spoke of was very similar to LaRosa in a way, being able to light fire like that. The thought of the pest got on Deveric's nerves once more. "Curse you, LaRosa! I wish I could kill you and send your soul straight back to Hell!" He roared as he stomped his feet and tore at his hair. Deveric's buried temper surfaced and boiled all the more as most unpleasant memories kept bubbling. "Seriously! I think I need a drink to cool my nerves." Deveric stormed down the corridor, out to get some spirits to help him cool down. Then he noticed an office door slightly opened. "Hmph. Some fool forgot to close their own door again. Screw them!" Deveric slammed the door in an attempt to close it, but perhaps his fury made his lose control and the force caused the door to shatter into a shower of splinters.

Standing behind the door was a boy in his upper teens, and seemed to have been peeking. Perhaps this was the boy that the guards spoke of. "Speak, young man. Have you been lighting fires around here?" Upon close examination, the boy's face seemed to remind him of LaRosa again. Perhaps someone from outside the castle could know of his whereabouts. "Say, do you happen to know of a man with the surname LaRosa?"

[Calmay]

Elric had been watching the scene occur between the guards and the man. It looked like he had done a good thing by hiding in the office. He did not want to run into the person that had ordered them to go after him. He could not help but wonder why he wanted him captured. He had not been doing anything wrong and he had not snuck into the castle. Either way he was going to remain in the room until the man was out of his sight. Now if only he would leave. As he saw the guards scamper away he hoped that he would follow. When he noticed that the man in hallway noticed the crack in the the door he took a few steps back to remain out of the sight brought in by the door.

He held his hands up in defense when the door shattered. A few pieces hit him, but he was not worried about it. He would heal. The bigger problem was that the man had confronted him. He looked at him not going to back down. He was afraid of the man, he had just wanted to avoid a confrontation. Last thing he had wanted to do was start a fight in the palace. "Oh I'm sorry. Did it bother you?" Even if he was trying to be sincere the words still came out in a mocking time. Yet another habit he had inherited from his father. One of many that he wished would go away. Well it was too late. He had already said it.

He crossed his hands and wondered if that man was looking for him or his father. They bother had the same surname. Not wanting to think much further about his father he opened his mouth the speak. "My surname is LaRosa. So what of it." He did not like the man in front of him. He was demanding answers of him before he even told him his name. It made him want to tease him, something he normally would not want to do. Why should he respect someone that was not being respectful to him. He had done thing wrong. Well apart from light some torches up. But there was nothing wrong with that. It was just some harmless flames.

[Leaf]

The tip of Deveric's blade twitched uncomfortable when the boy in front of him muttered his apologies. How come it sounded just like that pest? "Don't light fires anymore, boy. I'm not... Comfortable with it." Deveric murmured, surpressing the bubbling rage inside him. When the boy mentioned that his last name was LaRosa, Deveric's eyes widened. Obviously the boy in front of him was not his sworn enemy, but he definitely had similar traits and the same ability with fire though Deveric could not recall the flames of his constant irritation to be blue.

"So there is kin of that old freak... Deveric shuddered at the thought. "LaRosa... I think I know your father quite... well. However, we have matters to settle. Did that cowardly demon decide that I wasn't worth his time anymore and send you to wreak havoc with my mind?" Deveric snarled and was obviously distraught. So many times had that demon not only annoyed him but almost killed him with those curse flames of his. His mischievous personality did not help at all. And just when Deveric thought that he was free of him, his son just had to show up.

"You must be somewhat of a demon, then, if you are the son of that flaming bastard. I hope you aren't anything like your old man because for the last 200 years or so he's been a constant pain!" Deveric said with his voice dripping with hate. "Your father was the embodiment of annoyance and mockery! I just can't believe it now that he has a son; YOU! Like the world needs more of his blood tainting it!" Deveric clicked his heels and remembered why he should be chastising the boy. "Anyway, why are you in the palace? I think I should know why you are wandering about the hallways endlessly." 

 

[Calmay]

Elric looked at the man not liking this one bit. He was stating that he knew his father and that he did not like him. However that was nothing new to him. His father had a habit of making people dislike him. However the one thing that he did not like being told that his father sent him. He would never have come here if his father wanted him here. "My father did not send me here. I came of my own accord." He had no idea of what his father had done to this man to make him so angry at him and he could only guess. He took a step and increased the distance between the two them.

"There is nothing wrong with my blood. Sure I might not be the best person alive, but there is nothing wrong with it." He might not like his father that much, but he was the only one to insult his father all he wanted. He was after all his only flesh and blood. He was not going to let that man insult him any more. "I was lost. However why I was lost you do not need to know." He summoned the flame behind him and let it loose. He then bent down and escaped through the door to hallway. "Don't worry if you are human they will not burn. If not then too bad." He then bolted down the corridors hoping that the flame would cause enough of a distraction so that he could get away.

[Leaf]

As Deveric heard the boy spoke, he realized that he may not have been such a dog as his father. Perhaps it was his wrong in his insults. They did seem a bit overboard when he recalled them. However, any hint of remorse was washed away when the boy escaped and left a ball of fire behind. It wouldn't burn, the boy had said, if Deveric was human. The problem was, he was a demon and the fire started burning him as easily as tinder. The heat started engulfing Deveric and he could feel his flesh deteriorating into ashes. If he didn't escape the hungry flames soon, he would be as good as dead.

Smoke filled the room, stinging Deveric's eye. Quickly, he exposed his large leathery wings and smashed a window. In a flash, he soared out of the room and hoped to make it to the fountain in front before the remaining blue heat upon his coat and hair could ignite again. However, the air seemed dead today and the castle looked so gigantic to fly around. Deveric could feel a sting by his wing and realized his coat had started to burn again, fueled by the air around them. He tried to fly faster, cursing the boy under his breath, but the flame just seemed to grow even larger with each flap and started to burn into the wing. Fighting the pain, Deveric reached the air above the fountain. The flame had burned a gap in his wing and Deveric had no choice but to withdraw them as him plunged down from above and crashed into the fountain.

The next thing he knew was hearing voices. "What a fall... The fountain is really going to need repairs." "I just thought I saw wounds and burn marks but now all I can see is scars..." Deveric immediately bolted up and saw that he was in one of the palace's spare guest rooms, his half burned coat laying on a chair. He was surrounded by a few soldiers and the army's doctor was there, tending to any wounds that hadn't healed yet. Lifting his right hand he felt that his burnt hair had grown back but his forehead was bandaged. "Sir, you may have a cracked skull..." The doctor spoke apprehensively. Deveric waved his hand and cut him off. He knew that a few days or weeks would be enough for it to heal. With his peripheral vision, Deveric spotted the two soldiers he had sent off earlier. "Caught that damned boy yet?" He growled without addressing them directly and the two men looked at each other and gulped. "Sorry sir but he was no where to be found..." With a flick of his blade the two soldiers suddenly had two gashes upon their arms. It was nothing deadly, but the pain was enough of a warning. "You all have no need to tend to me. Find that boy and make sure he leaves the castle or else it'll be heads rolling next time."

With no time to waste, all the men scrambled out of the room, not wanting to stay any longer. Deveric slowly stood, wincing at the lingering pain. The fire had burnt a lot of his flesh and even though it was growing back and there was no bleeding, it would be slow and the new muscle was still raw. Deveric picked up his coat and saw nearly half of it gone and the rest seemed all burnt. He tossed it to the ground and staggered out the room. The hallway that he was in was empty and there was only the occasional noble or something passing through, giving him puzzled glances. Perhaps he was not as intimidating without his coat. But he had his blade and his chain was still by his side, clinking with every step. No one would try to laugh at his piteous state... Well, besides LaRosa (the father)... But he wasn't here... Right?

[Calmay]

Elric had no idea that his flames were going to harm Deveric like they did. He just knew that he had to get away and make it to his location. He ran through the halls until he say an open room. Unlike before this room was a guest room, probably holding some guest staying in the castle. He closed the door and went through the room. He was looking for some sort of clothing to change into. He had to change his appearance before returned back to wandering the hallways. After all he was sure that the man would not give up looking for him. Specially after that incident. Anything that would make him look different would be useful.

He took good care not to make a mess of the person's items and eventually found hat he was looking for. He placed everything back to how he found it and quickly changed. He was now wearing a a dress shirt and pants. He could not help but be happy that the clothing was his size. He brushed his hair back and made his way to the mirror. He looked different then he did only moments before. He just hoped it was enough to fool the guards and give him enough time to finish his job and get out. He did not want to run into that man again. He picked up his clothing and threw it out the window hiding it in the bushes. Carrying it around would be too suspicious. He left the room and made his way down the hallways.

He paused when he realized he had no idea how to get back to where he had started from. It looked like he was going to have to return back to the main entrance and start again. That was if he could find the entrance. He had just ran not thinking about how to get out, just to get away. Well there was no point in just standing there. He made his way through the hallways again. This time putting off an air of importance. He really did not want to attract the guards attention. He turned the corner and what he saw was the last thing he wanted to see. It was Devric. It seemed like his flame had caused him some damage. He quickly turned around and made his was back the way he came. He did not want to do something that he would regret later.

[Leaf]

A soft shuffle was heard around the corner and Deveric gave a sharp glance. A glimpse of linen was all he got. Probably some noble's brat... He thought to himself. Most of the noble's kids were just stuck-up, pompous mortals with nothing behind their extreme hubris. Deveric rolled his eyes and sighed. This was a horrible day; seeing LaRosa's son, getting burned, and not being able to catch the little urchin! 

He started to pace down the corridors, trying to calm his fury. Pain still washed through his body, but Deveric was learning to ignore it. His footsteps echoed throughout the empty hall, bouncing around until the faded into the walls. With his right hand, Deveric adjusted his eye patch. The blade stuck where his left hand should be scratched along the ground beside him, leaving a trail slithering along behind.

With nothing to do now excepting gadding in the halls, Deveric could not help but remember the unpleasant experiences he had with the old fire demon, LaRosa. All the times he had been near death thanks to his pranks as well as the mockery he had received. "A poor excuse for a demon." Deveric muttered under his breath even though it really made no sense. He wouldn't think more about it, he decided. After the troublesome boy was expulsed, Deveric could just go back to his monotonous, boring, human life. His train of thought was then cut off when a loud crash rang through the air. Snapping his head toward the sound, Deveric stalked toward it. Perhaps it was the boy causing more trouble... Or something worse.

[Calmay]

Elric held his breath as he waited to see if Deveric would turn the corner and see him. He felt like every movement he made could be heard by everyone there. When he saw that he had not seen him he released his breath. He needed to get out of this location and find a way out of this place. He started to walk and wondered why he was so nervous about. It was not like he had had done any serous damage to anyone. So what if he was hurt it was not his fault that the man was not human. With the new found confidence he continued to walk away. Though he had nothing to worry about he still did not want to go that way. There had to be another way out of this palace. All he had to do was find it. It was not possible that all routes lead to that man.

He continues to walk and every time he saw a guard coming his way he hide his face. He knew that it was a matter of time before he got noticed, but he was going to let that get in his way. After all he was sure that he was not the one in the wrong. Well, maybe not about burning the room down, but everything else was not his fault. He had no idea where he was going see that he was still lost. He still kept going forward. However when he saw a guard that had seen his face he moved closer to the wall and did not notice what was in front of him. The guard past with out noticing him, but within a few seconds he was on the ground. In front of him was a suit of armour that was now starting to fall down on the ground. He moved as quickly as he could to stop it, but it was too late. The armour escaped his grasp and made a large sound that echoed through the halls. Instead of running away like his mind was telling him to do, he started to fix the armour back to how it was.

[Leaf]

Spinning around the corner, Deveric saw a boy scrambling to put a suit of armor back together. The knight ran his hand through his raven hair and let out a sigh. All the trouble that human children get into was such a bother. At least it wasn't as bad as he thought. The boy was turned away, so Deveric could not see his face. The linen clothing further hid the half-demon's identity. "Just leave it," Deveric huffed, waving his hand carelessly. "I'll get someone else to fix it up later." There was other things on his mind, and this was just a small matter. He needed to find the kin of LaRosa, whom still assumed to be stalking around the castle halls. The issue irked him. The use of flames, the same mocking tone in the voice was the exact imprint of his worst enemy, even though the sly old fellow had not appeared in front of him in so long.With that thought, he spun around on his heel to go find the boy to chastise and kick him out. Little did he know his target was just sitting before him. He snapped at a guard and barked. "You! That suit fell over. Fix it up." Humans… such bothersome and overly complicated creatures.

[Calmay]

Elric did not move when he had heard Deveric's voice. He did not have to look at him to know it was the one person that he was avoiding. However luck was on his side right now. It looked like the man had not noticed who he was. However he knew not to do anything that would reveal who he was. He stayed quite and continued to but the armour back together. He was not going to leave it like that. His hands shook as he waited for a chance to get away. He did not want to make it appear as he was running away. He was not going to make a mistake. He had to wait. However thing did not go as planned. They never did for Elric.

When the guard came to help him he saw his face. Being that it had been the guard that passed him earlier he recognized that it was Elric. Without a second thought Elric's leg moved kicked the man in the stomach knocking the wind out of him and making him fall down. The man had been about to say something. Elric then bolted down the hallway the opposite direction the Deveric was going. He had to get away fast. It would only be a matter of seconds before the guard told the demon who he was. He needed as much as a head start as he could get.

The guard fell to the ground and gasped for air. The boy's kick was strong. It had cracked a couple of his ribs. He got up and made his way to the Captain. "Sir the boy at the armour it was him. He went that way." He pointed the direction that Elric was running. It was clear there was pain in his voice. His arm was at his side keeping the pain in not wanting to show weakness to his superior.

[Leaf]

Thump, crack! Sounds of bones breaking that Deveric could recognize anywhere. The mix of the light pit-pat of running feet and the low groan and clumsy clunks of staggering was enough to tell Deveric what had happened. He turned around and sure enough, stood a guard, stumbling with his arm at his side. Deveric saw clear through the man's weak attempt at hiding the pain and only narrowed his eyes when he reported the boy. "I see." Deveric snipped coldly. "Perhaps next time," He boxed the guard across the face, causing him to fall to the ground. "It'll be less talk and more walk." With the words, Deveric paced down the hall toward where the boy had went. Another crack split in the air followed by a painful scream. "Oops. I forgot that human ribs weren't sturdy enough to walk on." The demon said sarcastically, but the soldier was already in too much pain to listen. He should recruit a new army, a stronger army that wasn't full of cowards. But when your military is composed of a majority of humans, then you really don't have too much choice. The thought still lingered, however, and Deveric made a mental note to mention this to the King later on.

But for now, the boy. Deveric stomped down the hallway, his contempt written so clearly across his face that everyone who crossed paths with him tried to turn at the next corner possible. The palace was a maze, but there were several guards all over. Why couldn't they catch the boy? But, the boy WAS part demon, so it's understandable that the mere humans couldn't catch him, right? AS IF! Deveric scoffed to himself. The humans didn't need to be understood by superior demons such as himself. They weren't fit to be guards if they could not accomplish such a simple task. If they didn't catch the boy, they were not going to see the sunrise the next morning.

[Calmay]

Elric ran through the corridors and stopped when he saw the path blocked by a bunch of guards. He turned around and ran back. The was not good. They were getting better at following him and well he knew it would not be long before he got caught. Unlike the men that worked here he had no idea which path lead where. He was just running to get away as fast as he could. That was all that was important to him. He turned another corner when he saw his path blocked again. He had no idea if it was the same group he just knew he had to keep running. He could not get aught by the demon after what he had done. It was not like it was his fault, he was just defending himself. He had no idea that the man would be hurt like that.

He turned another corner to find it blocked and quickly turned around to see himself surrounded. He growled. It looked like he was going to have to fight his way out. However he was not sure if he would be able to fight his way out of the group. He entered a defensive stance and waited to block and find an escape route. He managed to take out a couple guards before the group overwhelmed him. He sound himself suspended in the air by his arms. "I got permission to be here. You have no reason to treat me like this." He yelled out trying to get out of hold.