Ashley Harker
Eden
The Past
The mortal smiles fearlessly as he returns the devil's stare.
Quote:
"A world, Alexander, where nobody is hungry. Where a girl can play in the streets without fear of someone kidnapping her. Where a man can start a business down here that is more then simply drugrunning, or smuggling - wouldn't that be a wonderful world?"
Alexander remained silent.
Harker continued, his words, his eyes building in intensity.
Quote:
"I know it's impossible. I know it's absolutely impossible to bring the beauty of Paradisio to this place, but --!!"
Despite the fact that his dream was impossible. Even though his dream was impossible.
He knew this. He understood this.
Still he dreamed it. A dream too large for a mere human to even hope to accomplish.
Quote:
"--Does that mean we cannot try? No. To try is to be carved down by those above us, Alexander. Those who think themselves our betters, even as their betters look down on them. We all look at the same sky, breathe the same air, live in the same place. Are we not the same? To those above us, I would ask that they join us. To those below us, I would ask that they forgive us. To those so far above us that to even grasp at them is like a wolf grasps at the moon --
Quote:
"To them, I will destroy. I will tear the Tower of Heaven apart, brick by brick, until all that remains is the broken fragments of what was once society's own pillar. Listen to me Alexander, oh demon of dreams; I, Ashley Harker, will change this city. I will take the meek and raise them up, I will take the arrogant and bring them low. Inferno? Purgatorio? Paradisio? To me, they are all one level. Eden."
"..."
And so, in order to achieve this miracle beyond human reach...
Quote:
"Eden is old, worn, and deprecated. It is corrupt to the very core, and every person who stands above Inferno is at fault. These people are broken, shattered, and damned. From Inferno to Paradisio, every single one of them has the thought 'well, it can't be helped.'...This city is dying, Alexander. And I will definitely save this city."
...he summon a being that is beyond human understanding. For the sake of his wish he dives headfirst into powers beyond his control.
The world he lived in. The world he envisioned. The two were fundamentally incompatible. But he refused to compromise. His dream was not incorrect. It was the world that was wrong.
And so it fell to him to change the world.
...
Isn't that the purpose of a Devil's contract?
Alexander could see the strength of his will within Harker's eyes. As Harker had spoke of his dream, Alexander measured the power of his conviction within his heart.
No matter how different the dreams may be, this is the singular measure by which all dreamers can be measured.
As for the result...
"I understand."
Alexander extended his hand. Inside that hand, was a spark of light. However, that hand remained within the boundaries of the summoning circle. To enter it's territory... would be to give up all protections, to put himself at the mercy of the devil.
"Here exists either the power you seek or your own self-destruction. The choice is yours."
Alexander spoke without judging or condemning. There would be no shame in retreating to safety. No sin in refusal. To gamble one's life for power is pure madness. After all, inside the circle stood a devil from the pits of hell.
And yet, to think that one could obtain the power to shake Eden without even risking one's life was just as insane.
The choice lay with Harker.
Asher Bharrant
Eden
The Past
Quote:
"That, Devil, is what I will use your power for. Now tell me, can you grant me that kind of power?"
"Heh"
The devil gave a short laugh. It seemed to have been truly amused at something, as if it had heard some fantastic joke.
"Of course I can grant you power. Great power just as you desire. But are you aware of what you're asking?"
"You dream of a peaceful life. And you seek to obtain it with violence. Furthermore, to obtain that peaceful life, you will shatter numerous other peaceful lives with your own hand, plunge them to hell by your own will."
The selfishness of humanity. The greed. The violence. A never ending cycle of strife and conflict that grows with each repetition.
What a beautiful thing. It was the greatest entertainment in all the universe. It was something this devil could watch for over a thousand years without tiring of it.
And the best part of it all is that humans did this all of this own will. With full understanding of their actions, without any room for excuses.
"You understand all that, don't you~?"
Theola August
The Past
Eden
Quote:
“And that is exactly why I have come to you. No matter what, I could not stand to feel the slightest bit of love for this wretched life that God has given me- therefore, I have no choice but to turn to the Devil.”
With those words, the room became silent. Nothing could be heard except for the shifting of flesh, as the creature digested what had just been confessed to it.
Hatred. Self-loathing. Self-love.
One who cannot stand oneself. One who cannot accept oneself. One who cannot no longer live with oneself.
For someone who is no longer willing to walk down their own paths, their only recourse is to jump off.
To fall into the abyss.
Death.
But... that is not something that would normally require the power of a devil.
Therefore what the summoner likely seeks is...
...
"...you understand what you are requesting?"
If only people could change just by wishing to change. But it is precisely because most people can't change just by desiring it.
Because to begin walking a completely different path is...
"...what you seek is no different from... suicide... The death of yourself..."
Leila, Gremory
Inferno
The Past
Quote:
"Knowest thou whom thou hast summoned? We are Gremory, Duke of Hell and Devil of Love. Hast thou need of Our domain, else art thou wasting Our time?"
The man is taken aback by the forcefulness of Gremory's personality. Stuttering, he tries to regain control of the situtation and answer properly to the devil's request.
"Oh g-great demon, I have s-summoned you because I have a w-wish that I request y-you grant. For I seek a great power!. One strong enough to overcome my foes, and succeed in gaining the love of the one I have fallen for."
A0-22
Eden
The Past
Quote:
"You won't stop me. No one will. I won't stop until I tear it apart."
"Oho..."
Several heartbeats pass. All of a sudden, the boy could feel the pressure suddenly lift from his body as the wolf removes its tail from his throat.
"Not a bad look in your eyes. Not bad at all."
What a strange human the fates have brought before him. Clearly unlike the fools that had tried to summon him. Different from the humans he had encountered in the past
Ah, that's what it was, the devil realized.
'Human' but not quite.
There was a animal hunger burning quietly inside this child. A bestial fury that gives him the strength to bare his fangs at an existence llike a devil.
Does that make him more than human, or less?
What a fascinating specimen. There is value and worth here.
"Remember this heat, this feeling burning inside you."
The wolf moved around the boy, until they were standing face to face. The wolf's eyes glowed like burning forests, and it's breath was like an inferno. But the boy did not back away.
The devil grinned again.
"Tell me, my powerless little rebel. What is your name? And what is it you desire?"