Midnight Eternity

The rage of the surging sand-filled gale whipped through the twisting maze of a ravine, howling to the sky as it crashed and raced for any prey. The wind took a sharp turn and slammed headfirst into a squadron of large ant monsters before ripping them apart into a black watery mist. Watching the mist launch into the air with a half-interested side eye, Shroud marched atop the walls of that sandstone ravine, carrying the sleeping duo of Kuika and Mino on his back, the crow-form Lilthivo sit on his head as he scanned the area for any threats or points of interest.

"I'm Glad we aren't in there," Lilthivo uttered amusedly while glancing down at Shroud for a response. Unlike the little crow, Shroud followed the trail of the rising mist, his attention focused solely on it as he inspected and tracked the whispy way they moved up through the air.

"I suppose," Shroud remarked in a murmur, partially comprehending Lilthivo's word but mostly focusing on analysing the mist. He squinted intently at the mist and focused his gaze, bringing his mask to its limit and making its edges crack from the pressure. Although brief, Shroud spotted traces of different-coloured dense, particle-like energy bouncing around the mist. As he mulled things over, a sudden weight manifested on his head and a shadow crept over his face before humanoid-form Lilthivo lowered her head in front of Shroud's face to obscure his vision.

"What...cha looking at?".

"I was just inspecting the monsters.".

"I see," Lithivo uttered before swinging back upright and inadvertently nudging Shroud's mask. She quickly readjusted Shroud's mask, profusely apologising for accidentally moving it. Once it was returned to its proper place, Lilthivo covered her reddening face before jumping off Shroud and hovering beside him.

As the crow flapped her jittery wings, Shroud rolled his head at seeing Lilthivo's nervous expression, her face telling of someone having to hide something, especially with the way she held her hands behind her back showing she really didn't want to. Feeling the guy staring into her, Lilthivo averted her gaze and loudly whistled, her eyes clambering for anything to focus on and distract her from Shroud's judgment.

Deciding the potential strife wasn't worth the effort, Shroud crossed his arms and walked off, figuring that he wouldn't get answers for any type of question from Lilthivo for the time being. Lilthivo sighed in relief, grateful she managed to divert Shroud's attention from the mist, even if for the moment.

Meanwhile, in a grand regal ballroom, furnished with opulent decorations of golden trinkets, breathtaking paintings, giant velvet banners, and shimmering golden chandeliers. The lights of the chandeliers cast a warm and comforting glow through the room and refracted off the many golden objects of prestige.

On the grand platform where two curved staircases meet, Princess Fai disappointedly stared through the gap in the railing that narrowly dwarfed her height, munching on a muffin as she stared down at the group of mostly Japanese high school students. Some students murmured among themselves with a few talking to a royal adviser, asking when the king who had them summoned would show up.

"Do not fret, his majesty Fulkroth, will be here in just a moment," the elder advisor explained calmly. Fai scoffed in displeasure, finding her father's choice of action childish, but didn't feel like stopping it now, given she'd be getting something out of it anyway.

"What's with the long face, Muffin?" King Feulkroth asked cheerfully as he descended the upper stairs connecting to the platform. Fai turned to look at her father, unamusement and disappointment gleaming from her eyes as she tossed her muffin wrapper into the basket in Cole's hand.

(King Feulkroth is a tall, thirty-five-year-old humanoid male angel; he has slightly long slick back purple hair and violet tips, a purple right eye, an orange left eye, light purple skin, and eight large purple angel wings)

(King Feulkroth is wearing a dark royal blue dress kingly rope with white trims, and a platinum-encrusted crown)

"Father... why do you have to drag people into dumb things?" Fai grumbled, her frown reminiscent of a toddler after having their favourite toy taken from them. Her father mildly flinched at his child's words, hitting him like a punch in the gut. He felt a little disheartened, her words still cutting deep but he swallowed his pride as he forced a cheerful smirk.

"Isn't drag a bit of a strong word... My Lady?" Cole remarked cheekily, his voice extra professional and formal as he said my lady. Fai spun around, her face bright with embarrassment, the feeling only magnified by the cocky grin on Cole's face. At watching the two kids bicker, King Feulkroth felt his mental anguish peeter away and replaced with content.

However, his short moment of peace was halted as a strong presence of three spiritual energies popped up above him. A wave of worry overtook King Feulroth, the identity of the energies all too familiar to the man, and he turned to see an adult dark silver crow perched on the railing.

"Mr Vivo!" Fai exclaimed excitedly as she skipped over to Vivo and happily greeted him, much to her father's mental disapproval. Vivo bowed to Fai before he fluttered off the railing and coated himself in a cloud of pale lime clouds. The concentration of the clouds exploded, blasting apart as Vivo emerged from the cloud in his humanoid form.

(Vivo is a rather tall, twenty-one-looking humanoid kitsune visage; he has hip-low spikey dark silver hair with pale lime streaks and pale lime ends, pale lime eyes, pale white to the point it's faintly cyan skin, four large crow-like wings on his back[with the same colour gradient as his hair] and six feathery tail wings[with same colour gradient as his hair])

(Vivo is wearing a skin-tight black T-shirt, dark silver feather-textured metal armoured leggings, and dark silver metal boots)

"Be grateful for your fortune, King of Rulkival. As something came up, my lord only had the time to drop off those otherworlders that arrived at the castle; so, I'm here before you in his stead," Vivo stated matter of factly, his voice carrying a sense of terror despite how calmly he spoke. King Feulroth nervously gulped, waves of relief and dread rushing through him as he heard Vivo's statement.

"I- I see.".

"Mr Vivo, don't be too mad with Father, at least he's saving people by summoning them before they can die," Fai stated respectfully, adding a bow. Vivo raised a hand to his face and rubbed the back of his ear as his wings wrapped around his body into a hooded cloak, turning completely dark silver once they settled into place.

"I believe my lord is more focused on the why than the how and who.". A faint snicker escaped the princess' lips as Vivo said the word who, and Cole covered his eyes in embarrassment at the stupidity of his lady's humour.

"My lady, that isn't even a pun," Cole murmured. But as he saw Fai's smug expression, Cole realised she laughed intentionally with the sole purpose of annoying and getting back at him. Once again the two kids began to bicker again, and Vivo saw this as his moment to make Zalrotho's demands to the King.

"To ensure your kingdom, but mostly you, doesn't anger my lord again with your subpar-skilled otherworlders, I have been ordered to train them. Any-".

"Nope, none at all," Fai announced boastfully with her hand on her hips. Vivo stared at the princess before looking at the King, who seemed to still be processing the unintentional threat Vivo gave him. Seeing no other choice, Vivo sighed and acknowledged Fai's agreement as the binding for his employment before she grabbed his hand and led him down the stairs to introduce him to the otherworlders.