The departure of Collon gave Imuru some time to catch his breath. He ran his hand through his hair, inhaled and exhaled deeply, his eyes darker than usual seeming soulless, with a contemplative expression rested on his face.
"Can I have Arken here please?" Imuru asked, in an assertive tone for the first time.
Yosho's smile widened, and without hesitation, she left to retrieve Arken. Ori quietly made her exit from the office, on her way out Imuru he could make out the deep sadness in her face.
The office never got to that point of a dreaded silence, thanks to the boasted laughter of Arken, as he confidently stepped into the room ahead of Yosho.
He stood proudly in front of Imuru. "I've mastered it. I've mastered the technique of mediation!" Arken proclaimed. "Go ahead…" He turned his back. "...Throw what challenge you want at me… It won't make a difference."
Imuru cocked his head, a glimmer of epiphany filled his once soulless eyes. "He took it quite well," Imuru thought with a smile creasing his lips. "Arken's hot headed sure, but I feel he likes a 'challenge' even if he won't admit it."
Imuru cleared his throat. "I'm glad you're here Arken. Now to cut to the chance. I'll be attending a meeting 'Not against my will, mind you' with Yosho and the others."
Arken looked back at Imuru and narrowed his eyes. "What meeting? From who? That strange, frail looking human Collon?"
Yosho opened her eyes, and intensely glared at Arken from behind. The passing remark she'd consider disregarding from anyone besides Arken.
"Umm. Yes, Collon," Imuru said with a bit of hesitation. "Though, just be careful, that's Yosho's brother."
Arken spun around, and stared Imuru in his eyes. He then glanced back at Yosho, squinted, then shrugged his shoulders, returning to his usual pose, his arms crossed across his chest.
He chuckled. "I see. I'll give it to you. Not a half bad joke. Not a half bad joke at all. Doesn't matter. When will we be leaving?"
"Oh, we?" Imuru straightened his hair, remaining silent for a moment. "Well. I will be giving you the job of protecting the village while we're gone, and keeping everything under control, of course."
"Mm-hm. And that wolf is going?" Arken inquired, an unreadable expression on his face.
"Well, he's done some stuff, so it would be reasonable to have him with me," Imuru thoughtfully explained.
Yosho stepped forward with intent. "If Great Imuru would allow it, I'll step aside and allow you to take my place," Yosho suggested.
"That will not be necessary," Arken promptly responded, raising his head high. "I shall stay behind. I've always defended my people, and I'll continue to."
This call of duty from Arken, gave Slite and Imuru a sense of admiration for the Dark Devider.
"Then… T-That's settled," Imuru stammered, his eyes beaming on Arken. "We'll be on our way by tomorrow."
With the conversation coming to an end, Slite politely excused himself. Arken eyed Slite with keen suspicion, he turned to follow behind, only to be stopped by the voice of Imuru.
"Mind your business!" Imuru loudly expressed.
"Great Imuru, if you excuse me?" Yosho requested. Imuru gave her a nod of approval, sending her on her way.
Yosho quietly searched the rooms inside for Ori. She took her search outside, and managed to locate her aimlessly pacing around behind the lodge.
"Hm. Ori…" Yosho muttered as she approached with care. "Now, what may be the problem?" She asked, in a gentle tone.
Ori paused her aimless pacing. "I'm fine," She casually replied. "What a seriously pointless question," Ori expressed exasperation.
She dramatically spun around on her heels. "Now if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna take a walk."
Before she's able to walk off, Yosho cut ahead of her. "Dear, mind if I tag along?" Yosho requested, with a sweet smile.
"Uh…?" Ori pondered for a few seconds, a bit taken aback. "Yes. You can, if you wish to."
They walked in silence amongst themselves, for some time, until Ori's bubbling questions she had beneath, came to the surface.
"Yo-sho… I'd like to know who is Imuru?" Ori began her voice filled with hidden curiosity. "I've never heard of a Demon Lord before… Though, yet again, people always seem to claim to be something they aren't."
"Our dear Lord Imuru is more than capable to call himself such," Yosho retorted, her eyes wide open, confidence glimmering within them.
"I-If that's so… Then he could possibly retake my home?" Ori murmured through a stammer.
Yosho contemplated this for a moment, knowing it's necessary to choose her words carefully. "That would be quite a task and a ask." Her smile widened. "But of course, not an issue for Great Imuru," Yosho said, her voice laced with amused confidence.
Ori gazed into Yosho's eyes, "She's confident… That's… Reassuring," Ori thought with a heavy contemplative expression on her face.
Yosho rested a gentle hand on Ori's shoulder. "Now. It all goes about the asking. How you'll approach him, and request such a task from him."
"Yeah. Asking," Ori mumbled, particularly exhausted from the thought of it.
The pair quietly continue on, as they are gradually greeted by the eventual fall of the sun, making its way into its late evening phase. The Village crept right into view, through the pathway guarded by the forest.
As they completed the pathway up to the village, the warm golden light cast long shadows over cobblestone streets, giving the place an almost magical glow.
The village seemed lively, lights being put up from the fall of night time along the streets, in homes and every building alike.
Ori eyed every Devider that passed her by with awe and fascination, lost completely by their size and muscular figure that all possessed. She moseyed around some more, a few Dark Deviders sitting ideally by on the sideway, looking perplexed by the female elf's presence.
Ori came across the tavern, a hanging sign catching her eye. She inched closer and closer, until she reached the door to which she pushed open to enter.
The illumination inside was light, warm and welcoming, but the room was an ominous silence, due to the surprised presence of Ori. Seven Deviders that were scattered throughout the tavern dining room and the pub area. They gazed at her unsure of what to think, but with the collective thought that she might be a guest of Imuru.
Ori remained frozen in place due to the intense gaze of the Dark Deviders. Yosho walked in a moment after, who purposefully allowed Ori to walk ahead on her own. The Deviders got back to their business immediately after she stepped in.
Ori breathed a quiet sigh of relief, only now able to take in the shined golden brown wooden floor filled with sturdy oak tables and stools, the gorgeous white that dawns the tavern wall, and the service counter in the top left.
Yosho stood by Ori's side, and took a moment to observe her surroundings. She didn't observe for long, returning her attention to Ori a second later. "How about we take a seat?" Yosho suggested.
Ori had already long thought about where she would have her seat, and went about it, picking using the table on the lower left corner, which enabled her to have a cozy view of the entire establishment.
As she sat there with Yosho, thoughts ran through her mind. "What a nice place. I never really interacted with my people, did I? Yet again it's different."
She thought deeply, bringing herself back to her home. She stood ideally at the highest platform of the castle, gazing over the kingdom, her expression blank and eyes empty. It was early in the morning, so she stood there until the morning sun greeted her and the kingdom, bathing all around in a light golden glow.
At some point the sun was high in the sky, and the kingdom was alive and active, that was her cue to head off back inside.
She wandered the castle halls, long red carpet on the floor, pillars and statues colored white lined the enormous dominant red and golden scheme hallways.
Her wandering came to an end, once her grandfather's found her. Ori's eyes narrowed in dismay, knowing what he'd likely ask.
"Ori." He began, as he exhaled a deep breath. "I understand you dislike it. But the king requested your presence for the family breakfast," Slite said.
Ori didn't mutter a word, nor did a single thought crossed her mind, she just listened and followed her grandfather's to the dining room, where she took her seat across from her father. Whilst Slite sat much further away, a keen eye out, to observe the two.
The table was silent. Everyone, with the exception of Ori, clasped their hands. The 15 members remained quiet with their eyes shut for a few minutes before they opened their eyes, and began to eat.
Without any change in body language or expression, Ori remained with her eyes directed downwards at the table.
Her father was about to eat, but rested his utensils. "Ori. Are you sure there's nothing I can help you with? I always want you to know you can speak to me," Ori's father said, a hint of desperation in his voice.
With a simple shove his chair was pushed up, slamming into the table. He spun around, to see the little twins, a massive mischievous grin mischievous on their face. "Hey. Come here," Ori's father said playfully, reaching out to grab the twins.
"Now you two are gonna have to stay here until breakfasts over, ya here that?"
The twins' expression fell almost immediately at the thought of this, which caused them to make a fuss in retaliation.
Ori watched the interaction, not even a slightest change she could feel regarding feelings… Just nothing.
A tap on the shoulder snapped Ori out of her thoughts, bringing back to the establishment where she sat.
"Huh." Ori inhaled and exhaled deeply. "That was tiring," She muttered. "Than—... Hm. I never needed that."
Yosho smiled warmly. "You're welcome."
The two remain in silence amongst themselves, the faint sound of chatter, every now and then filled the air. Ori had a firm attention to a table populated by a singular male and female Dark Devider, scars prevalent on the female's face and the male's biceps.
A bravado expression of confidence grew on her face, and she approached the table, taking a seat next to them.
The Deviders paused their drinking, frankly taken aback by the approach. They gave each other a quick glance, and shrugged.
Ori waved at them, an awkward smile on display.
The Devider postured himself a little to her. "Never seen you around before, so allow me…" He stood to his feet. "...To welcome you, to the Great Demon Lord's Home Village."
"Hey, chill, you might scare the girl," The female Devider sarcastically commented.
"Hm." The male Devider seemed perplexed by this, so he glanced back at Ori, positive the female elf seemed comfortable enough.
Ori's face melted into a warm graceful smile. "T-This is odd?... Is this… Joy?"