A pair of pale yellow eyes opened with rage and hurt.
Iazel raised his head and looked at the night sky, the cold silence echoing the hollow smile that stretched across his mouth. He was layed back on the crumbled memory of what once was a crypt in Oakwoods cemetery, having shut his eyes when he sensed Bans creating a {Mausoleum}.
When he'd appeared, he'd been adamant about talking to her but seeing Bans with that girl had given him pause. From the conversation, he gleamed the girl's ignorance, Bans unexplainable favorability towards her and at the end, something he was forced to add upon his failings.
Bans was Sarah Bucklehim, he realised grimly, somehow, they were but the coin with its shadow.
Who was the shadow he didn't contemplate.
Yet this explained Bans's interference in New York and the vow Sarah had forced out of him, despite her not knowing the worth of it. Now he was trapped in a cage of his and Bans's creation, and tommorow Sarah, oblivious mortal girl would be tossing herself to the wolves.
Iazel wasn't foolish enough to believe the Chancellor was not hunting the anomaly that is Sarah, nor him, an former Pariah. To some, his freedom and reclaimed status would be cause for joy, but to alot more it was a cause for concern.
Being a Pariah was meant to be an eternal sentencing, no one expected the Warden to be freed. A noticable part of Wardens in the Fallen Mortal Realm were Pariahs, and if they all started to reclaim their freedom, one problem would arise that sent shivers down Iazel's spine.
Wardens were indifferent beings of cold arrogance, and being sentenced as Pariahs, they were consumed with grief, self loathing and self pity. That is the reason they obeyed and served, their beings believing they deserved their fate. However, if the news of a Pariah who was freed spread, questions would arise and discontent would blossom.
If one can be freed, why can't they, is the thought that many Pariahs would have.
Regardless of Iazel's unique situation, his Vessel was not destroyed, the Pariahs would demand for new Vessels, their statuses returned, better existences. In turn, The Death panel would be forced to act, snuffing out each Pariah who grew restless with wounded hubris and hope.
Wardens weren't many to begin with, and a decrease in numbers, meant an increase in workload that could rival the angels, or worse, inefficiency that could lead to lost souls, captured souls or tainted souls.
An apocalyptic nightmare filled with abominations, ghastly apparitions and terror appeared in Iazel's thoughts for a second.
"They will hunt me till The Day of Judgment." Iazel sighed heavily as he stood up," I cannot exist merely to flee at every turn, and leave Bans and that girl. My vow won't allow it."
"Lucas... no tickling." A mumbling female voice echoed in his skull and he groaned in disgust.
Ever since he came to this town, that girl's thoughts whizzed past his mind like a faint breeze but after meeting her in the school, her voice was as clear as if she was right next to him. The connection of a Warden and Vessel that he had with Bans was with that girl too.
Sharing thoughts (he blocked that from his end) feelings (and that) and memories (that too).
He'd felt her fear, terror and helplessness like a flash flood, all aimed at him because of what he'd done in New York.
Did he regret killing that girl?
No, Wardens never regret taking a life, that's their very existence, however he did regret that Bans was hurt even more because of his actions.
Again.
"Bradley don't...go." Sarah's mumbling voice echoed in his mind again, sleep talking as she's done on before.
Although back then, it was filled with pleading and cries of help...
"Huh?" Iazel realised that this was the first time her sleep talking was not filled with sounds of fear.
"Brad...ley." Sarah's voice was sad and her emotions (dreams carried emotions) were of pain and loss.
Who was this Bradley?
Iazel turned his mind towards Sarah's memories, quickly going through them for this Bradley person. He didn't know why but he felt there was something useful there, but to his disappointment it turned out to be human attachment.
"He's dead already." Iazel saw the last memory and pulled back," Useless. I need to think of how I'll get that girl from killing herself and retrieve her friend. Indirect intervention won't work, we need to converse... but the very sight of me fills her with terror."
"Why don't you change form?" A female voice spoke up and Iazel looked down to the dryad's head peeking from behind a tree," Sorry, but I couldn't help-"
"Snooping? Eavesdropping? Spying?" Iazel asked with cold eyes," Which one?"
"Overhearing." The dryad said pointedly," Since you seek to speak with someone who fears you, why not change form?"
"I do not possess that ability." Iazel replied honestly as his scythe appeared and his cloak grew darker," The Transcripts a Warden has defines their abilities. Mine do not offer the ability of changing my form."
"You... aren't lying." The dryad's voice was surprised.
"Why need I lie, this information is hardly important since I could kill you." Iazel replied nonchalantly.
"Your vow-"
"Was to not usurp this place or its inhabitants, I never specified you. Meaning I can not kill anyone else but-"
"Two faced liar!" The dryad shouted angrily and vanished in a breeze of leaves.
Iazel smiled coldly as he looked back at the night sky to think of a way to directly help that girl without bringing her fear.
Two faced? He thought looking back to where the drayd had been at, perhaps... that might work.
No! He thought harshly, that is a death sentence.
It could work though.
"Hades, I am actually contemplating this." Iazel chuckled dryly as he got up and rose up into the air," To do this, would mark me forever."
Iazel's eyes grew hard as he relieved all that he'd been through since ten thousand years ago and his resolve solidified.
In a flash of darkness, he vanished and from behind a tree the dryad peeked out and gave a relieved sigh.
"I'll be back."
"What!?" The dryad turned around in panic but there was nothing behind her.
"Ohhh, that black barley!" The dryad cursed at Iazel for scaring her.