On a road filled with dried leaves, no trees for said leaves to ever have grown. Nothing here, except the endless grass to the left and right with towns booming in the distance. Sometimes, there are patches of unrecognizable and not-really-organic leaves. Some crumbled, others held to the stem, some creating shapes that resembled figures or people, some never ever made any sense.
"Y'know, a lot of the time, we're conditioned to like our masters!" Hapfully talking to pass the time as they walked, Tartaros chatted her young woman's mouth away with too many words, none of which anyone could remember.
"I see." Zabulus answered, his tone dark, and filled with mixed feelings he didn't want to bear in his heart., distant and despondent. He kept walking the trail without stopping or giving the least regard to the rest.
'If you continue to act so sour to Madam Tartaros, she shall suffer mental damage, Master!' Always the voice of reason, or was it only the voice that preferred to yell about things...
"Ah, right. My bad. Then..." He struggled to find a response, until he just opted for one, any would do. "How did you hate Onofre?"
"My old master! Sure, a part of me wanted to do what I could for her out of obligation and how we Kindling Weapons work, but... I dunno! Bleh, I just got tired of her up-tight personality and constant, terrible, miserable attitude. It pissed me off, and I started ta hate that meaniehead. Hmph! And that ain't the worst part, she hates me too!" As Tartaros continued to chatter on, she eventually went to explain herself about how it happened, perhaps thinking Zabulus cared too little to say anything. But really, he cared to hear. He simply refused to show it. "...and she told me about ya, how you tore up those Amalgamates and ate their hearts! She was really happy 'bout it, sounded like some older sister that was proud of her little brother. For once, she was happy, but eh. She killed you and your little friend in the end, ya, she's terrible!"
Visions of Phronta's dead body rose back up once more. Phronta's instant and inescapable death, that terrible Onofre who tricked him into thinking they were friends, he thought. 'Maybe it wouldn't be bad to let these two be my companions, after all, they cannot betray me.' His line of thinking was because they were responsible for his safety, then they'd do anything to keep him alive. His thinking had become rather self-centered, in a way.
"So, tell me, Zabulus. Tell me what kind of Master you'd be like..." Wiping off the sweat off her brow, she leaned back with her torso up-straight, and her gaze looking right at Zabulus'
Zabulus' reaction changed a bit. He stopped walking.
'Looking up at the blue-sky, this world really is much different than where I was born. I wonder how well I adjusted to this lifestyle? I've only known Phantos and Tartaros this little, so I have to decide how they will help me in my journey home and beyond... Giving them a purpose is too much, but a little guidance wouldn't hurt.' His thoughts fell on himself for a while longer. 'A little guidance could help them become like me, I need to twist their minds, is that so? Yes... Yes... Little by little...' His thought-mutterings came back, until finally, he spoke out loud, "I'd like to be the kind of master that will let you be yourselves, with a few ground rules of course." His face remained passive and uncaring, yet his tone showed a small form of softness, something like affection or positive emotions.
"Ah? R-Really, what rules?" For being such a talkative and outgoing girl, she had quite an expected reaction.
"First rule, I am not in charge and telling you guys what to do, but you will follow any of my orders I give you in battle."
"So... Exciting!!! The kind of love I'd think an owner has for his battle pet, damnit." Leaving out the fact she got excited because of his military mindset, she re-focuses on Zabulus. "Sooo? Is there a second rule, Mister?"
'Be not impatient, Tartaros. Allow our Master to speak at his own pace. A mindless fool would only spout the first thing that comes to their mind, he is the kind of man to think about his words carefully before ever saying them, certainly.' Phantos raised her 'monocle' high, if she had one, while she continued to monologue, 'He is unlike most, a rare exception to the multitude of mundane individuals that wander this pitiful existence.'
"Don't mind her, master! She's just old and doesn't know what a girl her age is supposed to say!" Tartaros puffed her cheek as if she was insulted, but really, she was more worried that Phantos would piss off their master more than the fact she was disregarded,
'WHO are you calling old...? I am a century less older than yourself, we are equally 'ancient'!'
Zabulus overlooked their little debacle and continued, "Second rule... You must address me with something proper and respectful."
"A-Ah? And what would that be... Is master not good enough...?" She was confused, Phantos was waiting, though. As if she knew already.
"I want a name... A title that is more intimidating than some simple word meant to designate ownership! That's right... Call me the Messiah Lord Killer of Nightmares!" Zabulus proudly exclaimed his new 'name'.
"M-master... That's... Too long and lame."
'Hm. A middle-schooler kind of name, should we call him 'Mr. Zabulus of Dark, Empty Places', instead?' Phantos thought sarcastically as Zabulus himself deflated with mild hurt.
"Aha! Great idea, Phantos!" Tartaros knelt down and 'pet' the book that said it... Quite surprised at the girl-scythe's sudden touch. "Say, Phantos, do you wanna look human too!?"
'W-what preposterous matters are you asking now...?!' While talking about this subject suddenly, Tartaros' eagerness seemed too frightening to handle. Her personality was much like that of a child's, hard-to-deal with and had energy overflowing.
"You mean... Tartaros, you're able to make Phantos look like that too, without getting in the way of her power?" The girl with bright eyes and a smile that could be seen as evil nodded, "She has the ability to create things, right? And she's Ignitionless? Phantos has potential, aye! Lemme tell ya, her concept is Emotion!" Tartaros didn't state the obvious, because not even Phantos knew of this part.
'E-emotion? Then... Where does my aspect of creation come from?' Inquisitive as to know more of her nature, the unyielding book asked eagerly,
"Tangentially! You create things using the Emotion of your Master! Or any other nearby, although your effect doesn't follow their Will usually... Unless it's stronger than yours. It's a really cool ability! I'm Jealous! Envious! Covetous! Green-eyed!"
"You're yellow-eyed." He went ahead and said with a stare.
'I'm sure she meant it figuratively... My, the youth is impressive...' Was she impressed? Or was she just trying to sound old according to her age? Why was she being contradictory to her hatred of sounding old?!
"Young I am not! And don't go and say weird things like an old lady, you said it yourself... Barely a century older than me!" From Tartaros to Phantos, from Phantos to Tartaros... Zabulus gazed upward once more, wondering what name he should pick for himself. And as he began thinking... "Master! Back to topic, what will your name be?!"
"King of Light..."
'Bound to bad naming... huh?'
"Yah... He wants a middle schooler name like Messiah Lord..."
...
"Emperor Murderer..."
'No.'
"Cringeee!"
...
"Twin Phantasms Incarnation, The Living Couch Monster of a God--"
'Too long, again! Don't make your name become a list of one hundred titles, master!'
"Blah... He can keep thinking up titles. I'm enjoying the name choosing contest!"
...
"Vast Dark, the Almighty..."
'Are you even listening to me?'
"Yeah! 'Almighty Dark Vast', it sounds both super duper intimidating and powerful, only if you were in school!"
...
"Zabulus."
'You've made a decision, master? Finally, We shall call you by name?'
"Lameeeeee, I don't wanna do that!"
...
With a thousand names and objections, neither ones agreeing to a final choice until...
"Then call me Nameless."
'I see, so that if anybody hears us, they would never come to know your name, helping keep you off the enemies tracks! A smart plan, Master!'
"I getcha! Nameless because you don't want them to know your n--" Interrupted by Zabulus, Tartaros looks on with a shock...
"It's because I was born nameless, nor do I know my true name yet. The name you'll have to call me by is Nameless, Master sounds too much like a slave owner." His voice felt strained from the heavy thoughts.
"Ahh...I see! I see now! And here I was tryin' ta think how this was a respectable thing, I honestly don't care. It's convenient! And easy!" Booming her fist into her open palm, she smiled brightly in a matter that seemed like this would make her eternally happy for whatever reason.
'Nameless... For that reason, I see. To be nameless is to be unique... Because of your past, you were made into a freak of nature, were you not? Someone who was exiled by his mother and eventually went on to see her end by himself, were you not the one, Nameless?' How she knew the fact of his mother's murder was beyond him.
"The only reason I went along with the name changing was because being called Zabulus reminds me too much of a place I'd rather not remember." He remembered when he first chose that name on the spot, the lie he fabricated to go along with having a 'name'. He never had the privilege of the 'real' name his mother or father would have given him. Eskra... that accursed place where he met Alice.
"Saayyy, how'd ya feel 'bout The Void in Blue?" Not entirely a question he knew how to answer, he just gave her a confused look and said.
"I don't know anything about it. The only thing I saw was... A room of mirrors, even the ground being one, too. An all empty white space, except there was one of my mortal enemies. I would have killed her and eaten her heart there, too. Besides, the reason I'm headed towards home is separate from that. Something I must confirm for myself..." Saying so much shouldn't have sounded so ominous, but the emotions behind them and his tone proved something to be true.
"Eh? Is this thing too difficult for ya to do alone? Because! I am here! And cause of that, ye'll never have ta kill alone ever again!!!" She tried using a powerful and cool tone, instead of happy-puffing like she usually does. "I promise!"
'Mm.' Phantos had no argument, 'Only I am to guide you towards the most efficient path, so while Tartaros may appear extraordinarily talkative, I shall keep to what is more sensible than flaunting your strength. Plus, we are yet to learn exactly where your Home lies. So far, the only thing is to assume somewhere around the Triandicons within the Plight of Sorrow, this section's radius, as per my calculations... That's how much we can simply infer, for accuracy purposes, at least. For her attitude however... How will she pass as a criminal in that form?' Phantos made a good question, which had been brought up much later than it should have been. 'Will she accompany you as a girl? Or would her form look more deplorable, then?'
"Guys..."
"I see. You pose a question that interests me as well, how are we to disguise her? If it comes down to it, she can revert back into her Scythe form and be my weapon once again."
"Guys...!"
'Would the Plight of Sorrow allow for a weapon to be wielded amongst those criminals? I wonder. If it truly is a lawless land, then she must possess a better guise.'
"Guysss!!!!"
"Wouldn't they need a guard in the first place to bring the prisoner there? Maybe she could make herself look like one so that she can just be invisible to them and I'd be able to follow."
"GuUuYssSS!!!!!" After three pitiful attempts, they stopped ignoring her and focused on her. And then, with an annoyed expression, "I want to go in too! I wanna goooo! I don't wanna be a boring guard who does nothing but stand and do nothing, that's toooo boring!" She pouts and yells just right beside them.
'Then, is it possible that you turn me human? Preferably with an image to fit the part of a convict's guard... Though, I know not what I look like, Madam Tartaros.' Pleading to ask an unnecessary favor, that's how it seemed.
"That sounds like a plan. However, what about Tartaros? She can't go looking in like that." Zabulus glanced at the girl again, feeling pity and empathy due to how unfairly she is treated even if by her own doing, being called a weapon only and not an individual.
Tartaros came up with a plan, "Ah! I got it! I'll just look fucked-up! So then they take me as one of the criminals too! Y'know, everyone in there is some form of fucked-up already, so don't worry! HaHaHa! They'd welcome someone like me, for sure."
'I see, shall we commence the plan when the point of interest is in sight, then? Having to settle the matter of what to call Zabulus, we have more time for discussion and planning of this plan.'
"It's settled, then. I wonder what you both would look like." He said mindlessly, paying a little less attention than usual.
...
Ideas spilled over with each other.
Problematic ideas, to let her use Phantos as a 'live test subject' for her 'possibility factor'...
Bizarre ideas, to see how messed up Tartaros can look, after all, she couldn't feel pain and would inflict injuries upon herself by transforming her arms into scythes.
Wild ideas, to try a mass amount of bodies on top of each other to use as a sling-shot.
Monstrous ideas, to try a bizarre human shape with a combination of animals, insects, and other things on a whim.
Yet, some wilder still to try and create something... Human.
Though, as the trio arrived to a large dark town, literally shrouded in darkness and sharp wood, metals, edges and many things kept together by a single string. In reality, this place was even larger than the city of Onkhivol itself. Strong string, huh? The walls were made of nothing but jagged edges that would pierce through even the toughest metals, it was an edgy place.
Tartaros was more concerned with a different kind of issue, "Hey, Phantos... Are ya comfortable in that armor? It looks... Stiff!"
'You're the one who did this, so I'll bear it. It is not physical pain, so don't worry, Madam Tartaros.'
Looking ahead, outside the town, was a giant pillar made of nothing but a metal shell, and two big yellow signs, each with something written.
(Danger) = > You are not allowed near the Triandicon, for your SAFETY!!!
(Reward) = < Bring back the following: Corvall, Azubilli, Rantathris
Each had a sketch next to them of sorts.
Looking with some interest, Zabulus figured they were wanted criminals within the Plight of Sorrow.
Wanted despite the land being lawless... Were Onofre's memories and Tartaros' words insufficient for the kind of place this land really was?
"I suppose there's no more doubt in our minds now. If we can meet the people inside, then trudge along until they ask if we have seen these people. Even the most ignorant would assume I would likely eat them alive, should they be the ones who bring it up..."
"Your plan has a fatal flaw, Nameless. When you enter and are asked, you cannot answer yes, or you will be taken in for being a common murderer. Even then, that might seem good. But we need to come up with a lie that makes you and Madam Tartaros great criminals, yet not ones worthy of execution, though I believe that execution does not happen here. Please, answer the question, why shouldn't I say yes to kill these criminals?"
"Because it's not necessary for my cause. We don't need unnecessary fights, unless they provoke us first. Though, I'll gladly kill them too..." His 'eyes' lowered.
"Aye, aye Phantos! You'll take the role of the guard that was slightly injured in battle bringing in two equally injured criminals who caused a riot of sorts... and then we just go in and try to be more notorious as we find out more. Nameless' mission will be the best covered secret here!"
"To build a reputation for yourself... I see... But what about me? How shall I assist in that? Faking a battle was half-baked, I'm not sure what else."
"Here I've got a good 'un, Phantos!"
"Riveting. Then what is it." Zabulus' interest was piqued.
"We make Nameless into a mass-murderer!! A celebrity, who got his name through killing an entire small gang in one night and leaving nobody alive! Slowly, he'll kill all the criminals in the Plight of Sorrow and will be sent away to the triandicon room!"
"For a unique feature... That could possibly work, although leaving him to the triandicons alone seems risky..." Phantos' response was calm, and a tad bit of sarcasm.
Zabulus was staring forward, not a single word out of his lips, thinking and then looking at her, "Tartaros, why did you make Phantos look like Ixothrozophella? You could have picked anything at all, yet you chose something like this? Seriously?" The female body of Phantos looked like Ixothrozophella, a timid girl who hated Zabulus with all her guts.
"Ah... well, cause I thought she was cute, hehe..." She tried hiding her smile budging out of her cheeks, how shy.
"Enough of this talk. Just keep moving forward, what matters most now is..."
How will they even enter the Plight of Sorrow?