journal ⚔️ a warning

[discourtesies]

Sender: Barok van Zieks

[The writing is hurried, a cursive that just manages to be legible. In his rush, his usual formalities are cut short. The message is more important than the form it takes.]

There is a demon in the wilderness — a bestial man. Powerful and violent, able to heal itself in an instant. Anyone unable to defend themselves should avoid the woods until [until what? It's killed? If there's any shred of the man still in there, he can't condone that.] further notice.

[Is that a drop of blood on the page? Eh, it's fine.]

It was Kazuma Asogi. I don't understand it, but I wasn't able to reason with him and he became this thing before my eyes.

[After a moment, he adds:]

He cannot be left like this.

Comments

[discourtesies]

I share the sentiment.

[Hope feels a bit much to embrace, but... what else should he have done? Stay and be massacred, allowing his apprentice to bloody his hands? Is he sending these strangers to their doom, when it should be his responsibility? Allowing others to sacrifice themselves for the Reaper's weakness... the thought makes him sick to his stomach.

He has to get a hold of the situation somehow.]

[buriedvigil]

[.....So, the Reaper isn't completely merciless. Everyone knows in London how any defendant that faces the man in court ends up either guilty or dead by the end. Rumors, maybe, but... well, the man has a reputation for a reason.]

I won't keep you for much longer, Lord van Zieks.

[...]

Could you tell me the status of Mr. Asogi, once everything's settled?

[discourtesies]

[Yes, that reputation. The one he'd taken on in order to protect the citizens of London. That was what he thought for so long, but... at times, especially now, he wonders how much good it actually did.

His apprentice deserves better than being reduced to some beast.]

I will.

[He may not notify Vigil as soon as he hears the news from others, but—well, he's going to want to check for himself before promising anything.]

[buriedvigil]

[He's never had this much contact with Lord van Zieks before arriving in this world and the man is definitely still Very Scary, but... nevermind. It's probably best if he limits his interaction with the man and he doubts that the prosecutor has much interest in him, even knowing about his double life.]

Thank you, sir. I do... hope for the best.

[Is he actually optimistic?? Probably not, it's Vigil. But he means it anyway.]