Chapter 9 - On the Otherside

A Chapter by CrossesOfTime

It was a dark night outside but it was darker inside this castle that they call "Herstmonceux Palace" for it was a place full of darkness inside in out. It is a very big palace, but it had no king. His warriors, the Shade, prisoners, "The Eight Dark Souls of Nerzhul" and Nerzhul himself were the only one who stayed there. "The Eight Dark Souls of Nerzhul." is a group of Elite warriors that Nerzhul specifically handpicked. These eight people are:

Demorion, the grim demon - formerly a living person but he sold his soul to Nerzhul to gain more power. He is a demon and a human at the same time.

Karawan, the seeker - has been born blind. He was considered cursed because when he was still living in his hometown natural calamities plagued his village. When he couldn't take it he ran away and eventually was found by Nerzhul and he granted him his sight but the sight that he granted to him....was his demonic power. Wears a blind fold.

Crixalis, the tormentor - A man of strong physique and once a proud soldier of his village until he found out the truth that he was a Shade....He destroyed everything in his village and left it in ruins. He eventually was found by Nerzhul and he granted him with a lot of dark strength.

Samael, the angel of death - Samael was formerly part of "The Holy Alliance of Ivalice." and was believed to be a true angel by some, but one day.....he started acting strange. Some believed that he was under the influence of Shadow Mana and it was proved to be true. They did not know how the Shadow Mana got to him. Out of suspicion he was removed from the council. After he was removed he became angry. He went back to the council headquarters and killed them all. Eventually Nerzhul took him in and gave him the name "Angel of Death" .

Genieva, the spirit of the dark flame - A weak but beautiful woman which was the reason why she was harrased by her own father as a child and by other men as time passed by. She swore to herself that she will kill all the people who "used" her. One day it happened. She killed her father and all the men in her home town and set their corpses on fire. Nerzhul saw her rage in her instincts and took her in and gave her power. Dark power that only she can wield. Feirion's dark flame.

Lamia, the devourer - A woman who once had a peaceful life. She had two children and a loving husband. Her husband went to war. She hoped for his return, but one day she recieved a report that her husband died in war. She felt realy sad and depressed. Her children tried to help her but it was no use. Then one day it happened. She became insane and killed her two children. Not being satisfied enough she ate one of her children's corpses while it was still lying on the ground..dead. Then she left her home and eventually ran into Nerzhul, who promised to bring her husband back if she embraced the dark power. And she did.

Zernebo, the black god - Believed to be a god but soon was found out that he was a fraud by his people. He was forced to exile. He met Nerzhul and Nerzhul promised to give him godly powers in exchange for his soul in which he did. He went back to his kingdom and destroyed it with his new power "The Blackness of Death." Nerzhul gave him the name, "The Black God."

Aerona, the queen of slaughter - formerly a queen of her palace called Ilzidore. The kingdom prospered for many years, until one day the queen started acting insane and initiated a manslaughter in her palace and in the towns where her rule applied. Her kingdom fell apart and eventually she was taken in by NErzhul and gave her dark powers.

These eight people are the ones who are willing to defend Nerzhul with their life and is willing to die for him. There is one person though who is not mentioned above. He is the one and only Sefir.

"Sefir, come...." Nerzhul said.

"Master I have returned....and Soleil has now been completely summoned." Sefir replied.

"I see.....Gaia has been destroyed.....now.....it's Ivalice's turn...." Nerzhul replied.

"But master.....it's guardian is still alive...." Sefir replied.

"It doesn't matter......but, we could use him....." Nerzhul said

"How master?" Sefir asked.

"We could recruit him.....and turn the Redeemer....evil.......with enough Shadow Mana" Nerzhul said "And together all of us will create.....the world we had always hoped for.....Iveia....." He added.

"Yes master......" Sefir said.

Then Crixalis went to the room where Nerzhul is and reported that they had found a dragon remnant.

"Master.....we have found a remnant of one of your seven dragons." Crixalis said.

"What is it?" Nezhul asked.

"The eye of Diask...." Crixalis said.

"Excellent.....now we can summon Diask.....the dragon of the eternal fire......" Nerzhul said. "Now Crixalis you can go now for I must speak with Sefir alone.." He added.

"Yes master." Crixalis said.

Crixalis left the throne room where Nerzhul is and went his way. Crixalis went back to the barracks where the Eight Dark Souls Nerzhul stayed and he sparked a conversation about Sefir.

"I don't trust Sefir.....he looks as if he is up to something...." Crixalis said.

Demorion said, "I believe that you are right."

"The look on his eyes.....it is more sinister.....than Nerzhul himself." said Genieva.

"And what's bad is.....we have to take orders from him!!!" Crixalis replied.

"It is unfair....but what can we do?" Samael said

"We can kill him for one thing..." Crixalis suggested.

Just as they were talking Sefir went into the room and as he went into the room all of them shut their mouths including Crixalis.

"We have a new mission from Nerzhul.." Sefir said.

"What is it this time?" Karawan asked him.

"We have to recover Kavrion's remains....specifically his "demented" horn. It's located in Verian the abandoned village." Sefir said.

"It looks like....Nerzhul has another dragon to summon." said Aerona.

"Well let's get going then." Lamia said.

"Stop right there....Nerzhul said that I only have to take two of you guys with me. So Samael and This wimp..What's his name again uhhh oh I got it...Creolis.." Sefir said with a smug face.

"It's Crixalis you moron!!!" Crixalis replied angrily.

"Hey hey take it easy.....it's not like your name is simple to pronounce." Sefir replied.

"Yeah that's what would expect from a expect from an "extra" Crixalis said.

Sefir turned to Crixalis. He looked at him seriously now and said, "What?"

"You're not even one of us....You're just Nerzhul's lapdog....He makes you run errands for him...." Crixalis replied then he laughed afterwards.

"Lapdog huh......If I'm his lapdog then what are you?" Sefir asked him.

Crixalis couldn't answer because he knew that he also served Nerzhul.

"Yeah that's a mouthful...." Sefir said.

Crixalis is now getting angry at Sefir. "SHUT UP!!!!!" he said to Sefir.

"You know....I heard from the master that you're weak....and the reason that he took you in because he felt sorry for you....dumbass." Sefir said.

Things are beginning to heat up between the two of them. Crixalis is on the verge of attacking him when Demorion stopped him.

"Crixalis stop this nonsense!!" Demorion said.

But Crixalis wanted a piece of Sefir real bad so he said, "Out of my way Demorion!!!"

Then he attempted to attack Sefir, but Sefir dodged him and then he drew his sword Cerberus and stabbed Crixalis right in the stomach. He pulled Cerberus out of Crixalis and he beheaded Crixalis which resulted to his death. Crixalis's body fell to the ground. Sefir spat at his body and said.

"Does anybody else have a problem?" he asked the seven.

"You killed him.....with only 2 hits....." Samael said. He was still shocked after he said that.

"You see....when any of you guys have a problem with me....this will be the result....Crixalis...he had it coming. I knew that he had a problem with me. I even know of his plan to kill me, but now look....his plan backfired." Sefir said.

"What should we do with his corpse?" Lamia asked Sefir.

"Genieva burn it." Sefir said.

With an instant Genieva burned Crixalis's corpse to get rid of the evidence that Sefir killed him.

"Now were only seven..." said Samael.

"Now......I will take Crixalis's place in the Dark Souls...." Sefir said.

There was no denying that the seven people accepted Sefir quickly and thus they have formed "The Eight Dark Souls of Nerzhul once again.

Now the members of "The Eight Dark Souls of Nerzhul" are,

Demorion, the grim demon

Karawan, the seeker

Samael, the angel of death

Genieva, the spirit of the dark flame

Lamia, the devourer