Hope amidst the darkness (Tylo/open)

[Ciel]

No more words were needed, the duo was immediately taken to the waiting room as requested by the angel digimon, and with justified reasons, the devil butler warned the winged digimon's companion to be careful with the delicate and fine vases decorating what certainly was a comfortable room.

"Again thanks for the attention, we shall make no hazardous movement that would attempt against the safety of those vases"

Tylomon's powerful, strong, fast and large body was made for combat and outdoors activity, but inside a building made for less ... animal-like digimon, his form was less than useful, Ciel was certainly impressed he had so much control on his ability to hover and movement speed, he flawlessly managed to avoid all the vases and even didn't even scratch the paint of the walls, he really surpassed his previous limits this time.

She sit on a comfortable sofa while she waited and the devimon butler called his fellow workmate ladydevimon to talk with her about the whereabouts of their master, they spoke about a tower, and about ... a council again? It was clear that there was some sort of misunderstanding here and the angel digimon wanted to correct it before hilarity ensued.

"Pardon me, but we are not part of any council, we are simply travelers ..."

By the time she started to speak, the couple of devils resumed their duties and immediately left, one to summon the master and the other to attend the mansion. Hopefully at least the female devil heard what Ciel said and stopped before that master of hers came to them for the wrong reasons.

"Quite the energetic couple"

She said at her shark companion. If more digimon were like them, the entire digital world would be a better place place she thought. Even devils can laugh, smile and love, and she secretly envied their happiness for she was sure she would never be able to love and be loved back.

[tylomon]

- Oh, you're not from from the council? But it is okay! Our master loves meeting travelers! He likes to ask them about what happens in the world beyond the shadow realm. Few people from outside actually dare coming here... I will call him right now... - ladydevimon's head perked out to say that before she disappeared upstairs again - fortunately for the angel, this devil had good hearing, and helped avoid potential misunderstanding...

- I am confused... These guys are way too nice to be demons... - Tylo muttered, but silenced as he heard steps coming down the long letter. They were pretty heavy, and there were ... three of them at a time - two sounded like boots, and the other had a metal clanking to it. It was pretty creepy, considering the mansion was otherwise hollow, empty, and every sound had a sort of a vibrant echoing to it. - Well, here he comes...

Well, considering devimon and ladydevimon were servants in the estate, one could have guessed the owner would be very powerful, and, more importantly, malefic figure. They would be right of course, but this ... well, it was a bit unexpected non the less, but still suiting the surrounding environment perfectly. A tall, strapping gentleman in a rich-looking suit, and a ebony black walking staff in his hands, with a golden skull on top of it, one might have even considered him a human, if not for ... well, several facial features, and height of course. This one would be taller than even a devimon, who was not by any means a shorty. The tall digimon came down the stairs, spotting the guests almost immediately. A smile appeared on his face.

- Ah, so these are my visitors today? Hahah, welcome. - the Myotismon, said cheerfully, if not slightly eccentrically, upon approaching, the staff twirling in his hands, before stopping it suddenly, it's metal-coated tip making a recognizable clanking sound upon touching the floor. He bowed gracefully as part of his greeting.

- Allow me to introduce myself. I am lord Myotis, I own this humble estate, and I bid you welcome... - his voice became calmer, and slightly more formal. The tall vampire-like digimon then looked upon his two guests, not hiding the hint of amazement that traced on his face. - I must admit, is is very unusual, and curios to see an angel who is not a part of the holy counsil, and a sea-dweller in these parts. May I have the honor of knowing your names? - he asked then. It was only polite to know that, before discussing more ... present matters. Both devimon and ladydevimon could have been seen eavesdropping by the doorway, but maybe they were just standing there, knowing master would soon require of their services...

[Ciel]

"I learned from my journeys to expect anything from anyone, simply accept it and stay calm, you could give a bad impression to the master of the mansion"

He was a hovering armored missile shooting prehistoric shark, and he found weird to see friendly demons? Surely that was double standards, because seriously, he was as odd as a marine digimon can get and got impressed by such a small detail. That was almost hilarious, but Ciel remained calm and simply waited for the master of the mansion, who soon descended from the staircase and honored them with his presence. He was a rather tall and elegant gentleman vampire digimon whose manners and etiquette were top notch, one could almost swear he was born THAT classy. He soon told them his name and requested to know theirs.

"Thanks for receiving us, lord Myotis. I am Ciel, a wandering warrior and he is my partner Tylo. And excuse our manners, I should not bring this to such a pleasant meeting"

As it was rather rude to speak with a noble man of his caliber armed, she unfastened the buckler that kept her belt with sword sheathes tied to her waist and hanged the belt on a coat stand before continue speaking. She was taught to never bring a weapon to a meeting with noble people who valued well manners, but as she already went inside the house with some, at least she had to leave them somewhere else to prove her good will. Sadly she couldn't do the same with her shark friend, his weaponry was built-in, but the master of the mansion would understand, some digimon simply cannot separate from their weapons.

"We know nothing about the council of which you speak of, but can I ask you to tell us about it? I find odd for angel digimon to live in this area of darkness, and if it is not much problem, may I ask you about your relationship with them? Your employee showed much enthusiasm thinking I was part of it and said you were expecting them. Don't feel obliged to answer, I was simply curious and would feel very grateful if you could at least show us a place where to stay, we are both tired and in need of rest"

She showed the utmost respect towards the nobleman digimon and silently waited for his answer. Any angel digimon worth its wings knew about how to act like proper and prim ladies and gentlemen ... or at least that's how things were in her own world. She knew that angel digimon varied in their rules depending the world and the only thing in common was that usually they were as dedicated as her own clan in keeping peace and order.

[Observer]

- Ah, but there is nothing wrong in carrying weapons. Here, even a nobleman is accustomed to have one with him, at all times... - Myotis said as he watched the angel voluntarily disarm herself. Then, to show what he meant by his words, the lord turned the skull on his staff counter-clock wise, and unsheathed a long, thin, rapier-like blade hidden inside. An elegant, civilized weapon for a civilized age. He hid the blade inside again and left the staff at the same place where the angel's swords were.

- Trust for trust, though only necessity forced me to acquire such a staff, for some nefarious individuals tried exploiting my hospitality to get the better of me. Fortunately, they did not succeed, otherwise we wouldn't be talking to each other right now. But let's not think about something like that, shall we? Devi! - he called then, and the next moment the devimon butler was at his side, ready to do his bidding.

- Yes, master? - he inquired.

- Set a table for three in the dining room, I'm sure our guests are hungry. - Myotis asked, and the next moment the devimon, after bowing politely, left to do what he was told to do, leaving his master alone to continue their conversation. Passing by ladydevimon, he expressed some unsureness about how to set a table for a ... big shark with missiles and razor blades, and the duo left together, Lady obviously intent to help out.

- A wonderful bunch, they are... They really did not deserve to be mistreated like they were... - Myotis made a remark, turning back to more present matters, particularly the question darcmon posed to him. It was not a big secret really, so he decided light could be brought upon it.

- Yes, you would be correct, angels do not live in such dark places, darkness tends to drag them into depression, when exposed to it for too long. They are beings of the light, but you should know that... As for the council ... we have a history together. As you may have guessed from the name of their ... organization, they come around about their angelic business. We have first encountered, when they needed a safe passage through my domain to help a neighboring region, suffering from hunger. Angewomon came at my estate for negotiations. A beautiful creature of grace and light, she is, how could I refuse her request? Ever since we have kept that agreement, her underlings come to visit rather often, I rather enjoy their company... and I've sent her many invitations to come to visit at least once more, but so far ... no answer came... Tis unfortunate... - the myotismon sighed out a bit sadly, before switching the subject and asking:

- I estimate we have about a half of an hour before Devi is done serving the table. In the meanwhile, won't you mind if I give you a tour around my small estate?

[Ciel]

"I can see why you would carry concealed weaponry with you good sir, unfortunately there are digimon who would like to get fame by killing famous and influential ones, or for different ideologies, or simply because they cannot understand that dark means not evil"

There were only some of the many reasons a digimon would want to slay master Myotis, it was the sad that quite a lot of digital monsters were unable to solve their issues through words and were quick to resort to violence to achieve their goals. Even in her quest for revenge, Ciel knew better that she could reach farther through the power of civilized dialog than through violence and considered that the greatest warrior was one who could win battles with words alone.

The master of the mansion disarmed himself and summoned his servant Devi to prepare a dinner for the tired and hungry travelers. It was a bit embarrassing, but at that moment Ciel's stomach growled, she hadn't eaten anything nutritive at all since the battle against the dumber of the paildramon twins and as much they only ate what little dry rations the sealdramon provided them for their journey to the shadow zone plus any fruit they could find. She wondered if the tylomon was hungry as well or if his fat reserves were more than enough to keep him healthy for days.

"Even angels can get used to the lack of light, some of us even long forgot what feels to receive the grace of light after staying away from it for too much time. It is rather reassuring to know the local angels found prosperity amidst the darkness of the zone, never losing the light withing them, and I'm sure the angewomon is doing a great job, they are bringers of hope"

Once more that reminded her of the old times in the angel clan of her world. Only the most virtuous and talented female angel digimon received the honor of obtaining the rank of angewomon; they had both the power and wisdom needed to work alone as elite agents of peace and could use their own judgement to act in the name of the angel clan. Meanwhile, unfitting soldiers like Ciel always worked in tandem, leaded by an exceptionally talented combat-type digimon or by an angewomon or magna angemon. It was a proof of her lack of virtue that Ciel was never able to invoke the power of the goddess everytime she visited the goddess statues, the ones that granted the light of evolution in her world, they only let those worthy of it to evolve into greater beings and she was unworthy at that time and even more unworthy now. If there was an angewomon working in this area, it had to be a digimon of brilliance and virtue that Ciel would never hope to achieve.

"It is a real shame she has not accepted your invitation yet, most likely she is busy attending to her duties, and I won't mind it. Please, give us a tour around your estate. Tylo, are you fine with that?"

She looked at the tylomon as she made her question, the tylomon was not a child nor her slave and it was up to him to decide if he preferred to do something else or join them in a tour around the estate, it was only fair.

[tylomon]

Time was passing fast as the myotismon showed the angel his wast estate, which, ironically being called "a humble home", would have easily beaten more huge, yet tasteless palaces of other area lords, they simply stuffed their place with expensive things, having little to no account for proper taste. Columns, statues, pictures, well-crafted weaponry - each room had it's own, unique style, not matching any other in any aspect. The variety would have satisfied any taste, and showed that the owner appreciated change. Unfortunately, Tylo decided to be left behind, still being wary of vases and other fragile objects that were everywhere, and which he could drop. Tempting fate was not what he wanted to do at the moment...

- Well, this is my home, such as it is... It has been a home for our family for who knows how long, these walls had seen many... many things. Fortunately, the destructive events which happen on a certain basis in this world managed to go past without leveling this magnificent structure to the ground... A family estate, if you will... It had the honor of becoming a "palace" for the area lord only recently... Two years ago or so... - the myotismon explained, as they went through the hall of pictures. A gallery, if you will.

All pictures were very different one from another in both style, artwork and paint. They showed a great variety of things, ranging from landscapes to portraits. The quality of such works was unmatched, and one could sense Myotis being proud as he passed through his hall. Soon, they have reached the biggest picture in the hall. It showed ... a myotismon, but it was not the owner of the place, though resembling much. He sported a uniform-like coat, with military symbolics on it, and a fine cavalry saber. A scar across the face only added manliness to the pose. Myotis's eyes gleamed with admiration as he looked upon the image.

- My great great grandfather. - he explained who was at the picture. - He was the ... founder of our dynasty, a very effective general. His virtues and abilities managed to win him the highest praise of the area lord of that day, and it is thanks to him we can call ourselves "nobles". I am sure he would have been proud to know one of his descendants managed to secure that what he aspired to... - myotismon spend a little more time gloating, but not enough for it to sound rude or anything. He soon turned to the angel with a question of his own.

- You and your friend look like seasoned travelers, I can see both of you carry scars of previous hardships... I am sure you have an interesting story or two to tell . And being busy with matters of my domain, I rarely have the opportunity to know what happens outside the shadow world. But even from my secluded lands I can feel the winds of change started blowing... Tell me, what happens in the outer regions?

[Ciel]

"Lord Myotis, your residence is rather tasteful and elegant, it is pleasant to know war has not ravaged this bastion of beauty and good taste"

Indeed, she had never seen this kind of beautful decoration since she left her own universe, where lord seraphimon and lady ophanimon had a most exquisite castle decorated entirely with images of the beauty of the world and other images representing important events of the digital world like some wars and certain characters of importance. Myotis's castle had its own charm as well and it had too portraits of his predecessors, one in particular being his great grandfather, one myotismon with both charisma and a imposing presence that demanded respect, Ciel guessed he had to be one of not the most important general this area had.

"I'm sure your great grandfather would be proud of what his descendants have managed to do in the present times, it is the wish of all parent to see their children being successful in life and your success will be remember for generations"

Her mentor slash angemon was like Myotis a descendant of a lineage of powerful angels, he was so powerful and skilled that he even surpassed in ability the lords he served, but out of humility and respect for his lords, he dared not to show his true power unless it were needed. He was the best angel of all ... and one of the first to die at hands of parallelmon, he gave his life to protect both heavenly lords, but his sacrifice was for naught at they skill died a mere day after his own death. It was the end of a lineage of combat-type angel digimon and no one would even react the greatness he acquired.

After his speech about his castle and ancestors, the myotismon inquired about the adventures of the darcmon and the tylomon. After what he was doing for them it was only fair to share her own experiences with him, although she was a newcomer in this land and what she had to say would be only related with the few adventures lived in this world.

"I have been only in the ocean and dino valley region and I have to say that war and strife are starting to spread through the world. I do not know well the details, but somebody was pulling the strings behind certain battle I participated in the dino valley, and that one most likely wasn't part of the region given that many of their troops weren't dinosaur digimon. The ocean area is safe for now thanks to its leader, but for what my partner told me, it is too peaceful and their soldiers too lax to be of any use were they to be attacked seriously. Do you have any idea of what is going on, about who would be interested in meddling with the internal wars of the dinosaur clan?"

She knew about the struggle for power in the dino region, but the proud dinosaur race would never create such a heterogeneous army like the one led by the weaker of the paildramon twins, he had to be part of something else, a force that wanted to disrupt the balance power in that region and if experience taught Ciel something, it was that this kind of weirdness was often orchestrated by a leader who was scheming something bigger.

[tylomon]

- So it is some war again, is it? Hmm... - the lord said thoughtfully, stroking his chin. War was rarely good for his domain, especially so close to his borders. The shadow zone had been drowned in blood of countless feuds and civil wars for far too long, the fact Myotismon managed to end it was a great relief, for if even the most bloodthirsty ones wish peace, then time for it had truly come. Whatever balance he created was, however, now threatened by this ... mysterious force that stirred up trouble in the dino land.

- Ocean is relatively secure, because underwater even lax and unprepared fish troops would have an upper hand. It is their environment after all. But here ... hmm, they could try something here too. I cannot allow to let them do that. Ciel, tell me about this ... army that invaded the dinosaur valley. They were utterly defeated I take it? - the vampire asked calmly, hands crossed behind his back. Gentleman or no, this one was also an area lord, and these things were his prime concern. He may not have looked like it, but he also had an army, and knew very well to lead it. He never lead it outside the shadow realm, but should someone invade it ... they'd be in for a nasty surprise. Legions of darkness were named that way for a reason, you know.

[Ciel]

"Victory was achieved only due a surprise attack and by slaying the army leader as swiftly as possible. The army to which we supported was ill fitted for large scale combat and combined with the talent of whoever become the new leader of the invading army we left leaderless, at least half of the enemy troops escaped and by now would be reorganizing somewhere else"

The only reason that could be called a victory was because the leader paildramon was killed and the rest of the army retreated; otherwise it should as well be called a tie, with both sides suffering an equal number of losses. However, from that massacre a skillful tactician emerged and the next time both forces crashed, it was highly likely the enemy army would curbstomp Paildramon's forces.

"Regardless of how many troops remained in that army, that group itself isn't something to be worried about, what actually deserves all your attention is to discover who is orchestrating those tactical attacks; the enemy leader was a fool so he couldn't have planned to break the balance of powers in the dino valley, somebody else must be controlling that and many other armies. In the best case it was just a ragtag group of ambitious digimon, in the worst case is as I thought and a greater power is behind them"

[tylomon]

Myotismon slowly walked away from the big picture on the wall. What the angel said only strengthened his suspicions. He had replies something big was being planned, but did not know exactly what, because news rarely traveled into his domain - it was, after all, most secluded from others, and few dared coming around to bring any news at all. And since the vampire lord ascended as ruler only recently, he had no time to establish a proper informant agency abroad. Had to rely on these crumbles of what could be vital information.

- So... You are saying that in worse case scenario, we might have to deal ... with an outright invasion? Hmm... And maybe they will support some knockoff heir to the throne which I somehow failed to deal with... - the intonation in his voice sounded poisony. He was a dark one after all, and beneath that mask of a gentleman hid a cunning and ruthless mind. The mind that managed to unite the shadow world under his rule. Though it still was ... shaky. This possible conflict could weaken it, or strengthen, if his people are united against a common foe.

- I will send agents to border states, and find out exactly what is going on. Cannot rely on hunches, perhapses and ifs. And I will mobilize my vast and horrible armies of the undead, who will obey my every command... But after i find out what kind of threat it really is. And if they plan to invade, I ... hmm... - the myotismon continued his musings quietly. He showed his true nature to a degree, there was much more to him than an upstart, eccentric upper class man. Such don't get to be area lords. He did not sound the rest of his plan, he did not forget that this angel is a stranger. She heard enough.

- But enough about that, surely you don't have to worry yourself about this, do you? We should get back, Devimon ought to be finished with the dinner he was supposed to make us... - his tone changed back to hospitable person's in a nick of time. Issues with enemies were issues with enemies, and guests were guests, after all...