章 59: Ava
The moment Devin opened his eyes, he sat up abruptly, as if he woke up from a long nightmare. He was panting as he put his hand on his chest, his heart beating faster than usual.
'It all seemed true to be a dream.'
When Devin calmed down, he looked around and saw an unfamiliar woman's figure by the window. Feeling alarmed, his eyes turned serious as he stood up, in a defensive stance.
"Who are you?"
The moment Devin asked who she is, the girl walked forward then bowed in front of him. Devin hadn't seen her clearly since her long black hair dangled, covering her face, as she bowed.
"I am now at your service, Master Devin. The name is Ava."
When Devin heard her reply, he heard and recalled the familiar name. It was the servant the serpent gave him.
"Rise," he instructed and the girl did so.
The girl had wavy long black hair, paired with expressionless gray eyes. Her lips had the perfect cupid's bow, making her overall facial features perfect.
She wore a red polo shirt, with black necktie. She was also wearing black skinny jeans and red wedges for her footwear to make her look tall. With her overall outfit, it had accentuated her slender body.
As Devin looked at Ava in front of him, she also exhibited a graceful yet enigmatic aura. It made him wonder what kind of immortal she is. The Soul Eater is sure enough to say that she is not of their world.
"From what realm are you," he asked and Ava sincerely shook her head, declining to answer.
"I'm sorry. I was not instructed to tell anything about the realm where I came from but rest assured that I am at your utmost service."
Ava did a small bow, making Devin smirk.
"I hope you do your job well," he said sarcastically and the enigmatic woman kept silent as she bowed when suddenly, there was a knock heard from his door.
"Devin, may I come in," asked his personal servant as he waited for his master's permission.
"Come in, Ivar."
When the Dominion Ivar heard this, he opened the door.
"Are you okay now? Shall we think about ways too—"
Ivar noticed an unfamiliar woman inside their master's room, making him look at Ava, suspicion etched in his eyes.
"Who is she? Why is she here?"
Hearing the sharpness in his tone, Ava brushed it aside and gave Ivar a small smile, her eyes still looking expressionless.
"My name is Ava. I was tasked by my master to serve Devin as he sees fit."
The Dominion approached Devin as he eyed with doubt the mysterious immortal opposite them. He crossed his arms in front of his chest then spoke to his master, not caring if his voice is heard by Ava.
"What is happening? Should we trust her," he asked and Ava snapped her fingers, making a staircase going down appear in the middle of the room.
"I would like to show you the Intervigilium and further explain what happens inside," Ava said as she extended her hand to lead them downstairs. "You are welcome to join us, Ivar."
Ivar raised his brow when he heard her say his name comfortably. As the girl went down, the Dominion stopped Devin when he was about to follow.
"What is she talking about? I feel different about this," Ivar commented and Devin looked at him.
"I will tell you everything later."
The moment he said this, the Soul Eater walked down the stairs, making Ivar sigh in exasperation.
Having an unfamiliar being in their mansion made him alert—keeping him on his toes.
As they talked with her, Ivar felt something different—something off about her. It was the same thing he felt with Devin. He knew that she is not a being of their world.
Ava seemed to be a being of the underworld.
The three of them arrived in the Intervigilium. The moment they set their foot inside, they felt weary and at the same time weak—vulnerable.
The Intervigilium was dark and spacious. As they looked down, they noticed that the floor seemed like a big frail spider web. With every step they took inside, the floor seemed to be shaking, making the two immortals feel conscious with every step they take. For Ava, however, she walked as if she were in her own backyard.
Devin and Ivar looked at the sides of the Intervigilium. It had paintings on the wall with Latin titles. In order, the paintings were Ignus, Inandantia, Iudicium, Venus, Viator, Vigil, Vividarium, Inaudax, and Vividarium et Intervigilium et Viator.
One by one, Ivar and Devin looked at the paintings both in curiosity and in awe as Ava waited for them in the middle of the room. These paintings give off an accurate depiction of the Intervigilium, giving the room a mystical and an enigmatic vibe.
Set beneath the moon the barren landscape of Ignus is encased in a sea of flame that threatens to envelope the lunar observer. Ignis is a Latin word that means "fire". Ignus is a variation of the word, as it meant to be used as a given name.
Inandantia, Flood, depicts a large cascade of water flowing down a mountainside towards the foreground where the water is seen to be flooding amongst the rocks.
The Iudicium depicts what appears to be a winged demon kneeling in a shallow pool of water with ripples emanating outwards from it and bones littered around it. In front of the demon's dead gaze is a gorge, filled with the dead who are trying to claw their way out. The painting hints that the winged demon is judging who will leave and who will not. Iudicium is a Medieval Latin word that means "judgement".
An interpretation of an emotion depicted on canvas, Venus is an explosion of vibrant pinks and reds; akin to a supernova. The focal point of which deriving from the lower left of the art to extend to all four corners of the canvas. Venus is the Latin goddess of Love.
Viator, meaning messenger, contains a bird, flying in the sky above a massive city. The bird itself is carrying something, perhaps a message to be delivered to some unknown recipient.
The Vigil; three cloaked men wander a corridor. The darkness lit only by the light of the lanterns they carry. Vigil is a Latin word that means "watchman".
A painting of a garden landscape, the Vividarium—a garden, that depicts a green hedge maze contoured by pink flowers, green trees and a prominent fountain. In the background a castle or mansion can be seen overlooking the scape.
In Inaudax, a painting which depicts cowardice, a group of humans are being attacked by a series of demons as a lone man prostrates himself, arms over his head in fear as his friends are slaughtered. Inaudax is a Latin word which means "fearful, timid". It means literally "un-bold".
Lastly, the largest landscape artwork in the Intervigilium, the Vividarium et Intervigilium et Viator maintains a prominent position in the room. The painting meant "In the Garden Sleeps a Messenger" and it shows a painting of a beautiful garden under the scarlet sky with a black moon. On the field of flowers, is a being with wings, bathed in his own blood.
The moment Devin and Ivar saw this, both of their eyebrows furrowed, somewhat understanding what kind of being Ava is.
With the Intervigilium present in the Soul Eater's mansion and what the paintings depict, it is enough for them to have an assumption of the Intervigilium's origin, and it is enough for them to guess where Ava came from.
Both of them, Ava and the Intervigilium, are from Kingdom Elysion's sworn enemy.
Ivar instinctively went in front of Devin, as if to protect him. He gave Ava a demeaning glare and spoke with an acrimonious tone.
"You're from the realm of Gehenna, aren't you... and so is this Intervigilium. It is the product of that wretched hell!"
When Ava heard this, her eyes still showed indifference. Even sensing the tone of aggression in Ivar's voice, she just gave an empty smile and bowed in front of them.
"I am just following orders of my master. That's all."
Hearing this, Ivar's hands turned into tight fists due to anger. Seeing this, Devin put his hand on his personal servant to calm him.
"Ivar, let's see this through," he said and Ivar gave him a look of incredibility.
"Wha—"
The Dominion didn't believe what he just heard.
'How could he decide to trust a being who kills angels for power!?'
Seeing the both of them this way, Ava let out a small giggle, her voice echoing in the Intervigilium.
"I understand the distrust you exhibit but you don't have to worry," she said, her lips curling into a smirk looking slightly mischievous. "My master and I vow to help you, Soul Eater."
クリエイターの想い 
MysticAmy
MysticAmy For the paintings of this chapter, I was inspired by the paintings in Ultimecia’s Castle of FFVIII. :) Anyway, should they trust Ava, or not? Your thoughts?
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