Anyway, what's the plot of this AU? Pt. 7
"Geez, that's some door they have! Could at least oil the hinges a bit," a high-pitched male voice sounded from the cell entrance. In a moment, a blue-haired stranger stepped inside. His green eyes were shining slightly in the light of the magic torch he was holding. Putting it in the stand on the wall, he closed the heavy door and leaned back on it. Vivid curiosity playing on his face, though he was putting much effort into seeming calm.
"Ooh, they chained you well, could lose the bars completely," he looked down on Acheron. She turned her head to him a bit, too. The stranger was met instantly with the angry glare of the glowing purple eyes, a weak roar, and bared fangs. In the long time she had spent in this dungeon, one thing became crystal clear - no human should be trusted unless she wished for another crack in the ribs.
"Wow, lady, calm down! I'm not gonna do anything to you. I'm technically not even Mr. Wood's subject, you know," he said lively, even with a grain of elation, so much unlike the other guards here. "By the way, I've been keeping an eye on you for a whole day, I was just outside the door. To be honest, if it wasn't for my poor financial choices I wouldn't even be here - it is SO boring in this castle. But the King does offer good money. A real monarch!" Acheron went stopped growling at him and turned her head back down. Even if this guy was telling the truth, she could not care less about his chatter.
"Anyway, I came to just kill some time. The evening is getting closer. They'll take you for the ritual soon. Must be something cool. I overheard they were going to summon some really powerful entity. I just can't - for the love of Aha - figure out what they need you for," the stranger came closer and leaned forward on the metal bars. "Especially when you're in this state... Yeah, wouldn't wish that to my enemy-"
The stranger suddenly stuttered as if he was interrupted.
"Now, where are my manners?! Oof, can go savage in this dull place, wouldn't you say?" the stranger cleared his throat. "Sampo. Sampo Koski. A mercenary, a merchant, and just a great guy on my own. I would offer a handshake, but I guess you can't really reach me, my apologies," he remarked. "Wait, and who are you again? They did tell me your name once... What was it? Achr- no. Arche- Oh, damn it! Do all demons such weird names?"
"It's A-" the oni was about to correct the merchant, but her throat was as dry as a desert. Painful coughing thundered in the small cell the monent she inhaled the dusty air as she was about to say her own name. Although to designate it 'her own' was not exactly right. She borrowed it long ago from a mythical river of forgetting when she was convinced - surrounded by Izumo's ruins - that the girl called Raiden Bosenmori Mei had stayed laying dead next to her fallen comrades.
"You poor creature, they've tortured you completely," saying that, Sampo took a flask from his belt, sat down and tried to pass it through the bars. When Acheron had finally managed to take the coughs under control, he was once again glared angrily upon, which was not a big surprise - after all, why would a strange human help her all of a sudden?
"Don't worry, it's just water - not poison. Look," he brought the flask to his mouth and took a sip. "I have no reason to poison you. I mean, I am getting paid to make sure you won't die here before the ritual begins. So take it already," he put the flask down on the floor on Acheron's side of the cell and pushed it forward. The flask rattled against the stone floor and stopped right by her feet. Acheron looked down. She was still not convinced she should trust this stange man, friendly for no specific reason. But as the sore throat kept aching, she took the flask and opened the cap.
"I know it's not exactly comfortable drinking with the muzzle on, but that's all I can do," he shrugged.
Acheron raised the open flask and poured its contents to her mouth through the holes in the muzzle. It was wide enough for most of the liquid to pass and her throat was now pleasantly wet. She quickly closed the flask and pushed it back to Sampo.
"Thank you," her voice was weak and trembly, but at least she was able to talk somewhat painlessly.
"Ha-ha, my pleasure! Looks like humans and demons aren't that different," he grabbed the flask and put it back on his belt. "So what did you say your name was?"
"Acheron," she answered after a minor hesitation since the stranger did help her kindly and now deserved for his curiosity to be sated.
