A Devil May Fall.

Falling Down

                                                        The Angel that presided o'er my birth

Said, "Little creature, form'd of Joy and Mirth,

"Go love without the help of any Thing on Earth..."

People thought mountains were... Spiritual, metaphorical, challenging, but most of the time humans never saw mountains as much else. I knew this to be different, a mountain represented something primal in all of us, demon or human, the challenge to overcome, a sublime to embrace. And that's why I came here, I thought to myself as I looked up at the ravenous climb. Also my body grew tired, so a cave would do well to hide in.

I've been moving for so long, four years of fighting and living without aid, even at my young age... My mercenary skills are beyond all of mankind, I am able to lift hundreds of tons, run at speeds faster than any sports car, and no weak human weaponry could even think to penetrate my skin, even if it could, my healing factor would take right care of it.

"Hmph, I wonder if Dante is still the same as he once was, assuming the annoying twit still lives. Probably being festered and living like a parasite, the weak fool he is." I said to nobody as I trekked across the treacherous terrain, Mt. Ebott the villagers called it. I wouldn't think Dante strong enough to survive that night, but my little brother has surprised me before, so I hoped.

With my enhanced reflexes and dexterity, the climb was hardly the challenge the villagers seemed to think it was, it wasn't even particularly cold. Still, even with my demonic heritage which I know makes me effectively immortal, something about this place puts me off... Eventually, I saw an entrance to a cave, finally coming to the end of the beaten path, now the real challenge begins, I hope at least, foolish as it may be.

It was dark, obviously. I tried to convince myself that I wasn't afraid, and that my use of my summoned swords to light the cavern was purely for practical reasons, and yet... Foolishly, I can still see the image of a smiling demon in the shadow of my mind, each time I close my eyes...

It is no issue.

Finally, I could see light shine in from beyond, an opening at the end of the tunnel, I dismissed my summoned swords and gripped tightly to my blade, Yamato. It and the scabbard that held it were my choice of weapon, they comforted me, not that I would admit that to anyone.

Reaching the opening, I instantly noticed how large the cavern truly was, vines and foliage scattered across the entrance, only to suddenly end at a huge gaping pit at the center of it all, instantly entrancing me. Enticing me with a call to adventure, I smirked at the challenge and rocketed into the air, performing a small twirl before falling down deep below the surface.

As I descended, my heart skipped a beat..

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My knees buckled as I landed in a bed of flowers with a soft thud, kicking up petals and golden aroma, the only light of the room coming from whence I came, I opened my eyes and absorbed the surroundings, this cave was no different. I looked around for a second or two, adjusting to the darkness once again before shaking my head and continuing my trek, and then something... odd happened.

Without warning, a girl in a striped green and yellow shirt appeared before me, her body and her eyes shut, this mattered not to me however, I placed my blade against her throat in the blink of an eye. But still... She didn't come to life, I glared hard with my piercing blue eyes and noticed a few things about her, she seemed to be my age, if a little older. She had shoulder length chestnut hair and an innocent expression with rosey cheeks to boot, but one would learn not to trust an innocent expression, not in my line of work anyways.