Darken Times - Purgatory

Hound comes through the other side of the portal. Arriving in the other world, he cracks his neck and pop his back. "Still not used to that no matter how many times I go through it." he said.

He was now in a lighted room which was full of mirrors that acted as portals to various places in the world. There were guards and various people walking around, talking, jumping into the portals, and coming out. As soon as he starts to walk, some of the people began to whisper and mutter things to each other.

The young lad makes his way out the room and into the hallway, ignoring the conversations around him. Light reflecting through the multiple windows as more people were either using the balconies or walking through the hallways. He soon hears his name being called.

"Hound! Hey Hound!" the voice said among the crowd. By the sound of the voice, it was coming from behind him.

Hound turns around to see who was calling him. It was a boy who had blonde hair in a braid style and sky blue eyes, a bit taller than Hound and likely in his 20's. Another give away was his right arm was replaced with a spirit energy one. He gives a small smile when he realizes who the boy was. "Alley James Sonnett." he said as he is pulled into a bear hug by his friend.

How many times do Ah 'ave to tell ya'? Call me 'AJ'. Anyway... how're ya'?" AJ asks with his southern style voice. 

"I've been okay. So far." Hound answered. "Did you need something?"

With this question, AJ hesitated to answer as he scratches the back of his head.

Hound knew what this meant and he wasn't surprised. "You were sent to escort me to her, weren't you?"

AJ slowly nodded, answering the question with the gesture.

"Alright... take me to her." he said as the two began walking towards their destination.

They arrive at their destination as AJ goes to open the door for him. "Good luck." he said.

"Thanks." Hound said as he gives a small nod to AJ. He walks in and the door is slowly closed. Inside were shelves full of books, vases, empty couches and chairs with a table with a flower pot in the middle. Hound, however decides to stand in front but giving himself distance from the desk where his superior is sitting.

The back of the chair was facing towards him while the occupant was facing towards a computerized, digital screen which was showing the event of the confrontation between the hellion and Hound. 

"Gloaming Sentinel, A-Rank: 17th Faction Exploration - Hound Quint. Here to give my report of my actions, ma'am." he said.

The occupant didn't reply for a bit. After a few seconds, "Report? This is all I need of your report." the occupant said before turning the chair to face Hound. 

The occupant was a girl and about 17-years old. She had black hair with a side ponytail and purple eyes, wearing glasses over them. He didn't want to admit but she was actually cute though the cuteness disappeared when he gets lectured by her.

"How many more times are you going to keep doin' this, Hound?!" she yelled.

He didn't respond except give a snide comment. "Well... hello to you too... S-Rank: 17th Faction Exploration Enforcer, Odessa Glazkov." he said as he adjusted his monocle glasses.

Odessa lets out a frustrated sigh. "A smart ass like always... I still question myself why I haven't released you yet..." she complained.

"Probably because I'm one of the best you have in this faction." he remarked.

"Yeah... and an asshole as well." Odessa grumbled. "I know you'll do what what you think is best but you're messing up fixed events that were supposed to happen!"

"And... that's a problem... why?" he asks. "I wouldn't be surprised if you hate my guts right now."

Odessa lets out a frustrated sigh. "Just... forget it..." she conceded.

Now... Hound is usually a jerk towards her but she is his superior and if it weren't for her, he would be serving all eternity behind bars or something worse. He sees a photo of Odessa and another girl who looked like her but a bit shorter and younger. "How's your sister doing?" he asks.

"What?" Odessa asks.

"Your sister. How is she doing?" he asks again.

Odessa scoffs at this. "Why would you care?" she would ask. She sees the look in his eyes that he was being serious. She turns the chair, making the back face towards Hound again. "Nadia is doing okay. She's taking care of our parents." Odessa would say as her tone slowly changed to a soft one. "She still hasn't forgiven herself for what happened to me... ever since that flood disaster." As she says this, a digital screen pops up in front of her showing Nadia and her parents laughing and talking at the table. Odessa gives a soft smile.

Hound couldn't see her face but he knew her feeling is bittersweet.

There was silence for a few minutes. "... She's grown... so much." Odessa added. Soon, the screen closes and disappears. She lets out a sigh and gets up from the chair with her back facing towards Hound as she stares at a photo of her, her sister, and her parents on a shelf. "I'll go give the higher-ups about today's report." she announced.

Hound soon bows to her. "Yes, ma'am." he would say as he turns to face the doors and walks towards him. Before he could turn the knob...

"Hound..." Odessa interjected.

He stops, not facing her.

"... Though you tend to annoy me to no end, create problems, and continue to disobey me and others..." she would say before pausing a bit, still staring at the family photo. "... I can never hate you." finishing her sentence.

A few seconds of silence filled the room before Hound finally broke it. "Watch over your sister, Odessa." After saying this, he turns the knob and leaves.

Odessa couldn't help but give a small smile. "... Still always thinking of others than yourself as always..." she murmured.

Once outside of Odessa's office, AJ was no longer there. "Heh. He must have gotten hungry or something." Hound though as he decides to walk out on the balcony for some fresh air.

Outside, there was a few clouds but it was mostly clear blue as the light lit up the sky. He was pretty high up and from that view, he can see the green grass and trees moving in the wind and a clear blue lake. Then came the town with the populace enjoying themselves.

No matter how many times he seen it, the view was still amazing. "... Still can't believe this is how Purgatory is." he thought as he closes his eyes and enjoys the breeze. "The 'Abyss Realm' is nothing but a wasteland; dark and dreadful. Only the wicked and scum of the world go there and dark magic reigns. 'Purgatory' is mostly filled with young who died too soon and adults who committed suicide but never done anything atrocious in their past life. Technology is limited and magic is various. Finally, 'Arcadia' - the righteous are immediately sent there, advance technology and light magic is supreme." he remembered from one of his lectures here.

After about half an hour has passed, Hound heads back inside and goes downstairs. Reaching the ground floor, he stops and sees the the words, "Sentinel Initiative.", printed on a wall. "A volunteer academy for Purgatorians. 'Where sins can be pardon by purging the Abyss.'" he continued reading. 

Suddenly, his vision goes black. He can feel a pair of hands gently covering his eyes.

"Guess who~?" a voice said. The voice sounded cheery and happy. 

Hound couldn't help but give a small smile. He decided to tease the person a bit. "Is this... 'Zessi Valkyrria'?" he teased.

The hands uncovered his eyes as he hears a "Hmmph!" noise. The person sounded upset at that question.

He turns around to see who it was. A young girl who had short, orange hair and yellow eyes. 

"For your information, I'm not like that big idiot. Thank you very much!" she scoffs, crossing her arms. 

Giving a small chuckle, Hound smiles at her. "I know. I'm just kidding, you know?" he teased. "You get offended easily, Edie." 

"What? No I don't." she replied, pouting.

"Yeah you do... 'Zessi'." Hound said in a sarcastic manner.

Edie opened her mouth with a finger pointed at him, about to say something. Realizing what she was about to do, she gives a small cough. "... Okay... I guess I do get a 'little' carried away..." 

Raising an eyebrow as she said that, Hound had that "really?" look on his face but he let it go. "Anyway, you need something, Ms. Giovanna?" he asks.

Before she could answer, there were two figures heading towards them. One was male who had gray choppy hair and heterochromia eyes with one being blue and the other red. The other figure next to him was female and a bit shorter than him with long, dark henna red hair and teal colored eyes. Edi pouts, turning her head. She was upset about something.

"I see that you made it back safely, Hound." the male figure said. 

The female companion nodded. "Glad that you were unharmed from your watch." she smiled.

Hound smiled and nodded. "Anything happened while I was gone, Zessi?" he asks.

"Not really. Other than me and Octavia here tried to calm down Odessa after one of your rogue moments." Zessi answered.

"I see. No surprise there." Hound said as he leans on one of the bookshelves. 

"Hound... we can't cover you forever, you know?" Octavia pointed out as her face expressed disappointment.

"I know. I know." Hound replied. He looks back at Edie, who was still looking away. "Anything happened between you two, Zes?" he wondered.

Zessi looks at Edie who had her back turn towards him. He rolled his eyes and answered Hound's question. "All that happened was that I accidentally ate her favorite dish." he answered.

Edie didn't say anything. She still had her arms crossed and pouting. 

Octavia lets out a small chuckle. "Y'all almost act like siblings." she teased.

"Me? Him? Siblings? Like that'll ever happen." Edie retorted, still pouting. 

Zessi was getting annoyed by her attitude and tries to get her attention but to no avail.

Hound shook his head. "Octavia, where's Noire and Rime?" he wondered.

"Them? They're both on their watch right now with the others. They should all be back soon. Do you need them?" she replied.

"Nah. Just curious is all." he answered. "Anyway, I'm gonna head back to my room and rest up a bit." 

Octavia smiled and nodded. "Okay. Take care of yourself. I'll try and calm these two down." she said as she turns around to face them.

"Heh. Good luck with that." he muttered as he walks off.

Out of the building, into the courtyard, then into his dorm. Every room, it was big enough for four people but with Hound, he was able to get the entire room for himself. Takin' off his shoes, he falls face flat onto the bed. Turnin' his head to look out the window. Givin' a small smile, he muttered, "Peaceful as always."