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"...invincibility defeats context of existance... so bori... inhum...and offer so much mo..."

The voice was indistinct to begin with, patchy as it spoke again and then... silence. An absence of feeling in the hind brain, indicating whatever arcane connection the Daemon had somehow forged with Corbin, it was currently offline.

Of course, there was more to read, if one chose.

Extract from the unnamed book, of multiple authors:

"...with many great legends, especially those of the east, no boon without cost. No victory without risk. No peace, or reward without periodic test of worthiness...

...sealed blades in individual domain, foresworn to all weilders 'beyond own blood'. Herein, a fatal loophole..."

Sadly however, the further the book went on, the more illegible it became, from a combination of fire and water damage. Indeed, the last sentence above was the last to be clear to read in the old, faded tome.

The remainder of the texts Roan's library held on Daemons consisted mostly of the more well known legends of the east, wherein it seemed Také featured more often than Amatsu, mostly wrestling catfish.
Some of the material was very esoteric, consisting of accounts in original Japanese that made little sense to a Western mind unaware of the geography and political situation of Japan at the time each legend had been written down.

Sadly, a detailed analysis of these documents would likely have to be put on hold as there came a great knocking from the main doors. Followed a minute or so later by Jan's undertones, his words too hard to make out, then a louder, male voice.
Then a crashing sound, and a yell. Something was going on in reception.

The crash, it turned out, had come from a dropped vase as a maid had scurried off upstairs on Jan;s shout to her to do so.

And he had told her to do so as there was something in the doorway, of less than savoury descent.
humanoid, it was clearly not human, and a good argument could be put forward that it probably never HAD been. Or at least not humane.
Part goat, part ice, part bipedal, part alien, it was a horrible affront to the senses, ESPECIALLY then it spoke.

"Really, that's no way to greet an old associate, Jan. A drink in the waiting room would be infinitely preferable."
"In your case, sir, I'm not at liberty to admit you without her ladyships word, as it is I am sure she will find me quite remiss in giving away the fact she is in residence without her say so otherwise."
"Very Edwardian of you. You know of course you couldn't stop me if I pressed the issue?"
"Knowledge of consequence does not detract from my duty, sir, as well you know."

"I hate it when he casually threatens my staff. Even more so when the threat is genuine what do you reckon, think he'll try and touch my retainer?"

The voice appeared at Corbin's elbow, hidden around the corner with him as Corbin watched the scene. Smirking idly, Roan would steal his smoke and wait for his answer as Ice annoyed Jan at the door.

"Watch it with the insults. But you're right. He wont touch Jan, he knows better."

She didn't stop him as he stepped out, but she didn't follow him either, interested in both seeing what would happen... and having something of an element of surprise should she need to step in.
As Corbin stepped out, eh wasn't immediately visible to ice, thanks to Jan blocking the door and keeping the faun occupied. This meant Ice caught wind of Corbin before he spoke.

"THERE you..."

He stopped as Corbin spoke, Jan stepping aside at last and granting the albino abomination to all that was good and right in the world a proper look at the approaching fledgling.

"...or not. What do we have here, then?"

Stepping forward with the rhetorical question, Ice casually shoved Jan aside with a careless flick of the wrist as the butler again tried to deny him entry, hooves ringing on marble as he stared down at Corbin from his greater height, interest on the striking, aquiline features.
Nostrils flared briefly as he checked, and confirmed his suspicion. A half snort, half chuckle came from the faun as he stopped, deliberately coming justc lsoe enough to be inside Corbin;s personal space, even though it meant angling his head more uncomfortably than normal to see the boy properly.

"That explains a lot. Aren't you just the cutest little thing with the baddest blood on the block... where is she?"

"True, guests do, though its impolite to make them do so. Intruders, however, do not wait at all. Which would you rather I be, little one?"

The words were spoken very very cooly and calmly... so cooly in fact, the temperature in the area was dropping. Ice's breath was visible int he air as he leaned the short distance closer to Corbin until his nose was almost touching the young DeSeer's.

"Believe me when I say you are far too newly blooded to even begin to comprehend how poorly off you will be if you make me your enemy. Last time, where is she? Bear in mind, if you please, I AM her boss."

His eyes never left Corbin's. Truthfully, he knew Roan was in the hall, but that wasn't the point. Seeing what Corbin did next was. There was a very good chance that either way... the faun was going to get what he wanted.

"Is there a reason you picked not only a disobedient wretch, but IRISH at that?"

The eyes stayed on Corbin, but the voice was clearly not directed at him. That didn't lessen the 'wet worms on skin' feeling the abominations voice gave rise to of course.

"I think you highlighted his better qualities there."
"Hardly points in your favour."
"What can I say, I never claimed to be a good judge of character."
"A fact your very existence confirms I suppose. It would be in your best interests to get it out of my face before I do something he'll regret."

Pink eyes bored into Corbin, no doubt leaving a rash of goosebumps up his skin, unless he was guarding his mind in extremis.
Roan was of course closer by now, though still behind Corbin, having chosen not to intervene sooner.

"Corbin? Come here. I assume your visit has a purpose beyond the casual grandstading to my staff?"

Ice chose not to answer until Corbin moved away. IF he moved away. If not...

"Pretty?....."
"Oh gods that was unwise Corbin. Ice. Your purpose?"
"Oh no, I don't think I wish to be diverted that easily..."
"For my sake?"
"I owe you nothing. I assume this pretty little Irish Danny boy is the reason you didn't handle the SOL job yourself? Of course he is. Let me assume your reasoning... learning experience. Fine. I accept this. However..."
"However...?"
"Why him? Why now?"
"I don't have an answer for you."
"You lie so poorly."
"I don't have an answer for YOU."
"...better. He will do a task for me. I assume you have the wherewithal to understand why, boy?"

Corbin's statement caused Roan to literally facepalm, though for now it was unlikely that he would understand why his flippant comment had been so rash. However, as Roan tried to divert Ice back on topic, the comment seemed forgotten as Ice's pink eyes suddenly transfixed Corbin once more, demanding an answer.

Behind him, Jan had both recovered complete composure, having suffered no injury at all front he casual shove aside he had received. Whether this was because Ice had been careful not to harm him, or the butler was simply resilient was yet to be seen, however by the time Corbin had looked for him, Jan was already carefully collecting the broken pieces of pottery from the floor before someone hurt themselves.