Azazel's smile was as wide as the cat who caught the canary. He knew the more he spoke to Videl, the more anger he instilled inside the man. The demon's primary plan of securing him as a source of continuing information had fallen through, but the consolation prize of knowing Videl would agonize over his continued interactions with Sylvari, with the dark cloud of the twisted seeds of hatred taking root with his heart was a delightful second choice. At the very least, he knew Videl's face and past now. He could create no small amount of trouble for the northman if he drew the demon's ire.

"Now, that is truly a shame. I would hope that you temper your temper in the future, but I understand your blood is up at the moment. Surely when you consider the magnanimity of my actions at a later point, however, you may reconsider your feelings on the matter. As for my intuition..."

If possible, the demon's smile widened even further, dominating his face and setting a chilling contrast with his sharp, predatory eyes. "Take my hand, and all will be revealed. And before you ask, no, I won't do anything untoward. I had every opportunity to fight back when you were brutalizing me just a moment ago, remember?" Using his other hand, Azazel placed two fingers over his heart. "Knight's honor."

When he would consider the magnanimity of Azazel's actions at a later point..? Just what had been magnanimous about the way that the man had acted?! Prying into ones personal life and attempting to root out his intentions and feelings towards another, all whilst rooting through several different appearances to ultimately land on one eerily similar to his beloveds? There was nothing generous or forgiving about such actions. Even if Videl would to consider how this man had simply stood there and taken his attacks as though they were nothing. If anything, it had only felt as though the man was toying with him..!

And then there was the fact that Azazel had continuously seemed to reach out in hopes of getting Videl to take his hand. While the action might have seemed innocent, it was strange to Videl that Azazel had been so persistent on it. Shaking his hand upon introductions was fine, sure. Reaching his hand out for aid after having fallen to your knees whilst losing bouts of blood? Sure, Videl could understand it to a degree. But going as far as to request that he take his hand yet again even after all of this? Just what was with this man and hand holding?!

Now squinting his eyes at the man from across the room, Videl would withhold a scoff. "..I'd really rather not. Even if you don't intend of committing any untoward actions towards me, there's no way that I would just acquiesce to your desires. And quite frankly? You expect me to believe that you are a knight? You?" Even if the man before him had truly been some kind of Zeinavian knight, Videl couldn't accept the mans actions as anything other than intolerable. He couldn't escape this feeling that Azazel was toying with him. A game much akin to cat and mouse. If the man's actions hadn't made that much clear than he wasn't sure what else possibly could.

"Forgive me for saying as much but I can't possibly believe a word that you say.. What good could possibly come with speaking to a shapeshifter? Someone that can take on the guise of another with nary a word.." A heavy sigh would escape from his lips at this point, his head swaying from side to side as the breath had escaped from his lungs. "Rather than doing all of this, why don't you just tell me what it is that you want? We'll cut through all of the bullshit." Gesturing to the practically empty tavern at this point, as though to make his point, Videl would continue on. "It's not like there are any others around that will overhear your desires."

Azazel's smile as he retracted his hand masked the scowl he wore within. This man is eminently unreasonable. Refusing my offer just to spite me? Does he really think such an action would hurt me? You sound hurt, Azazel. Shut up. Composing himself after having his venting interrupted, Azazel settled back into his chair and adopted a pleasant visage.

"My my, but you are quite the suspicious individual, Videl. And so prejudiced against those unlike yourself. Changing one's shape isn't so hard when one knows how to do it." Azazel smiled widely hearing the heavy bootfalls of approaching guards.

Time to drive the knife in even deeper.

"I'd be happy to show you the way, if you'd like. Maybe together we can find a form your ladylove would like, to bolster your chances." 

You're a bastard, Azazel. Why, Arteron, how good of you to say! The demon smirked, quite pleased with himself. The guards would arrive just in time to see Videl attack him, if the man chose another violent outburst. This wasn't to say Azazel would take another attack lying down however. Arteron might get some fun after all. His double-bladed sword was laying on his original table, a few dozen feet away: a trifling distance for one of otherworldly origin.

What will you do little ice knight? What would SHE want you to do?

An irritable scowl would overtake the T'saya's features as he had continued to listen to the words that Azazel had offered unto him. While he could certainly have left, at just about any time really, he had chosen to remain here to listen to what the vile man had to say. He simply wished to know what the man had wanted. To see what he had known. And yet it all had felt as though it were for naught. If nothing else, it could be considered that he was truly the bad guy in this situation. Videl, that is. But only to those outside of the pair. Videl knew that he was in the right here. Or believed such a thing to be the undeniable truth. The unbiased truth was a bit more complex. Something that he wouldn't dare to dwell on.

Much like Azazel, Videl had overheard the approaching windfall that would accompany heavily armored guards. Such a noise wasn't something that he was all that used to hearing but it was evident enough if one were to pay attention. If things continued down the path that they already had, Videl was likely to end up in some prison somewhere. That was something that he wouldn't be able to live down. Something that would harm Sylvari. Rather than allow for such a fate to befall him, Videl would raise his hand towards the entrance of the tavern. In doing so, a cold wind would sweep through the tavern before calling upon the very moisture within the air. A moment later, a large and dense block of ice ^{[Glacial Wall]} would overtake the entrance, sealing it off.

There were other methods for the guards to enter the tavern of course. Those would just lead to a more direct destruction of property. Something that Videl was hoping would stave them off for a bit longer. "Believe what you wish, fiend." He was of course not aware of the literal devil that had possessed Azazel. His words had simply dictated his opinion of the man before him. One that was so vile that another term hadn't quite fit. "The only intolerance that I hold towards your kind is the manner in which you choose to toy with others. It's something that simply shouldn't be.. Now answer my question. What is it that you want from me?"

Azazel's infernal smile grew wide as Videl gathered his magic to cast. He didn't use any physical motions, an impressive milestone in subtlety, but Azazel's gaze over magic was all-encompassing ^{[Astral Soul, Expanded Mind]}. Trying to get me alone, little mage? I'm afraid I thrive with an audience, so I won't let you do as you please. Let's see... ooh, this one ought to be fun!

Magic was powerful, but oh so very fragile to one in tune with its delicate framework. Sigils upon sigils in the air, invisible to most, were splayed out before Azazel's eyes. A simple tweak here, a tug there, and an erasure further still, and the magic that Videl intended to use was altered without his knowing. That is, until his intended wall to block off the entrance instead turned into a beam of frosty energy, powerful and growing, which blew the door off their hinges ^{[Astral Soul, Chaos Warp (Glacial Wall>Frost Pulse)]}. The demon wasn't giving up his secrets, and gave no indication that he had anything to do with the spell anomaly. Good. Let the frost knight think he's losing his grip.

"Goodness, Videl. I think you made your point when you were skewering me earlier. Surely no point in trying to further intimidate me." As the guards arrived shortly after the eruption of the entryway, Azazel leaned close to Videl with a dangerous glint in his eye. "You spurned my earlier offer of friendship, so now I'm left with my second choice. What do I want, darling? Why, a show, of course." The demon in human skin smiled fiercely as the guards behind him burst through.

"What is the meaning of this? We've received several reports of an assault. Gods! There's blood enough in this place for a corpse! You two: start talking."

Azazel gave one more meaningful look at Videl, before adopting a diplomatic smile and turning to the guards. "Terribly sorry, officers. You see, I was trying to train my apprentice in the use of magics to chill drinks, but the poor boy has a tenuous grasp of magic. Plenty of power, but no discernment to guide it. He's a little slow, you see."

As Azazel talked, he walked over and wrapped an arm around the captain's shoulders, calling upon his magics of persuasion to influence him and his lackeys ^{[Dazzling Aura]}. The mortal mind stands no chance in the face of an immortal, and in no time at all, the captain was nodding along with his words.

"Isn't that right, Videl?" Azazel's eyes bore into the northman, daring him to challenge the only way he had of escaping the law.

In the moment that the blue beam had departed from Videl's fingertips, the T'saya would put a stop to his spell. He wasn't quite sure what had just happened but he knew that it wasn't what he intended to do. Rather.. It was as though the flow of his mana had completely gone against his will. Something that hadn't happened in the twenty long years of his life. Worried that something might be wrong, the man would find himself looking at his hand incredulously before slipping his hand back down to his side.

No words would be offered in response to Azazel's own. While he hadn't known why it was that his magic had gone against his desires, he had been aware of the fact that something wasn't right. The only question that lingered within the mans mind at this point was whether this had to do with Azazel or not. It wasn't as though the man had offered him any reason to believe such a thing.. right? This was something that he would have to deal with later on though, seeing as the Zeinavian guards had finally started to roll into the tavern itself.

An dangerous glare would take place within the T'saya's gaze as he had turned his vision between Azazel and the guards that had now inhabited the tavern. It was clear to him that Azazel had been hoping to mess with him. His own words were enough of an indicator of that. But now he had to deal with the court of law as well? This whole thing was becoming exceedingly burdensome. To the point in which Videl could only work to hold himself back. The thought of Sylvari was the only thing keeping him at ease at this point. Keeping him sane enough to not lash out at everyone around him.

"You best get the fuck off of me, Azazel, before more trouble stirs.." Even if he were to look like the more dangerous out of the two in this situation, Videl hadn't quite cared at this point. He wasn't going to find himself associated with the man beside him if he could help it. Even if it meant being seen as a criminal to those within Zeinav. "This man lies to you.. This is our first encounter and yet he only serves to cause problems for me. One shouldn't believe the lies of a shapeshifter such as he." Given that it was rather evident how things might transpire from this point forward, Videl would raise himself to his feet. He couldn't trust his magic at the moment. Not if it was going against his desires. If it really came down to it.. He might have to fight his way out of here.

Videl's earnest protestations fell on deaf ears as the guards glared at him incredulously. The captain glanced to Azazel with a look of concern.

"Your apprentice seems to be quite disrespectful of you." The man's eyes widened as if he had just uttered unspeakable heresy. "No-not that I mean to impugn your teaching style, your Eminence. I only wish that he wouldn't speak of you in such slanderous and obviously false careless words."

Azazel smiled graciously, patting the guard's shoulder consolingly. "I know you spoke only out of concern for me, dear captain, and truly too. I fear at this point, only a night in the stocks will get my poor addled apprentice in a proper state of reverence. If you wouldn't mind, I still can't bear to look at such an occurrence." Azazel's face contorted into the least sincere look of worry he could manage, but the guards seemed to buy the terrible acting wholesale. The demon sat at a nearby table and stared straight at Videl despite his words.

"Understood. Men, behind me. Look here, lad. Come with us peaceably, and, provided you change your tune about your esteemed tutor, you'll be released, unharmed, in the morning. Don't grieve his noble heart any longer."

The guards stepped forward, threateningly of course, but more so accusatory, as if Videl's actions had brought shame upon them as well.

Videl's eyes would only continue to squint in annoyance as the Zeinavian guards had spoken once more in a way that had confused him. Not only had his magic been flaring up in ways that it hadn't quite done before but these guards had so easily took in the words that Azazel had uttered to them.. While he had his suspicions before, Videl could only assume that something was wrong here. And that Azazel himself must be the source. Either that or the guards were in cahoots with the shapeshifting man. Something that wouldn't be too hard to believe given how a shapeshifter could easily manipulate others into getting what they had wanted via blackmail.

To make things even worse, Videl's situation had been worsening by the moment. Not only had he been seen as a criminal now, within the lands of the Zeinav region, but the local law enforcement had been moving to place him under their custody. Even if it was just the stocks.. This was something that Videl couldn't quite abide by. "..so you're not even going to question anything that I just said? Simply going to take the word of the man before you?" His following actions were foolish to say in the least. Once Sylvari hears about what happened here, Videl was likely to obtain quite the tongue lashing.

"I'm sorry but I can't quite abide by what it is that you want." His words had been quiet for the most part but just loud enough for the guards to hear him. It was evident that Videl had no interest in acquiescing with the guards decision. Rather than allow for himself to be captured, Videl would let out a soft sigh. From there, since he was already standing, Videl would reach back and remove his spear from its holster. Utilizing the spear to the best of his ability, Videl would press the butt of the spear into the ground before launching himself directly over the guards ^{[Vaulting Style]}. Once he softly landed on the other side of them, he would book it out of the tavern and attempt to traverse the lands to where Lumi had been located. It wasn't an easy ask, given that the streets were crowded with people, but it was the best that he could hope for at the moment.

Given Videl's current state of mind and the understandable confusion provoked by the situation, Azazel was sure that he would have a most entertaining show. The demon smirked, walked over to the bar, retrieved an unattended mug of ale, and began sipping it as he settled in to watch. 

The despair and disbelief lacing Videl's tone as he addressed the guard was most delicious to the manipulation demon, who squirmed slightly with glee in his seat. Seeing the man withdraw his spear and use it as an aid to vault over the guards was even more of a treat. Azazel clapped as if he had seen a most rousing play, standing to his feet and practically purring as he yelled after the man.

"Good show, Videl! Run, run fast boy. Escape the city guards if you dare! I can't wait to meet you, and your lovely mistress, again!"

After all that, we're not going to fight the boy? We're not even going to chase him and get more answers, or whatever it is you do for your schemes? Patience, Arteron. These things take time. Rest assured, we have not seen the last of our dear frost knight, and on my honor, next time will be even more interesting. Perhaps I'll even let you out to play. Your honor isn't worth shit.

The demon physically chuckled and downed the mug, leaving a hefty tip and charming apology to the barmaids, before heading out into the city: his city. It was a beautiful day.