Who Are You, Really?

"Who Are You, Really?" is a [SEASON NUMBER] thread written on [IRL DATE].
==Summary==
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==Full Text==
The tip of Milae’s pencil paused in midair and his ears twitched as he heard the plain, clear question in his head. His nose wrinkled slightly as the smallest curl pulled at his lip. Taking a deep breath, he slowly set the writing utensil down over his record of the thirty-ninth loop of the raid.
“I’m afraid I don’t understand what you mean,” he said calmly, without looking up from his notes. 
I think you do.
Milae turned to look over his shoulder and a jolt of adrenaline seemed to shake him as he unexpectedly saw a woman’s face directly behind him, her eyes boring straight into his own. He felt an unfriendly mental tendril reach out for him and threw up a solid mental barrier, batting it aside easily. As he did so, he got to his feet, the chair scraping across the floor of the guest house, almost falling over.
The demon bared her teeth slightly, the curve of her fangs glinting in the low candlelight, and began to mentally circle him, her astral form remaining unmoving, bent over him slightly as she regarded him. Demontouched, she growled. You have been messing with things you shouldn’t.
“You’re very perceptive,” Milae said, his words dripping with dislike and sarcasm. “Though I could say the same about you, demon.”
Her eyes dropped down to his wrist, where, as he moved to fold his arms across his chest, she caught a glimpse of a faded brand, different in shape from Rhenco’s, but still absolutely familiar to her. She growled lowly. Explain yourself. 
“As far as I know, I don’t need to. You already saw what happened in Rhenco’s mind. You spoke with Akkey. You talked to Verdandi. You are intelligent, Warden. I don’t need to explain anything.”
I’ve not said a word to you about anything, she snapped in frustration, stepping forward until her astral form almost intersected him. Why do you know this? Milae opened his mouth to answer, and she lifted a hand and bared her claws, growling, I already know how. Why? Why are you here? What are you doing?
The goat stared up steadily at her, his irritation pulsing off of him in waves. “That is my own business.”
It is about to be mine.
“Apparently you already think it is.” He let the shadows of his anger cross his mind, and she pushed back at them defensively. “You made a terrible mistake, Warden, one that I hope does not cost you any more than it already has. Now I must search for a different solution to the same problem.” His hoof gripped the chair in front of him and pushed it aside, clattering and scraping even louder. His scars began to glow dimly, and her eyes tracked the light while he stormed closer.
“You are an absolute fool,” Milae spat, jabbing a finger at her chest, “a broken waste of a being whose purpose died with war. You are nothing without the wrath you were born with, and all it does is ruin everyone around you and make my work harder–”
You want to see a lack of wrath!? With a roar, the Warden threw her essence at his mind, intending to shatter its defenses to shards. 
“Haltu þessu púki nornir.” 
Immediately Milae thrust a hand forward, palm facing the demon, and a massive glowing green circle intertwined with glowing runes shimmered into being in front of him and she felt her essence burn as she slammed her hands against it, digging her claws into the barrier.
“Any closer and I will do worse, demon.” His hazel eyes bored into her black-and-red ones through the shifting, rotating symbols, and her rage intensified as she found she couldn’t reach him in any way, mentally or physically. “I am here to protect the Rebellion. If our goals align, then you would do best to let me be and continue my work. I don’t have time to waste fighting you.”
For all I know, you could be a demon yourself, Nala snarled, unable to do anything more than stand in place and glare at him. Who are you to forge a duplicate of me to make deals with a monster such as he?
Milae rolled his eyes. “That was you. I borrowed you from another timeline. That contract was valid and stable, until you destroyed it. She is surely being punished for breaking her deal. May the gods never let you two cross paths.” As she hesitated in responding, he frowned deeper, letting the ward in front of him dissipate, though the scars on his arms still threw a harsh teal light over the entire room. “Nalaagura. Stop attacking those who mean you no harm. Not to be overly harsh, but you are making an absolute mess of things. Do what has worked best for you in the past, and stay out of things you don’t understand.”
I see I am speaking to a wiseman now. Her words were still venomous but she took a few steps backwards, her eyes flicking back and forth as she processed what he’d told her. What has he to say about his own doings? Are they not more risky than a demon doing her god-given duty?
“I have had decades to hone my craft. You have catalyzed twenty-five years ago.”
Her mind whirled. You are mortal…
“Not any more.” His words were quieter, though he was still upset with her. “Stay out of my way. You want no part of this.”
It is your path that has crossed mine. She regarded him darkly. Verdandi is close with my ward, and Akkey is under my protection. If your ‘work’ causes either of them harm, I will not rest until I personally collect your penance.
“I’d like to see you attempt to make a Norn’s faithful pay, child of Hel.” He turned away from her, sweeping his notes into a pile. With a sniff, Nala looked down the dark hallway, where she could sense a half-breed fast asleep. Knowing where her attention was directed, he sighed deeply, looking heavenward and closing his eyes. “Speaking with the scout may be called for soon, Warden.”
She looked sharply at him. Why is that?
Milae shrugged, tapping the papers on the desk into a neater mess than before. “It’s advice,” he stated. “Repaired interpersonal relationships are vital to the Rebellion.”
You know not of what you speak. She was still chafed by their confrontation, and he shook his head wearily, his velvety ears flopping slightly from side to side.
“I know more than any demon could hope to learn. But do what you will. I am retiring for the night. Please go bother someone else.”
Her visible form disappeared, but her mental presence still hung around him suspiciously. I will be keeping a close watch, Yun Milae.
The goat lifted his gaze and stared at the opposite wall, his expression setting into something made of stone. Likewise, Nalaagura Ep’ha, he responded silently. 
How did–!?
He was already gone.
== Trivia ==
* The thread title "Who Are You, Really?" comes from a song by the same name by Mikky Ekko.
Category:BOTGD 2
Category:Events
Category:Act I
Category:Yun Milae
Category:The Warden