165: Bargain with the summoned

Bargain with the summoned

After Gabriel left, Anastasia made her way to where Dante stood and inquired, "Everything okay?"  2

"It is," Dante replied, offering her a warm smile. 

"Tomas has been eagerly waiting for you in the backyard," Anastasia informed him. Her younger brother, who had seen Dante fight, was keen to learn from him. 

"Let us go there then," Dante said, and they walked towards the back of the Flores house. 

During the night, when everyone was fast asleep, Dante made his way to the back of the house again and met up with Migdre. The imp had brought a small bag containing tiny bottles and something else mentioned on the list that was indicated with an underline. 

"Everything has been checked, Master," the imp whispered. 

"Mm," Dante hummed in acknowledgment, his eyes raking through the items, and he looked around to ensure no one was present. He commented, "The land here is fertile and pure, making summoning easier."

Migdre nibbled its nail and asked, "What if…if he finds out?" 

Dante moved to a cleaner area devoid of grass or vegetation, and he turned to address the imp, remarking, "Then it will be our very own secret, something no one else will know about." He smiled at the end. 

For a brief moment, the imp became extremely thrilled at the prospect of possessing an extremely important secret known only to it and its master. But the very next moment, it grew worried and voiced its concern, expressing, 

"But, Master, he will know once it is done, won't he?" Dread began to mar the imp's face. 

"He will," Dante remarked calmly as he drew a pattern on the ground with a sickle. 

The imp positioned every item it had fetched at the corners of the lines enclosing the outer boundary of the circle. In the centre, it placed a pristine dagger, appearing as though it had remained untouched for years. 

Migdre watched its master begin to whisper something, and it quickly ran around to make sure that no prying eyes were watching, even though they were far from the houses and any potential onlookers. Suddenly, the air around them accelerated, causing the trees and leaves to rustle against each other in harmony. The markings on the ground began to glow, while Dante felt himself turn weak. 

A man materialised within the centre of the markings. He greeted, "Dante."

"Shach," Dante greeted back before he coughed and spat blood onto the ground. 

"There has been a lot of talk about you lately. Your contributions in the living realm have been significant. Changing paths?" Shach, who served as the bridge between the living and the higher realm, inquired. 

Dante smiled and replied, "I think I am better suited where I am now."

"Then, to what else do I owe the pleasure?" 

Dante reached into his pocket and pulled out the vial containing the trapped souls of Nightworth. He proposed, "I thought we could strike a deal with this one. Many for one."

Shach smiled and responded, "That's not how it works, Dante, and you know that. A soul that ascends to Heaven never crosses over again."

"There are innocent souls in here," Dante remarked and continued, "souls that had nothing to do with evil and were only victims. You wouldn't want all of them to end up in Hell, would you?" 

"That's not possible," Shach said, narrowing his eyes, but his doubt grew when he noticed white smoke behind the black. After careful consideration, he said, "Looks like you have come prepared. But you have four of them on your mind."

Choosing one would make Dante appear to be benevolent, akin to making a sacrifice, while picking another for himself would be driven by selfishness. Then there were the other two: one currently residing in the underworld, and the other having the potential to help more than just two. Dante contemplated these options in his mind. 

"I guess we can always await a good soul," Dante remarked, the corner of his lips tugging upwards. He added, "You know my answer," and handed the vial containing numerous souls inside it to Shach. 

Upon taking the vial, the individual combusted into sparks and vanished. The ingredients arranged at the corners remained unchanged. The imp appeared as if it had turned blind, staring into space as if it had entered a dreamlike state while remaining fully awake. 

However, it shook its head upon hearing something shatter and saw its master creating another marking. Once the summoning was complete and the talk was done, the imp vanished from sight, and Dante returned to the house as if he had never left. 

When the following day arrived, during breakfast at the dining table where everyone was seated, Anastasia brought the final dish from the kitchen and sat next to her father. 

"Dante," her father said, speaking up as he smeared butter on his piece of bread. "You wouldn't mind making room for some of the people who wish to attend your and Anna's wedding, would you?" 

"Please, feel free to invite anyone who wishes you and Anna well, Mr. Flores," Dante replied with a polite smile. 

"How about the wedding gown? Has it already been made?" Mrs. Flores inquired, noting they were spending time here in Hawkshead rather than Versailles. 

"I have instructed them to commence the work, and the adjustments will be made once Anastasia returns," Dante informed, as he had been meticulous about the details. He continued, "Your attire is also being prepared as we speak, but if you are more comfortable with your own clothes and would like to wear them instead, please feel free to do so." 

And while the Flores family discussed wedding plans at the breakfast table, at the entrance of the village, a woman stood observing the place before her. She began to walk, her footsteps firm on the ground, and she finally came to stand before a house's front door. Raising her hand, she knocked on the door.

Finally, the door was opened, revealing the young woman to Gabriel.

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