The first thing Aleph saw when he opened his eyes was the hotel room ceiling. He blinked a couple of times, trying to remember what had left him so dazed.
He couldn't quite recall how he had ended up in his bed the night before, after returning with Natasha and Seele from the snowy plains.
His head throbbed as if someone had been drumming right on top of it. Not even the hangover from that binge with Qingyi had hit him this hard.
He brought a hand to his forehead and sat up slowly. The pain made him groan. That's when the memory hit him just as hard as Himeko's coffee to a distracted Marzo.
Stelle had been hiding in the lobby waiting for their return, and by the time he noticed her, it was already too late.
"…Of course…" He murmured tiredly, adding another name to his growing list of pending vendettas alongside Marzo.
He dragged his feet to the bathroom, turned on the tap, and let the icy water run over his hair, trying to clear the mental fog. When he lifted his head to look in the mirror, he found a sight that left him speechless.
A word written in black marker, in a rather childish and clumsy handwriting, stood out "Idioteph."
He let out a deeper sigh than before.
"You better watch yourself, Stelle… because you're back on my list." He muttered, pulling a notepad from his pocket and writing "Stelle" for the second time.
He dried off as best he could, combed his hair, and prepared for the real challenge.
Going downstairs to face her.
Earning her forgiveness, making her trust him, and…
Bam!
A stab in the back.
An evil laugh escaped his mouth.
How would Stelle feel if someone threw her scrap collection in the trash? Or if someone told Marzo that the real reason her lipsticks kept disappearing was that Stelle liked to eat them? Or that it was her fault that one of Himeko's dresses got burned?
His revenge was going to be so sweet.
....
When he reached the lobby, he saw her with March and Dan Heng.
Aleph kept a neutral expression as their gazes met.
March and Dan Heng greeted him.
"I come in peace." He said seriously.
Stelle gave him a sidelong glance, crossing her arms in annoyance.
"Then why do you have an ice bat in your hands?"
Aleph looked at her.
"Protection."
Stelle snorted dismissively.
"Well, you're not wrong about that." Both of them squinted at each other in a silent standoff. Old-West-style duel music seemed to play in the air.
Stelle, Aleph, and Dan Heng glanced at March, who pouted at the intensity of their stares.
"I just wanted to lighten the mood!"
They soon decided to ignore her. Aleph stepped forward—and so did Stelle. Neither seemed willing to give an inch.
Aleph was the first to launch the brutal attack…
"Ugh."
Stelle couldn't keep a stern expression for much longer.
"…Bastard!" She yelled, writhing under the overwhelming tickling power.
March and Dan Heng watched impassively as the two idiots rolled on the floor, tickling each other.
....
After a few minutes of tug-of-war, they finally got out of the hotel together. More calm now, Stelle turned to Aleph.
"Today's the last day of the Calisol Festival." she said quietly. "I want you to spend it with me."
"Sounds good to me." He said, rubbing his stomach.
"Just like that, no complaints?" She asked, doubtful. "Don't you have somewhere else to be or something?"
"Nope."
March raised his hand with a grin.
"I'm coming too!"
"Of course." Aleph replied before Stelle could object.
The only dissenting voice was Dan Heng's, who was already turning halfway around.
"I have to—"
He didn't even finish the sentence before March and Aleph grabbed an arm each, and Stelle gently pushed him from behind.
"This is unnecessary…" Dan Heng protested.
"Cheer up, it'll be fun." Aleph assured him.
For some reason, that seemed to worry him even more.
**************
Meanwhile, on the Astral Express, Himeko was serving coffee when Welt set his book aside.
"I'm worried about Aleph." He said, frowning.
Himeko raised an eyebrow in curiosity.
"Why?" In her opinion, beyond seeming a bit less lively than when they first left Jarillo-VI, Aleph didn't feel that different.
Images of the boy's actions in Luofu ran through Welt's mind. It had truly been emotionally exhausting.
"...I can still remember the blank look he had when he absorbed the life energy from the roots and the Ambrosia Tree… and you can also add what Stelle told me."
In the background, Pom-Pom swept the floor, humming something about carrots and sweets.
"According to her, she heard him talking in his sleep." Welt said, pulling his phone out of his pocket and starting to play an audio file. "Honestly, it's also worrying that Stelle sneaks into his room to watch him while he sleeps..." He muttered.
"But let's deal with one problem at a time."
Once the audio played, they could clearly hear the sobbing and the apologies.
Himeko took a sip of coffee.
"It reminds me of Dan Heng's first weeks here. It's not the first time I've seen something like this." She said. Although Dan Heng didn't seem so distressed, he certainly appeared to be losing sleep from insomnia.
"That's why I think Jarillo-VI has been a good stop. A relaxed environment could help." She hadn't been with the others, but since they were at a festival, they should have had plenty of fun, right?
She smiled.
"Well, I suppose if it's a good time to relax… how's it going as a consultant on the Creation Engine restoration project?" she teased, trying to lighten the mood. "Weren't you acting like a kid in a candy store?"
Welt coughed awkwardly, embarrassed. He was already quite grown-up, yet he couldn't help getting excited when it came to giant robots.
Fortunately, a message made their phones vibrate.
"Mmm? Mrs. Herta?" Himeko murmured, puzzled.
[Mrs. Herta (Automated): "There has been a major update in the Simulated Universe, and the first beta of its expansion has also been released."]
[Mrs. Herta (Automated): "The presence of both Stellaron dummies is required."]
They both sighed in unison.
**********
Meanwhile, at the festival, things had already degenerated. Dan Heng, frowning, tried to perform the Heimlich maneuver on Aleph, who was choking on a crepe.
March, instead of helping, snapped a photo of the moment, biting her lip to keep from laughing.
"Let's preserve this moment for posterity!" She said, taking a picture.
A few meters away, Stelle was having her own battle.
The enemy—a clever, treacherous, fearless raccoon—was fleeing with her stolen sweet.
Daring to steal the Galactic Bat's candy? Well, she could admire its audacity and stupidity, but such a transgression could not go unpunished.
Stelle's eyes blazed with fury as her gaze met the raccoon's.
The raccoon didn't speak, but its arrogant look clearly communicated its message to Stelle.
"Heh, silly girl. Take your candy. What are you gonna do about it?"
"Cunning creature, you will be defeated by the Bat of Justice!" Stelle shouted, beginning her chase.
March stepped back, pretending not to know her, while a pair of children pointed and laughed as the raccoon trotted casually and Stelle ran after it, shouting threats that sounded like a professional fighter's battle cries.
.....
Several hours after the festival incident, everyone returned to Hotel Goethe. The night felt quieter, though each carried their own exhaustion.
To everyone's surprise, Stelle had managed to reconcile with her mortal enemy from that afternoon—the raccoon. Not only that, but she had already given it a name.
"Cupcake." She whispered, stroking its head. "No one will know… you'll come with me on the Express."
The animal chewed on a piece of meat as if it had no idea what "being contraband" meant.
March, on the other hand, had suffered a sugar crash. The festival high had turned into an absolute low, and now she slept soundly.
Aleph carried her in his arms, while Dan Heng held the room door so he could lay her on the bed.
"All set." Dan Heng said carefully closing the door. "Hopefully she won't complain about a stomach ache tomorrow."
Aleph just smiled.
Meanwhile, messages kept coming in—Himeko, Welt, Bronya, Seele—but he was so exhausted he didn't even glance at the screen. He collapsed onto his bed and fell asleep without a care in the world.
....
The next morning, after breakfast, Aleph got up, turned on his phone, and checked the accumulated messages.
[Himeko: "Mrs. Herta did send a message to Welt or me. Apparently, there's been a major update in the Simulated Universe."]
[Welt Yang: "She also mentioned a Beta for the new Expansion she's planning."]
[Dan Heng: "...I imagine Stelle's presence is required to test all that, right?"]
[Himeko: "Aleph was requested too. It seems her last encounter with an Aeon left her impressed enough to want him to participate in the Beta."]
[Aleph: "..."]
[Aleph: "That woman is crazy."]
[Stelle: "Noob."]
[Aleph: "Huh?"]
[Stelle: "You're afraid my score will be infinitely higher than yours!"]
[Stelle: "Believe me, I get it, Aleph. You're like SW—without hacks, you're completely useless in games."]
Aleph's eyebrows twitched as he read the message.
"Damn it, Stelle." He muttered, his expression darkening. "You can make fun of anything… but never my gaming skills!"
[Himeko: "Don't forget, the Express leaves for Herta Space Station in the afternoon."]
After a sigh, he continued checking the rest of the messages.
[Seele: "Hey."]
[Seele: "Luka has been looking for you..."]
[Aleph: "Tell him I'm flattered, but I didn't swing that way, and even if I did, he's not my type."]
[Seele: "Heh."]
[Seele: "You know what he wants."]
Aleph ran a hand over his forehead.
[Aleph: "...Fine. Tell him I'll see him before I leave."]
[Aleph: "By the way, since when are you a messenger? He could have sent me a message himself."]
[Seele: "Luka had an… 'accident' while patrolling. In short, his phone is little more than a mini pile of scrap, and I owed him a favor."]
[Aleph: "I see."]
When he opened the next chat without reading first, he came across Bronya's message. A faint smile appeared on his face.
[Bronya: "Aleph, can I ask what impression the Calisol Festival has left on you so far?"]
[Bronya: "Also… thank you so much for the flowers. I made sure to put them in a nice vase on my desk."]
[Bronya: Photo]
[Bronya: "I wish we could have spent the last day of the Festival together too."]
[Aleph: "Don't worry."]
[Aleph: "It's not like this is Belobog's last Calisol Festival, right? There will be more."]
[Bronya: "Are you free now?"]
Aleph was thrown off by the sudden change in topic but replied anyway.
[Aleph: "Yes? I mean, yeah. I'm free."]
[Bronya: "Could you come to the Qlipoth Fortress?"]
[Aleph: "Eh? Sure."]
...
After saying goodbye to the others and telling Stelle not to follow him, Aleph headed to meet Bronya.
Once inside, she guided him to an empty room.
"I want to talk to you… in private." She said, closing the door behind them. If it had been anyone else, Aleph probably would have had some doubts—but it was Bronya.
What was the worst that could happen?
Aleph sat calmly on the sofa. Bronya settled beside him, wrapping her arm around his and leaning against him.
They remained silent for a few moments, enjoying the closeness.
Bronya was startled when Aleph moved slightly away. A pang of discomfort shot through her chest.
Was this his way of rejecting her?
She thought about it for a moment, but the idea vanished as soon as their eyes met.
Aleph gently took her by the waist and lifted her onto his lap. This time, his embrace was firmer, more intimate.
Bronya's face flushed crimson. Yet she didn't pull away; instead, she returned the hug.
When Aleph leaned in and planted a quick kiss on her cheek, heat rose to the tips of her ears. He rested his head against hers, and she, pressed against his chest, could hear the rapid beat of his heart.
She opened her mouth to ask something… but hesitated.
Unfortunately, she didn't get the chance.
The door slammed open.
Cocolia entered, her expression terrifying. She stepped forward, separating them with an authoritative gesture, and set a small stack of papers on the table.
She was far weaker than him, Aleph was sure of that.
He had seen far scarier things—like Aha, and that thing that floated through the black space he crossed with Stelle after meeting Flynn and Caelus.
So…
Why did Cocolia send a shiver down his spine?
"Sign." She ordered, resting the barrel of her rifle against Aleph's temple.
"What are you doing, mother?" Bronya asked, caught between embarrassment and frustration.
"Securing your future." Cocolia replied naturally, urging Aleph to continue writing.
Bronya looked at the documents… and her heart skipped a beat.
"A… marriage certificate?" She whispered, stunned.
Embarrassment mixed with a rush of anger. With a swift motion, she pushed her mother's rifle aside.
"Aleph, run!"
He didn't hesitate for a second, leaping out the window.
.....
As Aleph's figure disappeared into the distance, Bronya exhaled, though her cheeks remained slightly pink.
Cocolia, now calmer, sat down to sip the tea a maid had brought her.
"Do you really think this is a good plan?" Bronya asked, her eyes on her mother, full of doubt.
"It's practically in our hands now." Cocolia said with a satisfied smile.
Bronya didn't respond. She moved to the window, looking out at the horizon while clutching the already signed certificate to her chest.
***************
After fleeing, Aleph pulled out his phone and typed a brief message to Seele, letting her know he was already on his way to Underworld.
The reply came quickly.
[Seele: "About time…"]
[Seele: "Luka was already unbearable… a little longer, and I think I would have killed him."]
Aleph chuckled quietly.
For some reason, he pictured Seele dressed like a teacher, trying to give a lesson, while Luka, like certain types, kept interrupting constantly with dumb questions until she exploded.
....
Once in Underworld, he quickly greeted Hook and the moles before heading straight to the fight club headquarters.
He climbed into the ring. The referee, Dr. Pala, opened his arms to hype the crowd.
"Ladies and gentlemen! Presenting, our undefeated champion, the most anticipated fighter of the night—Lukaaaa Strong Armmmmm!"
The roar of the crowd filled the arena. Luka appeared with a beaming smile, waving energetically.
"Aleph!" He exclaimed, approaching without a shred of respect for personal space. "Why didn't you come say hi sooner?"
Aleph stepped back, uncomfortable with all that enthusiasm.
"Too intense for me…" He thought, a wry smile forming on his lips.
....
The match was about to begin. While Luka was doing some stretches.
Aleph merely raised a hand, and the ice responded to his will. In front of everyone, he materialized a throne of crystalline ice and took a seat with the calm authority of a king descending to entertain the commoners. Even the haughty smile on his face seemed to reflect it.
Luka looked at him, bewildered.
"What the hell are you doing?"
Aleph let out a disdainful laugh.
"Tell me, Luka… do you dare face me?" He said, crossing his legs.
"Of course I do!" Luka replied, getting even more fired up as he clenched his fist with an excited grin.
Aleph snapped his fingers.
A blue flash appeared at his side.
The ring shook as Oni manifested, leaving the crowd thoroughly surprised.
"If you want to challenge the Demon King… first prove you have the strength to do it." At his command, Nappea appeared as well, silently placing several buffs on Luka. "And to do it, defeat one of his generals—or fall in the process!"
Luka's confusion was obvious as he blinked, not fully understanding what was happening, but his laughter quickly erased any doubt from the audience.
"I have no idea what this all means, but if it's a fight, count me in!"
The crowd was already euphoric, cheering wildly. Torn between confusion and excitement, the cheers multiplied, chanting the champion's name and demanding the spectacle begin.
[Does he really need to put on all this show, master?] Burroughs asked.
"Sometimes." Aleph replied gravely. "A man just wants to watch the world burn and laugh from above."
[Right…] Burroughs replied sarcastically.
[Or maybe it's just that you're too lazy to fight yourself?]
Aleph didn't answer. Instead, he formed a perfect ice cup and filled it with fruit juice. He sipped it with the utmost nonchalance, making sure the audience could see him enjoy it arrogantly from his throne.
....
The roar of the crowd filled the arena as Luka stepped toward the center of the ring, his eyes shining with excitement.
Oni, meanwhile, stood in the center, imposing and serene, arms crossed as he faced the crowd. The size difference was staggering; the colossus's muscles radiated pure brute strength, while Luka, shorter and more agile, seemed like a spark ready to ignite.
The first contact was explosive.
Luka threw a quick jab with his left arm, followed by a right hook that Oni deflected with minimal movement, as if even the hardest punches were mere breezes.
Luka stepped back briefly, then charged again with a fast combo, each strike used to test Oni's strength and reflexes. The colossus simply absorbed the impacts, letting the sound of fists hitting his body echo through the arena.
"Come on, don't hold back!" Luka shouted as he spun on his right leg to deliver a side kick, which Oni blocked with his forearm.
The impact vibrated through the mat, making the spectators hold their breath.
Oni responded with a deliberately slow punch aimed at Luka's chest. The fighter stepped back just slightly, but the force pushed him sideways; his body bent like a compressed spring, and in the next instant, Luka came back with an uppercut, trying to catch the giant off guard. Oni simply dodged with a slight twist.
The fight became a dizzying exchange of technique and strength.
Luka, fast and tenacious, attacked with combinations of punches, kicks, knees, and quick grabs that Oni met calmly.
Every strike seemed to hammer against his body, but the colossus didn't even breathe heavily. However, when Luka attempted a sweep with his right leg, Oni caught him by the waist, lifted him for a moment, then slammed him down with a push that made the mat tremble. The crowd erupted in cheers and exclamations.
Luka got up quickly and charged again, covered in sweat, his smile intact.
His movements were driven by the manic energy of someone unwilling to give up without giving it their all.
Oni, on the other hand, began to move less, relying on his durability and strength. Every punch from Luka was absorbed; every counter from Oni was an earthquake that sent his opponent backward.
Despite the blows he received, Luka launched a spinning uppercut, aiming for a decisive strike. Oni caught him in a firm grip, lifted him just a few inches, then slammed him backward onto the mat with a crash that shook the ring. Luka rolled, gasping, but immediately got up, stared at Oni defiantly, and raised his mechanical fist.
The battle was fierce. Luka gave it his all but ultimately fell defeated. Yet he staggered to his feet and faced Oni with a determined look.
"Maybe not today… not even tomorrow… but one day, I'll beat you!"
Oni, arms crossed and expression unreadable, remained silent for a few seconds before nodding. It was a simple gesture, but enough—Luka had earned his respect.
....
After finishing his matters, Aleph stopped by Natasha's clinic to say goodbye. Seeing Seele there as well, he took the opportunity to share a few parting words.
Later, he sent Bronya a message, bidding her farewell with a few brief words.
The time to leave was approaching. With a final sigh, Aleph met up with Stelle, March, and Dan Heng. Together, they moved toward the space anchor, ready to return to the Astral Express.
...
The whistle of Pom-Pom greeted the group at the entrance of the Astral Express, followed by Himeko's warm voice.
"Welcome back." She said, wearing a serene smile.
Welt adjusted his glasses and observed them calmly.
"I hope you all enjoyed your stay on Jarillo-VI."
March and Stelle cheered; Aleph, thankfully, could at least see part of the way forward while carrying all of Stelle and Marzo's shopping.
Dan Heng sighed, wearing a tired expression.
"I just wanted to stay behind and organize the records…" He murmured, recalling all the troublesome moments he had experienced there.
Later, as the train departed and the planet's snow faded behind them, Aleph stood by the window.
He said nothing, simply letting his gaze sink into the distance, as if searching for something he didn't want to lose.
...…..
The journey ended with the familiar sight of Herta Space Station. Upon disembarking, Asta greeted them enthusiastically. Arlan barely managed a wave before a Herta puppet appeared and positioned itself in front of them.
"Tadpole and multi-Stellaron blockhead. Follow me." it said, proceeding to drag both of them along under the astonished gazes of the Express crew.
The path led them straight to Herta's office, where Screwllum awaited, standing with elegance.
"Observation: It is truly a pleasure to see you again, Stelle." He said politely. "And you as well, Aleph Avesta."
"Screwy! Good to see you!" Stelle replied with a smile, and Aleph nodded.
A chill ran down his spine as he felt Ruan Mei's gaze fixed on him. She tilted her head slightly, wearing that gentle smile.
"What a pleasant coincidence to see each other once more." She murmured, extending her hands.
Aleph immediately avoided her gaze. The memory of that battle against the unstable clone of the Propagation Emanator still weighed heavily on his mind; nothing good came from being near Ruan Mei.
…Well, maybe just those adorable dessert creatures.
But that was it.
Stelle broke the tension naturally.
"Himeko and Welt told us you had something set up in the Simulated Universe. What's all this about 'updates' and a 'beta expansion'?" She asked, sitting down. "And more importantly, are there rewards for testing it?"
The Herta puppet snorted proudly.
"Hmph. There have been improvements to the systems, more worlds added… and, of course, the beta of the new expansion."
It turned dramatically, emphasizing each word as if it were a grand announcement.
"The Plague. A recreation of the most chaotic days, when Tayzzyronth had not yet fallen and the Swarm spread unchecked, as well as its aftermath."
"Okay." Stelle replied, indifferent.
Herta stared at her with an expression that practically said, Is that it?
But Stelle had already tugged Aleph toward Screwllum.
"Screwy, you had something to show too, right?" She asked, eyes bright.
"Indeed." The mechanical knight replied calmly. "A different proposal, though still in progress. I call it the Differentiated Universe. Instead of cosmic-scale events, it focuses on the lives of key Andavian figures, hoping to uncover fragments of truth through them."
Herta clicked her tongue and crossed her arms.
"Bah, a waste of time."
"An alternate path." Screwllum corrected, unshaken. "I do not expect everyone to agree."
Herta lifted her chin, sighing.
"Well, I don't. But… I respect your effort. Just don't expect any help from me."
"Observation: You are kind, Mrs. Herta."
"Of course! And don't forget to mention, beautiful, humble, brilliant, and understanding."
...….
When the discussion ended, the Herta puppet waved its hands and ushered them out without ceremony.
"I'll call you when everything is ready. Now, out."
In the hallway, Stelle stretched lazily.
"I'm going to play with Peppy and annoy Arlan. You coming?"
Aleph barely opened his mouth when someone stepped in his path. Ruan Mei had just exited the office as well.
"Aleph." She said in her soft voice. "Would you mind if we talked for a moment?"
Then she fixed her gaze on Stelle, maintaining her kind smile.
"In private."
… Somehow, Aleph had a strange sense of déjà vu.
**************************************************************************
Extra: Divine Comedy: Inferno – Part 1
Dante and Virgil walked along the sidewalk, carrying heavy backpacks. They had been arguing for two blocks.
"I told you it was too much." Virgil insisted, quickening his pace. "Half the family treasure, Dante. Do you know what that means?"
"What, that Dad's going to blow up and we'll achieve our dreams before he catches us?" his brother replied with a smile. "Also, call me Tony! Why did we waste time making fake names if we're not going to use them, Chris?"
Virgil sighed wearily.
"Achieving our dreams… by stealing. Very noble."
"Don't remind me like you're some saint. You were the one who opened the safe."
They exchanged a glance and, despite everything, laughed. The idea of their father shouting at them from the door until he went hoarse still amused them.
They turned a corner, looking for a place to eat.
********
They sat on a bench, sharing bread and cheese. Just as they took the first bite, a figure came running toward them.
It was a girl with brown hair tied in a braid. Her face was pale, and her eyes were red from crying.
She seemed desperate.
"Please… help me." She pleaded quietly, trying to catch her breath.
Virgil eyed her warily, while Dante watched with curiosity.
"Sit down." Dante said, gesturing toward the bench. "Breathe."
"They… they're going to kill me…" She muttered, trembling.
Dante's expression softened as he patted her gently on the back.
Virgil sighed and looked at his younger brother. He knew what that look meant—they both had the same weak spot.
They couldn't leave her like that.
They fed her. Once she managed to swallow a bite, she spoke more clearly.
"I'm Alejandra Portinari." She introduced herself, stepping back slightly, embarrassed by her appearance. "Sorry for the trouble."
"Tony Redgrave." Dante said, offering his right hand for a handshake.
"Chris Redgrave." His brother added.
"What happened? Why were you in that state?" Dante asked.
Alejandra clenched her hands on her knees.
"I was running from those things… they killed my parents."
She leaned forward, eyes fixed on the floor. Dante put a hand on her shoulder until she regained some control.
"Calm down. What do you mean by 'those things'?" Virgil asked cautiously.
"It's better if you see them." She said, standing up.
******
She led them through narrow streets to a luxurious-looking house with the door ajar. The metallic smell reached them before they entered. Virgil shut the door behind them.
He scanned the surroundings for anything he could use as a weapon, considering the possibility that the girl was leading them into a trap.
The foyer was stained with blood. Dante and Virgil instinctively positioned themselves, one in front and one behind Alejandra.
In the living room, the mangled body of a dog lay on a rug. Further ahead were the bodies of two adults.
Virgil crouched next to the closest one, examining the wounds.
"Claw marks… long, very deep. Not from any local animal." As a veterinary and zoology enthusiast, Virgil had studied many books on the subject and even kept track of local animals to avoid, now that he and his younger brother had run away.
Alejandra spoke in a trembling voice.
"It was a black reptile… with many heads. It came out of the shadows… and it spoke like a human."
Virgil squinted.
"Fear can make you see things." He said dismissively. Monster sightings weren't uncommon, though they were always debunked eventually.
"Or maybe there's something we don't know about." Dante countered, keeping his eyes on the bodies.
"What did they do for a living?" Virgil asked, curious.
"My mother was a florist… she loved literature. My father was a scientist… I'm not sure exactly in what field."
As they spoke, they climbed the stairs to Alejandra's father's study.
The second floor was dimly lit.
On a desk piled with papers, they found thick, leather-bound books with titles on demonology and ancient mythologies. Scattered notes, drawings of creatures, symbols, and seemingly incoherent phrases were everywhere.
Several pages repeatedly featured three names.
Azi Dahaka
Vritra
Set
Virgil flipped through one of the tomes.
"This doesn't bode well…"
"Maybe it would have been better to ignore her and drag Dante away by force." Virgil thought.
A wet noise followed by a hiss interrupted them. Something serpentine emerged from a dark corner.
It was thin, with black scales that absorbed light. Before they could react, it lunged at Virgil.
"Watch out!" Dante shouted, pushing his brother aside.
The creature grabbed him and dragged him back into the shadows. Virgil tried to reach him but only caught air.
"Dante!" He cried desperately.
"You…" he growled at Alejandra. "This is all your fault!"
She broke down in tears. Virgil closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
"Sorry… I shouldn't have said that."
Alejandra wiped her tears and grabbed a stack of her father's notes. She looked him in the eye.
"We're going to bring him back."
***********
Dante could barely keep his eyelids open. Everything around him was darkness, but within it floated white bubbles and crystalline structures.
In the center, a colossal tree of golden light stretched toward infinity.
Its roots and branches disappeared into a nonexistent horizon.
A tremor shook the space. In the gloom, a huge mechanical eye opened and glared at him with a red glow.
Before losing consciousness, he thought of a word he didn't understand why he knew:
"…Aeon?" He whispered, before passing out.
********
Virgil closed the tome in his hand and threw it to the floor, watching the shrinking shadow that had taken his brother.
"I don't like any of this," he said, stepping forward.
Alejandra tossed the notes onto the floor as she searched for something useful among all the clutter.
Her eyes widened when she found something hidden in a desk drawer.
"'Basic Magic' and 'Contract Magic'?" She and Virgil exchanged skeptical looks at the titles of both books, but in the end, they grabbed them—something was better than nothing.
They looked at each other and nodded.
Without hesitation, they lunged toward the shadow.
A completely black void stretched beyond the reach of their eyes.
Followed by a rapid, turbulent descent.
"Ugh." Alejandra clutched her stomach, her face turning pale.
Virgil felt a bad premonition and remembered the time Dante had entered a food-eating contest. His eyes widened in alarm.
"Don't you dare!" He shouted—but it was too late.
Alejandra's vomit covered him from head to toe.
**********
Dante slowly opened his eyes. His first instinct was to look around.
There, he saw the semi-charred body of his captor.
"Disgusting…" He muttered, covering his nose against the horrible stench. Looking around, he saw a desolate land that could only be described one way.
Hell.
He tried to step forward, but a sudden heaviness overwhelmed him, and a sharp headache made him wince.
A sound like a chain of beeps echoed in his head.
His gaze fixed once again on the charred body.
"… Are you sure about this?" He asked softly.
The beeping sounded once more.
"Alright, I'll trust you."
Sliding his hands into the reptile's open flesh, Dante felt a burning sensation in his fingers, making him grimace in pain.
The beeps sounded again, and the pain vanished.
Following the instructions he had been given earlier, Dante used his right hand to draw a formula on his left hand with the reptile's blood.
"I hope what you told me is true." He said, feeling a warm sensation fill his body. He quickly followed the instructions, channeling the energy into his left hand.
A bright green flame appeared, floating above his palm.
Dante forced back a surge of joy.
The beeping sounded once more.
"… Okay, you kept your promise." He said, beginning to stretch. "Dante Alighieri is a man of his word—don't doubt I'll do my part."
*********
Alejandra refused to look at Virgil as he wiped vomit from his face.
They walked forward, searching for any clue to Dante's whereabouts.
Alejandra took the Basic Magic book, while Virgil grabbed the Contract Magic book.
"Do you think we can make this work?" Alejandra asked.
Virgil frowned.
"We have to. Dante needs me."
She narrowed her eyes and placed her hands on her hips.
"Weren't you supposed to be Tony and Chris Redgrave?"
Virgil gave her an expressionless look.
"Really, that's what concerns you?" She silently nodded. "Alright, I'll give you a quick summary."
Virgil began narrating as they walked.
"I'll start from the beginning. Three years ago, when Dante and I were twelve, our mother ran off with the gardener—though not before vandalizing our father's office," He said casually.
"He took it out on us. Despite good grades, good behavior, and being competent in various areas, he never left us alone. Things got worse when he became an alcoholic; under the guise of 'teaching,' he started hitting us… it went on for the next three years. Dante and I finally had enough, and decided to do the same as Mom: we broke the safe, stole half the family treasure, and ran away. Two handsome twins against the world! I'm sure that's the stupidity Dante believes." Virgil chuckled a little.
"Wow, you really know how to laugh." Alejandra said, covering her mouth in surprise.
"Hey, you say that as if I was upset all the time!"
...
"Hey, I think I figured it out." Virgil said, shaking his companion, who had been absorbed in reading. "It's not as complicated as it first seemed."
Using the sharp tip of a nearby rock, the older twin made a small cut on two of his fingers.
With his blood, he drew a strangely-shaped magic circle on the ground.
"Time to try. How much do you trust your ability to… ehem, negotiate?" he asked, glancing at the next steps.
"I'm not very sure."
"Well, get ready. If this works, our chances will be much higher."
The pages of the book rustled in the wind as a bluish glow emerged from the circle.
"How about becoming a demon summoner?"