31 Callous Intent

Asrael walked into the dining room holding a pan of sauce. He looked cheerful, but somehow Arius thought he looked sinister.

Arius turned his attention to the sauce, 'smells good at least.' He thought.

"Oh? Then who's up for another round?" Zuna looked around the table. Everyone had realized Asrael's provocation, even if it wasn't clear. However they could only take it as him looking for punishment. "Then let's change it up a bit his time, if what you admit to isn't stupid enough, their will be a consequence."

Eirik vaguely knew what the penalty was, he didn't like it, but if Zuna wanted to play with fire, the only thing he could do was prevent her from being burned. He spoiled her to a whole other level.

"What's the punishment?" Arius suddenly had a bad feeling in the pit of his stomach. Especially after noticing a change in Eirik, the man was still somber, but slightly unsteady.

"It's a surprise~" Zuna gave an Impish look towards Asrael as the young man sat down.

That's when Arius realized she was kind of petty. "Arius, you can go first."

"Let's see..." As he thought of what to say, his mind suddenly wandered to a question he had in the back of his head, 'why do I treat falling in love with Zuna like it's the inevitable?' He was quiet for a long moment.

"If you can't think of anything, we can skip your turn." Zuna sounded patient, "But then you'll have to do it twice when it's your turn again."

"Of course I don't want to be skipped." Arius didn't take much longer to say, "I ran for president under the name 'Living Legend'."

"Did you win?" Dante asked, while Zuna gave a light laugh.

"Do you know of any presidents named 'Living Legend'?" Arius looked down at the boy.

"No."

"Okay, okay... my turn." Zuna stopped laughing, but kept a smile. "I... climbed a huge tree, at the age of about twelve, and ended up getting stuck."

"Never been afraid of heights?" Arius asked.

"No, I was terrified, that's why it was stupid." She laughed.

"I had to cut the tree down." Eirik had the face of a stern parent.

"Yep, really stupid." Asrael nodded as he poured the newly made sauce on his noodles, making what he believed was now spaghetti.

"Dante's turn." Zuna looked at the young one.

"I don't think he should play." Arius responded for him, and since it was Arius that said so, Dante agreed.

"Alright, Dad's turn then." She accepted it and turned to face her father.

"I always let Zuna do as she wishes." Eirik was an honest man, and he seldom made stupid decisions, so everything unexplainable was mostly related to Zuna. Of course, Zuna didn't deny that it was stupid of him to let her do what she wants.

"Asrael's turn." Zuna looked at Asrael with a glint in her eyes.

Asrael obviously wasn't normal, he wanted to know exactly how terrible a punishment Zuna could come up with. "I formed a gang."

"Lame!" Arius shouted.

"Oh poor child, you dare underestimate my ruthlessness?" Zuna had a malicious smile, although it didn't quite seem evil. It was plain as day that Asrael wasn't trying.

"Who dares? I'm simply playing the game." Asrael was shameless, but also smart enough to realize how to lose, but still act like a winner. It was the best way to piss someone off.

"Alright, then would you like to know your punishment?" Zuna turned towards Eirik. "You'll be shown your greatest fear."

Asrael wasn't intimidated, but Arius once again had a bad premonition.

"Alright, I'll accept the punishment." Asrael nodded.

"Let's do punishments after dinner, please?" Arius had to intervene.

"Fine." Zuna shrugged, but her grin still held a callous intent.

"How about another round then?" Asrael was still looking to play cat and mouse, and he believed he was teasing the cat.

"No, it's a game that's really only good for two rounds." Zuna shook her head.

"We haven't officially introduced ourselves to Asrael, now have we?" Eirik began.

"Arius has, you two haven't." Asrael responded to the pair of father and daughter .

"My name is Eirik." The man said, then tilted his head toward Zuna, "This is my daughter, Hazuna."

"Great meeting you." His sarcasm was ignored.