Introducing The Devil

Asmo was relishing his time with the children when he was approached by an enigmatic woman. She was a middle-aged nun, exuding the fierce countenance of a warrior, and it seemed that Asmo was her intended target.

Unfazed and undaunted, Asmo considered that facing this mortal woman was nothing compared to contending with his own brother, Satan. The woman, evidently Sister Cassandra, addressed the gathered children with a commanding presence, requesting a moment alone with Mr. Asmo.

The children dispersed instantly, as if ensnared in a trance by the woman's imposing aura. Their palpable fear only served to fuel Asmo's determination to confront this self-proclaimed nun with resolute action.

"Mr. Asmo, I will ask you a few questions. Provide only honest answers, and perhaps I will consider letting you off the hook for trespassing into the orphanage without prior permission or the consent of the authorities," Sister Cassandra stated gravely, taking her time to clearly convey her intentions to him.

Asmo found himself both impressed and amused by Sister Cassandra's serious demeanor. He couldn't resist the challenge that this woman was presenting. "Oh, is that so?" he heard himself say. His sinister, calculating nature yearned to seize control and escalate the already tense situation to a whole new level.

Just as he was about to unleash his unfiltered opinion of Sister Cassandra, he caught sight of Maria behind them. She appeared deeply worried and signaled to Asmo, urging him not to jeopardize her beloved Godmother's position.

Asmo immediately clamped his lips shut. He couldn't believe he was about to restrain his freedom of speech simply to appease Maria. After all, she was the birthday girl. He composed his facial expression into a more serene and collected look before inquiring, "Okay then, what do you want to know?"

Sister Cassandra smiled, realizing that Asmo had held back, understanding that it was Maria's influence. This answered her first question. Moving on to her second, she inquired, "Mr. Asmo, who are you to Maria?"

Asmo was taken aback by the question. What kind of question was that supposed to be? He attempted to discern the woman's underlying motive. What was the purpose of this sensitive question? He had to respond, but he needed to be cautious. Sister Cassandra didn't seem like the type to quiz people for mere pleasure. Asmo endeavored to delve into her mindset. She possessed mental strength, but he identified a vulnerability. Sister Cassandra was a zealous woman of God, yet she also bore great pride. This pride in her accomplishments and the orphanage was ungodly enough for Asmo to catch a glimpse of her soul.

It was a peculiar occurrence; her life flashed before his eyes, and it appeared rather mundane, until he glimpsed a part of her life before she became a nun.

Asmo was taken aback as he delved into Sister Cassandra's past, witnessing her love for a young man and her willingness to forgo her dream of becoming a nun for him. However, her world shattered when he betrayed her by engaging in a relationship with her best friend, leaving her heartbroken. This experience propelled her towards becoming a woman embittered by men and hiding behind her religious facade.

Having seen the profound impact of betrayal on Sister Cassandra in her memories, Asmo felt no need to expose her secret. He chose to refrain from exploiting the situation, empathizing with her pain. After all, he knew firsthand the anguish of betrayal, having been taught much by Lilith, a treacherous figure in his own life.

Resolving to act with honesty, Asmo decided not to manipulate his way out of the situation. He understood the depth of Sister Cassandra's pain and chose to answer her truthfully, stating, "I am a man of interest in her research into the fading light of humanity."

Cassandra was astonished by his response but sought further clarification, requesting, "Explain further, if you don't mind."

Asmo found himself at a loss for words as he struggled to explain further, "You see, I am the De...vil..." He trailed off, realizing with a jolt that he had just disclosed his true identity to a nun. Before he could rectify his mistake, Maria suddenly appeared, attempting to divert Sister Cassandra's attention and provide Asmo with the opportunity to evade her probing interrogation.

However, before Maria could intervene, Sister Cassandra posed her final question, "Tell me, Asmo, what do you feel for my beloved Maria?" Both Asmo and Cassandra were frozen in place, as she had just posed the most pivotal and potentially destructive question of all.In that suspended moment, it was as if the entire world had come to a standstill. Asmo found himself envisioning a surreal scenario, imagining himself on a talk show with a massive live audience encircling them, eagerly anticipating his response. In his mind's eye, a charismatic host approached, placing a microphone before him and announcing, "Today, we are introducing the Devil, and he is here to answer the trillion-dollar question: Do you love Miss Maria Ave?".