Hearth Of The Cards

'The information could be valuable. Ignoring that matter, I don't know if refusing this "gamble" might be used as a weakness later.' The emerald-eyed reincarnate thinks. His delayed answer surprisingly enough not attracting the attention like on the bridge. rather it seems the other tavern goers are more desperate to act as if he and the gambler do not exist.

"What choice do you have mister? Nine out of ten outsiders end up in the blood district or the abandoned district. Not by their own will evidently. I don't wish you such a vile fate so why not play some cards?" The gambling devil says as he or it shuffled the cards. The way it devoured the skeleton it seemed to have no morality unlike a human. The recent murder on the bridge quickly flashing by as if to highlight hid own hypocrisy.

"I don't see how getting murdered in a tavern is any different from being killed in the street." <the reincarnate responds rather discussing with a devil than against his own mind.

"Well, it's all about the story, my acquaintance. Ain't it more romantic and poetic, dying to the cards." The gambling says with an unnecessary amount of theatrics display, the swaying arms and altered voice resembling that of a young actor trying out for the first time. This was however undoubtedly not the first time that the devil acted this way.

"Dying is dying, doesn't matter how." the reincarnate responds whilst gnashing his teeth. One death had brought him more misery than he could've ever imagined. Yet this devil spoke as if he had lives to spare.

"Maybe you're right. Luciel doesn't give a shit about any of us. But if you think hiding from death is the answer. Well.... then you're just a waiting corpse." The gambling devil's gaze lands on the small now fireless skeleton.

What is he trying to do? I probably should try to see what I can glean from him. I decide to use appraisal.

The eyes of the reincarnate shimmer with a green jewel-like light. trying to recognize the mana of the devil. A small vision of dice with only sixes passed by. Then A man sitting alone dead serious whilst the surroundings bus with laughter. Lastly followed by a short vision of a small river being filled as a fisherman-like individual throws in screaming violet water" Unfortunately, it seems that there would be some disadvantages if I play against the likes of you." The reincarnate responds by noting that the skeleton cries and the general fact that a devil should not be trusted. Cornelius had driven it into him that he should be wary of all things in the city. 'Everything is a trap and everything wants you dead. You do understand me right? Little Ed' Little Ed thinks of Cornelius's words. At the moment the only things he might be able to trust.

"Well, well, how unexpected. It seems you do have some necessary survival tricks." The gambling devil is somehow more delighted than annoyed by the reincarnated's weariness.

"Hey, mister! Wouldn't it be a shame if that were to stop us from playing? I tell you what, let's make a pact." He yells in a near panic as the emerald-eyed shade demon turned away.

"A pact?" The reincarnate asks with a small sigh. Already forced to hear a term he's unfamiliar with.

"Yes, a sort of magical contract between us two. Let me make the terms." He says in a confident tone. The devil almost looks clumsy as he uses one of his cards to slit his own tongue. The smile the gambling devil gives one filled with blood and now red tainted teeth. The devil's blood leaks out of his mouth and make their way toward the blood stained card. The original card that resembled an imp dancing in a ginger's woman's hand transformed to two undefined individuals chained together to a creature with two arms yet each having three hands. At a first glance, it resembled the devil before him.

"I, Ashmodai. Swear upon my life, my soul and fate under the jurisdiction of the red eye that I will gamble fair and with no tricks against this traveler. If he wins, I swear to tell him whatever he knows." The devil apparently named Ashmodai finishes his pledge as he holds out the blood stained card to the reincarnate. "It's your turn." He simply says.

The reincarnate slowly takes the card. Realizing that if there ever was a time to back out, it would be now. "I swear to grant the devil his wish if he wins." the reincarnate says, quickly finishing his own pledge. He cuts his palm as he did when summoned Cornelius. Secretly wishing that the result might be something similar this time as well. "Does that suffice?" The reincarnate asks as he hands the bloodied card over to its original owner.

"No name?" Ashmodai asks as he already began to shuffle the cards.

"No."