The Letter...

The look of disappointment was not actually held for Dante, it was held for herself. She began to realise now that this entire situation was caused due to her lack of trust in her instincts.

It was a time when she decided to bend her code for someone because it was her fault. Never again. Although she did not specially like Danny and she didn't care for him. This was just too cruel in her eyes, Dante may have been heavily injured if the spear had landed. Yet he was caught and stopped surely that would have been enough?

At that moment she promised to herself to follow her moral code, never to betray the trust she had in herself again.

Dante had unknowingly sped up her growth and mindset. Previously she had only had this growth after her father's death. Yet now it was unfolding before Dante's eyes.

He shook off her hand from his right arm and stood up, dusting his shirt off. The dirt cam out quick, yet the blood stained on his clothes. There were smudges of blood left on his face as if he came from a battlefield.

As a few people came to the platform they began to carry Danny off and take him to the infirmary on the knight's ground.

As the people dispersed away. some to do their own thing and others to the infirmary. He received a bunch of nasty glances from some of the other knights, yet none dared approach him. Some of the older ones even seemed to enjoy seeing the fight. Saying 'There were some promising youths of the Demiscue family.'

Although it didn't seem like they favoured him more, they did acknowledge his capabilities all the more so now.

When Dante looked away he just stood there watching as Silvana glared at him with a cold yet inexpressive face.

"Don't you think that was going overboard?" She asked in a low voice.

"What to avoid getting a lightning filled hole torn into me?"

"No. To mercilessly destroy someone who could not fight back any longer."

Her eyes showed her judgement, she didn't seem to dislike Dante, nor did she like his methods. It was actually the opposite, she disproved of it, yet she didn't hate him. After all he was provoked first and he only reacted back. Cruel as it may be.

"He broke the rules first. He used mana on an unawakened and aimed whilst they had their back turned."

"..."

Silence filled the air as she could not find a way to refute his logic.

Silvana took a deep breath as he looked at Dante's eyes once more. He seemed a little surprised.

"Your right... I apologise."

Dante did not expect this. Although he did not know her well, he did hear that she was a pretty stubborn person, so he never expected apology from her side at all.

"It's fine..."

She stared down at his hands. Her face scrunched up at the sight of it. Looking back it his expressionless face she thought.

'What is he? To brutally break Danny's face like that yet... His own flesh is in worse shape... He's not even batting an eye in pain...'

Dante's hands continued to drip on the floor, his bones were shattered as flesh was torn off from each punch. He would need to learn a defensive technique for his body once he awakens or else any strength moves will just injure himself more.

"I'll return back to training."

"Forgive me again for my mistake earlier." She does a light bow as she began to walk away.

Dante also began to walk back to his estate. He did not flinch whilst he moved, he felt the shooting pain go up his arm every few seconds yet for him this was light, it was tolerable as he became used to the sensations of pain due to his old life.

'It is only the absence of pain one should worry about... Because you are neither moving forward nor going back. You are stagnant and that is worse than failure.'

The cold wind stung on his open flesh as he stepped in through the gates of his house, willingly walking back in on his previous cage. The large mansion came into view as multiple patrolling soldiers and servants gave him a glance, a few maids even gasped at the state of him.

How could a member of the direct Demiscue family be that injured.

As soon as he opened the large front door to the mansion, Vanessa came into his sight.

Her eyes widened as she looked in up and down, covered in blood Dante came waltzing back in the house.

"What did you do?" She asked in a low tone. He looked as if he had just went on a murdering spree like some sort of crazy beast.

'Fuck, I knew he had been acting weird the last 2 days. He looks like a fucking psycho?'

Dante ignored her as he walked past and headed towards his room, he was looking for someone.

She repeated her question but this time in a louder voice.

"What the fuck did you do Dante?"

Something thumped in his brain as he stopped and chuckled with his back turned.

'Funny. The first time you call me my name since we were children is in this situation...'

"Fuck off..." He said in a cold tone as he continue to walk away.

Vanessa had gained a shade of red as her veins bulge.

'Fine, the only time I ask about the condition of a parasite like you and you ignore me...'

'Even after you ruin my celebration. You act this way...'

She was angry and embarrassed, never had she witnessed Dante act this way. Not once in her whole life she knew him. Yet in the last 2 days he acted so different. Just what happened?

Vanessa held a grudge as she left the house, going to see her friend who was in a palace close by, she took the Demiscue carriage as the transportation.

When he finally saw his room, he waited a few minutes outside. Surely the news had have to travel fast around the household...

Before he knew it from the other stairway came his personal servant. Jason.

Dante went inside the room with a smile as Jason quickly followed.

"ARE YOU OUT OF YOUR MIND?"

Jason grabbed his collar as he screamed at Dante, looking at him dead in the eyes as he brought him closer.

"Not only did you injure a knight of Demiscue, you caused the household to pay a large sum for his medical treatment. The more eyes on you the more eyes there are on me. Soon I will need to give answers..."

Jason looked away for a second contemplating something then looked back at Dante with a cold glint in his eyes...

"Maybe I should just kill you now..."

Electricity began to form in his other hand as he raised it up high, it was bright blue as the light began to illuminate the room.

"I said this before no one will know about Keira as long as I live."

"Dead men tell no tales..."

"You will get investigated, not by my family but by the Emperor's own knights... The Demiscue Family is still an influential family as long as my grandfather is on the council...

If a direct member of the family dies of unknown causes, in the capital no less. No matter how many people disliked the person. It will still cause panic amongst the noble. By then it will be too late for you as Keira will be found out..."

Jason's eyes look dark as he let go of Dante, even releasing his energy.

He began to walk away when a cold voice stopped him.

"Where do you think your going..."

"What?" Jason turned sounding annoyed.

"Heal me now."

He opened his eyes and laughed staring at his clear injuries.

"Im not your dog. Like you said. Figure it out yourself."

He was about to turn around again until he heard Dante's next words.

"One year."

"What..."

"In one years time when I'm entering the academy. I shall forget about this matter completely. Never to bring it up again or use it towards you again. I swear by my life, I shall obey this."

Jason turned his head. It seemed too good to be true. That all his worries would disappear after one year.

"What's the catch?"

"You help me completely this yea-"

"I refuse. I won't do any dirty deeds for you."

"Wait a moment. Your too impatient, not letting me finish. They won't be much, each time I promise I wont ask for things that would cost you dearly. Just a few items and your help in certain things..."

Jason felt odd, it seemed so simple yet could lead him down a dark road... He could be making a deal with a devil.

He gritted his teeth, as much as he wanted to refuse. He had a child to take care of and a wife to think of. If only she were not born a dark elf they could have lived a happy life together without hiding it. No if only the continent did not bring blame the dark elves for the most recent war...

"Fine." He said reluctantly.

Dante held his arms out as he felt the warm heat come from Jason's palms. It was a C rank technique. [Enhanced Natural Regeneration (C)] The technique was given the rank C as it would take a while to apply, let alone take effect. This would boost the natural regeneration of a person in exchange for the user's own mana.

A more fatal wound would take longer to heal of course such as a hole to the chest. Dante's wound would be done healing over night.

When the application was finished the green light stopped producing from his palms as Dante could feel a warm burning itch on his arms. It was his wounds regenerating. Slowly but surely he could feel it.

"One last thing... get me a mana orb."

"Mana orb?"

Jason furrowed his brows then raised an eyebrow as he realised what he was trying to do.

"Awakening mana is a long and lengthy procedure... Of course there is a faster method that would be done with a professional. Im guessing you aren't using one. What are you gonna do with it."

"Don't probe into my business and ask unnecessary questions." Dante said as he sat on his bed.

"It's not an uncommon item, yet it's not common either... I'll need a few days maybe even a week."

"That's acceptable."

Jason walked out the door after that as Dante began to laugh to himself. He had managed to get Jason to help him. Although it may not be clear now, in the future after a year the Emperor would decide to pardon the Dark Elves when he realises they are not the main cause for the war. his advantage would be over then anyways so Dante decided to make full use of it.

He rested his head on the pillow as he decided to get some rest. Usually he would use his time for mana cultivation, but he was not awakened yet so had no reason to.

Dante woke up a few hours later with a letter. On it was red wax, stamped officially by the crest of Demiscue. so it was an official letter he could not refuse.

Amanda, his personal maid, must have delivered it if he was not awoken to her presence when entering the room.

He snapped the wax and opened the letter. Within read only a single line.

'Your presence is required at 9pm tomorrow in my office.' - Salazar Demiscue.