Chapter 20: "A Day of Training and a Story of Brothers"

After a night of rest and with the group meeting again, now six people, Dante begins to speak: "Well, now that we're all here, let's start training again. This time, Asia will heal you, so I'll only help with magical power when you run out. So, go ahead and start. And Asia, come with me."

While everyone begins to train, except for Asia, Dante takes her to a separate area and pulls out a gun that looks like a Glock, handing it to Asia. Asia looks at the gun and then asks Dante: "Mr. Dante, why do I need the gun?"

Dante replies: "Well, Asia, for now, you still can't use your healing powers at a distance, so I thought you might be able to do it using a gun. I'll teach you how to transfer your healing power into the gun and how to use it."

Asia nods and says to Dante: "Alright, Mr. Dante. So, how do we start?"

Dante steps a little further back from her and says: "Well, Asia, it's simple: first, try to use your healing power on the bullets and your demonic power on the gun. Then try to shoot me while I'm moving."

Asia looks at Dante and responds: "Alright, I'll try."

Asia begins to shoot at Dante, while he dodges the bullets. After a while, when Asia is running out of magic power, Dante approaches and says: "Well, Asia, take this, and let's start again. Now also try shooting at the guys who are training and see if you can heal them." Dante pulls out a Purple Orb and hands it to Asia.

Asia, now recharged, looks at Dante and says: "Alright, I'll try, but… what if it goes wrong? What should I do?"

Dante looks at her and responds: "That's fine. Can't you still heal them anyway? If anything happens, I have something else that might help, so don't be afraid and go for it."

With determination, Asia says to Dante: "Alright, I'll try."

Later, everyone is seen training while Asia shoots at them, trying to heal them at the same time. Although it's not perfect yet, with practice she should be able to master it.

At the end of the training, Dante calls them over and says: "You know, guys, your strength is improving, but it seems you still have some issues. So, why don't I tell you a few stories? Maybe they'll motivate you."

Everyone looks at Dante and agrees, so he says: "Alright, first let's head to the clubroom. After all, the stories might be a bit long, and everyone will feel more comfortable on the sofas."

After a while, they arrive at the clubroom, where everyone sits on the sofas, with food and drinks. Dante, standing and with an ice cream in hand, says: "Alright, this might be a little long, but it should be helpful. So, here I go."

Dante continues and says: "A long time ago, there was a family made up of four people: a father, a mother, and two twin brothers. In this family, the father was a great demon who was revered as humanity's savior, betraying the demons, while the mother was an ordinary human. Since the twins were half-demon and half-human, the father taught them to fight for a while. Then, after a time, he disappeared, leaving only three in the family."

"As the years passed, the brothers continued their lives, occasionally fighting over small things. One day, while they argued because the younger brother took a poetry book from the older brother, the mother saw them and punished them both. The older brother, angry at being punished as well, went to the park near his home. Meanwhile, in the family home, the younger brother and mother began to notice a burning smell and then saw demons beginning to appear in the house. The mother, taking the younger twin to a room to hide him in a secret passage, said to him: 'I'm going to find your brother; stay here. If I don't return, remember to escape alone, change your name, forget the past, and start a new life.'"

"After that, the mother, running through the house calling for her older son, died. This caused both brothers to develop a deep hatred. The younger brother hated the demons for taking his family and swore to protect others so they wouldn't have to lose anything. The older brother, however, hated his own weakness; not being strong enough to protect what was his marked him, and he would do whatever it took to gain power, even if he had to sacrifice anything."

"This led to a clash of ideals and spirit when the brothers met again."

After telling the story, Dante says: "So, what do you think? It's a bit long, so I think I'll save the other one for another time. Does anyone want to say anything about this story?"

Everyone looks at Dante and starts to respond, beginning with Akeno, who says: "For now, nothing. I want to think about the story." Then Koneko says: "Me too; I feel it's better to reflect on the story." Yuuto adds: "True, the story seems a bit deep to say anything right now."

Then Asia raises her hand. Dante looks at her and says: "Yes, Asia, what do you want to ask?"

Asia speaks and says: "The brothers, how did they end up? Were they able to live together again?"

Dante replies: "No. When the brothers saw each other, they fought to the death, with the younger brother killing the older one."

Asia hears the answer and says: "Then, what happened to the younger brother?"

Dante replies: "That's why it was a fight of ideals and spirit. The younger brother chose to face his older brother one last time, to prevent his older brother's thirst for power from causing harm to others." Then Dante says: "Since no one else wants to talk, why don't we each go home? It's getting late."

Everyone agrees with Dante and leaves. Dante walks to Grayfia's house and finds her waiting for him there.