Demon Skull, that was the name granted to the blue mask created by a certain artificer from a time long forgotten. Rather than a mask, it would be more accurate to call it a helmet, seeing how it covers the entire head. The upper half was smooth with no holes for the eyes, making one wonder if it’s possible to see while wearing it. The lower half had two rows of fang-like teeth, somehow resembling those of humans while being entirely different.
On its forehead, two long horns jutted out, both sharp like masterfully crafted daggers. Thin cracks ran through its surface, painting the image of smaller parts being brought together to create a bigger whole.
Research has proved that each of those parts had been carved out of bone, though it was incapable of discerning which creature provided it. After all, not a single living being on Earth had blue bones, which only added to the mystery surrounding the strange creation.
Klaus Stahlwölfe had always been fascinated by the creations of ancient civilizations. From the magnificent tombs of Tenebrosa to the hidden castles of Tianhua Dynasty, the scion of the Stahlwölfes used his vast wealth to acquire countless artifacts from all around the world.
Lately, he had grown interested in the remnants of the Tōseika empire, which is why he had paid a hefty sum to obtain the blue Demon Skill, which is said to have been a ritual item used by one of the cults that had once thrived in the now dead country.
He also had the Moon Dagger, an item passed down from its very first ruler. That one was a present from his soon to be father in law, a man who turned out to have such exquisite taste despite the brutish nature of his bloodline.
"What do you think, Uchida?" The scion asked, his eyes still transfixed on the eerie artifact he held in his gloved hands.
He towered over the glass display standing before him, the pristine white of his shirt reflecting on its surface. His wheat-blond hair cascaded behind him as he looked up at one of his most prized possessions.
His personal guard, present yet lacking presence, regarded the artifact for a long, silent second. His voice sounded wistful when he finally spoke.
"The caretakers used to tell us stories about the Blue Oni, saying they would come for the bad children who don’t go to bed on time. Even among our people, there are many who do not know that the cult wasn’t merely a fairy tale."
"Oh, I heard those stories as well." The scion said, "The real Blue Oni must have been quite the terrifying organization to be turned into a boogieman."
The guard nodded solemnly, but then his expression suddenly changed. Noticing his frown, Klaus lowered the Demon Skull, his smile fading away.
"Did something happen?"
"Nothing to concern yourself with, sir." The guard shook his head. "It seems that someone has probed the barrier, again."
"So it seems." Pausing for a moment, the guard then added. "They haven’t attempted to breach it so we’re having trouble narrowing down their location."
"They just keep coming, huh?"
Feeling his mood turn for the worse, Klaus Stahlwölfe placed the Demon Skull back into its display case and watched the reinforced glass emerge from the sides to encase it.
"We will launch an investigation right away." The guard said. "Would you like to increase the security as well?"
The scion stared at the blue bone mask for some time, then shifted his attention to another one of his Artifacts. Studying its crescent blade for some time, he felt the corners of his mouth slowly rise.
"Go ahead." He said. "My dear fiancé will be arriving soon. I don’t want her to feel unsafe."
Another shift came to its end and Dante had to drag himself back home. With how exhausted he was, he decided to forgo dinner, opting to catch up on the hours of sleep he had lost the previous night.
When he informed Nobara, she replied that Ross and Glenn were going to be disappointed, seeing that they were looking forward to hearing his recount of how the date went. Just thinking about it added to the exhaustion he felt so Dante concluded that not going had been the right choice.
Once he reached his apartment, Dante immediately plopped down on his bed, feeling his consciousness slipping away by the second. He quickly unequipped all of his clothes, leaving only his underwear. Normally, he would’ve put on the shirt and sweatpants he used as pajamas, but before he could get to that step, he was swept away toward the dreamworld.
There, he was once again riding in the back seat of an average car, staring at the neon signs outside his window, watching their shapes and colors blend into each other as they zoomed past him. He could hear someone talking, anger filling their voice, but he paid them no mind.
After some time, Dante seemed to realize he was in a dream.
’... it has been a while...’
An odd feeling overwhelmed him. The exact same dream had haunted him for the past four years, which is why he had no trouble recognizing it. The problem was that he only ever noticed that it was a dream after waking up. That was the main way in which it tormented him, making sure he relived those moments again, and again, and again, without ever being able to do anything about it. This time, however, he was strangely lucid.
The dream refused to end despite his becoming aware of it. It played out the same way it usually does, even when he remained silent. His father kept yelling about how he ruined things for them, while his mother demanded that he apologize. He remembered being full of nothing but hatred as he listened to them, but this time, things were different.
He turned to look at the young girl sitting beside him. To his surprise, she was sitting upright, her face no longer hidden behind the long bangs of her white hair. She stared ahead with a neutral expression, her light blue eyes calm like the surface of a frozen lake.
Lingering for a few moments, he turned his gaze to the front as well then said in a light tone, "They never shut up, do they?"
The words seemed to catch the girl’s attention, prompting her to shift her gaze to him. Dante found himself smiling at her, and after a moment of apparent confusion, she smiled back at him as well.
"How have you been, Will?"