Dante’s Immortality – Chapter 26

Edward Ailloss

One of his servants ran up to interrupt their sparring. “My lord, master Varik requests an audience.”

Edward motioned Sam to stop, ending the session. “What are you waiting for, send him over immediately.”

The servant hurried back to retrieve him, then returned a few minutes later with his spymaster, Varik. It took the spymaster quite a while to arrive at the yard. His bad leg had always been an issue, but it also seemed that the years were beginning to catch up to him, despite his specialization.

Seeing Varik’s calm demeanor, Edward couldn’t help but let out a breath of relief. The spymaster wouldn’t have come himself if he didn’t have big news. “Did you finally find her?”

The elderly man just looked at him emotionlessly. “I’m afraid not, my lord. I have some other news that I thought you may consider to be of some importance.”

He let out a sigh, his excitement was now deflated. “Alright, what is it?”

Seeing Edward’s indifference, Varik had a look of irritation cross his face. “My spies have found something of interest in House Calman’s academy in the Outer Edge region.”

Seeing the spymaster finally show some emotion, Edward smirked. “What could those pretentious upstarts possibly be doing that could interest me?”

The spymaster gave a moment of pause, clearly put off by his attitude. “Apparently a student with silver hair and red eyes is mercilessly destroying others in the academy’s arena.” He paused again, letting the information sink in and observing the changes on Edward’s face. “You told me to be on the watch for such a person, so I sent one of my best infiltrators to find out more information. He couldn’t find much on short notice, but apparently, that student arrived at the academy with Alexander and Layla Calman. He has even been receiving special treatment, and is currently housed with nobles from the Outer region.”

Edward could feel his face contort as Varik gave his report, which only brought out a look of satisfaction from the old spymaster.

It was no secret in House Ailloss that Edward’s daughter, Diana, had run away because he was trying to force her into a marriage, and Varik knew more than most.

Edward quickly pivoted, turning to Sam. “Prepare an extraction squad, we can’t let that witch get her hands on him.”

Sam cleared his throat. Then, as though he was talking to a child who didn’t understand. “It may be possible that he won’t come willingly if we… forcibly extract him.”

That gave him pause. He needed to find a way to get the boy out of the Calman’s reach, but in a way, that wouldn’t make him resentful…

Edward scratched his chin, considering several options for a moment. “Lead a squad into the academy, then wait for further orders.” Then he turned back to Varik. “Completely cover the academy with your agents. I want to know everything that happens as it happens.”

Varik was a little put off by the order. “Not only would that cost a significant amount of resources just to set up the information relay, but I would also have to take agents out of some long-term positions to fill the academy. Some have been working for years to properly establish themselves.”

The spymaster’s words gave him pause. “It doesn’t matter. This is more important, try and minimize the damage as much as you can, but see my orders carried out. Now.” He waved both of them away.

Now alone in the yard, he couldn’t help but let out another sigh. Everything seemed to be going wrong. Not only had his daughter run away, but the future of his house was most likely already seduced by some other witch.

If he was going to be seduced by a witch, why couldn’t it have been Diana…

“Sit up straight.” Mia was in the middle of cutting her food and wasn’t even looking at him. “Shoulders back and chest out.”

Dante just stared at her for a moment, then did as she said.

What did I do to deserve this?

As carefully as he could, he resumed eating, slowly cutting a piece of meat.

“Don’t rest your arms on the table. And you're cutting a steak, not your adversary. Who taught you your manners?”

That comment elicited a glare from him. “No one.”

For a moment, she looked as though she regretted her words, but then her eyes hardened. “That is quite obvious. I would suggest you learn quickly if you don’t want to embarrass yourself on your date.”

Mia had been treating him far differently after their trip to the simulation room two days prior.

For some reason, she hated him again. He had no idea why, but was pretty sure he had messed up in some way that he wasn’t aware of. Regardless of the reason, knowing that he had destroyed whatever loose friendship he had finally started to create with Mia was still somewhat emotionally crushing.

“I’m no longer hungry” He put down his fork and knife. “I think I’ll go to sleep early.” He checked her reaction, but there wasn’t one. Dante let out a deep breath, then got up from his chair and walked toward his bedroom. “Thanks for dinner.” He looked back to gauge her reaction yet again, but she seemed intent on ignoring him.

Walking into his room, he decided his best course of action was to find comfort in his bed. He jumped onto it, somehow the bed seemed to remove all of his troubles.

At least my training with Will is going well…

Even though he and Will had only done two training sessions together, Will was already making enormous strides in his control thanks to Mia’s techniques. It was still too early to see if some sort of relationship would form out of it, but Will seemed elated at his progress. Will’s attitude, and lack of discomfort around him, gave him a decent amount of hope for his plan.

Mia

Mia sat at the table, ferociously cutting the steak on her plate.

Bastard. How dare he be seduced by that slut, but refuse me?

The sound of a cracking plate brought her out of her thoughts. The knife in her hand had shattered it.

Mia took a deep breath, trying to collect herself. She didn’t even know why she was so upset with him. It wasn’t like she actually wanted to sleep with Dante, but just thinking of Kayla rubbing up against him with her chest after all of her failed efforts…

The knife in her hand gave out, getting completely crushed in her grip.