*Thud* *Thud* *Thud*
The rhythmic thuds intensified, culminating in a clumsy slide and a stumble as Trixie burst into the kitchen's threshold.
Donned in an oversized white T-shirt swinging around her knees, her blonde hair cascaded in untamed waves, partially veiling her drowsy sapphire eyes.
"Huhh~ Huhh~ I— I'm not too late am I ?! DASEOS feed meeee puhlease~"
Trixie begged, her voice taking on a seductive whine as she brought a finger to her pouting lips, her eyes blinking hopefully.
Daseos turned towards her, a helplessness washing over his face as he glanced down at the near-shining plates devoid of food.
He looked back at Trixie, raising his arms in an exaggerated shrug, his face reflecting sincere regret over the empty plates.
Faye was busily licking her lips, her little hands rubbing her belly in a circular motion, a blissful, flushed expression of satisfaction adorning her face as she hummed happily.
Beside her, Amnesia was silently communicating her own desire for more, a small, pink tongue hanging out cutely as her large eyes turned to Daseos, filled with hope and a hint of whimsy, silently begging for more.
Faye hopped off her stool, her petite form skipping happily towards the exit.
"Ahhh~ Thanks for the treat Daseos! Time for work!"
She chirped, her voice a melodic tune that echoed with innocence and joy as she disappeared from the room, leaving a trace of her joyful spirit behind.
Trixie, on the other hand, could not hold back her disappointment.
Her face turned into a pouty scowl, her eyes filling with water, glistening as if threatening to spill over.
She stomped her foot, the sound echoing in the kitchen with a childish but heartfelt frustration before running off towards her room, her voice rising in a playful yet sincerely sad lament.
"Owwww! I missed it again! Waaaaahhhh Daseos you meanie!"
She cried, her voice fading as she moved farther away, leaving behind a comedic note of sadness that hung in the room, evoking sympathetic smiles from the remaining occupants.
The kitchen held a softer atmosphere now, a comforting quiet embracing Daseos, Allura, and Amnesia.
Allura's movement broke the stillness, her arm gracefully pulling out a seemingly hefty envelope concealed within the folds of her robe.
In a fluid motion devoid of any hesitance, she flung it across the counter where it landed squarely before Daseos with a soft but decisive thud, drawing his wide-eyed attention.
Daseos' eyes alternated between the heavy envelope that laid in front of him and Allura's stern yet caring face, a swarm of questions dancing in his eyes.
"This is the $50k you need to apply for Villain School…"
Allura began, her voice firm yet tender, resonating with an underlying thread of sincerity that brooked no argument.
Daseos opened his mouth, a burst of protest forming but Allura was quicker, disappearing with a graceful ebb into a swirl of emerald mist before he could articulate his surprise and refusal.
The fragrant air carried her parting words, a sultry whisper lingering with affection and pride,
"Take this as payment for the work you've done and meals you've made all these years…"
Time seemed to pause, the air thick with unspoken emotions as Daseos felt a rush of warmth swell in his chest, a potent mixture of gratitude, love, and a newfound responsibility settling in his young heart.
Amnesia's soft, curious voice pulled him from his reverie, her large eyes reflecting innocence and sincere confusion,
"Villain … School… You go?"
Daseos recovered, his face breaking into a gentle, reassuring smile.
He reached over to ruffle Amnesia's hair affectionately, the tactile connection grounding him as he made a promise not just to her but to himself.
"Yup! I'm going to apply for a Villain Ascendency Institute to become strong enough to protect you!"
His voice carried a fervent determination.
Amnesia seemed to absorb his words, her young mind mulling over the declaration before she raised a delicate finger, first pointing to Daseos assertively, emphasizing,
"You go…"
She paused, her brows furrowing in deep thought before her hand slowly shifted direction, her finger pointing towards herself, her voice tender yet stubborn as she murmured with a budding resolve,
"I go…"
Daseos's fingers tentatively neared the envelope, the smooth texture of the thick paper brushing against his skin.
The moment the pad of his finger made full contact, the world around him twisted in a dizzying array.
A fierce, blinding light burst forth from his chest, momentarily eclipsing the surroundings in a halo of dazzling brilliance, so pure and intense that it seemed to pull at the fabric of the physical realm, teasing the edges of perception and reality.
As quickly as it had flashed, the light retracted, leaving behind a serene stillness, a void of sound and movement where even the ever-present humming of the refrigerator seemed to have ceased.
Daseos stood frozen, his arm outstretched over the envelope.
In the corner of his vision, translucent yet irrefutably present, a series of words and numbers blinked into existence, a digital interface that grounded him yet pulled at the limits of his comprehension.
==========
[ Daseos Demon — T0 ]
Wealth: 100,637
P: 178
M: 162
==========
Blinking rapidly, confusion swirled in his grey eyes.
His arm remained outstretched, fingers still lightly touching the envelope, trying to process the unexpected turn of events.
Across the counter, Amnesia observed the entire scene unfold with her large, grey eyes, deep and inscrutable, devoid of emotion.
Those depthless orbs were exaggerated by the dark circles beneath them, giving her a haunting, gothic allure as she watched him silently, her head tilted in an angle of innocent curiosity, almost doll-like in her stillness.
Daseos's gaze lingered on the envelope, a silent question forming in his mind.
But as he hesitantly lifted his eyes to meet Amnesia's, he jerked his head back, startled by the piercing intensity of her gaze, heart hammering in his chest.
His eyes met Amnesia's, the depth of her stare pulling him from his trance.
His voice trembled as words fell from his lips, a whisper tinged with bewilderment and a hint of fear, breaking the silence that had engulfed the room,
"D...did you... see that?"