"Because you're a Devil," Thalia said, still with an ironic smile on her face. "And Devils usually live for centuries, if not millennia. So, even though you seem young, you must have a lot of history accumulated."
Kaito couldn't help but chuckle lightly, crossing his arms and looking at Thalia with an amused expression.
"You're kind of right, but not entirely," he said, shaking his head slightly. "I wasn't born a Devil. Actually, I'm a reincarnated one, and I'm only 16 years old."
Thalia frowned, surprised by the revelation. The smug expression on her face gave way to genuine curiosity. "16 years? So, you were human before?"
"Yes, I was human... in part," Kaito said, glancing away slightly as he pondered how to continue the conversation. He wasn't ready to fully reveal his fairy heritage, at least not at that moment. "My life before becoming a Devil is something I prefer to keep private, at least for now."
Thalia observed Kaito closely, noticing the hesitation in his words. She took a step forward, narrowing her eyes with curiosity. "I see. We all have our secrets," she said, her voice now softer but still with a note of suspicion. "But don't you think that if we're going to face gods together, it's important to trust each other?"
"You're right," Kaito said, nodding slightly. "Trust is important, but we also need more than that if we're going to face the gods."
"More than that?" Thalia asked, tilting her head, the curiosity evident in her expression. "What do you mean by that?"
"There's something in the underworld called Evil Pieces," Kaito began, his voice calm and controlled. "They are a set of pieces that have the ability to reincarnate people, whether humans, supernatural beings, or even other creatures, like Devils."
Thalia raised an eyebrow, visibly intrigued.
She took another step forward, her eyes fixed on Kaito as she absorbed the new information. "Reincarnate people... as Devils?" she said, pondering the idea.
"Exactly," Kaito confirmed, keeping his tone serious. "The Evil Pieces are based on the pieces of a chess game, and each of them has a specific function. By reincarnating someone with one of these pieces, they become part of a group, called a Peerage, led by the one who reincarnated them. This gives them power, abilities, and a direct connection to the group's leader."
Thalia appeared thoughtful as she processed the information. She crossed her arms, her eyes narrowing slightly as she pondered the implications of what Kaito was saying. "So, anyone who accepts being reincarnated with one of these pieces becomes a Devil and joins this group?"
"Yes," Kaito replied. "But it's not a decision to be taken lightly. Accepting an Evil Piece means becoming a true Devil, with all the responsibilities and risks that come with it. On the other hand, it also means gaining enough strength to face challenges that would normally be impossible."
Thalia remained silent for a few moments, processing Kaito's explanation. She seemed to weigh the pros and cons in her mind, evaluating what this would mean for her and her quest for revenge against the gods.
Finally, she looked at Kaito, her eyes filled with a new determination.
"So, even I can become a Devil?" she asked, her voice firm but also curious about what this would really mean for her future.
"Yes," Kaito responded. "But it's not a decision to be taken lightly. Accepting an Evil Piece means becoming a true Devil, with all the responsibilities and risks that come with it. On the other hand, it also means gaining enough strength to face challenges that would normally be impossible."
Thalia remained silent for a few moments, processing Kaito's explanation. She seemed to weigh the pros and cons in her mind, evaluating what this would mean for her and her quest for revenge against the gods.
The room's lights began to flicker slightly.
Kaito, attentive to every detail, noticed the sudden surge of power from Thalia.
"Are you okay?" Kaito asked.
Thalia took a deep breath, trying to compose herself.
"I'm... I'm fine," she said, though her voice betrayed a slight hesitation. She took a step back, the electricity around her gradually diminishing until the lights in the room stabilized.
Still visibly shaken, Thalia avoided Kaito's gaze and began to head toward the door.
"I'll talk to you tomorrow," she said, her voice sounding distant as she opened the door and quickly left.
CLACK
The door closed softly behind her, the sound echoing gently through the room. Kaito remained still, staring at the closed door with a puzzled expression.
'What happened to make her leave in the middle of the conversation?' Kaito thought, trying to piece together what had just happened.
Kaito remained in the room, immersed in thought.
The Next Day
The rising sun bathed the city of Nightshade in a soft, golden light, bringing a new day. Kaito woke up with the first rays of sun that filtered through the curtains of his room. He stretched, feeling his muscles still a bit tense after the intense conversation with Thalia the night before.
Kaito got out of bed and headed to the bathroom, where he washed his face with cold water, trying to clear his mind. 'Thalia left so abruptly... What could have upset her?' he thought as he looked at his reflection in the mirror. He knew the proposal of the Evil Pieces was tempting, but he also understood that it could be difficult to digest for someone who already harbored so much resentment and hatred.
After dressing, Kaito went downstairs, ready to face the day. The Full Moon Inn was quiet, except for the soft murmur of voices coming from the dining room, where breakfast was being served.
...
Upon entering the dining room, Kaito was greeted by the delicious aroma of fresh bread, eggs, and coffee. The room was cozy, with simple wooden tables, but well-decorated with small flower vases. The sunlight gently illuminated the space, creating a tranquil atmosphere.
Martha, the innkeeper, was serving coffee to a couple of guests at one of the tables. When she saw Kaito enter, she gave him a warm smile.
"Good morning, Kaito," she said as she placed a cup of coffee on the table next to him. "I hope you slept well."
"Good morning, Martha," Kaito replied, returning the smile. "Yes, I slept very well, thank you."
He sat at one of the tables, grabbing a piece of bread and serving himself some coffee. While eating, his mind was still occupied with the events of the previous night. He knew he would need to talk to Thalia again, but he didn't want to pressure her. 'She needs time to process everything,' he thought as he took a sip of coffee.
Kaito looked at Martha, who was busy cleaning one of the tables. "Martha," he called out, with a polite tone of voice.
Martha turned to him, still holding a cleaning cloth. "Yes, Kaito? How can I help you?"
"I'd like to extend my stay for a few more days," Kaito said, watching her reaction.
Martha smiled gently and nodded. "Of course, Kaito. That won't be a problem. I'll note that and update your reservation. Just let me know if you need anything else."
"Thank you, Martha," he replied, appreciating her hospitality. "I'll need a bit more time in the city."
After finishing his coffee, Kaito stood up and, with a polite nod to Martha, went back upstairs to his room. He needed a quiet place to think and wait for the next conversation with Thalia.
...
Upon returning to the room, Kaito sat in the armchair near the window, looking out at the calm landscape of Nightshade. The sunlight bathed the city, bringing a sense of serenity that contrasted with the turbulent emotions he had felt the night before.
It didn't take long before he heard a light knock on the door.
KNOCK KNOCK
"Come in," Kaito said, recognizing the energy on the other side of the door.
The door opened softly, revealing Thalia. She was more composed than the night before, but there was a firmness in her expression that indicated she was ready to continue the conversation where they had left off.
"Good morning," Thalia said as she entered the room and closed the door behind her. She walked over to the armchair opposite Kaito and sat down, keeping her eyes fixed on him.
"Good morning," Kaito replied, studying her expression. "You seem calmer."
Thalia sighed, briefly looking away before returning her gaze to Kaito. "I had time to think," she said. "About everything you told me... about the Evil Pieces."
Kaito nodded, waiting for her to continue.
Thalia took a deep breath, as if preparing for something important. "What Evil Pieces do you have available?" she asked, her voice firm and direct. "I want to understand better what you're offering me."
"I have all the pieces available," he replied calmly. "I don't have any servants yet, so all the pieces are free."
Thalia frowned, intrigued by the answer. "You don't have any servants yet?" she asked, a touch of surprise in her voice. "Why?"
"Because I'm being extremely selective with whom I reincarnate," Kaito explained. "I want powerful and loyal people in my Peerage. I'm not interested in quantity, but in quality."
'Besides, I received the Evil Pieces recently,' Kaito thought.
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