Author's note: Expectation: Nevan's going to be in the story as the comic relief. Me, with a full character arc ready: "You will not forget this devil's power." Wildan: Royal Guard in DMC 5 relies on timing. Getting good at it actually means learning the animations and timings for all the enemies and bosses. This probably sounds very daunting, but it isn't. Use the Void, and set the enemy to do their moves. You can also practice against bosses in the Warm-Up mode of Bloody Palace. Tip: you can still block a lot of attacks even without precise timing. Just make sure you have bars of DT Gauge available, and hold down the style button. Dante will hold his block, avoiding damage, but spending Devil Energy for every move he defends against. Hope this helps. Everyone else: This is a short chapter. More will follow, but for now, I just wanted to address Dante's relationships with other characters in this story. A lot of people earlier pointed out that him getting flustered was out of character. This chapter might help them understand what's going on.
Dante woke up feeling much the same as any other day, but from the moment he became conscious again, he knew something was different. As a fraction of a second passed, and he became a bit more aware, he felt a weight pressing against his chest. This was soon followed by the sound of even, peaceful breathing, the rhythm of which was tied to the previously mentioned weight seeming to move. There was also the unique, very distinct scent he smelled. Putting the clues together, Dante more or less had the answer even before he opened his eyes. Right at the moment he did, he remembered.
Oh yeah. She ended up here, didn't she?
Lying on top of him, minus the living darkness garment she always wore, was a certain Lightning Witch.
For a moment, Dante simply watched her. The sight of a demon sleeping peacefully was quite strange, to say the least. But there was also something oddly soothing about it. As demons came, Nevan was probably one of the least bloodthirsty he had met (which was saying something). He couldn't quite see the expression on her face from where he was. Feeling slightly curious, he reached over and brushed a curtain of her scarlet hair out of the way. Nevan looked quite happy.
Well, that's good, I suppose.
I guess it's not bad to wake up to a beautiful woman once in a while.
Asleep as she was, she was currently not making any advances towards him.
Dante vividly recalled the scene from the previous day, when she had done so, in front of his students, as well as Goodwitch.
The devil hunter was not a stranger to women, and he certainly wasn't afraid of flirting back.
He had done so countless times.
No, what had bothered him was that yesterday had been different.
In the past, whatever demons, witches or other women had tried to seduce him, had been doing exactly that: trying to seduce him.
It was either for his power, or to gain a temporary advantage over him, or sometimes just for pleasure.
None of these bothered him in the slightest.
He had always answered them all in his own way, playing along before revealing that he wasn't so easy to manipulate.
No, what he was much more unfamiliar with was actual affection.
And that was what he had seen from Nevan yesterday.
He looked at the very naked demon woman sleeping soundly on top of him.
Despite her state of undress, nothing had happened between them the previous night.
It wasn't because Dante hadn't wanted it.
Even now, he was very aware of his body, aware of his physical urges.
Again, despite his close associates' impression of him as a man who had no interests outside of fighting and showing off, he had desires.
No, it was simply that he had learned, long ago, that demonic strength was not to be underestimated.
Humans were fragile. Oftentimes, walking around in Redgrave, Dante felt like he was surrounded by living paper. One wrong move, and he could rip them apart. And so, he had learned control.
The incredible balance and acrobatic prowess he showed was not completely the result of his gifts, though they played a large part in it. It was also the result of years of painstaking training, learning to finely use his strength when interacting with humans, and human-made environments. Once upon a time, there had been no guns he could use, simply because they would break like cardboard from his grip strength, or shatter from the amount of demonic energy he unconsciously leaked into them.
Eventually, years and years of caution built up, until Dante made shutting himself away into a fine art.
It was different from anyone else's version of isolation.
While others would make themselves unpleasant, or simply avoid company, Dante wreathed himself in grace and style.
Using cutting wit and a devil-may-cry attitude as his defence. It was, of course, just an act. But if he convinced the world he didn't care, then eventually, they would leave him alone, and that would be for the best.
Having a physical relationship had been something he had deliberately avoided.
And having a close connection was not simply not something he had a chance for.
Being half human, and half demon, he did not fit into either world. So he lived on the border separating the two, guarding the one from the other.
But Nevan's not human either.
He looked at the Lightning Witch again.
She wasn't fragile. She had all the strength of any demon. A physical relationship was possible with her.
It would only be once. And she was definitely interested.
Dante shook his head, ridding himself of the thought.
The worst kind of man is someone who leads a woman on.
Nevan wanted more than just sex.
As a young man first encountering her, his mind had been on other things. He had defeated her, and then used her Devil Arm form in battle. And eventually, he had forgotten about her.
Now he saw that things weren't so simple.
I should probably pay more attention to the ones who follow me, huh?
This was his first time meeting Nevan as a truly mature man who had been through enough of life to properly see her.
And that was why he was nervous.
Nevan wanted something from him that he wasn't sure he could give.
He shook his head again.
The hell am I thinking anyway? Wasn't I- Wasn't I what?
His thoughts trailed away as he realized what he had been about to say in his mind.
That he had been hitting on Goodwitch.
Was that the same as what I did with you at the Temen ni Gru?
He looked at Nevan.
He'd been repeating the same mistake again.
I can't keep playing around. Not if it leads them on.
He had thought of Glynda as a possible reason for him to stay in this world. But if that was true, if he stayed for her, it would mean commitment. And… did she even feel the same way? Wait, before any of that, Dante wasn't even sure of what he felt, beyond that he liked her as a person.
And let's say I do. Even if I do like her… I can't just tell
He brushed Nevan's hair unconsciously.
Regardless of how she had ended up in Remnant, here she was. And Dante couldn't turn her away. While here, she was harmless to humans.
Dante's iron rule was simple.
To follow his heart and soul, and live with no regrets.
There was no reason to treat a demon like an enemy if they weren't hurting anyone.
And the strangest part of all that, was that he was surprised to find he liked Nevan.
She could be too attached, clingy, but seeing her as an actual person revealed all kinds of things that made it impossible for him to dislike her.
He sighed.
"Things always have to be complicated."
His words, which he said aloud, woke up Nevan.
Blinking sleepily, she yawned and raised her head, while still leaning on Dante. The movement caused interesting parts of her anatomy to come into full display.
True to her nature, as soon as she became aware of the condition the devil hunter was in, she smirked.
"I see that your Devil Sword is just as hard as the one you use in battle-"
Before she could finish, Dante picked her up and put her down next to him before getting off the bed. He'd already spent a lot of energy thinking, and he had no desire to spend more on self-control just now.
"Sugar, that was rude. Can't we just stay in bed?""Not possible. They don't pay me to just sleep all day. I have classes to teach."
Nevan looked at him curiously.
To the best of her knowledge, her Master had chosen to live with the humans as a demon hunter. But that had been a while ago, and in a different world.
"You're a teacher now? Must be quite the subject you teach.""Yep. How to kill all things creepy and deadly."
Nevan sighed.
So he still insisted on living like this.
Not that she had a problem. She was fine with whatever he chose. But there just… so much more he could do, if he just chose to.
Getting up, she walked over to him, the sun's rays bathing her pale green skin.
"Part of you is from the darkness too, you know," she whispered.
She found him quite attractive as a human, but the real treat lay when he revealed his true form.
She had seen it briefly back at the Temen ni Gru. But he had been young then. He had gotten considerably more powerful since then.
Indeed, the energy he felt from him now was very reminiscent of Sparda himself.
Just what kind of demon he might be… she wanted to see it.
"It's only for a little while. Couldn't you… show me?"
Dante understood her meaning.
"They'll lose their minds if they see me turning into what I'm teaching them to kill."
"Must a god concern himself with the troubles of mortals?"
"Hey."
"Merely a joke."
She pulled away, giving him some distance.
"I never really get your lot," said Dante. "Why do you all look down on humans so much?
"They are rude. Arrogant. Bloodthirsty. Disloyal. Cowardly. Destructive-"
"All right, all right, sheesh. I didn't ask for a list."
Nevan smirked.
"But you know," said Dante. "That's just a part of them. Yeah, it's true. Humans are weak. But I think it's precisely because they're weak, that they have something special."
Nevan's eyes widened slightly.
"It's because they're weak that they can be strong. Every day is a struggle for them. And that's why they have courage."
Dante paused slightly.
"If you think about it, knowing you're weak, knowing you're going to die, knowing your life is short, and you probably won't even be remembered by your own kind… and doing your best anyway. That takes strength, doesn't it?"
Nevan stared at him.
Illuminated by the rays of the sun, Dante looked more human than ever. If she looked closely, she could see the shadow, the aura of demonic power around him.
Human and demon.
He was both.
Was that why the way she felt this way about him?
Is that what set him apart?
"Master, I-"
"Anyway, I'm talking too much. I have to go train. As for you… you're welcome to do whatever you like. Just don't hurt any humans. And don't break the school. I don't have enough money to pay for it."
Dante's training went well. Today, he was practising his combat. And also instructing Jaune in the ways of fighting.
The boy learnt well. He picked up on the basics quickly. He would need practice, but in time, he would get better. He would be a warrior in his own right.
As the two finished up and headed back to their respective rooms, the teen decided to risk asking him a question.
"So uh… Nevan's staying with you, huh?"
"Yep. Not like there's anywhere else she can stay here."
"So are you two… what are you two anyway?"
"Honestly? I don't know."
His relationship with Nevan was its own conundrum, but Dante had a feeling that wasn't really what Jaune wanted to ask.
"Why don't you get to the point, Jauney? As intriguing as my life must be, don't you have your own to live?"
Jaune started slightly.
As usual, the silver haired man was far more perceptive than his light-hearted manner led one to believe.
"It's just… you seem… sigh." The boy paused, gathering his thoughts.
"Have you ever liked someone and felt nervous about asking them out?"
"Never," replied Dante right away.
This was true.
Dante had never actually had feelings for someone. Feelings so strong that he was sure he was interested in her.
"If I liked someone, I'd just say it directly," said Dante. "What's to be afraid of?"
Jaune blinked and stared at him.
"Of course you wouldn't have to be worried about being turned down," said the blond.
Dante glanced at him as they walked, then laughed.
"Ah, you're still young, aren't you?"
The devil hunter continued.
He looked at Jaune.
"You're insecure about yourself. That's why you're afraid of asking out this person. But what's to be afraid of? If they say yes, good for you. If they say no, then you're no one special to her. So what? Move on. You don't need anyone else to live your best life."
Slightly surprised at the unexpected depth in that simple answer, Jaune just nodded.
The two parted ways, each heading back to his own room.
As Dante ascended the stairs, he ran into another familiar face.
"Ey, Oz."
"Good morning. I see you have a guest staying over."
"Ah, you've met Nevan, huh?"
"Not personally, though it is rather hard not to hear about a woman who seems the closest thing to a witch this school has ever seen."
Dante waved his hand.
"Oh, she's harmless," he said. "Mostly," he added under his breath.
Ozpin, who had heard that last bit, and also suspected so himself, sighed.
"As much as I want to believe that you know what you are doing, she is one of them, is she not? A demon?"
"She is," replied Dante.
"And yet, you let her live. And stay here as well."
"She's safest here, where I can keep an eye on her."
"And what about the students, Dante? And the teachers?"
Dante took a deep breath.
Why was he defending Nevan?
"She's not like the rest. The only one she's interested in is me. As long as I let her stay with me, she won't go crazy."
"... You can guarantee this?"
"It's my responsibility."
Ozpin quietly looked at the devil hunter. As broad as his shoulders were, the weight on them was getting heavier. He was taking on more and more responsibilities. More and more risks. More and more possible liabilities.
Was this really the best way?
Could he trust him?
No, it didn't matter.
He was too powerful to ignore.
He was a card in the game, a card that did whatever he wanted. Ozpin couldn't play him, but he would at least make sure he was in his deck.
"Fine," said the headmaster, walking away.
Dante sighed.
Things were only going to get more complicated, it seemed.