Okay so I just became aware that I forgot to mention what Dante's world was called and left a - mark in its place. Firstly I want to apologize, secondly its there because I didn't know what to call it. I will come up with a name now lets call it Maeob. (Pronounce may – yub)
The warm light came with festive sounds of people chattering and instruments playing as if Dante and Jackson had walked right in the middle of an open-air market. The sounds turned out to be very accurate as they were, in fact, among the cheery atmosphere of an open-air market, but not just any open-air market. This market was THE one and only annual Witches and Wizards Opening Tournament Market (the WWOTM), which host the WWWT or the Witches and Wizards World Tournament. Every year Witches and Wizards from all over the world come and prepare for the tournaments by going into the market and buying their choice of preferred weapons. Each stall becomes dedicated to a certain brand selling weapons ranging from axes to potions to temporary familiars. Most of the time these brands have paired themselves with certain players that will advertise their merchandise whilst on the playing field. These tournaments are broadcasted live on every Witch and Wizard TV and can even be accessed from the new WWOTM mobile app. Of course only those who are members of the WWWW (Witches and Wizards World Wide) and have registered are allowed to participate in the WWWTs.
"Any Witches or Wizards still hoping to register in the WWWTs can do so by coming to the WWOTM main office building at the center of the market. Remember only four days left until registering ends and five days until the tournament begins. Be sure to tune in for this year's exciting games!" The automated female voice broadcasted out over what sounded like an intercom to Jackson, but he couldn't find any speakers that the voice could be coming from. Jackson was completely drawn in to the market and his eyes danced over the bounty of colors and people and people of different colors and colors that weren't people but were definitely something. He saw tall men in flowing robes made of water and clouds and tall women clothed completely in plants or rater was the plant itself. He saw humans with dogs and blue beings with humans. Each all spoke different languages, but could understand one another perfectly. The market they were at was definitely not from the movies. The ground wasn't dirt, but some kind of stone that shimmered when it was walked on, and the stalls were made from a black and silver wood. Each stall was decorated differently from sleek and chic to chunky and retro. The stall owners reflected their stalls as did the merchandise they were selling. Everybeing waded through the stalls buying and looking, some at weapons and armor and some at rare jewelry, clothes, and food.
Jackson, without knowing, ended up closer and closer to the market until just when he was almost there he felt a tug. Turning around the boy met his master's gaze with a pleading look.
"No, not right now. I'm sorry, but we came here for a specific reason that we need to take care of first. Well if we can we can come back and check it out." Dante said with a stern but gentle voice. He, more than anyone, wanted so badly to join the market air. He remembered how excited he and his friends used to be around this time, joking and laughing about how, when they were old enough, they were going to enter the tournaments and win it big. "Come on Jackson. Stay close to me."
Dante pulled them in the opposite direction of the market where the streets were quieter and the colors were not so vibrant.
They turned down a rather narrow street made from a blue glass flanked by buildings in perfectly trimmed rows. The feeling of walking down a New York street could be felt, but the overwhelming sense of mystic blocked out any comparison to the outside world. And even though the atmosphere was different from the market, the warm light still was present spilling over building after building touching on the impossibly tall structures with a physical presence. The feeling was similar to the taste of honey. Jackson looked up to the sky to see if he could find the source of the light but there wasn't one. No sun and actually no sky. Above them the warm glow grew and faded up into an inky black illuminated by bursts of stars and galaxies every color imaginable and then some. Mixes and spirals and masses of colors and diamonds spilled out on the black canvas. It was the most beautiful thing Jackson had ever seen and his heart seemed to stop. He thought how great it would be to live in such a place all of the time.
As the boy stood there Dante turned around and the scene made his heart swell. Almost with the look of a sunrise showered in gold, except more beautiful, Jackson's hair blended in with the colors and behind him down the street the rows of building, unending, seemed to glow brighter. The boy stood staring up at the sky that brought the entire scene together. The man thought that maybe, any second now, Jackson would disappear into the stars and he'd be back standing there, after all the many years, in the same spot losing the most important person in his life.
Jackson felt eyes on him and turned to catch Dante smiling at him. He returned the smile happily and bounced over to his master's side. "Sorry I got distracted again. Lets go!" He laughed.
Dante smiled. "Are you that happy?"
"Of course! This place is amazing." Jackson yelled the last part and thought he was going to be hushed by Dante but to his surprise he didn't say anything, just smiled.
The pair walked along the narrow street side by side laughing and talking about whatever popped into their minds. Truthfully there was a shorter way to get to their destination, but Dante decided that taking the longer route would be better. He wanted every step to be enjoyed until he had to get to work again.
Dante and Jackson stood in front of a building that looked similar every building beside it and oddly like an apartment building.
"This is the library?" Jackson couldn't hide the disappointment in his voice, "No offense, but I was expecting, I don't know, like some cathedral Roman type library with columns and marble and stuff."
Dante only looked amused, "Well it isn't a Roman cathedral, but it's not so bad once we go inside."
Jackson continued to look skeptical, but followed him diligently to the sleek, light blue building. As Dante held the door open Jackson could only see black until he stepped fully into the building. By this point he shouldn't have been surprised at anything, but he was once again completely surprised and amazed. The inside of course didn't match the outside. It was like the old world and the new world clashed and exploded into a library.
It was something like a futuristic steam-punk alien design. It was mechanic and elegant at the same time. The ceiling was a replica of the Hanging Gardens of Babylon on a magical level. There was even pathways to go and view the gardens with bookshelves containing every book on the Hanging Gardens of Babylon ever written in every language. The small glowing orbs, which they saw earlier in their trip, were now in abundance and in different colors and sizes. Jackson held his hand out and immediately a green one landed in his hand. Beyond his newfound orb Jackson could see a wall opening. The milky white glass wall slid open to reveal a large black tablet, except the tablet was so huge it took up two stories. Jackson quickly lowered his hand and stretched to look into the room. Before the wall (now revealed to be a sliding door of sorts) closed again he caught sight of glowing blue inscriptions of repeating and changing Japanese characters. When he looked to Dante for answers as to what it was his master gestured below them. The pair was standing at the top of a narrow staircase made from large floating flat stones. Dante offered his hand to Jackson and he took it while warily stepping on the first stone. As soon as his foot made contact with the stone an explosion of color rippled through. He was so surprised he almost jumped, but Dante held him steady.
Jackson couldn't take his eyes off the stones while merrily hoping from one to the next (after the first experience he was ready and able to go on by himself), but all was forgotten when he finally reached the bottom. He immediately turned to the white wall and ran to it. Dante, amused, followed behind and watched as Jackson went from end to end trying to figure out how to open it. He could practically see the energy and excitement buzzing around the boy.
Pouting Jackson pushed Dante towards the doors, "Oppeeen it." He whined.
Dante stifled a chuckle, "What makes you think I can open it?"
Jackson gave him the squinty eye look and continued pushing.
The scene was quite amusing. An old wizard in a long black trench coat, wearing black and black with black practically wearing a sign that said, "I'm dead inside." was being pushed and bothered by a little blond human that had a little green orb following him around. It was a strange pair, but what was even stranger was the smile on the old wizard's face. Atros was curiously invested in this sight, set down his book in the 'save my page' orbital, and moved from his position in the old English tearoom. He smiled as he met Dante's eyes and in response the old wizard frown and pulled his little blond friend aside.
"Dante! My old friend! How have you been?" Atros spoke cheerily in English revealing only a slight Persian accent.
As soon as Dante saw the neatly dressed man in his full vest, blazer, bowtie, and pocket watch he felt the frown etch into his face. Everything about the man set Dante off, from his perfectly combed hair to his expensive shoes the man was the epitome of self proclaimed prestige. Of course he was the first person he would meet on his first day back. Jackson wore a confused look, worried about why the mood changed so quickly. When the boy set his eyes on the approaching man he shrank back behind his master.
The two wizards, now face to face, stood in silence as Atros waited for a response. When it was clear he wasn't getting a greeting Atros spoke again, "Well hasn't it been a long time? It seems you've picked something up along the way"
"Well I suppose a couple of years have passed. You look the same Atros. I assume you are doing well?" Dante didn't bother to pretend he was happy to see him and spoke in a flat voice. Beside him he could feel Jackson getting impatience and anxious with the stranger. No doubt he could feel how powerful Atros was and how unwanted this meeting was.
Atros continued to ignore Dante's obvious displeasure. "Why thank you for asking, I am in fact doing well. But you still haven't answered my question, well two of my questions really? First thing first, who is this adorable little human you seem to be packing around?"
This received a glare from the young blond and Dante almost cracked a smile. "He is….", the wizard wasn't quite sure how to introduce Jackson considering no one knew he was a vampire, but then an idea, "Jackson, my son." The words fell out of his mouth smoothly and the sound put a smile on his face. Beside him Jackson had tensed in shock and when Dante looked down at him he seemed as though he were about to cry and hid himself behind Dante again.
The entire exchange lasted only a couple of second but didn't go unnoticed by Atros. This made him even more curious about the strange couple and about just what happened to his old friend/enemy after he left.
"Well its been great catching up but I'm afraid we have business to attend to." Dante gave a small smile and turned to walk away.
"Your boy, he wanted to see God's Tablet, right?" Atros called out before the duo could get too far. Dante stopped and turned again a suspicious look in his eyes, but didn't say anything. Atros continued, "I'm sure whatever business you have won't be appetizing to a boy his age. Why don't you let me show him around while you go attend to your…business?" Atros put on his best smile at the suggestion.
Dante opened his mouth and spoke in disbelief, "Are you asking me if I would be okay with handing my son over to you, a wizard I haven't seen in over a hundred years not to mention had a rivalry with, to go play while I'm not there? Do you really need me to answer this? Also since when did you of all people start taking an interest in my life?"
Atros was a bit offended at the underlying tone of the question, "I was just asking on behalf of your son."
Dante scoffed, "No, no not you Atros. I may have been away for a while, but trust me when I say that I haven't forgotten anything."
This time the posh wizard couldn't take the innocent route and broke a smile, "Well it seems you haven't forgotten, my dear friend. But neither have I," Atros looked Dante hard in the eyes, "I haven't forgotten anything either."
Something about the glint in his eyes made Dante uncomfortable, "Fine. Then lets keep it between us. No one else."
Atros's eyes flickered over to Jackson before he nodded, "Well then I suppose you should attend to your business."