Chapter 2
"Alright class! I would like you all to welcome our new student! He'd like to keep his background to himself, which I hope that we all can respect, and his name is….?" He looked at the boy. The boy had black hair with bright red streaks running diagonally down, his bangs covering his left eye, controlled and flat as if they were ironed. He wore a long-sleeved bright red P-coat, with a coal colored shirt and matching black jeans, as well as dark red shoes that had a slight glitter to them and a pair of black gloves, one with the fingertips cut off.
"Dante sir. Jenkins, Dante." The boy said. "What he said. You can sit…" The teacher looked around and found a spot on the left side of the room. "You can sit over there next to Orihime, she's a friendly person from what I've heard. She won't bite, promise." And he ushered Dante to move over to his newly designated spot.
Mason looks at the boy strangely and with suspicion. Strange how he just moves in the day after I meet some crazy person last night. Either that, or it's just one strange coincidence. "Mason! What're you doing? Dozing off again? Pay attention or your grades will be getting lower and lower cause of lack of attention!" The teacher scolded him. "Will do." Mason replied. Today's likely going to be the same as every other day. Except yesterday, that was strange.
Afterschool
"Mason, can I speak with you?" Mason heard a voice calling him from behind. He turned and met with Dante, the new kid. "Sure, I guess? What's up?" Mason asked. "That's how you greet people? Rather different from my people. Anyways, for now, I'm you technical guardian." Dante said. "Technical guardian? What do you mean by…? OH! You're that guy I saw from yesterday! Aren't you?" Mason asked curiously. "You're a quick learner my friend. Yes, I'm the guy that you met yesterday. No, I'm not a figment of your imagination if you were wondering. Would be rather strange now wouldn't it?" Dante replied. "Yeah, it would be. People would be looking at me strangely right now if you were part of my imagination." Mason said.
"So eh, where are you gonna live anyways? Cause a place to live is one of the mandatory things the people need, right?" Mason asked. "How about we talk about all this and I answer some of your questions while we walk to your house. Alright?" Dante asked Mason. "Sure, I guess?" Mason replied. "Looks like Mason's already friends with the new guy. To be honest, he looks kinda stupid with those highlights, makes him look like an emo person. The clothes compliment that as well, betchya he's emo!" a girl said somewhere. "Nah, I don't think that! He's kind of cute! If you look at him closely, you'll see he's got a nice face. Bet it's soft and smooth too!" replied the girl. "Possible, but I don't know. We'll find out more about him eventually though, I'm sure of it."
Dante was the only one out of the two who heard that small conversation, and wondered to himself, emo? What in Blazer's name does that mean? And cute? Never heard the term, never gonna be classified under it. Ever… he shuddered at the word. "Mason, you ready to go yet or you still talking with your friends?" Dante hollered. "One sec! I'll be there in a bit, just head on without me!" Mason responded. "Incase you've forgotten my friend, but, I don't know where you live! Remember?" Dante replied. "Oh, right, forgot about that! Alright, then, I'm coming!" Mason said.
Later, on the way home
"Alright, so what exactly is a "treasure tool"?" Mason asked. Dante groaned at the many questions that were coming at him. They were swarming him like bees to honey. "A treasure tool is a powerful or special item or object that someone can use to benefit them. I have none, although there are few that I have an interest in, but they're rather hard to obtain. You see, they are guarded by the mystes, or other flame hazes might be preventing me from obtaining them, so I try not to grab them." Dante said. "Do they take any specific form or anything? Or can they just shape-shift into anything at any time? Or is it no particular object at all?" Mason asked. Dante smacked Mason in the back of the head with the back of his hand. "Weren't listening to me when I said that they are objects or items, were you? Anyways, they don't change shape from what I have heard. I know of a blade that my master would like, but getting to it, would be rather hard."
"Do tell! I'd really like to know what it is!" Mason said. "Well, the name of the blade is Shakugan no Shana. It was forged by a blacksmith, and when he finished it, he went on a journey to find someone worthy to find it." – "Did he find someone? What's the name of the blacksmith? And why's the name of the sword gotta be so long?" Mason cut in. "Silence! Or I won't have any interest in further telling you the background of the sword. And if you listened and waited till the very end, then maybe your questions will be answered! Didn't think of that, now did ya?" Dante retorted. "Nope, so continue on then!" Mason said, urging Dante to continue. Dante groaned as Mason said so, but he continued. "Anyways, he searched for many years. By this time, he had already become a mystes, or a flame haze, I forgot. My memory of this sword is foggy a bit. He searched and he killed many people that tried to take the sword for their own, but they all perished at the strength of the sword. Then, one day, he went to a kingdom in the sky. There, he met a young girl at the age of about… 13? He had a code of conduct not to hurt human flesh, so when he met her, she was still human. There, she agreed to fight for the sword, and made an agreement, or a contract, with a God in the Crimson World. After the contract, they did combat, and she came out the victor. To this day, she wields the sword." And Dante finished his story.
"Alrighty then, so what's the girl's name? And how do you do a contract? And god of the Crimson World? Is that like a God God or like a rank?" Mason asked. "The girl's name? Like I said, I have a bad memory of it, so I have no idea what he name is. The contract is made between a denizen of the Crimson World and a human, if I have that correct. I made one myself, but I'd rather not get into much detail about it. As for the God of the Crimson World, I suppose you could call it a rank. Kind of like captain, sergeant, and corporal. There are a couple Gods of the Crimson World. They're mainly called gods because of how powerful they are. It is said that when they are summoned into this world, the person who made the contract will die because they're shell is too small for the god to be maintained in, as well as a lot of power of existence. But that I don't have to worry about too much since the contract I made is with the twin blades, Umbra and Anima. No, I did not make two separate contracts; it's just a two in one package. Almost forgot, denizens of the Crimson World will take a form when not summoned, like how Umbra takes the form of my P-coat and Anima takes the form of my attire. They're rather silent most of the time, so it's not likely that they'll interrupt any time you and I speak between one another." Dante said. "Man you speak a lot Dante. Has your contractors told you that yet? And I've taken Latin for a year, I believe Umbra means something like shadow and Anima means something like soul, right? And is there anything that you lost when you made the contract?" Mason said.
"Anything that I lost…?" Dante hesitated for a moment. Anything I lost… such a horrid memory… "Yo, Dante. You there man? You seem kind of blanked out." Mason asked. "What? Oh, oh, nothing, just trying to remember what I lost. Anyways, I didn't lose anything from making the contract as far as I remember. Probably lots of blood after I made it, but I've taken care of the wounds and everything's fine. So the answer to your question is no, not until after, when you face lots of hardships." Dante said.
"So, is there any sword that could match with or best the sword you were talking about? Like, any sword at all?" Mason asked Dante. "Well, there is one blade, but it hasn't been touched by many people. Those who have touched it died a bloody death because of the power it held and how greedy people were for power. From what I've heard, it's strength grows by how much you concentrate into the sword, how motivated you are into the things you do, and how much power of existence you have. But then again, power of existence goes well with most anything, like spells, carrying heavy weapons, feeding weapons that require it, and some fortitude buffs." Dante replied. "So, what's the name of the blade? I hope it's not a long one." Mason asked. "It's not that long really. The blade is called 'Quel' Delar, Might of the Faithful.' The name comes from a tongue that few are familiar with, and the second part comes from the motivation part." Dante said. "Well, what does the other sword mean? The shaku.. no shana I think it's called?" Mason asked. "It's called 'Shakugan no Shana.' And it means, 'Flame Eyed Shana.' Who Shana is, I don't know, but it must've been someone very special to the blacksmith.
"Alrighty then. Anyways, we're at my house. Did you want to come in or something? Cause, you know, it's kind of an essential for people to live, like I said at school." Mason asked. "Nah, I'm good. I keep on the move and never in one place for too long. It's not a good idea for a flame haze to stick in one area too long, they could get killed easily." Dante said. "Alright then, but if you need me, I live right here." Mason reassured Dante. Mason opened the metal gate and walked up the cobblestone steps up to his front door, fumbling with his keys along the way. He turned around to see where Dante had gone, but he just couldn't find him. Wow he's quick. Wonder where he could've run off to? Mason wondered to himself as he finally found the keys he was looking for and opened the door. "I'm home!" Mason called out, saying to no one in particular.
On the rooftop of Mason's house
"You know you've told him more than enough information, right 'Dante'?" said Umbra. "I have to agree with her, you're telling the mystes a lot of stuff that he shouldn't know. For all we know, he could go crazy and try to prevent things." Anima said. "Come on guys, heh, you can trust me on this, right? You know how I do things and you know how I control them as well. Let me do my thing and we'll be fine. Besides, the more he knows the more he'll be able to process in combat, which I hope we don't have to do." Dante reassured them. "You better hope you're right boy, or you and us are in a huge mound of trouble from Sabrac. And you know how Sabrac handles failures; they aren't pretty from what I heard." Said Umbra. "I know, I know, but I got this, so we'll be fine, alright? Calm down and the probability of success will rise, guarantee it." Dante said.
Dante pulled out his pocket watch and mumbled a couple of words into the object. "You called?" a dark and mysterious voice responded. "Yeah, I did Sabrac. Found out where the Mystes lives. I don't think he trusts me yet, but I'm sure he will eventually. From the way things are looking, it seems that things are in my favor. Without any setbacks, this should take no more than 2 months." Dante said. "TWO MONTHS! What do you mean by 'two months' Dante? I thought this would be easy for you!" Sabrac questioned Dante. "Yeah, it'll take two months for me to do this. I plan on making him stronger so that when I obtain the Reiji Maigo, it'll at least be worthwhile. I won't make him so powerful he'll be able to handle me on himself, but just strong enough that we'll be so powerful that not even a god of the Crimson World will be able to stop you nor me." Dante replied. "What do you mean by you Dante? You wouldn't dare use it without allowing me to use it first, now would you? If you did, then I'd have to come to you myself and stop you in the process, you know that already." Sabrac responded. "Crystal, I'm just saying that if I were to use it, not even a God could stop me. That's just complimenting you sir, seeing as if it can make me more powerful than them, then it'd make you even more powerful." Dante said. "True, true… well, get on with your work, and make sure it's done as soon as possible! I want that treasure tool in my hands! I don't care about any other blade out there! All I'm focusing on right now is the success of me finally obtaining the Reiji Maigo!" Sabrac claimed. "Will do sir. Knife of the Dark, out!" Dante said, and he closed his pocket watch.
"Well, that was fun, now wasn't it guys?" Dante asked Umbra and Anima. "You really don't like working for the guy, do ya Dante?" they both asked simultaneously. "You got that right, but heck, it beats doing nothing." Dante said, and he lay on top of the roof, waiting for time to pass.
Someplace elsewhere
"Alright, I know the location of the Reiji Maigo. Found the exact location of the call between Sabrac and his minions that're out searching for it. From what we found, it's in the city Balantalus. It's not too far from the location of Knight, so we could send him over, or would you prefer we send multiple Rinne or some lower rank Flame Haze and Tomogara sir?" asked a masked figure. "Just send The Royal Court; they should be able to take care of the job successfully." Said the God of the Crimson World. "The Royal Court sir? But why them? I see no reason to bring the whole court into one area?" asked the masked figure. "Well, I've heard that Sabrac has sent out few people in search of the Reiji Maigo. If I'm sure of this one, then Sabrac has sent the "Knife in the Dark" out there, otherwise known as "Soul Sucker." I'd like not to take chances with many few, inexperienced fighters on this guy. The Royal Court shall be sent to his location, retrieve the Reiji Maigo, and if necessary, kill the Knife in the Dark.