An uncomfortable feeling plagues me.
'What do you mean you're ready for the main dish?' I think, weirded out of my mind because of the old man and his absurd kinks.
“Be careful when you face him, my friend. He still hasn't shown all his tricks yet.” Ashmodai warns me, seemingly impressed by the old man and his abilities.
'He's hiding even more than this. That's quite terrifying.' I think to myself, hiding my worries about the potential battle.
“I don't feel like becoming food for insects, so don't worry.” I say out loud, making it clear that I have no intent to back down or die easily.
I decide to send Eli off with Idrilth, hoping that by having Idrilth take care of her she wouldn't worry about my future battles. Seeing Ashmodai play some new card game, I join him at the table.
“What's this?” I ask, my curiosity getting the better of me.
“These are Tarot cards. Apparently one can predict the future with them.” Ashmodai answers, seemingly dissatisfied with the tarot cards.
“I'm guessing they don't work.”
“They do.”
“Then why are you so, upset?” I ask because I've never actually seen Ashmodai angry.
“It hurts me that you do not know me, my friend.” He answers in slightly teasing and maybe even mocking tone.
“Do you truly care about any of that?” I ask mocking the sentiment that a devil could be upset that his self-proclaimed friend doesn't know him that well.
“You talk as if we have not known each other for years. You're tearing my heart.” He answers whilst theatrically grabbing his hearth.
“I believe that black lump would have torn long ago if you actually cared.” I answer a bit contemptuous, knowing he went behind my back and then comes and proclaim friendship.
'I know it's probably nothing major, however, don't come and act like a saint in front of me.' I think to myself annoyed at his hypocritical charade.
Ashmodai looks surprisingly hurt by my comment. The usually jovial aura around him feels a bit more sullen.
“It appears I've angered you. I apologize.” Ashmodai answers in a subdued tone whilst mixing the tarot cards.
“You shouldn't apologize, my standards of companionship simply differ from yours.” I say, knowing that a devil wouldn't truly care about the sentiment of another.
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“You have come to doubt my offer of friendship. Could you enlighten me with the reason for your dissatisfaction?”
“I simply don't like it when things go behind my back, Ashmodai.” I say looking him in the eyes, my tone calm and cold just like how Tharnomath speaks.
“It seems you are referring to the dealings I have made with the Talvit brothers. I do not see why my personal dealings would influence our friendship.” He says, looking truly completely oblivious.
“If your deals had nothing to do with me, perhaps. But that's not the case is it?” I ask him, already knowing that it involves me.
Ashmodai starts to truly think about what I just said. Mixing the Tarot cards in an enchanting rhythm whilst he ponders about our differences in morality.
“May I ask you something?” He says, looking at me with idle curiosity and seemingly a mix of confusion.
“Sure.”
“You have killed before when it wasn't necessary. You could have stood your ground in the preselection and some of your victims might have survived. Thus, your morality is already tainted, so why does it matter if my morality is tainted by making deals behind one's back?” He asks as he stops mixing the tarot cards. He's only looking at me now expectantly and eager for an answer.
“Ashmodai, I don't know if my emotions on this matter are “right.” But there is a difference between the 2 situations. For your murder hypothesis, they all knew they could lose their lives, it's what they signed up for. However, you come and preach to me that you wish to establish friendship, yet you make deals behind my back. You basically come and ask for mutual trust just so you could stab me in the back. Do I think your deal will endanger me? No, not really but a “friend” wouldn't make a deal about the other without his knowledge or approval. You didn't think about me as a “friend”, you thought about the benefits connected to having me as your “friend.”" I say towards him whilst glaring, showing my discontent at the way he handled the situation.
“You are suggesting that our friendship is false because I handled it in a more business-like manner without your prior knowledge?” He asks me with a sense of clarity and lingering confusion mixed in his voice.
“Sort of, I guess.” I answer him, getting a bit tired of trying to teach a devil about morality.
“Very well, I cannot tell you about the deal I made with the Talvit brothers. Don't worry, just as you suspected it will have no negative influence on you. However, I am serious about considering us as friends thus if you wish to ask anything then go ahead.” He announces his expression still looking dead serious which is unsettling for the gambling devil that always has a snicker of laughter or amusement hidden in his expression.
“Why are you so fixated on this friendship with me?” I ask confused as to why a devil would be so eager to make friends.
“When we met I was bored out of my mind. Most demons and devils don't know their limitations and tend to die quite the early death. You were amusing and besides, there was something different about you. I'm quite the good judge of potential you see but when I looked at you, I had simply no idea what your ceiling would be. The realization came to me quickly that one cannot look into the infinite and I became even more intrigued. I began to watch you and noticed some things about you. You care about those who have a place in your heart and whatever you did it felt like the fate of the world surrounded you. I've been gone a lot through the years you trained with the Talvit brothers and never could I shake the thought that whatever I was doing had no impact compared to your presence and existence.” He starts to ramble seemingly not kidding which is freaking me out.
'Is he confessing to me? What's going on?' I think to myself panicked and flustered by the sudden praise.