Demon's Protégé

"The Demon Named Pride"

He liked the name. 

Cardinal and demon. 

Two words. In one phrase. A pair that should not even match each other but were somehow put together in a sensible guise as if it was deliberately done to juxtapose the meanings of each term for a reason. And Faun found it insolubly compelling. It had sounded quite classy. Like a luscious dose of an expensive brand of cigarettes, and just one sniff of it would send him instantly spiraling to a stimulating bliss. When he heard the phrase, Faun had suddenly looked more than just attentive. Immersed, even. He was very much reeling about it.

"A Cardinal Demon?" 

And damn, how he just loved all those kinds of unusual terminologies. The ones that were very rare to say, words that did not even make sense at first but when used, reveals an entirely wide relevance to many discoveries. 

Labels always brought unique identities to things and they ascertain distinction and permanence. It was a form of proof that validates the value of something that exists. Though not all terminologies had made his mind ringing with a twist of curiosity, even throughout his medical studies, Faun would always just imprint words in his mind so he could put them all into proper context. It had become a habit because he had always been so accustomed to things of that sort. Words and labels had always been a vital part of Faun's life since those things had been fundamental fixtures in his profession. Being a doctor had led him to be surrounded by an insurmountable amount of letters, numbers, factors, elements, names, definitions, types, categories, distinctions, and notes that Faun would just constantly stock his brain to a brimming point. 

And hearing a new unique one right now had somehow ignited that usual fire in his eyes. Like preparing for surgery, he found himself anticipating so much about it. But only this time, the body had been replaced by a phrase instead.

These two uncommon words combined into one clause had sounded like gospel to Faun's ears as he twisted his body around with such evident enthusiasm reflecting in his movements alone. He wanted to dissect its sense and significance. And he faced Pride, eyes gleaming with blunt interest, as he finally regarded him with full attention.

"That's me," Pride grinned, affirming Faun's questioning eyes. Even when it was unnecessary to confirm it with his words, Pride just could not resist seeing the look of crazy fascination reflected in those amber-golden flecks of Faun just because he was a Cardinal Demon. And he seemed to be deeply thrilled about that part, Pride realized.

So, not just a simple demon, but a cardinal one. Faun recalled coming across the word in the contract that he had just signed down not that long ago. Although, he never really blinked longer at it when he did. He only had skimmed over a few parts, read some strange words that he had never heard before and he did not really care. There were numbers as well that didn't seem to mean anything to him at the time, as he started to recount. Well, he did not exactly remember all of them but he knew he barely saw some of it at least. He did not really want to waste time reading an entirely endless written document that would only bore him to nowhere when he knew Anyone would just tell him the rest of the details for later. 

However, when Pride introduced himself with that appellation next to his name, Faun quickly found that pleasing to his ears. It had somehow struck a chord inside his brain. Appealed to hear those words being uttered out loud, it sounded more concrete. Real and tempting. Devilishly interesting.

Cardinal meant "of greatest importance", and Faun immediately asserted that. It was a term that had always been familiar in the religious scope. A word that had been constantly associated with goodness. But in this case, the word "cardinal" that he heard had been directly identified with another word that equates its complete opposite relevance. Good and bad, mixed together. And such inclination was something that suited Faun's interest. It tasted different in his brain, it brought a different flavor to what it could promise him. A paradox. An enigma... its contrasting element immensely intrigued him.

It had him expecting so much from what it could possibly provide as its ultimate purpose. And honestly, he just really, really liked the idea of what Cardinal Demon could give him. 

Although it was still a foreign sentiment to his knowledge, he had already assumed that it would most likely fill his mental appetite with something even more entertaining than just being called a Demon's Protege. The latter was, well, a little bit too promising though, of course, he actually did like it at first, but the former was something entirely more. A locution that was so much more spiteful than the almost-seemingly bland title that Faun got for himself.

It could be very well just a mere job description. Or more likely, just some kind of distinction for a demon position. But it was strange and Faun wanted to get the gist of it. Does that also allude to the fact that there were rankings in hell, too? And if so, then was this some sort of ability where this demon would get even more and more usable for him every time he would do something that fulfills the conditions in the contract? Very, very interesting. Just the thought of that immediately opened a competitive switch inside Faun's head. Much to his surprise.

"Cardinal demon," Faun tried the word, just to test it out. And a sinister smile flashed across his face as he put a finger over his jaw while nodding his head to the way the words had rolled off his tongue when he had said it. 

He liked that. He gazed from the pointed black shoes that Pride was wearing beneath that dark red trousers to the golden buckle shining on his waist, and up to the keen structures of his face. White and pale just like Anyone's, angular in shape with prominent cheekbones slightly higher and sharper than average, and a long straight high nose ending just above his thin mouth. He could not really tell what age he was trying to represent with his very peculiar human form. 

He looked old, but not that really old enough, he was soft in some of his features, no wrinkles actually. And Faun could already tell that this demon would immediately attract attention even without that appalling redness that he was wearing.

"So what good use are you to me?" He asked Pride after studying his appearance in seconds. He simply tilted his head, expecting greatness from what the demon could offer but Pride just chuckled back, snorting and slyly smirking at him.

Pride dropped his outstretched hand. Clearly, there was no use in making this all too formal. The man was simply too arrogant for the gesture. So Pride just looked at him with those green eyes that were somehow glowing again like lit fireflies as he assertively gazed into the depths of Faun's dilated pupils.

"I must admit," Pride intoned in his clear deep voice, "I am quite impressed that you had quickly summoned me. And that I was even your first."

"My first?" Faun echoed, his tone aroused. He quickly took note of the connoting word "first" which immediately made him guess what it was obviously trying to insinuate. So there were more?  And that got him more excited.

"Well, there's seven of us, to be precise," Pride briefly explained, "You'll get to summon the others as you go on. But only if you're that good enough with it."

So performance plays a huge part in it? That should be easy for Faun. He liked testing his skills and the challenge would certainly make him even more stimulated. He lived for the thrill, the provocation for higher efficiency, and the quest for improvement. It was a fuel that he had always relished himself from occasional boredom.

"Seven... hm," Faun hummed, smiling a little with mischief in his voice, "I didn't know this entire agreement would even exceed my expectations." He concluded.

"Expectations?" Pride repeated. And the demon was quite a little taken aback by the odd reaction, or lack thereof, from this human. He did not sound that much ecstatic as he should be. What in the world is he? He just sounded too obnoxious.

"Man... " Faun said with a slight shake of his head as if he had just come to a wondrous realization, his eyes glassy with typical delight and mild anticipation, "I might really love this contract now, Anyone." 

He sent Anyone a look of heedless approval, and the demon just met his eyes from where he was sitting comfortably on the couch while watching them from the distance, as he smirked at Faun's words.

"My pleasure,' Anyone said, chortling, "As always."

"Very well," Faun said with a click of his tongue. His mind now wheeling around in a fast-forward process as he thoughtfully analyzed pretty much the entirety of it. His eyes turning unsteady, showing an evident look of manic concentration as he focused more and more on his own thoughts. He started circling around in hurried steps. Then he abruptly stopped just to give the two demons, who were both observing him under their query eyes, with a pointed look. And as if nodding to what he had resolved in his head, Faun began walking around again, faster this time, as he kept pacing back and forth like a madman who was in hot pursuit, "Since you have already enlightened me a little more about it, it certainly made much more sense to me. I think I would definitely want to know more about what these cardinal demons supposed to be. I must admit, it really got me deeply curious. Well, obviously, we'll soon discuss them more thoroughly once I got it all organized in my head by tomorrow. But for now, I'm going to sleep first. Once I wake up, we'll continue this all, and be sure to tell me the rest, all the details included, you hear me?"

Pride just gawked. Anyone laughed again. Faun's last statement was nothing short of an intimidating question, but neither of the two demons even dared to provide him an affirmative reply. Not that Faun would even need any though.

Then as if getting too far ahead with his own brain racing with wild thoughts, Faun exclaimed the word, "Ha!", with a clap of his hand and was suddenly turning to leave without much of another word. His footsteps danced in easy but haste strides as if he was finally dismissing the conversation. He was no longer interested to talk more, he was moving on. And Pride just watched him with startling wonder and incredulity. What the hell? Was he really going to walk away just like that?

"Excuse me?" Pride found himself uttering out loud, his face had gone frozen and his green eyes sharpened as he gaped at the human who was now closing near to the door of what could only be his bedroom. But Faun ignored him, or rather, did not really hear him. But he somehow stopped, making a sudden spin to look at them again.

Then, Faun said, "Just one more thing."

Pride paused and looked at him expectantly, pursing his lips. You better start asking. He was anticipating the questions, but it seemed like Faun was rather thinking about something else. His gaze was directed at Anyone, looking past Pride's figure.

"I'm assuming that the money we've agreed on a while ago before I had signed the contract will already be there in the account first thing tomorrow, Anyone. Is that right?"

He was actually talking about the damn money. Why wasn't he focusing on the damn contract? Pride quietly looked at the human with a scrutinizing scowl.

"Yes," Anyone chuckled lazily, and without missing a beat, he added, "It would be there before you even wake up Faun."

"Great. I'm expecting nothing less," Faun said, grinning in satisfaction, and nodding more with his head as if deciding that was all he ever really wanted to hear before deserting into his quarter alone, but not after he gave another rundown of selfish instructions in a clipped order at the two demons, "Lower down the volume of the telly and don't make too many noises, I always sleep in the comfort of silence, you know that. But I'm just reminding you again since we got a new company." 

And as if just remembering that Pride was also there, Faun shot him a fleeting look, "You can make yourself comfortable here. And I reckon you don't eat anything just like Anyone, do you?"

His question was nonsense and it didn't really matter to Pride but the demon still felt the need to answer back, and with a barely muttered voice, he said tightly, "No. I'm a demon."

"Right," Faun replied shortly, and then abruptly turned his back on him, making a wave of his hand, "Well, see you around then."

"Is he serious?" Pride shot Anyone a frown over his shoulder. Anyone could clearly see how the red demon was angrily displeased by this underwhelming regard to the fact that he had been just summoned from hell to be here and was about to promise a very interesting ability to the Protege but ended up receiving this lack of appreciation.

But Anyone just shrugged back at him, laughing nonchalantly and shaking his head as he leaned back on the couch. He did not even make an effort to reply through words, he just nodded at Pride.

Well, that was Faun, and no one could really impress him enough to stop himself from doing things his own way.

"Is that it?" Pride who was still dissatisfied about this all, glared towards the view of Faun's back who was now opening his door to his room without even much of a care to anything else, not even less the demon's angry snarl, "You're not going to ask me anything else?"

He should be asking and asking and never stop asking him now, not walking away. Pride found himself seething as he waited for Faun to reply back. How dare he think too little of who I was? Pride angrily thought. And Faun somehow stopped. But instead of relieving the demon's displeasure of his bland reaction, he just turned around, facing Pride with a blank face and deadpanned eyes.

"I just said we'll talk about it tomorrow," He coldly responded, "I don't have enough energy right now to fully engross myself in the subject so I need to refresh a bit. My human brain unfortunately requires a good amount of rest at least for a few hours in a day and unlike the two of you who obviously don't have the basic incompetences of human limitations, I have to replenish some energy. We'll discuss the rest by tomorrow and we'll see what else could excite me more about the contract. So, excuse me, gentlemen," Faun smugly tore his eyes away from them and quickly turned around, but this time he was really going to shut the door behind him no matter what that damn demon says to him. He will just ignore everything else, "I have to hit the sack now. Good night to both of you."

The damn bastard really shut the door at him. What an asshole. But Pride could not really say that he was royally pissed enough to hate the disrespect that he just received. Yet, he was intrigued and mildly triggered. And he let out a long sigh, whistling afterward as he turned to face Anyone this time, brows shooting up as he scoffed.

"Wow." And there were really no other words he could have found fitting to say after what just happened. Pride moved to take the vacant couch across Anyone.

"Yeah." the other demon smiled in casual regard, "A bit rude but he's manageable."

"Not that completely manageable to me though."

"Well, that's Faun for you," Anyone's eyes crinkled with laughter, "Entirely self-centered, insufferably eccentric, and somehow also gets those crazy eyes every now and then."

"It seemed to be." Pride did not even blink, still scowling.

The noise of the television eventually drew them into silence as the news about the wildfire was being flashed on the screen. But this time, the live telecast was now informing the public about the possible blocking of roads that were located near the critical area of the disaster. It turned out, that the smoke from the catastrophe might bring harm to anyone who would get exposed to it for too long.

"So what did he do?" Pride finally found his voice again after a short sulking moment, then he cast a look at Anyone's direction, raising a brow, "How did he do it?"

He was talking about the deed that Faun had managed to perform well enough to summon a Cardinal demon like him right away. Anyone decided to idle as he sighed and gestured to the headline scrolling through the screen.

"That's what he did."

Pride squinted at the looped record of fire burning a huge scope of land that extended far to the horizons, eating the greeneries and whatever that was in its path. Blazing fumes and raging fire pretty much consumed the entirety of it. 

"Is that it?" Pride remarked with a look of unabashed amusement, "Burning an entire land and making it a headline for the day?"

"Yeah," Anyone chortled, engrossing himself with the dance of emotions on Pride's face. He had no idea. "Burnt it all into ashes."

"No confirmed casualties," Pride thought out loud with a slight burrow of his brows, and after a moment, as if seeming to realize what could have happened, he darted his eyes back to Anyone, his face stretching in disbelief, "Does that mean he tried to conceal the murders by burning all the bodies along with that forest?"

Close enough. Anyone thought to himself, as he said, "Yeah. Pretty much like that."

"So how many did he kill? he must have killed a lot to be able to summon me as his first. Was it ten? Fifteen? twenty?"

"Nope," Anyone replied nonchalantly, averting his gaze as he bit back a grin.

"Too less?" Pride frowned back, trying to re-analyze his guesses as he added, "So more than twenty? Thirty? Twenty-four? How in the world could he have killed that many in a day? He doesn't even give me that vibe."

"He didn't," Anyone said with a slight shake of his head, and he turned his eyes back to Pride again, anticipating what kind of expression the red demon would be making on his face once he finally confirmed the truth.

And Anyone did not even delay the thrill as he just shortly said, "One."

"One?"

"Yeah, just one."

Pride stiffened. One. That was apparently a total shock to him, conceding his name. He was not quite sure how to react after discovering the level of such performance. If he was going to rate it, he would have not given a definite remark. He was too blown away to even judge the entire deed. And the ghastly hollowed expression he had on his face now was just what Anyone had already expected.

Anyone chuckled again and said with a sly smirk, "Yeah. One."

Pride paused for a few more seconds, trying to absorb that entirely unexpected information. It took him a little while though.

"And he just burned an entire forest for one kill," Pride said in a faint voice as he mused out loud.

"Yeah."

"Huh..." Pride drew out a shaky sigh, his pale face was now filled with immeasurable disbelief, his green eyes lighting up to a raging yellow glow. What a total bastard, he thought. But that was indescribably sinister. And Pride could finally understand now what Anyone had actually seen in that young asshole to offer and make him his own Protege instead of just letting him die in vain. This utterly shocking revelation had been so wickedly impressive and ingeniously done that Pride instantly forgot that he was still a little angry at Faun for the disrespect he gave him a while ago.

But that lunatic did this entire deed, summoning him, all because he killed out of self-satisfaction. Wow. And as if finally realizing the capability of that bastard, Pride voiced out his wonder, "Imagine if he had to kill fifty..." he paused with a short rumble of laughter vibrating his throat as he continued his sentiment, "He might have already burned an entire country now."

Anyone laughed louder this time, and he actually had thought the same thing too. As a matter of fact, he would not even be too surprised if Faun had actually done it. 

"Yeah," Anyone said after a second, grinning devilishly, as he eyed the news that was now reporting some case of murder in the town, "That would be quite a scene too. And perhaps, he actually would have."

Who could even really tell? Certainly, not Anyone, who never even had the slightest clue of how that big brain of the young bastard actually works. Nothing has ever been really predictable about Faun yet. But so far, Anyone had always been immensely entertained by everything he did.

Because he's, after all, a Demon's Protégé.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------to be continued