Chapter 111: Knowledge
Azrael walked through the long corridor, his eyes drifting through the rows of doors that lined the walls.
’Where is he taking us to?’ Azrael wondered as he stared ahead.
They had been walking for so long that Azrael had lost track of time.
The darkness that stretched through the place added to his frustration.
Just then, Sylas suddenly stopped in front of a huge crimson door.
He opened the door with a slight push.
Azrael’s face brightened as the light in the room washed over him.
Looking in, all he saw was a small table that faced the door.
The office itself was small, barely enough to contain ten people without squeezing in.
Sitting behind the table was Dante, a calm smile playing on his lips as he stared back at Azrael.
"Come in," he gestured.
Azrael looked back at Zephyr, who was still shivering.
From the way he looked, it appeared as if he was not going to follow Azrael anywhere after today.
Sylas stepped away for Azrael to pass.
With a sigh, Azrael walked forward.
The door shut behind him immediately after he entered.
Azrael looked at Dante with a confused expression.
He did not know whether to bow or just remain calm.
"Why are you so tense?" Dante asked with a smile while he gestured for Azrael to sit in one of the chairs in front of the table.
"Nothing," Azrael shrugged in response.
Dante scrutinized him for a moment before he spoke.
"You think I would rat your secret about being a transmigrator out?" Dante asked.
Azrael did not reply.
He was indeed scared of what could happen if Dante ever revealed the secret.
"You don’t have to worry about that, then," Dante said, pushing himself up. "I don’t really care who inhabits a body as long as they are useful."
His words were plain and direct, as if he did not care whatever Azrael was going to think about them.
Azrael could only sigh in response.
Dante had told him those exact words two years ago when the transmigration secret was leaked.
While Azrael was lost in thought, Dante had already reached his side, dropping a notebook and pen before him.
"Write everything you know about your previous world and what killed you," Dante said in a cold tone.
Azrael blinked.
He did not know how to respond to that.
"I really can’t describe Earth the way you are thinking about it," he said after a brief pause. "Everyone is free, and there are no hard rules like the ones here."
Those were the only things Azrael could think of after some time.
It was just too hard to describe Earth to someone who was not from there.
But that seemed to be enough information for Dante.
He scribbled something into the notebook he had given Azrael.
"Free will," Dante said with bright eyes.
It was as if those words were some kind of treasured prize.
Azrael squinted his eyes, but he did not speak.
’I wonder why he suddenly became this weird after I awakened,’ Azrael mused.
But he did not linger on the thought for long.
Dante picked up the notebook and returned it to the shelf at the end of the wall.
As he walked back, he spoke.
"So, I heard you were branded with the Flame of Death," he said, his fingers sliding across the table’s surface.
A subtle smile played on his lips as he said those words.
In response, Azrael nodded.
’How fast do words travel within these walls?’ he wondered.
Dante shook his head. "How are you managing the pain?" he asked.
"I am fine," Azrael replied, looking toward the door.
"Anxious to leave already?" Dante asked with a smile.
Without waiting for Azrael’s response, he continued talking.
"Well, I have been discussing with Eriksen to find a permanent cure or, at least, a better suppressor for the pain."
Azrael’s gaze froze.
Right on cue, a knock came from the door.
Dante looked at the door for a moment. "Speak of the devil... Come in."
The door opened, revealing Eriksen’s battered figure.
It looked like he had just escaped a war.
"Don’t disturb me because of meager things like this," he said as he sauntered into the office.
Sylas pulled the door shut as Eriksen entered.
It was just the three of them in the office, and a weird silence spread among them.
Before it was broken by Azrael.
"Are you serious about what you said?" Azrael asked with raised brows.
Dante furrowed his brows, then nodded.
"I might need you in the future. It is only proper I find a way to keep you alive."
Although he did not like the reason Dante was helping him, Azrael could only nod in response.
"You can leave now. Let the adults discuss," Dante said, waving at Azrael. "Sylas would get you a knight to take you around if you want."
Azrael shook his head instantly.
He was no longer in the mood to explore the Knights’ camp.
Dante did not care about Azrael’s demeanor.
Eriksen ignored Azrael entirely too, sitting in the chair next to him.
’I am the only normal one among my siblings,’ Azrael thought as he stood up.
"Bye," he said.
There was no response, but he had not expected one in the first place.
He had only said it as a courtesy.
As he stepped out, Azrael could not help but inhale deeply.
It felt as if a mountain had just been lifted off his back.
"Let’s go," he said to Zephyr, pulling him by the wrist.
Zephyr followed without resistance.
Sylas’s gaze followed Azrael as he disappeared into the darkness.
Finally, he sighed and continued guarding the door.
"Why were you acting that way?" Azrael asked as they finally left the Knights’ camp.
Zephyr looked at Azrael with a smile that still carried a lingering sense of fear.
"That’s a long story," Zephyr replied.
Azrael furrowed his brows.
"So you are not interested in telling me?"
Zephyr looked at Azrael with raised brows.
"I never said I wasn’t going to," he replied.
"Ohh."
Zephyr looked up into the sky for a moment before he spoke.