Dancing with the Devil

End my long, sinful eternity

He leaned close to her face, and the tip of his tongue moved from the corner of her mouth and paused for a moment on her lower lip. The devil stared intently and quietly at her expression. The pupils were sometimes cone-shaped, surrounded by an extremely dim red ring.

The slight sting passed, and she tasted a warm, b****y aftertaste before realizing that there had been a wound she had bitten herself.

The devil left her and laid her flat back on the bed, as if he intended to leave. As the heat pulls away, Kalista contemplates and grabs his finger. He looked down to ask if she needed anything else, and she sniffed and gently tugged at his hand to make him lean over again. As he approached, she wrapped her arms around his neck, with a silver dagger at his side.

She avoided his eyes, the blade pressed sideways against his collarbone, unable to move an inch.

"A knife in this position could not kill me." The devil spoke, and gave sound advice.

Without changing his expression, he didn't even raise his eyebrows, but put his strong arms across her back and sat her up. Then he took her hand and moved down with the dagger. Kalista shuddered and tried to withdraw the blade, but he didn't give her a choice.

The silver blade pushed slowly into his chest, sinking into the devil's heart, and Kalista clearly felt that the dagger had hit something hard, but his expression didn't change at all, and there was no disturbance in his breathing, as if the blood gushing from the wound wasn't blood at all.

Kalista suddenly dropped her dagger.

The skin of the devil's heart glowed with a dark golden light, and a pattern resembling totems and words flashed along with the golden light, and the severed tendons and broken flesh regrew new granulation, gathering in layers. Then the wound disappeared, and his chest healed without a scar left.

Just like Kalista's calf and lip.

"As you see, I won't die easily," the devil seemed to sigh. "In fact, I won't die. Every part of my body is inscribed with sacred prayers that are supposed to contradict my constitution, but by accident have the effect of healing wounds."

A devil carved with sacred prayers? Kalista swallowed a note involuntarily, only to blurt out another question.

"So... Are you really just treating my wounds?"

The devil patiently explained, "I need full access to your wound to heal you. My nails are too sharp, and I'm afraid I'll scratch you if I use my hands."

"And you... Why didn't you explain that at the beginning?" Recalling the borderline absurd edge, Kalista struggled to understand his silence, "In the back channel, I thought you..."

The devil blinked, his face a little confused, "I have only done this to you, this is the second time, and I have done it more skillfully than before in the dungeon." I apologize if I made you feel uncomfortable."

Kalista closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

She should not speculate on the behavior of the devil by the standards of human etiquette and morality; he had tried to behave like a proper gentleman.

"No, I'm the one who needs to apologize," Kalista said. "I shouldn't have misunderstood you."

The devil didn't care. "It doesn't matter. I'm not going to die from this."

"But it hurts," Kalista said, touching his heaving chest and feeling the pulsations under his dense muscles. "I caused you unnecessary pain. I'm sorry."

The devil lowered his eyes and stared at her hand, saying nothing.

Kalista's face burned, and she tried to take her hand back, but was held down by the devil. "But I'm still curious. I've already killed the Count of Vladimir, and I'm no longer of use to you."

"Because I want something from you. I would like to ask you... Fulfill one of my wishes," the devil pulled out of nowhere a small cloth bag, and clumsily untangled the ribbon to reveal two metal rings inside. "This is a gift for you."

He placed one of the smaller rings in Kalista's hand, and she looked at it. It was a silver bracelet covered in runes. And connected to the bracelet by a silky golden glow, it's a collar.

The devil's eyes were dark. "Promise me one condition, and I will be at your service."

"What condition?"

Slowly her eyes began to ripple, and for the first time Kalista saw in the devil's eyes something close to "joy" and "hope."

He whispered, as if confessing his SINS to the gods, "Golden Knight of prophecy, I have been waiting for your coming. I implore you to wield the sword of time and space --"

"End my long, sinful eternity."

The devil's words were undoubtedly pleading with Kalista to end his existence. A profound shock hit Kalista's throat, rendering her speechless. She surmised that the devil's request might be tied to the prophecy of the Sword of Time and Space, which has the power to "reverse life and death, traverse time and space." However, she never anticipated that his desire would be to terminate the "eternal life" that countless individuals sought.

After a brief silence, Kalista inquired, "How can you be certain that I am the one foretold?"

"No mistake," the devil affirmed with conviction. "I discovered your name inscribed in the underground palace, indicating that you are from the past—and that confirms half of the prophecy's power."

Kalista is still uncertain whether the person in the prophecy is her. However, it didn't matter, because she would seek out the legendary Sword of Time and Space and use it to travel back in time. If the devil was so convinced that she was the Golden Knight of prophecy, she couldn't use the devil's power to achieve her goal.

She vaguely brushed aside the subject of prophecy and nodded, "Then Mr. Devil, let's work together." Please help me find the Sword of Time and Space, and I will use it... Pierce your chest."

The devil sat on the ground in front of the bed, tilted his head back, and winked slowly. He suddenly pinched himself hard, and then his confused eyes gradually showed a happy look, "Thank you." I will help you, I will help you get the sword."

Half kneeling by the bed, he held Kalista's hand firmly to his forehead, his long hair as black as crow's feathers spread across her lap, and she mysteriously reached out and touched the goat horns. Not knowing what organ he had touched, the tail behind the devil suddenly froze, and at this time he raised his head and looked blankly and shyly at her.

"I'm sorry, I was rude," Kalista quickly said, removing her hand, only to have it grabbed by the devil and placed back on his head.

"It will itch a little, but please feel it," the devil encouraged, pressing his head lower to make it easier for her to touch.

Kalista reached out and tried to grasp the stronger horn on the left side. The devil's horn had a rough, bark-like texture and was divided into distinct turns, each with a narrow, relatively smooth ring. She pressed it gently, and suddenly the devil let out a dull snort.

"Does it hurt? I'm sorry," she asked, putting away her curiosity. She noticed the devil's jawline was tight under his long black hair, and his cheeks still had a very pale blush.

"No, it's okay," the devil replied, turning his head to hide his face under the dark hair.

Kalista coughed to hide her embarrassment. "By the way, Mr. Devil. I do not know your name."

There was a noticeable pause in the devil's movements. He raised his head slowly, parted his lips slightly, pressed his teeth together, and made an air sound. But he quickly shut his mouth and said no more.

Kalista understood the first syllable he was about to utter, and her smile faded from her lips. She licked her lips and tentatively called out the name: "Lancelot?"

The devil's pupils constricted like a cone for a moment before expanding back to their original shape a few seconds later. A dark red rose in his iris, like a sea of red.

"Is your name Lancelot, too?" Kalista asked.

Same name, same face. Was it just a coincidence that he appeared before her, was liberated by her, and saved her from danger?

Kalista was hopeful. "Lancelot?"

The devil avoided her eyes.

Kalista leaned closer, ignoring formality and pomp, took his face in her hands, and asked, "Or... Are you my Lancelot?"

After a long silence, the devil's Adam's apple rolled and met her eyes as if determined. "I... My name is Lancelot. I am not your deceased, but I will become your property."