Chapter 7: Fragments of the Past

Dante wiped the sweat from his brow as he leaned against the stone wall of the training yard. The day's session had been brutal, and his muscles screamed in protest. Despite the pain, a sense of satisfaction washed over him. He was getting stronger. Every day, he was sharpening his skills, refining his combat techniques, and slowly becoming the demon hunter he needed to be.

Marcus had pushed him hard that morning. They had focused on hand-to-hand combat, sparring until Dante could barely lift his arms. Now, as the afternoon sun dipped lower in the sky, casting long shadows over the city, Dante found himself with some rare free time.

He glanced at the other hunters in the yard, many of them still training or chatting in small groups. The guild had quickly become a second home to him. The hunters, while tough and sometimes distant, had accepted him as one of their own. He respected their strength and experience, and he was determined to earn his place among them.

But even as he trained, the nagging thoughts of the past continued to haunt him.

He hadn't forgotten about Lilith. She hadn't appeared again since their last encounter, but her presence lingered in the back of his mind, like a shadow he couldn't shake. And then there was the system—the mysterious power that had saved his life more times than he could count. He had been careful not to reveal too much about it, only telling Marcus what he needed to know, but the questions still gnawed at him.

Where had the system come from? Why had it chosen him? And what did it want in return?

Dante shook his head, trying to clear his thoughts. He didn't have time to dwell on mysteries he couldn't solve. For now, all that mattered was getting stronger.

As he turned to head back inside, a familiar voice called out from behind him. "Dante!"

He turned to see Eva approaching. She was one of the more experienced hunters in the guild, known for her sharp tongue and even sharper aim with a crossbow. She had taken an interest in him from the start, though Dante wasn't sure if that was a good thing.

Eva stopped in front of him, her eyes gleaming with curiosity. "You've been working hard. Marcus says you're progressing fast."

Dante gave a small nod. "I'm trying. There's a lot to learn."

Eva smirked, crossing her arms. "You'll need more than hard work to survive out there. Luck helps, too."

Dante raised an eyebrow. "You believe in luck?"

"Not really," she said with a shrug. "But it can't hurt to have some on your side." Her expression shifted, becoming more serious. "Listen, I've been meaning to ask you something."

Dante tensed slightly. He didn't like where this was going. "What is it?"

Eva glanced around, making sure no one else was within earshot, then lowered her voice. "What's your deal, Dante? You're good—too good for someone who claims to have trained on his own. And that weapon of yours... it's not exactly normal."

Dante felt a knot form in his stomach. He had been careful to avoid drawing too much attention to the system, but it seemed Eva had noticed more than he had realized. He kept his expression neutral, not wanting to give anything away. "I've had some... unusual experiences."

Eva's eyes narrowed. "Unusual how?"

Dante hesitated. He didn't want to lie to her, but he also didn't want to reveal too much. "I've encountered things. Demons, creatures... things that aren't easy to explain."

Eva studied him for a moment, her sharp gaze seeming to pierce right through him. Finally, she sighed and shook her head. "You're not telling me everything, but fine. Keep your secrets. Just remember, out there in the field, secrets can get you killed."

Dante nodded slowly. "I'll keep that in mind."

She gave him one last look before turning and walking away, her boots crunching on the gravel as she left. Dante watched her go, feeling a sense of unease settle over him. Eva was sharp—too sharp for her own good. If she kept digging, she might uncover more than he was ready to reveal.

Pushing the thought aside, Dante headed back into the guild hall. He had bigger things to worry about than Eva's suspicions.

---

Later that night, Dante lay in his bed, staring up at the ceiling of his small room. The guild hall was quiet, the other hunters long since gone to sleep. But despite the stillness, his mind was restless.

He couldn't stop thinking about the system.

It had saved his life countless times, but he knew next to nothing about it. Where had it come from? Why had it chosen him? And what price would he have to pay for its power?

The system hadn't spoken to him in a while, but Dante knew it was still there, watching, waiting. He could feel its presence deep within him, a part of him now. But the more he relied on it, the more he feared what it might cost him.

As he lay there, lost in thought, a soft knock sounded at his door.

Dante frowned and sat up, glancing toward the door. Who would be visiting him at this hour?

"Come in," he called out, keeping his voice low.

The door creaked open, and to his surprise, Lilith stepped into the room.

She looked as ethereal as ever, her white hair glowing faintly in the dim light. Her crystal blue eyes locked onto his, a knowing smile playing on her lips.

"Dante," she purred, closing the door behind her. "You've been avoiding me."

Dante's heart raced, but he forced himself to stay calm. "I haven't exactly been avoiding you. You just haven't shown up."

Lilith crossed the room with slow, deliberate steps, her hips swaying as she moved. She stopped in front of him, her gaze never leaving his.

"I told you, Dante," she said softly, her voice like silk. "We're connected. You can't hide from me."

Dante clenched his fists, resisting the pull he felt toward her. Lilith was dangerous—he knew that. But there was something about her that he couldn't quite resist. She had a power over him, a power that went beyond the physical.

"What do you want?" he asked, his voice steady despite the tension in the air.

Lilith smiled, reaching out to brush a strand of hair from his face. "I want what I've always wanted, Dante. You."

Dante swallowed hard, his heart pounding in his chest. "You said you wanted to help me. Is that still true?"

Lilith's smile widened. "Of course, darling. I want to help you reach your full potential. But you have to let me in."

Dante shook his head, pulling back slightly. "I don't trust you."

Lilith tilted her head, her eyes gleaming with amusement. "You don't have to trust me, Dante. But you will need me. Sooner or later, you'll realize that."

She leaned in closer, her lips brushing against his ear as she whispered, "And when you do, I'll be waiting."

Dante's breath hitched, and for a moment, he was tempted to give in. But he forced himself to stay strong. Lilith was a temptation, a distraction. He couldn't afford to let her control him.

"I don't need you," he said firmly, his voice low.

Lilith straightened, her smile never faltering. "We'll see about that."

She turned and walked to the door, her movements graceful and fluid. As she reached for the handle, she glanced back at him one last time. "Goodnight, Dante. Sweet dreams."

With that, she was gone, leaving Dante alone in the darkness.

---

The next morning, Dante woke with a sense of unease. Lilith's visit had shaken him more than he cared to admit. She had a way of getting under his skin, making him question himself, his choices.

But he couldn't let her distract him. He had a mission—to become a demon hunter, to protect people from the creatures of the night. And he couldn't let anyone, not even Lilith, get in the way of that.

As he dressed and made his way down to the training yard, Dante pushed thoughts of Lilith to the back of his mind. He had more important things to focus on.

When he arrived at the yard, Marcus was waiting for him, a serious expression on his face. "We've got a mission today," Marcus said without preamble. "There's been a sighting of a high-level demon near the outskirts of the city. We're taking a team to investigate."

Dante's heart skipped a beat. A real mission? This was what he had been waiting for.

"I'm ready," he said, his voice steady.

Marcus nodded. "Good. Gear up. We leave in an hour."

As Dante prepared for the mission, a sense of anticipation and determination filled him. This was his chance to prove himself, to show the guild that he was worthy of being one of them.

But as he strapped on his weapons and armor, he couldn't shake the feeling that something big was about to happen—something that would change everything.

And for the first time in a long while, he wasn't sure if he was ready.