The Morning Visitor

Kaito's eyes fluttered open to the familiar ceiling of his room, the dream world of impossible monsters fading like mist. The computer in the corner, still on autoplay, hummed softly. Durandal, in her childlike form, was already floating serenely in front of the screen. He pushed himself out of bed and began his morning routine: brushing his teeth, the cool mint a stark contrast to the lingering chill of the Skjólvettr, and then stepping into the shower, letting the warm water wash away the remnants of frostbite and phantom venom.

He walked into the kitchen, the scent of cooking food filling the air. Maria was there, humming a cheerful tune as she worked at the stove. She'd practiced her cooking skills extensively over the past months, and her breakfast creations were now, thankfully, safe for human consumption.

"Morning, Maria," Kaito greeted, pulling out a chair at the small dining table.

"Good morning, Kaito!" she replied, turning with a plate of fluffy pancakes. "Just in time!"

Yumi joined them a moment later, still in her pajamas, her eyes a little hazy from sleep. She quietly sat down and began to eat, leaving Kaito and Maria to their light banter and the occasional chiming of their phone text messages. It was a perfectly ordinary, everyday morning, the kind of domestic normalcy Kaito had come to cherish amidst the chaos of his training and the world's increasingly strange events. Part of him still wondered about his parents and younger sister, who he often communicated with, but they still believed he was diligently studying in London, oblivious to the realities he now faced.

Just as Maria poured Kaito a glass of juice, the doorbell chimed. Epsilon, ever efficient, moved to answer it. Kaito heard the soft click of the lock, and then Epsilon's voice, respectful and deferential, "Welcome." The android maid then bowed deeply.

A man stepped into the entryway. He was in his late twenties, with black hair, impeccably dressed in a dark suit with a striking red coat draped over his shoulders like a cape. Following closely behind him, carrying a suitcase, was another maid. She was a perfect replica of Epsilon, identical in every feature save for a slightly different in hairstyle

Yumi, who had looked up at the sound of the door, gave the man a small, familiar wave. He nodded in return, and then he and the accompanying maid stepped fully into the apartment.

Yumi quickly texted a greeting to the man.

The man surveyed the room with an easy smile. "I'm glad to be here," he said, his voice smooth and confident. His eyes landed on Kaito, then Maria. "You must be Kaito Tanaka and Maria Teresa, or do you prefer Kaito Satou now?"

"Just Kaito will do," Kaito replied, a hint of caution in his voice. This wasn't a casual visit.

"I'm the Hierophant," the man introduced himself, "but you can call me Dante Carter if you like." He gestured to the maid beside him. "Oh, and this is Alpha."

Alpha offered a polite, practiced greeting.

"Hello Mr. Dante," Maria said, ever the polite host. "What might your visit be for?"

Dante's smiled. "It's nothing much, really. The recent activities of the Killing Stone have intrigued me, so I simply came to see it up close. A matter of professional curiosity." As he spoke, a chat message notification popped up on his phone. He glanced down at it for a moment, a subtle shift in his expression, then back up.

Dante offered no verbal reply to Yumi's message. He returned his attention to Kaito. "Is there a way to solve it?" Kaito pressed, skipping the pleasantries. "It seems to be affecting a large number of people, inflicting them with illness."

Dante's smile lessened, replaced by a thoughtful expression. "I'm aware. However, even I'm powerless to solve such a situation." He paused, his gaze meeting Kaito's. "You see, Tamamo no Mae, or at least the resentful spirit of her, is sealed within that Killing Stone, according to its ancient lore." He took a step further into the room. "I wish to study the ancient seal on the Killing Stone, to see if I can replicate it for my personal arsenal, before it disappears completely."

"What about Tamamo no Mae when she is freed?" Kaito asked, the question heavy with implication.

Dante shrugged, a casual gesture that seemed at odds with the gravity of his words. "I'm not sure. She could enact revenge, she could go into hiding to learn more about this era before baring her fangs. But nevertheless, she will likely be another powerful being in this world."

"Is that so," Kaito murmured.

Dante's smile widened, a calculating glint in his eyes. "I hope for you to join me in my research trip, Kaito and Maria, in case any unforeseen thing was to happen. Not as a mission from the Association, mind you, but as a way to get more acquainted with each other."

Kaito's gaze flickered to Yumi. The Killing Stone did intrigue him, and the possibility of learning more about the Age of Gods' magic was tempting. But his primary task of protecting Yumi still existed, and an unknown assailant could easily use this opportunity to strike. "Is that alright, Yumi?" he asked.

Yumi, who had been listening intently, quickly typed a message on her phone. "It's not an issue," her text read. "I'll also come along."

"Excellent," Dante said, his expression pleased. "Hm, say High Priestess," he continued, turning his attention to Yumi, "I noticed you have been communicating via only text. What happened to that digital avatar you used when we first met?"

Kaito and Maria exchanged confused glances. "Digital avatar?" Maria asked.

Yumi flinched, the memories clearly unsettling her. She immediately sent another text to Dante. 'Just forget about that.'

Dante's smiled, nodded subtly, abiding by her request. The topic was dropped.