The Virtues' Magecraft

Page 68: The Earthling

The following half-hour was filled with stressful conversations for Alexander. But finally, the explanations ended and Furcas led him into another room as he told the Human-Born of someone who could offer help. Someone to join Alexander on his journey through the UnderWorld.

The first image that came to mind was another demon, another looking like an old human. But what he met was the exact opposite. 

As soon as he entered another brick-walled room, Alexander found himself face to face with a human. A real one.

The room appeared to be an office, or rather, a study, with bookshelves lining the walls, and a long wooden table at the center. A desk sat in the back, reminiscent of Archibald's Paladin office.

A boy sat at the central desk, nearly hidden behind a stack of thick books. His head was buried into two books at a time, his mind in deep focus. 

Until Furcas called out to him, that is. 

He jolted upright and stood from his seat to meet Alexander. He was dressed very similarly to Alexander, his tunic being dark grey and short-sleeved. His shorts were the same color, and his feet were bound in sandals. 

The boy was skinny, thin, and fair- His pale skin in contrast with his dark, near-black hair. But his eyes- His eyes were the first thing Alexander noticed. He guessed anyone would catch his eyes first. They were a stark blue, shining like a bright star or rather a pool of indigo, a sea untouched and untainted. Pure, smooth seashine.

He was a human. Everything about him pointed at that. The glimmer in his eyes, his magic energy, even the touch of his skin, Alexander noted as their grips met to shake hands. 

That was when he introduced himself. "Good to meet you. Keiran," he said as they ended the shake. "Kieran Lassiter."

"Alexander Lane," Alexander said in response, greeting with a nod. "You're British, aren't you?" he asked, noting the boy's accent.

Kieran nodded. "Yes sir. Right from England," he said with a smile. "Why do you ask?"

Alexander didn't know how to explain. As awkward as always, he tried to elaborate, "An English person was the last thing I expected to see in the UnderWorld."

Truly, it was hell. 

The boy laughed in response. "Well, I hear you're going to help me get to the Purgatorio level of this place. Got any special powers like the old man here?" Keiran asked along with his chuckle. 

"Kinda..." Alexander spat out, his voice slurred in uncertainty. Furcas never mentioned anything about Purgatorio. "Except I'm not entirely sure of what he's capable of."

Keiran's head tilted to the side. "Don't you know him well? He said he knew you."

"Well, I just met him," Alexander said with a confused, awkward chortle. 

"Aren't you a demon?"

Alexander took a step back on reflex. What the hell was that supposed to mean? Alexander knew he was in the UnderWorld and all, but he had no reason to look like a demon. And if he did, then...

"No, no, no," he stammered out. "I'm a human. Just like you."

The boy furrowed his eyebrows. "No, you're not. Wait, are you? You're seriously a human, aren't you?" he asked, his thick eyebrows displaying an array of emotions as his mind struggled to catch up with what Alexander had just admitted. 

Furcas had been standing to the side for the entire exchange. He only smiled as Alexander and Keiran drowned out each other's voices with their confused remarks and mumbles. And so, he cleared his throat.