Cut From A Tattered Cloth

Chapter 26

At the moment, Dante could think of three things that could kill him.

The first, and most obvious, was the blazing inferno he was about to fly into. Second, and most probable, was his father. Virgil Silverfang wasn't an abusive man, but he would not be happy once he found out Dante had disobeyed him. There was a possibility Dante could pacify him by saving the commissioner. But, most likely, he would merely earn a non-commital grunt followed by a butt-whupping once they were home.

It's really not fair, he thought. Most Mages would reward their apprentices for showing initiative. Then again, most apprentices didn't work under the man who had fed and clothed them since birth.

"Over there!" Melia shouted. She reached under Dante's arm with one hand to point at the building. "That is the last place we saw him!"

Dante nodded, his insides going warm. Of all the things that could kill him tonight, he was definitely most afraid of thing number three. If Special Mage Tokuda would castrate him for making a lewd comment, Dante could only imagine what he'd do if he saw him now.

It wasn't his fault. After all, it's not like Dante asked her to jump on his board. But when her three-hundred foot tree started wobbling and she called out to him, what was he supposed to do? Sure, he could've made another board for her since he still had a few alloys corked away, but there was no time for that. It was much safer to have Melia simply jump on his board behind him. So he took her by the hand, pulled her up behind him, and advised her to hold on tight while he flew all heroic into a blaze of glory.

Like any gentleman would.

Melia hugged him tighter, bracing herself as they neared the flames. Dante went breathless in a way that had nothing to do with all the smoke.

Yup, I'm a dead man, he thought. Which, in an odd way, was encouraging. Since Mage Tokuda would kill him for touching his apprentice when she asked him to, Dante figured he may as well enjoy the moment. He stood up a little straighter, resting his hands over hers and slowing the board to a hover. He blinked ash out of his eyes.

His comm rang. He turned his wrist, gut dropping as he saw his dad was calling. Swallowing hard, he dismissed the notification. If he survived this, both Dad and Mage Tokuda would give him hell. But, if it meant saving the commissioner, Dante was okay with that.

Melia shouted to the Honoka girl. "Honoka! Ano kaji wo! Onegai de!"

"Wakatteruwayo!" Honoka yelled back.

Dante sighed. If he were smarter, he'd consider learning that language. However, he knew full well he was a metal-juiced idiot who could barely manage his native tongue. Plus, if by some miracle he learned Hyounokunese, it would only mean Dante would know exactly how he was going to die seconds before Mage Tokuda killed him.

Honoka flew closer to the precinct, two floors higher than the one Melia had pointed to. Even at a distance, Dante was already sweating, but Honoka was unbothered by the heat and smoke radiating from the building. She extinguished the flames in her hands, tensing her feet to burn brighter as she found her balance. Then, she held her arms out to the fire, fingers flexed.

Realizing what she was about to do, Dante called out, "Wait!!"

Honoka paused, looking down at him in confusion. Melia was confused, too.

"Dante, what are you doing?" she asked, "Keru-san is--"

"We need to make sure the area is secure before she starts sucking out the fire," Dante explained. "If there's anyone in her way, she's gonna barbeque them."

Melia quieted, hugging Dante in a way that made him more nervous than excited. They were really pushing their luck here. If anything went wrong....

He shook his head, forcing the thought from his mind. Now wasn't the time for second-guessing. The commissioner was in there. Other people probably were, too. If Dante lost his cool now he wouldn't be any good to anybody.