Cale had grown quickly over the years, reaching an impressive height of 1.88 meters, though still a bit shorter than his sister. His once-childish face had sharpened into something more striking. The round cheeks of his youth had vanished, and his now longer hair fell to his shoulders.
His routine had been relentless. He completed his education under specialized private tutors in every subject. At first, some of the more bizarre fields challenged his old human mindset, but over time, he mastered them with excellence, earning top marks in every evaluation.
Visits to Berry
Trips to Berry's mansion never failed to surprise him. The estate sat high on jagged mountain peaks, painted entirely black and lit with dramatic flair, reminiscent of the theatrical excesses common in demon nobility. Upon arrival, Berry and his grandfather—both as eccentric as ever—would greet him briefly, grab him by the arm, and drag him into a room styled like a casino.
"Welcome to paradise, Cale," Berry would say with a mischievous grin, the glint in his eyes betraying how serious he took the games.
They taught him poker, roulette, blackjack, and baccarat. At first, Cale lost constantly. But the more he played, the more a competitive, ambitious fire lit within him. Even if the bets were fake (thankfully for his wallet), his greedy streak came alive. After a few rounds, he started winning one in every three games against the gambling veterans.
Despite their friendship, Cale noticed how differently they thought. Berry believed in a world without rules, where the strongest dominated and society ran on pure chaos—an ideology not uncommon among high-ranking demons. Still, Cale never tried to change his mind.
"Everyone has the right to believe what they want," he often thought. "Trying to force my views on him would be pointless."
Encounters with Alice
Visits to Alice were more low-key and considerably more refined. Their conversations were polite, bordering on stiff, and a bit dull for Cale. Still, he always found joy in teasing Alice, especially with help from his spirit, Kira. Together, they slipped harmless pranks into Alice's meals or placed tiny traps on his chair. Alice never seemed truly angry—just mildly annoyed, which Cale considered a success.
During those visits, Cale often played with Alice's younger sisters or cousins—he was never entirely sure. Given their near-identical appearance and matching outfits, he simply called them sisters. The girls adored Kira, constantly hugging and brushing his fur, much to his dismay.
"I'm not dressing up as a princess again!" Kira would protest, wriggling out of ribbons and skirts with grim determination.
Eventually, Cale had to step in.
"You can't dress Kira up anymore," he told the girls with an apologetic smile. Seeing their disappointed faces, he sighed. "But... how about I take you all for some hot chocolate instead?"
They agreed instantly, and the rest of the day passed in laughter and games.
Training with Lord Sullivan and Opera
Visits to Lord Sullivan began with tea parties, often held in a richly decorated room within Babyls Castle. Sullivan frequently vented about his overbooked schedule and repetitive duties.
"Boredom stalks me everywhere. If I have to sit through one more opera, I might snap," he'd groan, one hand dramatically over his heart.
One day during tea, Cale mentioned his dreams of becoming an explorer and musician. Sullivan, for once, grew serious.
"Why not train with Opera?" he finally offered. "It'd be an honor to have her teach you."
Cale eagerly agreed, starting a rigorous training schedule twice a week. Under Opera's guidance—feared even among the demon elite—he learned martial arts and developed a new skill:
—"I call it spiritual possession," Cale explained. "I can absorb Kira into my body, like a pokéball. My appearance doesn't change, but my speed and strength increase dramatically."
Opera also pushed him to master lightning control, a rare elemental trait. She forced him to channel raw energy until he collapsed. Over time, his stamina and precision improved dramatically.
Sometimes, Sullivan got sentimental.
"I wish I had a grandson of my own..." he'd say with misty eyes.
Cale and Opera would cheer him up with food or the occasional spontaneous vacation. Over time, the two grew deeply fond of him, and made it clear:
"If you ever need anything, we'll be here."
Music Lessons with Poro
Lessons with Poro, his music teacher, were the most demanding of all. Poro—himself a highly respected musician in the demon realm—had zero tolerance for mistakes. He forced Cale to play in the streets wearing a disguise to test his endurance and emotional range.
Cale eventually earned a reputation in the demon community as "The Soul Thief" for his hauntingly beautiful performances.
As his talent grew, he graduated from anonymous street sessions to private concerts and then full-scale shows. Poro refused to let him grow complacent: Cale had to learn guitar, piano, drums, and bass on top of his violin. Kira never left his side, grunting disapprovals or nodding in approval during rehearsals.
Encounter with Blanca
One day, while performing in the streets of the demon capital, something caught his eye. From behind his mask, he noticed a small floating figure lingering in a side alley. There was a strange pull, a familiarity he couldn't explain—similar to the bond he shared with Kira. He stopped playing and stepped forward, but the figure vanished.
He returned to his performance, and a few minutes later, the tiny creature peeked over the stone wall nearby. It was a fairy, barely the size of his hand, with blue hair tipped in violet, a tiny hat tucked between her horns, and a holiday-colored dress that looked hand-stitched.
Cale played until his fingers burned. When he finally slumped against the wall, catching his breath and watching the sky, the fairy floated toward him, cautious but curious.
"Want to pet her?" Kira asked from within, his tone teasing.
Cale slowly reached out and touched the fairy's cheek. She didn't flinch.
After a moment, he spoke softly:
"Would you like to make a contract with me?" he asked. "You'd be part of our family. We love music. We go to concerts, we compose new pieces... Would you come with us?"
He released Kira from his soul. The spirit materialized beside him.
"This is Kira. He's my best friend. You can play with him whenever you like. You won't be alone anymore."
The fairy didn't respond immediately. She hovered there with her hand on her chin, clearly thinking. After a long pause, she drifted toward Cale and nodded.
"Your name will be Blanca," he declared.
In that instant, a piercing pain stabbed through his chest—stronger than ever before. His vision blurred, and he collapsed. When he came to, Kira stood guard over them, eyes scanning the street.
"It's okay," Cale murmured, gently picking up the tiny sleeping fairy cradled in his lap.
With Kira at his side and his violin slung over his back, Cale turned toward home—carrying a new companion and one more story waiting to be told.