At home, Dante was sitting while waiting for Viviane. She would probably arrive soon, and since he was already home, he chose to stay quiet, waiting for her.
However, something was bothering him. He had noticed that Tyler had been stranger than usual lately, something he had perceived ever since he returned.
Could he be having some kind of problem?
Should I talk to Viviane about it?
No… maybe it's better for him to deal with it in his own time.
— DANTE, COME HERE!
While he was thinking, he heard Viviane shouting for him, which startled him. Without hesitation, he got up and ran toward her.
— Viviane, did something happen?! — he said as he rushed outside.
When he stepped out, what he saw surprised him.
There stood Viviane, beautiful as always.
However, she looked tired, and there was a small cut on her wrist. That immediately irritated Dante. If he knew who had done that, there would be no good ending.
— What happened? — he asked as he approached, examining her carefully. — Are you okay? What happened, Viviane? Who did this?
Dante began asking hurriedly, but she only smiled at him.
— No one did this… well, maybe I did — she said, pointing toward a slightly higher spot.
There, a small being hovered—completely white and green, about the size of a large hand, surrounded by an aura of wind.
— Nice to meet you, I am—
Before poor Air could finish introducing himself, Dante's hand wrapped around him completely, restraining him.
— Was it you who did this?!
For a brief second, the small spirit felt the temperature rise, but he couldn't even respond.
Baaam!
A slap landed on the back of Dante's head, and a voice spoke immediately afterward:
— Let him go, Dante! He's a spirit I managed to summon. Isn't that impressive? — she finished, excited.
Dante released the small spirit, realizing he had acted violently.
— I'm sorry, little one — he said, handing him a honey biscuit.
Spirits were addicted to honey, so Air didn't mind Dante's actions.
After compensating the spirit, Dante picked Viviane up in his arms and gently carried her inside.
Viviane didn't resist. She simply enjoyed that protective moment from Dante.
— My knight, don't worry. They're probably just injuries from alchemy — she said, trying to calm him.
Placing Viviane gently on the bed, Dante took out a few healing potions. The cut wasn't deep, but it looked strange, so he decided not to treat it yet.
Meanwhile, Viviane took advantage of the moment. For some reason, she felt much more confident around Dante, as if everything that had troubled her mind had simply disappeared.
Then she spoke:
— Dante… why don't we have a special dinner one of these days? I'd like to invite my parents and my grandfather to have dinner here — she said with a gentle smile.
— Of course. It would be nice to have them here at home. We should also invite Ancestor Hai, since he's your great-grandfather. That way, the whole family would be together — Dante replied without hesitation.
That made Viviane smile brightly.
But soon, a voice pulled them out of their little world. It was Air, commenting about Dante.
— Hmph… from what Viviane told me, I thought you were an extremely free man like me. But you're just one step away from massaging her feet. Seems I was mistaken about you, Dante.
Hearing that, Dante simply laughed before replying to the small spirit.
— You're free, right, Air?
— Obviously! I'm the freest being in the world—of everything that exists, has existed, and will exist!
— Then what makes you the freest in the world? — Dante asked.
— Isn't it obvious? I do whatever I want, whenever I want, and no one can stop me! — the small spirit replied enthusiastically.
— Yes, doing what you desire is what makes someone free. That's why I'm freer than you, Air — Dante said. — I'm in the house I want, with the woman I want, living the life I want.
— If my life is exactly everything I desire, how much freer do I need to be?
Dante said this without even looking at the small spirit, while lightly squeezing Viviane's belly.
When Dante finished speaking, the spirit looked at him with curiosity.
The freest man is the one who does what he desires, when he desires…
Several thoughts crossed the spirit's mind. He nodded, clearly impressed, and soon decided to return to the spiritual realm.
— You know how to summon me, Viviane. See you later — he said before disappearing.
— What a troublesome little fellow — Dante commented, looking at Viviane.
She simply replied calmly:
— Just as troublesome as you are.
— Besides, you shouldn't have been so direct with him. He follows a philosophy. Leaving it implied would have had a better effect — Viviane added, resting her head on Dante's shoulder.
Dante didn't reply.
He simply closed his eyes.