Steampunk: Sixth Era Epic-Chapter 1428: Demon Story (Part 4)

Shard took back his deck, and the three people at the table each drew their first card:

"The boy said: I am willing to seal you for my entire life, just like my grandfather did."

He saw his first card was Star 12, and smiled slightly:

"And this time, the story begins when the boy takes away the demon."

"The demon agreed to the boy’s wish, signed a soul contract, moved into the boy’s soul, and went far away with him."

Mr. Asmon’s deep yet slightly slick voice began the demon’s tale once more. Playing Roder Card and listening to such stories under the dim kerosene lamp in a countryside tavern created quite the atmosphere.

"The demon did not harm the boy, but it whispered incessantly in the boy’s ear, trying to corrupt his soul. The boy, however, remembered the sacrifices of his loved ones, and merely endured it silently."

"If someone were to chatter in my ear all day, even if it were the pretty cat from the circus, I couldn’t stand it either."

Magician Winston muttered as the three of them reached for the second card.

Shard raised an eyebrow, seeing that the card in his hand was Star 8:

"20 points."

So he tapped the table, signaling that he would stand, and showed his total points.

Mr. Winston and Mr. Asmon continued to draw cards:

"The boy left his hometown and walked and walked. As he grew day by day, the demon residing in his soul also gave him some unusual powers. The grown boy traveled far, and one day, he passed by a riverside village."

Shard glanced at the demonologist, only to see the other place his three cards on the table:

"19 points, I stand."

"I’m 20 points, maybe you could give it a try and draw another card."

Shard reminded, while Mr. Asmon smirked and lowered his eyebrows, saying:

"I never gamble on luck; I’m happy to accept the status quo. Since fate has given me so much, I’ll accept just that much."

On the other side, the magician was in a dilemma. He looked at his three cards and Shard’s 20 points, deeply furrowing his brow.

"You’re at 20 points too?"

Shard picked up his glass and took a sip of the newly served butter beer, a drink which is actually non-alcoholic.

"Yes, I can’t stand ties, but if I try to draw another, I’ll definitely bust."

The magician suggested to Shard:

"How about we each draw one more card and only compare the points on the last card?"

"I don’t mind."

Shard said, looking at Mr. Asmon, who shook his head and continued the story:

"In that riverside village, a young man injured from defeating the evil Cyclops received care from a young girl. The girl, who had never left the village, had bright eyes, hair like silk, and a smile as radiant as summer flowers. Like any story cliché, she fell in love with that brave young man, and though the young man knew he shouldn’t develop feelings for anyone else, he inevitably fell for the young girl."

"I’m Sun 8."

The magician drew an extra card, and Shard also revealed his card:

"I’m... Moon 9. Sorry, I won the first round."

Shard said with a smile, while the magician muttered about bad luck, signaling to start the next round.

The three drew the first card of the second round, though no one checked their hole card and directly took the second card:

"Would the love between the young man and the girl be a tragedy?"

Shard asked Mr. Asmon:

"What did the demon do?"

He and the equally interested magician looked at the demonologist, who stared back at Shard:

"Love often defies logic. Even burdened with a demon, the determined young man by nature fell deeply in love with the girl. If he hadn’t chosen to spend his life sealing and overseeing the demon, this would have been a beautiful love story. But unfortunately... the demon did nothing; it merely whispered in the young man’s ear, praising the girl’s kindness and the beauty of love."

"Tsk tsk."

Both Shard and the magician clicked their tongues, foreseeing this was likely another story ending in tragedy. They just didn’t know what kind of conclusion it would have.

"Flower 9, Star 9. 18 points, I stand."

Mr. Asmon said, and only then did Shard glance at his hand, which currently only had Sun 3 and Moon 11, so he needed to draw another card.

Mr. Winston, the Magician, chose to continue drawing cards, while the story continued:

"It seems the Demon accelerated the youth’s healing process, allowing him to quickly regain the ability to travel again. The young man’s silence revealed to the girl his intention to leave soon. Thus, on a night with a sky full of stars and a high-hanging Silvermoon, the young girl, by the barn, invited the youth to settle down here."

Shard sighed and looked at his third card:

"I feel like my mood is getting worse. Flower 5, I’m at 19 points, I stand.

The Magician looked at his own 18 points and then reached for the fourth card. After revealing it, he sighed in annoyance and tossed all four cards onto the table:

"The last one is a Flower 13, I had a blowout."

"Well, that means I win."

Shard smiled and took two Krone of Gold Coins from the empty dish, while the Special Card was still in the Magician’s deck; he would take it after the game ended.

"Now, it’s time for the match between Mr. Winston and Mr. Asmon. Oh, Mr. Asmon, please continue the story."

"That night, the girl’s eyes were as bright as the stars, her rosy lips more tender than the flowers of spring, and her black hair like the feathers of the noblest night raven. Yet, facing the invitation, the youth remained silent."

"His feelings should be quite complex, just as mine are now."

Having already lost his Special Card, the Magician said as he nervously drew his first hole card and the second card, then his eyes lit up as he showcased his hand:

"The second card is my [Circus Tragedy: The Headless Clown]!"

"In the settlement phase, the rule must be activated, and it is not a friendly rule."

Shard remarked, as Mr. Asmon drew his first two cards and continued to draw without looking: 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

"The young man knew what he bore, and also knew what consequences would arise if he chose to stay. Therefore, he refused the girl’s invitation, and then, killed her."

For some reason, Shard didn’t find this surprising at all.

Mr. Asmon kept his eyes on Shard, didn’t look at the third card, and tapped the table to indicate he was standing.

"Was he angry because the girl’s actions nearly destroyed his resolve?"

the Magician asked while cautiously revealing his third card, then exclaimed:

"Such a thing?"

The first three cards, Moon 7, Star 3, Moon 11, totaled exactly 21 points. However, due to Special rules, the Star 3 was removed and 5 was added, leaving his final points at 23, resulting in failure.

Mr. Asmon revealed his three cards, clasped his hands together, and laughed. Although his total was only 12 points, he still won. Thus, the Demonologist took 5 Krone from the empty dish and put it into his pocket, while Shard pushed the dish with only 1 Krone left to the Magician. Though frustrated, the latter was more concerned about the story’s ending:

"Why did the youth do that?"

"The young man knew he had fallen deeply in love with the girl, and even if he left, he would spend his life missing her. To prevent the Demon from returning here after his death, just like it had returned to his hometown after leaving his grandfather to reclaim the souls of those who remembered him, taking the girl’s soul, the young man proactively killed her, liberating her soul.

Afterward, the young man once again packed his belongings and walked towards the distant horizon. He was free, and so was her soul."

Shard and the Magician both wore the same expressions, pursing their lips and tensing their faces. They exchanged glances, both finding it hard to comment on the story:

"I cannot say the young man’s actions were entirely wrong."

Shard could only say:

"From the previous three stories, the young man’s intuition was correct. Even if he journeyed far, when his life reached its end, the Demon would surely take his form and return to the girl’s side..."

"But the youth killed his passionate lover just like that, and this is too... even our circus’s best Bard could not come up with such a story. But I must admit, it is a good story."

The Magician also remarked, while Shard asked again:

"So, is there a continuation to the story?"

"Of course, this strange and lengthy story has many more Chapters. However, just like last time, we’ll continue next time."

Mr. Asmon raised his glass, gulped down its contents, his Adam’s apple bobbing, and a small amount of liquor traced down the sparse whiskers on his chin.

Mr. Winston, the Magician, sighed, picked up the remaining 1 Krone, and handed the Star 3 [Circus Tragedy: The Headless Clown] to Shard:

"It’s yours. Trading a Special Card for a game, an unfinished story, and a gold coin might be worth it."

Saying so, he stood up:

"It’s getting late, if I don’t return, the ringmaster will have me clean the stables. It was nice meeting you both. And Mr. Asmon, if we meet again, please continue the story."

Shard stood up to bid farewell, while the Demonologist nodded with his wine glass in hand. They watched the somewhat dispirited Magician disappear to the other end of the still lively tavern late at night.

Then, Shard sat down again, picked up his glass and, under the increasingly dim kerosene lamp, leaned slightly forward to continue the earlier conversation:

"The Demon story is temporarily over. Now, about the local demon rumors, Mr. Asmon, are you interested in discussing them with me?"