Ready?

Chapter 9

'What's fun about winning without running?'

-A sad young man.

'Reno what was that!? I've never seen anything like it!' Damian yelled at him still shocked. Reno bathed in his power a little more, he made a summon. 'Summon sabre!' instead of the usual black hole appearing, his crown hovered beside him, and in a whirlpool of flames, a sabre came forth.

It was clear he had gotten stronger, but he still hasn't even scratched the surface of his new strength. He smiled confidently, pleased with himself.

Reno skillfully swung his sabre around in the air, trying to get a grip of his strength. Hade slowly climbed down the window sill and dusted herself, putting out a flame that caught onto her skirt, 'That was so dangerous master!'

Clenching his fist he turned to face Damian 'Damian, I think I'm ready'.

'...You think you're ready for 'That?' Damian replied to him.

Reno didn't need to reply the look in his eyes said it all. Damian shook his head, a little worried. He proceeded down the hallway and Reno followed right behind him with much seriousness in them. Reno took one step down the stairs, then he heard...

'Master wait!!'

The two boys stopped in their tracks and looked at Hade, 'I'll be fine' Reno told her, and then resumed down the stairs.

'I-I, Can't let you go like that!'

Reno started to get impatient, but still understood her worry. 'I can't let you go...dressed like that!!'

Reno looked confused, but as he looked at his burned clothes he understood. 'We'll stop at the sewing room' he said touching Reno's tattered clothes.

'Hey quit it!'

'Fine fine, show off..'

Hade let out a sigh of relief and composed herself. She accompanied them to the sewing room. It seemed the Leon Castle had a room for everything, an art room, music room, and even a thinking room.

As Damian opened the door, the sound of a sewing machine running allured them in. Inside there was only a single machine in the middle of the room, and an elderly woman working tirelessly. The corner of her eye caught Reno in his scorched clothes, and she grinned in excitement.

'You've come to the right place young one' She said still working on something.

Damian sighed and shook his head sadly 'I wish I killed this hag' he grumbled.

'Young master, your tongue is still as sharp as ever, if you like I could sew it up for you' she said with a smile.

The two glared at each other menacingly. 'I thought all your servants were undead?' Reno asked.

'Most of them, except for a few. Including this old hag'.

She laughed with her back to them, still focusing on her work. 'I believe you came here for a reason Damian'.

Damian grumbled 'Give this dummy some clothes, I'll be back to take him 'There''

He left for the door but she called him back 'Now Damian, what are the divine words?' she asked menacingly.

'Do it...or I'll kill you!' and he slammed the door and walked away.

'...He never changes'

'Tell me about'

Her attention focused on Reno, she stared with immense concentration, taking measurements with her eyes alone.

'You there girl, get me black fabric!'

She ordered Hade around with a strong commanding tone. Piecing together a new outfit for him from scratch.

'Haha...seems like you ladies have it all sorted here' Reno whispered stylishly trying his best to sneak out of the room.

He made it out and saw Damian resting on the wall, Damian pointed behind him, Reno felt the pressure if a wild beast behind him. He slowly turned to see the old woman 'Natalie' just behind him wearing a sadistic smile. 'Where do you think you're going?' she dragged him back into the room shutting the door behind her dramatically.

The sounds of screaming and yelling could be heard from outside the door, Damian still standing there had a pretty good idea of what was going on inside, which he kept to himself.

A while later when the screaming died down.....

'It's-it's amazing Miss Natalie' Hade said thrilled.

The fresh white sneakers. The soul-stirring mix of black and touches of green in the seams that gorgeously complimented his crown, plus the dark black coat were all mesmerizing.

'I have to admit, this is much better than my old one!'

'And my crown's polished too, you've outdone yourself miss Natalie!' Reno told her.

'But the cost was just as great..' Reno and Hade both said shuddering.

'Now you see why I wanted this witch dead' Damian said rudely walking in.

'Don't you look a bit too stylish to fight monsters down there?' he asked glancing at his new outfit.

Natalie smiled at Damian's words and sat again going back to work.

Reno got off the modelling stool he stood on, tripping but he was caught by Hade. 'Thank you' he told her. But she simply blushed and looked away.

'What the heck is going on, even my servants don't treat me like that' he thought to himself sadly, believing his servants disliked him because of his cold attitude. He sought to fix that.

Damian walked closer to the machine Natalie was working with, he stood behind her and took a deep breath. 'Good job, Natalie' he said, as though those words were so difficult for him to say.

He turned away to leave. As he was about to leave, he could hear her say, 'Good job master Damian' he stopped for a brief moment after hearing those words, as if those words meant something to him, but left regardless.

Reno and Hade followed close behind him, they descended the stairs, not giving way for any distractions. He led them to the basement and opened a secret door in the floor. Revealing there was more beneath the castle.

They continued down more stairs and the heat intensified with each step. Eventually, they stopped at two giant red gates. Beyond this, the source of the heat.

'Here it is Reno, the Leon Dungeon. Beyond this is a pocket dimension filled with monsters. Are you sure this is where you want to train?'

Reno walked forward and faced the door.

'Yes, I am'