454Chapter 01: The First Summons
In a dark room, several candles surrounded a red pentagram overlaying a strange symbol on the floor at each point. A lone hooded figure was kneeling over them, reading a book and chanting.
"Esor Ysiad Sram"
"Ainutep Pilut Nrutas"
"Retipuj!"
Suddenly, the pentagram lit on fire, and a voice filled the room. "Hahahahahaha!" From the fire, a red and black bird-like shadow emerged. "Who dares summon the Goetic Prince of Hell, Stolas?" However, now that the fire had lit the room, Stolas had a good look at who was summoning him. At the pentagram was a young boy in a black hoodie who now stared at him excitedly with big blue eyes at his summoning. "Really?"
'Strange. Usually, the humans would scream in fear at my demonic form.' Stolas reverted to a more manageable appearance as the fire died. He was an anthropomorphic owl demon, tall and slender. He had two almond-shaped red eyes, one set atop the other, with no visible irises or pupils. His gray-blue feathers contrasted his long, thin black limbs and bird-like clawed feet. He wore a deep red tunic with six linked golden buttons down the breast, beige breeches, a feathery top hat adorned with a regal gold crown encircling it, and a long burgundy cape.
Stolas sighed, "Apologies, child. I had a long day today, so let's keep things simple. What's your name, and what do you want?" He expected the boy to ask for something trivial like candy or no school.
The boy stood up with a smile. "My name is Daniel Fenton, Mister. I like Danny, though." He walked over to his bookshelf and pulled out an encyclopedia with an image of the solar system on the cover. "Can you teach me more about space?"
Stolas paused at the request, his disbelief giving way to a hint of joy. "You want me to teach you astronomy?"
Danny jumped in anticipation. "Yeah! I wanna be an astronaut when I grow up. I heard you know all about stars, planets, and stuff."
Stolas' eyes softened, and a warm, fatherly smile spread across his beak. "Well, young Danny, you have summoned the right demon." Stolas coughed into a fist and tried to maintain his composure. He walked over to the wall, flipped the light switch, and extinguished the remaining embers. He noticed the room was filled with rocket toys and posters of the wider universe beyond Earth. He turned to Danny. "Where are your parents, young one?"
"My parents are busy in the basement working on their science stuff, and my sister is away on a sleepover." Danny frowned a bit, downcast. "My parents are always busy."
The boy before him tugged at Stolas' heartstrings, reminding him of his daughter. He looked down at the pentagram and unlit candles. "How did you learn to summon me, Danny?"
Danny smiled as he held out the book he was reading. "I got this from the library."
Stolas read the title. "Satanic Rituals and Bargaining for Dummies: The Beginner's Guide to the Occult and the Demonic. Huh..."
Danny suddenly remembered something. "Wait, Mr. Stolas!" he called, hopping out of bed and rushing to his closet. He pulled out a plate covered with a napkin and a glass of milk. "I almost forgot! Offerings are part of the summoning, right?"
Stolas raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "Indeed they are, young one. What do you have there?"
Danny proudly unveiled the plate, revealing an assortment of fudge and a glass of milk. "I brought these for you. My mom says it's polite to offer guests some snacks."
Stolas' eyes gleamed with delight at the sight of the baked goods. "How thoughtful of you, Danny," he said, taking a piece of fudge. He took a bite, and his eyes widened slightly. "This is quite tasty."
Danny beamed with pride. "This fudge is my dad's favorite."
Stolas nodded appreciatively. "Your father has good taste. This is excellent."
Danny's smile grew wider. "I'm glad you like them!."
Stolas sipped the milk, feeling a rare contentment. "Thank you, Danny. This is a most generous offering."
Danny beamed with happiness. "You're welcome, Mr. Stolas."
Stolas placed the empty glass back on the plate. "You have made this visit quite pleasant. I shall remember this."
"So, can you read to me?" asked Danny, wide-eyed.
Stolas sighed and smiled. "Well, I'll be more than happy to read to you tonight; no deal required." Stolas sat on the boy's bed. "Now, before I do, perhaps I should check if you know the rules for future reference. After summoning a demon, what is the usual payment when you make a deal?"
Danny raised his hand like he was in class. "Ooh, ooh. Your soul."
"Correct! Do you know what happens when you give up your soul?"
Danny tilted his head. "Uhh... I don't know. I didn't read the book that far ahead. I think my parents mentioned it with ghosts."
"Well, you go to Hell."
Danny blinked. "Oh... Hell? Is that bad? The mean kids at school tell me to go there sometimes."
"Yes!" Stolas set aside that tidbit about his schoolmates, picked up the boy, and placed him on his bed. "Now... Hell is a terrible place full of thieves, murderers, just overall scum."
Danny frowned. "You don't seem like a bad person, Mr. Stolas." The child reached out and felt his tail. "Your feathers are soft too, not like any monster I know. You even know all about space. I think you're cool!"
Stolas' heart seemed to swell from the praise. Growing up, none of his so-called friends thought highly of his interests. This child was different. "I'm trying to say wait until you find something worthy of your soul. Hell is a horrible place to suffer for all eternity. Now, not all deals require a soul to be paid. The deal shall proceed as long as both parties accept the trade, whatever it may be. In this case, I would gladly teach you about the universe in exchange for the snacks. Do you accept?" Stolas held out a hand that glowed a soft purple.
Danny didn't miss a beat and shook it. "Sure!"
Stolas giggled at the boy's enthusiasm. "As with any deal, always know what's on the table. Remember what I said, child."
Danny swung his feet at the side of the bed. "Oh, okay." He got comfortable and was prepared to learn.
Stolas picked up the encyclopedia and opened up a chapter. "Let's start with something simple: The moon."
Danny's eyes sparkled with curiosity. "The moon? That's awesome!"
"Indeed it is," Stolas said, settling into a more relaxed position. "The moon is Earth's only natural satellite, the fifth largest moon in the solar system. Did you know that the same side of the moon always faces Earth?"
Danny's jaw dropped. "Really? Why?"
"It's because of a phenomenon called synchronous rotation. The moon rotates on its axis in the same time it takes to orbit Earth, so we only ever see one side."
"That's so cool!" Danny said, his previous disappointment forgotten. "What else can you tell me?"
Stolas smiled, enjoying the boy's enthusiasm. "Let's see. Did you know that the moon has quakes, just like Earth? They're called moonquakes."
"Moonquakes? No way!"
"Yes, way," Stolas chuckled. "They are much weaker than earthquakes, but they do happen. And, the moon has no atmosphere, so there's no weather, wind, or rain."
Danny was mesmerized, hanging on to every word.
#
"Do you know what a nebula is?"
Danny's eyes widened with curiosity. "No, what's that?"
Stolas waved his hand, and the room filled with tiny, twinkling lights resembling stars. "A nebula is a giant cloud of dust and gas in space. Some nebulae are regions where new stars are being born, while others are the remains of dead or dying stars. They are the nurseries of the universe."
Danny's mouth formed an 'O' of amazement as he watched the miniature light show. "That's so cool! Can you show me more?"
Stolas chuckled softly, enjoying the boy's enthusiasm. "Of course. There is much to learn about the cosmos, and I will be delighted to guide you through its wonders."
#
About an hour had passed in their reading. Danny's eyes began to droop, and he yawned widely. Stolas noticed the signs of sleepiness and closed the encyclopedia.
Stolas' fatherly instincts took over as he helped tuck Danny into bed. "Goodnight, young Danny. Perhaps we will see each other again for another lesson. I would look forward to it."
Danny, half-asleep, mumbled, "That'd be awesome, Mr. Stolas. Thank you."
Stolas smiled softly, brushing a stray lock of hair from Danny's forehead. "Sleep well, little one. Sweet dreams of stars and planets."
As Danny drifted off, Stolas stood by the bedside with a thoughtful expression. It had certainly been a while since he considered an apprentice. The boy's genuine curiosity and kindness had touched something in him. 'Hm... They are about the same age. If things go well, perhaps I could introduce them. Octavia needs friends that aren't bought.'
"Goodnight, Danny," Stolas replied softly, his heart warmed by the boy's sincerity. Stolas glanced around the room, taking in the child's wonder of his domain. He whispered, "Until next time." With a wave, he extinguished the remaining candles and vanished, leaving the room bathed in the soft glow of a nightlight.
#
AN: Special thanks to Jebest4781, Charles, vividlearner744, and Seana!
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