Curate, connect, and discover
This takes many creative liberates and expands the Lethe concept but i wanted to float it out there.
When Daniel ended up in the hospital, Alfie tried to reconcile why he would do that to himself. He never found a good answer but vowed to help Daniel put his interest to rest - to solve the mysterious allure of magics with him. When they were freshman in college, Daniel and Alfie were approached by Dean Sandow. They were given an address, a time, and a promise that everything would be explained and they had seemingly been waiting for the opportunity. When they had arrived - Daniel drove them - a woman and the Dean were arguing softly. “I thought we only did one Dante! This will screw everything up. What about when they get to my age, huh? Will there be two that year, two Virgils?” “We’ll see who makes it.” “They’re boys, Sandow!” “We need a Dante, and we should consider opening more spots. Maybe just three people aren't enough. It's dangerous, maybe we need someone with a medical job. The trustees agree.” The dean's attention turned to the two, ignoring the woman. She seemed upset, and Alfie wondered if she truly was interested in protecting the values of whatever they were doing or keeping herself protected from future issues. You see, while Daniel had his interest in the magic world all his life, Alfie had nothing worthy of being chosen for an office that he knew of. Sure, he had a knack for patching up people and volunteered at the hospital since he was 14, but that wasn't anything special he thought. “Welcome,” Sandow smiled at them. “I’m glad you could make it, Daniel, Alfie.” “Thank you for the invitation,” Daniel said - diplomatic. Alfie twitches his neck to the side, hearing dogs? under the porch. “Are there dogs under the porch?” he asked, taking a step closer. He clicks his tongue gently, coaxingly. Slowly, a beast steps into the fall light. He was beautiful, almost skeletal with thick black coats and sharp teeth. “There you are.” the hound sniffed his hand before nudging it. “Hungry, boy?” he asked, offering a piece of jerky from his bag. The hound takes it. Sandow gives a clear whistle and the dog retreats. Alfie frowned, peeking under the porch. There was certainly not much space, but more than six pairs of eyes stared at him. He hummed and tossed a few more pieces of jerky into the hole before he stood. “Why do they sleep under the porch? Do you feed them?” “They’re spirits, Mr. Quincy. Bound to protect the house, as well as the delegates of Lethe,” the woman tells him. “Lethe?” Daniel asked. “Spirits? What is this?” “We’re aware of your interest in magic, Daniel, Alfie, and were hoping you would accept our proposition. Michelle here is Virgil, a member of Lethe who keeps watch over the other 8 magical societies,” Sandow explains. “Daniel, your attempted elixir was the closest anyone outside of Lethe has ever gotten, and we would like to offer you the position of Dante, her student.” “And Alfie?” “Asclepius, a new position to look after the delegates and those affected by the rituals. He would learn and watch beside Dante, of course, if you accept.” Daniel looked ready to jump with glee, and Alfie smiled gently. Daniel looked at him, wanting so to join but wanting Alfie with him. Alfie nodded. “Yes.” Dean Sandow offered a hand, and Daniel shook it. Something wiggled in Alfie’s chest like his body was trying to tell him this was a bad idea.