A dance beneath the dark stars and a chance to get to know the charming summoner better. That had been his price.

Canthus had been surprised to learn of a stranger trying to invoke his presence, not being accustomed to many calls outside of his circle. It had been a further shock to learn that the summoner, Onyx, sought his aid in combatting a form of persistent corruption. A subject with which the goat was quite familiar, most often due to being the source of it. Still, he saw no harm in hearing the ibex out. Coming to learn of the man's situation concerning a failed exploration into the dreamlands, which resulted in the unfortunate awakening of a dark entity that now sought to consume him from within.

Having tried just about everything else to cure himself, Onyx had finally opted to fight fire with fire. Seeking out another source of corruption, ideally more benign than his existing condition, to clash with and hopefully neutralize the presence that festered inside him.

The goat couldn't deny that the proposal intrigued him. Nor did he feel particularly inclined to turn the man away, not when he potentially held a cure to the affliction the ibex was suffering from. His own brand of corruption was not without side-effects many would consider negative... but listed among the positives was the ability to heal and nourish. Before committing to the decision to aid or abstain; he decided they would share an evening together. The two of them alone beneath the twilit sky, hooves echoing through a private ballroom, dressed in finery and masked whilst they both remained a mystery to one another. With the masks destined to be set aside when each felt comfortable enough in the presence of the other to discard them.

That night the pair danced, talking at length as they waltzed without need of an audience. By the time they were ready to take off their masks, Onyx's fate had already been decided. They would indeed pit one form of otherworldly influence against another.

*****

PART 1 / PART 2 / PART 3

Ballroom dancing with people who try to summon you isn't strictly necessary. But the gesture is appreciated more often than not!

Another beautiful piece by Madness_demon that was very generously commissioned by TheOnyx as gift art, for which I honestly cannot thank them enough! It was a lovely surprise and it came out looking absolutely fantastic.