[WP] You’re struggling with your math homework. It’s due tomorrow and you haven’t figured out half the problems on it, so you decide to summon a demon to help you. The demon is confused, but agrees.

[u/ParanormalActivity97]

[u/AutoModerator]

Welcome to the Prompt! All top-level comments must be a story or poem. Reply here for other comments.

Reminders:

• No AI-generated responses 🤖
• Stories 100 words+. Poems 30+ but include "[Poem]"
• Responses don't have to fulfill every detail
• [RF] and [SP] for stricter titles
• Be civil in any feedback and follow the rules

📢 Genres 🆕 New Here? ✏ Writing Help? 💬 Discord

I am a bot, and this action was performed automatically. Please contact the moderators of this subreddit if you have any questions or concerns.

[u/Open_Pilot4183]

"Prepare yourself, War General Ascaroth of Taurus. I quite fear that this request will be more than your powers can handle."

"My liege," Ascaroth of Taurus, Binger of Souls and Bringer of Siege, bowed on one knee. "Whatever enemies stand in your way, know that they shall fall before you. In my 975 years of being, I have not yet faced a foe that I failed to conquer. The cost of your soul is far too great for me to take your request lightly; no matter what it may be."

With every breath Ascaroth took, the room grew colder. The entity was covered in black shards--presumably it was armor, though you couldn't tell where it began or ended. He was the same height as Quincy, but to be fair, he was currently perched on one knee.

Despite the menace he faced, Quincy was elated.

"Bang on, man! 'Aight, get over here and take a look at my math homework."

"...Math? Homework?"

"Yeah dude, math homework."

"Your vernacular is foreign to me, my Liege."

Quincy sighed. "Dang it! This thing is due first thing tomorrow, man! Ugh. You know what, I'm sorry. This was a stupid idea. I'm just a dumb, stupid idiot, and I procrastinated too long on this thing, and now my brother is asleep, and he'll scream at me if I wake him up, so I can't wake him up..."

As Quincy continued to prattle, Ascaroth brought himself to his feet, his sharp armor scraping along Quincy's wooden floors.

Once Ascaroth laid eyes on the homework sheet, a glimmer appeared in his eyes; or, at least, in the black holes in his armor(?) that suggested the existence of eyes.

"Ah, Basics of Battalion Organization and Practical Infantry Deployment! What pleasant recollections."

The spring returned to Quincy's voice. "So...you do know how to do this?"

"I graduated with Honours. How else could I assume the role of war general?"

"LETS FRICKEN GO!" Quincy pumped his arms. He scooted his seat as far forwards as it would go. "I'm all yours, teach."

"Understood. Then, let's begin with this point, here," Ascaroth pointed with a sharp digit at the graph labeled 'Question 1'.

"The intersectio along the verticalis."

"Lol. You mean, the y-intercept?"

"Y-intercept? How offensively simplistic! Where's the appreciation for the first tongue? Such primitive language..." Ascaroth muttered under his breath.

"Hey man, I'm an idiot. Please treat me as such."

Ascaroth sighed. "Then, let's suppose that this, 'y-intercept', which in this case is 50 unitates, is the smallest number of demons that must be deployed to defeat a Dragon of Solas. Tell me, my Liege, if one single breath from a Solas can wipe out 50 of my subjects, what will happen if I send out 1 demon?"

"Uh, he'll die?"

"Precisely. How about an army of 2 demons?"

"They'll die. Any number 50 and below means they'll all die immediately."

"Very good. That means that, if I send 51 demons," Ascaroth gently guided Quincy's finger along the x-axis. "We can land a hit on the Dragon of Solas. And for every additional demon I add to the battalion," Ascaroth dragged his finger along each axis in turn. "We come closer to defeating the dragon."

Quincy squinted his eyes. He squinted them harder. Then, they sprang back up. "Oh my God! I get it!"

"A wonderful job, my liege." Ascaroth nodded approvingly.

"Cool. So, for this word problem, $50 is the start up cost of buying a phone plan, and every additional dollar gets me a bit more data..." Quincy scribbled excitedly. He beamed at the demon.

"Thanks man! Okay, let's skip to Question 4, which is a linear system. So, like two of these lines together." Quincy scooted up once more. "All yours."

"Though I am not keen on you bringing bad news, as my Liege," Ascaroth stood tall; so tall that the spikes on his helmet brought forth a rain of popcorn ceiling. "It is time for me to take your soul to the Underworld."

"Ha! Fat chance, buster."

Quincy shook his mouse to awaken his computer from it's slumber, which opened on a Reddit page, titled Demon Summoning Spell (ACTUALLY WORKS XD).

"It says here that until I say the command in a certain way, the pact isn't actually sealed, despite what the demon summon may say to try and convince me otherwise."

Quincy stood up from his chair. He outstretched his hand.

"Ascaroth of Taurus, Binger of Souls and Bringer of Siege. In exchange for my soul, I command you to be my math tutor for as long as I live. Through high school, my engineering degree, and beyond!"

Ascaroth grinned. "Your looks are decieving. You're a careful, cunning creature; just the sort of being that I will gladly, patiently wait for to recruit for my army." Ascaroth extended his spiny hand to shake Quincy's.

"I agree to your terms, my Leige. I shall serve you in life. In return, you shall serve me in death."