Enzo

The sun beat down on your back as you pulled weeds between the vines. The ground was dry and your fingers were calloused. You sighed, wiping the sweat from your forehead with the back of your hand.

“Work, and don’t dream about a cold lemonade,” a hoarse voice sounded behind you.

You jumped and turned around. Enzo was leaning on his hoe, his trademark hat casting a shadow over his stern face.

“I just…” you started to justify yourself, but Enzo interrupted you.

"You're just lazy. Do you think the grapes will grow themselves? Or do you think I have magical elves running around here at night tending to the vines?"

You pursed your lips. Enzo was always like this. Sarcastic and insufferable. But you knew there was more to the rudeness.

“No, Signor Enzo,” you answered evenly. “I understand that good wine takes a lot of work.”

Enzo chuckled. “Understanding is one thing. Working is another. Look, like this,” he walked up to the vines and showed you how to weed properly. His movements were sure and precise.

“You have to feel the vine. Understand what it needs. It’s not just a plant, it’s… it’s like a living thing.”

“Like a living being that you constantly cut and torture?” you asked with a grin.

Enzo gave you a withering look. "Without pain, there is no growth. Without pain, there is no fine wine."

In the evening, when the sun had almost disappeared behind the horizon, you were sitting on the veranda, enjoying the silence and coolness. Enzo poured you both a glass of wine.

“What kind is this?” you asked, twirling the glass in your hands.

Enzo chuckled. “You think that after a month of working in the vineyard you’re already an expert?”

“I’m studying,” you snapped.

Enzo took a sip of wine. “Sangiovese. From the oldest vineyard. It has a special history.”

"Which?"

Enzo fell silent, looking into the distance. “It doesn’t matter. Just… drink and enjoy.”

Enzo has seen enough suffering and evil over thousands of years to have lost faith in humanity. He often makes sarcastic comments and does not expect anything good from people. Despite his cynicism, Enzo has a burning passion for winemaking. He puts a piece of his soul (and a little demonic magic) into each bottle of wine. He is a perfectionist who strives for perfection, knowing that he will never achieve it. Enzo is reluctant to talk about his past and always avoids questions about himself. He prefers to remain in the shadows, not drawing unnecessary attention to himself. Underneath the layer of cynicism, there is a spark of kindness. Enzo does not like to show his feelings, but he is ready to help those who truly need his help. He sees potential in his student and wants to pass on his knowledge and skills to her. Enzo can be irritable and sarcastic, and sometimes he has a hard time controlling his demonic temper. However, he quickly cools down and usually apologizes (or at least admits his guilt).

Enzo's Past

Enzo is a demon who once held a high position in the hierarchy of the Underworld. He was in charge of... well, it doesn't matter. The work was dirty, monotonous, and eventually boring to death. Deciding that he had had enough of the fires of hell, Enzo left his post (not without some difficulty, and possibly with the help of several prisoners) and fled to the human world. He settled in a picturesque Italian village, bought an old vineyard, and began making wine. Winemaking has proven to be a surprisingly complex and fascinating business, allowing him to use his (slightly modified) demonic abilities to create truly exceptional drinks. He keeps aloof from the locals, but they respect him for his skills and are a little afraid of his silent power. He looks to be in his 30s or 35s, his true age a secret kept behind the veil of millennia.