In the gloomy rainy weather, and the atmosphere that doesn't help with relaxation.
Lornveil was sitting alone on a park bench under the rain, thinking about many things piling up in his mind.
In his right hand, a cup of hot coffee, and a disgusting sandwich—not even a dog could eat it. But to him, this sandwich was a meal that made his day slightly different… slightly happy.
As he drank the coffee, his hand trembled, and the cup fell onto his pants—which he bought a few days ago… or most likely didn't buy at all.
He looked down at his pants, and in his eyes, there was deep sadness. He didn't even feel the heat of the coffee as it spilled on him.
"It seems normal days don't suit someone like me. But I just wanted to enjoy this kind of weather a little."
A cat came and stood in front of him, staring at his sandwich… He wanted to put the last piece in his mouth, but looked at the cat.
He pulled the sandwich away from his mouth, staring between the cat and the final bite he would've savored… but then smiled—a smile that was most likely fake.
He placed the sandwich on the ground. The cat grabbed it with its teeth and darted off quickly to an unknown place. Perhaps she wanted to feed her kittens.
Lornveil stood up and ran his black hair back with his fingers. He picked up a long Japanese sword emitting a flickering violet aura.
He gripped the sword's handle and slightly unsheathed it, revealing his reflection on the blade. He spoke in a sarcastic tone:
"Looks like this is the last time I'll be here. Whatever… my life was nothing more than cheap action."
He put the sword to his side and walked under the rain toward his unknown destination, his mind filled with thoughts dragging him from the far right to the deepest north.
As he walked along the sidewalk and looked down, he collided with a giant man… Lornveil grabbed his forehead and looked up slightly to find a man with angry features staring at him.
"Hey kid, watch where you're walking, or I'll rip your eyes out."
Lornveil gripped his sword tightly—but loosened his hand and bowed to the man, saying:
"I'm sorry. Next time, I'll watch my steps."
The man didn't respond but stared at him with a look of disdain. Lornveil raised his head, biting his lip, and said in a cold voice:
'If it wasn't for my promise to her, I would've sent this bastard's head flying just like I did to that other guy.'
Then, his expression shifted to joy, his face changing rapidly as he continued:
'Why am I angry? That bastard is going to die soon—by my hand or some other way.'
Lornveil continued walking toward his unknown destination, the rain tapping on his shoulders and hair strands…
After walking for half an hour, he reached the place he was heading to in silence… He looked up—it was a small, newly built structure. A black sign was above the door, written in white letters:
[Cursed Abyss Center]
Lornveil clenched his fist tightly, his heartbeat accelerating. He was hesitant—whether to go in or stay outside this place.
'Among the nightmares I used to hate and fear… have now become reality.'
'My heart wants to escape and scream from fear and hesitation—but there's no escape, and no other option left.'
Lornveil climbed three steps up the stairs, and just as he was about to touch the door handle, it suddenly opened in front of him. A girl stepped out—so beautiful that even Neuvillette would stare at her for a long time.
Her black hair reached neatly to her shoulders. Her eyes were blue, like a clear sky. Her skin, white as snow.
She wore a gray jacket, with a light white dress underneath. A black cloth covered her chest and neck. A black skirt reaching to her knees…
She gave Lornveil a brief glance while holding a white paper in her hand. Then she continued her path into a narrow alley.
'A schoolgirl trying to become one of the Akuma? Strange… but she is… incredibly beautiful.'
Lornveil laughed to himself, sarcastically saying:
'Did I fall in love with her? Man, she looked at me for mere seconds… Misery follows me from one place to another.'
Lornveil entered the Abyss Center. He looked around and found a group of old white chairs. There were two doors on either side. In front, there was a medium-sized desk with a partially open door behind it.
'What a trash center… They've got all the money in the world and they can't even upgrade the place. I wish I had half their cash.'
He approached the desk and rang the bell with his finger. He sat waiting for several seconds until a man came in, eating a donut. He wore a white shirt tucked under black pants. He held the rank of Captain.
"Man, kids these days are lining up to join the Akuma. Damn that meteor incident that revealed the Abyss card."
Lornveil gave a bored smile and said:
"You know what? Even I don't want to be here or look at your face."
The captain stared at his face in confusion and replied:
"You're quite the punk… People come here for money and fame, but this kind of job could cost you your life."
Lornveil laughed, placing all five fingers over his eyes.
"What? I didn't tell a joke; I was being serious, kid." The captain was slightly annoyed by his mocking laugh.
"I'm sorry, but who the hell wants to dive into Abyss nightmares? Damn the money and fame that rob me of life's blessing." Lornveil clutched his hand, speaking to the captain in a shaky voice.
"Hahaha, what's life worth without money?"
Then the captain continued:
"Before anything else, kid… before you waste my precious time—do you have a Gift or a Curse?" he asked with half-closed eyes.
Lornveil expected such a question, and hoped it wouldn't be asked. He looked toward his right hand, wrapped in a black bandage, and said in a disappointed voice:
"I don't know if it's a Gift or a Curse… but I see it as nothing more than a curse that ruined my life."
The captain sat down in his chair and told him:
"You talk too much, kid. Whatever… show me what kind of ability you've got."
Lornveil raised his right hand and unwrapped the black bandage, revealing a dark, terrifying violet aura around his hand. The captain dropped the donut from his mouth in shock…
"Kid, you've got a Gift… a powerful one. When do you want to start your first mission?"
'Gift? What a foolish human, unaware of what a person truly feels inside.' Lornveil muttered to himself, clenching his hand tightly.
"I want to start today."
The captain stood up from his chair and walked toward the room in the right corner. He took out a set of keys and began unlocking the door while glancing at Lornveil, saying:
"Right… I never got your name. And judging by your face, you look like someone forced to become an Akuma."
'Forced? That's such a gentle word… it implies I'll be free someday. But I'm someone bound by a curse with no escape.'
He closed his eyes, trying to hide the burden weighing him down.
"My name is Lornveil… and as for your other question, there's no clear answer to that."
The captain was slightly taken aback by how sharp his tone became when that topic came up, but he didn't press it. He opened the door, from which a dark, terrifying aura poured out. It stirred unease and fear at the same time.
"Do you want to cross through this room? Or take a paper and go home—to say goodbye to your family before diving into the depths of the Abyss?"
Lornveil stood beside the guard and looked at him with dead eyes, indifferent to anything:
"Family? I don't have one."
Lornveil entered the room, closing the door behind him… The captain looked confused. He wiped his face with his hands and muttered:
"What a weirdo… and what kind of name is that? It sounds like a curse, not a normal name."
—————
Lornveil stood in the dark room, unable to see anything. Until he noticed a faint violet light glowing at the center.
It barely illuminated a small portion of the room—specifically the center, where the Abyss Paper rested.
Lornveil placed a finger on his chin, speaking in a soft tone:
'From what I know, I need to read what's written on the paper… to be transported into the nightmares of the Abyss.'
He stepped closer to the paper. He hesitated to pick it up—but there was no other option.
He took the paper in his hands and read it in a low voice, though deep inside, he was afraid:
[In the age of snow and chaos… survival, escape, and battle. These are your only choices. Add to them your mind… if it remains intact.]
[As an Akuma… you must kill the Abyss of Elden if you wish to survive.]
[And beware… the depths of the abyss…]
[They are not always what they seem.]
Lornveil's eyes snapped open.
A decaying cabin, cold air leaking through.
The cracks in the walls whispered of death.
And before his eyes…
a monster wrapped around a human corpse, devouring it without mercy.