Yurrelian slung his bag over his shoulder as he walked out of the classroom, his steps slow and deliberate. The usual chatter from his classmates buzzed behind him friends chatting, laughing, and teasing each other as they packed up their things.
"Friend this, friend that... Honestly, both of you need to mind your own business," Yurrelian muttered quietly, mostly to himself, frustration simmering beneath his calm exterior.
He didn't want to deal with the usual noise today. He just wanted to get out and clear his head.
But as soon as he reached the hallway, that familiar, persistent voice rang out behind him.
"Seriously, what the hell? Are you going to keep following me all day? Aren't you satisfied already?" Yurrelian snapped over his shoulder, irritation sharp in his tone.
"Sorry, but I can't do that," came the unfazed reply. "I was assigned to be your personal surveillance officer until you complete the mission."
"Tch," Yurrelian clicked his tongue in annoyance.
She crossed her arms, unfazed. "Any violation of the rules and regulations will be reported directly to Lieutenant Colonel Gwysera."
"Like hell I care," Yurrelian grumbled, quickening his pace to put some distance between them. But no matter how fast he walked, she kept up, her heels clicking stubbornly against the floor.
Just as Yurrelian was about to lose his temper and yell, a sudden voice cut through the tension.
"Please stop!" a small, timid voice begged.
"What? You want us to stop?" one of the bullies sneered, stepping forward with a cruel smile.
"I just asked you to help me buy something since we're all friends," the kid said softly, eyes wide and pleading.
Without warning, the bullies shoved the kid roughly, and he stumbled back, falling hard onto the cold floor.
Yurrelian, who was standing just a few feet away, frowned deeply.
"Oh, lovely," he said under his breath. "Typically, third-rate bullies... they're still around in this world, huh?"
"Huh? What did you say?" Serenya demanded, eyes narrowing. "What did you just say?"
"Oh, nothing," Yurrelian quickly clamped his mouth shut, unwilling to stir the pot any further.
"Well, I'm going home," he said, turning away, trying to escape the brewing storm.
"If your natural character is to turn a blind eye," Serenya said coldly, "you won't be making any friends anytime soon."
"You want to hang out with the cool kids, don't you?" another bully taunted.
"Then get to your knees, you dumb livestock. You're nothing but a punk. Make sure to listen to me."
"His family must be useless like him too," a third bully added with a cruel laugh.
Yurrelian stopped dead in his tracks. Slowly, he turned around to face them.
"Hey, you third-rate bullies," he said with quiet authority, "I think that's enough."
"Huh? Who the hell are you?" one of them challenged, stepping closer, fists clenched.
"Oh, based on the intel," Serenya said with a mocking grin, "you actually seem like a decent human being."
One of the bullies stepped forward, cracking his knuckles menacingly.
"Hey, hey, what do we have here? Are you his prince charming, or what? Bodyguard, maybe?"
"Or are you going to be our errand boy instead of him, Yoran?" another sneered.
Yurrelian's eyes narrowed as he activated his Divine Eye skill a sharp, glowing aura enveloping his gaze. His vision sharpened, and he scanned the three bullies carefully, analyzing their combat abilities.
Bully 1: Rank E+
Bully 2: Rank F+
Bully 3: Rank F
"Just weaklings," Yurrelian thought, a faint smile curling at the corners of his lips.
"Oh, I like how you guys get straight to the point," he said aloud, voice calm but edged with amusement. "It makes me happy."
"All right then," he challenged, stepping forward. "Do you want to fight?"
"How about it? I was just trying to blow off some steam," Yurrelian said casually, cracking his knuckles.
Before the bullies could react, Yurrelian moved with blinding speed. In less than a blink, he had disarmed and incapacitated all three, their bodies crumpling to the ground, groaning in defeat.
Yoran, the guy who was being bullied, scrambled to his feet and approached Yurrelian hesitantly, gratitude mixed with embarrassment on his face.
"Huh, thank you for your help," he mumbled.
"Oh, okay," Yurrelian said, shrugging.
"Can I buy you a drink as thanks?" Yoran offered nervously.
Yurrelian raised an eyebrow. "Sure."
But as Yoran returned with drinks, Yurrelian frowned. "Why did you have to buy so much?"
"I'm sorry," Yoran mumbled, rubbing the back of his neck awkwardly.
"Hey, Serenya, aren't you going to give me a hand?" Yurrelian teased.
"Oh, sorry, I can't strain my delicate maiden hands," Serenya replied with a mischievous grin.
"You little -" Yurrelian shot at her with an angry look.
"I'm sorry!" Yoran blurted, bowing his head repeatedly.
"Ha! Could you stop apologizing already?" Serenya laughed. "Besides, what's your story? Why are you letting them bully you?"
"I'm not being bullied," Yoran insisted.
"Yeah, right," Yurrelian said skeptically.
"It's true, I'm not," Yoran said, eyes downcast. "I actually had a favor to ask Yaman that's why I asked him to add me to his friends list."
"Hmm, who's Yaman?" Yurrelian asked, curious.
Serenya snorted. "Ah, I see you have the intelligence of a donkey."
Yurrelian shot her a warning look and grabbed a loaf of bread nearby, walking towards her. He raised it as if to smack her, but stopped himself just in time.
"Who are you going to hit, me?" Serenya teased, stepping back with a smirk.
"He was the one you beat up," Yoran said softly.
"Oh, that guy? He was too weak to bother remembering his name," Yurrelian shrugged.
"So what's your deal with him?" Yurrelian asked, turning his attention back to Yoran.
"I... I really wanted to join the Demon Anti-Army, but I didn't pass the entrance examination," Yoran admitted quietly. "And he promised me a spot in the demon extermination unit, the Sun Demon Company."
"The Sun Demon Company?" Yurrelian echoed, surprised. "But how would he get you in even though you failed the exam?"
"I was hoping Yaman could put in a good word for me, so I could get another shot at the entrance examination," Yoran said, hope flickering in his eyes.
"You're just going to get yourself killed by doing that," Yurrelian said bluntly. "You can't even beat a third-rate bully, and you want to take on a demonic human?"
Yoran shrugged awkwardly. "I know it sounds weird for a wimp like me to enlist for the exam, but..."
"But what?" Yurrelian asked, tilting his head, sipping his drink slowly.
"I want to avenge my family. My sister," Yoran said quietly.
"Avenge?" Yurrelian echoed, his interest piqued.
"Yes," Yoran said, swallowing hard. "My sister... my only family was killed by a demonic human. She sacrificed herself to save me."
"I wasn't able to save her," Yoran said, voice cracking. "But I want to try."
Yurrelian smacked his forehead lightly with his drink. "You did the right thing by hiding," he said softly. "Don't let your sister's death be in vain. But, I say this seriously... don't join the Slayers."
"Why not?" Yoran asked, confused.
"Because," Yurrelian said, his tone darkening, "they're fighting a war they don't fully understand. It's not just demons out there... it's something much worse. And it will consume you if you're not careful."
Yoran looked down at his hands, digesting the weight of Yurrelian's words.
Yurrelian stared at the horizon through the window, a quiet resolve settling over him.
"Whatever path you choose," he said quietly, "make sure you're ready."
NOTE- The Anti Demon Company Army the people who are working there can also be referred to Slayers anywhere you see Army or slayers just know it is the same thing.