The echo of hurried footsteps bounced off the cold, damp stone walls of the passageway. A lone student, his breath misting in the frigid air, hurried along, his eyes flicking nervously towards the ominous red letters etched above the heavy, bolted door ahead. The warning was stark and relentless:
"DO NOT ENTER" "DO NOT ENTER" "DO NOT ENTER" "DO NOT ENTER"
He slowed as he reached the formidable, rusted seal door, his fingers trembling as he reached out to push it open. The cold metal barely gave way beneath his touch when a firm hand grabbed his shoulder, pulling him back from the threshold.
"Come on, we need to get out of here. Now," a hushed voice urged urgently from behind him, its tone a low, tense whisper.
The first student, a young boy with wide, terrified eyes, recognized the voice of his friend. "I know, hey, let go, I just need to see…"
"We'll be in huge trouble if any of the Slayers catch us down here," the voice continued, laced with a fear that matched his own. "This place is a restricted area, a Forbidden Zone. We're not supposed to be here."
The first student, whose name was Young, began to step away from the door, the terror in his friend's voice finally winning out over his reckless curiosity. But a sudden, unnatural chill a silent, icy breeze brushed past him through the cracks in the sealed door. It was a cold that seemed to sink into his very bones, and he froze, his heart hammering against his ribs. Slowly, against his better judgment, he turned back.
The heavy, metal door, which had not moved a moment before, creaked open on its own, a small sliver of ajar space that seemed to yawn into a black abyss.
Darkness swallowed everything beyond. Young swallowed hard, his voice cracking as he called out, a faint echo swallowed by the void. "Hello?"
There was no reply, only a profound silence that was more terrifying than any scream.
Outside, the sun shone brightly, casting golden light over the campus, as if to mock the darkness lurking beneath. The earlier chaos had settled. The jarring sounds of the explosion and the wail of sirens had been replaced by an uneasy, fragile calm.
On the rooftop of the school's main tower, Yurrelian stood beside a girl he had just saved, the wind gently tugging at their clothes and whipping strands of hair across her face.
"U-um…" she stammered, her cheeks flushed with a mix of shyness and lingering fear. "Thanks for… thanks for saving me from that demon."
Yurrelian's gaze flickered, a hint of guilt tugging at him. He remembered the moment so vividly: his finger on the trigger of his rifle, aimed directly at her, ready to fire on the possessed student. He had been mere moments from pulling the trigger, had it not been for Yoran's timely and frantic intervention.
"No big deal," he replied gruffly, attempting a smile that felt foreign and forced on his lips. "Just doing my job, I guess."
The girl hesitated, then pressed a folded piece of paper into his hand. It was soft and warm from being clutched tightly in her palm.
"I… I really like you," she whispered, her voice barely audible over the wind. She took a step back, her eyes wide and hopeful. "Please… read this."
Yurrelian held the letter carefully in his hand. It was an unfamiliar feeling—the first love letter he had ever received.
Yurrelian's POV
What am I supposed to do with this? he thought, his eyes scanning the neat, flowing handwriting on the envelope. This is the first time a girl's ever given me a love letter. But… I'm not interested in dating now. Not when I'm focused on becoming stronger. Besides, if I hadn't saved her from that demon, she wouldn't have even liked me. It's just a fleeting feeling, a burst of gratitude in the moment, nothing more.
He sighed, preparing to speak, to gently let her down and explain his focus. But before he could, the girl had already turned and hurried away through the rooftop door, her cheeks glowing with shy embarrassment. She hadn't waited for a response, and for some reason, that made him feel even more awkward.
"Hey, Serenya! I know you're up here!" Yurrelian called out, his voice a bit louder than necessary, an attempt to break the lingering awkwardness of the moment.
Serenya emerged from the stairwell door, her arms crossed over her chest and a knowing, mischievous smile playing on her lips. She had been watching the entire exchange, and Yurrelian felt his face grow hot under her gaze.
"Oh my," she teased, her eyes twinkling. "Just what I expected from the hero who saved the school and fought off a demon. Popular with the ladies already, huh?"
Yurrelian quickly slipped the letter into his pocket, trying to hide his blush. He was used to dealing with demons and military officials, not teenage romance.
"Are you going to break her heart next, or what?" Serenya grinned, a glint of genuine curiosity in her eyes.
"What do you mean by that?" Yurrelian asked, feigning innocence. "I haven't done anything like that before. I'm not a heartbreaker."
"Uh-huh," Serenya said flatly, her voice dripping with sarcasm. "I suppose you're just an unloved virgin, so how would you know how to break a girl's heart?"
"Serenya, you freakin'…" Yurrelian's voice trailed off in exasperation, his face reddening.
"What, gonna beat me?" she challenged, raising an eyebrow and taking a step closer. "You should know, Yu, the Belester Imperial Demon Army encourages people to pursue relationships. It's for the good of humanity."
"Huh?" Yurrelian blinked, his previous annoyance forgotten. "What the hell are you talking about?"
Serenya's playful demeanor vanished, replaced by a serious, almost somber expression. Her voice dropped low, the wind carrying her words. "Our world was nearly wiped out by an unknown virus. Strange monsters appeared, and countless people died. We've all been through hell. Only ruins remain beyond these walls, and everywhere you go is crawling with monsters."
She looked out over the campus, her eyes seeing not a school, but a sanctuary. "This world is no longer friendly to humans. We are an endangered species, fighting for our very existence."
"But the Belester Imperial Demon Slayer Corps… we gather the remaining humans, we train them, we multiply, and we reclaim our planet, one city at a time. The survival of humanity depends on us replenishing our numbers."
Yurrelian, who had been sitting down and yawning, nodded absently as she spoke, his attention wandering to a stray cloud in the sky. He had heard this story before, but it never seemed to sink in.
Serenya glanced back at him and saw his wandering attention. She gave him a hard kick in the ribs.
"Oof! What was that for?" he gasped, clutching his side.
"For not listening, you idiot," she replied sternly, though a hint of a smile tugged at her lips. "This is important. The fate of humanity rests on you. The least you could do is pay attention."
"Hey, can I ask you something?" Yurrelian said, still rubbing his ribs. "Dealing with that demon made me a full member of the Demon Extermination Unit, right? That's what you said."
"Yeah, that's right," Serenya replied, her expression still serious. "Your initial test was successful, even if you did it accidentally. You're officially a Slayer now."
"So… can I go anywhere I want now?" he asked, a flicker of hope in his eyes.
Serenya shrugged. "I don't know. You should probably ask Lieutenant Colonel Gwysera. She's the one who makes all the decisions."
Yurrelian scowled. "If I could do that, why would I even ask you? She's never around when I need her, and when she is, she's busy with some mission."
"Well, in that case, you'll have to wait. But that doesn't mean your training with the Extermination Unit has already begun. You passed the first test; now it's time for the real work."
"Training?" Yurrelian blinked. "What kind of training? I thought that was the point of the school."
"Yeah. Training that will allow you to gain a valuable weapon—one that can kill a demon. A cursed weapon. Your normal blade is good, but it will only get you so far."
Yurrelian raised an eyebrow, intrigued. "What are you saying? You can help me get one?"
Serenya's smile returned, though this one was far more powerful and confident than her earlier playful one. She reached into the large bag she was carrying and pulled out a long, black rod. As she held it, thick, black smoke poured from the weapon, twisting and curling around it like living shadows.
A ghostly form began to emerge from the smoke, a demon, ethereal and shimmering with dark power. It was a serpentine creature with a long, elegant body and piercing red eyes.
"This is the demon I am contracted with," Serenya said proudly, her voice filled with an unshakeable bond. "We share a connection, a single soul in two bodies. His name is Suzuryu."
The demon bowed its head respectfully toward Yurrelian, acknowledging his presence. Then, with a flash of light, the smoke dissipated, and the rod transformed into a magnificent soul-scythe, its blade as black as night and humming with a profound, quiet energy.
Demon: Suzuryu Weapon Form: Soul-Scythe
Character Details
Name: Serenya Hartwell Occupation: Belester Imperial Demon Slayer (Sun Demon Company) Combat Grade: B- Contracted Demon: Suzuryu Weapon Form: Soul-Scythe