As Ren and Souta's group headed to their final destination that is, Kaigenshiro Ren, Itsuki, Junpai, Haruno, Arisa, Airi, and their driver rode ahead.
Souta's group with Ayame, Aria, Sir Valen, and other exorcists came along in another truck. When they arrived at the city, everyone came down and stretched their bodies after the long ride.
One of the holy knights of Kaigenshiro, already expecting them, stepped forward. He was a member of the Ivory Cross.
Name: Sir Zephyr Nox
"Greetings, friends and family. Welcome to Kaigenshiro City under Sanctum City," Sir Zephyr said.
Sir Valen replied, "We are welcome. These are my students from our school, trained for the field but it seems some don't need training anymore."
Sir Zephyr said, "Let me have their data and information so we can proceed to turn exorcist into holy knights. Well, if five of them aren't already holy knights."
Sir Valen then said, "Oh, these are students of Lorth of the Ivory Cross."
Student surnames as requested:
Arisa Faelan (lorth daughter of the lvory cross)
Junpai Kurogane
Haruno Shimizu
Airi Tsukino
Ren then said, "Five? Who's the fifth one?"
A figure stepped down from Souta's truck. A guy with polished blond hair, a narrow look, and a low, emo vibe said, "I'm here."
Name: Naru Veyron
Sir Zephyr nodded. "Ah, alright. I guess that's the fifth. Oh my apologies. Miss Arisa Faelan, how are you doing? I forgot my manners."
Itsuki looked over and said to Ren, "shes lorth daughter" That makes sense, I guess."
Then he smiled. "So you were making out with the beast daughter, eh?"
Ren blushed but didn't say anything.
Sir Zephyr said, "Come all, I will take you to the building where you will be staying. Follow my helpers. The rest of the holy knights, follow me."
They all dispersed. As Ren watched them go, Sir Dazrin turned to Souta.
"Souta Kazehaya?"
"Yes, sir."
"Sir Valen recommended you. He wants you made a holy knight, based on your bravery and skill."
Souta blushed slightly. "I'd be glad to."
Ren smiled. "You got your wish, dude. Haha."
Souta waved. "Bye, Ren."
Later, in their new apartment, everything was spotless and sparkling.
Ren and Itsuki were both surprised.
"Damn, this is beautiful," Ren said.
"This place is amazing, hahaha. I wonder why Sanctum City was like that…"
Ren laid on the bed with tears in his eyes. "It's been so long, old friend."
Itsuki, in his own room, saw a bookshelf filled with books. A tear rolled down his cheek. "How did they know…" he whispered, while Ren laughed in the other room.
The girls entered their rooms and were just as surprised.
A knock came on the boys' door. Ren opened it to see two new faces.
Curly-haired guy: Zehn
Tied-scarf guy: Malik
"Hey! We're your neighbors," they said with a smile.
Ren replied, "Oh, sure, sure."
Zehn asked, "What's your name? And what city did you come from?"
"Ren Akagawa. From Sanctum City. And that's Itsuki Kaen. Same place."
Malik raised a brow. "You guys juniors?"
"Not really, but you can say that," Ren said.
Zehn gave a sly look. "Why are your eyes different colors? You some kind of demon?"
Ren, with a bead of sweat on his face and emotionless, replied, "No. I'm not."
Zehn laughed. "I was joking, haha. Why would there be demons here, huh?"
Malik added, "If you need anything, let us know."
"Sure, sure. Why not?" Ren replied, then closed the door.
Itsuki stared at Ren with a serious face. "Ren… are you hiding something from me?"
Ren looked at him. "Why do you ask, Itsuki?"
"I don't know… I just have a feeling."
Ren, in his mind: Hope he doesn't think I'm one...
Itsuki smiled. "Maybe I'm just saying that because I'm hungry. I'm gonna make something in the kitchen. You want some?"
Ren replied, "Sure, why not."
Itsuki left the room.
As the soft evening light filtered into the room, Itsuki flipped through an old cookbook, scanning for something easy and quick to make. He hummed to himself, pulling ingredients from the cupboard.
Meanwhile, Ren sat quietly on the bed, his eyes fixated on his arm and the sealed sword resting beside him. His thoughts were far from dinner.
Souta… a Holy Knight now. We might never meet again. His room is already gone, like he never existed here.
Ren's heart ached. His best friend no, his brother in all but blood was gone. And nothing felt the same.
"Oi, it's ready, mate!" Itsuki called cheerfully from the kitchen.
Ren blinked, snapping out of his thoughts. "That was fast…" he muttered and stood up, making his way over.
The smell was incredible.
Ren sat down and took a bite.
"What's this called?" he asked, curious.
Itsuki grinned. "Omurice. Easy, quick, and delicious."
Ren's eyes widened. "Whoa, this… this is actually really good. Tastes amazing!"
But just as he was about to take another bite, he noticed Itsuki's face change his smile faded into a serious, unreadable expression.
"Aren't you gonna"
Before he could finish, Ren dropped his plate. The food hit the floor with a loud clatter.
His hand clutched his chest.
"Wh-What… what did you put in this, Itsuki?!"
Itsuki folded his arms, expression unreadable. "Relax. I didn't poison you. But… I did add something. A demon-sensing agent. Harmless to humans… deadly to demons."
Ren collapsed to the floor, gasping. Pain surged through his chest.
"I knew it," Itsuki said quietly. "You're not normal."
Ren gritted his teeth, barely able to speak. "Souta… didn't want me to tell you… until the right time AHH!"
Itsuki quickly knelt beside him and dropped a few drops of a glowing blue liquid into Ren's mouth.
Within seconds, the pain stopped.
Ren coughed out blood, his eye glowing fiercely as red lines cracked across his iris.
Blood leaked from his eye.
Itsuki stood over him, glasses glinting.
"I was right… about your eye from the beginning."
Ren looked away, ashamed. "Sorry, man. I didn't tell you anything..."
Itsuki sighed, then smiled gently. "It's alright. I'll keep this formula. It might help us find other demons. But the funny part is… you didn't die."
Ren sat up slowly. "What do you mean?"
"That stuff usually kills demons instantly. But you... you survived."
Ren looked down at his trembling hands. "I don't know what I am anymore. A demon… but still human. I don't understand myself."
Itsuki walked over to a shelf and pulled out the old Demonfall Archives. "Is there… anything different about you, bro?"
Ren hesitated. Then he pulled up his sleeve, revealing a strange tattoo.
"A birthmark," he said. Then he lowered the scarf around his neck, showing an X-shaped mark. "This too."
"And lately… I can't feel anything. Like, no pain. Even when I get stabbed."
He paused.
"Wait a sec."
Ren dashed to the kitchen, grabbed a knife, and stabbed his own arm.
"WHAT THE HELL, REN?!" Itsuki shouted. "Why would you"
Before he could finish, the blood on Ren's arm twisted and hardened forming a crimson blade.
Ren stared in awe. "Can you… feel it?"
Itsuki cautiously touched the blade. "This… this is insane. Amazing."
"Why didn't you tell anyone about this?!"
Ren looked dead serious. "Because if I did… they'd kill me on the spot."
Itsuki took off his glasses, eyes wide. "A demon with a blood weapon… near the Old Road… yeah, that adds up."
Ren nodded. "Exactly."
He stepped closer to Itsuki.
"You better not tell anyone about this. Got it?"
Itsuki smirked. "Yeah, yeah. I won't tell anyone."
Then his smile turned mischievous.
"Also, can I have a little… taste of your blood?"
Ren blinked. "Wait, what?"
Itsuki didn't wait. He pulled out a needle, pierced Ren's arm, and collected a vial of blood.
"I want to run some experiments. See what we're really dealing with here."
He casually walked toward his room, humming.
Ren deactivated his blood sword, leaned against the wall, and chuckled weakly.
"That was… a shocker."
Then his vision blurred.
He collapsed, unconscious, the blood loss finally catching up to him.