Itsuki walked with the box floating behind him and the spellbook in his hand.
If I can make this serum work… what else could I do with Ren's blood? Could I... become a demon myself?
He paused. He felt a presence behind him. He ignored it.
He entered his building, climbed the stairs, and opened his room sliding the door shut quietly. "Hope I lost whoever that was…"
But as he turned around boom.
She stood there. Right in front of him.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE YOU DOING IN HERE?" he shouted, nearly dropping the box.
She stared calmly. "I'm watching a demon try to succeed in his work."
Itsuki dropped the box, walked right up to her face. "What makes you think I'm a demon, huh?"
Their faces were inches apart.
She smirked. "Because those ingredients are forbidden in Kaigenshiro."
"Suit yourself," Itsuki said coolly. "Arrest me if that's your goal."
Damn. We were so close I almost kissed her. STAY COOL, BRO. STAY COOL.
"You don't feel like a demon..." she whispered.
"Obviously," he replied. "What were you thinking?"
She held out her hand. "My name is Kaela Noir. And you are?"
He shook it. "You already know my name. Perhaps too well."
She smiled. "Nerdy boy."
Itsuki scowled. "Pervert."
Kaela blushed. "Pervert!? How dare you"
"Also, why are you in the boys' dorms? My room, no less."
She turned redder. "Forget it. I'm leaving."
She opened the window, stepping up. "Watch your back, spell boy."
And just like that she vanished into the night.
Itsuki stood frozen, sweating. "Damn, she was hot… wait. SHE WAS IN MY ROOM?!"
He shook it off, turned serious, and opened the box.
He read the ingredients. The final ones were now in his hands.
Itsuki clenched his fist and whispered, "It's time."
Ren moved through the crowded streets of Kaigenshiro. People stepped aside as he walked, giving him room with quiet respect. He blinked, a little surprised.
These people are… nice, huh?
Then he spotted someone long white hair, sultry sway, all eyes on her.
Wait… isn't that Aria?
She stood by a jewelry stall, playfully spinning a necklace between her fingers. The seller, captivated, barely remembered to breathe.
"Thank you, baby," she said, winking as she put it around her neck.
He smiled dumbly and dropped like a stone, passing out cold. Several other men followed suit, their wives dragging them away furiously.
Aria smirked. "What a waste of time. Still, it's good to be this sexy in my prime, mhm."
Then bam she bumped into someone tall and solid.
She looked up.
Ren towered over her, sharp-eyed and serious, his jawline cutting like steel.
She scoffed. "What the freak was that? You run into me like that?"
Ren blinked. I don't know, haha. Ain't you my brother's girlfriend?
Aria threw her head back laughing. "His girlfriend? No baby, I'm his wife."
Ren's face didn't budge. How does Souta even handle this woman...
Aria stepped closer and glanced down at his arm. "I like your tattoo, Ren. Where'd you get that?"
He looked at it. "Hmm… birthmark."
"Really? Looks sexy and mysterious," she teased. "No wonder you get princesses falling for you. You'll probably get me too."
She did a playful leg-crossing twirl, acting like a flirty schoolgirl. Ren chuckled nervously.
"I don't know what you're talking about…"
"Have you seen Souta?" he asked.
"Yeah," she said casually. "He went to the training field with some guy."
Ren raised a brow. "A guy?" Makes sense. He's climbing ranks now.
He gave her a small wave and tapped her shoulder. "Thanks for the info, Aria. I gotta go find him. Cya."
He ran off.
Aria blinked. "He's fine as hell," she whispered, biting her lip. "I wonder how you taste…"
"Ma'am," a vendor nearby offered, "would you like to taste this treat for free?"
Her eyes sparkled like diamonds. "Yessss, baby!"
---
Kesshō Kikan stood tall at the edge of the training field, spinning a plain-looking staff in his hand.
"You ready for your first training, Souta?"
Souta tied his hair back with pride. "Of course I am."
Kesshō's staff tapped the ground once. Souta stared at it.
"…That's it? You're gonna train me with a stick?"
Kesshō grinned. "Yup. This is my weapon, kid."
Souta tightened his grip on his blade. "Alright then. Give me everything you got."
Kesshō slipped on his gloves. "Arisa, how's Lorth doing?"
She stood on the sidelines with Junpai, Haruno, and Airi. "He's still in the city. Healing."
Kesshō nodded. "Cool. You guys might wanna hold onto something. I'm about to show this kid something real."
Souta readied his stance.
Kesshō raised his staff and slammed it into the ground. Nothing flashy just raw intent.
Then
Gone.
Souta blinked. Before he could even speak, a blur struck. He barely blocked, but the force launched him into the air.
He twisted mid-flight and landed hard. Blood ran down his cheek from a sudden slash.
I didn't even sense him move did he use a technique? Or is he just that fast!?
Another strike. He tried to dodge but it wasn't enough. He raised his blade and shouted.
"This time, I'm not letting you touch me!"
Kesshō stood there, relaxed, smiling. "I like this kid. Let's see what you got."
Souta dashed forward, blade flashing in a series of skilled strikes but Kesshō blocked each one with ease. Effortless.
Every few seconds, Kesshō gave commentary like a bored instructor.
"Your hand placement's off."
Clang!
"Your feet should be a meter apart."
Smack!
"You need tighter form to block impact."
CRACK!
Souta blocked, smiling with effort. "Got this one!"
Then BAM. A kick out of nowhere hit his face, sending him to the ground.
Kesshō leaned on his staff like a bench. "You got my stick… but not me."
"You wanna rest or keep going? I kinda did you dirty there, hehe."
Souta wiped the blood from his mouth and stood again, wobbling. "I'm not leaving till I land a hit on you."
Kesshō laughed. "Let's see then."
Hours passed.
Souta, bruised and battered, stood barely on his feet. "I'm… not done yet…"
Kesshō looked at him with one open eye. "Souta, bro… you need to rest."
"What's my problem?" Souta muttered.
"Your Seishin," Kesshō said simply. "You're not using it. I don't sense anything in your body. You can swing a sword but your soul's not in it."
He turned. "Come back tomorrow. Next class, we work on Seishin."
Souta nodded, turned, and collapsed.
Ren returned home, rubbing his neck. "I didn't find him. Screw it. It's already late…"
He climbed to Itsuki's room.
"Itsuki, what's up with" He stopped.
"What the hell…?"
The room was a chemical battlefield. Beakers, glowing runes, strange smoke. And Itsuki mad-eyed, half-asleep, lab coat stained.
"I DID IT!" he shouted, grabbing Ren by the collar. "Your blood I made it compatible with human cells! I did it, Ren!"
"…What are you talking about?" Ren asked, deadpan.
"No time. Just go to bed," Itsuki said, shoving him out the door and slamming it shut.
Ren blinked. "Okay… weird."
Inside, Itsuki clutched a vial of glowing red liquid. He can't know what I've made…
"I'm just a Book Caster," he muttered. "But what if… I could become a demon too?"
He injected a small amount into his own vein. Pain exploded through him.
His body twisted. He screamed then silenced himself. A soundproof spell sealed the room.
He fell to the floor, writhing, eyes wide.
Too much… too much!
He passed out.
And as his breath slowed… a strand of his hair faded black.