Volume 1:The Prophecy
Chapter 3: The calm before the truth
The air had frozen.
Rei knelt on the cold floor, his breath shallow, blood trickling from his side. Pain bloomed across his ribs, raw and spreading. His wide eyes stared up in disbelief. The cold steel of Raiga's sword gleamed under a red-glowing ceiling.
Raiga—or whatever he had become—stood still, blade loose at his side. His face no longer looked human. Porcelain-like skin had stretched and cracked, glowing red lines showing beneath the surface. One eye had turned pitch-black; the other glowed with an eerie golden hue. Small, horn-like protrusions had emerged from his temple.
The very air twisted around them. Shadows crawled along the walls, and a faint hum echoed—like whispers rising from a far-off abyss.
"I am the god…" the creature intoned, its voice layered, both calm and thunderous. He raised the blade, pointing it toward Rei's head.
Rei's heart thundered. His hands clawed at the wooden floor, trying to lift himself, but the wound in his chest screamed. His vision blurred. The blade shimmered as it descended.
SLASH.
Darkness.
—
The tension of the dream clung to the café's warm air. Morning sunlight filtered through the curtains, spilling across the wooden floor.
Rei sat up abruptly, breath ragged. It was just a dream—but too vivid, too real.
Itsuki had leapt onto the table like a startled cat. Yuki stood frozen near a chair, staring at Rei. "What… was that?"
Rei clutched his chest, slowly calming. His gaze drifted—and stopped at the figure leaning against the wall, calmly scrolling through a phone.
Raiga.
A lollipop in his mouth. Expression unreadable. Just like in the dream.
"…Who the hell are you?" Rei asked, voice low.
Raiga pocketed his phone and stepped forward. Calm. Unhurried. His presence filled the room like before.
"You were in my dream," Rei whispered. "You… killed me."
Itsuki's jaw dropped. "Wait what?! He killed you?!"
Raiga blinked. Slowly pulled out the lollipop and twirled it. "Tch. I've got no interest in killing you. If I did, we wouldn't be having this conversation."
He stepped closer. The floor creaked beneath his boots.
"I'm Raiga Shigure. Son of Raizen. Demon-curse breaker. I was here to handle an outbreak. Found you three tangled up in it."
Itsuki forced a grin. "So, uh… you're Principal Raizen's son? That explains the scary-cool aura."
Yuki folded her arms. "You just happened to run into students from your father's school?"
Raiga gave a brief nod. "Maybe coincidence. But after what I saw Rei do... this might be something bigger."
Rei looked at his own hands. "What do you mean?"
Raiga's phone buzzed. He answered it with a cold tone. "Yeah."
A heavy voice came through. "Did you finish the job?"
Raizen.
Raiga replied, "Handled. The loop zone's closed. No more demon interference."
Pause.
"Three students were pulled into it. They were already inside."
"...Students? What students?" Raizen's tone sharpened.
"Rei. Yuki. Itsuki. One of them—Rei—was targeted directly."
Another pause.
"Bring them. I want to see them myself."
"Understood."
Itsuki leaned forward. "Wait—that was our principal?"
Rei nodded.
Itsuki raised his voice. "Good morning, sir! You doing okay? That flip yesterday was dramatic—looked like you were unlocking a second form!"
A long silence.
Then Raizen's voice returned, dry as steel. "Second form? Hm. Maybe you're evolving too, Itsuki… into a confused turnip."
"A what now?"
Yuki laughed into her hand. Rei allowed a small smirk.
Raiga sighed and ended the call.
Itsuki clutched his chest. "He turned my soul into salad..."
"You asked for it," Yuki replied, amused.
She changed the topic. "That sword you used… where is it?"
Raiga lifted his wrist. A black bracelet, etched with glowing red lines, shimmered faintly.
"It's sealed. Returns here when not in use."
"Magic?" Rei asked.
Raiga shook his head. "Old cursed soul tools. You'll get answers, but not from me."
He turned to the door. "We should go. He's waiting."
They descended the stairs.
"Full-body workout today," Itsuki said cheerfully. "Punching a demon counts, right?"
Rei raised a brow. "You mean running?"
"I gave it psychological damage."
Raiga opened the café door.
Itsuki hesitated. "So... are we teleporting or—?"
Raiga didn't look back. "Walk calmly… or get knocked out and carried."
"Walking! Huge fan!" Itsuki saluted. "Very spiritual."
They stepped outside into the sunlit street. The wind stirred gently. But tension clung to the air, warning of what lay ahead.
—
Empty stalls lined the road. Old wooden houses loomed like silent watchers. Paint peeled from forgotten signs.
Rei walked behind the others, hands in his pockets, eyes sharp.
Itsuki broke the silence. "Okay—listen to this. I've got a theory."
Yuki sighed. "Can't you be quiet for once?"
"No, no—this one's good. It's about demons."
He turned to walk backward. "Long ago, two demon brothers. Both strong. But one started feeling mercy. Guilt. The other went full evil, thought the good one went soft. So... betrayal. Murder. One claims the throne."
"Or maybe the good one didn't die," he added. "Maybe he became a shadow. Or both brothers merged. Like demon twins from hell!"
Rei's gaze shifted. A sign creaked in the wind.
The Cursed Shades – Old Frames & Curios.
He looked briefly. Then kept walking.
"Hey, Rei!" Itsuki laughed. "Don't get cursed by antiques. We haven't even started school yet."
Yuki glared. "That's your seventh dumb story."
"All bangers," Itsuki said proudly. "Next one's about a café girl who's secretly a demon hunter."
Rei muttered, "He needs therapy."
Yuki raised a fist. "Itsuki…"
He grinned. "Final version: demon brothers. One kills the other. Becomes king. Sends dreams to kids like Rei—"
Thud.
"OW—HEY!" he shouted as Yuki smacked his head.
"I warned you."
"You've got anger issues."
"Then shut up."
He opened his mouth—then froze.
Raiga had stopped.
"Stop joking," he said coldly.
They turned. His eyes were on Itsuki.
"Those stories… sometimes become real."
Itsuki blinked. "Huh?"
Raiga walked on without repeating himself.
Silence followed.
"…Well that escalated," Itsuki muttered.
—
The street curved. A building came into view.
Eigen Gate School.
It stood behind a tall iron gate with an eagle statue. Stone walls patched with glass. Ivy crawling across like veins. Not large—but heavy. Like it bore a secret.
The gate creaked. Wind passed.
Rei halted. Stared.
The others walked ahead. Raiga paused beside him.
No words passed. But something did.
—
The four entered the Principal's Office.
Dust danced in the dim light. Tall shelves lined the walls. A large window cast silver streaks on the floor. A clock ticked slowly.
At the desk sat Raizen Sora.
Still. Elbows on the desk. Fingers folded. Chin resting.
Black longcoat. Silver glasses. Sharp brows. Thinking.
"…He looks like a war general," Yuki whispered.
Raiga said nothing.
Rei paused. Something about this man made it hard to breathe.
Itsuki leaned over. "What's he reading? That paper hasn't moved."
"Maybe he's memorizing it," Yuki replied.
"Maybe he's astral projecting," Itsuki muttered.
Still no movement.
"…Excuse me, sir?" Itsuki tried.
No reply.
He stepped closer. "We're the new students..."
Nothing.
He poked Raizen's shoulder.
Still.
"…Don't tell me he's dead," Itsuki whispered.
Yuki rolled her eyes.
Itsuki gently lifted Raizen's arms.
Raizen slumped forward.
He was asleep.
"What the hell?!" Itsuki cried.
CLANG.
A blade appeared, hovering at his throat.
Raizen stood, eyes open. Sharp. Focused.
"…I think so."
Itsuki's knees wobbled. "Not me! Not in chapter three!"
The blade vanished.
Raizen yawned. "Aah… my bad. Got sleepy."
The room froze.
Itsuki staggered.
Raiga blinked. (That's my father?)
Yuki squinted. (Of course he naps with glasses on.)
Rei stayed quiet. (Lucky guy…)
Raizen sat calmly.
"Welcome to Eigen Gate," he said smoothly. "There's a truth I've hidden for years. Now… you all deserve to hear it."
"Let's begin."