Velandra Capital of the Magic Realm of Aetheris. Year - XN24.

A tall young man stood in a dark castle lit by the sun's low rays through the tempered glass windows. A long, wide carpet led from the throne room doors to the throne stood a tall young man with brown hair and blue at the ends. He wore the casual outfit of a knight: a thin white coat with fur on the hood and black pants with a sword at his hilt. He would kneel before the stairs leading up to the King's throne. The King was tall with a long beard and slightly bushy eyebrows. Next to the King stood a young man. 

"Rise and declare your presence to the king." Said the young man standing next to the throne. 

"I… Knight Cyrus Perseon, I would like to speak to his highness." Cyrus said. 

"Stand…!!" The King ordered his voice loud and demanding at the same time. 

Cyrus stood, looking up at the King, his face covered by the shadows of a dark castle. The doors to the throne room then opened, and five more figures walked in. The King raised his brow, 

"Why are the 6 of you all here?" The King asked, ordering them to answer. 

Cyrus smirked, 

"Your Majesty, we've come with news…" Cyrus said.

The King looked confused, 

"And what might that be…?" The King asked. 

"The Demon's… Their infection has spread." Cyrus said. 

"You mean… The virus that infected Grimrune…?" The King asked. 

A drop of sweat went down the side of the King's head. Cyrus nodded his head, 

"How many…?" The King asked. 

Cyrus stood silently for a few seconds before looking up at the King. The color of his eyes was dark red, and the whites of his eyes were black. 

"Six…" Cyrus said.

The King was about to stand up before Cyrus appeared behind the throne, piercing his throne through it and stabbing the King. Cyrus smirked, 

"Oh goodness, dear King! What Happened!?" Cyrus cried out sarcastically. 

The King coughed blood as Cyrus walked around the throne, looking at the King's dying eyes. 

"C-Cyrus… What have you done…!?" The King groaned. Cyrus grinned, 

"I've decided to take my rightful place… The throne… Next, I'll take control of all the realms." Cyrus explained. 

The King's servant pulled out a sword, pointing it at the back of Cyrus' head. Cyrus chuckled, looking back at the servant.  

"Hm… I think we'll keep you around…" Cyrus said. 

"C-Cyrus…" The King whispered. 

Cyrus looked surprised, looking back at the King. Cyrus smiled with amusement. 

"Yes, you dying old roach?" Cyrus asked. 

The King chuckled, spitting blood on Cyrus' cheek. 

"Someone will arrive to kill you one day… When they come… They won't give you mercy…!" The King said, with his final words. 

Cyrus wiped the blood off his cheek. Cyrus began chuckling, 

"You stupid old roach, there's nobody in the four realms powerful enough to kill me…!!" Cyrus laughed. 

Meanwhile, we'd zoom in on a Japanese high school. A tall 16-year-old boy sat at his desk at school. He had spiky black hair and colored eyes. His uniform shirt was unbuttoned. He looked out the window while the Teacher spoke about stuff he didn't care about.

"Uyehara-san... Uyehara-san... Hiroyuki Uyehara-san...!!" The Teacher raised his voice.

The boy looked over at the Teacher, raising a brow.

"Y-Yes, Sensei?" He asked.

The Teacher sighed, looking heavily annoyed,

"I want to see you in my office at the end of the day... If you don't show up, I'll give you extra homework." The Teacher threatened.

An hour later, Hiro would be walking down the hall. He had his fists clenched. Once he approached the Teacher's offices, he slid the door open slowly. He looked around the room and saw all the teachers sitting at their desks. They were all busy with classwork, grading, or grade report slips.       

"Sorry, Sensei… I'll get my grades up… I promise…" The boy said.

A few seconds later, he walked out of the faculty offices. He walked down the hall; the low light from the sun setting added an eerie feeling to the school's atmosphere. He continued walking down the hall with his hands in his pocket. He walked past the janitor's closet, hearing a loud bang. He stood still, looking to his right at the closet door. 

"What the hell…?" Hiro said.

He walked up to the janitor's closet, touching the door handle. He pushed the door handle down, opening the door. His eyes widened once he fully opened the door. 

"What the hell…" He whispered in awe.

He rubbed his eyes in disbelief. In the janitor's closet would lay a teenage girl around the same age as Hiro. She had long, wavy pink hair and wore a gown that matched her hair color. 

"Who the hell is this…?" Hiro whispered.

He noticed she held a long, thin, rectangular cloth wrapping. It was tied at the top. Hiro walked in, closing the door behind himself. He kneeled, reaching out to wake her up. As he was about to touch her, he thought about it briefly. 

"Should I tell someone…?" Hiro thought to himself. He then looked at her cheek, seeing ash. He raised a brow. 

"Fire…?" He whispered.

Suddenly, there was a loud boom. Hiro stood up and turned around, opening the door. His eyes widened, seeing a winged creature walking down the street toward the school. 

"WHAT THE HELL IS THAT!!??" He thought to himself.

He slammed the door closed, looking back at the girl. She groaned, rubbing her eyes. She blinked a few times; she had bright blue eyes that complimented her hair color. Once she fully regained consciousness, she looked at Hiro in confusion. 

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"Ubi sum…?" She said; her voice was a little husky from just waking up, though it didn't seem too high-pitched.

Hiro looked at her, blinking a few times in confusion. 

"Huh?" 

“Lubeo te dicere mihi ubi sum!!” She shouted. She held the wrapped item tighter like a prized family possession. 

"What the hell is she saying??" Hiro thought to himself.

Suddenly, there was another huge boom. Hiro opened the door slightly, seeing the creature closer to the school. His teeth clicked, looking back at the girl. He pointed at himself, then made an X with his arms, then pointed at his mouth, 

"I don't know." He said. She blinked, her eyes widening in awe. 

She backed up a few steps into a mop and bucket. She was about to fall before Hiro caught her. They looked at each other briefly before a loud boom shook the building. Hiro looked annoyed. He grabbed her wrist, throwing the door open. They ran out of the room and down the hallway.

"Quo me ducis!!??" She shouted as the two ran down the school hallway.

Suddenly, the creature flew into the school hallway through a window. 

"W-What!?" Hiro asked. Hiro looked back, seeing the winged creature chase them. 

"S-Shit…!!" Hiro thought to himself.  

"Stulta puella!! Stultum fuit eos te mittere in mundum sine magia, Princesa!!” The creature shouted. 

Hiro's eyes widened, 

"IT SPEAKS!!?? AND WHAT THE HELL IS THIS ABOUT PRINCES" Hiro shouted. 

They then approached the stairs, turning right down them. Once they reached the main floor, they ran down another hallway. Hiro looked back, seeing the creature exit the stairwell. The creature spotted them, approaching fast. 

"Shit, shit, shit…!!" Hiro mumbled. 

“Nos oportet celare!” The girl shouted. 

Hiro looked back at her, annoyed, 

"If I don't understand what you are saying, don't speak to me!!" Hiro said, breathing heavily. 

“Nos oportet gladios protegere!” She shouted.

Hiro scoffed, 

"She's ignoring me…" 

The two kept running until they reached the end of the hall; the only thing around them were windows and walls. 

"Crap…!!" Hiro said.

It was a dead end with nowhere to go. Hiro looked around. It seemed hopeless; as the Demon approached, he stood before the girl in defense. He grits his teeth, clenching his fists. The girl's eyes widened slightly. The creature approached; it looked about eight feet tall with wings on its back, scaly green skin, spiky ears, and a bald head. Hiro put his fists up, glaring at the creature.

"W-What are you...? A yokai or something!?" Hiro asked.

The creature looked down at Hiro, raising a brow. He moved his face closer to Hiro, getting a better look.

"Quis es?" The creature asked.

As the creature's face approached Hiro's, Hiro began to sweat in fear.

The creature grinned as if it was enjoying Hiro's sense of fear even though it didn't speak the same language as Hiro.

"Habes custodem miserum... Principessa Lyra..." The creature growled.

Hiro grits his teeth, throwing a punch at the demonic creature's chest. The creature looked down at Hiro's fist, grinning.

"Crap!-"

The creature then kicked Hiro in the cheek, making him fly toward the window. Hiro flew out the window, getting cut by some of the glass shards following him.

"MINIME!!" Lyra shouted.

Lyra began to cry, tears flowing down her cheeks. Hiro grits his teeth, feeling the pain of the blow he took. He tried getting up, but the pain was too much. He struggled to sit up, looking at the creature reaching for Lyra. He reached his hand out as if he were trying to grab her. He stood up as if he was about to run toward the creature. He ran toward Lyra and the beast, clenching his fists. He jumped over the broken window, landing back in the hallway. He ran toward the creature, tackling it into the wall. Hiro and the creature collided with the wall. The creature looked down at Hiro, chuckling.

"Stulte puer, visne mori?" The creature laughed.

Blood would be falling down Hiro's forehead, mainly covering his eyes.

"Based on your chuckle... It sounds like you mocked me..." Hiro said.

The Demon grinned, grabbing Hiro's head with both of its hands.

"Ita, aliquod desiderium mortis habes?" The creature said.

Hiro's eyes widened slightly as he felt something in his hands; it was like some handle; he looked down with only his eyes, noticing it was the handle for some Kitana. He unsheathed the Kitana slightly. Suddenly, the colors of his sclera changed to a dark black, his iris to a blood red, and his hair became very dark red.

"I've finally awakened..." Hiro said. He thought he sounded different; it wasn't his voice.

His voice was a rich baritone, resonating with a warm, confident timbre that commanded attention. It carried a certain smoothness, like polished mahogany, yet held an edge of intensity that hinted at underlying strength. Each word seemed carefully chosen when he spoke, dripping with charisma and a touch of mischief. His tone was undeniable allure, drawing listeners in and sending shivers down their spines. In moments of passion or anger, his voice could rise to a powerful crescendo, echoing like thunder, but it could just as quickly drop to a low, enticing whisper that made hearts race and minds linger.

He looked up at the Demon in front of him, raising a brow,

"Who the hell are you?" The inhabitant inside of Hiro asked.

The creature's eyes widened in shock.

"W-What the hell, how can you understand me now...?" The creature asked, slightly in fear.

"Hm? What the hell are you talking about?" Hiro asked.

"Y-You didn't understand what I said earlier; how is that possible now??" The creature asked.

Hiro raised a brow,

"What? You're spouting a bunch of bullshit; I should just go ahead and kill you..." Hiro said.

Hiro stepped out of the Demon's grasp, turning and looking at Lyra. Hiro smirked,

"Well, what do we have here... Princess Lyra..." The voice occupying Hiro said.

Lyra grits her teeth, glaring at Hiro.

"7th Knight of Velandra, Ryuji the Crimson Warlord..." Lyra said.

Ryuji in Hiro's body grinned,

"So you do know of me... Though, I can't say I'm surprised... What are Cyrus and the others up to now?" Ryuji asked.

Lyra didn't reply, glaring at Ryuji.

"The 7th Fallen Knight of Velandra... He's... Alive...!?" The creature said in fear.

Ryuji made a face of annoyance, looking back at the creature.

"So, who the hell are you?" Ryuji asked.

"I-I'm a demon under the command of the Fallen Knights, S-Sir!" The creature said.

Ryuji looked at the Demon for a few seconds,

"I have been sent here to kill Princess Lyra Alessandria Fournier..." The Demon said.

Ryuji looked over at Lyra, then back at the Demon.

"And you haven't... Why?" Ryuji asked.

"Cause that brat's body you're occupying has been getting in my way...!" The Demon said.

Ryuji raised a brow,

"Does this human brat possess magic or something...? He looks pretty normal to me..." Ryuji said.

The Demon shook his head,

"N-No, but after I've just learned about your status, I must tell the rest of the knights-"

"I'd prefer if you didn't..." Ryuji interrupted.

The Demon looked puzzled,

"Why? This is important news; I must-"

Suddenly, the Demon's head slid off its neck cleanly.

"Y'know... I'd prefer it if you didn't... This could be a new form of... Entertainment..." Ryuji said. Ryuji closed his eyes. The tattoos began to vanish, and his hair returned to its usual dark black. Hiro fell to the ground, unconscious for a few seconds. Hiro woke up, his eyes back to normal, looking up at Lyra.

"W-What happened...?" Hiro asked.

Lyra's eyes widened in shock,

"I can..." Lyra mumbled in awe.

Hiro's eyes widened as well,

"I can understand what you're saying..." Hiro said.

The two looked at each other in shock,

"Well, I guess I should introduce myself now that we can communicate..." Hiro said.

Lyra nodded, looking at Hiro in awe.

"I'm Hiroyuki Uyehara, but most people just call me Hiro," Hiro said.

She blinked, hesitating slightly on what to say,

"Uhm, My name is Lyra Alessandria Fournier; I am the only daughter of the Fournier Kingdom... A pleasure to meet you..." Lyra said.

"Why is she speaking so formally... Well... She is royalty, I guess..." Hiro thought to himself, blinking.

"So uh, what just happened...?" Hiro asked.

Lyra blinked, not knowing what to say.

"Uhm... If you want to look behind you, then by my guest..." Lyra said.

Hiro raised a brow, looking back. His eyes widened in shock, seeing the beheaded demon corpse on the ground with its severed head a few feet away.

"W-What the hell happened??!!" Hiro asked.

Lyra shrugged, her face looking slightly worried.

"Uhm... Who knows..." Lyra said.

Hiro sighed, looking up at his bloodied and ripped-up clothes, though his injuries completely healed.

"Well, I'm headed to my house... Do you..." Hiro said.

Lyra raised a brow in confusion,

"... Have anywhere to stay...?" Hiro asked.'

Lyra's eyes widened slightly, not expecting the question. She put a finger on her chin, looking up at the ceiling.

"Hmm... It seems I do not." Lyra said.

"Uhm, we probably have an extra room at my dad's house, but you'll have to do a lot of convincing..." Hiro said.

Lyra looked at Hiro for a few seconds, not knowing what to say. She then smiled,

"Thank you. I'm deeply grateful for your offer." Lyra said, with a smile on her face.