“Araya! Wake up! Did you forget we have a store opening today?” Nami yells from the kitchen trying to wake me up. “I am awake Nami!, I am coming down in a minute.” I replied back to her while trying to get out of the bed.
But there was no way I would have been able to sleep. Today is the day that my dream of having a normal life with the girl I love, will be getting close to fulfillment. I left behind my black coat for this life. I left it all so I could be with Nami and live happily with her and die at an old age.
“Okay! Let’s take a deep breath. I have to be at my best today”. I told myself while trying to relax and scratching my head wondering, “Where did I leave my pants? Ugh, Is it under the bed?” I looked under the bed and found my clothes there.
Suddenly, the thought of last night struck my mind, “Last night was really steamy hehe. Nami is really beautiful! How did a jerk like me end up with a girl like her?” My face turned red while imagining her.
“What are you doing with that creepy look on your face?” Nami was standing right behind while the look on her felt like a blade went through my heart. It was like she could totally read my mind and she is telling me to stop imagining.
“Nothing!” I started putting on my pants in a hurry but I could totally feel her stabbing stare.
She slowly walked close to me, “I know what funny thoughts you were having. But is it really the time for imagining last night?”
While her face was very close to my face, “We will be having such nights often, you know.. ” She whispered while everting her eyes away from my face. Her red face was so cute that I couldn’t stop myself from holding her in my arms and hugging tightly.
“I love you, Nami..” I told her while holding her close to me. After all everything I did and everything I will be doing from now on will be all for her. “I love you too, Araya.. very much..” She spoke in a small voice while her head rested on my chest.
“Now shall we go to the market? Everybody is waiting there for us, we should hurry.” She asked me while smiling towards me. “Yes, Let’s go.. Today is a big day for us.”, and we both walked down.
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“Oh, If it isn’t Mr and Mrs Maris! Going to the market to inaugurate your store?“ The old lady living in our neighbourhood greeted us with a cheerful smile as soon as we stepped outside the house.
Nami greeted her back with a cheerful smile, “Yes, Mrs. Asai. I would really love it if you could come by to the store today. We have a small celebration planned there.”
I just stood there watching Nami talk to the old lady. I am proud of my lovely wife, she is friendly to everyone. Mrs. Asai, this old lady has been living in our neighbourhood for the past 50 years. Her husband worked for the Royal Navy for the church but sadly he went missing 50 years ago and this lady moved here close to the port hoping she will find her husband. It pains me to see her here everyday looking and waiting for her husband to come back.
“Araya? Araya? What happened? What are you thinking?” Nami was calling out for me.
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
“Huh, nothing I was just watching you talk to Mrs Asai.. umm, did she say yes for the inauguration party?” I quickly came back to my senses.
“Heeee~ you have been weird since morning you know.. Anyways she said yes for the inauguration party! I am so excited!” Her face was full of joy and I couldn’ be more happier seeing her happy.
But I don’t know why. I had this bad feeling ever since the morning and while on our way towards the market I noticed that there were quite a few black coats there.
Black coat is a special unit of the Royal Army and they are specialised with demon extermination. People know them as the most ruthless unit of the Army who don’t even hesitate to kill normal people if they can exterminate a demon with that. Their infamous black coats have become something that people fear and seeing so many of them in this small town is really weird.
This town is a really small port town and the only people who come here from the outside are the merchants and adventurers who want to enter the Kingdom of Xalon. This town doesn't have any demons either because of the influence of the church that operates from the neighbouring city.
“Araya.. Araya! Are you listening” Nami shocked my hand and she had a worried look on her face. “What happened, Araya? Are you not feeling well? You have been weird ever since the morning..” She touched my forehead trying to check if I had a fever.
“Ah!, I am alright Nami, Just thinking about why there are so many black coats today.” I slowly moved her hands away from my forehead.
“They must have some work to do here.. You know there are no demons in this town, the church must have called them for some job.” She tried to divert my mind from them. I can understand she is worried about me because of my past with them.
I do not want her to keep worrying about me. I should focus on the inauguration for now, “You are right.. It’s just my old habit of suspecting things you know. Don’t worry, I am all fine.” I pasted a slight smile on my face so she could enjoy the day and although it looked very fake, I will try to keep up this smile all day today.
Or at least that’s what I thought until the dark clouds loomed above our heads. I knew this feeling by instinct and at that moment I was sure the black coats in the town didn’t gather for a church prayer. The smile I tried desperately to keep vanished within an instant and our eyes turned towards the ugly reality of that moment.
“DEMONS!! IT’S DEMONS!” One lifeguard from the coast came running into the market and stumbled down the road. His face was covered with blood and his eyes were filled with horror. “Run, the demons are on the coast and they have murdered everyone on the coast! Run if you want to live!” He started screaming again trying to get back on his feet so he could keep running.
Everyone in the market just stood still. It was very surprising because there have never been any demon attacks in Orillion so for most people it just felt like a very distasteful prank. But for me who could feel the demons when they were around, It was very very real. I, without wasting any moment, quickly grabbed Nami’s hand, “Nami! We are going back! NOW!”
“Why? What happened?” Nami was completely confused as to why we were suddenly heading back.
“I don’t have time to explain right now! Let’s just head back.” I started walking back while dragging her along with me.
“Don’t tell me you are taking that prank seriously.. There are no demons attacking Orillion. How long have you been here? Have you ever heard of any demon entering Orillion?” She suddenly freed her hand from my grip and we were standing in the middle of the road while everyone looked at us quarreling.
“Look, You know I can tell when there are demons around and I am telling you! Let’s go back”, I yelled back at her with all my energy.
Suddenly my eyes went towards something bright coming right behind Nami and I grabbed her and jumped towards the side of the road. That thing was a fire ball thrown by the demon that we evaded by a hair length. The bright ball of fire went straight on the road and blasted off some people and shops. Blood and pieces of their bodies went flying on the building walls and the road was colored red. Screams and wails of people filled the whole area as I and Nami laid still on the ground.
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