What did she mean by that? Did she really think I killed him? Her words keep pounding in my head, each one like a hammer shattering any remaining peace. Now… what do I do? The village… it’s lost to me. My only home, ripped away in a single moment. I’m alone in this world now. No path, no purpose, only questions that echo back without answers.

I don’t even know where my legs are carrying me. The ground blurs underfoot as I push forward, letting my thoughts drown in the rhythm of each step. How far have I come? I’m not sure. But at some point, my legs start to numb. And then—nothing. A heartbeat later, I collapse, my body hitting the earth, surrendering. Every ounce of energy drained, I lay there as if my very spirit has given up.

“Hmm, you had a strong heart, Haruto. Now it crumbles like a stone!”

The voice reverberates in my mind, familiar yet twisted with malice. I freeze, recognition hitting me like a punch to the gut.

“You are that demon I killed, aren’t you?”

“Argh, you finally got it! Let me introduce myself. I am Shien, one of the last demons living in this world.”

My heart races, a mix of anger and confusion swirling within me.

“So, you’re the one who did this to me! You turned me into a monster! Is this how you take your revenge? And why are you in my mind? I thought I killed you!” I struggle to push myself up, fueled by the rage boiling inside.

“Hmm, so all humans just believe what they see, huh? Revenge? This is not revenge. Let’s say it like this: we’re both helping each other to live!”

What does he mean by that? ‘Helping each other to live’? Confusion clouds my thoughts. “I don’t need your help! I can survive on my own! So, turn me back into a human and leave my body!” My voice shakes with desperation, each word a plea mingled with defiance.

“Ha ha ha… Do you think I like living here? I’m here because I have no other options.” His laughter echoes in the depths of my mind, a bitter sound that sends chills down my spine. Silence hangs heavily between us, thick with tension.

“Hmm, if we coexist, you need to know what happened. This is all because you used Reikizuna back there!”

Reikizuna? The name sends a shiver through me. I recall its fiery blade, the power coursing through my veins. “What? You knew about the sword?”

“You said something just before I lost consciousness. You claimed that Reikizuna is the one who killed me. What does that mean? How did Reikizuna kill you?”

“First, let me tell you about Reikizuna. It is a powerful weapon used by humans for generations. Many warriors wielded this flaming blade, but no one knows the truth behind it. Reikizuna grants the wielder the power to defeat their opponent, but it demands a price. Its deal is power for soul! The more you use Reikizuna’s power, the more of your soul you lose.” Shien’s voice drips with an unsettling mix of disdain and sympathy.

“So, you mean… my soul?”

“Yes. The blade burns with the wielder’s emotions. Orange flames represent courage and determination; red signifies anger; blue means fear; yellow stands for joy; purple represents sadness; white symbolizes purity; and black represents despair. I’ve seen every single flame in my life, but you… you are the one who combines them all.”

A wave of realization washes over me. The memory of the battle flashes in my mind—the blade igniting with red and orange flames, raging in tandem.

“So, you mean it damaged my soul?”

“It’s not just damaged; you lost it. Not entirely, but half of it. If you were a normal human, you would perish as soon as Reikizuna flares to life. But you! You are different. Your body belongs to this world, but not your soul. With your steel heart, Reikizuna only takes half of your soul. A body needs a full soul to function.”

“Then why am I a monster now?” Frustration bubbles within me. I need answers, and my patience wears thin.

“Wait wait, there’s so much more to this story,” Shien continues, his tone shifting. “When you struck me with that attack, it destroyed my vessel. Without a vessel, demons cannot exist. So, I chose that wolf gem as my new vessel. What I didn’t realize was that gem was connected to you. As I entered the gem, your body absorbed half of my soul into your lost half. Now, you are one with both human and demon souls. You are not half monster; you are half demon!”

"What? So, I’m half demon now... and if he ever leaves the wolf gem, I’m finished." The weight of this truth presses down on me, sinking like a stone. My mind races, struggling to piece it all together, when suddenly I hear a rustling in the silence.

I tense, scanning the surroundings for the source. Ahead, thick bushes sway, parting just slightly. Something is moving through them, creeping closer. I try to stand, but my legs are still too weak. My heart pounds as I look around, searching desperately for anything I can use as a weapon. The noise grows louder, closing in with each second. Soldiers? If it’s them, I’m as good as dead.

I brace myself, steeling for the worst. Then, three wolves emerge from the bushes, their eyes glinting in the dim light.

Now we’re face to face, the wolves and I. What’s going to happen?

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A low growl rumbles from two of the wolves, their eyes narrowing on me. I raise my demonic hand defensively, its dark, twisted shape almost foreign to me. But before they can pounce, the wolf in the middle, who seems larger, raises his head with authority. He glances at the other two, and they immediately lower their heads, their growls silenced. What’s going on?

“Hmm… it seems that even though the wolf gem is part of you, you can’t hear them,” Shien’s voice sneers, echoing in my mind like an unwelcome visitor.

“Hear them?” I whisper, half to myself. “What do you mean? Monsters can’t talk—”

“Oh, how little you humans know!” Shien’s laughter is like nails on glass, grating and harsh. “These creatures you call ‘monsters’ have minds of their own. They can think, feel… even communicate.”

I feel a pang of memory. The sight of those wolves gathered around the fallen Wolf King’s body flashes through my mind—their sorrowful howls piercing the night.

Can they really think? I wonder, then why did they attack the village?

There’s a pause, and then Shien’s voice slithers back into my mind. “Now that we understand each other a bit more… I’ll give you permission to use my ears. My ears can hear any creature in this world. In return, though, I’ll need your help to maintain balance. Do you accept the deal?”

“A deal?” I hesitate. “Look, as I said before, I don’t kill anyone unless I have to. So as long as this deal doesn’t involve me killing, I’ll accept.”

“Very well, you’re not as dimwitted as I feared,” Shien replies, the amusement clear in his tone. “Don’t worry; the deal is only to ensure balance.”

As he speaks, a sudden wave of dizziness hits me. My head spins, the world tilting under me as though the ground’s been yanked from beneath my feet. Then, a searing pain flares in my ears, like molten iron pouring into my skull.

“Why does every ability I gain come with pain?!” I scream, clutching my head. But this time, it fades quickly, leaving only the faint memory of fire in my veins. Sweat drips down my brow, but I can breathe again. I look up to see the wolves, now sitting calmly, watching me with intelligent eyes. Like loyal dogs, I think with a pang, recalling my old life. But these aren’t pets; these are predators.

The middle wolf tilts his head, and for a moment, I feel a strange, silent understanding pass between us.

“Are you alright, my Lord?” a voice rumbles softly from the shadows.

“What? Who said that?” I scan my surroundings, heart pounding.

“It was I, my Lord,” the middle wolf stands, his voice a low, almost regal tone.

I blink, disbelief settling in. Did he… just speak? So, Shien’s ears really work.

“Why are you calling me ‘Lord’? I’m the one who killed your leader.” I narrow my eyes, wary. “I think you’ve got the wrong person.”

The wolf lowers his head respectfully. “We know who you are, my Lord. That was in the past. We understand you had no other choice in that moment. You nearly lost that man to the Wolf King. But if Lord Shien chose you, there must be a reason.”

The reason? The only reason Shien’s in the wolf gem is because I nearly destroyed him. Confusion twists my thoughts.

Shien’s voice, calm and controlled, fills my mind. “Haruto, only we know what happened in that cave. I wouldn’t advise telling the truth… but if you’re set on it, I won’t stop you.”

I sit back against the tree as comfortably as I can, watching as the sun dips below the horizon. Shadows creep over the forest, thickening into the night’s shroud. What should I do? The wolves seem… different. They might understand me.

Taking a deep breath, I make my decision.

“Listen, all of you. Shien didn’t choose me as his vessel—I almost killed him.” The truth hangs in the air, tense but steady, and I watch their reactions carefully. But the wolves only sit there, eyes fixed on me, glimmering faintly in the moonlight.

The middle wolf nods solemnly. “You lost your friends… and half of your soul. Lord Shien, too, lost his vessel. It may seem unfair, but do you know what would happen if the last demon was lost to the world?”

His words sink in slowly. The last demon?

“We know ordinary humans cannot hear us,” he continues, voice steady. “But you can, my Lord. This means that Lord Shien has granted you his permission to use his ears. If he trusts you… then so do we, Lord Haruto.”

The wolves bow their heads, first the middle wolf and then the others, a quiet display of loyalty and respect.

Slowly, feeling returns to my legs. I brace myself against the tree, pushing to stand, but Shien’s voice stops me.

“Haruto,” he says, his tone unusually gentle. “Raise your right hand and touch the middle wolf’s forehead.”

I kneel down and extend my hand, hovering my fingers just above his brow. The wolf steps forward, lowering his head, and as my fingertip touches his forehead, darkness swallows everything. Why do I keep fainting? I think, as my last moments of consciousness fade. Am I really that weak?

I open my eyes, but all I see is darkness. This time, though, something feels different—I can sense the ground beneath my feet. Looking around, I search for anything to help me figure out where I am. In the distance, I notice a faint glow... a spotlight. I take a few steps, the light drawing closer with each one. As I near, the scene becomes clearer. In the middle of the light stands a throne crafted from black and purple stones and crystals. Someone is seated on it. As I get closer, I recognize him—it’s Shien.

“Hello, Haruto! Take a seat,” Shien says in his usual calm tone.

I glance around, noticing an identical chair made from dark stones and crystals right behind me. Sitting down, I suddenly see something strange—my legs. My left side is normal, but my right is made of particles that occasionally drift away from my body.

“How’s the other half I created from lumirith? Can you feel it?” Shien asks with a slight smile.

“Yeah, it feels just as normal but what exactly is lumirith? I’ve never heard of it,” I reply, confused.

Shien nods. “Then let me teach you. Lumirith is the life energy that flows through every living thing in this world. It’s not created within our bodies; it’s everywhere, all around us. You can draw from it to enhance your abilities or even connect with nature itself. Understanding lumirith is the key to harnessing its power.”

“So, our abilities come from using the lumirith around us, right?” I ask, feeling like I’m in some kind of game.

“Sharp as ever, Haruto. Yes, when we use our abilities, our bodies pull in lumirith to generate the required energy. For demons and other creatures, this power is called ‘Aether Lumirith,’ while for humans and angels, it’s known as ‘Celest Lumirith.’ I created your other half from aether lumirith, but your body isn’t fully adapted to absorb it yet. That’s why you keep passing out after using too much,” Shien explains.

“So... where am I now? What happened back there? And... what exactly are angels?” I ask, letting all my questions spill out.

“Oh, Haruto, one thing at a time!” Shien chuckles. “You fainted after establishing the wolf as the pack's new leader—it took a lot of lumirith. You’re in a regenerative state now, something demons and angels experience regularly. Now that you're part-demon, it affects you, too.”

He pauses, a thoughtful look crossing his face. “Ah, and about the angels... While you’re regenerating, let me tell you a story. A story about a world that was once peaceful...”