AMON’S POV

My rival and I traveled with the subway instead of running to this 'pristine school' where kids get enlightened. I never had to go through the oh-so-difficult process of attaining enlightenment since I was born a higher being.

Adam briefed me on a particular man that I should address with respect. He said this guy was a general of Holdanis as well as a teacher in this school. How can that even be possible if he didn't retire? Anyway, if this Lucidel he keeps mentioning is anything like Anul, I'll listen to Adam's words. I almost shat myself when faced with that oppressive force the right Hand of Holdanis carried. However, Lucidel should be closer to that Remy guy I met when Adam was being assessed by Mr. Seer, or whatever his name was.

I ignited my finger under Adam's arm, waking him up from the nap he was taking. He flinched, retracting his hand as if he had been burnt by hellfire. Oh wait...

"Ouch!" he squealed, following it up with a knee kick to my abdomen.

I grabbed the spot where he hit me, folding myself from the searing pain.

"Gah! It was worth it," I laugh as the pain subsides.

He shakes his head disapprovingly. "Are you THAT bored? Can't you leave me for 20 minutes?"

I sigh deeply, leaving him be. He is as enigmatic as one can get. Sometimes he has wild ideas that fit my way of handling things, and other times he acts like an old grandpa that doesn't take any risks. One thing is for certain, he's way too mature for his age—which is sometimes admirable, but mostly boring. I hope this Dreamer entity he talks about is as strong as he says.

I want to get stronger, achieving the glory of the strongest warrior known to man. My father didn't train me properly, saying that I don't need violence to solve my problems. He used to laugh and ridicule my fantasies of becoming an archdemon that can defeat anyone. My grandpa, however, welcomed my hunger for power ever since I was born. He knows what it takes to rise up to a king, which is why I look up to him.

Adam was the first person to defeat me that wasn't in my family. He was also close to my age, with flaming talent just like myself. There was something special about him, as my instincts told me there is something deeper connected to this guy.

-

After a whole eternity had passed, we finally reached this Obiwon school that he talked about. We exited our train, walking into a giant clearing where this palace of a school was located. Giant arcs of white surrounded the gold and silvery-white building.

The school itself was rather impressive, I'll give it that. If Adam went here to get enlightened, I can see why his hand-to-hand combat is so good.

As we approached it, I noticed many armed officers around it, with military vehicles parked in front. There was tape surrounding the vicinity, so no civilians could waltz into it. I turned towards Adam, who masked a concerned face. I could already recognize subtle hints of his emotions from hanging out with him for this extended period of time.

Raising an eyebrow, I stared at the officers we were approaching. "Is this usual for Obiwon?"

"No," Adam replied curtly.

The officials standing around the perimeter were enlightened, so this must've been some big deal. They gave us weird looks, as one of them stood between us and the entrance to the school's front yard. "School is closed, kids—"

His eyes widened, as he recognized Adam. "M-my apologies, sir?" he apologized while finishing the sentence with a question mark, not sure whether to address a kid as 'sir'.

"Fill me in on what happened here," Adam ordered the sweating officer.

He looked around for some kind of confirmation. "I-I'm not sure I'm allowed to disclose... Well, you see, this is restricted informatio—"

A colleague of his stepped up, with a bushy mustache and noticeably older. "The man standing in front of you is a Sword Saint, Robert. You should answer to him just as you would to our general," he scolds the younger soldier while saluting to Adam.

Adam replies with the same gesture, waiting silently for the Mustache Man to report in his younger colleague's stead.

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"The school has been evacuated, and access to it restricted. There was a breach, followed by two casualties," the Mustache Man states.

Adam's pace paled, as an aura that I'd never seen out of him escaped, making the soldier shudder. His fists clenched as rage boiled from within him, for some reason. "What are the names of those who were killed?" he asked the soldier.

The Mustache Man took a few steps back, fumbling with a stack of papers. "Uhh, I didn't read into it since I'm only a guard here, but it should be written somewhere here," the man responds shakily.

I turned towards Adam, looking at him in confusion. "Why are you so distressed, rival? Do you care for a few kids that got murdered—"

"If you ever speak of them disrespectfully again, I'll be sure you end up just like those two," Adam states coldly, his aura truly ready to fight me right now.

I grit my teeth as my pride stings. "Don't talk to me like that. I can disrespect whoever I want—"

Adam's foot dug into my gut, sending me flying backwards into the field. The soldiers standing there started fussing because of this, exchanging panicked glances while moving out of Adam's way—who was walking towards me.

I released my flames, ready to take on my rival. "Come on, I'm ready for you!"

His white crystal blade appeared in his hands, as light started bending around it.

I braced myself for his attack, ready to engulf the whole surrounding in hellfire.

As my senses honed to his image and aura, I sensed something I couldn't react to. He used 100% of his magic, vanishing from his spot and sinking his sword into my abdomen.

As I tried to react by toasting him then and there, he smashed one of his purple-bluish hands into my chin, digging me into the ground with a loud bang. I didn't expect him to go all out, and didn't know he was so strong. When he faced that white haired Sword Saint that tried to teach him, I saw his power, but I couldn't process just how much it was until I felt it on my skin.

My lights went dark as I unintentionally went to sleep.

After that, I awoke to see Adam standing beside me in the train back to the center of Holdanis. He looked much more relaxed than before. When he noticed I was awake, he tensed a bit.

I scratched the place where he impaled me with his sword, which was now fully regenerated, not even a scar. I stretched my arms and yawned, lying back into my seat. "You're strong. I didn't expect you to defeat me so quickly, damn. I'm... sorry for disrespecting your 'friends' or whatever."

Adam nodded, looking past me. "It's fine, I'm sorry for lashing out at you. The thing is, I was worried Evy and Dorian got slaughtered by my nemesis, but it was another pair of kids that I don't know."

I nodded back. "So, are we now returning home or? What's the plan?"

"No," Adam responds with a slight smirk. "We're visiting Evy at her house, in the countryside."

I think back at the school where we just fought, and what could've happened while I was knocked out. "Did you meet with that Lucidel guy you talked about?"

Adam's face painted concern once again. "No, neither of my professors were there. And even weirder is the fact that Remy took over this case."

"That general we visited twice? Isn't your Lucidel also a general?" I ask.

"He is. That's why it's weird. Anyway, I don't actually need him, I just need Evy right now," he sighs.

I stare out of the train's window. "I hope this girl is as special as you claim."

-

We arrive where we were supposed to, exiting the subway and walking a notable distance towards a singular house on a small hillside. It looked peaceful and uninteresting, which made me question if who we're searching for is really here.

Adam knocked on the old wooden doors, waiting patiently on the neatly decorated front porch. After a few suspenseful moments, the doors opened with a creek.

Standing there was a pretty girl with dark hair tied into twin ponytails. She wore a black summer dress and purple slippers. Her eyes were also a dark shade that seemed black even on this sunny day.

Adam told me beforehand about how I should behave. He told me to just go with the flow and confirm anything he says.

I was interested in why he said that, and what would happen now.

He extended his hand towards Evy. "My name is Adam Agnes, the youngest Sword Saint currently. I was sent here by professor Guille to ask for your assistance."

He... Introduced himself. I thought he knew this girl, so why the introductions? Well, I won't question his ways, just like I didn't until now. Adam continued: "This is my companion, Amon."

Her eyes widened more and more as Adam spoke. "Wait, wait! Is he a demon?" she asked while pointing at me.

Adam nodded. "Yes, but don't worry, he isn't anything you'd imagine coming from Hell its—"

"Woah!!" she interrupts him. "That is so cool!"

I was surprised, but took it as a compliment. She turned towards Adam, finally accepting his handshake. "I'm Evy, nice to meet you. I already know about you, Hell, the whole region of Holdanis knows about you. I can't believe my peer—or at least close in age—has become a Sword Saint."

I lean against my rival. "Yeah, it's quite special, he even got an invitation to the Royal Castle and everything."

She became even more ecstatic after that. "Really!? Is that true?" she asked Adam.

He grabbed the back of his neck, chuckling at this reaction. "It's true, but can we take this inside?" he asks. What a smooth guy, eh?

She stepped to the side, opening her arms. "Of course, make yourselves comfortable."

I didn't expect this kind of reaction from someone that delves into dark magic, but considering the story we introduced ourselves with, it's not abnormal.

We sat on the couch while Evy went to get her grandpa from the backyard. When she brought him, we introduced ourselves again, which almost made him faint.

His shaky hands rested on Evy after politely introducing himself. "What kind of trouble did you get into yourself dear, with a Sword Saint arriving at our doorstep?"

She laughed. "Oh grandpa, I didn't do anything," she said, turning towards us. "Did I?"

Adam shook his head. "No, don't worry. Your granddaughter is exceptional at a magic we need to utilize."

The grandpa continued to stare at me, probably not ever seeing a demon in his entire life. I wanted to ask what his problem was, but decided it was best to keep silent, since I didn't want Adam to sink his sword into me again.

After conversing for a while, Evy agreed to our request wholeheartedly. "Should we get going right away?"