Months of training have passed. These children, my peers, whom I once saw as nothing more than kids, have changed. The passing month has transformed them. It has changed me as well.

The Sanctuary of Heathens is a residential facility that trains young boys and girls to become aspiring swordsmen. In the past, we were allowed to spend our time as we pleased and enjoy our youth. I didn’t understand the reasoning behind this decision. Why were we expected to relax after we had fought so hard to reach this place? It left me feeling confused.

Hades sat on his bunk, folding his legs on the top bed. With his eyes closed, he took measured breaths, circulating his spiritual energy throughout his body. New rules had been imposed on them, shaping their daily lives into something much more structured than before. While some of these rules made sense, others felt unfamiliar to him.

Each student must begin their day with meditation. This practice helps relieve the stress they experience from a night’s sleep and counteracts any lingering drowsiness.

Additionally, students are required to wear identical clothing: dark cloaks with heavy dark bricks, each weighing approximately three kilograms, laced along the arms and legs.

They are prohibited from wearing slippers and from lifting weights or any muscle-building exercise. This approach is intended to help them achieve an ideal physique—one that avoids excessive muscle gain, which could restrict their movements.

Furthermore, their food portions have been drastically reduced to ensure that they remain consistently hungry.

Hades removed the bedsheet he covered himself in, standing naked. He tied a towel around his waist before following the other boys to the stream outside the sanctuary. One of the stranger rules forbade them from bathing in warm water. They had to bathe in the icy stream—boys and girls together, no less. At first, the girls protested, refusing to comply with such an absurd requirement, while the boys, naturally, saw it as some sort of gift from their dear instructors. After months of bathing together, their minds were occupied with other things to worry about than someone seeing their bare body.

The freezing water had made many of them sick in the early days, Hades included, but now they had begun to adjust, though they never looked forward to it.

Hades scooped a bucket of water from the stream, pouring it over his body. Silence enveloped them all, save for the soft trickling of water and the distant chirping of birds. No one spoke.

The final rule given to them, and the most important of them all, was to always prepare for anything.

In the last week, their instructors had launched sudden, brutal attacks on the students, catching them off guard. Some were injured—seriously so. Harold had nearly lost an arm while relieving himself in the woods. The instructors held nothing back, and every day, Luca reminded them why this training wasn’t meant for the weak.

Now, silence was second nature to them. The natural sounds of the forest—the birds, the wind, the rustling leaves—became ingrained in their awareness. Any sound that didn’t belong was a potential threat.

Hades cleaned himself up and returned to his room, wearing his cloak and tying back his hair. He looked at himself in the mirror, his cloak still hanging heavily from his shoulders.

He picked up a knife and cut the ends of his hair, making it shorter so that it just brushed the nape of his neck. With the cloak on, it looked as though nothing had changed.

His movements were a bit unsteady; the weight of the cloak was something he would have to adjust to over the next week or two. He picked up his water container and strapped it to his waist. They were scheduled for blade practice today, along with a special announcement from their sensei.

*

In a dimly lit room, candles flickered revealing a wall dressed in roses. Sensei knelt before them, his hands clasped in prayer. “Ryunosuke Sakumoto...” he whispered. “The man who now leads the disciples.”

Luca and the other instructors stood behind him, their hands clasped together. They all wore identical white garments, while Sensei wore a deep, dark robe.

“That man... once an enemy of the supreme being, now leads a righteous order?” Sensei’s voice grew sharp with contempt. “Preposterous!” His fist clenched as he spat the words. “If only I had my strength from years past, I would have cut him down myself.”

Luca knelt at his side, head bowed low. “The news comes from one of our students, Master. There’s a chance it’s false. Please, don’t let it trouble your heart.”

“Blasphemy!” Sensei yelled. His sudden outburst caused the roses to tremble, falling from the walls. He scrambled to pick them up, his hands trembling as he whispered to himself. “Blasphemy... blasphemy...”

The door slid open, and Sakura stepped into the room, holding a tray. “Master, I’ve brought your medicine.”

Sensei’s wild eyes shot toward him, his grip tightening around a single rose. “Tell me, Sakura,” he said, voice low. “What happens when you are trapped beneath the waves of the sea?”

Sakura hesitated before replying, “You drown.”

A dark smile crept across Sensei’s face as he gently cupped Sakura’s cheek. “No, my child,” he said. “When water fills your lungs, the grip of life on you loosens. In that moment, your ethereal self will ascend to our Lord and great King. We will achieve immortality, by being with Him every day of our lives. Why? Because we are believers.”

The instructors’ expressions darkened, their eyes growing hard. Some clenching their fists. The supreme being, the ruler of dragons and the emperor of demons—three powerful entities that controlled the world. Among them was the holiest of all, their master saviour. Their god, the one they served without question.

Sakura handed Sensei the glass of water and his medicine. Sensei drank, his trembling easing as he leaned against the wall, his breath evening out. Two instructors lifted him gently into his wheelchair, where he slumped into unconsciousness.

“Only a few years left,” one of the instructors whispered

“We must act swiftly,” another said. “To please our god and secure our salvation.”

Luca rose to his feet, his hand resting on the hilt of his sword, the emerald embedded in it glinting under the faint light. “I believe in the children,” he said. “Months had passed since they began training, and not one has faltered. They will grow even stronger.”

Sakura’s eyes narrowed. “What are you implying, Luca?”

Luca remained silent, his gaze fixed on the floor.

“Do you think your words matter? Do our thoughts mean anything?” Sakura said, stepping closer. “Well, do they?! The supreme being does not care for our worries, let alone our expectations. Train them harder and leave your comments behind closed doors”

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Luca said nothing as he adjusted his hat and turned toward the door. “I leave Master in your care,” he whispered. “I need to make the announcement in our master’s stead.”

Without another word, Luca exited the room, the other instructors following in silence, their robes fluttering in his wake.

*

The training field buzzed with energy as pairs sparred with wooden swords. Each swing met with resistance, and their arms were weighed down by training weights. However, the challenge only heightened the exhilaration they felt when they managed to execute a perfect strike.

Hades stood across from his opponent, sizing her up. Her dark hair was cropped short, and her eyes carried a quiet gloom that gave nothing away. She wasn’t what he had expected.

Mika, his opponent, drew her practice blade, her gaze unwavering. She knew that if he chose to use his gift, it would be the end for her. However, over the past few months, her skills have improved significantly. She was determined not to go down without a fight.

“You were impressive during the first exercise,” Hades said, drawing his blade. “I heard you managed to sever the monster’s hand.”

Mika smiled, turning away. “Thanks”

She faced him, just as his wooden sword sliced through the air toward her. Mika reacted instantly, sidestepping his strike and slipping behind him in a flash, her blade swinging for his back.

Hades blocked in time, but she was already on the move again, darting to his side and striking with precision. Her movements were fluid, almost effortless, despite the weights dragging on her arms. Each hit came fast, and with each deflection, Hades found himself increasingly on the defensive.

Her speed was remarkable. Even though they were only using wooden swords, he could feel the weight of her strikes through his parries. If this were a real battle, he’d be riddled with injuries by now. His mind raced. Using his gift wasn’t an option—relying on his powers would rob him of the growth he sought as a swordsman.

He needed to find a way to strike back. As he deflected her blows, he focused on her pattern. At first, her movements seemed erratic, but Hades soon realized there was a method to her attacks. She targeted his weak points, and every time he blocked, his sword was drawn away, leaving an opening on the opposite side.

She didn’t always capitalize on it, though. Was it fatigue? Hades thought, adjusting his strategy, and pushed back on her attacks to tire her out further. He watched her breathing—she was nearing her limit.

Mika struck again, and Hades deflected, his sword thrown wide. She darted to his opposite side, preparing for another hit. But this time, Hades was ready. He twisted his body, his sword swinging behind him, catching her in the stomach with a sharp tap.

“I win,” he said, lowering his blade.

Mika sighed, dropping to the ground. “Amazing as always,” she whispered, her breath uneven. “And I was so close too. I didn’t think you’d be able to read my moves like that.”

Hades sat beside her, watching their fellow students continue their sparring. “It wasn’t that difficult,” he said with a small smile. “I just wish I had figured it out sooner.”

Hades glanced over at Harold and Krissy, who had also finished their sparring. Their voices were too far to be heard. Harold, with a smug grin, flexed his muscles while Krissy pouted, smacking him on the shoulder for some unknown reason.

Hades sighed. “Harold is one crazy guy.”

Maki tilted her head and looked at Hades. “Crazy? I think it’s kind of cute.”

Hades returned her gaze. “Cute? How is he adding extra weight to you, cute? He was also bragging about it back in the boys’ quarters.”

Maki laughed, wiping away a tear. “Seriously? I was talking about something else, silly!”

“What?”

Leaning closer, she whispered in his ear, “I think those two might be in love.”

Hades blinked, his mind trying to make sense of her words. Harold and Krissy? In love? They’d been fighting just moments ago. There was no way it was something that simple—could it?

Before he could dwell on it any longer, a sudden, tense energy crackled behind him. He turned, only to see Lily standing behind them, her hair rising with menacing energy as she dragged a battered Bon behind her. Bon, beaten and bruised, could only let out a weak growl, pleading for help.

“You two seem to be having a great time,” Lily said, her smile fake, so fake even Hades could notice it.

“Oh, nothing like that,” Maki said. “We were just resting, that’s all”

“Yeah, she was saying something about Love- “

Maki jumped over and covered Hades’ mouth. In her haste, she didn’t realize that she had ended up right on top of him, their faces just inches apart.

Jin appeared from behind, chuckling at the scene. “Looks like I showed up just in time. Missing this would’ve been a tragedy.”

Lily’s face flushed a deep crimson as she watched, and Maki scrambled to get off Hades, accidentally stepping on his stomach in her rush.

Harold and Krissy approached, drawn by the commotion. Maki fidgeted nervously, searching for an escape as Lily calmly placed a hand on her shoulder.

“Let’s have a little chat, Maki,” Lily said, still holding that eerie smile.

Bon, struggling to stand, his legs trembling. “Leave her alone, Lily. Come, fight me again.”

Lily sighed, turning her attention back to Hades, who was still on the floor. “You really know how to stir things up, don’t you?” she said, sitting down—directly on his stomach.

Hades yelped, flailing. “You’re too heavy! Way too heavy!”

“Who are you calling heavy?” She said, punching his face.

Hades sighed, reflecting on his words. Yes, everyone had changed, but for some reason, this spawn from hell remained the same—if not worse. This wasn’t the first time she had behaved this way; it seemed that whenever he was with a girl, she acted out. A tear rolled down his cheek as he thought, “I was talking about your weights!”

Suddenly, the air shifted. The laughter faded as all eyes turned toward the upper floors. The instructors had arrived.

Luca noticed Lily. A few days back, he was told by Sakura about her behavior. She is no girl who could fight for another when her life is in danger.

According to the information provided during their first assignment, she managed to injure the monster slightly and escaped with her doll, even though she could have put in more effort during the fight.

Clearing his throat, he addressed the group. “For the rest of today, you all have some time to yourselves. I advise you to visit the village. Enjoy the company of your loved ones and take in the sights. But remember, if you’re late for curfew, there will be consequences. That’s everything you need to know” With that, he walked away, flanked by the other instructors.

Hades couldn’t help but wonder why Sensei wasn’t the one making the announcement.

Suddenly, Lily grabbed his arm, her eyes glittering. “Hades! This is perfect! You haven’t been to the village, right?”

The others turned their attention to him, curiosity etched on their faces.

“Are you all really surprised?” Jin said, arms crossed. “He doesn’t like having fun, so he’s probably spent his entire life cooped up in the sanctuary.”

Lily’s grip tightened as she leaned closer to Hades, her excitement soaring through the roofs. “There are so many places I want to show you!”

“Going to the village does sound fun,” Harold chimed in.

Krissy rolled her eyes. “You just want to check out their weaponry. That’s not fun.”

Jin wrapped his arms around Lily, who shot him a glare. “I know! Let’s all go out together!”

“Huh? Hades and I don’t need company”

“Come on! It’ll be fun,” Jin said, turning to Hades. “Back me up here!”

Jin and Lily glared at him. Hades looked at them for a moment before turning away, breaking free from Lily’s grasp. “I never said I was going to the village. This is the perfect opportunity to get in some extra practice or catch up on my sleep”

Lily and Jin pulled him back. “Where do you think you’re going?” they asked.

“You always train, what are you planning to do? Fight god?” Lily asked.

Hades chuckled at their audacity. “Do you really think you two can stop me?”

They laughed in response, undeterred. “We can’t, but he can.”

“Who?”

Harold removed the upper layer of his cloak, revealing his dark, bulging muscles and thick coating. His dark red eyes looking down at Hades.

“Oh, come on,” Hades whispered. “This doesn’t make a difference”

But before he could react, Lily moved stealthily behind him, striking his neck and knocking him down to the ground.

She dusted off her palms. “You really thought we’d attack a devil head-on?”

Jin burst into laughter. “Harold, your body really is a fantastic distraction.”

“Thank you,” he said, faking a deep voice.

Maki stood by, eyes wide with amazement. “Lily, you took him out with one attack”

Lily flipped her hair over her shoulder with a smile. “It’s his fault for not paying attention to his coating.”

Bon, still battered fell to the floor, his legs finally giving up while he whispered for help. Kim rushed over to assist him, while Levi wondered what sort of monster he had fought to get him beaten up like this.

They had just appeared out of nowhere, Maki thought.

Jin ambled over them, throwing his arms around their shoulders. “Hey, want to join us? We’re heading to the village!”

“And why would we?” Kim shot back, glaring at him. Jin was the only student who knew all the blades ever created. Yet he always spent his time with those two, she thought. Even though there were others, like her and Krissy, who studied all day, they could never reach his level. She’d rather die than tag along with him.

“And Maki’s coming too!” Jin said.

“I am?”

“Of course! We’re friends, after all.”

Her cheeks flushed, while Kim sighed, dropping Bon and leaving him in Levi’s care. “Guess I’ll join you all,” she said.

Levi looked at her. They had come together to find the others and practice more, not to engage in this. But this was also a good chance to get to know Hades and the weaknesses of his gifts. Levi cleared his throat. “I don’t know what’s happening, but we’ll come too.”

Bon groaned, whispering with his last ounce of strength. “I need a doctor...”

Harold clapped his fists together. “Alright then, let’s move!” He scooped up Hades.

Lily dashed ahead. “Onward to the village of Heathens!”