Phase 20: The Noble of Shadows

- About Four Years Ago –

The fourteen-year-old boy with spiky ebony brown hair stood in front of a building that looked like a large Japanese-style mansion. He was wearing a black jacket, pants and a red T-shirt. Beside him, there was a young adult woman with very long blonde hair and icy blue eyes with the white spaces being replaced by black. In contrast with the boy's casual outfit, she was wearing a royal blue dress with frills and a few ribbons. To block off the strong sunlight, the blonde woman was carrying a frilly parasol that matched her dress well.

"So… This is the base for the group of immortals you were talking about, Eva-baasan."

*POW*

Evangeline smacked the boy in the head.

"Fairyland Hall. Also known as the Mansion of Youkai. Here, you will meet the immortals of this country that have joined UQ Holder."

"Ummm," Touta hummed. "People who are living relics are here, huh… Then, this must be like one of those places where the old folks play bingo, right?"

"Do you like to take everything as a joke?" Evangeline's sharp eyes threw a glare at the boy, but she soon calmed down. "You're merely at the fresh start of your immortality, Touta. There's a lot of the world of the supernatural you don't know, especially about immortals."

Touta grinned and put his hands on his waist. "Alright. Since I'm now part of the immortal club, I should go meet my fellows."

"You're as casual as ever, boy," Evangeline sighed. "This isn't some social group where you become friends with everyone. Several immortals don't get along very well, in fact."

Touta furrowed his brows. "So, this isn't like some groups of companions that think of each other as family and go on adventures?"

"You read too much shonen manga, boy," Evangeline deadpanned. "There are immortals who can be friends, but I haven't seen any as close as what you would see in idyllic friendship stories."

"Why bother to make a group of immortals, then?" Touta made an exaggerated head tilt.

"Because in order for the immortals to adjust themselves to the world, they all need to find a role to play in it. One they can carry out for ages. I'm bringing you here for you to start understanding that. It may help you decide what path you will take from now on as an undying vampire."

Touta kept smiling like he usually does. However, the look in his eyes somehow lacked any liveliness. "My path, huh…."

That day, the meeting between the Japanese branch UQ Holder and the English branch Athanasia was being held. Right after the meeting ended, Evangeline took Touta to the meeting room. There, the vampire boy saw seven people sitting on zabuton cushions.

On the right side of the table, there were the members of UQ Holder, the immortals of Japan: Shishido Jinbei, Makabe Gengorou and Ameya Ikkuu. Gengorou and Ikkuu had the same appearances Touta would know them for the next four years. Jinbei looked a little different in terms of clothing, though. Jinbei was wearing a professional suit and a haori with the sleeves loose, making it look like a cape. Because of that, Touta had the initial impression that he was a more serious man than the lazy drunkard he became familiar with later.

At the opposite side of the table, there were four people.

First, there was the immortal going by the name Isht Karin Orte, mostly known as just Karin, headmaster of the Holy Magic Academy. Her appearance was that of a girl in her late teens. She had chin-length dark purple hair with a long braid growing from the nape. Her clothes resembled a catholic school uniform. Her face was permanently devoid of emotion. There was only one moment in which the girl's facial expression changed a little. When the two vampires entered the room, Evangeline's eyes briefly met with Karin's. Almost instantly, both women averted their glances.

Next to Karin, there was Sept, the headmaster of the Lost Magic Academy. Sept appeared to be an adult in their mid-twenties and was wearing a suit similar to Jinbei's. Very long silvery blue hair that reached the floor while sitting. Sept's androgynous facial features and thin body structure made it hard to tell if they were a man or a woman. Besides Ikkuu, Sept was the only one in the room who greeted Touta with a polite smile. There was something about Sept that made Touta find them very beautiful. Maybe that was the moment Touta first realized his natural attraction to people with gender-neutral looks.

The third immortal was Shimas, headmaster of the Alchemy Academy. Known also as Juuzou by Jinbei. He was a dark-skinned young man with short black hair and wearing simple black clothes.

The last one of the four stood out the most. He looked like a boy around fifteen or sixteen years old. He had short golden hair and sharp eyes of the same color. His clothes were something that would make anyone turn heads at him more than anyone in the room. To specify, the blond boy was wearing a completely black suit with a tie, golden buttons, and what looked like an eagle symbol on some parts of his clothes. Over his shoulders, there was a long, black cape with a tall collar. And it appeared to be slightly moving on its own.

This boy was Nikitis Laps. Unlike the four other immortals of Athanasia, Nikitis was not the headmaster of an academy. He carried the title of the Librarian of the Ancient Magic Library.

Standing in front of the immortals' meeting table, Touta took a deep breath, cleared his throat and put on the brightest smile he could show.

"Nice meeting you all. I'm Konoe Touta. Until a couple of months ago, I was yet another middle school student. Because of some complicated stuff, I got turned into a vampire by Evangeline-san here. I'm new to this whole immortality thing, but let's get along as immortal fellows!"

Touta finished his introduction by making an energetic pose with a thumbs-up. Despite his friendliness, none of the immortals present in the room seemed to return the feeling. They just quietly stared at Touta. The silence that followed made Touta feel super awkward. As his smile twitched, Touta tried to think of something to break the ice, but then…

"Hahaha," someone started laughing in a self-important manner. It was Nikitis.

"Hey, you there," Touta looked mildly confused. "Normally, I don't mind making people laugh. But I didn't say anything funny just now."

Nikitis smirked. "Oh, you did something funny, bat spawn runt. Greeting us like a new group of friends."

Touta already felt annoyed by Nikitis' attitude. "I was already told this isn't a place where immortals become buddies. I was just trying to be friendly. Anyway," he crossed his arms. "I should get a hang on what immortals do now that I'm a part of this community. That's why I was thinking I should join your group."

Touta heard a sigh. The one who made it was Gengorou.

"Truly the way a naïve kid thinks, uh."

"Huh?" Touta blinked.

"Evangeline-san," Gengorou adjusted his glasses as he talked to the blonde woman standing behind Touta. "I thought you were one of those who agreed immortality is not something that can be granted to anyone. I was in disbelief when you informed us you had made the adopted son of the Konoe into your vampire kin."

Evangeline simply turned her eyes to the side. "This wasn't in my plans either, Makabe Gengorou. If I could, I would have saved his life without transforming him. Unfortunately, I don't know healing magic and this boy was in a state beyond salvation when they brought him to me."

Gengorou's gaze turned more severe. He stood up and walked until he reached Touta's side. "Even so Evangeline-san, for you as a True Blood Vampire to create a new immortal with part of your power without consulting our organization first is-"

"Mister Makabe," Karin raised her hand as she interrupted. "I understand your concerns. However, you must know Lady Evangeline only took the course of action she saw fit for that situation. Everything was a disaster during that day. If Lady Evangeline didn't use her powers as a True Blood Vampire, that boy surely would not be alive now."

Gengorou frowned. "Then, are you suggesting whenever a human is in danger to die, is it acceptable to transform them into an immortal?"

"I, in no way, have implied that, Mister Gengorou," Karin answered expressionlessly.

"I am saying this out of concern for the balance of the current world. Normal people are just getting used to being aware of the existence of magic. Immortality is on a whole different level. One of the purposes of Mythica Conjunctio's immortal divisions is to prevent mortals find ways to achieve immortality without supervision. A simple person could become a godlike being with the power to destroy the world if they get the power of immortality on their side. And now, there is a new immortal bestowed with a True Blood Vampire's power…"

"Um," Touta raised his hand while smiling nervously. "I'm not sure what's going on here, but I can get you're worried I could go crazy with power and take over the world, is that it Glasses-san?"

"My name is Makabe Gengorou. And I am very aware of who you are, Konoe Touta-kun."

"Alright, Gengorou-san. You got nothing to worry here. I accepted to become a vampire because I didn't want to die at fourteen," Touta grinned and placed his left thumb over his chest. "I don't really care much about that whole True Blood Vampire thing nor have any grand plan that could affect the future of the world. I consider myself human at heart now and forever! Just being able to stay alive is enough for me!"

Gengorou's stern eyes stared at Touta. The boy tried his best to stay cheerful, but Gengorou was making the atmosphere way too tense.

"It appears you are telling the truth, Touta-kun. However, there's no guarantee that you will feel that way after some hundreds of years," Gengorou's eyes narrowed. "Many immortals are tempted to engage in very dangerous plans once their perception of the world changes."

Touta kept smiling, but his eyebrows lowered. "W-Well… I don't really know about that. I'm a rookie in this field, after all. But… Let's not get off on the wrong foot, Gengorou-san. This UQ Holder is a group of good immortals, right? So, now that I'm part of UQ Holder too, you can be sure I won't crazy over infinite life and power."

Nikitis stood up from the table. "Huh? Did I mishear you? Because it sounded like you think we already accepted you as one of us."

Touta turned at Nikitis. "Em… Yeah? That's why I'm here today. Since I'm a vampire now, I should be hanging out with other immortals to see what they do. That's how it works, right?"

Nikitis' face darkened as he grinned. Then…

"WOHAHAHAHAHA!"

As Nikitis kept laughed hysterically, all the other immortals in the room just kept quiet. All had a different reaction, though. Ikkuu and Sept calmly smiled. Jinbei yawned. Gengorou rolled his eyes as he adjusted his glasses. Shimas simply closed his eyes.

Finally, only Karin said something. "Lady Evangeline, just how ignorant have you kept this kid?" she asked as she placed her index finger in the middle of her eyebrows.

In response, Evangeline shrugged. "This boy is the type who can't really get how things are until he experiences it firsthand. I thought you people would make him understand a bit better how immortals go by in this new age."

Touta just stood in the meeting room with a puzzled look on his face. "Alright, now I'm not getting it. Why is everyone acting like this?"

"Because you're clearly misunderstanding everything, bat spawn fool!" Nikits gave Touta the pointing finger. "From what you say, you must think you're starring in one of those shounen genre stories from the manga in your nation. And we're just a generic group of stock characters with flashy superpowers. Well, some of it is correct, but this organization is not something that dull!"

Touta blinked a few times and then twisted his eyebrow. "I admit I did think this immortal club would be something like that…" he admitted in his mind. "Although, what's up with thiscosplayer talking about manga? He must be an otaku, after all."

"I do not consider myself what puny mortals call otaku," Nikitis crossed his arms. "I am appreciative of all entertainment around the world, with the Japanese offering some of the most appealing to me!"

"Eh?" Touta frowned. "Hold on. Did you just read my mind? It's illegal to use telepathy magic on anyone without consent!"

"Wrong. I don't use telepathy magic," Nikitis shook his index finger. "I'm just predicting your thoughts according to the waves in your aura."

"What the-" Touta wanted to ask some questions, but then shook his head. "Forget that. You keep saying that this UQ Holder isn't a group of comrades. Then, what you guys do?"

"Fine. I will tell you to enlighten you a little, ignorant bat spawn," Nikitis put his hands on his waist and opened his mouth widely. "We-!"

"Basically, all immortals in this room have an important occupation to fulfill."

"Hey!" Nikitis glared at Karin. He was clearly annoyed at being interrupted.

"Occupation?" Touta asked.

Nikitis raised his hand and opened his mouth again.

"Allow me to explain," Gengorou was the one who interrupted this time.

Nikitis' black cape was flapping even though there was no wind in the room. There was also a massive dark aura surrounding him, but everyone in the room decided to ignore it.

"Oi, is that okay?" Touta asked in his mind as the ominous darkness around Nikitis kept expanding in the room.

Gengorou continued his exposition as if nothing was happening. "First of all, I ask you, Konoe Touta-kun. What is it that makes immortals different from humans and demihumans?"

"That's obvious," Touta shrugged. "We can be chopped to pieces and will be back to normal in a minute."

Everyone in the room gave a disconcerting look at Touta. They said nothing, but he already got the feeling they didn't like his simpleminded answer.

Gengorou sighed even more heavily than before, but kept serious as he spoke again. "That is not true for all immortals besides you, Konoe Touta-kun. Some can be killed more easily than others. Some have different ways to stay alive. What all do have in common is that we are the only people in the world that continue to exist throughout millennia. Therefore, we are the only ones who can impact the world infinitely."

Touta was listening as attentively as he could, even though the speech still was sounding a bit too dramatic to him. "I see. Then, that means you guys do what would take several lifespans for most people."

Gengorou was content that Touta was smart enough to put pieces together like that. "That is right. Endless researches, preservation of knowledge lost through generations, constant development of new magic and technology, management of religion… Those are all tasks that cannot be accomplished by mortals. Every immortal you see in this room, with the exception of Evangeline-san, has joined the international organization Mythica Conjuctio for specific purposes. That is why the divisions of immortals like UQ Holder and Athanasia have been created."

"Alright, alright," Touta crossed his arms and nodded. "Now everything is clearer. All of you guys are doing something big, huh. That's quite amazing," Touta smiled widely.

"Now you get it, bat spawn kid," Nikitis said. In the blink of an eye, he was standing next to Touta and Gengorou. But no one sensed he had moved from his seat at the table. Nikitis had just appeared there. "Then, what about you?"

"Eh?" Touta frowned in confusion.

"For what purpose do you want to use that immortality of yours?" Nikitis asked as he extended his left arm towards Touta. "That's the most important question to answer if you want to join the Japanese division."

Touta's lips tightened. For the first time since he entered the room, he had stopped smiling. "Even if you suddenly ask me that… I become immortal because of an emergency. I didn't even have figured out what I wanted to do when I was mortal!"

"How dull!" Nikitis facepalmed while making an overdramatic pose. "The great gift of immortality fell into the hands of a rascal with no clear ambition nor dreams! Such a dull tale!"

"What the hell?" Touta deadpanned.

"No good, bat spawn," Nikitis made a spin as he turned back to Touta. "Motivation is the most essential thing to drive a character forward and I sense none of that in you!"

"Okay, you're just talking crazy," Touta arrived at that logical conclusion.

"In other words," Jinbei, still on his seat, picked his ear. "If ya got nothing to add to the immortal division, yar not getting in, kid."

"Ah, I get it now," Touta tapped his fist against his palm. "Wait! Then there's no meaning in bringing me here!"

"Well," Ikkuu placed his hand on his chin. "Even if you don't join UQ Holder, you can be part of the combat division of the normal ranks with the youkai, Touta-kun. A vampire will definitely be a good asset there."

"That is true," Gengorou concurred. "In that case, we should decide the one who can help with the test."

"Uh, a test?" asked Touta.

"Basically, we need to put you against someone to measure your battle level," Gengorou clarified. "There are a few youkais that are in the highest ranks of their race. Depending on who you can beat, we'll-"

"Hold on right there," Nikitis gave Gengorou the pointing finger. "If you need someone to test the strength of this bat spawn, how about you leave it to this great me?"

All the immortals in the room had some form of shock in their faces, even Karin's and Jinbei's eyes widened a little. On the other hand, Touta was blissfully ignorant of what had everyone so alarmed.

Evangeline frowned and gave a step forward. "And why would you offer that, Noble Nikitis Laps?"

"Noble?" Touta assumed that was just a title.

Nikitis smirked. "Why that hostile aura, Dark Evangel? I merely think it would be a good opportunity to make your kin understand where he stands next to the other immortals."

"No offense, Nikitis-san," Gengorou spoke again. There was some nervousness on his usually cool face. "Konoe Touta-kun is being tested for the Japanese branch UQ Holder. I think it is better to leave this to our members-"

"I don't mind," Touta said, easygoing as ever. "If this 'Noble' wants to fight me, so be it."

"Perfect, then," Nikitis grinned. It was then that Touta saw Nikitis had sharp fangs like his. "Let's go outside immediately. The entire building could be destroyed if we have the fight here."

"Nikitis Laps," Karin stood up from her seat at the table. "Do you intend to use Konoe Touta for one of your games?"

"Oh no, I really do want to teach this bat spawn something," Nikitis responded with a smug smile. "I would like to have my fun, though," his arrogant smile turned slightly bloodthirsty.

Karin's cold eyes narrowed. "You are the type who takes joy out of trampling on those you see as ants."

"What an imprudent statement about me," Nikitis pretended to gasp. "Not that it is wrong," he added with a devilish smirk.

Karin made her hands into fists. That was until someone softly touched her hand. When Karin turned to the side, her eyes met with Sept's. Even without saying anything, she knew Sept was asking her to calm down, so she did.

At the stern looks of the other immortals from the English branch, Nikitis let out a sigh. "Do not get that upset. The ones who will play with the bat spawn are my familiars, not me."

With the statement, everyone in the room appeared less tense.

"Hey, hey," Touta held out his palms. "I don't get what's up here, but there's nothing to get worked up about. It's just a test, after all. And we're both immortals. Even if things get bloody, we'll be fine! I actually like it better that way."

As Touta said that with such a calm smile, all the other immortals in the room had one thought:

"This kid doesn't know how to read the room, does he?"

Anyhow, Nikitis was content with Touta's answer.

"I'll be waiting in front of the library," Nikitis made a small smile that had a hint of bloodlust in it. It was then that Touta sensed a presence of death from the boy they called a Noble.

Nikitis' cape moved even more despite the lack of wind in the room. Moths appeared in the room and flew around Nikitis. In the blink of an eye, the Noble was gone from the room.

Touta could help to snort. "What's up with that Noble guy? Does he like making a dramatic exit?"

"Alright then," Jinbei stood up from the table and clapped his hands. "The meeting between UQ Holder and Athanasia is finished now. See ya England folks next meeting!"

All the immortals except Touta and Evangeline headed to the door of the meeting room. Strangely, Ikkuu and Sept gave Touta sympathetic pads in the shoulders while looking at him like he was about to walk into his doom.

"You will regret your thoughtless choice soon," Karin whispered at Touta as she passed by him. Before continuing her path, her lips also mumbled something as she passed by Evangeline, but Touta didn't even notice it.

As Touta wondered what the girl named Karin meant by that…

"Konoe Touta-kun," Gengorou placed his hand on the boy's shoulder. "Take this with you for your test with Nikitis."

Gengorou handed over a brush, cleaning towels, and a bucket of water to Touta.

"What's this for?" Touta could only ask.

"One of the first rules of immortals here: Each one must clean the messes they make when someone else does them in."

"…"

Touta said nothing as Gengorou walked away.

"Touta," Evangeline, now alone with the boy, spoke to him. "You have gotten yourself into quite the predicament."

"Uh?" Touta made an exaggerated head tilt. "Alright, why have you all been this cryptic for the past minutes?"

Evangeline rubbed her head. "You're new to other kinds of immortals, but there is something you must know something about this one. Nikitis Laps is an Edimmu; an ancient type of vampire."

"Vampire?" Touta raised an eyebrow. "Like you and me?"

"No," Evangeline shook her head. "We used to be human beings. Nikitis Laps, the Noble, is something entirely different. First of all, compared to him, I am not that much older than you."

"Even though you're a relic from the Middle Ages?" Touta joked to light up the mood. That Evangeline didn't yell or hit him made him realize this must be a serious topic.

Evangeline's eyes narrowed as she crossed her arms. "That can be more accurately described as a creature of nightmares in the form of a human. Listen Touta, immortals like you and I can understand things such as morals and values. One like Nikitis doesn't. All that one cares about is entertainment. And you just set yourself up to be his next toy."

Touta frowned. "Is this 'Noble' really that much of a dangerous guy?"

"Dangerous enough that even I might run into some trouble if he were to get serious," Evangeline said bluntly.

"Oh," Touta finally understood Nikitis must be a crazy powerful monster. "Then… I'm lucky that guy can't kill me."

"Unfortunately, Touta, sometimes not being able to die is not that much of a good thing. And immortals like Nikitis Laps are those who like to exploit that to the maximum," Evangeline closed her eyes. "I admit I probably should have warned you about him before I brought you here… Although I sort of thought you would be able to read the mood to understand you shouldn't accept a challenge from him. I didn't except you to be this dense. That's on me, boy."

"Are you showing concern for me or are you looking down on me?" Touta asked in deadpan.

Evangeline didn't answer that question. "Well, if Nikitis Laps is just going to fight you using his familiars against you, at least your mind has a good chance of surviving," she placed her hand on her chin. "In the end, I do agree that experiencing this fight will be a good opportunity for you to understand the society of immortals is not something as nice as you think."

Touta did nothing more than raise an eyebrow and sigh through his nose. He still didn't understand why all his immortal sempais were making these grand talks about immortality. Although, he would get a better grasp on it very soon after that.

Touta made his way to Library Island. He already had the sword Yunagi in his hand, but his adversary Nikitis was nowhere in sight.

"Hey, Noble! I'm here for my test!"

No answer. Touta began wondering if Nikitis had changed his mind and wasn't showing up for the duel anymore. But then…

*zap*

Touta jumped back, barely dodging a flying object that came flying at him. It took him a second to identify what it was.

"A stake!?"

A dark-colored stick with one of the ends shaped like a drill was flying in the air at high speed. It aimed at Touta. The boy acted fast and used his sword to deflect the stake. He thought it was nothing that offered a big fight, but then…

*zap* *pin* *swoosh*

More dark stakes appeared flying around Touta. There were seven in total. He kept using his sword to deflect them, but they were moving too fast. Almost at the speed of light. No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't keep up with that speed. In the blink of an eye, he saw the red stain in his shirt. A stake had pierced through his chest, yet the worst had yet to come.

When Touta realized, he had been stabbed countless times. There were holes on his arms, legs, chest, and neck. Finally, one stake flew through his head and his left eye was gouged out.

"ARG! BLEUGH!"

While still processing what had happened, Touta fell to his knees and vomited blood. Unbelievable amounts of blood were coming out from the stabs all over his body. The boy felt like he was going to die, yet he couldn't die. He only wanted his injuries to heal over quickly for that hell of pain to be over. However…

"Damn it… Why am I not healing yet?"

He did feel the magic in his body taking effect for the regeneration process. But it somehow felt slower and weaker. He hadn't been hurt to this extent ever since his transformation into a vampire. Could it be it got slower the more he got hurt? No, that wasn't the case from what he had seen from Evangeline.

Touta vomited more blood and placed his hand over his chest, the place in his battered body that hurt the most. Then he noticed, something was missing.

"Are you looking for this?"

Touta heard Nikitis' voice. Following it, he looked up and saw Nikitis sitting cross-legged at the highest part of the library's roof. The seven black stakes had flown back to the side of their master and now were floating around the blond vampire. From Nikitis' left hand, a claw made of darkness was coming out. When Touta focused his remaining right eye on the claw, he saw a beating heart; his heart.

"Are you surprised?" Nikitis asked with an affable smile. "It's a popular belief that vampires can be definitely killed with a stake to the heart. Of course, that's not exactly true in your kind's case," Nikitis shook his right index finger as he explained.

"Y-You…" Touta struggled to even speak. Since his throat had been stabbed too, his vocal cords haven't healed yet.

"Oh, wait. I assume you don't know what's happening to you right now, do you?"

When Nikits finished that question, he wasn't sitting at the library's rooftop anymore. Nikitis was now beside Touta, standing on the injured boy's blood-stained shadow. Since Touta's thoughts were still confused from the unbearable pain and blood loss, he couldn't question Nikitis' teleportation skill.

"Then, I will be nice enough to tell you. Be grateful," said Nikitis as he clapped his hands.

The shadow underneath Nikitis' body expanded. From it, a large board came out and a black stick appeared on Nikitis' hands. As if he was teaching a class, Nikitis signaled the board. Images of Touta and a heart appeared on it.

"A heart is like the 'core' of bats people call vampires like you. However, you won't die from merely being stabbed in the heart. To you bats, blood is your life itself. If you keep your heart in your body and drink blood from other living beings, you can live forever. But if your heart is ripped off of your body…"

*bleurgh*

Touta vomited blood until he felt like his organs would come out. Most of the holes in his body were closing. Yet, he still felt as if his very life was draining away with the blood leaving his body. He stared at the pool of his own blood surrounding him. The color red dyed his vision. And his mind was overcome by a single thought.

"BLOOD. BLOOD. BLOOD. BLOOD! I NEED BLOOD!"

As his instincts yelled those words at him over and over again, Touta's eyes turned bright red and his vampiric fangs were sticking out of his mouth. He was grateful no normal people were around. Because in his current state, he would attack them and drink all of their blood.

Without his heart, Touta felt even closer to death than when he let Evangeline transform him. No, that wasn't it. He really felt like he was dead. He was just a moving corpse craving to steal life; to drink blood.

As Touta desperately struggled with his maddening thoughts of bloodthirst, he didn't question why he felt no impulse to drink the blood of Nikitis who was right in front of him. Touta didn't understand it yet, but his vampiric instincts didn't perceive Nikitis as a source of blood nor a real living being. Nikitis was just a shadow to Touta's vision that was stained red.

"This is how you become."

A distorted smirk appeared in Nikitis' lips as he stared at Touta's face with glowing red eyes wide open. He heard the young vampire boy gasping as if he was running out of air.

Nikitis snapped his fingers. The claw made of shadows pierced Touta right through the chest. Touta then felt his heart had been returned to him.

*GASP*

It was as if the flame of his life was burning inside him once more. Touta felt alive again. His maddening thoughts demanding blood had calmed down too. He still felt thirsty as hell, but could hold it in until he met with Evangeline later. First…

"What the hell was that?!" Touta, with his clothes and face still covered in his own blood, yelled at Nikitis.

Nikitis simply continued smiling smugly. "You're the one who agreed to take your entrance test with me. That was a little warm up plus a special exposition of a weakness you should be aware of now as the bloodsucker you are. I like letting the excuses of immortals know how inferior they are to true immortals like myself. How kind of me, right? Thank me while bowing down to me!" he finished by laughing like a nobleman.

Touta normally tried to control his violent impulses, but right now he felt like he seriously wanted to stab Nikitis all over his body as payback for what this guy they call 'Noble' put him through. Touta enforced his sword with ki and tried to attack Nikitis.

*zap* *zap*

Two of the black stakes from before stabbed Touta's right arm before his sword could reach Nikitis. Then, Touta felt as his body was pinned down. That was when he saw five girls dressed in flashy uniforms that showed off their legs. They were all holding Touta down.

"Who are-?!"

"They are some of my low-class familiars," Nikitis explained. "The Seven Stakes. They're cute, right?"

"Now I know you got some fetishes…"

Touta used his enhanced strength to stand up and free himself from the girls' hold. The girl turned back into stakes and tried to stab Touta again, but Touta had an easier time dodging them now that he had read their speed and movements before.

Meanwhile, Nikitis was casually looking at Touta trying to not get stabbed by his familiars again.

"Do not misunderstand," Nikitis waved his hand. "No sexual desire motivated me to make these girls like this. You see, their designs are based on the stake demon servants I saw in one of the greatest pieces of fiction created in this Land of the Rising Sun. My wardrobe today was inspired by that masterpiece, in fact," he said as he showed off his black suit with a magician cape.

As he continued jumping around and throwing ki attacks at the black stakes, Touta looked at Nikitis like he was a total weirdo.

"So, you are an otaku, after all," Touta retorted.

"I prefer to call myself a man of culture," Nikitis shrugged.

After watching Touta handling himself against the stakes for a few seconds more, Nikitis made a face that practically yelled 'I'm done with this crap'. Nikitis clapped and the seven stakes answered the call of their master by stopping their attacks on Touta. The stakes flew to the shadow beneath Nikitis' feet and vanished from sight, as if they were absorbed into the shadow.

With an annoyed look on his face, Nikitis sighed. "That got dull quick. Since you're the first new bloodsucker in centuries, I thought it would be amusing to put you up against stakes, believed by many to be the deadliest weapon to vampires. However, I suppose familiars that are on the level of toys won't work to entertain me with you beyond a surprise attack," his eyes narrowed. "Playtime is over. Time to begin with the real test."

"Playtime?!" Touta exclaimed baffled. "You mean you were just toying with me by making me full of holes?!"

"Just so you know, the Seven Stakes are mere servants I keep for hobby, like those figurines of anime characters at stores. They don't have even one percent of the magic power I bestow to my ranked familiars," Nikitis made a twisted smirk.

"Hold on," Touta held out his palm. "You mean those hot nee-chans with nice legs are the weakest of your familiars? Even though they left me tattered like that?"

"That is right," Nikitis talked as if he was bragging. "My familiars are all my creations, made from my magic. The most powerful ones are above the level of the horrific monsters that resided in the Cerberus Canyon of the Magic World before its collapse."

"That's," Touta's hands were trembling before he made them into fists. "That's so awesome!" The boy's eyes were shining in wonder. "Immortals are really something! I'm glad I'm joining this organization if I get to know people who can make such spectacular stuff like those familiars!"

Nikitis stared wide-eyed at Touta for a moment. That wasn't the reaction he was expecting from the boy. Soon, his expression return to the aloof one of usual.

"I see you are capable of recognizing my greatness," Nikitis put his hands on his waist. "You may have a few more brain cells than I thought. And by that, I mean more than three."

Touta's veins were popping up again. "You're some Grade A asshole, aren't you?"

Nikitis shrugged. "I simply do not like you at all. That carefree 'Let's be friends!' attitude of yours makes me want to puke," his haughty smile turned darker. "That's why I am using this entrance test to teach you a little lesson. So that you learn being immortal is not all fun and games."

"Oh man, how thoughtful," Touta rolled his eyes. That whole talk about the burden of immortality they kept throwing at him had him annoyed.

Nikitis' eyes then changed a bit. So far, they had only appeared indifferent, but now they looked serious. He lifted his right arm as he gave the pointing finger at Touta. Nikitis was deliberately copying a pose from the visual novel he was doing cosplay of. With a powerful voice, he then said.

"Let me ask you a question, Konoe Touta. What do you believe is your stance in this world as an immortal?"

"Wha-?"

Touta was really taken by surprise. For the first time, Nikitis was calling him by his name. On top of that, his voice didn't sound like he was mocking him for once.

"Let me hear your answer," Nikitis said solemnly. "What path do you believe immortals should lead in a world ruled by mortals?"

Once the initial surprise passed, Touta returned to normal. He didn't even think for a second to answer Nikitis' question.

"I don't have any path or anything like that in mind."

"….."

Nikitis just narrowed his eyes as he listened to the rest of Touta's answer.

"I don't get much about all of this stuff about vampire types and immortal branches. I am kinda curious about it, but I can't say I want to learn about it. That day I drank Eva-san's blood, I didn't want to die. So, I don't care if you guys keep telling me I need to revalue the way I should live. I am me; nothing will change that."

"I see," Nikitis clicked his tongue. "I was right about you."

Nikitis' face didn't look pleased or displeased at the answer he got. His eyes just expressed a slight sense of boredom.

"So," Touta said in a childlike tone. "Is that question important to the entrance test?"

"No," Nikitis shook his head. "I just wanted to confirm something before starting. Your test is going to be like this," Nikitis raised his index finger. "I will have you fight one of my ranked familiars one by one. They are separated in ranks D, C, B, A, and S; that makes five familiars in total for you to face. Depending on your results, I will recommend you for a position in the battle forces in the battle division of the youkai."

The shadow below Nikitis' feet grew once more, expanding through several meters. Nikitis then said:

"By the name of your one and only master and creator, Nikitis Laps the Noble of Shadows, I summon thee. Appear to serve me, Alphard Hya!"

The marks of five magic circles appeared on the ground. Then, a figure covered in darkness emerged from the shadow. Standing on top on the figure, several feet above, Nikitis looked down at Touta.

Touta could only stare in awe at the creature that had come out of Nikitis' shadow.

From the black shadow in the ground, ten tentacles emerged. No, they were long necks. They were attached to gigantic heads of monstrous snakes.

"Wow!" Touta exclaimed, feeling amazed and paralyzed at the same time. "A dragon?!"

Touta had never seen a dragon before. In the modern era, such magical creatures can only be found in the Magical World that is now stored in the Reflection Dimension in the sky.

"Wrong," Nikitis made an X with his arms. "This is one of my S-rank familiars. I created it based on one of the most powerful sea monsters that inhabited the oceans of Southeast Europe during the Age of the Gods. Sure, you have heard of hydras before."

Touta's jaw dropped. His body was trembling from sheer excitement. His eyes were sparkling.

"That's so awesome! Hydras are some snake monsters that grow more heads as you cut them off, right?! That's what I know from movies and videogames. So damn cool!"

"That is right. I equipped my familiar with the same regenerative capacities and scales harder than titanium," Nikitis crossed his arms, looking very proud at his work. "Shall we begin with the test?"

"We're on!" Touta got into battle position, wielding his Yunagi in hands.

The ensuing battle didn't even last a few seconds. The black hydra devoured Touta in one bite. That wasn't over then. The other nine heads fought over the boy's limbs and organs. Pieces of Touta's body were bitten, chewed, and torn apart. It all happened so fast that there was no chance to regenerate.

*clap* *clap*

"That is enough, my dear children," Nikitis ordered his hydra familiar. "You should not eat that. Idiot boy is bad for the stomach."

Obeying their master, the hydra's heads spat out Touta from their mouths. Although, the vampire boy had been reduced to scraps of meat and intestines. It looked like a scene from a butchery. In the matter of seconds, all the blood and meat began gathering around a specific organ; the heart.

Touta had lost consciousness the moment the first hydra head bit off the top half of his body. Yet, he was able to feel it. The sensation of being ferociously devoured by those monstrous mouths with sharp set of teeth. That was something that would be the end of any normal person. But not for an immortal. Touta would live on knowing what it was like to be eaten alive by a mythological monster.

"Ahh… So, this is what it means to be undying…"

Those were the thoughts in Touta's mind while his body was being put back together.

There was no certainty of how long the complete regeneration took. It may have been a few minutes. It may have been an hour. The point was that when Touta opened his reformed eyes, he was laying on the floor. His body was back to normal and completely naked. After all, regeneration didn't bring clothes back.

"Welcome back."

Nikitis stood in front of Touta's body lying in the ground. His golden eyes stared right into Touta's brown eyes that still looked lifeless.
"…."

Touta's body was back to normal. But his heart appeared to not be back yet.

"How was it to feel what a gruesome death is like? That is something only an immortal can answer," Nikitis showed a devilish smirk. "Are you starting to understand that you are an undying monster? Something like you cannot pretend to act like a human."

Monster. Not human. Those words triggered something in Touta. Before those people saved him, he didn't think of himself as a human. Because he was made to be a mere weapon. Originally, he would have thought nothing of Nikitis' words. But after being raised by them…

"Ya ain't a tool. Tou-kun is human. My and Secchan's precious son."

Touta remembered the words one of those people told him. That alone brought light back to his eyes.

"Don't fuck with me!" Touta stood up from the ground and looked at Nikitis to the eye. "I am a human. No matter if a thousand or a million years pass. No matter if this body heals after being crushed and torn to pieces. I will never stop being human at heart!"

"Oh," Nikitis raised an eyebrow. "That is quite the grand statement there, bat spawn. It is hard to take you seriously when you are naked like a newborn, though."

Without caring about his nudity, Touta kept talking.

"Shit. Being eaten by a hydra really is a living nightmare. That's gonna leave some trauma! But," Touta stared at Nikitis with dead serious eyes. "I will never think of myself as anything other than human just for surviving stuff that would normally kill people."

"Is that so?" Nikitis seemed unamused by Touta's answer. He let out a sigh. "You are really dull."

"…."

Touta didn't say anything back, but his lips twisted a bit. "There's four of your familiars that I need to fight for the test, right? What are you waiting for?"

"Uh? Are you up for continuing so soon?" Nikitis raised his eyebrows. "And here I was expecting you would break down in panic and despair after letting my S-rank play with you. Where are the tears and pathetic screams I wanted to see and hear so badly?" he said while pouting.

"Are you a super S?" Touta retorted.

"Oh well, seeing you get turned into a bloody mess by my lower-ranked familiars can be entertaining too. Although, are you not going to at least put on clothes back on?"

"Even if I do, they're gonna get ripped apart and dirty when I fight your monsters. Fighting butt naked is easier," Touta said indifferently.

"Such a lack of sense of decency. Instead of a bat, you are more like a monkey."

After saying that, Nikitis clapped his hands. Four magic circles appeared below his feet to call for his A-rank familiar.

For the rest of that afternoon, Touta was mangled by Nikitis' shadow familiars over a hundred times. Because he wasn't able to beat even the D-rank familiar, Nikitis decided Touta's wasn't qualified for the battle division of youkai. Janitor and cook were the only jobs Touta could take after that, but Touta didn't lament it. In fact, he found it a form of relief. That way he wouldn't be ordered around to fight. He could still live a life closer to that of a human.

- Back to the present day -

"Such a thing happened between you and the Edimmu…"

Kuromaru's face was blue from shock after Touta told her about his little past with Nikitis.

"Bad memories come back whenever I see the Noble…"

Even though what Nikitis put him through was nothing short of horrifying, Touta sounded annoyed more than anything.

Touta and Kuromaru, with her bird shikigami Asama on her shoulder, were walking down one of the halls in Fairyland Hall. Touta's hands were carrying a silver plate. On top of it, there was a variety of Japanese sweets, mainly wasanbon and wagashi shaped like flowers and animals. They were so beautiful that anyone would feel bad to eat them. These sweets were for the meeting of immortals at Fairyland Hall. Specifically, Nikitis was the one who ordered for them.

However, Touta and Kuromaru weren't heading for the meeting room. Nikitis was currently waiting for them at the garden. The reason for this was that Nikitis haven't come all the way from England to meet any official member of UQ Holder. Instead, Nikitis was only interested in having a private meeting with Kuromaru, the miko of the Yata no Karasu tribe.

"Damn," Touta said, sounding irritated. "What the hell does the Noble wants to get out of Kurou-rin?"

"I am not sure either," Kuromaru said contemplatively. "But it must have something to do with me being a Yata no Karasu. Like me, the Edimmu belongs to one of the few surviving races of the Age of the Gods."

Touta clicked his tongue. "I'm opposed to this!"

Kuromaru almost stopped walking from the surprise. "Touta-kun?"

"I said I don't want you having a private meeting with the Noble," Touta said very firmly. His eyes were sharp and serious. "You just heard what that Noble put me through on my entrance exam. If he by any means plans to use Kurou-rin as a toy for his sadistic games, I won't stand by and let that happen. You should say no to this! After all, like me, you aren't even an official UQ Holder. You don't have any obligation to talk about anything with him!"

Kuromaru stayed quiet for a moment. She closed her eyes before speaking. "Touta-kun, you are saying that because you are concerned about my wellbeing, right? That you asked me to go to the kitchen with you, even though I couldn't help much with baking those sweets, must have been because it worried you to leave me alone with the Edimmu after knowing what he is capable of."

Touta made a relieved smile. "Then-"

"However," Kuromaru continued. "I believe I should accept this meeting."

"! Why?! I just told you that-"

"That Edimmu says he is a true survivor of the Age of the Gods. The Yata no Karasu are a race from that lost time period, but in the present, none of my kind was alive during that era. There are also no records left of it in my tribe… That is why there should be something valuable in associating with the Edimmu. For the sake of discovering more of that era."

Touta gritted his teeth and lowered his head. "Even like that, I hate it. I don't understand much about this Age of the Gods, but the immortals from that era just seem to be wrong in the head," the faces of Nikitis and Asura Tu appeared in Touta's mind, causing him to hold the silver plate more strongly. He was going to leave a dent in it. "If the Noble were to leave Kurou-rin in a state like Bandaged Six Arms did. Or worse…"

I wouldn't be able to stand it. That was what Touta wanted to say. For Touta, the memory of holding Kuromaru in his arms with her missing her legs and arm was thousands of times worse than the memory of Nikitis' hydra devouring him.

"Touta-kun, listen to me," Kuromaru said, forcing Touta to look her in the eye. "I must become a suitable miko to inherit the name Kuroha. For that, I believe I should not only recover the Yata no Kagami; I have to represent the dignified divinity of my race to other immortals. If I were to turn away a meeting with this Edimmu, it could be taken as an act of cowardice from my tribe. That is why I must not hide or run away from this."

Seeing Kuromaru talk with such resolute eyes, Touta couldn't say anything back. He only scratched his head and groaned.

"Fine. If that is what Kurou-rin really wants, I won't say anything to protest. But if the Noble brings out one of his familiars, I won't let you fight it alone."

"Is that why you passed by your bedroom to pick up your sword?" Kuroumaru said while glancing at the sword bag on Touta's back.

Touta made his right hand into a fist. "When you have a potential enemy in the vicinity, always be prepared. That's what Setsuna-ma taught me!"

Kuromaru sighed through her nose as her lips bent into an ironic smile. "You worry too much, Touta-kun. You almost seem to forget I am an immortal too. Besides, I have access to god-class magic thanks to my race's deep connection to Shinto. I would surely handle myself better against that Edimmu than you did."

"You go into tsun-tsun mode the moment I'm being cool. That's a cute part of you too," Touta responded with a smile and a small blush.

Kuromaru puffed her red cheeks. "Touta-kun was trying to act cool? Like usual, I did not notice."

Touta simply grinned happily. In that exact moment, Touta and Kuromaru crossed the door that led them to Fairyland Hall's Japanese garden.

There they saw the blond boy wearing a black military coat and a fedora hat. Nikitis Laps was resting against a rock near the pond. For some reason, there were shopping bags resting next to him. Once he noticed Touta and Kuromaru, he headed towards them.

"Took your time," Nikitis said in the arrogant tone Touta hated so much. "But I see it was worth the wait," Nikitis took one of the wagashi on Touta's silver plate and admired it. "Truly! The Land of the Rising Sun offers some of the most excellent confectionery in the world. Look at these detailed and elegant shapes. A perfect combination of food and art! Magnificent!"

Nikitis ate the wagashi with a single bite. He didn´t chew or swallow. The sweet merely vanished inside his mouth. His smile became a little less arrogant for a moment.

"Never thought I would see an Edimmu eating sweets," Kuromaru could only comment.

Nikitis shrugged. "Normally, I would never bother eating any food that would be served for lowly humans. Shortly after this monkey became the janitor here, he served snacks for the reunion of immortals. I deemed animal food didn't deserve to even touch my lips and turned it away. And then…"

"Those who waste food must die…"

Touta mumbled the sacred creed that had been passed on to him by his grandfather Eishun.

The sole memory that Nikitis just recounted caused Touta to burn in fury. His eyes were glowing red and looked like they were on fire. Kuromaru was very alarmed by this.

Nikitis wasn't even a bit intimidated. Instead he seemed slightly amused. "I never thought I would see this monkey direct that much killing intent at me. Even though there is no power in the current world that can kill me, he assaulted me with all he had. Of course, given how mighty I am, I blew him to smithereens with a hand wave. But he was too stubborn that time and kept trying to attack me the moment his body reformed. After two reunions kept getting interrupted by me killing the annoying monkey five or six times, it got tedious. I accepted eating the food cooked by the monkey so he would not go on a rampage against me anymore."

Kuromaru heard the story with visible horror in her face. "Touta-kun has been through more hardships than I thought…"

Touta, for his part, had already calmed down and smiled cockily at Nikitis. "Admit it, Noble. My food is delicious and you love it!"

Nikitis looked away, mildly annoyed. "Hmph. I would say it is slightly more worthy of being eaten by my great self than other animal food made for humans."

"Thanks, I guess," Touta rolled his eyes. He knew that was the closest thing to praise he would get from Nikitis.

Kuromaru observed Touta and Nikitis quietly. Having heard the background they share, she was somehow expecting a bigger tension between them. They were being quite casual around each other.

"Still, I find it hard to imagine that Touta-kun could lose his temper as the Edimmu describes. Does people eating your food mean that much to you?"

Touta turned his face to the side. He looked a little embarrassed. "Konoka-mama taught me how to cook. So, you know…"

With just that line, Kuromaru felt she understood Touta's feelings a little better. He couldn't tolerate someone belittling a skill that was given to him by one of his mothers. For some reason she didn't understand herself, Kuromaru smiled a little.

"Yata no Karasu," Nikitis addressed Kuromaru, causing her to become stiff. "Shall we start our meeting?"

Kuromaru's eyes became dead serious. She took a deep breath before giving her answer. "Yes, Edimmu."

"Good."

Nikitis made a smug grin, displaying his sharp fangs. He clapped his hands and the shadow below his feet extended until it reached Kuromaru's feet. As if they were sinking into a swamp, Nikitis and Kuroumaru were being absorbed by the shadow.

"Wait a minute," Kuromaru tried to protest. She found she couldn't pull out her legs no matter how much she struggled. "What is the meaning of this, Edimmu?!"

"I never said I would carry out our meeting here. I would prefer to go to my gallery," Nikitis explained.

"Kurou-rin!" Touta yelled as he stared with frightened eyes.

From Nikitis' shadow, came out extensions of darkness that moved like tentacles. They forcibly grabbed the silver plate with the Japanese sweets from Touta's hands. But he wasn't going to stand still…

"Hey! Where are you taking Kurou-rin?!"

Touta jumped in an impulse. Nikitis and Kuromaru already had the lower half of their bodies submerged in the darkness, but Touta's hand managed to grab Kuromaru's arm. His legs began to rapidly sink into the black vortex on the ground. In less than two seconds, all of his lower half was absorbed in the vortex too.

"Touta-kun?!"

"What are you doing barging in on my teleportation, monkey?" Nikitis made a displeased look.

Before Kuromaru and Nikitis could properly react, the vortex created from Nikitis' shadow absorbed the three young-looking immortals.

In a large space with no people around, a black portal opened. From it, two people that looked like fourteen-year-olds came out.

"WAAH!"

*BAM* BAM*

Touta and Kuromaru were dropped from a two-meter altitude. Kuromaru landed on her butt while Touta fell upside down and his head hit straight into the floor. The phoenix-like shikigami Asama could fly, so she simply settled herself on Kuromaru's shoulder.

"Ouch!" Touta was holding his head that had a huge bump from the crash.

Meanwhile, Kuromaru got up while slightly rubbing her butt. "This place is…?"

Kuromaru looked at the space in front of her. The first thing she saw was a black Victorian couch. Next to it, there was a coffee table with legs that looked like black tree roots that were supporting a circular glass around a meter and a half wide. On top of the glass, there was a black and golden coffee set for two people that looked quite luxurious. Next to it, there was the silver plate with the Japanese sweets that Touta baked.

Kuromaru then turned her eyes to her surroundings. All she could see were books. Millions, no billions of books. They were all stored in bookshelves that were attached to the walls of a round room. The bookshelves were as tall as the ones found in Library Island.

Between each bookshelf, there were antique rock pillars. These pillars were separated in levels by tunnel entrances resembling Greek architecture.

There was no ceiling in sight; either it was too far high or the ceiling didn't exist if the bookshelves continued endlessly as it seemed.

The space was illuminated by the magic light spheres that were connected to the pillars. There were other glowing spheres that looked like planet globes of all the solar system floating around.

Kuromaru could only stare in awe at the fantastic space in front of her.

"….Wha…"

"Welcome to my gallery, Yata no Karasu."

The one who said those words was Nikitis. He was sitting on a black Victorian parlor chair, which was floating up in the air of the room. In his hand, Nikitis was holding one of the black and golden coffee cups. Next to him, the black teapot of the coffee set was floating and serving black liquid into Nikitis' coffee cup.

"This is a part of the book collection I have gathered through the past millennia. My personal name for it is the Akasha Book Labyrith. Has a nice ring to it, doesn't it?"