"Time to get to work. You've gotten accustomed to fighting during the day but there may be times when you'll have to fight at night."
"So you want me to just walk aimlessly through the woods?"
"Yup! I can sense some monsters scattered all over the place. You have until the crack of dawn. That's when we'll call it quits."
"What if something happens?"
"Make sure it doesn't happen obviously."
"Master!"
"I'm just messing with ya. I'll be watching from a safe distance. If things get too hectic or I feel you can't handle it, then I'll intervene."
"That's more relieving."
"Alright, enough chatter, get going Relon!"
"Yes, ma'am!"
4 Hours Later
"Where the heck am I?!" Allowing a groan to escape, he looks around the darkness illuminated only by the moon overhead.
Giving a momentary glance behind at the unconscious demonic monster, he wipes the accumulated sweat from his forehead before continuing on. Before long, he comes along a trail. Following it, he eventually comes to the sight of an abandoned mansion.
"A mansion in the middle of nowhere?" Blinking at the sight, the boy turns around only to be whacked by a stick.
Sent skidding across the ground holding his face, he peers upon the path to see nothing.
"Okay, fine!" He shouts. "I'll… go into the creepy mansion… alone." He gulps.
Any normal 10 year old would be terrified of the mere prospect of going inside such a spooky place much less wandering the woods in the dead of night. Though Relon Lucinance had already had the fear factor practically ripped from his heart by his master.
She could be described as terror incarnate herself just off her strength and personality when it came to a fight that such things like this seemed like watching a scary movie for the time. Yes. His master is addicted to one movie to a point she has watched it 420 while he has only been forced to watch it 69 times.
So here was, slowly creeping upon the front door of a tattered building seeming ready to collapse at a moment's notice. Yup. Nothing to fear. Except the unknown of course.
"Man." He sighs, reaching for the knob to pause. Giving a slight push, the front door opens wide. "Oh… it's unlocked…" Immediately turning around, he's met by a small log striking his abdomen, sending him off his feet and into the building.
Landing with a thud, he gasps for air to scowl through the open door at nothing. Okay, so his fear factor was partially intact after his master was done with it. He's 10! Give him a break!
Taking a moment to steel his shaky nerves, Relon tightens his fingerless gloves. Now that he thought about it, his master hadn't exactly taught him how to fight spiritual entities.
"How exactly do I fight something I can't hit?" At his question, the sound of shatter glass sounds as he looks to a rock with a paper attached in front of a now shattered window near the front door.
Walking over and picking it up, he reads the singular word
[Don't.]
Twitching his eye, another sigh escapes him as he refocuses down the long dark hall.
"I hate how predictable I am." Once again, another window shatters.
[Then be unpredictable.]
About to verbally respond, he keeps the retort to himself instead of departing into the darkness. Looking around, his eyes find only what belongs in every abandoned mansion. Stone statues and paintings whose gazes feel like they follow his every step, that cliché long carpet that's seemingly endless, and the eerie darkness itself. Oh wait, candles are being lit. Thank goodness! Wait…
Once after another past him towards the direction he just trekked down, candles become alight in flames. Quickly settling into a fighting stance, his fears vanish as his focus goes to the end of the now visible corridor where a larger door awaits. Out of nowhere, a surge of power bursts through the structure. The sheer density causing his body to tremble not in fear of the source but the sheer might.
"The heck…?!"
"Relon." Unable to react to the sudden appearance of his master, his eyes remain straight ahead. "Stay-"
"AAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!"
Recognizing the sound as that of a female's shriek, instincts take over as he bursts forward down the corridor pushing open the towering doors.
"Here. Damn it, Relon." His master sighs facepalming.
Coming to a halt, his eyes take in the sight before him. Several men, each with demonic-like wings all huddled around one another. At the center, a girl down on the ground. Her clothes clearly ragged with clear rips in various places. Some seeming to be indications of age and wear while others appear more recent. The clear sight of a blade lodged in her chest makes his blood run from a frigid cold to an uncomfortable burning sensation.
"H-Help…" She croaks teary eyed as she reached a hand towards Relon for one of the men to stomp on it.
"Shut up, brat!"
"The hell is a human twerp doing at a place like this in the middle of the night?"
"Who cares? Just kill him too and let's get-"
Cut off but the sound of a boom, the third man's head suddenly feels a hard force collide with the side of his head sending him off his feet and crashing into the second man.
"What the?!" Eyes buck wide at his allies down, he looks to the boy to find the force beneath him no longer there.
Returning to the entrance, all eyes meet Relon's. In his arms, the injured girl. His visage that of a deep scowl.
"Tch! Son of a bitch!" The second man growls, recovering as does the third.
"Let's get 'em!" The first orders, each readying their weapons and magic. "We have our orders."
"R-Run…" The girl's voice pleads momentarily, gaining Relon's attention.
Assuring her with a kind smile, he utters only three words.
"It'll be okay." He reassures with a warm smile.
Feeling the urge to flee through her grip on him, he notices her consciousness soon fade.
"You got a lucky shot, kid! I'll make you pay-"
"Time to kill-"
"Huh? What's with you two?" The first devil exclaims to the duo behind him.
Watching their eye sockets roll back, both bodies burst showering everything and everyone in their blood. Where both bodies once stood now a woman with vibrant red hair and blue eyes wearing a narrowed expression. A single finger pointed towards the remaining man.
"How did- ARGH!" He screams in agony as his arm abruptly explodes.
"I'll ask the questions." Her voice is cold and authoritative as she shifts her finger from his now gone arm to his head. "Consider myself merciful. Any who claim harm over my precious student will die. Simple as that" A dark red aura begins to exude as she continues. "Who ordered the assassination on the girl?"
"If I do, I'm a dead man either way- ARGGGGHHHH!" He groans in pain as blood shoots all over the place.
"Strike two." Narrowing further, she takes a step forward as he takes one back. "Who?"
"I can't-" One final blast explodes in all directions.
"Strike three. You're dead."
"The term is 'you're out,' Master." Relon chides.
Eyes softening at the words of her precious student, the woman turns back to Relon still holding the girl. Walking past him, he follows after.
"I know what I said." She puffs her cheek in a pout.
The Next Morning
"It'll be okay."
Three simple words matched by a face of reassurance. How could a boy seemingly her age do such a thing? How could he be so brave in the face of such danger? She could barely keep up with his body the moment he appeared. In a single fluid motion, he struck and retrieved her. Within the safety of his arms, she could feel it.
Just like her once own mother held her. The way in which he held her felt that of the same. It was odd. How could a stranger be capable of such? His tender words, his courageous actions, his seemingly mystifying touch. It was not strong per say but rather full of warmth and care. In the middle of facing such an opposition, he was willing to risk his own life against devils no less!
She was simply at a loss for words.
Eyes fluttering open, the rays of sunlight shines through a mirror.
"Who… was he?"
"He is a precious student of mine." A womanly voice answers.
Attempting to lift up in surprise, a sharp pain causes the young girl to wince as she holds the left side of her chest.
"Try not to push yourself too much. Those asshats got you good. Left an annoying scar though."
"... Oh."
Arching a brow, the woman seated across from the girl continues.
"So. You don't seem bothered by what happened. Care to explain why you were at a place in the middle of the night?"
Waiting only seconds, no response comes as the girl's gaze remains fixated on the comforter. Sighing, the redhead gets up going for the door. Opening it, Relon himself stands with a tray of breakfast in hand.
"You're awake!" He exclaims, his joyful voice gaining the girl's attention as she once again takes in the smile. Only this time it shines much more than the previous night. "You've been out for a few days.
Okay, scratch that. Since the last she saw it apparently. Wait. Days? As in plural?
"H-How long was I unconscious?"
"Practically a week. Big sis was the one who healed you by the way." He gestures to the woman leaning against the doorframe with a neutral look.
Gawking at the news, she blinks processing the information. Taking the opportunity to enter, he does so, setting the plate down.
"I made breakfast." He gives a nervous chuckle. "You made this? All of this?!"
"Three things Relon is good at; being honest, fighting, and cooking." The woman gives a shit-eating grin ruffling his hair.
"Hey, I have more traits than that!" He pouts, swatting her hand away. "Anyway, help yourself. You must be starving." He gestures.
Looking down awkwardly, she takes the provided utensils before, with slight hesitation, she takes her first bite. Eyes bucking wide, she immediately goes in for more.
"Yup. No one can say no to Relon's cooking."
"I'm still peeved over you calling me your favorite solely because I can cook, Big Sis."
"Hey! I told you I was joking!"
"And I still don't believe you!"
What was happening right now? This mild back and forth banter. The light atmosphere. This sense of peacefulness. Where did it come from? For the last year or so, she's been on the run fending for herself using the arts her late mother had taught her as a means of getting by in Japan. It was a long-fought struggle until one client in particular reached out. She'd had requests at odd times of the night before so this one hadn't seemed out of the ordinary.
Maybe it was her slow transition into comfort that allowed herself to fall prey to their trap. An assassination attempt by her clan and she walked in thinking her time would consist of purifying more spirits. She should have died. Maybe it would have been better had she.
But then… she wouldn't have met him much less been saved.
Allowing her eyes to look towards him, her gaze stays as he finally notices for worry to quickly spread.
Huh? Why was he making that face? Return to the happy face that she's currently admiring. Huh? Why is he wiping the corners of her face with tissues? Wait. Why does it feel wet?
"Hey." The serene voice she's become abnormally intrigued by calls out. "It's okay. You're safe."
Once again, there's that smile. Not overly large or even ecstatic per say but a mild smile nonetheless. The same kind her mother once gave her.
Allowing his gentle words to sink in, her body begins to tremble as her lips purse into a quiver. Noticing the incoming waterworks, the sole adult silently takes her leave.
Carefully moving the tray of food out the way, he turns back only to practically be tackled. An assortment of wails and hollers filled with despair and tragedies resound in the room. Taken aback for only a mere moment, his shocked demeanor softens as he returns the embrace stroking her hair.
Throughout her flowing emotions, she couldn't tell how much time had passed. All she could note was the once high sun had begun to set. Hours into her emotional release, said girl conformed to simply being held. The touch of her savior never easing up as he continued to caress.
"Feeling better?"
Considering they've been in this awkward position for so long, it made sense that he would comment sooner or later. He'd dealt with her own selfish actions long enough.
Finally letting go, she properly sits facing him. A nod is her only answer.
"I'm sorry."
"Don't be. As long as you're feeling better, that's what matters to me."
That smile was truly something precious. It had been what saved her and now it was something that had consoled her.
"Oh, that's right. We never properly introduced ourselves." He chuckles bashfully. "I'm Relon. Relon Lucinance. The woman that helped us is my Master. She has yet to tell me her name but when we're not acting as Master and student, I just call her Big Sis."
"She hasn't told you her name?"
Now that was odd. The woman who supposedly is responsible for Relon hasn't even told him her own name? Why was that? Judging from their relationship, it's obvious they're close.
"Haha, that's… a long story." He averts his gaze momentarily. "Anyway, what's yours?"
So caught up in everything, it truly did feel awkward to introduce herself. Then again, after everything she's been through, maybe a new start with the boy in front of her was a gift from fate for her hardship. One she wasn't going to let slip by.
"Akeno. Akeno Himejima."