"Pick up the phone Wilbert" I talked to myself as I waited for Wilbert to pick up the phone, I did promise him that will keep in touch. These first days in Kouh had been more hectic than I could possibly anticipate, but after last night's job, things started to calm down a little; at least for now.
"Hello? Who's this?"
"Hey Mr. Wilbert, Its Morgan"
"Ah, Lad, how are you doing?" I could almost hear the smile he had on his face. That little enthusiasm in his voice made me glad.
"Ah, I'm doing good, Mr Wilbert. Just last night I had another job from Azazel. It was pretty tough, not gonna lie, but we managed in the end. "
"That damn crow… I hope he isn't pushing you too much, Morgan" I could hear the worry in his voice. "I know Azazel can be a pain in the ass but he's pretty smart, even if he doesn't look like it. If someone can help you, its him"
"Duly noted. Ah, I also applied for a… more mundane job."
"Really? What kind of job?"
"An English teacher"
"..."
"Are you serious?" I could hear and feel the disbelief in his voice, as if I had said something so utterly unbelievable.
"Yes I am…?"
"...snrk…" Did… Did he just snicker?
"...hihihi…HAHAHA!" This asshole. Here I am calling him out of friendship and goodwill, and he just starts laughing like this? The audacity of this man. But then again, it is precisely for his personality that I like him.
"Oi; What the hell are laughin´ about?"
"Ah, I'm sorry Lad, it's just that I never pictured you as a teacher, honest."
"You better be, you old coot; Besides, you also have this teacher aura around you. I wouldn't be laughing too hard if I were you. Anyways, it was nice talking to you Mr. Wilbert"
"You too Morgan, take care. Talk to you later" And with that the call ended. It was nice to hear from him again. Now that we live in different countries, thousands of kilometers apart, communication gets a little tricker, we have phones and all, but sometimes I'm busy with jobs, and sometimes he doesn't pick up the line.
Speaking of jobs, Kuoh Academy should be contacting me soon. A few days have passed since the interview with the headmaster of the academy, and they´ll give me a call If a get the job, but for the time being I have more pressing matters in my hands, I should give the report the events of last night to Azazel, and the alliance I had with Haruki the tengu. Of course, I won't write a big ass report, I would rather tell him in person. It's not laziness, I call it efficiency. With my phone in hand I dialed Azazel's number.
"Morgan! What can I do for you, my upstart apprentice?"
"I'm not your- Ah, forget it. Could you come for a mission debrief in the Nozy book cafe? Its nearby the hotel Im staying"
"Yeah sure, I'll be there in about…" I heard the shuffling of papers through the phone. "an hour. Also do you mind if I bring along a companion?" A companion? That's a first. Maybe a friend or someone from grigori?
"Yeah it's fine. I'll wait for you in the cafe"
"Got it, see you in an hour" And I heard the end of the call. It'll be a while for Azazel to arrive, so better make the most of it. As I approached the little cafe store, I stopped for a bit to see the cafe. The exterior of the café was adorned with trailing ivy and adorned with wrought-iron lanterns that cast a warm, amber glow onto the inviting wooden door. A brass plaque, weathered by time, bore the café's name in elegant script. A whimsical wind chime, composed of seashells and tiny brass bells, tinkled with every breeze. A very nice looking cafe, with western aesthetic.
Stepping into the cafe, it was just as nice looking as the outside. The cozy atmosphere was accentuated by the honey-hued, exposed wooden beams that crisscrossed the ceiling, and plush, deep-red velvet curtains framed the large windows, allowing just enough sunlight to filter through.
The scent of freshly brewed coffee mingled with the aroma of freshly baked pastries hit my nose, making my stomach growl. An assortment of mismatched tables and chairs were spread to the room. It was overall a cozy vibe. I made my way to the counter, where a young woman, the barista, was preparing the machines.
"Good morning" I greeted softly.
"Ah! Good morning!" As she finished her greeting, I heard the small signaling sound of the coffee machine, indicating it was ready for use. "Ah, just in time, the machine is ready. What can I get for you?"
"Can I have… uhhh… can I have a latte please?"
"Of course, do you want a special type of milk?" Hush. Don't be so immature Morgan. You're better than this. Don't laugh at immature and pervy jokes. Come on man. Even if I said that, I could still feel the twitching of my lips, threatening to form a smile.
"Just regular, no sugar. Also can you add a bagel please?"
"Got it. I'll call you when your order is ready."
"Alright, thank you"
Avoiding making a fool out of myself, I retreated to a small table just by the window. The atmosphere was nice and I could feel myself relaxing a little. Even better when my coffee and bagel arrived. The coffee had this cool latte art I had seen in magazines, making the form of a flower, it was a very nice touch of hers. I raised the cup to my lips, taking the first sip of the morning. The coffee was robust yet velvety, a perfect balance of strength and subtlety.
"So good…" I said to myself.
Accompanying this aromatic treasure was a bagel, freshly toasted to a golden hue. Its surface was adorned with a mosaic of sesame seeds, adding a delightful crunch to every bite. A generous slathering of cream cheese adorned each half, a cool and creamy counterpart to the bagel's warmth and crunch. Taking the first bite of it, I could taste its soft flavor, and the war of the bagel only made it better. Of course, I devoured the whole thing; not even leaving crumbs, honestly it was just that good.
Settling into the comfy chair, I grabbed today's newspaper nearby and started reading the latest events. Maybe I could find something weird going on around town, most likely caused by something supernatural.
"Mr. Morgan?" I heard a soft and feminine voice call out my name. Lowering my newspaper just a bit, so only my eyes could be seen, I turned to the voice. My eyes widened a bit. It was Souna, wearing a more casual wear compared to her school uniform. A shoulderless white sweater, blendind the paleness of her shoulders, and a black small skirt with square stamps all over it. Accompanying it all, knee-length black socks and some brown shoes. Last but not least,, her pink glasses adorning her face.
"Ah Souna! Nice to see around. How are you doing?" A small smile on my face.
"I have been doing good Mr Morgan, thank you for asking" she answered politely.
"If you'd like, you can call me Morgan in more casual settings; in itself, Mr. Morgan makes me feel way older. Also, I didn't take you for a coffee kinda person, I would have guessed tea person."
"Well, Morgan, you should know that I prefer coffee over tea. And the coffee from this cafe it's very good." She said in a serious expression. "I like to come here before I have to attend some business in the student council"
"I see" I replied "Well, when you're done ordering, care to share a cup with me?" I said with an honest grin on my face. Something she responded to. A small smile appeared on her face.
"Of course, Morgan. Just wait for me to order" And she made her way to the counter. She was a nice person to talk to; a little too serious for my opinion but overly pleasant. The fact that she might be one of the devil heiresses, if my gut was correct, makes me a little nervous. I knew she was a devil, but I didn't feel any kind of hostility in general. And if she were no good Azazel would've warned me from them.
Probably.
I could learn more from her, and more from the devils in the area in general. As I continued pondering to myself, I didn't realize Souna was making her way towards the table. I only noticed she pulled the chair in front of me with a loud sound and sat. We remained in silence for a bit, as she took the first sip of the cup, savoring the flavor; she hummed in appreciation, clearly she liked the coffee.
"This place has really good beverages in general, not only coffee. I have been coming here for a while now." She paused and I responded.
"It's really good, I discovered the place a few days back, and it's only now that I am actually trying it, it really surprised me." She nodded in agreement.
"I discovered the place a few years ago, when I first arrived in Kuoh." She's not from here? Judging by her looks, I would have thought that she was Japanese, if not, asian.
"Really? Where are you from? I know Kuoh has a lot of foreign students, but I didn't imagined that you weren't from Japan"
"I came from Tokyo" Oh.
"..." Now, that makes more sense. I know that pureblood devils are mostly European or western looking. After all, christianity started to grow in Europe, not in Asian territory. Was Souna a reincarnated devil then? If so, who's her king?
"Huh, my bad. Why did you decide to come to Kuoh? If you don't mind me asking."
"You could say my family is a very… influential one. I came here with the purpose to gain independence from them" She made a pause "and to accompany a friend." Hm. That's nice of her. Then a strained expression appeared on her face, almost exasperating, her brows furrowing a little. "... I also wanted to get away from my older sister."
"You have an older sister? Do you not have a good relationship with her?."
"Quite the contrary, Morgan. I love my sister, and she does too. Maybe a little too much if you ask me. She just tends to be way too overbearing and overly dramatic." I chuckled softly at her.
"Well, older siblings can be like that, I guess there are way worse types of older siblings than your big sis. So you shouldn't be too hard on her."
She sighed in a defeated tone, as she took another sip of her coffee. "I guess you're right. What about you, Morgan? Do you have siblings?"
"No, I don't." At least not anyone I could remember. "It's only been me and my mentor for as long as I can remember." She made a questioning look at me.
"Your mentor?"
"Yes, my mentor. You see, some years back I was involved in a car accident that left me a bit amnesiac and this scar on my face. Long story short, I found Victor, that's his name, and took care of me for a few years. Even after all the time I spend with him, I could never bring myself to call him my father or "Old man" or something in between. It just wasn't in me" I explained to her briefly. Her eyes softened a little and a sad frown made way into her face upon hearing my tale. Maybe I should have dodged the question or something.
"I'm sorry to hear that." She said in a soft voice
Her soft tone was unexpected, and it made me stutter a buit "A-ah, don't worry, it happened a long time ago." I said to her quickly trying to make the best of it. So I changed topics. "As for what I'm doing here in Kuoh, well, at first I was here to help a…" I paused for a bit and hushed mostly to myself. "...colleague…. yes that sounds about right" I turned to Souna and spoke in a normal voice; A raised brow on her face. "Yes, a colleague with a project he's been working on, turns out hell it will take longer for the project to complete so I'm going to be here in Japan for a while."
There was a silence between the two of us. It wasn't uncomfortable, taking sips from our cups, now lukewarm due the conversation between us. The soft piano music in the background only gives an even more soothing atmosphere in the cafe.
"Ive been meaning to ask" Souna started, placing her cup on the table. "Where are you from? and how old are you?" She asked with a delicate raised brow, that was unexpected to say the least.
"Well, I'm from Italy, grew up there for most part of my life" Bullshit, and I knew it. Honestly I couldn't remember where I was from, the Venatores were from Italy, or at least the Venatores founder was from there according to Victor. "And I'm 21 years old"
At that her eyes widened just a bit. Enough for me to notice. What's with that?
"You're 21? I thought you were way older than 21"
I could feel the punch in my gut, a sudden jolt of surprise and self-doubt, threatened to knock me off. Do I seriously look that old?! I mused incredulously, my brows furrowing in disbelief. I mean, I'm supposed to be in the peak of my youth, right? Yet, my illusion has been shattered. It must have been the stubble I call a beard. It must be! There's no other way. As soon as I can, the short beard is going away. Oh the tragedy.
As I was drawing myself in the dramatization, Souna finished the rest of her cup in a large gulp. And placed her cup on the table.
"Well, Morgan I have to go, the student council work won't do itself. It was nice seeing you," she said.
Snapping out of my musings, I respond in kind. "Of course, Souna, it has been a nice chat. See ya later"
Then she started to make her way out of the cafe. But then she suddenly stopped and turned towards me once again. "Ah Morgan, before I forget, I should let you know that you've been accepted as the new English teacher. Congratulations. If everything goes according to schedule, you should receive a call later this evening " That put a smile on my face.
"Really? Huh, thank you for the news, Souna. You just made my day." A small smile of appreciation grew on her face.
"See you on monday Venedetti-sensei" She teased with a slight grin. Yeah I suppose alumni would address me like that wouldn't it? Feels a bit weird. Doesn't matter. I then heard the little bell, marking her departure, and once again I was left alone. There was still a bit more time for Azazel to arrive, so I continued to read the newspaper. A soft glow of the lamp cast a warm light over me, as the cafe started to buzz with people early in the morning.
Kuoh, 9/28/2008 - A recent spate of unrelated murders has left local authorities and the community in shock. In a series of separate incidents, two victims, Aoi Takada and Satou Kaede have lost their lives, with no apparent connections between the cases.
The first murder occurred on 9/17/2008 when Aoi Takada, a 30 year old woman, was found dead in a suburban neighborhood. Just days later, Satou Kaede, 28 years old man, was discovered deceased downtown. Both cases remain under investigation.
Authorities are actively working to solve these crimes and reassure the community. Residents are urged to report any suspicious activity and take precautions for their safety. Community leaders are calling for increased police presence and engagement to address rising concerns.
As the investigations continue, the city remains united in support of the victims' families, hoping for swift justice in these unsettling times.
This was worrisome, and might be the cause of supernatural occurrences. I might not be a criminologist or any sort, but It was a possibility.
Half an hour later, I was so engrossed in the news I didn't even realize that Azazel was just arriving at the cafe. The murder news was the only thing I could relate to the moonlit world, the rest of the newspaper was just filled with gossip rumors, promos, and the latest trends.
"Morgan; Good morning" I looked up and saw Azazel staring at me, his usual grin on his face. I didn't hear him approach, I must have been very focused on the news.
"Ah, Azazel didn't notice you. Well, now that you're here we can start the debrief…"
I didn't notice until now, but Azazel was accompanying a young man. He had silver hair with golden brown eyes, just like mine. He was dressed in a green shirt, and with a black leather jacket alongside black jeans, with a silver chain hanging from his belt, and black shoes. It was like if a bishounen and a delinquent had a kid, and this guy was the baby. It didn't help that he was staring at me-analyzing.
"Who's this Azazel? I asked with a raised brow.
"Ah, this is Vali, a young man I took under my wing." Azazel said and I raised a brow and chuckled softly.
"You sure you have a knack for picking up strays, huh?" A grin plastered on my face, Azazel reasoned with a smug grin of his own. Even if there was a relaxed atmosphere between the two of us, there was something bothering me about the kid. The way he stood, his composure, how his eyes were scrutinizing me, and his overall aura, were unnerving me. Just as Azael sat down on the chair I questioned him.
This guy certainly is no ordinary person. I could tell he was strong and dangerous. I shot a hard look at Azazel.
"Seriously, who is him?" I Asked with no mood for games. Something both of them catched on, Azazel just mirrored my expression and I could see Vali was smirking at me. Now, all sitting he introduced me to Vali, for real this time.
"Morgan, this is Vali, the wielder of the Divine Dividing sacred gear; I take your familiar with the legend?" My eyes widened at the news, Of course I'm familiar with the legend. The Venatores registered everything they came across with, from supernatural creatures to mystical and magical objects and weapons. Victor told me about the most important and powerful ones. The White Dragon Emperor, Albion and the Red Dragon Emperor, Ddraig. Both of them come from Welsh myth, the legend says both dragons are destined to fight each other to the end of time. If this guy is the current wielder of Divine Dividing, I must be careful around him.
"Yes, I know the story; Most importantly I know the power the wielders have." I said to him as I continued to eye him, trying to read his expression. As a Longinus class sacred gear, these guys were the definition of the word powerful. With the capability of killing even a god, they were a force to be reckoned with.
"Good; Vali, this is Morgan Venatores."
"Venatores? As the house of supernatural hunters?" He asked, the smirk on his face still present. He eyed me for a bit. "Hmph. I'm not impressed, you don't seem that strong."
Even though it irked me, I kept my cool, there were some types of opponents I could be more laid back than others. For some I could be annoying or rude, but with opponents I know I'm weaker, and by a large Margin at that, I couldn't afford to be messing around. So, I ignored the question.
Azazel on the other hand just looked at Vali with a hint of annoyance and disappointment. I never imagined Azazel making that sort of face.
"So, Azazel let me report to you what happened on the job."
"By all means, go ahead." He told me as a more business-like expression settled on his face.
"For starters, I went to the places you told me about and found nothing. There was simply just nothing of interest going around, call it luck or divine intervention but didn't see nothing." I paused for a bit, still occasionally eyes Vali in the other chair. He had an uninterested expression, but I could tell he was still listening.
"I visited the adult entertainment district-" I could see his grin growing. His mind is probably thinking something pervy. "-For research purposes." And then his grin died down, it did amused somewhat.
"I also didn't find anything worthy of attention in the area, but I realized I was being watched, by a Tengu of all things." Azazel gave me a questioning look. And realization settled in.
"Oh, the West Youkai Faction must have sent someone to deal with the rogue group." He made a pause and hummed to himself. "Was he friendly?"
"Yeah more than I expected, it was quite the surprise. We decided to team up for the time being, and by a miracle of god, he had the info I needed."
At that moment, something very curious happened. It was only in the fraction of a second, and so miniscule, that most people would have missed it. It was perfect timing and luck I had caught it. But I saw Vali slightly flinch. The gears in my mind grinding furiously. Isn't that a curious reaction?
I ignored Vali, for the time being. And continued with Azazel. "After that we encountered Kaito in a shrine in the middle of the Kuoh forest, he was planning to take over Kuoh and tale out the devil heiresses." I took a sip from the water bottle I had. "I took out Kaido and the Tengu, two of his subordinates."
"Did you kill him?" He asked me and in an almost casual voice, still lingered with professionalism. I could see that now Vali was really looking at me.
"No," I answered truthfully. "I didn't have a reason to do it, and the Tengu took him to Youkai territory." I saw Azazel relax just a tad. "But I did toast him a little," I said with a smirk. "But that was about it, the only thing is that the Tengu knows about me, more specifically of the Venatores."
"Oh, If that's the case then it is more than likely that Yasaka knows about you still running around in devil territory." He then made a pondering face, thinking of the possible actions to take. "It worries me more if the church knows of your whereabouts. Even if the morning star is a Ventores heirloom, it's still a powerful holy weapon; If the church learns of its whereabouts, they might want to take it from you." He said furrowing his brows, and looking me in the eyes, just the mere thought of someone trying to rob me of the morning star pissed me off more than I would have imagined.
"They can try, but I'm sure as hell I won't go down without a fight." Conviction shining in my eyes. An unexpected voice brought me back to the conversation.
"How long have you been training?"
"Huh?" I turned towards the voice, I didn't expect for Vali to ask me, well, anything.
"I said how long have you been training?"
"About 10 years, why?"
"So you are competent in a fight, even if you dont look like it." I didn't like the way this was going. There was a knowing look in his eyes. I have the feeling he was trying to provoke me.
"Well, when your life basically strives from the machinations of the moonlit world, you tend to learn a thing or two."
Meanwhile Azazel was looking between the two of us, his face mostly unexpressive, but I could tell that the man was thinking about something, or perhaps plotting something. I couldn't quite tell. Then Vali goes and surprises me once again.
"Fight with me, Morgan Venatores" He said with a determined and hard look.
"And why should I do that, White Emperor?" I responded hi with the same tone. I didn't want to fight him, I knew he was stronger than me, and beat me. I could tell he just wanted to fight something he viewed as strong or capable but If I could help it, I won't please the teens' wishes.
"Ho, is the last Venatores really this incompetent? I thought your people hunted monsters and creatures of the night. Maybe the stories of the mighty Venaotres clan are only fairy tales."
Vali's taunting words sliced through the tension-laden air like a blade, each syllable dripping with scorn and mockery.
My eyebrows furrowed, but I didn't act nor say anything. With narrowed eyes I looked at him dead in the eyes. This little shit. Even then, I held back my composure, someone between the two of us has to be the mature and responsible one, as much as I didn't want to do that.
"Actually Morgan, I dont think its a bad idea"
I turned towards Azazel, his idea, really confusing me at the moment. Then he continued looking at me.
"Think about it, Morgan," he urged, his words resonating within me. "When was the last time you pushed yourself to your limits, genuinely striving for victory?" His unexpected question left me stunned, a swirling mix of thoughts and possibilities flooding my mind. It was a side of Azazel I hadn't seen before, and it made me reconsider everything I thought I knew about him.
"I.. I don't know"
"Well now you have the chance to fight against a true challenge!" He said excited, completely changing his demeanor. I considered my options for a moment. What Azazel said was true, I needed a way to make myself stronger. As sad as it is, I'm human, not the weakest, but certainly more fragile. I know the moonlit world is a dangerous place, and the people living in it even more. For proof right in front of me were the White Dragon Emperor and a leader of the fallen angels. Victor's training for sure, has been life-changing; but I know it was incomplete training.
"Haaa, Fine, fine. Let's fight. Do you have a place where we don't have to worry about bystanders?" I asked both of them. Valis' grin grew in a more feral way, truly just like a Dragon.
"Yes, I'll use a pocket dimension at my service, you don't have to worry about anything, let's just get out of here so the match can begin." Azazels smile also grew. I have a feeling this is going to be very painful.
"So, this is the place, huh?" I said, my voice echoing softly in the pocket dimension. It was a truly surreal experience, unlike anything I had ever encountered before. The surroundings appeared barebones, minimalistic in design—just a single floor, four unadorned walls, and a pristine white ceiling. The source of illumination coming from… somewhere, casting a gentle, otherworldly glow throughout the space.
"Yes, I use this place when I'm running experiments I fit a bit too dangerous for my liking." Azazel said as he looked around the place, standing just beside me. He was now wearing a red trench coat, with some black belts around his waist, the coat having a "V" cut that showed his pecs. I was now wearing my classic Venatores Hunter attire. Equipped and all. I could see Vali on the other side of the room, standing there with his arms crossed, tapping his feet showing his impatience.
I walked to my spot, opposed to Vali and just staring at each other like some sort of western shoot off. "When the light spear hits the ground, the match will begin. The match ends when an opponent surrenders or is unable to continue. Both of you got that?" Azazel asked, particularly looking at Vali. we both nodded.
"Alright" Then in Azazel's hand a bright flash of light started to form. The light took the shape of a spear in the blink of an eye, and Azazel threw it to the ground in the middle of us. The impact generated a huge flash of light, and then a loud sound; just like a flashbang. That was the signal of our match.
Just as the flash of light started to dissipate, in another flash of blue light a pair of large and futuristic looking white and blue wings appeared in Vali's back. And he flew straight at me.
I cracked the morning star in response, signaling I was ready for the fight. Even though I wasn't a full fledged magician, Victor taught me some tricks I could use when I was in a pinch. Fire Magic was the one type of magic that felt the most natural for me to use, but I wasn't particularly strong with it. But by far the most useful magic he taught me was reinforcement magic. I was a simple type of magic that allowed me to keep up with very strong supernatural people.
So, I reinforced my body to enhance my reflexes. Vali was fast, very fast; But also, predictable. Just as he was on me, swinging his fist back, I rolled out of the way of his attack, this happened in the span of seconds, and Vali´s punch missed me. I didn't give him the time to attack me again. With a series of twirls the whip coiled around my body, and flew out at incredible speeds, hitting Vali in the back, sending him away and with a small scorching mark in his back.
"For the morning star to react like that" I mused loudly "You must be a devil, am I right?" I asked him. To my surprise, he didn't look hurt. Just observing what he could of the wound.
"Yes, I am indeed a devil, but that hardly matters right now" He stood and prepared for the attack. I wouldn't let him. With a quick move from my wrist, the whip flew towards Vali, interrupting his attack, but Vali just side-stepped it. With a series of practiced moves, the Morning star tried to hit Vali from various different angles, but not even once did the whip make contact.
He then raised his hand, and ten magic circles flared to life, they started spinning furiously and a white magic beam shot straight at me. I rolled out of the way of the first one, and dove under another. I tried jumping out of the way of the incoming beams, but there was always one more beam. Unleashing the morning Star, I hitted the remaining beams with its chain, and the magic started to disperse, but I was caught in the explosion of a beam I didn't see coming from behind.
I felt some debris hitting my body in different places, mostly my back and shoulders, not a lot of damage. I was ready to keep going.
The explosion raised a lot of dust in the air, something I took advantage of, I rushed towards Vali, sword in hand. If there was a field where I was vastly outmatched was in magic, and by the looks of it, Vali has a very powerful ranged magic domain. So I closed the distance, Mid-range and close combat were my specialties.
Vali saw through my plan, and in a flash of blue lights, a pair of robust white gauntlets appeared in his hands, and intercepted me with them. We continued to clash, Vali adopting a more boxing-like fighting style and me sticking with sword play. I aimed to slash his joints, shoulders, elbows and knees, in hopes of incapacitating his movements. Unfortunately for me, In a white flash he managed to get a hold of my sword blade, and with a bit of force he shattered it completely.
"Bastard! You better pay for that..!" Without my sword in hand, I was left unarmed.
Without time to react, I was forced to switch no hand to hand combat. Even if Vali still had his big-ass gauntlets. Swiftness is my ally. Reinforcing my body to its limit, I punched Vali in the face as hard as I could, and judging by the way his head recoiled from the strike, I was pretty sure he had felt that.
He tried punching me again, but I punched the back of his elbow, redirecting his fist again. I hitted his solar plexus, momentarily stunning him and kept punching him with quick blows. He managed to connect a few blows but I blocked them with my elbows and my unarmed combat was superior. Vali went for the back kick at my head, but I ducked before he could hit me. With my steel plated boots I kicked his midsection as hard as I could forcing him to fly back, not before in mid-flight shot me a magic beam so quick I couldn't see.
A searing pain shot through my shoulder, and when I looked down, I was met with a gruesome sight—a gaping hole the size of a tennis ball had pierced through my elbow. I couldn't help but hiss in agony, my hand instinctively clutching the wounded limb.
Shit. Desperation gripped me as I retrieved a small vial from my chest belt. I wasted no time and began to consume its contents hastily. Almost instantly, I could feel the pain slowly receding, and the wound starting to heal, though far from miraculous. It was no phoenix tear, just a modest healing potion, but it would have to suffice to keep me in the fight.
Vali was now soaring through the skies, wisely keeping himself out of my effective range. This was far from an ideal situation. As he gained distance, more intricate magic circles flared to life behind him, unleashing a barrage of energy beams raining down upon me. I quickly raised my arm, summoning a vivid green magic circle that emanated from my hand, forming a small but resilient shield to protect me from the relentless onslaught. The shield absorbed hit after hit, each impact testing its limits.
My mind raced as I desperately needed a plan, and I needed it now. Brainstorming amidst the chaos, a risky idea began to take shape. It was a gamble, but I had no other choice.
With a quick decision, I brought the shield down just as I heard the energy beam behind me detonate. I leaped towards Vali, using the force of the explosion to propel me forward. As I closed the distance, I could see the surprise in his eyes.
In that critical moment, the chain whip shot out like a coiling serpent, narrowly catching Vali by the ankle. A triumphant smirk crossed my face as I realized that this was going to be painful for him. It won't kill him, but it won't be a walk in the park either.
Holy fire started to run on the chain, reaching Vali in a matter of seconds. The fire engulfing him and burning him, as with a hard yank, I brought Vali to the ground.
"DIVIDE!"
As soon as I heard the crackling of the once-fiery whip reduced to mere embers, understanding dawned on me. "It makes sense," I thought, "the fire is magical in nature, so he can just divide its power in half."
Vali, while visibly scorched, seemed largely unfazed. In contrast, I felt the exhaustion creeping in, and I was bleeding from my shoulder, battered and bruised all over.
Without wasting time, I reinforced myself and lunged a enchanted knife straight at him. He barely avoided the enchanted knife by jumping in the air with his wings. Just as planned. Running my fingers across the chain of the whip, I forced the morning star to bend to an unnatural and unpredictable way. The whip struck true, and Vali was sent tumbling into the ground. The smell of burning flesh premating the air.
"That Holy whips of yours is doing much more damage than it is that? It isn't because of my devil nature, Divine Dividing should help in its resistance to it." He made a pause looking at me with a pondering expression. "I certainly underestimate you Morgan Venatores. But It's time to end this. I've seen enough."
[VANISHING DRAGON BALANCE BREAKER!]
I shielded my eyes from Vali, a blind light emanating from his body. When the light died down, I felt my eyes widened at his new appearance. The white and blue wings were still there, but they looked way bigger than before. But most remarkable of all was the pristine white dragon armor, with blue gems embedded in different parts of the armor. Now, he wasn't a warrior, he was a force of nature. I like the odds.
A grin grew on my face, the guy was a monster, so utterly powerful that I had no chance to defeat him. Even then I couldn't help but to feel excited, at the opportunity of fighting such a strong opponent. So this was going to be the final clash, huh? Then I will use my most powerful attack I know.
With the whip in my grasp I started to make circles with it in front of me. The spiked ball of the morning star started to glow with fire emanating from it. Soon the whole chain started to heat up.
I've only seen this attack being used against someone. One time when Victor ordered me to hide when we were being chased by a strong and fearsome vampire, even then I managed to get a look at the attack Victor did. It was an amazing thing. Still, Victor taught it to me, with the hopes that it could save my life when I needed it. I'm sorry Victor, but right now my pride-, the Venatores pride, it's in the game.
"O' holy chain that vanquishes evil, By bloodline's might and sacred vow's call. Grant me your strenght! From generations, heroes past, Their strength amassed, I claim tonight."
The chain had been transformed into a weapon of divine fury. It crackled and hissed with the power of the holy inferno that now engulfed it. The flames danced and twisted, casting eerie shadows on the battlefield, as if they had a mind of their own.
As Vali lunged at me with incredible speed, his eyes ablaze with determination, I knew that this battle had reached its critical point. The whip had drained me of most of magical energy, leaving me with a sense of vulnerability that I had never experienced before. But there was no turning back now; this was going to be my final attack, and I had to make it count.
"Destroy evil, Morning Star!"
With a mighty swing, I unleashed the chain, sending it hurtling toward Vali. The holy flames roared and surged as it traveled through the air, leaving a trail of scorching light in its wake.
Vali raised a hand as he kept rushing at me.
"DIVIDE! DIVIDE! DIVIDE! DIVIDE! DIVIDE!"
In that moment the inferno of the whip started flickering and died down to a fire. I fed the morning star every last drop of my magical energy, trying to maintain the fire. My efforts were not in vain. The whip struck true, and the moment of impact was violent. A big explosion shook the pocket dimension, sending shockwaves of force though the place, it sent flying debris and shrapnel in all directions.
I was sent flying by the force of the explosion and landed in rocks that softened my back. Hurts like hell. When the smoke and dust cleared, the whole place had been turned into a mess. And Vali, had half of his chest piece destroyed, but still standing strongly. To add salt to the wound, I saw how his armor started, to repair itself slowly.
This was an impossible fight to win from the beginning. I knew that, but damn these sacred gears are borderline overpowered. Yes, they're Longinus class. Yes, they're supposed to have the potential to kill gods. But my point stands. Vali walked over to me, still clad in his armor.
He looked down to me, assessing me with his unreadable helmet, his yellow eyes glowing.
"Heh, I guess this is my loss. I tried my best" I coughed a bit of blood.
"You have surprised me, I will admit. Not bad for a human. But still you're far from defeating me."
"C ́mon, give him a break Vali '' Azazel said as he walked towards us. As usual, his small grin plastered on his face. "You certainly surprised me with that last attack, Morgan." As he kept checking on both of us, I grabbed my last healing potion and chugged it down so at least I could kill the pain. "Yes Azazel, I appreciate it but could you heal me before I die from pain?"
"Yeah, Yeah-Just drink this." He said as he tossed me a small vial.
"What is this?
"That's a regeneration potion. It's an experiment I did some while ago. I was trying to imitate the bloodline power of the devil Phenex clan. Unfortunately, It doesn't work like theirs, and the effect is way slower."
As I eyed Azazel for a moment, doubts crept into my mind. Was drinking that really safe in the first place? I felt a wave of fatigue wash over me, but in my current state, I was too exhausted to care. Without further thought, I downed the entire mixture, much like taking a shot of tequila, its strange flavor burning my throat. I could feel the wound in my shoulder slowly closing, Clearly not as effective as a Phenex tear. Meanwhile Vali just deactivated his balance breaker and returned to his normal.
"I certainly underestimated you, keep training hard. You'll need it."
And with those cryptic words, he walked away from us. I understand that he is a prideful man, as he didn't ask for any sort of healing. Cant tell its influence from Albion the Dragon, or just part of his personality. Maybe both.
With an exasperated sigh, I tried my best to stand up. Keyword here tried. Azazel watched me struggle, helped me stand up and put my arm over his shoulder. With a shaky smile and droopy eyes I addressed Azazel.
"That Vali guy is pretty damn strong. Where did you even find him anyways?" I said with a small chuckle.
"Oh you know, the world is a very big place. I just had luck at finding him; But Morgan, I'm impressed, really. Vali is the strongest White Dragon Emperor to date, keep that in mind."
"You don't say? Well, he still kicked my ass pretty hard. And he didn't use the "divide" ability all that much. Anyways, I'm gonna take a nap when I reach my room, eventually."
"You go do that, Morgan."
In a flash of blinding light, we exited the pocket dimension, the evening sun greeting us. Just as soon, Vali just walked away from us, without saying goodbye or even looking back. What an ass, well I guess it comes with the perks of being the White Dragon Emperor.
By now, my wounds had already healed, but the blood in my clothes could attract unwanted attention. Azazel noticed this and casted a bounded field around us, preventing the mundane from seeing us. He accompanied me all the way to my hotel room. Reaching the door of my room, Azazel dispersed the spell and left me at the door.
"Thanks for the help, Azazel." I said honestly.
"Don't worry about it kid." A wry smile appeared on my face. I guess that compared to him I'm still a kid. Not that I like it though.
"Ah, Azazel before I forget" I started. Next week I'm going to start teaching at Kuoh Academy, just so you know. I'll try and learn more about the heiresses and stuff. Maybe meet them"
"I see. Well then I wish you the best of luck Morgan. I'll keep your work low for the moment then. See you later." In a flash of light he disappeared. Leaving me alone for a moment. Time for a long deserved shower and sleep.
"RING! RING!"
My phone rang loudly in the room. I was tempted to noy pick it up.
"Hello?" I still picked up.
"Ah, Mr Venedetti, congratulations, you got the job as a teacher…!"
The headmaster's monologue continued, but my mind had already begun to drift away from his words. Souna had filled me in on all the important details this morning, so I found myself answering the headmaster's questions almost on autopilot.
I couldn't help but wonder how the events of the coming week would unfold. It would be interesting to say the least.
It was Monday morning; And I was pretty nervous not gonna lie. I didn't have all that experience teaching, but it couldn't be that hard. I hope so.
With a deep breath, I reminded myself that I had prepared as thoroughly as possible. With the power of a single day. While I may not have had extensive teaching experience, you can be sure I'll try my best. I was dressed in a light blue button shirt, with a brown jacket over my shoulders. Simple black jeans and brown dressing shoes. I was just about casual wear. Last but not least, a black trimmed rectangular glasses. Dont judge me, they make me feel smart.
I strolled to Kuoh academy without a rush, I got plenty of time for the beginning of classes. At least my class. If I understand correctly the first class of the students is homeroom, and then normal classes from different teachers. So yeah, plenty of time. Looking around I started to slowly see some students join my path.
More and more students kept appearing and soon arrived at the academy entrance. Equally over the top as the first time I saw it. The sound of girls laughing between friends and some boys talking excited filled the air of the academy. It was a nice picture, but I should get going with my day. Walking towards the entrance, I felt an odd sensation in the back of my head. Someone was watching me, very intently at that.
Discreetly, I turned to watch over the crowd of people trying to find something amiss. Eventually I saw a pair of golden yellow eyes, watching me from afar. I was a young girl, with the purest of white hair I have ever seen. If I had to guess, she appeared to be in her first year, pretty young looking.
I returned her look, and just raised my eyebrow at her in a questioning manner. She looked… surprised? at me spotting her, and just as quick she vanished behind some students passing by. That… was weird. Very much so. Guess I'll keep an eye on her. Doesn't hurt to be careful. I walked towards the teacher lounge and greeted the teachers that were there. Some of them greeted back, some of them didn't.
I sat on a comfy green couch, making myself comfortable. When homeroom classes are over I have the first class of the day. According to my school schedule, my first class is with the third years, then seconds, and lastly first years. Easy enough. I grabbed my notes for the class, reading them for the last time. Hopefully I don't mess up anything. I'll cross my fingers for that.
After an hour, the bell rang; signaling the end of the first class. Now it's time for my class. Showtime and a small chuckle left my lips. I made my way to the classroom. Arriving at the classroom, I noticed the muffled sound of voices with excited tones. I didn't know what they were talking about. It's time for teacher Morgan to educate the minds of the future! Taking a deep breath I walked into the classroom, moving the sliding door out of my way.
My entrance immediately got the class's attention. I looked around and felt a bit more nervous than before. The classroom was filled with only girls. …How…? Ugh. Now is not the time to be thinking about the conveniently classroom full of girls. Of course it didn't help each and everyone was a beauty of her own. I noticed Souna and Tsubaki were also in this class. I let a small smile grow on my face.
Making my way to the chalkboard I wrote my name. First I wrote it in english and then I wrote it in what I can proudly say was a mess of japanese characters. Look, I tried my best ok?
"Good morning class. My name is Morgan Venedetti and I will be your new English teacher. Well, I'm The English teacher for the third and second years. It's a pleasure to meet you all" I said with a roguish voice and did a small bow with a small smile.
"Well, If you would like to ask me some questions, I'll be glad to answer them." I said as I scratched my cheek. I immediately noticed that my short beard was still there. Shit, I forgot to shave. Some of the girls had this… feverous stares on their eyes. It was unexpected, if you ask me.
A girl with brown hair shot her hand up. Not waiting for me, she asked me.
"Are you a foreigner!?"
"Yes, I'm not from Japan, as you can see. I was born in Italy." Small white lies. Another hand, this time a blonde.
"Can I have your number∼?" She asked in a teasing voice.
"Hah!; Of course not" She then deflated in her chair. While I faltered, She was still a student. That 'sa big no no.
Another hand shot up. "How did you get the big scar on your face?" I scratched my cheek, thinking of an adequate answer. The truth is that the scar was made by rocks and other sharp objects when the necromancer attacked the small town I used to live in; but I don't think I should tell them that.
"When I was a boy, I was involved in a car crash. Some glass managed to cut me pretty badly." I said as I poked my scar. The same story I told Souna, a little cover up for my past.
And then an elegant hand raised up. Looking towards her, I felt my breath hitch for a brief second. A very voluptuous girl, with crimson red hair and blue-greenish eyes. Very beautiful gal. Wait a sec. I think I saw this girl before, with a hair that vivid I wouldn't forget.
Oh yeah, she was looking at the whole ordeal when the three pervs got caught by the kendo club, watching from the window. Heh, it was funny.
"If I may ask, sensei.." Huh, sensei. Master of martial arts and kicking ass. Also, an English teacher. "How old are you?" She asked in a calm and questioning voice and breaking me out of my inner thoughts, a small smile adorned her lips.
" I'm 21" I answered honestly.
"WHAT!" The whole classroom exploded, immediately questioning me. I noticed that some didn't look that surprised. Of course Souna among them.
"You're so young, and certainly don't look 21!" That gave mixed feelings.
"Well, I am; You all don't have to sound that surprised. If that's all the questions you have for me let's begin the class; shall we?"
From there my class had gone surprisingly well. There were few doubts with English in general. Speaking and Grammar were the subjects that needed the most practice, except a few people. Souna, Tsubaki, the red haired girl and another black haired girl. Had perfect english, it was almost uncanny.
Anyways, as the ringbell marked the end of the class, it was time for me to go to another classroom with the second years, I think. With a casual stroll I made my way towards the classroom, just as with the third years, the students were talking in the same excited and happy fashion, but loudly. I could easily hear some of the conversation they were having.
"I heard we're going to have a new teacher!"
"Really!? I hope he isn't an old fart like the previous one."
Without wasting any more time, I opened the sliding door and walked in. I stilled for a moment. The classroom had some devils; at least 4, maybe more. Looking over the classroom there were about 20 students in the class, so I almost had to guess if I wanted to know who the devils were.
Unlike the previous classroom, this one had more variety in the female-male ratio. Granted there were still more girls, but this was the first classroom that I saw boys. From what I heard from the headmaster, the school was an only female school before opening the doors to male students.
Watching the students I noticed the perverted trio from last time I was here; The "Harem King" boy, looking at me with a shocked expression on his face, I only offered a cheeky and knowing smile his way. I also noticed prince charming among the students, as always, some girl shooting him enamored stares.
"Good Morning everybody, my name is Morgan Venedetti, and I will be your new English teacher. Do you have any questions you would like to ask me before the class begins?"
The questions were mostly repeated, and some of the girls tried hitting on me. Was this supposed to be normal? I never got the chance to go to a proper school, so I wouldn't know for sure. Maybe I'm wrong, maybe I'm not. That being said, "Harem King" boy was giving me some looks of envy or jealousy. For what reason I couldn't know, but it was weirding me out.
And with that, my duties as a teacher were over. At least in the teaching department. I was sure I have other stuff to do such as planning for exams, work activities and other boring stuff like that. Maybe I could ditch the studying program and make one of my own. I mean, if it works, and it's less of a hassle, it works. For now, I had to stick to the program so I made my way to the teachers lounge to do a bit of work for future classes. I can tell it's going to be a pain in the ass.
KONEKO – A FEW HOURS LATER –
The new teacher that arrived this morning is a mysterious person and a dangerous one too.. He had a smell of Holy energy if a bit slightly, but even then, Holy energy was like poisons for devils, and that was bad, very bad. He carried himself in a composed manner, not so overly strange, but it unnerved me that he could detect me, so easily at that. I was looking at him from behind, hiding between the scenery and the students, at the same time I also concealed my presence, yet he managed to spot me.
So I made my way to the clubroom at a fast pace; I needed to tell the president about this, it was important. By now the president should be in the clubroom alongside Akeno-senpai. Kiba-senpai should arrive a bit later due to "traffic" as he liked to say.
I knocked on the door of the clubroom and made my way inside. As I expected, the President and Akeno-senpai were already here.
"Hello, Koneko, how was your day?"
"President, there's something strange about the new teacher."
Immediately both of their stares switched from friendly and comforting to a serious demeanor, all business like.
"What is it?"
"The new teacher smells slightly of holy energy"
I saw the president's eyes widened a bit, and a slightly worried expression made its way into her face. Akeno-senpai mirrored her expression, remaining at her side.
"An exorcist? Are you sure Koneko? It's unlikely that the church would violate the fragile peace we have between the fractions, it's a very risky move. Unless they were rogue exorcists."
"Im… I'm not completely sure. The Holy energy signature isn't that strong for the average exorcist. And from what I managed to see, he wasn't carrying any sort of weapon I could tell."
This time Akeno-senpai decided to throw her own two coins.
"It could be that he may be using spells of Holy in nature, but to be so weak it's weird." She made a pause, thinking about something. "We also have our mystery hunter running town, killing stray devils and the like, with a holy weapon or spells at that."
What Akeno-senpai said was true. Ever since we encountered the body of the dead lamia, we've been on edge. The wounds on the lamia were holy in Nature and it burned its the flesh. Having someone with that kind of holy weapon was bad.
A series of knocks sounded on the door, and then Kiba-senpai stepped in.
"Sorry for the tardiness president" He said with an apologetic smile. Typical of Kiba-senpai.
"No worries Kiba, you're just in time" She made a pause to order her thoughts. "Speaking about our mystery hunter; I have some news I have to deliver." Immediately Kiba-senpai snapped to attention.
"First, I already contacted Sona, telling her about the mystery hunter that's been killing the stray devils and monsters lurking in the city. She said she'll keep an eye on it." She said,
"Second, regarding the Holy whip wounds from its flesh, gave me a possible suspicion about our hunter." Our eyes went wide at her revelation.
"So who is the president?" Kiba-senpai asked with a bit of an edge in his tone. It saddened me that Kiba-senpai was still full of rage towards Holy weapons, in particular, the church's holy swords. I hope one day he can get over his hate.
Rias-senpai made a strange expression. There was a hint of precaution mixed with confusion. "There's a famous weapon with characteristics that matches in the body of the Lamia and other creatures, but it shouldn't be possible in the first place."
"Why is that?" I asked the president.
"Because it was a weapon that was lost to time." A confused expression made its way into our faces, questioning the president, she made a small pause.
"The name of the weapon is "The Morning Star '', it's a chain whip that's said to have been blessed by the very heavens, an heirloom passed from generation to generation, from a very prestigious human bloodline of supernatural hunters, the Venatores."
Venatores? The name didn't ring a bell. And judging by the faces of Kiba-senpai and Akeno-Senpai they didn't recognize the name. But Rias-senpai´s face was filled with worry.
"The reason you don't recognize the name is because it's an extinct clan, and the information available of the clan was solely reserved to High class devils." She took a breath. " When Devil Kind was ruled by the old satan faction, the Venatores hunted the likes of us for centuries, reclaiming the night; With each new generation growing stronger and stronger than the last." I felt my eyes start to widen at that. The meaning behind that statement slowly started to settle down in my stomach.
"Every heir to the clan, at some point, had The Morning Star in their possession. But when the purge of the Venatores came, the whip was lost." Her voice was serious sounding, and almost in a documentary fashion. Rias-senpai continued. "The church tried to find the whip in the aftermath; a weapon of such caliber couldn't be lost, but alas, they never found it."
"The thing is, the lamia and the other strays that we have encountered, have the same marks that The Morning star it's said to have inflicted. And for all we know, that whip is still lost."
"So here's the situation, somehow, a weapon that's been lost, has made its possible return. But more importantly, who's wielding it?"
None of us had an answer, we could only ponder about this mystery without any clear answer. Whoever was this man, I hope he isn't here to cause harm. So far it's been only hunting monsters and strays, and I hope it stays that way. I wonder what kind of person this hunter could be?
"Whew, work done! It's time for a drink!" I said excitedly to myself, after some work that day had turned orange signaling the end of the day and welcoming nighttime. So yeah, I could go for a drink. Today I was craving beer. Don't ask me why.
Packing my stuff in my backpack I made my way out of the school grounds, some students were also making their way home or with their friends. That must have been nice. I didn't have a lot of friends in all honesty. There was Mr Wilbert and Victor of course, and maybe you could squeeze Azazel in there. But, apart from them, I didn't have any friends. Maybe someday I could go to the Karaoke if I had any? Maybe.
Pushing aside the depressing thoughts, I decided to take the scenic route this time, instead of the shorter and the one that I use on my way back. Strolling by the side of a river with hills of grass, I appreciated the view. It was a very nice scene, the color of the sky reflecting in the water making a very nice picture. The bridge crossing in the distance only enhanced the scenery.
I walked towards the bridge and just sat down and appreciated the view. It was a little hobby of mine, just sitting, doing nothing and appreciating the view. Such an old man's hobby.
"Please go out with me!" I heard a girl shout to the skies. Curiosity got the better of me, and decided to take a peek from underneath the bridge. There were two people on the bridge, the first a pretty girl with black straight hair, and violet eyes. She wore a red uniform with a green skirt, unlike the one of Kuoh academy.
The other person certainly surprised me. It was "Harem King" Boy. Wonder what he has to do to score a date with a girl like that? I thought to myself with a cheeky smile growing. Seriously, how did this happen, I have no idea. Maybe god had given him a hand in life.
"Uhhh.. yeah sure…" The boy said with dumbfounded reactions, almost as if not believing it himself. "Would you like to go on Sunday?"
"Yes!" The girl said excitedly. "I'll see you on Sunday"
"Alright then" Harem boy said, a dumb smile on his face "See you on Sunday"
Good for him. Maybe getting a girlfriend would help him to low down his pervy tendencies to peek at girls. If his other two friends could score a date I would be surpr-
I felt it.
An unsettling sensation washed over me, a palpable shift in the atmosphere that sent a shiver down my spine. I could feel waves of bloodlust and the energy dancing through her fingers, emanating from a girl nearby, and it was impossible to ignore.
Looking at the girl she had a scary expression. It was an expression of disdain and pure malice. She was ready to murder the boy. My eyes narrowed in a hard way, looking at her.
I'll be sure to keep an eye on her this week.
Author´s note: We almost reach canon! Something that you should know, is that I wont be following canon to the letter and I may tweak I thing or two. I would also like to add more original subplots to the story, who knows how will that go. Anyways thank you for reading, and have a good day.