" A bloodline?" Yuri asked.
" In ancient times there were a few people with unique bloodlines. Whether they were crossbred or inherited them naturally was another matter entirely, though." The old man said.
"...Anyway, this boy's only affliction is a lively bloodline." He said.
" So there's only one?" Yuri sighed in relief.
" Maybe two. His eyes don't seem to go together with what you described before. But who knows." The old man said.
"..." Levi's face was pale as a sheet.
" Then, is there a way to control or get rid of such bloodlines?" Reading Levi's expression, Yuri asked.
" I wouldn't know." The old man said.
" Elder," Yuri said.
" I am not an all-knowing old man, you know." The old man said.
"..." Yuri kept silent.
" If this boy doesn't want anyone to find out about it, then he should find someplace to hide whenever it feels like something will happen." The old man said.
" Aside from this, I don't know any methods." He said.
"..." Yuri kept silent, noticing some color returning to Levi's face.
" Then, thank you for the help, Elder," Yuri said.
" No need for thanks. Leave and let me get on with my work, that would be more than enough."
" Elder-" Yuri was cut off.
" Oh, great timing, that little girl is back. Watch yourself now." The old man said.
Barely a few seconds later, the door swung open.
" Oh, you're awake, junior brother." Olivia gasped.
" Yes, senior sister..." Levi said sluggishly.
"..." Her gaze trailed over to Yuri, as silently walked up to Levi.
" Come with me." She pulled him along by his arm.
" But-Where!" Levi questioned.
" Ak-" Olivia's face twitched as she stopped.
" Senior sister? What happened?" Levi asked.
"..." Yuri kept silent as his eyes narrowed.
" It's...Nothing. Come on." Olivia said.
' It was you.' The demon saint said.
' What?' Levi asked.
' You got too into your role earlier. When you were crying, did you control your strength properly?' The demon saint asked.
'!' Levi was alarmed.
' Frankly, I'm surprised that she wasn't squashed into meat paste." The demon saint said.
"..." Levi's face paled.
" Humph." Yuri, noticing his expression snorted softly.
" Sigh, I'll have to grovel again." He sighed.
" That's what you get for trying to act cool." The old man's voice sounded.
" Aren't you working, Elder?" Yuri questioned.
" Shouldn't you be worried about more important things?" The old man asked.
" Haha, I can't argue with you there!" Yuri said.
" Wish me luck?" He asked.
" Scram!" The old man said.
" Junior sister! I was wrong! Hear me out!" Yuri shouted as he ran.
...
Library.
" So, you are saying that you were checking to see if he was telling the truth?" Olivia asked with a suspicious look.
" Yes," Yuri said with a sigh.
" Then why didn't you tell me?" Olivia asked.
" Well..." He couldn't exactly tell her that she was an open book, right? One look at her and anyone would know something was up.
" And who would stab themselves just so they could lie? Any sane person would just give up on it!" Olivia slapped the table.
" Er, Junior sister, calm down a bit..." Yuri forced a smile.
" And if you couldn't keep your promise for just a few minutes, why did you make it in the first place!?" This was what frustrated her the most.
" That...I'm sorry," Yuri said.
" But, I did what I did to ensure the safety of all students, including him." He said.
" You don't have to apologize. I was just frustrated since...Nevermind. It was my fault for not controlling myself, I'm sorry." Olivia hung her head.
"..." Yuri kept silent. He was at a loss for words as a bead of cold sweat slid down his face.
"...If anyone is to blame, then this is my fault." Levi spoke up.
" Junior brother..." Olivia shifted her gaze.
' Yes! Help this big brother out!' Yuri thought.
" I shouldn't have let myself collapse in the first place. Next time, I will make sure to find a place to hide...That way, I won't trouble anybody." Levi said, his head down.
' NoNoNo! You're going in the wrong direction! Was this guy born on a rainy day? How depressing!' Yuri face-palmed.
" And, senior sister, your...Sigh..." Levi stopped himself.
" Oh, you don't have to worry, junior brother!" Olivia seemed to recall something.
" I have already reported your teacher to Mr. Swon!" She said.
"..." Levi's jaw dropped as a ridiculous expression grew on his face.
' I hope that doesn't implicate me!' He thought.
" So, do you feel any better now?" Olivia asked.
" Yes..." Levi said without raising his head.
"...Are you sure?" She asked.
" Yes, I-" Levi was cut off by a slap, stunned into silence.
" Then it's fine if I hit you! Ow." She shook her hand.
" Why did-" Levi was interrupted.
" You shouldn't ever try to kill yourself. No matter how dire the situation, if you endure until the end, it will naturally reach its conclusion." She said.
" It's natural to be afraid, but! With a strength of mind, you can overcome almost anything! Can you see into the future to know what happens? For all anyone knows, you could be living a great quiet life down the line." She said.
"..." Levi kept silent.
" And if you die in the end, then at least you fell doing the best that you could do!" She continued.
"..." Levi looked up.
" Is that true?" His voice weak, he asked.
"...Yes. I don't lie." She glanced at Yuri.
' Ugh!' Yuri felt as if he was struck by an arrow.
" Hmm." He smiled.
'...She's great, I know, but you better not fall in love with her, kid.' Yuri thought as he smilingly rested his chin on his palm.
" I never knew that you were acquainted with this student though, junior sister," Yuri said.
" What do you mean?" Olivia asked.
" I mean, when he was being punished in the disciplinary hall a few days ago, screaming for bloody murder, when we passed by, you glanced in then continued like you saw nothing," Yuri said with a smile.
"..." Levi looked at Olivia.
' She saw that? How embarrassing.' He thought.
"...Don't look at me like that. If you were in the disciplinary hall, then you did something worthy of punishment, right?" Olivia asked.
" Mhmm...I got to class late..." Levi nodded.
" See?" Olivia looked at Yuri.
' At least deny it!' Yuri thought.
" Why did you get to class late?" Olivia asked.
" Overslept." Levi sniffed.
"..." Olivia pinched the bridge of her nose, while Yuri contained his laughter.
...
3 Days ago. Disciplinary hall.
"..." Levi's expression was blank.
" Um, 'Scuse me, what is this?" He asked incredulously.
He followed Miss Noble after class, only to be dropped off in a large hall with bald, muscular men who wore thin white robes.
These guys kneeled at the side of the room in a long row, seemingly meditating.
What caught his attention were the large triangular mounds sticking up from the floor, along with ropes hanging from the ceiling, all tied like nooses.
He was starting to form a different idea about what was done here.
' Looks like this room was set up for a different kind of punishment, haha.' The demon saint laughed.
" Omph!" A muffled voice sounded.
It was only then that Levi noticed the room was wider than he thought.
" Ah, Ah! I was wrong! I was wrong!" Someone wailed.
" Shhh, shh, shh, it will all be over soon." A man in white whispered to him.
This disciple was tied to a vertical pole, while another man stuck long silver needles in certain parts of his body.
" Ahhh!! Stop! You bastards!" The youth trembled from the pain.
" When you leave, will you come back?" The man asked.
" Fuck! Who would want to come back! I'm never coming back here! Never, never, never!" The boy screamed.
" Are you sure? I don't believe you." The man said softly.
" Ahhhh!!" The boy screamed as the needle slid through his flesh.
"..." This was not the only source of painful screams.
Levi watched as people were strung up by both legs, while a small moving mechanism stretched their legs far apart into a forceful split, before repeating. They were always forced further than before.
'...This is blatant torture!' Levi thought, speechless.
Before another thought could pass through his mind, a gale brushed his face. Before he knew it, his arms were tied up and he was thrown over one of the triangular mounds.
The rope used to tie his hands was secured on a hook.
He was in the perfect position to receive a flogging.
" Hello? I think I came to the wrong place. I meant to go to the punishment hall, not the torture hall." Levi smiled weakly.
Woosh!
" You are indeed in the right place." A well carved wooded pole was swung with perfect control, stopping just before Levi's behind, before tapping it lightly.
"..." Levi's face went green.
' Fuck! Whose ass are you tapping?! Do you think this lord here won't slap you to death?!' Levi thought.
He could understand getting clubbed as punishment, but did this guy have to play with his backside like that? Did it look like a toy?!
" Ah, ok." He said.
' Ahem, I will read out the script for you. Remember to act as best you can today!' The demon saint 'cleared' his 'throat'.
' Ok. I just want to get this over and done wi-'
" What the fuck?!?" Levi suddenly blurted out.
The wooden rod seemed to be smoking, as it rested on Levi's behind.
Just now he was hit and to his surprise, it hurt like a Mother******.
' My skin is as harder than my sword, don't screw with me! How could that hurt!' Levi screamed internally.
It hurt so much that he automatically cursed.
' Hehehe.' The demon saint snickered.
' Old demon, don't tell me you...' Levi's face paled.
Thwack!
" Motherfucker! Old ghost, what the fuck did you do to me!" Levi screamed.
" Vulgar." The man said as he raised his hand once more.
Thwack!
" Ahhhh!" Tears squeezed from Levi's eyes.
' Hehe, you should be thanking me. The best kind of performance is the authentic kind.' The demon saint said.
" Fuck your mum!" Levi roared.
" Vulgar." The man said.
Thwack!
" Ahh! I wasn't talking to you!" Levi shouted.
" Lies." Thwack!
" Aghhh! You!" Levi screamed.
" Temper." Thwack!
' Gahahaha!' The demon saint slapped the ground as he rolled.
" You bastard! Let's see how funny it is now!" Levi suddenly shouted.
' What? What are you...' The demon saint stopped as he felt something wasn't right.
' You! Turn off these things right now! I was just helping you! Is this how you-' He was interrupted by the familiar sound of a rod cutting through the air.
Thwack!
' Agh!! You can't do this!' The demon saint screamed as pain coursed through his 'body'.
" Hahaha!" Levi laughed madly.
' I just did! You reap what you sow!' He laughed.
' You, you, you! I'm just a soul! You can't do this! What if I dissipate!' The demon saint asked.
' I don't care! Scream for me now!' Levi laughed.
"...Creepy." The man said.
Thwack!
" That is not a valid reason to hit someone, is it!" Levi shouted.
" But I don't care anymore! Come, come, come! Is this the hardest you can hit? How tragic!" Levi taunted.
" Humph! Disrespectful." The man snorted as his muscles bulged.
Thwack!
" Aghhh-hahahaha!" He went from screaming in pain to crazed laughter.
"..." Those disciples who had the luxury of focusing on other things watched as Levi fell into madness.
Little did they know, Levi willingly sacrificed himself for a greater cause.
...
Present.
" Ahahaha! It was so funny-Hahaha!" Yuri teared up as he laughed.
Levi's face darkened.
"...You know, senior brother, when you laugh like that, you look like a girl. Should I change your form of address?" Levi taunted.
" Hahaha, I'm often told!" Yuri laughed without restraint.
"..." Levi silently sneered.
" Pft!..."
"...You too, senior sister?" He was speechless.
" That-Pft...sorry." Olivia couldn't get out a word.
" Sigh." Levi could only sigh, muttering incomprehensibly to himself.
' See how you ruined my image?' Levi asked.
' What ruined? This was pulled off perfectly. You should be thanking this demon for guiding you.' The demon saint sneered.
' Screw you! I'm sorry your soul is still intact!' Levi cursed.
' Ha! Are you going to cry again? Come, come, this benevolent demon will comfort you!' The demon saint said.
' As if you were any better!' Levi said.
' Better than you! And let me tell you, I- Aghhhh!' The demon saint began screaming in pain.
" Humph!" Levi snorted.
' In the end, I win.' He thought.
" Is everything all right, junior brother?" Olivia asked, after finally sealing off her laughter.
" Yes. Everything is fine." Levi flashed her a bright smile.
"...Then I will be taking my leave." She got up.
" What about you, senior brother? Are you going to stay here?" She asked.
" Ahahah-Ahh. I can't, I have to go somewhere." Yuri wiped his tears. He had slid down the chair to the point that the back of his head sat on the backrest.
" Ok, then," Olivia said.
" Junior brother, I hope that you will stay well. If you need me for anything, the chance of finding me here is the highest. Have a good evening." She waved before leaving.
" Ok! Thanks for everything..." Levi mumbled.
" Ha, haha. Don't be too surprised if people stop to whisper when they see you! Gossip culture is strong here!" Yuri walked away laughing.
"..." Levi looked in the direction he left in for a few seconds.
' What should I do now?' He thought.
' There is no guarantee that they will keep quiet.' He thought.
' The girl seems to value promises, so she will probably keep quiet in most situations. As for the guy...' The demon saint paused.
' You should keep an eye out for him. He reminds me of that guy with closed eyes.' He continued.
' Ling?' Levi thought.
"...I wonder how those guys are doing?" He said.