T'was the Saphirus Sen Tribe before – a den of demons ruled by those with high ranks. The demon lord in the area carried his young petite daughter. He has a goatee and a muscular built, ash gray in color, black eyes and golden pupils with long white wavy hair.
They took a stroll in the area. Dark? Not in the least. They are living a life similar to a human. They can be bathed with sunlight and can interact properly. The only difference between them and the humans are their looks and strength. He caught a glance on a white daisy planted on their garden.
The flower was beautifully placed, healthy and attractive. He picked it and gave it to the daughter he is carrying. "Listen well Alba," he said with his deep and low voice of his.
"All of this place shall be given to you when you've become a fine lady." He smiled kindly at his daughter who is smelling the flower. She giggled happily, "Father will give this place to me?"
He moved his head, nodding. Grabbing the flower, the male put it as an ornament on the little one's hair.
"Of course!" he said confidently, "You are my one and only child, who else could take it? Huh?" he jokingly said while playing with her hair and tossing her above ground as she laughs and giggles.
He carried her properly once again and said, "So, you've got to promise this old geezer to take his place as the demon lord and make him proud!" he grinned while rubbing her hair.
"I will! I will become a saintess that father can be proud of!" she answered giggling, "I will take care of father's hard work!"
"That's my child!" her father chuckled while messing with her hair once again.
Those are the things she promised, but not once were they fulfilled.
It was the night of the same day. But the same scenery is nowhere to be found. It was pure chaos. The flowers are burning, the houses are collapsing - everything is falling to ruins.
The first Lord of the Saphirus Sen Tribe attacked the demons without a warning. All off them felt endless anguish. They are bothered and horrified. This is the hell made by humans. And she, she who is running, finding her beloved father, can see and hear everything.
The cries of her people, the destruction of her home.
She ran past through everything in a daze as she holds back her tears. Mother demons begging for mercy, soldier demons getting defeated. She didn't spare a thought about them - no one will spare them anyway. She only wants her father. She knows that she will meet him again, just a little more. Only a turn and she will meet him already.
Then she will give him a big hug, like how she used to.
Alas! She did arrive to the forest where her father always stay before going to bed, looking at the stars, thinking of his dead wife.
She met him...
She met him but...
It was all over from there. Her father was pierced by a sacred weapon, a huge bright blue spear has impaled him. She covered her mouth tightly as her eyes watered with her pupils shrunk as her tiny body trembles.
"F-Father...?" she uttered quietly in both shock and fear.
However, that was loud enough for him to hear. He eyed his daughter and mouthed without a sound.
'Run' he moved his mouth with blood dripping from it, 'Run and save yourself!'
Tears escaped her eyes. The white flower on her hair fell on the ground getting stained by the red liquid underneath. She cried and turned her back away from him and left...
... without looking back.
Finding herself lost in an unknown foreign land, she saw a huge injured monster. 'Ah,' she thought, 'We're the same, you and I...' she treated the wound on its leg and continued observing it for weeks until it can finally leave.
She waved goodbye and said, "Go back to you homeland now."
In her surprise, it carried her using its mouth and let her ride its back. They reached a hidden village deep into the lakes. With her energy drained, she fell from the back of the monster but is carried by a lower demon man.
Her eyes widened. They are foreign demons - those who multiply without the protection of high ranking ones. Another one caressed the monster's head and feed it a yellow fruit.
"Wow!" he faced her, "This big fella must like you huh li'l missy?"
"I..." she uttered while still being carried.
Another male demon approached her and saw her dress. On the her chest is a family crest.
"You're a noble? A high ranking one?" he raised a brow, "How'd you ended up here? You abandoned or some shit?" she flinched in surprise.
A female punched the face on the last one who interrogated, "The dumb fella really have no clue now, does he?" she gave the child a comforting grin.
What a luck, she found a new home. But deep down there's still a lingering regret inside her. She is living a happy life away from the humans and close to her new family for years, she even found someone who gave his heart to her - that is, the young man who caught her on their first meeting. Still, the picture of her father in her memory still haunts her.
So she decided to avenge her father's death and fulfill her promise to him. Her comrades wouldn't let her leave alone.
"If that's what you really want, we'll help you out!" the female one grinned.
The dumb one replied, "Yeah! There's no way we'd leave you alone you clumsy lil' missy!"
The other gave her a smile, "You'd need people right? Let's do this together!"
She felt supported and relieved. That same night, her love walked up to her, taking a seat beside her, he asked, "Are you... really sure you want this?"
"Huh?" she wondered.
He gave her a pat on the head, "I just don't want you regretting anything, dummy!" he chuckled and sighed, "We'll do our best to help you out." then he warmly smiled.
"Then I'll marry you."
Her pale face turned red in an instant, "You-! You can't just casually say that!" as the other one laughs at her hilarious reaction.
.
.
.
Han Zeno gave her a smile as she is being stopped by a sharp sword on her neck, "So, what do you want to do now?" he asked.
Her anger for the Saphirus Sen Tribe runs deep. She glared not at Han Zeno but at Sen Fajra, the current head of the tribe she loathes. Her vision darkens, she can no longer contain her anger.
"I'll kill you..." she whispered.
"I'll kill you all..." she uttered with voice shaking in anger.
"I'll kill you monsters!" she shouted and used her elbow to hit Sen Cheon on the stomach making her escape within a second. Her vision cannot see anything and anyone other than the current head of the tribe which she bear a grudge on...
Sen Fajra.
She jumped towards him and began her attack. Sen Fajra, who is still surprised, is not in his proper form, still, he manages to block her attacks while backing down and leaping around.
"You pests! Savages! You don't deserve to be here!" she shouted furiously. Her whole being is filled with anger and hatred. "Die! Die! You filthy greedy heartless creatures! All of you!"
When Sen Fajra bumped on a wall, she didn't waste any second and decided to go for the kill, planning to stab him on the same place her father got stabbed using her bare hands when a sword from behind pierced her.
It was Sen Shanna with a smile, "That won't do, young lady." She then turned to face her lord, "My, Lord Sen still has to practice."
Sen Fajra chuckled quietly, "Yeah, think so."
She frowned and tried to hit her instead. Sen Shanna leaped backwards to avoid the hit, removing her sword on her chest. "Don't interfere!" she ordered.
Just then, a golden arrow pierce through her left arm near her shoulder. She stumbled. Spitting out some blood from her mouth, she removed the arrow and went straight to the one who fired it.
Sei Chryseis' eyes widened. Han Dae ran in front of him and is ready to receive her attack when a strong gust of wind threw her to another arena. It was Sei Cressida's doing.
"I told you already..." she punched the ground to force herself to stand, "Don't interfere!" she shouted and aimed at Sen Fajra once again. This time, the young man is expecting another attack coming from her so he is swiftly blocking her attacks using his bare hands for she use no weapon.
"Isn't it weird?" Yu Gaia puts her arm around Sen Saiorse waist who is planning to join the fight so that she can stay.
"Get your hands off me!" she exclaimed irritatingly while trying to removed Yu Gaia's hands.
"That demon only attacks your brother and those who try to interfere." Yu Gaia continued, "Does she bear a grudge or something?" she asked.
"How would I know?!" Sen Saiorse answered pissed. Finally being able to escape her grasp, she joined the fight.
"Aww..." Yu Gaia uttered, "Young Miss Sen is really cold." She flew towards Yu Rui who is with Sei Cressida. "Yu dear!" she waved her hand.
"Young Miss Yu!" Yu Rui lowered his head hastily and answered, "Shouldn't we help Lord Sen?"
"Hmm?" she wondered, "We already did our part." She turned to Sei Cressida and said with such energy, "Right Young Miss Sei?"
She faced them both and nodded, "I figured," she said and faced the battlefield once again, "that the Saphirus Sen Tribe has to take it from here. We are not required to do anything more."
Yu Gaia faced her servant and said, "See? Why bother?"
"But--!" Yu Rui exclaimed when she 'shushed' him using her right index finger.
She sighed and raised a brow, "Honestly, I'm clinging onto Young Miss Sen the whole time yet I've never seen you jealous!"
"Well," Yu Rui answered, "Young Miss Yu and Young Miss Sen are both lady."
Yu Gaia's eyes sparkled, "Then, if I started clinging to Young Lord Han--" but her excitement vanished when Yu Rui gave her a death glare.
She laughed awkwardly, "I-It's just a mere joke dear! Hahaha..." she gulped thinking 'I find that expression cute though!'
"Get lost!" the demon shouted and used her demonic aura to push Sen Saiorse to a distance. Sen Cheon, who is also in the fight, jumped and hastily followed her in order to help.
"You too!" she exclaimed at Sen Shanna who is about to slash her from above when she used her aura to cover her and threw her elsewhere. Luckily, Sen Yeol is there to catch her.
Her attacks towards Sen Fajra, who is now using his throwing knives once again, became stronger and more powerful. A mere block won't cut it. He has to defend himself by counterattacking.
He hit her on the stomach using his left palm with spiritual energy in it. She flew backwards. Still refusing to lose, she uses her long nails and pierced it on the ground to stop her from moving.
It created a screeching noise that is unpleasant to hear.
After successfully stopping herself, she leaps forward to Sen Fajra who is already going to her direction, holding his slightly unsheathed sword.
They clashed once again.
"I can't believe that a demon head like you..." Sen Fajra said while they are colliding, "... won't be able to follow your own words!" he said and slashed her chest horizontally, revealing some of her skin.
She took a step back and glared daggers at him, "I'm not done yet!" she went for the kill once more while shouting, "Because of you! Because of your people! My family! My clan!" she furiously shouted.
Not even succeeding to wound him, she received a kick making her lose her balance as she fell sitting on the ground.
Sen Fajra is about to end her when a person stood between them, smiling at him.
Han Dae's eyes widened in disbelief. Everyone is in shock.
"T-That's..." Sei Chryseis uttered in surprise.
Han Zeno pulled out his sword and pointed it at Sen Fajra that made everyone even more surprised.
Sen Fajra grinned, "Young Lord Han, what were you thinking?"
"Hashi-ni..." Han Dae uttered. His sweat rolled down from his forehead to his chin. He is scared of what might happen.
Asher gulped, "Wha-What the heck are you doing?!"
The demon is completely shocked as well. Who would've thought that someone would be dumb enough to stand by her side? Especially when she is already losing and is on the verge of death. It is impossible for this young lord to have a change of heart at the last moment!
He's the reason why she's in this state!
The saintess found a dim light. She gathered her strength and wrapped her arm around Han Zeno's neck.
"You're such an idiot!" she grinned, "Do you think I will be grateful?"
"Young Miss," Han Zeno smiled and slightly turned his head to face her, "What is your name?"
"Huh?" she uttered. 'Jerk, can't you see I'm threatening you right now?!'
"What are you doing?!" Sen Saiorse exclaimed, "Young Lord Han!"
"Tell me." Han Zeno continued, not minding any of them while still pointing his sword at Sen Fajra, showing that he doesn't want anyone to interfere.
"Who would?" she uttered, "Go to hell!" she shouted when Han Zeno twisted her hand. He turned to her and stabbed her right on the chest.
"I noticed that you wanted to stab Lord Sen in this place very badly." He smiled kindly, "I'm sorry that I cannot do that for you."
She coughed up a lot of blood that stained Han Zeno's sword. She clenched it tightly, making her hand bleed, "You piece of--!" she furiously shouted.
In just a moment, she saw a peaceful face in front of her that slowly removed her anger on her face. It was a kind, sweet smile with eyes filled with empathy.
"It must have been painful for you." He said, "I may not know what it is, but I hope that you'd be reunited with someone you hold dear."
Her tears piled up like a dam before it completely fell. 'That smile...' she thought, 'It reminds me of my father...'
"Alba..." she uttered in tears, "My n-name..." she sniffed.
"Alba..." Han Zeno replied, "What a pretty name." he smiled once again. "Alba... white... like a flower..." he continued.
She can no longer see Han Zeno in front of him. It is her father she is seeing. Her loving father she wants to see badly.
"Father!" she exclaimed that surprised Han Zeno. Piercing her self completely, she ran towards his direction and gave him a hug.
A tight embrace she wanted for centuries.
Sen Fajra and the rest is surprised with mouths hanging open in disbelief.
"Don't leave me! Don't leave me again!" she cried as she slowly cracks and is crumbling down. "Forgive me! I failed to keep my promise! I want you to be proud of me! I trained hard! I gathered men! I did everything I could!"
Han Zeno felt pity to the poor demon. Using his other hand that is not holding the sword, he wrapped his arms around her caressing her back. "I see, he must be proud of you because you tried, even if you know it will be difficult."
Eyes wide, Han Dae remained speechless because of what he had heard.
"Don't leave me!" she bawled like a child, burying her face on his chest.
Before she completely vanished, he gave her one last hope, "I'm sure, he is waiting for you."
Han Zeno then sheathed his sword. He turned to face Sen Fajra and lowered his head, "Forgive me for pointing my sword at you, Lord Sen."
Sen Fajra sheathed his sword as well, "No, I understood what you meant already." The rest sighed in relief and approached each other.
"Sei-ji!" Sei Chryseis ran to his sister and bawled.
"Wha--?!" she exclaimed, "Why are you still crying?!"
On the other hand, Sen Fajra walked to his twin, "Are you alright?" he asked as she stood properly, slightly lowering her head.
"Mnn." She nodded. Sen Shanna, Sen Jizshuei, Sen Yeol and Sen Jizshuei all knelt in front of him. Sen Saiorse did the same thing.
Sen Fajra blinked upon hearing them.
"We are ready to accept any punishment, Lord Sen!" they said.
Sen Fajra smiled, "I see..." then he smirked, "Should I strip you off your rank then?" he jokingly said.
"Huh?!" they freaked and began complaining. Sen Fajra laughed and said, "Well, try to change my mind before we reach Ai Forest." and they all doted on him.
Yu Sam ran towards Yu Rui and Yu Gaia, "Young Miss Yu!" she waved. Yu Gaia faced her with a smile and gave her a warm hug, "Oh! My dear Sam has grown!"
Yu Sam laughed shyly, feeling proud of herself. She raised her hand and had a high five with Yu Rui.
Meanwhile, Han Zeno was the one who approached the struggling in walking, Han Dae. "You're bleeding..." he uttered. Han Dae fell on his arms, with pale face, and exhausted body.
"Can you walk?" Han Zeno asked.
"Hmm?" Han Dae asked. He can't seem to pay attention to his surroundings so Han Zeno decided to share some of his aura to heal his chest cut. While doing so, Han Dae held his sleeve tightly.
"H-Hashi-ni..." he uttered, "scared me..."
Han Zeno blinked, wondering how. Han Dae continued while forcing his eyes to open, "...If you'd do something like that again, you should have me beside you..." he somehow found the strength to hit him in the chest, although it doesn't affect him in anyway.
"If you don't..." Han Dae said, "I will hit you again..."
Asher held his chest, it is getting harder to breathe for him, but Han Dae is still wasting his breath by talking. He scolded in his mind, 'Can you just flirt with him later? I'm literally dying!'
"Mnn." Han Zeno nodded, "I'm sorry."
With that, Han Dae blacked out.
The moment he opened his eyes, he noticed that he is being carried from behind by someone. He faced the person and it is his young lord.
"Hashi-ni?" he uttered.
Han Zeno faced him and slowed down his pace, "Is it bumpy?" he smiled.
Han Dae shook his head, "You can put me down."
Asher gave him a 'what the heck' look. 'No, I'm tired. Wake me up please!'
Yup, it doesn't make sense.
"No, let me carry you until we get there." Han Zeno said and he argued no more since the both of them are really tired.
"Why did you do that Hashi-ni?" Han Dae wondered.
"Hmm?" Han Zeno asked.
"You shouldn't have interfered earlier." Han Dae snubbed.
Han Zeno smiled with a sigh and faced forward once again as he walks, "Han Dae, did you know?" he asked, "Demons and humans, they both have the potential to do good and evil."
Han Dae blinked in a wonder, "Did Hashi-ni think that... that saintess did something good?"
Han Zeno chuckled lightly, "Nope." he answered, "But I'm sure she made someone proud. That for some, it was the right thing to do. Besides, who has the authority to say this is the good thing and this is the bad thing?"
"Hmmm..." Han Dae didn't bother to ask anymore.
Now, they are behind everybody who is busy talking to their own disciples and friends. Han Dae kept quiet so Han Zeno dared to ask, "What is it? You can tell me."
Han Dae asked while looking down, "D-Did I make Hashi-ni... p-proud?"
Han Zeno is quite surprised before answering with a smile, "Mnn. Han Dae had surprised me many times now."
Upon hearing him, Han Dae can help but to feel the fluff in his chest, with cheeks slightly turning pink, he hid his face by burying it on his shoulder. Han Zeno felt a warm sensation on that particular area.
Han Dae shoulders are trembling as he cries silently.
"Why?" Han Zeno asked, "I am not disappointed in you."
"I..." he uttered, "I loath myself..." with a cracked voice, he sniffed as he continued, "for wanting to back out earlier... for only thinking about my life, not Hashi-ni's reputation... I hate myself for that! I'm actually really scared, but if I show it, what would they think of you? Those thoughts invaded my mind that time and it made me nervous!"
"Mnn..." Han Zeno smiled and listened, "And?" he asked and Han Dae continued.
"That's why--!" he cried as he continued.
Asher realized something in this situation, "Han Dae... has a habit of expressing his weakness after success." He uttered. 'Come to think of it, he only show this kind of weak side to Han Zeno. And he always tell him a lot of things. Things that are deeply worrying him, haunting him, and things that are in the past already.'
He then thought of Han Zeno, 'And he, he has the habit of listening attentively. He will not make his own topic nor stop him. He will only nod and say what Han Dae wants to hear. That alone, is what makes Han Dae feel secure to the point that he can open up easily.'
Sighing, "What a beautiful and fascinating bond." Asher thought with a smiling face and... somehow envious look.
'It really is.... beautiful.'
"Is that all?" Han Zeno asked.
"Mnn." Han Dae nodded and sniffed.
Han Zeno then finally said what he wanted to, "Han Dae scared me too."
Han Dae faced Han Zeno in surprise. "He decided to fight two monsters on his own and got his arm broken." He continued and faced him with a smile, "Don't scare me again."
Han Dae blushed and nodded.
Han Zeno smiled, "But I was really amazed!" he continued, "You have improved a lot!"
Han Dae got even more embarrassed hiding his face once again in the process. Han Zeno giggled upon seeing his cute reaction.
After going back to the place, they are given a day of rest. Of course, the Lao siblings don't have a clue of what had happened. So one of them, Lao Tyr, smelled something fishy and decided to go out for a walk without noticing anything strange.
The next day, their classes continued. Studying altogether with Sen Cheon's boring class, and splitting up when Sen Shanna and Sen Yeol are their next rabbis.
After a long tiring yet enjoying training from Sen Shanna, Han Dae is now on his way back to their chambers to cook food, eat, wash and sleep.
He halted the moment he saw Lao Tyr passing by. He lowered his head as the young lord walks past him. Han Dae took a peek because behind him are his friends, Lao Ming and Lao Jaz. They faced him with face full of guilt as they lowered their heads.
He blinked, wondering why.
Han Dae's eyes widened as he gasped in realization. Where they came from, that way is their room!
Han Dae did not waste a second and went to the inn. Without even entering the room itself, outside, stood Han Zeno. He cannot see him clearly for he is looking forward. Han Dae can only see his young lord's back.
"Hashi-ni?" he called.
He noticed the flinch Han Zeno made before turning to face him, quite shocked. He, on the other hand, felt pure anger the moment he saw Han Zeno's left cheek, slightly red, looking like someone landed a punch.
Han Zeno smiled, "Wow! I thought you would be spending the night with your friends again!"
Han Dae rushed to his side and held his cheeks. He blinked and said, "It's fine, it doesn't hurt."
Han Dae's eyes darkened the spark disappeared completely, wide open, wanting to hit somebody, "That's it." He whispered. Turning around, he said, "I'll make him pay!"
Han Zeno, surprised of what he heard, pulled Han Dae back and said, "I told you it's fine!" he smiled, "Besides, my face isn't really ruined right?"
"Hashi-ni!" Han Dae shouted with mixed feelings. Anger, a slight hint of disgust, worry, whatever it is, it isn't good.
"It won't happen again, I promise." He smiled and changed the topic smoothly, he knows that Han Dae will only hurt himself, "Now go and cook something for me. I'm starving!"
"Huh?" Han Dae asked confused. His eyes went back to normal as he raised a brow, "Already?!" while Han Zeno drags him inside their room.
"Yup!" he said, "How about noodles? Noodles with shrimps! Shrimps with corn! Corn with cabbage!"
"At least let me cure your bruise first!" Han Dae exclaimed while still trying to grab the first aid kit as Han Zeno pulls him to the kitchen.
"Huh? But I'm hungry!" Han Zeno complained with a laugh.
Meanwhile, Lao Tyr went to his room only to find his younger brother drinking his tea. He sat beside him and stared at his face until he finished drinking. He leaned his head on his hand and asked, "I thought you dislike the tea?"
Lao Frigg gave his brother a smile, "I know Tyr-ni would bring some from home."
Lao Tyr gave him a glare, "Ah, you touched my things again!"
After pouring some tea on the cup, Lao Frigg smiled, "Mnn! This smells really good!" he faced his brother and asked, "Should I give one to Young Miss Sei?"
Lao Tyr sighed, "Yeah right, she would definitely just throw it."
"Aww, what a waste." Lao Frigg answered before sipping his tea. Lao Tyr played with his brother's wavy white hair as he drinks the tea.
He remembered Han Zeno's face earlier before he landed him a punch.
It was a face with a menacing smile with darkened eyes as he questioned, "Are you really threatening me?"
"Tch!" Lao Tyr clicked his tongue, "Stop pretending to be a good fuckin' sheep you starving ravenous wolf!" he irritatingly said.
Lao Frigg smiled while putting down the cup, "Tyr-ni, my hair is getting tangled."
Lao Tyr got even more irritated and pulled his brother's hair.
"Ugh! Stop being so rough daddy! That's why no one likes you!" Lao Frigg joked.
"Quit it! You sound like a dog in heat." Lao Tyr answered.
Lao Frigg giggled, "That is why I needed a female pill."
"I heard that." A person opened the door and it was the eldest.
"Ju-ni!" They both exclaimed.
"Well Tyr-ni wants a piece of me." Lao Frigg grinned.
Lao Tyr rolled his eyes, "I do not."
"By the way, I've heard a news that is much more interesting than Tyr-di being an asshole." Lao Judah smiled as he shows them an envelop with the seal of the Majin, "Well, at least this is the result of him being an asshole."