Serena froze. All of her limbs seemed to disobey and no matter how hard she tried, she could move a single finger. Not even her eyes moved, but the frustrated groan of Simon told her that he was probably in the same situation.
Then, she heard the sound of metal breaking from behind, and she was severely annoyed that she couldn't see what was happening. She heard how two blades were rapidly clashing against each other, picking up pace while a person kept speaking, "Don't move."
They was obviously a male. What age was beyond her, but she knew where he was from. The person that kept speaking was from the Nation of Zmey because he had the same accent as Simon, and when thinking a bit further, Serena assumed that he was an assassin.
The Nation of Zmey was notorious and well known for bringing first class spies and outstanding assassins to serve their nation and entire Diabolus. Assassins were also paid very generously, but they were feared and known by titles, which meant they had no courtesy name. Some of them even had a symbol with which they were easily identified, but that only applied to the most high-classed assassins. The person that was ambushing them right now didn't seem like someone who was well known amongst the public. Nonetheless, she couldn't assume him to be weak only because he was living in the shadows.
Very slowly, too slowly for Serena's preference, she managed to close her eyes. After that has happened, the rest was easy. Her fingers were quickly able to move again, and soon her body turned around to see what was happening. Shiming was constantly attacking the man that was wielding two daggers. He wore a black coat that was once covering his entire figure, and a white mask. His fighting style told Serena that the person couldn't possibly be an amateur. The way he moved was swift and controlled, he didn't make any unnecessary movements, and his fast reflexes were reason why he was still alive. Every time the blade threatened to cut off one of his limbs, he twisted them in an almost unhinged manner that he managed to dodge.
Serena whistled and Shiming soared back to her. She wasted no time when her hand finally gripped around the handle. Beyond the speed of sound, she charged at the person, no fear of dying or being hurt. The blade flashed through the air as it moved to the person's neck but it went straight through as if the killer was a ghost. For a short second, Serena's breath hitched and she lost composure that was swiftly regained. It had been an illusion, and she was sure that her opponent has used his illusions to make himself invisible. Usually, she wouldn't fall for this sort of trick but the person was someone she has never encountered. There was a first time for everything, although if she died today, there wouldn't be a second time for dying.
Now the only thing Serena could rely on was the sound of rustling grass that told her her opponent's location. How fortunate for her that illusions trick someone's sight but not all of their senses. It would be far more difficult if those were hallucinations.
Shiming suddenly left Serena's hand without permission and darted past her and collided with a sword that would have pierced through Serena's skull.
"Don't -."
"Silence!" commanded Serena, drawing a formation into the air and pushing it against her opponent's mask. The voice ceased at once and she heard gagging noises as if he was trying to break the curse that no other can lift but her.
Nile's wings spreaded again as he broke the curse. He rushed next to Serena for assistance, leaving Simon behind.
"I'll turn invisble -," Nile was barely able to finish his sentence when something slammed into chest with immense force, throwing him back.
Nile spat blood that tainted the handkerchief on his black uniform, as his back hit the ground with full force. Coughing, he tried to get up but something dashed down, claws ripped through the air and scratched along the black–red matter of Nile's wings. The aggressive attacker was a zacral, with ivory skin and golden eyes. It had the appearance of a dragon, and lots of resemblances to Eulisches.
"Now what are you...~," said the zacral with a bright smile. Mischief glimmered in those golden eyes, and the zacral raised his small arm once again. Nile saw a flash of those golden claws and prepared to defend himself once again as suddenly the zacral let out a yelp.
"Get up, will you," said Simon, helping Nile up.
"I didn't need your help," he replied softly.
"Sure," snorted Simon, summoning purple spades behind him. "You didn't look like a helpless kid right now."
The zacral let out a snort, cracking his head a few times, before he vanished right before their eyes. Not even a second later, Simon and Nile were kicked in against their back and slammed to the ground. The stench of grass and earth filled their lungs, and Nile cough up another portion of blood.
"Even if you are two, you still can't beat me -."
A spade pierced through the body. It has all happened to fast for the zacral to process and he fell to the ground like a stone. Nile struggled with getting back up on his feet, his face was even paler than already, and the red blood on his lips looked like crimson petals in snow.
"Get up." Simon grabbed Nile by his arm and pulled him up, then turned to carry him on his back.
"Let me down," rasped Nile. His voice sounded tired, and his arms had no strength to do anything, let alone was he able to stand properly. The hit of the zacral has affected him far worser than Simon.
The fight between Serena and the killer was closing up to their end. Whereas the killer only fought with two daggers, Serena had a sword that moved on its own and her own powers to fight. Additionally, she had great knowledge on curses and spells which gave her an enormous advantage. Even someone like him couldn't last long. Not long after Nile and Simon had overwhelmed the zacral, she put all force into her palm and slammed it straight on against the killer's chest. He was sent flying through the grass which rustled as his body passed, and a few leaves fell as his back hit the trunk of a tree.
With his katara, Simon created a chain of spades that hooked themselves around the killer and tied him to the tree. There was no way for im to escape, not when Serena put a curse on him in addition. The zacral was captured too and his head unconsciously hung down, making it appear as if he was hanged.
Simon reached foward, his hand touching the white material of the mask, and he trailed his finger down, chacking the material. He felt fine cracks under his skin that softly cut into it, and after the clear of the throat of the annoying person on his back, Simon ripped of the mask.
The killer was not older than them, perhaps he was even younger. His face was quite pretty, his skin was as white as Simon's, and his dark hair that shimmered silver in the golden light. He had strange dark green marks at the corners of his mouth, both looking identical, and his lips were bloody.
"What did he do?" asked Nile from Simon's back.
"He tried to break the silence curse. If you try to break curses by force, you will only harm yourself," explained Serena.
"…"
Nile got off Simon's back, strong enough to stabilize himself on his feet.„Let's kill him right here and now," he said and his deadly wings grew out of his back. The youth's eyes widened when Nile approached him and bent down.
"What?" asked Nile, his red eyes fixed at him while a shadow laid itself upon his face, which made him even more terrifying. "Are you scared?"
The boy flashed somewhat of a daring smirk, and Nile's expression only grew colder.
"The audacity," he hissed, eyes glowing.
"Wait," Simon suddenly stopped him.
Nile and Serena, who both had already agreed with each other in silence that the boy must perish for the greater good, looked at him with one brow raised.
"I mean," he cleared his throat. „We could hand him in."
"And how would we explain where we found him?" asked Nile, his voice soft.
With a help pleading look, Simon turned his head to Serena, who was staring at the unconscious zacral. He knew that she knew she was ignoring him on purpose, but he felt at unease when thinking about killing this youth. For a reason, he wanted to get to know the boy more, maybe help him out of that desperate state of mind, but he wouldn't kill him at any rate.
"You seem rather concerned, Simon," Serena finally said. „Do you know the junior?"
Simon breathed in shakingly. He hadn't thought of that at first because of the shock moment before. However, as Serena mentioned it all of a sudden, he tried thinking back. The youth had an accent which told Simon that he was from the Nation of Zmey; he was an illusionist; and he appeared to control minds through speech. All of those aspects fit to a person he once had known in the past…
Eleven years ago in the Nation of Zmey, in a little town…
A child held out his hand to Simon, who was sitting on a bench. The boy had dark, silvery hair, steel grey eyes with a flash of green and a handsome face, even for a little kid.
"Hey, I'm Nathaniel Vasiliev," the boy greeted him with a bright smile. It was a smile of purity, of a boy that saw only happiness. It made Simon felt a bit of warmth inside his chest. Maybe he could finally have a friend he could share his worries with, and someone, who doesn't want to hang around because of his money.
Hestitantly, Simon took his hand and shook it.
"I'm Nikolai," he said quietly. "Nikolai Voronov."
"Nice to meet you!" Nathaniel said cheerfully.
The two sat down on a bench and began talking. It took a while for Simon to open up to the boy but eventually they became very close friends. One day, Nathaniel told Simon his ability, which was enviously powerful, especially because of the combination. He could project illusions and order deviens and death angels what to do. For the first time in his life, Simon had found a friend that viewed him as an equal and ordinary person, and they often spent their time together playing strategy or card games. But the day came, when his friend was gone. Simon and Nathaniel had decided to meet up at the usual place; however, when Simon arrived, he only found a note that was weighted with a stone.
Nikolai,
I'm sorry that I can't come but I have something to do. I promise that I will come back. And when I'm back, we'll catch up our card match.
- Noya
Although the name was different, Simon knew that Nathaniel could be the only one who has written that. It was hidden in a secret spot that the two of them had found not so long ago. The years passed, and Simon never truly got over the fact that Nathaniel was gone. From that point of time, he was sent to Ashin by his parents, and was considered like someone of a higher realm by society. None of the people here viewed him as an ordinary person. He was seen as someone special and sentenced to death by fate, and he was either treatened as someone superior by the juniors, or inferior by his seniors.
A hit against his shoulder made himself regain again. Nile stared at him, his scarlet eyes drilling through his yellow ones. He was briefly scared that Nile might turn into a feral monster and eat him alive, but the look on the other's face was a mix of concern and loathing.
"What was that for?" huffed Simon outrageously.
"Serena has been asking you a question, Nikolai Voronov," said Nile, his voice venomous and snarky. The look he gave the killer didn't make things easier for Simon.
As he forced himself to look at the youth he thought to have similarities to Nathaniel, he saw how widened eyes were staring back at him. Even their appearance matched
"He just reminds me of someone," he then said quietly.
Shiming appeared out of thin air, placing itself to the youth's throat, issuing a warning to the boy not to step out of the line. Thereupon, Serena moved her hands elegantly and the silence curse she put on him disappeared.
The youth opened his mouth, moved his lips, assuring he wasn't dreaming, and looked back at Simon.
"A killer would most likely not tell me his name, let alone a well trained assassin. Still, would you mind or do you want to take your name to the grave and be burried with a nameless tombstone?" asked Serena. Her voice was soothing and soft, the killer briefly closed his eyes at the sound of it, but he quickly snapped back into reality.
"Noya Vasiliev," he said with a raspy voice.
Simon's internal functions have ceased working. His mind went blank at the sound of that name. One part of his brain wanted to convince him that all of that was just some cheap trick someone tried to prank him with while the other whispered words into his ear. Simon's expression showed that he had wandered off into another reality, and Serena and Nile both exchanged concerned looks.
The boy on the ground, Noya Vasiliev, observed Simon's reaction from the ground. Even his expression couldn't be placed anywhere for certain. His face showed a mix of shock and bewilderment – joy or relief were nowhere to be seen.
"Nathaniel-."
"Don't call me that, Nikolai!" barked Noya from the ground. His shout was followed by a cough, and blood appeared at the corners of his mouth. "From now on," he continued darkly, "you will never call me by that name again!"
Speechless, Simon stared at his childhood friend. The Nathaniel – pardon, Noya, he knew was a cheerful individual, talking with a very gentle and joyful voice whereas the person he was facing now, was a ruthless killer and someone cold at heart. Simon always had a thing to guess if someone had a good or a rather bad heart, and where Noya was standing didn't delight him at all.
"What happened to you?" he asked instead.
"I became an assassin as it's usual for people like us," replied Noya. If he talked like that, his accent was even heavier than Simon's. It was Noya to 100% percent.
With the snap of his fingers, Simon released Noya and the zacral from their chains. However, Noya had no chance to stand up or to move from his place; Shiming was still too close to his throat.
"Serena." Simon turned to her almost desperately.
"I'm sorry, Simon, but I'm afraid I can't let him off my hook. Look what he had done," said Serena softly. Her voice was barely louder than the soft breeze that swept over the meadow, and yet it was as clear as the moon that appeared in the sky. The red moon behind her looked like the graceful halo of the devil.
Simon had to swallow. Albeit Serena expressed no disdain towards Noya, he still felt that she wanted to kill him.
A soft groan was heard from the ground, and all four heads swiftly turned to the direction of the voice. The small zacral has regained consciousness again.
Alarmed by his sudden waking, Nile's wings drilled into the ground to the left and the right of the zacral.
"Senior Qiang," said Noya, voice still hoarse.
"Noya…," slurred the zacral. With another long groan of pain, he carefully spread his wings. When he met no resistance he flew up, ignoring Nile's wings that were dangerous close to the former's body.
As he finally floated steadily in the air, the zacral Qiang proceeded to attack Nile, but Noya's voice stopped him.
"Don't!" he called.
Qiang stopped, face twisted in displeasure, and his voice was pouty and angry as he spoke. "Seriously, Noya? For what? They hurt us, and it's only natural if we'd hurt them back. Did you forget everything I taught you?"
Noya shook his head. His message was clear, and with a sigh of utter disappointed, Qiang settled down on Noya's shoulder.
"Noya, who is he?" asked Simon, nodding towards the zacral.
„Qiang Xiao, my senior and mentor. We were sent on missions together very often," explained Noya.
Xiao let out a snort, turning his head to look at Serena. After eying her for a while, he tilted his head from the right to the left and back. Something in his eyes seemed to flash for a moment until it returned into an abyss of darkness.
"Maiden," he called, "who are you?"
"Serena," replied Serena. Perhaps the zacral was an abominational piece of garbage, but Serena wouldn't forget manners and courtesy despite the situation. She saluted respectfully.
Both, Noya, and Xiao were astonished by her gesture, yet their gazes both averted in suspicion.
"I don't bear any ill will," declared Serena calmly. „But I won't hestitate to restrain you if you struggle."
"Wait, what?!" shouted Simon, shocked.
Why didn't I predict that? thought Nile with an eyeroll at Simon's exaggerated dramatic expression.
"What are you going to do?" asked Noya as Shiming pressed farther to his throat, cutting the first layer of skin.
"Take you with us," Serena softly smiled.
For a moment it looked like the time has stopped. The four boys felt as if they had seen a smiling mask cracking and threatening to break into two. Underneath that smile on the mask hid malice, frightening malice only the devil would possess. However, as quick as this situation came, it passed and Serena asked Simon and Nile to help her getting the two to Ashin Temple.
"You left?!" exclaimed Qiqi in disbelief. "How? I thought, no, I was told ny the alpha herself, that there's no way out of here."
Serena, Nile and Simon had went straight to her and gave her a bit of information on their two accompanions, and Qiqi didn't hestitate to bring them into Xuan Jixiang's office. She didn't questioned anything as the type of person she was but she seemed rather at unease.
Now that they were here, there was no escaping of the cruel punishment awaiting them.
"Why would an assassin be here?" muttered Xuan Jixiang to himself. His fingers rhythmically tapped against his wooden desk while he was watching the two through narrowed eyes.
"Caishen-daren," gasped Noya, his forehead was touching the ground as he bowed deeply. „It is all my fault. Don't punish Senior Qiang, I was the one who forced him to come with me. Spare him and let him go."
Serena tilted her head as she watched Noya's desperate pleading, it sounded so – insincere.
"No," said Qiqi. Something in her voice was cool, her gaze remained on Xiao for a long while. "He isn't going anywhere. His punishment would be to be confined inside a mountain cave. You said you forced him, right, Young Master Vasiliev? And still, why don't I see any remorse on his face. Look at him, he is looking very happy, isn't he? He will atone for all of the people he had killed for fun. One life is one year!"
"How could you know!" Noya interrupted her. He sounded at least a bit genuinely worried about Xiao, and Simon felt relief that Noya at least had someone he could care of – even if it wasn't him.
"Listen, boy!" huffed Qiqi, losing all manners. "I am very tolerant with lots of things, but I hate sadism. The person kneeling next to you enjoys the suffer of others in silence. I was trained to distinguish assassins and psychopaths. Now, shut your mouth! If that boy's not going to atone for his sins, I will make him!"
"Shifu!"
This startled every single person inside the office. All except one, and that was Xuan Jixiang, he was the one who had shouted.
"Shifu, please refrain from shouting at any of those two young masters," sighed Xuan Jixiang. "Especially for this young master." He shot a sharp glare at Xiao, who smirked as he bowed his head.
"Young master my ass," snorted Qiqi. However, she didn't look like she wanted to continue the argument with her former disciple, so she left with a little warning towards Xiao. "Make sure to not violate any of the given rules. If it were the case, I guarantee your demise."
"My apologies," said Xuan Jixiang. "She is very hostile in terms of injustified crimes."
"What punishment -."
"I will keep both of you here under strict supervision," said Xuan Jixiang before Noya could even finish his sentence.
The two boys looked quite shocked at that but none of them retorted.
"Wait, Caishen-daren," Serena stepped in. „What makes you think that those two won't start killing at Ashin?"
Xuan Jixiang smiled briefly. He had expected that kind of question, especially from someone like Serena. She didn't even trusted him so why should she be less wary about the killers inside his office.
"I simply said so," he replied. "And in this place and Quanbu, my orders are absolute."
The zacral behind him nodded, and teleported behind Noya and Xiao. In an instant, those two were alert and tried to fight of the curse that kept them kneeling to the ground. The golden light, that was surpressing their katara thus their abilities by far, beneath them only intensified its glow and they had it harder and harder to straighten up. An invisible collar as light as a feather and as visible as a ghost was put around their neck, only to be removed with permission.
"Oh, I see. We're slaves now, huh," snarled Xiao. He sounded beyond angry, his rather sharp canines were bared, and he kept struggling against the surpression curse.
"You aren't slaves," stated the zacral coldly. "These collars only prevent you from escaping or causing unnecessary trouble."
"And what if I take it off?" Xiao shot back rudely.
"Then you will be confined inside a mountain, never to be able to leave again," warned the zacral.
Xiao was fuming with rage whereas Noya didn't even try to protect his dignity. His body was almost limb and pressed to the ground, his eyes were closed and his face was pale.
"Get them something to eat," ordered Xuan Jixiang.
Simon and Nile were dismissed without any punishment or a lecture, but Serena, who wouldn't be punished either, stayed.
"What's the matter?" asked Xuan Jixiang.
"You are keeping them here and I – would like to relate to your actions," replied Serena straight foward.
"Yes, I am keeping them here but not because I decided it. It was because destiny decided it."
When Serena and Simon visited Ora and Ronan on the next day, Simon told them about their little adventure. Nile had refused to go by all means, and Xiao and Noya were both set up for a meeting with Xuan Jixiang.
"Hahaha." Ronan's laughter sounded through Ora's room. It wasn't a cheerful laughter but an empty one that showed that he felt no amusement. Ronan was laughing out of irony.
"I don't find this funny at all," protested Simon, irritated.
"I know, Simon–kun," grinned Ronan, settling down next to his brother.
Ora was again copying the text of probably a historical book. Despite being very focused on his task, he still listened in on the conversation to not miss anything.
"To be honest, I think that this is a bad idea," Ora finally joined in.
"…-!"
"Even though you seem to care about that childhood friend of yours you need to realize that he isn't the same as before. From what you have described to me, they had been working for a smaller organization," Ora continued when Simon wanted to speak.
Giving up, Simon laid down on the ground and looked what was lying behind him from upside down.
Shut off from the outside world and surrounded by a calm aura, Serena sat in a corner, meditating.
"I want to know why she keeps doing that," he said after a while.
"Concentrating your katara, collecting your spiritual energy, calming down your heart, meditation helps a lot," said Ora.
"Fine, but what should we do about Nathan – Noya?"
Ronan turned to the side, his face showing no interest at all and Simon fought the urge to punch him in his face.
"Simon–kun, your friend is a criminal. Xuan–sama showed him mercy by sparing his life. What do you want to do, get him out of his confinement? Make him join the mission?" asked Ora, dipping his brush into the golden ink once more.
"Why not?" Simon continued stubbornly.
"He is not even able to leave, so why would you want to spend so much effort?" Serena chimed in from the corner.
"Because he's my friend???" replied Simon. However, that statement sounded more like a question in Serena's ears.
"Simon, I could help you convince Caishen-daren to allow Noya join our mission," said Serena.
"Really?" asked Simon, looking hopefully at Serena, who nodded reassuringly.
"And what about us?" protested Ronan from the ground.
"Since you will be sent on the mission, I assume you are allowed to go out too," replied Serena.
Ronan's jaw dropped in bafflement, and Ora's brush fell to the ground, spreading ink on the floor.
"Are you serious?" asked Ora. His voice wasn't any louder than a whisper and his eyes were opened wide.
"I cannot say for sure, Senior Senketsu," said Serena appeasingly. "Simon, let's go now. It's time to return to our dorms after all."
After biding good night to each other, Serena and Simon walked to Xuan Jixiang's office. Simon had been too impatient to wait another day and had urged Serena to do it this late. Hopefully, the executive was still awake.
Xuan Jixiang was actually still awake and was writing an email on a laptop. Unlike all the executives of Quanbu before his time, he had turned to modern technology instead of traditional customs.
"What are you two doing here? Have you become best friends?" he asked when he saw Serena and Simon saluting to him together.
"Friends or not, I'm here to ask you for a favour," said Serena.
Xuan Jixiang raised a brow in expectation while his fingers were typing simultaneously and his eyes kept wandering from Serena to his screen and back.
"What happened to the junior that arrived here today?" asked Serena.
Xuan JiXiang stopped typing at once as he heard the question. His deep frown showed Serena he didn't like where the question was going."You mean Young Master Vasiliev? Why?"
"Junior Vasiliev is quite a talented person. We could need a hand or two for the mission of yours, Caishen-daren," responded Serena.
She did her best not to let out a sigh when the executive before them began to laugh softly into his palm. Sometimes he reminded Serena of a person that was bullied in their past for doing too delicate and woman–like movements. This was a natural way of being polite!
"You want me to allow the Young Master and his senior to join you?" he asked with a smile.
Behind Serena, Simon nodded slightly which didn't escape Xuan Jixiang's notice. His smile only widened but in a genuine way.
"Fine. Tomorrow, I will sent the two to you. Meet me in my office at dawn," he announced.
Once again Serena wondered what he was up to. There was a reason why Xuan Jixiang was so easy to convince, so merciful although the members of the Xuan Clan have always been the opposite.
Dawn came too early. Serena hadn't slept at all because she was haunted by nightmares in the middle of the night. She could only vaguely remember what had happened exactly but the feeling of waking up with a pale face and sweat covering her body would never be forgotten. It had been a feeling of utter terror when she had waken up, and she quickly tried to meditate to calm down. She had to sit like that through the whole night. When she was at Ashin for the first few days, she could hardly tell when the sun was rising, but during her stay she became used to when to wake up. Lots of students were able to wake up exactly when the sun began to rise.
Just in time, Serena arrived in Xuan Jiiang's office. Noya and Xiao were both flanked by zacrals and tied with katara surpression ropes, and Simon stood near the door in case something might happened.
"You're finally there," the executive greeted Serena.
"My apologies."
"Save your words." He turned to the boys, his face was showing utter seriousness. "You two are trained assassins. Although killing isn't involved in that mission, the disciples could need some help of your experience."
"You want us to go with them? Aren't you afraid that we might kill them?" scoffed Xiao, and was immediately shushed by a zacral for his rude mouth.
"I don't think that you are able to kill any of those five disciples. Either way it would be you two to end up dead. Both of you have no families…"
Out of the corner of her eye, Serena saw how Noya slightly shifted his weight to his other foot. Something about those words had an effect on him.
"…So no one would blame me if you were to die. However, I am not a cruel man. I am willing to give you a second chance – one last chance. If you fail to take it, you will be imprisoned," Xuan JiXiang ended.
Noya lowered his head obediently, his eyes closed. "Yes, I won't fail, CaiShen-daren. From now on, I will only listen to your orders."
Those words apparently flabbergasted the executive. His eyebrows were raised and his mouth silghtly agape, as if he could hardly believe what he has just heard. Serena, on the other hand, still heard that insincerity in Noya's voice and the feeling that he wasn't genuinely sorry for his crimes only intensified.
"Fine…, for Noya's sake," muttered Xiao and lowered his head as well, thereby he glanced at Serena through narrowed eyes.
A zacral left her position and flew over to Xuan JiXiang to whisper something in his ear. It wasn't hard to guess what she was telling him but Xuan Jixiang just smiled and shook his head. He seemed to know what exactly he was doing – what a scheming man.
"I will entrust those two to you. As far as I know, you haven't started with your mission. I want you to remember what you are searching for." He showed them the picture of Serena's amulet again.
Serena lowered her head and nodded while Simon silently cursed himself for forgetting about the amulet entirely.
Ora's and Ronan's dorms had guards that could probably overhear every conversation; the same went with Noya and Xiao; Serena knew very well that she was being monitored, which is why she often escaped from it by using a few manipulation tricks. The only two places they could have a normal and unbothered conversation were Nile's or Simon's room. Nile had refused once again to let anyone except himself inside his room which meant that Simon's room was the only option left.
The room Simon was sleeping in was very flamboyant. He had lots of expensive things standing around and gladly showed them around. Xuan Jixiang had allowed Ora, Ronan, Xiao and Noya to wander around without zacrals but under the condition that they always stayed with Serena, Simon and Nile.
Ora and Ronan had never been in any other room, nor had they been further away from the mountain they lived on, and they had been slightly impressed on their way to his room. They had never seen any other students nor other buildings and had looked like little children that saw something amazing for the first time in their lives.
"Do you have any information about the amulet? A picture doesn't help a lot," said Noya.
He was surprisingly eager about the mission although his face showed the opposite. His expression was dark, full of disdain, and if someone looked into his eyes, they would see how dead he was inside. Noya must have gone through a lot of things in his past.
"Hey, Ojo - sama, isn't your ability related to magic?" asked Ronan.
"What makes you think that?" replied Serena as Nile and Simon looked at her in a vague kind of shock.
"That thing you drew into the air. It was at the day of that selection process," said Ronan.
"That was a formation," answered Serena. "Formations are drawn mostly by blood and consist out of various runes. It's a technique I have learned from my shifu. Each rune has its own meaning and if you combine them, they become a spell, curse or talisman. I used the rune "shield" and "protect" back then."
"Can you use runes to locate something?" asked Simon curiously.
Serena shook her head. If she remembered correctly, her master had told her that runes don't help alone if she wanted to achieve something great.
"Well I know," Xiao suddenly spoke up.
"As if," scoffed Ronan.
"I mean it!" protested Xiao.
"Forget it!" snapped Simon. „I know someone who can help us."
The person whom Simon claimed that they were able to help was familiar to Serena. It was the girl in the selection process that wore a golden butterfly hairpin and was able to manipulate weapons.
"What do you need my help with, Senior Voronov?" she asked when she entered.
"Maybe you want to introduce yourself?" Simon replied instead.
The girl let out a soft snort, confidently turning to the rest of the group that was sitting on a comfortable couch. "Lorely Montclair," she said.
She didn't bow, she spoke with no accent, her eyes were rose gold and not red, and she had no "Van" in her name. That meant she could be either from the United States of Mirvalley or the Ring of Elements.
It was rather easy for Serena to determine where a disciple came from when they introduce themselves to her.
Those from the Land of Quanbu greeted with a bow and/or a salute.
Those from Shikibana bowed with hands mostly clasped behind their back.
Those from the Nation of Zmey all spoke with their famous accent.
Those from Sanctoria were death angels, and all death angels had scarlet red eyes.
And whoever came from the Great Kingdom of Wraithshire had a "Van" in their name.
"If you want to know, I'm from the United States of Mirvalley," continued Lorely.
"Huh, another girl, Simon–kun?" asked Ronan. "The last one I have seen was Ojo – sama, and before that I can't remember."
„What's that suppose to mean?" snarled Lorely.
She was clearly that type of girl that always stood up for herself and others, and wasn't easily intimidated – a true boss if one might say.
"Simon said that you could help us," said Serena, causing Lorely to flinch unnoticedly.
"You…Nice to see you again, Senior!" called Lorely.
The way Lorely spoke to boys and the way she spoke to girls differed a lot. She sounded a lot happier when she saw Serena and hurried to sit next to her. Thereby she pushed Xiao aside, which he answered with an angered snarl.
"Senior?" asked Serena.
„Yeah, you are older than me, that is what Senior Voronov has told me," replied Lorely. "What is your name actually?"
"Serena," answered Serena with a quick salute.
"I'm so glad that at least one girl made it into that group of Caishen-daren," sighed Lorely. „Otherwise those misoginistic bastards would start to mock us again."
"Before we get off the topic, Montclair, please stop speaking," Simon interrupted her rant. "I've heard that you are one of the most skilled disciples in terms of technology and weapons. The alpha often calls you when some gadgets aren't working right. I've also heard that you can locate cursed objects."
"You've done some research, Senior, congrats," grinned Lorely. "Of course I can locate whatever you are searching for."
"How?" asked Noya.
"Seems like some people got stuck in ancient times. Cursed objects emit an energy flow that is different from katara or the energy of katara devourers. Their flow forms a certain shape – for example, the energy flows in the shape of a triangle; that means the cursed object has the shape of a triangle or something triangle shaped. Give me a picture of the amulet and I'll specialize the drone to find objects which energy flows in a certain kind of way. It will send me pictures of each object that has this flow and I will simply click on the right one," stated Lorely.
"Then start now," said Simon.
„Not so fast, Senior," replied Lorely, her eyes were flashing dangerously. "I'm not doing work for nothing."
"What do you want in exchange?" Simon sighed in irritation.
"I want to come with you. That's only fair."
Even after staying at Ashin for a while, Serena would have never thought that Qiqi was able to get information so quickly. She stopped Serena when she was walking back to her quarters and asked her questions that stirred up suspicion of being overheard.
"Hey, how was the meeting with the others?" asked Qiqi. "Any idea?"
"What do you mean?" replied Serena, trying to push past QiQi but the zacral continued to block her way although of her tiny size.
"The meeting with the Senketsu brothers, Simon, Nile, and Lorely," QiQi explained.
"Why would you like to know?" countered Serena.
"Because I want to be the one to give your group a title!" declared QiQi with a wide grin.
Astonished, Serena stopped her attempts of escaping QiQi and instead just stared at the latter.
"I've told the rest about the group already and I haven't received any complains. Nile even looked happy because it sounded so edgy."
With every word that came out of Qiqi's mouth, Serena doubted that the title would be good. "Your name is...The Voto Inferni!" QiQi sounded very proud of the title while Serena was rather speechless.
"Are you trying to imply that we are servants of hell?" asked Serena with a tilted head.
"Whaaaat? Of course not!" Chichi protested in outrage. "This name is what I have taken from a poem that was written by an old philosopher. I really liked the message of the poem okay?"
"Alright," nodded Serena. "I hope that I can read that poem someday."