With amazement in her eyes, Yuki wandered the city. Mesmerizing architecture featured gilded spires shimmering in sunlight, glowing stone streets, and storefronts showcasing intricate crafts, magical jewelry, and exotic foods. It was like something out of one of the anime she used to binge-watch.
"Wow…" she whispered to herself, spinning slowly to take it all in.
But as she continued, she couldn't ignore the surrounding murmurs. The people were staring—no, gawking—at her. Her clothing differed from everyone else's. While they wore elegant tunics, flowing robes, or outfits that seemed tailored for beauty and function, she was trudging along in her dark tracksuit jacket, black baggy sweatpants, and sneakers.
"What's she wearing?"
"Is that... a human?"
"Strange, even for a traveler…"
Yuki clenched her fists, her ears burning as she caught snippets of their whispers. She did her best to ignore them, pretending to be deeply interested in a vendor's stall selling crystal trinkets. I didn't choose to get dragged into this world, she thought bitterly. At least I'm comfy.
She moved on, trying to shake off the judgmental looks, when a faint sound from a nearby alleyway caught her attention. She stopped abruptly, then took a couple of steps backward. Turning her head, she squinted into the dimly lit passage.
At first, she couldn't make out much, but as her eyes adjusted, she saw a group of figures surrounding someone pressed against the wall. The person looked cornered, their shoulders hunched and their hands raised defensively.
Yuki's heart sank. Oh no. Not my problem. Nope.
She started to walk away, but a voice inside her head nagged at her. You've already had one terrible start. Maybe this is your chance to do something good. You can't just leave them like that. Can you?
Yuki turned back and marched toward the alley. "Hey! Leave them alone!" she yelled, her voice louder than she expected.
The group turned to face her, and as they did, Yuki got a better look at them. Her heart skipped a beat. These weren't ordinary thugs.
Each of them had horns curling from their heads, and their skin was shades of red and purple. Their eyes glowed a piercing yellow, almost like they were lit from within.
"Oh, crap…" Yuki muttered under her breath, her earlier bravado faltering.
The group consisted of four figures. The first was tall and lanky, his limbs almost unnaturally long. The second was round, his massive frame intimidating as he crossed his thick arms. The third was muscular, his chiseled form radiating raw strength as he cracked his knuckles.
In fourth place was a female demon whose presence was striking even among the other demons. Her exposed arms were covered in intricate tattoos that pulsed faintly with some kind of energy, and her long hair fell over her left eye, adding a menacing edge to her already fierce expression.
Yuki's legs turned to jelly, and she swallowed hard. "Uh… I mean…"
The female demon stepped forward, her lips curling into a smirk. "Well, well. Looks like we've got a little human playing hero. Cute."
The three other demons shifted their attention fully to Yuki, their glowing eyes scanning her from head to toe. She could feel their gazes lingering on her mismatched outfit, her trembling stance, and, most notably, the sword strapped to her side.
"Look at this one," the lanky demon sneered, his voice oozing mockery. "She thinks she's some kind of big shot, carrying a sword like that."
The round demon chuckled deeply, his laughter echoing in the narrow alley. "Or maybe she's one of those wannabes, trying to act tough."
"More like she wandered in by mistake," the muscular one added, his smirk widening.
The female demon leaned casually against the wall, her tattooed arms crossed. "Whatever she is, she's in the wrong place."
Before Yuki could muster a response, the lanky demon reached out with a long, bony arm and grabbed her by the front of her jacket. "Let's see what's so special about you, huh?" With surprising strength, he chucked her against the wall, and Yuki yelped as her back slammed into the rough stone. The impact left her dazed, her sword clattering to the ground.
The three male demons loomed over her now, their towering forms casting shadows that swallowed her whole. Yuki's heart pounded so loudly she could barely hear their mocking words.
"You're done for," one of them sneered.
He's not wrong, Yuki thought bitterly. Why did I think this was a good idea? Her mind raced, searching for an escape, but all she could think of was the one thing she had: her skill.
Delayed Imitation…
It wasn't much, but it was all she had. She raised her trembling hand, shaping it into a finger gun.
The lanky demon tilted his head, amused. "What's this supposed to be? A joke?"
Yuki didn't answer. She focused, desperately willing her skill to activate. For a moment, nothing happened. Then, a faint glow emanated from her fingertip.
Come on, come on, work already!
Suddenly, a small beam of light shot from her finger, striking all four demons square in the chest. They staggered back, their laughter replaced with grunts of surprise. The light faded quickly, leaving Yuki frozen in place, still pointing her finger gun.
"Did she just—" the muscular demon started, rubbing his chest.
"What the hell was that?" the round demon growled, his yellow eyes narrowing.
Yuki felt a flicker of hope but quickly realized the truth: her skill wasn't instantaneous. Delayed Imitation, she reminded herself. Delayed. Whatever she'd just activated wouldn't take effect immediately.
The lanky demon recovered first, his expression darkening. "You're gonna regret that, little girl."
All three of them took a step closer, visibly angrier now, and Yuki's stomach sank. She was out of time, and all she'd managed to do was make them mad.
I'm so screwed… she thought, bracing herself for whatever was about to come next.
She stretched her hand out, summoning her meager mana reserves. A thin sheet of ice materialized on the ground behind the demons, its glistening surface spreading faster than she expected.
The lanky demon took another step toward her, raising his clawed hand. But as his foot hit the ice, his balance wavered. He flailed, his arms windmilling as his legs slid out from under him. With a loud thud, he hit the ground, groaning in frustration.
The muscular demon snarled. "You think that's gonna stop us?" He swung his massive fist toward Yuki, the air around his strike whistling from the sheer force.
Yuki yelped and ducked just in time, the blow narrowly missing her head. Instead, the swing collided with the round demon, sending him stumbling backward onto the ice. His feet shot out from under him, and he landed hard on his back with a loud crash.
"Watch it, you idiot!" the round demon growled, trying to scramble to his feet, only to slip again on the slick surface.
Yuki barely had time to breathe as the muscular demon turned his attention back to her. He charged, his movements slowed by the unsteady footing. Yuki ducked and weaved frantically, every step of hers a desperate attempt to stay ahead of his relentless attacks. Each time he lunged, he slipped slightly, throwing his aim off.
The lanky demon was back on his feet, only to lose his balance again as he stepped onto the ice. He fell forward, crashing into the muscular demon, and the two went down in a heap.
Yuki couldn't believe it. All three demons were sprawled on the ground, slipping and sliding as they tried to get up. She stood there for a moment, wide-eyed, before a nervous laugh bubbled out of her.
"I-I can't believe that worked!" she said, throwing her hands up in victory. "I actually—"
Her celebration was cut short as she noticed something: the female demon was gone.
Her heart sank. "Wait... where's the—"
Before she could finish her thought, a voice spoke up behind her.
"Thank you."
Yuki spun around to see the person she'd saved stepping forward and took a proper look at the person she had saved, her gaze lingering on their ethereal appearance.
The siren before her was breathtakingly beautiful, with smooth, slightly blue-toned skin that shimmered faintly in the sunlight. Her large, aquamarine eyes seemed to sparkle with endless curiosity, and her silvery-white hair, streaked with soft lavender, was tied into a loose braid that cascaded over one shoulder. Small, delicate fins peeked out from beneath her hair, a subtle reminder of her otherworldly heritage.
Her simple attire—a tunic in earthy greens and browns paired with a flowing linen skirt—seemed humble yet elegant. She wore sturdy leather sandals and carried a small satchel at her side, the faint glint of a silver seashell pendant catching Yuki's eye. Despite her modest clothing, the siren's graceful movements gave her an almost regal presence.
"Thank you again," the siren said, her voice melodic and soothing, the kind of sound that could calm a stormy sea. She reached into her satchel and pulled out a small handful of coins. "Please, take this. It's the least I can do to repay you."
Yuki quickly held up her hands in protest. "No, no, it's fine! Really! I've got enough to get by." She glanced at the coins and then at the siren, shaking her head. "You don't need to pay me for doing the right thing."
The siren hesitated for a moment before tucking the coins back into her satchel. Her expression softened, and she smiled warmly. "You're kind. Not many people would step in to help a stranger like that."
Yuki rubbed the back of her neck, unsure how to respond. "Uh, yeah, well… someone had to do it, right?" She cleared her throat, suddenly feeling awkward under the siren's admiring gaze.
Before the silence could stretch too long, Yuki decided to introduce herself. She struck a dramatic pose, pointing a finger into the air with exaggerated flair. "The name's Yuki Tanaka! Loser—uh, I mean, nice to meet ya!"
As the words left her mouth, Yuki immediately felt the weight of her own awkwardness crashing down on her. Her confident pose faltered, and her cheeks flushed a deep red. "I-I mean, just Yuki! Forget the loser part!" she stammered, waving her hands in a flustered attempt to backtrack.
The siren giggled, her laughter light and musical. "Yuki Tanaka, huh? That's quite the introduction. I'm Lyssara," she said, extending a delicate hand in a gesture of goodwill.
Yuki hesitated for a moment before reaching out and shaking Lyssara's hand. Her grip was firm but awkward, and she let out a nervous laugh. "Nice to meet you, Lyssara," she said, her embarrassment still evident but tempered by Lyssara's kind demeanor.
As their hands parted, Lyssara tilted her head slightly, her aquamarine eyes studying Yuki with interest. "So, Yuki, what brings someone like you to Erosanct?"
Yuki froze for a second, unsure of how to explain herself without revealing too much. "Oh, you know… just passing through!" she said with a nervous chuckle, hoping Lyssara wouldn't press further.
Lyssara's sharp eyes flicked over Yuki's mismatched outfit, lingering on her baggy sweatpants, track jacket, and sneakers. Her expression shifted from polite curiosity to something more calculating when she noticed Yuki's glasses.
"Your… attire is rather unusual," Lyssara remarked, her voice laced with suspicion. "And those lenses—are they for enhancing vision? I've never seen anything like them. Where exactly are you from?"
Yuki stiffened, a bead of sweat forming on her temple. "Oh, uh, my family and I lived on a super remote island. Far away. Really far," she blurted, awkwardly gesturing. "We, uh, didn't get out much."
Lyssara arched an eyebrow, clearly unconvinced. "An island? That explains why you seem… unfamiliar with some things. But even remote islands have their own culture. Surely you've heard of Alurea?"
Yuki forced a smile. "Alurea… yeah, totally. Big fan."
Lyssara's lips pressed into a thin line as she studied Yuki further. "I see. Well, if you truly don't know, I can explain."