Shikiel Sora's eyes flew open.
The first thing he noticed was the cold wind brushing against his face. The second the sharp pain in his wrists.
He was tied to a tree, ropes digging into his skin, suspended slightly above the forest floor like some sacrifice. Leaves rustled overhead, casting shadows across his face as birds chirped far too cheerfully for how insane his morning had begun.
In front of him stood the last person he wanted to see right now: Eris Kurozuma silver hair, red eyes, calm expression. She stood with arms folded, watching him like a scientist observing a lab rat.
Shiki shouted, "What the hell!"
Eris smiled, closed her eyes, and spoke with perfect serenity.
"Good morning."
"No. No, no, no! It's not a good morning! Did you just kidnap me?!"
Eris tilted her head innocently. "I wouldn't call it kidnapping. More like… taking you somewhere without your permission."
"…That's literally the definition of kidnapping."
She walked over and sat cross-legged in front of him. "Relax. You'll thank me for this eventually. If you're going to survive SFTYA, you'll need to learn how to fight without the Gravity Yokai's power. You won't be allowed to use it in the academy."
Shiki blinked. "Wait, really? So what, you brought me here for boot camp?"
"Exactly," she said cheerfully, standing up and brushing off her pants. "Your first lesson: escape those ropes."
"What?! I don't even know how you tied them!"
"Figure it out," she said, turning away.
Shiki glared at her as she disappeared behind a tree.
Unbelievable.
He twisted and squirmed, muttering curses under his breath. After several minutes of struggling and threats of biting through the rope with his teeth, Eris reappeared with a sigh and cut him down.
"We have two months before your official admission. During that time, you'll learn: hand-to-hand combat, swordsmanship, marksmanship, yokai assassination techniques, and how to build up your pathetic excuse for a body." She eyed his stomach. "You've got zero abs."
"Gee, thanks."
The Next Day – Training Begins
[HAND-TO-HAND COMBAT]
Shiki stood with feet shoulder-width apart, hands raised in a loose guard. Eris paced around him like a hawk circling prey.
"Have you found your balance?"
"I think so"
WHAM!
She kicked out his leg. He hit the ground hard, smacking the back of his head on a rock.
"Ow! What the hell?!"
"Then I guess you weren't balanced."
She offered her hand. He took it, and she yanked him up like he weighed nothing.
"Now drop and give me push-ups."
Grumbling, Shiki got into position. As soon as he lowered himself
Thump. Eris sat on his back.
"…Seriously?!"
"Down. Up. Down. Up."
This went on for three brutal hours. His arms shook, chest burned, and lungs begged for mercy.
[LUNCH TIME]
Shiki collapsed beside the fire pit, muscles twitching.
He sniffed the air. "Omg. That… smells amazing."
"I know," Eris said, enjoying a grilled fish on a stick.
"Where's mine?"
"Oh." She pointed to the river. "Still swimming."
"You're kidding."
"Nope. You want lunch? Catch it."
Shiki groaned, dragging himself toward the water. Two hours later, wet, cold, and covered in mud he returned with a single fish.
Lunch was over.
Gurgle!
His stomach betrayed him.
Eris smirked. "I know what'll make you feel better."
"…You do?"
She vanished into the bushes.
One minute later
"SHIKI, RUN!"
"Huh?"
A tiger leapt from the thicket, roaring.
"NOPE NOPE NOPE!" Shiki screamed, sprinting for his life as the beast chased him through the forest.
Two. Hours. Straight.
[NIGHT]
"That's it for today," Eris said, stretching. "Sleep well."
Shiki dragged himself into a tent and collapsed like a corpse. He didn't even change his clothes.
[THE NEXT MORNING – 4:30 AM]
SPLASH!
"WHAT THE?!" Shiki bolted upright, soaked.
Eris stood above him in her school uniform, brushing her long hair casually.
"Wake up. We're going to school."
"School?! How are we getting there?!"
"We're running."
"…Say what?"
"Come on! We'll be late."
Shiki muttered, "I hate this girl…"
[IN CLASS]
"Shikiel Sora?" the teacher called.
Shiki snapped up from his desk. "Y-Yes!"
Laughter echoed around the room.
[AFTER SCHOOL – TRAINING CONTINUES]
Back in the forest, Eris tossed Shiki a handgun. "Relax your body. Breathe. Aim. Fire."
He fired at the perched bird direct hit.
"Nice shot," she said, genuinely impressed.
[LATER THAT NIGHT – SWORD TRAINING]
"That's not how you hold a sword, dumbass."
They trained until stars filled the sky. Cuts and bruises marked his progress.
For two straight months, they repeated this cycle:
Combat. Suffering. Hunger. Laughter. Pain. Growth.
[NOW – FINAL DAY OF TRAINING]
"Congrats," Eris said. "You survived."
"I know," Shiki smirked. "Barely."
"Time for one final test."
She tossed a wooden sword at him. He caught it smoothly.
"Show me what you've got."
He threw the sheath like a projectile.
Swoosh!
Eris dodged. He charged in and
CLANG!
Their blades collided in a storm of sparks.
CLANG! CLANG!
Each strike carried weight. Speed. Intent to kill.
Eris leapt back, drew a knife, and hurled it.
Shiki spun, deflecting it mid-air with his sword.
She narrowed her eyes. Not only stronger but faster.
"Running from tigers every day really did help," she muttered.
Shiki lunged again. "Let's end this!"
"Long Sword Style Long Swing!"
She struck.
WHAM!
Shiki blocked, but the force knocked him to the ground.
Eris sat beside him in the grass. "That's all I can teach you. The rest… you'll learn at SFTYA. I gave you the basics."
Shiki looked up at the sky, lifting a fist.
"I'll get stronger… and when I do I'll challenge you again. Beat you. And take your title as the Strongest Assassin Alive."
Eris chuckled, brushing hair from her face. "Then I guess I better not lose to anyone until then."
"Yeah…"
[3 YEARS LATER]
City lights flickered in the rain. Sirens wailed.
Police surrounded a shattered building.
"Shikiel Sora, Imani Hikari, and Yolanda Springfield," a gruff officer barked, gun aimed.
"You are under arrest for the murder of Eris Kurozuma. You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law…"
Shiki stood motionless, face unreadable.
Rain dripped from his white hair.
His green eyes now bearing three pupils glowed faintly in the dark.