Chapter 4 – Sun God Society
Morning crept in lazily, sunlight spilling through the cracks of the curtains. Aven, however, was sprawled across the sofa in the living room, his limbs hanging at odd angles like a corpse someone forgot to bury. His snoring was loud enough to scare pigeons off the roof.
The sword, wrapped tightly in its stubborn bandages, pulsed faintly with irritation.
"Wake up, you idiot!"
A violent surge of aura exploded.
Wush!
Aven and the entire sofa were launched against the wall. He groaned, clutching his head with one hand while shaking his fist with the other.
"Damn you, rotten sword! You trying to kill me in my sleep?!"
"I'm trying to wake you. There's a difference."
"Difference my ass…! Argh, my back's broken."
Aven grumbled but eventually set off, the sword stuffed inside his bag to avoid stares. The morning streets led him toward the great temple of Diohara.
"So…" Aven muttered as he walked, his voice low. "What the hell am I supposed to call you, anyway? Just 'Sword'? 'Broken sword'? Maybe… 'Mister Pointy'?"
"Blasphemy. My name is Sephiroth, the Legendary Bloody Sword that sealed a thousand sins."
Aven smirked. "Yeah, that's a little long for casual conversation. How about Sephy? Or Rothy? Oooh—Bloody McSwordface!"
The sword vibrated violently in protest. "Disrespectful ape!"
Aven chuckled, ignoring it. "Fine, fine. Sephiroth it is. So, what exactly do you do? Other than launching me into walls and ruining my nap schedule."
"I cut. I destroy. I devour sins. With me in hand, you wield the power to challenge fate itself."
Aven's eyes lit up, boyish excitement bubbling. "Wait—so you're telling me this Bounder world thing… it's like a game? Monsters, quests, level-ups? Dude, I've been training for this my entire life with a controller in hand!"
"This is not a game. It is torment."
"Eh, same difference. Still sounds cooler than school."
The sword, clearly done arguing, fell silent.
Inside the bag, Sephiroth brooded. "Three years I was locked in that damned box… three years, listening to dust settle. And now my wielder is an idiot who thinks destiny is a game. Truly, the gods hate me."
By the time they reached the base of the ohara temple, Aven was panting, staring up in horror at the endless staircase.
"You've got to be kidding me… Who builds a temple on a mountain of stairs?! I swear monks are just gym freaks in disguise."
Bag bouncing on his shoulder, he began climbing, muttering curses between every few steps. "One… two… three… I'm already dying, fuck this…"
Halfway up, a familiar voice cut through the morning air.
"Well, well, if it isn't the creep from the train."
Aven looked up to see her—the woman with the tattoo. Priscilla Lucantes, glaring down at him with folded arms.
"Ohhh, the tattoo lady!" Aven grinned, pointing.
"My name is Priscilla. Not 'tattoo lady.'"
"Same difference."
Her eyes narrowed dangerously. "What are you even doing here? Don't tell me you followed me, you stalker. Ugh. First you stare at my tattoo, now you climb after me? Disgusting fetishist."
Aven almost choked on his own breath. "Wha—?! You crazy woman! I came here on business, not to ogle your skin! You think I wake up and go, 'Gee, let's climb a hundred stairs to stare at a stranger's tattoo'?!"
"So who are you meeting, then, Mr. Tattoo Fetish?"
"I'm here to see Hitoshi Ranmaru-san. And By the way, my name is Aven! A-ven! Not Tattoo Pervert, not Stalker-kun!"
Priscilla scoffed. "This place isn't for perverts like you. Turn around before I call the guards."
Aven's veins nearly popped. "What is wrong with you?! I'm not—"
Dum.
A sudden heavy presence silenced them both.
A man stood behind Priscilla, tall and imposing. His black hair was wild, one eye covered with a strip of bandage. The other eye gleamed red like smoldering coal. He wore a dark kimono embroidered with golden threads, and in his hand rested a long kiseru pipe, smoke curling lazily into the air. His sharp smile radiated confidence, calm, and danger.
"What's all this noise at my temple gates~?" His voice rolled like velvet, calm yet cutting.
Aven pointed at Priscilla instantly. "This crazy woman's harassing me, That's what happened!"
Priscilla's jaw dropped. "Excuse me?!"
Ranmaru chuckled softly, a sound that made the air vibrate. "So, you're here to see me, are you?"
"Yes!" Aven straightened, eager. "I'm Aven, son of Kaoru Allain. He told me to—"
The kiseru slipped from Ranmaru's lips. His crimson eye widened. "What did you say?"
Priscilla froze, hand flying to her mouth.
"I… I'm Kaoru Allain's son," Aven repeated, slower this time.
For a long moment, silence pressed down like a storm. Then Ranmaru's lips curved again, sly and knowing. "So you're Aven-chan, huh? Well, well… looks like the time has finally come."
Aven blinked. "Chan? Hold up, since when are we close enough for nicknames?"
But neither of them answered. Ranmaru turned, gesturing for Aven to follow. "Come. The others will want to meet you."
The great temple loomed above them, a structure of crimson wood and black stone, its sweeping roofs decorated with golden dragons. Inside, the air smelled of incense and old secrets. Candles flickered against walls etched with murals of gods and monsters.
At the far end of the chamber sat three figures of authority, each radiating their own brand of power.
And in front of the three of them there were two other people who wanted to join this temple.
On the central seat was an elder with long white hair and beard, his crimson robes draped with a mantle of pure white. His calm eyes and faint smile carried the weight of wisdom and centuries.
"Welcome," he said softly. "I am Neishoku Kazuki, head of this temple."
To his right stood Matteo Volta, young yet commanding. His black hair was tied back neatly, his trimmed beard sharp. His piercing green eyes glowed with unshakable confidence, his dark robes plain but dignified.
To the left was Xie Yufan, a man of eccentric charisma. He wore a loose robe adorned with beads and talismans, his long black hair partially tied, partially wild. A round pair of glasses perched on his nose as he grinned warmly. A short sword hung at his waist, a reminder that his cheer didn't make him soft.
Kazuki's voice resonated through the hall:
"Welcome to the Sun God Society, Aven."
Aven blinked, whispering under his breath. "…Wait. Society? Did I just get recruited into some cult or something?"