The red-skinned creatures stared at the blue-haired girl in terror.
Not one of them could move.
Yuko's knees trembled.
He didn't know why, but his instincts were screaming. The mere presence of that girl was enough to send shivers down his spine. The aura surrounding her…
It smelled like death.
Those people…
Maybe running away had been the right choice after all.
Yuko began crawling silently through the bushes, pressing his face close to the ground. He held his breath. The soil clung to his chest, and his heartbeat thundered in his ears.
Then—
Something heavy dropped down in front of him.
It struck the ground with a dull, wet sound.
Yuko froze.
The severed head of one of the creatures lay directly in front of his face.
A scream escaped his throat before he could stop it.
The girl's head snapped toward the sound. Her eyes were cold. Empty.
For a brief moment, their gazes met.
Yuko's blood ran cold.
Fortunately, the remaining creature panicked and fled, drawing her attention away.
Yuko didn't hesitate.
He lunged forward, sprang to his feet, and threw himself into the river.
Icy water wrapped around his body. The current dragged him along as he struggled to breathe. His lungs burned. His vision blurred.
Then—
His head struck a rock.
Darkness swallowed everything.
When Yuko opened his eyes again, he was lying on a bed bathed in emerald-green light.
The gentle woman sat beside him, reading a fairy tale in a calm voice.
But something was different this time.
Her face was pale.
Tears streamed down her cheeks.
"M-Mother…?" Yuko tried to say.
At that moment, the door burst open.
Men in black robes flooded the room. One of them raised his sword and brought it down in a single motion.
The woman's throat was cut.
Warm blood splashed onto Yuko's hand.
He wanted to scream.
But no sound came out.
The men dragged him from the bed. As the house was consumed by flames, screams echoed outside.
Darkness devoured everything.
Yuko awoke with a sharp gasp.
A splitting pain pulsed through the left side of his head. But compared to the nightmare he had just seen, it felt insignificant.
He looked around.
A damp cave. A small fire flickered nearby. His clothes had been laid out on a rock near the entrance to dry.
He was wearing only a red robe.
That was when he realized—
There was nothing underneath.
His face flushed. Then his thoughts caught up.
So she pulled me out of the river…
She even changed my clothes.
A voice spoke behind him.
"I really thought you were different."
Yuko flinched.
The girl stood at the cave entrance, holding a crimson-red apple.
But this time…
That deadly aura was gone.
She looked almost ordinary.
"What… exactly are you?" Yuko asked.
"What do you mean?" she said with a shrug.
"You're looking at a Ritualist."
"A Ritualist? What's that supposed to mean?"
"Long story. In short—think of it as a mage."
Yuko frowned.
A mage… So I really am in another world…
"I know what you're thinking," she said calmly.
"But no. This isn't another world."
"How is that even possible?" Yuko asked.
"They say," she replied,
"that two thousand years ago, a cult leader named Malach existed. Through a ritual, he sold the world to the devil… and here we are."
Yuko clicked his tongue.
"Didn't you skip a few steps? Aren't you supposed to say something like 'go back while you still can'?"
Her expression hardened.
"Are you stupid?" she snapped.
"This isn't a game."
"What you're saying is strange," Yuko said.
"And I woke up inside a tube filled with blue liquid. Can you explain that?"
Her eyes widened for a brief moment.
"Blue liquid?"
Then she grinned.
"So you're a Ritualist too. Wonderful."
"What? What are you talking about?"
"Everything makes sense now," she said mockingly.
"You think you're stronger than me, brat?"
"Brat?" Yuko shot back.
"You're shorter than I am!"
"What did you just say? Take that back!"
"S-Sorry, Senpai!"
"Don't let it happen again," she said coldly.
"Judging by your reaction, you're a newly awakened Ritualist."
"I have no idea what you're talking about," Yuko muttered,
"but I'll pretend I understand."
"We start training tomorrow," she said.
"Be ready."
"Understood… but what's your name?"
She stopped.
A brief emptiness crossed her face.
Then her eyes lit up faintly.
"My name is…"
"Right. I remember now."
"Rasona. Nice to meet you, Yuko."
Yuko smiled awkwardly.
"Did you just remember it?"
Rasona's stare shut him up instantly.
"S-Sorry, Senpai!"
"Don't let it happen again," Rasona said coolly.
Yuko scratched the back of his head.
"Sorry Senpai…"
Rasona turned away.
"Oh, and Yuko," she added with a faint smile.
"You're lucky you didn't meet another Ritualist."
"Why?" Yuko asked.
"Afraid they'd train me better than you?"
Rasona turned back.
A twisted smile spread across her face, baring her teeth.
"No," she whispered.
"Because the moment they saw you, they'd turn your skull into a cup—and drink wine from it."
Chapter 2 – End