Inside of the Royal Headquarters, five people were sat into a room.
Aurelian had walked into the room—
"Listen, since you five are apart of the Royal Attack Squadron. Or rather, RAS, it's a mouthful to say. You will have an 'orientation' if you will, such as the one you had when you were all rank Cadet. I'll leave and let you guys to it."
Silence.
…
Hughman broke the silence—
"So, what's everybody's reason for joining the military..?" He spoke with a friendly and welcoming tone.
"Money. My family is low tier common folk." Vanessa said nonchalantly.
"I'm a Taoya. We are meant to submit and obey the Emperor." Vanessa spoke with pride and joy.
"The military the only way I can accomplish my goal…" Cupiditas spoke.
"What goal may that be?" Vinast spoke, twirling her hair.
"Killing the Devil." Cupiditas smiled.
*Room full of weirdos..* Adam had transformed into a shadow before anyone noticed his presence.
The sounds of crickets singing.
Imaez lied in a bed, his eyes open and in deep thought. He rose his arm up. Opening his fist and looking at the ceiling.
*When is it? The next massacre? Why was my curse shortened? Why do I have to kill? Why was I given this curse?* A tide of questions entered his mind.
He closed his eyes— "Hhah…" He breathed in and out.
His arm flopped back down. "Let me get some sleep… I need to catch up on it anyway.."
He closed his eyes. Letting the moonlight bask him in his slumber.
In his sleep— all he could remember. The saddened face of someone. They were familiar.
*But… who was that? The void. Is it eating my memory too?*
"Wake…. UP!!!" Imaez being jolted awake by Lloyd jumping on his bed.
"What time is it…?" Imaez said drowsily.
"Dawn." Lloyd had a wide grin. "You have a big day ahead of you… wouldn't wanna miss it!"
Imaez raised his eyebrow. *Big day?*
Marie walked in the room—
"We're going shopping!" A heavy smile plastered on her face.
2 hours had passed, and the Deathslingers had walked around the Megacity Square. A myriad of shops, merchants, and buildings dedicated to marketing.
"Where's the clothing stores? I wanna get some new clothes." Imaez turned his head left and right.
Lloyd pointed— "Right there." He showed a large store named—
"Greenwood Tailor & Clothes"
*Quite the name, isn't it…* Imaez thought to himself. *Oh right, our train is coming today around night time, this is the perfect time to get some clothes.*
The Deathslingers had walked into the store, looking for their respective clothing.
*Wonder where I could find some white boots… these have been through some rough times.* Imaez put a hand on his chin.
"Excuse me, are you looking for something?" A woman tapped Imaez's shoulder, with a beautiful smile on her face.
Imaez's eyes shown life, his mouth said words but with no sound.
"I-I, uh, yeah… I need some help."
The woman laughed, she asked him— "What do you need help finding?"
Laughter. Imaez felt, uncomfortable. He didn't know how to take it. It felt so genuine yet so, foreign.
"I need some white heavyweight boots. Do you have any?" Imaez didn't hold eye contact.
*Who is this? What type of Soul Pact is this? I…I'm flustered?*
"What's your name?" The woman asked. "I'm Kera."
"My name is-" He paused for a moment. "Imaez.. Austeci."
"Full name? Alright, Mr. Imaez Austeci, right this way."
Lloyd and Marie had been peeking over from another aisle.
"What.."
"the…"
"HELL!" They said whispering to each other.
"White boots are in this section. Imaez, come to this address at dusk." She handed him a small note. I'd like to talk to you." Kera smiled.
Imaez was shellshocked. He couldn't even process what was happening.
"Is his brain frying?" Lloyd whispered.
Hours had passed, the Deathslingers finished their shopping, returned to their inn counting the minutes until they went to the train station.
Imaez had been in the bathroom, getting ready to meet someone.
*Why does she want to talk to me..?*
The sun set, it's light dimming and giving way to the stars.
Imaez had walked to a café. He opened its doors and seen one customer, sitting a table.
Kera looked at the door and seen Imaez's tall figure.
"Hey! Over here!" She waved.
Imaez had sat down opposite of her.
"I only have an hour until my train comes."
"An hour is all we need!" Kera smiled.
"So what's your favorite food?"
"I just eat.. need nutrition to be aware."
"Woah! That's so bizarre. Usually people have favorites you know?"
"Maybe, I don't really care about what to like or not."
"Okay what abouuut.. favorite thing to do?"
"Sleep."
They talked, for 40 minutes, the conversation never stopped.
"You seem so interesting. It's like you have this barrier though. You seem so human yet you're so far away from human interaction. Why is that, Imaez?"
The café worker walked to the table—
"Newspaper.."
A paper fell in front of Kera and Imaez.
Showing a sketch of Imaez and his wanted poster.
He looked at her, his eyes devoid of life once again. He froze for five seconds. Nobody said a word. His eye twitched for a moment.
Imaez bolted, running out the café.
He had run to the train station. Never looking back.
*There it is.* He thought to himself.
"Huff… huff." He panted.
"Woah, you ran a marathon." Marie said. "Train comes in 5 minutes. Go wash up."
Imaez had went to the bathroom. Looking at the mirror.
He looked at his eyes— *Soulless and unable to feel anything.*
*To be honest, Kera, I don't know. I wish I could say I don't know to every question. I'm at a loss. Perhaps this curse gives the body of a human and the soul of demon.*
He heard a train in the distance, running out the bathroom.
He had boarded the train and found Lloyd and Marie. Sitting down sluggishly, he put his luggage on the opposite seat.
"Lloyd.. do I deserve love?"