The rumor mill in Kuoh Academy had always been lively. Between the mundane and the supernatural, whispers fluttered like moths around flickering lanterns. But lately, those whispers carried weight.
"They say a woman in red was seen at the old chapel," said one student.
"She was floating. I swear, her hair was burning like fire," said another.
The Occult Research Club, usually a harmless front for Rias Gremory's devil faction, had begun tracking these stories. But they weren't the only ones listening.
Rei sat in the shadows beneath a rooftop arch, sipping canned coffee as Karasu listened in on the cafeteria's chatter below. Hoshino sat beside him, chewing a skewer of grilled squid.
"Rias's group is getting nosy," Hoshino muttered.
"They have every reason to," Rei replied. "That appearance of Laeva was like setting off a flare in enemy territory."
Karasu, on the lower level, tapped the comm bead hidden in her collar. "One of the devils just mentioned a 'Crimson Maid.' They're linking it to a spirit—no confirmation yet."
[System Notice: Surveillance Expanded. Cross-factional Awareness Detected. Opposing Faction: Gremory House. Intent: Investigation.]
"Let them come," Yoru's voice purred in Rei's mind. "I'd like to see how devils bleed."
"We're not making enemies yet," Rei murmured. "But we don't hide either."
From a few rooftops away, Laeva sat in the sun, combing her hair with a shard of broken mirror. Despite her raw power and predatory charm, she'd adapted surprisingly well.
She noticed Rei watching her and smiled, licking her finger slowly.
"She's dangerous," Hoshino said without looking.
"She's mine," Rei said simply.
Back inside the school, Rias Gremory sat with Akeno and Kiba. "The spiritual interference isn't from a stray devil or angel. It's something different. And I want to know what."
Akeno leaned forward, smiling slyly. "Should we test them?"
"Not yet," Rias said. "But if they threaten the balance of Kuoh, we will act."
Rei's team regrouped at dusk. Laeva appeared with a stack of stolen notebooks from the library. "I'm bored," she said. "When do we hunt again?"
Rei stared at the horizon. "Soon. The system's picking up another pulse. This one… feels colder."
[System Alert: New Spirit Signature Approaching. Emotional Field: Apathy. Classification: Unknown. Estimated Time of Descent: 36 Hours. Initiate Preparations.]
And so, the rumors would continue to grow. But Rei knew—truth always followed them.
And sometimes, truth killed.