The sun dipped low over Paris, painting the half-rebuilt skyline in hues of orange and gold. For the first time since the massacre, the city breathed without choking on smoke. Children laughed faintly in the distance, soldiers patrolled with lighter steps, and the air smelled of steel, ash, and fragile hope.
Inside their quarters, Ishita sat cross-legged on her bed, a small leather-bound diary resting on her lap. The candlelight flickered across her face as she scribbled with careful strokes.
"Scarlet… once I thought it was a curse. A fire that would burn me alive and destroy everyone around me. But now… I think I understand. It's not a curse. It's a blade. And a blade can cut either way. Tonight, I choose to be a weapon—not of destruction, but of hope."
She paused, tapping the pen against her lips. Outside the window, she spotted Rehan leaning against the railing, staring at the night sky. His silhouette was calm, but she knew his mind never stopped fighting battles, even in silence.
A smile tugged at her lips. "Idiot," she whispered to herself, before closing the diary.
---
Cute Distractions
"Writing love letters?"
Ishita nearly jumped out of her skin, snapping the diary shut. Rehan stood in the doorway, arms folded, a smug grin plastered on his face.
"I-It's not a love letter!" she snapped, her cheeks burning scarlet.
"Oh really?" Rehan raised an eyebrow, stepping closer. "Then why do you look like a criminal caught red-handed?"
Ishita grabbed a pillow and hurled it at him. He caught it effortlessly, laughing. "Relax, I won't tell Akira. He'd probably make you do 500 push-ups as punishment."
Her glare softened when she saw his grin, that mix of mischief and warmth that made her chest feel lighter. "You're insufferable," she muttered.
"And yet…" Rehan teased, plopping down beside her, "…you'd miss me if I was gone."
She turned her face away, hiding her small, betraying smile.
---
Brothers in Arms
Elsewhere, inside the infirmary, Akira sat sharpening his katana while Ethan struggled to tie the bandages across his torso.
"Need help?" Akira asked flatly.
"Pfft, no way. I've been tying my own since I was sixteen." Ethan tugged, only for the bandage to slip loose and unravel.
Akira raised an unimpressed eyebrow. "Clearly."
"Shut up," Ethan muttered, trying again.
With a sigh, Akira stood, walked over, and tied the bandage in perfect, precise motions. Ethan stared at him, then broke into a grin. "Man, if anyone saw this, they'd think we're married."
Akira froze. "…Do you ever stop talking?"
"Not when I'm alive," Ethan shot back.
For a fleeting moment, the room filled with laughter, the kind only brothers could share.
---
Forging Weapons
The council chambers had been transformed into an armory. Sparks flew as blacksmiths reforged weapons using steel and fragments infused with aura crystals salvaged from demon corpses. Shields hummed faintly with defensive energy, and blades glowed under enchantments.
Rehan tested the edge of his reforged sword, golden aura flickering along its length. Ishita stood nearby, receiving gauntlets etched with crimson runes to stabilize her Scarlet outbursts. Ethan's fists were wrapped in aura-threaded bandages that thrummed with power, while Akira's katana received a new sheath reinforced to withstand his blade's overwhelming energy.
Each wielder prepared not just for battle, but for survival.
---
Li Wei and Akira
Later, in the quiet of the courtyard, Akira stood alone, his blade resting against the stone wall. Li Wei approached, his presence carrying the weight of centuries.
"You've walked further into darkness than most," Li Wei said quietly. "And yet, your steps never falter."
Akira's gaze remained fixed on the stars. "If I falter, Ethan falls. If Ethan falls… I lose the reason I fight."
Li Wei's eyes softened, though his tone remained steady. "The storm ahead will not be won by strength alone. Bonds… trust… these will matter more than your blade."
Akira finally turned to him, his voice low, edged with resolve.
"Bonds are forged in fire. And fire is all I've ever known."
Li Wei smiled faintly, a rare, fleeting thing. "Then perhaps you are more prepared than you think."
---
The Radar's Cry
As midnight settled, alarms blared through the council chamber. Wielders from across the globe rushed in, their eyes sharp, their auras igniting instinctively.
Technicians scrambled over glowing monitors, the radar sweeping across the world map. Red dots appeared—first one, then three, then ten. The air turned heavy.
"Multiple demonic signatures detected," a soldier shouted. "Coordinated movement. Not random attacks. They're preparing… for global assault."
The chamber fell into stunned silence.
Rehan's hand tightened around his sword. Ishita's crimson aura flickered. Ethan sat up straighter despite the pain, while Akira's gaze turned razor-sharp.
Li Wei's voice broke the silence, calm but grim.
"The quiet ends here."
And with those words, the storm finally stirred.