Growing up in a high-class noble home, her life was nothing but an act. Looking forward to taking over her father's fortune, everyone expected nothing but greatness.
She moved from country to country, with so little time that she even forgot to look at herself in the mirror. When fatigue covered her eyes with dark circles, they were covered with similar deceptions.
She smiled at nothing. Stayed silent when she should have screamed. And when the world needed her anger? She gave it, willing or not.
Whatever emotion the world expected, happiness, sadness, or rage, she became it instantly, a perfect mirror of their needs before they'd even articulated them.
The world asked her for everything but herself.
But still, behind the scenes when no one was watching, she worked hard and perfected herself to please loved ones and foes alike. Academically perfect. Sports were nothing to her either. She was brilliant in everything she tried her hand at.
But this deception ate her alive. All she wanted was to live up to her parents' expectations, but in doing so, she lost herself in the abyss of her own world. She had been everything but the person she really was.
Now thrust into this cursed world, she was only what people thought of her. Her real self was long forgotten.
***
The sun was at its peak when Halo and Light found themselves before the castle with Halo's mouth parted in shock. Though Light was featureless, the way its white eyes stared bulged out, it was no exception either.
Before them was Seraph, locked in a fearsome battle with a Crawler, sharp fangs covering the creature's body, and yet she fought it without fear.
Her movements went beyond anything Halo had seen. It was as though she had no bones. Right before the Crawler, she managed to avoid each of its attacks.
She leaped between the Crawler's attacks and yet, her hand maintained perfect contact with the creature. It was as though she was toying with the poor thing. The very breed Halo had struggled against a few days ago.
But this girl was a joke. Her movements alone put Halo's career as an assassin to shame.
Yet, Halo had already seen enough. He concentrated rather on how exactly Seraph was managing to strike the creature without injuring herself.
If he recalled correctly, her True Ability was Dormant Flame, and it gave her the drive and burning desire to fight. While she could literally command flames, Liam had mentioned that she could heal with her flames as well.
This gave Halo the insight he needed about what exactly Seraph was doing. Since her healing ability worked better on herself than on others, she was healing herself while fighting. She wiped every injury sustained as though it never existed.
Halo and Light watched as Seraph's fists erupted in blue flames. Each strike she landed on the creature began burning it, and within moments, it was burned to a crisp.
The moment she finished, she let out a sigh of relief and began stretching her body.
Light turned to Halo and began giving him an intense stare.
Initially, Halo was caught in his thought but the intensity from Light didn't take long to grab his attention. But the moment he turned to it, Light turned away and began leaving the scene.
It didn't need to say much before Halo understood. In fact, his suspicions had begun the moment they climbed the bridge through the mist to Noah's estate, and the rock, paper, scissors game they'd played not long ago had solidified them.
Before his mind could dwell further, something deep within Rascal Land caught his attention. It was Liam.
He had also slain two Sinners and was gathering their corpses.
Halo sighed.
Seraph had defeated a Sinner, not any Sinner but a Crawler, a creature so menacing they've been given a name beyond their rank. Worse, she did it without being hit. Not even once.
And there, deep inside the horrific land covered in snow that never melted and an atmosphere so grim it seemed as though it never saw light, was Liam, who had also slain two similar creatures.
They had both come to this world before him, of course, but that wasn't an excuse. He had struggled against a similar breed of Sinner. He'd needed his clone Light's help to kill it, and even worse, he had sustained an injury before pulling it off.
This was why Light had been grim toward him. It didn't recognize itself in Halo anymore because Halo had grown weak.
The assassin whose name alone forced panic into the hearts of both allies and enemies was scared of a challenge. So scared, he began making up worthless excuses.
Both Liam and Seraph were as flawed as he was. Even if they had spent months in this world, it shouldn't be enough to outweigh his years of experience before death.
He needed to get himself back into shape. He was the Shadow of Death.
"What's wrong, Halo? You look more somber than usual… do you need anything?"
Seraph said with a welcoming smile, approaching Halo.
Halo was caught off guard for a moment, but still, his expression barely reflected that.
"It's nothing… I was just admiring your fighting skills."
"Really?…"
Halo nodded gently, though his expression remained grim.
"Your style… it's unlike any I've seen. So calm, so modest, like the air itself. No, that's not it. You were fluid and flexible, unyielding… like water."
Seraph was startled for a moment but shifted into her acting in no time.
"I didn't know you were that observant. Thank you, Halo."
Halo watched as Seraph acted all jiggly and made her way into the castle.
He understood her Flaw to some extent now, but what he never understood was why she seemed to love it.
He sighed.
Seraph's style was indeed unique, but that wasn't something he dwelled on for long. What intrigued him was Liam and the hero.
The mystery still loomed. Though he had decided to be friends with Liam for the time being, since he couldn't tell him apart from the hero, his thoughts still drifted back to it from time to time.
But whatever it was, he had to build his strength enough for whoever the hero was.