The beeping of the heart monitor steadied into a soft rhythm, almost like a lullaby that Kai couldn't relax to. His mother still slept in the corner chair, dark circles beneath her eyes. She looked older than she had last night, worry carving lines into her tired face.
Kai stared at his trembling hands.
Ravnos.
A demon.
Inside him.
This wasn't a nightmare he could wake from.
Why me?
Why now?
How?
Questions churned violently in his mind, but the voice answered none of them.
Instead—
Get up.
Kai flinched so hard the IV line pulled taut.
He grabbed his head, whispering, "No, please… not again."
Do not beg.
The demon's tone was sharp as steel.
Stand. Your weakness is an insult to us both.
Kai swallowed the rising panic. "I can't! My body still hurts—"
Ravnos replied..Pain is irrelevant. Pain is nothing. Pain is the mold that will decide whether you remain a failure… or become something useful.
Kai tugged the blanket up to his chin. "I'm not getting up. I'm not listening to you."
For a moment, Ravnos was silent.
Then—
…You misunderstand, boy. I was not asking.
A wave of pressure struck Kai's skull from the inside.
His vision flickered white.
His whole body jerked as if yanked by invisible strings.
Kai bit down on a scream.
"STOP! STOP—MY MOM IS RIGHT HERE—PLEASE—"
Then keep quiet, Ravnos hissed. Stand.
Kai's legs moved on their own, trembling violently.
He gasped as his feet planted themselves on the cold hospital floor.
He wasn't controlling his body.
His knees buckled—
But he didn't fall.
Ravnos held him upright, like puppet strings tugging every tendon tight.
Kai panted as sweat rolled down his forehead.
Pathetic… you can't even stand without crying.
"…Just… leave me alone…"
Ravnos' voice filled with contempt.
If I leave you alone, you will die the next time someone breathes too harshly in your direction.
Kai clenched his jaw.
Tears blurred his vision.
His mother stirred faintly in the chair, then settled again.
Kai forced himself to whisper, "What do you want me to do…?"
The demon answered with cold amusement.
To survive.
A knock at the door.
Kai froze.
His mother woke instantly. "Kai? You're awake—thank goodness—"
Before she could reach him, the door slid open.
A tall man entered wearing a charcoal-gray suit. Not a doctor. Not a nurse. His hair was tied back in a low ponytail, and a metal emblem hung from his neck a dragon coiled around a sword.
Kai didn't recognize him.
But Ravnos did.
…That crest… impossible…
Kai blinked.
"What? Do you know him?"
Ravnos didn't answer.
The man surveyed the room with calm, penetrating eyes.
"Kai Ren," he said. "Good. You're conscious."
Kai's mother moved in front of the man protectively. "Who are you? What business do you have with my son?"
The man bowed slightly. "My apologies. I'm Instructor Hayato Kurogane. Ryujin High's Combat Ethics Division. I'm here because Kai was found unconscious under suspicious circumstances."
Kai froze.
Combat Ethics Division?
Ryujin High only used that department for severe incidents—dangerous fights, aura anomalies, or illegal ability usage.
Kai had none of those.
He had nothing.
Hayato stepped closer. "Kai. Before you answer anything—take a deep breath."
Kai did the opposite—his lungs locked.
Hayato's gaze sharpened.
"Tell me what you remember."
Kai's heartbeat thundered in his ears.
He couldn't tell him the truth.
He couldn't say a demon awakened in my skull and took over my consciousness.
Ravnos' voice echoed darkly.
Do not speak of me.
Kai swallowed. "I… I was attacked. In the alley. I blacked out."
"Attacked by who?"
Kai hesitated only one second too long.
Hayato noticed.
"I see." His voice lowered. "Kai… we have a witness."
Kai's blood turned to ice.
Daiki?
One of his friends?
A passerby?
Hayato continued, "Someone saw you collapse. They said… you screamed before losing consciousness."
Kai felt the demon's energy roil inside him—angered by being cornered.
Hayato added, "And more concerning… the witness reported feeling an aura spike. A powerful one."
Kai's heart stopped.
Aura.
Only trained fighters or gifted students emitted detectable aura.
Kai had none.
Hayato studied him with unsettling calm. "So tell me… was there anyone else there?"
Kai's mouth opened, but no words came out.
Ravnos growled.
Lie.
Kai flinched.
"I… I don't remember. I just… fell."
Hayato held his gaze a moment longer, then finally nodded.
"I see."
But Kai could tell—
He didn't believe him.
Hayato turned toward the doorway.
"You can come in now."
A girl walked in.
She looked around Kai's age—fifteen or maybe sixteen—but everything about her was unusually composed. Silver hair cut sharply to the jaw. Ice-blue eyes. And she wore the Ryujin High female uniform, but with a dark armband on her left sleeve bearing the same dragon emblem.
Kai blinked.
"I… I've never seen you before."
Hayato nodded. "This is Aria Mitsuki. Transfer student. And part-time trainee with the school's internal discipline corps."
Aria stepped closer, her eyes cold and analytical.
The moment she looked at Kai—
Her expression froze.
Her brows drew down.
Her jaw tightened.
She stared at him like she was seeing something beneath his skin.
Kai shifted nervously. "Wh… what?"
Aria didn't answer.
Instead she whispered to Hayato, too quiet for Kai's mother to hear—
But Kai heard every word.
"Sensei… there's something inside him. Something… wrong."
Kai felt his stomach drop.
Ravnos snarled.
The girl sees too much. I dislike her already.
Hayato's expression sharpened. "Aria. Assess quietly."
Aria's eyes didn't leave Kai.
"His aura is irregular. Like two signatures overlapping. One weak… one monstrous."
Kai's breath hitched.
His mother didn't understand the exchange. "Is something wrong with my son?"
Kai quickly forced a shaky smile. "Mom… I'm fine. Really."
Aria stepped closer, narrowing her eyes.
"Kai Ren…"
Her voice dropped.
"…what exactly happened in that alley?"
Ravnos' fury crackled through Kai's skull.
If she presses further, I will tear her soul—
Kai mentally screamed, NO! DON'T DO ANYTHING!
Aria froze again.
Her eyes widened slightly, just enough to show surprise.
She heard something.
She felt something.
But she couldn't understand it.
Hayato held up a hand. "Aria. Enough."
She stepped back reluctantly.
Hayato turned to Kai. "We'll be monitoring you for a few days. If anything changes—pain, visions, aura fluctuations—you are to report to me directly. Understand?"
Kai nodded stiffly.
"Good."
Hayato and Aria bowed politely to Kai's mother and exited the room.
The instant the door closed—
Kai collapsed back onto the bed.
His lungs finally exhaled.
"Ravnos… what did she see…?"
The demon scoffed.
That girl has an eye for spirits. She sensed my presence but does not comprehend it. Still… this is troublesome.
Kai swallowed.
"Why? I don't want trouble—"
You ARE trouble now. Ravnos growled. Demon-bound vessels attract hunters, zealots, and worse. And that girl… she is dangerous.
Kai squeezed his eyes shut.
"…I don't want any of this…"
Want? Ravnos snarled. You think destiny cares what you want?
Kai bit his lip to stop it from trembling.
Ravnos' tone shifted—dark and final.
Listen well, boy. From this moment on… your life is no longer simple. Your weakness is no longer an option. You will train. You will grow. Or you will die, and I will be forced to crawl into another host.
Kai's voice broke. "Train? I can't even defend myself from Daiki—"
Daiki? Ravnos scoffed. That insect would die choking on his own teeth if I had full control.
"Don't—hurt him," Kai whispered.
A long silence.
Then Ravnos spoke, voice low and almost amused.
You… are strange, boy.
Kai didn't answer.
He just stared at his shaking hands.
A SHADOW OUTSIDE THE HOSPITAL
Aria Mitsuki stood in the hallway, arms crossed, staring through the small window into Kai's room.
Hayato stopped beside her. "Your thoughts?"
Aria's voice was ice. "He's hiding something."
"Perhaps."
"No," she insisted. "I saw the aura. It wasn't his."
Hayato said nothing.
Aria continued, "Sensei… if someone—or something—is inside that boy… it's dangerous."
Hayato answered softly:
"That is exactly why we need to watch him."
Aria turned. "Should we report it to the higher council?"
"No."
"But why—?"
"Because if my guess is correct…" Hayato's eyes darkened.
…this is far beyond anything the council can handle.
Aria's expression tensed.
Hayato finished quietly:
"And if I'm wrong… then that boy will die long before they arrive."
BACK IN THE ROOM
Kai lay back on the bed, staring at the ceiling.
His life had changed permanently.
Against his will.
Without warning.
And tomorrow…
School awaited him.
Daiki awaited him.
Aria awaited him.
Hayato awaited him.
And something darker awaited him beyond all of them.
He had no idea that the moment he stepped back onto campus…
A new enemy would sense the demon inside him.