1|Prologue 0 (Part one): Kagenou Karima
Clack, clack.
The sound of metal clashing echoed across the vast expanse of a ghastly, ruined battlefield. The air was heavy, carrying the foul stench of blood. The once-flat plane was decimated with deep holes that burrowed into a vast darkness of nothingness. The sky was pitch black—not the kind that comes with nightfall. It was completely unnatural, like the void had manifested itself.
A black-haired male figure with dim black pupils held a sword dyed in black, shakingly. His face was filled with fury. His eyes swept over multiple bodies that lay lifeless on the crimson,red-painted ground. Some bodies stood out—they were his friends, lovers, children, and comrades-in-arms. The guilt he felt weighed heavily on his heart.
Across the battlefield, a strange figure clad in absolute black, as if it were the darkness itself, stood, dark fog burning atop its body. The fog on its face shifted as if it were smiling behind all that darkness.
"It's your fault they are all dead."
Its grin grew wider.
"You fucking bastard, I'm going to kill you!"
The male figure gripped his sword tightly, lunging forward at the darkness.
Clash…
Wait up! Before we continue, let's go back to how it all started.
"Here we go again."A dark-haired girl stood in front of the mirror, sighing at her bland reflection.
Kagenou Karima, a straight-A student, teacher's pet, and class-favorite girl. Basically, she was the perfect definition of a model student. But not all that glitters is gold.
Knock, knock.
"Lady Karima, are you ready now?"A distinct knock sounded at the door. She swept her eyes across the room.
"Good."She rearranged her frown into a smile—the perfect mask she put on every day.
"Goodbye, Ferry."She patted her teddy bear on the head, placing it gently by the side of her bed.
Her room was flawlessly arranged as usual. She made sure to keep it tidy, even though her father employed a personal cleaner for the job.
Creak…
The door opened slowly.
"No… no… not again."She saw the press, crowded in number, looming over her. A red background displayed behind them, microphones were being shoved at her face.
"Lady Karima-san."Her driver's voice brought her to her senses.
"Shallwe get going?"He stretched forth his hand.
"Yes."She wiped the sweat off her cheeks.
"Yes, we can."She handed him her school bag.
"Maybe I'll visit my therapist this weekend."
Karima had been having flashbacks from the incident that happened six years ago on a daily basis.
When she was twelve, her driver got sick, so she had to walk home late at night all by herself. That's when tragedy struck. A pedophile who had been stalking her for months ambushed her on the way home. Before help could arrive, the stalker had already defiled her.
Not only was she traumatized, but her dream of becoming an actress was close to being shattered. Reporters gathered at the scene, asking her all sorts of disheartening questions. Thankfully, her father was able to cover up the incident so it didn't escalate to the extent of reaching the internet. Wounds heal, but the scars remain for life. This was something that Karima knew all too well.
"Thank you so much for the smooth ride."She bowed her head slightly.
"Anytime, Lady Karima."Her driver waved at her goodbye.
A horde of students rushed towards her."Ahhh, Karima, you are such an angel!" a female student shouted.
"Karima, good morning!" another student exclaimed.
Her smile widened."Good morning, everyone."
Her voice echoed softly. Soon after the crowd dispersed, she entered the locker room for Class 1A. A seemingly average-looking boy walked slowly towards his locker, one step at a time, the floorboards creaking under his feet.
"Good morning, Sai."Karima stopped to greet him.
"Isn't that Karima? Who's the boy she's with? Is he in our class?" a passing female student whispered to another student.
"Forget our class, I haven't seen him around. Maybe he's a transfer student," the other girl said.
Sai turned towards Karima."Good morning, Kemina," he said with a blank expression.
"It's not Kemina, it's Karima."She smiled even wider to hide her anger.
"Karina."He walked away. They had been seatmates for three months now, and he still didn't remember her name.
"It's Karima, you fucking twit," she grunted inwardly. His greatest crime wasn't his failure to remember her name, but the fact that he never gave her any attention. Whenever he looked at her, it was as if he was looking at a far-off place, not her.
"Takato Sai—in athletics, just below average; academically, just below; even in looks, just below average. There is nothing spectacular about him. He doesn't stand out one single bit."
She grinned.
"Disgusting. How utterly irritating—to think that a human being can be so unaspiring."
Karima watched Sai walk up the stairs with fury in her eyes.
"Karima, you are going to play the lead role in the upcoming school drama, right?"
Some students walked up to her.
"Yes, of course. I'll be needing your full support."She quickly fixed her facial expression.
To fulfill her dream of becoming a top actress, Karima played the smart kid so the teachers would like her. She acted as the popular girl so the students would adore her. That's how she lived her life—behind a mask so that nobody would hate her.
After classes, she always stayed behind for extra classes.
"See you tomorrow, Sensei."She bowed her head.
"Nice work as usual, Kagenou-kun."Her teacher walked out.
She tried calling her driver, but he wasn't picking up. Little did she know that she had been watched by some shady figures all throughout the week. From the moment she left her house to when she returned, they monitored and studied her day-to-day activities and patterns. They ambushed her driver and killed him while he was on his way to pick her up from school.
With no other option, Karima had to walk home alone at night. Her steps echoed on the street, as she was the only one around. A gust blew her hair over her face.
A car's headlight shone over her face.
"Not again… this can't be happening."
She turned tail and ran for her life, but she was blocked by a van. Two muscular men jumped out. One of them placed a cloth laced with chloroform over her nose, grabbing her tightly around the shoulders from behind.
"Mhmmmmm!"Karima struggled desperately, but it was a futile attempt. She couldn't overpower them, and soon the drug took effect. She fell unconscious. They dragged her into the van and drove off.
Sai stood at the balcony of the school building with a blank expression, watching as the kidnappers took Karima away.