In the forest of beginnings...

  The forest wasn’t quiet.

  It just pretended to be.

  Three figures cut through the undergrowth in tight formation, cloaks snapping against branches that should have slowed them, but didn’t. Their steps were precise and synchronized. The trees seemed to bend aside just enough to let them pass.

  At the front, the butler stopped.

  The other two halted instantly, not even asking why.

  “…We’re not alone,” he said.

  His gaze swept the forest, sharp and methodical. Bark scars, disturbed moss, a snapped twig still rocking gently.

  “Someone arrived before us.”

  No alarm. No surprise. Just fact.

  “Masayori,” he continued. “Scout.”

  “Yes, Captain.”

  The onmyoji girl slipped a talisman from her sleeve and folded it with a practiced flick. Paper creased into shape, stretched, and darkened until—

  A bakeneko hit the ground in a silent crouch, eyes burning gold.

  “Go,” she whispered.

  The cat vanished into the brush.

  The butler waited a single breath.

  “Whatever came here can't be far ahead, move.”

  They were gone again.

  My lungs didn’t burn.

  That was the strange part.

  We’d been running, no, flying through the forest for way too long, vaulting roots and tearing through brush at speeds that should’ve left me puking on the forest floor.

  Instead, my body felt… Ready.

  I didn’t like that.

  “You do know where we’re going, right?” I shouted.

  Button zipped ahead, laughter trailing behind her. “Of course! To where the forest ends!”

  That wasn’t an answer I could accept.

  Unease crawled up my spine. I activated Discerning Eye, forcing my focus outward while moving at full speed.

  Reading on Amazon or a pirate site? This novel is from Royal Road. Support the author by reading it there.

  The feedback hurt.

  Not like before. Not a spike, but pressure, like my skull was packed too tight.

  Trees blurred. Distances snapped into relevance. Movement vectors overlaid reality.

  Too much. Too fast.

  But not useless.

  Must be adapting, I thought distantly.

  Then—

  Red.

  A flicker at the edge of my vision.

  “WAIT!”

  Button yelped, skidding midair.

  I turned—

  A blade shot toward my face.

  I jerked aside just in time. Metal kissed skin, slicing my cheek open in a burst of heat and blood.

  I was given no time to process.

  Another shape burst from the brush.

  Short.

  Fast.

  Too fast.

  Button started chanting something, words that twisted the air, but another knife flew.

  No time.

  I lunged in front of her.

  The blade punched into my forearm.

  “AAAAAGH—!”

  It was like fire exploded up my arm. My fingers spasmed uselessly as the knife lodged deep, black blood spilling over my hand.

  I staggered back, vision warping.

  The thing landed lightly in front of us, crouched and grinning.

  Horns. Tail. Yellow eyes too sharp for its small frame.

  A Daemon.

  I forced Discerning Eye through the pain.

  Race: Infernal

  Species: Daemon (Imp)

  Rank: Lesser Daemon

  Class: Pawn

  That’s all?

  Nothing else.

  The imp lunged again.

  “DUCK!” Button screamed.

  I didn’t think. I dropped.

  Cold slammed across my back.

  When I lifted my head, the imp was frozen mid-motion, ice crawling up its limbs.

  Magic.

  Relief hit—

  Then shattered.

  “AAAAHHH!”

  I spun.

  She was gone.

  The imp had Button clenched in one clawed hand, ice already cracking away from its skin.

  “Hihihihi~” it giggled. “Looks like you’re in trouble.”

  My chest tightened.

  “Let her go!” I shouted.

  The imp tilted its head. “Why?”

  Its grin widened. “I was sent by the Sin of Pride. You could be useful. Stronger. Now why don't you stop running.”

  Its grip tightened.

  Button winced.

  Something twisted low in my gut.

  This is my fault.

  I dragged her into this.

  My thoughts scrambled—

  Wait.

  I turned and ran.

  “Hihihihihi!” the imp cackled. “Looks like he abandoned you!”

  Every step felt wrong.

  Enough.

  I slammed my hand into the ground.

  Summon Fae: Pixie.

  The circle flared.

  Pain speared through my chest, sharp, draining, as Button vanished from the imp’s grasp in a burst of light.

  She reappeared beside me, blinking. “Huh—?”

  “Yes!” I gasped. “Run!”

  We bolted.

  My arm screamed now, blood slicking my fingers, legs starting to shake as the cost caught up with me.

  A blur dropped in front of us.

  The imp landed, grinning wider than before.

  “Hihihihi~ Caught you.”

  I skidded to a stop.

  I’m not strong enough.

  I can’t fight this thing.

  Then—

  A massive shape slammed into the imp from the side.

  A Cat

  Claws clashed with steel. Sparks flew as three fireballs erupted, forcing the imp back with a shriek.

  “Allies?” it snarled. “You already have allies?!”

  Before I could process that—

  A figure dropped from above.

  A blade shot from his wrist.

  The imp didn’t even scream as it was impaled.

  “You—!” it spat.

  The figure ripped the blade free and kicked it back.

  “Barrier,” another voice snapped.

  A dome snapped shut around the imp.

  “Masayori.”

  Flames roared.

  The imp burned screaming, cursing, until nothing remained but ash.

  Silence crashed down.

  I exhaled, and my legs gave out.

  I hit the ground hard.

  A cloaked figure knelt beside me. “Are you alright?”

  “I—yeah,” I said weakly. “Yeah.”

  Button hovered protectively near my head.

  The man straightened.

  “You are lucky, to have survived here.”

  I've been running towards danger without a care. Glad it took that long to run into anything.

  But what was it going on about earlier...

  I was snapped out of my head by a calm voice.

  "You are going to have to come with us."

  I stared up at the unfamiliar figures, blood drying on my arm, chest aching where something vital had been taken from me.

  Whatever this world is…

  I just became a target.

  And I had no idea why.