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Keith followed the dirt path leading away from the hostel, his footsteps slow but steady. The farther he walked, the quieter his surroundings became. Unlike the lively chatter inside the hostel, here there was only the rustling of leaves and the occasional distant voice.
The air was crisp, but Keith barely noticed. His mind was still a storm of emotions, memories flashing in his head—the grotesque monster, the sound of flesh tearing, his mother's screams, his father's desperate struggle. His hands clenched into fists as he swallowed the lump forming in his throat.
When he finally reached the building he had been directed to, he was surprised. It was smaller than he expected.
Instead, the building before him was plain, unembellished, functional. A simple wooden door stood before him.
For some reason, that detail alone made Keith feel even more uneasy.
Taking a deep breath, he raised his fist and knocked.
"Come in," a voice called from within.
The voice was calm and steady, but with a certain weight to it—authoritative yet not unkind. Keith hesitated only a moment before pushing the door open.
Inside, the office was as simple as the exterior. A wooden desk, a few chairs, some bookshelves stacked with neatly arranged tomes. No grand decorations, no lavish furniture. Just a functional space.
Sitting behind the desk was a woman.
She looked to be in her forties, though strands of white hair were already beginning to mix with her jet-black locks. Sharp eyes studied him as he stepped inside, making Keith instinctively stiffen. Her posture was straight, her expression unreadable, but there was something about her presence—an unshakable firmness that made Keith nervous.
She gestured to the chair in front of her. "Sit."
Keith's feet felt heavy as he approached, but he obeyed. As he sat down, he quickly lowered his head in an awkward bow. "G-Good evening, ma'am."
The woman blinked in mild surprise before giving him a small, almost imperceptible smile. "No need to be so stiff. You can relax."
Easier said than done.
Keith could still feel her piercing gaze, but something about the way she spoke made him feel just a little less tense.
"I am Eleanor Graves," she introduced herself. "I oversee this training center."
Keith nodded slightly, not sure what to say.
"You were brought here by a group from the Demon Hunter Association," Eleanor continued.
Keith frowned slightly. "The… Demon Hunter Association?"
Eleanor leaned back in her chair. "Yes. It is the world order dedicated to eradicating demons."
Keith's fingers twitched. That word—demon—sent an uncomfortable chill down his spine. He didn't need to ask what a demon was. He had seen one with his own eyes.
Seeing his unease, Eleanor softened her tone. "I understand you must have many questions. But for now, you don't need to worry about the details. You'll learn everything in time—if you awaken."
Keith narrowed his eyes slightly. "Awaken?"
"You'll understand soon enough." She didn't elaborate further, and Keith had the sense that pressing for answers would get him nowhere.
A brief silence settled between them before Eleanor leaned forward slightly, resting her hands on the desk. "I won't dance around the subject. I'm sorry for what happened to your parents."
Keith's breath caught in his throat.
"The thing that killed them," Eleanor continued, "was a demon."
Keith clenched his fists in his lap. He already knew that. He had seen it, heard it, smelled the blood in the air. But hearing it said out loud made it feel real in a way he wasn't ready for.
Eleanor's gaze remained steady. "Normally, demons do not reach rural areas like yours. The Demon Hunter Association has spent centuries ensuring that. It has been over five hundred years since demons last set foot in those lands."
Keith looked up, his expression confused. "Then… why?"
Eleanor sighed. "The demon that attacked your family was being pursued. It fled into the rural region in an attempt to escape. Your case was an exception. If things had gone as they should have, you would have never even known demons existed."
Keith bit his lip. A part of him wanted to yell, to scream that it wasn't fair. That if these 'demon hunters' had done their job faster, maybe—just maybe—his parents would still be alive.
But he didn't.
Because deep down, he knew that no matter how much he wanted to blame someone, nothing would bring them back.
Eleanor studied him for a moment before continuing. "This training center exists to prepare new recruits for the association. Unlike the noble houses, who pass down their abilities through generations, commoners like you can only enter by proving themselves."
Keith's jaw tightened. "And… I have to join?"
"Yes," Eleanor said firmly. "You cannot return to the rural region. If word of what happened spreads, it could cause mass panic."
Keith exhaled shakily. He hadn't thought about that. It made sense—if people found out that a demon had entered their peaceful world, fear would spread like wildfire.
"You don't have to decide anything today," Eleanor assured him. "For now, focus on adjusting. When enrollment begins, you'll be given the choice to fight for your place."
Keith remained silent. A storm of emotions churned inside him—grief, confusion, anger, exhaustion. He still didn't understand half of what was happening, but one thing was clear: his old life was gone.
There was no going back.
Eleanor watched him for a few moments before giving him a final nod. "You may return to the hostel."
Keith stood, bowing his head slightly out of habit. Without another word, he turned and walked toward the door.
As he stepped outside, the cold night air hit him. He looked up at the sky, the stars stretching endlessly above him. Somewhere out there, the thing that killed his parents still existed.
His hands trembled slightly, but he clenched them into fists.
For the first time since that night, a single thought began to form in his mind.
I want to kill it.
With that silent vow, Keith started walking back to the hostel—toward a future he had never imagined