Kael slowly opened his eyes, groggily taking in his surroundings. He was in a cage, with Ryuko sitting outside it, watching him with an unreadable expression. The dim lighting made it difficult for Kael to discern any defining features of the man, except for his piercing blue eyes that seemed to gleam in the faint light.
"Who are you?" Kael demanded, trying to shake off the lingering fogginess in his head. His voice came out hoarse, and he cleared his throat.
"I'm Ryuko," the man replied, his voice low and gravelly. "And you, Kael, are a very interesting individual." Ryuko's words were laced with an air of mystery, and Kael's instincts told him to be cautious.
Kael's eyes narrowed. "What do you want from me?" He tried to remember how he ended up in this situation, but his memories were hazy.
Ryuko leaned forward, his piercing blue eyes glinting in the dim light. "You killed a demon executioner, Kael. Do you know what that means?" His tone was matter-of-fact, but Kael detected a hint of curiosity.
Kael shook his head, still trying to piece together the events leading up to this moment. The demon fight was a blur, but he remembered the rush of adrenaline and the feeling of power coursing through his veins.
"It means the people in power don't intend to let you live," Ryuko said bluntly. "They'll stop at nothing to eliminate you. But I think you might be worth saving." Ryuko's words sent a shiver down Kael's spine. Who were these people, and why did they want him dead?
Kael's confusion deepened. "Why would you want to save me?" He eyed Ryuko warily, unsure of the man's motives.
Ryuko's gaze seemed to bore into Kael's very soul. "Your power is... ominous. But I believe it could be the key to stopping the demons. I'm willing to give you a chance to live, Kael, if you join me." Ryuko's words hung in the air, and Kael felt like he was standing at a crossroads.
Kael's mind reeled as he considered Ryuko's words. What did he mean by "ominous"? And what kind of power did he think Kael possessed? As he pondered, Ryuko continued, "Many of my fellow executioners might not agree with my decision, but I'm willing to protect you as long as you are willing to save lives and eliminate the demons that have brought havoc to our world"
Kael hesitated, weighing his options. He didn't know much about Ryuko or his organization, but he knew he couldn't stay in this cage forever. The prospect of being hunted by powerful individuals didn't appeal to him either.
With a sense of resignation, Kael nodded. "Okay, I'll join you." Ryuko's expression didn't change, but a hint of satisfaction flickered in his eyes.
Ryuko stood up and unlocked the cage, letting Kael out. As soon as Kael stepped out, Ryuko was summoned the pillars in a different room– the regulators of the demon executioners. The seven pillars stood behind a hidden cloth, their voices echoing through the air.
Ryuko stared at them. "I have made the decision and kael will be under my care." The pillars' voices chimed with anger but in unison, "We set two conditions for you: Kael is not allowed to lose control of his powers for more than two hours, and he is not to be taught how to manipulate Vrail energy."
One of the pillars added, "If Kael loses control within the next 48 hours, he will be executed alongside Ryuko." Ryuko's eyes flashed with anger, but his voice remained calm. "You dare not put a finger on my student, or I'll kill all of you."
The pillars reminded Ryuko that other executioners were not in alignment with his terms, but Ryuko's determination remained unwavering. With the conditions set, Ryuko took Kael to his headquarters, a sprawling complex hidden in the shadows.
As they walked, Kael noticed that the complex was filled with people moving with purpose. Some were training, while others were gathered around maps and strategies. Kael's arrival seemed to have caused a stir, and many eyes followed him with interest.
When they reached the main hall, Ryuko introduced Kael to his students, Asmani and Kaito. Asmani, a girl with a fiery personality, felt the energy emanating from Kael and instinctively moved to attack him. Ryuko stopped her, his expression stern.
"Why did you accept him, Master Ryuko?" Asmani demanded, her anger simmering. Ryuko's gaze fell on Kael. "Because I think he can stop the demons. He defeated a 3rd class demon single-handedly for a novice, even when he wasn't himself."
Kaito, a calm and collected young man, approached Kael and welcomed him warmly. "Hey, I'm Kaito. Don't mind Asmani; she's just a bit... passionate." Asmani shot Kaito a look, but Kael smiled, feeling a sense of relief in the midst of uncertainty.
Asmani's eyes still flashed with anger, but she seemed to be controlling her temper. "I'll be keeping an eye on you, Kael," she said, her voice laced with warning.
Kael nodded, sensing the tension between Asmani and him. "I'm not looking for trouble," he said, trying to diffuse the situation.
Ryuko intervened, his voice calm and authoritative. "Enough, Asmani. Kael is a valuable asset to our team, and I expect you to treat him with respect."
Asmani's expression softened slightly, but she still seemed wary of Kael. Kaito, on the other hand, seemed genuinely friendly, and Kael found himself feeling more at ease in the young man's presence.
"Welcome to the team, Kael," Kaito said, offering his hand. Kael shook it, feeling a sense of gratitude towards the young man.
"Thanks, Kaito," Kael replied, smiling.
With that, Kaito nodded and turned to follow Ryuko, leaving Asmani to stand beside them, still watching Kael with a mixture of curiosity and suspicion.