In the world of dreams, a flowery landscape covered the vast expanse. The white clouds looked like cotton, and the sky was as blue as a precious crystal. The wind moved like a soft sigh as a man rose from the grass.

  His attire was unique, standing out against the backdrop of this fantasy world: a helm with a tuft of crimson hair trailing from the top; silver gauntlets on each hand, tightened by red bands; and greaves with sabatons to aid his movement. Simple clothing filled the gaps in his armor, giving him the appearance of a humble peasant warrior.

  He approached a small, isolated house on the plains. Before he could even knock, the scent of blood filled the air. In a panic, he kicked the door open with a single strike.

  Inside, a woman sat calmly sipping tea. Her pink hair and dark skin were the pinnacle of her beauty. The black dress she wore accentuated her curves and highlighted the radiance of her skin, while the deep red of her lipstick matched her bitter smile.

  "Hello, my knight," the woman said. "What are you doing here? I thought I'd never see you in my dreams again... especially not in this... graveyard," the man replied. "Hahaha, arrogant as ever." She leaned over the table, resting her chin on her hands. "I understand your frustration. A beautiful witch standing before you can certainly make any man uncomfortable." She gestured to the chair across from her. "Sit. I'll pour you some tea."

  The man sat down instantly. From behind his helm, his gaze remained locked on the witch's movements, his hands poised on the table, ready for anything. The woman smiled, her dark eyes analyzing his aggressive stance. She seemed perfectly at ease in the presence of someone so guarded.

  "How many years has it been since we last met? Thirty years? Or perhaps forty?" the witch mused. "Pricila, I'm not here for small talk." The man's voice remained cold and steady. "What does the Lead Witch of Sins want with me? Summoning me to this graveyard after all this time... it only proves that..."

  Pricila shifted her focus from her tea, her expression turning grave. "Exactly. One of the witches is active once again." She sighed, a hint of bitterness on her lips. "The Witch of Wrath, Aurelion." "It's been years since I was in the business of hunting witches. I thought she would have died from the poison I laced her with during the last hunt."

  Pricila took a sip of her tea, the dregs at the bottom revealing a fragment of history. "She isn't that foolish," Pricila said. "The power of the Third Eye allows us to shape reality as we see fit. Aurelion may have constructed a new body, becoming even more powerful." She leaned forward again, a wide grin spreading across her face. "I'm surprised to see you so calm." Her hand reached out, slowly caressing the man's arm. "I remember your murderous rage all too well."

  He pulled away from her touch and stood up calmly.

  "My goals aren't the same as they used to be." As he walked away, he glanced back over his shoulder. "You witches started an era of slaughter and destruction; I was simply following orders to protect the princess."

  "Hahaha! So that was your grand motivation? That little girl?" Between her mocking laughter, a dark blush crept up Pricila's face. "You didn't just torture us; you killed us in ways no mortal should have been able to conceive." She began counting on her fingers. "Hanging, dismemberment, drowning, and even..."

  "ENOUGH!" the man roared, his fury boiling over. "I didn't come here to dwell on the past." He turned to face his greatest enemy, his voice dripping with loathing. "I am grateful for the warning about Aurelion. If the last witch still draws breath, then it is my duty to exterminate her."

  "Be careful. Remember, we witches are a persistent lot. She likely has a plan in motion and knows your every move," Pricila warned. "And do you happen to have any actual advice?" the man asked restlessly. "Just stay safe. The goal of the satanic ritual is still very much on that woman's mind."

  The man gave a curt nod and began to leave. As he walked, the witch followed, playfully stepping in his footprints and humming a tune. Suddenly, the man stopped, drawing a knife from his belt and pressing the blade against his own throat.

  "I could have sent you back without all the violence, you know," Pricila teased. "I will never depend on a witch for anything as long as I live," he spat.

  With a swift, precise stroke, blood spurted out, staining the green grass. The sound of his gasping echoed through the field as he choked on his own lifeblood. Pricila watched the scene with rapt attention, a grin widening as her face flushed with twisted pleasure. She sat down and pulled the man's head onto her lap, letting the blood ruin her dress.

  The vision went black. The man was gone.

  In that same instant, he bolted upright in his bed, gasping for air, his hand flying to his throat. The wound had been nothing but a dream's illusion. In the dim room, the girl sleeping beside him woke with a start, reaching out to steady him.

  "Are you alright, Knight? Did you have another horrible dream?" the girl asked. "Don't worry, Princess. I'm fine... it was just... a nightmare," the man reassured her.

  The silent night reclaimed their existence. The girl beside him drifted back to sleep; though they seemed intimate in that moment, she simply purred, eased by her companion's touch. Her orange hair was dotted with black spots, fur covered her body, and a long tail swayed as she began to feel secure once more.

  Hours later, the morning sun rose, illuminating the entire kingdom. It was a special day, as the light revealed the beauty of the snow that had fallen overnight.

  Trudging through the snow in full armor and carrying his gear, the man noticed his partner's high spirits. "Hey, Frey, you seem excited today. Did something happen?" "Haha, look at all this snow! Winter is amazing." She skipped through the drifts, leaving deep tracks behind her. "The snow has gifted us with a whiteness that brightens the eyes, and we got to have a long, deep sleep... but... why are we carrying all this gear? I thought we weren't leaving the kingdom until a mission came up."

  "There's been a change of plans. It seems that captains' academy needs us for an excursion." "Huh?" Frey pouted, crossing her arms and huffing in annoyance. "I don't want to be a babysitter for a bunch of kids!"

  Inside the classroom...

  The teacher was delivering her lecture; the historical accounts and combat strategies kept most of the class focused and in awe. Giyo, however, leaned back looking bored, staring out the window to distract himself, only to be startled by a piece of chalk flying past him.

  This book's true home is on another platform. Check it out there for the real experience.

  "Giyo! You should be paying attention; this will be on the exam!" Paola snapped. "Sigh..." the boy groaned. "Professor, this topic is so dull. Stories about a world that existed ages ago... why are we even studying this if we'll never see anything like it again?" "Since you brought it up... I will explain the true reason behind these stories to everyone."

  Paola adjusted herself in her seat and opened her book. "In the past, back when sand deserts, oceans of lava, and mountains of ice still existed, a sort of plague spread across the globe. This disease contaminated every kingdom and country, taking hold of all races. But... the infection spread in a very specific way: through blood contamination!" She gestured with her hands, making the scene even more haunting. "Foam would leak from their mouths, their eyes wide and pupils dilated; they possessed a physical strength capable of destroying anything in their path, along with a total loss of feeling... pain, emotions... everything gone!"

  Silence and fear filled the room. No one could quite grasp the sheer weight of the information, but one thing was certain: it was terrifying. "This disease still lives among us today. The only way to escape it is to prevent an infected individual from passing their blood to you. The name of this plague is Demonification," Paola declared.

  While the silence still hung heavy, the sudden sound of the door swinging open caught everyone's attention. "Geez, we finally made it!" Frey sighed in exhaustion, scanning the room and noticing the thick tension in the air. "Huh? Did something happen?"

  Stepping in right behind her was the knight. "We are the adventurers summoned by the Headmaster. He ordered us to come here and join you on this mission."

  Paola clapped her hands in pleasant surprise. "How wonderful!"

  She turned to the class, introducing the newcomers: "Everyone, these are adventurers from the Guild. The Headmaster has planned a field trip for us to visit the Guild in person. It'll be a simple way for you to learn more about their work and get a real sense of the risks involved." She clasped her hands together, her tone warm and welcoming. "So, we will accompany them through the city immediately while we listen to tales of their adventures!"

  The students grew excited, almost as if they had instantly forgotten the grim news from moments ago. Leaving the classroom in small groups, they followed the adventurers, chatting animatedly along the way.

  "Geez, Giyo, why did you have to ask such a stupid question?" Pan asked, leaning in and grabbing the boy's arm, a hint of lingering fear in her voice. "Like it or not, that topic was getting dull. Ever since we joined the academy, I feel like we haven't made any progress in terms of strength," Giyo replied. "I noticed that too." Asuna grabbed his other arm, pulling closer in a clear bid for attention. "Learning history and math isn't going to turn us into Captains."

  The three of them glanced back at Kirio, who seemed lost in thought. Realizing they were watching him, he gave a heavy sigh. "Sigh... my father said our class is special. There's no point in us getting stronger right now if the other classes are lagging so far behind. I think it's better if we just keep up our individual training outside of school hours." Kirio quickened his pace, moving to the front of the group as if he were done with the conversation.

  As the class moved forward, the streets became increasingly empty, falling into a sudden silence. Paola walked near the adventurers, looking a bit self-conscious. "Fufufu, sorry about the kids. They seem more interested in the city than the lecture," Paola said. "Don't worry about it!" Frey reassured her with a laugh. "I was a bit bored at first, but seeing their innocence and hearing them laugh makes me feel good. Right, Knight?" "Whatever," he replied coldly. "We need to finish the mission and collect the pay. For now, I just need to know what's required to keep the client satisfied with our work."

  "Well..." Paola mused. "How about sharing a bit of your story? I'm certain those gauntlets and that sword aren't just for show, fufufu."

  The man sighed as his past flashed before his eyes. He looked up at the sky, noting the sunny day—just like any other... yet that specific light marked one of his greatest trials...

  In the past...

  Amidst the plains and ruins of a kingdom that had fallen long ago. "Hey! Where do you think you're going? You aren't thinking of leaving me behind, are you?" "Princess, I could never leave you. I have a mission to fulfill with you."

  The girl with orange hair and black spots looked much younger standing beside the knight shielding her. She skipped through the plains, constantly glancing back, hoping he wouldn't leave her alone. "So... what's your name?"

  Frey's sudden question caught the man off guard. He simply replied coldly: "It doesn't matter. I am merely the knight chosen to protect you."

  The little girl pouted, clearly annoyed. "Hmph, how rude!" She turned her head away, avoiding eye contact. "I was just trying to be nice... But why protect me? I don't remember anything about being 'protected.' In fact... I don't remember anything about yesterday."

  Seeing her in such a fragile state due to her memory loss, the man stopped and placed a hand on her shoulder. The whistling wind and rustling leaves heightened the tension. For the first time... he showed a glimmer of empathy. "I'll be honest with you, Princess... we are being hunted by a sect." The words took root in the girl's mind. She remained silent, hanging on every word. "They want you dead, but I won't let that happen."

  The man's words caused a sharp ringing to echo in her head. She felt a dull pain but managed to ignore it. As she snapped back to the present reality, that same ringing echoed through the air once more.

  The children were on the ground, clutching their ears and wailing at the high-pitched ringing that pierced their eardrums. Just as suddenly, several hooded figures emerged. They brandished swords and axes, looking ready for a massacre. The symbol embroidered on their cloaks was hauntingly familiar to the knight: the mark of the Third Eye.

  Drawing his massive longsword, the knight dropped into a combat stance. But he quickly noticed his loyal companion was missing; Frey was being hauled away by one of the hooded men. "FREY!" he roared, panic seizing his voice. "I've got this!"

  The boy's voice cut through the chaos, catching the knight off guard. Giyo sprinted through the armed men, closing the gap between him and the kidnapper. With a single, heavy punch, the hooded man groaned in pain and collapsed, dropping the girl. But just as things seemed under control, a woman with a chillingly elegant presence appeared behind them.

  Her silver hair framed a striking figure; her eyes were smoke-gray, her skin as white as snow. She wore unique attire—bandages wrapped around her upper body and shorts that accentuated her form. "It can't be... you're..." Neru stood frozen, unable to move at the sight of her. "Hahaha," she laughed, tracing her fingers over her lips. "I found you, Neru! Did you think you could hide from the Witch's Cult? You were dead wrong." She struck a pose that seemed to mesmerize everyone; her followers watched her with absolute devotion. "I've been hunting you for years, only to find you'd traded your miserable life as a knight to become a simple adventurer."

  "I swear... I WILL KILL YOU!" he screamed, the veins in his arm bulging as he gripped his sword. His face was a mask of pure hatred. "Hahaha, then come and get me!"

  With a lightning-fast move, the woman knocked Giyo unconscious and vanished in a flash, taking both him and Frey. Neru didn't hesitate; with the force of a single swing, he cleaved through every hooded man around him. Looking back, he saw the students were finally recovering from the agonizing noise.

  "YOU! WOMAN!" he barked at Paola. "Can you sense the boy's energy?" "I... no, they seem to be out of range... but there's a trail of mana lingering in the streets. Straight ahead, a single path with no detours," Paola replied.

  Neru took off in the direction she pointed. His hand trembled against the hilt of his sword, his breath ragged. 'I can't let this happen... I can't lose her again! If she dies... I'll never be able to fulfill your dream, Princess!'

  Suddenly, the surroundings were swallowed by a black mist. Time stood still, as if they had entered another dimension. A woman's hand, smelling of blood, gripped Neru's chest, pressing against him with a twisted, sensual touch. "Hahaha, things are getting interesting..." she whispered into the knight's ear. "I hope you give her a beautiful death. Show her your love, your feelings... do what you've always done best, hahahahaha!"