The rhythmic clatter of the trains wheels had been a catalyst to belial thoughts,but belial was far from easy.As he sat on the train seat, his gaze fixed on the passing landscape outside the window, his mind was adrift in a sea of conflicting thoughts. The events at the cathedral had stirred something deep within him, and it wasn't just the ominous presence of the cursed skull that weighed on him. It was the man, the shadowy figure who had taken possession of the artifact.

That man in the cathedral… Belial's mind kept returning memories to him, as if his very presence had scratched open an old wound. Something about that figure felt familiar, although not in the sense of recognition—it was more like the scent of an old battlefield, the bitter taste of blood in the air, and the shadows of a past long buried.

His thoughts inevitably returned to the war. 

The war that, for me, happened over a thousand years ago, he thought bitterly, 

Though in the demon realm, time moves differently. His memories of that time were still hazy, like pieces of a puzzle that refused to fit together, as he was isolated in the demon realm after the war he was never told any information about the war nor could find any information. He remembered bloodshed, the clash of swords, the battle cries of demons and “monsters” alike. But the details were elusive buried beneath the weight of time.

He knew that some forces from the demon realm had been sent to the human world during that war. Entire legions of demons crossed the veil between realms, bringing chaos and destruction with them. But the war had ended suddenly, mysteriously. Even now, no one seemed to know the full truth of what had happened. One day, the fighting simply… stopped and the demons were sealed shortly after. 

Is that demon part of “that” general’s faction? Belial wonders, his fingers tapping restlessly against the armrest of his seat.

It was possible, but there was no way to know for sure. The demon realm was vast, its politics and history a convoluted web of lies, corruption, and forgotten alliances.Still the idea gnawed at him.

Could it be that some demons are still alive from the war?

The possibility of something dark and exhilarating stirred within him. If demons from that era were still walking the human world, then there were answers to be found—answers to questions that had haunted him since the war’s abrupt end. His lips curled into a small, dangerous smile as he considered the implications. This could lead him down a path that would finally unravel the mysteries he sought.

But for now. Those thoughts would have to wait. The train slowed to a stop, the grinding of the brakes pulling Belial out of his reverie. Finally they arrived at Silva city.

Belial And xin stood up from their seats, gathering their things as they prepared to disembark. Xin, always calm and focused, glanced over at Belial, noticing the distant look in his eyes but saying nothing. Together, they made their way off the train and onto the bustling streets of Silva.

The city was alive with activity. Market stalls lined the streets , vendors calling to walking passersby, while  normal civilians and hunters of all ranks walked across the streets , some freshly returned from quests and others just beginning their journeys. The smell of food cooking over open flames mixed with the scent of steel and leather, a reminder that this was a city built for and by adventurers.

“Come on the guild is this way,” Xin said, taking the lead as usual. 

Belial nodded and followed him, his mind still partially lost in thought. As they walked, Xin turned left down Voss Street, navigating the familiar streets with ease. The guild wasn’t far, and soon they arrived at the grand stone building that housed Silva City’s hunters.

The two pushed through the large wooden doors and entered the bustling guildhall. Hunters of all kinds milled about—some poring over quest boards, others celebrating successful hunts over tankards of ale. The atmosphere was lively, yet focused. This was the heart of the Silva city Hunter community, a place where the strongest and the  bravest came to prove themselves.

Belial and xin made their way to the receptionist desk,where emily ever the vigilant at the front desk, greeted them with a warm smile. She recognized them immediately and motioned for them to approach.

“You’re back,” she said, her eyes scanning the two of them as if checking for any injuries. “I take it the quest went well?”

Belial nodded, handing over his hunter card. “We got Azick’s signature, just as promised.”

Xin did the same, and Emily inspected the cards. Satisfied, she smiled and handed them back. “Everything looks in order. Are the two of you ready to start the next quest?”

Belial exchanged a glance with Xin. Despite the strange events surrounding the cursed artifact, they both knew that they couldn't linger in their own thoughts for too long. The life of a hunter was a constant cycle of quests and challenges, and there was no time for rest.

“Yeah,”Belial replied with a firm nod. “We're ready.”

Emily raised an eyebrow. “Did you find a B-ranker to help you explore the cave? The one you asked about last time?”

Belial’s expression darkened slightly. “No…”

“I thought as much,” Emily said, but there was no judgment in her tone. She had been in this line of work long enough to know how difficult it could be to find reliable companions for more dangerous quests. “Well, as it happens, I asked around for you. One of the hunters here expressed interest in helping you two out.”

Belial raised an eyebrow, intrigued. “Who?”

Emily turned toward the far side of the guildhall and called out, “Sora! Over here!”

A few moments later, a young man stumbled over, clearly caught off guard by the sudden summons.He was i his early twenties , no older than 25 by the looks of it, with light armor peeking under his loose robe. His skin was tanned as if he spent most of his life outdoors, and his dark, wavy hair barely passed his neck. In his hand, he held a small snack—likely something he had been munching on just before Emily called his name.

“These are the two you’ll be accompanying on the cave exploration,” Emily explained, gesturing to Belial and Xin.

Sora looked at them with his dark green grass like eyes, Which were darker and less intense than xin’s. Despite his somewhat disheveled appearance, there was a quiet confidence in the way he carried himself. Belial, always one to size up potential allies, he took note of the subtle strength , the way he moved as if ready to spring into action at any moment.

“As you’ve probably heard,” Sora began, his tone polite yet direct, “my name is Sora. And you two are…?”

“Belial,” he replied simply, his eyes narrowing as he studied Sora.

“Xin,” added the other, offering a more friendly introduction as he extended his hand.

Sora accepted xin’s handshake, and the two exchanged pleasantries for a moment before turning their attention back to the task at hand. As Xin got acquainted with Sora, Belial couldn’t shake the odd feeling that crept into his mind. Something about Sora, something about him felt familiar, but he couldn’t quite place it.it was like an itch on the back of his thoughts, a sensation that he had met this man before, though when and where eluded him.

After a few moments passed, Emily gave them their cards back and gave them a nod. “Alright, everything’s set and heres a map. Good luck on your exploration, and be careful in that cave. I’ve heard rumors about strange creatures lurking inside.”

Belial grunted in response, slipping his card back into his pocket. He wasn’t particularly concerned about the cave or its dangers—he had faced far worse. But the weird sense of familiarity lingered, gnawing at the edges of his mind.

With their preparations complet, the three left the guild hall and made their way toward the outskirts of the city. As they walked, the tension between Belial and Sora was palpable, though it wasn’t born of animosity. It was more like two predators silently sizing each other up, each trying to discern the other’s capabilities.

“So,” Xin said, breaking the silence as they neared the edge of Silva, “what’s your story, Sora? How’d you end up in the guild?”

Sora glanced over at Xin, offering a small smile. “Not much to tell really. I've been hunting since I was young, look Just trying to make a name for myself. I'm not like one of those snot nosed hunters, but I somehow get by.”

Xin chuckled. “Don't sell yourself short, you're a B rank hunter. If you’ve survived this long, you’ve got skills.”

Meanwhile, Belial stayed quiet, his eyes flickering towards Sora while they're strolling. His instincts told him that there was more to sora that meets the eye.And as much as he wanted to focus on sora he had to focus on the upcoming cave exploration, but his mind kept drifting back to that odd nagging feeling.

Who is this person, Belial thought to himself, his fingers unconsciously brushing the hilt of his katana. And why do I feel like we’ve crossed paths before?

The sun was beginning to set as they approached the cave,its mouth yawning open like the maw of an ancient beast. The shadows seemed to wriggle , as if alive, and the air around the entrance was thick with the scent of damp earth and something… else. Something Belial couldn’t quite identify, but it sent a chill down his spine.

“Ready?” Sora asked, his voice cutting through the tension as he glanced back at Belial and Xin.

Belial’s eyes narrowed as he looked at the cave, his hand resting on his sword. “Let’s go”