Nothing But Requiem

Chapter One: [The Twins and the Demon] #1

The full moon hung low on a midsummer night. Its pale glow was drowned out by the shimmering lights of the city below. 

This was Vinea—a seaside town on the western coast of the continent and one of the commercial cities that connected the sea route. With a population of over one hundred thousand, the city had a different face at night; it was also known as "The Nocturnal Castle of Pleasure and Song," in part referring to its inhabitants' well documented love of music. Many musicians performing in the royal capitol came from Vinea.

Tonight, the city was abuzz with anticipation for the upcoming music festival. As gondolas weaved through the multi-tiered waterways, the singing of the rowers overlapped with the mirth and laughter coming from various stalls and taverns littered across the city. 

In the suburbs of Vinea, removed from the hustle and bustle of the city, the top floor of an opulent hotel was nestled against the towering city walls. From the balcony, Ario looked down at the cityscape below. 

"...It's so lively, Aria," Ario said softly as she tucked her hair behind her ear in the night breeze and watched the city below. "I can hear them singing all the way from up here." 

She turned her gaze toward the girl whose appearance was nearly identical to her own. The only difference between them was the color of their hair: Ario's was a light maroon, while Aria's was silver. Aria's silver hair already seemed to glow all on its own, but the way it shimmered in the moonlight was absolutely breathtaking.

"It is, isn't it Ario..." Aria turned her melancholy eyes toward Ario and nodded.

Ah...the softness of her voice... I can feel it embracing me. Ario closed her eyes and savored its familiar comforting sound. Even the seemingly most insignificant moments with Aria were special. For Ario, right now, time ceased to exist.

A knock at the door snapped Ario out of her reverie. Dazed for a moment, she quickly regained her composure. "I'll see you later, Aria," she murmured as she went inside. 

Opening the door, she was greeted by a short man with a hunched back and an even shorter boy standing next to him. The man's face was disfigured and covered in scars that made it look like he had been tortured, but Ario could sense that his deepest wounds were ones that could not be seen. Struck by a confusing mix of pity and revulsion, Ario frowned as the man began to speak.

"Well, well, well... To think I was expecting some bigshot millionaire to be staying in a suite this fine, only to find a little girl instead. Well, whatever. The name's Zeb. I'm what you might call a 'pleasure seller,' and I'm here to bring you some entertainment for this evening." Zeb wore a vulgar grin and jerked on the chain in his hand that was linked to the boy's collar, sending him staggering in front of Ario. The boy was even more petite than Ario. He was dressed in a cleric shirt and a fishtail skirt, with combed black hair that smelled of sweet perfume. At first glance, he could have been easily mistaken for a girl.

"I don't remember staying at a brothel," Ario said, her voice stone-cold as she scowled.

"According to the ordinance set in place by Don Nicolas, during the music festival all hotels in Vinea become pleasure houses at night. This boy here is the son of a noble family, and it's his first night out."

"You really don't know when to quit, do you? Get lost!"

"Oh, don't be like that. Come on, have a little fun..." Zeb reached out for Ario's sleeve; she reflexively smacked his outstretched hand away. He stared at it blankly as the blood began to rise on his face, and his already repugnant expression grew even more ugly and distorted. "I may have come up here to offer you a service, but I won't let some little brat disrespect me!" Zeb reached out to grab Ario with both hands this time.

It happened in an instant. Ario's tutu skirt fluttered as her legs drew a graceful arc. With a dull thud, a thick-soled boot slammed into Zeb's face. The force of the blow was completely unexpected from someone with Ario's slender frame and sent Zeb crashing into the wall of the corridor.

Slipping and falling as he tried to get back up, Zeb held his nose with both hands and moaned in agony, blood spurting out from between his fingers. The sight of it sent Zeb into a frenzy. "You little shit! I'LL KILL YOU!!" Without bothering to wipe the blood from his hands, Zeb stood up and grabbed a knife from his coat pocket. But before he could even assume a fighting stance, he went into a cold sweat and froze as Ario held a revolver aimed right between his eyes. 

Zeb never even registered the moment she could have drawn it. "Th-that gun..." Zeb felt his heart stop. Having lived in the underworld for as long as he could remember, this was definitely not the first time he had been held at gunpoint. However, the gun being pointed at him right now was not what you would call "normal."

In this world, there was a theory that utilized both science and magic known as magical mechanics. One of the primary uses of magical mechanics was strengthening weapons by imbuing them with spiritual energy. These weapons were referred to as magical armaments. Only a small number of people were capable of wielding them, and those that did possessed unparalleled fighting power. 

The barrel of Ario's gun was meticulously carved with enchanted inscriptions and a butterfly pattern—undeniable proof that this gun was indeed amagical armament. A shining green skull ornament dangled from a chain on the gun's grip.

"A magic gun?! And a...Jade Skull?!" Zeb looked even more terrified at the sight of the ornament.

"Oh? I see you already know what this is. Did you still want to fight me?"

"N-no... Of course not... Don't be ridiculous," Zeb chuckled nervously. His will to fight left as quickly as it came.

"Now then, I'll just take the boy as a nuisance fee," said Ario, still pointing the gun at Zeb.

"Hey now, that's—"

The revolver clicked into place as Ario pulled back the hammer. With a high-pitched yelp, Zeb scrambled backwards and ran off as fast as he could.