Moonlight Demon (ON HOLD)

Prologue - Part One

Volume 1:

"1878, the Year of Magia
    "So, all set?" A large man asked, standing by the front door of Ayami's home. He had a thick grey beard and the look of someone who had seen far more than most other people but hadn't let it bother him.
    "Yes, yes. Just a second." Ayami replied. She folded her last shirt and stored it away in the large bag on her wooden table. "Done."
    "Good. Everyone else is ready."
    "How many?" Ayami asked. With short raven hair tied into a bun, she made sure her long-sleeved white shirt had no dirt on it.
    "Maybe a dozen, counting us." Then, an uncomfortable look appeared on his face and he scratched the back of his head. "So... Is he coming or not?"
    Ayami sighed.
    "No." She closed her eyes for a moment before nodding to herself. "He has too many responsibilities."

"One of them being his wife, and yet he's not coming." The old man replied.
    "Dad, stop," Ayami said. "We've been over this. I'm not going to force him to stop working just so he can come on a month-long vacation."
    "Wouldn't it be possible for him to set aside some time?"
    "You know how the higher districts work. No, it isn't." Ayami clarified.
    "Eh, I'll never understand any of that." Her father lamented. "All I know are the best ways to swing an ax."
    At that, Ayami smirked.
    "You sure? Been a while, hasn't it?"
    "Ah, those kinds of lessons never go away, 'Yami. Levels are neat but skills and techniques? Those are eternal. Those are what make the difference."
    You would know, I guess.
    Indeed, her father's level was one that many who saw it would stand in awe of.
    Level 25
    MP: 10/10
    ---
    Attributes:
    Strength: 25
    Dexterity: 10
    Constitution: 25
    Intelligence: 1
    Wisdom: 1
    Luck: 5
    As she was a regular person, her own stats were nothing anyone would be impressed by. After all, the only way to gain a level was to kill a living creature or perform extensive amounts of specific training, and she hadn't done either.
    Level 1
    MP: 10/10
    ---
    Attributes:
    Strength: 1
    Dexterity: 1
    Constitution: 1

Intelligence: 1
    Wisdom: 1
    Luck: 5
    The Luck attribute had always intrigued Ayami. It was said that the attribute governed the affection that the gods held for you, but for most people, it was at a static 5 and would never be increased.
    With that, he turned around and started heading out of the house. "I'll tell them you're done."
    "Right."
    Just as her father was about to exit, someone else opened the door and accidentally slammed it into his face. Ayami cringed when she heard the smacking sound that came with the incident. If it were someone else, someone of a much lower level, she'd expect the person to be knocked out. But, as it was her father, a wise old veteran of Nova's army, he didn't even take a step back.
    "AYAMI!" A thin man called out. "O-Oh, sorry, Kazu, uh, sir!"
    Her father grumbled and said:
    "'Yami, your husband is here."

    "I noticed." Ayami sighed. Her father exited the house and when Ayami turned around, she saw a thin, clumsy young man with just a few hairs on his chin and bright blue eyes. He was wearing his usual ji, long white robes, white pants, and golden-colored shoes, as he walked up to her, exhausted.
    Ayami couldn't help but chuckle a little. A part of her wanted to be mad, but that had been a consistent part of their relationship over the past five years. Try as she might, she simply couldn't remain angry at him.
    "I, oh goodness, I ran." He coughed, breathing heavily. Ayami shook her head, turning away to hide a smile.
    "I can tell," Ayami responded as she bit back a chuckle.
    "U-Uh, well, I mean, you... Uh..." Finally, he took a second to calm down and said, "are you mad at me?"
    "Maybe." Ayami turned around. "I'm glad you're here now though." At that, he gave a relieved smile and straightened his back up. Ayami walked up to him and planted a small peck on his lips. "I have to go, though. They're waiting on me."
    "Can they wait a little longer?" He asked, countering with his own kiss and Ayami shook her head, laughing.