Marked by Daemons

saltoure's mark

7:30 am September 13th 2019
Library, The Association HQ

"Did you recognise that voice?" Akane asked, studying the mark on her wrist. They were at the library, the only place where they wouldn't be interrupted by his several fanboys, who loved hearing about his technique and watching his combat. His seniors weren't too pleased that he encouraged this type of behaviour. "And this mark appeared when you woke up?"

Sai nods, lost in thought, watching the dark-haired boy tracing the black mark. It's shaped like an elongated four-point star, with the longer side reaching towards the tip of her middle finger. The mark pulses and then fades to a light grey against her honey-toned skin. He lets go of her arm standing up and nearly dropping the food trays on the table.

"Careful," she hisses, eyes darting to the counter where the librarian usually sits. It's empty.

He studies her carefully, dark eyes narrowed. "You're part Daemon."

Sai looks at him offended, her heart racing. "Excuse me?"

He shakes his head, pacing across the library, his pushed-back bang once again falling onto his face. He disappears behind a bookshelf and she waits anxiously. What did he mean part Daemon? Was she really one? Was that why her parents kept her extra safe and homeschooled her even though children with the sight were usually sent to train at thirteen? Was she part of the abnormality that killed her parents and put several hundreds of people in danger?

"Aha!" Akane's voice reaches her from the other end of the archives interrupting her dark train of thought. Curious, she jogs to find him.

He's sitting cross-legged on the floor with a book on his lap, hungrily devouring the pages. "It says here that..." he squints. "Sai is part Daemon."

Her eyes widen in the realisation that he was only joking and she kicks him, resulting in Akane pulling her foot. She loses balance and collapses on the carpeted floor. "Akane, that's not funny!" He only laughs in response.

"Shhh!" A voice hisses through the bookshelves. It seems like the librarian is back.

Akane offers his hand to help Sai up, but she ignores him and walks back to their table. Munching on a carrot stick, she refuses to look at him even when he nudges her with his foot.

"I'm only staying here until I finish my food," she mumbles, chewing on her breakfast quickly.

He sits next to her, silently watching her sulk. "I'm sorry," he says finally.

Sai stays quiet, watching the world outside the large windows. Soft sunlight pours in through the windowpanes and lights everything up in a golden sheen. They remain silent, neither willing to break the small bubble of comfort wrapped around them.

Akane observes the girl, her blue hair glowing in the light. She's small, yes, but she makes up for her size with determination. Even though he has known her for only two days now, he can see that she is unwavering. And he admires that about her.

The library doors swing open and they turn towards the newcomers. It's rare to see the students coming down to the library, they usually spend their time in the training grounds, gardens or outside the building with friends.

The newcomers are two female students. They wear a similar uniform, but where Sai's and Akane's were short, theirs were a little longer than knee-length, with a slit up to their hips; they're not students from the HQ. They were from the Institute.

Director Oda walks in after they do. He scans the archives and his gaze lands on Sai, who is dumbstruck. "Sai," he gestures to the two newcomers. "Meet Kim and Ashe, they've transferred here from the Institute on my request to teach you more about techniques."

Kim is a tall, slim young woman with a blonde braid running down her back. She looks so elegant, Sai wishes that one day she'll grow up to be just like her. Ashe, her companion, has dark skin, curly brown hair and kind eyes that greet the two of them with a smile. Kim looked to be in her final stages of studying; a Semi-grade, and Ashe was a year older than Sai.

"Nice to meet you!" "Hello!" The Institute students chirp excitedly.

Sai waves to them, just as thrilled as they are at the thought of female friends.

"Your schedule has been changed," Oda conveys, a smile playing on his lips. He's glad that he is able to make her feel more comfortable in the Association. "You will practice your techniques with Ashe and Kim when the others are on the training grounds, and we'll fix you up some private combatting practice after lunch."

Sais grins and hugs a dumbfounded Oda. "Thank you! I'll have fun!" She says, before leaving the library with the Institute students. Ashe and Sai are chattering along as if they've been best friends for a while.

"Not just fun, train properly!" Oda calls after the giggling girls, both he and Akane are left alone. He gives Akane a once-over. "You better go off for practice," he grunts.

Akane only stands there for a while longer, paging through the book he was reading previously. "I'm worried about Sai," he rubs his wrist in thought, showing a page to Oda. "She has the a mark similar to Saltoure's."

"And why do you think so?" Oda's relaxed demeanour changes, his shoulders stiff. Saltoure is no joke. To be a bearer of his mark... Could the High Daemon that attacked Sai be Saltoure?

Akane's gaze lingers on the library doors. The girls are no longer in the corridor. "I saw something," he rubs his eyes. "It was only a flash, and I can't remember what I saw... It pulsed and disappeared after I touched it. I'm not sure if that was my doing or it just disappeared."

Akane briefs Oda on Sai's dream and Oda grows increasingly worried, his eyes furrowed and deep in thought. Why didn't Sai share this with him? And if what Akane suspects is true, what would that mean for Sai? If the higher-ups found out about this, they would execute her to prevent any further unease. But would taking the life of an innocent child stop Saltoure?

"We need to keep Sai safe," Oda says finally, his usually authoritative voice now tense. Now that he made a promise to his best friend to take care of his child, he couldn't back out of it. Sai was like his own flesh and blood. "We should make sure that the higher-ups don't find out about her until we're sure of what's going on." He looks at Akane as if challenging the seventeen-year-old. "That means no telling your father."