"Corrupted Grace"

The staff disappears from my hands the moment Cain signals the end of our training. It's strange, feeling it retreat into me like it's a part of my body. The absence leaves a dull ache in my chest, but I'm not sure if it's the exhaustion or the reminder of what I've become.

Cain hasn't said much since we left the clearing. We walk back into town, the normalcy of Kuoh a stark contrast to what I've just experienced. Kids ride bikes, vendors sell snacks on the corner, and a dog barks at nothing. It all feels so mundane, so wrong compared to the chaos inside me.

When we reach my apartment building, Cain finally speaks.

"Rest up. Tomorrow, we're stepping things up."

"Stepping things up?" I ask, turning to face him. "What does that mean?"

"You'll see," he says with a smirk, heading toward the street.

"Wait," I call out, but he's already gone, disappearing into the crowd like he was never there.

Back in my apartment, I collapse onto the couch, too tired to care about the mess. The black ichor from the Fallen Angel's attack has mostly dried, leaving dark stains on the floorboards. I make a mental note to clean it up later, but right now, all I want is sleep.

As I close my eyes, the memories of the day come rushing back—the glowing staff, Cain's relentless attacks, the whispers of power tempting me to give in. It's all too much.

And yet, beneath the exhaustion, there's something else. A part of me that felt alive when I held the staff, when the energy coursed through me. A part of me that wanted to let go.

I shudder at the thought and force myself to focus on something else. Anything else.

That's when I hear the knock.

It's soft, hesitant, but in the silence of my apartment, it feels deafening.

I groan, dragging myself to my feet. "Cain, if this is you again, I swear—"

I open the door and freeze.

It's not Cain.

Standing in the hallway is a girl from school. She's petite, with long white hair that frames her face, and her bright blue eyes are fixed on me with a mix of curiosity and caution.

"Damian Raine?" she asks, her voice quiet but clear.

"Yeah," I reply, still trying to process why someone like her would be here. "Do I know you?"

She hesitates, her gaze flicking to the side like she's making sure no one's watching. "My name is Koneko Toujou. Can I come in?"

The question catches me off guard. I've barely spoken to anyone at school, let alone invited them to my apartment. But there's something about her—an intensity in her eyes that makes it hard to say no.

"Uh, sure," I say, stepping aside.

Koneko walks in, her movements deliberate and almost predatory. She glances around the apartment, her nose wrinkling slightly at the smell of ichor.

"You were attacked," she says, not as a question, but a statement.

"How do you—?" I stop myself. Of course she knows. She's not normal. Not like the other students.

"You're not here to welcome me to the neighborhood, are you?" I ask, leaning against the wall.

Koneko turns to face me, her expression unreadable. "No. I'm here because you're dangerous."

"Dangerous?" I echo, my stomach twisting.

"You're connected to something powerful," she continues, her voice steady. "Something that shouldn't exist. It's attracting attention. And if you lose control, people will die."

My chest tightens. "So, what? You're here to stop me?"

"If I have to," she says without hesitation.

For a moment, the air between us is thick with tension. Then she sighs, her shoulders relaxing just slightly.

"But I don't think you're a threat yet," she adds. "That's why I'm here—to warn you. Stay out of trouble, and keep that power of yours under control."

"That's easier said than done," I mutter.

Koneko's gaze softens, just a little. "You're not alone in this. If you need help, there are people who can guide you. People who understand what you're going through."

"Like you?" I ask, unable to hide the skepticism in my voice.

"Maybe," she says, turning toward the door. "But if you bring trouble to Kuoh, you'll regret it."

Before I can respond, she's gone, leaving me standing in the middle of my wrecked apartment.

The next day at school, I can't stop thinking about Koneko. She didn't say much, but her words stick with me. She knows about the staff, about the corruption, and she didn't try to kill me on sight. That's more than I can say for Cain or the Fallen Angel.

I spot her during lunch, sitting with a group of students at a table by the window. One of them, a girl with long crimson hair, catches my attention. There's something regal about her, something that makes the air around her feel heavier.

"Rias Gremory," Cain's voice echoes in my head, though he's not here. "Head of the Gremory Peerage. Devil royalty."

Devils. Great. Just what I need.

As if sensing my gaze, Rias looks up and meets my eyes. Her smile is calm, almost welcoming, but it sends a shiver down my spine.

I look away, focusing on the bento box I picked up from the cafeteria. My appetite's gone, replaced by the gnawing sense that I'm in way over my head.

And then, just as the bell rings, I feel it—a presence.

It's faint, but unmistakable. The same cold, oppressive feeling I felt the night the Fallen Angel attacked.

I glance out the window and see nothing. But I know it's there, lurking just beyond the edges of perception. Watching.

Cain was right.