"Well, Kanhatsu, do you know anything about devifactor?" Kai asked.
"No, I don't."
Kai felt a pang of disappointment—he'd hoped her earlier awakening meant answers.
"But," Kanhatsu added, "the library might have something."
"Let's check it out then."The library of the three great academies housed vast knowledge on everything. Its ceiling soared three stories high, with two mezzanine platforms lined by towering bookshelves stuffed with thousands of books. At the entrance sat the librarian: an old man who looked spry as a youth, with neatly combed white hair, a trimmed beard, fine clothes, and a golden monocle. He seemed exhausted. His nameplate read: Asmodeus.
"Mr. Asmodeus, where are the books about or related to gods?" Kanhatsu asked.
Asmodeus glanced at her, then pointed to a shelf on the second platform.
"Thank you."
He said nothing. They climbed the stairs, grabbed books from the shelf, and dove in. Kanhatsu's reading speed dwarfed Kai's—he rarely touch a book to read. Time flew; evening shadows crept in. Kai's eye caught a intriguing title: Ragnarok. He'd overheard Adam mention it to Shi. He flipped it open just as Kanhatsu called.
"Kai, let's head back."
Bored from hours of scanning pages, Kai snapped it shut and hurried over. On the way to their room:
"Find anything?" Kanhatsu asked.
"Nothing. You?"
"No mentions of devifactor any book that I read."
In their room, they slumped on their beds, pondering.
"Has Caihong experienced any kind of awakening?" Kai asked.
"No—my divine vision hasn't detected one." Kanhatsu paused, thoughtful. "He's an idiotic, overexcited playboy, but he holds vast knowledge. Hate to admit it, but he's a prodigy. His master taught him everything. He might know anything about what's a devifactor is."
"How vast we are talking about here?"
"I don't know the depths, but he might help us find the answer."
They waited for Caihong. Kanhatsu pored over the first-year academy handbook; Kai stared out the window. Ten minutes later, the door swung open. Caihong strode in, carrying two sheathed katanas—one in ornate black saya, the other in white.
"So that's why Axarcus summoned you?" Kanhatsu set her book aside.
"Yep! My master sent these beauties~" Caihong grinned.
"Who's your master?" Kai asked.
"Can't say. Strict orders from him—no uttering his name."
"Caihong, I have a question for you," Kanhatsu said.
"Fire away. But first..." He racked the katanas beside his bed and sat cross-legged."Yes?"
"Do you know anything about devifactor?"
"Devifactor, huh?" Caihong tapped his chin. "Yeah—mortal vessels who can contain a specific god's divine power."
"Why would gods need vessels?" Kai pressed.
"No clue," Caihong shrugged. "My master didn't explain—maybe even he doesn't know."
He didn't pry why they asked about devifactor; he knew of Kanhatsu's awakening and guessed that Kai also might have experienced one. Silence settled. Kai eyed a small wooden box by his bed.'Kagutsuchi's gift—I forgot to check'. He opened it, revealing a smooth white stone.
"It's a purifying stone," Caihong said.
"What does it do?" Kai asked curiously.
"It can purify any type of impurities from anything." Caihong mixed blue ink into water, dropped in the stone. It absorbed the mess instantly, leaving crystal-clear liquid.
"Is it really drinkable now?" Kai wondered.
Caihong gulped down the water and handed the stone back.
"It was just a tiny demo. It can purify far lethal things."
"It's a rare find—where'd you get it?" Kanhatsu asked.
"Kagutsuchi gifted it, my friend."
Caihong and Kanhatsu's eyes widened. Kagutsuchi—one of the four great families. In the midst of all this,suddenly, the air thickened with menace. Bloodlust prickled their senses. They tensed. A knock echoed at the door. Eyes locked on it, they braced for whoever lurked outside.