The final bell cut through the classroom, and the noise of children voices faded away. Chairs scrapped back, and just like that, Chiyo's first day of school has come to an end, and in the same time, Kowamaru's true velkarin day has begun.
He walks back home through the shadows, his human mother, that had a triple twist half up tied hairstyle, and was light and had a very petite stature, smiles at him as soon as he arrives and ruffles his hair affectionately:
– Hi sweetheart, welcome back! Go dress up quickly, I have cooked your favourite food for today, afterwards your father will have some work for you to help him up with!
– Understood, mom... thanks for cooking my favourite m-meal.... I guess?... Kowamaru murmurs while he walks upstairs.
As the clock ticks, Kowamaru is already having breakfast with his mother and father in silence. The moment the father chews some of the cooked chicken, he spits it on the ground and punches the mother on the back, and she gasps in pain. Kowamaru tenses up at the sudden painful move the father has inflicted on the mother and remains speechless, his eyes filled with trauma and restrained anger.
– Bitch! This chicken has no taste! Didn't you even bother to add some condiments?! At least some fucking salt! Kowamaru's dad yells at her, tensing both Kowamaru and his mother even further. The mother murmurs, tears rolling down her cheek, she quietly mutters:
– I-I ap-apolog—
– Go and kill another chicken and cook again this fucking food before I turn you in the actual meal!! He interrupts with another yell, causing her to slowly get up and quickly run to kill another chicken. Kowamaru slowly tilts his head to his father and quietly adds up:
– D-Dad... but the chicken wasn't even tha—
– It's none of your business on what me and your mother argue on, Kowamaru! Now eat up, we are heading afterwards to cut some trees and carry them home! He exclaims, wavering his son's deep concern.
After they eat the meal, the father indicates his son to get up and afterwards, Kowamaru, still shakened by the earlier event, obeys. When the sun falls, they go and cut some trees, turn them into logs and as they carry them, the father unexpectedly stops and looks at Kowamaru.
– Hey Kowamaru.
– Y-Yes, d-dad? Kowamaru responds, feeling less guarded but still absolutely horrified;
– Take it as a warning... since you are in the Varyashim Orders and you will be forced to fight, NEVER let yourself lose control and end up using your demon powers... or there will be consequences... The Father remarks, staring intensely at Kowamaru. A roll of sweat slides through the kid's cheeks as his expression gets tense.
– ...Consequences..? W-What consequences?...
– Our race will be in danger if humans find out Velkarins are actually human hybrid demons... They only think Velkarins are a standalone race, but they don't know the truth... If they find out... they will search for all of us and kill us... He warns. The Father stares intensely for a few more seconds and then they continue carrying the logs.
The night that follows starts with Kowamaru heading to the town and searching for some unfortunate humans to kidnap and devour, he could still smell iron in his hands, guilt creeping over him as a consequence for his actions. He goes to sleep with the cold shame of what he needs to survive in his daily life and with what his father warned him about and the violence towards his mother.
The sun shines and the morning comes along, Kowamaru dresses up and goes to the Varyashim Orders. As Kowamaru arrives, Chiyo was already down on her seat turned towards Rika and Etsuko besides his own, her talking with the sisters.
– What are you talking about? Who is Horie? Chiyo asks, confused about the person that Etsuko has mentioned.
– They say he is the most feared samurai hidden in the shadows of Shainihebun... but the craziest thing, he is as old as we are... people say he has female traits but he is a guy, and that the people who saw him most of them had panic attacks just by looking at him in the eyes... Etsuko explains, her nonchalant tone mixed with a hint of awareness;
– That's crazy... he is our age— but before she could express her shock, their master Miyasaki walks through the door, everybody standing up and greeting her as she does enter.
A few minutes pass and Miyasaki finally talks.
– Today, since we settled up the maximum number of this class, the Team Assemblations will begin... she affirms, shocking everybody a bit, Each team will have 5 members, and I assume this class will only need 3 teachers... including yours truly... she coughs up a bit, pulling up some papers and starting to read them; Oe Saki, Kobe Saburo, Kawata Masumi, Okazaki Sayuri and Niwa Seiichi will make part of Unit 1 which is leaded by me; Taira Haru, Konya Katsumi, Kimoto Toshiaki, Kai Moe and Yamauki Shizuka will be part of Unit 2 which is leaded by Mr. Takata Satoru; Igarashi Chiyo, Nagamine Rika, Nagamine Etsuko, Ichikawa Orochi and Tsukishiro Kowamaru is part of Unit 3, which will be leaded by Ms. Yano Hisoka... So it is settled, are you all clear?
All of the children nod at her question, some were happy, some were annoyed, some were confused. Chiyo looks at Etsuko and makes a peace sign, and Etsuko with Rika smile back at the girl.
– Very well, this class I will let you relax and the next one the leaders of each unit will come by and take each one of you, for today we will all train either way... she announces.
Time passes and they all of them are ready for what is next to come when the new unit leaders come.