Chapter 1

the island of the damned
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I had lost track of time as I drifted for days in the middle of the ocean. Fortunately, my supplies were still enough and the ocean was calm.
 
Nel would surely be awake by now. I could imagine her angry face, questioning Cliff and Jett about me. A smile escaped my lips as I reminisced the life I had in CIA. It was never easy but it was less troubling than where I was headed.
 
Shima had been a subject of myths and rumors among Erityians. Many believed it was not real, until he met his demise. I could still remember that time: Executioners were ready to slaughter every Shinigami they had imprisoned, not minding the repercussions from the administration and the council.
 
Ise, then head of the Jikko clan, vowed to kill every single Shinigami who made his grandson suffer.
 
“Naia, you should never allow anyone to read your mind,” Vince would always say when I was a child.
“Why?”
“Because they can use your thoughts and memories against you.”
 
I heaved a sigh. It’s been more than a decade since he died yet the pain still lingered inside me. I missed him.
 
My thoughts returned to the present when the clear sky and water suddenly turned dark. In a span of a few seconds, everything was already covered in fog.
 
A wave of nostalgia hit me as I felt the fog brushed against my skin.
 
“Farallon,” I called.
 
As if on cue, the fog dissipated and the familiar island came into view. The silence I was enjoying a while ago was replaced by cries and screams of agony and pain. The air was filled with metallic and putrid smell—the scent of bloodshed and death.
 
“Is that you, Naia?” a voice echoed.
I smirked. “Yeah. I thought you’ve already forgotten me.”
 
A guy clad in black holding a huge scythe appeared in front of me. He still looked the same except for the additional creases on his face.
 
There was a hint of surprise, even disbelief, on his inscrutable face.
 
Farallon was never fazed with anything. Even when Vince brought her here, he remained inexpressive. When Vince died, his face was expressionless but his eyes were gleaming with wrath. Seeing him after a long time made me feel like I was a kid again.
 
“How’s everyone?” I asked as I came ashore.
“Why are you here?” he questioned without answering mine.
“I have a special delivery.”
 
Despite his skepticism, he walked with me toward the forest. I heard the familiar roars of Shira and Hyora, the guardians and first line of defense of this island.
 
“Hey,” I snickered as the lion and leopard made their way to me. “Missed me, buddies?”
 
I didn’t have any friends of my age in this place and all the Executioners were busy with their jobs and missions so I befriended these two. Among the natives of this island, only me and Aristus could snuggle with these deadly predators.
 
“Everything has changed here,” Farallon said as we passed through the forest.
 
It was always dark in the woods as the canopy of trees blocked the sunlight. I remembered getting lost here when I was young and Farallon found me in a critical state. My arms accidentally brushed against the leaves of a poisonous plant and rendered me motionless.
 
The venomous insects buzzed around and the deadly plants’ leaves fluttered in the wind. It took us a while to get out of the forest and the stretch of sludge came into view.
 
Farallon wounded himself, his blood trickling from his finger and it dropped onto the boulder at the forest’s threshold.
 
The path of stone emerged, bridging the gap between the forest and the village. The rancid smell was enough to make someone nauseous but it was already normal for the inhabitants of this island. When we reached the end of the path, the stones sank back into the sludge and we marched forward.
 
Some Executioners halted, others took a glance at me, as I walked beside Farallon. The older ones were able to recognize me as the child who had red eyes.
 
“Naia?” One of the called. “Is that you, Naia?”
“Yuma,” I replied. “You look old now.”
 
He drew his sword and I swiftly fended off his attack. Some Executioners gathered around, bellowing and cheering, as the two of us were caught in an onslaught.
 
He was still fast and agile despite his age. I could feel the cuts on my skin, blood streaming through my arms. I managed to land a gash on his cheeks and he looked more excited.
 
“Damn, child, you better not underestimate me,” he beamed as he charged at me.
 
That moment, my skin tingled as I felt an intense bloodlust from him. He was going for my vital point.
 
“The unprepared are the first to die.”
 
I remembered what I told to Jett and cursed myself for being too softhearted. This was Shima, a place where comrades could kill one another without giving a thought.
 
He disappeared from my sight, and the next thing I knew, the tip of his blade was already piercing through my right shoulder. I gritted my teeth in pain and held his sword. I kicked his neck as I my hands bled while gripping his blade. The force made him lose his balance and grip on the sword and I immediately pulled it out of my flesh.
 
Yuma sat up and laughed hysterically as he looked at me.
 
“Shit, this is bad,” he chuckled. “I want to kill you now.”
 
He was ready to charged at me but everyone suddenly fell silent. I felt the immense pressure in the atmosphere, making my body tremble in fear.
 
“W-what was that?” I mumbled.
 
Amidst the silence, I heard heavy footsteps approaching our direction. The Executioners gave way and I saw a hooded man walking toward us.
 
The tattered cloak fluttered as the wind howled. Behind him was a woman who was eerily familiar. Then I remembered Nel’s story about a Senshin who had the eyes of a Shinigami and a Custos.
 
The Executioners, as well as Yuma and Farallon, bowed to him and that got me confused.
 
As far as I remembered, Lionel should be the de-facto leader since Ise lost his only heir when Vince died. I was sure Lionel didn’t look like that when I left Shima.
 
“Child, state your name,” he demanded and I flinched upon hearing his voice.
“N-Naia,” I answered.
“I see. The child of Diona and Heron,” he said and my stomach churned in distress as I heard my parents’ names.
 
He carefully removed his hood and I almost got paralyzed by his stare. Intense and cold green eyes looked right into mine.
 
“W-who are you?” I asked, my voice shaking in fear.
 
He bellowed in laughter as if my question was something funny.
 
“A Jikko branch clan member,” he responded. “That old fart didn’t even talk to me until he needed someone to inherit his position.”
 
Some Executioners were visibly uncomfortable after hearing him badmouthing Ise. I, too, felt annoyed as Ise was the most respectable person in this island.
 
“I vowed to hunt down every single Shinigami but they locked me up in this place,” he seethed and I had to step back because his anger screamed danger. “Damn that council of old and coward shitheads.”
“Dad, calm down,” the woman behind him softly said.
 
The man looked at me again after he calmed down.
 
“I am Kyo,” he said, “the strongest Executioner, and this is now my turf.”

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