Chapter 2: Roundabout

It was early morning. The sun slowly peeked above the hills that bordered the west portion of the city, its light filling the streets of Elqui City with a hue of blue and orange. The street lights flickered off as the time of dawn made its presence known, with the people on the streets traversing wearily and alert as it is rather dangerous to be travelling alone at that time of day.

In the centre of the busy road, a young boy with dark hair that barely covered his light blue eyes, who sported all-black in both his hooded sweater and his joggers, stared up at the sky as it transitioned. A low sigh left his lips, his breath visible in the chilly atmosphere for winter was nearing. He glanced around at his surroundings, making a mental note of the people that would walk by, their attire, their attitude, how they walked, anything he could grab a hold of. As the lights were about to change, however, which would've forced him to relocate from where he stood, he picked up something in the corner of his line of vision. It was present for a split second, but he was certain he saw it, someone who was clearly different from everyone else that passed by.

He spun on his heels, sticking his hands in his pocket as he followed the direction he think they went, navigating through the crowd effortlessly until he was on the sidewalk. He quickly surveyed the area, trying his hardest to lock on to the figure he saw before, but found no one, convincing him once more that it was just his mind toying with him.

He clenched his fists and bit his lower lip as he forced himself to accept defeat once more. He pulled his hoodie over his head and walked slowly with the crowd until he arrived at a building that had a barbed red wall stretched along its perimeter, the only entrance in sight being a large red door with a golden dragon lined out at the very top of it. Before the door stood a singular person who had his hands folded onto his tux, his dark glasses hiding any expression he would make underneath it. The person glanced down to the boy's eyes, towering over him as there was at least a whole foot of height difference. He grunted before stepping aside, allowing the boy to enter.

No words were exchanged as the boy entered, the building beyond the wall being reminiscent of that of a temple from Chinese culture with vast amounts of open space.

"Sebastian!" exclaimed an old man who've just exited the temple, arms spread wide, allowing his grey robes to hang down as he approached the boy before him, "Still no success huh?"

Sebastian sighed once more, pushing the hoodie off his head whilst running his right hand through his hair, "Nothing at all," he shrugged before relaxing a bit.

"Now now, no need to beat yourself up 'cause of it. You'll get yourself some of those bastards eventually and become a fine specimen of a hunter, just you wait," the old man snickered.

Sebastian had no direct response, and simply moved by the old man into the temple, taking off his sweater upon stepping inside, thus revealing the grey T-Shirt underneath and his toned build, the shirt clasping around his biceps and highlighting his chest, emphasizing the physique that the sweater was previously hiding.

He brushed his hand through his hair once more before he was met by a girl who seemed to be in a similar age group as him, prancing around the dusty halls, and coming to a halt before him. Her long pink hair thrust forward due to the sudden halt, covering her previously exposed shoulders, and falling to her chest, also hiding the straps of the thin white dress that she wore.

"Hello my lovely edgelord," she said teasingly, sticking her tongue out toward him, her light pink eyes wide open as if she was staring into his soul.

"Good Morning to you too Corniellia," Sebastian said, gently patting her on the head, "How's the place been since I left?"

"What do you mean how's it been? You were here yesterday, not much would change."

"Oh yeah," he chuckled, "I guess you're right in that regard."

Sebastian moved toward the end of the hallway where there was an opening that led toward a room that was labelled 'Training Grounds'. He stared up at the sign for a few seconds before pushing the door open, his hands in the pockets of his joggers as he walked.

"When was the last time this place was lively?" he asked with a scoff.

"How would I know?" Corniellia said in response, "I'm still relatively new here, the only people I know to exist behind these walls are you, Lucas, Reinhardt, and Sylvester."

"Ah yes, I tend to forget that ... These walls have been empty for quite some time," Sebastian groaned as he arrived at the centre of the makeshift arena, turning toward Corniellia who stood close behind him, "Despite all that, I believe I've asked already, but in all honesty, I don't remember your response all that well."

"Go ahead and ask then, we'll find out."

"Very well then. What are you doing here? Even though you've only been here for a few months, I can't recall ever seeing you actually try to be a hunter."

"That's because I don't intend to be a hunter," she responded with an innocent look on her face, "I'm here for my own reasons, as you are for yours. Just because this place is licensed with the vampire hunting association, doesn't mean I aspire to be one."

"If not a hunter, then what's the point? Isn't that the purpose of the association? What else could an association meant to train vampire hunters do to help you?"

"Since when were you so nosey dear boy?" Asked a feminine voice that came from the second-floor railing. The person who spoke sported dark hair that had strands of grey in it, giving it a mixed pattern. She leaned her elbow onto the railing and her palm against her cheek as she snickered lightly, "If the girl doesn't wish to disclose her business, who are you to delve deeper into her own affairs?"

Almost immediately, Sebastian bowed, his hair hanging down, hiding his cheeks that were flushed red in embarrassment, "I- I'm sorry Nana Moe"

"My dear boy, I'm not the one you should apologize to," she said with a weary smile.

"Oh, that's fine, I don't need an apology. However, if he just minds his own business every now and again, I wouldn't have all that to complain about," Corniellia said, glaring over to Sebastian's location, evoking an awkward response from him, having him scratch the back of his head and avoid eye contact in any way he can.

"With all that said," Corniellia continues, spinning on her heels in order to face the training room's exit, "I have my own business to attend to... I'll see you later, jerk."

***

A few hours have passed since Corniellia's encounter with Sebastian, but the question he asked still lingered in her head, invading her thoughts as she strolled the streets at night, hugging herself in order to stay relatively warm as the night's cold was enough to force almost anyone into a vulnerable state.

"Why are you so curious?" she asked herself as if Sebastian was standing before her, her nails digging into her wool sweater that now covered her thin dress. She bit down onto her lip, as a familiar scent brushed by her nostrils. She tried her utmost best not to give in to her instinctive urges right there and then, the red in her eyes glowing brighter and brighter by the second, "They're the only people who can help me," she said as she whimpered and fell onto her knees, her skin pressed against the cold hard surface that was the sidewalk.

"Only people who can help you with what?" said a somewhat deep voice as the shadow of a man-like figure stood over where Corniellia knelt. She looked up in order to see the person who towered over her, eyes widening as fear took hold of her body the moment their eyes connected. His blonde hair moved freely in the night's breeze as his red eyes pierced into her soul. The blood on his face dripped down his chin before he took a white napkin and began wiping it away, taking in a deep breath, all while maintaining eye contact with Corniellia, "You know what, I really don't care," he said, stooping down to her level, "You got lucky though, I didn't feel like finishing up tonight's snack... You can have the rest."

He got up from his crouched position, patting her back gently before deciding to walk off, however, his attention was grabbed upon hearing his name.

"Shouji," Corniellia said shakily, "W-what are you doing here?... You aren't supposed to be back yet... Why?"

Shouji smiled at her, his arms reaching upwards as if he were stretching towards the sky, "To be honest... I can't give you much of an answer dear sister. You could say I simply got bored."

<Chapter 2: End>