PROLOGUE

From what I hear, they were here since ancient times. They're known as Towers. Huge structures that grow from the ground and only cause harm to everyone. If I could… I would…

"Emilia!!" The voice of a middle aged man yelling in a sing-song voice shouted out my name as if it was a contest. And if it was, he won the gold medal.

Let me set the scene. As of right now, I'm standing idly by as the receptionist left with my report from earlier. Within this report is my confirmation of me destroying one Tower by myself; a feat that I worked so hard to achieve. This building I'm in is known as the Slayers Guild, the place where I work, and the main lobby is huge. It has smooth marble on the floor, shiny, clean walls that can show a reflection of yourself if you were to get close, a large population of Slayers that are either here for work, talk with friends or other Slayers, relax, and/or call this as their home.

Currently, I'm in the middle of this ginormous lobby filled with Slayers as the man who called out my name approaches me.

"Congratulations on your promotion, Emilia. It must feel nice to be an official Slayer."

"Thank you, and it does. I'm finally free from your stupid pranks and immature behavior."

"Ouch! That hurts my soft heart, Emilia!" He winced and groaned in pain, clutching his chest.

"But… I will admit that you were a good teacher sometimes."

His fake injuries suddenly disappeared and he… Laughed?

"I know I am. I'm just that good." He said with a smug face.

"Cringe."

***

Did I forget to mention that the Slayers Guild is a place and not just a building? Well, it's true. Slayers Guild is a place that is home to a good majority of Slayers and everyone here is just as close as a community would be.

Near the outskirts of Slayers Guild, I live in my small, cozy apartment that has balcony and it has a view of a small portion of the city and the Guild building barely visible. I usually leave my balcony door open to let in the breeze from outside as I relax on the floor mat.

I don't know why I went back to my apartment after submitting my report. I'm an official Slayer. I finally destroyed a Tower and got what I wanted to prove myself… Yet, I feel like there's nothing else for me to do. I got here, which I'm glad, but what do I do now? What does a Slayer even do? Kolt never told me. Especially what to do with this—

WOOOSH!!

A bird. What kind of bird? I couldn't say, but I know this bird. I've seen them approach Kolt and they usually always held information that was important.

Sitting up from the floor, I was met with the bird dropping a scroll before me. The next second, the bird vanished, a gust of wind following soon after. Opening the scroll, I read a letter that was directly from the Ten Gems. It said…

"Emilia Talva, as of today you are a Slayer. Congratulations! Attached to this letter is the pendant that is mandatory for all Slayers and your first mission. For your first mission, you will be temporarily relocated to Eyon with one other Slayer and you will receive further instructions when you arrive."

This is it? My first mission!? My heart raced like a jack rabbit. I was filled with excitement and curiosity. My first mission, and I barely became a Slayer! It was so soon! Will my first mission be to take down another Tower? Or perhaps recruitment for those groups that have been recently forming? Or maybe even a meeting with the Ten Gems!? No, no, I'm getting ahead of myself. I'm not special enough for that. Besides, none of them would even notice me.

Detaching the pendant from the scroll, I place the pendant around my neck. Wait… How do I use this? I've seen Kolt use it before. I SHOULD'VE ASKED HIM!! Taking another look at the scroll, there were instructions on how to use the pendant.

Just think of the desired place and it will open a portal. Apparently, the pendant can open a portal to major cities, countries, continents, so all I have to do is only think of the place that I desire to go to and it will send me there.

"Eyon…" I mumbled to myself and a portal opened up before me. I could see the rooftop of a building that is unfamiliar, the baby blue sky with clouds scattered across, and the rest of the city in the background.

Walking through the portal, I planted my feet onto the rooftop, the portal closing behind me, and the same bird appeared before me.

"SQUAWK!! Emilia Talva, you will be stationed here in Eyon for one year to protect Eyon and its citizens from Towers. Wish you the best of luck!" Then the bird was gone.

"H-Huh….?"

Are you serious…? One year? Staying on this island? What the hell…

"Are you the other Slayer?" A male voice came from behind me.

He seemed around my age, a rookie Slayer like me, and he didn't seem all too flashy like how some Slayers dress up.

"I'm Emilia."

"Nice to meet you, Emilia. I'm Ash. So, uh, did you wanna stick together?"

"Stick together?"

"Yeah, like, stick together. After all, we're supposed to be guarding Eyon from Towers for one year. It would- Huh!? Wait!!"

His voice eventually got out of earshot when I jumped off the roof to another roof. Why am I stuck on guard duty? I wanted to actually do something that a Slayer would actually do.

"One year, huh?" I scoffed.

Well if I'm gonna be here for a year, might as well make the most of it. Do something I've never done before. Anyways, it's just one year. One year…

***