Chapter 14:The night hunt

The reaper took out her hand then a half ruler of a candle showed up. It was bright crimson red that looks like a ruby. It was beautiful yet it was burning so fast, faster than a normal candle should.

"Beautiful isn't it?" The reaper said as she came close again to Lumiere.

She brought her face closer into Lumiere's. With a delightful tone, she squeeze Lumiere's hand. "It is yours! It is your candle!"

The reaper wrenched open Lumiere's hand and the same candle showed up.

"Every candle signifies a life. When a candle stopped burning or runout, it means  a person died! You know I should be  collecting 3 rare souls tonight... but the rarest one didn't stop burning. It was supposed to stop tonight, but someone interrupted it. Sigh look at this beautiful diamond-like candle. His soul is so pure, I want to collect it but I wouldn't be able to do that now." The reaper said as she wanders her long and sharp nails into Lumiere's face.

My candle... Compared to that diamond-like candle it is burning so fast... 

"But I'm not that disappointed cuz in  exchange of that, this ruby candle started to burn faster. You know, it is the first time that this happened. If a candle will runout then it will. If a candle will burnout then it will. But miraculously you changed it. A fate was change and so as yours. Now your candle is burning fast instead of his." The reaper said mischievously. She laughed with a sinister tone.

Lumiere's calm expression immediately changed into a fearful one. The changed was faster than a blink of an eye. His snow white skin tone become paler.  Seeing Lumiere's reaction, the reaper was well pleased. 

"Do you regret it?" 

"What do you mean? I didn't do anything. What will I regret? Why do I have to regret?!" A flat tone of voice answered the reaper. Lumiere's expression changed again like a speed of light. It was not calm but rather empty.

Seeing that, the reaper suddenly felt cold down on her spine. Tone was terrifying, voice was empty that it was intimidating. The reaper sense fear on him but there's no single  trace of it on his face. The feeling she was sensing was strong and couldn't be considered as fear, rather it was wrath. 

with just intimidating aura the reaper can't be just fear because of a child.

With an arrogant tone the reaper asked Lumiere. "Hah brat did you just forgot what you did?" "Well that doesn't matter." The reaper changed appearance. Her smoke appearance now became a gorgeous lady. Her hair was so dark and has a terrifying emerald eyes. Skin tone was also pale. wearing a dark robe with a small bag on her waist where she stores the soul she collected.  

The reaper again  grabbed Lumiere's jaw. "Since I'm generous, why don't you look into my eyes for a while?" 

Naturally Lumiere wouldn't be just obidiently look into the reaper's eyes. Because, Who knows what she might do to him? Lumiere forcefully turns his face and wouldn't look into the reaper's eyes.  

"Earlier you're like a polite young noble talking to a lady and now you're so rude like a dog who wouldn't even look into my eyes!" 

The reaper rose her voice at the end of the sentence. 

"Shouldn't dogs be obedient to their masters?" The reaper said.

" Am I a dog? " Lumiere replied.

"now you're not, soon you will." the reaper said. 

"If you won't look into my eyes then should i make you blind instead? Oh no... I shouldn't do that. Your pretty crimson red eyes will be wasted." 

Lumiere's face distorted. "Crimson red eyes" Hearing that from the reaper, he couldn't be anymore surprised, but the thing made his face color turned red is the word "pretty". With his magic Lumiere was always hiding his real eyes color. Someone calling it pretty, Lumiere felt resentful. 

He looked at the reaper resentfully. For a moment.  the reaper immediately went froze, but  she can't miss this opportunity for Lumiere miss her eyes. As soon Lumiere met her eyes she started to cast her spell but failed. 

The reaper gritted and smiled. 

"Brat, So you're playing tricks on me?" The reaper turns her back. Lumiere was in front of her Holding a white rabbit as he cares it . The Lumiere in the tree earlier became a black rabbit. 

"Using simple reverse psychology on me won't work. I don't know what your intention is, but I won't let you do what you want." Lumiere said.

 Turns out the Lumiere who glared at her earlier was a rabbit.

"Brat just look into my eyes, I promise I won't do anything bad. I'm just here to help you because I find your candle beautiful and just what a waste for it to burn so fast. "

Reapers... They were foretold that when they piqued an interest with you they would do anything even breaking the balance of nature... So, it's true? This person doesn't also seem to be lying. Her mana is so immense and so it was dark. 

Lumiere looked into the eyes of the woman.

Looking at it Lumiere went silent. 

He saw a blinding light and within that light he saw a shadow of a slim person standing before him. Another shadow of a person showed up. The first person faced the second person and reach out his hand. Lumiere didn't expect the next thing to happen. The second person came closer to the first person and stabbed him at the chest.

As the second person stab the first person, the image become vivid. The first person looks so beautiful as maiden. Hair was so dark, skin was so white as snow, body was slim and tall, lips was so red as the blood that  came out from the person's chest. 

Lumiere's nonchalant face changed. All of the  color  on his face went drained. 

The beautiful person who was stabbed before him is noneother than Lumiere himself. 

Everything was in chaos. The blood moon's emperial palace was on fire. All of the shrines was burned down. Everything was full of piled up corpse,but the thing doesn't end there. 

Lumiere could never expect that after being stabbed,his arm was sliced by a person Followed by another person. Four of Lumiere's limbs was cut and what's the worst is it was cut by his own people and also from the other empires. 

What a tragedy indeed! Anyone who sees it wouldn't be helped but to feel pity for Lumiere! 

Seeing yourself being pickled is a total torture. Lumiere's face color wouldn't stop changing turning white to black to green. Lumiere couldn't help but to want to vomit.

But before he could even do, he saw his older brother came closer to his pickled and dying body. 

He stand before it and glance for it for a moment. The glance wasn't pitiying nor mourning rather it was wrath. His eyes was full of rage and wants to kill Lumiere.

His older brother brought out their mother's sword.

"Lumiere Cecil! No- I shouldn't call you like that. Just hearing you using my family's last name disgust me!" 

(idk said) he took a deeo breath and laugh loudly. 

"I shall end this shit shouldn't I?" said idk.   "Die Lumiere!" 

Idk cut his head. All of the people in the place went cheering and pierced his head on a spear and bandalized it. 

Seeing all of those, Lumiere  actually vomitted. He went back to the real world. And looked at the reaper fiercely. 

"Brat that gross. Don't you know that doing that is rude? You nearly vomit on my face. Nevertheless What did you see?"

Lumiere didn't speak. He just looks really disgusted and terrified.

"How will I change it?" Lumiere finally spoke.

The reaper seemed to be amused with Lumiere's reaction. She then leaned closer to Lumiere and whispered. "It's simple. Find your killer before he kills you."

Midnight already passed. Moon was shining beautifully illuminating the whole place. The cold and alluring light of it makes the night colder and more soothing. The first part of God feast is about to end. The sweet and earthy robust smell of the hyacinth blows into Lumiere.

With all of the scattered petals that have left, there's one perfect hyacinth that didn't destroyed. It was shining amethyst and smell really different from others. It smells very nice and more alluring.

With Lumiere's bare hands, he picked the illuminating hyacinth on the street.As soon as he picked it, he felt mana surge towards him. The mana is so immense yet soothing. Lumiere felt that his whole body felt so light and relaxed when he held it.

Lumiere lifted up his mask and smelled the hyacinth for a while. He then looked at the pale moon and took a deep breath. He felt so relax and calm. His mind felt like he was being float in the clouds beyond the peak of the blood moon's mountain.

As time goes, the first part of the God feast finally ended.

The guests from the other empires already went home. Some stayed on inns to enjoy the beauty of the empire more.

It was already deep of dawn. Resides the blood moon imperial palace, a soothing and beautiful melody of flute is being played. It sound so calming and peaceful yet there's a hint of sorrow in it.

People were already on deep sleep from exhausting night of the first part of the God feast, except for the person who is sitting gracefully on the roof.

The person looked really elegant with the moon illuminating his pretty face. Eyelashes were long, hair is being blown by cold and calm wind gracefully.

Eyes were illuminating crimson red. Lumiere suddenly paused from playing, when his sleeves shone amethyst.

The flower he took earlier illuminated. He could feel surge mana on it. He took out the flower and was surprised as soon as he got it out from his sleeves.

The flower scattered into pieces and turned into many. It formed into a human shape. The petals of flower glowed amethyst and a person came out of it.

"Continue playing." Voice was soft yet sound so cold at the same time. It could make someone shiver yet calm at the same time.

Long and Dark hair, blue as ocean eyes, and long eyelashes. The hair has some mixed of color white on the edge. It looked really elegant and beautiful.

Lumiere's eyes widen. He was taken aback for a bit. The same man earlier came back. After a few seconds of shock, Lumiere's lips curved up a bit. He fixed his composure and continue on playing his flute.

The man was just looking at Lumiere. He was mesmerized by him. His clear and blue as ocean eyes reflecting Lumiere playing flute.

" 'Though it is not what's in my heart, if in this world of pain I should linger, then.' You play such a beautiful melody yet it's so sorrowful at the same time. " Kurayami said as he looked at the moon.

Lumiere paused when he heard that. "You really are poetic." Lumiere said.

Kurayami didn't said anything about that. He said, "The moon, it's beautiful isn't it?"

"'When I look at the moon I am overcome by the sadness of a thousand, thousand things even though it is not Fall for me alone.' The moon is indeed beautiful, but it looks so lonely." Lumiere said as he continues to play his flute.

"you think so? But isn't the moon with stars?" Kurayami said.

"No, they just look like they're with moon, but in reality, the moon is all alone. It's all for the show. "Lumiere said succinctly.

Kurayami looked at him then smiled. "I'll be with you."

Hearing that,Lumiere looked at Kurayami with a cold glance.

"Am I the moon?"Lumiere said.

Kurayami just chuckled and then replied."You're not alone. I'll be with you."

Lumiere pointed his flute on Kurayami's neck. "What are you doing here?" He said.

Kurayami then pushed the flute from his neck gently."I'm joining the quest." Said Kurayami.

"Fool. it's not a quest. It's part of the God feast."Lumiere said.

" Ah... I'll be joining it."Said Kurayami.

Lumiere then stand up. " I'll be seeing you then."he said as he jumps off the roof.

Kurayami's lips curved up. He remained sitting as he watch Lumiere leave.

Lumiere finally disappeared from his sight. Kurayami looked up to the moon and sighed deeply.

" 'There is nothing so depressing as the break of day and leaving you after having seen the heartless morning moon.' Though... No matter where you go, a fated person will never be apart."Kurayami said as he became an illuminating petals of hyacinth and totally vanished.

...

Birds are chirping,Water resides the shore. It was already morning.

People from different empire alredy gathered to take part of the next part of the god feast.

Elegant kimono,alluring hakama and fine pony tail. Lumiere's sword is slashing elgantly and dancing with him. Every move is alluring. Evry slash is enticing. His inky long hair is following each move he makes.

All of the person are astonished to witness such a beautiful sword dancing from Lumiere.

Sword dancing is usually used in a ceremony as an introduction to an upcoming battle competition.

With the funal slash, Lumiere's sword dance finally finished.

There's a loud silence after that. But then, suddenly, Lumiere's fan girls shouted again like crazy.

"Ahhh! Second Lord Cecil! So handsome!"

"Oh my godddd it's him!"

Lumiere couldn't help but to sigh.

But then after a few seconds, the crowd became silent again.

The queen spoke up to greet everyone and to announce the next part of the God feast.

Just her presence made everyone silent. She begins to spoke.

"It's a great day to everyone. Elves,witch,immortals,and mortals. We all have gathered to partake the second phase of the God feast. Today everyone will go in a night hunt. Every participants shall go to Mt. Natagumo and exorcise and kill demons. The participants shall be ranked 1 to 10. The top ten shall have merit and prices. The higher top you are, the higher the price is. Not only that. The person who will rank as number one shall be promoted or become higher in status. The day is long and so will the night. As soon as the dark bites, the night hunt shall begin. No participants shall fight among with others,if so, the person will be eliminated from the night hunt and so on the next part of the God That's all."

The queen then finished talking. All the participants then left the colosseum.

The time went fast. It was already near dark. Everyone are now gathered back again in the colosseum.

Elves, witch, immortals and mortals, including demi-humans, everyone are lined up by race.

As usual, Lumiere's fan girls' attention is darted on Lumiere. Others couldn't help but to look intensely at Lumiere with jealousy.

But something was quite strange. Before Lumiere came to the colosseum,most of the girls attention was drawn to a new face.

The person was lined on the Blood moon's empire,but the face was new. How come they have just seen such an attractive face in the blood moon's empire,and never heard of this person's name.

The person was tall, handsome and a porcelain skin tone. His eyes were blue as ocean and has a very beautiful dark and long hair and tied with elegant pony tail.

The person was wearing a purple themed hakama and haori. His features are very elegant and attractive. Add his pointed nose and slim jawline that makes his face more handsome.

As Soon as Lumiere came to the colosseum, the person's eyes darted into Lumiere and for a second, they thought that it illuminated amethyst.

Lumiere saw it, and his eyes shifted. Both of their eyes met. The person smiled warmly at Lumiere.

Seeing that,all of the girls who's looking at him, their heart beats so fast and turned redder even more when they saw that the attractive person before them is smiling at Lumiere casually, indicating that they know each other.

What a sight indeed.

"He really joined..."Lumiere murmured as his lips curved a bit.

"Lumiere, do you know him?" Aki said.

Lumiere was snapped back to reality. He fixed his composure and replied."He's a friend."

" 'friend'?" Aki said confusedly. "How come we've never seen him. He's lining up with us. I know everyone in the blood moon empire. I have never seen this man." He added.

"Is that matter? What's important is he's a friend and no harm." Lumiere said.

" From your tone and the fact that you said that he's your friend is making me worry even more." Aki said.

"So close yet so far. How beautiful and sorrowful is it." Kurayami murmured while looking at Lumiere.

After a few minutes, the second part finally started.

The elders and leaders of each race are watching from the top of the colosseum.

"The second part of the God feast, shall now begin." The queen said.

Right after that, a portal on the colosseum suddenly showed up. It was casted by the general of the blood moon's empire.

Each one immediately entered the portal and teleported to different parts of Mt. Natagumo.

Over thousands of disciples participated the hunt.

Everyone is being monitored through a big screen that is floating on the colosseum. Each kill and exorcise will pop up on the colosseum.

Right after a few minutes, some of the participants already got their kills or exorcised evil spirit and demon.

The first one to score was the elf empire. And so followed by others.

Saliva was drooling, eyes were swelling like it was about to pop out. Long and sharp nails that look so dead and ugly face that looked like a rotten corpse.

A cursed vampire jump on Aki from the tree.

Before the vampire could even got close to Aki,he already managed to unsheathed his sword and slashed the vampire lengthwise.

A red flower emblem popped up on the screen. That means a person from blood moon's empire managed to score.

The colosseum keeps illuminating into crimson, Golden,and emerald, because of the emblems.

But,the light is mostly Golden and crimson.

"Ahaha.I could see,people of the blood moon's empire really have a future! What a great students! What a great students!" Lv said. Elder of elf empire.

the queen smirked a bit. She then replied with her usual tone.

"So is the elf empire" she said.

And so the night hunt begins...