Page 100 of The Order of the Bitter Hunt

“That’s pretty,” I say.

“Then it’s a good match for you.” He smirks. “Maybe you should wield it.”

Did I hear him right? Did Jun call me pretty?

It’s not exactly the time for that. I mean, he’s right… But I’m not expecting him to say so.

Weapons are more about aesthetics to me. I have a few on my wall back home, but I never learned how to use them. On the other hand, Jun looks like he knows what he’s doing. He takes a step back and holds the sword with an expert grip.

“This’ll do.” He hooks the sheathed sword to his belt and turns to inspect the other students.

I stand by his side, letting his wings protect me again.

Some students are confident with their choice of weapon, like Jun. Others appear clueless, staring at the weapons with fright in their eyes. Those are the ones who will surrender quickly, I imagine. Others ignore the tools entirely. They either have claws and fangs to use as weapons, or they’re choosing to struggle with no defense. To run.

Students may die today. Is this how they’ve been dying all along? Perhaps it wasn’t a murder, but… an accident. That’s why the victim wore the sigil pin.

They were in the group.

I swallow thickly, exchanging a look with Jun. “Have you ever seen one of these demons?”

“I have. I’ve fought them before, too. Believe it or not, fighting lesser demons is a common training technique for my kind. They’re hard to kill. You can practice with weapons like these, and they return to the underworld. No harm done.”

“They don’t require the witch weapon?”

“Not quite—just a few extra steps. They have to be killed in the underworld to die fully. But we’re not aiming to kill today.”

I let out a nervous chuckle. “Right.”

The room goes silent as we wait for the trial to begin. This may be the one to end it all. Realistically, I don’t think my father will let me die, nor am I easy to kill, but my nerves won’t listen to reason.

The countdown begins. All around me, the beating of hearts sounds in my ears—dozens of racing pulses, none belonging to me.

“Three,” Professor Fairweather says.

“Two,” Professor Stark says.

My father’s voice bellows at last. “One!”

A side door opens, and in come the petty demons—about the size of a goat. They’re dark, shapeless blobs running on four legs. They chatter and squeal as they rush through the space at an alarming speed.

They may be small and weak, but they’re fast. Their long, lolling tongues roll from their mouths as they chase after the students. Even more disturbing than their inhuman sounds is the students’ screeching.

I would feel bad for the little demons, but they instantly begin attacking, and my empathy goes out the window.

One runs in our direction, snapping at Jun’s leg. In a swift motion, I bring the heel of my boot onto its head, using my full strength. The creature disappears with a shriek, in a puff of smoke.

Jun exchanges a look with me, his eyes sweeping down my form. “Good move, partner.”

Pride rushes through me. “Yeah?”

“Keep it up. We’re not out of the woods yet. Not even close.”

It’s a favorable start to the trial, but he’s right. We haven’t evenenteredthe woods.

Forty demons. Twenty students. Numbers are on our side, but not everyone is up for the task. Within minutes, several students have their hands in the air, and they’re escorted out of the building.

Jun and I won’t surrender. We’re the only two truly working together, watching each other’s backs.