I brushed off the thought, focusing instead on the room's tense energy.

The woman turned toward us, her voice steady yet commanding. "Please, everyone, take a seat."

Devon waved a hand casually through the air, and seats materialized behind each person, eliciting gasps of astonishment.

I sat quickly, noticing how several of the human girls were swooning at him, their faces flushed and dreamy. I scoffed at their idiocy. The hunters knew better than to waste their admiration on a demon.

The woman cleared her throat, reclaiming the room’s attention. "My name is Miriam," she began, her voice calm yet firm. "I am the leader of one of Safe Land’s rescue teams. We are thrilled to have you join us in this sanctuary." She paused briefly, her gaze sweeping across the room.

"Safe Land was built many years ago, shielded by six impenetrable walls. No one leaves except for the General and a select few, and only when other regions need assistance during attacks. Outside these walls lie countless weapons designed to protect us, making Safe Land a haven that has never faced invasion or defeat. Here, we live freely—without fear or oppression."

The room broke into spontaneous applause, the sound echoing off the high walls. When it finally subsided, Miriam pressed on.

"Inclusivity is the foundation of Safe Land," she said, her voice rising with conviction. "No being, no kind, is considered weak or inferior here. Vampires have stolen from us all, and we must unite to claim back what is rightfully ours—our freedom. Freedom to walk the earth unafraid. Freedom to live as the gods intended. Freedom to rebuild what was destroyed. This is not their world; it is ours. United, we will finish the war they started."

Her passion stirred murmurs of agreement, though I couldn’t help but feel a flicker of doubt.

Her words were bold, but were they realistic?

Did she truly believe that unity alone could rebuild what had been broken?

Miriam continued, "Here, everyone from the ages of eight to seventy trains and learns about our enemies. The elderly and infants reside in the main village, along with others who prefer a quieter life. But even they must report here for training daily."

As she spoke, a book suddenly appeared on my lap. Startled, I flinched. Around me, the rustle of pages filled the air as people opened their books. I opened mine too.

"In these books," Miriam explained, "you’ll find maps of Safe Land, descriptions of each building’s purpose, and your schedules, which are based on your grades. Grades determine your classes and training sessions. Humans will all start at Grade One. Hunters," her gaze swept over us, "your grades will be decided based on your abilities. Are there any questions?"

Hands shot up across the room, including mine. Miriam stepped aside, allowing Devon to take her place.

His presence immediately shifted the atmosphere again, the room’s energy crackling with both tension and curiosity. I took my hand down.

He pointed to a girl near the front.

"Why are they keeping you here?" she asked, her voice sharp, her gaze fixed on him with open hostility.

I turned to see who had spoken and recognized the earth elemental from my village.

My heart leaped at the sight of her.

I was glad she had survived. A seed of hope began to grow within me, maybe my mother survived as well. Seeing her glare at Devon with such ferocity, I couldn’t help but smile.

Miriam answered swiftly, her tone clipped. "Devon has proven himself invaluable to Safe Land. He is trusted here."

Devon’s lips twitched into an amused smirk. He seemed to be used to hunters' reactions to him. "Does that satisfy your curiosity, hunter?" he asked the girl, his tone dripping with mockery.

She opened her mouth to retort but seemed to think better of it, falling silent instead. Devon moved on, pointing to a human boy.

"Do we get breaks from training?" the boy asked hesitantly.

Devon’s smirk faded. "Yes, you’ll have breaks. Check your books for more details."

Next, he pointed to a girl whose face turned crimson the moment their eyes met. "What’s the highest grade?" she stammered.

"Grade Twelve," Devon replied curtly. "Further details are in your books."

The girl nodded, clearly flustered. Devon’s next pick was even bolder.

"How old are you?" another girl asked, her tone laced with curiosity—and something else.

"Old enough," Devon answered smoothly, his eyes glinting with amusement.

"Do you have a girlfriend?" she pressed, her voice turning sultry.

I stared wide-eyed at the girl.

Amusement flickered across Devon's face, but Miriam interjected sharply. "Inappropriate questions can wait for private conversations," she snapped. "We don't have time, so we'll proceed."

Devon stepped aside, allowing Miriam to resume. "All hunters, please stand and step forward," she announced.

My heart skipped a beat. What did she want from us? Panic flared.

Should I identify as a human or a hunter?

Torn, I remained seated, hoping to go unnoticed. But Devon, of course, had other plans.

"Kira," he called out, his voice loud and clear, "last I checked, you were a hunter."

Every head turned toward me. Heat flushed my face as I reluctantly stood, cursing Devon silently. He smiled as if hearing my thoughts.

I walked to the front, feeling the weight of countless eyes on me. My gaze flicked to the earth elemental, who smiled warmly in recognition. I returned her smile.

Miriam’s voice broke through my thoughts. "To determine your grades, we’ll test your strengths and abilities. Each of you will fight," she gestured to a towering man beside her, "against James."

I stared at James, who looked like he could crush me with a single finger.

"Miss Kira, you’ll go first," Miriam said, her tone leaving no room for argument.

Panic surged. "I…I—"

I didn't have a reasonable excuse. The room fell silent as everyone waited for me. My breathing became shallow. What was I going to do?

The earth elemental stepped forward. "I’ll go first," she said firmly. "Kira seems nervous."

Her interruption was both a blessing and a distraction. Miriam frowned in disapproval. "Everyone is equal here. Kira is capable of—"

Before she could finish, the earth elemental raised her hand ripped a massive rock from the ground, hurling it directly at James. The boulder slammed into him with such force that it sent him skidding across the room, drawing gasps and cheers from the humans.

I stepped back, relieved to avoid the spotlight, though I couldn’t help but admire her.

James recovered quickly, his expression darkening as he summoned a gust of wind that sent her flying across the room. She landed with a thud but sprang to her feet, determination blazing in her eyes.

What followed was a fierce battle—rock and wind colliding in a storm of power.

When it finally ended, Miriam announced, "Grade Ten." The humans cheered again, clearly impressed by her strength, while I stood frozen, knowing my turn was inevitable.

One by one, the other hunters stepped forward, each showcasing their abilities and earning their grades.

James showed no signs of fatigue, even after fighting over twenty opponents. By the time my name was called again, I felt like my legs had turned to lead.

I stepped forward, fists clenched tightly at my sides.

James regarded me with a mix of boredom and mild curiosity. He didn’t even look winded.

Miriam’s voice cut through the tension. "How old are you, Kira?"

"Nineteen," I managed, my voice barely above a whisper.

"What power do you possess?" she asked.

Panic gripped me. I couldn’t let them know the truth. My gaze darted to Devon, who stood beside Miriam, watching me with an unreadable expression. I swallowed hard, my throat dry.

"I…I…" Words failed me.

"Miss Kira," Miriam called. "We don't have time."

"Can I answer after this?" I asked, trying to buy myself more time.

Miriam gave me a look but approved.

I stepped forward, my legs trembling. James cracked his knuckles, his towering form casting a shadow over me.

I raised my fists pathetically, and he audibly scoffed. He made the first move, closing the distance between us in an instant.

Pain exploded in my chest as his fist connected, sending me flying across the room. My back slammed into the wall, and I crumpled to the ground, gasping for air.

"Use your powers, Kira!" Miriam encouraged, her voice cutting through the ringing in my ears.

I struggled to my feet, my vision swimming. Around me, the room had gone silent, all eyes fixed on my coming move. James didn’t give me time. He raised his hand, and I felt my body lift into the air, weightless and helpless.

Fear clawed at my throat as I realized what he was about to do. He was going to slam me down—hard enough to break bones and kill me.

As I hurtled toward the ground, I braced for the impact…only to land in a pair of strong, warm arms.

"That’s enough!" Devon’s voice rang out.

He held me close. My head lolled against his chest as darkness crept into the edges of my vision.

"Devon, she—" Miriam started, but he cut her off.

"She needs medical attention," he growled, his tone leaving no room for argument.

Before I could process what was happening, the world tilted. When the motion stopped, I realized we were back in the room where I had first woken up.

"Devon, what are you—" a familiar voice began, but Devon interrupted sharply.

"She needs your attention, Doctor," he said, his tone curt.

The voices faded as the darkness swallowed me whole.

       _______________________________

                 AUTHOR'S NOTE

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