Rade's Demon Elimination Service

Chapter 23: First Day At Work

Just like what they have been talking about yesterday, when Rade went to Mary Helena high school and attended her classes diligently, only London was present and milling about the place.

"My junior!" he exclaimed, calling on to her and patted her back which almost knock the breathing life of Rade out of her own pair of lungs.

They were both inside the cafeteria since it was already time for their one hour lunch break. Though the food was not particularly appetizing and was degrading of their dignity and humanity as human beings even, Rade just thought it would not cost her anything to just take a peek and see if there was even just a shadow of either Kalleid or Lyu around the school, specifically in the cafeteria. Unfortunately, there was none of the two but only London who was smiling widely at her— rather suspiciously Rade might add (then again Rade has always been a very suspecting person, it came as a second nature for her).

"I was told that Lyu couldn't handle to be around so many people," London told Rade while he nitpicked his own food from his tray— slowly doing a m******e on the ingredients that have already died on the hands of the cafeteria cook. He scrunched up his nose and threw down the bread on his plate visibly disguted that she even attempted to know what his supposed lunch was made out of. "Ew, gross," he cursed and many more which Rade would not go into detail as it was too graphic even for her.

Rade nodded, completely agreeing with the other teen's assessment on what was supposed to be food on the tray.

"I didn't know that," she finally said. "Maybe I shouldn't have exhausted him yesterday to show me around the city."

London nodded thoughtlessly, not exactly listening to Rade while his eyes were wandering off from the person he was talking with.

"Maybe you shouldn't have," he agreed nonchalantly, his spirit was not really focused on talking with Rade as of the moment and it showed. Seconds later, he realized what he said and quickly shook his head with his hands waving around in defense. "I mean I wasn't saying that you did exhaust him or something or anything weird. Because—? That's weird to say, I guess? Anyway—" London shook his head as though it will help his focus his attention more "—I'm just not thinking when I said that. I don't know why I said that. At. All."

"It is fine, London," Rade assured him and nodded once.

London smiled awkwardly and sighed while he looked at the hopeless tray of food on their table while he muttered, "This is seriously gross. Blergh!" he even jokingly made vomiting sounds (which did nothing to reassure Rade herself that London would not be too disgusted with the state of the food that she would actually be ready to rid herself off from the contents of her stomach).

Rade looked down on her tray. Some gray semi liquid and semi jelly soup imitation like was on her big bowl, some moldy bread with garlic spread that suspiciously looked like boogers and snot, and a glass of mineral water that looked kind of murky.

Even a glass of water? Rade thought incredulously and the least she could to herself was to eat great food (or at least not to get herself food poisoned since she would not be able to afford medical attention e.g. being admitted to a hospital).

Rade doesn't trust any of it, and so she just planned on standing up and throwing it out. What a regret it was that Rade decided to eat on their cafeteria only to be disappointed with what she got from her hard earned (and not to mention limited) savings and viola! now she just wasted away good money.

And I was saving up too, Rade thought grimly, not trusting herself to even just taste any of the food on her tray. Jelly soup, murky water, and moly bread, what could she actually eat from the selection but fungi?

"Lyu and Miss Megumi offered me a free meals on the Attic so I could save up money for my compensation to the Aldeia clan," Rade told London who brightened up by the news. Both of London's ears perked up and her face was touched with a bright smile. "I'm just not quite sure why I even tried this."

"That's good!" London exclaimed, standing up from his seat and holding both of Rade's hands, shaking it when he succeeded since Rade was adamant that she would not be touched. "And you're suspended too on hunting! You won't be struggling too much, yeah?"

Rade nodded though she doubt if the meager salary she would have on hunting for demons would be enough for her expenses and to pay up for the damages she caused (she was immensely grateful for the offer of free meals in the Attic though).

"Everybody has been really good to me," Rade muttered, a small smile was on the edge of her lips.

London let go of both Rade's hands and finally properly sat on his chair— properly in a way that could be most proper with London. He looked around and propped up his elbow on the greasy table and leaned his cheek on his palm, not bothered at all by the grease gripping on her elbow.

"Seriously though," London said, his tone was lazy and nonchalant like he was in the middle of a hazy sunny day, "do you mind if I ask why would you go and pursue and fight the Shadow Fantasm?" he asked.

It should have changed the mood entirely but Rade felt that she has some kind of debt on putting everyone at risk by engaging the Shadow Fantasm in a battle which she should not have done un the first place since the Aldeia clan was purely against it in order not to risk provoking the Shadow Fantasm. Rade thought that they at least have the right to know why they risked their lives and Rade did such a stupid feat.

"A year ago the Shadow Fantasm made its appearance after its hundred years of slumber in the Deep Manifestation Dimension," Rade started to say. "I was only six when the Haeven clan took me in as the combat partner of their daughter. Their eldest child, the only hunter heir they have, has become my friend and sister."

"The next Geneva Aldeia," London said, reminiscent and thoughtful. "Even I would never get such a title but Lauri Haeven sure was talented for getting that kind of monicker. I mean I would often get compared to her by people, 'ya know? Why aren't you more like Lauri Haeven, why aren't this and that? Ughh," London groaned while his eyes rolled though it was very good-natured one. "Those people are so exhausting."

Rade just looked at London, her lips slightly agape and her heart slightly hammered on her chest but she could only smile slightly.

"You know," she said, her voice was quiet but amidst the noisy surroundings of the cafeteria that were full of faculty members and students alike her voice and words could still be heard, clear and quite understandable.

London nodded, waiting for Rade to go on what she was talking about.

Any of the mischief that was on his expression in his face has now faded into seriousness. There was also a particular set on his jaw and his eyes would not even cross with Rade's own.

"Since when did you know?" Rade asked. She was not angry, she doesn't even if she should feel betrayed but she felt lighter that she didn't have to explain everything from the start. That seemed still rather like she has been deceived in some way though she was not entirely mad about it— maybe just surprised but it was fine for her now that everything had been dealt with.

"To be fair I was just doing some casual investigation about you since New York asked me too and the reputation the Aldam has is not ordinary," London explained calmly. "Don't take it the wrong way, Rade, but I have seen the two empty caskets of Haeven children on the day of their wake. I mean everybody has, and for my sister, Geneva, just to let you be here seemed kind of suspicious. She won't let you invite in if she does not have any grand plan or scheme. Well, you are innocent so there's just that, but you must know what kind of looks the other clans are giving her after you went here. Ain't good, bruh, ain't good."

Rade nodded, understanding where that conversation was going.

Of course her family has gained an infamous reputation as the reapers for the HODE or the Consortium Hall where most of the prominent clans within the hunters' society belonged to. The holy weapon of Aíma, being passed down from one generation of Aldam family to another, was also a legend amongst the society Rade was living in. The markings that symbolized some was the Aíma's wielder have become a scene of terror.

She knew what kind of looks the other clans must have been throwing on the renowned Geneva Aldeia's way when she let Elora Isolde Aldam sought asylum on her territory.

"Lauri, Carys, and I all grew up together in the manor of the Haeven clan," Rade explained though it seemed useless. "They were like a family to me. When the Shadow Fantasm made a sudden appearance a year ago, everyone was excited of course. It was a once in a lifetime experience, and that probably won't be happening again in the next hundred of years again. As you have said earlier, Lauri was the next Geneva Aldeia."

London sighed, he could already predict what would happen in the story and it must be such a twisted ending for such a brilliant hunter like Lauri Haeven to end in a way that could be said worst than death and Carys Haeven, who has no special abilities, to lost his life.

"She got cocky, didn't she?" he asked, not being the least modest about it all.

Rade evaded her gaze, a little hurt and pained about London's statement because it was actually quite true and there was simply no way of denying it all.

"Her arrogance took over her own person," Rade said, sugarcoating her words a little to alleviate what she was feeling inside of her, her fists clenched. At this point of her life, Rade doesn't know who she should blame. "But I should have been more cautious, I—"

"It wasn't your fault," London said, "she thought she should defeat the Shadow Fantasm? Then she made her choice and she didn't survived unlike you when you fought it. She must be a strong hunter but sometimes we need luck on our side too. And Carys Haeven made his decision to go in the Dimension created by the Shadow Fantasm, he knew he will die."

Should she blame herself for being carried away by Lauri? Just going with whatever's flow Lauri chose for them both? Or should Rade blame everyone else for having a little too much expectation for Lauri that her little shoulders felt too burdened by the obligations and responsibilities that they put her under?

Honestly though, it doesn't matter now. What happened has happened and what was done was already done. Even if Rade tried her best to come up with the best reason and explanation, the only logical thing that caused both of the Haeven children's death was her.

Elora Isolde Aldam, a servant of the Haeven clan and who was taken in after killing her own parents at the six years old, killed the one and only hunter heir of the Haeven family after being possessed by the Shadow Fantasm and their ordinary son who could not even defend himself.

And that was only explanation that all of the hunters' society would accept simply because Rade was an Aldam— part if that cursed family whose people they get closed to would also suffer their curse along with them.

It doesn't matter what was the reason why she killed her father, it doesn't matter if she didn't even kill her mother, or that she has been a good member of the hunters' society. For them, she was still the carrier of the cursed bloodline Aldam and grappling for any of her sins would be enough to condemn her.

"Why did you ask me then?" Rade suddenly asked London who was still nitpicking her food again from her tray.

"To see if I can truly trust you obviously," London said, not even missing a heartbeat. He was blunt and Rade guessed it was better for the both of them since they both do not know how to convey their messages in such a cryptic way old people would. "You did put us in danger just a week ago, didn't you? I need to see to which limits would you be so willing to cross for the sake of your revenge."

That was the moment that Rade realized that London Aldeia might have always been smiling and telling jokes to other people, his words weren't the formal type that his elder sister uses and hisbposture was not as perfect as his little brother's, but he was just as extremely dangerous. It might be that he hasn't yet forgiven Rade of what they were all put under with the Shadow Fantasm situation.

"And now?" Rade asked her yet again.

"Hmmm," London hummed, his eyes were turned into slits and it seemed as if he was thinking deeply of what to answer of Rade's rather demanding question to him.

Rade should have been more scared than she ought to. After all, this young master in front of her wasn't just any other hunter she could defeat and get away from. This is the heir of the Geneva Aldeia, the next in line as the head of the Aldeia clan. But somehow, Rade yearned for that stamp of approval from London Aldeia because his brother and his best friend were all put by Rade into danger— she should at least claim that kind of approval.

"I actually still don't know, Rade," he finally settled on. "I only know you about based on what I gathered on my investigations. The carrier and last descendant of the cursed bloodline, the wielder of the all-powerful Aíma scimitar, and the killer of Laurinette and Carysia Haeven. You'd think I would know exactly how to describe and judge you clearly based on those things but I still don't. You're rather..." he paused for a short while, looking at Rade with curious eyes. "Peculiar and I don't give a f**k what would other say about you based on their prejudices against the Aldam family in general."

That somehow ease the tension between the two teens. At this instant, Rade was rather thankful that London didn't lie to her and say that let bygones be bygones. He became open to her and Rade liked the honestly within his words.

"If I can help it," Rade said though there was still hesitation on her tone that did not escape London's hearing. "I would never put anyone in danger again. I'm thankful that everybody here has been good and kind to me, I appreciate that."

"If you can help it," London echoed Rade's words, but he did not let their conversation strayed too far away from then on and he stood up from her seat. "The classes are about to start, my junior. How about we cut this overly serious conversation short? The stiffness of the formality and business stink are all sticking up to me, it's making me gag."

Rade almost chuckled. Nodding along with London, she also stood up from where she sat and got her tray of food that she didn't even bothered on pretending to ate. It was horrible by smell, even more so by looks, what must it be like if she ate it? Maybe a trip to the hospital.

Nevertheless, her lunch has been rather fruitful. Rade was certain that London wouldn't suddenly spring on her something as serious and business like that kind of conversation. She was sure that there was a hidden agenda, maybe it was Geneva Aldeia who sent her to make sure that her loyalty lies with their clan.

By the classes' dismissal, Rade strolled down the suburban area of the town. Before going to the Attic, she already has a demon core on the pocket of her pleated uniform skirt. There were more people than she was originally expecting and Lyu was assisting his older sister to help with the customers while the Shadow Fantasm, or Fannie as Lyu and Megumi always calls him, longued leisurely by a coffee table, reading books.

Girl customers frequently looked at him and giggled, and the creature was completely clueless that he was the cause of such a ruckus.

When Lyu noticed Rade's arrival, he was heaving heavy books up the shelves to restock the shelves. He smiled at Rade while still dusty from the books and called a greeting to her.

"Good afternoon, Rade!" he greeted. "Nee-san is just behind the counter."

Rade nodded, quickly going to Megumi as to not obstruct Lyu's work. She knew that Lyu was still probably not yet fully healed from his injuries by over exerting himself from finding her and the Shadow Fantasm, but Rade doesn't want to be on his way while he was still so focused on restocking the shelves that were the main decoration of the café.

"Miss Megumi," Rade greeted a very busy Megumi behind the counter.

Depiste having too many customers, Megumi still managed to smile at her, the peach blossom eyes of her were bright and luminous. She immediately packed up all the take out caks she was registering and greeted her customers out of the shop.

"Rade, how have you been?" Megumi said, stepping out of the cash register and extending her hands to shake Rade's.

"I'm fine, Miss Megumi," Rade answered, also shaking the older girl's hands. "May I be of help to anything?" she immediately asked, sensing that she shouldn't waste any more time being so modest and innocent within the shop because she has a feeling that she will be staying here for a long time.

"Ah, yes, thanks for your assistance in advance," Megumi said, walking back towards the cash register. "It wouldn't be too hard, but would you pack this up?" she asked politely and even with a sweet smile. "I have to check the other orders in the kitchen."

"Of course, Miss Megumi," Rade responded positively. "Seems like people are pouring in," Rade noticed, her eyes were sweeping the area but could only find one source of reason why people, specially girls, would pour in a relatively hidden café shop like the Attic.

Megumi chuckled lightly, amused by the bold rage behind Rade's tone and to whom it was directed for.

"It is certainly good for the business," Megumi joked while looking at Fannie who was still sitting prettily wearing a white loose peplos looking like an ethereal remote pagan god.

Fannie was so good looking that most people who look at him wouldn't be able to take their eyes away from him. And apparently, it enough to boost the Attic's sales.

"I wonder what would happen if we make Fannie our model?" Megumi wondered out loud much to Rade's shock, her peach blossom eyes have a strange and dangerous glint on them.

"Miss Megumi," Rade said while packing the iced coffee orders that a couple of teenage girls mindlessly bought just to take a peek at Fannie's beauty. It was both comical and infuriatingfor Rade if she was being honest (more in comical though, only if those girls knew). "That's not really a good joke."

That made Megumi chuckled a little bit more.