Novels by Kyotara Daiki

**A COUPLE OF YEARS AGO****Saint Cecilia Sanctuary, Obsidian Citadel***The Cemetery*Solemn notes from a violin drowned out the muffled cries of those gathered before a freshly dug grave. A young Micah, Hana, Karlee, and Kiqutu stood together, holding a framed photo of their recently deceased friend, Israel, who beamed brightly in the picture. As the priest recited the final prayers, the casket was lowered into the ground. A young Jerome fell to his knees, slamming the earth with his fist as the violin’s notes reached a crescendo, then abruptly ceased.A slender man, dressed in a simple black tuxedo, walked briskly toward the grave. He muttered a short, silent prayer before turning to face the attendees, adjusting his glasses as he did.“Today, we lost another precious young soul, a member of this great church... my younger brother,” the man said, his voice steady. “I, Ecclesiastical Commander Jamiel Michael, head of the Saint Cecilia Sanctuary, pray that his humble soul will be acc

---**Chapter 8****Saint Agnes Basilica Training Ground, Sancta Vertica**Jeremiah stood in the middle of the vast plain, Kaiky's vague instructions replaying over and over in his mind.“‘Create and condense,’ my ass,” he muttered as he crashed to the ground, landing on his butt before lying on his back, staring up at the dwindling sun."It's no use," he sighed, stretching out his hand as if trying to grasp the sun. “But I can’t give up. If I want to be as strong as Micah, I can’t stop now.”A glint caught his eye, a reflection from the bracelet Kiqutu had given him. He traced the inscriptions with his fingers.“She said this helps reduce Lucifer’s malevolent energy from leaking out of my body,” he murmured to himself. “Maybe this is what’s holding me back.” He immediately sat up. “But the last time I let his energy out, I almost died,” he said, slapping the thought away with both hands. “I have to take risks.” He slowly removed the bracelet, pausing as he stared at his hand.“Nothin

**Chapter 7****Insidious Covenant Church**Rakael stood amidst a sea of mutilated bodies. The putrid smell didn’t seem to bring her back to reality as she stared at the empty sky. The rain washed the blood of her family from her face. Finally, she let out a deafening scream, muted by the downpour.“Rakael… Rakael… Rakael.”Rakael jolted awake, her heart pounding. A female voice called to her from outside.“Rakael.”“What?” Rakael barked, her voice hoarse.“The Lord summons all high members of the Church, and if I may remind you… you are one of them now,” the voice said, fading away.***Crimson drapes covered the long windows of the church. The choking aroma of incense filled the dimly lit room. A long wooden table separated the highest members of the church, six on each side. Veyan walked briskly into the room, taking a deep inhale of the incense. The other members rose upon noticing him, and he took his seat.“Glad you all could make it on such short notice,” Veyan said.“What’s th

---**Chapter 6**The gentle rush of a plaster fountain mingled with the melodious notes of a songbird. Jeremiah sat in a lotus position, his eyes closed, while Karin observed the dark energy swirling around him. Her glasses glinted as she scribbled notes.“Excellent, Jerry,” Karin said, her smile warm. “You’re getting much better at controlling your malevolent energy.”As the aura around Jeremiah faded, he opened his eyes, their usual glow dimmed. He examined the sigil on his palm with a weary gaze.“If you keep this up, you might qualify for Exorcist recruit training. Are you alright?” Karin asked.“Yeah,” Jeremiah replied, reaching for his shirt hanging nearby. “It’s about the sigil, isn’t it? You used your grace again?”“Not that I have much choice,” Karin said, moving closer. “I once had a friend, Israel—Jerome’s older brother. Back when we were cadets, he had a fierce rivalry with Micah. Despite their differences, it was clear they cared deeply for one another.”“What does that

---**Chapter 5****Saint Agnes Basilica, Sancta Vertica***The Chancel*Micah settled into a carved wooden chair, his posture rigid, as he faced Ecclesiastical Captain Daniel. Across from him, two figures cut imposing silhouettes. The first, a dark-skinned man with a polished bald head, wore the church’s deep blue uniform, a white cassock, and a red sash emblazoned with crossed swords. Beside him, a striking woman in a golden cassock, her blonde hair catching the light, eyed Micah with an inscrutable expression. Between them, a mahogany table gleamed under the stained glass mural of Angel Michael.Micah’s eyes flicked between the figures. “Why am I here?”“Micah, these are representatives from the head church,” Daniel said, his tone clipped.Micah's gaze settled on the woman. “High Inquisitor Riya and Inquisitorial Captain Ezra. You could’ve sent representatives.”“Being here in person should tell you the matter is of utmost importance,” Riya said, her voice a chilled whisper that cu

---**Chapter 4**To empower humanity against the overpowering invaders, four individuals prayed to Yahweh, and He granted them “Grace,” the power of angels.**Insidious Covenant Church, Sancta Vertica**A wooden door creaked open as a slender silhouette dragged Jerome's beaten and bloodied body across the cold concrete floor. The dimly lit room was filled with eerie chants and prayers from dark, hooded figures. Unperturbed by her entrance, the woman continued to pull Jerome toward a large inverted crucifix and demonic statue, surrounded by twelve chairs occupied by nine hooded figures.“Back so soon, Rakael?” a slouched, slender man asked, his voice dripping with sarcasm.“What do you want, Henri?” Rakael responded curtly.“Nothing much, just eagerly awaiting your return,” he replied, his tall, gaunt figure looming over her. Rakael’s slit pupils met his abyss-like eyes as an evil grin spread across his face.“Aye, don’t go scaring the new girl, Henri,” a high-pitched voice called fro

Chapter 16Kyle sits on the roof of the building, staring at the full moon."Can't sleep?" Casimir says, sitting beside him."Not really.""What's wrong, Kyle? Is New Haven not what you thought it would be like?" He asked "No, it's...""'Cause you've been here for a while now, and you still don't seem free at all. Are you feeling guilty about the death of Lana and Kael?"Kyle looks away."Kid, listen. You can't beat yourself up over that. I've told you countless times. Do you think that wherever they may be, they would be happy seeing you like this? If they were really your friends, they would want to see you smiling and move on. Find something that drives you. What do you want the most, Kyle? Find that, and once you do, protect it with your life.""Um… has anyone seen Amiri? I can't seem to find him anywhere," Trevor asks from below them."He should be off somewhere meditating or something." Casimir responded.A loud explosion is heard just beside them. Casimir jumps to his feet."T

Chapter 15"We are here," Casimir said. The town of Lower Haven came into sight. A little worn out signpost hung just outside of the town gate"Home sweet home." Casimir parked the van just outside of the town."Why are we stopping here?" Trevor asked."What do you think would happen when people see a suspicious-looking black van drive through their streets, huh?" Pixie said with her pitched voice."Aight, aight, everybody down." Casimir opened the door."And where do we go from here?" Tori asked."Where I grew up," he said, a wide smile stretched across his face."Oi, let's get moving already," Trevor shouted."You ain't even left the damn bus yet." Pixie kicked the bus, and Trevor came down."How can he be this lazy and be a Grade Zero?" Kyle asked."Well, kid, I never asked to be given that grade. I don't care about hierarchy and stuff like that. The espers are graded immediately; they are registered; your ability determines what grade you would be put. The lowest is Grade four thro

Chapter 14:Casimir's van drove through an isolated road; loud music played from the car. Tori and Pixie both sang along loudly."Could you guys keep it down?" Trevor said."Hey, we're still mad at ya," Tori replied."And why is that?" Trying to sound like he cared, Trevor slouched in the chair with a hat on his face."You just had to go all out on Gabriel, didn't you?" Tori said "Well, the kid said he could handle it, and the Boss was there, so what did you expect me to do?""At least play it safe," Pixie responded."I thought that was... forget it." "Welcome to Lower Haven ," Casimir said, reading from a signpost."Are we there yet?" Kyle asked."No, it might take a while before we get there," Casimir answered."Hey, Casimir, this quiet kid, he is Arsenal, right?" Pixie asked."Yeah.""Hmm, he doesn't look all that dangerous to me, and Ignite trained him. I thought he would be all..." Pixie gestured with her hands to convey the rest of the sentence."I wish Gabriel was here; I wou

Chapter 13:Alfred sat in his office, decorated with numerous laurels and a large portrait of his family; someone knocked on the door."Come in," Alfred said.Casimir slowly opened the door."Casimir, come sit," he pointed to the chair in front of him. "Dionne said you wanted to see me." He said "Yes, it's concerning the new group threatening causing trouble""The Outlaws?.""Yes, them, I know you grew up in the wastelands where you grew up and met Dionne.""That's old news." He rolls his eyes "So, no one knows those parts more than you, I am assigning this mission to you. I want the implosion of Outlaws, and only you can do it," he said, pouring himself a cup of tea."I had that in mind already, but there is one thing, though. Your son Gabriel told me that he wants to join my team f…""I'm afraid he can't." He interrupts him"And why is that?" He asked "He isn't ready to face the cruelty of this world.""Well, if he wants to become an esper, it's something that he cannot escape."

**Chapter 12**Cree stood in front of Eloise's house, adjusting the collar of his long black shirt a million times over, holding a bouquet. He rang the doorbell, adjusting his collar again. Eloise opened the door, dressed in a beautiful crimson dinner gown adorned with tiny stones across the chest. Cree looked starstruck."Are you going to continue staring at me like that or…" she smiled."My apologies you just look beautiful. This way," he directed her towards his car."You look good to, Cree.""Thank you. Took a long time deciding what to wear," he blushed. Eloise giggled."Let's get…" Two figures clad in black overalls stood in front of them, one wearing a Dragon mask and the other a Joker mask."Eloise Nero, Head of Operations of the New Haven Organisation, surrender yourself now, and we will spare your boyfriend," the one with the Dragon mask said, his voice distorted through the mask."Are those…?""It's got to be them," Cree said as he opened the door."Stay here.""As if," Elo

Chapter 11Within an expansive building adorned with golden ornaments and grand white drapes, a lady adorned in an elaborate white robe, intricately embroidered with golden threads and a golden crown, poised gracefully on her dark, flowing hair. Accompanied by two individuals in pristine white military attire, a sizable door swung open, prompting everyone to rise upon her entrance."The Queen, Acacia Michael."Upon the proclamation of her arrival, she walked with a composed expression on her brown face towards her throne."Greetings, my queen," spoke one of the administrators among the seven flanking each side of her throne, everyone waited till she sat to sit, the elder continued to read from a book."Paradise has once again lost another elder at the hands of mercenaries.""Has Ignite not been dealt with yet?" she inquired."He has, my queen, and we also possess evidence. But this was carried out by another group of mercenaries; they go by the name Outlaws.""Is that so?" She said w