Jaden thought about what his mentor had been through—the pain, the betrayal, the loneliness. He stood outside, lost in thought, reflecting on Master Shang's sorrow. He had never seen his mentor so vulnerable before. It was clear the past still haunted him. Jaden could feel the weight of it, the same way his own past clung to him. But no matter how much time had passed, he knew one thing—he wasn't ready to forgive Lord Zu. Not yet. Not until he made him suffer the way he had suffered.
Jaden went inside. Master Shang was already asleep, his face calm and peaceful. That sight alone gave Jaden some relief. He sat on the wooden chair, allowing his thoughts to drift. Memories of his mother surfaced in his mind. He remembered her kindness, her warmth—how she had always been there to protect him and Luna. She was the best mother anyone could ask for, and he missed her dearly.
Morning arrived, and Jaden prepared to leave. It had been a long time since he had been home—his own home. Ever since he started working for DC as a demon slayer, he had been living at Master Shang's place. The job paid well, and he had his own apartment, but he barely spent time there. Now, he had an important meeting with the DC organization, and it would take him two weeks before he could return. Leaving Master Shang behind was difficult, especially after what he had learned about his past. But he had no choice.
As he arrived at his apartment, he found it covered in dust. It was expected. He rarely visited, spending most of his time training or on missions. With a sigh, he began cleaning up, clearing away the dust that had settled over everything. After finishing, he took a long shower. The warm water washed away the grime, but not the memories. When he stepped out, he caught a glimpse of himself in the mirror.
It had been a long time since he had really looked at himself. His gaze traced the scar running from one side of his face down to his body. A permanent reminder of what his father had done to him. He hesitated for a moment, raising his hand as if to touch the scar, but then stopped. What was the point? The pain was still fresh, just like his hatred. Shaking his head, he grabbed his clothes and got dressed for his meeting at DC.
As he approached the entrance of the organization, his attention was drawn to a young woman standing nearby. She was staring at him with wide eyes, as if recognizing something in him. She was beautiful, with large, curious eyes and an average height. Jaden could tell she wasn't an ordinary civilian. Something about her presence felt different.
Her name was Mia. She had always been fascinated by demon slayers, constantly sneaking around DC's headquarters just to catch a glimpse of them. The moment she saw Jaden, she knew he was one of them. But what truly shocked her was his scar. It wasn't just any scar—it told a story of suffering, of survival. She couldn't tear her gaze away.
Jaden, on the other hand, wasn't fond of being stared at, especially because of his scar. He simply returned her gaze for a brief moment before walking inside the organization. Mia, however, wasn't done. She was determined to learn more about him. And she planned to return the next day, hoping to see him again.