Nujah and Maria were on their way to the grand party Ren had organized — though "forced" might be a better word for how Maria dragged Nujah along — when they were suddenly ambushed on the road.
Two strikingly handsome figures in masks advanced toward them, each wielding high-pressure water guns. The streams moved with unexpected speed, but Nujah reacted faster, yanking Maria aside just in time.
A blue-haired attacker shouted,
"You're going to die today, Nujah!"
The purple-haired one, speaking into a comms device in his ear, called out:
"They're hiding near the stairs! We need backup now!"
Maria, visibly shaken, whispered,
"Nujah... what do we do? It's obviously not just a prank anymore..."
Nujah gave a small, amused smile.
"Come," she said, tapping on the wall.
A small passageway revealed itself.
"Go inside."
Maria, wearing a theatrically terrified expression, grabbed Nujah's hand.
"But what about you? Please don't go!"
Nujah deepened her voice with effort, trying to sound older and stronger:
"Don't worry, little one. I'll draw them away. Help will come soon."
She shut the door gently, Maria's last echo ringing out behind it:
"Noooo!"
---
Nujah closed her eyes and reached for the tiny moon crystal embedded in her forehead — a gift from Seluva, the Spirit Queen of the Moon.
Her mind's eye opened.
She could now see where they were all coming from. One above. Two in front. One circling behind.
Though she doubted she could win against her siblings, she prepared to unleash her biggest move.
Behind a wall, beside the stairs, a voice called out:
"Still not ready, Nujah?"
It was Muzan, who had removed his mask — violet hair trailing like a silent curse, his presence unsettling in its stillness.
The other figure, now revealed to be Ren, whispered just loud enough to hear, his blue hair cold as ice:
"Spoilsport."
Before they could attack each other, Nujah emerged from her hiding spot.
Behind her: nearly a thousand shadow soldiers.
Ren and Muzan instinctively assumed defensive stances.
Nujah shouted,
"Shield-bearers forward! CHARGE!"
Just as the forces collided—
SNAP.
A finger snapped in the center of the chaos.
Naraka appeared.
Her voice, firm and thunderous:
"There's a major event tomorrow. You will not waste all your energy fighting today."
From out of nowhere, Maria appeared beside her.
"At least let us play volleyball, Mom," she pleaded with an irresistible pout.
Naraka seemed ready to say no — but instead, she smiled.
Ruffling Maria's hair, she said,
"Three hours. No more."
Then, with another finger snap, she transported everyone to Ren's party venue.
Just before vanishing, she turned toward the group, voice echoing:
"Those who picked a fight on this important day... sunlight will be hard to come by tomorrow."
She laughed — a villain's laugh — and vanished again with a snap, instantly changing everyone's outfits into swimsuits.
---
The party grounds were still in disarray.
Everyone now wore the swimsuits Naraka had forced on them.
Some sat confused in corners.
Ren muttered,
"C'mon, you gotta admit — the surprise entrance? Flawless."
Nujah sat on the ground, silently catching her breath.
Just then—
A soft light bloomed in the sky.
A gray-blue flower of light.
The air shifted.
Strings of music began — gentle, proud, nostalgic.
The crowd quieted instantly.
A spotlight fell.
Mabaka entered.
---
Her appearance was elegant, not dramatic.
Black hair loosely tied, a midnight blue shawl draped over her shoulders.
She walked among glowing specks of star-dust.
No microphone. No raised voice.
Just presence.
She walked up to Nujah and said,
> "Our younger sibling has reached the Shinrei rank.
I never thought I'd say these words in my life…
But here we are."
Nujah looked up, still tired, but managed a smile.
Mabaka did not kneel.
She did not bow.
She stood tall, face-to-face.
> "I watched you in the heart of battle today.
And I realized — becoming Shinrei isn't about power.
It's about heart.
You understood that long before the rest of us."
She stepped forward and kissed Nujah's forehead.
Then she stepped back:
> "Congratulations on your rank.
But this is only the beginning.
We won't be the ones protecting you anymore…
You'll be the one protecting us."
Maria wiped away her tears but smiled.
From a distance, Naraka looked on — proud.
Mabaka turned, winked at Maria, and walked off the stage.
Light, dust, and music trailed behind her.
---
"Ahem."
The crowd turned.
Everyone recognized that voice.
Golden hair like a lion's mane, regal yet minimal uniform —
It was Herinhard, commander of Shiora's military wing.
He walked forward slowly, gaze intense yet soft.
He stopped before Nujah.
Despite the difference in height, Nujah somehow looked taller in that moment.
> "If Mabaka has had her dramatic moment, let's be clear."
A faint smile touched his lips.
> "I always knew you'd become a Shinrei.
That light was always in you —
not in your rank,
but in the stubbornness on your face each morning."
He stepped closer, hand on her shoulder:
> "I didn't push you for this day.
I trained you so you wouldn't collapse when it came."
> "You're no longer just our little sister.
You're our honor."
And for the first time—
Herinhard hugged her.
No rush, no stiffness.
Just right.
A solid pat on the back. Firm but not harsh.
> "Congratulations, Shinrei Nujah."
---
Silence returned, but now it held weight.
Then, two silhouettes approached the stage.
One was measured, sharp-eyed, with violet hair that rivaled the night.
Muzan.
The other bounced beside him, grinning playfully, hair a mess of gray-blue.
Ren.
Ren bounded forward.
> "Wait wait waaaait! The scene isn't over yet!"
> "Okay, fine, Herinhard was all serious and classy, but c'mon—
It's OUR moment now. Time for the coolest gift ever!"
Muzan glanced at him but didn't intervene.
From his pocket, he produced a small velvet box.
He opened it to reveal a deep black dragon pendant —
its gemstone eyes glowing with inner fire.
The Black Dragon Necklace.
Symbol of the Shinrei.
It shone not with power — but with will.
Ren took it, voice now suddenly serious:
> "This isn't just a necklace, Nujah.
It marks where you belong.
You don't walk among us anymore…
You walk with us."
Muzan stepped forward.
His voice, low and calm:
> "Let it remind you not of strength…
but of limits.
True strength is found in those who know their bounds."
A silence passed.
Ren fastened the necklace around her neck.
> "And please don't lose it on your first mission, okay?
Took us three days to keep it safe.
And Rem already dropped it in the lemonade pitcher once."
Nujah smiled. Tired, but warm.
Muzan gave the slightest hint of a smile too.
Then, both moved closer.
Ren hugged her without hesitation.
Muzan paused, then placed a hand on her shoulder… and joined the embrace.
A quiet bond was sealed between the three.
Muzan whispered:
> "Your potential goes far beyond numbers.
We've all seen it now."
Ren threw his arms in the air:
> "Everyone! Make way for Shinrei Nujah!"
A final round of applause erupted.
But this time, it was joyful — not ceremonial.
The dragon necklace shone against Nujah's chest.
---
Then…
The air shifted.
Wind stilled.
Stars flickered out.
Music didn't end — it was ended.
Something unseen swept through the souls present.
Snap.
Another finger snapped —
but this one brought decay, not change.
All eyes turned.
She stood in white.
Long, moon-silver hair.
Crimson eyes, like a grave's reflection.
She needed no words — her silence spoke deeper than voices.
Vercurius.
The strongest and least-seen member of the family.
Speaker of the dead.
Guide of lost souls.
The one who whispers to those who stray from their path.
Even Muzan stepped back.
Ren stopped talking.
Maria went quiet.
She walked straight to Nujah.
Her steps left no mark.
Her eyes locked onto Nujah's — and time slowed.
> "You've become Shinrei."
Only four words — but they hit like prophecy.
> "The necklace shines.
The celebrations are loud.
But true Shinrei… knows how to bury the dead."
Only Nujah could see the spirits gathering around them.
Vercurius bowed her head toward the necklace:
> "Black Dragon. A fine choice.
But its mana is written in the language of death's balance.
You are not just the family's pride now…
You are a beacon on the path of souls."
She stepped closer.
> "I never thought this day would come so soon."
The crowd held its breath.
Vercurius stood inches from Nujah.
There were no more words.
Only silence, and what it carried.
Then… she bowed her head.
Not in submission. Not in reverence.
But in shared purpose.
A gesture only those who walk with spirits understood.
She whispered:
> "My eyes weren't always on you, Nujah.
But the spirits… they saw you long before I did.
Today, you didn't just earn a title.
You earned your place among them."
She opened her arms.
And hugged her.
Not too hard. Not too soft.
Just right.
And in her ear:
> "You'll never walk alone again.
The spirits… now walk beside you."
As she stepped back, their eyes met.
For the first time…
there was a flicker of pride in Vercurius's gaze.
No more words.
But no one needed them.
That hug.
That whisper.
That look.
It was heavier than a thousand ceremonies —
and more meaningful than all of them combined.
---