"It has been wonderful teaching you all, and I hope that in the futu—" Tuning out the speech, Steliana's gaze slid to the window. To think it's been so long in this world. Sometimes it felt just like yesterday that she died and was resurrected in this world, and other times it felt like a decade. Of course, neither was true.
The bell rang, and she stood up and bowed to the teacher just like the rest of her classmates did, before picking up her pack and hitching it up on her shoulder. "Steliana-senpai, what are you—"
"Steliana-senpai, are you joining us at—"
"Steliana-senpai, do you think tha—"
Giving polite smiles and simple, yet negative answers to her fellow students, she eventually left the school grounds. With perfect grades, any attendance issues excused, a near picture-perfect face, kind old-school manners, and a past shrouded in mystery, she had long since gotten used to the attention. It was only natural for people to be intrigued by mystery, let alone a supernaturally beautiful mystery.
They have to be coming here soon, right? Giving one last glance toward the school, she let out a sigh filled with many emotions. She had grown used to Junior High, even if it wasn't the 'public' that she had once dreamed about in her first childhood. It was still a mundane school albeit one with very tenuous and loose ties to the supernatural. But like all things people grew used to, it had to end.
To think it's been nearly three years, and I'm about to start high school again. Honestly, her memories of high school were far more fond than of middle school, so she was excited. But it was also tempered by nervousness. Because with high school would eventually come them, the two heiresses and the gaze of the Strongest Devil and the Strongest Woman in the Abrahamic Pantheon. Sirzechs Lucifer and Serafall Leviathan. They were beings that, even with well over two years of training, she still couldn't match.
At soon to be sixteen—in a bit over a month—she wasn't that antsy about that small little fact. With nine rare candies left on top of that, and another two years till canon starts? She was fine. Amusingly, in my first and second years of high school, I'm going to be stronger than I was the first time around. Yet in my third year of high school, I'll probably be drastically weaker.
After all, it was in her final year of school that, in an incredibly cliché manner, the chaos of her last life truly started. It was also when the true depth of her powers was finally revealed, and she naturally stepped into what this world knew as Ultimate-class. Then continued like a rocket ascending upwards, until the point of her death, where she was bordering on Satan-class. Even then, her growth hadn't slowed down but instead felt like it was still increasing. I doubt that I'll just magically reach that power just by sleeping like my last life. Still, to think that it's almost time to meet them after all this time.
Taking a deep breath, Steliana shook it off. No point in being nervous. Neither Sona or Rias's peerages nor they themselves are a threat to me. Especially not when they're weaker than they were at the start of the story. As long as Sirzech, Serafall, Grayfia, or their peerage members don't act, I'll be fine. Especially ever sin— "Steliana-sensei! Steliana-sensei, wait up!"
Her thoughts cut out at the shouting, and she turned around. A soft smile formed on her face mid-motion, even before she saw who it was. The younger girl's long brown hair was tied up into a ponytail, and sweat gathered at her brows. But the voice had given away who it was in the first place, even before she had turned. "Murayama, you know that you don't need to add the sensei part."
The girl continued her jog, coming to a stop just a few feet from Steliana. "Of course I do, sensei! You've taught me and the Kendo club, so of course we have to call you sensei!"
Steliana looked up at the sky for a moment as if to ask 'why me', before she shook her head with a wry smile. "Alright, alright. I can't stop you anyway. What did you need?"
"I just wanted to thank you for all the help you've given me these last two years, sensei, and that I'll miss you and your instruction next year!" With that, Murayama bowed ridiculously low.
"Enough, enough. You know that I never got used to all the formal bowing. If you want to thank me, just keep practicing and maybe get out once in a while. Go have some fun, go on a date, or just watch something that doesn't have to do with swords." Murayama stood back up, a blush on her face.
"Hai sensei!" Turning around, Steliana raised a hand in goodbye.
"Goodluck Murayama."
"You too, sensei!" Shaking her head, she continued walking again. I never really planned to get involved with the Kendo club, but having a few extra connections is never bad. She didn't regret joining it, even if it took up some of her free time. After all, she had joined under completely selfless intentions. She hadn't joined to learn, practice, or anything like that. No.
She had joined because of how absolutely awful they were and how terrible their teacher was. High School does mean I'm clubless again, though. Not that she truly cared, it was just something notable enough to keep in mind for when the next semester started. But now that she was starting High School again, she also felt that same urge that she did last time.
Distance. Don't get her wrong, she had met some wonderful people, even some she would call school friends, and would talk to during school hours. But… The distance is widening again, just like last time. The difference between her and a regular human was more noticeable. Especially ever since a couple of months ago. It was as she thought that the blinds of one of the nearby houses opened, revealing a woman who bowed at her. She tilted her head in a bow back toward the Youkai, who, with a smile, stood up straight and closed her curtains again. Steliana sighed and got back to her previous train of thought.
During December, in her first winter break, she had broken the barrier between Low and Mid-class. She had felt it then, her tail once more purifying her energies, and an itching sensation as if it wanted to split apart appeared. Her senses had grown massively, and so had her connection to the world. But it hadn't been so bad back then. She was still new to the world, getting used to her body, age, and what it meant to be a Youkai. She had a lot of learning to do back then, so she just rolled with it and didn't really notice the differences much.
Not to mention, the gap between Mid-Class and many Low-Class wasn't that large when you consider the true span of power that Low-Class held on a multiplicative scale.
But sometime two months ago, over two years since she broke the barrier between Low and Mid Class? That had changed.
Her second tail had grown, and she had broken that next barrier, truly becoming a High-class being. With the growth of her second tail, to merely call her energies 'purified' was a joke. To say her senses were enhanced was the biggest possible laugh.
Because High-class was the traditional peak of any race that wasn't the Divine. To be high class meant that a blast of yours could erase a good chunk, if not the entirety, of a mountain. It was fundamentally on a different level of life compared to everything else… especially humans.
Steliana clenched her fists. To think I'd feel the disconnect again. Even in a school of Supernatural, she had felt it. Here? Surrounding be regular old humans? It was even more noticeable. In all of her excitement nearly three years ago, it was something she had forgotten.
The horrible, crushing feeling of complete and utter loneliness. Of segregation from your peers who couldn't even begin to understand you. A longing smile spread across her face. Oh, how I miss you all… Because just like how her power exploded in the last year of school last time around, that feeling had disappeared then, too. When she had gained true friends, and when he came back into her life.
The smile dropped. Maybe that'll change when they come, or maybe not. But either way, I have a long, long life ahead of me. In the end, childhood is just such a small part of that, and school is an even more insignificant part. She remembered that he wanted her to live, to experience the joys and thrills of the world she had never gotten to.
She would, eventually. Especially now that my second tail has grown. Ever since then, things had changed. It wasn't just that she was more powerful; there was a fundamental difference. In two months, she had grown three inches, and puberty had finally decided to kick itself into high gear. Those were the most noticeable effects, but there was one more that had changed.
She was once more interrupted by a curtain being pulled up, this time by a man. Instead of bowing, he excitedly smiled and waved, which she returned with her own smaller smile. It was a spiritually aware human this time, one she had helped about a year back when he had learned about the supernatural via drastic and dark measures.
Now, where was I? Oh right. Training. Over the last few years, she had managed to revise her training regime time and time again. Even with gaining more power, she had managed to maintain a steady pace when it should have slowed down, especially after she had reached Mid-class.
But it hadn't, and it was all because of her constant innovation. By all accounts, Steliana had expected to need to once again come up with new ideas to keep her training pace. She hadn't. No, instead, even while doing her best to re-adjust, gain control of her new level of power and physical prowess?
Her improvement rate had somehow increased. Something she didn't blame on some mystical talent improvement once she reached High-class, but on one fact. Nekoshou were considered adults when they gained their second tail, whereas before that, they were the equivalent of children, not even teenagers. On top of that,I've almost got full control again, which means… Her eyes practically sparkled, and her lips twisted into something that would have screamed 'mad scientist' to the average person. I get to try so many things!
Most importantly, she'd get to test a hypothesis, and if that hypothesis was right? I might actually be able to reach Ultimate class WITHOUT my rare candies by the time the Rating Game is meant to happen. If that were to be true, and actually happen?
The world would be her oyster. If this works, I'll need to work on my Senjutsu as well. Touki is going well, but Senjutsu, as the root? That needs more work. Because an Ultimate-class Daiyoukai was one thing. But a true, proper Senjutsu Master with that level of power? It was an entirely different beast. It was Yasaka's connection with the world and the ley lines that let the West Youkai Faction be practically unassailable. Coupled with her clan trait….
Laughter bubbled up out of her lips for a brief moment before she suppressed it. Calm. Calm down. Power for the sake of power is pointless. Remember your goals, remember your missions, remember your wishes.
With a deep breath, her racing heart calmed. Truly, Youki is dangerous. While she was used to urges in her past life, the strange nature of Youkai brought its own troubles, even now. I need to continue to work on my control as well. So much to do, but luckily I have enough time. With a sweep of her senses, she found herself to be finally truly alone, with no more hidden eyes watching—be they human, youkai, or other. It truly is time, isn't it? Steliana disappeared in a flash of light.
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Faction Boards > Youkai > Honshu > Kuoh City
Saint Nekopire (Verified Saint) (Kuoh City Moderator)
Devil Sightings (Pinned Post) (Locked Post)
A quick message from me, everyone. As you all know, there has been an uptick in Devil Magic in recent months. I would like to make an official post here saying that while there is no news as of yet from the WKF or Devils, I can make one confirmation to ease your minds. After personally checking it out, it was not the particularly twisted variant of Devil Magic unique to Strays. All Devil Magic I have been able to find so far (bar the one four months ago, eight months, and a year and a half ago that I took care of) has been legitimate Devil Magic. No sign of Evil Piece corruption has been spotted. (If new to the supernatural or unaware of Devil workings, please click the hyperlink on Evil Piece. It leads to an old, locked post.)
I won't make any insinuations here, but we all know that Kuoh City hasn't had a proper overseer (Don't you dare call me that, or 'Kitty Guardian' again!!! I regret letting @WhyFriendShapedifBirb see that.) for a long time now. That said, if you do sense Devil Magic, please use what is in place to report it, same as you would for anything else that isn't Youjutsu or Senjutsu.
I would also like to take the time to congratulate Kiyoko-san for coming out of retirement now that her kid has graduated from High School, and for growing her horn at an impressively young age for her kind. That's all I have for you. Stay safe and have a good day.
Faction Boards > Youkai > Honshu > Kuoh City
Saint Nekopire (Verified Saint) (Kuoh City Moderator)
Services Open Again
Hello everyone! School is over, and my personal issues are mostly done. As such, if anyone needs any help, I'm open! While I'm on break for the next short while, I'll also be able to travel. So if any of your friends or family need help, feel free to tell them I'm available!
ALSO, I SAID TO STOP CALLING ME KITTY GUARDIAN IN THE PINNED POST. WHY IS THERE MORE OF IT?! *Deep breaths*
Anyway, ignore that little rant. *Stares angrily* As promised (bribed with a year's worth of Deep Fried cream sando's), I'll be making available the basics to Elemental Youjutsu series for free. Someone's inevitably gonna get pissed at me for that. But oh well. #FriedSandos #FreedomofKnowledge
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WhyFriendShapedifBirb
I think you accidentally swapped your hashtag order? Right? RIGHT?
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Lounging in her now much larger apartment—both from her power growth and from slowly spreading out her doors across the island over the years—Steliana took a long drink from her flask. I still can't believe they forced me to be the Mod for the Kuoh City board. Well, more like the second they saw her 'underage' tag disappear back when she had grown her second tail, it had instantly happened even without her consultation.
Who knew that not scamming people to get your help just got you things? Actually, she did. Youkai had a surprising number of restaurants that she now ate at for basically free. All because she was just doing a little thing called being a good person. Something even the supernatural in her world lacked, let alone in this one. Actually, humanity in general can lack it, but meh.
She understood that most people preferred to be self-serving. Humans didn't have power, their lifespan was dreadfully short, a lot of them were basically secretly enslaved by the Gods, and for the average person? They were only well, average. They had to be a bit self-serving to better their life. Doesn't stop being a surprise every time people are shocked that I'll actually help them.
Seriously, Noah had been among the most tame of people she had met while helping out Kuoh and, occasionally, the surrounding towns and cities. It's surprising how desperate people with access to supernatural energies and superstrength can be. Then again, being able to lift a thousand pounds was basically better than nothing when someone could just chuck a fireball the size of a house at you. Let alone the humans who could barely be classified as 'knowing' about the supernatural and didn't have any extra strength to show for it. It doesn't help that some people find those at the bottom of the supernatural world disgraces and even 'worse than humans.' As they say.
When you matched a three-hundred-year-old Youkai with Mid-Class power, an ego, and a mentality that hadn't changed for over a hundred years, you tended to get problems. Let alone a seven-hundred-year-old High-Class who could level a town. I hope it's not like this in other places, but Japan is pretty fucked on the Supernatural side.
Even among Supernatural, not everyone was talented. Not everyone strived for greater power. And to some people she had met? Those people were disgusting, a disgrace, and didn't even deserve to be more than slaves. It's only been a couple of hundred years since Youkai that were Low-Class as adults actually WERE slaves if caught after all. While for humans? That could be a long time.
But for many Youkai species? That was half, a quarter, or even far less of their lifespan. Let alone for the Daiyoukai who lived far, far longer. It always comes down to old crusty fucks. Letting out a groan, Steliana suddenly stood up. Alright, enough of the trip down memory lane and ranting about the older generation. Forum duties done, school supplies put away. Body, mind, and magic are properly adjusted. It's time to finally test out some proper training!
Then after that? More training! It's a shame the school breaks in Japan are so short, but that just means I have to get the most out of it!