Prologue

Can you do something for me?

I want you to forget all logic and believe in the impossible. Because there is no way a sane person would believe this.

My name is Hayate Sato, and I’m an ordinary highschooler. 

Well, I was...

Now… 

I’m a freaking Soul Wielder! Doesn’t that sound awesome!? I sound like a legendary hero in a fairy tale, except I’m real!

You’re probably wondering what that even means. Are you wondering what sort of cool powers I have? We’ll get to that don’t worry! But first let me tell you how I began to walk the path of a soul wielder.

It began back when I was still an ordinary high schooler, with no ambition, just idly drifting through life. I stayed at school late to cram for upcoming exams – ugh – I hate exams. I walked outside to see the sky already getting dark, I only just left school and it was already dark!

I sighed, put my hands in my pocket and begun to walk home. About halfway, I heard a scream come from a nearby park, I’ve never heard someone sound so frightened in my life. I want to say I rushed over because I wanted to be the hero and save them but honestly, I was just curious at what could make someone scream like that.

Anyway, I rushed over to see a monster about twice as big as a normal person hunched over and about to attack the screaming victim. 

For a few seconds I was in shock. What am I looking at?! I was thinking. I’ve never seen anything as terrifying as this!

It had this brown body with long claws on its hands and feet, and its head was just a skull. I saw the fear in the person’s face as this monster leaned over her about to eat her. And as it went into bite, I threw a small rock at it to attract its attention.

“Why did I just do that! I’m an idiot!” 

The monster backed away from the woman and looked at me.

I made eye contact with this monster and froze in fear.

It was stood staring lifelessly at me with it's arms dangling in front hunched over like an upright gorilla. I knew I now had the monster's undivided attention, the woman managed to even run away still screaming in fear and it never broke eye contact with me. 

I succeeded in saving her, but at what cost? Now I get to die instead.

After the brief stare down, the monster broke into a relentless pursuit. The loud noises of this heavy monster quickly approached me.

After a moment of hesitation, I promptly transitioned into the fastest sprint of my life. I just ran without looking back too see it chasing me – not that I needed to since I could hear the loud thuds of its footsteps behind me – but I soon realised that my lack of training would quickly catch up to me.

My breathing kept getting louder and louder, whilst my legs were moving slower. 

The fear intensified and I kept trying to bury a thought that wouldn’t stop coming to my head... 

I’m going to die.

As I’m on the brink of exhaustion, I notice an alley after turning a corner. Maybe if I run down here before it notices I might get away.

I turn down the alley and I am greeted by a brick wall. 

It felt like time stopped for a moment as I stared at this wall that signified my end.

This time, there is no burying the thought.

All I could think of is that I’m going to die, of how i'm going to be tourn limb from limb as nourishment for this creature. 

The loud footsteps that were following me stopped. Instead, all I could hear was this monstrous breathing from behind me. I refused to look. I was to scared to.

I just closed my eyes and repeated one thing over and over whilst I waited for my demise.

“it’s not real. It’s not real. It’s not real.”