Blood and silver

Aegis stood before the old, worn-out door, his hand hesitating on the rusty doorknob. The wooden sign above the entrance creaked in the gentle breeze, bearing the faded inscription: "Moonlit Serenade."

Memories flooded his mind as he pushed open the door, stepping into the dimly lit tavern. The air inside was thick with the scent of old wood, smoke, and forgotten dreams.

A figure emerged from the shadows, a warm smile spreading across her face. "Aegis, it's been a long time."

"Elara," Aegis replied, his voice low and rough from disuse.

Elara, the owner of the Moonlit Serenade, had been a mother figure to Aegis during his early years. She had provided him with shelter, guidance, and a sense of belonging.

As they sat down at a wooden table, Elara poured Aegis a cup of steaming hot tea. "I've heard rumors about your... exploits," she said, her eyes sparkling with amusement.

Aegis chuckled, feigning a sheepish grin. "Just trying to survive, Elara. I'm not exactly... gifted."

Elara's expression turned sympathetic. "You're too hard on yourself, Aegis. You have a good heart."

Aegis's gaze drifted away, his eyes lost in the flames dancing in the fireplace. He had to maintain the illusion that he was just an ordinary person, without any special abilities.

Little did Elara know, Aegis's true nature was far more complex, his secrets hidden behind a mask of vulnerability.

As Aegis left the Moonlit Serenade, he couldn't shake off the feeling of unease. Elara's words of encouragement still lingered in his mind, but he knew that his life was far from ordinary.

Just as he turned the corner, he heard a commotion coming from the tavern. Aegis's heart sank as he rushed back towards the Moonlit Serenade.

Through the window, he saw Elara standing defiantly, her eyes blazing with anger, as she confronted a group of nobles. At the forefront stood the Crown Prince, his face twisted in a snarl.

"You dare to harbor a Necros?" the Crown Prince spat, his voice dripping with venom. "You will pay for your treachery."

Aegis watched in horror as the Crown Prince drew his sword and struck Elara down. Her body crumpled to the ground, a pool of blood spreading from her lifeless form.

The Crown Prince turned to face Aegis, a cruel smile spreading across his face. "And as for you, Necros... you will soon join your precious Elara."

Aegis's world went dark as his vision narrowed, his anger and grief boiling over. He knew that he had to escape, but a part of him wanted to stay and unleash his wrath upon the nobles.

For now, Aegis remained frozen, his eyes fixed on Elara's lifeless body, as the nobles closed in around him

Aegis's vision blurred as he stumbled backward, his mind reeling from the shock of Elara's murder. The nobles closed in, their swords raised, but Aegis didn't notice. He was consumed by a burning rage and an unquenchable thirst for revenge.

As he fled the scene, Aegis found himself at the entrance of a mysterious realm, shrouded in an otherworldly mist. The air was heavy with the scent of death and decay.

A figure emerged from the shadows - Death herself. Her eyes gleamed with an ethereal light as she regarded Aegis.

"You have been chosen, Aegis Diabolo," Death declared, her voice like the gentle rustling of dry leaves. "Your unyielding spirit and unrelenting passion for revenge have earned you a place among my saints."

Aegis felt a searing pain as Death's power coursed through his veins. His body began to transform, his cells rearranging to accommodate the newfound energy.

When the transformation was complete, Aegis stood before Death, his eyes aglow with an eerie light.

"I grant you the power of Life Balance," Death said, her voice dripping with an air of finality. "With this ability, you will be able to cheat death itself, resurrecting from the very brink of demise."

Aegis's mind reeled as he grasped the true extent of his newfound power. He knew that he would never be the same again, that his existence would forever be tied to the whims of Death herself.

And with that knowledge, Aegis Diabolo, Death's Saint, was born.

Aegis's transformation was complete. With his newfound power, Life Balance, he set out to avenge Elara's death.

He tracked down the nobles who had murdered his mother figure, his eyes blazing with an unholy fury. One by one, he slaughtered them, his karambit slicing through their defenses with deadly precision.

But the Crown Prince, the one who had struck down Elara, managed to escape. Aegis pursued him, driven by a relentless rage.

The prince fled through the winding streets, his breath coming in ragged gasps. He stumbled, fell, and scrambled to his feet, desperate to escape the vengeful Aegis.

Finally, the prince vanished into the night, leaving behind a trail of blood and terror. Aegis was left standing alone, his chest heaving with exhaustion.

As he caught his breath, Aegis was approached by a mysterious figure. "You have skills that would be wasted on the streets," the figure said. "Join us, and you'll have the resources and support to take down those who wronged you."

Aegis hesitated, unsure if he could trust this stranger. But the promise of resources and support was too enticing to resist.