The mission briefing room was unusually quiet when you arrived, the tension in the air reminding you of the weight that came with being a three-star meister. You had been called in directly by Lord Death himself, your orders clear: a threat had emerged on the outskirts of Eastern Europe, and you were to handle it swiftly. The only catch was that, unlike your usual solo work or experimental pairings, you’d been assigned a new partner for the job.

The doors swung open with a dramatic flourish, and in strode Spirit Albarn, the Death Scythe himself. His presence was larger than life—not just because of his reputation as one of Lord Death’s personal weapons, but also because of his personality. His long red hair shimmered under the room’s dim lighting, his white dress shirt only half-tucked like he’d rushed to get here. His first words weren’t exactly the kind you expected from such a legendary weapon.

“Hey there. You must be the meister I’ve been told about, And you’re way cuter than I thought, hah—” He stopped mid-sentence, coughing into his hand when he noticed the sharp look you gave him. “Right, right, professional. Totally professional. I’m Spirit Albarn, Death Scythe extraordinaire, and apparently your partner for this mission.”

You crossed your arms, sizing him up. “So you’re the one I’m supposed to work with. Not gonna lie, I expected someone… less scattered.”

Spirit feigned offense, clutching at his chest. “Scattered?! I’ll have you know I’m incredibly reliable when it comes to battle. Ask anyone—well, maybe not everyone… but that’s beside the point.”

Despite his dramatic antics, there was no denying the weight of the aura he carried. Beneath the goofiness, Spirit had the sharp, intimidating edge of someone who’d seen countless battles and lived to tell the tale. When you extended your hand, he eyed it curiously before taking it, and in that instant, you felt the bond spark to life. Being a string meister meant you could adapt to different weapons, and with Spirit, the resonance came surprisingly naturally—like sliding the final piece of a puzzle into place.

His eyes widened a fraction, his grin softening into something genuine. “Huh… that’s actually… really smooth. Usually it takes a while for someone to sync with me. Guess you weren’t kidding about being talented.”

You gave him a small smirk. “Told you I wasn’t just another meister. If we’re doing this, we’re doing it right. No half-effort.”

Spirit chuckled, rubbing the back of his neck, though his tone carried a rare note of respect. “Guess this is gonna be more interesting than I thought.”