Mirai said with a sarcastic smile:

  "Have you lost hope in your followers?"

  Iris replied with a cold smile, devoid of emotion:

  "I wasn't betting on them from the start."

  Then she slowly extended her hand, her eyes never leaving Mirai:

  "You know what I want, don't you?"

  Hikari felt an internal constriction. Iris's presence was no joke, and her power was overwhelmingly difficult to ignore. He turned toward Mirai and asked cautiously:

  "Do you know this girl?"

  Mirai answered in a calm voice, but her eyes carried a deep tension:

  "Yes... She's an old friend. And by the way, she's the demon the receptionist mentioned."

  Hikari froze in place, feeling real danger approaching.

  Iris smiled wickedly, staring at Hikari with curiosity:

  "The young man beside you seems interesting... Is he the one who removed my curse?"

  Mirai replied with a slight smile, but her gaze remained fixed on Iris:

  "Who knows? But I was longing to see your face when it happened."

  Iris said with a faint smile, a suppressed note of annoyance in it:

  "I'd be lying if I said I wasn't angry... But curiosity now overshadows the anger. Who is this person who managed to break my curse?"

  A sudden silence fell, then Mirai's features shifted to seriousness. She turned toward Hikari and said in a low, steady voice:

  "Hikari, leave now. Don't stop running. Get as far away as you can. She's on a completely different level."

  He looked at her with concern, but he understood. He would be a burden in this fight. He nodded and whispered:

  "My spells are still active. I'll get away... but I'll make sure you stay safe."

  Mirai smiled confidently, not without a hidden warmth:

  "I trust you."

  Then Hikari rushed off, running away at maximum speed.

  Iris laughed sarcastically as she watched him leave:

  "I can't believe he abandoned you so easily."

  Then the tone of jest suddenly vanished:

  "I have no time for chatter. Hand over the sword now."

  Mirai said firmly, her eyes unblinking:

  "Come and take it then."

  Iris raised her hand, and dark energy began gathering around her, heavy as soot. She said in a calm tone, but carrying a clear threat:

  "I have thirteenth-level spells, and dark energy is among them. Your immunity won't save you. I just hope you don't die from the first strike... I don't want to lose the sword."

  Then she launched a crushing attack.

  Mirai stood motionless. She let the attack hit her completely.

  Iris smiled confidently, but she soon frowned. Mirai was still standing, without a scratch.

  Mirai smiled to herself, thinking:

  "Just as I expected."

  The barrier Hikari had activated was still holding, despite its slight cracks.

  "A thirteenth-level spell. Any lesser attack won't scratch it. But... it will hold for three or four attacks at most."

  Iris looked stunned. She asked in shock:

  "What is this? Where did this barrier come from? How did it block the attack?"

  Mirai approached her calmly and said in a low voice, dripping with sarcasm:

  "Thank you, Iris. You were the perfect experiment."

  Then she rushed toward her at lightning speed, her sword cutting through the air. But before she could strike, Iris's body transformed into smooth, shiny rock. The sword struck it, creating a slight crack.

  Mirai stepped back and said with a questioning smile:

  "Did you master this spell yourself, or did you... steal it?"

  Iris didn't answer, just raised her hand. The boulder suddenly disappeared, and a storm of sharp blades rushed toward Mirai.

  Mirai watched the attack with anticipation, her smile never leaving her. The blades were raining down, striking the barrier, creating deep cracks.

  She said calmly, as if reading a familiar book:

  "Wind of Judgment spell, then... It seems you've finally gotten serious."

  The attack escalated in violence, and the barrier began to collapse. Despite the pressure, Mirai continued her advance with steady steps.

  Suddenly, she launched a direct attack. But Iris dodged the strike at the last moment and retreated.

  She raised her hand toward the sky, clouds gathered, then sharp water swords fell from them like deadly rain.

  Despite the rain that fell like spears, Mirai continued advancing. But the swords succeeded in penetrating the barrier, and three of them embedded in her body—left arm, right leg, and abdomen.

  She stopped... but didn't fall.

  Iris smiled and muttered:

  "Your luck has run out. Don't worry, I deliberately avoided fatal areas."

  Then she laughed lightly:

  "Oh, right, that doesn't matter... You'll bleed to death shortly anyway."

  But Mirai looked at her with a calm smile. She slowly pulled the water swords from her body, and her wounds healed before Iris's shocked eyes.

  In a moment, the barrier returned to surround her body.

  Iris stepped back, then whispered in amazement:

  "This... is impossible."

  Mirai said with a pure smile:

  "I'm sorry, Iris, but apparently... I'm the luckiest girl in the world. In fact, let me say: I'm practically immortal."

  Iris was boiling inside.

  "She heals instantly... and the barrier regenerates? Currently, I can't use two thirteenth-level spells together. So I won't be able to penetrate her defenses."

  At that moment, Mirai began approaching her with unwavering confidence. Iris stood frozen, immersed in frantic thought:

  "There's no point in attacking... There's something else. How does the barrier regenerate itself? How does she heal so quickly?"

  Then suddenly, her eyes widened with sudden realization.

  "Maybe he's the reason!" she muttered to herself.

  She jumped into the air and spread her wings.

  Mirai shouted from behind her:

  Stolen story; please report.

  "Is this a retreat?"

  But Iris didn't respond. She took off at maximum speed, heading toward a specific target.

  As soon as Mirai noticed her destination, she realized her intent.

  She brought out her own wings and took off after her at lightning speed.

  ---

  Hikari stood panting, his breaths coming in gasps as he tried to catch them after continuous running. He looked around cautiously, sweat pouring from his forehead, and muttered to himself:

  "The situation is bad... That demon is truly dangerous. She managed to penetrate the barrier and hit Mirai in three places in one moment. Fortunately, I linked the barrier to her through the Link of light... I can maintain it all the time, but if it suddenly collapses before I can renew it, and her injury is fatal..."

  He paused for seconds, then whispered worriedly:

  "She needs to finish the fight quickly."

  Suddenly, a sound echoed in the sky. He raised his head, and there was Iris descending at lightning speed like a thunderbolt.

  Before he could even think, she had grabbed him and pressed a water sword to his neck. He froze in place, the cold emanating from the sword paralyzing his movement.

  Mirai appeared and froze the moment her eyes landed on the scene. Sharp concern flashed across her face, but she said nothing.

  Iris said with a wicked smile: "I'm certain this boy is the one healing you and renewing the barrier."

  Mirai's expression shifted, calm but terrifying. Iris, despite herself, took a step back.

  Nevertheless, Iris continued calmly: "Let's make a deal, Mirai. The sword for his life."

  Mirai took a deep breath, then said in a calm tone devoid of hesitation: "Fine... agreed."

  Hikari lurched forward, eyes wide with horror as he shouted: "No! Don't do this! Don't give her the sword!"

  But Iris tightened her grip, and the sword came closer to his neck until blood flowed on his skin, and she said with cutting coldness: "One more word and I'll tear your throat open."

  Mirai advanced with steady steps, her voice tone unwavering: "I'll give you the sword, but on one condition: we use a magical contract."

  Iris raised her eyebrows mockingly and said: "Oh, you're boldly frank. You're asking for something while I hold the upper hand."

  In a slow, shocking movement, Mirai placed her spiritual sword on her own throat. She smiled, wild, unhinged, saying with eyes that made even Iris flinch:

  "I'll kill myself if you don't agree. You know perfectly well, the only way to get the sword is for me to give it to you willingly. Besides, if he dies, I bleed out anyway. No difference to me. But you? You lose everything."

  Iris was disturbed by her and tightened her grip on the water sword. Meanwhile, Hikari stood frozen, mouth open but no sound coming. Not even a scream.

  Iris sighed, saying: "Agreed. I'll accept the magical contract. What are your conditions?"

  Mirai moved her sword away from her throat and replied with a stern look and a voice that brooked no discussion: "Swear to me: You won't touch Hikari's powers. You won't send anyone after him. You stay away from my brother Darius. And most importantly… give me back my healing ability."

  A moment of silence passed. Then Iris said, her eyes gleaming with cunning: "I'll agree to most of your terms."

  She added, in a sharper tone: "But you're asking for the impossible. That healing gift? I merged it into the crystal along with your power as payback. For killing my father. But now I'm grateful you didn't die then... I didn't expect I'd need the sword to use your powers."

  She raised her hand, and a magical paper glowing red appeared in the air. She said in a clear voice: "I pledge not to steal Hikari's powers, not to send anyone after him, and not to pursue or harm Darius. However, if Darius attacks me or tries to prevent me from what I want, I retain the right to defend myself, even killing him if necessary."

  Then she looked at her and asked: "Do you accept, Mirai?"

  Mirai hesitated for a moment, her lips tightening, but then she nodded: "Yes, I agree."

  The magical paper glowed with bright light, then disappeared. Iris said in a decisive tone: "The contract is done. Whoever breaks it... dies. Give me the sword now."

  Mirai gripped her spiritual sword with her right hand, her eyes shining with determination. She looked at Hikari, who was staring at her in amazement, his eyes reflecting helplessness and shock as if the world had collapsed beneath his feet.

  Mirai slowly closed her eyes, gathering her courage, summoning the rising heat of her soul. The sword began to glow, its pulse echoing in her being as if it were a living creature.

  She breathed deeply, then raised the sword high...

  And without hesitation, she brought the blade down on her left arm.

  When she brought the blade down on her arm, she didn't just cut flesh... she separated a part of her soul.

  The scream of pain didn't emerge. But it was there, suppressed in the body's trembling, in the wandering gaze, in the blood that poured with the tearing of flesh and bone.

  Mirai's body shook, but she didn't fall. The pain was tearing her apart, gnawing at her soul before her body, but she refused to let it take control.

  Her severed arm fell to the ground, and with it fell the spiritual sword.

  Iris watched in silence, her eyes gleaming with strange admiration. Then, suddenly, without warning, she raised her water sword and severed her own left arm as well, with the same coldness.

  She picked up Mirai's severed arm, placed it where her cut arm had been, and began muttering an ancient spell, its language mysterious as if belonging to a forgotten time.

  Blue glowing energy emerged from her mouth, surrounding the arm, penetrating the wound. An amazing process began: bones fusing, blood mixing with energy, and tissues returning to life as if sprouting anew.

  As movement slowly returned to the fingers, Iris stepped forward and picked up the sword from the ground.

  She felt enormous spiritual energy flowing into her and smiled a confused smile between pride and triumph.

  Before jumping into the sky, she turned to them and said in a mocking voice:

  "Thanks for your cooperation."

  Then she took off into the air, leaving behind a heavy stillness.

  Hikari approached, shocked, unable to speak. He ran toward Mirai, who was swaying in place, her face pale, but her eyes still closed.

  He said nothing. He just extended his hand to her trembling shoulder, hesitated for a moment, then began muttering a spell:

  "Regeneration..."

  A golden aura emanated from his palm, warm and bright as sunlight. It enveloped Mirai's shoulder and began slowly flowing through her tissues.

  She felt a gentle warmth penetrating inside her, gradually easing the pain.

  The bone regenerated first, then muscles followed, nerves formed, and skin extended over them in a pure, bright color.

  In minutes, the arm returned as it was... as if it had never been lost.

  Silence enveloped the place, with only Hikari's broken breaths heard, and the groan of fatigue that crept into his body from the spell that exhausted him to the last drop of his energy.

  With the completion of the new arm, Mirai slowly opened her eyes. She stared at her arm as if seeing something unbelievable. She began moving her fingers, then her wrist, as if feeling life anew. She raised her gaze to Hikari and smiled at him with pure joy:

  "This is amazing... The pain disappeared completely. I'll never tire of seeing your healing abilities!"

  But Hikari didn't return the smile. He looked at the ground, his voice barely audible, heavy with guilt:

  "Can you... use your spiritual sword with this arm?"

  His eyes were filled with sorrow, fleeing from hers as if afraid to see the painful truth reflected in them.

  Mirai looked at her new arm for a moment, then said in a calm tone:

  "No. The sword was part of my soul... and I've cut that part completely."

  Hikari closed his eyes, receiving her words like a stab to his chest, then whispered in a voice tinged with regret:

  "Why? Why did you give her the sword?"

  He raised his eyes to her, and they were glistening with tears:

  "The sword was part of you, of your soul... and cutting the soul... doesn't heal."

  Mirai gently extended her new hand, placed it on his shoulder, and made him look at her.

  She said with a warm smile and a tone saturated with sincerity:

  "Because your life matters to me more than anything else."

  Hikari felt the warmth of those words penetrate the wall of his sadness, but they weren't enough to dispel the guilt that continued to eat at him. He wanted to say something, to apologize, to scream... but he couldn't find the words. Then, Mirai gently squeezed his shoulder, reassuring him without need for a long conversation.

  "Don't blame yourself, Hikari. We're a team. And what I did was for both of us."

  He sighed, wiped his tears, and nodded slowly. Then he said in a voice closer to an oath:

  "Thank you, Mirai... I promise I'll compensate you for this sacrifice, no matter what it takes."

  She smiled at him, the look in her eyes still retaining that light that wounds hadn't extinguished, then said:

  "Let's go back now... It's been a long enough day."

  They walked together in silence, slowly returning toward the town. Night was wrapping the place in its quiet cloak, and the sounds of nature around them seemed to console them in silence. When they reached the inn, the streets were empty except for some cold wind gusts.

  They climbed the wooden stairs that creaked softly with each step until they reached the upper floor.

  Mirai entered her room and closed the door behind her. She sat on the bed, staring at the ceiling, thoughts spinning in her mind like an unstoppable torrent.

  "Perhaps it's time to leave... Everyone will know about the sword soon. And Nanaki knows I'm here. But if I leave... it would be impossible for anyone to track me."

  Between caution and the desire to disappear, her soul wavered.

  On the opposite side, Hikari entered his room and quietly closed the door. He threw his body on the bed, exhausted. The image of Mirai and her sacrifice wouldn't leave his mind, haunting him as if etched on the walls of his memory.

  "She lost a part of herself because of me... I can't allow this. I must take her to that place..."

  He muttered with faint determination.

  As the minutes passed, both sank into deep sleep, but their thoughts didn't calm, continuing to turn in their minds like fire under ash.

  Mirai's sacrifice was a seed planted in the soil of this heavy night... a seed that hadn't grown yet, but promised a future full of greater sacrifices.

  **Days Later**

  The carriage shook on the dirt road, moving amid the stillness of nature dressed in calm. Mirai and Hikari sat inside, watching the road stretching before them, a deep silence connecting them. There was no need for words; the decision had been made.

  Mirai had requested to leave, and Hikari had suggested the destination.

  The scenery changed around them: green fields vanished behind dense trees, then forests disappeared to reveal barren, desolate lands that instilled in the soul a feeling of mysterious loneliness.

  After a long time of travel, Hikari asked the driver to stop.

  The two descended from the carriage to find themselves in an area surrounded by mountains on all sides. The place seemed isolated from the world, immersed in ancient silence.

  Hikari led the way, and Mirai walked behind him without uttering a word. They crossed narrow passages and rough terrain until night fell upon them, and stars began weaving their veil over the dark sky.

  When it was time to rest, Hikari took out two tents and some firewood and lit a small fire with a fire diamond. They sat beside it, its fragile warmth approaching them against the mountain cold.

  He took out simple food and offered it to Mirai. They sat eating in silence, each lost in thought.

  Mirai noticed the distraction in his eyes, so she spoke first, her eyes on the fire:

  "If you're thinking about what happened before... you can ask me, Hikari. I have nothing to hide from you."

  He raised his gaze to her, confusion inhabiting his features, then said hesitantly:

  "When Iris appeared... she called you 'Princess'... and there was that conversation about the curse..."

  He paused slightly, then added with confusion:

  "But... it's okay if you don't want to answer. I don't like to interfere."

  Mirai looked at him for a long time, then smiled. Her smile was different... carrying no defense or reservation, but calm honesty.

  She said in a confident and affectionate tone:

  "You and I have been together for a long time, Hikari. And after everything we've been through... I think you deserve to know everything."

  Then she raised her eyes to the sky, looking at the stars that shone as if telling stories from long ago.

  "I'll tell you some things about my childhood. And the reason for my presence in human territories."

  (To be continued.)