At the very heart of Soren Village, rising above the storm like an ancient sentinel, stood a massive shrine carved from pale stone and frozen wood. Sacred talismans fluttered weakly in the wind, their strings stiff with ice. This was the dwelling of the Village Chief—a place where no common elf dared to tread without summons.
Inside, the air was warm, heavy with incense and authority.
The village chief stood near the shrine’s central altar. His skin was pale as moonlight, his purple eyes sharp and unblinking, and his long ears marked his lineage unmistakably. Draped over his shoulders was a massive coat made from thick wolf fur, its weight adding to his imposing presence.
An elf in ceremonial armor stepped forward—the chief ambassador. He knelt and bowed deeply, his forehead nearly touching the polished stone floor.
The chief spoke first.
“What is the situation like?”
“The intruder is still on the run,” the ambassador replied evenly.
“Our guardians have been deployed across the village perimeter. They are actively pursuing him, Chief.”
The chief’s fingers tightened slightly at his side.
“I don’t want him alive,” he said coldly.
“I want him dead—before Mother finds out.”
The ambassador stiffened.
“Yes, Chief.”
Without another word, he rose and retreated into the shadows, leaving the shrine silent once more—save for the howl of the storm outside.
Snow exploded beneath hurried footsteps.
A man with white hair and red eyes darted through the village like a phantom, his breath steady despite the chaos behind him. He leapt effortlessly into the air, landing atop a thick tree branch as snow cascaded downward.
He crouched low, scanning the area.
“Where are they?” he muttered.
“Did they get lost or something?”
A calm, youthful voice answered from behind him.
“It’s the exact opposite…”
His instincts screamed.
“…We always know where you are.”
The man twisted around—
A giant fireball roared toward him.
“—Tch!”
He launched himself off the branch just as the explosion swallowed the tree in flame and steam. He landed on another branch below, boots skidding across frozen bark.
On a nearby tree stood a young girl, her small frame outlined by flickering firelight. Flames danced around her hand as if obeying her will.
“Aren’t you too young to be doing this?” the man called out.
“Nope!!”
Another fireball formed instantly and shot toward him.
He dropped to the ground, rolling through the snow as the blast tore through the trees behind him. Without hesitation, he ran—vanishing deeper into the blizzard.
Meanwhile—
Akitsu Shouga lay inside the tree house, staring blankly at the wooden ceiling.
Silence pressed down on him.
“This is getting boring…” he murmured.
Then—
BOOM.
The entire structure trembled.
Akitsu jolted upright.
“What was that?”
“What’s happening outside?”
He stood and approached the door carefully, heart pounding. Slowly, he cracked it open.
Cold wind rushed in.
Through the thick snowfall, he saw a faint glow in the distance—firelight flickering unnaturally through the storm.
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“What’s happening out there?” he whispered.
“Did something happen to Vale-san…?”
Suddenly—
THUNK.
An arrow slammed into the doorframe beside his face, the wooden shaft vibrating violently.
“—!”
Akitsu slammed the door shut and collapsed backward onto the floor.
“What was that?!”
“Did they find me?!”
His breathing turned erratic.
His heart raced uncontrollably.
A sharp ringing filled his ears.
The world spun.
“No—no—”
His vision blurred as the ringing grew louder, swallowing every thought—
Then everything went black.
When Akitsu opened his eyes, he was standing on the red island once more.
Cracked crimson ground beneath his feet.
The blood-red sakura tree stood silently at the center.
The black void stretched endlessly around him.
This time—
Twelve sakura petals drifted upon the black water.
Akitsu stared at them, dread pooling in his chest.
“How did I die…?”
“I couldn’t have died there. Did I get poisoned? Or did something worse happen?”
Without waiting for answers, he stepped into the black water and walked toward a red door.
He opened it.
Silence consumed everything.
Akitsu opened his eyes again.
He was standing in the center of Sunwind Village.
The air was unnaturally cold.
“I’m back…?” he said quietly.
“What’s going to happen now?”
He turned toward the dojo and began walking.
Everything seemed normal—
Until he felt something heavy in his pocket.
He stopped.
Pulled it out.
A knife.
Its blade was stained dark with dried blood.
“My hands are clean…” he whispered.
“Is this… the knife I used to kill the assassins?”
A chill ran down his spine.
He looked up.
The villagers—
Frozen.
Their bodies were locked in place, thin layers of frost covering their skin like porcelain. Even the air itself felt dead.
Akitsu stepped closer to one villager and touched their arm.
CRASH.
The body toppled over and shattered into countless icy fragments.
“What the hell is going on…?”
“Did that little girl do this?”
“That’s impossible… right?”
A freezing gust swept through the street.
Akitsu shivered violently.
“I need to get back to the dojo!”
Before he could run—
A calm voice spoke behind him.
“Huh…? I thought I killed you already.”
His blood turned to ice.
Before Akitsu could turn around, his body froze solid. His limbs locked, breath trapped in his lungs—
Then—
He fell.
Shattering into pieces.
Darkness swallowed everything.
When he opened his eyes again—
The ethereal void greeted him once more.
The red sakura tree stood unchanged.
The black water stretched endlessly.
This time—
Thirteen sakura petals floated upon the surface.
“I died again…?” Akitsu whispered.
Without hesitation, he stepped into the water, walked to another red door, and opened it.
The world fell into silence.
