The sun began to rise in the distance.

  Its pale light crept over the broken mansion, washing the scorched walls and shattered windows in a muted gold. The wind was rough, cold enough to sting, carrying with it the scent of ash, blood, and damp earth.

  Kael Ardent stood near the entrance, his red yoroi faintly reflecting the morning light.

  “Anyways,” he said calmly, “how are you feeling? I heard this guy used toxins on his blades. Strong enough to kill anyone.”

  Akitsu Shouga instinctively looked down at himself. He brushed at his torn clothes, inspected his arms, his hands—searching for even the faintest trace of blue, glowing residue.

  Nothing.

  No burning sensation.

  No corrosion.

  No slow, creeping pain.

  “I think I’m safe…” Akitsu said quietly. “There are no toxins on me this time.”

  He let out a breath he hadn’t realized he was holding.

  Seraphine Orion tilted her head sharply.

  “…What do you mean this time?”

  She floated closer, her fox-like eyes narrowing.

  “Shouga-kun, I’ve only known you for one day,” she continued, “but I could tell something was off the moment you woke up.”

  Akitsu hesitated.

  “Oh? Is that so…” he murmured.

  “…Maybe it has something to do with my powers.”

  The words were barely audible—more for himself than anyone else.

  Kael glanced around the ruined interior. “By the way—are there any casualties? Where are the residents of this mansion?”

  “They’re all upstairs,” Akitsu replied. “Hiding.”

  Kael nodded. “Then let’s go check on them.”

  “Yeah.”

  As they spoke, the massive vine net separating the first and second floors began to crumble. The greenery turned brittle, dissolving into fine dust that drifted silently to the ground.

  Akitsu turned back.

  Ayaka Tachibana stood beneath the staircase.

  No eyes.

  No mouth.

  White rags swaying gently in the wind.

  “Tachibana-san,” Akitsu said softly, “come here.”

  She obeyed without hesitation, walking quietly to his side.

  Kael glanced down while heading upstairs. “Is that your spirit?”

  “Yeah,” Akitsu replied. He gently patted Ayaka’s head. “She is.”

  Kael and Seraphine continued to the second floor.

  Akitsu crouched slightly to Ayaka’s level. “Tachibana-san, can you hide yourself like Orion?”

  Ayaka nodded.

  “Alright,” he said. “If Renjiro-san and Rikuya-san see you, they’ll definitely freak out. So please be careful around them.”

  She nodded again.

  Akitsu climbed the stairs—but Kael and Seraphine were already gone.

  “…Where did they go?” he muttered.

  After a moment, he shrugged. “I guess I can leave the rest to them.”

  He turned and walked outside, carefully avoiding the corpse of the man lying near the entrance.

  “He really wasn’t lucky enough to escape a second time,” Akitsu muttered.

  He stopped.

  The sun was fully rising now.

  Akitsu inhaled deeply… then exhaled.

  “I wonder how Master and Hoshizaki-san are doing…”

  The warmth of the sunrise did little to ease the weight in his chest.

  Several hours later—

  This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.

  The sun was setting.

  Orange light bled across the horizon as a carriage rattled along a dirt road, heading toward a quiet village beyond the kingdom’s borders.

  Akitsu leaned against the carriage window, staring outside.

  This is pretty boring… he thought.

  I thought we’d go somewhere cooler.

  But instead, Renjiro-san says we’re hiding in a random village for a while…

  He sighed.

  This totally sucks. I was just getting used to the noble lifestyle.

  Outside, villagers plowed their fields calmly, unaware of the chaos Akitsu had survived only hours ago.

  Kaoru sat across from him, looking out the opposite window.

  Renjiro broke the silence. “It’s a shame the house is in ruins… but at least we’re all alive. Right?”

  Rikuya smiled gently. “This village is incredibly peaceful, isn’t it?”

  Kaoru and Akitsu remained quiet.

  Renjiro glanced between them. “…Umm. Did something happen between you two?”

  Akitsu looked up. “What do you mean? Nothing happened between us, right, Kaoru?”

  “…Don’t know. Don’t ask me,” Kaoru replied coldly.

  “Eh?” Akitsu blinked. “What’s wrong? Did I do something to you?”

  “Oh, don’t worry,” Rikuya said softly. “She’ll be back to normal in a day or two.”

  Renjiro chuckled awkwardly. “Kaoru’s always like this. Don’t let it get to you.”

  Akitsu looked away, saying nothing.

  The carriage stopped in front of a modest wooden house.

  “We’re here at last!” Renjiro said.

  “This will be our home for the next couple of months,” Rikuya added.

  They went inside to look around.

  Kaoru stayed outside, gazing at the village.

  Akitsu approached her from behind. “Kaoru… did I do something to you? Come on, tell me what I did wrong. I won’t be able to fix it if you don’t say anything. You can tell me anything—I don’t mind.”

  She walked away without looking at him.

  “Kaoru?” Akitsu called. “Where are you going? It’s getting dark—you shouldn’t wander off alone!”

  She didn’t stop.

  She won’t listen…

  What did I do wrong this time?

  “Renjiro-san! Rikuya-san!” Akitsu called back. “Kaoru and I are going out for a bit! We’ll be back soon!”

  “Alright! Be careful!” Renjiro replied.

  Akitsu ran after Kaoru.

  “Kaoru, at least talk to me…” he pleaded. “I can’t fix your problems if you don’t tell me what I did wrong.”

  She remained silent.

  They passed beyond the village and reached a hill.

  A single tree stood at the top.

  Kaoru climbed it and sat beneath the tree, facing the sinking sun.

  Akitsu stopped halfway up the hill.

  “…This scene looks familiar.”

  A chill ran down his spine.

  Still, he followed.

  He sat beside her.

  “The sun’s pretty, isn’t it…?”

  Kaoru didn’t respond.

  “What’s wrong, Kaoru?” Akitsu asked quietly. “Please… tell me what I did wrong. I’ll fix it.”

  Then—

  Seraphine Orion suddenly appeared, floating in front of him in her small white kitsune form.

  Akitsu nearly jumped.

  “…You messed up, didn’t you?” she said flatly.