At the very heart of Soren Village—where even the wind seemed to bow—rose a massive shrine of pale stone and frost?bitten wood. It towered above the blizzard like an ancient sentinel, unmoved by time or storm. Sacred talismans hung from its beams, fluttering weakly, their strings stiff with ice. No common elf would approach this place without summons. This was the dwelling of the Village Chief.

  Inside, the air was warm and oppressive, thick with incense and quiet authority. The blizzard’s howl was reduced to a distant murmur, as if even the storm knew better than to intrude.

  The Village Chief stood before the central altar. His skin was pale as moonlight, his purple eyes sharp and unblinking. Long ears marked his lineage unmistakably. Draped over his shoulders was a massive coat of wolf fur, its weight lending to his already imposing presence.

  An elf in ceremonial armor stepped forward—the chief ambassador. He knelt, bowing deeply until his forehead nearly touched the polished stone floor.

  The chief spoke first, voice cold and measured.

  “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 at his side.

  “I don’t want him alive,” he said.

  A pause.

  “I want him dead—before Mother finds out.”

  The ambassador stiffened. “Yes, Chief.”

  He rose and vanished into the shadows, leaving the shrine silent once more—save for the distant howl of the storm.

  —

  Snow exploded beneath hurried footsteps.

  A man with white hair and crimson eyes moved through Soren Village like a phantom. His breath was steady despite the chaos behind him. He leapt effortlessly, landing atop a thick tree branch as snow cascaded downward.

  He crouched low, scanning the blizzard.

  “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.”

  He twisted—

  A massive fireball roared toward him.

  “—Tch!”

  He launched himself from 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.

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  “Nope!!”

  Another fireball formed instantly and tore through the storm toward him.

  He dropped to the ground, rolled through the snow as the blast ripped apart trees behind him, and ran—vanishing deeper into the blizzard.

  —

  Meanwhile, inside the tree house.

  Akitsu Shouga lay on the wooden floor, staring blankly at the ceiling. The storm outside pressed in, heavy and relentless.

  “This is getting boring…” he murmured.

  Then—

  BOOM.

  The entire structure trembled.

  Akitsu jolted upright. “What was that?”

  His heart pounded as he stood and approached the door. Slowly, carefully, he cracked it open.

  Cold wind rushed in.

  Through the snowfall, he saw it—firelight flickering unnaturally in the distance.

  “What’s happening out there…?” he whispered. “Did something happen to Vale?san…?”

  THUNK.

  An arrow slammed into the doorframe beside his face, the wood shuddering violently.

  “—!”

  Akitsu slammed the door shut and collapsed backward.

  “What was that?!”

  “Did they find me?!”

  His breathing spiraled out of control. His heart raced. A sharp ringing filled his ears.

  “No—no—”

  The world spun.

  Then everything went black.

  —

  Akitsu opened his eyes.

  Red earth cracked beneath his feet. The blood?red sakura tree stood silently at the center of the island. The black void stretched endlessly around him.

  This time—twelve sakura petals drifted across the surface of the black water.

  Akitsu stared, dread pooling in his chest.

  “How did I die…?”

  He stepped into the water, walked to a red door, and opened it.

  —

  Cold air hit him.

  He stood in the center of Sunwind Village.

  “I’m back…?”

  Something felt wrong.

  He reached into his pocket.

  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?”

  He looked up.

  The villagers were frozen. Frost covered their skin like porcelain.

  He touched one.

  CRASH.

  The body shattered into countless icy fragments.

  “What the hell is going on…?”

  A freezing gust tore through the street.

  “I need to get back to the dojo!”

  A voice spoke behind him.

  “Huh…? I thought I killed you already.”

  His body froze solid.

  He fell.

  —

  Darkness.

  The ethereal void.

  Thirteen sakura petals drifted across the water.

  “I died again…?”

  Without hesitation, Akitsu stepped forward and opened another red door.

  Silence consumed everything.