Our story begins here, in a village in a quiet region, surrounded by woods and forests, and in this same village, something... peculiar was happening.
A chase was taking place, a boy, around 14 or 15 years old, jumping and doing acrobatics while fleeing from some men.
Boy: Heh... always like this, huh? So let's see what you think of this! - he said breathlessly and excitedly.
The boy jumps over some barrels in front of him and manages to climb onto the roof of a house; the men are in disbelief.
Chaser: Hey, what the hell is this, kid? - the man said in a stressed tone while staring at the boy on the roof.
Another Chaser: That's right, get down from there now! - the other man agreed with his partner.
The men get angry, but the boy doesn't care at all.
Boy: Hahaha, and now? "Hey, what do you think?" he said playfully, as if trying to annoy the men.
The boy mocked the men, but misstepped and ended up falling near them.
Pursuer: "Well, well, who's laughing now?" - he approached the boy.
Boy: "Hehe... we can settle this amicably, right?" - the boy seemed desperate, pale with fear.
Footsteps could be heard, and then a sweet voice could be heard.
Girl: "Leave him alone!" - the girl spoke in a loud tone, to assert her request.
The girl, with light eyes and long brown hair, who appeared to be the same age as the boy, appeared there, defending him.
Boy: "Aoi..." - he seemed relieved to see her.
Pursuer: "No way, it's the third time he's robbed my store!" - he said stressed, fighting the girl.
Aoi: "Please!" "I'm only asking this, he...we can work to pay for his theft," she seemed desperate, she would do anything to save the boy.
Pursuer: "Hmph...maybe then," he looked up, accepting the young woman's request.
Some time passes and now we are in an establishment, the characters were scrubbing the floor with mops and buckets of water.
Aoi: "Just a little more and we'll be done here, won't we, Ryusei!" Aoi said excitedly, while scrubbing the floor.
Ryusei: "Eh..." he seemed discouraged and downcast, leaning on the mop handle.
Aoi: "What's wrong, Ryusei?" - She seemed worried.
Ryusei: You know, Aoi, you shouldn't be here. I was the one who robbed those guys, but even so, you're here helping me - he says in the same dejected tone.
Aoi: Ryusei, of course I'm upset that you're still like this, but I won't abandon you, because I'm your friend, right! - she says this with a smile on her face, comforting Ryusei.
Ryusei: Oh... I don't even have words to thank you, but thank you for being my friend, Aoi! - Ryusei shakes off that dejection and regains her usual joy and enthusiasm - now let's clean this up!
The two then finish cleaning the shop, and the sun sets. Ryusei and Aoi go to their homes.
Aoi: Hey Ryusei, are you sure everything's alright? You know... do you have anything to eat tonight? - she said worriedly
Ryusei: Don't worry, of course, things haven't been going very well since my mother passed away, but thanks to the thefts, I still have something to eat - he said sincerely, but a certain sadness was evident on his face.
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Aoi: Anything you need, you can come to my house.
Ryusei: Okay! Hey, want to see something cool? - he seemed to have remembered something - can you go out tonight at dawn?
Aoi: Hmm, what a silly question, Ryusei, my parents would kill me if I went out at dawn - she said, questioning Ryusei, but curious about what it was.
Ryusei: Not even if it's secretly? - he asked, smiling.
Aoi: I can try... but why? - she was curious.
Ryusei: Heheh, I heard that in the woods, there's a lake of crystal-clear water, it's called the Mirror Lake - he told Aoi excitedly.
Aoi: Ohhhh, really? - She seemed quite interested - Well... I can try!
Ryusei: Seriously!? Let's go! - he says, quite excited
Aoi: Wow, you seem pretty excited about miso, huh? - the girl questions her friend's excitement
Ryusei: It's because, ever since I heard about this lagoon, I've really wanted to see it... but hey, don't be scared to walk in the woods, okay? - he teases Aoi
Aoi: What!? Who said I'm going to be scared? - Aoi gets angry and turns her face away
Ryusei laughs at Aoi and the two go home. Then finally dawn arrives and the two meet
Ryusei: Ready? - he asks Aoi
Aoi: Yes, I think so... hey, what's this? - she points to Ryusei's waist
Ryusei: Oh, this? "It's a dagger I took from that shop we were cleaning," he picks it up and shows it to Aoi. "We need to stay safe."
Aoi: "Yes, yes, you're right... wait! You stole that???" she asks with a hint of desperation.
Ryusei: "I know, I know, but it's for a good reason, okay?" He puts the dagger away.
Aoi: "There's no such thing as a good reason to steal," she scolds Ryusei. "But it's okay... just don't do it again."
Ryusei: "Okay, okay... but regardless, shall we go?" he tries to lighten the mood.
Aoi: Uh-huh, let's go! - Aoi gets excited and the two go.
Ryusei and Aoi then continue their way to the woods. They arrive and after quite some time, they find the Mirror Lake.
Ryusei: Heh, we finally arrived! - he arrives at the place and speaks very happily.
Aoi: How beautiful... - she seems mesmerized by the beauty of the crystal-clear water - Let's get closer!
Ryusei: Let's go! - he replies cheerfully with a smile.
The two run to the lake. It was truly a very beautiful lake; it could perfectly reflect the eyes of whoever was in front of it.
Aoi: Ohhhh, it really looks like a mirror - she says, observing her reflection.
Ryusei: Yes, it's very beautiful - Ryusei seemed very focused.
Aoi: Ryusei, are you alright? - turns to Ryusei and asks worriedly
Ryusei: Yes... I th- Ryusei interrupts his sentence, something seems to come from the lake
Arms emerge from the lake and grab Ryusei's neck, then pull the boy away
Aoi: Ryusei! - Aoi shouts her friend's name as she runs to pull him away
Aoi manages to pull Ryusei away but they are pushed and then those arms emerge from the lake revealing a hideous creature that has the appearance of a woman, but with a deformed body
Ryusei: What the hell is that? - Ryusei recovers and begins to distance himself
Aoi: No! No! - Aoi was desperate, she huddled together while trembling with fear
Ryusei: Aoi! (I can't let that thing hurt her!) - Ryusei then gets up and runs in front of Aoi to protect her.
Ryusei draws his dagger as the creature advances with terrifying movements.
Ryusei: Damn it, I didn't want to die now - he lowers his head, accepting his death.
The creature was about to attack Ryusei, but a red beam cuts the creature away. Ryusei turns to see what happened and sees a girl with dark hair with red streaks holding a red sword... a scarlet blade.
Girl: Finally attacked... - she straightens her stance, approaching the creature.
That monster attacks with its huge, sharp claws. Now she dodges and exchanges attacks with her blade. She is even hit a few times, but it doesn't matter. The girl then leaps forward and performs a combo of 3 cuts on the creature. The monster tries to defend itself with an attack, but the girl dodges and plunges her blade into the creature's head, finishing it off.
Ryusei: That's incredible - Ryusei could only admire what she had just seen.
The girl then spread her blade; it's possible to see her wrists bleeding, but the creature didn't land any blows there, it seems to have been done by the girl herself.
Girl: There... another hunted one - she seemed closed off and was about to leave.
Ryusei: Hey, thanks for saving me! - Ryusei waved as he ran towards the girl.
Girl: Hmm, I didn't save you because I wanted to - she turned her face away, wanting to avoid conversation.
Ryusei: Wow, how ignorant. If not for that, then why? - he seemed curious.
Boy: That's none of your business. Besides, don't you have to take care of your friend? - he pointed to Aoi, who was frightened.
Ryusei: You're right, but still! What were you doing here? - He wouldn't leave her alone until he knew what that girl was doing.
Girl: Ugh... you're unbearable - She seemed annoyed and impatient - I'm an Arcane Hunter...
Ryusei: Arcane Hunter? - He seemed confused.
Boy: My job is to kill creatures like this one - He turned his back and started walking - Now stop bothering me.
Ryusei: Okay haha, thanks hunter! - He went towards Aoi, who was scared, while waving to the girl.
Ryusei returns to the village with Aoi. The sun was beginning to rise, and Ryusei explains what happened to Aoi.
To be continued...
