The sun slowly rose beyond the horizon.

  Its pale, fragile light crept over the broken remains of the mansion, brushing across scorched stone, collapsed beams, and shattered windows like a hesitant apology. The once-proud estate now stood hollow and wounded, its walls blackened and its halls open to the wind.

  That wind was cold—sharp enough to sting the skin. It carried with it the mingled scents of ash, dried blood, splintered wood, and damp earth.

  Kael Ardent stood near what remained of the entrance, crimson yoroi faintly reflecting the newborn light. Despite the destruction around him, his posture remained composed, unwavering.

  “Anyways,” he said calmly, as if discussing the weather, “how are you feeling?”

  He turned slightly toward Akitsu.

  “I heard that man used toxins on his blades. Potent enough to kill anyone who comes into contact with them.”

  Akitsu Shouga stiffened instinctively.

  He looked down at himself—really looked.

  His clothes were torn and scorched, stained with dirt and darkened blood that wasn’t his own. He brushed at the fabric, then his arms, his hands, his skin—searching for even the faintest trace of blue residue.

  Nothing.

  No glow.

  No burning sensation.

  No corrosion creeping beneath his skin.

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

  Only then did he realize how tightly his chest had been clenched.

  He exhaled slowly.

  Seraphine Orion, floating nearby, tilted her head sharply.

  “…This time?” she repeated.

  She drifted closer, fox-like eyes narrowing with suspicion.

  “Shouga-kun,” she said, voice lower now, “I’ve only known you for one day. But something felt off the moment you woke up.”

  Akitsu hesitated.

  “Oh?” he murmured, gaze drifting toward the ruined floor. “Is that so…”

  His voice dropped, barely more than a breath.

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

  Kael glanced around the devastated interior, stepping over cracked stone and fallen beams.

  “By the way,” he said, “are there any casualties? Where are the residents of this mansion?”

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

  Kael nodded once. “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 once-living structure turned brittle, its green fading to gray as it dissolved into fine dust that drifted silently downward.

  Akitsu turned back.

  Ayaka Tachibana stood beneath the staircase.

  No eyes.

  No mouth.

  White rags swaying gently as the wind passed through her form.

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

  She obeyed immediately, stepping toward him without hesitation.

  Kael glanced down briefly while heading upstairs.

  “Is that your spirit?”

  “Yeah,” Akitsu replied. He gently placed a hand on Ayaka’s head. “She is.”

  Kael and Seraphine continued upward, their footsteps fading.

  Akitsu crouched slightly to Ayaka’s level.

  “Tachibana-san,” he said quietly, “can you hide yourself like Orion does?”

  Ayaka nodded.

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

  She nodded again.

  Akitsu climbed the stairs—but when he reached the landing, Kael and Seraphine were already gone.

  “…Where did they go?” he muttered.

  After a brief pause, he shrugged.

  “I guess I can leave the rest to them.”

  He turned and walked outside, carefully stepping around the corpse near the entrance. The man lay twisted and lifeless, bandages dark and soaked.

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

  He stopped.

  The sun had fully risen now.

  Akitsu inhaled deeply—then exhaled.

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

  The warmth of the morning light did nothing to ease the weight pressing against his chest.

  Several hours later—

  The sun was sinking.

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

  Akitsu leaned against the carriage window, staring blankly outside.

  This is pretty boring… he thought.

  I thought we’d go somewhere cooler.

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

  He sighed.

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

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

  Kaoru sat across from him, staring 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 said nothing.

  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 came to a stop 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 inspect the place.

  Kaoru remained outside, gazing silently at the village.

  Akitsu approached her from behind.

  “Kaoru… did I do something to you?” he asked gently.

  “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 her.

  “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 its peak.

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

  Akitsu nearly jumped.

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

  The sunset burned silently behind them.