Wandering the streets, Souta came across a clear open ground surrounded by trees and thick bushes. He stepped in, took a deep breath, and unsheathed the sword left by the blacksmith. As he held it, a strange light surged through him light, sharp, and natural. He began slashing, each swing carving the air clean and swift.
He stepped forward and slashed at a tree. Again. And again. The movements began to flow. Then, pressing two fingers together, he traced a symbol midair activating a technique.
That's when he heard a voice.
"Hey... you're disturbing me here."
He froze.
Looking around, he saw no one.
Then in a blink, he dashed forward and slashed through the air. Sparks burst as a cloaking spell broke and there she was. A girl, around his age, caught mid-sneak with the blade resting against her neck.
Souta, still focused, said coldly,
"If I'm disturbing you, feel free to walk away."
She smiled not scared, not surprised. Calmly placing her fingers on the blade, she said,
"Your swordplay is impressive. Where did you learn that?"
He narrowed his eyes.
"Why do you care?"
She circled him, eyes scanning him top to bottom.
"You look sharp… smart."
Then, locking eyes with him:
"What's your name, young warrior?"
"Souta," he replied flatly. "And yours?"
With a sudden smirk, she grabbed him by the collar, pulling him close until the blade was at his neck.
"Name's Aika," she whispered. "Don't forget it."
Souta knocked her hand aside, twisted, and flicked his sword disarming the blade she had hidden at her side.
"Don't waste my time," he muttered.
But before he could walk away, she pounced with speed. In a blink, she was on top of him pinning him with a sly grin.
"I like you."
Souta grunted, pushing her off and stepping back, blade raised.
"Back off, or I'll hurt you."
She only licked her lips and smiled.
"We'll see about that… in the camp."
As she walked away, Souta stood frozen. He looked at the trees around him and sighed.
"What the hell just happened?"
Then, glancing at the peaceful grove and the sunlight breaking through the leaves, he smirked.
"Ren would've loved this view."
And in spite of himself, he muttered with a tiny grin,
"That girl… was pretty."
Back to the story
As Ren and Itsuki walked through the lively town, their conversation flowed easily. Itsuki suddenly grabbed Ren's wrist and said,
"C'mon, you have to try this!"
He led Ren to a local food stall, the air thick with delicious smells. Ren looked at the steaming plate of Okonomiyaki, a savory pancake loaded with cabbage, meat, and sweet sauce.
Ren took a bite his eyes widened, cheeks puffed, and a stream of tears welled in his eyes from sheer joy.
"THIS IS THE BEST I'VE EVER TASTED WHAT IS THIS?!" he shouted, mouth full.
Itsuki laughed, pointing at the plate. "That's Okonomiyaki. Told you you'd love it!"
The two of them, caught up in joy, clasped hands and did a silly dance, spinning in circles like two kids at a festival.
Suddenly
A blood-curdling scream cut the air.
A woman ran, terrified, as a massive demon—covered in dark spikes, its flesh riddled with dozens of blinking eyes—burst through a building, roaring. It grabbed the woman mid-run and crushed her, blood splattering the ground as it charged forward, its body cracking the street beneath.
Ren and Itsuki froze, shocked.
They started to run with the crowd but as Ren glanced back, he saw a small girl in a pool of her mother's blood, crying in fear. His eyes widened.
"No...!" he muttered, then dashed back.
He sprinted full force, dove past the demon's claw, grabbed the girl, and rolled away just before the claws struck the ground.
"GET THE HELL OUT OF HERE!" Ren shouted, pushing her away.
But the demon seized Ren and smashed him through building after building like a rag doll. As he was flung high into the air, Ren looked down, bleeding, bones rattling Until he stopped mid-fall.
He was floating.
Below, Itsuki stood with one glowing hand raised, a spellbook in his other hand, covered in shimmering script and surrounded by divine energy Senshi.
Before Ren could speak, a blur of light sliced the demon's arm off.
A Holy Knight, clad in ivory armor, landed with a heavy stomp and shouted:
"Fall of the Wealth!"
Vines and tree branches erupted from the ground, snaring the demon's body. In seconds, the demon's body swelled, cracked, and burst blood flying everywhere.
The knight sheathed his holy blade, handed it to another exorcist, and walked up to the trembling girl.
Whisper saying not in a good mood
As he was about to walk away he saw the girl and got pissed by her crying and went to her stood tall
"Your mother is dead," he said coldly. "She's not coming back. Go to your father. Tell him the news."
The girl burst into tears.
"Will you" the knight started, but Ren limped over, clutching his ribs.
"Are you stupid?" Ren growled.
He knelt beside the girl, gently placing a hand on her shoulder. "I know it hurts… but your mom gave everything to protect you. That kind of love doesn't die. She'll always be right here…"
He pointed softly to the girl's heart.
"She'll watch over you. That's what strong mothers do."
The girl sniffled, then slowly stopped crying.
But before Ren could stand
BAM!
The Holy Knight kicked him full force in the stomach, sending him flying backward.
He marched up and shouted,
"HOW DARE YOU SPEAK TO ME LIKE THAT?! NO RESPECT FOR YOUR ELDERS?! KNOW YOUR PLACE, CHILD!"
Ren groaned but looked up, defiant. "A holy knight who doesn't understand compassion is no knight. You don't deserve the title."
Furious, the knight stomped on Ren's hand, causing him to scream in agony.
"Let's see how far you go without your sword hand, brat! DIE IN HELL!"
With a final, brutal stomp, Ren's hand twisted and broke under the weight of the knight's armored boot.
"SIR, THAT'S ENOUGH!" a younger knight cried out. "He's just a kid!"
"Stay out of this!" the knight snapped, spitting on the ground. "If he shows his face at the camp I'll kill him."
Just then, a small rock struck the knight's shoulder.
The little girl stood shaking, eyes full of tears.
The knight raised his hand to strike her but Itsuki fired a blast of Senshi, forcing the knight back.
As the knight started toward him, sword drawn
Souta appeared from behind, sword in hand, standing between them.
"Touch him," Souta said coldly, "and I'll make you regret it."
The knight glared, but turned and barked,
"Don't any of you DARE speak of this," and stormed off with his guards.
Souta rushed to Ren, panicked, only to see… there was no blood.