Magic ripples slowly through Satre's battered body, golden currents weaving through torn flesh and fractured bone. The chains binding her wrists and ankles loosen first, clattering uselessly onto the stone floor before dissolving into ash beneath the pressure leaking from my aura.
The moment they release her, she collapses into my arms.
I catch her immediately.
Carefully.
Too carefully.
Like if I grip too hard she might break apart completely.
I slide down against the cold stone wall behind me, pulling her close while the healing magic continues pulsing through her body. Her breathing is shallow. Weak. Uneven.
But alive.
Barely.
"Oi… Satre…"
My voice cracks halfway through saying her name.
"Wake up."
No response.
Only soft breaths against my chest.
My throat tightens painfully.
The strongest swordswoman I know…
reduced to this.
My eyes sting violently as I stare at the bruises covering her skin. Her sacred blade, Gurter, lies shattered nearby, almost mockingly. Seeing that sword broken feels wrong. Like the world itself bent in a direction it shouldn't have.
Questions claw through my skull endlessly.
Who did this?
Why Satre?
Why Yura?
Why us?
"I'll fucking kill them," I whisper hoarsely.
Then louder.
"I swear I'll kill them."
The pressure pouring off my body intensifies instantly.
Sangui unconsciously steps backward.
Even the ancient beast looks uneasy beneath the weight of my anger.
"…Yes, my lord," he says carefully, lowering his head slightly. "I will continue tracking them immediately."
His voice trembles.
Actually trembles.
Then he disappears into his shadow without another word.
A moment later, Kyoko crashes through the shattered upper window in her smaller form, landing lightly on my shoulder.
"My master," she says quietly. "Have you noticed?"
I frown slightly.
Then—
movement.
Twelve figures materialize soundlessly around the ruined chamber, their bodies glowing faint pink beneath cloaks of distorted magic.
Assassins.
No hesitation.
No warning.
I react instantly.
"Sound Magic: Tremor Tone."
I exhale softly.
That's all it takes.
The air violently oscillates.
BWOOOOOM.
Their heads implode instantly.
No blood.
No gore.
Just collapsing bodies dropping lifelessly onto the stone floor before dissolving into fading particles of magic.
But one object remains behind.
A small circular crystal.
Blue light flickers inside it.
I narrow my eyes.
Then the crystal activates.
A woman's face appears inside the glow.
Older.
Heavyset.
Pig-like features twisted into an arrogant smirk.
"Well, well," she chuckles. "Looks like you're smarter than expected, Shiro."
The moment she says my name, my magic spikes violently.
The walls crack.
"Who the fuck are you?" I growl.
My voice barely sounds human anymore.
"How do you know me?"
Her grin widens.
"My goddess has declared you the enemy of fertility."
The crystal pulses ominously.
"You will die for opposing her."
The instant the crystal begins glowing brighter, instinct takes over.
Space magic erupts from my hand instantly.
A translucent sphere wraps around the crystal.
Then—
CRUNCH.
The entire thing implodes inward violently before detonating into poisonous smoke and twisted metal fragments.
I don't even blink.
Instead, I tighten my hold around Satre carefully and stand.
Kyoko is already waiting outside.
I leap through the ruined opening with Satre in my arms, landing atop Kyoko's back as she launches into the storm-dark sky.
Wind tears past us violently.
Below, forests blur together.
"Now I have a face," I mutter coldly.
My fingers tighten slightly around Satre.
"And honestly…"
I stare toward the horizon.
"I don't feel bad about killing her."
Silence follows.
Only the sound of Kyoko's wings cutting through the storm.
After several minutes, I pull a damp cloth from storage magic and gently wipe blood from Satre's face.
My hands shake slightly.
A single tear slips free despite everything.
I wipe it away immediately.
Weakness irritates me.
But this…
this feeling in my chest…
it won't disappear.
Eventually, Kyoko lands outside my isolated cabin on the island.
The moment my boots touch the ground, I speak coldly.
"Wait outside for Sangui."
"Understood, my master," Kyoko replies quietly before shrinking further and perching atop the cabin roof.
I carry Satre inside carefully.
The cabin suddenly feels too small.
Too quiet.
I place her gently onto the bed before stepping away briefly to gather clean water, cloth, medicine, anything remotely useful.
Then I return.
Slowly…
carefully…
I begin cleaning the blood from her skin.
Dirt.
Sweat.
Cuts.
Bruises.
Her body trembles weakly every so often, even unconscious.
"She'll recover," I whisper quietly.
But the words feel hollow.
The voices return immediately.
"Ohhh, it's still beginning."
"Yep, yep, it's definitely starting."
"Looks like fertility moved first."
"Shhh, idiot. He still has to kill someone important."
"Yeah, yeah. Fertility's gonna die."
I grit my teeth hard enough to hurt.
The childish tone of their whispers makes it worse somehow.
Like they're watching a game unfold.
Like suffering is entertainment to them.
I ignore them.
Forcefully.
Satre needs me focused.
Nothing else matters right now.
I finish cleaning her wounds before pulling a robe from the nearby closet and setting it gently beside the bed for when she wakes.
Then I stand slowly.
The room darkens slightly as my aura leaks again.
I walk toward the wall where my weapons rest.
My daggers slide into my hands naturally.
Familiar.
Comforting.
Dangerous.
I secure them against my waist before glancing back toward Satre one final time.
"…Rest."
My voice comes out softer now.
But beneath that softness…
something monstrous churns violently.
Outside, thunder rolls across the island.
The storm is growing.
And deep down…
I know this isn't the end.
It's only the beginning.