Grey sky stretched endlessly above, heavy and unmoving, while black mud clung to the world below like rot. Between them lay an ocean of crimson—twisted, organic, and eerily alive.
Across this surreal landscape, two girls walked through the labyrinth.
One of them seemed almost too fragile for such a place. Soft blonde hair framed her pale face, and her cerulean eyes wandered without focus, as though searching for something only she could perceive. A simple tunic draped her slender body, paired with worn leather sandals. Around her shoulders rested a cloak the color of restless sea waves.
Beside her walked her complete opposite.
Tall and lithe, the second girl moved with quiet, lethal grace. Her silver hair shimmered faintly even under the dim sky, and her clear grey eyes were sharp, alert—missing nothing. Her clothing, crudely woven from black seaweed, revealed more than it concealed, exposing toned muscles and unblemished skin. She walked barefoot, unconcerned by the jagged terrain.
A golden rope bound the two together, glinting faintly with each step.
From a distance, Kurai and Sunny watched them.
Sunny leaned closer, lowering his voice. "Hey… Kurai. Be honest—this feels like a bad idea. What if she attacks us before we even get a word out?"
Kurai didn't immediately respond. His dark eyes remained fixed on the silver-haired girl, studying the way she moved, the tension in her posture.
"She will," he said calmly.
Sunny blinked. "That's… not reassuring."
Kurai exhaled slowly, rolling his shoulders as if loosening invisible weight. "But if she does," he added, a faint smirk tugging at his lips, "I'll handle her."
Before Sunny could argue, Kurai stepped forward.
The moment Nephis noticed movement, she stopped.
Her reaction was instantaneous.
Her arm snapped to the side—and a blade appeared in her grasp as if summoned from the air itself. The sword sang as it cut through empty space, settling into a perfect defensive stance.
Kurai didn't stop walking.
"We're not here to fight," he said evenly, raising his hands just slightly—not in surrender, but in assurance. "We're looking for allies."
His gaze flickered briefly to the blind girl, then back to Nephis.
"And unless you give us a reason," he continued, voice steady, "we won't be your enemies."
Behind him, Sunny muttered under his breath, "Speak for yourself…"
"Who…?" Cassie asked softly, her brows knitting together. "Who are they talking to?"
"Sleepers," Nephis replied without taking her eyes off Kurai. "From the academy."
A tense silence followed.
Sunny shifted awkwardly, then forced a grin. "Changing Star Nephis, right? Look… if you don't want to team up, that's fine. No hard feelings."
Cassie tilted her head slightly.
"Wait… your voice…" she said, a small spark of recognition lighting her face. "Are you the boy who sat with me in the cafeteria?"
Sunny brightened. "Finally! Someone remembers me!"
Nephis glanced at her companion. "You know him?"
Cassie nodded. "His name is Sunless. He was ranked second-to-last… just above me."
Nephis frowned faintly, searching her memory.
Then, flatly:
"The pervert?"
Sunny froze.
Kurai let out a quiet snort, quickly turning it into a cough—but the amusement in his eyes betrayed him.
Sunny rounded on him. "Oh, come on! Not you too!"
"I didn't say anything," Kurai replied innocently, though his lips curved slightly.
"You didn't have to!"
Sunny turned back desperately. "I'm not a pervert! I just… made a few comments. To a few girls. That's all!"
Kurai crossed his arms. "That doesn't help your case."
"It was a misunderstanding!"
Nephis watched the exchange in silence.
Then, after a pause, her sword dissolved into nothing.
"…Fine," she said. "We can be teammates."
Sunny let out a breath of relief.
Kurai gave a small nod. "Good. Then let's not waste time."
He glanced at the horizon. "Do you know the way to the hill ?"
"I do," Nephis replied. "Follow me."
The journey to the hill was swift under Nephis's guidance.
She moved through the labyrinth without hesitation, as though the twisting paths meant nothing to her.
Still, their pace was uneven.
Cassie walked carefully, tapping the ground ahead with her staff. Each step was deliberate, cautious. The golden rope between her and Nephis remained taut, guiding her through the hostile terrain.
Kurai slowed his stride unconsciously, matching her pace.
After a while, he spoke quietly, just loud enough for her to hear.
"You don't need to rush," he said. "We're not going anywhere without you."
Cassie blinked in surprise… then smiled faintly.
"Thank you."
At the top of the hill, a small camp came into view.
It was simple, but functional—piles of seaweed for bedding, strips of meat drying in the air, and a carefully built firepit.
Sunny pointed at it. "That was you, right? A couple nights ago—I saw the light."
Cassie's expression darkened.
"…Yes. Our first fire."
"And our worst mistake," Nephis added quietly.
Kurai's gaze sharpened. "It drew something, didn't it?"
Cassie hesitated. "…Yes."
She didn't elaborate—but she didn't need to.
Something in her voice said enough.
Later, as firelight flickered against their faces, Kurai sat at the edge of the hill, watching the distant crimson expanse.
"You know," he said after a while, "this place… it's wrong."
Sunny glanced at him. "That's your deep insight?"
Kurai didn't react to the sarcasm.
"I mean it," he continued. "Everything here feels… like it's waiting. Like we're already inside something's territory."
Nephis looked at him, thoughtful.
"…You're not wrong."
That night, after food and silence, Kurai spoke again:
"If we're going to survive," he said, his tone more serious now, "we need to trust each other. At least enough not to hesitate in a fight."
He looked at each of them in turn.
"So we share what matters. Abilities. Memories. Limits."
A pause.
Then he added quietly:
"…Or we die because we didn't."
This time, no one argued.
The next morning, when Cassie spoke of her vision—of a castle, of hope—
And pointed west—
Kurai's jaw tightened.
"…Of course it's west," he muttered.
Sunny sighed. "The one place we didn't want to go."
Kurai stared into the distance, expression unreadable.
"…Then that's probably exactly where we have to go."
Later, when Cassie revealed only three figures entering the castle—
Not him—
Kurai fell silent.
For a long time.
Then, finally, he spoke, his voice calm—but heavier than before:
"So either I don't make it there…"
He looked toward the crimson horizon.
"…or I don't make it at all."
No one had an answer.