The wind rushed across the field, swift and restless, carrying with it the scent of grass and a chill that brushed our skin. Riri and I stood silently amidst the moving blades. Above us, clouds drifted quickly through the sky, as if time itself was shifting too fast.
"Raku was my big brother," she said quietly.
I turned to her. "Your brother?"
She nodded, eyes fixed on the horizon.
"He was also… her husband."
A heaviness pressed against my chest.
"She suffered a lot," Riri continued. "Just two months after their marriage… brother passed away."
I looked at her, serious. "What happened?"
Riri's voice wavered.
"Brother won the Glutz Tournament. His team was granted access to the southern region… to hunt Scar's Avatar. But—" Her words trembled. "One day, only one of them returned. The rest… corpses."
My breath caught.
This tournament was held before too?
I looked at her, eyes widened in shock.
"When Big Sis saw his body… it shattered her completely," she whispered, wiping her eyes. "She cried for days. Wouldn't eat. Wouldn't drink."
---
Flashback
Misaki and Riri were cooking together in the warm kitchen. Wooden shelves lined the walls, filled with jars of herbs and spices, while sunlight filtered softly through the window.
Misaki stood near the pot, wearing a blue chiton. Her long dark-blue hair flowed down her back in soft waves, held neatly by a golden leaf headband. She lifted a spoon and tasted the soup carefully. The pan rested on an alchemy plate, faint runes glowing red beneath it as steady, smokeless heat warmed the soup.
"Hmm… we need to add more spices," she said.
"You always want everything to be perfect, big sis," Riri said with a small smile. She was dressed in a peach-colored chiton, her short blonde hair tied into a small ponytail, her pointed ears clearly visible.
"Of course," Misaki replied softly. "I'm finally going to see my dear after so long today."
Just then—
Knock. Knock.
Misaki froze.
"Riri, take care of the soup," she said quickly.
"Okay, big sis," Riri replied.
Misaki walked to the door and opened it.
A soldier stood outside, wearing gray armor and a white cape, his lion-like face heavy with sorrow.
"Mrs. Misaki," he said.
Her heart skipped a beat.
"Is he back?" she asked urgently. "Raku—where is he?"
The soldier lowered his head.
"I'm sorry, Mrs. Misaki. Your husband… he is—"
"No… no, it can't be true," Misaki whispered.
Her legs gave way, and she fell to her knees. Tears welled up in her eyes and spilled onto the floor.
Behind her, Riri stood frozen, listening to everything. A single tear slipped from her own eyes and fell silently.
Riri rushed forward and held Misaki's shoulders.
"Oh, big sis…" she cried, tears streaming down her face.
"You're lying," Misaki said, looking up at the soldier with trembling eyes.
"Aren't you?" Her voice shook. "Please… just say you're lying. I won't get mad at you."
The soldier shook his head slowly, sorrow written across his face.
"It's not a lie, Mrs. Misaki," he said quietly.
"He died for our land… with honor."
"No—!"
Misaki screamed in pain, her cry echoing through the house.
---
I looked toward Misaki. She was still in front of the gravestone, hands joined in prayer, unmoving. So still… so devoted.
Tears streamed down Riri's cheeks.
"We only had him… When he left, it felt like we lost everything."
My heart ached. I wanted to hug her—to comfort her—but some pains couldn't be erased so easily.
"That's why you want to win this tournament?" I asked softly. "To avenge your brother?"
She wiped her tears, then suddenly grabbed both of my hands.
"You remind me of him."
I blinked. "Remind you of who?"
"Big Brother," she whispered. "The day you arrived… I saw a real smile on Big Sis's face. Not the fake one she's been wearing for two years."
She stepped closer. Her eyes burned with hope.
"Promise me, Ritvik. Promise me you'll make sure that smile stays. Promise me you and your brothers will help me. Until I avenge him. Until we end this Avatar of Scar forever. Promise me you'll stay by our side."
Her grip tightened. The look in her eyes—expectation, faith, trust—
I froze.
What was I supposed to say?
This wasn't just a request—it was a burden. A burden woven from pain, grief, and two sisters' hopes.
But no… it wasn't a burden.
It was a responsibility.
In my world, I had been aimless. Irresponsible.
Here… I could be more. I wanted to be more.
I looked at her with a small, determined smile.
"I promise."
She smiled.
Just then, Misaki appeared beside us.
"What's going on?" she asked, tilting her head.
Riri instantly let go of my hands, flustered.
We both smiled awkwardly.
"You're done, Big Sis?" Riri asked.
Misaki nodded gently. "Yeah. Let's go."
We started walking away from the gravesite. Blue leaves drifted from a tall Blue Spruce above us, fluttering like soft feathers.
Misaki walked ahead, while Riri and I followed.
One of my hands was in my pocket. The other swung loosely at my side.
My thoughts raced.
Two months… that's all the time they had?
In death, we remember only the good.
A dead man has no flaws.
A perfect love preserved forever.
How could my feelings ever compete with that?
Don't suffer anymore, Misaki…
She tilted her head slightly, almost as if she was about to look back.
My heart skipped.
Don't look back.
She kept walking.
You still have a life ahead of you. Raku is gone. Stop running from reality. Let me be someone worthy of your love. Someone strong enough to protect you.
So please… don't look back.
I opened my mouth.
"Don't—"
I tripped.
"AAAAH—!"
I hit the ground hard.
Footsteps approached quickly.
Misaki bent forward in front of me, extending her hand with a teasing smile.
"Ritvik, you should look forward when walking."
With a faint, awkward smile, I reached out and took her hand, a small sigh escaping my lips.
"Yeah, yeah… I'll take care of it."