The day began within the enigmatic embrace of the forest. Ryu was the first to awaken, finding himself immobilized by Yuki's grip on his hand as she slept. He remained there, a captive of her slumber, until she finally stirred.
After a time, Yuki's eyes fluttered open to find Ryu's gaze fixed upon her face. A wave of embarrassment washed over her, and she averted her eyes, a blush coloring her cheeks as she tried to hide her expression.
"Hey, Yuki, you're finally awake," Ryu said. "Yes,Ryu, but why were you looking at me like that while I slept?" Yuki asked, her voice laced with self-consciousness. "Oh,that. My apologies if I made you uncomfortable. I was merely admiring your endearing nature," Ryu replied. "Oh,Ryu, don't say things that embarrass me," Yuki murmured, her blush deepening. "Ah,well, we should focus on finding a way out. We can talk about other things later," Ryu suggested. "You're right,Ryu," Yuki agreed. "The forest is exceptionally dense,shrouded by gigantic trees that permit only a feeble quantity of sunlight to penetrate," Ryu observed. "Indeed,we must find our way out before nightfall," Yuki concurred.
Ryu then employed a minor water spell to extinguish their campfire, and they proceeded on their path. "Wait a moment,"Ryu halted, his expression shifting. "I can feel my light elemental power now." He summoned a sphere of luminous energy into his palm. "Conversely,I am now unable to access my dark element," he stated with a frown. "What?How is that possible?" Yuki asked, shocked. "It seems,Yuki, that within this forest, I am confined to using only dark element during the night and only light element during the day. Since my dark elemental prowess is intrinsically dependent on my light affinity, I was rendered powerless yesterday," Ryu theorized. "That...holds a disturbing logic, Ryu," Yuki replied, her voice thoughtful.
Ryu then cast his detection spell, his senses expanding. He discerned the presence of numerous monsters in the vicinity and, at a significant distance, a peculiar energy source. "Yuki,the area is surrounded by monsters. But in one location, I detect something anomalous—a bizarre energy signature," Ryu reported. "A strange energy source?Is a monster generating it?" Yuki inquired. "No.There are no monsters within a two-kilometer radius of the epicenter," Ryu clarified. "T-two kilometers?"Yuki stammered in disbelief. "Indeed.Its energy field dominates that entire area," Ryu confirmed. "And what is our distance from this anomalous zone?"Yuki asked, still reeling. "I estimate it to be approximately nine or ten kilometers from our current position,"Ryu answered. "T-ten kilometers?"Yuki exclaimed. "Yes,it is a considerable distance. Given the forest's density and the monster population, it will likely take us around five hours to reach it," Ryu calculated. "That's not what I meant!I'm shocked that you can scan an area of ten kilometers!" Yuki clarified. "Ah,not exactly. My current limit is a fifteen-kilometer radius with this skill," Ryu stated matter-of-factly. "F-fifteen kilometers in every direction?"Yuki asked, utterly astounded. "Yes,but why are you so surprised?" Ryu questioned, puzzled. "For any mage,even an experienced one, that is an immense area to cover with a detection spell!" Yuki explained. "Oh,that. Well, I suppose it is substantial, but my sister can scan a twenty-two-kilometer radius using her dark elemental sensory skill," Ryu mentioned casually. "What?!Twenty-two kilometers?!" Yuki cried. "Certainly.A sensory spell utilizing dark element is inherently superior to one of light. For a battle mage specializing in it, scanning fifty kilometers is not unheard of," Ryu elaborated. "Truly?"Yuki whispered. "Indeed.And if one were to employ forbidden spells, the range would increase exponentially, limited only by the caster's available mana," Ryu said. "Ryu,you are truly a genius," Yuki stated with admiration.
They resumed their trek toward the designated area. After some time,a faint rumble emanated from Yuki's stomach. She blushed fiercely.
"Ah, Yuki, are you hungry?" Ryu asked. "It's nothing,Ryu. I can endure a while longer," Yuki replied, though her embarrassment was evident. "Please,do not hesitate," Ryu said, and with a flicker of dimensional magic, he summoned several fruits. "Let us eat. I always carry supplemental provisions."
They consumed the fruits and continued their journey. Some time later,Ryu suddenly stopped. "Yuki, wait," he whispered urgently. He grasped her hand and pulled her behind the broad trunk of a massive tree, his other hand gently covering her mouth to stifle any sound. In that moment,Yuki found herself enclosed within the circle of his arms. A deep blush warmed her cheeks. When Ryu realized their proximity, he immediately released her. "My apologies,Yuki. A high-ranking monster was approaching. I acted instinctively," he apologized. "Do not worry,Ryu. Thank you for protecting me," Yuki replied softly.
Peering cautiously from behind the tree, they observed the creature. It was a D-rank monster, a formidable opponent that would be exceedingly difficult for them to defeat.
Suddenly, a shadow fell over them. A black dragon descended, dispatching the lesser monster with terrifying ease. The great beast then sniffed the air, its head swiveling toward their hiding place. With a roar, it unleashed a destructive breath toward the tree. They barely managed to evade the attack. "Ryu,how did it detect us?" Yuki asked, her voice trembling. "I have read that dragons possess extraordinarily acute senses.That must be how it located us. This is an A-rank monster," Ryu explained, a note of panic in his voice.
Without warning, the dragon targeted Yuki directly. "No!Yuki!" Ryu shouted, throwing himself into the path of the oncoming assault.
---
Suddenly, Ryu's eyes snapped open. He was lying in his own bed. For a moment,he believed it had all been a harrowing nightmare. He rose, descended the stairs, and began his morning routine. But a growing unease took root when he realized Yuki was nowhere to be found. He encountered Akari. "Sister,where is Yuki?" he asked. "What?Yuki?" Akari responded, her expression blank. "Yes,sister. Do you know where she has gone? I haven't seen her all morning," Ryu pressed. "But...who is Yuki?" Akari asked, genuinely perplexed. "What do you mean?You know her!" Ryu said, his shock evident. "Ryu,is she a new friend of yours?" Akari inquired gently. "What?She has been living with us for the past three days! She was supposed to stay until the academy opens! You know her well!" Ryu insisted, his voice rising. "Ryu,are you feeling alright? I think you must have been dreaming," Akari said with concern. "Sister,no! She was my best friend!" he pleaded. "Ryu,I know nothing of any Yuki. Why would I conceal such a thing from you?" Akari replied softly.
Stunned, Ryu sought out Amelia, only to receive the same bewildered response.
What is happening? Why has everyone forgotten Yuki, as if she never existed? he thought, a cold dread seeping into his heart.
The day passed with a surreal normality. That night, Ryu stood on the balcony, grappling with the confusion. "Why...why has this happened? Now I am left to wonder if she was ever real at all," he whispered into the night air.
Then, he saw it—a faint, familiar figure resembling Yuki, standing in the field below, glowing with a soft, ethereal light. It was the night of the full moon. "Yuki!"he shouted.
He sprinted from the house and into the field. The figure was indeed Yuki, but as he rushed to embrace her, his arms passed through her form as if through mist. The apparition dissolved into nothingness.
At that moment, the moon above turned a deep, bloody crimson. Ryu noticed the transformation, and then the world shifted. He was abruptly teleported to the Crimson Forest, then to the riverside, then back to the balcony. He began flickering through locations he had previously visited, a helpless passenger in a chaotic spatial torrent, until it ceased as suddenly as it began.
He found himself standing behind a tree at the bank of a mysterious river. A woman was kneeling there, weeping over a lifeless body. A haunting sense of déjà vu gripped him; he had witnessed this scene in a dream. The woman stood, and Ryu saw a single horn upon her brow before she began to levitate. The world shifted again.
He was thrust onto a vast battlefield. A great war raged, with countless warriors clashing against a demonic queen. He recognized the river from moments before, now flowing red with the blood of the fallen. The demon queen was the same woman from the riverbank. And above it all, the moon glared down, stained the same ominous red.
"Wait, is this a dream, or something else?" Ryu whispered. He attempted to cast his detection spell, and the entire reality around him shattered like glass, leaving him adrift in an infinite, dark void.
---
Ryu's eyes flew open once more. He found his head resting on Yuki's lap, back in the mysterious forest where the dragon had attacked. He sat up abruptly. "Yuki!"he cried out. "Ryu!You're awake!" Yuki said, tears streaming down her face.
Without a second thought, Ryu pulled her into a tight embrace. "Please, don't cry," he murmured.
He recounted the bizarre dream he had experienced. Yuki explained that after he intercepted the dragon's attack, a strange surge of mana had teleported them to this spot, leaving him unconscious. She did not know the source of the power.
Ryu told her everything—his search for her, the world that had forgotten her, the crimson moon, and the phantom Yuki. Yuki listened, her eyes wide, and confessed that she had heard his desperate whispers while he slept, his pleas to find her, which had moved her to tears.
Resolute, they decided to press on toward the anomalous energy source.
They arrived at the location hours later, yet the sun was still high in the afternoon sky, despite nearly ten hours having passed since they began. "Yuki,do you not find that time is passing abnormally slowly here?" Ryu asked. "You are correct.The passage of time is distorted," Yuki confirmed. "Let us set that aside for now.We should enter the anomalous zone," Ryu proposed.
As they crossed the invisible threshold, Ryu was struck by a wave of familiarity. "Wait..."he said, his tone grave. "What is it,Ryu?" Yuki asked. "Nothing...I just sensed a familiar aura here. I have encountered this signature before, somewhere... else. It is disconcerting," he replied.
Shaking off the feeling, they pressed onward toward the center. There, they beheld a colossal tree, dwarfing all others in the forest. "Ryu,isn't this extraordinary?" Yuki breathed. "Indeed.Its scale is incomparable," Ryu agreed. "Look...there is a cave at its base," Yuki pointed out. "Let us enter.There may be clues within," Ryu decided. "Agreed,"Yuki said.
They ventured into the cave, which led them to a massive, ornate gate. "What manner of gate is this?"Yuki wondered. "I feel I have seen its likeness before,but I cannot recall where," Ryu mused.
Their attempts to open it physically proved futile. Then Ryu noticed a distinct, key-shaped indentation on its surface. "Yuki,look. This cavity appears to require a key," he said. "It would seem so,"Yuki replied. "I have an alternative idea,"Ryu stated. He began gathering a substantial amount of light elemental energy in his palm.
"Ryu, what are you doing?!" Yuki exclaimed.
Without hesitation, Ryu channeled the concentrated energy directly into the indentation. A deep rumble echoed as the great door began to swing inward. "Yes,my hypothesis was correct," Ryu whispered. "Ryu,how did you know?" Yuki asked, her curiosity piqued. "I observed ancient spell inscriptions on the stones along our path here.They hinted at this mechanism," he explained. "You are truly remarkable,Ryu," Yuki said with admiration.
Beyond the gate lay not a chamber, but a void, with only a single path leading forward. As they stepped across the threshold, the gate boomed shut behind them. "Ryu,the door!" Yuki said, alarmed. "I anticipated this.My sister once told me that certain magical gates are designed to seal automatically once the individual who unlocked them enters," Ryu explained. "Really?" "The unfortunate consequence is that our retreat is now cut off,"he added. "That is something you might have consideredbefore we entered," Yuki noted wryly. They proceeded down the path.
A sudden, disorienting teleportation deposited them in a new location. "Ryu,what is this place?" Yuki asked.
But Ryu had fallen to his knees, a look of pure terror on his face. "No... No... It cannot be..." "Ryu!What is wrong?" Yuki cried, rushing to his side.
It was the place from his dream—the riverbank where the mysterious woman had wept, before the day turned to bloodshed. He explained to Yuki what he had witnessed and the horrific events that were destined to unfold there.
---
The scene shifted. A hooded general knelt before a shrouded throne. "Your Majesty,I have been unable to locate the boy. It is as if some force is shielding him from our scrutiny," the general reported.
The perspective changed again. A different hooded figure observed the general through a scrying crystal. This was the same mage who had cast the mysterious spell on Ryu and the others by the river.
For the first time, the mage lowered his hood. He was a Demon Lord. "The time is at hand.If the sequence holds, the boy shall become the catalyst for the revival of the most formidable Demon Queen in history," the Demon Lord whispered into the silence.
....