"She lied to protect him. He stayed silent to protect her. The moon bore witness… and it will demand its price beneath its final phase."
That last line echoed in my mind like a desperate whisper in the middle of a storm.
I opened my eyes slowly, reached for my phone, and checked the time. It was already 5 a.m. I had to get up and check on my patients.
I rose with difficulty, but felt a dull pain in my left shoulder. I tried to move it— but my arm didn't respond the way it should.
— Eh?— I touched it lightly, and the pain flared.— Eeehhh?
I remembered the dream. That was the arm I'd landed on— the one I'd broken…
My coworkers rushed in as soon as they heard me scream.
— What happened now?.— Cecilia was the first to enter. She was the oldest among us.
She looked at my limp arm, then at me, confused.— What…?
— Ahm… I fell…— I whispered.
It was impossible for them to believe me.
The couch we slept on wasn't even that high.
— You're crazy. How did that happen?.—
Fernanda peeked in behind Cecilia. She gave me the same strange look.
— Ah…— it was definitely going to be hard to explain.
Our nursing supervisor, Leydi, stared at me, puzzled, as I tried to explain what had happened. She needed to file a report so I could be treated in the ER as a "work accident."
Even though I ended up in the ER, no one could understand how I'd gotten hurt. The type of fracture didn't match the fall.
The most terrifying part was when I took off my blouse so they could apply the cast.
Mysterious scars had formed across my chest— starting from the center and spreading outward like branches.
— Ow!
Dr. Vanessa, the ER physician who knew me,
looked at me like: What the hell did you do? Is that some kind of tattoo? But judging by the look on my face, she quickly ruled that out.
They ran tests on me for nearly half a day. Drew countless tubes of blood. Several specialists came to see me. Even though I couldn't afford them, I felt they came more out of curiosity than anything else.
It felt awful to be treated like a freak.
But none of the tests, none of the doctors
could find the cause of the marks. I had no pain, no symptoms to justify keeping me hospitalized. Eventually, I just felt occasional stings in the scars. And that was it.
They let me go—reluctantly. The hospital I worked at was private. For obvious reasons, I couldn't stay admitted. I was part of my family's livelihood.
Still, they gave me two weeks of medical leave so my arm could heal and the scars could be monitored.
My parents came to pick me up, worried. Seeing my mother's pale face felt like a dagger to the chest. It took me a long time to convince her—and my dad— that it wasn't serious.
Of course, I didn't mention the marks.
I asked the doctor not to say anything either.
I think they'll see them eventually.
If this is connected to the dream… it's extremely dangerous to keep having them.
How could I free myself from them?
With trembling hands, I opened Webnovel.
Opened my story Strange Soil: The Sorceress of the Eclipse i hadn't published it yet. I hadn't even started the next chapter.
I let out a sigh and opened the fifth chapter.
"Fracture" was the only thing I knew the chapter would carry… I never thought it would be so literal.
Carefully, I removed my blouse and looked at the scars across my chest. They had a purplish-green hue, like a warning of what was yet to come.
"She lied to protect him. He stayed silent to protect her. The moon bore witness… and it will demand its price beneath its final phase."
I repeated that phrase like a mantra. Who was whispering those words to me?
I covered myself carefully, making sure not to pull on the cast, and lay down on the bed. I stared at the screen. I had to think carefully about what to write next. I couldn't risk anything if those dreams continued.
"The moon does not forgive what breaks beneath its light".
I typed the words slowly… but something began to grow from my chest. It flowed freely through my fingers, sliding across the screen, pressing keys as if guided by another will.
Without realizing it, as though possessed,
I finished writing the chapter. But before I could read what I had written…
I fell asleep.
"The moon does not forgive what breaks beneath its light."
Ah… that phrase again…
I opened my eyes, heavy with exhaustion.
And then I realized: I was no longer in my room. I was in Kuroha's.
—AGH… —I groaned.
It wasn't just the pain in my arm. Now the cracks burned across my skin, like fire consuming me from within.
I turned to look at Yamikiri, who was pulsing furiously. Then I understood: the scars came from her. Because we were bound by the oath I had made to wield her, she was charging me the price for breaking it.
Ah… when I wrote her, I knew I wanted to create a powerful weapon with a will of its own. I suppose I shouldn't have done that.
But who could have guessed this would happen?
I stood up and looked at the scars in the mirror. On Kuroha's body they looked even more terrifying. Some areas seemed to be bleeding. Carefully, I covered myself again.
At least my arm had healed here.
I finished dressing and, with heaviness in my steps, left the room. I had to report back to the school. But I didn't expect someone to be waiting for me at the building's entrance.
— Hello, Itadori.— I said timidly.
After the mission we had shared, I hadn't spoken to him again.
Now that I think about it… ever since I began these dreams, I couldn't tell my own thoughts apart from Kuroha's. When I was inside the story, I only observed, like any other reader. Wait… had I already thought that before? I'm going insane!
— About yesterday… I wanted to thank you for covering for me.
—If I had let them find out what was happening to you, they would have demanded your execution. For now, don't try to eat any fingers unless I'm nearby to cover for you and…— Contrary to the storm raging in my mind (or was it Kuroha's?), his calm, gentle tone helped soothe me—…besides, I think Sukuna has some kind of obsession with me.
Wait… AAHHH!!
If that guy has an obsession with me… well, not me, with Kuroha… isn't that extremely dangerous?!
—Really? Did he do anything bad while he was in control?
—Oh no, don't worry, he didn't do anything.— said, instinctively covering my neck.
I think he left marks from his fingers there.
Itadori noticed my gesture and grabbed my wrist, exposing the scars from his fingers and also the purple and green marks that spread across my arms.
—"Are these…?"
—"It's nothing you need to worry about. It's just a consequence of my decision," I said, trying to cover myself. But I could see in his eyes how upset he was.
—"If you knew this would happen, why did you do it?"
—… I didn't answer. Instead, I pulled free from his grip and turned toward the school. —Don't meddle in what doesn't concern you.
Kuroha was in a foul mood. But that anger wasn't born of regret for lying and suffering the consequences. It was because her first friend seemed distressed by what was happening.
We walked to school in silence. He followed behind me quietly, like a shadow watching over me.
When we arrived, everyone else was already in the classroom. Gojo-sensei hadn't come yet.
— Good morning.— I said with an embarrassed smile.
The others looked surprised to see us arrive together. After all, they hadn't seen us getting along… well, we were getting along until a few minutes ago, because we had already argued again.
— How did the mission go yesterday?.— asked the boy they called Fushiguro.
… I glanced at Itadori, who answered with a smile:
— Well, it seems I can only handle two fingers without losing control. Luckily, Kuroha was with me. Otherwise, I have no idea what would've happened.
He said it so casually that I stared at him in shock. He was telling them he had lost control! He noticed my horrified expression and placed his hand on my head.
— They're completely trustworthy. You don't have to worry about that.
— All right…
— Wow, I thought Kuroha could never get along with Itadori.— Kisaki said.
— Ah… I guess the first impression was really bad.— I could feel my cheeks burning red.
— You don't have to worry. We understand you're under a lot of pressure. The weapon you have is amazing.
— Yeah, we did some research on it. Even though there aren't many records, Yamikiri is truly impressive.
— Ah…
Talking about the weapon felt both natural and surreal. No one had ever asked her about Yamikiri with such enthusiasm. Even though she couldn't say much, chatting with people her own age was… wonderful.
— After class, should we go to the movies?
— YES, LET'S GO SEE Caterpillar Man 3!— Itadori seemed thrilled by the idea.
— No way we're going to see that, nobody even knows what that is!.— I immediately smacked Itadori on the head. I was surprised Sukuna didn't appear at that moment, but he seemed asleep… or maybe he didn't want to interfere with the others.
— Oh, come on! Kuroha, wouldn't you like to see it?
— I've never been to the movies… and I've never seen a film.
— Right! That's exactly what Gojo-sensei said—that when we had the chance, we should take you all over Tokyo. Where would you like to go?
— Ah… I don't know…— Kuroha had never received so much attention. I felt overwhelmed.
The emotions Kuroha was just beginning to experience were too overwhelming for her… and for me, living inside her body.
— Good morning, everyone!. —Even though Gojo-sensei entered the classroom with his usual flair, it was clear he looked a bit tired.— It seems the higher-ups love tempting fate, and they want the four of you to go on a joint mission to recover a cursed object.
— Where?.— Kisaki asked, immediately turning serious.
—In a hospital. As you know, cursed objects and curses feed on the negative emotions of humans. Storing one of them in a hospital, where those emotions are abundant, is extremely dangerous.
— Do you know exactly where?.— Fushiguro didn't seem very pleased.
— That's what we don't know. You'll have to search for it and obtain it discreetly, because you'll be entering the hospital as part of a volunteer program.
— Volunteer…?.— we all said at the same time.
— Exactly! You'll be playing with the children in the oncology ward while you search. We believe the object is somewhere in that area.
It made sense. With my experience in hospitals, I knew oncology—patients with different types of cancer, many in terminal stages—was a place where pain, agony, despair, and loneliness were constant. A place where fear always lingered among the staff.
In real life, that's how it is, because it happened to me. During my service in oncology, I was once startled by the ghost of an eight-year-old boy who had died just days before. But surely there were other areas where the cursed object could be hidden.
— If we're looking for a cursed object, we could also check intensive care, internal medicine, or the hospital morgue. But I don't think they'll give us full access to those places.— I answered automatically.
— You're right, Kuroha. Do you think you can get in there to search? We'll only be able to secure access for two of you. You'll split into two groups to cover more ground.
— All right.
Awesome!! I'll get to see an intensive care unit in a Japanese hospital!! No, wait— I'll get to see a Japanese hospital itself!! There must be so many things I've never seen in my professional life. And intensive care was exactly the area I was planning to specialize in next year.
But before letting myself get carried away, I had to think seriously about what was about to happen.
If this was just a mission to recover a cursed object, why did all four of us have to go? And why did Gojo-sensei say the higher-ups were tempting fate so recklessly?
I glanced at the others. They seemed happy about the new mission, but… something didn't quite add up.
— Gojo-sensei, there's something you still haven't told us.— I said in a serious tone.— Why are the higher-ups tempting fate? What makes this mission so special?
Gojo-sensei smiled wickedly.
— Excellent question. That's exactly what I was waiting for,.— he replied, making an exaggerated gesture of satisfaction.— Lately, all kinds of paranormal events have been happening in that hospital. They've been costing the hospital a lot of money, and worse, lives have been lost—staff, patients, even family members. We need to resolve this as soon as possible before it gets out of our hands.
We all swallowed hard. This mission wasn't just about searching; we also had to contain any threats that might arise and protect the civilians who were unaware of the danger… And a hospital is never empty.
This time, I had to rely completely on the abilities of my own character.
After receiving the final instructions, we descended the hill with laughter and jokes until we reached the car that would take us to the hospital where the mission awaited.
— This time it won't be possible to deploy a veil, since it could alter the location of the cursed object or the curse hiding here. So we're leaving this in your hands.
— Thank you.
My hands felt sweaty. Once again, I had to step into the field, and I needed to trust in what I was doing… I couldn't afford a single mistake.
But contrary to what I expected, the nurses and teachers in the pediatric oncology ward welcomed us warmly.
— Let's play!.— the children shouted as they ran toward us.
The others adapted quickly, except for Fushiguro, who, like me, stayed behind, clapping and cheering the children on.
I approached some of the machines scattered around the ward, ready to be used whenever necessary. It seemed Kuroha shared the same curiosity I felt.
— Does it catch your attention?.— Itadori came closer, carrying a small boy on his shoulders who played with his hair, while a girl clung to his feet.
— Yes, it's incredible…— I turned to look at him. He looked adorable.— I didn't think you'd be so good with kids.
— Hehehe, it's always great to take care of someone smaller than me.
Hearing that, the children burst into laughter and begged him to keep playing.
Without meaning to, a smile crossed my lips.
— Big sister…..— a little girl tugged at my blouse.— Play with us too.
— All right.— I joined in their fun.
The curses that appeared from time to time were too weak to cause any real commotion. We destroyed them quietly, without disturbing the children's peace.
— Hello.— A nurse approached us, older than the others, with a more serious expression.— I'm the head nurse. I was told you were doing a school project and wanted to observe the hospital's intensive care unit.
— Yes, please.— Itadori and I answered at the same time. The head nurse gestured for us to follow her.
We walked behind the nurse, looking around with curiosity. Some curses only watched us in silence, but they didn't seem to harm the people nearby.
Yet, as we approached the intensive care unit, the number of people in the hallways began to dwindle… and so did the light.
—…
Itadori glanced at me, worried. It seemed strange to him too.
The woman kept walking silently ahead of us. I looked down at the floor… and saw that she left faint footprints behind.
— Give me the crimson of your blood.— I whispered.— With it… cut through the deepest darkness.
Without hesitation, I lunged at the woman's neck.
—!! We were stunned when she managed to repel Yamikiri with her hand and threw me back, though I avoided hitting the ground.
— I see you realized it too late…
— You're a dark sorcerer, aren't you?
— That's right. But the man with the scar told me to eliminate you… and take the boy alive.
—!!.—Yamikiri began to pulse violently.— Itadori is channeling the power of the cursed object!
— Perfect! Then I'll finish him…
But before either of us could react, a massive hand covered part of my face…
Forcing me to wake up abruptly.
"The moon remembers every fracture. What breaks beneath its light can never be whole again."