Sataro led Haruto and Lira through the dark forest, the moon lighting their path in thin silver threads.
Lira held Haruto's hand the entire way, scared to let go.
Haruto pretended he wasn't flustered.
He was VERY flustered.
Sataro kept scanning the woods behind them.
"She freed now," Sataro said quietly, "but her owner will talk. They'll know we were involved."
Haruto looked up at him.
"Will the king come after us?"
Sataro's jaw clenched.
"Yes."
Lira squeezed Haruto's hand tighter.
"I-I'm sorry," she whispered. "Now they'll chase you because of me."
Sataro shook his head immediately.
"No. They were already coming. You didn't cause this."
Haruto nodded firmly.
"And we weren't leaving you anyway."
Lira's eyes shimmered — not from fear this time… but something softer.
Back to the Cave
When they reached the hidden ridge, Sataro helped Lira climb the rocks.
Haruto offered his hand to steady her.
She took it… and kept holding it even after they reached the cave entrance.
Haruto didn't complain.
Inside, the fire pit was still there, the cave smelling faintly of smoke and pine.
Lira froze at the entrance, staring up in awe.
"This… is where you live?"
Haruto puffed his chest proudly.
"Yep! This is our cave! We're like mountain warriors!"
Sataro snorted.
"You cried the first night because the cave was cold."
Haruto gasped.
"BRO WHY WOULD YOU SAY THAT IN FRONT OF HER?!"
Lira covered her mouth, giggling.
"It's okay," she said softly. "I used to cry a lot too."
Haruto's face softened.
"Well… not anymore. You're safe with us."
Settling In
Sataro got the fire started again while Lira sat beside Haruto, warming her hands.
She glanced at him shyly.
"You… really helped me back there. Most people never even look at me."
Haruto shrugged, cheeks red.
"I mean… you looked sad. And… I dunno… I wanted to help."
Lira smiled — small, but real.
"You're kind."
Haruto nearly combusted on the spot.
Sataro watched them from the corner of his eye, amused.
Lira Tells Her Story
Once the fire grew, Lira's shoulders began to relax.
Haruto asked gently, "Lira… how'd you end up in that place?"
Lira hesitated, eyes dropping.
"My parents… sold me," she whispered.
Haruto's heart sank.
Sataro paused what he was doing and looked up.
Lira continued softly, voice shaking.
"They said they needed money. They said I'd be fed and safe… but they lied."
She touched her collar bone, where the metal had rubbed her skin raw.
"The owner said I was his… property. He made me work for men. Made me serve ale. Made me…"
Her voice faded. She hugged her knees.
"I thought I'd die there."
Haruto gently placed a hand on her arm.
"You won't ever go back," he said.
"I promise."
She looked at him again — eyes soft, gentle.
"…Thank you, Haruto."
She leaned her head lightly on his shoulder.
Haruto froze, eyes wide as dinner plates.
Sataro nearly laughed.
A Place in Their Family
Sataro stood and approached her.
"From now on," he said quietly, "you stay with us. No one will hurt you."
Lira looked up at him.
"But… why? You don't even know me."
Sataro rested a hand on her head gently.
"Because you're just a kid," he said. "And kids deserve protection.
You're safe here."
Tears filled Lira's eyes — the kind someone holds back for years.
She bowed her head.
"…Thank you… both of you."
Haruto smiled proudly.
"We're like a family now."
Sataro nodded.
"Yes. We are."
Meanwhile… in the Kingdom
Deep within the palace, King Sable slammed his hand against the war table.
"THEY WHAT?!"
A general gulped.
"Sataro… he escaped. He took the younger brother. And… a slave girl."
Sable's eyes burned with rage.
"That boy was MINE.
I trained him.
I raised him for the shadows.
And he threw it away… for a child?"
The general cleared his throat carefully.
"Sir… the villagers claim they saw Sataro fight off nearly a dozen soldiers— alone."
Sable snarled.
"He grows stronger every day. His bloodline is awakening… too fast."
He turned sharply, pointing to the commander of the special forces.
"I want the brothers found.
I want the girl captured.
And I want Sataro's head ON THIS TABLE."
The commander bowed.
"Yes, my king."
Sable whispered to himself:
"Your parents died running from me…
And now you will too, Sataro."
Back at the Cave
The fire crackled warmly.
Haruto and Lira had fallen asleep leaning against each other, Lira's head on Haruto's shoulder, Haruto's head resting lightly on hers.
Sataro watched them, his heart calming for the first time in days.
He whispered to himself:
"I'll protect you both…
Even if the whole world comes after us."
Outside, snow began to fall.
Inside, a new family was forming.
And the first pieces of the Eclipsed Order were beginning to take shape.
Morning sunlight filtered into the cave, lighting the stone walls in soft gold.
Sataro stood at the entrance, stretching, already scanning the forest for danger.
Haruto lay on the floor face-down, refusing to wake up.
Lira poked him with a stick.
"Haruto… wake up," she whispered.
"No," Haruto mumbled, voice muffled.
"Let me perish in peace…"
Lira giggled softly.
"You said you weren't dramatic."
"That was before I lived in a cave," Haruto argued.
Sataro clapped his hands.
"Both of you. Up."
He threw Haruto a makeshift wooden sword.
"Training starts today."
Haruto groaned.
Lira perked up.
Training Begins
Sataro brought them outside to a clearing.
Haruto swung his wooden sword once and immediately hit a tree.
The tree won.
Lira laughed, covering her mouth.
Haruto reddened.
"It slipped!"
"It slipped straight into a tree?" Lira teased.
Sataro stepped behind Haruto and corrected his stance.
"Lower your shoulders.
Feet apart.
Focus."
Haruto nodded and tried again — this time more controlled.
Lira watched him intensely, smiling.
Sataro noticed.
He didn't say anything.
Then he turned to Lira.
"Your turn."
"M-Me?" Lira blinked. "I'm not… strong."
"You don't need strength," Sataro said calmly. "You need awareness."
He handed her a smaller wooden training blade.
Lira held it awkwardly at first… but her balance was better than Haruto's.
Haruto yelled, "HEY—"
Lira giggled.
"What? I didn't even do anything yet!"
Sataro smirked.
"She has better posture."
Haruto froze.
"I'm betrayed."
Lira gave him a playful side-eye.
"You're just jealous."
Haruto looked away.
"N-No I'm not…"
His ears were red.
Sataro saw Lira blush a little too.
First Lesson in Magic
Sataro placed their hands over a small leaf.
"Magic is forbidden in the kingdom," he said softly, "but our family carries it.
Haruto, you especially."
Haruto swallowed.
"Me?"
"Yes."
Sataro touched Haruto's hand gently.
"It's in our blood. King Sable is afraid of it."
Lira watched quietly, curious.
Sataro continued.
"Close your eyes. Focus on warmth in your hands."
Haruto tried.
At first, nothing.
Then—the leaf twitched.
Heat flickered in his palm.
Lira gasped softly.
"Sataro… he's glowing…"
Haruto opened one eye.
"Am I doing it—?"
The leaf caught fire.
Haruto screamed and dropped it.
Lira burst out laughing.
Sataro facepalmed.
"We'll… work on control."
Signs of Danger
By noon, Sataro stopped abruptly.
"Stay behind me."
Haruto and Lira obeyed instantly.
Down the ridge, a group of soldiers passed through the forest.
Their armor looked different — darker, heavier.
Special forces scouts.
Haruto grabbed Sataro's sleeve.
"They're looking for us…"
Lira's breath shook.
"I don't want to go back…"
Sataro knelt between them.
"They won't catch us. Not while I'm here."
Haruto and Lira nodded, trusting him completely.
The soldiers disappeared deeper into the woods.
Sataro exhaled slowly.
"We need supplies. And possibly… new identities."
Haruto grinned.
"OOH—like hero names? Can I be—"
"No," Sataro cut in immediately.
Lira giggled.
Journey for Supplies
That evening, they made the long walk to a distant market town—one Sataro hoped wasn't under the king's surveillance.
Haruto held Lira's hand the entire way "to make sure she doesn't trip."
She didn't trip once.
He did.
Twice.
Lira smiled each time and helped him up.
"Thanks…" Haruto mumbled.
"You're welcome," she said softly, eyes lingering on him.
Sataro watched them from ahead.
He didn't stop it.
They bought:
blankets
bread
dried meat
herbs
spare cloaks
and shoes for Lira
When Lira put her new shoes on, she looked at Haruto shyly.
"I've never had my own before."
Haruto blushed.
"Well—they look… nice. On you."
Lira's cheeks turned warm pink.
Sataro rolled his eyes playfully.
Ren Appears
As they headed back toward the woods, a voice shouted:
"HEY! YOU THREE!"
Haruto jumped.
Lira gasped.
Sataro immediately grabbed his sword.
A boy their age—around 15—slid down from a rooftop.
Tall, lanky, long orange hair, flirty smirk.
Lazy posture, but sharp eyes.
He waved casually.
"Relax, tough guy. I'm not here to fight you."
Sataro didn't lower his sword.
"Then why call out to us?"
Ren grinned.
"Because you stole my bread."
Haruto blinked.
"Uh… what?"
Ren pointed at Haruto's backpack.
"That loaf. I left it on the counter while I was talking to the baker's daughter.
You walked off with it."
Haruto stammered.
"IT LOOKED FREE—"
Lira covered her face, laughing silently.
Ren shrugged.
"Anyway, I followed you 'cause you seemed interesting. And the girl's cute."
Haruto stepped in front of Lira instantly.
"BACK UP."
Ren held his hands up.
"Relax, man. I'm not trying to steal your girlfriend."
Both Haruto and Lira turned BRIGHT red.
"She's NOT—"
"I'm NOT—"
They choked at the same time.
Ren smirked.
"Got it."
Sataro asked sharply,
"What do you want?"
Ren leaned on a tree, lazy expression softening.
"I'm alone. Don't have a home. Don't like the king. And I'm good at stuff.
Pickpocketing. Climbing. Lockpicking. Escaping. Surviving."
He shrugged.
"I saw you three and thought…
'those look like the kind of people who might actually do something.'
So let me join."
Sataro studied him.
Sharp eyes.
Light feet.
Smart under the laziness.
And rebellious.
A perfect future member.
Haruto whispered, "He's kinda weird but… kinda cool."
Lira nodded shyly.
"Maybe… we could use someone else…"
Sataro sighed.
"Fine. But try anything stupid—"
"I won't," Ren said, smiling crookedly.
"Besides… you've already got a protector for the girl."
He gestured at Haruto.
Haruto sputtered.
"I—WHAT—NO—I JUST—"
Lira giggled again, cheeks flushed.
"Maybe… he is," she whispered.
Haruto nearly fainted.
The First Night as Four
Back at the cave, Ren flopped down dramatically.
"THIS. IS. SICK.
I call that corner."
"You don't call corners," Sataro said.
"I just did."
Haruto pointed.
"That's where bats poop."
Ren sat somewhere else immediately.
Haruto and Lira shared a blanket near the fire.
Not touching.
But very close.
Lira whispered, "Thank you for today."
Haruto swallowed.
"Y-Yeah… always."
She leaned her head against his shoulder for a few seconds.
Just enough to make Haruto forget how to breathe.
Sataro sat at the cave entrance, watching all of them.
His family was growing.
The danger was growing too.
But so was their strength.
And for the first time…
they were not just surviving.
They were becoming something more.
Something that would one day be known as—
The Eclipsed Order.