Rain fell lightly as the group gathered outside the tavern's walls, deep within a hidden corner of the city.
Two graves stood beneath a crooked willow tree:
Bjorn Stonefist
and
Ren Ward
The children cried openly.
Lira sobbed into Haruto's shoulder.
Nova didn't hold back either, wiping her face with her sleeve.
Even Satoro stood silently shaking, gripping his brother's hand.
Mira kneeled down and placed two stones—smooth and carved with runes—on each grave.
A blessing of death.
A promise of peace.
Haruto whispered, "Goodbye, Ren… thank you… for being my friend."
Satoro closed his eyes.
"Rest, kid. You were stronger than all of us."
Nova placed flowers she picked earlier.
Her voice cracked:
"Bjorn… Ren… we'll never forget you."
When it was done, everyone stepped back.
Only Mira remained kneeling between both graves.
"…I'm sorry," she whispered to them.
"I should have been faster."
She stood, turned toward Satoro—
And her expression changed.
Mira's Warning
Mira pulled Satoro aside while the kids returned to the tavern.
Her voice was low, fragile, and exhausted.
"Satoro… we have five years."
He blinked. "Five years for what?"
She exhaled shakily.
"Five years to save Haruto…
or he dies."
Satoro's heart dropped.
"…What do you mean dies?
You said you loved the boy.
You wanted to protect them."
Mira looked at him — really looked — and for the first time, Satoro saw fear in her eyes.
"I am trying to save him.
But this is the only path we have.
If I can't fix what's happening…
Haruto will be consumed by Arkhamis."
She didn't sugarcoat anything.
She didn't hold back.
This was the truth.
Satoro clenched his jaw.
"…So you're saying… if you can't fix it… Haruto must die?"
Mira nodded once, slowly.
"I don't want that.
I care for that boy more than anyone in this world believes.
But this—" she touched the cursed book, "—this thing is older than time.
And Arkhamis is waking up through him."
Satoro turned away, shaking.
He understood.
There was no joke. No exaggeration.
Mira was terrified.
The Truth of Their Souls
"What do we need to do?" Satoro asked.
Mira inhaled.
"First… you must understand who you truly are."
"What do you mean?"
Mira pointed at him.
"Satoro… you carry a piece of Sable's soul."
Satoro froze.
"…What?"
"And Haruto," she continued softly,
"carries a piece of the Dreaded Knight's original soul."
Satoro stumbled backward.
"You're saying… we're their reincarnations?"
Mira nodded.
"Reincarnations of fragments.
Not full souls… but enough to awaken the ancient magic you need."
Satoro steadied himself.
"And if the cycle continues… you're saying I'll become cold and ruthless like Sable…
and Haruto will become… like the Dreaded Knight?"
Her silence was the answer.
Satoro swallowed hard.
"…So what do we do?"
Mira's Plan
Mira straightened.
"I'm cursed by Death.
He taught me how to survive being tied to the dead.
If Haruto can do the same…
he might control Arkhamis instead of being consumed."
"And ancient magic?" Satoro asked.
"We need to awaken it in the five chosen souls…
meaning you, me, Sable, the Dreaded Knight…
and Haruto."
"But that's only four," Satoro said.
Mira hesitated.
"The fifth hasn't been born yet."
Satoro's stomach twisted.
She placed a hand on his shoulder.
"For now… we train.
We survive.
We grow stronger.
And we prepare for the future."
He nodded.
"Then let's begin."
Nine weeks Later
Time passed.
And everything changed.
Satoro grew colder.
Sharper.
More strategic.
More deadly.
Just like Sable had once been.
Nova noticed it more than anyone.
They argued more.
They flirted more.
They got closer, even through tension.
Haruto trained harder than anyone.
His visions grew stronger.
Arkhamis whispered louder.
Lira started falling deeply for him, staying by his side constantly.
And Mira…
She watched over them all.
Patient.
Quiet.
Deadly.