Back to Kenji
Kenji watched as Ray began walking forward.
Unhurried.
Hands clasped behind his back.
Eyes cold. Expression unreadable.
With every step, white mist followed him. Frost spread across the grass beneath his feet.
"What's with this old man?" one of the invaders muttered.
"Shoot him."
The archer released instantly.
Ray lifted one hand and caught the arrow before it touched him.
He let it fall.
Another arrow flew.
And another.
Ray caught each one without breaking stride.
The mist thickened.
"Arrogant old bastard! Kill him!" the archer snarled.
The two swordsmen charged.
Sabers flashed toward Ray — one aimed for his head, the other his stomach.
The blades cut through him—
And sliced nothing but freezing mist.
Ray vanished.
The men's eyes widened.
He reappeared in front of the archer.
The archer fired reflexively.
Ray caught the arrow.
In the same motion, he drove it into the side of the man's neck.
The archer collapsed.
Ray turned.
The swordsmen had just begun to react when he appeared before them as well.
Three smooth strikes.
Gut.
Nose.
Neck.
One dropped instantly.
The last man barely had time to register fear before Ray stepped inside his guard.
A subtle twist.
A quiet crack.
Ray's body shielded the final movement from Kenji's view.
Silence fell.
Frost crept across the fallen men.
Ray stood over them, icy calm.
Then—
His head snapped toward the deeper forest.
For the first time, surprise flickered across his face.
It vanished just as quickly, replaced with severity.
He turned to Kenji.
"Go to Anna. Tell her invaders are here."
Before Kenji could respond, Ray stepped into the forest—
And disappeared.
Kenji
Kenji remained frozen.
His breathing was erratic.
He forced a deep inhale.
Exhale.
Move.
His legs felt weak. His mind felt worse.
Jaxon's body.
The blood.
The arrow.
The memory replayed.
Again.
Again.
Again.
In his thoughts, he saw it differently—
He dodged.
The arrow passed him.
It struck Jaxon instead.
Kenji's chest tightened violently.
Air wouldn't come.
His vision blurred.
He dropped to his knees.
Hyperventilating.
The world spun.
The image wouldn't stop.
Jaxon's lifeless eyes staring into the night sky.
Kenji collapsed forward.
Darkness swallowed him.
Elsewhere in the Village
Takahiro sat at a long table, surrounded by laughter and celebration.
Food.
Music.
Praise.
But something felt off.
Nelly hadn't returned.
Some of the others were missing too.
The girls around him laughed and teased, but he found himself distracted.
He excused himself.
"I'll be right back."
He walked toward a secluded area to relieve himself, then lingered, deciding to take a short walk before returning.
That's when he saw someone sitting alone in the shadows.
Back against a house.
Knees pulled to chest.
Face hidden.
He stepped closer.
The dress was familiar.
The hairstyle unmistakable.
"Yume?" Takahiro called gently.
The figure flinched and tried to shrink deeper into the darkness.
"What are you doing here?"
A pause.
"I… just needed a break from the crowd."
Takahiro tilted his head slightly.
His eyes narrowed.
"Did you fall? Your dress looks dirty."
Yume laughed weakly.
"Yeah. I'm clumsy."
He smiled.
"You always are. Come on, let's get you cleaned up."
He reached for her hand and pulled gently.
She recoiled.
Lost balance.
Fell into the light.
Takahiro's smile faded.
Her dress was stained with dirt.
Her arms bore visible injuries.
Bruises marked her face.
His mind stalled.
Refused to process what he was seeing.
Then—
A scream tore through the night.
And the celebration shattered.