Roderic and Leofric stood firm on one side, while May and Aurora faced them from across the clearing, tension thick in the air. Both girls held their ground, though unease flickered behind their eyes.
"Tonight…" May began, her voice laced with disbelief, "You're seriously planning to force Yumiko into some kind of evolution? Are you out of your damn mind? We don't even know if it's safe—if she'll even survive it!" The thought of Yumiko undergoing a transformation while poison still coursed through her veins made May's stomach twist.
Roderic remained unfazed, arms folded across his chest. "As I said, Yumiko is no ordinary person. If she truly is a child born beneath the rare full blue moon—that once-in-a-decade gleam—then her survival is all but certain. But if she's a fraud… if the moon does not recognize her as one of its own, then she'll die. And her deception will be punished by death."
May remained silent, unable to respond. Deep down, she didn't know the truth—whether Yumiko had truly been born beneath a full moon or if her life had been built upon a misconception. The uncertainty was dangerous, and a part of her feared the truth might lie with Yumiko's parents. Garuda, especially, seemed too deeply involved for it to be a coincidence.
Then, with a steady breath, Aurora stepped forward. Her hand pressed firmly over her heart, eyes unwavering, though a single bead of sweat traced down her brow.
"If that's truly what you believe… then so be it," she declared, her voice ringing out with bold clarity. "But know this—I place my faith in Yumiko. I believe she's no fraud, no mistake of fate. She's a genuine soul, born under a moon that chose her for a reason. If this trial is the price to prove that, then we will not stop you. But we will stay here. We deserve to witness her fate with our own eyes. And I swear to you now—Yumiko will survive."
An elder from the back of the crowd stepped forward, his presence alone enough to make the villagers hesitate. With a commanding tone, he raised a hand and ordered them to stand down before the situation spiraled out of control.
"Very well, young one. You may remain," he said, eyes fixed on Aurora. "But understand this—Moon Knightess' evolution is only hours away. You are permitted to stay, but no closer than ten steps from the iceberg. We won't tolerate any sudden change of heart or reckless interference. Roderic, Leofric, keep watch over them. Ensure the Moon Knightess remains protected."
Without protest, the two brothers stepped into position between the girls and the frozen figure, their expressions stern as they took on their role.
May and Aurora exchanged a silent glance but made no move to resist. They stayed exactly where they were, choosing to respect the rules—for now.
"For someone who can't even throw a punch, you're seriously out of your mind, Aurora," May muttered, arms folded tightly with visible concern etched across her face. "We're supposed to trust these people with Yumiko's life? What if everything they're saying is total nonsense? Have you even considered that?"
Aurora kept her gaze fixed on Yumiko's frozen form. "They don't seem hostile. And honestly… their explanation made sense. We have to put our faith in Yumiko now. But if things go wrong—well, I can't fight, so you'll handle the chaos while I figure out how to break the ice."
May raised an eyebrow but said nothing at first. That is, until she noticed Aurora sneak a glance out of the corner of her eye, trying to appear innocent.
"I never agreed to any of that," May huffed. "And in case you forgot, I'm one person and they're an entire village. You're as reckless as my little brother."
"A brother…" Aurora blinked in surprise, tilting her head with genuine curiosity. "You have one? I didn't really picture you having any siblings. You always give off the impression of being… well, alone."
May gave a dry chuckle, her expression softening slightly. "Yeah, I've got one. Annoying as hell, honestly—but he's got a good heart, even if he doesn't use his brain half the time. He's the reason I vanished for a while. After our parents died, I had no choice but to take care of him. Our mom was killed by a demon… and I wasn't there that day to protect them. He was just a kid—helpless, terrified, couldn't do a thing. From that day on, it was just the two of us."
Her voice grew distant, eyes narrowing with the weight of memory. "We never figured out what happened to our father. One day he was there, the next he was gone, like smoke in the wind. No goodbye. No trace. So it fell on me to grow up fast. I had to be strong—for both of us. And even if my brother acts like nothing phases him, I know he carries the pain too. But he's brave. Stupidly brave. He doesn't think about what comes next, just throws himself into danger with that same dumb grin. That's who he is."
Aurora listened silently, her gaze drifting down to the snow under her feet. "He sounds a lot like our captain. Reckless, brave, and bursting with confidence… but never cruel. No matter who he's up against, he shows them respect by never taking a life. And when things get ugly, he doesn't hesitate to risk everything—his body, his future, even his life—to protect someone else."
A small, fond smile tugged at her lips. "It's what makes him our captain."
"I honestly wonder what he's doing right now," Aurora muttered, her voice heavy with concern. "I'm worried about the others. We left them behind to chase after Yumiko and those two mimics…" Her eyes narrowed as she shot a tense glance toward Roderic and Leofric, who stood silently across from them.
"I know," May replied calmly. "But we didn't have a choice. There wasn't time to think it through."
Aurora pressed on, her tone shifting. "But… about your brother—you mentioned he did something when he was little, right?"
May hesitated, the words catching in her throat as she looked down at the snow. "Yeah… he did. But I'd rather not get into it. He was just a curious kid—didn't know any better, didn't understand the risks. Honestly, it's partly my fault too. I never told him the truth when I should have."
"Now that I really look at you… you remind me so much of him," Aurora said, her gaze narrowing with curiosity. "Those azure blue eyes, that snow-white hair… it's uncanny. I could honestly believe you were his sister. But... I don't know."
She paused, bringing her fingers to her chin, lost in thought. "I don't remember him ever mentioning a sister. But maybe…" Her eyes suddenly widened as a thought struck her. "Your power—it's almost exactly like his! I'm serious, I'm not making this up. Are you two actually related? You look so alike, your abilities are practically the same, and he's younger than you… There's no way that's just a coincidence, right?"
May rested a hand on her hip, raising a brow at Aurora with a puzzled look. "You think I'm your captain's sister? That's kind of a stretch. Plenty of people across the Vast Expanse have similar powers—some even identical. And fire-based abilities? They're practically everywhere these days."
"I get that," Aurora replied, her tone firm but thoughtful. "But it's not just the fire itself—it's the color, the movement, the way it flows. You both use the same kind of flames. Yours feel more like a fox—graceful, elusive—while his are like an eagle—fierce and soaring. That's how it feels to me, anyway."
May let out a quiet sigh before explaining, "Have you ever heard of an ability called Synergetic Combustion? It's a technique that's been passed down through our family for generations. But my brother… he never showed any signs of having powers. Not even once. So, your captain being him? I just don't see how that adds up."
Aurora tilted her head slightly, considering it. "I mean… yeah, I get that. But from what I've heard, some abilities don't show up right away. They can develop later in life, can't they? I'm pretty sure Kou said his powers awakened over time. So maybe your brother's did too. And if it's something inherited, then it would make sense why your flames feel so alike."
"Our abilities have been passed down through many predecessors, each one shaping them in unique ways. For instance, I can control fire like any elemental user, but I also inherited the ability to take on the form of a fire fox. That transformation comes from my maternal bloodline—my grandparents on my mother's side had it, though my mother herself was never able to awaken the full potential. It simply skipped her.
As for my brother, it was a similar story. He carried the same dormant potential, inherited from our true mother. But back then, he didn't know how to access it—none of us did. He was young, inexperienced… and he lacked the guidance I received later on. So while the power was there, buried inside him, it never surfaced during the time we were together."
May paused, glancing toward the cold horizon.
"If he somehow awakened it later in life, it would explain everything. The similarity in flames, the color, even the way they react when emotionally charged. But still… part of me hesitates to believe it. Maybe because if it is true, then he's been closer than I ever imagined—without either of us realizing it."
"Hmm... A bird and a fox—two very different creatures. One soars through the sky, the other roams the land. Maybe that means there are others out there like you, with similar roots but different forms," Aurora mused, her gaze drifting thoughtfully.
"But then again... it doesn't quite add up. I've never seen my captain transform into any kind of animal. Still, maybe someone else among us has. It's hard to say for sure..." Her thoughts lingered, drifting between curiosity and speculation, and their conversation carried on quietly beneath the pale mountain light.
To be continued...