The knights moved cautiously through the abandoned lair, the air thick with the scent of blood and ruin. Shadows stretched long across broken cages, shattered weapons, and walls scarred with the violence of battle. Silence hung over the place, but it wasn't peaceful—it was the kind that settled after something unspeakable.
One of the younger knights swallowed hard. "What… happened here?" His voice barely rose above a whisper.
"A war," another muttered. "A one-sided one, by the looks of it."
The older knight ran a gloved hand over the deep claw marks in the walls. "Whoever did this didn't just kill… they erased."
The younger knight hesitated. "But… then where are the bodies?"
A cold hush fell over them.
Elsewhere in the ruins, a group of knights gathered in what had once been the boss's chamber. The thick scent of ink and dust lingered as papers lay scattered across the floor. Behind the desk, flipping through the remains of old ledgers with a methodical patience, stood a man who didn't belong in this chaos.
Inspector Angelo.
The crisp brown uniform he wore had not a single wrinkle, his cap tilted at the exact right angle, his movements precise. But his fingers moved with an urgency, his eyes scanning documents with an intensity that suggested something important was missing.
A knight stepped into the room, snapping to attention. "Inspector, we've secured everything we need, sir."
Angelo didn't look up. "And the weapons?"
"All transported safely."
"Good." He turned a page, eyes narrowing. "And the slaves?"
The knight hesitated. "Gone, sir. Not a trace."
This time, Angelo paused. He lifted his gaze, his sharp eyes locking onto the knight like a blade pressing into flesh. "Gone?"
"Yes, sir. No remains. No chains left behind. It's like… they were never here."
A slow smile crept onto Angelo's face, but his eyes remained unreadable. "And the one who tipped us off?"
The knight shifted uncomfortably. "No trace of them either. It's like they vanished into thin air."
A low chuckle left Angelo's lips. "Vanished? No… I don't think so." He tapped a gloved finger on the desk, a silent rhythm of thought. "Whoever they are, they did exactly what they came to do. Nothing more, nothing less."
The knight stood stiffly, unsure whether to take that as reassurance or a warning.
Angelo returned his gaze to the papers, but his movements had changed—less calculated, more restless. He flipped through them faster, his fingers gripping the pages tighter. The disappointment was faint, but it was there.
Something was missing.
Something important.
With a slow exhale, he whispered under his breath, "Where are you hiding?"
As the moon shone brightly, Subaru walked steadily, with Raphael's weight secure on his back, his breathing light but steady.
A faint murmur broke the silence. "…Lily…"
Subaru glanced back slightly, his expression unreadable. But then, in a rare moment of softness, he muttered, "Your sister's safe, kid." His voice carried no doubt, only certainty.
As he pressed forward, his gaze darkened, lost in thoughts he hadn't visited in a long time. "Didn't think I'd still see traces of you…" he whispered to himself. A bitter chuckle followed. "Still trying to find your way back, huh?"
Then, just ahead, two small figures lay nestled beneath a tree. Subaru's sharp eyes took them in instantly—Lily and Kibo, curled up against each other, asleep. Beside them, two unmoving bodies.
His steps quickened. He crouched beside them, his gaze sweeping over their faces first—unharmed. A slow breath left him, but his focus shifted to the bodies. He studied them, his expression unreadable. Did Kibo do this?
Then, a stir. Lily's eyelashes fluttered. Her drowsy eyes met his, filled with hazy confusion.
"Hey, little one," Subaru said, his voice softer than usual. He shifted Raphael slightly. "Look—I brought your big brother."
The sleep vanished from Lily's eyes. She scrambled up, rushing to Raphael's side. "Big brother! Big brother!" Her tiny hands clutched his, her voice shaking.
Subaru watched as her fingers tightened around Raphael's, her small frame trembling. He exhaled quietly. "He's alright, kid. He's tougher than he looks."
Lily blinked up at him, her lips parted as if she wanted to believe him but couldn't quite yet. But Subaru's gaze was steady—unshakable. Slowly, she nodded, as if absorbing his certainty.
A beat of silence. Then, Subaru stood, shifting Raphael on his back again. He reached down, scooping Kibo up with practiced ease. The boy didn't stir.
"Let's go," he said simply. "It's getting dark."
Lily didn't hesitate. She wiped her face with the back of her hand and fell into step beside him, small but determined.
With Lily walking close by his side, they left the forest as the last rays of sunlight disappeared behind the trees, fading into night.
I was floating.
No ground. No sky. No sound.
Just darkness. Endless, stretching forever, swallowing everything. My body felt light, like I wasn't even real. No breath. No weight. No warmth.
Am I dead?
I didn't remember falling asleep. Didn't remember waking up either.
Then—something shifted.
A sound. Deep. Rolling. A vibration through the void itself.
Like a heartbeat.
Then a voice. Low, rumbling, ancient. It crawled under my skin, wrapped around my bones, made the air itself feel heavier.
"So… this is the one that crazy witch gave my heart to?"
I spun around—only to freeze.
There, looming in the nothingness, was a dragon. Not just any dragon. It was massive. Its body was shadow, shifting like smoke, but its head—its head burned. Fire wreathed its face, golden eyes burning through the dark like twin suns.
I couldn't move.
Couldn't breathe.
This wasn't a dream. It felt too real.
The dragon leaned in, the flames around its face flickering, heat rolling over me without burning. Its mouth twisted, almost like it was amused.
"Tch. Pathetic. I expected more."
I tried to step back, but there was no ground to step on.
"What… are you?" My voice was barely a whisper.
The dragon's eyes narrowed.
"You're not even worth knowing that yet, brat."
The void seemed to tighten around me, pressing against my chest. I struggled to breathe. The dragon exhaled, and the air burned.
"Get out, brat."
Then its jaws opened wide.
The fire roared.
And everything—
Snapped.
I gasped awake, my chest rising and falling fast, like I had been drowning. Sweat clung to my skin. My hands shot to my stomach, expecting pain, blood—something.
Nothing.
No wounds. No scars.
Like it had never happened.
What… was that?
Footsteps. Soft. Slow.
I turned my head fast—too fast.
The door cracked open, and a small figure peeked in. A girl. Holding a tiny cup of water, blinking up at me with wide eyes.
I didn't think. I just moved.
I grabbed her shoulder, pulling her closer. Too fast.
The cup slipped from her hands, crashing to the floor. Water splashed across the wood.
"Are you hurt? How… how did we escape?" My voice came out rough, breathless, still half caught between the dream and reality.
Her eyes got even wider. Her mouth opened—then shut—then opened again. No words. Just shock.
Then, from behind her—
"Kibo."
A familiar voice. Dry. Amused.
I looked up, and there he was. Grandpa . Leaning lazily against the doorframe, arms crossed, smirking like he had seen something very entertaining.
"Looks like you're after more than just answers."
It took me a second to understand what he meant.
Then I realized—
I was still holding onto her. Too close.
I let go fast, stepping back. Too fast.
"Sorry," I muttered, bending down to grab the cup. I held it out. She just… stared.
She looked like she wanted to say something. Then—
"M-my name's…" she mumbled, her voice barely above a whisper.
She fidgeted, gripping the hem of her dress.
Then, even softer—
"Lily."
Lily.
That was… a nice name.
I hesitated, then gave her a small smile. "Kibo."
Her face turned pink. She nodded quickly, taking the cup from my hands.
Silence. Awkward.
Then she glanced at the water spill.
"I-I'll clean it," she mumbled, moving to grab a cloth.
I wanted to protest.
"No, you're hurt," she said quickly. "You should rest."
I opened my mouth to argue—
Pain.
Sharp. Sudden. Right in my chest.
I sucked in a breath, gripping my shirt.
Her eyes widened.
"A-are you okay?"
I forced a weak grin. "Yeah, I'm fine."
She didn't believe me.
Her tiny hands pushed at my arm, guiding me back toward the bed.
"Rest," she whispered. "I'll clean this up. And… thank you."
She hesitated.
Then, even softer—
"You and your grandpa saved me and my big brother."
I blinked.
Grandpa?
I glanced at grandpa, still standing there, watching with that damn smirk.
He raised an eyebrow, grinning like he found the whole thing hilarious.
"I'll leave you kids to it," he said lazily, turning on his heel and strolling off down the hall.
I watched him go, then looked back at Lily.
She was staring at the floor, twisting her fingers together.
She looked… shy.
Like she wanted to say something else but didn't know how.
I wanted to say something too.
But… I didn't know what.
So instead, I just let her tuck the blanket over me and watched as she quietly slipped out, shutting the door behind her.
I laid there, staring at the ceiling.
That place. That thing.
The crazy witch.
What the hell did any of it mean?
My eyes felt heavy. My body ached.
Sleep pulled me under again.
And the questions stayed unanswered.