The world shattered around Tatsuya before he even realised what was happening.
One second, he was standing in the quiet alleyway, and next, an ear-splitting roar shook the ground beneath his feet, and a blinding flash of light turned everything white. Heat and force slammed into him, sending him flying backward, his body colliding with the rough pavement.
His mind went blank as he lay there, struggling to remember how to breathe. For a few seconds, he could only hear the deafening ringing in his ears. His vision blurred as he forced himself to sit up, pain throbbing in every inch of his body.
"What the hell was that?"
Tatsuya blinked, smoke and dust clouded the air, swirling in ghostly patterns, and pieces of debris littered the ground like broken puzzle pieces.
His heart pound in his chest. Okay, don't panic, he thought, though his instincts were screaming otherwise.
As his senses returned, a sharp voice cut through his thoughts. "Tatsuya! Are you okay?!" Sora called out to him, trying to find a connection with him through the thick pack of smoke. "Yeah! I think so. What happened?"
Suddenly Tatsuya heard a loud voice.
"Demon cult attack!!"
Members of the Swordsman corps screamed, trying to pass it down to everyone who could hear it.
A strong force of magic cleared the smoke.
It was the Heavenly saint of patience, Shun Katsunori.
He used his sword art of thunder to kill some members of the demon cult.
"Are you serious right now? How could this happen?" He questioned himself. "We're only with three Heavenly saints, and high-ranked swordsmen are also on missions."
He made his calculations and reviewed his options.
Seeing swordsman corps members lying down on the ground in defeat, like they had already lost the war, he decided to speak up.
"Lift your head up, soldiers!" He wasn't usually someone to speak up. In his nature, he usually waited patiently. But now he felt like it was his duty to speak up.
"We can only win this together; you are a swordsman corps member, are you not?"
Tatsuya recognised the young boy. It was the same boy that gave the orders after his battle with Gluttony.
Tatsuya judged him as someone who wasn't used to speaking up from his dialogue. Perhaps because of his young age. But his words were still inspiring.
The members who sat on the ground stood up and started fighting.
Sora, Kiome, Kizutoro, Ruza, and Chika also stood up in acceptance of Kaida; she lay on the ground motionless.
"Kaida!" Tatsuya ran towards the girl on the ground. "She is still breathing!"
Tatsuya grabbed Kaida and held her in her arms. Looking at the others with a worried expression.
"We need to find Aimi and bring her to the medical center!" Tatsuya said.
Chika was the first to respond. "Okey, Ruza and Tatsuya, we are going to find Aimi."
She looked back at Kiome like she needed his approval.
"I think it's maybe better if we stay together." Ruza suggested.
"Yeah, I am agreeing with Ruza here.
We need to stay together."
Chika nodded.
They walked through the collapsed building.
Shun stayed back to fight the other
members of the demon cult.
The hallway stretched before them, a skeletal ruin of what had once been an elegant shoin-zukuri-like manor.
A loud crack echoed above them, and they froze, eyes darting upward. The wooden beams overhead had begun to splinter, weakened by the flames licking up from the main hall.
"Watch out!" Chika pushed Kiome back just as a beam came crashing down, landing with a thud that shook the floor beneath them. Dust and ash filled the air, and they ducked, shielding themselves from the scattering debris.
When the dust settled, a section of the building came crashing down, putting a wall between Chika and them.
Kiome stumbled up from the floor, looking worried. But he couldn't say anything.
"Chika! Are you alright?" Sora screamed, waiting for an answer.
The sealing lay in ruin, a jagged mess of shattered stone and broken beams sprawled across the ground like the bones of a long-dead beast. Orange embers glowed along the fractured edges of the stones, while thin wisps of fire licked at any stray fragment that dared to remain intact.
"Yeah, I am alright." They finally heard from behind the collapsed sealing. "I don't think I will be able to get to you. Should we meet at the old shack?" She suggest.
It is the saves place to be right now, I think. It is just outside the swordsman corps grounds, and it is pretty secluded. And where else could we go after healing up, Kaida? Tatsuya thought.
Tatsuya looked at the girl in his arms, quietly resting, like she was just falling asleep. The sound of shallow breaths was the only sound she could make. His facial expression is that of worry.
Just hold on, Kaida. I won't let you down. God, Meki. Lent me your strength and keep us safe.
"It's going to be alright; she is going to make it." Tatsuya heard. When his gaze turned from Kaida to the one who was talking to him, he was greeted by Ruza.
Her presence and caring nature soothed Tatsuya's tension a bit. "Yes, I know. I keep my faith!" He said confidently.
After stumbling through the debris of the collapsing building, we finally found ourselves in a familiar hallway on the first floor. Relief washed over me as we came upon the doors to Kiome's, Kizutoro's, and my own rooms—all safely intact here in the east building. At least some part of the place hadn't crumbled to pieces.
But then his thoughts went to the others. Kaida, Chika, and Aoi... Their rooms were all over at the north building, along with Aimi's medical center. And if the damage had reached here, he could only imagine what things looked like over there.
The only reason we'd gone through the building in the first place was because the courtyard route was completely out of the question. Members of the demon cult had swarmed the grounds, blocking any chance of getting through safely.
And Kaida... she needed medical attention fast. If we didn't get her to the north building soon, where Aimi's medical centre was, her injuries would only get worse. So, despite the risks, we chose the only path left—cutting straight through the crumbling east building.
I... I can't just leave my things behind, Tatsuya thought, the weight of it pressing down on him even as he held Kaida in his arms.
He knew it was selfish, especially with her safety hanging in the balance, but the thought of leaving Paul's book and the sword he'd entrusted to him... he couldn't bear it.
Those things were irreplaceable. They held pieces of the past, pieces he wasn't ready to let go.
But Kaida… No, her safety has to come first. Even so, his mind kept drifting back, torn between protecting her and holding onto what he could never replace.
Caught up in his inner debate, his gaze shifted to Ruza, almost instinctively.
She could help, couldn't she? Tatsuya wanted to believe that he could trust her with something this important.
"Ruza!" I called, motioning her over. She stepped closer, her eyes steady, understanding. "Ruza, listen to me closely." He began, but she placed a hand on his shoulder, stopping him.
"Don't worry, I got you," she said.
Tatsuya nodded, feeling a weight lift from his shoulders. She would take care of it.
"I'll go with you, Tatsuya," Sora added, stepping forward.
Tatsuya and Sora made their way outside.
Tatsuya stood in silence, his eyes locked onto the flames consuming the building before him. The heat was intense, even from a distance, and the roar of the fire drowned out everything else. Beside him, Sora watched too, the flickering glow illuminating her face in a sharp, orange light.
Tatsuya's fists tightened.
This building—it was where they'd hope to find aid for Kaida.
They were standing before the North building from the swordsman corps, the place where the medical centre was located.
They were too late, and the building was consumed by endless flames.
Is this really it? He thought, Everything they had fought for, everything they'd built together—it felt like the fire was swallowing it all.
"Damn it…" The words slipped out, a whisper drowned by the fire's roar.
He felt Sora's hand rest on his shoulder, a solid, grounding presence. "It's gone, Tatsuya," Sora said quietly.
Tatsuya clenched his jaw, a wave of guilt and regret tightening his chest.
If only I'd gotten here sooner... Maybe then she...
He forced the thought away, gripping the last threads of hope he had left.
No, I can't give up now. We have to believe there's still a chance.
"Sora," he said firmly, turning to her. "Come on. We need to get to the shack and regroup. It's not over yet."
Sora gave him a small, determined nod. "Okay! Lead the way, captain," she replied, her voice carrying a spark of her usual energy.
"We only need to make it through the courtyard, and just outside the north gate is the old shack." He said
"Let's go!" She said.
They were walking through the courtyard.
"Sora?" Tatsuya questioned. "Where are master Yatsu, Luna, and Nitsuki?"
"I don't know for sure, but I know they went to Kenji Kai. Yastu had something to talk about with him." Sora answered.
"THE MASTER IS DEAD, THE MASTER IS DEAD!!!" They heard.
Part 2
"Chika Ustukushii's perspective"
I looked up at the collapsed ceiling, taking in the tangled mess of broken beams and smouldering stone.
The heat pressed down on me, stifling, and ash drifted through the air like snow.
I swallowed hard, feeling the weight of fear tightening my chest. But I pushed it aside, clenching my fists.
Okay, Chika, I told myself, steeling my resolve. No time to hesitate. Let's get going!
With a deep breath, I broke into a sprint, dodging fallen debris and skirting around pockets of flame as I raced through the burning building.
Then I skidded to a halt.
A dark figure stood at the end of the hallway, shrouded in shadows and smoke, barely visible in the flickering orange light.
My heart lurched, and I took a step back, instinctively reaching for a weapon I didn't have.
The figure didn't move, didn't say a word, and only stood there, silent and still, as if waiting for me.
My breath caught, and a thousand questions raced through my mind.
Who…is that? A cult member. Why is he just standing there?
I wasn't stupid; of course I know why they were here.
They are going to kill every single one of us; that's what they do; they only kill...
My heart pounded as I faced the figure blocking the hallway, their silhouette shifting in the flickering firelight.
Without warning, the stranger lunged, a flash of silver gleaming in their hand—a small, wickedly sharp knife aimed straight for me.
Instinct took over. I stepped back, narrowly avoiding the blade as it sliced through the air in front of me.
I raised my hand, gathering mana ready to cast a spell. A faint, icy-blue glow began to shimmer around my fingertips.
"Frostpiercer!"
With a swift movement, I thrust my hand forward, and a burst of frost erupted from my palm.
Shards of ice streaked toward the attacker, freezing the air in a sudden, shimmering gust. The figure jumped back, narrowly dodging the frost, but the ice caught his sleeve, freezing the fabric to his right arm.
I wanted to quickly freeze my opponent and then finished it with a killing blow. But I noticed how weak my magic was.
The stranger grunted, ripping the sleeve free with a quick slash of his knife.
He moved fast, closing the distance between them again.
I noticed a small symbol that looked like
magic circle on his right arm.
The knife came at me in a low arc, aiming for my side. I twisted, feeling the blade graze my arm—a searing line of pain—but I bit back a gasp and held my ground.
Breathing hard, keeping my hands raised, ready for the next strike.
I gritted my teeth, gathering the last threads of mana to my hands. A faint glow sparked in my fingertips, flickering and weak.
Why is my magic such a disappointment? I don't understand I only cast one spell; why am I already at my limit?
"Magic user, huh?" almost amused, the corner of his mouth curling up. He darted forward, faster than I'd expected.
I raised my hands to release a burst of light, hoping to blind him—"Flash bolt!" But I magic fizzled out mid-air, the remnants of my mana vanishing into a sad puff of smoke.
"No, no, no!" she gasped, realising her powers had run dry at the worst possible moment.
The stranger closed the gap between them.
My mind raced; this can't be happening. I've fought far worse than this. But my body wasn't listening, and my magic was completely drained.
"Just...back off," I muttered, trying to summon my voice to sound tougher than I felt.
Why….why? Where did my powers go? Is my magic this bad?
I tried to make sense of the situation, but my mind was distraught by my lack of power.
The stranger didn't even flinch.
Desperation surged through me as I tried to find a way out—any way out. My feet faltered as I attempted one last desperate retreat, but he stepped in close, pinning her against the wall, his knife hovering just close enough to remind my that escape was futile.
I swallowed hard, feeling the sharp blade against my skin. My mind buzzed with frustration, embarrassment, and exhaustion.
"What are you? Why are you…" I stopped midsentence. The cult member grinned and began to speak.
"Have you forgotten so easily?" He asked, "We are you... We are the madness that lurks within you all, crying out every moment for freedom. We are what you hide from in your beds every night. We are what you sedate into silence and paralysis when you go to the nocturnal Haven, where we cannot enter."
Part 3
"Ruza Davida's perspective."
I was standing in the room, looking around, remembering what Tatsuya told me.
"Ruza, listen to me closely." Tatsuya's words played in my mind as though he were right there beside me, his voice firm yet tinged with an unmistakable undertone of vulnerability.
The moment he said that, I immediately understood what he meant. His two most precious belongings. His book and the sword.
The sword was easy to find, hanging on the wall. Like the calm surface of a lake before dawn.
There was a quiet intensity to it, as if the blade held its breath, waiting for the moment it would be called into action
The polished steel of the blade shimmered under the soft light, reflecting a sharp, cold gleam that hinted at both beauty and lethality.
The hilt was wrapped in dark leather, smooth yet firm, with an emblem—a phoenix in mid-flight—etched into the base.
I questions myself. "Where would you keep your book, Tatsuya?"
As I was trying to find that question, I recalled most of her memories of them together.
But then I came to a conclusion that was kind of scary for me.
"Who are you?" I said softly.
We have been through so much together, but I get the feeling I know almost nothing about you.
The thought of it scared her, not because I was scared of Tatsuya. But because of the memories they made with each other held no weight to it, like there was no meaning behind it.
What is the meaning of a relationship when you don't have meaningful memories with each other?
I should ask about his personal life more and be more open about what he wants. Maybe that should strengthen our relationship?
Then I remembered.
He basically sleeps with that book and almost acts like it is a gospel from God.
I walked over to the bed and checked under his pillow.
I let out a sign of relief. There it was—the book that held Tatsuya so deep. I wonder what's even in this book that treasures him so much? I should ask him.
I wanted to take a look at it when Kiome called out to her. "Ruza! Come, we need to go!"
We made it outside; our location was the north building of the swordsman corps.
But they were presented with the same horror as Tatsuya and Sora.
The building stands charred and broken, with blackened walls and melted windows. Debris and ash cover the ground, and the acrid smell of smoke lingers. It looks more dilapidated than the other buildings, I judged.
Maybe the demon cult started their attack here? Is Aimi still alive?
My face was full of regret.
Only if I studied healing magic more, only if I had more knowledge about giving aid, maybe then things would have gone differently.
"Come, we need to go to the shack; we can't stay grieving here forever." Kiomes words snapped me out of my thoughts.
Ruza nodded.
Yeah, he is right. We need to get her to safety and see what we can do for her.
"THE MASTER IS DEAD!!! THE MASTER IS DEAD!!"
Part 4
Tatsuya felt grief, but also a weird sense of relief dragged over him.
"He is dead."
How can this be? I mean, he is the master. Isn't he supposed to be the strongest or something?
Although Tatsuya never saw him in action, he imagined him as a mighty warrior.
Tatsuya quickly snapped out of his thoughts.
"Come, Sora, we need to go!" He said.
She nodded, but then when they wanted to get on their way, Tatsuya noticed someone.
She was holding a cult member in the air with one hand. Her fingers tightened around the cult member's neck, lifting him effortlessly off the ground.
Her unrelenting grip choked the life from him.
Without a word, she drew her sword in a swift, clean motion, the steel glinting faintly in the dim light. Then, in a single, deliberate thrust, she drove her blade through his chest.
Blood dripped down the blade, dark and viscous, staining her hand as it pulsed out of him with each dying beat of his heart.
This behaviour wasn't usual of the girl; she was normally very serious and is polite.
Never have he seen her so merciless.
The one Tatsuya was looking at was Aoi.
Her head turned slowly, almost unnaturally, as if she were moving in slow motion.
Her face was hidden beneath the shadows of her blood-soaked bangs, strands of hair matted to her forehead and cheeks.
Her eyes—when Tatsuya finally saw them—were hollow, dark pits, empty yet seething with an unnatural rage.
It was as if something inside her was no longer human.
The white kimono that once symbolised her purity and strength was now a ghastly shade of crimson, plastered against her body by the weight of the blood that had soaked through.
Her hands hung limply at her sides, her fingers twitching slightly, her sword still clenched in one hand.
But she did not move toward him. Instead, she stood there, a haunting silhouette against the night, her eyes full of rage.
"Aoi... what happened to you?" His voice trembled as he tried to keep his footing, feeling his own knees weaken.
Aoi isn't our enemy; she is our friend; then why do I feel treated? Why do I feel scared just by looking at her?
Tatsuya judges her as the very embodiment of horror.
Her mouth slowly opened. "The master is dead." The sound of her voice only called out rage. "Don't you try to stop me... Tatsuya."
"DON'T GIVE ME THAT Crap!" A voice came out of the smoke.
And hand slapped against Aoi's cheeks.
Aoi's eyes widened and she looked at the ground.
The one that slapped Aoi was none other than Kizutoro.
Ruza and Kiome followed behind him.
"The master is dead!" He continued, "Yeah, so what..."
Right before he could finish his sentence, Aoi jumped at Kizutoro, attacking him.
"Hey! Stop you two!" Sora screamed, trying to get between them.
"Stay out of this! Who are you anyway?"
Kizutoro said while brawling with Aoi.
Kizutoro used his air magic to push Aoi away from him. "And you! I wasn't even finished with what I had to say. Are you really this stupid? The master is dead, but have you forgotten what we had swore to him if he was dead?"
Aoi stood silent, not knowing what to say.
"We had sworn." Kizutoro continued, "If the master died, we would gather as many swordsman corps members as possible and rebuild the corps elsewhere! But not fall into a blind rage and get yourself killed!"
Aoi's eyes widened in surprise; the rage disappeared from her eyes.
"Tatsuya, Sora, Ruza, Kiome... Kizutoro," she recalled everyone who was here, like recalling if they were still alive.
"Yeah, we are here for you if you need us, or whatever." Kizutoro said while scratching the back of his head.
Aoi looked herself and whipped the blood off her face.
"I am sorry I lost my composure. Thank you, Kizutoro, for bringing me back."
"Yeah, yeah," Kizutoro waved at her nonchalantly, looking away with embarrassment.
"Kizutoro is right." She continued. "We need to get to a safe place. The old shack perhaps." Aoi suggested.
"You are right on the money." Kiome said. "But how did you know that the shack existed? We hadn't introduced it to you yet."
"You do know that I do security duty, right? Why do you think you haven't been caught yet?" She said while winking at them.
Kiome blinked, then chuckled as the group exchanged glances. Aoi's wink sparked a spark of relief and hope among them.
"Alright, let's move," Aoi said, her voice stronger, more resolved. "We've got a promise to keep, after all."
Part 5
They were inside their secret hangout spot.
The old shack. Sitting around an old wooden table. They were contemplating where they needed to go.
Sora was sitting besides the still unconscious Kaida, who was lying on an old couch. Giving her healing magic.
"Can't we go to Yatsu's mansion?" Tatsuya suggested.
The reason why Tatsuya suggested the mansion is because he would feel most comfortable being there. He also thought about going to Paul's cabin, but that place is too holy for him, and he didn't thought Paul would like it. How would he do? I should write him a letter.
Sora responded to Tatsuya's suggestion. "No, I am not getting master in danger."
"Yes, me neither, but he is strong; he could protect us. Right?"
Tatsuya looked at Ruza, expecting to back him up, but she stood silent.
Ruza Why aren't you backing me up, girl? Are you worried something happened to Luna and Natsuki? Wait, they are still somewhere out there... and Chika too.
Shit! Why are we here contemplating where to go when we don't have everyone gathered yet?
"But before we can go anywhere." Tatsuya continued. "Shouldn't we wait until we have found everyone?"
"No, I think we should get out of here as soon as possible." Kiome said.
What!? Kiome, why are you of all people saying that? It is Chika who is missing.
"Kiome, it is Chika we are talking about." Tatsuya said.
Kiome nodded. "I know, and that is why we should get out of here. Go to Deity and ask the royal guards for help." He said.
"I don't understand; why shouldn't we try and find them?" Tatsuya asked.
"Because this is what Chika would have wanted. She wouldn't want us to wait for her and risk our lives. She would have wanted us to be saved, even if it cost to leave her behind. And besides, she is powerful." He said.
Tatsuya understood his reasons, but he couldn't accept them.
Chika is indeed powerful, but Nisuki... is she strong? I know Luna can protect herself. She has to be fighting the cult members of, right?
"But…" Tatsuya wanted to speak when he got stopped by Sora. Her head coming just above the couch.
"Don't worry, master is with them, their save."
Sora's words were reassuring, but they didn't soothe Tatsuya completely.
He looked at Ruza with a worried expression.
But she only looked at the table.
Ruza… What is going on? Why are you so silent? He thought. Why does your face resemble that of someone who feels guilty?
"I think going to the Kingdom of Deity is a valuable option, but to get there would be rough. It is the beginning of the moon season, and snow could fall at any moment." Aoi said.
"And on foot it will take about 2 months to get there." She finished.
Deity… Last time I was there, things didn't really go smoothly.
Tatsuya's body trembled at the thought of it.
Going to the kingdom where he got kicked out of because of his sent.
He wished that he never had to see that city again.
Deity is the biggest kingdom in the eastern continent, located in the country of Aluria.
Ruza noticed Tatsuya trembling and finally looked up. "Maybe dad wouldn't mind if we came to my place?" She said it with an uncertain voice.
"It is okay if you want to offer up your home, Ruza." Kiome said. "But I think going to Deity isn't a bad idea. But I think we should hold a vote just to be sure."
Of course it would come down to a vote. Well, it is the most fair way to do it, but no, I can't think about it. I'll just vote for going to the mansion.
"2 votes for the mansion and 3 votes for Deity." Kiome said.
Sora was the decisive vote here; she really didn't want to bring Master in danger. I should admire her loyalty a bit more. But why is she even coming with us? Doesnt she belong back home?
"Get ready, we need..." Before Kiome could finish his sentence without warning, the door to the shack swung open.
Everyone froze, their eyes snapping toward the doorway. Standing there, silhouetted against the dim light outside, was a figure cloaked in shadows.
"Well, it looks like you were planning to leave without me," the figure said, a smirk playing on their lips. The figure leaned casually against the doorframe, arms crossed as if waiting for this moment.
"I would have done the same thing."