Deep in the darkness, Hiro wasn't aware of his surroundings.
The only thing he could sense were the sounds around him—
Sometimes, screams and cries…
Sometimes, the roar of flames devouring stone and metal…
And sometimes, a haunting silence.
After a short while, he heard a girl's voice calling his name.
He slowly opened his eyes to see his surroundings.
He was still trapped inside the cage, surrounded by burning debris. The flames coiled around him.
Through a small opening, Wendy was calling out to him.
He quickly came to his senses and felt a sharp pain in his head.
He placed his hand on his forehead and felt the blood covering his face.
"What happened here? What's with all this blood…?"
Wendy saw Hiro open his eyes, and relief washed over her. She asked if he was alright.
"Yeah… I think I'm okay.
Anyway, what happened here? Can you tell me?"
Wendy started pushing away the burning rocks with her hands, as if trying to make a path to get him out.
"I'll explain everything later. Right now, you need to get out of there before the fire reaches you."
"But how do I get out?
This cage is stronger than I thought, and the door is still locked."
"You should be thankful for that. If it weren't for the cage, you wouldn't have survived with just a head injury.
Anyway, I found the key to the lock. I'll reach you soon."
"The key?!
How did you get it?"
"I'll explain that later too.
Now hush—let me work."
Half an hour later, Wendy managed to clear a path to the cage.
By the time she finished, it was clear to Hiro just how much she had gone through while he was unconscious.
She stood there barefoot, the ground burning her feet slowly.
Her once-elegant outfit was scorched and torn.
Her hands were covered in burns and blood.
Her tired eye was soaked in blood from her brow.
Hiro couldn't say a word when he saw her.
He lowered his head and shut his eyes tightly.
(I don't understand…
What did I do to deserve this?
I don't remember ever being the kind of person who deserved kindness.
No—there's no way I'm someone worth saving.
So why…?
Why is this girl doing this?
Why is she trying so hard to save someone like me?
No—it's not just Wendy. Stella, Itsuki, my brother… all of them...
Does my life really matter that much to them?
Do I… deserve all this?)
These thoughts swirled in his mind as his heart ached from the weakness he felt.
He couldn't stop the tears from falling as he pressed his forehead to the ground.
That feeling—of being important to someone—
Of being accepted, loved, of belonging somewhere…
The things he had always longed for…
Now made him feel weak and helpless.
As Hiro tried to hide his tears, Wendy spoke, standing in front of the cage door.
"Actually, before I let you out, I want to ask you for something."
Hiro heard her and lifted his head slightly, signaling her to go on.
"I feel like I've done quite a lot to help you,
So I want to ask for something in return.
Of course, you can say no if you don't like it.
It won't change the fact that I'll still get you out of here—so don't worry, I'm not trying to take advantage of you."
She felt a little embarrassed asking that in such a situation.
Hiro replied,
"It's fine. I get what you're trying to say.
So, what do you want in return?"
"It's just one thing.
I want you, just once, to do something for me—no matter the place, time, or situation.
Whenever I ask for that one thing, I want you to do it for me, no matter what it is."
Hiro was surprised by the strange request.
Though he had many questions, he didn't care. He said,
"That's all you want from me?"
"Yes. If you can promise me that,
I'll owe you."
"Let's say you hadn't saved me, and left me here instead—and somehow I survived.
Even then, if you asked me again, I'd still do it… even if it cost me my life.
You don't know what it means to me—that someone would do all this for someone like me.
So, for you and only you, I promise—whatever it is, wherever or whenever you ask, I'll do it with all my heart."
Wendy let out a small sigh and smiled widely, as if she had accomplished something great.
"Then it's a deal."
She opened the cage door and helped him out of that dark place.
What Hiro saw outside was a scorched land, heavy with the stench of death.
Amid the smoke and smoldering rubble, he saw Stella standing alone.
At that moment, the memories returned—what had happened before he lost consciousness.
"Wendy, before you go…
I remember hearing you mention something about a Sword of Light.
Can you tell me what that means?
How can a young girl like her do all that?"
As they both stared at the burned earth, Wendy replied,
"You know who the Harbinger of the End is, don't you?
The White Crow?
I doubt there's anyone who doesn't know that name."
"Yeah, I guess so."
"Long ago, one of the races came up with a way to stop the White Crow—to halt the end of the world.
So they created massive weapons to counter that threat.
It seems they succeeded.
They were called the Three Swords of Light:
The Great Sword of Justice,
The Middle Sword of Torment,
And the Small Sword of Mercy.
That one just now—that was the middle one.
The Sword of Torment: Stella.
Luckily, it seems her ability only affects criminals.
While I was searching, I found many human slaves, a few Elves, and of course, the knights who were with me and my carriage.
I sent a request for transport wagons—they should be arriving now.
But that means we're walking back on foot. Sorry about that."
Hiro realized the enormous responsibility Stella carried in that moment.
Compared to her burden, his problems felt utterly trivial.
He felt foolish for thinking she was just like him.
"Tell me, Wendy…
Are those Swords of Light really enough to stop the White Crow?"
Wendy didn't answer. She just slightly shook her head.
That was enough for Hiro to understand.
He walked slowly toward Stella, the only figure standing amid the fire.
Seeing her alone in that destruction made him realize the suffering that came with such responsibility.
A task that seemed impossible.
An enemy that couldn't be fought.
People who depended on her…
"This is insane. No one would ever agree to a life like this.
So..."
He stood in front of Stella, reached out, and brushed the dust from her hair.
"You did well. Looks like you've been through a lot.
I'm glad you're not seriously hurt, at least."
Stella tried to lift her face and smile, but couldn't. She said,
"You too… I'm glad you're okay.
Thank you. I can walk on my own."
She turned her back to him and began walking away from that place.
Then Hiro raised his voice so she could hear him:
"My name is Hiro.
It's a pleasure to meet you."
Stella smiled faintly and replied,
"It's a pleasure to meet you too."