Guests were gathered inside the large house, in the spacious living room, where several children had come together. Anna, a beautiful young girl, was talking with the boy who was her fiancé—Noah, a ten-year-old boy. They were born in the same year and on the same day.
Their engagement had been arranged by their mothers even before they were born. Now Anna lived with Noah's family, and they lived their lives as young fiancés.
On the long sofa, Nova—Noah's younger brother—was lying back relaxed. On his lap slept a nine-year-old girl named Hanna, the same age as Nova. Though they were the same age, Nova was the older sibling because he was born first.
Noah was getting ready. He was putting on his shoes and carrying a large bag on his back. Inside the bag were various preparations.
"Noah, where are you going?" Anna asked.
Noah looked toward his fiancée.
"I want to go to the mountain behind our house."
"The mountain? What for?" Anna asked, looking worried.
"Big brother always goes there every seven days. It's something he does regularly," Nova answered from the long sofa, careful to keep his little sister comfortable on his lap.
Noah gave a small smile.
"Yeah, like what my little brother said. I always go there every seven days. That place is very beautiful, full of fresh fruit. Besides, I like fishing there and eating the catch right after grilling it. That's why I'm bringing this bag—inside are the cooking tools."
"Can't you do that at home? Why do you have to go out?" Anna asked.
"Like I said, I like the food prepared there. Big, fresh fish grilled right on the spot. The taste is completely different," Noah replied calmly.
Anna knew what Noah was thinking—what came out of his mouth was the truth, not some made-up lie.
"You're a strange person."
"Haha, you're right. Your fiancé is indeed a strange guy. I'm grateful there's still a woman willing to accept me, even though I'm like this."
"Hmm, then I want to come along too. I want to know why you're so drawn to a place that looks so boring," Anna said.
"No, not today," Noah answered firmly.
"Why not?" Anna asked, disappointment showing in her eyes.
Noah looked at his fiancée for a moment, then spoke seriously:
"Today… I feel like it's going to be a bad day. My instincts are telling me so. I don't want you to come along."
"Then why are you still going? Wouldn't it be better to stay home if you feel today is a bad day?" Anna asked, her logic perfectly reasonable.
"Yes, that's exactly what a normal person would do. But you know… I don't like it when something bad happens to my family."
"I'm going to find out what's waiting out there. If I stay here, that threat will definitely come to this house. I don't want my family to be in danger. Maybe it's just a feeling, maybe it's not real. But I'll take action before it's too late."
Noah gave his fiancée a small smile. Then he walked over to Nova.
"Nova, if something happens, I want you to protect my fiancée from any trash that might show up. The threat is darkness. Wherever there is light, darkness will always try to approach it. They are the enemies of light."
"You're talking as if you're going to die today. Besides, there are guards there. It's impossible for anything bad to happen. And… I'm not as strong as you to protect a light like that," Nova replied.
"Hehe, you idiot." Noah ruffled his younger brother's hair.
"You're my little brother. Right now, yeah, I'm stronger than you. But that doesn't mean whoever comes will definitely be stronger than you. Besides, stop trying to imitate me. Someone who only follows another person's path will never become strong. Find your own path in life. Do what you truly want to do."
"Noah, make sure you come back before seven tonight!"
Noah nodded, even though his mother couldn't see him.
"I don't want you to go." Anna grabbed the edge of Noah's clothes. Her head was lowered; she didn't dare look directly into his eyes.
Noah stepped closer and gently placed his hand on Anna's head.
"I'll be fine. There are guards there. I'll definitely come back. Besides, I'm strong. I won't die. I'll return safely."
Noah opened the door and stepped outside. Anna remained standing in place, listening to his footsteps fade away.
Suddenly, tears flowed from Anna's eyes. She watched slowly as Noah disappeared from sight. Her heart felt unbearably heavy.
When Noah reached the path leading up the mountain, a guard spoke to him.
"Haha, you came, Noah. Have fun~"
Before the guard could finish speaking, his head was severed with a single swing of Noah's right hand, which moved like a sword.
Noah stood calmly, his eyes fixed on the spot where the guard had just been standing.
"A perfect disguise. But you met someone who isn't fooled by disguises. It seems the real guard has already been killed. Come out, all of you."
At that moment, nine people dressed entirely in black appeared from the tops of the surrounding trees. They all wore the same black uniforms.
"Who are you?" Noah asked calmly, as if he weren't in a dangerous situation at all.
"We are from the Black Witches. We've been assigned to kill you."
"A killer speaking politely? Haha, how strange."
"I didn't expect you to realize immediately that he was one of us. You have very sharp eyes, don't you?" The voice of their leader came from one of the trees.
"Since birth, I've had good eyes. So, ten people, huh? One's already dead. If I hadn't come here, you would have killed everyone in my house, right?"
"Haha, a child with thoughts that don't belong to a child at all. Yes, exactly as you thought. That's what we would have done if you weren't here. Even though I'm at a distance, I'm sure you came alone because you didn't want anyone in the house to die, didn't you?"
"Haha, just as you thought. You're pretty smart."
"I'm wondering—why do you still look so calm? It's too strange. What can you do alone against all of us? Were you already prepared to die from the beginning?"
"Not at all. From the start, I wasn't sure I would die here. I'm wondering—will ten people be enough to kill me? No, now it's only nine. Alright, come at me all at once. I don't like it when people attack one by one. Do your best to kill me."
"I won't let darkness touch the light. I am neither in darkness nor in light. I am the one who will keep the light shining, even if that light is surrounded by darkness."
"The light you're talking about—who is it?" one of the witches asked.
"Light isn't just one person in this world. Everyone has their own light to protect. Do I need to explain more? I don't think so. What I've said should be enough for smart people like you to understand."
"Truly an interesting child. Attack!"
They began moving toward Noah quickly. They clearly did not underestimate him. They had just witnessed how swiftly he killed one of their own.
It was the day Noah disappeared without a trace. No one knew where he went, and to this day, his whereabouts remain unknown.
◇ ◇ ◇
"Hah! A dream?" Anna woke up from her bed, breathing heavily. She was now inside the academy ship. The room was dark, but she could still see clearly.
"Why did that dream suddenly appear? It's so strange. Why are those old memories coming back now?"
Anna looked around the room. As she had said, everyone else was sound asleep. Only she had woken up in the middle of the night like this.
"Looks like I can't fall back asleep right away. Let's go outside."
Anna got up and walked out. She always carried her sword with her wherever she went. Now she stood on the ship's deck, gazing at the beautiful night sky.
"It's been so long… so very long. You said you'd come back safely. Liar."
Suddenly, Anna's heart pounded hard. Something inexplicable was approaching her.
"What's happening? Why all of a sudden…?"
At that moment, she heard the sound of a door opening. She quickly turned around.
A boy dressed entirely in black stood in front of the door.
After so many years apart, they finally met again. But not as people who knew each other. Neither of them recognized the other at all.
Anna stared at the young man with empty eyes, as if she were seeing a complete stranger for the first time.