"The drought has already begun. It will only be a matter of time before another girl is selected as the next sacrifice."
The three of them sat around a table, contemplating how they would solve the village's ancient problem. Tradition, however barbaric, was difficult to change.
Sakura told them the sacrifices were chosen not at random but by how much they were perceived to be a burden on her parents. Each sacrifice tended to be from the poorest families in the village, and using this knowledge, Sakura narrowed down the list of potential sacrifices to only a handful.
"So, one of these five girls is the most likely to be selected as a sacrifice?" Johann quietly said, ruminating over their names.
"Yes. They're from the poorest and most destitute families in the village. No one else would miss them if they disappeared," Sakura answered. "No one except, perhaps, their families."
"How cruel…this isn't the way to do this…" Kallen said. She had seen her fair share of cruelty against children, and she would do everything she could to stop another one from happening.
"Sakura, you must have wanted to end this for years. You must have wanted to save each and every one of the little girls you…" he said before cutting himself off. "Do you know if there's any way to stop the sacrifice from happening? What if you refuse to carry it out? Surely no one can force you to."
She shook her head. "No. The village's ways are ingrained deeply, and if I refuse to carry out the sacrifice, then someone else would, miko or not - my father being an obvious example. I would need to cut down the entire village to stop this practice, which would mean the deaths of more people than I would have saved."
They fell silent, absorbed in their thoughts.
"Perhaps…perhaps there is a way. To perform a sacrifice, there first needs to be a sacrifice," Johann said. "What if we take the children away from the village and keep them somewhere safe? We could wait until it finally rains, showing the village that sacrifices aren't needed."
"But what if it doesn't? It could take months more for it to rain again…and by then, I fear that the village would have already died, sacrifices or not," Kallen said, although she thought the idea had merit.
"It has to. Rain never stops forever, Kallen. Sakura, what do you think?"
The miko's eyes were closed. "If you do this, then a different child will simply be chosen instead. The village does not care who as long as they get their sacrifice."
"Then we'll just have to rescue all the children," Kallen determinedly said. "The village will have no choice but to listen to us then."
"Where would we take them, Kallen? There are dozens of children in the village. We don't have a place that can house so many and is out of the reach of any villagers who come looking for them," Johann said.
"Correct. There are currently over thirty girls of sacrificial age in Yae Village," Sakura cut in. "But I do know of a safe location for all of them to stay at. It is an ancient temple up in the mountains that is sometimes the destination of pilgrims and travellers. We can bring food, water, and other supplies there, enough to last several months for all of them."
"Would the village think to look in this temple if we brought all the girls there?" Johann asked.
"Yes. But the temple is in an area that can easily be defended. Its elevated position also lets us see any threats approaching it. Lastly, reaching it only takes a few hours on foot, meaning that the girls would be able to reach them without risking exhaustion or other dangers."
They considered this plan for several minutes. It was bold and risky, but if it succeeded, the village would eventually be forced to see reason.
"The question is this: how can we transport thirty girls all the way to one location without being noticed?" Johann said.
Kallen stood up. "I know each child in this village by name. They all trust me, and I know that they all fear being chosen as the next sacrifice. If I ask them to come with me somewhere safe, they'll be sure to listen."
Johann and Sakura stood up as well. "You're going to ask them without their parents knowing?" they asked.
"I'm the Rogue Extraordinaire, remember? I have my ways of moving around the village without being seen. I can also escort others the same way without being noticed, but we will need to carry out this plan during the night for it to succeed."
Johann smiled as he thought of the many heists and subtle infiltrations he and Kallen had carried out with ease in Vienna. If anyone in the world were capable of this, it was Kallen. He gently held her hands in his own. "Of course I remember. This is why I'll also do the same. We'll be able to get it done much faster than if you worked alone."
"Then so will I," Sakura said. "I have trained my entire life to walk silently to better stalk Houkai beasts. I will not let you two shoulder all the burden alone."
The three of them regarded each other.
"Sakura…" Kallen said. "Are you prepared to do the right thing?"
She nodded. "I can, and I must. I failed Rin and several other girls. I will not fail any more."
...
They spent the entirety of the next day setting up and preparing for their plan. Kallen and Sakura used their enhanced speed and strength to carry large crates of food and supplies up the mountain path and to the temple in the mountains. The village would quickly learn that its reserves had been raided, but it would already be too late by then.
When they arrived, Kallen felt amazement and awe at the temple's vastness and majesty. Many statues and paintings of foxes with multiple tails adorned the walls of the temple. She was even more relieved to learn that it already carried large stocks of supplies of its own as offerings to the god and to provide for a weary traveller, which meant that they would not need more than a single trip.
Next, Kallen carefully met with each girl in the village and asked them if they knew what the village was likely about to do. Each of them fearfully nodded, knowing that Sakura was always the one to wield the blade. Despite this, they knew she hated her duty, and they were joyful to learn that she had a plan to keep them safe.
The three of them had debated whether they should bring the boys of the village along with them. They knew that with the village's supply reserves depleted, the boys would also become innocent victims.
"I wish I could," Sakura had answered, "But the myth prohibits boys for sacrifice, and besides, we're leaving enough supplies for the village to last until the next rain. This also saves us room and supply requirements at the temple." Johann and Kallen had no choice but to agree.
In the afternoon, the head priest, Sakura's father, visited the shrine. He asked Sakura to speak with them. Sakura wanted nothing more than to tell him to leave and never show his face to her again, but she had no choice but to let him in to avoid raising suspicion.
"It's an honour to speak with both of you again," he said to Johann and Kallen, bowing. "I hope you have both been finding life in our humble village satisfactory."
"Yes, we have. We're glad we can protect this village from harm," they carefully said, and in many ways, they were not lying.
The man seemed more serious than the last time they had met. They had good reason to suspect that his visit was not for the sake of a mere conversation.
"Each of us is just as glad that you've chosen to use your strength for our sake. It's for this reason that I have one humble request for you."
"Anything," they answered.
"You must have noticed that it has not rained for quite some time. This can only mean that a drought is incoming, which is something that could mean the death of our village."
They said nothing, choosing instead to feign concern.
"I would ask you to travel to the temple of the fox god in the mountains near here and inspect its reserves of food and water. We may be in need of them soon, and it would set our minds at ease to know that there are reserves we can rely on if we require them. Additionally, there may be many Houkai beasts gathered in the region. If you could take a day or two to exterminate them and a few days more to ensure that none are left, we would all be in your debt. Of course, you will be well-compensated for your efforts upon your return."
They quickly glanced at each other. "Of course. Where is this temple?"
He gave them directions and a map. Then he turned to Sakura and asked to speak with her in private.
Johann and Kallen carefully pressed their ears against the walls of the room Sakura and her father had stepped into.
"You know what you need to do, eldest daughter of mine."
"...Yes, father."
"The sacrifice has already been chosen. The ritual will be held tomorrow. Ensure that your blade is sharp."
"Yes, father."
They heard footsteps and a man walking out of the room. Johann and Kallen had quickly retreated to the far side of the room to prevent him from realizing he had been overheard.
He bade them farewell and left the shrine, leaving them alarmed that their plan had been discovered.
"It's unlikely," Sakura assured them. "He's ensuring that you leave the village during the sacrifice so you don't learn the truth about Yae Village and are scared away. He needs your strength against Houkai beasts. It's convenient that he asked you to leave; this way, no one will find it suspicious if you're at the temple. But we must move quickly…a sacrifice has already been chosen…"
"We heard. Which girl is it?" Kallen asked.
"I do not know. Normally, I am not told and only learn who I'm killing when I walk up the steps of the altar and see her face. Rin was the only exception…my…'father'...wanted me to have time to prepare…"
They gently embraced her.
"It doesn't matter. Whoever she is, you've already asked her to come to the temple with you," Kallen reassured her. "We can save them. I know we can."
Sakura did not answer.
...
Night fell after a breathtaking sunset. After the village had fallen asleep, the three used their skills of stealth and thievery to enter the houses of the girls and carefully ferried them to a clearing in the outskirts of the village. Each of them worked separately, allowing them to move three times faster than if they had been acting as one.
Johann and Kallen were especially well-liked by the children in the village who saw them as angels who had come to protect them.
He carefully approached one of the most downtrodden houses in the village. It was built from aged wood that was near collapse. There were only the barest of personal possessions beyond the inhabitants' clothing. In one of the rooms was a young girl, fast asleep, but not soundly.
Johann carefully checked on the girl's parents to see if they were asleep. When he confirmed they were, he made his way to the girl's room. He gently woke her. The girl stirred slightly, and her bright eyes met his.
"It's me, Rion. It's time to go. Are you ready?" he asked softly.
The girl stared at him. She did not react for some time before she finally nodded. She slowly climbed out from the thin blanket covering her and stood up. She went over to a collection of flowers she kept nearby. She carefully considered them all before selecting a cherry blossom and putting it in her hair. The bright red contrasted with her long, dark hair. She picked up her blanket and wrapped it around her.
"I'm ready," she said quietly.
Johann offered her his hand, which she took. He discreetly led her through the village and to the clearing where the other children waited.
An hour later, they had finished.
"That's all of them," Kallen said after a quick headcount. "They look scared…and none of them are over fifteen years of age."
"Scared but determined," Johann said. "They're all ready to move. Let's begin."
They gave each of the girls a small container of water and a morsel of food for the journey into the mountains. The party started walking up the forested mountain path, illuminated by nothing but moonlight. Sakura walked in front of them all, leading the way and watching for any dangers, ensuring that none of them were left behind.
"How are all of you doing?" Kallen asked in a gentle voice, hoping to reassure the frightened girls.
"My legs hurt…"
"I can't see…"
"Will my family be safe?"
"We can take a rest here. And yes, I promise that your families are fine. You'll be able to return to them as soon as you can," Kallen reassured them.
They rested in a large clearing. The girls who had not finished their food by then distributed them to others who needed it more. They murmured to each other in quiet, whispered voices.
"So far, everything is going to plan," Johann quietly said as if hoping his words would not cause the opposite to occur.
"Yes. We are halfway to the temple, and the girls are more than strong enough to complete the journey," Sakura said, keeping a close eye on each girl.
"I'm glad. They must be so frightened from all of this…" Kallen said quietly.
"They know it's for the best. Each of them has witnessed a sacrifice before. Each of them know that they could be next. But none of them will be. I will ensure this," Sakura said, her words like steel. She stood up from the rock the three of them had sat on and spoke to the gathering. "If all of you are fully-rested, it's time to continue."
None of the girls protested. They obediently continued following Sakura up the mountain path despite their tiredness and trepidation.
Finally, they arrived at the temple without incident.
The girls looked around, as amazed as Kallen was when she had first seen it. There was enough room for all of them and more.
"We're here, girls," Sakura said. "All of you are safe now. Johann, Kallen, help me bring out the mattresses for them to sleep on."
They did, and soon all of the girls had fallen into a much-needed sleep. The three of them smiled, glad that their plan had so far been a success.
"This is only the start, isn't it," Johann said. "This temple will potentially need to become their home for months."
"If that is the price needed to end the sacrifices, then so be it," Sakura flatly stated. "I will take the first watch. Johann, you will be next, and then Kallen."
They were tired, both physically and mentally. He and Kallen lay down beside each other. Soon, sleep took them.
...
Sonorous echoes accompanied each step he made as he approached the throne ahead of him. A bearded man, elderly yet imposing, was seated on it. He wore long, white robes. An ornate headpiece rested on his head, signifying the man as the Overseer of Schicksal.
The Overseer's Sanctum was a vast, imposing chamber in the heart of the Grand Cathedral. Here, the most powerful man in Europe decided the future of Schicksal. The decision he would make today would change the future of the world for centuries to come.
Many echoes later, the man with red hair stopped a distance before the throne. He did not speak. He only waited for what he already knew. He met the Overseer's piercing green eyes. Years before, he could never hold their gaze, but he had changed since then.
The Overseer shifted slightly in his throne before he finally spoke.
"Johann Apocalypse, my only nephew. Do you know why you stand before me today?"
His voice, deep, resounding, and commanding, filled the chamber.
Johann slowly nodded.
"Our armies have been assembled. Each of our soldiers have no equals besides each other. We wield the most powerful weapons in the world. Europe is too small for what we could truly become," the Overseer continued. "We need not confine ourselves to only these lands. To do so is to consign ourselves to languishment and stagnation. But to the east lie more lands we are deserving of. What use is all of Schicksal's might if it is never used?"
Johann continued to hold the Overseer's gaze. He would once have been appalled by his uncle's words, but no longer. After years of service to Schicksal, he could see that all its potential was being wasted. The rest of the world was waiting for them. The rest of the world could benefit from Schicksal's unparalleled technology and might. And if they refused…Schicksal would come for them still. It was for their own good, whether they knew it, accepted it, or not.
Nikolas Apocalypse read Johann's thoughts conveyed in his eyes. He smiled. "I see that your beliefs mirror my own. This is good. No doubt Friedrich Apocalypse taught you otherwise in your youth. I wish for nothing more that I could honour my brother's memory, but Schicksal cannot hold itself back for the wishes of one deceased man. Come closer, my nephew."
Johann obeyed. He stepped forward until they were nearly face to face. The Overseer stood up. He placed his hand on his shoulder.
"I am proud of you, my nephew. I am proud of all that you have accomplished ever since the day I took you in. Your mind is swift, flexible, and versatile. None of the other generals can match your prowess. None of them possess what is required of the Supreme Commander."
Johann said nothing. He already knew this was the purpose of his very life. He had worked so tirelessly since that day for his uncle's approval, and now, he finally earned it.
"From this day onward, you have supreme reign over all of Schicksal's armies. They will obey your every order. They will lay down their lives for your sake. They are extensions of your indomitable spirit and will, and under you, none can hope to oppose us."
Nikolas looked to the sheathed sword resting beside the throne. He picked it up. He withdrew the blade, which shimmered with a violet glow.
"This blade is yours. It is the epitome of Schicksal's might. May it protect you in the battles to come."
Nikolas returned it to its scabbard before offering it. Johann fell to his knees and humbly accepted his uncle's gift to him.
"Rise, Supreme Commander Johann Apocalypse. The world trembles at your very name."
He rose. He turned around and brandished his new sword, facing the rest of those gathered before him, an assembly of dozens of Schicksal's highest ranked positions. Each knelt before him in turn. Each except for a man with blonde hair and a woman with silver.
...
Dying screams. Agonized howling. The lamentations of thousands of dying men swept over the battlefield, but nearly none of them belonged to Schicksal.
The Supreme Commander stood atop a hill, observing the battle from a safe distance. He regarded its conclusion with satisfaction. His army's Honkai-based weapons tore through the opposition with ease, however heavily armoured, sparing none. The initial charge of his armoured cavalry had already decimated the ranks of the enemy, leaving the rest as easy pickings for the remainder of his army. Now remained the simple task of finishing the few remaining soldiers off.
The Great Eastern Crusade was well underway, and it was marked with success after success, silencing any of his remaining detractors.
He turned around and returned to his war camp. He was greeted by several commanders, generals, and advisors who praised him for yet another flawless victory. He stopped when a man with blonde hair stepped into his path. Their gazes met. Neither spoke. Neither of them needed to. They already knew the other's thoughts.
Otto Apocalypse had opposed the Crusade from the very beginning, but he admitted this only in secret and only to his cousin. Johann had all the authority to dismiss him from the position of his second-in-command, but he refrained from doing so, hoping that his cousin would eventually see the light of Schicksal's actions. He never did.
Otto stared at him for a few seconds more before turning around and entering his tent.
Johann did not follow. He watched his cousin disappear into his tent before continuing on to his own.
He faced no more interruptions along the way until his tent came into view a distance away. It was his private quarters for the duration of the battle, and he looked forward to spending a restful night afterward.
He heard a faint whistling noise in the air. Normally, he would ignore something so insignificant, but years of experience had hardened him to the slightest hints of danger. He turned to the direction of the sound to see dozens of long, dark shapes hurtling from the sky at him.
A storm of arrows.
He froze. He could not move. No person could hope to survive such an attack.
No person except for one.
In an instant, a woman with silver hair rushed in front of him. She grabbed each arrow out of the sky, doing so as gracefully as a dance. None of them met their mark.
Then, there was more screaming.
The camp was being overrun.
Dozens, perhaps over a hundred soldiers on horseback charged into the camp, slaughtering everyone they could see. Schicksal, caught by surprise, fell in droves, struggling to reorganize themselves. Then there was a woman wielding three knives in each hand, throwing them at the attackers with unnerving accuracy and speed. As Eleanor Schariac dispatched target after target, the rest of Schicksal recovered from their initial shock and began retaliating with lethal force.
The silver-haired woman turned to him, steeling herself for battle. It was the purpose of her presence - to personally ensure the safety of the Supreme Commander.
"Get into your tent, Johann! I'll hold them off!"
She escorted him as they ran to his tent, but several more ambushers intercepted and surrounded them, forcing Kallen to fight. Even she could not guarantee his safety against so many enemies, and as the enemies charged, he lost sight of her. He managed to cut his way through the group and turned around only to see her buried beneath a frenzy of hacking and slashing weapons.
He cried out her name but could do nothing but trust in her strength and follow her advice. Before he could, he heard something from behind him. He turned around only to see a spearman on horseback charging at him. There was no time to react. The spearman thrust forward with his arm. The tip of the metal spear embedded itself in Johann's chest.
And shattered.
The chainmail armour beneath his uniform had saved his life, completely stopping the spear. The soldier seemed to react with surprise, but it was already too late for him. Johann had already raised his blade and used it to sever the man in two at the waist. Both halves of the fallen warrior, spurting bright red blood, fell to the ground as his horse ran off, no longer under its rider's control.
But there was no time for him to be complacent. More enemies had spotted him, charging him all at once and closing in fast.
It made no difference. He dodged their strikes and allowed his armour to stop the rest before cutting them down one by one, his sword tearing through both armour and flesh with ease. They fell from their horses at high speeds and skidded over the ground, painting crimson trails in their wake.
He heard the sounds of frantic footsteps rushing at him from behind. He turned around to see one last enemy charging at him, his sword raised.
Another spray of blood tainted his white uniform as he severed the swordsman's arm, the last of the assassins. Or was it a man? His scream was too high-pitched…too fearful…too young.
Alarmed, he stepped over the fallen man, who was clutching the bleeding stump of his arm, and tore off his helmet.
The terrified eyes staring at him belonged not to a man, but a boy no more than fourteen years of age. He was pleading and moaning incoherently, begging for his life even as that very life rapidly flowed out of him.
Why? Why?! WHY?! Why did they have to send a child to do a man's work?! Why are you here, you fool!
He felt his grip on the hilt weakening. His fingers trembled and threatened to release the sword. His breathing and heartbeat were unnaturally rapid, even more so than during the battle just seconds ago.
The boy's cries were quieter and slower by now, but he was still clearly in pain. Somehow, he managed to turn around and crawl away with his one remaining arm, dragging himself over the ground at an agonizingly slow rate to a hopeless destination. A trail of his blood followed him.
Johann did not know what to do. The boy would die soon enough, that much was clear. But why needlessly prolong his suffering?
He soon arrived at his decision. Breathing calmly, he walked forward.
The boy heard his approaching doom. He twisted back around to see the Supreme Commander with his sword in hand.
He began screaming and crying all the harder, saying that he only wanted to protect his home, that his mother, father, and sister were waiting to safely welcome him back after a victorious battle.
His pleas went unheard, so incoherent were they.
Johann raised his sword.
The colour violet was the last thing the boy ever saw.
...
An odd calm settled over the camp. The last stragglers were finished off and whatever items of use stripped from their corpses.
"Supreme Commander! You've been harmed!"
The other officers and commanders surrounded him in a protective circle. Surrounding them further was an even larger contingent of armed soldiers. The ambush had been effective. A number of them had been injured or killed, but the attack's true purpose of assassinating the Supreme Commander had failed.
Johann shook his head and showed them his undamaged armour. "This blood is not mine."
The other commanders were relieved at his safety. One stepped forward.
"The ambush was well-thought out, but each and every one of the attackers now lies dead at our feet. They have succeeded in striking a blow against us, but their efforts have ultimately failed, for now we have learned from the mistakes of our complacency, and as long as the Supreme Commander still lives, none can hope to defeat us!"
Triumphant cheers sounded throughout the crowd, but two did not partake. Johann watched Kallen staring at him. What was in her eyes? Disapproval. Disappointment. Despair. He knew because he felt the very same way himself. She turned and walked away. At the very least, he allowed himself to feel relief that she had escaped injury.
After the gathering dispersed to repair the damage the camp had sustained, he was free to approach the man with blonde hair. He said nothing.
"Otto."
Otto did not meet his gaze. Instead, he turned his head. Johann followed his line of sight.
"I saw all of it."
Johann stiffened. "Then you understand why my actions were necessary."
His cousin did not answer at first. He only walked over to the boy with a missing arm. "Kallen must never see this. For her own sake, she must never know what you have done today. If she ever learns the truth, she will turn away from us forever."
Otto carefully fitted the boy's helmet over his head to prevent his age from being known. They could see now that the helmet was too large for his head.
Johann walked over. He sadly agreed with his cousin. He hated himself. He hated himself for all of this. This was not what he wanted. Not for the first time, he found himself questioning the views he once believed in so steadfastly. If the Overseer could see him now, what would he think?
Johann forced that thought away. He had more immediate issues to address.
He took one last look at the ones whose lives he had personally ended. The sight would remain with him for the rest of his life. Before his thoughts could overwhelm him, he looked away. He gave one last order before retiring to his tent.
"Tomorrow, we continue on our eastward march. But now, gather all the corpses into a pile and burn them. We cannot risk them returning as thralls to the Honkai."
...
Kallen woke to the sounds of screaming. Alarmed, she stood up and prepared herself for a fight, but the only one screaming was the man beside her.
"No…NO! I DIDN'T MEAN TO DO IT! I DIDN'T WANT TO KILL YOU!"
"Johann! What's wrong?!" Kallen cried out, falling to her knees and embracing him in her arms.
His cries woke several of the girls up. Sakura walked over, just as alarmed. She took out a small herb from within her robes and pushed it into his mouth. Immediately, he calmed down.
"Sakura? Thank you…" Kallen gratefully said.
"It will help him return to peace, but whatever is troubling him will not go away so easily."
Kallen nodded. She gently ran her hand through his hair matted with sweat. Sakura went to reassure the girls who were woken by his screams.
A few minutes later, he finally opened his eyes. They were blank and stared far off into the distance.
"Shh…I'm right here with you, Johann…" she murmured softly, continuing to gently cradle him. She rested his head on her lap and continued to gently stroke his hair. She gently ran her fingers over his eyes and closed them. When she pulled away, she felt her fingertips stained with tears.
"You must have had a nightmare. Can you talk to me about it?" she asked softly.
He did not answer for several minutes. Kallen thought he had fallen back asleep. When she began shifting him off her lap, he spoke.
"Kallen…I'm sorry. I'm so, so sorry…"
"Why are you sorry?"
"I've lied to you. I've lied to you all this time…"
She waited for him to continue.
"During the first attempt on my life on the Great Eastern Crusade, I cut down a group of assassins. I cut through them like they were not even there. The last of them…was a boy no older than fourteen."
Kallen stopped breathing. She stopped moving, her hands frozen in his hair. Johann's tears began anew.
"I can still see his face. I can still hear his screams. The way he begged me for his life. I understood every word he said. His language is one that I learned, and I can still remember the names of his parents and his sister who were waiting for him to come home to them even though his own name is one I will never know."
He let out a choking, anguished sob. "And then I walked over and ended his suffering. He was already in so much pain, and it was clear he did not have much longer to live. Why, then, should I leave him to suffer? I stared into his eyes as life left them. Then I ordered his body to be burned along with the others. Otto knew everything. We agreed with each other to never tell you this."
Kallen still had not moved. He knew he could very likely lose her that night. If so, it was only the least of what a murderer like him deserved.
"Until now, Kallen. This is my confession to you. I have no words to defend myself with. If there is a God and a hell, then He will surely judge me as belonging there. There is a sea of blood the world has drowned beneath, and I am its creator."
He fell silent, awaiting Kallen's judgement.
It never came.
Instead, she resumed moving her soft, gentle hands through his hair. He could scarcely believe what he felt.
"The Supreme Commander is dead," she whispered after a very long time. "That man is dead and will stay dead. The man here with me right now isn't him. He is only the same Johann Apocalypse I have always known, the gentle, caring boy I grew up beside. So long as you continue to atone for your past actions, like how far you've gone to protect the girls of this village, then everything will be alright. I understand why you lied to me. I know why Otto did the same…to us…you only wanted to make me happy…but please, no more lies. I am not some fragile girl who doesn't understand the harsh realities of our world. Otto could not understand this, but I know you do. Can you promise me this, Johann?"
With more tears flowing from his eyes, he promised her. He promised her with his entire soul.
...
His thoughts refused to let him escape into the solace of sleep. Her eyes were shut tight, but he knew she was pretending. He reached over and gently ran his hand through her silvery hair. Even in the darkness of night, its sheen was still bright.
Kallen stirred slightly.
"Johann…?"
"You should be resting, Kallen. God knows we'll need it."
"I can't just do that…and why aren't you?"
"...There's too much on my mind."
"Then…then just keep holding my hand."
He did. He heard her soft breathing and thought that she had finally managed to escape into her dreams. But then she whispered to him.
"I miss him…"
"Who, Kallen?"
"Otto…I miss him…who he used to be…"
"I miss him, too. But let's not speak of him right now."
She was quiet again. But despite himself, he could not take his own advice.
"Kallen…"
"Yes…"
"...Do you think Otto misses us?"
"...Of course he does."
"...Do you think he would approve of what we're doing?"
"...Why are you trying to act like you still need his approval or that it even matters?" she whispered, her voice slightly more tense than before. "But…despite everything…I know he would. For all of his faults, he truly believed he was helping the greater good with those experiments, that he was helping people in the end. He would say that sacrificing girls to some god cannot bring rain, and so he would understand it as an unnecessarily cruel waste of life…"
He was silent. It was a good question. Why did he even care what the man he thought he knew would think of them? He pondered the question for a long time. Kallen was starting to be concerned.
"What's the matter, Johann? What's troubling you?"
"It's…it's…it's that even after everything that's happened…I still love Otto as my brother…I loved him even more than that…and even now, part of me still wants to forgive him for what he did, to forget everything and for us to back to how we always were…"
Kallen gave him a small smile. "I know how you feel…I…I love Otto, too…and I want nothing more than for the three of us to go back to playing in that meadow together, watching the clouds in the sky without any worries in the world…but I know we can't. Our little world was never going to last. We always had to wake up. I'm just glad you're still here with me…I don't know what I would have done without you at my side…"
He smiled back. He gave her a gentle kiss on her forehead. "I feel the exact same way. I'm so happy that you can be here with me and I can be here with you. I will always keep you safe no matter what. I love you, Kallen."
She smiled again. She was silent for several minutes. Johann realized with relief that at last, she had fallen asleep. He also heard soft footsteps approaching him. He looked up to see Sakura standing beside him.
"It's your watch now, Johann. Are you well rested?"
He stood up and nodded. "Well enough. Thank you, Sakura."
He expected Sakura to lie down on the mat he had just used, but she remained standing.
"I'm sorry. But I couldn't help but overhear what you and Kallen were discussing," she said.
He blushed.
"Oh…it's…it's no problem…"
"This 'Otto' must be important to both of you."
"...Yes."
He gently held her hands.
"But not as important as you, Sakura." He gave her a gentle kiss.
She smiled before lying down.
"Take care of Kallen for me," he said before standing into position.
...
Only in the morning light did Kallen, who kept the third watch, realize that one of the mats was empty. Alarmed, she quickly counted the rest of the sleeping girls. They were all accounted for except for one.
She quickly ran outside and searched the outside of the temple for her. She found no one.
She ran back inside over to Johann and Sakura, who were still asleep together, and gently shook them awake.
"Kallen…?" they mumbled, half-asleep.
"Johann, Sakura, you need to wake up! Rion is missing!"
They immediately became alert and sat up. "Rion's missing? How?" Johann asked.
"She isn't in her mat, and all the other girls are still here."
"Could she just have walked outside?" he asked.
"No. I've already checked the temple's surroundings. She isn't here."
Sakura immediately stood up. "Are you absolutely sure, Kallen?"
"I wouldn't joke about this!" Kallen insisted.
"I apologize, Kallen. That isn't what I meant…"
"Let's look again," Johann said. The three of them conducted another search of the grounds around the temple only to find nothing.
"I…I can't believe this…" Kallen worriedly said. "Could…could someone have found where we took the girls? Did they sneak into the temple and take Rion back when we weren't looking?"
"No."
They looked at Sakura, confused.
"How can you be so sure?" asked Johann.
"Because Rion walked back to the village on her own."
"What?" Kallen couldn't believe what she heard. "Why…"
Sakura closed her eyes. "I could feel how reluctant and nervous she was about our plan. Far more so than any of the other girls. She reminds me of Rin in many ways…and just like Rin, she sees herself as a burden to her family and the village as a whole…"
"I…I didn't know…" they said.
"Rion belongs to the poorest family in the entire village. I knew from the start that she would be chosen as the next sacrifice. Her family does not love her and only sees her as the burden she believes herself to be. I have tried and failed many times to convince her to see otherwise."
Rion was a small and lovely girl with long, dark hair and bright, inquisitive eyes. She always wore a flower in her hair, which she changed each day. She and her family lived the basest lives out of anyone in the entire village, but she always tried to remain a cheerful girl in spite of this. That she had willingly embraced her role as the next sacrifice was a testament to her compassion for her family and her home.
But they refused to let it happen.
By now, the other girls were beginning to wake up. They sensed the worry and fear from their three caretakers.
"We need to go back to the village and find her. Who knows if she even made it back in the darkness? She could have tripped, fallen or gotten lost!" Kallen exclaimed.
"Let's go, Kallen - " Johann began to say before Sakura interrupted him.
"No. You two stay here and look after the children. I will find her on my own."
"But Sakura - " he protested, but she had already disappeared out of the temple's entrance.
...
The head priest woke up to loud knocks on his front door accompanied by the sounds of angered arguments. He rose to his feet and opened the door to find dozens of people standing outside his home.
"What is the meaning of this?" he demanded.
"Head priest Yae! Tragedy has struck! All of our daughters are missing!" a man yelled.
"My daughter was sleeping safely in her room last night. I was there with her, but then she vanished overnight!" a woman cried out. The other parents all gave similar accounts.
The head priest shook himself awake. That this happened on the very same day…it could not be a coincidence.
He heard his name being yelled by a man running at him.
"Head priest Yae! Over half of our food stocks have been stolen!" the man yelled. He was in charge of collecting and organizing the village's reserves of food, water, and other vital supplies.
"What?" Yae practically shouted. The day was not starting well. He scanned his eyes over the crowd, looking for the only one who mattered.
He found her.
Rion, accompanied by both her parents, stepped forward. Her face was frightened but also solemn, as if she had come to terms with her fate.
"Rion," he said. "You are the only girl who remains in our village. The others have all vanished. Do you know anything about this?"
The girl shook her head.
"Someone must," the head priest said. "I am going to visit my daughter to ask her if she has any knowledge of what has happened."
He was about to start walking toward the shrine when he heard his daughter's voice.
"There's no need to do that. I'm right here."
Everyone turned their heads to the robed, pink-haired woman walking toward them. Her face was blank. Her sheathed katana was strapped to her hip.
"Sakura, my eldest daughter," he said. "I am glad that you're here. Do you know anything about the disappearances of the village's girls and food stores?"
Sakura locked gazes with Rion, who cowered back with fear and guilt. Sakura's violet eyes, which were normally warm and kind, were now cold and hard.
"I only know that today is the time for another sacrifice to the fox god. The children and food can wait."
At this, the villagers flew into another uproar.
"I need my daughter back right now, not a sacrifice!"
"Without our food, what use is another sacrifice?"
"I thought a miko would know better than this!"
Sakura said nothing as she waited for them to quiet down. When they finally did, she walked forward and placed her hand on Rion's shoulder.
"Regarding the whereabouts of the missing girls and our reserves of supplies, I do know exactly where they are."
"Tell us then, Sakura," her father demanded.
"The sacrifice comes first," was her cold reply.
...
"Sakura's taking too long. We've waited for hours," Johann said.
Kallen only continued to comfort the girls who had learned by now about Rion's disappearance. She told them that Sakura had gone to look for her and would come back with her any time now. Kallen knew she was lying to herself.
"I know. Something isn't right. I don't know what, but I'm so worried…" she said.
"We need to go back. None of this was meant to happen…" he muttered.
She nodded. "I'll go. You stay here with the girls."
One of the girls suddenly ran back into the temple. Kallen and Johann had permitted them to walk outside so they could feel the cool morning air outside.
"Kallen! Johann!" the girl said excitedly. "We found something outside!"
"What is it?" Kallen asked.
"I…I don't know…it's a huge cross…and it's golden…"
She and Johann looked at each other. There could be only one thing in the world matching that description.
"Show us," Johann commanded the girl. She nodded, and the three of them ran outside.
A massive, golden cross stood upright on the ground. Several of the girls stood around it in awe of its majestic appearance.
"Get back, all of you!" Kallen yelled before she ran in front of it.
Johann could only stare. "Kallen…this is…"
She nodded. "The Oath of Judah."
The last time she saw the weapon was during her confrontation against the Overseer. It seemed to call out to her as if it were an old friend.
"What is it doing here? The only way is…is if Schicksal's agents found us!" she realized.
"No, Kallen. Not Schicksal's agents. Otto's. If it were Schicksal, we would have already been captured. Otto…Otto is trying to help us. But why?" In a way, he was glad that Otto still cared for them. Whatever he planned by doing this, he hoped that he could trust Otto to not lead them into a trap. "I think this means that you should take it with you into Yae Village, Kallen."
She placed her palm onto the cross's cold surface. She felt stronger just by being in its presence. "I know. Wait for me, Johann. And keep the girls safe. I'm leaving them in your care."
She effortlessy picked up the cross and ran down the mountain path.
...
The sacrificial altar was a large, raised platform in the center of Yae Village. It was carved from gleaming white stone that served to make the blood of sacrificed victims more vivid against its surface.
Hundreds of villagers surrounded the altar, waiting with bated breath.
In the center of the platform was another raised area on which a small girl was lying on her back. She wore simple robes and a mask bearing the visage of the fox deity her life was to be sacrificed to. Her arms were crossed over her chest, and she seemed to be at peace. A single cherry blossom adorned her long, dark hair.
A woman with pink hair ascended the steps of the altar. She looked down at the girl lying before her, her face devoid of emotion.
With one graceful, practiced movement, she grasped the hilt of her katana and soundlessly withdrew it from its scabbard. The brilliant blade glinted in the brightening morning light.
No one in the crowd moved. Hardly anyone could even be heard breathing.
There was a woman's anguished cry.
"Sakura, stop!"
The crowd turned to see a silver-haired woman dressed in the dark robes of a nun. Most strikingly of all, she carried a massive golden cross her own size with one arm. She planted the cross down onto the ground with a large thud.
"Please, Sakura! What's gotten into you? I know you don't want to do this!"
The crowd began muttering amongst itself.
"I thought head priest Yae asked her to leave the village…" one villager muttered.
Loud, mirthful laughter cut through it all. Everyone turned to the shrill, high-pitched sound.
Sakura's maniacal voice chilled all those who heard it.
"'Sakura'? Who is that?" she asked before howling with even greater amusement.
All Kallen could do was listen and stare with horror, not knowing what had happened to the woman she loved.
"Yes, Sakura. What's happened to you? Please, you can tell me!" she pleaded.
Sakura laughed even louder before falling silent. She slowly turned around. A monstrous grin spread over her face.
"Sakura is gone."
From nowhere, a black mist dotted with violet points of light coalesced around her, engulfing her entirely and obscuring her from view in seconds. Her laughter resumed from behind the cloud, but it rapidly grew deeper and harsher with each passing second. Soon, the laughter became the roars of a nightmare as the fog continued to spread.
The vapour took form as it became corporeal. A monstrous shape manifested in the world as Kallen and the entire village stared in horror, unable to comprehend what they were seeing.A massive, fox-like monstrosity with nine tails stood where Yae Sakura once existed.