Together Until the End

by SrAznable

50 years before the events of the main story, the Natsuki family finds themselves caught in the midst of a civil war in the neighboring kingdom of Lugunica. Alternate Universe: Canon divergence. Pandora never attacked the Elior Forest. The Natsuki family does not come from another world, and there is no return by death.

"The boundaries which divide Life and Death are at best shadowy and vague. Who shall say where the one ends, and where the other begins?"
– Edgar Allan Poe, The Premature Burial.

Chapter I Kenichi I

Part 1

If you asked anyone who had met Kenichi Natsuki, they would tell you he was like the sun. A bright light at the center of everything, a magnetic and powerful force that drew everyone toward him, like the irresistible gravity of the star at the heart of the solar system. Wherever he went, Kenichi radiated an energy that filled the room, becoming the focal point around which everyone revolved. It didn't matter whether you were on his side or not; he was impossible to ignore.

He wasn't perfect, of course. He was charismatic, yes; always confident, wealthy, attractive, and if the rumors were to be believed, particularly well-endowed in all aspects. But perfect? Never. The warmth and kindness he usually exuded could vanish in an instant, replaced by a sharp coldness that intimidated even his closest allies. His detractors would say he walked as if he were superior to everyone, while his admirers, on the other hand, would claim that maybe they were right.

The truth, however, was much more complex. Because the carefree Kenichi, the cheerful man who dispensed jokes and flirtations with ease, was not exactly who he appeared to be.

Kenichi Natsuki was born on a snowy afternoon, December 14th, at the Natsuki mansion, nestled in a valley by the Virga Mountains, near the great city of Drisstay in Gusteko. The estate, surrounded by icy forests and unrelenting winter winds, had belonged to his family for generations. Kenichi's ancestors, former merchants from Kararagi, had purchased these lands after amassing a great fortune, becoming one of the most influential houses in Gusteko.

The Natsuki family, though established in Gusteko, always maintained close ties with their land of origin. Thanks to their success as merchants, his ancestors had forged strong trade connections with the city of Tenmitsu in Kararagi. These commercial relations not only provided the Natsuki family with a steady source of income but also granted them influence in both Gusteko and Kararagi. The alliance between the two territories allowed them access to resources and opportunities that other noble houses could not match, thus bolstering their prestige and power.

From the beginning of his childhood, Kenichi Natsuki was quickly seen as a prodigy. He stood out not only for his innate skill in wind magic but also for the enormous amount of power he could wield. While other young nobles struggled to channel their magical energy, Kenichi did so as effortlessly as breathing. He possessed an exceptional magic gate and mana reserves that were the envy of even the most seasoned sorcerers in the kingdom. However, his mastery over magic was not just a matter of innate talent; it was also the result of an unrelenting ambition that drove him to train to the limit, surpassing even what others deemed possible.

As he grew, he was sent to the Imperial Academy of Gusteko, a prestigious school for the children of nobles and wealthy families. The academy, located in the capital, Drisstay, was renowned for its demanding curriculum and select student body. There, they taught magic, swordsmanship, history, politics, and etiquette, preparing the young students to assume their future roles as leaders of their respective houses. For Kenichi, the Imperial Academy was not just a place of learning but also the stage where his confidence and charisma flourished.

From his first days at the academy, Kenichi excelled in everything he did. He was a brilliant student, outshining his peers in every lesson on magic and swordsmanship. His instructors were amazed by his prowess and the ease with which he mastered even the most complex spells. Beyond his studies, Kenichi spent long hours training his body, building a muscular physique that complemented his magical talent. With broad shoulders and strong arms, his presence was felt both in the training halls and on the simulated battlefield.

However, the academy was also where Kenichi discovered another side of himself: his fondness for women and his innate talent for flirting. Surrounded by young nobles from various families, he soon realized that his charisma and natural charm were as effective as his sword. Kenichi quickly gained a reputation as a ladies' man, a handsome and self-assured young man who knew exactly what to say and how to act to win the attention of the girls. It was not uncommon to find him slipping away into the dark corners of the academy gardens, indulging in secret rendezvous and fleeting affairs. His friends and classmates joked about his "extracurricular training," although to Kenichi, it was just a natural extension of his confidence and his desire to conquer any challenge that came his way, even if it meant courting the most sought-after young women of the academy.

Upon graduating at the age of 16, Kenichi had learned much more than magic, swordsmanship, and history. He had discovered the power of his charisma, the magnetism he could exert on those around him, and had tasted the first glimpses of the life he would lead as an adult: a life of victories, conquests, and an insatiable ambition to be the best at everything he did.

Kenichi wasted no time after graduation. Thanks to his exceptional skill and the backing of his prestigious family, he quickly became a knight of the realm. Unlike other nobles who preferred to avoid danger, Kenichi embraced military life with enthusiasm, seeking the thrill and challenge of combat. He knew he was destined for greatness; from a young age, his family had shaped him to be the best, and he accepted that burden without hesitation. Ambition became his driving force, and the confidence he exuded soon turned into a barely concealed arrogance. For Kenichi, it wasn't enough to be talented; he had to be the best. Every victory was just a rung on his ascent, and every defeated opponent only fueled his desire to reach heights others didn't even dare to dream of.

In his youth, Kenichi lived as a man who had everything. He indulged in danger and action with an intensity others considered almost self-destructive. On the battlefield, he moved like a whirlwind, laughing as he faced his enemies with a skill and speed that left onlookers in awe. His agility was impressive, his technique flawless, and his laughter echoed like a mockery of danger, as if he were invincible. But outside of combat, Kenichi was just as untamable. The women of Gusteko saw him as a magnetic figure, a man who lived on the edge and wasn't afraid to enjoy every moment to the fullest.

He earned a reputation as a conqueror in more ways than one. He enjoyed the company of women and changed lovers as easily as he changed clothes. Rumors of his exploits spread like wildfire: secret encounters in palace gardens, clandestine dates in the darkest corners of parties, and wild nights that ended in dawns filled with laughter and empty promises. His life was a whirlwind of excess and pleasures: nights of feasts where the cups were never empty, days of hunting in his family's vast forests, and fencing competitions where he always proved to be the most skilled. Kenichi even won several combat tournaments, solidifying his fame as an exceptional warrior and an invincible noble.

He seemed like someone straight out of epic tales, the living protagonist of adventures where the hero always emerged victorious. But beneath this facade of hedonism and self-indulgence, few noticed the burden he carried. The constant pressure to live up to the Natsuki legacy was like a shadow that never left him. Though he enjoyed the luxuries and freedom his position granted him, he also understood that every triumph only heightened expectations. The responsibility of continuing the lineage and safeguarding his family's prestige was a weight that followed him, even in his moments of greatest glory.

Everything changed when, at 19 years old, Kenichi returned home after a long period away on a mission as a knight of the realm. He had spent months traversing the lands of Gusteko, eliminating bandits and confronting threats that endangered trade routes. But when he finally crossed the threshold of the Natsuki mansion, he didn't look like a victorious noble. His appearance was pitiful: his clothes were splattered with dried blood, the result of the last skirmish with a group of bandits he had mercilessly slain. He reeked of alcohol, clearly having spent the night celebrating at a local tavern. He bore a large bite mark on his neck, a visible mark of his latest romantic conquest, and he smiled with that blend of satisfaction and arrogance that always characterized him.

His father, upon seeing him, greeted him with a mix of disapproval and weariness. "Look at you," he said, frowning as he assessed him from head to toe. Kenichi, without losing his smile, merely shrugged.

"I was on a mission, what did you expect?" he replied with a carefree laugh, as if his disheveled appearance were perfectly normal.

His parents, now elderly, looked at him with concern. Kenichi had been a miracle even at birth; his arrival into the world had been unexpected, the result of a final attempt by his parents to conceive an heir. Now, they saw him as a young man who seemed to have it all, yet lived as if there were no tomorrow.

It was at this moment in his life that Kenichi met Naoko, a healer his father had hired to assist with some treatments at the mansion. Naoko was a practitioner of spiritual arts, something rare and highly valued across the world, even in Gusteko, especially those capable of employing advanced healing magic. However, to Kenichi, she went completely unnoticed at first.

Part 2

At first, Kenichi barely paid any attention to Naoko. To him, she was just another household employee, tasked with caring for his parents and the staff. She didn't catch his immediate interest, as she didn't fit the type of woman he was usually drawn to. Kenichi preferred strong, self-assured women who represented a challenge. To him, relationships were a game: a series of fleeting conquests that ended as quickly as they began.

But Naoko was the complete opposite. Sweet, naive, and kind, with a clumsiness that only added to her charm. It was common to see her tripping over furniture or dropping jars of herbs, only to laugh at herself with a smile so warm and sincere that it lit up the room. Kenichi, used to women who easily fell into his web, found himself thrown off by this woman who seemed either oblivious to his flirtations or perhaps simply brushed them off without realizing it.

It was precisely this indifference that piqued his interest. When Kenichi began to notice her subtle beauty — the brown hair tied back in a side ponytail with an orange ribbon, her brown eyes filled with an almost childlike warmth behind that unassuming exterior — he decided to try his usual game. He made suggestive comments and gave her looks laden with intention. However, Naoko would merely respond with a kind smile, thanking him for the compliments and returning to her work as if nothing had happened.

Kenichi, always confident in his charm, found himself for the first time facing a situation he didn't know how to handle. Was it possible that Naoko truly didn't understand his insinuations? Or was she intentionally ignoring him? This uncertainty only fueled his fascination. For the first time, he felt as if he were playing a game where he didn't know the rules, and it both irritated and intrigued him in equal measure.

"How can someone be so naive?" he thought one afternoon, after Naoko gently turned down an invitation to walk in the gardens. Kenichi leaned back in his chair, watching her as she walked away, humming a tune. It was at that moment he realized: it wasn't that she didn't understand. She simply wasn't playing the same game as he was.

And then there was Benjy.

Benjy had worked for the Natsuki family since Kenichi was a child, and although he had been a trusted figure for him, Kenichi couldn't help but feel irritated seeing him spend so much time with Naoko. The two shared a close, easygoing friendship, chatting about topics that seemed completely trivial to Kenichi. He often found them discussing different types of tea, debating which was best for relieving fatigue, or conversing about the quality of fabrics used to make the staff uniforms.

Kenichi listened to these conversations with a mix of disbelief and exasperation. How can they find entertainment in such mundane things? he wondered, realizing he couldn't take his eyes off them. The way Naoko smiled so cheerfully when talking with Benjy unsettled him, and Kenichi's discomfort was not something he handled well. Every time he saw Benjy make her laugh, he felt a pang of jealousy that he tried to ignore. He wasn't used to competing for anyone's attention, much less for that of a woman like Naoko.

One afternoon, determined to step up his efforts, Kenichi found her preparing an infusion for his parents in the kitchen. He leaned against the table and gave her a seductive smile, the same one he often used to charm the most difficult women at court.

"They say my rooms have the best views of the sunset. Maybe you should join me one day to see for yourself," he suggested in that low, confident voice that usually melted his conquests.

Naoko looked up, blinking in surprise before letting out a soft laugh.

"Oh, that sounds lovely, Lord Kenichi. But I'm very busy these days taking care of your parents," she replied with a kindness that left no room for second intentions, returning to her task without further comment.

Kenichi stood there, bewildered. He had been turned down in the sweetest way possible, as if his insinuation had simply flown right past her. For the first time, he felt disarmed and couldn't help but laugh to himself. How is it possible that a woman so clumsy and naive could be so immune to my charms? he thought, feeling a mix of frustration and admiration.

He was the damn Kenichi Natsuki. He was a good catch. Everyone knew that.

Over time, Kenichi realized that his feelings for Naoko were changing. What had started as a simple game of conquest transformed into something more. Naoko didn't treat him like the heir of the Natsuki family or as the indomitable warrior everyone knew. She treated him like an ordinary person, with a naturalness that completely disarmed him. Kenichi began finding excuses to be near her, staying in the room while she attended to his parents, just to hear her laughter and watch her move about.

At one point, Kenichi considered giving up, as he usually did when he noticed a friend showing interest in the same woman. But this time, something inside him resisted. It wasn't like with the others. With Naoko, he felt a different connection, a sense of belonging he had never experienced before. She was his, even though she wasn't yet. And that, more than anything else, pushed him to keep trying.

There was one day when everything changed for Kenichi. He had returned home after a long training session, and as he passed through the garden at sunset, he stopped at the sound of soft laughter coming from a quiet corner. The sun, low on the horizon, painted the sky with shades of gold and orange, casting long shadows over the grass. There, beneath the shade of a tree, was Naoko, kneeling beside one of the servants who had cut his hand with a gardening tool. The wound wasn't serious, but Naoko, with that unwavering kindness that defined her, was tending to it as if it were the most important thing in the world.

Kenichi stood silently, intrigued by what she was going to do. Up until that moment, he had never seen Naoko use her spiritual arts. He had heard about her skill but had always considered it just another talent, something that didn't interest him much. However, when Naoko closed her eyes and extended her hands over the wound, everything changed.

A soft glow enveloped her fingers, and suddenly, tiny spirits began to materialize around her, floating like tiny dancing lights. They were ethereal, with hazy shapes and iridescent colors that blended with the warm light of the sunset. The spirits moved around her, forming a circle of small lights, like stars that had descended from the sky to surround her. Kenichi held his breath. He had witnessed powerful and destructive magic before, but this was different. It was something pure, almost sacred.

Naoko whispered sweet words, as if speaking to old friends, and the spirits responded with flashes of light, moving gracefully around the wound. Kenichi watched, fascinated, as the servant's cut skin slowly knitted back together, leaving only a thin line where the wound had been. The man thanked Naoko with a smile, and she responded with a gentle laugh and a pat on his head, as if comforting a child.

Kenichi, still hidden among the shadows of the tree, felt a pang in his chest he couldn't ignore. It was as if he were seeing Naoko for the first time, not as the clumsy healer who often dropped jars, but as someone extraordinary, someone who radiated her own light, a warmth he hadn't noticed before. The spirits continued fluttering around her, glowing with a warmth that seemed to mirror Naoko's kindness, and in that moment, Kenichi realized something that left him completely disarmed.

Kenichi stepped forward, his gaze fixed on Naoko. For the first time, he didn't try to hide what he felt; there were no arrogant smiles or his usual flirtations. It was just him, completely honest, speaking from the deepest part of his being.

"I think I've fallen in love with you."

Naoko looked up, surprised. The last glimmers of the spirits dissolved into the air, leaving the garden bathed in the soft twilight light. She gazed at him, her cheeks tinged with a gentle pink, as if reflecting the last ray of the sun disappearing behind the mountains.

"Oh," she whispered, a mix of surprise and shyness in her voice.

Kenichi didn't look away from Naoko. He took another step toward her, his expression completely serious, but there was something new in his eyes: a softness he had never shown before. Slowly, he leaned in, his lips approaching hers with care, as if he were treading on thin ice. It wasn't the bold confidence of the conqueror everyone knew, but a gesture laden with uncertainty, with sincerity.

"Dodge it if you don't want it," he murmured, his voice barely a whisper, almost fearful.

Naoko stood still, her eyes wide and filled with surprise, as if she couldn't believe what was happening. For a moment, she seemed to hesitate; her gaze dropped to Kenichi's lips, then returned to meet his eyes. The blush on her cheeks deepened, but she didn't move, she didn't dodge him. Instead, she let out a barely audible sigh and slowly closed her eyes.

Kenichi kissed her, gently and delicately, as if he feared breaking something fragile. It wasn't the passionate, overwhelming kiss he was used to, but something far sweeter, more intimate. He felt Naoko's warmth, the way her lips trembled slightly at first, only to respond with a tenderness that left him completely disarmed.

They pulled back, just a few inches apart, but it felt as if the world had stopped around them. Kenichi pressed his forehead against hers, closing his eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath as the sun finally disappeared behind the mountains, leaving only the faint glow of the first stars.

"Naoko," he whispered, his voice filled with a tenderness he had never shown before. "I didn't know how much I needed you until now."

Naoko opened her eyes, looking at him with a soft, vulnerable expression. She didn't say anything, but she smiled at him, and in that moment, Kenichi knew that no matter what came next, he had found something far more valuable than any victory or conquest.

He was willing to fight for her, to protect her, to make her his, but this time not as a trophy, but as the person who had shown him what it truly meant to love.

And for the first time, under the starry sky, Kenichi felt completely at peace.

Part 3

Kenichi realized something he never would have imagined: he had never truly dated a woman before. Yes, he had gone on dates, shared elegant dinners, and enjoyed passionate nights. He had seduced, flirted, and even fallen in love with the thrill of the chase. But what he was experiencing with Naoko was entirely different. There were no games, no strategies, no predetermined end. With her, everything felt new, and it left him feeling a bit lost, though he would never admit it.

Their secret getaways were nothing like the classic romantic escapades he was used to. They didn't go as far as having sex, at least not yet. Instead, they shared whispers in the moonlight, stole kisses in the dark corners of the mansion, and talked until the dawn began to tint the sky in shades of pink. Kenichi, who had always been a master of courtship, found himself enjoying something as simple as listening to her speak, absorbing every word, every smile that lit up her face.

Kenichi loved listening to her talk. Naoko could spend hours explaining the secrets of natural remedies or describing the spirits she had encountered throughout her life. Her enthusiasm was contagious; even the most mundane topics, like the different types of tea or the herbs she gathered in the forest, became fascinating when she explained them with that soft, warm voice that made him feel like he was discovering a new world through her eyes.

In their conversations, Naoko often reminisced about her days at the spiritualists' school. She would tell him about the nights when she and her friends would sneak out of their dormitories to swim in the lake under the moonlight. It was a tradition they had, a small rebellion against the strict rules of the academy. They would bathe in the cold water, laughing and whispering wishes to the wind, feeling a magical connection with the minor spirits that floated around them. It was during one of those escapades that Naoko discovered her affinity with water magic. She described how the water responded to her touch, lighting up with blue sparkles, as if the very spirits of the lake recognized her as one of their own. That moment, when the lake lit up with bright lights, was when she realized her true power: not only could she sense the spirits and communicate with them, but she could learn from them and, most importantly, heal.

Kenichi listened, mesmerized, as she shared those intimate memories. He imagined a young Naoko, radiant under the moonlight, with the water glowing around her, surrounded by tiny lights like stars on the lake's surface. It was a side of her that no one else knew, and he felt privileged to see it.

In turn, Kenichi also found himself sharing things with her that he had never voiced aloud. He spoke of his childhood, his memories of the academy, the times when he felt invincible, as if the world lay at his feet. But he also told her about his moments of doubt, the nights when, despite all his achievements, he felt an emptiness he couldn't explain. With her, he could be vulnerable, something he had never allowed himself to be with anyone else.

One afternoon, as they rested together by the edge of the pond, Kenichi lay back on the grass and looked at her, a carefree smile on his lips.

"You know something?" he said, in that soft voice he only used when they were alone. "I think I've never listened to anyone as much as I listen to you."

Naoko looked at him, raising an eyebrow with a playful expression.

"That's because you love the sound of your own voice. You've always been a bit pompous, haven't you?" she replied with that gentle laugh that made Kenichi's heart beat faster.

"Pompous?" he repeated, feigning indignation, though the smile on his lips betrayed his fake offense. "I just have a lot of interesting things to say."

Naoko leaned closer to him, propping herself up on her elbow as she looked at him with a teasing smile.

"You're lucky I like your showing off," she whispered, her lips so close to his that Kenichi could feel her warm breath.

Without replying, Kenichi leaned in quickly and gave her a fleeting kiss on the lips, a brief peck that caught her by surprise. Naoko blinked, startled, as he pulled back just a few inches, their foreheads almost touching.

"I don't show off," he murmured in that low, confident tone, his eyes gleaming with mischief.

Naoko let out a soft laugh, her cheeks flushed, but before she could respond, Kenichi kissed her again, this time with more intent. The gesture left no room for more words, only for the truth they both knew: that there was something special between them, something that went far beyond the jokes and flirtations.

With each passing day, Kenichi realized he was learning new things, not only about Naoko but about himself. She had a surprising ability to bring out parts of his personality he didn't even know existed. He discovered nuances in his own emotions and desires that he had previously overlooked. Conversations with Naoko were different; they weren't just light banter or flirtation. They were deep discussions, filled with confidences and whispers in the twilight, delving into territories he had never explored with anyone else.

One night, as they lay together under the starry sky, Naoko began talking about her childhood, and for the first time, Kenichi felt the weight of her words anchor him in the present moment. Her voice was calm, but it carried an echo of sadness.

"I was born in Glacia, a harsh city," she began, with a smile that didn't quite reach her eyes. "I grew up on the streets, with no parents, no place to call home. There were days when I didn't even know if I would eat. And when there was no other choice... I did things I'm not proud of. Whatever it took to survive. I learned to hide, to avoid guards and people who saw a lone girl as easy prey."

Kenichi felt a surge of anger rise within him, but not towards Naoko — towards the world that had treated her so cruelly. He, who had grown up surrounded by luxury and comfort, couldn't imagine what it was like to fight for every scrap, to face the relentless cold and the indifference of others.

"I don't know how you endured it," he murmured, his voice breaking with emotion.

Naoko looked at him and smiled softly, stroking his cheek as if she wanted to comfort him for his own sadness.

"Don't feel bad for me," she said tenderly. "I wouldn't change anything I went through. Because all of that led me here. If I hadn't experienced it, I never would have discovered who I really am."

Kenichi looked up, intrigued, and she continued, lost in her memories.

"I was fourteen when my life changed. One night, while running away from some boys who wanted to rob me, a minor spirit appeared. It protected me, stayed by my side. It was the first time someone — or something — helped me without expecting anything in return. A guard saw it, and instead of arresting me, he took me to the garrison. They told me I had an innate talent for the spiritual arts and sent me to the school in Eternya."

Kenichi felt a mix of pride and admiration he had never experienced before. Naoko, who always presented herself as clumsy and humble, had survived through sheer force of will, finding a way to turn her scars into something beautiful. In comparison, his own life, full of privileges and victories, felt shallow.

"I spent years there," Naoko continued, "memorizing potion books, learning to communicate with minor spirits. Learning magic. I discovered I had an affinity with water magic, which enhanced my healing abilities. Some of my classmates complained about the hard work, but for me, it was a dream come true. For the first time, I felt like I belonged somewhere."

Kenichi listened, captivated, absorbing every word. He pictured a young Naoko, standing among ancient books and vials of herbs, her hands glowing with a soft, blue light as she connected with the spirits around her. He realized that the woman he loved wasn't just the sweet, gentle healer he had first noticed. She was resilient, strong, and extraordinary in ways he hadn't fully appreciated until now.

And in that moment, under the vast expanse of stars, Kenichi knew he would never take her for granted. He pulled her closer, wrapping his arms around her as if to shield her from the cold memories of her past, as if promising her a future where she would never have to feel alone again.

"I'm glad you found your place," he whispered into her hair, his voice filled with a sincerity he had rarely felt. "And I'm even more glad that place led you to me."

Kenichi looked at her, feeling that something was changing inside him. He had always believed his strength came from his training, his ambition, and his talent. But Naoko was showing him a different kind of strength, one born from pain, loss, and a silent resilience he had never known.

"You're incredible, you know?" he said, unable to hide the admiration in his voice.

Naoko looked at him, surprised, then lowered her gaze, blushing, with a shy smile.

"I'm not as incredible as you think," she murmured. "I just did what I had to do to survive. I don't have any grand stories or anything like that."

Kenichi shook his head, taking her hand delicately.

"No, Naoko. You didn't just survive. You bloomed amidst the worst storms. That's something I could never have done."

At that moment, as she looked at him with astonishment and gratitude, Kenichi realized that Naoko wasn't just revealing who she was. She was showing him a new side of himself, one he had never explored before.

Naoko continued, a melancholic smile on her lips.

"Lord Natsuki hired my services through the academy. I came here to fulfill my contract. All the money I earn goes towards paying off my debt to the school. Once I complete my three years here, I'll be free to live my life as I want."

Kenichi clenched his teeth, feeling a dull rage towards the system that had forced her to sacrifice so much. He, who had always had options and resources, couldn't bear the thought of Naoko being treated like mere merchandise, without the freedom to choose.

"And what do you want to do when you're free, Naoko?" he asked, raising a hand to gently caress her cheek, forcing her to look into his eyes. "Are you going to stay here? Because if you decide to leave, I want you to take me with you. I'll follow you anywhere."

Naoko looked at him, her eyes shining under the starlight. For a moment, she seemed surprised, as if she couldn't believe what she had just heard. Then, a trembling smile curved her lips, and she let out a soft laugh.

"You're an idiot, Kenichi," she said, whispering through her laughter. "You have no idea what you're saying."

Kenichi lifted her face gently, his expression serious but filled with tenderness.

"Yes, I do," he murmured. "I know exactly what I'm saying. For the first time in my life, I'm sure of what I want. And I want you, Naoko."

She looked at him, her expression softening as she tried to hold back her tears. Finally, she let out a sigh and nodded.

"Then stay with me," she whispered, moving closer to him. "Because I don't want to leave without you either."

Kenichi embraced her tightly, feeling her relax in his arms, as if she had finally found a place to belong. Under the starry sky, they remained locked in an embrace that said everything words couldn't express.

And in that moment, Kenichi knew he had found something far more valuable than any victory: his own star in the sky, the one that would light his path from now on.

Kenichi and Naoko didn't take long to decide. For them, there was no point in waiting; they had found something others spent their entire lives searching for, and both knew they didn't want to lose it. Within weeks, they married in a simple ceremony, surrounded only by friends and the closest staff of the mansion. There were no grand banquets or extravagant parties. It was an intimate celebration, where whispered promises and shared glances held more meaning than any speech.

For Kenichi, watching her walk towards him in that simple dress, her hair loose and adorned with small flowers, was the most beautiful moment of his life. Naoko radiated a pure, palpable happiness that made his heart beat with an intensity he had never felt before. And when they exchanged vows, their hands entwined and their eyes locked on each other, Kenichi knew that this was the true beginning of their life together.

That night, in the privacy of their new shared bedroom, Kenichi felt a mix of nervousness and excitement that completely disarmed him. It wasn't his first time, but it felt as if it were. Naoko looked at him with a shy smile, her cheeks tinged with a soft blush that made him smile.

"You look beautiful," Kenichi murmured, leaning in to kiss her softly.

"Are you surprised?" she joked, though her voice was a whisper, filled with emotion.

Kenichi shook his head, tracing a soft line along her jaw with his finger.

"No. But I can't help feeling lucky, as if I don't deserve this."

Naoko caressed his cheek, looking at him with a tenderness that made Kenichi's chest tighten.

"Then just make sure you deserve it," she replied, with that gentle smile that always disarmed him.

They kissed, first gently, with the delicacy of those discovering something for the first time. But soon, the need became palpable, and the kisses grew deeper, more intense. Kenichi stroked her hair, letting his fingers sink into the soft waves, while his lips moved down her neck, drawing out sighs from her.

"Kenichi..." she murmured, her fingers trembling as she ran her hands down his back.

"Shh," he soothed, leaning down to kiss her collarbone. "Let me take care of you this time."

With a tenderness he rarely showed, Kenichi undressed her, taking his time to admire every inch of her skin. Naoko shivered under his gaze, but she didn't look away. There was something deeply intimate in the way they looked at each other, a connection that went beyond physical desire. It was a silent promise, a vow that from now on, there would be no more secrets, no more barriers between them.

When they finally joined, it was with a mixture of slowness and urgency. Naoko arched beneath him, her fingers digging into his shoulders as a soft moan escaped her lips. Kenichi paused, looking into her eyes, searching for any sign of hesitation.

"Are you okay?" he whispered, his voice filled with concern and tenderness.

Naoko nodded, her cheeks flushed and her eyes bright.

"Yes... more than okay," she answered, letting out a shaky laugh. "Don't stop."

Kenichi smiled, leaning down to kiss her again as they began to move together, finding a rhythm that was theirs alone. It wasn't the rushed, urgent sex he had known before. It was something far deeper, more meaningful. Every movement, every whisper, every touch was an expression of love and devotion.

They moved together until the need became unbearable, and finally, they reached their climax, their bodies trembling in unison. Kenichi collapsed beside her, wrapping her in his arms, and Naoko nestled against his chest, her breathing still ragged.

"I love you," he murmured, kissing the top of her head.

Naoko looked up, smiling at him with a tenderness that almost made his heart ache.

"And I love you, Kenichi. More than words can say."

They stayed like that, tangled up in each other, under the faint light of the moon streaming through the window. There was a palpable peace in the air, a sense of completeness they had never experienced before.

The next morning, as they enjoyed their first breakfast as a married couple, Naoko gave him a curious look, lightly biting her lower lip.

"I have a hunch," she said, with a shy smile.

Kenichi raised an eyebrow, intrigued.

"What kind of hunch?"

Naoko let out a small laugh, lowering her gaze to her belly and gently caressing it.

"I think I'm pregnant."

Kenichi's world seemed to stop for a moment. He looked at her, trying to process what he had just heard, and then, as a wave of emotion washed over him, he burst into laughter, pulling her into his arms and lifting her off the ground.

"Really?" he asked, his voice filled with disbelief and joy. "Is it true?"

Naoko nodded, her eyes filled with tears of happiness.

He believed her. It was then that he learned her "hunches" were never wrong.

Part 4

Kenichi and Naoko's life, which had begun like an idyllic dream after their wedding, was quickly engulfed in the darkness of an unexpected trial. The months passed like a whirlwind, filled with laughter and whispers about the future. Naoko was blooming, and Kenichi was surprisingly well-adapting to his new role as husband and soon-to-be father. But then, the storm came without warning.

A plague struck the region, an insidious illness spreading like invisible fire, affecting villagers and nobles alike. The source of the plague was clear to those who knew the legends: the Black Serpent, a creature feared across the continent, had passed several miles from the Natsuki estate. In its wake, the land rotted, the water became contaminated, and a relentless disease took hold in the lungs of those who inhaled it. There was no known cure; only the lucky survived.

Kenichi, always seen as the sun, felt for the first time that his light was insufficient. The estate, once a safe haven, became a place of suffering and loss. The servants fell ill one after another. And then, Benjy, his loyal butler and the man he had asked to be his best man at the wedding, also succumbed to the disease. Even with a high fever, Benjy tried to continue serving the family until Kenichi forced him to rest.

One night, Kenichi sat by his side, holding his hand and trying to lift his spirits. It was then that Benjy confessed something he had kept silent for years, uncertain if he would survive the fever.

"Kenichi... I've always been so proud of you. And always, even if you never knew... I've always loved you," Benjy whispered with effort, with a soft and sad smile, like someone finally letting go of a heavy burden.

The words broke Kenichi's heart a little. He knew Benjy had been more than a friend — a brother to him. With a voice thick with emotion, he squeezed Benjy's hand firmly, feeling the complexity of the emotions wrapped in that declaration and the deep gratitude he held for him.

"Benjy... you're the best friend I've ever had. I can't imagine this life without you," he replied, with a sadness that lingered in his words.

But the hardest blow came when the plague reached his own parents, taking them away without mercy. Kenichi held them in his arms as they drew their last breaths, feeling the void consume him. They were the pillars of his life, his guides. And now they were gone, without ever meeting their grandchild, the child they had longed to see.

Kenichi was devastated, but there was no time to grieve. The plague continued to threaten the estate, and Kenichi's greatest fear became reality when Naoko began to show the first symptoms. Panic hit him like a cold wave. She was strong, he knew that, but she was also pregnant, and the baby she carried inside her was still too fragile to withstand something so brutal.

"You can't get sick now," Kenichi murmured, his voice breaking as he held her against his chest. His forehead rested against hers, as if he could transfer his strength to her through the touch.

Naoko, even in the midst of fever, managed to smile at him, gently caressing his cheek with trembling fingers. "I'm not that easy to defeat, Kenichi. And neither is our child."

Naoko's fight was a tough one. The fever weakened her, and there were nights when Kenichi could barely contain the fear eating away at him. He felt like his world was crumbling, that everything he had built and loved was slipping away before his eyes, and he was powerless to stop it. He spent hours by her side, applying cold cloths to her forehead, whispering words of love and hope, even though inside he felt completely lost.

Kenichi realized then what it truly meant to be the sun for everyone. He had enjoyed the power, the admiration that followed him, but this time it wasn't enough. He couldn't solve this crisis with his sword or his charm. The responsibility of caring for his family and his home overwhelmed him, leaving him alone with his thoughts in the quiet of the night. He felt the weight of the world on his shoulders, heavier than ever.

With the death of his parents, he became the head of the Natsuki family, a title he had never imagined he would have to assume so soon. He faced difficult decisions: coordinating care for the sick, searching for medicines, and managing the scarce resources as the illness decimated his people. For the first time, Kenichi had to stop being the carefree young man everyone knew and become the leader his family needed. And it was terrifying.

There were nights when he felt completely alone, gazing up at the sky in search of answers, hoping to catch a glimpse of hope among the stars. A part of him wanted to give up, to surrender to the pain and despair. But when he returned to the room and saw Naoko sleeping, her pale cheeks serene, he knew he couldn't afford to. She was his star, and he had to be her sun, even on the darkest days.

One night, as Naoko's fever finally began to subside, Kenichi lay down next to her, taking her hand in his. She slowly opened her eyes, looking at him with that gentle expression that always disarmed him.

"I thought I was going to lose you," he whispered, his voice thick with emotion.

"You couldn't get rid of me that easily," she replied with a weak but sincere laugh.

Kenichi brought her hand to his lips and kissed it with a tenderness he had never shown before, as if he wanted to give her all the strength he had left, all the hope he still held in his heart. The tears he had held back for so long began to roll down his cheeks as his fingers trembled against Naoko's soft skin.

"I don't know what I'd do without you, Naoko. I don't know how to be strong if you're not here," he whispered, his voice breaking, as if he were allowing himself to be vulnerable for the first time.

Naoko squeezed his hand gently, her eyes filled with love and understanding. Even in her weakened state, her smile radiated warmth, a light that seemed to wrap around him in the midst of the storm.

"You would, Kenichi. Because that's your nature. You've always been the sun, even when you didn't know how to shine."

He shook his head, feeling the weight of his helplessness and the despair of the past months. He had tried to be the strong man everyone expected, but he had reached his limit.

"I can't do everything. I can't save everyone," he admitted, his voice choked with the pain of the losses he had endured.

Naoko gently caressed his face, her fingers tracing the line of his jaw, wiping away the tears that kept falling.

"You don't have to do it all alone," she reminded him, her voice soft and reassuring. "I'm here with you. And our child will be too."

As the weeks went by, Naoko began to recover. The fever that had weakened her so much finally broke, and though she was still frail, she grew stronger each day. Kenichi cared for her with absolute devotion, staying by her side through every step, helping her up, holding her hand as she walked through the garden to get fresh air. The mansion, though still marked by loss, began to show signs of life once again.

One afternoon, while Naoko rested, Kenichi retreated to the family library, a place he had avoided for months. Now, as head of the Natsuki family, he felt the need to face the memories, the possessions that had belonged to his parents. He looked over the items they had left behind: family jewels, important documents, and, most valuable according to his father's will, an old, worn book with a black leather cover.

Kenichi picked it up carefully, examining the front. There was a figure carved in relief, black wings that seemed to wrap around the spine of the book as if protecting it. He didn't remember seeing it before, and it wasn't a text his father had ever mentioned. Curious, he sat down in one of the chairs by the window, opening the book gently.

The pages were filled with ancient writings, penned in elegant, precise calligraphy. The text spoke of stars and constellations he had never heard of before. Regulus, the heart of the lion, a star that, according to the writings, symbolized royal power and indomitable nobility. Orion, the eternal hunter, whose stars formed the figure of a warrior raising his sword, ready to face any challenge. Kenichi could almost picture the imposing figure in the sky, cutting through the night with bravery.

He turned the page and came across the name Sirius, the brightest star of all, known as the Dog Star, often seen as a guardian watching over the skies, protecting lost travelers. The description brought a wry smile to his lips; it seemed more like a story to scare children than a serious astronomical reference. Still, he couldn't help but wonder how many nights he had spent under the same sky, unaware of these mythical figures his ancestors seemed to venerate so deeply.

Further on, the name Betelgeuse appeared in golden letters. The text described it as the hand of the hunter, a reddish star that shone like a distant flame, pointing the way in the darkness. "It is the beacon of the traveler," read a note in the margin, written by an ancient hand. "A guide for those who seek their destiny."

Kenichi raised an eyebrow, amused. A destiny marked by a star? It seemed like a naïve superstition, but there was something in those words that made him keep reading.

Then, he found the mention of Arcturus, the Guardian Star, described as a beacon that heralded the changing of seasons, a promise of renewal and hope. The text spoke of its golden light, comparing it to the glow of the sun at dawn, and said that whoever bore its name would have the duty to protect their family and loved ones, just as the star safeguarded the cycle of life.

Kenichi let out a sigh, leafing through the book as a small smile formed on his lips. It seemed like a collection of nonsense, a pile of fantastical stories likely added by some eccentric ancestor with a penchant for myths and legends. Still, he couldn't deny there was something fascinating about those names, in the way these stories wove a tapestry of meaning and symbolism into the night sky.

He turned one last page, and his eyes fell on a brief but prominent annotation, written in dark ink, almost faded with time: Subaru, the guiding star. The description spoke of the Pleiades, a cluster of stars that, according to legend, were inseparable sisters, united by an unbreakable bond. They were a light in the darkness, a promise of hope for sailors, and a reminder that even in the vastness of the sky, there was always a point of light to hold onto.

Kenichi fell silent, running his fingers over the word as if he could feel the echo of his ancestors through the paper. Subaru. It was a bright star, a beacon for the lost. A guide.

And then he understood. He had always been the sun, the center around which everyone who knew him revolved. But his wife, Naoko, was his star, a serene and constant light that had shown him the way when he needed it most. And his child, his child also had to be a star, a promise of hope, a guide for the future.

He closed the book carefully, as if he were sealing away an ancient, precious secret, and smiled to himself.

"My child will be named Subaru," he said softly, speaking to the shadows of his parents, feeling as if they too were approving from beyond. "He will be a bright star, the light that guides our family into the future."

He stood up from the chair, feeling lighter than he had in a long time. The pain of losing his parents was still there, but something new filled the void: hope, a spark of excitement for what was to come.

He walked back to the bedroom, where Naoko was resting. The moonlight streamed through the window, bathing her in a silver glow that highlighted her serene beauty. Kenichi sat beside her and gently took her hand, caressing her fingers tenderly. Naoko opened her eyes slightly, looking at him with a sleepy smile.

"I've found a name for our child," Kenichi whispered, kissing her knuckles lovingly.

Naoko looked at him, blinking with curiosity, her expression softening into a smile full of love.

"Oh? What is it?"

Kenichi leaned in, bringing his lips close to her ear as if sharing the most precious secret. The name was something intimate, something that belonged only to the two of them and the promise of a future they had yet to discover.

"Subaru," he murmured. "It's a bright star, part of the Pleiades. A guide in the darkness. He will be our star, just like you are for me."

Naoko looked at him, her eyes filling with tears of emotion, but this time they weren't tears of sadness. They were tears of pure happiness, of hope that shone as brightly as the stars in the sky.

"It's a perfect name," she whispered, stroking his face. "Our Subaru. Our star."

Kenichi wrapped her in an embrace, holding her as if she were the most precious thing in his life. Under the starry sky, where the Pleiades shone with their steady light, Kenichi and Naoko held each other close, united by the promise of the child to come. They knew that, even though the future was uncertain, they would face anything together, guided by the light of their star.

And so, as the stars sparkled above them, they found comfort in the name of their child. Subaru, a star among stars, the promise of a new life, the legacy of a love that would endure forever.

Part 5

On April 1st, as the last snow covered the gardens of the Natsuki mansion, Subaru Natsuki was born.

The arrival of the child filled a home that had endured months of loss and silence with light. Holding his son for the first time, Kenichi felt overwhelming happiness and infinite gratitude. With a face remarkably similar to his own, Subaru was small, but his vitality made him appear strong and full of life. "You're my little cub," he murmured, his heart swelling with pride. His gaze shifted constantly between his son and Naoko, and he felt love and gratitude envelop him in a moment that seemed eternal.

Naoko, however, was exhausted. She had endured the childbirth bravely, but the fever of the past months and the accumulated fatigue had left her without strength. As she rested in bed, Kenichi leaned over her, gently holding her hand. "Rest, my love. You will recover, and this will just be the first of many children. Our home will shine again as we always dreamed." She looked at him with a soft smile, and though fatigue was evident in her eyes, she seemed more beautiful than ever, surrounded by the warmth of the moment.

Since they got married, Kenichi had paid off Naoko's entire debt to the spiritualist academy, freeing her from the burdens of her past. For him, this was one of the first steps in building their life together, ensuring she was finally free of any ties. Now, looking at her in that stillness and vulnerability, he felt that every sacrifice had been worth it.

The mansion, once silent and somber due to the plague, was coming back to life. The staff, though reduced by the losses, moved with renewed vigor, filling the halls with a fresh spirit, as if the birth of the new heir was a promise of rebirth. The fireplaces burned constantly, bringing warmth to every corner of the home, and the snow-covered gardens now seemed less gloomy, as if they were ready to welcome spring. There was an atmosphere of hope and anticipation in the air.

Benjy, the family's loyal butler, had survived the illness, though he now walked with a limp and needed support. Still, nothing kept him from staying close to Kenichi and Naoko, attentive to the new heir. For him, Subaru was not just the successor of the Natsuki family but also a symbol of renewal. Benjy watched the child with a mix of pride and protectiveness, and although he couldn't move with the agility he once had, his loyalty and bond with the family remained intact.

In Drisstay, the nearby city, the effects of the plague were still evident. Many houses remained empty, shops were closed, and the usually bustling streets were almost deserted. However, the news of the birth of the Natsuki family's heir spread like a spark of hope. The townspeople, who had seen the Natsuki family as a pillar during the difficult times, felt that Subaru's arrival carried a message of strength. To them, the Natsuki family had endured the Black Serpent, and the birth of Subaru was a symbol that the cycle of life continued.

Kenichi returned to Naoko's side, who, despite her exhaustion, couldn't take her eyes off little Subaru. He sat on the edge of the bed and gently caressed his wife's face. "Everything will go back to the way it was," he whispered with unwavering conviction. "We will have a big, happy family. You will recover, and we'll have many more children, I promise." Naoko smiled, her eyes filled with love and quiet hope.

Kenichi brushed a strand of hair away from her face and kissed her forehead. He felt a peace he had never known before, as if all the challenges and losses had been a path leading them to this moment. "You're more beautiful than ever," he told her, looking at her with such tenderness that Naoko blushed slightly, despite her exhaustion.

The days that followed were filled with an unexpected calm. Despite the harsh months that had preceded it, the mansion regained its energy. The servants, though fewer in number, carried out their duties with renewed vigor, as if Subaru's birth had brought a new sense of hope to everyone. The kitchen was filled with comforting aromas, and the laughter of the few remaining maids echoed through the halls like memories of a bygone time. The fireplaces burned day and night, providing a warmth that was no longer just physical but also emotional.

At night, Kenichi and Naoko would stay in Subaru's room, watching him sleep in his crib, and they would speak softly about the future. Kenichi found himself imagining what Subaru would be like when he grew up, dreaming of teaching him to fight, to hunt, and of showing him the family lands. Naoko, on the other hand, had a serene expression as she watched, gently stroking Kenichi's hand and nodding softly at each of his plans and dreams.

At one point, Kenichi wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close. "Thank you, Naoko, for giving me this gift," he whispered. She rested her head on his shoulder, closing her eyes with a smile. For Kenichi, having his wife and son in the same room was the epitome of peace.

That night, as the stars shone outside the window, Kenichi looked at Naoko, who was sleeping peacefully, and then at his son, who was resting quietly. With a smile, he made a promise to himself that, no matter what challenges might come, he would protect his family with all his strength.

For Subaru's first birthday, the Natsuki mansion was wrapped in a blanket of silence, broken only by the steady tapping of snow against the windows. The winter storm, almost like a reminder of the hard times they had endured, was also a symbol of the family's resilience. That day, the few remaining servants made sure the celebration was special, even if it was small. They prepared a tea party with Naoko's favorite dishes and a small cake decorated with Subaru's initial.

Naoko, though her health had improved greatly over the past year, still moved with a certain fragility. She could walk without assistance, but not for long, and the remnants of the illness that had affected her were still visible in the fatigue that sometimes clouded her eyes. Kenichi knew that the damage left by the plague was permanent, and although he tried not to show his concern, he couldn't help but notice the moments when she needed to sit down and catch her breath. Benjy, their loyal butler, also bore the scars; the limp that accompanied him was a mark that would never fade. Naoko, who had studied the spiritual arts, explained to Kenichi that the diseases brought by the Black Serpent rarely allowed for complete healing. Even so, they both considered themselves lucky to have survived, knowing that many others had not.

It was during those days, shortly after Subaru's first birthday, when Naoko had another of her famous hunches. As she watched Kenichi leave the mansion for his duties as a knight, her intuition confirmed what she sensed: he would receive an important opportunity for advancement. That hunch came true when Kenichi was promoted to Knight Acolyte, an honor reserved only for the kingdom's most distinguished and loyal warriors. At the ceremony, he had the chance to speak with the Holy King Alexis himself and swear an oath of loyalty to him. The experience of looking the king in the eye and hearing the solemn words that sealed his pledge was a moment he would treasure forever. His responsibilities now included protecting his family's lands and the city of Drisstay, a duty he embraced with renewed commitment.

That night, upon returning to the mansion, Kenichi found Naoko waiting for him in their bedroom, wrapped in a robe that hinted at the delicacy of her figure. The two approached each other in silence, and he surrendered to the desire to feel the closeness of his wife. In that moment, all the strength he had built on the battlefield, all the self-control he practiced as a leader, melted away in her arms. Kenichi claimed her like he never had with any other woman, with a devotion and tenderness that were uniquely his. Every kiss and every touch became a silent declaration of what she meant to him.

Naoko, in the intimacy of that moment, responded to his touch with equal intensity. Their bodies moved in a slow, deep symphony, reclaiming the love they had built together. Kenichi realized then that their bond went far beyond words, and that she was the true center of his world.

At the end of February, when winter still covered the land with its icy mantle, fate dealt its cruelest blow. Naoko, his star, the light that had brought hope and warmth into his life, passed away quietly, surrounded by the snow and the muffled whisper of the wind. Kenichi, who had always been the Sun, felt all his energy and sense of purpose vanish in an instant.

The days leading up to it had been a mix of unease and denial. Naoko, who had shown signs of recovery, suddenly began to decline again. The doctors could do nothing more for her, and every night, while Subaru slept in the room next door, Kenichi stayed by his wife's side, refusing to leave her, silently praying to any divine force that might save her.

On February 28th, in the stillness of a cold early morning, Naoko took her last breath. Kenichi held her in his arms, feeling the warmth leave her body, and in that moment, he realized that the life he had known was crumbling before his eyes. His hands trembled as he caressed his wife's skin, and a disquieting peace enveloped him, as if the entire world had come to a halt.

With her passing, Kenichi felt that the Sun he had once been was slowly fading, consumed by an unfathomable darkness. He became a shadow of his former self, a man who had once had the world at his feet but now wandered aimlessly, unable to regain the warmth and vitality that had once defined him.

Subaru, who would turn two in just a few weeks, was now his only light, the only reason he could muster the strength to go on. Yet even that spark seemed dim against the void Naoko had left behind. The star that had shown him pure and true love no longer shone in his life, and the future seemed cold and desolate, like the snow that fell incessantly outside the Natsuki mansion.

The morning sun barely illuminated the library of the Natsuki mansion when Kenichi found a small leather notebook, placed carefully on the table. It was covered in dust, as if it had been there for months, forgotten by everyone except one person: Naoko.

On top of the notebook lay a letter, written in his wife's delicate handwriting. Just the sight of it made his heart clench. He took the envelope with trembling hands, holding his breath as he opened it. He knew that what he was about to read would shatter his soul, but he couldn't help it. He needed to hear her voice one last time.

The first words were all it took to break him into a thousand pieces.

---

My dearest Kenichi, my love,

I know this will hurt you, and I almost feel cruel leaving it behind. But if there's one thing I've always wanted to do, it's to protect you. Now, this letter is my way of trying, even when I'm no longer here.

I know you will miss me until the pain becomes unbearable, and I know the sadness will make you want to shut yourself away and withdraw from everything. I know you, Kenichi. But I beg you: don't let it consume you. Remember our little one. Our Subaru needs me now, and I know he will continue to need me long after I'm gone. But he needs you even more. He needs you to be his home, to guide him through the darkness, and to hold him as I no longer can.

Promise me something, my love. Don't let others take your place as his father. Don't delegate your love or your responsibility, no matter how overwhelmed you feel. I know Benjy will be there to support you, I know the members of the mansion want the best for us, but they cannot be you. Subaru needs his father, his Sun, to light his path.

I don't care who Subaru becomes in the future. It doesn't matter if he's a restless boy who dreams of great adventures or a quiet young man who prefers the calm of a good book. It doesn't matter if he's talented, it doesn't matter what he chooses to be. The only thing that matters is that he knows, without a doubt, that you love him. That he can always count on you. That you won't push him away, no matter how great the pain you carry inside.

Kenichi, you lit up my life like no one else ever did. You were the sun that warmed my coldest days, the love I never thought I deserved. You became the very breath in my lungs. I regret nothing of what I lived by your side, except not having met you sooner. Every shared laugh, every stolen kiss, every night when we whispered promises under the stars... I loved it all. And if I had to do it all over again, I would, without a second thought.

You know how I am with my hunches. I've always known, Kenichi. From our wedding night, when I felt that I was pregnant with Subaru, to now, when I sense that my time is running out. But I don't want you to focus on my departure. I want you to keep living, to continue living. I want you to remain the man I fell in love with, the one who fought for every smile of mine, for every moment of happiness. Keep moving forward, not for me, but for our son. For the future we dreamed of together.

Teach him that he's never alone. That every night, when he looks up at the sky and sees the stars, he knows that I'm there, watching over you both, taking care of you as I always wanted to.

And there's something else, my love. I've written a letter for our son. Keep it safe and give it to him when you think the time is right, when you feel he's ready or needs it. And my diary... it's a gift for both of you. It's filled with my thoughts, my memories, and everything I never said aloud. Read it when you're ready, when you feel you need to hear my voice. It's my way of staying with you, of continuing to take care of you from afar.

And if you don't fulfill my final request, Kenichi Natsuki, I warn you, I will hold you accountable when we meet again in heaven. And believe me, it won't be pretty.

I love you, now and always. And I will always be yours,

Naoko Natsuki

As he read the final words, Kenichi felt something break inside him. The letter trembled in his hands, and suddenly he felt like he couldn't breathe, as if he were trapped under the weight of an invisible mountain. He wanted to breathe, to fill his lungs, but the air seemed unreachable.

He collapsed to his knees on the floor of the library, pressing his hands against the cold marble tiles. The air left him in short, painful gasps, as if he had forgotten how to breathe. He wanted to scream, to break something, anything to release the unbearable pain devouring him from the inside. But all he managed was a choked sound, a wail that echoed in the silent room, like the echo of the loss that was suffocating him.

You told me I was the breath in your lungs, he thought, recalling those words from the letter. He hadn't understood them then. To him, it had been just a sweet metaphor, an expression of the love they shared. But now... now he understood it with painful clarity. He truly understood it, because he was the one who couldn't breathe.

"I can't breathe, Naoko," he whispered, his voice broken, barely audible. Every word was a stab that tore through his chest. "I can't... breathe."

The pain was physical, a crushing weight on his chest that made him curl in on himself, pressing his fists against the floor as if trying to hold onto some trace of her, anything that reminded him of her presence. But there was nothing. The library, which had always been a refuge, now felt empty, cold. As if all the warmth, all the love he had shared with Naoko, had vanished along with her last breath.

He brought his hands to his face, trying to contain the sobs that now poured out uncontrollably, but it was useless. The tears fell in torrents, soaking his cheeks, while a cry of pain and anguish tore from his throat. The cry of a man who had lost everything, of someone who had found his star only to see it extinguish far too soon.

"Naoko..." he murmured, just a whisper, choked by his sobs. "I need you. I can't do this alone. I can't go on without you."

The emptiness in his chest seemed to grow, expanding until it consumed him completely. He felt as if he had lost his center, his very reason for being. She had been his air, his sun, his life. And now that she was gone, he felt lost in the darkness, unable to find his way back.

He let himself fall to the floor, exhausted, his face buried in his hands. The sobs turned into desperate wails, the sound of a man who had been strong his entire life but was now broken. And as the storm of emotions washed over him, a small voice in his mind, barely audible, reminded him of Naoko's final words:

"Keep living. Not for me, but for our son."

Kenichi tried to hold onto that, to that final promise. But in that moment, the pain was too much. He could only think of what he had lost, of the future they would never have together, and of the profound emptiness left by the woman who had loved him until her very last breath.

And so, under the dim light of the library, Kenichi wept for his wife, for their love, and for the air that no longer filled his lungs.

Part 6

Unlike Natsuki Kenichi, his son was not a prodigy. Not in the slightest.

Subaru Natsuki did not stand out in anything at all, while his father had been a brilliant young man, praised and admired from an early age. Subaru didn't possess the same innate skill for magic, nor the swordsmanship that his father had honed so diligently. Kenichi had been the sun, a shining star that lit up everything around him. In contrast, Subaru... Subaru was different.

Kenichi watched him from the study window, his hands resting on the frame as he observed his son training in the yard. Benjy, leaning on his cane, was there with him, giving simple instructions and correcting his posture. Subaru held a small wooden sword, his movements clumsy and awkward. Each strike lacked strength, and his feet stumbled over the ground as if he had never learned to keep his balance. Finally, the boy stopped, panting, his face covered in sweat despite the cold morning air.

Kenichi pressed his lips together, feeling that familiar sting of worry every time he watched Subaru struggle. It wasn't about the boy's lack of talent; it was the fear that others would judge him, that they would compare him to himself. It was inevitable. He had been an imposing figure, and his son... well, his son was just a child. An ordinary child, without the exceptional gifts everyone expected from a Natsuki heir.

Subaru wobbled a bit, dropping the sword to the ground before collapsing to his knees, exhausted. Benjy knelt beside him, placing a hand on his shoulder and whispering something in his ear. Subaru nodded, his breath shaky, and lifted a trembling hand. A faint dark glow began to form in his palm, a small curtain of shadows fluttering weakly before dissipating into the air. Subaru let out a whimper, and before he could hold himself up, he fell forward, fainting on the ground.

Kenichi's heart skipped a beat. Before he could move, Benjy had already picked up the boy in his arms, calling his name softly. Subaru did not wake up. He was unconscious, drained from the small magical effort. Kenichi rushed down the stairs, feeling a mix of fear and love building up in his chest, a blend of frustration and helplessness.

"Take him inside," Kenichi ordered, his voice tense. Benjy nodded, carrying the boy like a baby, and headed toward the house.

As they walked together toward Subaru's room, Kenichi couldn't help but look at his son's face. Even in sleep, he looked tired, his small brows furrowed as if caught in a nightmare. Guilt consumed him every time he saw Subaru like this—so fragile, so unlike himself at that age. But he also felt a love so deep that it hurt. He didn't care that Subaru lacked his talent, that he wasn't a prodigy. He loved him beyond any expectation, beyond any disappointment. He loved him simply because he was his, because he was the gift Naoko had left him.

They laid him down on his bed, and Benjy covered him with a blanket.

Kenichi stood there, gently brushing a hand through Subaru's dark hair as the boy slept. He felt the weight of exhaustion settle over him, a weariness that went far beyond the physical. Since Naoko's death, he had tried to fill the void by embracing his role as a father, but sometimes it felt as if he were stumbling in the dark, unsure of which direction to take.

"He tries so hard..." Kenichi murmured, his voice hoarse and broken. His fingers trembled slightly as he pushed a strand of hair away from his son's face. "He shouldn't have to, Benjy. He's just a child."

Benjy remained silent, leaning on his cane, watching Kenichi with that look of understanding that only he possessed. He had seen Kenichi at his strongest and at his most vulnerable, and he knew this was one of the latter moments. The weight of loss still hung in the air like a constant shadow.

"Master Kenichi..." Benjy began, but the man he had served his whole life raised a hand, stopping him.

"Don't say it," Kenichi whispered, not taking his eyes off Subaru. "I know I'm pushing him too hard. I know he's just a child, but... I can't help it. I'm afraid he'll never become what everyone expects him to be. What they expect of me."

Benjy moved closer, limping slightly, and placed a firm hand on Kenichi's shoulder.

"He doesn't have to be like you," Benjy said gently, his voice filled with affection. "He doesn't have to be the prodigy everyone expects. He doesn't have to be the sun that you were. Subaru is just a child. Let him be that."

Kenichi clenched his teeth, feeling a surge of conflicting emotions. The anger he always felt—towards himself, towards the expectations of others, and towards the fate that had taken Naoko away, leaving Subaru without a mother. He bowed his head, clenching his fists, as tears burned in his eyes.

"It's hard, Benjy..." he admitted, his voice breaking. "I miss the days when I could leave home without a care. I miss Naoko..." His voice dropped to a whisper, as if saying her name still hurt too much. "I miss when Subaru was a baby. When everything was so simple, when all I had to do was hold him, and I knew he was okay."

Benjy nodded, gently patting Kenichi's shoulder, offering silent comfort. He had seen Kenichi become a father, had witnessed the transformation into a man who loved his son beyond any limit. But he also saw the hidden pain, the fear of not being good enough, of failing the only legacy Naoko had left him.

"People have ridiculous expectations for him," Kenichi continued, letting out a bitter laugh. "And what can I say to him? 'Take it easy, son, you'll never be as good as me anyway'? I don't want him to grow up feeling like he has to be someone else. I want him to know I love him just as he is, but... I don't know if I'm showing him that."

Benjy looked at him, a mix of pity and tenderness in his eyes. He stepped forward, and without saying a word, wrapped Kenichi in an embrace. It was an unexpected gesture, but Kenichi let himself go, resting his forehead against Benjy's shoulder, allowing silent tears to stream down his face.

"You're a good father, Kenichi," Benjy murmured, gently rubbing his back. "You're doing the best you can. And that's enough. It will always be enough for Subaru."

Kenichi let out a choked sob, feeling the weight he had carried since Naoko's death crumble a bit in that moment. He had tried to be strong, to be the sun everyone expected him to be, but now, in this embrace, he understood that it was okay to be vulnerable, that it was okay to fall apart, even if only for a moment.

"I'll do better..." he whispered, his voice broken. "I promise I'll do better."

"I know," Benjy replied, releasing him gently, his eyes full of understanding. "And Lady Naoko knows it too."

Several months later, as the sun began to set behind the snow-covered treetops surrounding the stone path leading to the Natsuki mansion, the air was cold and biting, typical of winter in Gusteko. Yet Kenichi found it comforting. After weeks of relentless pursuit and hunting, he was finally returning home, having slain the Silver Fox, a notorious criminal, under his blade. The title of Acolyte Knight had taken him on dangerous missions before, but this one had been particularly long and exhausting.

As he approached the mansion, he could see smoke rising from the chimney, a fire promising warmth and home. He felt the weariness of battle start to fade, replaced by a sense of anticipation and peace.

The main gate opened before he arrived, and to his surprise, he saw his son running towards him, his small legs moving clumsily across the stone path. Kenichi's heart filled with tenderness at the sight of Subaru's beaming expression, though Benjy's face, following close behind, showed a mix of alarm and urgency.

"Dad!" Subaru shouted, launching himself into his father's arms. Kenichi caught him effortlessly, lifting him off the ground as he spun in circles, laughing with the carefree energy of his younger days.

"What a welcome!" Kenichi exclaimed, not immediately noticing the reason for Benjy's alarm. "What's going on, Subaru? Why are you running like this?"

The boy, his face lit up with excitement, extended a small hand toward the empty space beside him, as if presenting someone invisible. Then Kenichi saw it: a small ethereal figure floated next to him, a minor spirit with a dark, misty body that shimmered with purple sparks. The creature swirled around Subaru with delicate grace, emitting a soft glow that seemed to react to the boy's touch.

"Look, Dad!" Subaru said with a proud laugh. "He's my new friend!"

Kenichi stood still for a moment, staring at the minor spirit as if he couldn't believe what he was seeing. His expression shifted from surprise to a mix of joy and relief. He held Subaru tightly, lifting him into the air as he let out an exuberant laugh.

"You inherited your mother's gift!" Kenichi shouted, spinning with the boy in his arms, as if the winter cold had vanished entirely. Subaru laughed along with him, enjoying the moment, while the spirit floated around them, twirling as if it, too, shared in their happiness.

Benjy, still leaning on his cane, watched them with a smile, though he couldn't fully hide the worry in his eyes. He knew what it meant to see Subaru connect with a minor spirit: it was a sign of a special gift, a talent rarely seen in someone so young. But he also knew what this would imply for the boy, the pressure that would come with such a discovery.

"This is incredible, Subaru," Kenichi said, his eyes still shining with pride. "You did it!"

From that day on, Kenichi became insufferable to anyone willing to listen. He boasted about his son at every opportunity, proudly recounting the story of the day Subaru displayed his affinity with spirits. He spoke of it at family gatherings, in the city, and even among his fellow knights.

"My son is a prodigy!" he would say, with a smile that barely concealed his satisfaction. "He has his mother's grace and gift, and my bearing, of course!"

The months went by, and when Subaru turned seven, Kenichi began to notice small details that reminded him of Naoko. It was something simple, like the way the boy wrote, especially the way he formed the letter "S." Kenichi found himself watching his son's exercise notebook with nostalgia, noticing the similarities to the handwriting of his late wife. It brought back memories, and although it hurt, it also filled him with a warm sense of connection to her.

He wasted no time in hiring a specialized tutor in spiritual arts to guide Subaru. If the boy had a gift like his mother's, Kenichi would do everything in his power to nurture and protect it, to ensure he had the tools that Kenichi himself had never needed but that his son now did.

And so, as winter gave way to spring, the Natsuki mansion was once again filled with hope, fueled by the laughter of a child and the ethereal presence of a small spirit flitting through the halls, as if Naoko were still there, watching over them from beyond.

Part 7

The sound of the war horn echoed through the cold afternoon air, calling the soldiers and knights to arms. Kenichi, mounted on his black horse, halted and raised his hand, signaling his men to stop. The trees around them whispered with the frigid wind, and the snow crunched beneath the hooves of their mounts. Kenichi felt a shiver run down his spine, as if an invisible shadow was enveloping him. It wasn't just the usual cold of Gusteko; there was something dark, something unnatural in the air.

A message had arrived two hours earlier via a magical artifact used by the kingdom's knights, reporting activity from the Witch's Cult near a nearby village. It wasn't Natsuki territory, but Kenichi couldn't ignore the call for help. The cultists were notorious for their brutality and their worship of Satella, the Witch of Envy. Every time they emerged, they left a trail of death and destruction.

As quickly as he could, Kenichi gathered a group of soldiers and headed straight for the village, hoping it wasn't too late.

Kenichi pulled a silver medallion from his pocket, a special item given only to high-ranking knights. This artifact allowed for swift communication with the region's detachments in case of emergency. He gripped it tightly in his hand, closing his eyes for a moment as he connected with his nearby allies — the men he had brought with him.

"This is Natsuki Kenichi," he said firmly. "We're less than a kilometer from the village of Virna. Strengthen the perimeter and prepare the crossbows. I repeat: prepare the crossbows. There are Witch's Cultists. I'm entering the battlefield."

The orders were relayed swiftly, and Kenichi advanced with his cavalry toward the column of smoke rising on the horizon. When they reached the village, the scene was horrifying.

The village of Virna was engulfed in flames. The wooden and stone houses creaked and collapsed under the infernal heat. The bodies of villagers were scattered across the ground, and among them, the deformed corpses of cultists stood out, impaled on ice stakes that glimmered in the firelight. Kenichi noted with astonishment the precision and power of the magic that had created those stakes; this wasn't the work of a mere sorcerer.

At the far end, amidst the ruins of the burning village, a lone female figure fought with desperate ferocity. Her short silver hair fluttered in the wind, reflecting the glow of the flames. Her movements were swift and precise, befitting an experienced warrior. She faced a group of cultists surrounding her, circling like wolves around their prey. Each time one lunged at her, she responded with clean slashes, and ice stakes erupted from the ground, piercing their bodies mercilessly.

Kenichi observed the scene from a distance, frowning.

"Who the hell is that woman?" he murmured to himself, unable to look away from the battle.

But before he could analyze further, one of the cultists raised a hand to the sky, and a violent invisible force was unleashed. The silver-haired woman was lifted off the ground like a rag doll. Kenichi noticed the air around her distorting and immediately understood that it was the same invisible arms he had seen before.

"A Witch's Cult mage!" one of his knights exclaimed, pointing to a hooded figure standing on the other side of the battlefield.

The woman was thrown against the wall of a burning house, and a cry of pain rang out through the air. Kenichi felt a knot in his stomach at the brutality of the attack. Without wasting time, he raised his sword, feeling his own wind magic gathering around him.

"Archers and crossbowmen, shoot at the invisible shadow!" he commanded firmly, his eyes following the distortions in the air.

The Gusteko soldiers, trained in the use of crossbows, responded in unison. A volley of bolts and arrows cut through the air, striking against something they couldn't see. There was a sharp scream, and the hooded figure staggered back, letting out a pained groan. But then, the invisible arms swirled furiously, moving like a dark whirlwind and striking the soldiers, tossing them into the air like rag dolls.

Kenichi squinted, studying the spectral movements. With a determined gesture, he summoned a gust of wind, kicking up dust and smoke from the ground, making the ghostly limbs visible as they writhed like serpents in the air.

"Now I see you..." he whispered with a cold smile.

With precise movements, he unleashed a series of slashes with his sword, channeling his wind magic. The cutting waves sliced through the invisible arms, disintegrating them with flashes of blue light. The hooded figure shrieked, clutching their bloodied face.

"You weren't in the script!" the high-pitched voice screamed, filled with despair. "You shouldn't be here! You're not in my gospel! This must be a test! A test to prove my love for her, desu!"

Kenichi could now clearly see the hooded figure. It was a woman with disheveled, wild red hair, her eyes wide open, filled with madness. She was biting her fingers down to the bone, appearing utterly lost in hysteria, as if physical pain was the only thing keeping her anchored to reality.

Suddenly, the woman fixed her gaze on the silver-haired fighter, who was slowly rising from the ground, staggering.

"Blasphemy!" the cultist shrieked, pointing a trembling finger. "That appearance is a mockery, an affront to our Witch! Silver hair, amethyst eyes… it's an insult to Satella's sacred love! An abomination, desu!"

The invisible arms appeared again, larger and more grotesque this time, extending like deformed claws. Each time Kenichi slashed one of the arms with his wind blasts, the cultist let out a scream of pain, with tears of blood running down her cheeks. It seemed her invocations were linked to her own life, and each destruction of the spectral arms weakened her even more.

Kenichi noticed the connection, observing the desperation in the woman's eyes. Her hands trembled as she tried to summon more spectral arms, but her movements were clumsy, as if she could no longer bear the effort.

"For the Witch!" the woman gasped, her voice broken by fanatical devotion. "She loves me, desu! I will not allow this blasphemy to continue, desu!"

Kenichi took a step back, assessing the situation while the Gusteko soldiers regrouped around him. He saw one of the archers taking careful aim. A bolt flew through the air and lodged deep in the cultist's chest.

The woman gasped, her eyes bulging as she tried to pull out the bolt with bloodied fingers. But before she could react, a barrage of bolts struck her, embedding in her neck, abdomen, and limbs. The invisible arms vanished one by one, and the cultist fell to her knees, babbling incoherently, her face a mask of shattered madness and devotion.

"Hidden hand... desu!" the cultist whispered, barely audible, as her lips turned red with blood.

Kenichi felt a chill run down his spine. Before he could process her words, a deep, guttural scream of agony echoed across the battlefield. But this time, it wasn't a woman's voice. The scream was grave, frenzied, filled with euphoric madness. Somehow, Kenichi knew it was the same presence.

"Hidden Hand!"

The soldiers looked around in panic, and the sound of bones breaking and flesh being crushed filled the air. Kenichi saw bodies lifted into the air, dragged by an invisible force, before being smashed to the ground with brutal force. Blood splattered across the terrain, staining the fire-blackened stones a dark red.

"Regroup!" Kenichi ordered firmly. "Form ranks and prepare for a controlled retreat!"

The men tried to obey, but the invisible attacks were relentless. A spectral arm emerged from nowhere, piercing through one of the soldiers, lifting him like a ragdoll and slamming him into another. The sound of bodies colliding was grotesque, accompanied by the agonized screams of the men.

Kenichi gritted his teeth, raising his sword once more. The air around him swirled, kicking up dust and ashes as he concentrated his wind magic to clear the smoke surrounding him. His eyes narrowed as he desperately searched for the source of this massacre.

Amidst the gloom and flames, he spotted a hunched figure, arms extended forward, moving as if conducting a macabre orchestra. The eyes of the hooded figure were wide open, bleeding from the sockets. Although the red-haired cultist had fallen dead, someone else had taken up the chant, continuing with a voice filled with manic ecstasy.

"Hidden Hand, desu!" the figure shouted, a tone of worship and madness mixed together. The spectral arms continued their slaughter, crushing the soldiers like insects.

Kenichi swallowed, feeling rage burn within him. Just then, he noticed movement to his left. The silver-haired woman was rising, staggering, her face covered in blood and soot. Despite her injuries, there was an unbreakable fire in her amethyst eyes.

Kenichi ran toward her, slicing through the air to clear a path.

"Are you alright?!" he asked urgently, extending a hand to help.

The woman brushed him off with a sharp gesture, panting.

"Don't worry about me," she replied in a hoarse voice, struggling to catch her breath. "We need to end this madness before anyone else dies."

Without waiting for a response, she staggered back into the fight, summoning ice stakes that launched toward the cultists. Her attacks were wild and desperate, as if she were battling more than just her enemies.

Kenichi watched her determination and pressed his lips together. She was stronger than he had expected. Inspired by her tenacity, he raised his sword and felt his wind magic surge, creating a whirlwind around him.

"All with me!" he roared to his men. "We're going to end this!"

With a battle cry, he charged forward, determined to face this new threat head-on. The wind around him howled like a furious wolf, and the hunched figure across the battlefield lifted its head, as if watching his advance with a twisted smile.

The battle erupted into a whirlwind of chaos. The cultists, wrapped in a frenzy, charged at the knights with ceremonial cross-shaped daggers, their hooded faces twisted in deranged expressions. Others cast fire spells, raising columns of flames that consumed the village houses, fueling the infernal destruction.

Kenichi pushed forward with his sword held high, feeling the wind magic swirl around him, granting him speed and strength. His eyes locked onto the distortions in the air: massive invisible hands rising from the ground and the sky, spectral limbs seizing villagers and soldiers like ragdolls. Screams echoed across the battlefield as the hands squeezed tightly, sending blood and chunks of flesh raining down onto the charred earth.

"Make those hands visible!" Kenichi commanded, raising his sword. A gust of wind swept across the field, kicking up dust and ash, revealing the spectral silhouettes. They were grotesque, with elongated fingers twisting like tentacles.

Without wasting a second, Kenichi unleashed a flurry of wind slashes, each as sharp as a razor. The blades of air sliced through the spectral hands, severing them into pieces. The invisible limbs disintegrated with a hissing sound, like the very air being torn apart.

The archers of Gusteko responded to the call of battle. From the back lines, archers and crossbowmen rained arrows and bolts across the battlefield. The arrows whistled through the air, striking the cultists with deadly precision. Some marksmen, too close to the enemy, fired at point-blank range, tearing through the bodies of the Witch's followers with brutal efficiency.

Kenichi slashed fiercely, cutting down a cultist who lunged at him with a bloodied dagger. The man fell to the ground, but two more took his place, attacking relentlessly. Kenichi parried a thrust and retaliated with a wide sweep, feeling his sword slice through flesh and bone. The cultists fell, but they seemed endless, driven by a force beyond fear.

Suddenly, a shout rang out amidst the chaos.

"Al Huma!" the silver-haired woman screamed, her voice filled with rage and desperation.

Kenichi saw her raise her hands to the sky, and a sphere of ice formed in her palms, rapidly growing, fueled by her magic. The orb expanded to an impressive size, emanating a cold so intense that the air around it crackled with frost. With a fluid motion, she hurled the sphere toward the center of the battlefield.

The icy projectile collided with one of the giant spectral hands. There was a deafening explosion, and the orb shattered into a thousand razor-sharp fragments, scattering in all directions. The ice shards tore through the spectral hand, ripping apart the invisible flesh, and continued flying into the nearby cultists. Screams of agony filled the air as the ice shards pierced their bodies, leaving a trail of frozen blood on the ground.

Kenichi seized the chaos as an opportunity, unleashing another barrage of wind slashes aimed at the remaining spectral hands. The hunched figure, the source of these invocations, looked up at him, revealing a twisted grin, as if relishing in the destruction it had wrought.

"Sloth!" the crazed voice shrieked. "Sloth is the greatest sin, desu! How dare you defy her love, desu?!"

Kenichi gritted his teeth, ignoring the voice's shrill screams. He focused all his energy into a single attack, raising his sword with both hands. The wind around him swirled violently, forming a whirlwind so intense that it tore chunks from the ground and momentarily extinguished the nearby flames. With a battle cry, Kenichi slashed through the air in front of him.

The gust of wind surged forward like a giant scythe, cleaving everything in its path. The hunched figure tried to summon more invisible hands for protection, but it was too late. Kenichi's attack sliced through the spectral limbs and struck the summoner directly.

The figure let out a final scream, a sound of combined ecstasy and agony, before collapsing to the ground, split in two. The invisible arms dissipated into thin air, leaving only silence and the crackling of dying flames.

Kenichi took a deep breath, surveying the battlefield. The remaining cultists were fleeing in disarray, while the knights of Gusteko advanced, chasing them down. The silver-haired woman had also fallen to her knees, exhausted but still with that fierce look in her eyes.

Kenichi walked toward her, sheathing his sword.

"We did it..." he murmured, extending a hand to help her up.

She looked at him, her amethyst eyes shining through the blood and sweat. She ignored his hand and stood up on her own, swaying but holding her head high.

"It's not over," she replied, panting. Moments later, she collapsed.

Kenichi managed to catch the woman before she hit the ground. Her body, though small and slender, was heavier than he expected, a clear sign of the extreme exhaustion she had endured. As he held her, her head lolled to the side, revealing pointed ears beneath her bloodied and scorched hair.

Kenichi blinked, taken aback, his heart skipping a beat.

An elf... he thought, studying her delicate features. The silver sheen of her hair and the amethyst hue of her eyes were unusual, even for elven standards. There was something... different about her.

He looked at her for a moment, feeling a mixture of awe and respect. She had fought with a bravery he rarely saw in humans, much less in someone so young and seemingly fragile.

"You're not what you seem, are you?" he murmured to himself, lifting her carefully in his arms.

He glanced around the battlefield, where soldiers tended to the wounded and pursued the remaining cultists. The fire had already consumed much of the village of Virna, and the air was thick with smoke and ash. The mission here was over, and it was time to return.

"We're pulling back!" Kenichi shouted to his men. "Carry the wounded and gather the survivors. We're heading back to Natsuki Manor."

---

Night had fallen by the time Kenichi arrived at the manor. The horses, exhausted and lathered with sweat, trudged slowly along the cobblestone path. The servants were already prepared to receive the injured. When they saw their lord carrying the unconscious woman in his arms, their faces showed surprise, but no one asked questions.

"Take the wounded to the west wing and fetch the healer immediately," Kenichi ordered, striding quickly but steadily toward one of the guest rooms.

Upon arrival, he gently laid the woman down on the bed. Her face, now free of soot and blood, revealed an ethereal beauty that seemed otherworldly. Kenichi paused for a moment, observing her in silence. The image of her pointed ears lingered in his mind.

"What was an elf doing here, fighting against the Witch Cult?" he wondered aloud.

He turned to one of the servants who had followed him inside.

"Bring the healer, and make sure no one disturbs her until she wakes. This stays between us. I don't want this information leaking out, understood?"

The servant nodded quickly and left the room. Kenichi lingered a moment longer, gazing at the mysterious woman. There were many questions he wanted to ask her, but they would have to wait.

"I hope you can explain all of this when you wake up," he murmured, adjusting the blanket over her before stepping away.

He closed the door softly and headed to the study, where his men were already waiting to give a report on what had transpired.