"Astra… I think you won't forget anything this time."
"Really?" She looked at him, doubtful. "No… I don't think so. Every time I sleep and wake up, parts of things fade. It's like… it all turns into a dream. A dream I can't quite remember."
She lowered her gaze to the list again, as if willing it to remain real.
Ryoma cleared his throat, a quiet sound that gently pulled Astra's attention toward him. She looked up as he stepped closer, then extended his hand toward her… his palm slowly opening to reveal a delicate bracelet resting in the center.
A soft gasp escaped Astra's lips.
The bracelet gleamed softly in the morning light, its centerpiece a finely crafted silver lotus with a single red stone nestled at its heart. Intricate patterns flowed along its band, like vines wrapping around gentle waves.
Her hand moved instinctively, fingers reaching out to touch it, but Ryoma spoke before she could take it.
"Wear this every time from now on," he said, his voice low but firm. "It'll lessen the effect of the curse a little. While we stay in the capital… it'll help you even more. So don't ever lose it."
Astra's fingers brushed over the lotus, then carefully took the bracelet from his hand. Her eyes lingered on the red stone, a flicker of warmth in her expression. Then, without hesitation, she slipped it onto her wrist and tightened the clasp.
She smiled at it, admiring how perfectly it sat. "It's beautiful," she whispered.
Ryoma looked away, arms crossed, but a faint smirk tugged at the corner of his lips.
——
Daita paced back and forth across the hall, hands flying in frustration, his voice low but brimming with fury.
"How did this happen?! How can a demon cross the barrier? Where did it go wrong? Akira—!"
He spun around, only to find the Crown Prince lounging by the window, calmly popping berries into his mouth from a small porcelain bowl.
"And you're casually eating berries?!"
Akira took a bite, winced slightly, and shrugged. "They're too sour."
Daita groaned, dragging his hands through his hair. "How come you are so chill about this?! You do realize it could be dangerous, right? Tier 8 demons don't just walk in like lost cats! It could cause a disaster! Chaos! Bloodshed!"
Akira rose slowly, dusting off his robes, and popped another berry into his mouth as he strolled to the center of the hall.
"Too sour… and too loud," he murmured, tossing the empty stem aside.
Daita stared at him, half in disbelief, half in exasperation. "Don't forget," he said sternly, "we rarely have people with enough spiritual power to fight a demon possessing that strength. That level alone is enough to wipe out half of the province if it wants to."
Akira slumped onto a couch nearby, tilting his head back lazily. "but how can you say it's just a tier 8? It could be more."
Daita froze, his breath hitched. He took a step forward, voice dropping as the implication hit him.
"…You mean it's a tier 9?
"Maybe it is…" Akira muttered, "Chances are not zero."
Daita dragged a hand down his face, his fingers trembling slightly. "If it's really a tier 9… then the situation is far worse than we imagined." His voice dropped, heavy with dread. "If it begins its destruction now, we won't just be dealing with chaos. I'm afraid… we might lose something precious again before we even understand what that demon is up to."
Akira remained still for a moment, the weight of Daita's words hanging in the air like smoke.
"It won't," he said quietly.
Daita blinked. "Huh?"
"I don't think anything will happen yet. Not anytime soon."
"How do you know that?" Daita's voice sharpened. "What makes you so sure?!"
The prince stood slowly, his back still turned. For a long pause, he didn't speak. Then he lifted his chin slightly, his tone calm.
"Isn't it simple to tell? If it truly wanted to begin its carnage, it would've done so the moment it crossed the barrier." He turned slightly, "Why would a being that powerful… hide?"
Daita's eyes narrowed. "You're saying…"
"I'm saying it has a reason," Akira said, now facing him fully. "There's a goal behind its silence. Something it's waiting for. That's why it hasn't shown itself yet." His voice lowered to a whisper,
"It won't come out… not yet. Not until its goal is reached."
Silence followed. Only the faint rustle of wind against the palace screens could be heard.
——
Time passed by and the afternoon sun glimmered gently over the water, casting long, shimmering streaks of light across the boat's wooden deck. Most passengers dozed or busied themselves with quiet chatter, lulled by the warmth and calm rhythm of the river.
Farther from the rest, Astra sat near the edge of the deck, a little secluded between barrels and crates. She unwrapped a tightly packed rice cake with a sigh, her fingers slightly clumsy from the stiffness of the journey.
Just as she took her first bite, a strange sensation prickled at her neck.
She paused, chewing slowly, eyes darting to her right.
Nothing.
She looked left.
Still nothing.
Shrugging off the unease, she mumbled to herself, "Must be Seiya glaring at me again through walls."
She took another bite.
Suddenly— a soft thump.
A basket toppled nearby, rolling lazily across the deck. Astra's eyes snapped toward the sound. Her brows furrowed. Among the scattered shadows of crates, she caught a slight movement small, subtle, but definitely there.
Curious now, she rose to her feet, brushing crumbs from her lap. Cautiously, she stepped toward the source of the sound, narrowing her eyes.
A faint rustle.
A breath held too long.
Astra leaned forward and peeked behind the stacked baskets and her gaze met a pair of wide, innocent eyes.
A small boy, no older than six or seven, was crouched low, trying to make himself invisible behind the crates. His little hands were gripping the edge of a basket, and his dark hair was tousled as if he'd been hiding there for a while. The moment their eyes met, he backed away in alarm, pressing himself deeper into the corner.
Astra blinked, rice cake still in hand, and gently tilted her head.
"…Hey," she said softly, lowering her voice so as not to scare him.
The boy didn't answer. He just stared, his eyes round and unblinking. Astra knelt down slowly, careful not to move too quickly.
"I see you….,"