It's normal for there to be a village here," I said softly.
No answer.He didn't even blink. Just stood there, frozen, pulling out his book like it could protect him from the truth.
"This… this shouldn't be a village," he muttered at last, voice low and tense. "You can't survive in a place like this."
I walked with careful steps toward the entrance of the village. Fog was everywhere. No light. No sound. No wind. Just… silence.
"It's abandoned," I whispered. "So don't worry. There shouldn't be anything dangerous here."
"THERE'S NOTHING HERE. IT'S DESERTED. DON'T WORRY."
He gave me a small nod. But I noticed the way his lips moved — he was reciting his oath again.Still, his eyes scanned the area. No danger. Not yet.
In our world, a place like this would be a red flag.A deserted village usually meant: run.Robbers. Traffickers. Deadly people hiding in shadows.But not here.Here, it was simply… empty. Quiet. Lonely.
We moved through what remained of the houses. Some were still standing, others not. We covered ourselves, just in case… maybe the demon spirit would return.
Then we stepped into a house. Dust everywhere. Dirt on the floor. Even an old bar of soap was lying in the corner.None of it mattered.We sat down. Just… breathed.
And for a second, it was quiet again. I had time to think.That's when it hit me.
I was in love with a demon spirit.
I stared at nothing, completely stunned—then I just started laughing.
Raiden raised an eyebrow at me. "Why are you laughing?"
I grinned. "I don't know. It's just... weird. If we ever told this story out loud: We ran from a demon into the forest and found a deserted village. Sounds crazy, doesn't it?"
He blinked, then actually thought about it. "It's not funny. You could've died. Maybe the ghost stole your brain."
I laughed harder. "Probably. And you know what? I think he kept it. Maybe he liked it."
He rolled his eyes. "Yeah, yeah, sure."
Then he looked at me more closely. "Why is your arm bandaged?"
I looked down. "Oh. Just a small injury. Nothing serious."
He didn't seem convinced. "We'll need medicine soon. Just in case it gets infected."
I nodded. He was right. Again.Then he said we should try to sleep.
We lay down. But I couldn't sleep.The questions started creeping in again.
"When will we leave this forest?" I asked softly.
"I don't know," he replied. "But soon."
I stared at his sword. "Can you actually fight well? I mean, you always carry that sword, but I've never seen you in a real fight."
He smirked. "One day you'll see. Probably soon… when you cause trouble again."
I just nodded and closed my eyes.
But I couldn't sleep. Not fully.
I drifted, half-dreaming, half-awake.Then I heard it.
Rain.
Soft and steady. Comforting.I got up and stepped outside.
The village looked different in the rain.The fog swirled. The world hushed. My mind emptied.
I walked. Then ran.Through the rain. Through the village.
No thoughts. No fear.Just peace.
But only for a moment.
I saw it — a light.
Flickering through the window of one of the old houses.A person?
"HEY! WAIT!" I shouted.
I ran faster.The figure moved like light itself, glowing like a bullet of silver moonlight.
Then he stopped.
He turned slowly… and looked me straight in the eyes.
A chill ran down my spine.Something about him… felt so familiar.
He smiled — not cruel, not kind. Just… knowing.And said, "Everything will be fine. You don't have to undo it all. What happened, happened."
I stared, unable to speak.
Then he added softly, "But some people will never learn… or accept it."
And then—
He disappeared.
Pain. Sharp, burning pain stabbed through my chest.
I fell to the ground, choking on my breath. Couldn't breathe.Couldn't move.
Then doors burst open.One by one.Children. Women. Old men. All glowing faintly.
But not like him.No. Their glow was different.
They looked… soulless.Empty.Hungry.
They ran toward me.
The pain in my chest faded just enough for me to realize:
RUN.
I ran.
But it came back — the pain, the stabbing. My legs slowed.
They were coming closer.I had to fight.
So I did.Swinging. Kicking. Screaming.But there were too many.
Something grabbed my leg.Burning. Like ice and fire together.A soulless one held on, pulling me down.
I tried to escape.No use.
Then—
Two hands.
They pulled hard — ripping the book out of my grip and yanking me back.
Raiden.
His eyes were burning with anger. His stance—perfect.
I'd never seen anyone fight like that.Like a noble prince from a forgotten legend.Every move was calculated. Sharp. Elegant.
I tried to get up, to help.But my leg—burning. I couldn't move.
Still, we fought. And fought. Until we'd taken down half of them.
But more were coming.Too many.
Raiden took one deep breath.
Then without a word, he ran to me, lifted me onto his back, and carried me.
Effortlessly.
He ran—fast, steady—never looking back. Just forward.Into the forest. Away from the village.
The whole time, I thought…
He doesn't even know me that well.But in this short time, he's already proven something real.
Then—
He stopped.
"We can't go any further," he gasped, placing me down gently.
There it was.A cliff.A waterfall.And behind us—them.
"They're coming," I said. "We have to jump."
His eyes widened. "NO!"
I turned to him. "We'll die if we stay."
He looked down. "I—"
"I'm not afraid of falling," I said. "I'm afraid of regretting it if we don't."
"It's not about that!" he yelled.
"I know you're scared. I am too. But if we don't trust each other now, then everything we've done was for nothing."
The soulless were nearly here.
"I know you're scared!" I shouted again. Then I grabbed his hand.
And jumped.
We fell.
He screamed like he'd never screamed before."I CAN'T SWIM!" he yelled mid-fall.
I held onto him.
The air rushed past us.
Then—Water.
Silence.