I woke up with a heavy weight pressing on my chest. My stomach churned, and before I could think twice, I rushed outside.
I threw up.
It wasn't new to me. This only happened when I was deeply stressed.And yes—this time, I was. More than ever.
Once the dizziness passed, I slowly stepped back inside and found Alice already awake, her eyes blinking at me sleepily.
"Good morning," she murmured.
I forced a small smile and nodded. "How's your wound?"
She gave a short nod. "Better... I guess." Then, her gaze searched the room. "Where's your partner?"
I raised an eyebrow. "You mean Raiden?"I stretched slightly. "He went out early to look for clues about the missing women."
But her face shifted. Her eyes darkened.
"That's a bad idea," she said sharply. "He shouldn't be alone out there... What if they catch him?"
I laughed quietly. "Raiden? Get caught? That would take a miracle."I leaned back. "Otherwise, I would've kidnapped him already."
Alice blinked, clearly unsure if I was joking. I laughed again and waved it off.
She gave a small smile, but I could see the worry hadn't left her face."I'll do a quick loop through the village," I said.
"Be careful," she whispered. "Seriously."
I nodded and stepped out, heart still heavy. My instincts were loud today.
The market square was already buzzing. Noise, smells, colors, people everywhere. But everything felt… distant.
Without my family, I had learned to move alone. And yet, as I wandered between the stalls, I couldn't help but feel the strange quiet before a storm.
Then, something shimmered in the corner of my eye.
A bracelet.
It lay glistening in the sun, wrapped in soft green crystals with a symbol I couldn't quite place. And yet—it reminded me of Raiden.
I picked it up.
The vendor smiled knowingly. "Ah... A gift for someone you like but aren't sure if you should?"
My heart twitched. "No... I mean, it's not like that."
But it was beautiful.
I bought it anyway.
With the bracelet now in my bag, I sat down just outside the village. The trees swayed slowly, and for a second, I just… breathed.
I took out the fan Raiden had given me. My fingers brushed across it.
He was always so... calm. So untouchable. And yet—his smile lingered in my mind.
My heart fluttered.
"What is this...?" I whispered. "Why does it feel like I've known him forever?"
I stood up, shaking the thoughts away.
I had to find Alice again—but something in the air suddenly shifted.
A man appeared. Familiar—but not in a good way. One of the men who had tried to kill Alice.
He didn't attack me.
He stepped closer—and smiled
I froze.
His hand pressed something into mine.
Then he vanished into the crowd.
I slowly unfolded the note.
We've taken your precious friend.If you want him back alive—bring Alice.Tonight. Edge of the forest.
My fingers trembled. My breath stopped.
RAIDEN?!
My legs moved on their own as I ran back to the house.
"Alice!" I screamed. "THEY'VE GOT RAIDEN!"
She jumped up. I thrust the note into her hands.
Her expression shattered.
Tears filled her eyes. "No... I-I can't go back there... Please, I can't..."
I sat down, rubbing my forehead. "I don't want you to go either. But if we don't…"
We waited.
Hours passed.
Hope faded.
No new messages. No lies.
Only silence.
And then I knew.
He was really gone.
I turned to her, voice low. "We… have to go."
Alice's eyes were wide with terror. But she nodded.
Before we left, I handed her a small knife. "Just in case. Hide it in your sleeve."
The village was quiet as we moved under the cover of night.
"I'm sorry, Alice," I whispered. "You never deserved any of this."
I remembered what Raiden had told me yesterday. About the star.Helping others will only break you, he had said.But doing nothing... would break me too.
I smiled bitterly. "He was right."
I didn't know who I was. Not really. But I knew I trusted Raiden with my life.
And even if I'd only known him for days,It felt like I'd known him forever.
"I think we're soulmates,"
My heart skipped.
I turned. Looked at her. "No..."
But I didn't finish the sentence.
I just nodded.
We reached the edge of the forest.
I could feel them.
Waiting.
My hand gripped the sword.
And then, they appeared.
Five men. Raiden was in their grasp—tied up, sword at his throat.
When his eyes met mine, anger blazed.
"WHY DID YOU COME?" he shouted. "WHAT WAS THE POINT?!"
I stepped forward. "You think I'd let you die?"
His jaw clenched. "You SHOULD have stayed!"
"I CAN'T LOSE YOU," I said
One of the men grinned. "Enough talk. Give us the girl."
Alice clung to me.
I lifted my sword. "Let him go. NOW."
They laughed.
"Try anything—and he dies."
The blade pressed against his throat.
Before I could move, they yanked Alice away from me.
"RAIDEN!" I screamed.
He looked at me.
That look…
I would never forget it.
"EOULA, SAVE HER," he shouted.
I shook my head. "NO!"
His voice cracked. "DAMN IT, FORGET ME! JUST GET HER OUT OF HERE!"
I hesitated.
Then moved.
I ran toward Alice, sword in hand.
One of them laughed. "I knew you'd choose her."
"PLEASE!" I begged. "DON'T HURT HIM!"
The leader smirked. "Oh, don't worry. I won't.I'll take all three of you instead."
Raiden's face changed.
Disappointment.
Pain.
Betrayal.
Then—they hit him.
He collapsed into my arms.
Another man grabbed Alice.
I turned to help.
But then—a blow struck me.
Darkness pulled me under.
My last thought—
That look in his eyes...He won't forgive me.
And I don't forgive myself either.
....