PART 1: WHITE
Chapter 7 – The Raid
Screams echoed…
The crackling of flames tore through the air…
People crying, shouting…
The surroundings were filled with the sounds of pain and terror.
— What's happening!?
— What was that noise!?
— RUN! BANDITS ARE RAIDING THE TOWN!
— What!?
— Bandits!? Just my luck…
— What should I do!?
At that moment... the words of the blue flame echoed in his mind.
"When danger approaches, run. But not alone… take Inou with you…"
His heart began to race.
— I have to run now!
He flung the door open. The moment he stepped outside, he ran right into Inou and her grandmother. Both of their faces were pale as death.
— You!?
Despite the tears in her eyes, the grandmother spoke with a firm voice:
— You and Inou must leave now! If the bandits find you… they'll take you to the slave market.
Inou's eyes welled up with tears, her voice trembling with fear and helplessness:
— But Grandma… what about you? What will you do?
The old woman smiled. She cast aside the fear that had gripped her heart and hugged her granddaughter tightly.
— Don't worry about me… I'm just an old woman. They won't harm me.
It was a lie. But her love had to be enough to protect her granddaughter.
Her embrace trembled—it felt like a farewell.
Then she turned to Mahey.
— Please… just like you did before, watch over Inou now as well.
Mahey nodded.
— Of course.
He had to.
The blue flame had said so.
But not just because of that...
They had given him a warm bed, food, and safety for two days.
Small kindnesses, but they meant a lot to him.
And now… he wanted to be a good person.
The grandmother kissed Inou one last time.
— Go now… hurry.
They turned to the door. As soon as they stepped outside, a wave of heat hit their faces.
The heart of the town was burning.
Roofs were engulfed in flames. The sky was shrouded in smoke.
When they reached the main street from the alley, the chaos intensified.
People ran in all directions.
Bodies lay on the ground, soaked in blood…
When Inou saw the scene, she let out a scream:
— T-These…!
She couldn't finish.
Mahey finished for her:
— They're dead…
His voice was calm. But something inside him was breaking.
Still, he kept control:
— We can't do anything for them now. We have to go.
— Where are we going!?
— This way.
There was no way he could forget the path. His mind was clear—he had a purpose now.
He took Inou's hand.
— Come on.
They ran.
The streets they passed were filled with corpses.
Some women, some elderly… some children.
Some of their eyes were still open.
Death had taken them by surprise.
In one corner, bandits were fighting the townsfolk.
Suddenly, a blast of light rained from the sky. A spell, or some kind of weapon…
The group was scattered in an instant.
One of the bandits shouted:
— Thanks, boss!
But the boss kept walking without stopping:
— Quit stalling and get to work!
Mahey pulled Inou in another direction.
— We'll have to take a longer route.
Inou was still crying. Mahey said nothing. He kept running.
But the voice inside him would not quiet:
"If this were the old me… I would've left Inou behind. But not anymore. I've changed."
Just then, a bandit blocked their path.
— Hey! What's the rush?
Mahey pushed Inou behind him.
The sand beneath his feet shifted slightly.
— Wait… are you her brother?
— And if I am? Go to hell!
The man gritted his teeth:
— I'll kill you, brat!
He kicked.
Mahey dodged just in time.
He struck the man's foot with all his strength.
Caught off guard, the bandit lost his balance and fell.
Without thinking, Mahey grabbed a handful of sand and flung it into the man's eyes.
— AAHH! MY EYES!
— Inou, now! Run!
The man shouted after them but couldn't get up.
— Brats! I'll kill you!
They ran…
Finally, they made it out of the town.
But they didn't head straight for the open road.
Inou pointed to a hill.
— There! It's high up! It'll be safer!
They started climbing.
It was exhausting.
But they had no other choice.
By the time they reached the top, they were out of strength.
Inou sat down and buried her head in her knees. She cried quietly.
Mahey slowly walked to the edge of the cliff.
He looked down at the town.
What he saw… was destruction.
Houses were burning…
The streets were full of corpses…
The whole town had become a wasteland.
Just a few hours ago, they had eaten a meal together in one of those houses.
Now, nothing was left.
Mahey thought:
Why does it always have to be like this? Why, whenever something good happens to me, does something terrible follow?
Just then, Inou's whisper merged with the wind:
— No matter what… I will avenge my grandmother.
Those words unlocked a door in Mahey's mind.
A memory…
A dark room…
Hands holding a weapon…
A blood-soaked shirt…
A man lying on the ground.
A child kneeling, crying:
— Dad… Dad… please don't die!
— No matter what… I'll avenge you!
A phrase that pierced Mahey's heart…
A cursed echo from the past.
He closed his eyes.
A whisper rose within him:
"The one who killed that boy's father… the one who left him an orphan… was me. And now, I will protect a child just like him."
He turned to Inou.
Quietly approached.
Sat beside her.
— I'm here. I promise… I'll protect you.
Inou didn't respond.
But she stopped crying.
Mahey drifted into thought:
If I want to be a good person, I'll start by protecting Inou. That way, I'll keep the promise I once made to my mother—'I'll become a good person!'
I didn't become a bad person because I wanted to in my past life. I did it to survive. To get by.
But now… I don't have to be that person anymore!
He fell silent after that.
---
Time passed…
By morning, smoke still rose from the town.
The bandits were gone.
Mahey looked at the ruined town one last time.
Then turned his head away.
End of Chapter 7