"Hurry, before they come home," she urged, excitement brimming in her eyes.

"I don't wanna," I hesitated, apprehension tingling in my voice.

"Come on, don't you want to explore?" she persisted, her curiosity driving her forward.

"No, my parents explicitly told me not to venture into the forest, and you shouldn't be going in there either," I protested, attempting to reason with her.

"You're so lame. Come on!" she exclaimed, grabbing my hand and forcefully dragging me into the depths of the forest. Ilva, belonging to the beast race, possessed physical strength far superior to mine, rendering my attempts to break free futile. Reluctantly, I found myself being pulled further away from the safety of my home, situated on the outskirts of the forest, where entering the woods was as effortless as taking a few steps.

Until now, I had never mustered the courage to venture into the woods alone. As we halted at our current spot, I surveyed the surroundings, but before I could familiarize myself with the area, Ilva tugged me onward. The fear began to well up within me, tears welling in my eyes.

"Akio, stop being such a crybaby. When you grow older like me, you won't cry over such things," Ilva scoffed, attempting to boost my confidence.

"She's only one year older than me," I thought to myself, momentarily distracted from my tears. However, the fear still gripped me tightly, worrying about the consequences of our actions and what would transpire once we returned home and my parents discovered our forbidden expedition. Deeper into the forest she led me, until finally, she released her grip on my hand. I glanced around, trying to ascertain if I recognized any landmarks or if I could find my way back home.

"Hey, Ilva, can we—"

A deafening boom reverberated throughout the entire forest, causing both Ilva and me to turn our heads toward the source of the sound.

"Wanna check it out?" she proposed, her curiosity overpowering her concern for safety.

"No! It's probably something dangerous," I objected, fear gripping my words.

But despite my protest, Ilva sprinted off in the direction of the sound. I stood there momentarily frozen, torn between following her or attempting to find my way back home. Knowing I had no other choice, I chased after her, but her speed far surpassed mine. Soon enough, I lost sight of her and called out her name, only to be met with silence. With uncertainty gnawing at me, I continued running, hoping for the best.

After several minutes, I encountered nothing but dense foliage. However, after another five minutes of walking, I stumbled upon a clearing. As I approached, I noticed a massive crater in the ground, gradually filling with water. It seemed that this was the cause of the earlier explosive sound. A waterfall stood tall behind the crater, miraculously untouched by the impact, while a rushing river swiftly filled the cavity.

With caution, I inched closer to examine the contents of the crater. But my steps faltered, and I slipped, tumbling down the steep edge and suffering injuries upon impact. As I regained my footing and surveyed my surroundings, I was greeted by the awe-inspiring sight of a magnificent six-winged angel, still clutching its spear. A halo shimmered above its head, complemented by white wings and a helmet obscuring its face.

"It appears this is the end of my life. Those bastards finally got me," the angel muttered to itself, lost in contemplation. Though I couldn't quite catch its words, fear rooted me to the ground.

"Boy, isn't it dirty down there? Stand up and at least wipe off the dirt," the angel remarked, breaking the silence that enveloped us.

Not wanting to disobey the angel's command, I swiftly followed its instruction and rose to my feet, while trying to brush off the dirt clinging to my clothes. Sensing my unease and fear, the angel removed its helmet, revealing a compassionate gaze directed at me.

"At ease, boy. Even if I wanted to harm you, I don't have the energy to do so," the angel reassured, attempting to ease my apprehension.

As a minute passed in silence, anticipation hung heavy in the air. Then, the angel spoke once more, its words carrying a sense of urgency.

"I don't have much time left on this planet, so I will grant you something," it declared solemnly.

Raising its spear, the blade cut through its own flesh, causing it to wince in pain. With a determined grip, it tore out its own heart, a sacrificial act that left me in awe and disbelief.