Yuta sat in the carriage with his family, the rhythmic clatter of hooves against the cobblestones lulling him into a state of contemplation. He absentmindedly ran his fingers over the coin that the stranger had given him, the intricate engravings on its surface catching the dim light filtering through the carriage window.

As they journeyed towards Whitfield, Yuta found himself lost in thought, his mind swirling with questions and possibilities. Who was the stranger? What secrets lay hidden within the Hermit's cave?

Lost in his musings, Yuta barely noticed the passing scenery outside the carriage window. The lush green fields and rolling hills gave way to dense forests and winding rivers as they drew nearer to their destination.

As the carriage rolled into Whitfield, Yuta's attention shifted from the coin to the bustling streets outside. Whitfield was a vibrant town, alive with the sounds of merchants hawking their wares, children playing in the cobblestone streets, and the distant chime of the temple bells echoing through the air.

Yuta took a deep breath, inhaling the scent of freshly baked bread and blooming flowers that wafted through the open window. Despite the excitement of the town, a sense of purpose weighed heavily on Yuta's mind.

He reached into his pocket, feeling the familiar shape of the coin nestled within his grasp. As his fingers closed around it, memories of why they had come to Whitfield flooded back to him.

In the heart of their quaint village, Yuta's family stood as a pillar of tradition and craftsmanship. His father, the village carpenter, wielded his tools with a quiet proficiency that earned him respect from all who knew him. Meanwhile, his mother, renowned as the village's finest seamstress, wove threads of care and warmth into every stitch she sewed. Together, they cultivated a home filled with devotion to their craft and reverence for their faith in Soter, the god of purity and virtue.

Yet all was not peaceful in their home. Yuta's older sister Aria danced on the edges of tradition, causing ripples of tension within the family's serene existence. Her defiance challenged the very foundation upon which their familial bonds were built, testing the patience and resolve of their devout parents.

One day, a group of young travelers arrived. Drawn to the allure of the unknown, Aria, found herself captivated by the travelers' tales of distant lands and untold riches. With a defiant spirit, Aria left her childhood home and followed the travelers into the unknown.

As the days stretched into weeks and the weeks into months, the absence of Aria weighed heavily upon Yuta's family. Their once vibrant home now echoed with the hollow emptiness left behind by her departure. Yuta's parents, devastated by their daughter's choice to run away, struggled to find solace amidst the uncertainty that gripped their hearts.

Each night, as the village settled into a restless slumber, Yuta's mother would retreat to the quiet sanctuary of her room, where the flickering light of a solitary candle illuminated her tear-stained face. With clasped hands and whispered prayers, she would beseech Soter to watch over her lost daughter, to guide her back home safely.

But as the days turned into weeks, and still there was no sign of Aria's return, the weight of grief threatened to crush their spirits. Yuta's father, usually a pillar of strength in times of adversity, found himself consumed by a sense of helplessness, his once steady hands trembling with the weight of unanswered questions.

Meanwhile, Yuta grappled with a storm of conflicting emotions raging within his heart. While part of him yearned for his sister's safe return, another part harbored a quiet resentment for the pain her departure had inflicted upon their family. Yet, beneath the layers of anger and sorrow, a flicker of hope remained—a glimmer of belief that, somehow, Aria would find her way back to them.

Almost a year had passed since Aria's departure, a year filled with restless nights and anxious days for Yuta's family.

Then, on a quiet evening bathed in the golden hues of the setting sun, a soft knock echoed through the halls of Yuta's home. Startled, Yuta hurried to answer the door. As the door swung open, he found himself face to face with a sight he had longed to see yet never dared to hope for.

There stood Aria, a mere shadow of her former self, her once vibrant spirit now dimmed by the weight of her trials. Cuts and bruises marred her skin, and her clothes hung in tatters, bearing witness to the hardships she had endured on her journey home.

With tears streaming down his cheeks, Yuta pulled his sister into a tight embrace. Behind him, he could hear the gasps and sobs of his parents, their relief palpable as they rushed forward to envelop Aria in their arms.

For a moment, the world seemed to stand still as the family reunited, their hearts overflowing with joy, sorrow, and overwhelming gratitude. But as they held each other close, Aria's voice broke the silence, her words carrying the weight of a burden too heavy to bear alone.

"I've seen the darkness," she whispered, her voice trembling with emotion. "It's out there, lurking in the shadows, waiting to consume us all."

With Aria's return, the once somber halls of Yuta's home were infused with a sense of bittersweet relief. While her physical wounds began to heal under her mother's gentle care, the scars of her emotional turmoil ran deeper, casting a shadow over her restless nights.

Each night Aria would awaken with a start, her screams echoing through the darkness like a haunting melody. But amidst the chaos of her nightmares, her mother remained a steadfast beacon of solace, cradling her in her arms, whispering prayers of comfort and reading scripture to soothe her troubled soul.

As Yuta watched his sister struggle with the demons that plagued her dreams, he couldn't help but notice a subtle shift in her demeanor. Where once she had scoffed at their parents' faith, dismissing it as mere superstition, now she seemed more open to its teachings, seeking solace in the words of scripture and the warmth of her mother's embrace.

Despite her family's gentle inquiries, Aria remained tight-lipped about the events that had transpired during her time away. Her nightmares persisted, growing in intensity with each passing night, casting a dark shadow over her fragile psyche.

Desperate for answers and seeking solace for their daughter's troubled soul, Yuta's mother took matters into her own hands. With trembling hands, she penned a letter to the closest temple dedicated to Soter, beseeching the aid of the priestess in unraveling the mystery that shrouded Aria's torment.

Weeks passed in anxious anticipation; each day weighed down by the burden of uncertainty. Then, one fateful morning, as the first light of dawn broke over the horizon, a visitor arrived at Yuta's doorstep—a high priestess of Soter, her presence a beacon of hope amidst the darkness that had engulfed their home.

With solemn grace and unwavering compassion, the high priestess convinced Aria to recount her harrowing tale to her alone.

Yuta and his family waited with bated breath as the high priestess delved into a private conversation with Aria, their hearts heavy with anticipation and anxiety.

Finally, the door creaked open, revealing Aria standing alongside the high priestess. The high priestess's gaze bore into Yuta's mother with unwavering conviction as she delivered her solemn decree.

"Aria must come with me to the temple," she declared, her voice carrying the weight of authority. "There, she will find the guidance and healing she seeks."

Yuta's mother hesitated, her heart torn between the fear of losing her daughter once more and the desperate hope for her recovery. She clutched Aria's hand tightly, her eyes pleading for reassurance.

But the high priestess remained steadfast in her conviction, her gaze unwavering as she gently urged Aria forward. "Trust in the wisdom of Soter," she whispered, her voice a soothing balm to the family's frayed nerves. "He will guide us on this journey of healing."

With a heavy heart, Yuta's mother reluctantly released her grip on Aria's hand, her gaze filled with unspoken worry and love. She watched as her daughter followed the high priestess out the door, disappearing into the fading light of dusk.

As the door closed behind them, enveloping Yuta's family in a somber silence, the weight of uncertainty hung heavy in the air. Yet, amidst the shadows of doubt, a flicker of hope remained—a beacon of light that illuminated the path ahead.

As the months passed, Yuta's family waited with bated breath, their hearts heavy with longing and uncertainty. Letters from the temple arrived sporadically, offering vague assurances of Aria's progress, but providing little solace to the family yearning for her return.

Then, one auspicious day, a letter arrived bearing good news. Aria was coming home.

Excitement mingled with apprehension as Yuta's family prepared for Aria's return. They tidied the house, adorned it with flowers, and lit candles in anticipation of her arrival. Each passing moment felt like an eternity until, finally, a figure appeared on the horizon—a silhouette against the setting sun, slowly making its way toward the village.

As Aria drew closer, Yuta's family held their breath, scarcely daring to believe that their long-awaited reunion was at hand. And then, there she was, standing at the threshold of their home, a vision transformed.

Gone was the weary traveler they had bid farewell to months ago. In her place stood a woman radiating an aura of peace and serenity, her eyes alight with a newfound sense of purpose. She wore a simple yet elegant dress and in her hands, she clutched the scripture of Soter—the very embodiment of her renewed faith.

Tears welled in her mother’s eyes as she beheld her daughter’s transformation, her heart overflowing with joy and wonder. Her father stood in silent awe, his faces aglow with gratitude and relief. They welcomed Aria with open arms, enveloping her in a loving embrace.

As Aria returned home, she immersed herself in the teachings of Soter, becoming a model disciple of their family's faith. She prayed fervently, studied the scripture with diligence, and lived her life guided by the principles of purity and virtue. Her transformation brought solace to her parents' hearts, who found comfort in seeing their daughter embrace the beliefs they held dear.

However, for Yuta, Aria's religious awakening posed a challenge. While he was relieved and overjoyed to have his sister back home, her newfound devotion to Soter's teachings left him feeling like an outsider in his own family.

Yuta had always harbored doubts about the faith that bound their family together. He found it difficult to reconcile the teachings of Soter with the complexities of life he observed in the village and beyond. While he respected his family's beliefs, he struggled to find his own connection to their faith.

As Aria delved deeper into her religious studies, Yuta felt increasingly isolated. The bond he once shared with his sister, forged through shared experiences and mischief, began to fray under the weight of their diverging paths. Where they had once laughed and played together, there was now a growing divide, fueled by their conflicting beliefs and perspectives.

Yuta couldn't shake the feeling of unease that settled in his chest as he watched his sister, now so deeply entrenched in her faith, become increasingly distant. He longed to bridge the growing chasm between them, to understand the trials that had reshaped Aria into the person she had become.

One evening, as they sat together in the fading light of dusk, Yuta gathered the courage to broach the subject that weighed heavily on his mind.

"Can you... can you tell me what happened to you on your travels?" Yuta asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

Aria's expression darkened, a shadow passing over her features as memories of her journey resurfaced. She looked at Yuta with a mixture of love and pain, her eyes filled with sorrow.

"I'm sorry, Yuta," she said. "I can't tell you. Not because I don't trust you, but because... because the tale is too dark. Too harrowing. It's a burden that only a priestess of Soter could bear without succumbing to madness."

Yuta felt a wave of despair wash over him as Aria spoke, her words leaving him with a profound sense of powerlessness. He had held onto the hope that by opening up about her experiences, they could mend the growing gap between them. However, confronted with the realization that certain truths were too burdensome to reveal, he found himself even more distant and disconnected.

A year had passed since Aria's return. Her dedication to the faith became unwavering, and with each passing day, her conviction seemed to deepen.

"I've made a decision," Aria announced at the dinner table. "I'm going to become a missionary for Soter."

Yuta's parents exchanged stunned glances. "But Aria, it's dangerous out there," Yuta's father protested. "You've already been through so much. Are you sure about this?"

Aria nodded, her gaze unwavering. "I've never been surer of anything in my life," she replied earnestly. "I've seen the darkness, Father. But I've also seen the light—the light of Soter shining bright even in the darkest of times. And I want to share that light with others, to bring hope and salvation to those who are lost."

And with those words, Yuta's family resigned themselves to the knowledge that Aria's path lay beyond the confines of their village, beyond the safety of their home.

As the carriage came to a stop at the grand gates of Soter's temple, Yuta's thoughts returned to the present moment. Stepping out of the carriage, his gaze instinctively followed Aria's figure as she ascended the steps of the temple, her steps purposeful and determined.

 As he watched her enter the temple, Yuta couldn't shake the feeling that the darkness that had brought her to this point was not yet finished with her.