The butterfly that had guided us to the castle suddenly reappeared in the dimness of the cave, its iridescent blue wings floating gently, as if it had always known where to find us.

“Oh look, I’d completely forgotten about you, nya!” Kumo exclaimed, bouncing slightly.

“It’s true, I’d forgotten too…” I replied, a bit ashamed of having neglected it.

The butterfly perched for a moment before taking flight again, silently showing us the way out. I couldn’t help but wonder how it knew this place so well. Perhaps it was more than just a butterfly.

When we reached the cave’s exit, an immense forest awaited us outside. The towering, gnarled trees stretched their branches like sinister arms, forming an impenetrable canopy of leaves that obscured the sky. The air was heavy, and the moonlight, barely visible through the gaps in the foliage, seemed almost unreal, giving the place a ghostly aura. It was clear that night had fallen, plunging the world into oppressive darkness.

“Nya… What do we do now…” Kumo murmured, his voice weary.

“I’m sorry, Kumo… I never should have dragged you into this…” I replied, my heart heavy with guilt.

“Even though I complain, I don’t regret anything, nya! I’ve never had so many adventures or felt so many emotions. Before all this, I spent my days playing alone…” His tone was both melancholic and sincere.

“But still… we could have done less dangerous activities and had just as much fun…”

Our conversation was chillingly interrupted by a deep, authoritative voice that echoed through the forest's silence.

“Don’t move.”

Without even turning around, I instantly recognized that voice—deep and filled with an eerie power. It carried a coldness that sent shivers down my spine. As I instinctively tried to flee, a firm hand grabbed my hood, stopping me in my tracks.

“If I were you, I wouldn’t venture alone into this forest. It’s full of creatures you wouldn’t want to encounter.”

“Nyaa… monsters?!” hissed Kumo, his fur bristling with fear.

“You will stay with me from now on, and you will follow my orders without question.”

A wave of despair washed over me. All this effort, all these trials… Was it all really in vain? Was he truly going to take me back to my world, tearing me away from the reality where I finally felt free?

As I sank into a pit of disgust and worry, a low growl rumbled beneath our feet. It was far louder, far more menacing than the one we had heard earlier. Danger seemed to be approaching, and even though I still doubted the Guardian’s warnings, it was clear that taking risks wasn’t an option. Encountering one of those creatures was not part of my plan.

I’ll find another way to escape… But for now, I have to play along.

---

Night had fully fallen, plunging the forest into a foreboding darkness. The only sound was that of our footsteps on the dead leaves. After hours of walking, Kumo began showing obvious signs of exhaustion.

“Nyaa… I really can’t go on… My paws feel like jelly…” he whimpered, lagging behind me.

Sensing an opportunity, I decided to fake fatigue as well, hoping to buy some time to come up with a plan.

“Me too… I’m exhausted. We’ve been walking for hours…” I said, pretending extreme weariness.

“There’s not much farther to go. Be patient,” the Guardian replied impassively.

I couldn’t help but stare at him. Was he truly made of flesh and blood, or was his heart made of stone? Could he understand anything beyond his duty? How could he push us to our limits without a hint of compassion?

“Nyaaa, whyyy?! I’m going to die at this rate! And we haven’t eaten all day!” Kumo complained, his ears flattening in despair.

“We’re going to die before we even reach our destination…” I added, playing my part perfectly.

The Guardian suddenly stopped, visibly annoyed by our complaints. He seemed to hesitate for a moment, weighing the pros and cons. I almost felt guilty for manipulating the situation, but it was necessary.

“Fine. We’ll camp here for the night. We’ll resume the journey tomorrow.”

“Yeah!” we shouted in unison, thrilled by this small victory.

We started gathering branches around us to light a fire. Soon, a small flame danced at the center of our camp, casting eerie shadows on the twisted tree trunks surrounding us.

Kumo collapsed near the fire, falling asleep almost instantly. His little paws still trembled slightly from exhaustion, but his peaceful breathing reassured me.

“Your legs,” the Guardian suddenly said, breaking the silence.

“My… legs?”

I looked down and realized scratches marked my skin, likely from the earlier fall.

“Oh… I hadn’t even noticed with everything that happened.”

The Guardian approached me, kneeling silently by my side. Before I could protest, he gently took hold of my leg.

“Let me handle it.”

“W-what are you doing?!” I exclaimed, my cheeks suddenly flushing at the unexpected warmth of his touch.

“I’m going to heal you. Don’t move.”

He opened his mouth slightly, and to my surprise, a soft, glowing flame emerged. It began to dance around my wounds without touching them, caressing my skin like a warm breeze. It wasn’t ordinary fire.

“F-fire…?” I stammered, both frightened and fascinated.

“Stay still. It won’t hurt.”

I obeyed, my thoughts swirling. To my astonishment, the flame didn’t burn. It was soothing, almost comforting. The flames licked my skin without leaving a mark, and I felt immediate relief, as if the cuts were disappearing under the warmth. It was almost calming, like a balm on my emotions as well as my body.

My heart raced—not from fear, but from an odd sense of peace and trust I hadn’t imagined I could feel in his presence. How could someone so cold be so attentive?

I found myself observing him more closely, noticing for the first time the details of his features. His face was both stern and graceful, almost like a perfect sculpture. His black and red hair fell in rebellious strands around his face, marked by wisdom and time. His piercing, luminous eyes held a depth I hadn’t noticed before. A chilling yet mysterious beauty.

“All done,” he finally said, gently releasing my leg. “Be more careful next time.”

I remained speechless for a moment. Who would have thought that beneath his cold exterior, he could be so considerate and delicate? Maybe… maybe I could try talking to him, explaining my desire to stay here.

“Tell me… Seiryu, right? Is it really impossible for me to stay in this world?” I asked hesitantly.

His face immediately became impassive again.

“It’s not negotiable.”

I felt frustration rising within me.

“But why? How does it affect you or even this world?”

“It’s not the world that’s at stake. It’s you.”

“But I don’t want to go back to my world! For once, I feel alive—I feel like I’m truly myself here!”

He stared at me for a long moment, as if weighing my words.

“But you’ll die,” he finally said.

Die? That word, spoken with such certainty, didn’t have the effect he expected. Instead of fear, I felt an odd tranquility wash over me. Die… Was that really so bad? After all, had I truly lived up until now?

After Grandmother’s death, my life had lost all meaning. I was nothing more than a puppet, torn between my parents’ expectations and the emptiness in my own heart.

“It doesn’t matter,” I replied flatly.

“You can’t make such a decision alone. Surely there are people who care about you,” he said firmly.

I let out a bitter laugh.

“People who care? Ha! As if…”

He remained silent for a moment, then declared resolutely:

“It doesn’t matter. My duty is to bring you back to your world, and that’s what I’ll do.”

I felt defeated, as if all my words, all my attempts to escape, had been in vain. He was unwavering, a wall of stone I couldn’t breach.

Discouraged and vexed, I turned away from him, curling up under my makeshift blanket, my heart heavy.

After a long, oppressive silence, his voice rose into the night.  

“I was born from the union of a human and a dragon centuries ago,” he began softly. “Hence my… unique appearance. I’ve always dreamed of leaving this world to discover the one my mother lived in.”  

Intrigued by his words, I turned to face him, still lying on the ground.  

“Why have you never left?” I asked.  

“Because I was appointed as this world’s Guardian,” he replied, his gaze distant. “My mission is to ensure its prosperity and protect the lost souls wandering here. Souls like yours.”  

I frowned.  

“Wait… Are you saying I’m a lost soul too? Does that mean my body might still be in the other world?”  

He nodded. “Exactly. But unlike the lost souls you encountered in the cave, your body is still alive.”  

So, someone had found me… and saved me?  

“That means someone rescued my body in time…” I murmured, lost in thought.  

“You were lucky,” he whispered, his eyes meeting mine.  

I remained silent, pondering this new reality. Was it truly luck, considering how I felt about my current life? My “luck” seemed more like a burden than a blessing.  

“But the longer you stay here, the more your soul separates from your body. And if it completely detaches… you’ll die,” he explained calmly, though with a gravity that chilled me.  

I listened, but something within me refused to accept it.  

“Maybe… maybe death is the only way for me to finally find freedom,” I murmured.  

He looked at me, a spark of sadness in his eyes.  

“It’s easy to say but much harder to accept. Even if I desired it, I can’t leave this world. Our desires are opposed, and I may never fully understand you. But I believe that if your life doesn’t please you… you can shape it in your own image. Create your own world.”  

“Create… my own world,” I repeated, as if trying to internalize his words.  

His words brought me a strange comfort, almost a glimmer of hope. Perhaps he was right. Perhaps there was still a chance for me to change my life, no matter how impossible it seemed.  

“It’s late,” he said, rising gently. “Rest. We have more traveling to do tomorrow.”  

He leaned down, removing his coat and laying it over me like a blanket.  

“The night will be cold, even with the fire.”  

“And you?” I asked, embarrassed by his thoughtful gesture.  

“I’m half-dragon,” he replied simply. “My body is naturally warm. Sleep now.”  

I closed my eyes, feeling my cheeks flush slightly. His coat carried a comforting scent, one that was both reassuring and familiar in a way I hadn’t expected to appreciate.  

No, Yui, don’t start thinking weird things; you sound like a creep! I need to get a grip!  

As exhaustion crept over me, a strange feeling began to stir within. Seiryu wasn’t just a cold and unfeeling creature. Behind his mask lay someone far more complex than I had initially thought.  

---  

After what felt like an eternity pretending to sleep, I finally heard Seiryu’s breathing steady—a sign that he had drifted off. The night was silent, interrupted only by the crackling of the last embers of the fire.  

Carefully, I lifted the blanket Seiryu had draped over me. Its warmth had enveloped me until now, but I couldn’t allow myself to keep it. Slowly, I placed his coat back on the ground, ensuring not to make a sound, my movements as measured as if any noise could awaken the entire forest.  

I sat up, my muscles tense from the effort of moving so quietly. Seiryu lay peacefully just a few steps away, his half-human, half-dragon form appearing almost vulnerable under the moon’s silver glow.  

Tsk, tsk... Look at him, so calm, while his prisoner is about to slip away. Watching him sleep like this, trusting that I wouldn’t dare to leave, filled me with both a strange guilt and satisfaction.  

Though his words had been wise, full of undeniable truths, reality was far different. As the saying goes, “easier said than done.” He had advised me to return to my world, to shape it according to my desires, but he knew nothing of my reality. I had no power over what awaited me on the other side. It was a cage I couldn’t escape. So, if I had to die here, in this strange yet beautiful world, then so be it.  

I slipped silently out of the camp, each step calculated, my feet barely grazing the ground to avoid snapping twigs or rustling leaves. Kumo slept soundly, curled up near the ashes of the fire. His soft purring was nearly inaudible, and I felt a pang of guilt at the thought of leaving him behind. But it was better this way—he would be safer here.  

The forest around me was dense and dark, but strangely calming under the moon’s dim light. The trees, their branches intertwined like skeletal fingers, seemed to shield me from any outside danger. The silence was palpable, oppressive, yet it provided the perfect cover for my escape.  

I continued deeper into the forest, my senses on high alert. Every distant crack of a branch made me flinch, but I pressed on. Every beat of my heart echoed in my chest, rapid and loud, but I refused to stop. This world, as beautiful as it was, left me with only one option: to flee.  

Gradually, I left behind the camp where Kumo and Seiryu still slept. My mind wavered between fear and freedom, between the desire to live and the acceptance of death. To me, dying here seemed far gentler than living in my former world.