> "Thank you for the meal… but I have something important I need to take care of."

Sayu's eyes widened.

> "You're not staying the night? Resting might be wiser."

Her mother, warm and composed, stepped in.

> "It would honor us greatly if you stayed. Please, consider it."

Nujah glanced down at the small girl by the fire.

> "And what does the little lady think? Shall I stay?"

Sayu leaned in, whispered something into the girl's ear.

She closed her eyes shyly and nodded.

Right then, Nujah's form shimmered—his clothes shifted, posture softened.

> "So?" he grinned. "How's my outfit?"

The little girl lit up. Sayu blinked.

> "You just looked like... the sweetest boy I've ever seen."

She smirked, regaining her sarcasm.

> "So… what other tricks do you have?"

> "Nothing else tonight. Certain reasons… limit me."

He pressed his temple. A dull ache was forming.

> "I'll sleep in the sitting room, if that's alright."

> "No way," Sayu said sharply. "If my mom finds out, I let a guest sleep there, I'll be dead. You're staying in our room, okay?"

> "I need to leave early. Please… don't try to convince me."

The mother's smile dimmed. Her warmth became silence.

Nujah noticed and stepped forward.

> "Wait. I didn't mean to sound harsh. I'm sorry."

Then, with hesitant awkwardness:

> "This may sound strange… but what's your name?"

The woman smiled again.

> "I may have overreacted too. I'm Tayu. That's my husband, Hayu."

Nujah nodded.

> "Pleasure. Goodnight to you all."

Sayu and her family walked off—shy, like children after saying goodbye to a favorite guest.

---

Later that night, Nujah lay on the couch, eyes half-lidded.

Suddenly—

> "Boo."

A whisper at his ear.

He jumped dramatically off the couch.

Sayu laughed.

> "You sensed me coming, didn't you?"

> "Of course. But I'm polite. I let you win."

> "Are you always this weird at night?"

> "Only when hunted by teenage assassins in pajamas."

Sayu snorted.

> "You're serious and ridiculous at the same time."

> "Should I be flattered?"

> "Still deciding."

Then, her tone shifted:

> "Who are you looking for out there?"

Nujah leaned back.

> "A creature. Dangerous. Probably the one from your village's legends."

Sayu narrowed her eyes.

> "Liar."

He blinked.

> "How'd you know?"

> "You just said so."

Nujah sighed.

> "Fine. I'm looking for someone. My…daughter."

Sayu smiled gently.

"You don't need to be afraid. If she's your child, she'll survive anything."

Nujah nearly replied with the truth—

that she wasn't really his daughter in blood or bond.

But he stopped himself.

He hadn't lied about her being fragile.

"…Anyway," he muttered. "Sorry for bothering you. I shouldn't have distracted you this late."

Sayu gave a warm smile.

"It's okay. You actually made me feel better."

She turned away slowly.

"Goodnight," she whispered.

"Goodnight," Nujah replied. Then added softly,

"And tell your sister—

whatever's out there, monsters or human—

I'll take care of it myself.

She doesn't need to be afraid."

Sayu lingered for a moment, smiling quietly…

and then left the room.

Nujah closed his eyes—

and finally, let himself rest.

---

As Nujah closed his eyes, a strange warmth began to bloom in his chest.

It started as a soft yellow light… then flared into a searing Before he could react, flames twisted around his body, not burning—grasping.

He tried to scream.

But something—something unseen—snatched the sound from his throat.

Darkness took him.

When Nujah opened his eyes again, he wasn't in the sitting room.

He was somewhere else.

A cavern? A vision? A memory? He wasn't sure.

The air smelled like iron. The stone beneath him pulsed faintly, like a heartbeat.

Then—

Footsteps.

> "Naraka entered, her expression unreadable.

Behind her were all the Shinrei. Quiet. Unafraid."

She raised her hand, casting a faint glow into a pitch-black tunnel.

Screams echoed from the depths—inhuman, broken, bone-chilling.

They didn't flinch.

The mother turned toward the darkness and took a single step forward.

The childrens followed. And so did Nujah.

He didn't want to. Every part of him screamed to turn back.

But his instincts told him:

You need to go forward. You need to see it.

He pushed ahead, through the twisting halls, ahead of the others—

Until he reached it.

A red-flowered room.

At its center: a door.

Nujah stepped through.

And froze.

Inside, time itself seemed to bend.

There she stood—

Mitra.

Her younger self.

Her demon mask firmly over her face.

And in front of her…

The mother.

Bleeding.

Mitra's blade was lodged in her heart.

She twisted it slowly, mercilessly.

The mother reached out, trembling.

Mitra leaned in and whispered something—garbled, cursed.

> "Nu... … k... her… use your full power… become the ....—"

Nujah's mind snapped.

Naraka would never have wanted the darkness.

He understood everything in an instant.

Too much. Too fast.

His hands shook, rage flaring in his veins—

but there was nothing he could do.

He dropped to his knees.

Clasped his hands.

Closed his eyes.

He ignored the noise. The death. The screaming.

All that mattered was her.

The mother.

---

Ten days passed. Or maybe only seconds. In that place, time didn't behave as it should.

Then—

A warm, wet feeling brushed his cheek.

A tongue.

Nujah gasped, eyes flying open—

He was back.

Still on the couch.

Sayu's pet beast loomed over him, tail wagging.

> "Nujah sat up in a panic, breathing hard.

> "They had seen his body unmoving for hours. No breath. No warmth. They thought he was dead."

Nujah looked around, realizing what had just happened.

How long he'd been gone.

What he'd seen.

"I… stayed too long," he muttered.

He stood.

"I'm sorry for the trouble. I have to leave."

He ran.

Sayu called after him—

But he was already out the door.

Too fast. Too far.

---

In the forest, Nujah fell to his knees, panting.

The trees closed in like shadows.

He whispered to himself:

> "Please…

"I hope you didn't do something foolish, child."

---