Arriving at the door, she took a deep breath, trying to stifle the tremor in her hands.

Then she grabbed the handle and went inside.

She closed the door with a tired motion and took off her shoes, putting them in the little cabinet by the entrance.

She immediately noticed another pair already placed inside.

—Yume is already home…— she thought, with a faint sense of relief.

She headed for the kitchen, trying to shake off the weight of the day.

As soon as she entered, she found her daughter sitting at the table. Yume kept her head bowed, hands clasped in her lap. She didn’t raise her eyes.

Miyuki tried to hide her own upset with a smile.

«Good evening, Yume. How was work?» she asked, trying to keep her tone light as she moved toward the stove.

Silence.

Miyuki stopped for a moment; a vague sense of unease tightened her chest.

«Yume…? Are you okay?» she asked, this time with a hint of hesitation.

A trembling breath. Then the girl’s voice broke the silence.

«Mom…» The tone was uncertain but carried something that made Miyuki’s blood run cold. «What were you talking about with that man, earlier?»

The ladle slipped from her hand and fell to the floor with a sharp clatter.

She bent down quickly to pick it up, avoiding her daughter’s gaze. Her heart hammered in her chest.

«I-it was just work matters…» she answered hastily.

The tremor in her voice did not go unnoticed.

Yume finally lifted her head. Her violet eyes, usually so warm, were now cold as ice.

«Stop lying.»

A long silence.

Then a choked cry burst from the room.

«I heard what that man said!»

Miyuki remained motionless, her lips parted for words she couldn’t find.

«You always told me you worked as a cleaner!» Yume shook her head, tears beginning to streak down her face. «You’ve always lied to me!»

Miyuki took a step forward, stretching a hand toward her.

«Yume, wait… let me explain.»

«Explain what?!» Yume took a step back, her breath broken by emotion. «That you had to sell your body?!… Why didn’t you tell me?! You could have asked me for help!»

Her voice broke into a sob.

«Even when I was a child… I could have done something!»

Miyuki lowered her gaze, hands clenched on the fabric of her dress. When she spoke, her voice was a whisper full of pain.

«I didn’t want to hurt you…» She swallowed with difficulty. «It was the only way. After your father died… I had no choice.»

Yume bit her lip, her fists clenched.

«Why did you have to go that far? Just for me?»

Her breathing shook as she lifted her eyes to her mother, tearful.

«Why didn’t you tell me?»

The silence grew heavy.

Yume wiped her face with a hand to dry the tears, then shook her head.

«I’ve always been honest with you. When I inherited Dad’s spirit, I told you right away.» She bit her lip. «I always believed there was trust between us… that you trusted me!»

Then, suddenly, she ran off.

«YUME, WAIT!» Miyuki tried to stop her, but the girl did not turn.

With her heart in turmoil, she ran through the city’s night streets. She didn’t know where she was going.

When she finally came to a stop, gasping, she realized she had left the village behind. In front of her, the forest stretched into the night.

—I’ve gone too far…— she thought, running a hand over her face.

«Mom…» she whispered, as the tears began to fall again.

A distant whine drew her attention.

—What was that?— she wondered.

She listened for a moment, then decided to follow the sound.

The forest was thick, wrapped in an unnatural silence. Trees stretched as far as she could see.

At last, she saw it.

A small stray dog, its leg injured.

Without hesitation, she knelt beside him.

«Stay calm, I’ll take care of you now.»

From her shadow a small, fairy-like creature emerged.

«Sylpha, hurry.»

A soft light wrapped the puppy, and within moments the wound sealed.

«There. All done. Now you can go home.»

The dog came closer, seeking pets from the girl. Yume smiled faintly and reached out to stroke him.

Then an unfamiliar voice shattered the quiet.

«Wow… not bad.»

Yume froze.

Three men, in their forties, watched her with expressions that chilled her blood.

One of them stepped forward.

«You lost, little girl? Don’t you know it’s dangerous to wander around alone?»

Yume’s heart began to pound.

«N-no… I’m going home.» She took a step back, but the other two blocked her path.

«How about taking a little walk with us?» one of them said.

He grinned, a sly curl to his smile that gave her the shivers.

«Maybe you’ll tell us a bit about your spirit.»

Yume tried to turn, but a hand gripped her wrist.

«Let me go!»

The men’s laughter echoed through the woods.

The puppy launched itself at them, barking, but one of the men kicked it, sending it sprawling to the ground.

«No! Stop!» Yume cried.

The man turned to her with a cruel smile.

Blood froze in Yume’s veins.

Suddenly, without realizing it, her legs gave out and her vision blurred until she lost consciousness.

When she slowly came to, she saw a blurred figure standing before her. The men who had tried to take her lay on the ground, motionless. They looked lifeless.

She stared at that silhouette: a boy about her age. White hair, composed posture, shoulders straight. He was turned away, but his presence was oppressive.

She tried to sit up. «Thank you… for saving me,» she mumbled, still dazed.

The boy didn’t turn right away. «Save your thanks,» he said in a low voice. «If you knew why I did it, you wouldn’t be grateful.»

Only then did he turn. His eyes were vacant of emotion. He approached calmly, as if nothing touched him.

«Your spirit,» he said. «I want it.»

Yume stared at him, bewildered. «What? My… spirit? What are you talking about? …Who are you?»

«My name is Shirogane.» the boy said.

He bent slightly, studying her as if to analyze her.

«Your spirit has an impressive regenerative ability. I saw it in action,» he said flatly. «I want you to come with me.»

«Forget it!» Yume snapped, trying to get to her feet. «I don’t know who you are, but I’m not going anywhere with you!»

Shirogane gave the faintest of smiles, barely there. He raised a hand and glanced toward the village behind her.

«Are you really sure? I could reduce it to ash in less than a minute. You know the power of a possessor, don’t you?»

Yume stiffened. «You can’t threaten me like that…! You’d destroy an entire village just for—»

«If that’s the price for getting what I need, then yes.»

His tone was flat. He wasn’t trying to scare her: he was merely stating a fact.

«I have a goal. And you… can be useful to me.»