The shrine stood silent beneath the night sky.

Stone lanterns flickered weakly in the wind, their light trembling over the empty courtyard.

Then the darkness began to dissolve, while black mist drifted across the ground, slowly fading into nothing.

Where the mist vanished, shattered remains of corrupted spirits lay scattered across the stone floor.

At the center of the courtyard stood a single figure.

Keigo.

His sword hung loosely at his side, its blade stained dark. Red lightning crawled along his arm like living veins.

But his eyes were not on the battlefield.

A few steps away, a girl collapsed onto the stone.

White fabric spread across the ground like fallen petals.

The stain beneath her grew wider.

He crossed the courtyard in two steps, sword in hand, and caught her before she touched the ground.

Her body felt impossibly light.

As if the world had already begun to pull her away.

Her hand lifted weakly, pushing him away. In his eyes, sadness for the death of a loved one.

For a moment, the wind died.

Everything went still.

Then the ground beneath them trembled.

Cracks spread across the stone courtyard.

The air twisted violently, as if something unseen was forcing its way into the world.

Keigo tightened his grip around her.

The lightning around his arm flared brighter.

The shrine lanterns shattered one by one.

The night itself seemed to split open.

And far away, in another place and time a girl began to dream.

The balance had already been broken.

So take a breath. Look closely.

Because once you begin…there is no turning back.