The morning sun bathed the village of Küngsta in a soft light. A few suspended snowflakes still twirled in the air, lingering traces of a winter that refused to leave.
On the front porch of the house, Haruka and Fumi sat in wooden chairs, wrapped in shawls, quietly chatting, their hands wrapped around a clay cup containing an infusion of the first dandelions of spring, warming their fingers.
— Since they arrived, the nights have finally become calm again, Haruka remarked, her voice carrying a mix of relief and fatigue. — No more disappearances, no more screams in the early morning, nothing.
Yahiko's sister nodded, her eyes fixed on the horizon.
— Mom, do you think they'll stay for long?
Her mother shrugged.
— I don't know. But their arrival has helped calm the tension in the village.
A gentle silence settled. They simply enjoyed the moment, their shoulders a little lighter, their hearts a little less tense. The sun's rays, timid but comforting, gently warmed their skin.
Then, something caught their attention.
A soft sound, almost timid.
Footsteps. Slow. Hesitant.
— Mom…?
The two women jumped. Haruka turned around so quickly she almost knocked over her cup.
Yahiko was standing there, in the doorway, his face pale, his features drawn, but standing. His figure seemed to stagger under its own weight.
His sister jumped up.
— YAHIKO !
She rushed towards him, throwing herself into his arms, hugging him so tightly that a moan escaped her.
— Take it easy, take it easy… I still hurt, he whispered.
But Fumi burst into tears, her forehead pressed against his chest.
Haruka, however, remained frozen.
Her gaze had hardened, like it was frozen in ice. Her eyes were hard, full of anger, almost icy.
Yahiko had never seen her like this.
A shiver ran through him despite himself.
Then, something changed.
A slight tremor passed through her gaze. The anger became more subtle, almost invisible, replaced by a palpable, silent pain that emerged from her eyes.
A moment of fragility, a deep pain he could never have imagined.
Without a word, she stepped forward and took him in her arms, as if, in that gesture, everything she had repressed for so many days finally poured out.
He slowly pulled away, then sat down with effort on the edge of the porch. He lifted his tunic, his fingers gliding over the bandages, then onto the skin.
No more blood. No more tears.
Just a swollen, wide, and strangely smooth scar.
He felt his chest.
The pain was still there, dull, but there was no more fracture.
Then his shoulder blade. The place where the claw had pierced him.
A shiver ran through him.
— How long was I unconscious ? he asked.
— A week, his mother and sister replied in unison.
Yahiko frowned.
— That's impossible. I… I…
His mind was clouded. Everything seemed blurry, unreal. He couldn't gather his thoughts. He lowered his eyes to his hands, then to his side.
How had his body healed so quickly ?
His muscles should be in agony, his bones barely mended… and yet, he was here. Standing. In one piece.
It didn't make sense.
Suddenly, he thought of his friend.
— And Mata ?
Fumi answered immediately, a hint of annoyance in her voice, though softened by hidden affection:
— He woke up three days ago. He's fine.
She paused briefly, looking a bit exasperated, before continuing in a softer voice, still tinged with frustration:
— He already went back to training. Like always. He didn't even bother to talk to anyone… He locked himself in his silence, as always. Stubborn as a mule.
— But he came to watch over you every day as soon as he woke up, she added, her voice growing calmer.
A silence settled before Fumi moved slightly forward, her voice less assured:
— He didn't want to say anything to anyone… So, what happened, Yahiko ?
Yahiko didn't answer right away, still in shock. Everything was happening too fast. He tried to sit up, but his body protested immediately, and he almost lost his balance.
His mother and sister rushed to help him sit in one of the wooden chairs.
Once settled, a cushion slipped behind his back, Haruka spoke again:
— The people who brought you back... They want to talk to you.
He squinted, staring at the horizon. People ? he thought, a wave of confusion washed over him.
Suddenly, flashes returned to his memory. Yahiko froze slightly. Just before he passed out... Voices. Yes, now he remembered. Faint. Distant.
Yahiko's mother picked up the cup resting on the wooden table.
— I'll make you a nice breakfast, she said with a reassuring smile. You, Fumi, take your brother back to his room. I'll join you in a few minutes.
Yahiko nodded without saying a word, still a little dazed. He slowly sat up, leaning on his sister, and the two of them disappeared inside the house.
A few minutes later, as Fumi sat in a chair next to the bed where Yahiko had just settled, a loud noise echoed down the hall. A door slammed, and hurried footsteps were heard.
— What's going on...?
Mata appeared in the doorway, panting like a bull, his eyes wide. He immediately rushed forward, kneeling in front of Yahiko and grabbing his shoulders.
— Are you okay? Are you alright ?!
He scanned him from head to toe, his eyes darting over his arms, face, and side, looking for any trace, any injury. His breathing was erratic, heavy, as if he had run from the other side of the village.
— Damn it, Yahiko, tell me what happened! Talk to me! Tell me!
— Mata... wait... Yahiko murmured, surprised by this sudden energy.
But Fumi, on the other hand, had already stood up.
— Hey! You! You big oaf! Can't you leave him alone for two minutes?! You didn't open your mouth for three days, and now you want to know everything all of a sudden?!
She grabbed Mata's arms to push him away, clearly irritated.Mata froze, his features tightening, then his gaze dropped. He slowly let go of Yahiko and, without a word, went to sit on the floor, his back against the wall.— ...Sorry, he whispered.
A silence settled in the room, broken only by Mata's still heavy breathing. Yahiko opened his mouth, ready to speak, but Fumi spoke first:— By the way... who notified you ? Yahiko has just come to.Mata lifted his head.— I was with the strangers, he replied. They said they felt something... that you had just woken up. I didn't wait. I rushed over.He paused, then, as if remembering something:— By the way, I think they're right outside the house. They're waiting.Yahiko's gaze met Mata's. A shiver ran down his spine.
One of the strangers, a woman about twenty-two, with brown hair tied in a straight, immobile braid, stood a few steps from the house, patiently waiting for someone to open the door. Her fine and delicate features were almost sculpted, while her blue eyes pierced the air, as if trying to understand every movement around her. There was a glint of intensity in her gaze, a depth that betrayed her outward calm, yet one could sense her mind was always alert. Her upright, firm posture seemed to embody the rigor and authority of her role, but a slight, subtle smile brushed her lips, as a gentle contrast to the focus on her face.
One of her companions, a young man barely older than Yahiko and Mata — perhaps three years older — chuckled as he watched the woman from behind. He teasingly said:— If you don't knock on the door, no one's going to open it for us, Maïwenn.
She turned slightly toward him, slightly annoyed by the mockery, and replied with a tone that betrayed her irritation:— Where I come from, it's impolite to knock on people's doors. In my village, it's customary to wait for someone to open the door for us.
She added, her gaze growing a little harder:— And you have no right to mock me. As long as I'm the instructor of this mission, you owe me respect.
The young man, a little stung by her response, tried to defend himself, his smile fading slightly.— It was just a joke...
But before he could say anything, a third man, a tall guy standing at two meters, intervened. What struck about him was not so much his imposing size, nor his build, but his age. Barely eighteen, he already possessed the physique of a gladiator.
He sighed in annoyance, rubbing his face, then turned his gaze toward his two companions, particularly toward Milo and Maïwenn.
— Oh no, not again... You can't help yourselves, can you ?
He then fixed his gaze on Milo, a bit tired.
— Relax, Milo. If people have traditions, it's for a reason.
He finally turned to Maïwenn and said in a calmer tone:
— Alright, I'm going. I'll introduce myself. Wait for me here, I'll be right back.
Haruka, busy pouring frozen pomelo juice into a glass, was finishing preparing breakfast. The morning sun flooded the kitchen, bathing the meal tray in light, until a sudden shadow darkened it all. Surprised, she looked up toward the window, now blocked.
Intrigued, she moved toward the door, opened it, and stopped short. A few meters away, two figures stood before her. A young woman in her twenties with brown hair, whose gaze radiated a certain softness. She was accompanied by a young man with a shaved head, of medium height, whose delicate, almost androgynous features contrasted with the tense, severe expression on his face. A palpable confidence emanated from him, almost bordering on arrogance.
Haruka slowly turned her head toward the window. There stood a giant, or rather, a young man who, despite his imposing build, gave off an impression of calm and serenity. His demeanor contrasted sharply with his more severe companion. The giant bowed, a respectful greeting.
The young woman, noticing the homeowner standing still at the door, slightly bowed in return. Then she placed a hand on Milo's head, urging him to follow suit and greet her.What struck Haruka was not their sudden appearance nor this peculiar way of greeting, but the uniqueness of their clothes, at least those of the two men. Wrapped in gray tunics with a midnight blue belt worn diagonally across their torsos from shoulder to waist. This attire, though simple, radiated a certain rigor, as if marking an affiliation with a particular group. Haruka, deducing this, suspected that these men were part of something larger, perhaps an organization or a group with distinct codes. Their clothes were too neat, too coordinated to be mere happenstance.The young woman, on the other hand, wore more ordinary clothes, which created a sharp contrast with the two men. By her simple outfit, she seemed to occupy a special position within the group. Unlike her companions, who wore tunics, she did not seem bound by the same dress codes, which, for Haruka, reinforced the idea that she was likely the leader of this small group.
After a moment of reflection, Haruka introduced herself and invited the three strangers to enter the house, suspecting the purpose of their visit. She led them to Yahiko's room. The space quickly became cramped.
Maïwenn spoke first, her gaze resting on everyone in the room, asserting her authority without saying another word. Her voice was soft but firm, marked by the calm of someone used to commanding from the shadows.
— Hello everyone, she said. Thank you for receiving us despite the urgency of the situation.My name is Maïwenn, and these are Milo and Bann.Bann, the other apprentice, had remained silent until then, observing the scene with quiet concentration. He lacked Milo's fiery temperament, and Maïwenn's imposing presence, but his calm spoke volumes about his character.
— I'm glad and relieved that you've recovered so quickly… We don't want to take too much of your time, so if you don't mind, we'd like to get to the point.The atmosphere in the room suddenly became tense, and the people present nodded in silence.The young woman turned her gaze toward Yahiko, then to Mata, who had moved closer to his friend.
— A few days ago, we found both of you, unconscious and gravely injured, a few kilometers from here, she explained in a calm voice. You were on the brink of death.We did everything we could to save you.She paused briefly before continuing:— Based on your injuries, it's clear you encountered a crazed beast, or... something worse, as we suspect. Could you explain to us what really happened ? Yahiko and Mata exchanged a silent glance, followed by a mutual nod.Yahiko clasped his hands on his thighs, looked at the ground for a moment, then raised his head and looked directly into her eyes.
— Of course, he said.He chose to start his account with the strange sense of danger that he and Mata had felt near the forest, long before their departure. He explained that, facing the reluctance of some villagers to recognize the invisible threat after the disappearance of the goats, they had decided to take action. Together, they intended to create a powerful poison, not only to defend themselves but also to prove to the village elders that they had a place as experienced hunters, capable of good judgment and someone you could rely on.
Yahiko then went on to describe their battle with the bear and their narrow survival.
Finally, he spoke of the hunt that he and Mata had been victims of, then described the monster's attack, detailing the course of the battle.He made sure not to mention his power, slightly adjusting certain details of his account to conceal its nature. After all, only Mata knew about it, and Yahiko wasn't yet ready to trust these strangers — at least not enough to reveal everything he was capable of. Once his story was finished, a heavy silence settled in the room. Yahiko scanned the looks of the three strangers, their eyes wide with astonishment, clearly impressed. But the one that made him feel the most uncomfortable was Maïwenn's gaze. It was as if she was looking through him, as if she could read into him, deciphering every thought, every imperceptible movement. He wondered to himself: Does she know that I'm hiding something from her? What does she see?He felt his heart rate quicken under this invisible pressure, but Maïwenn said nothing, her gaze still piercing, almost enigmatic. Yahiko, disturbed by the sensation, quickly turned his eyes away, hoping no one would notice his discomfort. But the question hung in his mind: What does she know? The young man with the shaved head, still clearly in shock, spoke up, his tone laced with surprise that was hard to conceal.— I can't believe it! How could a simple peasant manage to pull off such an achievement ?! Maïwenn turned toward him, her expression suddenly hard, and her gaze pierced the air like a shard of ice.— Watch your tongue, Milo. Even if this boy performed... a miracle, don't belittle him, do you hear me?She turned back to Yahiko and continued:— What my apprentice is awkwardly trying to say is true, young man. If what you're telling us is accurate, you had an incredible stroke of luck to make it out alive.— Even a man in the prime of his life, or a seasoned warrior, would not have stood a chance against what you faced. And not only did you survive, but you triumphed. It's a true miracle.Yahiko felt embarrassed, destabilized by the young woman's comment and the persistent looks that were fixed on him. But he quickly regained his composure when Maïwenn spoke again.
— It's time for us to explain why we're here, she said in a calm voice. If we crossed your path, you and Mata, it's because we were sent on a mission to this village. I can't go into details, but know that a threat of the same magnitude as the one you faced still lurks in the clearing at the edge of the village.
She paused for a brief moment, then continued:
— Since our arrival a week ago, the disappearances of animals and villagers have stopped, but that doesn't mean the threat has been eliminated. They've probably sensed our presence...
At the mention of these words, Yahiko was struck with terror. A shiver ran down his spine.
— You did say "They"... and that villagers had disappeared ? he asked, his voice trembling.The rest of the people in the room lowered their gazes, embarrassed, in a heavy silence, filled with mourning. Mata slowly turned his gaze toward Yahiko, then answered in a deep, almost muffled voice:— Yes, right after we left. The next two days, Marta and her husband disappeared. No, rather... they were taken. Many villagers heard screams in the middle of the night, but by the time they arrived, it was too late. The harm had been done. The only traces left were splashes of blood scattered on the ground...Yahiko was filled with a quiet anger that he struggled to contain. His fists clenched involuntarily, his nails digging into his palms. The adrenaline rushed to his face, and a bitter taste formed in his throat. He felt swept away by a wave of frustration and helplessness, but just before he cracked, he felt Mata's hand calmly settle on his shoulder. The simple touch brought a soothing pressure, like an anchor to reality, and little by little, the anger dissipated. He exhaled slowly, forcing his body to relax.Bann, the other apprentice, who had remained silent up until now, spoke. His voice was deep, but laced with gentleness. He fixed Yahiko and Mata with a gaze for a moment, as if weighing his words, before addressing them with measured frankness : — Before we leave, could you describe in detail the creature you faced, you and your friend? We've been waiting for your awakening to be as well-prepared as possible. This comes from gathering information. If, from your description, we can identify what it actually was, we can better adapt and increase our chances of victory.He paused, his eyes resting on Yahiko and Mata with a seriousness almost protective, as if he were measuring the gravity of what they had faced. Then, in a more serious tone, he added:— You've shown impressive courage. But be aware, what comes next won't be as simple. That's why every detail counts, to ensure we are ready for anything.Mata gave a brief description of the small creature, having had little time to observe it. Yahiko, on the other hand, provided more details, not on its appearance, which had already been well-described by Mata, but on its behavior, its fighting style, and the toughness of its skin. He also emphasized its attitude, its personality, elements that had marked their confrontation.The three strangers exchanged a look full of meaning, and a heavy silence settled in. Milo finally broke the silence, but his words carried an unexpected weight.— A Class E Yokaï, as we suspected from the kid's account, he said. While this type of Yokaï is a threat to humanity, it remains the weakest in their hierarchy.Milo's words hung in the air for a moment, each of the present absorbing the weight of what they had just heard. For Yahiko, the fact that this demon, which had nearly killed them, was considered "weak" deeply unsettled him. The idea that an even greater threat was still to come, that everything they had faced was just the beginning, continued to haunt him.Maïwenn, on her side, thanked Yahiko and Mata, as well as their mother and sister, with an appreciative look. But the moment didn't linger. She turned to leave the room, stopping for a moment in the doorway. A final look toward the two young men, then she spoke again, more calmly this time.
— Thank you, young ones, she said in a calmer voice. Thanks to you, we'll be able to act accordingly. We'll take care of what's left.She paused, then added, almost like a whisper:— You've done more than what many would have thought possible. But what comes now is an entirely different battle.She then turned her back completely, exchanging one last look with her two apprentices before crossing the threshold of the room. Maïwenn headed toward the door, closely followed by Milo and Bann.Haruka and Fumi escorted them silently to the exit, their soft steps echoing faintly in the hallway. The door closed behind them with an almost imperceptible sigh, and calm returned to Yahiko's room.Yahiko remained there, alone, still a bit shaken by everything that had just happened. The silence that settled after their departure felt heavier, more oppressive, like a weight pressing down on the room. His thoughts spiraled, and he could still feel the echo of the tense atmosphere.When he turned his head, he met Mata's gaze, who had stayed back, his eyes fixed intently on the floor, as if he, too, were absorbing everything that had been said. Mata was the first to break the silence.— Did I just dream, or did they just say that this demon was the weakest in their hierarchy ? Yahiko looked at him, a shiver of disbelief running through his mind. He stayed silent for a few seconds, searching for his words, before answering.— And apparently, there are several like him, and these strangers will take care of the rest, he finally said, his voice tinged with confusion, as if he was struggling to grasp what he had just said.A long silence settled between them. Yahiko slowly sat back against the wall, his legs drawn up, being careful not to overstrain the ghosts of his pain. Though his wounds had healed, the pain still lingered, like a distant echo in his flesh. His mind was flooded with an avalanche of questions, and everything they had gone through, everything they had risked, suddenly seemed insignificant in light of this new truth. The anger, the fear, the pain from the battle... it all took on a new dimension. He felt lost, as if what he had lived through no longer made sense.