Kaito returned to the village with Kurul, the atmosphere filled with an eerie calm. Everyone sat around the table, preparing for lunch after a long, exhausting day. But the calm quickly turned to suffocating anxiety when they noticed Hana was not among them.
"Wait a minute... Where's Hana? Wasn't she with us just a moment ago?" Tsuki said, looking around.
Minamoto immediately stood up, his eyes narrowing. "I'll sense her spiritual energy..."
He closed his eyes for a moment, concentrating all his energy. But his face quickly changed, becoming intensely tense.
"There's no sign of her... She's completely gone."
Saya gasped and cried out, her voice trembling. "But she was by our side! She said she was just going for a walk..."
A silence fell over the crowd, weighing heavily on their chests like a rock. Then Kurul cleared his throat, his voice deep but solemn. "If I'm not mistaken... she's in Segeya now."
The words hung in the air, and astonishment spread across their faces.
"Sejia…?" Taiko asked.
Korole nodded slowly.
"It's also known as the Zone of Certain Death. Any soul that enters it doesn't come out the same… if it ever comes out at all."
Minamoto exploded, clenching his fist and slamming the table.
"Then there's no time to wait! We'll go right away. Me, Taiko, Hiro Shin… and Kaito."
But before they could rise, Tsuki stepped forward, followed by Saya, their eyes blazing with determination:
"Wait! Why are we being excluded? Don't we get to save Hana too?"
Minamoto turned to them, anger clear in his voice.
"And what if we don't come back? At least you'll stay here safely! Don't you make the situation any more difficult than it already is!"
Tsuki trembled for a moment, but she didn't back down.
"Safety?! What safety are you talking about? We're together... Either we save her, or..."
Minamoto interrupted her, his voice thundering:
"Enough!!!"
A tense silence fell, everyone avoiding his blazing eyes.
Then Kurul spoke again, his tone hushed to the core:
"I won't leave you alone. This area isn't like any other place you've encountered. There, dead spirits and shadows live on, swallowing every intruder. I'll be your guide... or you'll never return."
No one responded. They all realized that the journey ahead wasn't just about rescuing Hana... but a confrontation with death itself.
After hours of preparation, everyone stood ready. Each carried their own equipment, knowing that this mission wasn't just a passing trip... it was a road with no return.
Tsuki and Saya couldn't accept being excluded. They stood near the village gate, their expressions filled with rejection and bitterness.
Tsuki said in a trembling voice, "We're not as weak as you think... Hana is our friend too."
Saya lowered her head, her hands clenched tightly. "How can we stay here when she's out there alone?"
But the decision had been made. There was no room for debate.
The preparations were complete, and the atmosphere was heavy. Even Hiro-shin's usual laughter had disappeared. A solemn silence fell over the group, as if the earth itself was anticipating what would happen.
Korole stood in front, his presence piercing the darkness around them. Directly behind him were Taeko and Minamoto, their footsteps steady but tense. Kaito and Hiro Shin followed, each carrying a mixture of anxiety and determination.
They gradually moved away from the village, the dim lights behind them fading. Each step toward Sejia felt like a descent into an unseen abyss.
No one knew what awaited them... but they were all certain that the return would not be easy.
End of Chapter