The hall was dimly lit, the flickering glow of a solitary lantern casting long, trembling shadows on the walls. The space was vast, yet eerily quiet. Ayu lay asleep on the bed, his chest rising and falling in a calm rhythm, oblivious to the tension surrounding him. The emptiness of the room seemed alive, whispering secrets only the silence could carry.
Outside the door, the low murmur of voices broke the stillness. Kaito stood there, his arms crossed and his gaze fixed on the man in front of him. The man, cloaked in a worn robe, exuded an aura of quiet mystery.
Kaito's voice was sharp, tinged with suspicion. "Why do you help us? And who are you?"
The man's eyes softened, the weight of his past reflecting in them as he spoke. "I am just a shinobi... a man who never gained what he wanted. I lost everything—my dreams, my purpose. Now, I protect those who still have something to lose." He hesitated, as if his own words brought back painful memories. "By the way, my name is Getsu."
Kaito frowned, his expression hardening. "That's not the answer I want, Getsu. Why us? Why go out of your way to save strangers?"
Getsu let out a small, mirthless chuckle. "You're very awkward, you know. The truth is... I don't know. I was asleep, just like you. Then, in my dreams, I saw you both in danger. It felt so vivid, so real, that I woke up and started searching. And then, I found you."
Kaito's eyes narrowed, skepticism evident in his voice. "Dreams? That's absurd. Do you really think I'll believe such a story?"
Getsu's gaze didn't waver. "Believe me or not—it's your choice. But tell me, do you know who those shadows were? And why they attacked you?"
Kaito shook his head, his tone grim. "No. I'd never seen anything like them before. We were sleeping when I heard a strange sound coming from the forest. When I went to check, someone attacked me from behind. I couldn't see them clearly... just shadows."
He clenched his fists, frustration etched on his face. "When I turned back, they surrounded me. I couldn't hit them—they felt untouchable—but they could hurt me. And then, just when you were about to arrive, they vanished into thin air. It was as if your presence scared them away. What kind of power do you have?"
Getsu's brow furrowed, genuine confusion crossing his face. "I've never heard of or seen shadows like that before."
Before either of them could say another word, the sound of shattering glass tore through the hall. Both men turned sharply, their instincts kicking in. A broken flower vase lay on the ground, its fragments glinting ominously in the faint lantern light. The room seemed to hold its breath, as if warning them that something—or someone—was near.
The tension in the hall grew heavier as the sound of breaking glass faded. Getsu froze for a moment, his senses sharp. "What is… I think Aayu… Wake up," he said, his voice filled with concern. Without wasting another second, he and Kaito rushed into the room.
Inside, the dim light of the lantern revealed Aayu standing near the window, his back turned to them. The flickering shadows made him appear almost ghostly. Kaito hesitated, his heart sinking as he saw Aayu's rigid posture. "Aayu?" he called softly. "Why are you standing there? What's wrong?"
Aayu turned slowly, his face etched with a mixture of anger and betrayal. His voice trembled as he spoke, "Kaito... why did you do this?"
Kaito blinked in confusion. "What are you talking about?"
"Don't act innocent!" Aayu's voice rose, his pain evident. "I trusted you, Kaito. I believed in you… but you cheated me."
Kaito took a step forward, his tone desperate. "Aayu, listen to me. This has to be a misunderstanding. I would never—"
"Stop!" Aayu interrupted, his eyes blazing. "I don't want your excuses. I saw what you did. You attacked me! You tried to kill me for the sword!" His voice cracked, his emotions overwhelming him.
Getsu stepped in, raising his hands in a calming gesture. "Aayu, let me explain. This isn't what you think—"
"Strangers should stay out of this!" Aayu snapped, his distrust extending to Getsu.
Getsu sighed, his voice steady but firm. "Fine. But let me ask you this—do you truly believe Kaito betrayed you? Can you tell me why?"
Aayu pointed a trembling finger at Kaito. "Because… he injured me. He attacked me and tried to take the sword!"
Getsu shook his head slowly, his eyes narrowing. "You're wrong, Aayu. Kaito didn't hurt you for the sword. In fact, he tried to save you. Everything you saw was an illusion created by the shadows. They separated you two on purpose to weaken you, and then attacked. They wanted to break your trust in each other."
Aayu faltered, his anger giving way to confusion. "Why… why would they do that?"
"For the sword, of course," Getsu replied, his tone grim. "They either need you to give it up willingly, or they'll take it by force through a spiritual ritual. But... I don't know why they separate you."
Kaito stepped forward, his brow furrowed. "But if they're so powerful that they can create illusions strong enough to feel real… why would they need to separate us? They could defeat us together without breaking a sweat."
Getsu sighed, his shoulders slumping. "I don't know," he admitted quietly, his honesty cutting through the tension.
Aayu crossed his arms, still wary. "And why should I believe you?"
Getsu's lips curled into a faint, humorless smile. "Do you have another choice?" He paused before adding, "Besides, I can't ask for your sword, even if I wanted to. I can't use its power."
Kaito tilted his head, his curiosity piqued. "Why not?"
Getsu's expression darkened, shadows flickering across his face. "It's a long story," he murmured. "One I'll share when the time is right. For now, rest. We'll need our strength for what's coming."
The room fell silent, the unspoken weight of Getsu's words lingering in the air. The three of them stood there, caught between trust and doubt, as the lantern's light flickered on, casting long shadows on the walls.