After slipping back into the village unnoticed, Shirou climbed in through the same window he had left from the previous night. His body felt heavy, not from fatigue alone but from the swirl of thoughts replaying Oswyn's warning and the clash of their weapons.
Still, the moment he lay on the bed, exhaustion won. His eyes closed, and he sank into sleep.
----
The sound of knocking woke him.
Shirou rubbed his eyes and rose, still half-lost in the haze of sleep. The knocking came again, firmer this time. He walked over, unlatched the door, and opened it.
Standing there was Math. His usually calm face was now marked with concern. His brows were furrowed, his lips pressed into a thin line.
"Did something happen?" Shirou asked immediately, reading the man's expression.
"Yes," Math nodded, his tone steady but serious. "Follow me. People are outside waiting to see you."
Shirou didn't need to ask why. The reason was obvious, his excursion into the forest hadn't gone unnoticed. Perhaps Oswyn had spoken, or perhaps someone had seen him leave. Either way, he was caught.
He only nodded silently and stepped out, falling in behind Math.
"You went into the forest," Math said as they walked. His voice was low, but not accusing.
"I am sorry. I.." Shirou began, but Math interrupted before he could explain.
"It's fine," Math said quickly, shaking his head. "I'm just glad you made it back safely."
"Is this going to turn bad?" Shirou asked, testing the waters.
"Oh, no," Math replied, glancing back with a small smile meant to reassure. "You'll get a warning from the village lord. That's all."
Shirou only nodded. A warning… I could live with that.
----
They stepped outside, and Shirou immediately noticed three men standing near the house. They were dressed in the plain clothing of villagers, yet their bearing was different. Their stance, their watchful eyes, and the quiet strength in the way they carried themselves told Shirou enough. They were fighters.
Not on his level, not even close. Still, they weren't weak.
One of them spoke the moment Shirou appeared. "The village lord summons you. Follow us."
Shirou said nothing, only stepped forward. Math stayed behind, giving him a small nod as if to say, Don't worry.
The three men led Shirou across the village, their silent presence a reminder that this was no casual walk. The center of the village came into view, where the village lord's residence stood. Shirou entered the house along with the three guards.
Inside, the men guided him down a hall and stopped before a room.
"You may enter alone," one of them said.
Shirou nodded and stepped in.
----
The room was simple. A few chairs, a table, and shelves with neatly arranged papers and books. And sitting there, to Shirou's surprise, was not the village lord but a woman he recognized.
Hayla, the lord's personal assistant.
She looked up and offered him a warm smile. "Shirou, right?"
"Yes," Shirou replied as he approached.
"Take a seat," she gestured to one of the chairs.
"This is fine," Shirou said calmly, preferring to remain standing.
But she only smiled more. "You don't have to be that formal. This isn't the kingdom. Please."
Shirou hesitated for a moment, then decided not to protest. He sat.
There was a moment of silence before Hayla spoke again. "You might have expected the village lord, but he is… busy. There's been much to handle with what's been going on."
Shirou remained quiet.
Hayla tilted her head slightly, studying him. "Do you know why you were called here?"
"Yes."
"Then may I ask," she said gently, "why you went into the forest?"
Shirou looked straight at her. "I wanted to help. That's all. If Oswyn told you everything, then you know I am capable."
"Yes, he did tell me." She folded her hands neatly on the table. "But I believe he also told you why you are not supposed to interfere, even if you are strong. Correct?"
"Yes, he did," Shirou admitted. Then he leaned forward slightly, voice calm but steady. "But if we are talking about multiple beasts, wouldn't it help if I got involved?"
"You might be right," Hayla said, not denying it. "But still, the answer is no. We cannot risk the life of someone from the kingdom. Our village has a good relationship with the kingdom, and we intend to keep it. We have rules, Shirou, and those rules were made in agreement with the kingdom."
Shirou nodded silently.
She gave him a reassuring smile. "You don't need to worry about the villagers. They are currently restricted from entering the forest. They will be safe."
"What if the beasts attack the village?" Shirou asked suddenly.
"They never do."
Shirou frowned. "What do you mean?"
"It's simply how it is," Hayla explained patiently. "The infected, the mutated, they do not attack villages. They may target smaller groups in the forest, yes, but never the village itself. It is in their nature to avoid large gatherings. And when we say multiple beasts, it does not mean a dozen are lurking out there. Two, maybe three at most. Mutations never spread like a plague."
Shirou absorbed her words, but doubt lingered in his mind.
"So what now?" he asked.
"This," Hayla said with a small sigh, "is the part of my job I dislike. But rules are rules. Since you have broken them once, we must mark you. If you break them again, you will be asked to leave the village."
"Mark?" Shirou asked, puzzled.
"Nothing to be afraid of." She reached into her pocket and pulled out a small rod with a rounded red tip. "This is only so that, should something happen to you, meaning, if you were to die and officials come asking, we can prove you were warned. If you have one mark, it means you broke the rule once. Two, and you broke it twice, which is why you were sent away."
Shirou raised a brow. "What's the point? You could put the mark on anyone, even the dead."
She chuckled softly. "First of all, we don't kill people."
"I didn't mean it like that."
"I know." Her eyes glimmered with a hint of amusement. "Secondly, this mark only works if the person himself channels his mana into it. Meaning we cannot fake it once you are dead."
She gestured for his hand. Shirou extended his wrist. She pressed the rod just above it.
"Channel your mana," she instructed.
Shirou did as told. A faint warmth spread across his wrist, and when the rod lifted away, a small red circle remained.
Hayla smiled. "It will fade in thirty days. Nothing to worry about. If you have no other questions, you may leave."
Shirou stood and gave a curt nod before leaving the room.
----
Back at Math's house, everything was quiet. No one mentioned the meeting, no one treated him differently. It was as though nothing had happened.
Time passed, and night crept over the village. Shirou sat in his room, staring absently at the dim glow of moonlight filtering in. His thoughts wandered until,
Noise.
A sharp clamor from outside. Voices, hurried and heavy with fear. Shirou was on his feet in an instant. He rushed outside.
There, villagers had gathered. A small group stood before Math, who looked pale and shaken. Thena was on her knees, sobbing.
"What happened?" Shirou asked, his voice cutting through the noise.
One of the men stammered, "It… It's the beast. They attacked the village. Took the children who were playing. Took Math's children too."
Shirou froze. "But I thought the beasts never enter the village."
"It never happens," the man said desperately. "But that's the only possibility. We found blood… claw marks on the ground."
Math's face turned white as he whispered, "Where is Oswyn?"
"He's out in the forest," someone replied. "He left searching for the beast before this happened. We have no way of contacting him."
Shirou clenched his fists. "Mana detection…" He activated it briefly but frowned. "No. Useless. Too many signatures in the village, nothing outside. The beast must already be far away."
Without hesitation, Shirou crouched, then leapt high into the air. His eyes scanned the vast forest.
"Something… anything…" he muttered.
Then he saw it. A faint mist curling above the distant treetops, unnatural and thick.
He landed heavily. "So much for beasts never entering the village."
Before anyone could question him, lightning sparked at his feet.
In the next instant, Shirou vanished.