Nighttime, Forest near Nagami Village
The night felt strange. Usually, the forest was filled with the songs of crickets, but this time a pressing silence hung in the air, as if nature was holding its breath. Within the darkness, two figures walked slowly, their steps the only sound breaking the silence.
One of them carried a worn wooden rifle, while the other held a bag full of traps.
"Okay, Nick. Let's set the traps here. If we're lucky, we might get a wild boar," the man said in a low voice.
Nick nodded, his hands busy digging into the soil.
"I hope so. But... the villagers said there have been a lot of wolves roaming lately. Are you sure we'll get one?"
"Just relax, wolves can't hunt wild boar," his companion replied with a small laugh. "I need to relieve myself."
He stepped into the darkness. As he was unzipping his pants, his eyes accidentally caught something behind the bushes. Two faint glimmers, like the reflection of light... eyes? He shook his head, trying to ignore it.
After finishing, curiosity overcame his logic. He shone his flashlight, walking slowly. A pungent, rotten smell suddenly assaulted his nose. When the beam of light hit the ground, his eyes widened.
A wild boar lay stiff on the ground. Its body was torn apart with wide claw marks.
"Wolves...? Impossible. Claw marks this big..." he gasped. "And... why wasn't it eaten?"
The bush beside him suddenly rustled violently. He panicked, quickly reaching for the weapon on his back—
Too late. Something far larger than an ordinary wolf burst out. White fangs flashed, and his body was thrown back. His scream tore through the silence of the night.
"NAOTO!" Nick turned in shock, his body freezing. He ran closer—pushing through the bushes. Then his steps halted when he saw blood splattered on the ground.
His friend's corpse lay before him.
"Naoto...?" he called out, his voice trembling.
The bush in front of him moved again. Nick hurriedly raised his rifle, his fingers shaking. From the darkness, a pair of glowing red eyes stared at him. The heavy breath of the creature was clearly audible, accompanied by a piercing, foul stench.
BANG!
The gunshot shattered the forest, but the creature didn't flinch—instead, it leaped with terrifying speed. Nick only had time to let out a hoarse scream before his body was dragged into the darkness.
***
Noah woke with a soft cry, cold sweat soaking his temples. He was panting.
'I'm really sick of dreams that always startle me.'
His body was still trembling, cold sweat freezing on his skin. The image of those red eyes was still etched behind his eyelids, as if warning him of something.
Then he glanced towards the window and opened it, as if hoping an answer would come from outside.
The sun had just appeared as a thin line on the horizon, dim and faint. Thick fog rolled, whitening the air until the world felt small—as if only a hand's width remained in front of his eyes.
'I need some air'
Without a second thought, Noah got out of bed. His footsteps echoed in the quiet orphanage hallway. The other children were still fast asleep, but Noah felt he couldn't go back to sleep. He headed to the back, hoping the morning air could calm the turmoil in his chest.
Upon arriving, Noah stretched his body, gave a small yawn, trying to shake off the sleepiness.
"So refreshing..." Yet something made him stop. His gaze caught a faint movement at the edge of the forest.
"Sena?! What is she doing there…?!" His voice caught, half wanting to run, but his legs were frozen.
Sena stood amidst the fog, her eyes shining like a child who had found treasure. She was chasing a butterfly. But it was no ordinary butterfly. Its wings shimmered with a purple glow, iridescent like oil dancing on water. Its movement was strange—not random like a normal insect, but patterned, as if deliberately luring her.
Sena's steps lost control. Her legs moved on their own. Her small body was pulled further and further from the village. One by one, the shadows of the trees swallowed her figure, until finally the fog rolled in and hid her from view.
Noah was stunned. His sleepiness vanished, replaced by a choking worry.
"Oy, Don't—!" Noah shouted, but his voice was just a whisper in the wind. His body froze, held back by the shadow of his nightmare that suddenly felt all too real.
…
A little while later. The morning sunlight streamed through the stained-glass windows, reflecting bright colors onto the long table now filling with plates and glasses. The sound of laughter and cheerful chatter filled the room, creating a warm and peaceful atmosphere.
Behind the counter, Sister Maria smiled softly while carrying a tray of warm soup.
"Children, breakfast is ready~!"
Chairs scraped, plates clinked, the atmosphere was full of cheer. But Sister's steps suddenly slowed. Her smile faded. Her eyes scanned the room—as if something was missing. She looked at Allen.
"Allen," she called softly, but firmly. "Where is Noah?"
Allen, who had just grabbed some bread, turned, his eyes also scanning the room. There was no sign of the silver-haired boy. "I... haven't seen him," he answered, uncertain.
From the end of the table, a small child raised his hand. "Sister! Brother Sena isn't here either."
The breakfast bustle instantly felt flat. Sister Maria fell silent, her face tense. Worry was clearly visible in her eyes.
Just then, Haru appeared from the hallway, his hair still wet with a towel around his neck.
"Haru," Sister called, this time more firmly. "Have you seen Noah and Sena?"
Haru stopped. His breath caught slightly. "No... I haven't seen them since morning."
A silence hung in the air. The other children were still laughing, but between Sister, Allen, and Haru—the atmosphere froze.
"Where have those two gone..." whispered Sister, her brow furrowed.
Allen looked towards the window, towards the forest. His hand clenched slowly, then his voice came out calm but firm.
"Don't worry," his hand patted Haru's head "Sister. Haru and I will look for them."
Haru looked at Allen for a moment, then sighed. "Alright..." he said, half-resigned.