...Where am I?
This darkness...
Is this a dream?
The shadows slowly peeled away, revealing a scene straight out of hell—
Corpses everywhere.
Rivers of blood.
Human and beastly remains, broken swords buried in the ground like open graves.
A picture of utter ruin… as if the world had met its end.
I walked between the bodies in silence.
No thoughts. No emotions.
Only memories—
Echoes of a past that refused to die.
Suddenly, a woman's voice echoed behind me.
Soft, accusing… soaked in disappointment:
"You're ruining everything again... Killing those who loved you... Betraying the trust of the ones who believed in you…"
That voice…
I knew it.
I turned around slowly—
My heart skipped a beat.
Gondorona.
From a time buried deep…
A chapter I prayed to forget.
Her shadow… her regret…
They'd always followed me.
I said nothing.
No guilt.
No surprise.
Nothing.
I knew this was a dream.
She let out a bitter laugh, as if reading my mind:
"You want to change?
Become someone else?
A father? A protector? A kind man? A gentle soul?
Hah… don't be a fool.
You can't.
You'll always be what you are…
A monster."
Her words stabbed into my chest like knives.
A quiet anger began to rise inside me…
And then it exploded.
"Look ahead," she said.
"Your future hasn't changed.
You'll return to what you were.
You always do."
Fog rolled in around me.
I walked into it, even as my heart pleaded not to.
And then—
I saw it.
No…
This can't be real.
NOOOOOOO!!!
Before me—
My daughters.
Their small bodies soaked in blood.
Lifeless…
Collapsed on the ground.
I dropped to my knees.
Gasping. Shaking.
"See?"
Gondorona's cold voice whispered behind me.
"You killed them…
After they trusted you.
But the cause—
Was you.
You did this.
You brought death to them."
"Impossible…
I'm their father…
I changed…
They trusted me…"
"NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!"
I jolted awake—screaming.
My heart pounded like war drums.
Fear clutched my chest harder than in any nightmare I'd had before.
Where are the girls?!
I looked beside me.
Empty.
Panic surged.
I ran from the room—barefoot, breathless.
In the kitchen…
There they were—
Kathy, Dona, and Stazia,
Trying to prepare breakfast.
Stazia looked up, worried.
"Daddy? What's wrong?"
I inhaled deeply.
Relief washed over me.
"…It's nothing," I whispered.
Then it hit me.
"Where's Ayesha?!"
I didn't mean to yell, but the fear in my voice made them all flinch.
Kathy hesitated, then spoke, voice trembling:
"She… she went to gather firewood.
The fireplace went cold."
"Why?
Why didn't she wake me?!"
I pulled out the Tracking Ring—a magic tool I'd hidden away just in case.
My heart froze.
She was far from the cabin…
Too far.
I threw on my enchanted boots—the cursed relics from a dark past—
And bolted out the door like a madman.
Branches broke around me.
Trees bent as I tore through the forest.
Please be safe… Ayesha… please…
Then—
I saw her.
Carrying firewood in her arms, blinking in surprise.
"Daddy? Why are you—"
I cut her off.
"Do you have any idea how dangerous this forest is?!
Why did you go alone?
Why didn't you tell me?!"
She lowered her eyes.
"I… we saw you sleeping…
We wanted to make breakfast for you…
But the firewood ran out…
So I went to get more…"
I exhaled—
Stepped toward her—
And then—
A monster.
A massive dragon-like beast—part Wyvern, part primal terror—
Emerged from the trees behind her.
I hadn't heard it approach.
It moved like death itself.
I shoved Ayesha aside with all my strength.
Its claw ripped through my chest—
But I stood my ground.
I heard her scream:
"Daddy!! Run!!"
Blood filled my mouth as I gripped my sword.
"…Never."
If I die today…
So be it.
As long as my daughter remains unharmed.
And then—
The battle began.