The forest did not ask questions.
That was why Sora stayed.
No staring.
No whispers.
No fearful silences that stretched too long after he spoke.
The woods simply existed around him in quiet indifference, ancient trees swaying softly beneath cold wind while rivers carried silver reflections through the undergrowth like flowing mirrors.
It was easier here.
Not better.
Just easier.
Sora sat atop a fallen tree near the riverbank, black hoodie hanging loosely from his frame, crimson eyes fixed on the flowing water below.
The sky above the forest had returned to normal three days ago.
Three days since the capital blackout.
Three days since the wings.
Three days since he had seen fear spread across an entire kingdom because of him.
His fingers tightened slightly against the bark beneath him.
The wounds on his back still had not healed properly.
Every movement pulled uncomfortably against torn flesh hidden beneath his clothes. His body had sealed the damage enough to survive, but not enough to stop the lingering sensation entirely.
And beneath skin—
he could still feel them.
The wings.
Not physically present.
But waiting.
Curled somewhere inside him like sleeping parasites.
The thought made him deeply uncomfortable.
Sora exhaled quietly and leaned forward slightly, watching his reflection distort in the river current.
Human.
Mostly.
At least visually.
The glasses helped.
Oddly enough.
Without them, he looked too perfect.
Too sharp.
Too unreal.
He had noticed humans reacted more comfortably when something interrupted his face slightly.
The realization had been… educational.
A fish suddenly leapt from the river.
Sora blinked as it smacked directly into his chest before falling into his lap.
Silence.
The fish flopped weakly.
Sora stared at it.
The fish stared back.
"…Why."
Another flop.
He carefully picked it up with both hands.
The fish immediately wriggled free, slapped him directly across the cheek, and launched itself back into the river.
Sora remained motionless for several seconds.
Then quietly adjusted his glasses.
"…Rude."
A nearby bush rustled violently.
Sora's head snapped toward it instantly.
Predator instincts surged first.
His pupils narrowed.
Black tendrils flickered unconsciously beneath pale fingertips—
Then stopped.
Because the "threat" that stumbled from the bushes was not a monster.
It was a child.
A tiny girl no older than seven stood frozen in the undergrowth staring directly at him.
Dirty clothes.
Tear-stained face.
One shoe missing.
She looked equally terrified and exhausted.
Sora blinked.
The little girl blinked back.
Neither moved.
Then—
the girl's eyes widened suddenly.
"You're pretty," she whispered.
Sora froze.
That was not the response he expected.
Most humans screamed first.
The child sniffled once and rubbed her eyes roughly.
"You're prettier than the prince paintings…"
Sora stared at her in complete silence.
Then looked behind himself briefly as if checking whether another person had somehow appeared there.
There had not.
"…You should not be here," he said finally.
The girl's lip trembled immediately.
"I-I got lost…"
Ah.
Problem.
Sora recognized this type of problem.
Fragile human problem.
Very dangerous.
He looked around awkwardly at the forest.
Then back at the crying child.
Then back at the forest again as though hoping it would solve the issue for him.
It did not.
The little girl wiped her eyes again.
"There's monsters…"
Sora hesitated.
Technically true.
"…Yes," he admitted.
The child stared at him for another long moment.
Then quietly walked closer.
Sora immediately became tense.
Not threateningly tense.
Confused tense.
Because small humans did unpredictable things.
Like this.
The little girl stopped directly in front of him and grabbed the sleeve of his hoodie gently.
"You don't look scary," she mumbled.
Sora looked visibly concerned by that statement.
"Your survival instincts may require improvement."
The girl sniffled again.
"…Can you help me?"
Silence.
Sora's gaze lowered toward her tiny hand holding his sleeve.
Then slowly lifted toward the darkening forest around them.
He could smell monsters nearby now.
Several.
Small pack predators.
Nothing dangerous to him.
Very dangerous to her.
Another problem.
Sora sighed quietly.
The sound carried deep exhaustion for someone who technically did not need to breathe.
"…Fine."
The little girl brightened instantly.
Sora looked alarmed by how quickly human emotions changed.
"How did you become lost?" he asked while standing carefully.
The child pointed vaguely.
"I chased a bunny."
"…Of course you did."
He immediately regretted the sentence when the girl looked guilty.
"…That was not intended as criticism," he added awkwardly.
"It sounded like criticism."
"I am unfamiliar with child interaction."
"That's okay," she said seriously. "My dad says I'm difficult too."
Sora stared at her.
Then unexpectedly laughed once under his breath.
Tiny.
Quiet.
But real.
The girl gasped dramatically.
"Oh! You smiled!"
Sora instantly stopped smiling.
"…I did not."
"You did too!"
"This conversation lacks evidence."
The child giggled.
Something strange tightened faintly in Sora's chest.
Not unpleasant.
Just unfamiliar.
Then—
his instincts screamed.
Sora's head snapped toward the trees.
The air shifted.
Heavy.
Wrong.
Not monster scent.
Human.
Mana-rich.
Watching.
The forest darkened slightly beneath moving branches.
And somewhere between the trees—
someone smiled.
Sora's expression vanished instantly.
The little girl noticed immediately.
"…Mister?"
Sora slowly stepped in front of her.
Protective positioning.
Automatic.
His red eyes narrowed toward the darkness between the trees.
Nothing visible.
Yet the feeling remained.
Like unseen fingers brushing lightly against the back of his neck.
Interested.
Amused.
Then—
a voice drifted through the woods.
Soft.
Pleasant.
Beautifully spoken.
"Well now…"
The child startled violently.
Sora did not move.
The voice continued:
"So this is where the kingdom's little calamity has been hiding."
Silence swallowed the forest.
Then from between the trees—
a figure emerged smiling.
Blue eyes.
White-and-blue clothing.
Elegant posture.
Massive chained weapon resting casually over one shoulder.
And an expression far too warm for the way Sora's instincts reacted to him.
Danger.
Not ordinary danger.
Something worse.
The man's gaze settled fully onto Sora.
And brightened immediately.
Like he had just discovered something wonderful.
"Ah," he breathed softly.
"There you are."