"So... you guys are now at the doorstep of the mainland, huh?"
A familiar voice echoed in Itoshi's mind as he bathed in darkness.
He slowly fluttered his eyes open and glanced to his side.
"Uh... I guess. Oh—wassup."
Itoshi sat in the middle of a lush valley, tall green grass swaying gently in the breeze.
The wind whispered through the trees like an old song. Beside him stood the white-haired woman—her long hair drifting softly, eyes half-closed as if lost in a distant thought.
Her presence was like snowfall in a dream—quiet, untouchable.
A long silence lingered between them—comfortable yet heavy, like both were waiting for something neither dared to name.
"You gotta warn me if you're gonna yank me into this place again. I nearly pissed myself the first time."
Itoshi muttered.
She chuckled, a light, silvery sound.
"I guess you're getting a bit used to me, huh?"
Itoshi smirked.
"It's been, what... three months? I guess so."
"Looking at her now.. I think she's quite the chill person- Far from when she first showed up.."
The silence returned—but this time, it felt warmer.
"So... why bring me here now?"
Itoshi asked.
The white-haired woman turned toward him, her red and blue eyes locking with his crimson ones.
"I want to ask you something."
"Go for it."
"Do you know where this is? This valley where we meet?"
She asked, smiling faintly.
Itoshi blinked.
"Hmm... Nope. Not a clue."
She giggled.
"Haha... This is Lauterbrunnen Valley."
"Her giggles are so damn cute..."
Itoshi thought to himself.
"What about it?"
He asked.
She turned her gaze toward the distant waterfalls cascading down sheer cliffs, her voice softening.
"Long ago, a beautiful maiden lived near those falls. They said she was a guardian spirit—only revealing herself to the pure of heart."
She paused briefly.
"Lost travelers would see her shimmer in the mist, feel her presence as she guided them safely home."
Itoshi listened quietly, his expression thoughtful.
"But those with darkness in their hearts? They'd only feel cold... hear whispers in the wind... and vanish among the cliffs. Some say, even now, when the morning fog rolls in, you can see her silhouette dancing in the spray."
Itoshi's eyes widened.
"Wait—so you're that maiden?!"
Her laughter rang out, clear and unrestrained.
"Hahaha! Of course not, you fool."
Itoshi flushed red and looked away, scratching his cheek in embarrassment.
"The locals called her 'Die Wasserfee'—the Water Fairy. Just like her, you could say I'm a guardian... but only for you."
She admitted softly.
Itoshi turned his head toward her, voice hesitant and shy.
"O-Only for me?"
She nodded with a gentle smile.
"Yup!"
"W-Why?"
"Ask the author."
The white-haired woman teased.
"The what?"
Itoshi raised an eyebrow, suspicious.
She giggled again, pressing a thumb to her lips.
"Just kidding. Don't question it. Accept my guidance, okay?"
"O-Okay..."
She faced him directly now, her tone soft but carrying something deeper—something ancient.
"Itoshi-san... you're still very pure. You're fated for something great. I'm here to help you reach that. And your goal."
"My goal?"
"Mhm! You know it, don't you?"
She nodded as she smiled.
Itoshi tilted his head, scratching his hair.
"Uh... Kill all Seele?"
Then suddenly, realization hit Itoshi.
"Eh?.. How am I suddenly speaking to her like we've known each other for so long.."
She snorted and shook her head.
"No! Haha... That's only part of it. You'll understand in time."
"Ehhh?"
She stepped back as the world around her began to fade.
"Anyway... you'll be waking up soon. The mainland is just the beginning. Bigger challenges are coming—for you and the squad."
"Will... will you still be there?"
Itoshi asked, reaching his hand toward her.
She smiled gently.
"Whenever you need me."
As the valley dissolved into light, her form became mist. One last tear rolled down her cheek, and she gave a soft wave—a goodbye not meant to last.
"Bai-bai..."
The world around Itoshi blinked back into color.
"W-What the hell was that...?"
He thought to himself.
~~~Somewhere in the sea in between Kaba and Naru island~~~
[May 2, 2169 - 12:03am]
The rough, stormy sea clashed against the tiny boat, waves rising like restless giants. Yet somehow, the squad found sleep upon its cramped deck.
Rain pattered against their weary forms—exhaustion outweighing the chaos around them.
Only Aldrin, steady at the helm, remained awake. His grip was firm on the wheel as he guided them through the raging waters.
By the door, Ryujin sat in silence, eyes fixed on the horizon—watching, waiting—unmoved by the storm that refused to let them pass.
Itoshi slowly opened his eyes, the gentle sway of the boat lulling him back to awareness. He lay on the deck's cold, damp wood, the distant roar of the sea filling his ears.
"Dreamt of her twice tonight.."
Beside him, Kirashi slept soundly, her breaths steady and calm.
Ayro was curled up on the small bench, shifting slightly with each tilt of the boat.
Meanwhile, Jayu rested against Kara's shoulder—the two lost in peaceful slumber despite the storm that had raged through the night.
"Ah! You're awake! We're near the port of Naru Island... just a few more minutes."
Aldrin greeted him.
Itoshi stirred with a soft groan, holding his forehead as a dull ache pulsed through his skull.
The boat rocked beneath him, the salty breeze brushing against his face as he sat up, eyes still adjusting to the light.
"It was her again..."
"Ehh? Her?"
Aldrin asked, his hands still firm on the steering wheel.
"Yeah... at random times when I fall asleep, this white-haired woman shows up in my dreams. She always talks to me like she knows everything—me, you guys... even things that haven't happened yet..."
Aldrin glanced over, brow furrowed.
"Hmm... that sounds like the Orang Bunian."
"Orang what now?"
Itoshi scratched his head.
"In my country, Malaysia, there's a legend. Orang Bunian—they're spirit-like beings that exist in a realm parallel to ours. Some say they guide people, especially those with good hearts... or strong fates."
"A legend? Is that even real?"
Itoshi raised a brow.
Aldrin shrugged, chuckling.
"I don't know. Never seen one myself. But if it's happening to you... maybe there's something to it."
"Or maybe I'm just going nuts."
Itoshi muttered, eyes fixed on the floor.
Aldrin grinned.
"Nah. I don't think so. You're not the type to lose it. Look, I can't prove the legends are true... but maybe, just maybe, you should listen to what the spirit says."
The boat continued to sway, the old wood creaking underfoot as wind and wave met in low, rhythmic harmony. Itoshi turned to Aldrin, his gaze steady. He didn't speak—but the weight in his eyes said enough.
He was listening. Quietly. Carefully.
And he was thinking.
~~~Naru Island~~~
[Kochidomari Bay - 12:15am]
"Tie those boats tightly!"
"Okay!!"
Beneath the fury of the storm, as waves swallowed the port of Naru Island, fishermen battled the elements with calloused hands and straining backs.
Rain whipped their faces, the wind screamed through the rigging, and the sea clawed at their boats like a wild beast. Still, they held firm—unyielding, unafraid.
"All good here!!"
A fisherman called out. Waving his hand.
"Alright!!"
"Good grief, I can't believe they didn't tie these boats earlier."
A elderly fisherman muttered in from the covers of the storm.
"Kids these days never listen to their elders."
Another one muttered.
A sharp cry rang out from a younger fisherman aboard one of the boats.
"Oi!!!"
"Hm?"
He hummed as he watched the young fisherman wave his head.
"There's a small boat coming in!!"
"A boat?! In this storm?!"
The two rushed out from the safety of their homes toward the edge of the dock.
Through sheets of rain, they saw it—a small boat battling the monstrous sea, waves smashing against its sides as it forced its way toward shore.
"What the hell... Who are those guys...?"
The young fisherman muttered, squinting through the rain.
With urgency, the fishermen reinforced the dock lines like men praying with rope and knot, then scrambled to the edge to help guide the battered vessel ashore.
"What's going on? What is it?"
"No clue... Don't get too close."
"How the hell did they even cross the sea in this? The rain's like a waterfall."
One by one, the fishermen gathered, their silhouettes crowding the pier. Eyes wide, breath held, they watched as the strange boat finally nudged against the dock, creaking under the pressure of the waves.
Then—the boat's door slowly creaked open.
The sound cut through the storm like a warning bell.
"The door! It's opening!"
From within stepped a single figure, shrouded in mist and a faint purple glow that shimmered like oil on water.
The aura rolled from his form in slow spirals, twisting through the rain like it had a mind of its own. The air changed—heavier, charged.
The fishermen stood frozen, eyes locked on the figure that stepped forth like a spirit born from the sea.
It was Ryujin.
He stepped onto the dock, water sloshing beneath his feet, and lifted both hands calmly. The storm paused—not fully, but as if it recognized him. As if it feared him.
"It's... a person."
a fisherman whispered.
No one moved.
No one spoke.
~~~Naru Medical Center~~~
[May 2, 2169 - 10:12 Am]
It was now a bright morning. It was as if no storm had ever passed the evening before, though traces of fallen leaves still scattered along the road.
"You know you didn't have to raise your hand when asking for help..."
The older fisherman hushed as he sat with Ryujin in a small café.
"Sorry... force of habit."
Ryujin replied quietly.
"What kind of habits do you have, kid?"
The old fisherman looked at him with a suspicious squint.
"Thank you for your assistance last night... Mr. Kiriye, was it?"
Ryujin bowed slightly.
Mr. Kiriye waved his hand up and down, eyes closed as he replied.
"Nah, it was nothing. Though I'll admit—it's baffling how your helmsman managed to steer through that storm. Most veterans here wouldn't have dared."
Then, he narrowed his eyes.
"Where did you come from?... Not the place where you were born, but where you know."
"Ah... we got out from Kaba Island."
Ryujin replied.
Mr. Kiriye went still. His hands froze mid-motion, the mug in his grasp rattling against the wooden table.
"K–Kaba?!"
He shot to his feet, disbelief flooding his face. The chatter in the port tavern behind them dulled, as if even the wind outside paused to listen.
"How did you get there?! That place was supposed to be sealed!"
"Our... chopper crashed."
A long silence followed.
"A chopper...? Just who are you kids...?"
"We're Seele hunters."
Ryujin said.
The name fell like a stone into the stillness.
Mr. Kiriye's jaw clenched, and he slowly sat back down, eyes distant.
"So... that explains the purple aura... Seele hunters, huh."
He folded his hands, his tone more serious now.
"And Kaba Island...? How is it now?"
"I'm not sure how to—"
Ryujin hesitated.
"It's okay."
Mr. Kiriye closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
"Just tell me the truth. Please."
Ryujin paused, lowering his gaze.
"Well..."
He took a slow breath, gathering his thoughts, images of the battles and destruction flashing in his mind.
"It's not a place meant for the living anymore. The whole island... it's broken. The air, the ground... even the sky felt wrong. We barely made it out."
He looked up at Mr. Kiriye.
"I'm sorry. If you had someone there... they're not there anymore."
Mr. Kiriye didn't answer right away. His hands trembled slightly, but his voice stayed firm.
"I see..."
He turned his face toward the window, watching the storm ease into a heavy drizzle.
"That island... it took a lot from a lot of us. Maybe now, it's time we finally let go."
~~~To be Continued~~~