Chapter 24: Harsh Sunlight
Arata leaned his body low to bow to the princess one last time, showing very great respect for Airi.
"So there is probably nothing left to say. Goodbye, miss. I will tell Lord Yoruki, I think he will be very angry."
"Just ignore him, I definitely will not return."
"Yes."
Arata raised his head, his gaze carrying a sense of lingering attachment, but there was no other way. From behind his back, two holes in the shirt seemed pre-designed to do a certain job.
The vampire's wings spread wide like the night pouring down upon the world. They were not feather-filled angel wings, but leather wings, long and thin, stretched between black tendons like dead tree branches. Each time they moved, that thin layer of skin trembled slightly, emitting a crunching sound like paper being torn, revealing deep purple blood vessels snaking through each fiber of flesh.
The wing surface was dotted with small tear marks – traces of hundreds of years of existence, fighting, and hunting. At the wing edges, sharp horny hooks grew in clusters, both to threaten enemies and like hooks used to cling to cliffs or snag fleeing prey. When the wings closed, they hugged tight to the body, making the vampire look as if wrapped in a dark cloak of flesh.
Whenever opened, the wings emitted a terrifying whistling wind sound, accompanied by a freezing cold air stream. It was not just a means to fly – but a symbol of savage nature, nightmares, and ancient power still surviving.
Those wings suddenly burst open to their full extent, tearing the sound with a sharp cold hiss like the sound of metal clashing. The wind radiating from the first flap was so strong it swept away the thin layer of dust on the ground, making the grass and trees lie flat and tremble as if bowing before this powerful entity.
The pair of black, large, and rough wings flapped hard once more — space seemed to stagger. Each muscle hidden behind the large shirt on his back coiled, releasing a primitive, wild, and magical power. From the ground, his body rose like a living shadow, light as mist but carrying the weight of death.
Not flying, but tearing the wind to go — each wing flap was a vibration of air, echoing like roaring thunder. The paper-thin wing membrane created a flickering light like a blade forged from darkness.
Below, only the freezing whistling wind remained. Arata launched into the sky and flew away like a rocket.
He glided without bothering to mind the wind — the black wings flapped slowly yet majestically, carrying his tall body gently up into the windless sky. Light from the sun shone on the thin wing membrane, making him look like a creature not belonging to this world – both breathtakingly beautiful and suffocatingly terrifying.
Not a sound, only the faint whistling wind and the sound of wing beats fading further... and further... like a dying death melody. Looking up from below, he was only a blurry shadow floating amidst the patchy white-clouded sky, then slowly disappeared — further and further as if merging into the sky.
He was a vampire but was not afraid of sunlight and flew straight toward the East.
In the blink of an eye, all traces had disappeared. No wings, no shadow, no wind. The sky returned to its silence, but somewhere in the hearts of those standing on the ground.
Before disappearing completely, he glanced his blood-red eyes downward.
It was Takeshi, he was crawling up from an enormous footprint.
"Damn monsters, why did they step on me and run away?"
He glanced at his dust-covered body, brushing his hands all over his body to wipe away the dust from this land.
"But luckily I didn't die, that's fortunate."
Arata with a vision fading toward the sun.
"Was it that boy who made her think differently? Truly, even if of different species, any creature always changes its decision by the words of others."
Airi stood below, eyes glancing up at the deep blue sky, with broken and fragmented rows of clouds.
She did not keep that gaze for long but turned her head back and walked toward the direction Takeshi was standing.
Takeshi from afar also saw Airi coming. He ran close to her bringing worry in both expression and voice.
"Hey Airi? Are you okay? Why did that pack of black panthers run away?"
Airi's eyes flickered slightly – just for a very fast moment, like the water surface hit by someone throwing a very small pebble. The corners of her lips kept a smile, but it was slightly forced, as if drawn by a shaking hand.
Her voice kept a calm tone as usual, expression also as usual.
"I am fine, I just used a powerful item to scare them."
Takeshi broke into a bit of an exaggerated and interested smile.
"What was it, tell me?"
She shrugged slightly, trying to act as if she didn't care and was indifferent.
"It's gone, it could only be used once."
Takeshi with regret when not being able to see what he expected.
"So sad, I didn't even help you with anything."
Takeshi's face bowed low, his hair hiding his face as if wanting to hide emotions. His tightly pressed lips trembled repeatedly. The sadness was so deep it could not break into sound.
"The old carriage driver is dead, Airi..."
Airi also bowed her face, sad emotions clearly showing on her face. They were silent for a while as if remembering the image of the old carriage driver.
Airi's face immediately changed to smiling as usual, she smiled looking at Takeshi.
"It's okay, don't be sad, how can those things be avoided. Now go build a small grave with me to bury him, should not leave him like that, it will be very cold."
Takeshi looked up at Airi, he silently looked at her for a moment.
Seeing Airi could be that strong, he immediately returned to his usual face and nodded.
"Okay, then I and you will bury him together."
Midst the dense forest covered in green moss and blurry darkness, there was a small sunken piece of land. Sunlight flickered through the thick foliage, casting shadows on a somewhat large mound of earth.
The forest wind blew through creating strange rustling sounds, making the already quiet space even more haunting.
The trees lay close to each other like soulmates over decades. Now the old carriage driver will stay here to be friends with nature and the beautiful scenery of the deep forest.
Under the weak sunlight shining through the dense canopy, two people – Airi and Takeshi – were kneeling silently before a small grave located in the middle of the forest.
Both were speechless. They just knelt there – as if to say a late apology, as if to remember a newly met friend with memories not yet warmed in the mind. The surrounding space was so silent that only the faint rustle of leaves and the heavy, burdened breathing of the living could be heard.
After a while of kneeling on the ground, Airi and Takeshi stood up at the same time and turned their backs, Takeshi turned back with a face still carrying regret.
"Goodbye, stay here and be happy."
They walked further and further away from the grave.
Walking outside the forest, their eyes were again dazzled because of the sun after they were inside the forest for a long time. Airi used her hand to hide that powerful light, she squinted, trying to look at the sun, the sun high above was like it did not want her to look, the feeling of looking up was like it would get brighter.
The sun hung suspended on top of the head like a blazing fireball but it was not completely on top but slightly tilted, emitting a light so dazzling that people had to squint even if only glancing briefly. The harsh white sunlight poured down all over the ground, making everything become brilliant but also suffocatingly intense.
The scorching heat from the sun seemed to soak into every inch of flesh, reflecting on the road creating a layer of heat waves bobbing like a mirage. The sky at this time was blue to the point of not a single cloud, making the sun stand out even more – solitary, blazing and overwhelming.
Every shadow shrank, only patchy bright areas remained stretching out, as if the whole world was being submerged under the brilliant but harsh light of noon. The air was almost frozen because of the sun, making each breath become heavy and burning.
Airi turned down to look at Takeshi.
"This time is nearly midday, it's too sunny. Now where should we go Takeshi?"
Standing by the forest, eyes looking very far out at the vast empty land. A light wind blew through, carrying a thin layer of dust covering the dry, barren ground. His hand tightened, his gaze heavy.
He sighed softly, his mind spinning amidst a series of calculations.
He was very hesitant. His eyes squinted slightly, then suddenly he raised his head – the decision was about to be made.
"It's also quite difficult. By horse carriage it is 2 days to arrive, but when walking it is very hard to say."
Airi with a bored face, disappointed expression when hearing Takeshi speak.
"Oh my god, walking will be very hard."
Takeshi immediately pointed forward. He didn't point at someone in the vast empty land but pointed even further. That was a vertical hanging cliff, standing there majestic and sturdy like a fortress of nature.
"How about we climb up there and observe."
Airi was surprised and looked in the direction Takeshi pointed. She angrily turned toward him to reproach.
"Are you crazy? I thought you wanted to go back to the village?"
Takeshi with a calm face, eyes still directed toward the cliff.
"Of course, but it seems I once walked in that direction, I feel like it will be faster."
Airi with a helpless voice and bored face.
"That is just your feeling."
Takeshi immediately ran past Airi, he didn't turn his head back but his voice urged Airi.
"Forget it, follow me, or you stay here and wait for me a bit, I will return."
Airi was surprised, she panicked and reached out toward Takeshi who was running very fast as if wanting to call him to stay.
"Wait, wait for me, I will go with you..."
Takeshi and Airi rushed across the empty land, where the ground was cracked and dry under the blazing midday sun. Scorching heat rose from the earth, making the air seem to vibrate with their every step. Sweat dotted their foreheads, clothes stuck to their bodies, but they did not stop. Dust swirled at their heels, each hurried breath echoing in the vast space.
Takeshi while running, gasped continuously.
"Why... Why is this place so wide? Running forever only gets halfway?"
They crossed that land as if chased by something close behind, until before their eyes appeared a large cliff – standing tall, vertical like a roadblock. Under the harsh sunlight, dazzling light streaks reflected on the rough rock surface, emphasizing the frustration and tension weighing on them.
Takeshi gasped looking far to his left. Airi was also behind, she bowed her body, putting two hands on her knees, body tired and gasping in bursts.
Takeshi pointed, his head turning toward Airi.
"I remember before when sitting on the carriage I saw a place with stairs lying along from the foot of the mountain going up. So we will go a bit further to see..."
After a while they went along the high, vertical and burning hot cliff when shone upon by the sun from above.
The midday sunlight made their stamina gradually drain away.
Airi was tired, sweat running all over her body, voice almost not making a sound because of fatigue.
"When... When will we arrive?"
Takeshi was also not much better than Airi, their condition was the same.
"Nearly there, be patient."
Their footsteps were still touching the ground, breathing hurried as if wanting to burst the chest. Sweat dripped from the chin, rolling along the jawline tightened from fatigue. Faces stained with dust, but eyes were wide open, a somewhat happy face appearing.
Not a cheer, not relief. Only a lopsided smile, mixed between exhaustion and bewilderment. The corners of the lips slightly twitched, as if not sure whether to laugh or continue gasping. Eyes shone with disbelief – both relieved and apprehensive – as if having gone through a whole lifetime just to find this seemingly simple staircase.
Takeshi and Airi then tiredly stepped near the stairs. She breathed continuously from fatigue while glancing up.
Takeshi was the same, he glanced up with a serious face. The view from bottom to top was like the gaze of an ordinary person looking up at the gates of heaven.
"Not done yet, the challenge only begins now Airi..."
"Climbing up will be very tiring, you stay here, I will climb up and check the situation. Then I will call down later."
Airi only nodded without answering, her mind was processing the fatigue.
Takeshi climbed up step by step, after a while, he also reached the top. He didn't observe but lay out on the rough and hard rock surface to breathe, eyes looking up at the blue sky without a single cloud.
"Finally up."
After a while of breathing, Takeshi stood up and looked into the distance, he discovered a castle there.
"It's a castle, seems I once passed by it."
"Now probably need to go there to stop, if starting to go now then by late night will reach the castle. On me I have three silver coins, will be enough to buy a little food."
Takeshi put his hand inside his pants pocket and took out the Luna flower, it no longer had soil but was just a bare flower. But his energy enveloped the flower as if adding life.
Takeshi smiled and put it back in his pocket. Eyes showed determination.
"Okay, then will go to that castle."