The fire crackled low, casting a warm halo in the quiet forest clearing. The scent of grilled fish lingered, mingling with the cool mist rolling in from the river.
Aisa Nakamura sat alone near the water's edge, her knees drawn close, arms wrapped tightly around them. Her eyes shimmered faintly, reflecting the ripples on the surface—steady, unreadable, yet somehow lost in places memory couldn't reach.
Behind her, the others had dozed off. Ren was curled near the fire, snoring softly. Even Celica and Shin had given in to exhaustion, speaking in hushed tones before drifting off.
Only Ryker remained awake.
He stood beneath a tree just out of reach of the firelight, arms crossed, half-shadowed by the branches above. His gaze hadn't left Aisa in a while, though his presence was quiet… almost ghostlike.
"…You're not sleeping?" Aisa asked without turning, her voice soft and almost unsure.
Ryker paused.
"Neither are you," he replied.
She gave a dry chuckle. "Guess I'm not as calm as I act."
After a few moments, Ryker walked over and sat beside her. The grass crunched under his boots, and the silence stretched—not heavy, but thoughtful. It wasn't awkward.
It was something else.
She didn't look at him, but spoke anyway. "I've been thinking… I think anyone who suffers carries pain. That's normal. But… someone like you…" Her voice faltered for a moment. "You carry something more, don't you?"
Ryker said nothing.
"You carry responsibility," she added quietly. "A burden bigger than your own suffering."
His eyes flicked toward her, unreadable. But he didn't speak.
"I know it sounds cheesy, but…" Aisa's lips tugged into a faint, sad smile. "I believe it. Great power… comes with great responsibility."
Those words struck something inside Ryker.
Suddenly, a memory surged up—uninvited.
A dim room.
A man's face blurred by time, but his voice—sharp and unshakable.
> "Ryker. If you ever gain great power… remember, it gives you great responsibility. Power alone means nothing. It's what you carry with it that defines you."
The flash faded as quickly as it came.
Aisa noticed his shift. "You okay?"
Ryker blinked once, eyes distant, then forced a small nod.
"…I'm fine."
Silence fell again.
And then, gently, Aisa leaned against his shoulder.
It was a soft gesture, but it made Ryker freeze. His body tensed ever so slightly. His heart thudded once—loud in his chest.
But he didn't move away.
"Even if you won't say it…" she murmured, "I know you're hurting."
Ryker turned his head slightly, gazing down at her.
Then, a slow, unnatural smile curled on his lips.
Too wide.
Too calm.
Aisa didn't see it—her eyes were closed.
But the forest around them felt colder somehow.
Because that smile…
Wasn't the smile of someone comforted.
It was the smile of someone trying to hide something monstrous.
Inside.
The morning sun crept over the treetops, warming the mist that clung to the forest floor. Birds chirped faintly in the distance, and the once-quiet camp slowly came to life with the rustle of sleeping bags and muffled yawns.
"Everyone, gather up!" Aria-sensei called out, clapping her hands.
The students assembled sluggishly, still rubbing sleep from their eyes. Ryker stood near the edge, his gaze lost somewhere beyond the trees. Aisa glanced at him briefly but said nothing yet.
Aria-sensei stood in front of them with a worn map pinned to a board.
"As part of today's survival and scouting training," she said, pointing at the map, "I want each group to explore one direction—north, south, east, and west. Just short-range patrol. No one is to go deeper into the woods. Understood?"
"Understood," the students replied in half-synchronized groans.
"You'll go in groups of four. Stay together. Record what you find. Return by noon."
Sol grinned. "Sounds easy enough."
Ren stretched, yawning. "I just hope it's not another test with monsters…"
---
Group 1 – East Side
They used a random game to decide members, tossing sticks and spinning bottles.
By chance, the group formed with:
Sol Yoshida
Yumi
Hiroshi
Shin
Yumi frowned. "Of course I end up with Sol…"
Sol smirked. "You're welcome."
Shin adjusted his glasses. "Let's make this quick. I don't like wasting time."
East Side
Group 1: Sol
Group 2: Ren
Group 3: Kana
Group 4: Botan
---
West Side
Group 1: Yumi
Group 2: Ryker
Group 3: Daiki
Group 4: Fuji
---
North Side
Group 1: Shin
Group 2: Daigo
Group 3: Riku
Group 4: Sayaka
---
South Side
Group 1: Hiroshi
Group 2: Koji
Group 3: Zen
Group 4: Nao
The students gathered at the edge of the forest clearing as Aria-sensei raised her voice, "Remember—each group heads to one direction. East, West, North, and South. Do not go deeper than the designated zones. This is just a scouting and survival test."
Everyone nodded.
One by one, the groups began moving out, splitting in four directions like the branches of a tree.
Ryker stood near the western path, the trees casting long shadows over him. His presence, as always, felt like a calm storm—still, yet unpredictable.
As Yumi approached the same side, she noticed Ryker and gave a faint smile.
"You're on this side too, Ryker?" she asked casually, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. Then, with a soft sigh, she added, "I'm relieved."
Ryker glanced at her, his face unreadable for a moment. Then came a subtle smirk—barely visible, but there.
"Don't be," he replied quietly. "Relief doesn't last long out here."
Yumi chuckled, unsure if he was joking or serious.
Behind them, Fuji and Daiki trailed into formation.
In the east, Sol's group took the lead, light-hearted but alert. Ren followed his team, muttering something under his breath. Kana's eyes scanned the trees carefully as Botan moved like a shadow.
And in the north and south, the others vanished into the thickening woods.
Each group now faced their own trial, unaware of what the forest truly held.
Hey, hey—we're not supposed to go deeper!" Daiki called out, halting at the moss-covered edge of the boundary.
Fuji stood beside him, arms crossed. "Aria-sensei made it clear. Don't go past this line."
But Ryker didn't stop. His footsteps were slow, deliberate—heading further into the dense forest.
Yumi's eyes widened. "Ryker—come on. Let's just head back."
He didn't even glance back. "If you want to go… go."
His voice was flat, quiet—but firm. Like an iron chain cloaked in silk.
Fuji muttered, "Tch… we're going back."
Daiki followed. "Good luck getting scolded."
They both turned and disappeared into the path they came from.
Yumi stood frozen, torn between safety and the strange pull Ryker always seemed to have.
"I want to go back," she said, almost to herself.
But Ryker kept walking.
She bit her lip, then ran after him.
---
The forest grew unnaturally still. A heavy mist rolled in, thick and laced with an odd, sweet smell. It was hard to breathe, hard to think.
"What is this gas…?" Yumi whispered, coughing.
Ryker didn't answer. He simply covered his mouth with his sleeve and pushed forward.
Then—they saw it.
A faint, glowing light… deep within the mist.
It wasn't sunlight. It wasn't fire. It was something else.
Ryker's eyes narrowed. He stepped forward, hand brushing against the edge of the glow.
But then—Yumi grab Ryker hand.
Don't go. Yumi said.
He turned.
And in a strange moment of tenderness, he reached out and grabbed Yumi's hand.
"What are you doing?" she asked, stunned.
He didn't reply. Just looked into her eyes—calm, unreadable.
And then, without a word, he stepped into the light.
Yumi's breath hitched as her body was pulled forward, hand still in Ryker's.
Together, they vanished into the glow.