In the cave, broken stones and snapped roots were scattered across the ground.
The air still carried the scorched smell left behind by the mechanical beast.
Sarafiel sat curled up, hugging his knees, tucked into the deepest, darkest corner of the cave, his small frame almost swallowed by the shadows.
But beside him was a crowd of fluffy little animals.
These tiny creatures nearly filled the cave's darkness, surrounding Sarafiel with a sea of fur within arm's reach. A snow fox gently nuzzled his hand with its head, a deer lay calmly by his side, a few squirrels held out pinecones with hopeful eyes, and a bold rabbit hopped onto his lap, brushing his cheek with its damp nose.
Feeling the heavy warmth of his friends' concern, Sarafiel's heart softened.
He managed a faint smile, reaching out to gently rub the soft, warm ears of the rabbit on his lap.
He wanted to offer them a reassuring grin, but his gaze drifted through the cave's opening, out into the thick night beyond. Instead of stars, he saw the lingering black mist at his fingertips, the heart-pounding power of the dragon's shadow tearing through space, and in the darkness… another version of himself.
"Brother, I'm tired. I'm going to sleep," said the shadow version of him—or rather, "Divine City."
It let out a satisfied yawn, its voice tinged with a hint of glee. "I'm really looking forward to coming out to play again, brother."
"I'm fine…" Sarafiel murmured, ignoring Divine City's words, his soft voice directed at the small creatures around him who depended on him, who worried for him.
"Awoo~"
At his words, the snow fox let out an anxious whimper and darted off. Moments later, it returned with a cluster of bright red berries that gleamed like gems in the moonlight, stubbornly—almost forcefully—pressing them into Sarafiel's cool hands.
Shaking his head, Sarafiel gently pushed them away. "Thanks, but I'm really not hungry…"
The overwhelming emptiness and exhaustion from his burst of power had long drowned out any physical hunger.
"Awoo!"
"Chirp chirp!"
"Coo coo caw?"
"Roar!"
The animals exchanged glances, seeming to reach some kind of agreement.
Then, they started… performing, clumsily?
Squirrels did somersaults, rabbits spun in circles, and even the grumpy old brown bear, who always acted so serious, awkwardly raised its front paws, trying to mimic a human dance.
"Hey, where'd you learn ballet?!" Sarafiel couldn't help but laugh, but the sound faded quickly. He let out a sigh, his eyes dimming.
"Thanks, everyone…"
He stood up, brushing the dust and grass off his traditional robe, trying to look a bit more lively.
"I should head back. You guys need to remember to eat dinner, and—" He paused, his gaze sweeping over each pair of eyes watching him, his tone turning serious. "You've got to get along, okay? No fighting, got it?"
His words carried the same familiar, gentle warmth as always, but the animals crowded closer, reluctant to let him go. The snow fox even grabbed his sleeve with its teeth, refusing to let go.
Sarafiel forced a small smile and waved.
But just as he was about to step forward—
"Hmph."
A sharp, icy scoff cut through the cave's warm atmosphere like a needle dipped in frost.
"You're out here in the middle of the night, making everyone at the farm worry, just to hide in this cave and play… what? Some childish game of pretending to be a druid with these little critters, my dear brother Sarafiel?"
A cold, haughty voice came from the cave's entrance, laced with familiar mockery.
Sarafiel froze, slowly looking up.
At the entrance, moonlight poured in like liquid silver, outlining a tall, lean figure.
His brother leaned casually against the jagged stone wall, arms crossed, his golden hair shimmering with a cold, almost silvery glow in the moonlight. Those signature crimson eyes narrowed slightly, like a predator sizing up its prey, looking down at Sarafiel surrounded by furry creatures.
His gaze was filled with unmasked scrutiny, mockery, and a hint of curiosity.
But that look didn't linger on Sarafiel for long.
Dio's crimson eyes shifted, his sharp gaze sweeping over the wrecked land outside the cave—broken trees, charred soil, the lingering metallic scent of destruction, and deep gashes carved into the earth by some immense force.
What the heck had this group been up to?
He narrowed his eyes, a flicker of unease passing through his crimson pupils.
His gaze swept back into the cave, over the animals protecting Sarafiel, especially the injured brown bear…
But it was obvious—this level of destruction wasn't something these flesh-and-blood critters could've caused.
The answer could only lie with his soft, naive little brother.
"Sarafiel, you…" Dio's voice lowered, carrying an invisible weight.
He took a step forward, his polished boots crunching the scattered stones underfoot, the sound sharp and grating. Each step toward the boy in the corner felt like it pressed on Sarafiel's taut nerves.
"Sorry… brother," Sarafiel mumbled, head down, his voice so soft it was almost drowned out by the cave's faint breeze.
He tried to control his racing heart, desperate to keep the strange sensation lingering at his fingertips hidden.
Crunch. Crunch.
The footsteps grew closer, and just as Dio was about to reach him—
"Hiss—Ha!!!"
The snow fox suddenly bristled, letting out a threatening hiss, baring its sharp teeth and raising its tail like a flagpole, fearlessly positioning itself in front of Sarafiel. The gray wolf crouched low, growling menacingly, the deer tensed its muscles, and even the normally gentle rabbits puffed up their fur, forming a fluffy shield wall around Sarafiel.
"Oh? Not running away, but coming closer and snarling at me?" Dio stopped, his brows furrowing, irritation flashing in his eyes. "Instinct-driven beasts…"
A cold, oppressive aura swept through like a chilling wind, causing the animals to shrink back in fear, taking half a step back with whimpers of terror.
Yet, perhaps driven by their protective instincts for Sarafiel, they stood their ground, forming a fragile defensive line with their bodies.
"Brother!"
Sarafiel's head snapped up, and for the first time, his obsidian eyes burned with a spark of defiance as he faced Dio. "They're not beasts! They're my friends!"
Dio went silent for a moment.
The moonlight cast long, twisted shadows in the cave, hiding half of his handsome face in darkness, making his expression unreadable.
The air seemed to freeze, filled only with the animals' tense breathing.