2nd September 2026
My name is Shinkai Yozakura, but most people know me as Sam. It's been five months since their first full-scale mission where they got beat up badly by an S-rank devil—or I should say, a transformed devil. All of them have recovered and are burning for revenge, but there are two flames who want revenge but not in a proper shape, and they are my nephew Kirito and Asuna. They are still recovering, but I cannot wait any longer. And there is someone whose patience is going to break. Just after a month, Kirito came back and Allya started messing around with him, so I will fulfill her intention and make him a fully prepared punching bag for Allya. "Hehe," Sam chuckled.
Sam sat on a chair and asked Kirito and Asuna, who were lying on the couch using their phones, "Hmm, how long are you both going to stay at home like this?"
"Doctor said we still need rest," Kirito replied.
"I am tired of babysitting both of you," Sam said. "Do one thing—come here, I will do something for you". They both stood up and came in front of Sam with weird looks on their faces. "Go and bring those chairs into the middle of the hall".
"What the hell?" Kirito muttered. They both dragged the chairs into the hall.
"Now what?" they both asked.
"Sit on them and see my magic show," Sam said, bringing out a towel blanket.
"Are you drunk on something?" Kirito asked.
"No, no, no. Why are you thinking that kind of stuff? Who do you think I am?" Sam asked.
"Huh, do whatever you want," Kirito sighed.
"Sensei, what are you going to do?" Asuna asked.
"Magic," Sam whispered. Sam covered both of them with a blanket. Neither understood what was going on. "Now ladies and gentlemen, now is the time for my best magic trick!" Sam announced. "Abra ka dabra gigli chu!"
Sam pulled the blanket away. "My hair! I washed them today!" Asuna cried.
"Hmm, I am feeling relaxed," Kirito noted.
"Yes, me too," Asuna agreed. She noticed the burn mark on her arm was gone. "Aah!" Asuna quickly lifted her t-shirt. The burn mark on her belly was missing too. "Oye, the burn marks are gone! Sensei, did you heal us?"
"Honey, you guessed it right," Sam said. "There is a spell of Eminence which allows me to heal any damage".
"Why did you not do this sooner?" Kirito shouted at Sam.
"Because if I had done it sooner, you all would have become reckless and emotionless during battles," Sam said in a serious tone. "Due to that, you will lose the sense of wrong and right".
"Ok, we understood," both of them said, but the atmosphere changed too quickly.
"So, now pay for my treatment," Sam said.
"We have to pay you?" they asked.
"Yes, take this," Sam said, handing them a broom, a cloth, and a bucket of water. "Now, start the cleaning".
The bright colors on their faces faded in seconds. They both put the chairs back in their places and started the work given by Sam. On that occasion, Sam went to the HQ to end the medical leave of Asuna and Kirito.
At the evening, when Reno and Allya returned, they got an unexpected surprise: Asuna and Kirito were completely recovered and making dinner.
"Oye, what is this?" Reno asked.
"Hooray! No more hospital food!" Allya cheered. She threw her shoes and bag and ran directly toward Kirito, jumping on his back. "I missed this too much!"
"Oye, Allya, first change your clothes," Kirito said.
"Allya-chan, you dropped your phone," Asuna said, picking it up.
"I don't care!" Allya shouted happily.
"What are you making?" Reno asked as he sneaked in. Sam came back at the same time and looked at the lively scene in the house. A smile of relaxation and kindness took over the house.
"I should give them some more time," Sam smiled and walked toward the stairs to the terrace. He leaned against the roof boundary, took out a lighter and a box of cigarettes from his pocket, took one out, and turned the lighter on—but paused for a moment before lighting it.
"Wait, how much time has gone since I last smoked?" Sam wondered. He threw the cigarette and turned off the lighter. "When I learned that Allya was sensitive to smoke, I stopped smoking... or I just forgot that I ever smoked. This was a habit of mine that even Mom couldn't stop me from doing, but just for her sake, I stopped. But they are not someone I don't know; I can tell them the truth and give them the life that their sister always wanted to give them".
"But is that now even possible?" Stark's voice came from the shadows. "Did you think the heir of Crimson Blood can live a normal life after what we have done to them?"
"So you came," Sam said. "But they can live a life without being Dark Knights".
"And who are you to decide?" Stark asked, standing beside him.
"So say what can I do at this?" Sam asked.
"Why me?" Stark countered.
"You know both of them longer than me. That's why," Sam said.
"Then I will say one thing: we can't change the past," Stark replied. "They are the children of the Dark Knight producing clans. They have to fight. But let them be the ones to decide what they want to do with their lives".
"You are right, but I will not drag Allya into this," Sam insisted.
"Personally, I also don't want to," Stark agreed. "Be ready; Rudra is going to do something bigger soon. Let Kirito find the path that he wants to walk".
Stark disappeared into the shadows. "Yes, I am not one to decide," Sam whispered as he went downstairs.
"Where were you all this time?" Allya asked, getting angry and putting her hands on her waist.
"Ok, now come and have dinner with us," Kirito called out.
"I am thinking too much," Sam thought to himself.
Next Day: 3rd September
"Please Sensei, train us!" all three of them begged in front of Sam. Sam, who had just picked up his cup of tea, was full of questions. "Asuna calls me Sensei, but what got into these two?"
He put his cup back on the table. "Ok, ok, so why all this sudden?" Sam asked.
"The reason is that we all got badly overpowered at Ancha, and we don't want that to happen again," Asuna explained. "That's why we want to get stronger".
"Then I will train both of you, but not Kirito," Sam said.
They all were shocked. "But why Kirito? He is your successor!" Reno exclaimed.
"Yes, he is my successor, but..." Sam started.
"I know that I am not suitable for your power. You can choose someone else," Kirito said, his face downcast.
"No, you got it wrong," Sam said, putting his hand on Kirito's shoulder. "You control the Eminence very well, and not just that—it took me 7 years to master it. You have only just started".
"Then why?" Kirito asked.
"You don't know your path at present..."Sam
"So what will he do?" Asuna asked.
"It would be foolish to keep him here at the house," I said.
"Then?" Kirito looked up.
"I am sending you to the Caretaker," I announced. "She will help you find your path".
"Caretaker? Who is she?" Kirito asked.
"I've never heard of her," Reno added.
"She is the caretaker of Roselia's Garden," I explained. "To find her, you must first be worthy enough to enter the garden".
"Roselia's Garden..." Asuna mused. "I think I've heard that name somewhere before...".