Aeni walked through the trees.
"I have to… go. I don't know if they'll accept me or not, but they should. I don't want to hear 'no.'"
A flicker of anxiety stirred inside her.
She ran. Walked. Sat when tired. Hours passed.
The sun began to set slowly. The light faded, just like Aeni's hope, as spiraling thoughts took over every time she tried to calm herself.
"Finally."
She stood before the gates of Heavenly Kaatoumo. Her fingers were fatigued.
"What if… they deny me?"
Aeni clenched her fist.
At last, she pushed her anxiety aside and knocked.
"Don't open… don't open."
She murmured under her breath, unaware why she wanted the gates to stay closed.
Then—
Asami opened them.
"Aeni?"
She stepped aside.
Aeni moved forward. Her eyes found Akarum sitting nearby, striking a wooden stake into the earth with a brick. Repeatedly. Unnecessarily.
"Well…"
Aeni's voice was barely above a whisper.
What should I say?
Her mind raced through excuses, searching for the safest one.
"The villagers… they tried to kill me."
She didn't meet Asami's gaze.
"Are you alright?"
Concern crossed Asami's face.
"I am… They thought I killed the children because I have a white outline."
"Come inside."
Asami said gently.
Now… if they find the truth, that won't be good. But I don't think they will.
Aeni stepped in as the gates closed behind her.
"It's not entirely their fault. It's understandable."
Asami turned toward her.
"Where's Kashime?"
Akarum turned toward them, setting the brick aside.
"I wanted to tie her here."
"Hm? Who's that?"
He squinted.
"She's outside. Probably doing physical training."
Asami answered.
"I'm Aeni Limson. Nice to meet you."
Her voice carried unusual respect.
So he's Akarum.
He seems like a kid… still learning.
She observed silently.
"Akarum Ta—"
He stopped.
"Akarum Konose."
"That's Kashime's surname. Did she adopt him ?" Aeni asked.
"Yes, she did." Asami replied.
"This is awkward, but…"
She rubbed her chin with her index finger.
"Would it be okay if I stayed here?"
Asami hesitated.
It feels unnatural… people keep arriving here.
But I can't say no.
"Alright."
"I didn't bring my belongings. I left in a hurry. They probably burned them by now."
Aeni said softly.
Akarum listened in silence.
She feels like she's lying.
But if I point it out, no one will believe a kid.
Maybe I'm overthinking. Who cares if she is lying?" He stared at her.
"That's terrible."
Asami's hand hovered near her mouth.
"I know… Some things are irreversible."
Dery's face flashed through Aeni's mind.
She's holding something back.
Akarum noticed again.
I'm doing it again. Stop observing.
He turned back to the stake, picked up the brick, and began striking it again, humming softly.
Outside Heavenly Kaatoumo.
Kashime slammed her fist into a tree.
The trunk caved inward. Bark exploded. The tree split.
Her face was unnaturally calm.
Blood dripped from her knuckles.
"What a mess."
She glanced at her hand.
Her Divine Scar glowed white. The wound healed instantly, then the glow faded.
"Want a small fight?"
She turned to Flint, who sat quietly on a branch.
"Just friendly."
He didn't answer immediately. His expression fallen.
"Sure."
He jumped down.
"No abilities."
She demanded.
He nodded.
They rushed each other.
Flint aimed for her head. Slow.
"You're holding back."
She stepped away, confused.
"Intentionally."
"I don't know… My body just isn't responding."
He stared at his palms, then at her.
Kashime rested a hand on her waist.
"Flint."
Her voice softened.
"You should spend time with your mother. Talk to her. It might help."
"I'll try."
He nodded.
In region of Heaven,
Bluesy moved faster than light.
That was an insultingly weak comparison.
She transcended speed itself.
The air should have been annihilated, yet it never touched them. As always.
She stopped before towering walls.
Darkens lined the structure, weapons raised.
"What's this?"
Bluesy asked.
"The Darken Lord's center."
The cat replied.
"Who are you?"
A Darken shouted.
"Bluesy. Just Bluesy."
She smiled innocently.
"I wanted to see the inside."
Laughter erupted.
"Stupid kid. Go home."
"I don't have one. I'm from outside."
She pointed upward.
"Leave."
"Let's go in."
The cat yawned.
"Humans judge fast. Weakness."
The next moment.
"She's gone!"
Their eyes scanned wildly.
"She's inside."
Someone pointed.
Bluesy waved from within the fort.
"Did she teleport?"
Before anyone moved, Shishuki appeared.
"That kid's finished."
They relaxed, mocking.
"Doesn't it look good?"
Bluesy pointed at the polished debris. Handcrafted.
"Even ants have imagination. I'll give them that point."
The cat jumped from Bluesy's shoulder.
Shishuki arrived outside.
The moment she saw Bluesy, her muscles tensed.
"Who are you supposed to be?"
She drew her sword.
"She's cooked."
One Darken on the wall spoke.
"Bluesy. Just Bluesy."
She replied calmly.
"Origin."
Shishuki didn't lower her guard.
"Divine. No title."
Bluesy's index finger rested on her forehead, then dropped.
Shishuki froze.
The Darkens on the walls couldn't hear her. They laughed and mocked, watching with amusement, waiting for Bluesy's lifeless body to fall.
"A lie."
Shishuki's grip tightened around the hilt.
"They rarely wander around. They prefer staying in the Infinite Library or in other worlds."
"You're right, but…"
Bluesy spoke innocently, her hands bent halfway near her chest.
"I wanted to know about your kind. So I thought it'd be better to make some friends."
"Well, if that's the case."
Shishuki relaxed her stance.
Confusion spread among the Darkens. They whispered to each other, trying to reason it out.
"Why didn't Lady Shishuki kill her?"
Divines get bored in no time. It's just a small game she is playing.
Shishuki calculated every.
So I'll just give her directions.
"Go left and straight until you find a house. Its name is Heavenly Kaatoumo. The people there can help you and if you go futher you will find more places."
She pointed to the left.
"Thanks."
Bluesy nodded.
She vanished.
Her movement was too fast for even Shishuki to track.
"She's gone."
Shishuki said softly, a mix of shock and admiration in her voice.
Belly ran around the Light's Mansion courtyard.
"See, now I can run. It's so easy," she said proudly to Edi and Mio.
Her attention stayed locked on them.
"See," she repeated.
She immediately crashed into the fountain and started bleeding. Mio and Edi rushed toward her.
"Ahh. It hurts." A warm, fluidic sensation spread across her forehead. It felt strangely relaxing.
"What's this warm thing?" She touched her forehead, only to find blood pouring down.
"Blood? I'm bleeding," she sighed.
"Are you okay, my friend?" Mio asked, almost childishly.
"Let me bandage you," Edi said.
Belly sat on the stage with a bandage wrapped around her forehead. Mio sat beside her. Edi had probably gone inside to do some work.
"You became careless," Mio said softly.
"Quit giving lectures," Belly snapped, irritated. Her pride couldn't accept it.
Denu came outside from the mansion.
"You hit yourself," he said, stepping forward. "So careless."
"You're repeating Mio's words!" Belly turned toward him.
"Am I?" He sat beside her.
"You are. So infuriating." She smacked his shoulder.
"I wanted to talk to you about something. Want to move outside?" he said quietly.
"What are you going to talk about? Don't hide it from me, okay?" Mio demanded, like a toddler.
"I'll tell you later." He stood up from the stage.
They walked side by side outside Light's Mansion. No one broke the comfortable silence.
"Belly." His voice was barely above a whisper.
"Say." She didn't look at him.
"Would you like to marry me?" he said. Internally, it felt unbearably cliché.
The words hit Belly. She was caught off guard, but she regained her composure quickly, as if she had already expected it.
"Why ?" She clutched her chest with a mix of uncertainty and fear.