2-1: Cups of Tea and Compassion (1)

As night descends, Alas Tumangkar surrenders its fleeting warmth to the cold darkness, creeping through the forest like unseen fog. The silence deepened with each passing moment, broken only by the faint, uneven crackle of a dying campfire by the riverbank, its feeble glow barely holding up.

Alessa, the Sura girl with mismatched eyes, reclined lazily against a moss-covered log, her figure obscured in a dim glow. Her head tilted back, eyes half-closed, seemingly indifferent to the world around her. Yuuna the crimson Shinsou sat nearby, her posture remained rigid, her presence vigilant. Meanwhile, Dirza the raggedy man knelt by the fire, his scarred hands idly prodding the embers with a charred stick. Each faint spark that flared momentarily reflected in his weary eyes, as though mirroring the struggle to keep his inner turmoil at bay.

The carmine-eyed Shinsou sat motionless, her unwavering gaze lingered on the ragged figure before her. Her instincts, honed by years of hunting monsters, screamed at her to stay on guard. Every twitch of Dirza's fingers, every shift in his shadowed aura, is examined with extreme caution.

Something about Dirza is off...

An animosity. A dark and uncanny presence that clings to his weakening Mana just beneath the surface. It hovered just out of reach, elusive yet deeply unsettling, stirring a sense of unease she couldn't ignore.

It reminded her of the Lost Ones she had hunted relentlessly. Those twisted remnants of humanity, consumed by darkness, left her no room for doubt. Her senses had been honed to detect even the faintest traces of malevolence, and yet...

Despite the darkness that seemed to envelope Dirza, there was another presence—a flicker of resistance, like a fading glow of dying ember, refusing to be snuffed out. It wasn't purely human, nor was it fully monstrous.

It's a contradiction...

Her brows furrowed. This wasn't the cold, mindless evil of the Lost Ones. Dirza's silence spoke volumes, yet in his defiance, Yuuna sensed a reflection of something familiar. Something painful. Something tugging at the edges of her memories. It whispered of struggles fought tooth and nail, of battles not entirely different from her own.

Then everything came at Yuuna's realization.

"Have you ever wondered what it feels like to turn into one of them?"

Alessa's voice echoed in her mind, unbidden. The simple question remained like a splinter, sharp and persistent.

Yuuna had dismissed the banter at that time, yet now, the words hung over her like a ghost.

She gripped her katana tightly, the texture of the worn leather handle grounding her. What if the Lost Ones still retained fragments of humanity, buried deep beneath their monstrous forms?

What if Dirza is teetering on that same precipice?

Her eyes shifted to the white wolf lingering near him. Its unwavering loyalty to Dirza struck her as odd. Was the wolf guarding him—or watching over him?

Her body betrayed her before her mind caught up with the realization. The edges of her vision blurred slightly, fatigue sinking into her limbs like lead. It has been a grueling day—too much walking, too much fighting, too many unanswered questions. She was used to pushing past exhaustion, but tonight, the weight is heavier.

Her upright posture began to falter, her shoulders sagging despite her best efforts to hold them firm. Her mind, sharp as it was, felt sluggish, her thoughts stumbling over one another as her resolve wavered.

The warmth of the fire seeped into her, coaxing her to rest. Her eyelids grew heavy, fluttering despite her will to keep them open. She blinked hard, forcing herself to stay alert, but the pull of sleep was relentless.

For a moment, Yuuna glanced at Dirza again. The flickering light of the campfire caught his profile—his frown, his tightened jaw, his haunted eyes staring somewhere distant. She wondered, just for a moment, what weight he carried, what battles he fought in his own mind.

And then, as her consciousness wavered, her grip on her katana slackened. Her head tilted slightly, her breathing deepened. Fatigue won its battle against her iron will, forcing her to surrender, if only briefly, to the peace of sleep.

"Yuuna, if you need to rest, go ahead. I'll take over the watch,"

Dirza approached her, his voice low but firm as he stepped closer. Despite the facade of indifference he wore, he couldn't ignore the faint weariness etched into Yuuna's sharp gaze.

"It's fine," she replied steadily despite being drowsy. "I'm used to it." She glanced his way, her expression softening slightly. "If anything, you should be the one resting. You look like you're about to collapse."

Dirza hesitated for a bit. A slight discomfort passed through his features, so brief that most people would've missed it. But not Yuuna. The raggedy man looks away from the discerning carmine eyes, his jaw tightening. As if holding back his voiceless thoughts.

"I can't sleep,"

The simple words came out with heavier implications than what he intended. "I'm an insomniac."

The explanation felt thin, even for Dirza, but he hoped it would be enough to redirect the conversation away and have Yuuna believe him, even for a moment. He just can't say the whole truth.

He is not allowed to sleep.

Yuuna studied him for a second, her eyes narrowing as her suspicion crept in. But in the end, she decided to not push it further. He will keep resisting no matter what. "Suit yourself, then," she said, her voice carrying a hint of irritation. "Alessa will take over at midnight."

She turned and crouched beside the large backpack of supplies, her movements deliberate as she rummaged through its contents. The faint rustle of fabric and clinking of items intrigues Dirza.

From the pack, she retrieved two earthen cups, a large water bottle, and a small, neatly tied pouch.

"To keep us company," she murmured, more to herself than to him.

Yuuna moves with purpose toward the campfire, her silhouette illuminated by its soft, flickering glow. She placed the cups carefully on a flat rock and set a small pot on the fire's embers. Unsealing the water bottle, she poured just enough into the pot, the clear liquid hissing softly as it meets up with the heat.

From the pouch, she took out dried tea leaves, their rich, earthy aroma wafting into the air as she measured a precise amount needed for three people. They weren't just tea leaves—they were from Hino, grown in misty highlands and known for their vibrant green hue and delicate flavor.

Yuuna held them in her palm for a brief moment, her fingers brushing over their coarse texture, before sprinkling them into the steaming water.

The fire crackled softly as the water began to bubble, the tea leaves swirling in rhythmic patterns, releasing their vibrant, brownish-green color and subtle, calming fragrance. Yuuna stirred the pot gently with a wooden spoon, her motions methodical and calm. The aroma deepened, filling the chilly night air with a simple, comforting warmth.

Dirza watched her in silence. There was something almost ritualistic about the way she worked—each movement precise and deliberate. It was a rare moment of stillness in their otherwise chaotic situation.

When the tea is ready, Yuuna poured it into the earthen cups with steady hands. The liquid gleamed a golden-green in the firelight, wisps of steam curling upward in lazy spirals. She handed one cup to Dirza, her expression softening.

"Here. Drink."

"Thanks," he muttered, taking the cup from her. He stared at the steaming liquid for a moment before taking a cautious sip. The warmth spread through his body immediately, the subtle bitterness of the tea balanced by its floral undertones.

Yuuna settled onto a log positioned near where Alessa's sleeping, cradling her own cup. She didn't say anything further, letting the quiet of the night stretch between them. The sound of the forest hummed softly around them—the rustle of leaves, the distant croak of frogs, and the occasional crackle of the campfire.

===

Hours passed, and the slow creep of midnight stirred Alessa from her sleep. It was as though her body, accustomed to routine, knew it was time. She stretched with a theatrical yawn, shaking off the haze of sleep.

"Alright! I'm awake. Time to switch, Yuuna!" she declared, her energy rebounding quickly.

Yuuna glanced at her, nodding faintly. "Perfect timing."

Alessa's mismatched eyes caught the faint steam rising from a pot near the fire. "Oh, tea? Isn't it a bit early for that?"

"I figured Dirza might need something warm." Yuuna said simply, motioning toward the cups.

"Unusually considerate of you~" Alessa teased, rummaging through the backpack to find her personal cup—a teacup with delicate cracks in its surface, filled with gold lacquer. Yuuna smiled faintly —brief, but genuine—before retreating to the bedroll, her duty relinquished. She settled in quietly, the soft rustle of her movements fading into the night.

Alessa took her cup and moved closer to where Dirza sat by the fire. The wolf at his side lifted its head briefly, its bright eyes tracking her approach before it rested again.

"You sure you don't want to sleep, Grumps?" Alessa asked, plopping down beside him. "Me and the wolf can handle things from here, y'know."

Dirza shook his head lightly, taking a measured sip of tea. "It's okay." Dirza murmured with a strained voice.

"This tea's good. Been a long time since I had something warm."

Alessa tilted her head, her eyes catching the faint twitch in his fingers and the slight tension in his shoulders. His body betrayed him in ways his words didn't—he was in pain, and it was written all over him.

"You're sure?" she pressed, her voice softening. "You look like you're hurting."

Dirza chuckled faintly, his lips curving into a weak smile. "Just tired," he said dismissively. "Nothing I can't handle."

But Alessa wasn't convinced at all. Every minute that passed only heightened her unease. His refusal to sleep wasn't just stubbornness—it was something deeper. Something darker. He sat rigidly, his exhaustion unmistakable, yet his resolve to stay awake remained unbroken.

"You can't even let yourself rest, can you?" she murmured, almost to herself.

Dirza doesn't respond to Alessa's commentary. Instead, he rose to his feet abruptly, his movements forced. "I think I need to take a leak," he muttered, already turning toward the edge of the clearing.

Alessa blinked, startled by his sudden shift. "Well, don't take too long," she called after him, trying to keep her tone light despite the knot tightening in her chest. "I'll get lonely without your grumpy commentary."

Dirza offered a faint chuckle as he walked into the shadows, the wolf raising its head to watch him go.

Minutes passed by. The fire crackled softly, and the night stretched on. Alessa stared at the flames, her unease growing with every second that ticked by. She muttered under her breath, "What's he doing, building a poop shrine?" attempting to mask her rising worry with humor.

The wolf's sharp bark shattered the silence, snapping Alessa's attention to the edge of the clearing. It stood alert, its blue eyes fixed on the darkness beyond. Following its gaze, Alessa's heart sank as a figure emerged from the shadows.

"Dirza?"

He stumbled into view, his uninjured hand clutching tightly at his burned arm. The faint glow of the fire revealed the heavy strain etched across his face. His scars pulsing with a flickering, fiery glow that seemed alive—angry.

"Dirza!" Alessa scrambled to her feet, her voice breaking the stillness. Her worry deepened as she saw him sway, barely catching himself against a tree.

"What's wrong?" she demanded, closing the distance between them.

Dirza didn't answer immediately, his chest heaving as if each breath he took were a battle. His head tilted unnaturally, his haunted eyes meeting hers for a fleeting moment before he looked away.

"It's fine," he rasped, though his trembling frame tells otherwise.

"No, it's not!" Alessa snapped, her voice sharp with concern. She reached out as though to steady him, but the wolf growled softly, its stance tense as if warning her to stay back.

"Stay back," Dirza muttered, clutching his burned arm tighter. His voice, though strained, carried an unyielding edge. "Just... stay back."

Alessa hesitated, her mismatched eyes narrowing as she stepped back reluctantly, her mind racing. Something was wrong—terribly wrong—and whatever it was, Dirza was fighting it alone, and it's tearing him apart.

"What are you hiding, Grumps?" she whispered, stepping back reluctantly as her mind raced.

Yuuna, who had been resting nearby, stirred at the commotion. In one fluid motion, she rose to her feet, her hand resting on her katana's hilt. "What's happening?" she asked, her voice calm but tense.

Dirza groaned, his head jerking violently as if resisting an unseen force. "Stay back!" he rasped, louder this time. "It's... happening again."

"What's happening? What do you mean, again?"

Dirza's only response was a growl—sounding like his throat being ripped inside out. His burned arm trembled violently. The charred flesh began to harden, forming a grotesque, cracked shell. Bone-like spines jutted through the blackened surface, and violent flames lick along the edges of the twisted limb.

The wolf leapt to its feet, growling defensively at Yuuna and Alessa as if sensing the danger wasn't from the forest but from Dirza himself.

Yuuna stepped forward, her carmine eyes narrowing. Her voice was steady, but there was a note of resignation in it. "If he's turning into a Lost One, we can't let him—"

"No!" Dirza roared, his distorted voice echoing through the darkness. "I'm not... I'm not them!"

Burst of flaming energy erupts from his body, violent sparks of fire dance along his skin as his burned arm twitches involuntarily. His movements became erratic, teetering on the edge of human and a Lost One.

"You don't understand this pain!" Dirza shouted, his voice raw and desperate. "Do you think I want this?!"

Yuuna's grip on her blade tightened. "If you can't control it, I'll end it here."

Dirza's head snapped toward her, his glowing eyes narrowing with fury.

"I. AM. HUMAN!"

With a feral growl, he lunged at her, claws forming where his fingers once were. Yuuna parried his strike, her katana locking against the burning claws. Sparks flew as the two clashed, the impact sending tremors through the ground.

"Then prove it!!" she demanded, her voice sharp as she shoved him back.

Dirza stumbled, but his stance remained steady despite his trembling frame. Alessa moved to intervene, but the wolf barked sharply, snapping at her feet to block her path.

"What are you doing?!" she hissed, frustration boiling over.

The wolf growled in response, its piercing eyes locking with hers as if pleading for her to stay back. "Fine! Have it your way, stupid Wolf!" Alessa screams, her frustration apparent as she reluctantly retreats, her hands gripping her daggers tightly.

Yuuna's voice rang out like steel. "If you want to stay human, show us!"

Dirza's blinded right eye flickers with a faint, reddish glow, his breaths shallow as he speaks. "I've been fighting... every second..." his vocal cord starts to distort more and more.

"You think I want to be this monster?!"

The flames around him dimmed momentarily, his body sagging as though the battle within him was taking its toll.

"Then keep fighting!" Alessa shouted, her voice cutting through the tension.

Before Dirza could respond, his body lunged toward Yuuna, moving faster than she anticipated. Yuuna barely managed to parry the attack, her blade locking against the force of his clawed hand.

"I'm trying!" Dirza shouted, his voice filled with anger and anguish. "I'm trying to fight! I want to live as a human!"

"Then stop acting like a Lost One!" Yuuna retorted, pushing him back with a sharp kick to his chest.

Dirza stumbled but quickly regained his footing, his movements a strange mix of feral aggression and martial precision. He lashed out again, his hands moving with the fluidity of a trained fighter, forcing Yuuna to stay on the defensive.

"Alessa, stay back! This fight is mine!" Yuuna sharply exclaimed.

Alessa gritted her teeth, frustration boiling over. "Like hell I'm just watching!"

The wolf barked again, snapping its jaws at the unsheathed dagger, as if trying to keep Alessa stay out of this fight.

"Ugh! Fine, you stupid wolf! I will trust Yuuna on this one!"

Meanwhile, Yuuna and Dirza's clash intensified. Dirza's strikes came in rapid succession, his raw strength barely held in check by his conscious mind. But Yuuna's skill was undeniable—her katana danced through the air, deflecting his attacks with precision.

But Yuuna can't stay on the defensive forever. Dirza's monstrous start to rival Alessa's... In fact, it's similar to Alessa's full strength back then.

"You're strong," Yuuna said, her voice cold and steady. "But you're losing control."

"I won't!" Dirza roared, his frustration bleeding into desperation. "I won't lose to this curse!"

When faced with an opponent who towers in size and strength, strategy becomes your only weapon. Yuuna knew this situation very well. She had no intention of meeting Dirza's power head-on. Instead, she would fight with speed—lightning-fast speed.

Divine Speed.

The thought burned in her mind like an electric charge. If raw strength couldn't topple Dirza, then velocity sharp enough to carve through the air itself would be her answer. Thunder magic surged through her body, crackling with violent energy. With a sharp breath, Yuuna unleashed one of the fundamental moves that form the Shiden Style Magic Sword Arts.

As the electricity crackles on her feet, her movements become a blur of violet sparks that illuminated the dark forest like ghastly wisps.

Her first strike came like a swift thunderclap, her blade streaking toward Dirza's chest. He blocked, the sheer force of the clash sending vibrations through the air. But Yuuna doesn't stop. Her feet turn sharply, flashing across the ground. The momentum gained from the explosive burst of speed made her attacks coming from every angle, forcing Dirza into a relentless defense.

Dirza's body twisted and contorted with precision, his grounded Silat stance rooted in deeply and keeping him balanced despite the chaos. Each of Yuuna's blinding slashes was parried, her blade colliding with his scarred arms and open-palmed deflections. His movements, though erratic and constrained by the monster clawing at his control, flowed like a stormy river—unpredictable yet unyielding.

Yuuna gritted her teeth. The impact of each blow sent shocks through her arm, but it wasn't enough. Her blade couldn't break through his guard. If this kept up, she'd lose the momentum.

But her plan is not in vain. Her chance of opening comes after outpacing Dirza by a beat.

With one final burst of speed, Yuuna sidestepped sharply, slipping away from Dirza's line of sight. In the split-second momentary lapse, she calls out her adversary, pleading:

"Snap out of it, Dirza!"

She spun on her heel, the momentum of her attack surging through her body. The ground cracked beneath her as she channeled all her strength into a roundhouse kick. Her leg cut through the air like a bolt of lightning, connecting with Dirza's jaw in a devastating arc.

The impact was explosive. A deafening crack echoed through the forest as Dirza's body launched backward, slamming into a tree with enough force to rattle its branches. Leaves and splinters rained down, the ground trembling beneath the crash.

Yuuna landed gracefully on her feet, her chest heaving as she steadied her stance. Sparks of residual lightning flickered around her, illuminating the determination in her sharp, carmine eyes.

"Please, prove me wrong..."

===

Author's Note: The total word count for chapter 2 is around 6000-ish. I decided to split the chapter into two parts so you can take a breather first.