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

The forest fell into an uneasy silence, broken only by the crackling fire and the faint hum of Yuuna's electricity. Dirza slumped against the tree, his chest heaving as tremors wracked his body. For a fleeting moment, it seemed he might collapse entirely. But then, with a distorted growl, his body began to rise.

Yuuna's grip on her katana tightened, her sharp gaze fixed on him. The flicker of doubt in her eyes lingered, even as her stance remained firm. Could she truly stop him? When he's just so humane moments ago?

Dirza staggered upright, his body refusing to give in. The dark shell encasing his burned arm cracked further, emitting a fiery glow from within. His glowing eyes burning brightly with spite and malevolence, the transformation nearing its peak.

"You fight well for a man on the edge of losing himself," Yuuna said, her voice steady, tinged with reluctant admiration.

"But I'm afraid this will be the end."

The monstrous Dirza snarled in response, the sound raw and feral. His body tense unnaturally, as if compressing his entire body to lunge once again.

Yuuna adjusted her stance, her blade shifting slightly as arcs of electricity danced along its edge. The faint scent of ozone filled the clearing, and the air buzzed with charged energy. Her gaze never wavered from Dirza, though the beast he was becoming loomed closer with each passing second.

The next attack came fast—too fast. Dirza surged forward, his monstrous claw sweeping toward her in a wide, vicious arc. Yuuna sidestepped at the last moment, the sheer force of the attack slicing through the air where she'd stood. Splinters erupted from a tree trunk behind her, the claw rending through wood like paper.

She didn't hesitate. Using the momentum of her dodge, she spun sharply on her heel, her katana flashing as she deflected his next strike. The force of the impact sent shocks through her arms, but she pushed through it, parrying with precision.

Dirza's movements grew wilder, more animalistic, yet his techniques retained the foundation of a skilled Silat fighter. His attacks were calculated, even in their ferocity, forcing Yuuna to keep moving, evading and deflecting with blinding speed.

Their clash was relentless. Sparks flew each time her electrified blade collided with his burning claws, the light illuminating their strained expressions. The ground beneath them became scarred with their battle, marked by gouges and scorch marks.

"Dirza..." From the sidelines, Alessa said through gritted teeth, her voice rising above the chaos.

"Fight it, Grumps! You're more than this!"

But Dirza didn't respond—couldn't respond. His body lunged at her with a feral roar, his monstrous arm crashing down toward her head.

Yuuna darted to the side, her footwork sharp as she positioned herself for the decisive strike. She steadied her breathing, her mind racing. If she didn't end this now, he would lose himself completely—or worse, take her down with him.

Electricity surged through her katana, the blade glowing brighter as she raised it high. The air itself seemed to pulse with power, the campfire's light dimming in comparison to the storm she was summoning.

Dirza charged at her again, his claw sweeping upward in a desperate attempt to overpower her. Yuuna held her ground, her muscles coiled like a spring.

"Shiden Style: Fierce Thunder!"

Yuuna's roar booms like thunder, slicing through the night.

Her blade slices downward, creating a powerful, violet arc. The charged electricity crackles violently as it collides with Dirza's outstretched claw. The impact creates blinding, a deafening crack splitting the air as a surge of lightning exploded outward.

Dirza instinctively tried to block, his monstrous arm raised in defense, but the sheer force of the strike overwhelmed him. The dense charge pierced through his guard, shattering the blackened shell encasing his arm. Lightning surged through his body, the violent energy sending him flying backward in a cascade of sparks and smoke.

The explosion left the clearing in eerie silence, the ground scorched and smoldering. Yuuna stood at the center, her katana still sparking faintly with residual energy. Her chest heaved, sweat dripping down her brow as she surveyed the aftermath.

Dirza collapsed against a tree, his motionless body twitching as steam rose from his battered form. The monstrous claw had begun to recede, the dark shell cracking and falling away to reveal his burned arm beneath.

Yuuna's grip on her katana tightened as she took a cautious step forward. The weight of her words echoed in her mind: Prove me wrong.

The fight is over, but the question lingers—has Dirza truly won against the darkness threatening to consume him? Or is this only a temporary reprieve?

Dirza's monstrous form began to crumble, the blackened shell of his transformed body breaking away in ashen flakes. The glowing cracks that had marred his burned arm faded, leaving behind raw, scarred flesh that gradually gave way to imperfectly healed skin. Each fragment that fell revealed a man battered but alive.

Yuuna let out a slow, shaky breath, her katana still crackling faintly with residual electricity. Relief swept through her as she confirmed his injuries weren't fatal. But she knew better than to lower her guard. Her blade stayed leveled at him, steady despite the tremor in her heart.

As Dirza stirred, the faint flicker of light in his eyes returning, Yuuna's voice broke the tense silence:

"Tell me, Dirza..." She stepped forward, the edge of her blade glinting in the dim firelight. Her voice was cold, but there was a hint of something softer buried beneath the sharpness.

"Do you want to give up your life?"

Dirza froze, his chest rising and falling with each labored breath. For a moment, he seemed lost, the glow in his eyes faltering. Then, as if summoned by sheer defiance, he reached out.

His scarred, trembling hand gripped her katana's blade, the sharp edge slicing into his palm. Blood dripped steadily to the forest floor, vivid against the darkened ground.

"I'm... not... giving up!"

Dirza roared, his voice raw and unyielding. His face, twisted with pain, held an expression of sheer determination.

"My life is mine to decide! I'm not dying by your hands today!"

Yuuna's eyes widened in shock. His words struck her like the echo of a memory long buried. The fire of his defiance, the sheer stubbornness in his battered frame—she had seen it before. She had felt it before.

"I want to live... as a human." His voice cracked, but his spirit didn't waver.

"I want... to live."

The weight of his words bore into her, peeling back the iron walls she had built around herself. She recognized that look, that desperate resistance against a cruel fate. Though their struggles were different, they shared the same unrelenting fight against the destiny that was imposed on them.

Yuuna's grip on her katana faltered. Her hands trembled, and her chest tightened with an ache she hadn't felt in years. The steely resolve that had carried her through countless battles began to crumble under the weight of Dirza's defiance.

Tears welled in her carmine eyes, unstoppable. One slid down her cheek as she lowered her blade, the tension in her stance dissolving. She stepped back, giving him space.

"I understand..." Her voice was barely above a whisper, each word laden with emotion.

"Thank you... Dirza."

The air that had hung over the clearing seemed to dissipate. The crackle of electricity faded into silence, and the tension ebbed like a receding tide.

Dirza crumpled to his knees, his body trembling from exhaustion. Crimson blood dripped steadily from his wounded hand as he cradled it against his chest. The wolf padded over to him, its bright eyes softening as it nuzzled his shoulder. A faint growl, almost like a sigh, rumbled from its chest.

Alessa, unable to hold herself back any longer, rushed into the clearing. Her daggers were sheathed, but the worry in her mismatched eyes burned brightly.

"Are you insane?!" she exclaimed, her voice angry mixed with slight relief. "You could've gotten yourself killed!"

Dirza looked up at her, his face pale and etched with weariness, but his gaze steady. "Better that..." he rasped, his voice hoarse but firm, "...than losing myself."

Alessa's frustration softened into an expression of reluctant respect. She crossed her arms and let out a huff. "You're a real piece of work."

Yuuna watched the exchange in silence, her heart still heavy. She wiped the tears from her face with the back of her hand, her gaze lingering on Dirza. In his defiance, she saw a spark of something she had long thought lost—a reminder of her own struggle to defy her cruel fate.

Once she regained her composure, Yuuna wiped the blood clean and sheaths her katana, her expression unreadable. "You're not a Lost One," she finally returned to her usual stiffness.

"But you're not entirely safe, either."

Dirza chuckled bitterly. "Story of my life."

Alessa knelt beside him, pulling a small vial from her pouch. "Let me patch that up before you bleed out, you stubborn idiot."

===

The campfire crackled softly, its warm glow painting flickering shadows on the surroundings. The wolf lay curled near Dirza's feet, its piercing blue eyes watchful even as its body rested. Across the flames, Yuuna and Alessa sat close to a bubbling pot of fragrant soup, the earthy aroma of miso mingling with the woodsmoke in the cool night air.

The soup, made from wild mushrooms and onions scavenged earlier, simmered gently. Alessa gave the pot a final stir and inhaled deeply, a grin spreading across her face. "Not bad for makeshift camping food, eh?" she said, pouring a portion into a small wooden bowl. With a playful nudge, she passed it to Dirza, which is now wrapped in bandages. "Here, eat up. You'll need more than fire and existential dread to keep you alive."

Dirza stared at the bowl, his expression wavering between bemusement and surprise. Slowly, he accepted it, letting the rising steam warm his bandaged hands. "Thanks..."

Yuuna, seated slightly farther from the fire with her arms crossed, poured hot tea into a simple cup and held it out to him. Her gaze was sharp, studying him with quiet intensity. Dirza took the tea hesitantly, its earthy flavor grounding him.

"Didn't expect you two to be traveling gourmets," he muttered after a sip.

Alessa chuckled, raising her own bowl with a wink. "Survival food doesn't have to taste like dirt. A little effort goes a long way."

"Besides," Yuuna added quietly, her eyes reflecting the flicker of the flames, "a hot meal steadies the mind. Especially after... incidents like earlier."

Dirza flinched at the subtle reprimand in her tone, lowering his gaze to the soup. Silence stretched between them, broken only by the rustle of leaves and the occasional distant call of an owl.

Alessa, never one for prolonged quiet, leaned forward, her mismatched eyes gleaming with curiosity. "Alright, Dirza," she began, breaking the stillness. "Spill it. That little outburst of yours wasn't exactly normal. What's the story?"

Yuuna shot her a pointed look. "Alessa—"

"What?" Alessa said with a shrug. "He's sitting here, eating our food. The least he can do is give us the truth."

Dirza sighed, his grip tightening on the bowl. "It's not a cheerful tale," he admitted, his voice low and measured.

Alessa waved a dismissive hand. "We're hunting Lost Ones. Cheerful isn't exactly in the job description."

The wolf huffed softly, and Dirza glanced down at it, drawing a deep breath before speaking.

"I used to be part of an adventurer group," he began, his voice steady but shadowed with regret. "It was a good time. We fought, we survived, and sometimes, we even laughed." His words faltered briefly, as if the memories themselves were heavy. The wolf nudged his leg gently, and he pressed on.

"In the group, I teamed up with an ice mage, Renata. She was warm and gentle, always seeing the good in people—and the world—despite everything. And Rei... sharp as a blade but with a heart of gold."

Yuuna's head tilted slightly, her expression softening at his tone. "And then?"

Dirza's jaw tightened. "And then... I broke." He stared into the fire, its flames mirrored in his dark eyes. "I'd always been angry—at the world, at myself. But I kept it buried, told myself I could handle it. That I was stronger than the bitterness gnawing at me. Until one day... I wasn't. My anger and hatred became a curse."

Alessa leaned closer, her usual playfulness replaced by somber curiosity. "What happened?"

Dirza set his bowl down, his hands trembling slightly. "We were on a mission. A dangerous one, but nothing we hadn't handled before. Or so we thought. We were ambushed—overwhelmed by Lost Ones. No time to think, just fight or die. And then... I lost control."

He paused, his voice faltering. "It's a blur—flashes of pain, rage. Renata screamed my name, begging me to stop. But I couldn't."

Yuuna's hand tightened on her katana's hilt, though she stayed silent.

"My anger consumed me, and it wasn't just the enemy I turned on. Renata tried to stop me with a spell, and I... I struck her down. Rei tried to exorcise whatever had taken hold of me, but I..." His voice broke, and he squeezed his eyes shut. "I hurt him too. I don't even know how bad."

The wolf rested its head on his knee, a quiet reassurance in its gesture.

"When I came back to myself, I was already patched up by the Guild. But it didn't matter. The damage was done. I was... marked. Cursed by the same darkness that turns people into Lost Ones." He let out a bitter laugh. "The stares I got after that..."

"They didn't even see me as human anymore."

The silence that followed was heavy, punctuated only by the crackle of the fire. Even Alessa seemed at a loss for words.

Finally, Yuuna spoke, her voice measured. "So, you exiled yourself to this forest. Why?"

Dirza's tone turned bitter. "Because I'm a danger to anyone who gets too close. And because I can't face them—not after what I did."

"I know... I'm cursed. I'm too angry, too spiteful to be human anymore. Maybe I should've just died." His voice dropped to a whisper. "Why do I keep getting up? Why do I keep chasing false hope? Why am I so stubborn?"

"Dirza," Alessa said softly, unexpectedly gentle. "You can't let what happened define the rest of your life."

"You're here, sharing soup and tea with us," she added with a faint smile. "That's something."

"A low bar," Dirza muttered darkly.

Yuuna's sharp gaze met him. "You're not beyond redemption," she said firmly. "But hiding here won't fix anything. Running only lets the curse win."

Her words hung in the air like a challenge. "You're alive, Dirza. That means you still have a choice."

Alessa grinned. "You've got a second chance. Don't waste it."

Yuuna placed her cup down, her eyes soft but resolute. "The fact that you feel shame means you haven't lost yourself. You're still here. Now take your life back, step by step. Even the world hasn't given up on you." She gestured to the wolf.

Dirza looked between them, a faint spark of hope flickering in his eyes. "You two are annoyingly convincing, you know that?"

Alessa winked. "It's what we do."

The campfire's embers glowed faintly, the forest alive with the quiet hum of night as if nature itself bore witness to the moment.

===

The fire crackled softly, sending tendrils of light into the dense shadows of the forest. The night felt heavier now, the air charged with unspoken tension. Yuuna set her empty cup down with deliberate care, her sharp eyes fixed on Dirza.

"Dirza, we need your help." Her voice, calm yet firm, cut through the quiet like a blade.

Dirza, who had been absently poking at the fire with a stick, froze mid-motion. Slowly, he looked up, his haggard features illuminated by the firelight. His tired eyes narrowed. "Help? With what?"

Alessa leaned back on her hands, her trademark grin dimmed but still present. "Hunting Lost Ones," she said with a nonchalant shrug, as though discussing a mundane chore instead of facing the forest's most feared predators.

Dirza's laugh was short and bitter. "You don't waste time, do you?"

"Not my style," Alessa quipped, tossing him a wink.

Yuuna ignored the banter, her expression unyielding as she continued. "We're on an Adventurer Guild-sanctioned mission to stem the curse spreading through Alas Tumangkar. The Lost Ones are at its core. Every night, they prowl further, infecting the land. During the day, they retreat, biding their time. We can't let this cycle continue."

Dirza's gaze fell to the fire, the orange glow dancing in his dark eyes. "And you think I can help you with that?"

Yuuna met his doubt with steady resolve. "You've survived in this forest longer than anyone we've met. You've fought to hold on to your humanity despite your connection to them. That gives you an edge. You know how they think."

Dirza's shoulders tensed as he stared into the flames. "How they think?" he echoed bitterly. "I am one of them. Or at least... I was on my way there." He gestured toward the wolf, its glowing blue eyes watching the conversation intently from its place by his side.

The wolf's ears twitched at the mention, its posture calm yet alert.

"You're not one of them," Alessa said, her tone firm. "If you were, this conversation wouldn't be happening. We wouldn't have shared soup with you, and your fluffy friend here wouldn't be so loyal."

Dirza snorted softly. "Fluffy friend?"

"What? It's true," Alessa said, shrugging.

Yuuna pinched the bridge of her nose but pressed on, unshaken. "The point is, you've fought to stay human, and you've succeeded. That makes you valuable—to us and to yourself."

The words hung in the air, heavy with meaning. Dirza leaned forward, resting his elbows on his knees. His voice was low when he finally spoke. "Assuming I agree, what's your plan? Because running into the dark sounds like a good way to die."

Alessa grinned, leaning in with barely contained energy. "Glad you asked. The Lost Ones come out at night to hunt, which means we can force them into the open."

"Force them?" Dirza raised an eyebrow, his tone skeptical.

Yuuna nodded. "We've identified several hotspots where their activity is strongest. Our goal is to provoke them—draw them into a confrontation on our terms. They're too clever for ambush tactics, but a fight head-on? That we can handle."

Dirza's fingers tapped idly on the edge of his cup. "You're underestimating them if you think they'll just rush into a trap. They're predators, not fools."

"Which is why we'll be the bait," Alessa said, her smirk unmistakable.

Dirza stared at her, eyes wide. "You're insane."

"She's right," Yuuna said calmly. "If we make ourselves look vulnerable, they won't resist the chance to strike. But we'll be ready for them."

Dirza muttered something under his breath, rubbing his temples. "You have a death wish or something...?"

"You say that like it's a bad thing," Alessa said cheerfully. "Come on, Dirza. You've lasted this long in the forest. What's a little teamwork?"

"It's not the teamwork I'm worried about," he replied dryly. "It's surviving the night."

Yuuna's gaze softened just enough to let a hint of empathy show. "You've survived worse. And you've already proven you're capable. If we combine our strengths, we can end this."

Dirza glanced at the wolf, which lifted its head to meet his gaze. Its calm, steady presence seemed to encourage him, as if urging him to step forward.

After a long pause, Dirza sighed deeply. "Fine. I'll help. But if this falls apart, don't say I didn't warn you."

"Noted," Alessa said brightly, springing to her feet and brushing off her hands. "Tomorrow night, we will draw them out. But tonight, let's make sure nothing eats us in our sleep."

Yuuna pulled out her map, spreading it carefully on a flat rock. "We'll head to the clearing beyond the river. It's open enough for a fight but near enough to cover if we need it. Rest now—we'll need our strength."

Dirza drained the last of his tea, a faint, reluctant smile tugging at his lips. "You two really are something else."

Alessa smirked, tossing him a playful salute. "We hear that a lot."

As the fire burned lower, the three settled into their makeshift camp. The forest around them was alive with its nocturnal chorus, a constant reminder of the dangers lurking in the darkness. But beneath the quiet hum of the woods, a shared resolve began to take root, binding them in preparation for the battle ahead.