CHAPTER 16: A Stranger in the Ruins

A full year had passed since the ruins were abandoned, leaving behind nothing but devastation. The land remained in shambles, a hollow shell of what it once was.

Yet, through the silence, footsteps echoed beyond the broken gate—firm, fearless.

A lone figure entered, his movements steady with curiosity. Kaziel’s dark blue hair, slightly wavy, framed his face with bangs falling gently over his forehead, partially veiling his sharp blue eyes. His gaze, keen yet unreadable, scanned the desolate surroundings, taking in every detail with quiet observation. A long blue scarf wrapped around his neck, fluttering slightly with each step, its fabric flowing like the winds that carried him across distant lands. His white and blue coat, adorned with gold accents, bore the elegance of nobility yet the practicality of a traveler, swaying with the weight of his movements—a warrior unbound by a single place.

As he wandered, something unusual caught his eye—a single freshly sprouted plant, thriving amidst the withered crops and scorched fields.

Kneeling, he examined it closely, his fingers brushing gently over its leaves.

“Elyssence..?” he muttered, eyes narrowing.

A realization struck him. Someone had been here.

His gaze flickered across the ruined landscape, searching for signs of life. Reaching into a small sack, he pulled out a handful of fine powder and scattered it onto the ground. A faint glow flickered beneath his feet, revealing something unexpected.

Dark footprints.

The aura was ominous, pulsing with an unnatural energy. His expression darkened.

Greeds.

His jaw tightened, but instead of retreating, he pressed forward. He passed through the ruins of a building, the air growing denser, shadows stretching along the walls. He halted before a shattered billboard—only half of the name remained intact.

FarmLand.

He exhaled slowly. This place had been abandoned for two years. No one dared to return—not after the mysterious disappearance of the Warden, the guards, the researchers, and nearly 300 others.

Rumors had spread like wildfire.

They said the bodies were never found.
They said the land had been cursed.
They said the fallen had become Greeds, haunting the ruins as their new home.

A sharp, guttural screech shattered the silence.

The Greed lunged at him from the building above, its monstrous form twisting through the air. Without hesitation, he unsheathed his sword—one precise slash—and the creature shattered into nothingness.

He exhaled, slipping his blade back into its sheath.

Then—a sound.

Footsteps.

His head snapped toward the direction of the noise.

Someone was running.

Without a second thought, he gave chase.

The figure darted toward the underground passage, their movements swift and calculated. Instead of taking the stairs, they leapt straight down.

His eyes widened slightly. Then, with a single breath, he followed—vaulting from side to side, using the walls to slow his descent before landing lightly on his feet, his trailing scarf billowing behind him.

But his target was still moving.

“Hey, wait!”

No response.

The narrow pathway twisted ahead, ending in a collapsed barrier of stone and debris. Yet, the figure slipped through a tight gap with ease, disappearing beyond.

He slowed his pace, assessing the space. His gaze shifted.

A chamber.

Something about it drew him in.

Pushing open the door, he stepped inside. The room was silent—too silent. Dim light flickered against the stone walls. His eyes swept over the remnants left behind: a shattered Sapphire Heart, its once brilliant glow now long extinguished. And beside it—

A clock.

It lay abandoned on the floor, forgotten, covered in dust. He crouched, reaching for it, turning it over in his hands. The weight of time itself seemed trapped within its broken gears.

Then—a voice.

“You didn’t react to pain…? Or was it already broken?”

The voice was soft, but its presence was like a knife slicing through the silence.

His breath hitched.

She was right beside him.

He hadn’t noticed. Hadn’t sensed her. It was as if she had always been there—or never existed at all.

His fingers curled around the clock as he slowly rose, turning to face her.

A girl, standing in the dim light.

She was expressionless, her gaze hollow, unreadable. Yet, as she reached for the clock, her fingers tightened around it—not with sentiment, but as if it was the only thing grounding her.

A small, knowing smile played at his lips. “Is it important to you?”

Her eyes remained on the clock. “Not anymore.”

His smile faltered slightly. “A-ahh… I see.”

The weight of her presence lingered in the air.

“Why are you here?” she asked abruptly. “You should leave. It’s dangerous.”

He lifted his eyebrows. “Dangerous? Ah… so that means you know what this place is.” His tone was light, teasing. Then, he reached into his pocket. “Would you like some candy?”

For the first time, Maika hesitated.

She stared at him, slightly stunned. She had never met a man so utterly unfazed before. There was something strangely disarming about his demeanor—his warmth, his casualness.

But she knew better.

He wasn’t just some traveler.

She had seen it with her own eyes. He cut down a Greed in a single strike. And yet, despite such immense power, he wasn’t a Celestial.

He was just a human.

An impossibly skilled, terrifyingly capable human.

His head tilted, waiting for a response. “So?”

“No.” Her answer was firm.

“A-ah…” He chuckled awkwardly, slipping the candy back into his pocket.

Her tone sharpened. “Leave. You don’t belong here.”

She turned to walk away.

“Wait—!”

Before he could move, a violent tremor shook the ruins.

Both of them turned their gaze upward.

Maika’s eyes darkened.

“The Greed.”

The ground trembled again. Something massive loomed above them.

She turned back to him, voice edged with accusation. “What did you put on the ground?”

His posture stiffened slightly. “U-uh… just a sprinkle of footprint detection…?”

Silence.

Then, Maika turned sharply, walking toward the exit in a rush. “We need to stop it before it ruins my plants.”

His expression turned serious. Without hesitation, he followed.

As soon as they reached the farm, Maika’s breath caught in her throat.

It was ruined.

The Greed had already trampled the crops, its towering, misshapen form looming over the wreckage. It resembled a nightmarish mockery of a bear—its body warped and unnatural, shrouded in a grim aura. Tendrils of black mist coiled and writhed from its massive limbs, as if the very air recoiled from its presence.

"The Greed must have smelled the magic from your sprinkles," Maika muttered, her eyes locked onto the creature with frowned look.

Kaziel chuckled awkwardly, rubbing the back of his head. "Ah—my bad."

The Greed snarled, stepping forward, its enormous claws crushing the fragile wheat beneath it.

"No...! Not the wheat...!" Maika's eyes widened in shock, her voice laced with distress.

Without hesitation, she sprinted forward, leaping onto a nearby crumbling concrete slab to gain height. With a swift motion, she summoned her weapon—The Divine Rapture Blade.

The air crackled as the jagged sword of pure energy materialized in her grasp, pulsing with a mix of dark magic.

Kaziel’s eyes widened slightly as he observed the weapon.

"That’s no ordinary blade... This girl..."

Maika struck, her blade cutting through the air with lethal precision. But just as she lunged, her eyes caught something—a fleeting memory flashing through her mind.

Himeji’s smile.

A familiar sight—a baby Greed clinging onto the creature’s back, its small, shadowy form peeking over its massive shoulder. For a moment, she realized—the Greed resembled 'her'.

She hesitated.

That brief moment of pause was enough.

The Greed’s arm swung violently, striking Maika with devastating force.

Her body hit the ground hard, the impact knocking the air from her lungs.

Her eyes widened in shock as the shadow of the monster loomed over her, its massive frame blocking out the light.

"...You said you’d be there… right?"

Himeji’s voice slithered through her mind, distant yet piercing. The echo alone sent a shudder through her bones, her heartbeat hammering against her ribs, loud—too loud.

Fear gripped her. It held her still.

The Greed roared, its claws poised for the finishing blow—

But then—

A blur of motion.

A single, clean strike.

In an instant, the Greed disintegrated into thin air, its form splitting apart before vanishing like a dying ember.

The wind carried away the remnants, leaving behind nothing but silence.

Kaziel landed effortlessly in front of her, his sword already sheathed. His stance was calm, composed—as if slaying the Greed had been nothing more than a reflex.

Maika remained frozen, eyes wide in disbelief. He took it down in one hit.

Kaziel turned, crouching beside her, extending a hand. His usual playful smile returned, but there was a softness in his expression.

"That Greed was a little too rough for you. Are you alright?"

Maika didn’t take his hand immediately. She was still processing what just happened.

Her voice was quiet and hesitated. "....Who are you?"

Kaziel grinned, tilting his head. "I’m glad you finally asked. Just call me Kaziel for now. And you are?"

Maika hesitated.

Her lips parted slightly, but the words didn’t come. Her name... What was her name again?

Strange.

She furrowed her brows, lost in thought. It had been so long since she’d last heard someone call her by name.

"...I... don’t remember," she finally admitted, her voice laced with uncertainty.

Kaziel’s smile faltered slightly, his playful demeanor fading into something more serious. "...Ah." His blue eyes studied her. "Then... how much do you remember?"

A sudden realization struck her.

"My farm—!"

Without another word, she pushed herself up, rushing past him.

"Ah—wait—" Kaziel sighed, watching her hurry toward the ruined crops. Of course.

He followed as Maika crouched beside the broken plants, pressing her hands together. A soft glow of Elyssence shimmered around her fingers as she focused on restoring the damage.

Kaziel crossed his arms, watching her work. He had seen Elyssence manipulation before, but something about her technique caught his attention.

Her control was precise. Too precise.

She had lost her name—yet she instinctively knew how to nurture the land.

Kaziel’s curiosity deepened as he glanced around. “There seem to be a lot of Greeds in this place. I’m surprised you’re still able to farm here.” His voice was gentle, laced with intrigue.

“They don’t come often. And even if they do, I handle it myself.”

“Wow, that’s incredible! The level of Greeds here is supposedly strong and difficult for someone to defeat it.”

Maika’s hands paused. The silence stretched between them.

“…Really? Then… what am I?”

The weight of her words hung in the air, thick and suffocating.

It was a hint—an unspoken truth for him to grasp. She was the only one who had survived this cursed land. She must have seen far worse before… endured horrors beyond words. She must have suffered alone here.

“Why didn’t you leave this place? You know it’s too dangerous for you.”

His voice was cautious, but Maika remained silent. She had wondered the same thing herself—why?

Her hands pressed against the earth, fingers trembling slightly. A dreadful realization settled in her chest. Something wouldn’t let her leave. She couldn’t. The weight of the lives lost here anchored her in place. She was responsible.

Her gaze dropped, shadowed beneath strands of her hair, as if hiding from her eyes.

Kaziel watched her carefully. He understood—some wounds weren’t meant to be spoken of. Not everyone was ready to face the ghosts of their past.

“I don’t belong there…” Maika whispered, her voice strained. “This is where I grieve… where I have suffered, where I have…”

Her breath hitched. She bit her lip, swallowing the words before they could escape.

Then, something shifted.

Kaziel’s eyes flickered to her plants—withering.

The air grew heavier. He recognized it. Her energy was shifting, twisting. Elyssence, the very life force she wielded, was reacting to her emotions—morphing into something dark. If left unchecked, desperation and sorrow could taint it, turning it into something destructive.

“…H-hey, I think you should stop using Elyssence for a while—”

"...You should leave. There’s nothing here but the home of the Greeds."

Her voice, when she suddenly spoke, was distant.

Kaziel’s frowned slightly.

“But I need to know… what really happened here.” Kaziel’s voice was steady, yet laced with curiosity and concern. “I heard no one survived. Some say this place was swallowed by a mysterious disappearance. Others believe the land was cursed after the war between Caelivara and Elyssia. When Thalvaris vowed to restore it… they, too, were consumed by the curse. And no one was ever seen again.”

Maika remained silent, her expression unreadable. But she was listening..

Kaziel took a slow step forward. "...Are you the only survivor?"

His voice remained calm, careful not to provoke her—but Maika suddenly stood, causing him to flinch slightly in surprise.

Yet, his attention quickly shifted.

To his astonishment, the plant she had restored had fully grown—a mango tree, its golden fruit swaying gently in the breeze. The sight was almost surreal. She had managed to suppress her emotions and, in turn, had reshaped them into something beautiful.

Kaziel’s eyes lingered on the tree before he raised an eyebrow. “…That must have taken a lot of energy just to sustain Elyssence alone.”

His gaze flickered toward the dimly lit Sapphire Heart lying nearby.

She hadn’t even drawn from its power.

“No way… How did you do that?” Kaziel’s voice held genuine astonishment. “Healing the tree without even using the Sapphire Heart’s energy… that’s not just rare—it’s extraordinary. What are you, really?”

As he turned to face her, Maika flinched ever so slightly but said nothing. Instead, she simply continued growing another tree, her focus distant. Deep in thought, she seemed uncertain of what to say.

Kaziel sighed, a wry smile tugging at his lips.

“…She totally hates me, huh? Am I asking too much…?”

His tone was light, almost amused—but the silence that followed was heavy. It settled between them like an unspoken weight. He lingered in it, lost in thought, until finally—Maika spoke.

“I’m not a survivor… I don’t even know why I’m still here.”

Her fingers curled into fists. Shadows flickered in her gaze, sorrow threading through her words.

“But the rumors? The curse? The so-called ‘disappearance’?”

Her voice wavered, and for a moment, it seemed as though she were caught between memories too painful to remember.

“…None of it was true.”

Kaziel knelt beside her. His blue eyes locked onto hers, firm but gentle.

"Then what actually happened?"

Maika’s heart pounded as fragments of the past resurfaced.

The blood.
The screams.
The moment she killed her own friend.
Renwick, dying in front of her, trying to save her.

Her breath hitched.

"I..."

She shook her head firmly. "..I don’t remember."

Kaziel frowned. She was lying.

"Stay away from me."

"...eh?"

She stood up. Her fists clenched as she turned. "I don’t want you to get cursed because of me.. You will die."

Kaziel raised his hands in mock surrender, his usual lighthearted tone returning. "Hey, hey, relax. You saw me take down that Greed in one hit, right? I’m fine. See?" He spread his arms.

"No..! You should leave!"

Her voice trembled, yet her green eyes remained steady—unwavering, as if laced with a silent concern that caught him off guard.

For a moment, Kaziel felt something stir within him. A thought, a suspicion, creeping into his mind.

Could she be…?

Before he could react, Maika turned and ran, vanishing into the ruins.

“Hey—! Ah… there she goes again.”

Kaziel let out a slow breath, standing motionless for a moment. His gaze lingered on the spot where she had disappeared.

“…She really hates me, huh?”

Then, from the sky—a raven descended.

Kaziel extended his hand, allowing the bird to land on his finger. A shadow stretched beneath him, forming into an unmistakable shape of a woman’s silhouette.

"Kaziel, how long do you plan on staying here? Did you collect the Enhanced Sapphire Heart yet?"

Anna crossed her arms, unimpressed.

Kaziel let the raven take flight as he crouched, plucking a mango from the tree.

"I might need to learn more about this place." He took a slow bite, savoring the sweetness.

Anna huffed. "I knew it! I can’t believe you! You were supposed to take it and leave!"

Ignoring her complaints, Kaziel’s gaze drifted toward the ruins.

“Anna.”

The silhouette stirred, turning toward him. “What…?”

He smirked. “I think I found someone interesting here. She’s strong too, judging by her performance earlier.”

Then, his eyes flicked—to the mango.

"She should go on a journey with us."