Volume 1. Chapter 60

Soft sounds of rustling leaves and the occasional birdsong echoed through the cool evening air. Ken walked ahead, carrying Lily gently in his arms. Her head rested against his shoulder, her breathing steady, though her face remained tense. They slipped between the trees, dense foliage shielding them from prying eyes. At last, Ken lowered her onto a bed of soft moss and sank down beside her, tilting his head back with a tired sigh.

“Well, Lily, no one can see us here, your parents aren’t chasing us… Let’s review what we know about our enemy,” he said, catching his breath. His voice was calm, but tension simmered beneath the surface.

Lily looked up and nodded.

“Yes, let’s,” she replied softly, adjusting the bracelet on her wrist like it gave her strength.

Ken spoke like a teacher instructing a student.

“All right — illusion demon. We know he’s cruel. He doesn’t just kill — he tortures his victims with nightmares, trying to break their minds. He enjoys it, right?”

Lily clenched her teeth, recalling the horrors she had witnessed, and nodded.

“That’s right,” she confirmed.

Ken studied her carefully.

“What about weaknesses? What can you tell me?”

Lily frowned, biting her lip in thought.

“Weaknesses… I don’t know if he has any…” she said with a sigh.

Ken shook his head with a smirk.

“Oh, come on, Lily — everyone has weaknesses,” he said with confidence. “Better to find your enemy’s pressure points and hit them hard than leave things to chance.”

His certainty made Lily smile.

“You sound like a military strategist,” she said with admiration.

Ken shrugged with a cocky grin.

“I’ve got a million talents,” he said playfully, puffing out his chest with mock pride.

“Oh, the humility,” Lily teased, her voice laced with amusement.

“I’ve got so many talents, it’s hard not to admire them,” Ken added, winking.

Lily burst into laughter, feeling how, even in this tense situation, he managed to lift her spirits.

“Even now… you make me smile,” she thought, grateful.

After a brief pause, Ken’s tone shifted, growing serious. He leaned in slightly, eyes locked on hers.

“All right, Lily, listen up,” he said. “I’m gonna give you a profile of our enemy. Remember it — and use it when we fight.”

“Yes, Captain,” Lily replied with a small smile, trying to lighten the mood again.

Ken continued, his voice lower, more focused:

“The illusion demon — he’s arrogant, petty, and vindictive. Easy to provoke. He thinks he’s smarter than everyone and underestimates people. That’s his weakness, and that’s what we’ll exploit.”

Lily nodded, absorbing every word.

“Also,” Ken went on, “I bet he’s hiding in one of the girls — Kiki or Julie. If he’d taken one of your parents, we wouldn’t have gotten away so easily. And since he possessed my little brother Akira before, chances are he’ll choose a child again. He probably thinks it’s safer.”

“Makes sense,” Lily murmured, already planning in her mind.

Ken paused, then added:

“He probably remembers me from my illusion, and he knows I’ve got the dagger that can kill him. So we’ll need to outsmart him. First, we make him show himself. You’ll act confused, run to the Pures, ask for help — look scared. I’ll show up later, piss him off, and force him to reveal himself. Then everything goes according to plan.”

“Got it,” Lily nodded.

Ken gave her a searching look.

“Hey… what happens if you take off the bracelet in the illusion? It might be good to hide it from the demon — but if you forget it’s a dream… Should we risk it?”

Lily grew serious, thinking hard.

“I don’t know… maybe you’d still remember for a while… but it’s too risky. Let’s not,” she said, shaking her head.

“Good,” Ken agreed. “Keep it on.”

He paused, staring into the darkness. Then his gaze sharpened, like he’d just remembered something important.

“Lily, the Alarayn flower — it grows in places of magical power, right? Does that mean it draws energy from destroyed demons?”

Lily’s eyes lit up with realization.

“Yes, maybe,” she said. “When I kill a demon, the body crumbles. Most of its mana forms a crystal, but the rest… I don’t know where it goes…”

“Exactly,” Ken said thoughtfully. “So what if we bring the Alarayn into the illusion? Could it be a weapon against the demon?”

Lily’s eyes sparkled with hope.

“Yes, it could help… but I left it in my pack, and we can’t get it now,” she said in frustration, sinking to her knees.

Ken grinned, as if he’d been waiting for that.

“What would you do without me?” he said triumphantly, pulling the Alarayn flower from his jacket pocket.

Lily froze, her face lighting up in shock and awe.

“How… When did you take it?” she asked, amazed.

Ken smirked slyly.

“Just a little sleight of hand,” he said smugly.

Lily stared at him, filled with gratitude.

“Now, Lily, listen — here’s what we’re going to do next,” Ken said calmly, holding the softly glowing flower in his hand.

This final piece completed their preparations. And at the heart of it all — trust, determination, and unwavering faith in each other.