Misstep

The heat would be unbearable—even for Hoshina—if not for their armor's protection.

"Why is the forest on fire? Did our side do this?"

Her companion nods. "It spreads fear and destroys the enemy's resources, hehe."

"Umm… I understand." Better not to think too much about it. If she starts questioning things again, she'll make a fatal mistake sooner or later. "Where are we going? What's the situation?"

"You'll understand soon, Miss." Her voice is starting to sound familiar, though Hoshina can't quite place it.

After a few more minutes, she signals for her to stop and says in a low tone, "Do me a favor and scout ahead. I'll cover your back."

Hoshina doesn't understand the reasoning, but she trusts her companion's judgment.

She takes a few steps—then hears a thunderclap. She spins around just in time to see her companion collapse, and behind her…

"Kaji!" Hoshina fires, knowing he'll block with a barrier.

"Wait, your follower—" Kaji breaks into a cough. He doesn't have a mask to filter the smoke.

This wouldn't be a fair fight. Hoshina glances at her fallen companion. Kaji may be a strong warrior—but he doesn't fight fair, so why should she?

She shots again.

Kaji moves with fluid precision, his aim sharper than ever. He's improved—no doubt about that. Yet somehow, he feels less dangerous.

"Are you holding back? Or is the smoke just wearing you down?" He doesn't answer—seems he can barely breathe. Maybe he deserves a better fight than this.

Hoshina takes off, knowing Kaji will follow.

More than a few chances to take him down arise during the chase, but she doesn't act on any.

After cutting through several patches of foliage, the fresh wind clears some soot from her mask.

The moment Kaji exits the forest, he collapses to his knees, coughing as if he hasn't breathed in ages.

Ahead of Hoshina, the sun paints the sky in a warm orange. There's plenty of space between the forest's edge and the horizon—more than enough for a fair fight.

Once Kaji catches his breath, he speaks.

"We need to talk."

"You want to talk this time?" She doesn't mean this as an accusation.

"Do you even enjoy this?"

"This? Be more specific, please."

"War, fighting, killing, everything that's been happening since the day we met."

"Hmm… I haven't killed yet so I can't answer about that, however I do enjoy myself when I fight a strong opponent."

"What about the destruction it causes? The innocents who die because of your actions?" Kaji readies his cane, likely preparing to fight depending on her answer.

She isn't worried, so she answers honestly.

"I don't like it, but there's nothing I can do to stop it. Besides, those who die by a warrior's hand will find peace in the afterlife, as long as they've lived righteously."

"What?"

"Huh? Oh, it makes sense that your people don't know about the afterlife, since your god isn't Ikusagami."

"What on earth are you talking about? Are you telling me all this shit your people do is because your stupid god told you so? That's not a god!"

"It's not stupid, it's the truth. When the world was first conceived by the gods, the most powerful of all, Ikusagami, chose the strongest humans to—"

"Shut up! I don't want to hear your shitty fairy tales!" For a moment, I thought we could understand each other if we talked..." He points the cane at her—the cane that once belonged to her. "It's impossible to reason with you, tearful monster."

The nickname cuts deeper than if he had called her insane again. Instead of blocking or dodging Kaji's next thunderbolt, she deflects it right back at him.

Caught off guard by such a move, Kaji doesn't react in time to activate his barrier.

He might die from this.

The electricity strikes him, and Kaji crashes to the ground.

…

Did I… kill my first enemy?

…

That's good, right?

It's supposed to be, yet for some reason, her breath quickens.

I did what I had to do, what I wanted to do.

Her hand, the one that struck Kaji, begins to tremble.

I'm a warrior now. It's everything I've always wanted. It's what Dad wants too, and… I want this as well, don't I?

She feels a gaze on her, the presence of someone who shouldn't be there.

When she lifts her head, she's met by the eyes of the man she once loved most.

He—or rather, the vision of him—stands beside the fallen Kaji.

Why are you looking at me like that?

Next to Hoshina, another mirage appears—tall, imposing, strong.

"He also struggled back in the day," Mugen's voice says.

So what if Grandpa also had trouble killing his first enemy? He later became one of the greatest warriors ever. He always looked more cheerful than anyone. He was a living legend, he was…

"Grandpa, when will you start telling me your war tales? I want to hear about your epic battles and how you defeat tons of enemies at once."

His smile wavered, something Hoshina will never forget.

"Sorry dear, I'd rather not talk about those."

Perhaps… he never wanted to become a…

Enough!

Hoshina punches herself.

Stop thinking about those things before… before you taint Grandpa's memory!

She shuts off her mind and follows her feelings.

Ignoring her father's mirage, she runs toward Grandpa and crouches beside Kaji. The two visions vanish—one smiling, the other... also with a faint smile?

Hoshina shakes her head, focusing on what matters.

She checks Kaji's pulse—nothing.

Placing her hands on his chest, she begins the motions she was taught for situations like this.

Kaji's scorching skin sears her hands.

She doesn't stop.

His ribs creak with each push.

She must not stop.

She loses count of how many she's done, but once she checks him again...

He's back. He's alive.

For now.

She checks his wounds.

His chest is covered in red spots and thunder marks, and his entire right arm is charred. At the end of it, the half-melted cane is stuck to his skin.

The cane! Of course. It must have absorbed some of the electricity, but since he didn't know how to deflect it, it got overcharged and broke. This must have saved his life.

Hoshina lifts Kaji in her arms and... And now what? Does she take him to her people? Or to Kaji's? Where can she find someone who will heal Kaji without attacking her on sight?

"Miss? What are you doing?" Her companion arrives, leaning against a tree for support.

"I need to save this man's life! Please, don't ask questions—just help me."

"W-what do you…?" She hesitates, then shakes her head. "Alright, let me check him." Hoshina steps forward but pauses. "Is something wrong?"

"I don't know. It's strange. Have we met recently, before this battle started?"

"Why should it matter? Do you want to save the kid or not?"

"What happened to the allies who needed our reinforcements?"

"I don't know, I came here following your scream. I wanted to make sure you are safe."

"Or you wanted to make sure I was dead."

"What? Why would you think something like that?"

"I don't know, I'm not really thinking about it. It's just a feeling. Are you trying to kill me?"

"Of course not, I…" she draws her cane and fires at Hoshina, who dodges with her boots.

Changing her cane to earth, Hoshina aims at her opponent's leg.

The cane doesn't shoot.

"Eh?" The gem should have plenty of energy left.

Hoshina takes out her gem box. Empty—no replacements.

"Should've double-checked, instead of leaving it to others, hehe." She shoots again, and Hoshina has no choice but to use her boots to dash as far as she can.

The boots fail as well.

She's now forced to escape while carrying an injured man and assaulted by thunderbolts. Even though her enemy is wounded, there's no way Hoshina can get out of range before her stamina runs out.

Can she risk heading straight into the forest? Impossible—she'd become an easy target.

As the 'maid' fires another thunderbolt, Hoshina dodges instinctively to her left.

Her foot lands near the precipice, and the ground beneath crumbles.

She stumbles, briefly considering letting go of Kaji to grab the ledge—but she doesn't.

Both of them fall into the endless void.