Shadows descend

On Earth school life went on, yet a bond was quietly growing between Aiko and Rin, deeper than ordinary friendship. Aiko did not know that Rin did not sleep peacefully at night—her vigil never ceased. Every moment, she remained alert, ready to sense any hint of danger that could approach.

On Kaelrith’s planet, the sky was heavy and dark. Clouds thickened like a cloak, letting only weak reddish light filter through. In the grand hall, surrounded by sharp black stone pillars, Kaelrith stood before a hologram reflecting Earth.

His gaze was sharp; his mouth twisted with the bitter taste of his last defeat. The wound on his side had not fully healed, yet the pain only fueled his resolve.

"The princess hides among the people," he murmured, almost whispering, yet his voice echoed through the hall like a clap of thunder. "Akihiko made a mistake letting her go. Earth is vulnerable—without shields, its army will fall easily."

A cold, emotionless smile curved his lips.

One of his cloaked followers stepped closer and bowed. "Prince, shall we prepare an attack?"

Kaelrith raised a hand to stop him. "No. That would be too soon." His eyes glimmered with dark determination.

The hologram lit up, showing Aiko walking home from school, Rin by her side. Kaelrith’s eyes narrowed.

"Ah… there is something about this girl that unsettles me," he muttered.

Kaelrith sent word to the scout, ordering him to examine more closely the girl accompanying Aiko.

On Earth, the day was slowly giving way to evening. Aiko and Rin walked home together, talking about school assignments and the funny mispronunciations of their English teacher. Everything seemed peaceful. Yet something lingered in the air, disturbing Rin’s calm.

She caught a faint rustle—almost imperceptible to human ears. Her eyes darted toward a streetlight at the far end of the road, where for a brief moment a shadowy figure passed. In the blink of an eye, it was gone.

Her stomach twisted. Was it just her imagination?

Aiko smiled, unaware of anything unusual, talking animatedly about a new drawing she would make of the night sky on Saturday. Rin quietly nodded, but her heart remained taut like a drawn string.

When they parted ways, Rin pulled out her StarCom as soon as she entered her room.

"Naoru," she whispered, voice tense, "I feel a threat… nothing tangible, nothing clear… but the energy was different. Dark. Maybe I’m imagining it, but I cannot take the risk."

Naoru’s voice came through the watch: "You did well, Rin. Even the slightest suspicion can signal danger. Stay vigilant. Though… I wish you were mistaken."

He ended the connection, but his mind could not rest. He paced in the command hall; brow furrowed with concern. "If Kaelrith truly returns… then…"

Meanwhile, Akihiko stood alone in the training ground, surrounded by a radiant layer of light. Sword in hand, he cut through the air, each movement following a pulse of energy that spread like waves through the hall. His body was soaked in sweat, but his eyes shone with unwavering determination.

He raised his hand, forming a shield of pale blue light around him, stronger than ever before. With a thundering crash, he slammed it to the ground, making the floor tremble beneath him.

"Still not enough," he murmured. A hollow ache filled his chest—not only from incomplete power, but also from Aiko. Though he pretended to remain calm, a part of him constantly yearned to stand beside her, to protect her.

Kaelrith’s scout reported once more, bowing before his master: "Master, the princess is vulnerable. Only one guardian is with her, surely from Akarihoshi. Young, inexperienced, but with exceptionally keen senses. She almost detected me—but she will not match you."

Kaelrith’s eyes burned with bloodthirsty light. "So, an inexperienced soldier guards the princess. Pathetic." His voice turned into a cold laugh. "It is time to take her back."

At his command, the halls filled with humming. Personal vessels, marked with the ominous symbols of his lineage, lifted from the ground and headed toward Earth.

Naoru sat calmly on his throne as guards rushed to him. "Kaelrith’s ships are in motion!"

Naoru sprang to his feet, his face darkened with worry. "So fast… His target is Aiko. It must be!"

He hesitated, but knew he had no choice. If he remained silent, both Aiko and Akihiko could be lost. Swallowing his pride, he called Akihiko through the StarCom.

"Akihiko," he said firmly, "Kaelrith… is alive. His vessels are heading toward Earth. Aiko is in danger."

The training hall fell into icy silence. Akihiko froze, the sword slipping from his grasp to clatter against the floor.

"…What did you say?" he whispered, voice taut with understanding.

Naoru closed his eyes, knowing Akihiko needed the full truth. "Kaelrith lives. And now he is heading to Earth. His target is Aiko."

In that instant, Akihiko’s calm expression shattered. Raw pain and fury flashed in his eyes. His heart pounded, each beat burning like fire. In his mind, he saw Aiko—alone, terrified, in Kaelrith’s grasp.

"No… I cannot let this happen. I will act," he said, voice steel-hard. Energy erupted from him, pale-blue aura expanding through the training hall like a storm unleashed. The air shivered, and the floor cracked beneath the force of his rage.

Determination filled his thoughts.

"I cannot falter… not now. Every second I hesitate could cost her life. Yet I cannot rush blindly—Kaelrith’s strength is immense. But Aiko… she is my heart, my reason to fight. I will not fail her again."

On Earth, the day seemed ordinary. Aiko sat in her classroom, absentmindedly sketching along the margins of her notebook as the teacher wrote on the board. Rin, seated beside her, appeared calm but her inner unease was palpable. Something was wrong—an imminent danger hovered, unseen but tangible.

When it came time for gym class, Aiko sat on the bench, lost in a daydream. Rin had just left the locker room when her StarCom beeped urgently. Naoru’s message flashed: Kaelrith is approaching Earth.

And then—the darkness descended.

The windows went black as if an unnatural shadow had wrapped the building. The floor trembled, a deafening roar filled the air. Students panicked, rushing toward exits, but the doors slammed shut as if locked by invisible hands. Above, Kaelrith’s vessels hovered, their shadows engulfing the school.

Rin immediately sent a signal to Naoru:

"Naoru… Kaelrith is already here and invading the school!"

She dashed to Aiko. Chaos erupted through the hallways, classrooms, cafeteria, and gym. Students and teachers screamed, searching desperately for exits, but the heavy doors remained locked. The hovering vessels trembled faintly, yet their shadow covered everything.

Rin was lost in thought while the school descended into chaos.

"I cannot fail… Naoru entrusted me with her life, and Akihiko trusts him. I will not betray that trust. No matter what, I must protect Aiko. My own fear, my own weakness… it does not matter. I cannot let her be taken."

Kaelrith strode through the school’s main entrance, eyes blazing with determination and ruthlessness. When he entered the gym, every student froze in fear, and so did Aiko and Rin. His soldiers combed through students one by one, until he finally sensed her faint energy.

Aiko looked at Kaelrith’s face. It seemed strangely familiar. A blurred memory stirred, but all she knew was that he was dangerous.

Rin stepped forward, clutching her bag. Her hands shook, but her expression was firm. "You… will not touch her," she said. Her futuristic weapon, small but incredibly advanced, was hidden inside her bag—the only defense she had.

She fixed the StarCom onto her wrist, sending an urgent signal: "Naoru, I don’t know how long I can hold him—need backup immediately."

Kaelrith smirked, clearly amused that a lone guardian would confront him. He struck toward Rin—a blow as solid as a wall. Rin leaped aside, releasing a small but powerful pulse from her weapon. The wave of energy pushed back Kaelrith’s protective shield.

Every second counted. Rin’s pulse raced with fear and determination, knowing Aiko’s life depended on her.

Meanwhile, on Akarihoshi, Akihiko stood in the teleportation chamber, white-blue aura blazing stronger than ever. Naoru was at his side, serious, ready for coordination.

“Since when did your strength return, Akihiko?” Naoru’s eyes narrowed, though his voice softened a moment later. “No… my questions don’t matter now. What matters is that your strength will help us in the rescue.”

Mika and loyal soldiers were present, each feeling the weight of these decisive moments.

"Kaelrith’s fleet is on Earth," Akihiko said, concern thick in his voice. "We must act immediately."

Akihiko clenched his fist, sensing Aiko’s energy crying for help. "I will not let anything happen to her," he said, calm yet boiling with determination.

Naoru nodded, and the system linked to their Starcom activated coordination. "Teleportation portal is ready."

Akihiko nodded, and Naoru initiated the teleportation sequence.

"On three… one… two… three!"

Light enveloped them, the weight of the world vanished, and in a second they were gone from Akarihoshi, reappearing on Earth, just outside the school where Kaelrith’s fleet hovered, clashing with the Earth army that stood no chance against their futuristic weaponry..

Akihiko, Mika, and Naoru moved into the school while the others engaged Kaelrith’s vessels until Akarihoshi’s fleet arrived. The hallways echoed with blows and screams. Blue-silver light from Akihiko’s sword shattered beam shots from futuristic weapons, while Mika and Naoru coordinated defense and neutralized enemies.

Meanwhile, Aiko hid behind broken doors, heart racing, lungs tight with fear. Chaos raged in her mind too—long-suppressed memories returned in fragments, always accompanied by Kaelrith’s shadow.

"Come… to me, Aiko," his voice whispered in her mind—soft, yet commanding.

Aiko began to move toward him, her body feeling partially unowned. Rin grabbed her hand. "No! You mustn’t!" she shouted, eyes wide with fear, yet unwavering.

Kaelrith stepped a bit closer, and Aiko felt the cold in his gaze pierce her heart. "If you do not come, I will harm your family and everyone here," he threatened, words binding her will.

Aiko shivered, glanced at Rin, and drew a deep breath. Her choice was clear. "I must go Rin…" she whispered, and her body moved toward Kaelrith. Rin wanted to leap and stop her, but she remained powerless, hands trembling.

Kaelrith raised his hand. Invisible, dark power descended upon Aiko. Her feet froze, arms unmoving—alive, yet restrained.

Akihiko, Mika, and Naoru fought their way through the final corridor of the school. Each step echoed like a heartbeat in the tense chaos. They dispatched Kaelrith’s remaining soldiers before the gym doors and finally stood at the threshold, facing the ominous, pulsing energy inside.

When they entered, the sight stole their breath for a moment: Aiko stood before Kaelrith, frozen in invisible chains of his power. Her hair moved softly as if caught in a gentle breeze, her eyes shining with fear and confusion. Rin stood by the side, powerless, unable to counter Kaelrith’s overwhelming force.