Forest

Two months had dissolved into the rhythm of village life since the grueling duel against Chris and Cherry. In that fleeting span, Shirou had woven himself into the fabric of the community, earning quiet admiration not merely for his raw strength, but for the calculating brilliance that had dismantled Cherry—one of the village’s premier defenders. To the weathered villagers, the white-haired boy had quietly evolved into a symbol: a bright, resilient glimmer of hope for the next generation.

With Sarah frequently drawn away to manage the fragile, fractured peace following the fall of the Demon Queen Eliza, the oversight of the orphanage fell squarely onto the shoulders of Cherry and Chris. Alicia, however, refused to settle into the domestic quiet. Consumed by a fierce desire to close the gap between them, she threw herself entirely into her training, dragging Shirou into relentless sparring sessions every single day, utterly unwilling to be left behind in his dust.

"Match over—Shirou wins. That makes it ten to zero," Dake announced, his voice carrying a mix of awe and mild exhaustion.

Alicia’s wooden sword slipped from her trembling, blistered hands, clattering sharply onto the dusty earth. Her chest heaved violently as her breathing grew heavy and uneven.

"One more!" she snapped, her voice cracking with desperation as she glared at Shirou with burning determination. "I won't lose again!"

Vanessa folded her arms, letting out a loud, theatrical sigh. "Honestly… how many times are we supposed to watch you get flattened? It’s getting boring, Alicia. Fighting over and over isn’t going to magically change the outcome."

"Shut up!" Alicia retorted, her cheeks flushing a deep scarlet. She abruptly jbed a finger toward Shirou’s chest. "Don't think you'll always win, Shirou. This time, I’ll beat you!"

Shirou gave a slow, tired shrug, his expression radiating irritation rather than competitive excitement. "I don't feel like fighting anymore."

"What? Just one more—"

"Don't wanna," Shirou replied flatly, already turning his back on her.

"You—!" Alicia stomped forward, her temper flaring.

Before the tension could boil over, Dake quickly stepped between them, raising his hands pacifyingly. "Let it go, Alicia. Enough fighting for today. Let's do something else."

Alicia clenched fits tightly, her body shaking. For a volatile moment, it looked as if she might lash out anyway, but looking around at the drained, weary faces of her friends, she paused. With a sharp, reluctant groan, she exhaled the tension. "Fine. So what do we play instead?"

"Oh! Tag!" Dake shouted, his earlier fatigue vanishing as he raised his hand in excitement.

"I… want to make a crown of flowers," Sabrina suggested softly, twirling a strand of her hair.

"I want to play house!" Jack declared boldly, stepping forward with a wide grin. Everyone turned to stare at him in stunned silence. Unfazed, he pointed a thumb at his chest. "I'll be Papa, and Alicia—"

Wham!

Alicia's fist connected sharply with his shoulder, sending him tumbling to the ground before he could finish the sentence.

"Forget it. Let's just decide on the way. To the hideout," she muttered, her cheeks burning as she turned and marched toward the tree line.

The group shared a collective laugh and followed her lead, navigating toward their secret forest refuge—a sanctuary hidden deep within the woods that no adult, not even Chris or Cherry, knew about. It was a dangerous, thrilling secret; the deeper parts of the forest were strictly forbidden ground.

Elsewhere, near the outskirts of the clearing, Shirou wandered lazily with his hands clasped behind his head. The quiet hum of the village was interrupted by the rhythmic scraping of a broom. Looking over, he spotted Chris sweeping fallen leaves beneath the shadow of a towering ancient tree.

Chris noticed him immediately, pausing his work with a warm smile. "Hey, Shirou. What are you doing out here all alone? Where's the rest of the crew?"

"They're still at the training ground," Shirou answered mildly, leaning against a nearby fence.

"Then why aren't you with them?" Chris asked, tilting his head in curiosity.

"I was… but Alicia kept getting frustrated because she couldn't land a hit. She demanded rematch after rematch. I figured if I stayed any longer, her head would actually explode, so I left."

Chris burst into a hearty, genuine chuckle. "Ha! That sounds exactly like Alicia. She’s desperate to be just like her mother, Sarah."

Shirou’s brow furrowed, a sudden coldness entering his eyes. "Why? Aren't they not even blood-related? She's just another orphan Sarah took in… why would she want to emulate a monster like that?"

Chris froze mid-sweep, the casual atmosphere instantly evaporating. He raised an eyebrow, his gaze turning serious. "A monster? Calling the savior of the realm a monster is… well, bold, Shirou. But more importantly, you're mistaken. Alicia really is Sarah's daughter—her biological child."

Shirou blinked, a rare flash of genuine startlement crossing his features. "But Sarah told me herself… she said the person she loved died in the war before they could ever marry."

Chris sighed softly, leaning his weight against the handle of his broom as he looked toward the horizon. "Ah… so she shared that story with you. Listen, during the height of the war, when Sarah journeyed from village to village on her quests, she met a man named Max. He was a blacksmith—but not just any blacksmith. He was a genius craftsman, a literal magician with tools whose weapons turned the tide of entire campaigns. The funny thing is, Sarah and Max absolutely detested each other at first. But as they survived one horror after another, something shifted. They grew close. Soon after, she was pregnant with Alicia."

Shirou's expression stiffened into a rigid, emotionless mask. "I see…"

Chris noticed the sharp, dangerous shift in the boy’s eyes, but wisely chose not to pry into depths he didn't understand.

Sensing the heavy silence, Shirou suddenly snapped his fingers, completely shifting his posture. "Wait—our duel! Chris, how about we finish what we started two months ago? I've been itching for a proper rematch!"

Chris flinched as though physically struck, casting a panicked glance toward the orphanage. "Ah! Terrific offer, Shirou, but I think… yes, I definitely hear Cherry calling me for chores! Later!"

Dropping the broom entirely, the seasoned warrior practically bolted down the dirt road.

"Wait! Don't run—!" Shirou groaned, throwing his hands up in utter exasperation. "Geez. The only genuinely capable fighter left in this village, and he flees at the sight of me… I need strong opponents if I’m going to grow."

His voice trailed off, dropping into a dangerous, low whisper. "When the time comes, I’ll take my revenge… against the war hero, Sar—"

Shirou stopped short, his eyes widening in sudden, jarring realization.

Wait… revenge on Sarah?

That single, burning directive was the entire reason he had allowed himself to be brought here. Yet, two months had slipped away, and slowly, imperceptibly, the consuming hatred that had once defined his every waking breath was beginning to dim. The warmth of the village, the laughter of the children, the peace—it was eroding him. If this trajectory continued, he would forget his purpose entirely.

"No…" he whispered fiercely, his body trembling as he clenched his fists so hard his nails dug deep into his palms, drawing thin beads of crimson.

Living this peaceful, domestic life would soften him into utter weakness. The same weakness that had made him helpless. The same weakness that had allowed everything he loved to be torn away. If he let go of his hatred, he would be betraying his mother’s memory—betraying her love, her sacrifice, and everything she had entrusted to him with her final breaths.

"I can't betray her," Shirou muttered, a cold, terrifying fire reigniting in his eyes.

Without a secondary thought, he turned on his heel and dashed with explosive speed toward the forbidden depths of the forest. I have to keep training. I have to grow strong enough to hunt the monsters Mother Eliza spoke of. And when I am strong enough… I will face Sarah.

Deep within the restricted thicket, the joyful atmosphere of the children’s secret hideout had entirely fractured.

"Don't just stand there! Go get the ball, you idiot!" Vanessa barked, gesturing sharply toward the dense perimeter of the clearing.

"W-Why does it always have to be meee…?" Jack whined miserably, wiping his nose before scampering off into the overgrown bushes, tears of frustration gathering in his eyes.

Alicia puffed out her chest proudly, a smug, triumphant grin expanding across her face. "So, how many times have we won today? Ten? No—has to be twenty!"

Sabrina, who had been meticulously keeping score with her usual calm precision, lowered her small hands. "If we are being exact… it is already thirty victories."

"Ah, thirty!" Alicia puffed out her cheeks, practically radiating a golden aura of smugness.

Dake crossed his arms, letting out a heavy, long-suffering sigh. "You know, Alicia… I’m on your team. Can't you stop rubbing our victories in their faces so much?"

Meanwhile, Vanessa’s face twisted with growing irritation as she stared at the silent bushes. "Tch… where is that stupid Jack? He can't even find a bright red ball properly." Stamping her foot, she marched toward the dense undergrowth, grumbling under her breath.

Alicia burst into loud, mocking laughter, pointing a finger after her. "Loser! Total sore loser! Hahaha!"

"You really shouldn't say that," Dake frowned, casting a sidelong glance at her. "Lest you forget, you literally just lost to Shirou ten times in a row without landing a single blow."

Instantly, the smugness vanished, and Alicia’s face turned an intense, volatile shade of red. "You little—get back here!" she screamed, lunging across the dirt.

With a panicked yelp, Dake bolted into the trees. "W-Wait! I was just joking! Alicia, stop!"

Watching them sprint in circles, Sabrina covered her small mouth and chuckled softly. The atmosphere—chaotic, loud, yet intensely warm—was everything she cherished about their fractured little family.

But as the minutes stretched out, the laughter began to die down. The forest around them seemed to grow progressively colder. Jack and Vanessa had still not returned from the brush.

"Geez… those two," Alicia muttered, planting her hands firmly on her hips as her laughter faded. "Still can't find a single ball? Are they taking a nap?"

Sabrina’s voice, usually a beacon of serene innocence, suddenly carried a sharp, trembling edge. "Maybe… maybe we should go check on them."

Dake and Alicia exchanged a brief, uneasy glance, the playful energy entirely vanishing. Nodding in unison, the three children stepped cautiously into the thicket, parting the heavy, jagged branches. As they pushed deeper, the canopy overhead closed off the sunlight, replacing the cheerful afternoon with a suffocating, heavy silence.

And then—they froze, the blood draining from their faces.

In a small, fractured clearing ahead, a nightmare manifested.

Standing over a shattered log was a massive, A-class Direwolf. Its hulking muscular frame was cloaked in fur as black as an abyss, and its eyes burned like molten, crimson coals. Corrosive saliva dripped rhythmically from its jagged, interlocking fangs, each droplet sizzling aggressively as it struck the forest floor, burning through grass and dirt alike.

At its paws lay Jack and Vanessa.

Jack was crumpled in the dirt, blood pouring rapidly from a horrific, deep gash across his stomach. His small hands pressed weakly against the wound, but the scarlet torrent refused to stop. His breaths came in ragged, strangled gasps, his pale face twisting in pure agony.

Vanessa trembled violently beside him, her arms stretched out protectively over his broken, bleeding body. Tears streamed down her face as she stammered, her voice completely breaking. "P-Please… let us go… please don't hurt him…"

But the apex predator, driven purely by primal hunger, merely tilted its monstrous head. The concept of mercy did not exist in its nature.

Behind the brush, Alicia’s group looked on in sheer horror, their breaths catching in their throats as terror paralyzed their limbs.

"What do we do…?" Sabrina whispered, her voice quivering violently as tears welled in her eyes.

"We can't… we can't just watch them die," Dake muttered, a desperate, terrified determination igniting in his eyes. He turned to Alicia, his hands grabbing her shoulders. "You can do it! Alicia, if anyone here has the martial skill to fight, it’s you!"

But when his gaze met hers, he didn't find the fierce, confident rival from the training grounds.

Alicia was entirely translucent. Her lips trembled soundlessly, and cold sweat poured down her forehead as her body shook with uncontrollable tremors. She was weaponless. Without her wooden sword, without the safety of the village square, she was just a child facing a lethal calamity. She had no way to stand against an A-class monster.

"I… I can't…" she choked out, her chest constricting so painfully she could barely breathe. She wanted to move. Every instinct screamed at her to save her friends, but her frozen limbs flatly refused to obey.

Sabrina pulled tightly at Dake's sleeve, her own eyes overflowing. "She can't, Dake… Without a blade, she's helpless. If she steps out there, she’ll just be slaughtered next…"

The Direwolf’s low growl vibrated through the earth, its snapping jaws now inches from Vanessa’s face. The children closed their eyes, bracing for the inevitable scream—

Whoosh!

A shadow exploded from the upper canopy.

Shirou descended directly between the beast and the trembling girl, hitting the ground with the resounding force of a falling hammer, scattering dust and shattered twigs in a wide arc. His voice cut through the terror like cold steel.

"I'll distract it! The moment I move, drag them out of here!"

The beast, startled by the intrusion, lunged forward with a sickening snap of its jaws.

But before its fangs could breach Vanessa's guard, Shirou exploded forward with lightning speed. Dropping low, he channeled every ounce of his momentum and slammed his shoulder squarely into the beast’s massive chest. With a thunderous, concussive crash, he drove the towering predator backward into a massive oak tree. The bark erupted into a cloud of sharp splinters.

"Now!" Shirou roared, his crimson eyes flashing with an unwavering, terrifying resolve. "Take them and run!"

"…Sh-Shirou?" Vanessa stammered, her vision blurred by tears.

"Don't waste my time—go!" he barked, never breaking eye contact with the recovering monster.

Seizing the micro-second window, Dake, Alicia, and Sabrina scrambled desperately from the undergrowth. Working with frantic, adrenaline-fueled strength, they scooped up Vanessa and the bleeding Jack, dragging them backward toward the safety of the path.

But their salvation came at a catastrophic price.

As Shirou attempted to reset his stance, the Direwolf recovered with terrifying speed. Its massive jaws snapped shut around his right arm. A sickening crunch echoed through the clearing as its fangs tore through flesh and bone, lifting him entirely off his feet before violently flinging him like a broken ragdoll across the clearing.

He collided heavily with a massive boulder, a ragged cry of pain torn from his throat as blood sprayed across the grey stone.

"Shirou!" Sabrina screamed, attempting to break away from the group to run back, but Alicia caught her arm with a desperate, iron grip.

"No!" Alicia’s voice cracked, tears streaming down her own face.

"But—if we leave him, it’ll kill him!"

Through tightly gritted teeth, forcing down her own overwhelming cowardice, Alicia pulled Sabrina away. "If we go back, everything he just did… it'll all be wasted! He fought to buy us a choice! Run!"

From across the clearing, Shirou pushed himself up, spitting a mouthful of crimson into the dirt. "Go! I'm fine—just get out of here!"

With heavy hearts and tear-stained faces, the children fled, their footsteps fading into the distance.

Left completely alone, Shirou clutched his mangled right arm, the sheer, unadulterated agony screaming through every nerve ending in his body. His movements were sluggish, his equilibrium shattered. His vision began to blur, heavily stained by a thick, warm veil of blood dripping from a deep laceration on his forehead.

And yet… through sheer, terrifying willpower, he forced his trembling knees to lock. He stood.

The Direwolf advanced slowly, recognizing its prey was crippled. It lunged again, its claws carving through the air. Shirou tried to evade, but his battered body failed him; the claws tore deeply across his chest, fracturing his ribs with an audible crack as he was thrown backward against the base of a tree.

Coughing up a violent spray of blood, Shirou slid down the bark, his physical strength rapidly draining away.

"Maybe… it really was a stupid idea," he muttered bitterly, his lips curling into a faint, self-deprecating grimace despite the immense suffering. "Jumping into a den of monsters with no weapon… no strategy… it was suicide from the very start."

The hulking predator prowled closer, its massive shadow completely swallowing his small form, its jaws gleaming red with his own life force.

And yet, as the end neared, a strange serenity washed over him. His eyes softened, the weight of his hatred briefly lifting. Looks like… this is as far as I go. Forgive me, Mother.

The beast gathered its weight and leapt, jaws wide to deliver the final, crushing blow.

And then—blinding, incandescent light.

A colossal, roaring fireball split the darkness of the forest, screaming through the trees like a falling comet. It struck the Direwolf squarely mid-air.

In a singular, terrifying instant, the creature's entire body erupted into white-hot flames. A horrific death cry shook the very foundations of the forest before its entire physical form dissolved into volatile ash, scattered instantly by the concussive wind of the explosion.

Shirou’s eyes widened to their absolute limits—not with relief, but with an intense, paralyzing disbelief.

The smoke from the incinerated beast began to drift, and through the haze, a voice rang out. It was sharp, mocking, yet carrying a chillingly familiar cadence that made his blood run cold.

"The end? What absolute nonsense are you spouting to yourself? Didn't you once swear that you would be the one to kill me with your own hands? Then don't you dare think about dying before you keep that promise."

As the embers danced through the night air, the silhouette fully materialized under the faint moonlight. Standing amidst the fading fire, a pristine white cloak billowing in the wind, was a young woman. Her long, braided hair shone like polished silver, and her eyes held a sharp, unmistakable brilliance.

It was a face Shirou knew better than his own.

She looked down at his battered form, a small, knowing smirk playing on her lips.

"Long time no see, Shirou."

Shirou’s breath hitched in his throat, the name tearing from his lips in a ragged whisper.

"Ela…?"