Chapter 1: First Encounter

Kurumi ran with everything she had, gripping her little sister Amy’s hand as tightly as she could. Her breath came in broken gasps, lungs burning with every inhale. The footsteps behind them had faded long ago, yet fear still clung to her spine like ice.

Cold gnawed at her bones. Hunger and thirst made her vision swim. She could barely speak.

When the silhouettes of several houses appeared between the trees, Kurumi’s eyes widened.

“Finally…” she whispered, fragile hope trembling in her voice.

She pulled Amy into the village.

But the village was far colder than she expected.

People filled the streets—talking, trading, living—yet not a single one looked at the two battered children. It was as if Kurumi and Amy didn’t exist.

Kurumi forced herself to stop in front of a woman.

“Please,” she said, voice cracking. “My sister and I… we’re hungry. Water, food—anything.”

The woman didn’t even glance at her.

Kurumi swallowed her frustration and tried again. Every door. Every passerby. Every face.

The answer was always the same.

Nothing.

Then a fat man with filthy eyes finally stopped. He grinned—a smile that didn’t reach his face, only revealing his intent.

“So, you want food?” he said, eyes crawling over Kurumi. “What will you give me in return?”

His gaze lingered.

“You’ve got a nice body. Give me that, and I’ll feed you.”

Kurumi’s blood ran cold.

“Y–you sick bastard!” she shouted, stumbling back.

The man advanced like a bear closing in on prey. And like the rest of the village, no one reacted. No one cared.

Amy clutched Kurumi’s side, shaking—

—when a calm voice cut through the air.

“Hey. Leave her.”

The village froze.

Two figures approached.
A man in a black cloak.
And beside him, a pale-haired boy—no older than twelve.

A whisper rippled through the crowd.

“That’s… the leader of the Veil of Shadows. Rex.”

Rex stopped in front of the fat man.

“Ayanon has really turned into a shithole,” he said calmly, his voice razor-sharp. “Creatures like you are the reason why.”

The man hissed. “I’m Dravok-born! Superior to you filthy Ayanon trash! When you speak to me, you kneel and beg! Bow at my feet, and maybe our soldiers will go easy on you!”

He laughed—loud, hollow, ugly.

Rex sighed and tilted his head.

“Sae,” he said. “Handle it.”

The boy bowed slightly. “As you wish, sensei.”

The man took a step forward—

SHNK.

One sound.

The scream died in his throat.

His severed hand hit the ground.

He dropped to his knees, choking, but Sae pressed a knife into his mouth before a sound escaped. The blade pierced his palate. His body convulsed.

Sae stepped behind him and slit his throat.

Blood sprayed across his white hair, staining it crimson.

The man collapsed.

Rex glanced at the corpse and smirked.

“How ironic,” he said. “In the end, you were the one who knelt.”

The villagers recoiled in fear.

Rex ignored them and turned to Kurumi.

“Hey,” he said gently. “Do you two need help?”

Kurumi couldn’t answer.
Amy hid behind her, trembling.

Rex exhaled softly. “Yeah… I thought so. You’re coming with us. You’re in no condition to stay here.”

He handed them water.

“Please… don’t hurt us,” Amy whispered.

Rex knelt to meet her eyes.

“We won’t,” he said calmly. “I promise.”

Amy drank, hesitating.

As they walked, Kurumi’s thoughts churned.
Who were these people?
Why had they killed a Dravok without hesitation?
And why were they being kind?

To the Dravok-born, Ayanon were devil-spawn. Even speaking out of turn could mean torture.

But these two ignored all of that.

Rex stopped suddenly. Kurumi flinched.

“We’re here,” he said.

They stood at the edge of a cliff.

“Look down.”

Kurumi and Amy leaned forward—and froze.

A hidden city lay within the cliff.
Shimmering streams. Children playing. Merchants trading.

After the ruined, enslaved remains of Ayanon…
…it looked like paradise.

Rex and Sae led them inside.

At a large building, a graceful woman stepped out.

“Welcome back, Rex. Sae,” she said warmly. “How was the mission?”

Rex scratched the back of his head. “Not bad, Ai. Also… we found these two.”

Kurumi and Amy stepped forward. Ai’s gaze softened instantly.

Torn clothes. Bruised skin.

“I’ll take care of them,” Ai said gently. “Sae, tell Kotori to bring clean clothes.”

Sae nodded. “Understood, sensei.”

He vanished into the shadows.

Ai turned back to the girls with a soft smile. Something warm—something Kurumi had forgotten—stirred in her chest.

It felt like safety.

Rex waved a hand. “Alright, Ai. They’re yours. Let me know when you’re done.”

Ai chuckled. “Of course.”

She took their hands.

“Come,” she said softly. “You’re safe now.”