The Sanctuary of Infinitude and The Fallen Star

In a white and infinite void, where things resembling holes floated amidst the nothingness, stood a solitary structure. —In truth, from the angle of those "holes" decorating that endless white vacuum, one could presume the place in question was a white corridor.

No. Not "that" white corridor. You know the one I mean.

It wasn’t a great structure—at least, not at first glance.

It looked like a small temple resting upon a slab of smooth stone, suspended in the void as if space itself had paused to contemplate it. Its architecture was simple: straight dark wood pillars with fine inscriptions carved along their length, and a curved roof inspired by ancient oriental temples. No walls enclosed it—the wind could pass through freely... though there, no wind existed at all.

Bluish flames flickered in lanterns suspended at the corners, though no one seemed to have lit them. A path of floating stones led to the entrance, with steps ascending to the center: an open space with folded cushions, bowls of tea already served, and the soft sound of bells, even with no bells in sight.

In the middle of the courtyard, a circle of polished stone reflected the infinite white surrounding it.

It was there, in that bottomless reflection, that a figure appeared.

No impact. No flash. He simply... emerged.

He stood there wearing a black compression shirt, beige harem pants, and was completely barefoot. His eyes were closed, as if space itself had returned him after a long meditation.

Akashi Taiga had arrived.

He took a deep breath.

It wasn’t the kind of place that surprised him—but it was... calm.

"Welcome, sir."

Two childish voices echoed in unison before him.

One belonged to a boy; the other, to a girl. Both stood side by side, serene and strangely beautiful in appearance.

The boy, with voluminous and messy white hair, had skin so pale he looked sickly. He wore a white kimono fastened by a grayish sash. His small hands rested at his sides, and his bare feet were perfectly aligned. He looked to be about eight or nine years old. When he raised his face, he revealed a stoic expression, with silver eyes that met Akashi’s with respect.

— We were awaiting your arrival. Do you require anything? — said the boy, his voice calm and apathetic. 

Beside him, the girl.

Short black hair down to her shoulders, with a single reddish streak falling between her eyes. Her dark skin was as lustrous as jasper. She wore a black yukata with red lilies embroidered from her right shoulder down to her feet. She wore a pair of common zōris. As she looked up, a fierce smile tore across her face, revealing shark-like pointed teeth. Her eyes—amethyst in the right, ruby in the left—radiated vitality.

It was easy to tell who was the responsible one and who was the chaos in that duo.

— If the master wants, big brother will take care of everything! — she said excitedly.

— Don't worry, kids. I don't need anything for now. I appreciate the welcome, Ying and Yang.

Akashi replied in a soft tone, flashing a slight smile as he affectionately patted both their heads. The gesture was returned with proud and reverent gazes. The bond between them was evident.

Without haste, Akashi began to walk through the temple, climbing a short staircase that led to a private room.

Anyone observing the temple from the outside would never imagine its interior was so vast. But behind an invisible curtain, the space expanded, revealing rooms, corridors, and structures that defied spatial logic.

— Father, are you leaving now? — the boy asked in a calm, almost neutral tone.

— Yes. I’ve received a new mission from Master. I need to be away for a few days... well, I think you won't even notice the days passing, since time isn't a thing on this place–– bah, you both understood.

— Hmm... a mission? Where to this time?

— There’s a war about to break out between two planets in quadrant 12X-ALPHA. They sent me to resolve it before they destroy each other.

As he answered, Akashi rummaged through clothes inside a wardrobe. The scene was almost domestic—as if the Sanctuary of Infinitude were merely his home... lost at an impossible point in space.

— The kings of Callus and Artoria are fighting over some object. I don't know exactly what, but I know enough: my role is to prevent trillions from dying because of this greed.

— So you're going to act on two planets at the same time? — asked Yang, genuinely curious. 

— Are you gonna show up, beat 'em both up, and leave the kings half-dead so they'll chill out? — the girl added, smiling with her arms crossed.

Akashi grabbed a black long-sleeved shirt with three golden buttons engraved with dragons. Along with it, dark dress pants, black leather shoes, and a white hooded coat. A refined outfit—nothing like a combat uniform.

Walking behind a smooth dark wood screen, he replied:

— I don't think it'll be necessary to act on both. Wars like this usually start on one planet and spread... and going out destroying everything right away is problematic. I'll try the diplomatic route first.

His tone shifted. He sounded almost sheepish. Ying saw him as someone impulsive, even destructive—which made him slightly uncomfortable.

— Anyway, stay sharp. If there’s any abnormality, call me. I’ll return immediately.

He stepped out from behind the screen. The new clothes gave him a distinguished air, but the coat resting over his shoulders and sleeves rolled up to his elbows were still purely "Akashi style."

"Understood."

The two bowed at the same time, coordinated. Then, Yang raised his head.

— Father... Eiden is still locked in the lower hall.

— Locked? Did something happen to him?

— Yes. Sister d—!

— He’s just being a bit grumpy, as usual! — Ying interrupted with a hasty smile. — Right, little brother?

The simple idea of there being a "lower hall" in a floating sanctuary was bizarre enough. But like its interior, that structure hid more than the eye could see.

More than anyone could imagine.

Akashi raised an eyebrow.

— Ying. Yang.

"Y-yes!?"

— I’m counting on you, alright?

The firm call made them shrug their shoulders and hold their breath. But it all melted away when they saw the gentle smile on his face.

They lost their words. They were surprised once again by his humanity.

"Yes, sir..." they replied in unison.

Akashi turned, facing the void beyond the sanctuary.

— The infinite lands... protecting them all is quite a task. So, stay on alert. If anything affects the Sanctuary, let me know.

— If someone manages to affect the Sanctuary of Infinitude, it's because they know it exists. — Yang said.

— ...And if they know, they might be planning to attack us. — Ying completed.

— Or they are strong enough to affect it unintentionally. — Akashi concluded, smiling.

He looked at them calmly.

— Very well. You've learned. I feel more at ease knowing I can count on you... and on Eiden too, when he comes out. Then, we’ll have a talk.

He approached and once again patted their heads; they smiled genuinely.

— You won't be disappointed, sir.

— We are the children of Akashi Taiga, after all.

His body began to glow. Golden particles rose from his feet, enveloping his body. Akashi gave them one last look before vanishing.

And the Sanctuary of Infinitude, as if taking a breath... returned to silence.

△▼△▼△▼△

Meanwhile, at another point in the universe...

Something crossed the dark and infinite immensity of space—a multicolored trail, vibrant as a shooting star or an asteroid at absurd speed.

Its shape was obscured by the very light it emitted. It stretched, distorted, almost fragmented into energy, such was its velocity.

No one knew what it was. Its origin? Unknown. Its destination? Uncertain. But one thing was clear: that thing did not belong to that solar system.

As if pulled by the gravitational force of a massive, greenish planet, the object suddenly veered off course—a violent curve that tore through the space around it.

In seconds, it breached the atmosphere. The heat of re-entry engulfed the object in flames. Its incandescent body sliced through the night skies until it crashed into the middle of a dense forest, apparently isolated from the rest of the world.

Then... a boom. A flash. The darkness was momentarily replaced by an orange light, like a second aurora.

Birds fled. Animals went silent.

The air grew heavy.

And finally, silence reigned.

...

In the center of a crater, where trees had been uprooted and crushed, lay an unusual structure.

Oval, metallic, adorned with protrusions resembling fins or flippers.

It looked like a cross between a spaceship and a sea creature—something between an escape pod and an inflated pufferfish, but without spines. The visor was dark, cracked by the impact, but firm. Impossible to see inside. No complete cracks. No sound of life.

But there was something in there.

Without a doubt.

That object carried someone.

Someone alive.

But for now, their identity remained an absolute mystery.

The metallic sound of a compartment opening echoed through the silence of the forest. The left side of that oval object—definitely a ship, or something like it—split from bottom to top, releasing a cloud of white vapor. Hot. One could almost assume whoever was inside had been cooked alive.

But there was no scream, no movement. Only silence.

The structure seemed to have opened for safety. Perhaps an automatic protocol upon detecting landing—or rather, impact. If that was the case, it was a pretty stupid system... because, let's be honest, opening the ship right after crashing into a random forest on an unknown planet? If the air were toxic, radioactive, or full of killer spores, goodbye crew.

But you can’t complain to the engineer. By now, he’s probably far away—or dead.

Either way, the silence didn't last long. Low growls began to emerge around the crater. One, two, then dozens... hundreds?

White eyes glowed in the darkness of the woods—predators lying in wait. Hungry. Watching the ship as if dinner had just been served.

That was when a voice emerged. Calm. Unhurried. Almost mocking.

"Geez, where did this come from?"

Out of nowhere, a white-haired young man appeared at the edge of the crater, putting his hands on his hips and leaning in as if analyzing a curious object in a shop window.

He observed the vapor. The interior of the ship. And then, he saw.

A child. Unconscious. Lying on a makeshift bed, still inside.

Akashi Taiga arched an eyebrow.

— Is she alive? — he muttered to himself, like someone who didn't want to find out the answer the hard way.

He hoped so. He really did. Because for the sake of his own job, a corpse of a child crashing in the same spot where Akashi had appeared—at almost the exact same second—wouldn't guarantee him a vacation or a raise.

Actually, that’s a lie. He didn’t have those benefits of a common worker.

Akashi sighed and scratched the back of his neck as if this were just any Tuesday.

— I hope she’s still breathing... — he murmured, though his tone sounded more like a plea than an observation.

As he said this, the eyes around the crater increased in number. And in brightness. Creatures? Animals? It wasn't easy to tell—their bodies remained hidden in the shadows, but the hunger... you could feel it. You could almost hear it.

Akashi didn’t seem too worried.

He descended the edge of the crater with calm steps, like someone going to buy bread. Every loose stone and scorched trunk was ignored as if the terrain weren't meant to challenge anyone.

Approaching the ship, he looked closer at the child. She was breathing. Slowly, but steadily. Apparently, the life support systems had worked—at least until then.

It was a small kid.

Bronzed skin, almost golden under the pale glow escaping through the clouds of that world—or maybe it was just a reflection of the newly formed crater.

Her hair, light blue, fell to her shoulders in messy strands, looking like she had run straight out of bed. And maybe she had.

Her clothes were simple, without any trace of technology or protection. She wore a light fabric nightgown, almost ethereal to the touch of the non-existent wind, with tight shorts underneath—enough to preserve decency, even if she were tossed there like someone who forgot the world around her.

Definitely pajamas. She didn't seem to have prepared for an interplanetary trip... or for falling from the sky at high speed inside a pufferfish-style ship.

Akashi stood there, arms crossed, staring at the girl with the look of someone about to be involved in yet another mess he didn't ask for.

— Child from another world, nightgown, shorts, mysterious fall in a forest where I happened to show up... — He muttered while analyzing the little girl. — ...yeah. This is gonna be trouble.

The universe was big.

In fact, there are countless ones. And as absurd as it seems, the idea of finding deformed monsters, beings glowing in cosmic codes, or wearing clothes made of stellar matter... isn't as common as you’d think.

Here’s a brief summary:

In the overwhelming majority of cases, living beings out there look like humans or animals—sometimes a mix of both. Are there exceptions? Sure. There are impossible languages, ancient traditions, cultures from a thousand worlds, and the whole Star Wars package.

But here... things are leaner. Less flashy.

More... aligned.

In the end, everyone is in the image and likeness of the King of All.

That’s why Akashi isn’t surprised to see a humanoid child falling from the sky in a nightgown.

He’d be more suspicious if it were a creature with white skin, a purple head, a lizard tail, an ego the size of galaxies, and a laugh that is annoying as fuc—.

But... it wouldn't be impossible either.

Speaking of the child...

— Hey, little one... don't give me a hard time, okay?

He spoke softly, as if speaking to a sleeping animal.

Then he turned. He looked at the hidden creatures and smiled like someone already bored with his own mission.

— Alright. Come on, then. But no drama.

And he snapped his fingers.

The snap was low. Simple. But in the next instant, a colossal roar echoed through the forest.

It wasn’t his.

It was from the creatures hidden in the darkness.

Crawling, then running. Like uncontrolled beasts.

They weren't people anymore. But at some point... they were.

Maybe they even knew it. Maybe they even felt shame—or pain.

But it was too late.

They had deformed, elongated bodies covered in thin, almost translucent skin. As if the flesh itself had given up on supporting them. Bones jutted out between fibers, curved the wrong way—like claws and spikes emerging where they shouldn't.

Some crawled, others walked sideways, breaking branches with paws that were once hands.

And they all wore wooden masks.

Crudely made.

Little faces carved with crooked eyes, mouths too wide open, or no expression at all. Masks that looked childish... if they weren't so wrong.

Hanging from their faces by ropes and stitched flesh, each was unique—and all were horrendous.

They emerged from the darkness like a collective outbreak from the forest.

Running without screaming. Emitting no sound other than that of leaves being crushed by their misshapen strides.

"And I asked for no drama..."

He grumbled through a lazy sigh. His body relaxed, hands buried in his black pants pockets, and that arrogant smile opening at the corner of his lips. It was as if he were just waiting for an excuse to have some fun.

The first of several opponents advanced, breaking the darkness with pale eyes fixed on Akashi’s—one blue eye and one red. And in that instant... he moved.

"Gayak!!"

The creature grunted, throwing its whole body forward in a desperate attempt to slash the young man with its deformed claws.

But Akashi merely leaned back with a light hop, still smiling. Another blow came, a horizontal slash—predictable. The young man moved as if he were dancing.

— I noticed. You put all the weight on your left heel... — he commented, almost bored, looking away like someone correcting posture. — ...and you started flexing your right shoulder before even thinking about the attack. Zero surprises. But you're trying. We notice!

There was no time for a response—not that the creature would understand.

The kick came dry, too fast for that thing's eyes to follow.

By the time it realized, it was already flying back, being hurled like a rotten projectile, colliding with its own allies.

In the center of the deformed chest, a footprint branded like a seal—still smoking.

The creatures advanced, grunting and dragging their feet like ravenous aberrations. Cracked wooden masks hid what was left of the humanity on their faces, but they couldn't hide the irrational fury that moved them.

— Fine. Let's do this.

He said, cracking his neck and shoulders as if he were just warming up. Or rather, as if it were all just an exercise.

Akashi's eyes flashed for a moment—that red and bluish glow reflecting the dead lights of the forest. Before him, dozens of deformed creatures, cracked wooden masks covering faces that were once human. They didn't speak. They only grunted. But the fury in their eyes said everything: they wanted to tear him apart.

— Right... internal music activated.

He snapped his neck, his feet spreading as if marking an invisible beat. His hands slowly slid out of his pockets, and with a light thrust, Akashi glided across the ground as if friction were a suggestion and not a rule.

The first monster advanced with an animalistic flying kick.

Akashi crouched, spinning on one leg, performed a lateral swipe like a windmill, and kicked the enemy's chin mid-spin. The deformed body spun in the air, falling headfirst into one of the lackeys behind.

Two more advanced from the sides.

He threw his body back in a backflip, dodging both and, still in the air, spun as if dancing capoeira, hitting both in the chest with his heels. They flew like straw dolls.

"Let's see who's got more rhythm!"

He landed, but didn't stop—sliding on his stomach with one hand on the black grass, spinning his body with his leg extended like an out-of-control helicopter. Three creatures tried to touch him—they were sliced in half by the force of the spin.

With a burst of momentum, he went into a freeze, balancing on one arm, body upside down.

One of the enemies jumped at him with claws raised. Akashi launched his body upward, spinning in a full flare and hitting the creature with a roundhouse kick that sent it crashing back to the ground with enough force to make the nearby trees shudder.

In the middle of the spin, Akashi shouted:

— WHAT IS THIS, I'M LIKE NEO MIXED WITH A STREET DANCER!?

Four enemies surrounded him, trying to sink claws from all sides. But he didn't run. Instead, he spun like a top, executing a spinning head freeze at impossible speed. The claws struck his body but were repelled by pure centrifugal force, and each rotation resulted in a precise kick to the enemies' temples.

Shortly after the spin, he raised his foot and stepped on the shoulder of a fourth creature that was crawling toward him. And then—with absurd balance—he ran briefly over its back as if on a living surfboard.

— Thanks for the ride.

Before the creature could react, he kicked it down hard enough to bury it in the ground. Still in the air, he used the momentum for a stylized backflip, spinning twice in the air with his hands in his pockets as if he were just playing.

Soaring too high—so high that for a second his body was framed against the Moon. The image of the young man in the sky would be poetic... if he weren't about to fall like a missile.

— Broke everything going up... now I'm gonna sink it coming down.

The descent was brutal. He fell like a shooting star into the middle of the field, opening a second crater with the force of the impact. The ground cracked. Several monsters flew, launched like living shrapnel. Some crashed into trees, others shattered upon impact.

The dust settled.

In the center of the crater, Akashi stood. One leg bent, the other stretched forward. One arm crossed over his chest, the other supporting his chin. The final pose of a dancer in a talent show.

He flashed a thumb and said naturally:

— Someone record this, please? Pretty sure I'd win a championship.

The creatures hesitated for a second. For the first time, they seemed to doubt.

Akashi merely snapped his fingers.

— Round two?

In total silence, the remaining creatures slowly retreated. Always looking back at the one who had devastated their group with ease, the aberrations vanished into the darkness until their empty white eyes disappeared from sight.

Apparently, Akashi left quite an impression on everyone present.

— Heh, they must have learned a lesson.

Leaping out of the crater his own body had generated, Akashi smiled continuously, apparently satisfied with the little exercise. Amidst all this mess, his white hair remained white, his clothes were intact, and his white coat remained draped over his shoulders as if it were part of the young man's body.

Unshaken. The young man scanned the surroundings with care and attention, ensuring everyone had retreated, soon noticing someone meeting his gaze.

— Huh?

"..."

— What a surprise. So you woke up... well, I made a hell of a mess here and a lot of noise, it was to be expected that someone would wake up to that.

Standing with a curious and unconcerned expression was the little girl. If one were to notice, she seemed to be in the 6 or 7-year-old range, but considering that age tends to work differently in different parts of the cosmos, perhaps she was older. Other than that, her silver eyes were very round and radiant, exactly like those of an innocent and curious child.

Regardless. The young girl was totally quiet, her right hand resting on her left elbow. Motionless.

— Well... now that we're in this, it would be good for you to tell me what planet you came from and what you were doing in that ship, right?

"..."

— Silent type, eh?

"..."

— Can you even understand me?

Akashi tilted his head slightly, as if observing her more calmly now. His narrowed eyes evaluated every detail of the girl's behavior—the silence, the way her eyes wandered, the unnatural calm. That wasn't normal. And he knew how to recognize when something was out of place.

— Nothing yet? Hm... maybe the impact left you dazed.

He took two steps forward, calmly, showing no threat. The girl remained exactly as she was, eyes fixed on him, as if absorbing his entire image. There was no fear. No reaction. Only... analysis.

Akashi frowned for a moment. His relaxed posture was slightly replaced by a silent focus.

— You're alive, that's a good start. But not even a "hi" after all this? I'm starting to think you're hiding something in there, little one. Like a self-destruct chip. Just kidding! Hehehe––... more or less.

He pointed his thumb at himself.

— Akashi Taiga. That's the name of the guy who just saved you and who, honestly, expected a bit more gratitude. Not even a scared face, or a "mister, you're a monster!". Something like that.

"..."

— Man, not even an "uncle"? I've been called worse...

Finally, the girl blinked.

The first real reaction. As if that gesture were an unlock.

Slowly and silently, she raised her right hand—which had been resting on her arm—and pointed directly at Akashi.

— Ak... shi.

The voice was low, soft... almost a whisper. But it reverberated unnaturally. As if it were lodged and having difficulty leaving her throat. It was a start.

Akashi froze for a second. His narrowed eyes opened wide, eyebrow arched, and his smile died for half a second.

— Whoa. You spoke. I was already thinking I'd need to learn interstellar sign language.

— Ak... shi...

The girl squeezed her eyes shut, her head tilting gently to the side.

— Yeah. Let's say that's it.

The smile reappeared, a bit sheepish at the way the little girl called him. She seemed to have difficulty saying his name, or anything beyond it.

— Yeah... I think I'm gonna have to step it up.

The girl blinked again. This time, as if something inside her had even more curiosity than she would like to show; everything Akashi told her was curious and, consequently, strange. Her body relaxed, and she didn't seem to mind the stranger's presence as much. Like a normal child. Still silent, she just lowered her arm and sat on the ground, pulling her knees close to her chest.

Akashi let out a light sigh and ran a hand through his hair.

— Excuse me for a second, kid.

Akashi took a few steps forward, kneeling on one knee before the unknown girl. Immediately, a reddish object radiated light from the center of the young man's forehead—a small crystal in the shape of a deltoid, but with enough presence to startle those present. The girl was no different.

However...

— O-oh...?

— Calm down, everything is going to be okay.

She couldn't say it, but her eyes and expression gave everything away. She was truly marveled by the object. Its heat. Its light. Its presence. Everything intrigued her as if the secrets of the universe were being revealed before her.

In fact, it was quite the opposite.

— This won't hurt at all. It might just leave you a bit confused.

Akashi said before touching the little girl's forehead with his hand. In the same instant, her silver eyes became crimson, like Akashi's. In that time, a flood of memories emerged, like a restless river, constantly flowing.

"You need to go!"

In another language, the desperate voice of a man would speak such words. Panting, the sound of metal and explosions indicated something was happening.

In the eyes of a little girl, everything was confusing. Her mother's lap and embrace were all that comforted her, even if the fear was real.

"It's going to be okay... it's going to be okay!—ah?!"

As the beautiful woman with hair similar to the girl's—noting that hers was long and wavy—spoke those words with fear and panting, an explosion occurred right there.

The woman fell to her knees, hugging her daughter tightly, instinctively protecting her with her own body. Metallic fragments ricocheted off the destroyed walls of the shelter, while the ground shook with the force of shots and impacts outside.

The man—tall, robust, with golden markings on his face and wearing a partially damaged protection suit—approached fast, dragging a kind of curved sword, similar to a shotel, in his right hand.

"He's coming! Quick, put her in the Korus!"

"But what about you...?!" the woman screamed in her tongue.

"I'll hold him off. You have to go! The world will collapse if I let that bastard steal the Exo Nihil!"

The girl felt her mother's tears streaming down her face as she was carried in a hurry to a spherical compartment made of almost translucent metal, pulsing with blue energy. The interior of the capsule resembled a nest, with soft cushions and belts, as if made only for someone fragile.

"Mommy..." The girl reached out a trembling little hand. The woman held it for longer than she could, tearful eyes staring at her daughter's face as if trying to etch it into her memory forever.

"Kaira... you are the legacy of our family. Of our planet... of the children of Silitoth. Do not forget that. The light within you will guide whoever is lost. Do not... let this light... be lost."

A last kiss. A last hug.

"Forgive me... forgive me, my little daughter... in the end, I couldn't be a good mother to you... I'm sorry for leaving you alone..."

The capsule closed with a soft but definitive sound.

"M-mommy! MOMMY!!"

"Survive, I beg of you... be the light of hope for everyone one day... we need you to be strong... for mommy, for daddy... and for aaaaall of Valkhara, okay? Mommy will also fight... and one day, we will see each other again."

Watching her mother speak with words stuck in her throat, the girl could only cry.

"Serai lunéth akari..."

With those last words, the woman's palm touched the surface of what could be called the ship's "windshield." Kaira gently touched her small palms on the same surface, wishing she was holding her mother's hand.

Finally, slowly turning, hesitantly, the mother let a golden aura emanate from her body and finally ran toward the man.

The spaceship took flight, without a premeditated destination, guided by the cosmos to infinity and beyond. And then...

The world disappeared.

"Nngh..."

The girl's body trembled. Her face contorted in confusion and silent agony. Akashi, with his finger still pressed to the little one's forehead, saw her eyes return to their natural color—but tear-filled. A sob escaped her throat, even though she didn't emit an audible sound. As if only the body remembered how to cry.

Akashi pulled his hand away and the crystal on his forehead softly dimmed, returning to its common appearance.

— Huh... an escape pod from a collapsing planet. That explains a lot...

He watched her for a few more seconds until his expression relaxed. The sigh he let out wasn't just of relief, but also of understanding.

— You saw everything, right? So... you must be pretty confused right now.

The girl just looked at him, in silence.

Akashi raised an eyebrow and smiled again.

— Alright. We'll figure this out.

He reached out his hand again. Now, with a gentler gesture, as if to say: "You're not alone anymore."

The girl hesitated... then she held his hand. Very firmly.

"Kaira..."

Her voice sounded firmer. A name. Perhaps the only one she could still remember without pain.

— Yeah... it's a good name.

Akashi pulled her slowly and helped her up.

— Let's go, Kaira. For now, you're walking with me. If you want, I can arrange a place for you to stay on this planet, I guarantee you'll be fine.

— H-hnm...

— No rush. Relax. I'll let the choice be yours while I think about what to do now...

He looked at the starry sky, as if asking for a sign that he was on the right path. But, as always, the universe only answered with more silence.

— Okay... let's go. Before anything else falls from the sky.

He reached out his hand to the girl.

She didn't hesitate and took it. Without uttering a word other than a resolute "Hum!", perhaps her way of saying "Yes!"

Finally, the mission would begin. With his little companion from far beyond the cosmos, Akashi walked into the forest, with a goal in mind...

And a duty to fulfill.

————

Act 1: The Journey Begins with a Chance Incident. — Start.