Ashes

Original work. By the author ‘Pili.’

In a small town, bordering the west of the capital Praga, the night had already settled an hour ago. The streets were illuminated only by the faint glow of scattered lanterns and the pale moonlight.

Near one of the wider roads, a group of three children was still outside.

Two of them were boys, their faces flushed from running.

Running behind them was a short, young girl with thick, dark purple hair that fell to her neck. Her sharp, wide violet eyes brimmed with endless energy.

“Hah! I got you… Caught you again!”

She tapped the shoulder of the taller boy while she grinned triumphantly.

The boy groaned, slumping slightly.

“Hey! That’s not fair… Natsumi,” the boy protested, nearly tripping. “You always win!”

Another boy laughed, his hands on his knees as he caught his breath.

“Yeah… seriously. With such agility like that, you might get into the PHG before us.”

The girl puffed her cheeks slightly, clearly pleased, though she tried not to show it too much.

“Hehe… Well, obviously!”

“Well,” the first boy asked. “Can’t you ask Ayuri-san to let us join too…? Afterall you talk to her more than us.”

The taller boy scoffed, crossing his arms.

“Heh. Dream on, Ikumi. Ayuri-san only has time for special people. Like me.”

“Haah?!” The other boy frowned. “What’s so special about you Saku, huh?”

“You’ll see! I’m going to ask her tomorrow if she comes to the capital!”

Natsumi’s ears perked up. Her eyes sparkled.

“Ayuri-san is coming to the capital? Really? I wanna play with her when she comes!”

The boy’s confidence wavered slightly. He scratched his cheek.

“Well… I’m not sure if she’s really coming. She’s super busy, you know… Protecting the city and doing PHG stuff.”

“Meh… as always…”

She clenched her fists lightly.

“She’s so amazing. I wanna be just like her too when I grow up!”

The second boy snickered.

“I don’t think you can reach her level. She’s like… way too up there.”

“HEY!” she snapped back. “Don’t say that!”

The three of them started walking down the road, still bickering lightly as they headed back.

Fewer houses appeared along the path. The streets were quieter now.

The chilly air swept around them, their conversation fading into silence.

“H-Hey…”

The second boy spoke as he looked around nervously.

“Guys… isn’t it getting really late? Shouldn’t we hurry back to home? My mom’s gonna kill me.”

Natsumi put her hands on her hips, teasing him.

“Oh…? Don’t tell me you’re scared of the dark.”

“I’m not scared! But we spent way too much time running around today. We totally forgot about time.”

“Yeah…” The taller boy sighed. “It’s your fault anyway, Natsumi. You kept creating rules that made things more complex as we played.”

“Don’t blame me for that.”

But then, the boy stopped walking.

“Uhh… guys?”

“What now?”

“It’s getting… too foggy. Like, really fast.”

He pointed ahead. A thick, unnatural dark mist was rolling in from the end of the street, swallowing the lantern light.

“Wasn’t the weather clear today?”

Natsumi waved her hand dismissively.

“Oh, come on. Don’t tell me you’re afraid of ghosts now, hehe…”

She took a confident step forward—

And bumped straight into someone’s chest and stumbled back.

“Ah—” She rubbed her forehead.

“Ow… Sorry, I didn’t see you—”

As she looked up, words couldn’t get out.

That young woman was smiling weirdly. She stood directly in front of her, emerging from the fog like a phantom.

Dark black hair. Sharp, amused red eyes.

Her presence was unsettling in a way the girl couldn’t explain.

The boy, Saku, took a step back instinctively.

“…W-Who are you?” his voice was shaky.

That young lady tilted her head slightly. A smile slowly spread across her face, and it didn't seem friendly.

“Where are you kids heading at this late hour?” Her voice was smooth and chillingly calm.

Natsumi swallowed hard. Her instincts were screaming at her to run, but her legs felt heavy.

“We… We’re going home,” Natsumi managed to say, trying to keep her voice steady.

“We were just playing… and forgot about the time.”

“Is that so?”

Renne’s smile widened.

“I see… Well… Why don’t you come with us instead?”

She extended her gloved left hand.

“We have a very… entertaining show prepared for tonight.”

“Show…? Us…?” Natsumi didn’t get a thing.

“Natsumi…” Saku whispered urgently. “Can’t we just—”

“It’s too late anyway,” Renne interrupted, her tone becoming deeper. “The show… is already starting.”

Many footsteps sounded.

From behind Renne, figures emerged from the fog.

One. Three. Five.

Even more figures emerged. Ten of them. Their faces were covered. Their suits were glossy black.

And in the center, walking with a relaxed, almost lazy gait, was a man whose presence felt less than human. Covered in shadows. Dark aura emanated from him.

Eldarion.

Natsumi’s eyes widened. She seemed to recognize them. Everyone knew the stories.

“You…”

Her face twisted from fear into anger.

“The Night Crows!”

She didn’t hesitate. She grabbed the hands of the two boys behind her.

“RUN!”

They bolted to the right instantly.

Their footsteps pounded frantically against the cobblestones.

“Mama!” The second boy sobbed, tears streaming down his face as he stumbled.

“Don’t worry!” Natsumi shouted, pulling him up. “We’re going to be oka—”

An explosion rocked the ground.

She turned her head around…

The street behind them was gone.

Fire… everywhere.

The Night Crows had spread out the whole village.

Eldarion and his group were casting magic strikes.

Explosions rang out.

Flames erupted as houses were struck, fire crawling up wooden walls in seconds.

“It’s the Night Crows!”

“Call the Royal Guards!”

“Help… Someone!”

Screams filled the night.

Renne stood in the middle of the chaos, watching the flames reflect in her red eyes. She looked amused.

“Heh…” she murmured. “The Royal Guards are busy right now.”

She spread out her arms.

“This… will be our banquet.”

People were running out of their homes, screaming. The heat was intense.

From the edge of Natsumi’s vision, she saw two masked men approach a woman clutching her crying daughter.

They were carrying bladed weapons, which made the mother even more afraid.

Renne stepped in front of them. It was in an instant.

“Hey,” she interrupted lightly. “Our mission is to spread corruption and fear, and also to take some individuals as important hostages. I don’t remember allowing anyone to be killed.”

The men clicked their tongues.

“Tch… this is kinda boring. But as you order.”

They turned away.

Renne watched them go, then turned her gaze back.

It landed on Natsumi.

The girl stood in her place, her small fists clenched and shaking. She wasn’t running anymore. She was staring at Renne with hatred.

The boys were a few steps behind her. They remained still, just watching.

Natsumi rushed forward, trying to attack Renne.

Renne’s eyebrows raised.

“Oh…?”

She instantly vanished.

Natsumi blinked in shock. She couldn't even move.

Renne suddenly appeared, her hand tightly wrapped around her wrist.

With a single motion, she lifted the girl off the ground.

Pain shot through Natsumi’s shoulder. She kicked and thrashed.

“LET ME GO!” Natsumi cried furiously. “STOP IT! LEAVE ME ALONE!”

Renne watched her struggle with a look of cold pity.

“How sad,” she whispered. “Just as weak as always. Where is the kingdom now, huh? Or did they forget about this village too…?”

She leaned in close.

“Do you really trust such a rotten system? How pathetic.”

Then, she dropped Natsumi meters away.

Natsumi hit the ground hard, gasping for air. The two boys rushed instantly to her side.

“Natsumi! Are you okay?”

“I’m… fine,” she said slowly as she tried to force herself up.

Renne didn’t look at them again. She turned her back.

“Oh, also…” she added casually over the screams and the fire. “When the Royal Guards arrive…”

She glanced back over her shoulder, giving Natsumi a chilling side-eye.

“Tell them to prepare for the news. The coming days will be… interesting.”

Her lips moved silently.

“Sorry…”

Her voice was too faint to hear.

Then, she crouched and leaped.

With a burst of mana, she surged into the sky, soaring the burning street.

She glanced at the horizon and noticed the lights of moving lanterns heading towards them.

“Everyone!” She commanded. “Our work here is done. The elite guards will arrive soon.”

The Night Crows members started to disappear one by one into the night, just as quickly as they had appeared.

What they left behind was hell.

The street lay in ruins.

Fire consumed homes. People were screaming.

“N-No…”

Natsumi scrambled to her feet.

She looked toward the corner where the mother and daughter had been.

The mother was gone.

The girl was walking slowly out of the smoke. Her clothes were burning. Flames from their home had scorched few parts of her skin.

“Mama… Where are you…?”

The girl cried in low tone, trying to find out where her mother had gone.

Natsumi took a step toward her. She wanted to do something.

But… her legs couldn’t move.

Fear and shock paralyzed her.

She felt tears sting her eyes as she watched, unable to do anything.

“Why…?”

…

Ten minutes later.

The sound of galloping horses increased.

Water magic surged through the street, dousing the flames in hissing clouds of steam.

The Royal Guards had finally arrived.

But… it was too late.

The night was already stained with ash.

[TO BE CONTINUED…]