Dusk envelops the forest. A symphony of colours dances in the sky, painting the leaves with golden, pink, and violet hues.
The forest, with all its mysteries, became my new home. Its trees watch over me. It's easy to forget that within this young body, a 17-year-old's heart beats.
The village I've annihilated and my mother's voice continue to echo, a ghostly lullaby in my mind. Trying to put my haunting past behind me, I begin to find solace in the simplest of things.
The strange birds' chirping, the unusual flora underfoot, and the glinting of stars seen through the canopy.
And among all these, there's Nescia's group. They take me in when I am lost, and for that, I owe them my trust. Still, I can't ignore the burning questions within.
Seeking answers, I decide to approach Nescia. She always seems to know more than she lets on.
Drawing a deep breath, I take a step towards her, my heart heavy with both anticipation and dread.
"Mind sharing why you choose this forest to settle in?" I ask, hoping to bridge the chasm of the unknown.
"This forest?" Nescia smirks, casting a glance at our surroundings, "It isn't exactly at the top of our list."
I feel a twinge of surprise. Not just because of her answer, but her tone. Is she trying to deflect? Distract? The mystery deepens.
She looks up at the twilight sky, her gaze distant. There's a story there, I realize, waiting to be told. Will she share it with me?
Drawing in a deep breath, her eyes lock onto the distant horizon, she begins, "It's a long story, but maybe it's time you hear it."
***
[Nescia's POV]
Our group was small, comprised of individuals from different backgrounds: including a healer from the western tribes, Retsudo—a warrior with a dark past, and myself, a spellcaster trained in the arts of protection.
Our unity was built upon trust. We believed that together, we could withstand any challenge.
When two children approached us, pleading to be taught magic, we saw no harm. Their innocence pulled at our heartstrings, and their enthusiasm was infectious.
While the healer would teach them the basics of herbs, Retsudo took a particular liking to them.
He would often show them harmless tricks, making sparks fly from his fingers or summoning little creatures from thin air.
"They've got potential," Retsudo told me, a gleam of pride in his eyes. "Reminds me of my younger days."
The bond they formed was heartwarming to witness.
Until that fateful night.
Retsudo and I often took walks together. These moments allowed us to share our worries and hopes.
One such night, as we were circling the camp's perimeter, we stumbled upon the children. They were chanting a spell, causing a rift to appear.
It was clear they were communicating with someone, but Retsudo's face paled instantly, so it wasn't just anyone...
"Noir..." he murmurs. The name drips with venom.
"Noir? As in..."
Before I can finish, a realization strikes me, "The one from your past?"
Retsudo nods, gritting his teeth, "The very one."
Fearing the worst, I try to intervene, "Children, step away!"
It was Noir, a traitor from Retsudo's past. The one responsible for the massacre of his village, which included many children. Retsudo's anger wasn't simply born out of betrayal; it was rooted deep in his history.
As a child, he had been manipulated and used by Noir.
The village had placed its trust in a group of younglings who had been turned by Noir's promises of power, only to have them betray and lead an ambush that devastated Retsudo's home.
The memories of children leading men into a trap, and his family's demise at their innocent hands, were scars that never truly healed.
Seeing these children now, working with that very man, the floodgates of those suppressed memories burst open.
Retsudo's voice, trembling with fury, shatters the silence. "You... You dare bring him here?"
The transformation was immediate. The Berserker within, a dark force born from his traumatic past, awakened.
The kids, sensing the imminent danger, tried to close the rift, but it was too late. Retsudo, consumed by rage, lunged at them.
Desperate, I summoned the 'Shield of Heaven'. It was a formidable barrier, tested and true. But Retsudo's fury tore through it with alarming ease.
I screamed his name, my pleas a feeble attempt to penetrate the rage that had consumed him. "Retsudo! Think of what you're doing! They're children!"
My words echoed, a plea that seemed to bridge the gap between Retsudo and the monster within. For a brief moment, his eyes met mine, a flicker of recognition in their depths.
Just as quickly as the Berserker had awakened, it vanished. Retsudo's energy was spent, and he collapsed to the ground, unconscious. The children, though shaken, seized the opportunity to flee. I rushed to Retsudo's side, cradling his head, tears streaming down my face.
Not just for him, but for the children, for our group, and for our lost sense of safety.
We couldn't stay. Noir definitely knew of our whereabouts, and it was only a matter of time before he acted on it.
With heavy hearts, our group packed up, leaving behind what had been our home.
Our journey to the forest was marked by challenges. There were days when Retsudo wouldn't speak, lost in his own thoughts, and nights when the haunting cries of unknown beasts sent chills down our spines.
But we kept moving, knowing we needed to find a safe haven.
Upon arriving at this forest, we felt an uncanny sense of peace.
The dense foliage, the mysterious aura, and the unknown dangers made it a fitting sanctuary.
As the days turned to weeks, we built our makeshift camp. While the forest was fraught with its own perils, it offered us the anonymity we sought.
It became our refuge, a place where we could heal, regroup, and plot our next move.
***
[Komachi's POV]
All this time, I was unaware of the complexities of their past.
The knowledge from the novel has been my anchor in this unfamiliar realm. But hearing Nescia's words, that anchor seems to be made of sand, easily disintegrated by the tidal waves of reality.
The novel never described Noir in such detail. My very foundation, the knowledge I've based my actions upon, seems unstable now.
Whose side am I really on? Are my heroes actually the villains? Despite being so confused, my heartbeat remains steady.
The sense of betrayal Retsudo feels mirrors my own experiences. I wonder if Retsudo and I are, in some way, kindred spirits—broken by the actions of others and trying to find our way in a world that seems to conspire against us.
But unlike Retsudo, I don't have a dark force waiting to burst forth. Or do I?
The destruction of the village seems a testament to powers I don't fully understand. And now, with Nescia's story fresh in my mind, I feel a strange kinship with Retsudo.
Lying amidst the rustling leaves and nocturnal sounds of the forest, with the sounds of the forest lulling me, I can't help but wonder: Is my presence in this world a mere accident, or am I here for a purpose? Do I have a goal in this life?
The lines between right and wrong blur, but one thing is clear: things are about to get even more complicated.