Nine years ago, amidst a desolate scene of tragedy and loss, Shin found himself lying amidst a sea of corpses, the grim aftermath of a devastating encounter with otherworldly beings. The air was thick with the stench of death, and the ground was stained crimson with the blood of the fallen.
As he lay there, battered and broken, a lone figure approached him, her presence a beacon of hope in the midst of despair. With a voice tinged with concern, she asked him what had transpired, her eyes scanning the scene with a mixture of curiosity and sorrow.
"Hey, kid. What happened here?" Her words were soft yet filled with an underlying urgency, a desire to understand the tragedy that had unfolded before her eyes.
Shin's response was simple yet weighted with the burden of grief that he carried. "Everyone died," he murmured, his voice barely audible above the mournful whispers of the wind.
The woman's gaze softened as she listened to his words, her heart heavy with empathy for the young boy who had endured so much loss at such a tender age. "Does that include your family?" she inquired gently, her voice laced with sympathy.
A wave of pain washed over Shin as he recalled the faces of his loved ones, their smiles now forever etched in his memory. "Yes," he replied, his voice barely a whisper as he turned his gaze downward, unable to meet the woman's compassionate gaze.
In that moment of despair, the woman offered Shin a glimmer of hope, a lifeline amidst the darkness that threatened to engulf him. "I'll take care of you," she promised, her words a soothing balm to his wounded soul.
But Shin's heart was heavy with guilt and self-doubt, his mind plagued by thoughts of the suffering he had witnessed and the pain he had endured. "I don't want to bring suffering upon anyone else because of my existence," he confessed, his voice tinged with sorrow.
The woman's response was one of reassurance and understanding, her wisdom tempered by years of experience in dealing with the supernatural forces that threatened humanity. "Fear not," she said, her voice steady and calm. "I've dealt with these beings before. They're known as 'Spiritual beings.' I'll impart knowledge to you."
Gratitude welled up within Shin as he listened to her words, a flicker of hope igniting within him despite the darkness that surrounded him. "Thank you," he whispered, his voice tinged with a newfound sense of resolve.
The woman's eyes sparkled with relief as she looked upon Shin, her heart warmed by the knowledge that she had found him in time to offer him aid and guidance. "I'm relieved to have found you while you're still alive," she said, her words a testament to the bond that had formed between them in the wake of tragedy.
As Shin struggled to rise from the grim aftermath of the tragedy that had befallen him, he found himself enveloped in the comforting embrace of the woman who had come to his aid. With gentle hands, she lifted him from the ground, cradling him in her arms as she offered words of reassurance and solace.
"Don't fret," she whispered, her voice a soothing melody amidst the chaos that surrounded them. "I'll care for you with the utmost kindness."
Shin's heart swelled with gratitude as he looked up at the woman who had rescued him from the depths of despair. "Will you promise never to leave me?" he asked, his voice trembling with vulnerability.
Airi's response was immediate and unwavering, her eyes filled with warmth and sincerity. "Absolutely," she replied, her words a solemn vow to stand by his side through thick and thin.
At the tender age of eleven, Shin found himself drawn to Airi's kindness and compassion, his spirits lifted by her unwavering support. With each passing moment, the darkness that had threatened to consume him began to recede, replaced by a glimmer of hope and optimism for the future.
"What's your name?" Shin inquired, his curiosity piqued by the enigmatic woman who had come to his rescue.
"Airi (愛伶)," she replied, her voice carrying a hint of elegance and grace.
Shin couldn't help but be captivated by the beauty of her name, a fitting reflection of the kindness and compassion she had shown him in his darkest hour. "It's a beautiful name," he said, his voice filled with genuine admiration.
"Thank you, kid," Airi replied, her smile widening at his words. "Let's make our way to my home. You need to be cleaned up, and we'll attend to your other necessities, such as food and water."
With Airi's guidance, Shin began to feel a sense of purpose and belonging that he had long thought lost. As they journeyed towards her home, he couldn't help but feel a glimmer of hope for the future, knowing that he had found a true friend and ally in Airi.
Back in the present, in the quiet moments of his struggle against Ayame, Shin's mind drifted back to a time four years prior, to a simpler moment in his life when the weight of the world had yet to bear down upon his shoulders. He recalled the warmth of home, the familiar surroundings that had offered him solace in times of turmoil.
As Shin reminisced, he found himself transported to the cozy confines of his room, the soft glow of lamplight casting shadows across the walls. Airi, his steadfast companion and mentor, was nearby, her presence a source of comfort and stability in his tumultuous world.
Airi, with her gentle demeanor and unwavering support, had always been a pillar of strength for Shin. Despite not being bound by blood, she had taken him under her wing, nurturing him with love and guidance as if he were her own flesh and blood.
Lost in thought, Shin pondered the lessons Airi had imparted to him over the years, teachings that had shaped him into the person he had become. She had taught him about the Enes, the mystical energies that flowed through the universe, and the unique power that resided within him.
But amidst the lessons and the training, Shin had begun to notice a change within himself, a stirring of emotions that he had never experienced before. As he watched Airi from across the room, he couldn't help but feel a growing fondness for her, a warmth that bloomed in his chest whenever she was near.
Shin's heart quickened at the realization of his feelings, his thoughts consumed by the woman who had become his mentor, his confidante, and his dearest friend. Yet, he couldn't shake the sense of uncertainty that gnawed at him, the fear of disrupting the delicate balance of their relationship.
Just as Shin wrestled with his conflicting emotions, Airi entered his room with a soft smile, her presence a balm to his troubled soul. "Are you ready for dinner?" she asked, her voice filled with warmth and affection.
Shin nodded, grateful for the distraction from his inner turmoil. "Yes," he replied, offering her a small smile of his own.
As they made their way to the dining table, Shin couldn't help but steal glances at Airi, his heart aflutter with the knowledge that he had someone as kind and caring as her by his side. And though the path ahead was uncertain, Shin knew that as long as Airi was with him, he could weather any storm that came his way.