At the den of night two figures, brother and sister, slowly approached a brick bridge that sat on top of a river bank.

The girl had long light orange hair wearing a black and white short dress, and the boy wore dress shorts and suspenders with a newsboy cap on. He had pale white hair.

Hey, big sis is this the place?

Yes, this is Autumn's bridge where all the disappearances have been happening. Now like we promised, stay behind me okay, and don't come out of the shroud until the monster has completely disappeared, Charlotte said worriedly, putting a cloak around him.

Don't worry, Sis. You've told me like a million times. I'll be careful.

Okay.

The two calmly approached the bridge, but were stopped by an invisible wall. 

Hmm, a barrier. Did the association set it up? No, It couldn't have been them. If they could simply trap the beast then they would've killed it on the spot. That means it must've put it up. But, why? I already cloaked our energy, so it couldn't have sensed us. Even though I may not be at 100 percent I wouldn't slip up on such a basic technique. That only leaves…. I've got to hurry. 

Charlotte chanted and several clear glass shards appeared.

Oh Great wisps surround me and attack my foes so they may be vanquished, shatter.

Charlotte pressed her hand against the wall of invisible air, and it broke away like glass revealing a disgusting sight.

A grotesque looking creature with green skin and dark shadowy horns was messily feeding on a poor human girl.

Toby deeply gripped his sister at the sight, fearfully, with tearful eyes.

Sis, what is that?

It's an ogre. They often prey on little kids and weak old people. 

You're going to fight that thing. 

Yes.

Toby fervently shook his head in disapproval.

Sis, don't go.

I've got to Toby, otherwise it will get away, and there could be other victims.

Okay, but pinky promise you'll be back. 

Toby I don't have time for this. I've got to go. Although I've cloaked us in my weiss energy, it doesn't include the sounds we make. We're lucky ogres aren't sensitive to noise, but it might notice us if we're not careful because we're this close.

Toby shook his head again and held out his pinky.

 Promise. 

Charlotte shrugged in resignation and joined her pinky with his.

Fine, I promise, she said with a loving smirk.

After taking a few steps away from the boy,

Charlotte released a sigh of fresh air now that he had let her go.

Toby can be such a hassle sometimes. He's lucky he's cute.

The girl calmly stepped forward and approached the beast underneath the bridge, with disgusted eyes.

Mentally, she spoke to what seemed to be the ether.

Astrid, are you ready?

And a voice shot back.

I'm more ready than ever.

Grand armament come forth. Great spear odysseus.

Orange shards of glass materialized in the air and formed a spear in the girl's hands.

Charlotte charged at the beast aiming to sever its neck, but it narrowly dodged by jumping backwards into the river bank.

Separated from its source of nourishment it roared in anger and charged at Charlotte creating chaotic ripples through the stream.

Astrid spoke disgruntled.

You're getting rusty. A year ago that would've been a one shot kill. Now, you've missed your opportunity. It'll be many times harder now, so brace yourself.

Charlotte nodded, responding with a charge of her own, and they traded blows as they kicked up water and bits of rock.

The beast started throwing a heavy punch.

Charlotte dodged by a hair's breadth by side stepping and cut off the beast's arm.

Black blood spurted everywhere dying the river in a blackish purple tint, as the beast held up its bisected arm in agony.

Charlotte's face stayed calm with a hint of annoyance. 

Why does it have to be so loud every time?

The beast threw a kick at Charlotte whiffing her completely, only managing to dye her shirt in a dark purple-black color.

Charlotte looked graceful yet violent, jumping in the air to evade the beast's attacks; slicing off its left leg.

Without creating a ripple, she landed on the ground preparing to finish it off. Then the beast chomped at her threatening to swallow her whole.

From a distance Toby shakily watched his sister perform, and screamed seeing the beast's grotesque mouth opening up and swallowing the ground leaving a small well where she stood.

Unable to see his sister, he cried deeply in mourning, but suddenly a crack appeared on the beast.

 It split in two equal halves, black blood spurting from both like a volcano.

Standing behind it stood Charlotte without a scratch on her and a calm look on her face.

Toby jumped forward to hug his blood-drenched sister, but received a loud scolding.

Idiot, I told you to stay back. Wait until it fully disappears.

Toby stopped in his tracks, and they both waited until the beast was completely gone.

After the scene was done, Charlotte hit Toby square on the head. What did I tell you before we left and before we entered the bridge?

Stay back.

Then, why didn't you listen? She spat in anger.

The ogre was split in two. I thought it was dead already.

Demon beasts aren't like you and I. If we were split in two, there's no way we'd survive, but there are plenty of beasts out there that can regenerate from wounds like that.

The number one rule when encountering a beast is to never trust your eyes. Toby, only trust the sound it makes when the core falls to the ground or the shimmering that happens as it slowly disappears.

That's when you know it's dead.

The boy nodded, clutching his head from the pain his sister unleashed.

Yes, sis.

 Slowly, they approached the dead girl's body.

Remembering the disgusting sight of the girl's intestines and blood flying, the boy averted his eyes.

Don't look away Toby. It's disrespectful to the dead. If you want her to have a good afterlife join me in wishing her rest. 

The two joined their palms together flat and bowed paying their respects to the dead.

Charlotte whispered to the air once more.

Whisps, please guide her in the afterlife.

Many shards of white glass surrounded Charlotte and the girl's carcass lit in a white flame.

Completing the ceremony she spoke with cold eyes of longing.

Toby. 

This is our world. There are many evil creatures and people who have and will do things many times worse than this. The total number of victims I've seen could pile mountains in the sky. I know you may be too young to remember, but our mother was one of them. This is why we need strength. Strength to protect all those we hold precious to us.

Sis, will I one day end up like this. Alone burning in the flames of paradise?

I don't know, I can't say for certain, but I will always be there to protect you, so don't worry, okay.

Charlotte smiled at Toby, and nodding his head the boy understood.

Sis, don't make that cold face again.

You look better when you smile.

Charlotte pinched Toby's cheeks.

 Aww you're so cute.

Stop it sis.

Afterwards Charlotte cleaned up the scene and went home with Toby.

Part 2: departure

Two months later,

Standing next to a train, a man and a woman were having a fierce conversation.

One of them was Charlotte dressed in her usual white and black attire, and the other was a man wearing a white army suit with black slicked back hair, sideburns, and a cigarette in his mouth.

Are you sure you want to do this?

Yes, I'm sure.

But, why?

I've already told you multiple times there's no point in me repeating myself.

I have to atone for my sins.

It doesn't have to be this way, Charlotte.

You can come back, and I can make sure this issue will never happen again.

Colonel, do you have that type of power?

I will try my best to..

That's not what I asked.

Do you have the power?

No

Then why make an empty promise like that when you know the result.

Because I care about you.

If you care about me, allow me to go.

Everyday I stay here, I'm reminded of my pain, and the voices echo in my head.

Seeing the pain in her eyes, the man hesitatingly agreed.

Ahh, Ok I won't stop you, but where are you going to go? You're not planning to stop being a brigadier are you?

Me and you both know I can't do that. I still have to find a cure for Toby, I don't know how much he has left.

 I'll continue doing work. Right now we're going to Bosco because Toby wanted to see what it's like, but as to where after I don't know.

I know a place that'll be a good spot. 

I've got an associate who runs a party far west from here, it should be one of the top parties there. I can even write you a recommendation.

Colonel, you don't have to.

Don't call me colonel anymore. After all, you're not in the army, he said with a smile. Call me Mirko.

Sorry, I can't obey you. You'll always be the colonel to me.

The colonel shook his head. You're always so stubborn.

Soo.. What's this place like?

It's one of the biggest cities in the western region of the empire. It's known for its beautiful town life, and because of its accessibility, it gets the second highest number of quests in the country, behind the central government. But, don't let that fool you. Within the city, the competition is fierce, and there are many hidden evils. However, if you're looking for a cure for your brother's condition that's the best place to go.

What's the place called?

It's called Seraphall, the city on the waters.