Atsuki and Aoi stood before the towering figure of the Zealstriders' vice leader, his expression unreadable as he examined them both.
"Until Atsuki's results are finalized, I have a mission for you two," he stated firmly. "A scouting and elimination task. A cave not far from here has seen increasing Voidbringer activity. Your objective is to investigate and clear out at least twenty of them. Retrieve their Hearts and return."
Atsuki simply nodded, while Aoi stood tense beside him.
"Understood," she said, masking her unease.
Without further delay, the two set off.
The cave loomed before them, its entrance shrouded in an eerie mist. The deeper they ventured, the more oppressive the atmosphere became. Faint echoes of growls reverberated through the stone walls, sending shivers down Aoi's spine.
Then, without warning, the first attack came.
A Voidbringer lunged from the shadows, its crimson eyes gleaming in the dim light. Atsuki reacted instantly, striking it down with his bare hands. More emerged, surrounding them.
"I'll handle these!" Atsuki called as he moved to engage a group with his fists alone.
Aoi barely had time to respond before another Voidbringer sprang at her. She swung her sword, channeling her ice magic through it, striking with precision. But as she fought, something about the creature's stance, its predatory movements—it triggered something deep within her.
Her vision blurred.
The cave around her twisted, and suddenly, she was no longer there. She was back in her past.
I remember that night like it was yesterday.
The screams. The blood. The way they tore through our home like beasts.
I tried. I fought. But I was too weak.
My parents fell before my eyes, and I could do nothing.
I ran into the woods, waiting for my brother, Chris, to come. When he did, he saw everything. He lost himself to rage, wiping out every last Voidbringer.
And then… he turned to me.
His eyes, once warm, were filled with hate.
"This is your fault, Aoi. If you had been stronger, they wouldn't be dead."
He left me there. Alone. Worthless.
A sharp pain snapped Aoi back to reality. She gasped as the Voidbringer's claws slashed toward her—but before they could land, Atsuki was there.
His hands moved like a blur, crushing the creature instantly. His piercing gaze locked onto her.
Aoi's vision spun, and before she realized it, she collapsed.
When she woke up, she was lying on soft grass, the cool night air brushing against her skin. Blinking, she sat up, realizing she was no longer in the cave.
Atsuki was sitting nearby, arms crossed. "You passed out," he said plainly. "I took care of the rest."
Aoi hesitated, gripping the grass beneath her fingers as if grounding herself. Atsuki's question lingered in the air, pressing against her chest like a weight she couldn't shake off. She wanted to answer—to let the words flow—but something held her back. Fear? Uncertainty? She wasn't sure.
"Are you going to tell me what that was about?" Atsuki finally asked, his voice calmer than before, but firm enough to show he wasn't going to let it go.
Aoi swallowed hard, her gaze fixed on the ground. She could lie. She could brush it off, pretend it didn't matter. But deep down, she knew Atsuki wouldn't believe her. He never did when she tried to hide things from him.
Minutes passed in silence before she finally exhaled, the tension in her shoulders giving way. "…It's nothing," she whispered at first, but even to her, the words felt empty. Atsuki said nothing, just watching her, waiting.
Her fingers tightened against the grass. She didn't want to say it. She didn't want to relive it. But Atsuki was here. He had always been here.
"…Fine," she murmured, her voice laced with quiet sadness. "I'll tell you."
She clenched her fists. And then, slowly, she spoke.
"My family was attacked," Aoi began, her voice trembling. "My brother wasn't there, so I tried to fight the Voidbringers alone. But I couldn't save my parents. I had to run into the woods until my brother came. When he saw everything... he lost control. He killed them all. But when he turned to me... he blamed me. He said it was my fault they died. And then... he abandoned me."
Atsuki remained silent, letting her continue.
I was lost. Broken. I had no purpose, no strength, and nowhere to go. My body was battered, my mind clouded by confusion and pain. I wandered for what felt like days, barely holding on, until I collapsed in the heart of a dense forest, surrounded by nothing but towering trees and the whispering wind. I thought that was the end. But then… he found me.
A middle aged man, living alone in a secluded cottage, took me in. He never told me his name—whenever I asked, he would simply change the subject or act as if he hadn't heard me at all. But he saved my life. He gave me food, a warm place to rest, and, most importantly, a reason to keep moving forward. I wanted to know why. Why had he helped me? Why did he care? But he never answered. Instead, he simply observed me, as if searching for something within me that I had yet to see for myself.
Then, one day, he asked me a single question.
"Do you want to become stronger?"
That was the day my training began. He saw the power within me, raw and untamed, and taught me how to control it. Magic, swordplay—he blended both effortlessly, and I was determined to follow in his footsteps. Day after day, I pushed myself, enduring grueling exercises that left me breathless, my body aching. Yet, no matter how hard it was, I never once thought of giving up. He was my first mentor, the first person to truly guide me, and I admired him more than words could express.
For two years, he trained me, shaping me into someone who could stand on her own. I looked up to him, not just as a teacher, but as the person I aspired to be. He was strong, wise, and carried an air of solitude that I couldn't quite understand, yet respected deeply. I wanted to be like him. But when the time came for me to leave, he didn't stop me. He simply stood there, watching, and when I turned to thank him one last time, he only smiled.
"Good luck."
And then he was gone.
I never saw him again. But his teachings, his presence, and his kindness—they have never left me. Even now, I still chase after the strength he possessed, hoping that one day, I can become someone worthy of carrying on his legacy.
Aoi clenched her fists. "I joined the Celestial Concord to prove myself. To prove to my brother, Chris Kurosaki, that I'm not weak. That I am worthy. But I... I still hesitate in fights. His words, his hate—it still haunts me."
Atsuki listened, silent until the end. Then, he closed his eyes for a brief moment before speaking. "I know what it's like to lose everything. To be abandoned. But carrying that pain alone won't make you stronger."
Aoi's breath caught in her throat.
For a moment, she saw something in him—no, someone. The man who had saved her, trained her. The way Atsuki stood, the way he spoke—it was almost the same. As if the man himself was standing before her once more.
Trust.
That was the feeling she had at this moment. And with it, she found her resolve.
As the dust settled, Aoi let out a shaky breath. The battle was over, yet her heart still pounded in her chest. Without thinking, she reached for Atsuki's hand, gripping it tightly. But this time, she didn't feel weak. She didn't feel like a burden. Instead, she felt… safe. For the first time in a long while, she wasn't alone.
She glanced up at him, her eyes filled with quiet determination. "Thank you," she said softly, her voice carrying both warmth and resolve. Then, without hesitation, she stepped forward and began collecting the Voidbringer Hearts—twenty in total. She would keep moving forward, she would stay strong.
"Mission complete," Aoi murmured, exhaling deeply.
They returned to the Zealstriders' base, handing over the crystals. The vice leader examined them and nodded. "Well done. The Voidbringer Hearts will be stored in the Celestial Concord's crystal room. We are still researching their true purpose."
Atsuki and Aoi exchanged glances. Just what secrets did these crystals hold?
Before they could ponder further, a messenger approached. "Atsuki, your results are out."
Silence fell between them.
Aoi studied his face, but Atsuki remained unreadable.
Who could possibly predict what his results would be?