Touka woke up from his sleep, feeling the warmth of the sunlight streaming through the small window. His heart felt calm, but something was off. He turned his head to the side—Laura wasn't in bed.
A wave of unease washed over him. "Laura?" he called softly, trying to find her in the room. There was no answer. A sense of something wrong crept into him, and Touka quickly got out of bed, searching every corner of the small inn.
Eventually, he found Laura in the small kitchen, busy cooking. His anxious face relaxed into relief.
"Laura, you... you're awake?" Touka asked with a flat voice, though his heart was beating faster than usual.
Laura looked over, her face slightly nervous. "Ah, yeah… I… I wanted to make breakfast. I hope you like it." She hid her trembling hands, trying to offer a small, awkward smile.
Touka nodded lightly. "Thank you." But something bothered him. Laura, with all her trauma and doubts, was still able to make breakfast for him. It felt so… human. And for some reason, it gave him a slight sense of comfort.
After breakfast, Touka felt the need to go outside and clear his head. "I'll step out for a bit. Don't worry, I just need some fresh air," he said before leaving the inn.
---
Outside, the cool afternoon air greeted him. His steps took him down an empty road, but his mind was constantly occupied with thoughts he hadn't fully understood—parasites, Omnivorax, and a fate that seemed to force him to keep moving forward.
Before long, he encountered an old man who seemed to be enjoying the afternoon weather. The old man had a mysterious aura, with white hair and a wrinkled face, but his eyes were sharp, as if he could read what was hidden inside others.
"Ah, there's something odd about your shoulder, young man," the old man said, pointing to the faint scar on Touka's shoulder.
Touka was startled, narrowing his gaze at the old man. "A scar? There's nothing odd—"
"Wait, that's from a parasite, right?" the old man interrupted, his tone calm yet ominous.
Touka froze, his eyes wide. "You know about that?" he asked, his voice cracking slightly.
The old man gave a small, knowing smile. "I researched that parasite, Omnivorax, ten years ago. They should have been eradicated. But somehow... you still have this scar."
Touka's mind began to spiral. "You know about parasites? How could you…?" he asked again, his confusion growing.
The old man paused for a moment, then replied quietly, "I was once a researcher in the Omnivorax parasite field. But the experiment was risky. Kurogane, a brilliant researcher who worked with me, conducted a dangerous experiment. When it happened, a great disaster struck the lab, and Kurogane… he died."
Touka froze, his body turning to ice. "Kurogane?" His voice was heavy, full of disbelief.
The old man nodded. "Yes, Kurogane was one of my best researchers. After that incident, the mass eradication of parasites began."
Touka's vision blurred, his thoughts spinning. How could Kurogane be dead when he had just met him a few days ago? When did this happen?
Before the old man could continue, Touka cut him off, his voice cold. "I already know about that," he said, his tone sharp. "But what do you mean by saying Kurogane is dead? I just met him a few days ago."
The old man fell silent, his gaze vacant. "Kurogane… he really has died. But that wasn't a normal meeting."
Touka felt his chest tighten. There was something very wrong. "Then why did he appear in front of me? What was he looking for? Why did he tell me about this parasite?" His voice was now full of confusion and mounting tension.
The old man could only stare back at him in silence, unable to offer any answers. "I don't know… perhaps it's part of a fate that's not yet finished."
Touka felt a greater calling within him. He couldn't ignore the stirring feeling inside. Kurogane… and this parasite. Everything seemed connected. "I have to stop them all," he thought, though he still didn't fully understand what he was supposed to do.
---
When Touka returned to the inn, he was lost in thought. Inside, Laura was sitting at the table, waiting for his return. The room felt quiet, only the soft sound of the wind passing through the open window.
"Laura," Touka began, his voice now more serious, "I have to leave. There's something unfinished. The Omnivorax attacks haven't stopped, and I… I have to face them."
Laura looked at him, uncertain. "What do you mean?" Her voice was soft, but there was an undeniable tension.
Touka took a deep breath, his eyes now full of resolve. "I know this is dangerous, but I can't back down. I have to stop this parasite once and for all."
Laura fell silent, contemplating his words. Deep down, she knew this wasn't just an ordinary journey. It was a fate that had to be faced. But fear and doubt still haunted her.
Laura spoke, her voice soft but filled with determination, "I… I'm coming with you."
Touka looked at her, slightly surprised. "Are you sure? This won't be easy. There's a lot of danger out there."
Laura nodded firmly. "I can't let you go alone. If this is what has to be done, I'll go with you."
Touka gave a faint smile, feeling a small sense of relief, though the weight of what lay ahead still pressed on him. "Alright then. We'll leave tomorrow."