After Kaoru and Akitsu Shouga climbed down from the giant oak tree, the sun had already begun to dip lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the mansion grounds.
Kaoru brushed the dirt from her hands and smiled to herself before quietly heading inside.
She went straight to her room and retrieved a small wooden figure, its surface worn smooth from age and touch. Holding it carefully, she stepped into the hallway and made her way toward Akitsu Shouga’s room, her footsteps light and hesitant.
As she reached his door, she slowed.
Something felt… strange.
The door was slightly ajar.
Kaoru gently pushed it open and peeked inside.
Akitsu Shouga was there—standing near the bed, speaking softly.
But there was no one else in the room.
Her brows knit together.
“Who is Shouga-kun talking to?” she whispered to herself.
“I don’t see anyone in there…”
She leaned closer, holding her breath.
Then she heard his voice clearly.
“If I said that,” Akitsu muttered,
“It would break her heart. She loves climbing trees.”
Kaoru froze.
Her fingers tightened around the wooden figure.
What… does he mean?
Her heart began to pound.
He’s been talking to himself nonstop while we were climbing the tree earlier…
Before she could make sense of it, she heard him speak again.
“I don’t know,” Akitsu replied quietly.
“She’s more like a sister to me.”
The words struck her like a blade.
Kaoru’s breath caught.
Her vision blurred.
Without making a sound, she stepped back, gently closing the door before he could notice her presence. She turned away and walked down the hallway, her steps slow and unsteady.
She passed Liora without saying a word, her head lowered.
Once inside her room, Kaoru shut the door and slid down against it, sitting on the floor.
The wooden figure slipped from her hand and landed beside her.
She hugged her knees to her chest and stared at the ground, saying nothing.
Night fell.
Silence swallowed the mansion.
Suddenly—
Akitsu Shouga jolted awake, sitting upright in bed, his chest heaving.
“What—?!”
“What happened to my mother?!”
“Did she die?!”
Cold sweat clung to his skin.
Beside him, lying casually atop the blankets, Seraphine Orion blinked.
“…Did you have a nightmare?”
Akitsu turned toward her, still disoriented.
“Oh?”
“You’re still here?”
“Yeah. I’m still here,” she replied calmly.
“But what was that about your mother?”
Akitsu lowered his gaze.
“Well… I had a nightmare,” he said slowly.
“She was telling me to go find my sister.”
Seraphine Orion tilted her head.
“So… have you found your sister yet?”
“I don’t know,” Akitsu answered.
“I don’t remember much about my family… or where I come from.”
Seraphine Orion’s expression softened.
“That’s sad,” she said quietly.
“Being separated from your family is a terrible thing.”
She paused.
“…But something doesn’t add up.”
Akitsu stiffened.
“I’d rather not say.”
His mind flickered—
Blood.
A blade.
Riyusei Arai collapsing to the ground.
“…Alright,” Seraphine Orion said after a moment.
“Suit yourself.”
She lay back.
Unlawfully taken from Royal Road, this story should be reported if seen on Amazon.
“You should go back to sleep. It’s still night.”
“I’m going to get something to drink,” Akitsu said, standing up.
“Alright,” she replied.
“Don’t get lost in the dark.”
Akitsu went downstairs and entered the kitchen.
The house was eerily quiet.
He took a glass and filled it with water from the pipe system, drinking it in one go before setting the glass back down.
As he turned to leave—
“…Help.”
He froze.
What was that?
He listened.
“…Help.”
The sound grew louder as he approached the stairs.
It’s coming from… under the stairs?
Akitsu crouched and peered into the dark space beneath them.
There was nothing.
“Who’s calling for help?” he whispered.
“Is it coming from upstairs…?”
He placed his hand against the wall beneath the stairs—
And his hand passed through it.
“…What?”
His eyes widened.
“Is this… a secret passage? A hidden room?”
Before he could react—
Something grabbed his hand.
He was yanked forward.
Akitsu stumbled and fell onto sand.
Endless sand.
No walls.
No ceiling.
No visible end.
He spun around.
There was no exit.
“Where am I?!”
“Who pulled me in here?!”
No one answered.
“Orion?!”
“Kaoru?!”
His voice trembled.
“Where are you…? I’m scared…”
He walked forward, but the scenery never changed.
“Why is this place so empty?”
“Hello?! Is anybody there?!”
Silence.
Too much silence.
“This place is really dark…”
“Is there even an exit…?”
Meanwhile, Seraphine Orion lay on Akitsu’s bed, waiting.
“…Where is he?” she muttered.
“It’s taking too long.”
She floated up and moved through the mansion, searching.
Kitchen.
Hallways.
Stairs.
Nothing.
“Where did he go?”
“He should be here…”
She returned to his room.
Empty.
“He can’t just vanish into thin air!”
Her voice sharpened with panic.
Back in the sand world, Akitsu ran.
“There’s no end to this place!”
“I don’t want to die yet!”
His legs gave out.
He collapsed to his knees.
“Am I really going to die here…?”
“Someone… help me…”
“…Help.”
He turned.
Behind him stood a girl.
No eyes.
No mouth.
Long black hair obscuring her face.
Chains binding her limbs.
White rags hanging loosely from her body.
“W-Who are you?!” Akitsu stammered.
“…Help. Me. Please,” she said softly.
“Help you with what…?”
“…Revenge.”
“…Kill.”
Akitsu swallowed.
“Who… who do you want revenge against?”
“…Haurya.”
“…Takeda.”
“If I help you…” Akitsu said, voice shaking,
“Will you help me in return?”
“Yes.”
“…Then help me escape this place first.”
The girl raised her hand and pointed.
A rift opened.
“…Adopt. Me.”
“…What?”
“How can I adopt you?”
She reached out.
“…Please. Help.”
Akitsu stepped forward and grasped her hands, trembling.
“I’ll help you,” he said.
“You helped me, so I’ll help you.”
“…Thank you.”
She vanished.
The rift remained.
Akitsu stepped through it—
And returned to the mansion.
