what happened

.

In the months that followed, Akari became a ghost on the battlefield, a silent shadow that struck with precision and disappeared without a trace. She left no witnesses, and her presence was only known through the subtle changes in the kingdom's affairs — corrupt nobles removed without a word, secrets extracted with such stealth that even the most careful criminals couldn't detect the breach. Her targets were rendered helpless before they even realized they were in danger.

Each mission demanded all of her skills — her agility, her intelligence, her honed instincts — and each one further solidified her reputation, albeit anonymously. In the silence of night and the secrecy of covert operations, Akari poured herself into this work. The kingdom's nobility and military spoke in hushed voices of the mysterious agent responsible, but none ever knew her name. To them, she was only a phantom, an agent of the king's will.

Meanwhile, Akari stayed in contact only with the duke and the king, ensuring they were her sole conduits for orders and debriefs. In her absence from familiar faces, she crafted herself into something unstoppable. Her heart was guarded, her face unreadable, and her mind singularly focused.

By the time a year and a half had passed, Akari had completed over fifty missions. Her legend was already cementing itself — a figure in the shadows who left no trace, no survivors, and no questions.

It was a day that would etch itself into Akari's memory forever, one she could never forget. The day had started ordinarily enough. The air in the snowy mountains was brisk, carrying the scent of pine and winter, and Akari was seated beside Mina, huddled around the modest fire they'd built to grill meat for lunch. They laughed lightly, sharing jokes and warmth, their breaths fogging in the frosty air.

As they sat side by side, Mina opened up to Akari for the first time. Her face, usually so stoic and determined, softened as she spoke of her past. She shared her story quietly, revealing that she was an orphan, left to care for her four younger siblings. Life for her had been a constant struggle, one that left no room for softness or privilege. Her voice was steady, but there was a depth of resilience behind it.

"I chose this path because knighthood pays, even during training," Mina said with a faint, bittersweet smile. "It's the only way I could make sure my siblings had something, anything. We're not nobles, so survival… well, it's a fight every day."

Akari listened, feeling a weight in her chest she couldn't quite place. Hearing Mina's story stirred something deep within her — an ache of sadness but also respect. She wanted to offer comfort or express her admiration, but before she could find the words, Mina gave her a reassuring smile.

"I don't need sympathy, Akari. I didn't tell you this for that reason," Mina said, her eyes warm with sincerity. "I told you because… I trust you. I don't trust many people, but I know you're one of the good ones."

Akari felt the power of those words, carrying a bond of understanding and kinship that was rare and unspoken. There was no need for more words. They sat in silence, simply sharing the warmth of the fire and the weight of one another's burdens, each feeling a little less alone in that snowy, distant world.

Just as Akari and Mina shared a quiet moment, they heard a voice booming through the snowy stillness. It was Arnold's brother, their captain, calling the squad over with his usual no-nonsense tone. Akari grinned and straightened up, throwing a mock salute as she walked over.

"Hey, Cap! What's up?" she called out with a smirk.

"The sky... and snow. Pretty much everything above and below," the captain replied dryly, keeping his usual straight face, though Akari could swear she saw a glint of amusement in his eyes.

"Very insightful, Cap," Akari said, grinning wider. "Next time, remind me to write that down in my log of 'deep captain wisdom.'"

He gave her a side-eye, trying to hide a small smirk. "I'd give you more, but I'd hate to overwhelm you, Vice-Captain."

Mina chuckled from beside Akari, whispering, "I think he's saving his best material for later."

Akari nodded, pretending to sigh. "Guess I'll have to wait for 'Wisdom of the Captain, Volume 2.' Can't wait to hear what else is up there with the sky and snow."

The captain shook his head, clearly used to her antics. "Save the humor for the mission, Vice. You're going to need it."

"Roger that, Cap," Akari said with a laugh, as they all fell into step behind him. The playful banter did wonders to lighten the tension, even as they prepared for the serious mission ahead.

The squad moved forward cautiously, weapons at the ready as they climbed toward the peak of the mountain. They were expecting a tough battle but felt confident, knowing they only had around fifty Noor beasts to deal with—nothing their platoon couldn't handle.

As they reached the top and looked over, a chill deeper than the mountain snow settled over them. Sprawling across the valley below, the ground seemed alive with movement. Hundreds—no, thousands—of Noor beasts filled the landscape, their eyes gleaming in the dim light, each one far larger than expected and radiating a menacing aura. It was clear that every one of these monsters was ranked SS, the deadliest class of beast they had ever encountered.

Akari's heart pounded. This was way beyond anything they'd prepared for.

"Everyone… hold your ground!" the captain called, though his voice shook as he tried to keep calm. The squad members exchanged nervous glances, realizing the dire mistake in their intelligence.

Mina, standing next to Akari, whispered, "There's… there's no way we can handle this."

Akari's fists clenched, determination and dread mixed in her gaze. "We don't have a choice. We stand and fight."

The captain turned to her, his eyes intense. "Akari, we'll need every ounce of strength, skill, and luck to survive this. You know what this means."

Akari nodded solemnly. "We hold them off as long as we can. Everyone, stay close, cover each other, and be ready to retreat at any chance."

Without another word, the platoon steeled themselves and prepared for the worst.

Akari had been fighting for hours, pushing her limits far beyond what she thought possible. Blood spattered her face and her breathing was labored, her sword feeling heavier with each swing. She had already taken down hundreds of Noor beasts, her power dwindling as exhaustion clawed at her. Still, she pressed on, unwilling to let her comrades down.

But then-she felt it. A shadow loomed behind her, darker and more sinister than any other. She whirled around, but it was too late. An enormous SSS-rank dark Sollor, radiating pure malice, lunged at her with claws poised to strike. Before she could even lift her weapon, Mina appeared, darting between Akari and the beast.

"Mina, no!" Akari screamed, desperation flooding her voice.

Mina didn't hesitate, standing firm as she clashed with the creature, her own face set with fierce determination. She gave Akari a fleeting, reassuring glance, as if silently saying, "I've got you." Akari struggled to get up, every part of her screaming with fatigue, but she pushed forward, clawing through the snow to reach her friend.

But then, in a split second that felt like an eternity, the Sollor's claws tore into Mina's side. Her eyes widened in shock and pain, and she faltered. The beast didn't stop. With horrifying strength, it ripped her apart before Akari could close the gap.

"No... no, no!" Akari's voice was raw, shaking as she finally reached where Mina had been standing. She dropped to her knees, staring in horror at the blood-stained snow, her mind spinning with disbelief. Mina was gone-torn from life in an instant, sacrificing herself to save Akari. Her final, trusting smile lingered painfully in Akari's memory.

Akari's hand trembled as she reached out, her fingers barely brushing the red-streaked snow where Mina had fallen. Her chest felt like it was collapsing in on itself, guilt and grief flooding through her. "Why wasn't I faster? Why couldn't I save her?" The weight of the loss crashed over her, leaving her hollow and broken.

With tear-streaked eyes, she whispered, "Mina... I'm so sorry..." But her words were lost to the wind and snow, as the battle still raged around her. Akari could only kneel there, surrounded by the darkness, haunted by the image of Mina's final sacrifice

Akari's vision blurred with exhaustion, her body screaming in agony as she pushed herself back to her feet. Every inch of her ached, but she knew she couldn't stop—not now. Not with her friends' lives still on the line. She tightened her grip on her sword, gritting her teeth as she steadied herself. For Mina. For everyone else still fighting.

She charged forward, each step heavier than the last as she tore through the hordes of Noor beasts. Hours slipped by, and she lost track of time as she fought relentlessly, her movements fueled by sheer willpower.

But then—a blood-chilling scream sliced through the chaos. Akari's heart stopped. She whipped her head around, eyes scanning the battlefield frantically. Her gaze locked onto the edge of the mountain where she spotted Captain, her mentor, her friend, standing perilously close to the ledge, blood streaming down his side. His usually confident stance was faltering, his breath labored as he struggled against an enormous beast twice his size.

"No!" she cried, adrenaline surging through her as she sprinted toward him, fighting through the agony that pulsed with every step.

Captain's gaze found hers, his eyes flickering with relief but quickly hardening with resolve. "Stay back, Akari!" he yelled, swinging his sword to hold off the beast.

Ignoring his command, Akari charged forward, her own wounds and fatigue momentarily forgotten. She leapt in, her blade flashing as she joined the fight beside him, parrying the beast's attacks.

But the creature was relentless, stronger than any they had faced so far, and it quickly pushed them to the edge. Captain stumbled, gripping his bleeding side as he fell to one knee. Akari lunged in front of him, blocking a brutal strike aimed straight at him. Her arms trembled under the force, but she held her ground, determination blazing in her eyes.

"Captain… I won't let you fall," she said, her voice a mix of desperation and resolve.

Akari's heart shattered as she reached Captain's side, her hands trembling as she knelt beside him. The sight was too much to bear—the blood soaking the snow, the jagged stone protruding from his body. She could barely hear him over the rush of blood pounding in her ears. He looked so calm, so peaceful despite the agony that was etched on his face.

"Captain… No… please… no," Akari whispered, her voice breaking. She frantically pressed her hands over the wound, her Noor flickering weakly in an attempt to heal him, but it was no use. His breathing was shallow, his body growing colder by the second.

She could feel his pulse weakening, his life slipping away despite her desperate efforts. She couldn't lose him. She couldn't.

His voice, soft and strained, reached her ears, the words slow and deliberate. "Akari… I think it's my end."

Tears blurred her vision as she looked into his eyes, those same eyes that had always been full of strength, wisdom, and compassion. His gaze was unwavering even now, but there was something else in them—a quiet acceptance.

"What do you mean, Captain? Please, just hold on! I can save you!" She cried, but her words felt hollow. Her Noor was drained, her energy spent, and she knew there was no miracle coming. The reality of it crashed down on her, like a wave she couldn't outrun.

He smiled weakly, a faint glimmer of pride in his eyes. "What an honorable death... Akari, can you promise me one thing?"

"Anything," she whispered, holding his hand, not wanting to let go.

"Take care of Arnold… That boy loves you, and tell him that I'm proud of him. I know he'll be a wise and good king... one day." He coughed, wincing from the pain, but his voice never wavered.

Akari's chest tightened. She couldn't hold back her tears, but she nodded, her throat too tight to speak. She promised him silently, a vow to make sure Arnold would always remember his brother's love.

"And… tell my little sister," he continued, his voice growing fainter. "She's the most beautiful, and I'm sorry I won't be there for her future marriage. Tell her not to marry a bad man. Tell my parents I always loved them… and thank them for everything."

Akari nodded fervently, her heart breaking into a million pieces. She couldn't bear it. She couldn't.

But despite her own grief, she tried to steady her voice, trying to keep it strong for him. "Captain, I will. I'll make sure they all know. You have my word." She could feel the weight of his requests, the burden settling in her chest like a stone. He trusted her with so much.

His lips parted for one last time, and a soft, almost peaceful smile tugged at the corners of his mouth. "Thank you… Akari… Remember, you're never alone…"

With those final words, Captain's body went limp in her arms. His breath faded, leaving only an eerie silence in the cold, snow-covered mountains.

Akari let out a strangled sob, clutching his lifeless body to her as the snow around them grew darker, heavier. The battle still raged on in the distance, but it felt miles away now. Everything felt distant. She had failed. She hadn't been able to save him.

"I'm sorry…" she whispered, her voice lost in the cold wind.

And in that moment, Akari felt a part of herself break—another piece of her soul lost in the snow.

The battlefield had fallen silent, save for the faint whistling of the wind that cut through the snow. Akari stood there, her body covered in blood, her breath ragged as she looked over the aftermath of the carnage. The beasts, each one larger and more terrifying than the last, lay dead in heaps around her. The air was thick with the scent of death, and the ground beneath her feet was slick with the blood of her fallen comrades.

She had fought with everything she had left, her Noor drained and her body battered, but she kept going, driven by a rage so deep, so all-consuming, that she couldn't remember who she was anymore. Her friends, her comrades—everyone she loved—had fallen, and she was the only one left standing. The sight of Captain's lifeless body, his final words echoing in her mind, had driven her to a frenzy. It was no longer about survival. It was about vengeance.

She slaughtered the beasts without mercy, her sword a blur, her movements fueled by grief and anger. Her mind was a haze of sorrow and fury as she cleaved through beast after beast. Her Noor, which had once flowed with such grace, was now a violent, chaotic force, tearing through the creatures as if they were nothing more than paper.

By the time the last of the beasts fell, Akari stood amidst the carnage, her legs shaking as she finally collapsed to her knees. Her chest heaved, her body a broken, battered shell of its former self. She barely registered the arrival of reinforcements—the soldiers who rushed to her side when they saw the aftermath of the battle.

They found her unconscious, her body unable to withstand the toll of the battle. She was weak, bloodied, and broken, but alive. They carried her back to the camp, their faces grim, and rushed her to the emergency medical tent. Her wounds were severe, her Noor exhausted, but she had survived.

For a day, Akari lay unconscious, her mind drifting in and out of the darkness. The screams of her fallen comrades, the faces of the people she had failed to protect, haunted her dreams. She could hear their voices calling her name, asking why she couldn't save them.

When she finally awoke, it was to a stark, painful reality. The sterile white walls of the hospital tent greeted her, and her body ached in places she didn't know existed. Her mind was foggy as she tried to sit up, but the pain in her body was overwhelming.

It was then that they told her—the words that shattered everything.

"You're the only one who survived, Akari. Everyone... everyone else is gone."

The words hit her like a punch to the gut, and she couldn't breathe. The world spun around her, her heart racing as she tried to process what she was hearing. The faces of her friends—Captain, Mina, Arnold's brother, all of them—flashed before her eyes. They were all gone.

She couldn't wrap her mind around it. She had failed them. She hadn't been able to protect them, to keep them safe. The guilt weighed on her like a mountain. It crushed her.

Her mind went blank for a moment, and she didn't know how to react. The tears didn't come at first—there was nothing left to cry for. It was as if her emotions had been drained from her, the emptiness inside her heart too vast to fill.

But the silence in the room was suffocating, and the weight of her failure began to press down on her. Slowly, the tears began to fall, one by one. They streaked down her face, soaking the pillow beneath her head as her body trembled with grief.

"I couldn't... I couldn't save them…" she whispered through broken sobs, her voice barely audible.

She had always been strong, always relied on her strength to protect others. But now, she felt weak, powerless, like the walls she had built around herself had crumbled to dust.

The pain of their loss was unbearable, and in that moment, Akari didn't know who she was anymore. The girl who had once been full of hope, full of life, was gone. In her place was a shell of someone who couldn't protect the people she loved, who couldn't keep her promises.

She was alone. And the weight of that loneliness felt like it would consume her whole.

One and a half years had passed since that horrific day, the day that Akari had lost everything she had fought for. She had been consumed by grief, guilt, and sorrow. For the past year, she had thrown herself into her missions, her work, hiding from the world and shutting out the pain. But there was one thing she never stopped doing: sending all her money to Mina's siblings. They never knew where it was coming from, but Akari made sure that they were taken care of. She sent enough to cover their needs, the children who had lost their sister, all without ever revealing her identity.

Today, she stood at the gravesite of her fallen comrades—Captain, Mina, Arnold's brother, and the others who had been taken from her too soon. The graveyard was a place of sorrow, but for Akari, it was also a place of painful memories. She had never truly said goodbye to any of them. She had been too caught up in her own guilt to properly mourn them, too lost in her own grief to offer them the farewell they deserved.

The cold wind blew across the snowy mountain as she stood before Captain's grave, her hands trembling as she laid down a bouquet of white lilies. The flowers were the same ones she had promised to bring when he had asked her to take care of Arnold. Her tears fell, silent and uncontrollable, as she whispered words she had never been able to say before.

"I'm sorry… I'm so sorry… I couldn't save you… I couldn't save any of you," she whispered, her voice trembling as the memories of their final moments flooded her mind. She closed her eyes, holding back the sobs that threatened to consume her.

It was then that she felt a presence behind her, a warmth that seemed out of place in the cold graveyard. Before she could turn around, strong arms wrapped around her, pulling her into a tight embrace. She froze, startled at first, but then recognized the familiar scent. It was Arnold.

"Arnold?" she whispered, her voice cracking as she turned to face him. The tears came harder now, flowing freely as she wrapped her arms around him, holding on as though he were the only thing keeping her from falling apart. "I'm so sorry… I didn't mean for this to happen... I couldn't save them... I couldn't save anyone…"

Arnold held her tightly, his voice steady but full of emotion. "Akari, stop. It wasn't your fault. You did everything you could. You did what you had to do to survive. You couldn't save them all, but that doesn't mean it's your fault."

His words were like a lifeline thrown to her in a storm of guilt and regret. He pulled back slightly, lifting her chin so that she met his eyes. "You are not to blame for what happened. You fought with everything you had. Don't ever think it was your fault, Akari."

Akari's breath hitched as she looked into his eyes. The familiar warmth, the kindness, and the understanding in them only made her break down even more. She hadn't seen Arnold in two years. Two long years, and she had convinced herself that she was alone, that no one would ever understand the depth of her grief. But here he was, standing in front of her, comforting her in a way that only he could.

"I missed you," she said, her voice muffled against his chest. "I couldn't take it anymore. I didn't know what to do. I thought you were all gone. I thought I had lost everything..."

Arnold gently ran his fingers through her hair, his own eyes softening with compassion. "You haven't lost me, Akari. I'm here, and I'm not going anywhere. You don't have to carry this burden alone anymore. You have me. You have the people who care about you."

She clung to him tightly, the weight of her sorrow finally beginning to lift, if only just a little. "I should have been stronger… I should have been able to save them... but I was weak…"

"No," Arnold whispered, his voice firm. "You are not weak. You are the strongest person I know. You've been through so much, and you've kept going. That's strength. Don't ever doubt that."

For the first time in so long, Akari allowed herself to lean into him, to feel the warmth of his presence. It was as though a part of her that had been locked away for so long was finally allowed to breathe again.

They stood there, together, for a long while, neither of them saying anything, just holding onto each other in the quiet grief of the moment. Arnold hadn't expected this moment to come. He had thought, perhaps, that Akari would never forgive herself, that she would never allow herself to heal. But seeing her now, surrounded by the love and understanding she had long buried beneath the weight of her guilt, gave him hope.

"You know," Arnold finally spoke, breaking the silence, "I've missed you more than I realized. But I understand, Akari. I understand why you did what you did. You had to. You couldn't keep holding onto that pain forever."

Akari nodded, her tear-streaked face lifting to meet his. "I don't know how to move on… but I know I can't keep doing this. I've been running from it all, running from the truth…"

Arnold gave her a reassuring smile, a hint of warmth in his eyes. "You don't have to have all the answers right now. We'll take it one step at a time, okay? But you're not alone anymore. I'm here for you."

For the first time in a long while, Akari felt a flicker of hope deep inside her. The guilt would never fully disappear, but perhaps—just perhaps—she could begin to heal. And maybe, with Arnold by her side, she could start living again, instead of just surviving.

The wind carried away the last of her tears as she stood there, hand in hand with Arnold, on the grave of her fallen comrades. It was time to move forward, for their memories, for herself, and for the future.