First meeting

Back to Yoru, who was patrolling a distant section of the forest. Her brow knitted in concern as her thoughts returned to Hiroki's unsettling behavior.

"Why's he acting so serious all of sudden?" She said quietly, trying to ignore her concerns "It's not like he saw someone… Wait, am I jealous? N-No, there's no reason for me to be concerned."

She shook her head, while quietly muttering to herself with a hint of shyness, "He's just focusing on the mission, that's all"

Suddenly, a loud, piercing scream broke the silence and interrupted her thoughts.

"Hiroki?!" she gasped, recognizing his voice instantly. Her heart pounding while she was dashing fast, avoiding branches and jumping over roots.

"Damn it!" She whispered, sprinting toward the sound, knowing the risky terrain was treacherous and there was no direct path. And time ticks

Meanwhile, Hiroki was facing off against the shadowy creature, both of his mind and body tense with focus. Though he was a novice fighter, Yoru's training had sharpened his instincts. He dodged aside on air, aiming a strike at the creature's back and landing a solid blow.

"Take this, you bastard." His face showed a momentary burst of confidence, "seems that I am already able to face risks.." he said thought himself.

But his satisfaction was short-lived; as the creature spun faster than he anticipated, slamming him to the ground. Pain shot up his ankle, and his smirk faded into a grimace.

"It seems.. I'm still really helpless.. Oh, what came to my mind when I thought I could do these things without Yoru," he muttered to himself, while his jaw tightening with frustration and pain.

Suddenly, a clear, steady voice rang out from behind him. "Stay back!"

Hiroki's head whipped around, his eyes widening in surprise. A girl with long, white hair stood there, her figure poised, with piercing red eyes like ruby fixed on the creature.

"What the..." Hiroki said to himself, from his amazement of her.

The girl didn't waste time on introductions. With a burst of power from her legs, she soared above, dazzling the creature before delivering a decisive blow with a glowing mana weapon she just formed, which caused it to vanish into shimmering fragments, leaving behind a traces of shadows showing on the ground.

The girl brushed herself off, muttering, "Honestly, these things are getting more bothersome by the day."

Hiroki watched in speechless awe as she dusted herself off. He tried to rise, call for help, but his throbbing ankle held him captive. The girl turned, her gaze settling on him. Without a word, she extended her hand on him, healing energy pulsing from her palm as it hovered over his injured foot.

Hiroki (barely audible): "eh... Thank you"

Girl: "You should have been more careful. Wandering off alone… Where's the rest of your team? Amateurs, I guess?"

Hiroki (wincing): "We split up to cover more ground faster."

"Okay, okay, it looks like we have something special going on here, when you look at me as if you've seen me before," she said in an interesting way.

The girl sighed, a wry smile playing on her lips, it was a little too... sweet, and sugary facade. Her smile widened, a hint of playful mischief sparkling in her ruby eyes. An unsettling familiarity tugged at Hiroki's mind. He squinted, a memory flickering at the edges of his consciousness.

Hiroki thinking "Wait a minute... This girl... her white hair... (the vision)... the same voice... It can't be... the image I've seen countless times..."

Hiroki (dawning realization): "W-Wait… A minute… Aren't you…? Why… How…?"

Girl (eyes gleaming): "The truth finally dawns on you, doesn't it? I apologize for the delay."

A whirlwind of emotions swirled within Hiroki. Memories of the vision, the encounter with the dark creature, and now this girl with her familiar white hair and voice – it was all too surreal. A nervous laugh escaped his lips.

Hiroki (frantic): "Wait, wait... this doesn't make sense! This can't be right. How is this happening?! Who are you exactly?"

Girl (peacefully): "Patience, Hiroki. There will be time for answers. The most important things reveal themselves in their own time."

The girl extended a hand towards Hiroki to get up, her face a mask of smiling concern.

Ayuri [The girl] (cont.): "Allow me to help you up. We can continue this conversation once we rejoin your team. By the way, my name is Ayuri Higashi."

Suddenly, a figure emerges from the trees in the distance – Yoru, her face etched with worry after her frantic search. Relief flooded her as she spotted Hiroki, but it was quickly replaced by a mix of surprise and suspicion upon seeing the girl beside him.

Yoru (alarmed): "Hiroki! Are you alright? What happened?"

Her eyes narrowed as they fell on Ayuri, suspicion flickering across her face.

Yoru (suspicious): "And who might you be? What did you do to Hiroki?"

Ayuri replied with calm seriousness "No need for alarm. I simply heard Hiroki's call for help and offered assistance. Those dark creatures can be quite troublesome."

Yoru's eyes remained fixed on Ayuri, her skepticism evident.

Yoru (to Hiroki): "Is he okay? He seems... stunned. Also, why you calling him with his first name like you know him?"

Hiroki (still bewildered): "Yoru... this is... the girl... from the vision... She is Ayuri... Ayuri Higashi."

Yoru's surprise was palpable. Confusion and suspicion warred on her face as she stared at Ayuri. The girl, however, remained unfazed, offering a gentle smile.

Ayuri (smiling calmly): "Please, let's not jump to conclusions. I'm Ayuri Higashi. It's a pleasure to meet you both. And perhaps, later, when things have settled, I can elaborate on the details."

Back to Kenji, paced back and forth, a knot of worry tightening in his stomach. Miyu had ventured deeper into the forest, drawn by an unidentified sound. Time ticked by, and her absence fueled his growing anxiety.

Kenji (calling out): "Miyu! Miyu, where are you?!"

Back to Hiroki. As they began their trek back, Ayuri's brow furrowed. The silence was unsettling. The sporadic attacks from the dark creatures had ceased abruptly.

Ayuri (murmuring): "This sudden quiet... it's unsettling."

Yoru (glancing at her): "What do you mean?"

Ayuri: "These creatures... they usually attack in relentless waves. This sudden silence... it feels unnatural."

Yoru (suspicious): "Perhaps they've retreated. Or maybe they're planning something bigger."

Hiroki (lost in thought): "Maybe they're afraid of something..."

Their conversation was abruptly interrupted by a panicked call echoing through the trees. It was Kenji's voice, laced with urgency.

Kenji (shouting): "Hiroki! Yoru! Miyu's missing!"

The group veered off course, following Kenji's frantic calls. They found him pacing worriedly, his face etched with concern.

Hiroki (alarmed): "Kenji, what happened? Where's Miyu?"

Kenji (breathing heavily): "She wandered off deeper into the forest after hearing some strange noises. I called out for her, but there was no response!"

Ayuri (frowny wondering): "Strange noises? Did you see any sign of struggle?"

Kenji (shaking his head): "No, not at all. It's just... quiet. Too quiet."

Yoru (gripping her lamp): "We need to find her. Now."

Back to Miyu, she cautiously explored a small, rocky outcrop, drawn by a faint sound. She soon discovered a hidden crevice, its entrance barely visible. Peering inside, she spotted two figures huddled together: a young girl, around thirteen, and a slightly older boy, perhaps fifteen. They looked terrified, their eyes wide with fear.

Miyu (softly): "Hello? Are you alright?"

The girl flinched, but the boy stepped forward protectively.

Boy (whispering): "Who are you? What do you want?"

Miyu (kindly): "Don't be afraid. We're here to help. We're from the PHG union. Are you lost?"

The girl nodded, her voice barely above a whisper. She explained how they had fled their village after an attack by strange creatures. They had been wandering the forest for days, exhausted and scared.

Miyu said "Stay safe here, I will try to call our group again so they can help us"

Back to Kenji who finished explaining what he found near Miyu's last known location. Yoru and Hiroki shared a worried glance.

Ayuri (frowning): "This silence... it's unsettling. Could it be a trap?"

Yoru (snapping): "We can't just sit here while Miyu might be in danger! We need to move!"

Hiroki (agreeing): "She is right. Let's split up and search!"

Ayuri (refusing fast): "There is no need to disperse further. We need to gather together. I can listen to distant sounds, which will make it easier for us to search."

While they were advancing, Ayuri extended her hand to stop their progress, waiting and listening carefully, and suddenly an unknown person came from the shadows. It was... Miyu.

"Guys... Finally... Over here" Miyu said as happiness flooded her face.

Miyu (cont.): "I found some survivors! Two kids, hiding in a small cave."

Miyu's announcement brought a flurry of questions. Yoru remained guarded, her eyes flickering towards Ayuri. Ayuri, in turn, masked her own curiosity with a thoughtful expression.

Ayuri (calmly): "Survivors? That's unexpected. Perhaps they can shed light on what happened here."

Miyu (confused): "Hiroki, who's this girl? Is she with us now?"

Hiroki (sheepishly): "Uh, yeah. We'll explain later. Right now, let's see these survivors you found."

Miyu led them deeper into the woods, her excitement bubbling over. They reached the small cave entrance, and Miyu instructed the others to wait outside.

Miyu (whispering): "Just stay here. These kids are a little scared, so I'll talk to them first."

A moment of silence passed. Then, a wave of panic washed over Miyu's face.

Miyu (horrified): "They're gone! The kids are gone!"

Hiroki says with tension, "Why that? Did you ask them not to move from the place?"

Miyu replied "I have already done so !"

Ayuri asked not to rush. "There is no need to panic now. How deep is this cave? Maybe they have gone deeper into it to take cover."

Yoru on her mind very anxious as this doesn't seem normal.

Ayuri : "It seems that the best solution would be to search abroad since we have nothing new here."

They had already decided to leave the place, Miyu's desperation evident on her face as they made their way to the opening of the small cave.

Before they could step outside, a chilling voice echoed from the darkness within the cave. "Oh Well well, Hello there.." ...

[To Be Continued]