David stared at the hand stretched out toward him for a long moment before slowly extending his own. When his fingers wrapped around hers, her skin felt as cold as winter frost, yet her grip was surprisingly gentle."David," he said, his voice low and reserved.Ymir’s smile widened, her brilliant blue eyes crinkling at the corners. "It is truly a pleasure meeting you, David. I must say... you have fascinating eyes.""Th...anks," David muttered, shifting uncomfortably beneath his black cloak. He cleared his throat, trying to regain his composure. "You don't exactly look like you're from around these parts. Are you?"Ymir tilted her head, a playful glimmer in her gaze. "What makes you think that?""Never mind," David said, pulling his hand back and adjusting his traveling bag. "If you will excuse me, I have somewhere to be.""Of course. Thank you again for the help back there, David," Ymir said, pulling her heavy hood back over her vibrant blue hair. "Goodbye.""Goodbye," David murmured

The torrential rain slammed against the dirt streets of the village, washing away the tracks of David’s frantic retreat. He sprinted through the shadows, his breathing ragged and shallow. Every stride sent a jolt of agonizing pain shooting straight through his ruptured abdomen, but he forced his legs to move, keeping Ymir’s unconscious body hoisted securely over his shoulder.Finally, he veered into a dark alleyway behind the local inn where he had tied his horse."Just a little further," David wheezed, his voice barely audible over the roaring thunder.He reached the horse and reached up to grab the saddle, preparing to lift Ymir onto the animal's back. But before his boot could even find the stirrup, the world violently tilted. A sudden, massive wave of dizziness slammed into his mind, the severe blood loss from his deep abdominal wound finally catching up to his body. His grip failed.David collapsed heavily into the mud, his vision fracturing into dark, shifting shadows.Beside hi

Dragging his battered body, David followed Kira into the traditional estate. They passed through the serene inner courtyard and stepped into one of the quiet, matted rooms. Kira slid onto the floor, sitting cross-legged with sharp, evaluating eyes. David mirrored her, sitting directly opposite her despite the dull ache lingering in his muscles. "So tell me, kid," Kira asked, leaning forward slightly. "What's your story?" David straightened his back, taking a deep, steadying breath. "For the parts I actually remember... I was falsely accused of killing someone. They branded me a demon, so I ran away. That's when I met Lazarus, who took me in and taught me how to control the volatile powers inside me. Since then, I've fought through crazy bandits, and recently, a twisted cult leader with supernatural powers whose daughter has now vowed to take revenge on me. Lazarus said you would be able to help me recover my memories." "I see..." Kira murmured, her sharp gaze softening just a fra

The metallic stench of fresh blood outside was slowly replaced by the acrid, burnt smell of ashes drifting into the night air. Inside the room, however, the atmosphere remained dead silent. Kira stepped back through the ruined sliding doors, her sharp eyes tracking directly to David. He was still sound asleep on the tatami mat, his breathing shallow but stable. The violent, pitch-black aura was finally locked completely away inside his subconscious.Kira let out a quiet, heavy sigh. Moving with silent, practiced steps, she walked over to the far corner of the room and slid down against the wall, resting her hands on her lap. Though she allowed her eyes to close to catch some sleep, her spiritual senses remained completely extended—razor-sharp, highly alert, and watching over him through the dark hours until the break of dawn.When the morning sun finally filtered through the shattered shoji screens, David’s eyes fluttered open. Instantly, a white-hot spike of agony shot through his sk

They walked right past the crying woman, unable to stop as the dense, turbulent flow of the lower-class crowd swept them forward toward the town center. The ambient noise of the slums quickly gave way to the deafening roar of a bloodthirsty mob packed tightly into the cobblestone plaza.At the center of the square stood a heavy wooden scaffold. Bound to a wooden block was a disheveled girl, her eyes wide with sheer terror as she watched the crowd cheering, screaming, and howling for her head to be taken off under the accusation of practicing witchcraft.David stopped dead in his tracks, his breath freezing in his throat. As he watched the savage mob, a sudden, violent rush of static erupted inside his head. A terrifying, memory of his own execution flashed behind his eyes, forcing a sharp, painful gasp from his lungs.By the side of the block, a cold-eyed priest stepped forward, raising his hands to silence the crowd. “This woman is hereby condemned by the gods for the act of practici