The wind howled through the ruins of the battlefield, lifting a whirlwind of ashes around Arashi. The remnants of his clash with Takeshi littered the ground—gaping craters, smoldering rock fragments, and shattered trees reduced to dust under the sheer force of the battle. The air was thick with ozone and ash, silent witnesses to the power unleashed here.
But none of that mattered anymore.
Before him, standing still, was Miyuki Akeron.
His mother.
Her silhouette stood tall in the dim light, proud, unyielding, impassive. Her long red hair flowed slightly in the night wind, illuminated by the flickering torches surrounding her. Her face, strikingly beautiful yet cold, was frozen in an unreadable expression, devoid of any emotion.
Arashi felt his heart tighten—not with affection, but with a deep, simmering rage he could no longer contain.
Why?
Why was she here?
Why now?
Why hadn't she intervened when he needed her the most?
Behind him, a heavy silence settled. Kaede, Mei, Ryuu, and Jin stood frozen, as if the world itself had stopped.
Then, the atmosphere shattered with Ryuu's explosion of fury.
He surged forward and slammed his fist against a nearby metallic wall, the impact resounding in a dull thud followed by a sharp crack. His hand trembled from the force, but he seemed oblivious to the pain.
— You mean to tell me this woman saw everything?! he roared, his voice shaking with rage. She was here all along and did nothing?!
His burning gaze flickered between Miyuki and Arashi, searching desperately for an answer that never came.
Kaede, usually so composed, brought a trembling hand to her lips. Her eyes widened in shock, as if her mind refused to grasp the truth.
Mei lowered her head, avoiding everyone's gaze. Her body was tense, as though she were barely holding herself back from erupting as well.
Only Jin, standing at the back, remained outwardly calm. Arms crossed, he scrutinized Miyuki with a piercing stare, his mind racing.
— This is ridiculous… he murmured, as if trying to make sense of it all.
But Arashi no longer heard them.
His fists clenched, his muscles coiling under the weight of restrained fury. Step by step, he advanced, his gaze burning as it locked onto Miyuki.
For a moment, nothing happened.
Then, his voice fell, sharp as a blade.
— Why?
A single word.
A word heavy with pain, anger, and accusation.
Miyuki did not respond immediately. She didn't even flinch, as if the question had nothing to do with her. Only a faint gust of wind made her scarlet hair ripple, and the firelight flickered in her eyes.
— Why didn't you do anything?! Arashi growled, his voice rumbling like distant thunder. Why did you just watch while my father broke me?! While I bled, while I screamed, while I—
His voice caught in his throat. A cold shiver ran down his spine. Suppressed memories clawed their way to the surface, like starving specters seeking to consume him.
The image of Takeshi, his father, towering over him. His cold, merciless stare.
The crushing weight of his own helplessness.
Arashi shook his head violently, banishing the haunting visions. He had no time to drown in the past.
— Answer me! he roared.
Miyuki finally lifted her gaze to meet his.
Her eyes were unreadable. No pain. No regret. No affection. Just… a deep abyss, a storm she concealed with absolute mastery.
Then, slowly, she parted her lips.
— Because it was not my role to intervene.
A chilling silence fell over the group.
Ryuu's eyes widened in disbelief.
— Not your role?! he echoed, his voice shaking. He's your son, for god's sake!
Miyuki did not look away.
— And that is precisely why I did nothing.
Her words fell like a guillotine.
Something cracked inside Arashi.
Everything he had believed, everything he had unconsciously hoped for… crumbled under the weight of her response.
His breath grew heavy.
— So all this time… you abandoned me? he murmured.
Miyuki closed her eyes briefly, as if choosing her words carefully. Then, she answered, her voice softer, yet just as sharp.
— No. I watched you. I waited.
A shiver coursed down Arashi's spine.
— Waited for what?! he spat.
Silence.
Then, at last, Miyuki spoke.
— For you to survive.
A wave of vertigo overtook Arashi. He staggered back, struggling to process what he had just heard.
Kaede covered her mouth in shock. Mei clenched her fists, battling against a surge of emotions.
Only Jin remained composed, though a flicker of unease passed through his gaze.
— You were there… watching while I was broken… Arashi murmured, almost to himself. You were there, and you let it happen.
Miyuki did not respond immediately.
Then, with slow, deliberate steps, she took a step forward.
— Arashi.
He lifted his head, his eyes blazing with rage and incomprehension.
— You think I was absent. That I abandoned you.
Her voice was calm, measured.
— But that is not the case.
She paused, then continued.
— I watched you, because that is how we, the Akeron, pass down our legacy.
A cold chill ran through Arashi's veins.
— Our… legacy?
Miyuki nodded slowly.
— Yes. We do not save our children. We let them face death, because only those who survive it are worthy of carrying our name.
A shudder coursed down Arashi's spine.
His heart pounded in his chest.
He was prepared to hear anything.
But what his mother had just said…
It wasn't merely an explanation.
It was something far greater.
Far more terrifying than he had imagined.
And he knew—this was only the beginning.
---
End of Part 1