The world shattered again.
Darkness folded over itself like a living thing.
Jae staggered slightly, gripping his head as another vision forced itself into existence.
"…How many more of these…"
His voice was low.
Strained.
But the world did not care.
The vision formed anyway.
This time—
There was no chaos.
No screams.
No blood.
Only time.
Time… passing.
The forest stretched endlessly beneath a quiet sky.
Days turned into nights.
Nights into weeks.
And within that passing time—
Eryndor and Kaelira moved together like two wandering souls bound by fate.
They hunted.
They trained.
They survived.
And slowly…
They began to understand each other.
Eryndor walked ahead, his steps firm, focused.
Kaelira followed behind, watching him.
Not just watching—
Studying.
Every movement.
Every breath.
Every quiet moment when his guard dropped just slightly.
"…He doesn't rest," she thought.
Jae watched from within the vision, arms crossed.
"…He's obsessed."
Kaelira suddenly spoke.
"You've been walking for hours."
Eryndor didn't turn.
"I'm fine."
"You said that yesterday."
Silence.
"…And the day before."
Eryndor stopped.
Finally turned.
"I don't have time to be tired."
His eyes darkened slightly.
"My sister doesn't have time."
Kaelira softened.
"…I know."
She stepped beside him.
"You don't have to carry everything alone."
Eryndor looked at her.
For a moment—
Something almost broke through his cold expression.
"…I'm used to it."
He turned away again.
And kept walking.
Kaelira watched him go.
Her chest tightened slightly.
"…Idiot."
Weeks passed.
And then—
They found something.
A destroyed battlefield.
Burn marks stretched across the land.
The ground itself was blackened.
Cracked.
Like something divine had scorched it.
Eryndor crouched down, touching the earth.
His fingers brushed against the ash.
His eyes narrowed.
"…This isn't normal fire."
Kaelira stepped closer.
"What is it?"
Eryndor stood slowly.
"…Divine Flame."
Jae's eyes sharpened.
"…So he's getting closer."
Eryndor looked ahead toward the mountains in the distance.
"There was a fight here."
"Multiple… strong ones."
He closed his eyes briefly.
Analyzing.
"…Three different flame signatures."
Kaelira's heart skipped.
"The contractors?"
Eryndor nodded.
"And…"
His voice lowered.
"…a fourth presence."
Jae leaned forward slightly.
"…Ellie?"
Eryndor clenched his fist.
"…I'm close."
The air around him grew hotter.
"…I'm getting closer."
That night—
They rested.
For once.
Kaelira sat near the fire, watching Eryndor.
He wasn't resting.
Of course he wasn't.
He stood in the clearing.
Training.
Again.
He dropped to the ground.
One finger.
Just one.
Pressed against the earth.
Then—
He lifted his entire body.
Upside down.
Balanced.
Perfect.
His feet pointed toward the sky.
His body straight.
Controlled.
His muscles flexed under the moonlight.
Every movement precise.
Every breath measured.
Eryndor's body trembled slightly—
But did not fall.
Sweat dripped down his skin.
His abs tightened with each controlled breath.
Kaelira stared.
"…What is this monster…"
Her face slowly turned red.
She swallowed.
"…Why is his body built like that…"
Before she realized it—
She walked closer.
Closer.
Closer.
Until—
She reached out.
And gently touched his abs.
"…So firm…"
A drop of drool almost slipped from her mouth.
Eryndor's eyes opened.
"…What are you doing?"
Kaelira froze.
Her brain shut down.
"…I—uh—this is—training inspection."
Silence.
Eryndor blinked.
"…Training inspection?"
"Yes."
She nodded confidently.
"…Very important."
Eryndor stared at her for a moment.
Then—
He went back to training.
"…Weirdo."
Kaelira's face exploded red.
"W-WEIRDO!?"
She turned away, flustered beyond belief.
Jae also looked at kaelira as an weirdo.
Days passed.
Their bond deepened.
Small moments.
Quiet ones.
Kaelira fixing his bandages.
Eryndor silently handing her food before she even asked.
Training together.
Laughing—rarely.
But it happened.
And every time it did—
It meant something.
But Eryndor never noticed.
Not the way she looked at him.
Not the way she stayed close.
Not the way her heart raced when he was near.
"…Idiot," she muttered again one night.
Then—
They reached a village.
It was small.
Peaceful.
At first glance.
Wooden homes.
Smoke rising from chimneys.
Children playing.
But something felt…
Off.
Eryndor stopped at the entrance.
"…Too quiet."
Kaelira nodded.
"…Yeah."
Jae narrowed his eyes.
"…Something's wrong."
They stepped inside.
Villagers watched them.
Too closely.
Too carefully.
Then—
A scream.
A man ran through the street.
"YOKAI!"
The ground trembled.
A beast burst through one of the houses.
Massive.
Grotesque.
Eryndor moved instantly.
Flames ignited in his hand.
Kaelira followed.
They attacked together.
Perfect synchronization.
Like they had trained for years.
The Yokai lunged—
Kaelira dodged.
Eryndor sliced with his hand.
Fire exploded.
The beast fell.
Silence returned.
A man stepped forward.
Tall.
Blonde.
Carrying a massive sword.
"…Not bad."
Beside him—
A girl with short blue hair and sharp eyes.
"And fast too."
Eryndor looked at them.
"…Who are you?"
The man smirked.
"Name's Rael."
The girl crossed her arms.
"Lyn."
Jae watched carefully.
Rael glanced at the dead Yokai.
"We've been tracking these things."
"They've been gathering lately."
Eryndor's eyes sharpened.
"…Where?"
Rael pointed toward the mountains.
Same direction.
"…We were about to head there."
Silence.
Then—
Kaelira looked at Eryndor.
He looked back.
A silent agreement.
"…We're going too."
Rael grinned.
"Good."
Lyn smirked slightly.
"More firepower."
And just like that—
The group grew.
The journey expanded.
And the war ahead—
Became inevitable.
In the darkness of the vision—
The vision began to crack again.