Miraya tightened her hold on Ronin, kissing his small temple. "Oh, my little star... mama loves you so much, my little great Ronin Hirata." Her heart swelled with a warmth that felt boundless.
Then, a maiden stepped into the kitchen, bowing deeply as she realized she'd interrupted. "Forgive me, Lady Miraya. I did not see you."
Miraya offered a soft smile, adjusting Ronin in her arms. "No need. But you look pale. What is it?"
The maiden's mind snapped back to her duty. "News, my lady. From the Isshin Clan. Your mother, Yui, is returning. Your father, Lord Isao... his health has declined over the past few weeks. As heiress, your mother requests you come to manage the clan in her stead."
Miraya's expression deepened with concern, "Father is ill... Mother cannot shoulder it alone. I must go, but..."
She looked at Ronin's peaceful sleeping face. "I worry for my son. Usama is shoulder-deep in clan affairs. If Ronin cannot find me, his tears might well flood the estate."
The maiden glanced at the sleeping heir, "Could the servants not manage a prince for a few days?"
Miraya rolled her eyes back, a low chuckle escaping her. "Oh dear. Have you forgotten last month?"
The maiden's face fell as the memory resurfaced.
Last Month.
Ronin sat in his bathing clothes, giggling as he stacked wooden blocks into a wobbly tower. The duty of bathing the little storm had fallen to a maiden.
The maiden stepped forward, her arms outstretched. "Come little prince, it's your bath time."
Ronin's expression twisted in exasperation, "No. The water is cold. I hate it."
The maiden moved one more step forward. "But if you do not bathe, you will smell. And no one will want to be your friend."
Ronin scoffed and tried to crawl away. As the maiden reached for him—
WHOOSH.
He vanished from his spot, leaving behind faint sky-blue spatial particles.
The maiden stumbled back, sweat beading on her brow. "Prince? Where are you?"
A soft giggle came from behind. She turned. Ronin was perched atop a high shelf, clapping his hands in delight.
She approached slowly, hands raised. "Prince... that is dangerous. Please, come here."
Ronin nodded, "Alright. But promise. No bathing."
She gestured in answer. "I promise. Now, come."
He began to climb down. The moment he was within reach, she snatched him up. "Got you! Now, into the bath, you little chaos!"
Ronin puffed his cheeks in fury. "Liar!"
WHOOSH.
He vanished again from her grasp, leaving blue particles behind.
The dance repeated until the exhausted maidens finally surrendered.
***
The maiden swallowed hard. "Yes... The prince maddened us, hopping from here to there."
Miraya low chuckled, "He torments everyone with his dimensional hopping. The only bribe that works is my cookies."
She gently shook Ronin to rouse him. He rubbed his eyes, blinking up at her. He asked, his voice thick with sleep "Mama...?"
Miraya playfully nuzzled into his soft neck, eliciting a sleepy giggle. "You coming with Mama to see Grandma. Are you excited?"
Ronin's eyes sparkled with instant, childish energy. "Grandma! Yes! I want to see Grandma."
Miraya lowered him onto the floor, straightened her dress. "Then it is decided. Prepare the carriage. We leave within the hour."
The maiden bowed. "At once, my lady."
***
The carriage rolled along the polished stone paths of the Arcane Kingdom, painted in soft golden sunlight.
Inside, Ronin sat on Miraya's lap, gazing out from the window as she held him steady. They moved through the glimmering spires of the capital.
Then, the light dimmed.
Tall, vast canopies blotted out the sun, casting the path into deep shadow. They had entered a narrow pass through the woods.
Miraya's eyes scanned the unfamiliar, thicker gloom. "Driver? What is this route? I do not know it."
The driver's voice was casual. "Do not worry, my lady. It is the border path to the Isshin lands. We're not mad to venture into the Whispering Forests themselves. "
Ronin clutched Miraya's dress, his small body tensing. "Mama... It's scary."
Miraya's chest tightened, she commanded. "Move faster. My son is frightened."
But then—
BOOM!
A hyper-energetic Arcane blast erupted from beneath the road. Stones shattered into a pit-sized crater. Dust and debris filled the air.
The carriage lurched to a violent halt. The driver cried out, stumbling from his seat.
Miraya's senses screamed. She sat Ronin firmly on a seat, kissed his forehead, and gently stroked his hair. Her voice was calm, absolute. "Ronin, wait here. Do not move an inch until I return. Do you understand?"
Wide-eyed, he nodded.
Miraya stepped out of the carriage, her movements careful and lethal. She waved a hand, clearing the dust from her vision — and sensed a presence behind her.
She spun, sidestepping in one fluid motion, and caught the wrist of a black-cloaked person.
She channeled her Arcane Energy into her palm, and her palm erupted into a golden flash.
"Precise Arcane Technique: Gold Lancer."
A spear of solidified light shot from her palm, piercing the attacker's chest and hurling him backward.
Then, a cold, primal dread seized her. She whirled towards the carriage.
Another cloaked figure was there, Ronin trapped in his arms. Her son kicked and struggled, small fists pounding uselessly against the grip that held him.
Miraya's world shattered into pure fury and terror. "RONIN! LET HIM GO!"
She lunged forward.
But the attacker was already moving. With a brutal heave, he threw Ronin – not onto the road, but into the dark, vast depths of the Whispering Forest.
Miraya's eyes locked with her son's for one final heart-stopping moment. She saw only hope and raw fear before the shadows swallowed him whole.
The two attackers shared a glance, whispered something too low to hear, and melted back into the gloom.
Miraya collapsed on her knees. The scream that tore from her throat was not a word, but a raw, animal sound of absolute loss.
"NO! MY CHILD! NO!"
Her greatest fear had crystallized into her worst nightmare.
And, the most cruel truth was this:
It was now her reality. Her child in the belly of hell itself.