kago no yuri

As Ryo and Mei's argument reached its crescendo, the air was electric with tension. The trees surrounding them seemed to loom over, their branches creaking softly in the wind, as if to witness the intensity of their exchange.

The silence between them was palpable, heavy with unspoken words and unresolved emotions. But just as it seemed that their argument would escalate further, a brilliant light enveloped them, casting a warm glow over the forest floor.

Aetherion's voice, low and soothing, cut through the din of their battle. 

"Alright, let's get out of here." 

The light intensified, and Ryo felt himself being lifted off the ground, his eyes fixed on Mei as she was similarly transported. They were separated by a few feet, their gazes meeting briefly before they were both enveloped in the light.

When the light dissipated, they found themselves back at the forest's edge, where they had first met Aetherion. The memories of that fateful encounter came flooding back, and Ryo's gaze swept across the familiar landscape. 

The trees, once green and vibrant, now stood as skeletal sentinels, their branches etched against the sky like a delicate pen and ink drawing.

As they materialized, Ryo's eyes fell upon the group that had been transported alongside them. Tsukiko, her face a mask of grief, cradled Akimitsu's lifeless body in her arms. Hitomi, Koki, and Kenzo stood nearby, their faces etched with concern and fatigue. 

Akari, her eyes red-rimmed from crying, stood a little apart, her gaze fixed on the ground as if unable to bear the sight of Akimitsu's body. Mei stood a short distance away, her eyes fixed on Ryo with a mixture of wariness and curiosity.

The air was heavy with the weight of their collective sorrow, and Ryo could feel the pain and loss that hung over them like a shroud. Aetherion's presence seemed to loom over them, his silence a reminder that their time in Caliginia was far from over. The forest, once a place of mystery and wonder, now felt like a threshold to a darker, more sinister world. 

Ryo's heart quickened as he wondered what lay ahead, what challenges and terrors awaited them in the shadows. The only certainty was that they would be forced to face them together, as a group, bound by their shared experiences and their determination to survive.

Tsukiko's gaze snapped towards Aetherion, her golden, beautiful eyes twisted in disgust and rage, like a masterpiece of art corrupted by the brushstrokes of madness. 

Her eyes, once bright and shining like the sun, now blazed with a fierce intensity, like a tempest raging in the depths of her soul. She stared at him with a venomous hatred, her gaze piercing through the air like a dagger, as if she could skewer him with a single glance. 

"It's because of you, all of this," 

she spat, her voice trembling with rage, the words tumbling out of her mouth like a curse.

Her once beautiful face, now a mess of tears, sweat, and dirt, was contorted in a snarl, her features twisted in a mixture of pain and anger. Her skin, once smooth and unblemished, was now smeared with grime and streaked with tears, her lips curled back in a snarl, revealing a hint of teeth. 

The beauty that had once been Tsukiko was now marred by the ugliness of her emotions, her face a reflection of the turmoil that raged within her.

Aetherion's response was a grin, a cold, calculating smile that sent shivers down the spines of those around him. His eyes gleamed with a malevolent light, like a madman reveling in his own twisted desires. 

"Oh? I'm sure I said there were no guarantees," 

he said, his voice dripping with sarcasm, his tone a mocking echo of Tsukiko's anguish.

As he spoke, Aetherion's grin grew wider, his excitement palpable, like a dark energy emanating from his very being. He seemed to feed off the suffering of others, his presence drawing sustenance from the pain and fear that surrounded him.

 "It makes sense that he'd be the first one to die," he continued, his words a cruel taunt, a heartless dismissal of Akimitsu's life. 

"All that said and done, you guys are really lucky. You encountered a spectre-level threat and survived with only one casualty, regardless of if it was a weaker one."

Aetherion's gaze swept across the group, his eyes lingering on each of them with an unnerving intensity, as if he was savoring their fear and uncertainty. 

"I guess you have earned a pardon, this time," he said, his voice dripping with condescension, his tone implying that they should be grateful for his mercy. 

"Even my master is interested in you, my lilies," he added, his words a sinister whisper, a promise of darker things to come.

As Aetherion spoke, the air around him seemed to grow colder, the shadows deepening and twisting like living things. The group felt a creeping sense of dread, as if they were being pulled into a nightmare from which they couldn't awaken. 

Tsukiko's gaze never wavered, her eyes fixed on Aetherion with a fierce determination, as if she was daring him to take another step closer. The tension between them was palpable, a spark waiting to ignite into a blaze of violence and chaos.

"You have all earned a reward, I've increased your traits by 5 and I'll be giving you food and shelter".

As Aetherion's words hung in the air, the group's collective gaze fell upon their left wrists, where a soft, ethereal glow had begun to emanate. Ryo, Akari, and Kenzo exchanged knowing glances, their faces expressionless. They had already been aware of the Scenario trait system, and the glow was merely a confirmation of their existing abilities.

Tsukiko, on the other hand, stared at her wrist with a mixture of numbness and despair. The glow seemed to mock her, a cruel reminder of the power she had been unable to use to save Akimitsu. Her eyes scanned the list of traits, her mind dulled by grief:

『Scenario of the Sword's Aspirant』

Swordsmanship: stage 12

Hand to hand combat: stage 5

Sword mage: stage 5

Acrobatics: stage 7

Stamina: stage 6

The words blurred together on the screen, meaningless in the face of her loss. Tsukiko's eyes felt dry and empty, her heart heavy with sorrow.

Mei's gaze fell upon her own wrist, her expression unreadable. The dark purple glow seemed to suit her mood, and she regarded the list of traits with a detached interest:

『Scenario of Darkness's Aspirant』

Shadow stealth: stage 5

Darkness manipulation: stage 7

Dark magic: stage 6

Fear inducement: stage 8

Shadow conjuring: stage 12

Her eyes narrowed slightly as she took in the information, her mind working overtime to process the implications. But her face remained a mask, giving away nothing of her thoughts or feelings.

The group stood in silence, each lost in their own thoughts and emotions. Aetherion's words had brought them a measure of comfort, but it was a small consolation in the face of their losses and uncertainties.

Aetherion's voice dripped with an unsettling enthusiasm as he spoke, his red eyes glimmering with an otherworldly light.

 "The next page will begin in a week, so until that time, I'll be giving you a place to stay. I've already made arrangements for that." 

The creature's words were laced with a sense of self-satisfaction, as if he was proud of his own generosity.

The others, however, were not so easily swayed. They still harbored hostile feelings towards Aetherion, their faces a mixture of anger, resentment, and suspicion. 

But they said nothing, their silence a testament to the reality of their situation. They had wished for change, and now they had it. Whether they liked it or not, they were bound to this world, subject to the whims of the creature before them.

Ryo, however, seemed to be an exception. His expression was neutral, his eyes betraying no emotion. Up until this point, his life had been a constant loop of mundane activities, a never-ending cycle of routine and predictability. But this...this was different. This was excitement, this was uncertainty, and it was a spark that had ignited a fire within him. But as he turned to look at Akimitsu's lifeless body, he couldn't help but wonder if it was all worth it. Was the thrill of the unknown worth risking his life?

As he gazed at Akimitsu's body, he noticed something strange. A green glow had begun to emanate from the corpse, and an image flashed in Ryo's mind. He recalled the strange waterfall he had encountered before, the one with the same green glow.

 "It seems it has begun," Aetherion said, his eyes glinting with an even more sinister excitement.

Akimitsu's body began to break apart, like green glowing sand evaporating into the air. Tsukiko watched with a pained expression, her eyes welling up with tears. The others were dumbfounded, their faces frozen in shock and horror.

Aetherion's voice was like a cold wind, cutting through the silence. 

"You see, this is what happens when something with strong emotions like you humans die in this world. Your bodies will turn into energy that will fuel the birth of life elsewhere." 

The creature's words were like a cruel joke, a heartless explanation for the brutal reality of their situation.

As the green glow dissipated, leaving nothing but a faint memory of Akimitsu's presence, the group was left to grapple with the implications of Aetherion's words. They were not just fighting for survival; they were fighting to maintain their very existence. 

And in this world, death was not an end, but a transformation, a fuel for the cycle of life and death that governed this twisted realm.

"Let's leave this place now," Aetherion said, his voice dripping with an air of finality. "The location I've temporarily prepared for you is just a little further down the forest. But fear not, I will teleport us there."

Tsukiko's eyes narrowed, her gaze still fixed on the spot where Akimitsu's body had vanished. 

"What's the point of all this?" she spat, her voice laced with venom. "Why are you doing this to us?"

Aetherion's grin was like a crack in the earth, splitting his face into a grotesque smile. 

"Ah, my dear Tsukiko, you would not understand. But rest assured, this is all part of the grand design. And you, my lilies, are mere pawns in a game much larger than yourselves."

Ryo's eyes flicked to Aetherion, his expression unreadable. "What do you mean by 'the grand design'?" he asked, his voice neutral.

Aetherion's chuckle was like a rustling of dry leaves. "All in due time, my young friend. All in due time. For now, let us focus on getting you settled into your new accommodations. Shall we?"

As Aetherion's words hung in the air, the group felt a strange sensation, like the very fabric of reality was bending to accommodate their transportation. The air around them shimmered and distorted, like the surface of a pond struck by a stone, and the sounds of the forest grew fainter, replaced by a soft, ethereal humming. When the distortion cleared, they found themselves standing in a small clearing, surrounded by a ring of towering trees that seemed to stretch up to the sky like giant pillars.

Aetherion's grin was still plastered on his face, his eyes glinting with amusement. "Welcome, my lilies, to your new home. For the time being, at least."

In the center of the clearing, a wooden tree-like house emerged from the ground, its trunk thick and gnarled, its branches twisted and curved in impossible ways. The house seemed to grow organically from the earth, as if it had been planted there like a seed and had sprouted into being. The group approached the house, their footsteps quiet on the soft, moss-covered ground.

As they entered the house, they were struck by its sheer size. Despite its unassuming exterior, the interior of the house was vast, with rooms and corridors that seemed to stretch on forever. The walls were made of a warm, honey-colored wood, and the air was filled with the sweet scent of blooming flowers.

Ryo wandered over to a uniquely shaped window beside him, its frame twisted and curved like a living vine. He stared out at the never-ending twilight sky, where three moons hung suspended like lanterns in the darkness. The sky was a deep, rich purple, and the stars twinkled like diamonds scattered across the fabric of the universe.

As he gazed out at the breathtaking view, he noticed a flock of creatures flitting through the trees, their wings beating in unison as they sang a sweet, melodic song. They were Kardia beasts, but not the fearsome predators they had encountered earlier. These creatures were small and delicate, with feathers that shimmered like the moon and eyes that sparkled like stars. They were harmless, and Ryo felt a sense of wonder and awe as he watched them dance through the trees.

"What are those creatures?" he asked Aetherion, his voice barely above a whisper.

"Ah, those are the Luminari," Aetherion replied, his voice filled with a deep affection. "They are a type of Kardia beast, but they are quite harmless. In fact, they are considered to be good luck charms in many parts of this world."

As Ryo continued to gaze out at the Luminari, he noticed other creatures flitting through the trees. There were Grombles, small, furry creatures that seemed to be made of living shadow, and Malakars, tall, stately creatures with skin like dark, polished wood and eyes that glowed like embers.

The house seemed to be surrounded by a veritable menagerie of fantastical creatures, each one more breathtaking than the last. Ryo felt as though he had stumbled into a dream world, a place where the boundaries between reality and fantasy were blurred and anything was possible.

As he turned away from the window, he was met with an awkward silence. The others were staring at him, but their faces were expressionless, their eyes haunted by the memories of what had happened earlier. No one spoke, the only sound the soft hum of the house and the distant singing of the Luminari.

The silence was oppressive, a heavy blanket that suffocated them all. Ryo looked away, feeling a sense of discomfort wash over him. He didn't know these people, and they didn't know him. They were all strangers, brought together by circumstance, and the tension between them was palpable.

Aetherion, seemingly oblivious to the awkwardness, smiled to himself as he watched them. 

"I'll leave you all to get settled," 

he said, his voice breaking the silence. 

"You have a week before the next page begins. I suggest you use that time to rest and prepare yourselves. You'll also need to hunt for food, as I won't be providing it for you."

He gestured to a small clearing outside the window. 

"There are creatures that nest in the nearby trees, called Fizzlekins. They're small, rodent-like creatures with a sweet, nutty flavor. They're easy to catch and make for a good meal. You can also forage for edible plants, such as the Starlight Bloom and the Moonpetal. They're both safe to eat and can be found in the surrounding area."

Ryo's eyes widened as he looked at the kitchen, which was surprisingly well-stocked with ingredients similar to those found in their own world. "You'll find that the kitchen is equipped with everything you need to prepare your meals," Aetherion continued. 

"The Fizzlekins can be roasted over an open flame, and the Starlight Bloom can be sautéed in a pan with some oil and herbs. The Moonpetal makes for a good tea, simply steep the leaves in hot water and enjoy."

As Aetherion finished speaking, he turned and disappeared, leaving the group to their uncomfortable silence. Ryo looked around at the others, but no one met his eye. They all just stood there, frozen in their own private worlds, the only sound the heavy silence that hung between them.

The kitchen, however, seemed to be a different story. Ryo's eyes wandered back to the countertops, where he saw familiar ingredients like flour, sugar, and spices. There were also some strange, exotic spices that he didn't recognize, but they seemed to be arranged in a way that suggested they were meant to be used in cooking.

He noticed a small cookbook on the counter, bound in a strange, scaly material. As he opened it, he saw that it was filled with recipes that seemed to be tailored to the ingredients available in this world. There were recipes for Fizzlekin stew, Starlight Bloom salad, and Moonpetal tea. Ryo's stomach growled as he flipped through the pages, his mind racing with the possibilities. Maybe, just maybe, this place wouldn't be so bad after all.