"Half-demon... That's what I am!" — The calm and silence that once filled the forest were broken again. This time, it was Gachuti.
"But..." — He hesitated for a second, then took a step forward.
"Please… just leave me alone." — His trembling voice was only the beginning. His eyes welled up with tears, small drops beginning to form.
"It's okay." — The words escaped softly from her lips as she wrapped him in a warm embrace, the gentle scent of roses lingering in the air.
"Rosary?" — At last, he looked back to see her, her face pressed against his back.
"It's okay to cry."
"But the villagers..." — His words came out in a whisper, and the tears finally began to fall.
"What matters is that Grandpa and I accept you. So, let's go back?"
"Yes… let's." — Unable to hold back the weight of his tears, his sword slipped from his weakening grip and clattered to the ground. His knees followed.
A few minutes later, Gachuti had cried himself to sleep, now resting peacefully with his head on Rosary's lap, while she gently played with his hair.
"Sleep as long as you want. You deserve it." — A light blush colored her cheeks, and for a moment, her golden eyes seemed to shine.
The soft crack of a twig pulled her attention away from him and toward a black-furred wolf with a flower-like mark on its forehead and glowing golden eyes fixed on them.
"Rudh? That means Grandpa must be nearby." — Still lost in thought, she didn't notice the wolf approaching. It laid down beside them. — "Where's Grandpa, girl?" — Finally coming back to herself, she asked the animal as she stroked its silky fur.
"Looks like you caught me." — A voice spoke from behind a tree. Thijou emerged, smiling, a hand behind his neck.
"Were you spying on us?"
"My dear granddaughter, are you truly in love with Gachuti?"
"First! You didn't answer my question. And second..." — She paused, placing a hand on her chest, then clenched it into a fist and looked directly at him. — "I don't know. But... when I'm with him, my heart always feels one step ahead."
"Then I want you to have something." — Without hurrying, he approached her and placed a pair of gold rings in her hands, each engraved with a rose and set with a diamond.
"Wait, these are..." — Her eyes widened as she recognized them.
"Your parents' wedding rings. I think they'd want you to have them."
"Grandpa... Thank you so much." — Gentle tears welled up in her eyes, softening her words. And with them came a sincere smile.
---
The sun had set, and the full moon now reigned in the sky. Its silver light bathed a stone temple where a young man and an old one stood. The elder was on his knees, praying, while the younger watched quietly.
"Protect my grandchildren and my village. Amen." — The elder opened his eyes, unclasped his hands, and stood up.
"Amen. Elder Thijou, to which god do you pray?"
"I follow Riflat, the god of today." — He walked over to Gachuti and placed a hand on his shoulder.
"The god of today? What does that mean?" — Gachuti asked as they walked home together.
"It's simple. I believe that just because someone was bad yesterday doesn't mean they still are today."
"I think I understand." — It was something that clearly made him reflect. — "I can't believe the warrior trials start tomorrow."
"Hard to believe it's been almost a year since you arrived."
"Once I finish this week of trials, I swear I'll pray with you."
"I'll be waiting, my little grandson."
"Rosary and I aren't married."
"Not yet. But I know it won't be long."
Their shadows stretched long and dark in the moonlight, and only the faint sound of water dripping onto water remained. Then something came into view—a large chalice overflowing with a dark red liquid, mixing with falling droplets of water.
"...O seu retorno fará o planeta tremer, seu corpo como sacrifício, o retorno do demônio de Od..." — In front of the chalice, a hooded man knelt. Just as he continued, the ringing of bells cut through the air.
"That dream again? And those bells?" — The whole scene dissolved into darkness as moonlight fell on Gachuti's face. He stirred, waking slowly, confusion still heavy in his mind. — "Why bells? What does it mean? Wait… the alarm bells!"
On a calm and serene night, with the moonlight making the spring leaves more beautiful than ever, it would normally be a peaceful scene—except now, that beauty was only a fragile detail.
"I have to move—faster!" — His hurried footsteps broke the forest's natural harmony. Gachuti ran toward the village gate, finding it shut. — "Damn, I'll have to..."
With a swift, focused motion, he drew his sword, now covered in cyan-blue flames. He slashed at the chains on the gate—they ignited, then froze. A leaping kick sent him through.
But once inside, what he saw made his breath catch.
"Slimes?"