I stood frozen in place.My breath hitched. The world around me blurred as if time itself had paused.
No.
Running would only make me look weak. And I was done looking weak.
Raiden's voice broke through the chaos in my head, gentle and low. "I'm sorry, Eloula. That wasn't my intention."
I didn't answer. I didn't even look at him. I turned on my heel and walked away, leaving the scent of blood and tension behind me. The path beneath my feet felt uneven. The forest was quiet except for the rustling of leaves.
I knew he was following. Quietly. At a distance.
I didn't want him near me. But I didn't want to be alone either.
The truth was, every time I had searched for answers in my life, I was met with lies, silence, or the kind of avoidance that made the truth feel poisonous. My family had done the same. And now him too?
I tightened my grip on my sword, the metal cool against my palm. The rage in me was bubbling like boiling water just beneath the surface of calm.
I forced myself to inhale deeply. Then again. And again.
Focus.
Don't let the emotions win.
Raiden's footsteps finally caught up. He reached for me but stopped before touching.
A sharp sting pulsed in my temple. I wiped at it and felt the wet warmth of blood. My fingers came away red. A shallow cut—probably from the earlier skirmish—but the pain didn't matter.
What mattered was the dizziness that followed.
Raiden saw the blood and frowned. "You're hurt."
"It's nothing," I muttered, brushing him off.
He ignored my protest and stepped closer, gently taking my arm. "Please, Eloula. Don't be mad. I only did what I thought was right. Let me explain."
His eyes held that softness again. That rare expression he barely ever showed. As if something inside him cracked open for a moment.
I wanted to be angry. I really did. But it was hard to stay mad at him when he looked at me like that.
I was just about to say something—maybe even forgive him—when a voice boomed behind us.
"GOOD DAY, LORD AND LADY!"
We both turned, startled.
A young man stood there, wearing a crooked smile and holding a long stick that had clearly seen better days. A fluffy sheep trailed behind him, its wool bouncing with every step.
I blinked. "...Hello?"
The man waved. "Didn't mean to interrupt! You two seemed deep in conversation. Are you new to the village?"
Raiden remained quiet, so I stepped forward with a polite smile. "Yes. Just passing through. We're travelers."
His eyes wandered to our swords. "Ah… swords, huh? That's… nice. As long as you're not looking for trouble."
"Not at all," I replied quickly. "Just protection. We don't start fights."
He grinned. "Then you'll be fine here. Though—word of advice—the temple watches over us. Good people, holy men. If you run into trouble, go to them."
"The temple?" Raiden asked.
The man nodded. "It's sacred ground. People believe it keeps the darkness away. The monks there… they know things."
I glanced at Raiden, and he seemed intrigued.
"Is there someone who sells maps in the village?" Raiden asked.
"Of course! Lady Toma runs a stall right by the river bridge. You'll find her."
The man started to leave but paused. His expression turned serious.
"One more thing," he said, looking at me. "Don't let your lady wander off alone. Not even during the day."
My brows drew together. "Why not?"
He leaned closer, lowering his voice. "Women have been disappearing. Some say they're running away. Others think it's something worse. Evil things. Just… stay close."
I chuckled awkwardly. "Oh, we're not married—"
The man blinked. "Oh! I'm sorry. You just looked like… you know."
I turned to Raiden. His face was unreadable, but his jaw was tight.
I couldn't help myself. I teased, "Don't worry, I'll stay close, husband."
He rolled his eyes and turned away.
As we walked, I caught up and noticed I was still holding his arm. He suddenly stopped and muttered, "Why are you clinging to me?"
I blinked innocently. "Habit."
"You're heavy."
I gasped. "You—! That's so rude! You should be lucky someone like me even touches your bony arm!"
He smirked. "Bony, huh?"
"You want a slap?"
"Try me."
I huffed and looked ahead, ignoring him.
Then, something beautiful came into view.
The village.
It was far larger than I expected. The roofs were tiled in red, blue, and gold, while colorful banners danced in the wind. There was laughter in the air, and the smell of fresh buns and spices.
Children chased each other, women bartered over fabrics, and the temple tower loomed in the distance—tall and serene, like an ancient guardian.
I nearly bumped into a woman in a pale blue kimono. She looked startled and quickly disappeared into the crowd. Something about her seemed... off.
Then I saw her necklace: a butterfly pendant shaped like a heart.
Strange.
Raiden tugged my sleeve. I followed him to a row of market stalls where all sorts of trinkets were laid out—painted combs, jade earrings, calligraphy scrolls, and fans.
One fan caught my eye.
a fan Pale pink with hand-painted cherry blossoms flowing across its folds like petals in the wind.
I was mesmerized.
The shopkeeper noticed and leaned over to Raiden. "A beauty like her deserves such a fan. You should buy it for your wife."
I pretended not to hear but tilted my head, hoping Raiden would say something romantic.
He said nothing.
The shopkeeper chuckled. "You know, fans aren't just for decoration. They hide the face, yes—but when a woman shows only her eyes…"
He winked.
"...they steal hearts."
I held in my laugh.
Raiden finally sighed and pulled out coins. "I'll take it."
He handed the fan to me without a word and walked away.
I blinked in shock, then ran after him. "Wait! You… actually bought it for me?"
"Don't make me regret it."
I grinned and opened the fan, posing with it like a noble lady. "Do I look enchanting?"
He stared. "You look like a sheep."
My jaw dropped. "You absolute—!"
I smacked his shoulder, and he grinned in triumph.
"You should look in the mirror sometime!" I shot back. "Your hair's a mess!"
He flipped it proudly. "Still better than yours."
I rolled my eyes, hiding the smile on my lips.
But the playfulness ended abruptly when we heard a scream.
A crowd had gathered by the well.
Blood. Dark red, pooling on the stone.
A necklace lay in the middle of it.
Butterfly. Heart-shaped.
The same woman from earlier.
But she was gone.
Someone whispered, "Another woman… gone."