An unusual demon appeared—towering with six massive arms and a well-built physique, emanating immense cursed energy. This one was five times stronger than a typical demon. He moved first, swiftly, but we could still read his movements. However, his relentless multi-directional attacks kept us from finding an opening to strike. It was close combat, and I couldn't even create a knife for switch magic.
Tokiro quickly trapped its feet with earth magic. Seizing the moment, I rushed in and landed a Devastation Fist on its chin, knocking the demon back.
"Water Magic: Sea Wave Slicer!" Yuzuha shouted as she sliced across the demon's chest with her magic.
But the demon wasn't done. Its arms extended grotesquely, attacking from all directions. I knew I had to block the incoming attack head-on.
Some forms of magic aren't predefined—they can be created on the spot. Sky magic was still a mystery to me. I hadn't learned any official techniques, but at that moment, my instincts told me to forge something new.
"Sky Art: Heaven's Wall!"
I swung my sword from top to bottom just as the demon's arms neared. A fierce gust of wind sliced through the air, sending the arms flying back. It created an opening for Tokiro.
"Ice Magic: Fly Strike Sword!" Tokiro summoned a large ice sword and shot it toward the demon, piercing its chest and shattering through its body.
Although Yuzuha and Tokiro are magically stronger than me overall, there are moments when I unleash magic more powerful than theirs. It feels like I'm tapping into other layers of my power without realizing it. But when I try to control it consciously, it never works. Still, in terms of physical strength, that's my specialty—I'm stronger than both of them.
We heard growling noises—the demons and monsters were closing in. There were too many of them, and engaging them head-on would be dangerous. The three of us hid ourselves, knowing we couldn't afford a full confrontation.
Our objective was simple: return to Sunrise Village and retrieve the Dragon Sword Style textbook. We were trying to avoid fighting as much as possible.
As we proceeded cautiously, hiding between ruins and debris, I suddenly heard a faint crying noise. The demons likely heard it too. Without hesitation, I rushed toward the source of the sound, breaking through a crumbled house. There, I saw two demons advancing on two children.
"Sky Art: Eagle Dance!"
In a blur, I moved with swift, fluid precision, as though I were flying through the clouds. My sword effortlessly sliced through the demons, as if they were nothing but air in my path. The move came naturally, like a memory I had forgotten but somehow knew deep within. I hadn't consciously learned it; it was as though my body remembered. Now, having performed it, I knew I could call on it again in the future. The battle was bringing back pieces of my forgotten abilities.
The younger girl had injured her knee, while her older brother was tending to the wound with his clothes, trying to stop the bleeding.
"Why are you two still here? I thought everyone had already evacuated," I asked.
"We hid when the others left. Toji-san told us not to come out until he gave the signal, but when he tried to lure the demons away, he got killed. We didn't shout for help because we were afraid the demons would find us," the boy explained.
Judging by the state of the house and their situation, they were likely orphans.
"What are your names?" I asked gently.
"I'm Sho, and this is my sister, Yumi," he replied.
"That's a nice name! You did well holding out this long. Come with me, I'll get you both out of here," I reassured them.
I lifted the little girl into my arms, and she wrapped her arms tightly around my neck. The boy took hold of my hand, and together, the three of us began sneaking out. Tokiro and Yuzuha soon found us, and I handed the kids over to them.
"I'll go get the textbook by myself. Don't worry—if anything happens, I'll escape. Here, take this," I said, handing Tokiro a kunai knife. "The village is still within my range, so if you place this near the gate, I'll be able to make a quick exit."
"Understood. We'll wait for you ahead," Tokiro replied, and they all moved out, leaving me to retrieve the textbook alone.
As soon as I reached the mansion, demons, and monsters swarmed the area. There were over twenty of them, too many to count. I briefly recalled there was supposed to be a fireworks display today. Somewhere in this village, there had to be a fireworks store.
But that was just a passing thought, a missed opportunity.
I leaped from the top of the mansion and used Devastation Fist to create a loud shockwave, drawing the attention of the demons. Fire magic was the next step.
I punched a demon on the left, then swung my arm around 180 degrees, unleashing a blast of firepower. I propelled myself with an explosion at my feet, adding force to my kicks and sending the demons flying. As more rushed at me all at once, I planted both feet and spun, creating a whirlwind of fire. The flames spread quickly, forcing the demons to retreat momentarily before I stopped.
In less than a minute, I had cut their numbers in half. It was time for the sword dance.
I had recently named this technique, where the flames boosted my speed, Vanishing Fire.
When I activate Vanishing Fire, my body is engulfed in flames, boosting my speed to the limit. Every step I take leaves behind a fiery trail, and the heat distorts the air around me, making it seem like I'm flickering in and out of existence. The afterimages left by the flames confuse my enemies, making it nearly impossible to track my real position. I can release bursts of fire beneath my feet to propel myself mid-air or change direction instantly, turning my movement into an unpredictable, blazing assault. With this technique, my speed isn't just for dodging—every strike I land carries the scorching force of solar fire, overwhelming my enemies before they can react.
Using it together with Eagle Dance, I called it…
Sky Art: Spring Form: Dance of the Phoenix!
I dashed through seven demons in one fluid movement. The idea had come to me at that moment, a reminder that the sky could also give rise to the sun. Grandpa always said sky magic wasn't limited to just the sky itself—anything you could see in the sky could be part of its power. The reason I named this form "Spring" was because I imagined the fire as the sun, and the sky as a clear blue sky. A perfect balance—the cold of the sky and the warmth of the sun.
Five more demons approached from behind. I raised my sword high, waiting for them to enter my range. As they did, leaves materialized around my sword. With one powerful swing, the leaves scattered, slicing through the demons.
Sky Art: Autumn Form: Flaming Leaves!
"Phew, I really got carried away! Tokiro and Yuzuha are going to scold me for this!" I muttered to myself.
Without wasting more time, I dug under the mansion, searching for the textbook. Luckily, I found it right away. Despite the destruction surrounding it, the book was in perfect condition—no damage, not even a scratch. Just like the other textbooks I'd seen earlier, it was protected by magic enchantments.
There's something I never told anyone. I have the ability to store objects in a sort of inventory. I stored all the textbooks inside, figuring it would be a waste to leave them behind.
With that done, it was time to head back.
I immediately teleported to the gate and rushed to find them. Waving the dragon sword-style textbook in the air, I signaled that I'd secured it. Yuzuha, however, didn't look pleased.
"You're pretty quick, huh? How impressive," she said, visibly annoyed.
I couldn't help but find her adorable whenever she scolded me, even if she was mad.
"C-Can't be helped, it was tough finding it in all that mess," I replied awkwardly, scratching the back of my head.
"Did you get injured? Any scratches?" she asked, her concern cutting through her frustration. She always had this ability to see right through me. I assured them I was fine, with no real threats encountered.
Then, I told them about the techniques I had unconsciously used earlier. We all agreed that it seemed like muscle memory kicking in. I remembered the girl who had once taught me how to harness the clear blue sky of Sky Magic. No doubt, I was connected to her. The way I visualized and executed the techniques matched how she would have used them as well.
I suspected there were more techniques to discover. Sky Magic likely had forms for all seasons: Summer, Autumn, Spring, and Winter. Beyond seasons, the sky could also bring forth water, thunder, and especially wind. But the true essence of Sky Magic was its connection to Heavenly Body Magic, its original and highest form. Reaching that level was incredibly difficult, and no Sky user had ever achieved it.
The most powerful forms of magic were the Sun, Moon, Heavenly Body, Aetheris, and Time. Divine Power stemmed from Sun magic, though not all magic derived from the Sun magic could wield divinity. Similarly, Curse Power originated from Moon magic, but it wasn't always present in those using Moon-based abilities.
As we reached a safe spot, I noticed the kids' clothes were torn and dirty, so I pulled out some from my inventory. Tokiro and Yuzuha noticed me seemingly touching the air and couldn't help but ask about it. Since it wasn't something I was trying to hide, I explained.
"I've been meaning to tell you guys, but it never felt important. I have this ability to store things in an inventory. We could have used it earlier for all of our stuff. If you want, you can put your things here now," I said, offering them the option.
I handed Yumi some of Chisaka's old clothes, which fit her perfectly, and gave Sho some of mine, as he seemed to be about the age I was when I was ten.
"Oh, by the way, if you didn't ask already, their names are Yumi and Sho. They're orphans, and their guardians are gone. Since no one else is going to take care of them, I think we should. Any objections?"
"None," Tokiro replied, "We're not heartless enough to abandon them."
Yuzuha introduced herself to the kids, and Tokiro and I followed suit. We told them we'd be traveling for about an hour and suggested they build up some stamina for the trip. As we journeyed to my place, Tokiro and Yuzuha kept the kids entertained with light conversation, but my mind was elsewhere.
I could only use wind and fire from Sky Magic so far, and to unlock more elements, I knew I needed experience. But I wasn't willing to put them in danger for that. I had originally planned to stay here for a year to train, but now that Yuzuha, Tokiro, and the kids were with me, I couldn't afford to risk it. I wasn't about to drag them into peril just so I could grow stronger.
With Yumi and Sho in tow, it was clear to me that I couldn't expose them to the darker side of this world. They were still children, and they deserved a chance at happiness, not this chaos. That's why I'd made up my mind—we would head to the harbor and leave this land sooner than planned. It was the only way to keep them safe.
We started heading out, but instead of taking the main route, we changed direction, knowing it would be too dangerous to stay in the open. I carried Yumi since her knee was still in pain, and while Yuzuha had healed her somewhat, she wasn't powerful enough to take away all the pain.
To lighten the mood, we played word chain and other thinking games, like guessing animals based on descriptions, to keep the kids from getting too anxious. After an hour of walking, we arrived at my place. It looked untouched, with no signs of anyone entering since I had set advanced enchantments. The enchantments were keyed to my classmates, allowing them access, and I now added Sho and Yumi's names to the list. The enchantment required the user's blood, making it a secure method.
Yuzuha took Yumi to bathe, Tokiro rested in the living room, and Sho pulled me aside once we were outside.
"Arisu-nii, I know we're not that close yet, but I want to get stronger and protect my sister by myself. Please, will you be my instructor?" he asked, bowing his head.
"If I teach you, will you be patient with your progress?" I asked, to which he eagerly replied, "Yes! I can be patient, I'm sure of it!"
I explained to Sho that everyone has mana inside them, but not everyone can use magic, even if they possess mana. Mana is raw and formless; it requires control and an affinity for a specific type of magic to be useful. With training and meditation, it's possible to awaken magic, but it takes concentration. Sometimes it can happen in minutes, hours, or even years. However, not everyone is destined to use magic—sometimes it's just luck.
After five minutes of intense focus, I sensed something stirring within Sho. His magic was awakening. He excitedly told me that his magic was Sound Magic, a rare subtype of Sky magic. Sound magic stems from wind magic and ranks alongside Sky, Storm, and Gale Magic.
I instructed Sho to start practicing by using the vibration of the air to blow dandelions, beginning with the basics—controlling and producing sound. Although he still had much to learn about techniques, he was eager to start, practicing with focus and excitement.
Sho took a bath right after Yumi finished. Tokiro and I were getting ready to summon a horse using the magic scroll Amane had given us.
I wasn't too bothered by the kids changing my decision to stay, deciding instead to head to the harbor in a week. I still had a chance to get stronger by joining the Royal Cops. You can get a higher position if you're experienced in battle or pass the exam—it doesn't really depend on how much magic power you have. I'm confident enough in my combat skills, so I expect to start higher than the lowest rank. From there, I'll just keep getting stronger.
Once everyone was ready, we moved out immediately. The main route to the harbor passes through the city, but considering the situation, it's probably swarming with demons and monsters. Passing through would be dangerous, so we planned to take another path through the forest, which leads to Dandelion Village. It's a small village in the middle of the woods, but its wide fields and sunlight make it full of dandelions.
We arrived at Dandelion Village by nightfall after a 12-hour journey. With Sho and Yumi with us, we decided to stop and rest. We fought a few enemies on the way, but thankfully, there weren't many.
The village had already been evacuated. It hadn't been harmed, and there were no signs of battle. We used one of the empty houses to stay the night. I told them I was going to check the surroundings, so I left the village and went up the mountain to observe from above.
I stayed up there for more than 20 minutes, scanning the surroundings, but there was no sign of any enemies. Just as I was about to head back, I heard a strange noise nearby. I spotted a cave not far from the sound and moved cautiously, using the trees as cover. But as I took another step, something—or someone—hanging from a tree swung right in front of me. The face was too close, and I freaked out, dropping my lantern. It shattered on the ground, and a chill ran down my spine. My body froze for a second before I sprinted away. My heart pounded wildly. It wasn't a monster or a demon. It was... a ghost.
"Stay away from me!" I shouted as I ran, with the ghost chasing me.
I didn't even think about fighting it because you can't hit a ghost, and honestly, they creep me out more than anything.
Before I knew it, the ghost grabbed my hand. In my panic, I stumbled over a rock, and even though my instinct was to shake it off, I somehow ended up grabbing the ghost's hand as well. The next thing I knew, we both tripped and tumbled down the hill.
We rolled pretty far, and when we finally stopped, the ghost was on top of me. I screamed, but it quickly covered my mouth. "W-Wait, I'm not a ghost, dumbass! Don't yell!"
I lit a small flame on my index finger to get a better look. Sure enough, it wasn't a ghost but a girl—a human girl.
"A girl? Why the hell did you scare me like that? I thought I was going to die of fright!" I yelled, still trying to catch my breath.
She shot me a glare. "Scare you? I wasn't trying to scare you! I just wanted to ask you something because you're the only one here!"
I blinked in disbelief. "Who in their right mind hangs from a tree with long hair and expects not to freak people out?!"
We stared at each other, the tension hanging in the air. Eventually, after my heart rate slowed down a bit, I realized she was still sitting on top of me. My face turned red as something felt off.
"H-Hey, are you... uh... not wearing anything under that long shirt?" I hesitantly asked.
She glared harder. "Got a problem with that?"
I swallowed hard, trying to keep my composure. I turned my face away, resisting every instinct to panic even more. "C-Could you, you know, get off already? I'm still a guy, and no matter how hard I try to keep it together…"
She rolled her eyes but finally stood up, giving me some much-needed breathing room.
After that bizarre encounter, we both made our way down the mountain. She bombarded me with what felt like a hundred questions, most of them so basic that it became clear she wasn't familiar with much of the world outside the forest. Apparently, she'd been living there ever since being abandoned at the age of 4. Her name was Natsume Matsui, and she was now 13.
"Arisu, are you alone in this forest?" she asked curiously.
"I've got some people with me. I was just observing the area earlier so they could rest for a while in the village. What about you? Where are you staying tonight?"
"I can sleep anywhere," she answered nonchalantly.
It was typical of someone who'd spent their entire life surviving in the wilderness. She seemed comfortable wherever she was.
When we arrived at the village, Tokiro was waiting outside, sitting by the house we'd chosen. I introduced Natsume to him and mentioned she'd be staying with us for the night. Though she didn't seem vulnerable, I couldn't help but worry. Demons and monsters could appear at any moment.
"Huh? Who told you I'd be staying?!" Natsume snapped.
I ignored her outburst and instead said, "Go take a bath. You stink."
She fell silent for a moment, then suddenly jumped at me, trapping me under her long shirt. I found myself face-to-face with her belly as she pushed me into it.
"Here! Do I stink now?!" she taunted.
I was so overwhelmed with embarrassment that I passed out right there. Tokiro, clearly uncomfortable with what he was witnessing, looked up at the sky and called for Yuzuha to help. Yuzuha rushed outside and took in the ridiculous scene in front of her. She quickly pulled Natsume away from me, leaving me sprawled on the ground, completely unconscious.
"What on earth are you doing?!" Yuzuha asked, clearly embarrassed. Then, realizing Natsume wasn't wearing anything under her shirt, she added, "And why aren't you wearing any clothes?"
Natsume tilted her head in confusion. "Huh? Why do you people care if I wear something or not? And why did he pass out?"
Yuzuha, exasperated, shook her head and decided it was best to take Natsume inside to keep her in check. Meanwhile, Tokiro helped me up and carried me inside to lie down on the bed.
An hour had passed, and it seemed I had dozed off after everything that happened. The house was spacious, with more than two rooms, so I quietly checked each one. Yumi and Sho were fast asleep in one room, looking peaceful and cute. The other room was locked, likely Yuzuha's. Not finding Tokiro inside, I stepped outside to check on him. He was sitting in his usual spot, keeping watch over the surroundings.
"You had an exhausting day, didn't you?" He asked as I approached.
"It was, honestly," I sighed in agreement.
Curious about Natsume, I asked where she was. Tokiro mentioned that Yuzuha had been talking to her after helping her wash up. It seemed Yuzuha was teaching her some basic things Natsume hadn't learned, given her upbringing. I explained to Tokiro about Natsume's life in the forest, and he nodded, understanding her situation.
"So, what do we do with her?" Tokiro asked after a moment of silence.
"We're dragging her along with us," I replied simply.
With that settled, Tokiro and I decided to sleep outside for the rest of the night, under the stars.