The last wisps of flame vanished with a soft hiss, and darkness reclaimed the cavernous hall as if light had never touched it. Nothing remained but the sound of water dripping from the distant ceiling, drop by drop, and the rhythm of their breathing. It was tired and slightly ragged, yet steady. Alive.

  Silence settled between them like a heavy blanket, yet it was not stifling. Neither of them broke that precious stillness. There was no need. Kaiser had said everything he needed to say. Every word, every confession, every regret. And Mirai had heard everything she needed to hear. She had absorbed it, understood it, and accepted it without judgment.

  She stood up first. Her muscles groaned in protest, but she ignored the ache, dusting off her clothes with a brisk motion.

  "Enough rest."

  There was no pity in her voice. No false softness. No judgment either. Just a simple, clear, honest truth. And that was exactly what Kaiser needed in that moment.

  He rose behind her, wiping his face with his palm.

  "Which way?"

  Mirai looked around, her eyes scanning the gloom with the expertise of someone who had spent a lifetime in places like this. "It doesn't matter. All roads lead up or down eventually."

  They walked, the faint echo of their footsteps bouncing off the rocky walls. Kaiser scanned the darkness with a sharp attentiveness he had not used in years. His old instincts were returning, the instincts of the fighter he once was.

  The passage narrowed around them gradually. The rough stone walls closed in on both sides as if breathing, contracting, trying to slowly crush them. The smell of dampness was stronger here, mixed with something else. Something organic, faintly rotting.

  Mirai stopped suddenly. She raised her hand in a sharp motion.

  Kaiser felt it at the same moment. A vibration in the ground beneath his feet. Faint, but distinct. Rhythmic. Repetitive. Unnatural.

  Many footsteps. Something was approaching. Many things.

  From the absolute darkness, massive crystal spiders emerged. Their translucent, shimmering bodies reflected the faint glow of the barrier Hikari had cast, which still surrounded Kaiser. They were terrifying, with eight long legs sharp as needles and mandibles dripping with venom. Behind them were huge rock lizards with armored bodies, eyes glowing like red embers in the dark. Above them all, giant bats with tattered wings hung in the air, their leathery membranes hanging loose and their shrill cries deafening.

  "Nesting area," Kaiser said, voice tight as he recalled old studies on caves and monsters. "Different species gathering. Very dangerous."

  Mirai drew her sword in one smooth motion. The sharp metallic ring filled the passage. With a simple magical gesture, the sword in her hand split into two separate short blades, each glowing with a faint light.

  She shot him a quick side glance. "The passage is narrow. That works for us. We end them quickly."

  She did not wait for a reply.

  The first wave of spiders surged forward. Three of them moved with a terrifying speed unexpected for creatures of that size, their legs striking the ground with sharp clicks.

  Kaiser slammed his palm against the ground. Shadow swords erupted from beneath his feet, tangled and sharp, stabbing the spiders from below and piercing them through.

  Mirai lunged at the monsters, a blur of motion with her twin blades, tearing through them.

  They moved as one to end it immediately.

  A massive lizard charged at Kaiser, but he did not retreat or take a defensive stance. Before it could reach him, he manifested sharp blades of shadow that tore its body apart violently in mid-air. At the very same moment, Mirai pounced with her short swords, severing the beast's head from its body with a swift, lethal movement.

  They did not stop. Four spiders remained, trying to move, but Kaiser launched shadow blades that pinned them to the ground. Mirai handled the rest from close range, cutting and stabbing with absolute precision.

  In mere seconds, the beasts fell, lifeless corpses. Kaiser and Mirai stood in perfect calm amidst the blood, without a single drop of sweat or sign of fatigue, as if the fight had never happened.

  She walked slowly through the carcasses, eyes searching. "This way."

  She tilted her head slightly, closed her eyes, and inhaled deeply.

  Kaiser felt it a moment later. A different, cool breeze sneaking in from a narrow side passage on the left. It smelled nothing like the cave's rot and stifling dampness. It smelled of fresh grass. Clean, wet earth. Open sky. Freedom.

  They followed the breeze through a passage that grew tighter and tighter. The walls pressed against them from both sides. They crawled through spaces so narrow the sharp rocks scratched their hands, but with every meter they covered, the natural light grew stronger and clearer.

  The narrow tunnel suddenly opened onto the side of a towering mountain, revealing a breathtaking, expansive view.

  Kaiser lifted his head, eyes adjusting to the darkness outside. It was not the suffocating dark of the cave, but the open night filled with stars. Mirai stood still, breathing in the fresh air deeply, her eyes scanning the area.

  "There." Mirai pointed to a large flat rock dozens of meters away.

  Two figures sat there. Light hair shining under the starlight, a familiar calm aura, a long black braid, and simple clothes.

  Hikari. Arisa. They were waiting. They turned and saw them. Arisa stood up with deep relief and moved toward them with Hikari.

  "Glad you two are okay," Hikari began.

  Mirai moved calmly. "Well, ordinary monsters wouldn't break your defensive barrier, Hikari. So obviously we would be fine."

  Kaiser, however, turned to Arisa. "Arisa... the flower. Did you find it?"

  Something extinguished in her eyes, that faint glimmer of hope.

  Her face paled. "The Gourmander... that massive beast... destroyed everything before we could get there. The whole patch is scorched, poisoned. Nothing remains. Not a single flower."

  The words fell on him like heavy stones, one after another, crushing him.

  He remembered the face of the little boy at the orphanage. His weak, brave smile despite the illness consuming his body. His large eyes that still held an innocent hope for recovery.

  All this trouble. All this risk. The death they had faced.

  For nothing.

  "No..." he whispered, voice choked. "It can't be..."

  "We tried looking everywhere nearby," Hikari said quietly, voice holding genuine sympathy. "That was the only known spot for that flower in this entire region."

  Heavy silence fell like lead on everyone.

  Kaiser closed his eyes, jaw clenched. Arisa wept silently, tears falling to the dirt. Even Hikari looked sorrowful.

  Then Mirai moved.

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  She had been standing a little apart, arms crossed, watching the scene in silence.

  She looked directly at Hikari. "You can heal diseases and curses."

  It was not a question. It was a statement.

  Hikari raised an eyebrow slightly, then smiled. "Yes."

  She turned to Kaiser and Arisa. "Then there is no need to worry. The flower was just a medium for treatment, but Hikari can heal directly."

  Hikari nodded calmly. "I will examine the child."

  Arisa wiped her tears quickly, a faint smile appearing on her face. "Thank you, Mirai."

  Mirai shrugged coldly. "Just a logical solution."

  The tension eased noticeably. The mission was not a total failure after all.

  They descended the rocky slope with care, walked through the valley submerged in the shadows of the night, and finally returned to where they had left the wagon before entering the cave.

  It was there. The three horses grazed peacefully under the shade of a large tree.

  But around them lay a strange scene. Many scattered corpses. Massive gray wolves. Wild boars with long tusks. A full-sized rock bear, its huge body stretched out on the ground. All of them torn by deep wounds, dead.

  "What is this...?" Hikari muttered in genuine surprise, scratching his head.

  From the dense trees, the massive driver appeared. The man with the thick black mustache, muscles bulging, a large axe stained with dried blood carried proudly on his broad shoulder, and a huge grin splitting his tanned face.

  "Welcome back, everyone!" he shouted, voice full of enthusiasm and energy.

  Mirai walked toward the nearest carcass, a huge wolf. She examined it with a sharp, expert gaze. She saw the deep wounds. "Axe blows. Clean. Powerful. From someone who knows what they are doing."

  "Exactly! Exactly!" The driver shouted with even more excitement, approaching them. He pointed to Hikari with obvious happiness. "Your barrier, my friend, that amazing golden magic, not a single monster could even scratch it! So strong! I never felt in danger!"

  He laughed loudly. "So I decided to seize the rare opportunity! I stepped out and struck down every monster I saw. Repeated the process all night and day!"

  He pointed proudly to the many bodies scattered around the wagon and trees.

  "Look! Class A and even Class B monsters! High quality! Their market price is incredible! Hides, tusks, meat, bones, everything sells for a premium! I am rich now!" He laughed boisterously. "I will never work as a wagon driver again! I will retire and live on this fortune forever! Thank you all, especially you, sir!"

  Then, with a beaming face, he added, "And as a kindness from my heart, I will take you anywhere you want completely free of charge! No payment needed!"

  "Well... that is honestly smart of you," Mirai said as she moved toward the wagon.

  Hikari scratched his head. "Indeed, making use of the situation like that is a perfect way to pass the time. We did delay you for hours."

  The driver laughed with childish enthusiasm, patting his axe proudly. "I wish you had stayed for hours longer, to be honest."

  They boarded the wagon. The horses began to walk with a steady, comfortable rhythm. The driver whistled happily, talking to himself about his future plans.

  They passed through dirt roads, green fields, and small villages. The journey took a long time.

  Finally, as the sun dipped toward the horizon painting the sky a faint orange, a humble little town appeared in the distance.

  Narrow winding streets. Simple wooden buildings. But for Arisa and Kaiser, it was more than just stone and wood and roofs.

  It was home. It was where they belonged. It was the place they loved.

  The wagon finally stopped before an old but clean, well-tended building.

  The door opened quickly before they could even knock.

  The children were in the small front yard playing quietly when the wagon arrived. They all stopped, heads turning toward the door.

  "Arisa!"

  A girl with long brown hair ran toward them. She was about fourteen, wearing an apron with her hair tied back carefully. "You are finally back!"

  Arisa hugged her quickly. "Mai, how is he?"

  The smile vanished from Mai's face. "He hasn't woken up since yesterday. Stopped eating completely, and his breathing is weak. I don't know what to do..."

  Arisa patted her head. "Don't worry. I brought a doctor."

  She looked at Hikari and Mirai with a calm smile. Hikari nodded with a reassuring expression.

  "Let me see him."

  Arisa led them through the simple house. The small children watched them with wide eyes as they climbed the wooden stairs.

  The room was small and clean. A window overlooked the back garden.

  The child lay on the bed, face pale and breath shallow.

  Hikari sat beside him quietly, scanning him with his eyes first. Then he placed a hand on the child's forehead.

  He closed his eyes. Focused.

  Seconds passed in silence.

  Then a golden light began to appear, wrapping gently around the child's body.

  Hikari continued for minutes, his focus steady, his breathing regular. Then color began to return to the boy's cheeks gradually. His breathing became deeper, more regular.

  The child opened his eyes slowly, staring at the golden butterflies surrounding him.

  "Wow..." he whispered, weak but clear.

  Arisa smiled, tears of relief in her eyes.

  The child looked at her, then at Hikari. "Who are you?"

  "A friend," Hikari said simply, patting his head gently. "You will be okay now. You just need rest and good food."

  Hikari raised his head, looking at Mai standing by the door. "Cook him a light soup. Nothing heavy at first."

  Mai nodded quickly, a wide grin on her face.

  Mirai looked at the children playing in the yard, healthy now, their voices filling the place.

  "Good work," she said in a neutral tone, but Hikari noticed the slight note of approval.

  At the door, Arisa grabbed Mirai's hand suddenly. "Please, stay for dinner. I know it isn't much, but... I want to thank you properly."

  Hikari smiled warmly. "We are in a hurry, unfortunately. But your thanks and seeing the children healthy is more than enough."

  He looked at Kaiser and Arisa. "Take care of each other and these kids. That is all we wish for."

  Arisa nodded, despite her obvious desire for them to stay. "Thank you... from the heart."

  Hikari and Mirai walked out to the front yard where the driver stood beside the horses, waiting.

  They stepped toward the wagon, the driver reaching to open the door, when a rough voice cut through the quiet of the yard.

  "Wait!"

  Both froze in place and turned together.

  Kaiser was walking toward them from the doorstep. He approached slowly until he stood directly before Mirai. A short silence reigned, heavy with everything left unsaid. His eyes wandered over her face, then fled to the ground, then returned. He was searching for a proper beginning, for any word that wouldn't betray what he felt right now.

  "I..." The word parted his lips, then was choked by hesitation. He swallowed, taking a deep breath as if dragging years of silence from his chest. "I didn't... I didn't actually know what I was doing with my life." His voice came out faint, hoarse. "I was lost. Filled with anger... ruining everything I touched, everyone who got close to me."

  The sentence ended and was followed by a heavy stillness, before he finally raised his head to look her in the eye. There was fear in his gaze, apology, and something close to a plea.

  "But you..." He paused for a second, as if the word itself was too heavy to speak. "That night, years ago... you forced me to see what I'd done. To feel the weight of every life I took. So, thank you for bringing me back."

  A silent moment passed between them. Hikari watched them with confusion.

  Kaiser’s gaze flickered briefly to Hikari, as if implicitly acknowledging his part as well, then returned to Mirai, waiting for her judgment without another word.

  Mirai looked at him silently, eyes fixed on his face.

  "I am honestly not good at talking about these things. But... you're welcome."

  Kaiser smiled quietly and exhaled as if breathing truly for the first time in years, then turned toward the house. His steps this time were slower, but more steady. At the threshold he stopped, placing his hand on the wooden doorframe that still held the day's heat, then turned back. He waved at them, a shy but sincere motion, and the light from inside reflected on his shoulder as if the house itself was welcoming him.

  "So? Do you know him from before?" Hikari asked.

  Mirai turned to him. "Huh? You didn't recognize him? Hikari, he is the young man who attacked us years ago. Don't you remember? The one whose arm I caught mid-strike."

  Hikari put a hand to his chin, thinking. "Oh! That was him? Really? I mean, he attacked us at night... and honestly, I don't really memorize the face of every random attacker."

  Mirai climbed into the wagon. "Well, makes sense you wouldn't know him. Let's go."

  He climbed in after her.

  The driver closed the door tightly, climbed to his seat, and flicked the reins. The wagon gave a short shake before starting to move, the sound of hooves striking the dirt road in a monotonous rhythm, rising above the rattle of the wooden wheels and their faint creak at every small bump.

  Mirai settled into her seat by the window, back resting against the padded wood, the leather beneath her cold at first before beginning to absorb her body heat. She rested her forehead gently against the glass, feeling its coolness sting her tired skin. She lifted her eyes upward, to the strip of sky visible between the window ledge and the wagon roof, where stars were scattered like distant specks of light, flickering slowly above the blackness of the night.

  Her thoughts were empty for a moment, just a disjointed noise of the day's images, until a detail she had pushed completely away amidst everything that happened slipped to the surface of her consciousness. Her eyebrow rose faintly, and she turned toward Hikari who was watching the road from the other side, arms crossed over his chest.

  "The Gourmander," she said quietly, but the word fell heavy between them, carrying with it the smell of the wet cave and the final screams of that monster.

  He turned toward her, a half smile of curiosity on his face, and raised an eyebrow. "Yes?"

  She made a short gesture in the air, like someone trying to gather the threads of a late thought. "The mission," she said, as if scolding herself more than asking him. "I forgot about it completely amidst all that. Did it escape you and Arisa?"

  Hikari’s smile widened, holding a mix of pride and humor. "It was handled," he said, shifting his gaze for a moment to the window as if replaying the battle in his head. "I finished it off permanently."

  Mirai’s brows knit slightly, a mix of surprise and curiosity. "When exactly?"

  Hikari rested his elbow on the seat edge and propped his chin on his hand. "When we split up in the cave," he answered without hesitation, then added in a lighter tone, one holding a soft playfulness. "The techniques you explained back then... actually proved useful, Mirai. I wouldn't have faced it alone without those tips."

  His fingers moved involuntarily toward the bag at his side, patting it as if checking its contents. "Though I had to use a lot of magic diamonds. I will have to buy more later."

  A very faint smile appeared on her lips, barely visible, but real. "Good."

  She returned her gaze to the window, while the wagon moved further and further away from the home they had left behind.