Toki had been in the manor garden for hours, the sun only just beginning to crest over the distant mountains. His breath came in steady bursts as his blade sliced through the morning mist. Shirt soaked with sweat and eyes fixed on an invisible opponent, he moved through each sword form with tireless precision. There was no hesitation in his movements, no flourish or wasted motion. To him, every second mattered.
A soft, unexpected giggle floated on the breeze.
He froze mid-motion, the blade stopping just before the final arc of a downward slash. His head turned sharply toward the sound.
Suzume stood several steps behind him, her mouth covered with one hand, clearly surprised to have interrupted.
"Ah! Sorry!" she exclaimed, eyes widening. "I didn't mean to startle you. I just... I didn't expect anyone else to be awake so early."
Toki exhaled, relaxing slightly, and lowered his sword. "No need to apologize. I didn't realize I had an audience."
She stepped closer, brushing a few strands of wind-blown hair from her face. "You were really focused. It looked like you were fighting ghosts."
"In a way, I was." He slid the blade back into its sheath. "The Royal Selection is fast approaching. I have to be ready. Utsuki spends every waking moment studying—if I show up unprepared, I'll drag her down."
Suzume tilted her head thoughtfully, then smiled. "That's... really sweet. That you're thinking about her like that. I'm sure you two will leave an unforgettable impression."
Toki gave a small smile in return, quieter this time. "That's what I hope."
She glanced down at the woven basket in her hand. "Well, I'm up early because I'm filling in for Yuki today. She's usually the one to gather fruit from the forest and bring back fresh flowers for the main hall."
He wiped his brow. "Do you mind if I tag along? I could use a breather. And truth be told, I've never wandered the woods beyond the main road. I'd like to know what surrounds this place."
Her smile widened, the morning light catching in her eyes. "Sure! Come on then. My sisters and I know this forest like the backs of our hands. We used to play here all the time when we were little."
They set off side by side, leaving the manor behind as the forest canopy thickened. The further they went, the more the world seemed to slow. Leaves rustled softly above, and beams of sunlight filtered through in golden streaks. The hum of insects filled the spaces between birdsong, and the air smelled of wild herbs, damp bark, and distant rain.
Toki found himself swatting occasionally at buzzing pests. "Why do they always come for me?"
Suzume laughed, crouching near a thicket. "Maybe they like the way you smell."
She plucked a few ripe blackberries from a bush, tossing one into her mouth with a satisfied hum. "Here, try some. These are the best ones."
He accepted a few, biting into one tentatively. The fruit burst with flavor—tart and sweet and earthy.
"These are incredible," he murmured.
"The forest always rewards those who walk gently," she said, brushing purple juice from her fingers.
As they walked deeper into the trees, their conversation waned into a peaceful quiet. The sound of a distant brook came and went, and once, a fox darted through the underbrush, its tail a blur of red.
Suzume finally broke the silence. "It's kind of strange, isn't it? Just the two of us out here. We've hardly had a moment to talk alone since you arrived."
Toki nodded. "I've been keeping to myself more than I should. My mind's been... elsewhere."
"Focused," she offered. "That's the word Leonard used. He said you're one of the most driven people he's ever met. From the first day, he told us to treat you like an honored guest. He has a lot of faith in you and Utsuki."
"Leonard is... a mystery to me," Toki said carefully. "He's vague in everything he says. Like he's watching pieces fall into place, but doesn't want to tell you the shape of the puzzle."
"He's like that with everyone," she said with a nod. "He's a historian at heart. Especially fascinated by the myth of creation. You should see his study—he has drawers of notes, scrolls from Velmoras, even fragments of ancient scripts no one else can read."
"He studied in Velmoras?"
"For years. Before he came to Luminith, he was a scholar there. He always said that if he wanted to understand the myth fully, he had to see the land where it first echoed."
"He mentioned something like that once... but only in passing."
"He wants to take you there, eventually," she added. "Said something about you needing to see it for yourself—after the Selection, of course."
Toki's brow furrowed, but he said nothing.
They stepped into a sun-dappled glade, where the light turned the dewdrops into crystals. Suzume stooped to pick a handful of small white flowers, humming a soft melody under her breath.
Suddenly, the undergrowth ahead rustled. A thin, green serpent slithered into their path, its scales shimmering like glass in the light.
Suzume crouched slowly. "Oh, look at you..."
"Careful," Toki said, instinctively stepping closer. "That might not be safe."
"It's tiny. Probably just wants to find a warmer spot."
She extended a hand cautiously toward it, her palm open. The snake seemed to hesitate—then darted forward, biting her lightly before disappearing into the grass.
"Ah—!" Suzume drew back, clutching her hand.
Toki knelt beside her in an instant. "Let me see."
Two small puncture marks marred the skin between her thumb and forefinger. The area around the bite was red, but not swollen.
"It doesn't look venomous," he said after a moment. "But we should still be careful."
She winced but managed a smile. "I've had worse. It startled me more than anything. Let's just finish what we came for."
Toki hesitated, then nodded. They continued walking, his pace slowed to match hers. She flexed her fingers now and then, and though her tone was light, he noticed her glance occasionally at the wound.
The forest had grown quieter—birds now only chirped from far away, and the wind had stilled. But something had changed between them. A small fracture in the moment had deepened their connection, an awareness now pulsing beneath the simple task of picking fruit and flowers.
When they finally emerged from the woods, the manor visible again beyond the trees, the sun was fully awake in the sky.
Suzume turned to him. "Thanks for coming with me. It made the morning go faster."
Toki gave a slight nod. "Thank you for letting me. It reminded me that there's more to this place than training and duty."
She looked down at her hand, now lightly wrapped in cloth. "We'll keep an eye on this, just in case. But I'm okay."
He paused, then added softly, "If it worsens, tell me. Please."
Suzume met his gaze, and for a moment, the world around them stilled again.
"I will."
Toki watched Suzume step inside the manor, her figure disappearing behind the heavy oaken doors. His eyes lingered a moment longer than he intended. He hadn't noticed the soft footsteps behind him until a quiet voice broke the stillness.
"You two looked like you had fun," Utsuki said, her tone unreadable.
Toki flinched slightly, then turned to face her. She stood with arms loosely crossed, her silver hair catching the light.
"Utsuki... I didn't hear you come up."
"I noticed," she said, walking forward until she was beside him. Her expression shifted to mild curiosity. "Did you take a break from training?"
"Something like that," Toki admitted. "I needed to clear my head. Suzume invited me to the forest, and... I guess I lost track of time."
"Mm," Utsuki murmured. "Well, I came to see how your training was going. Don't forget you promised to train together today."
Toki rubbed the back of his neck. "Right. I almost forgot."
She gave a small smirk. "Clearly. But since you already know the four levels of mana cultivation, we can skip the basics and move to more advanced control."
Toki nodded, grateful. "I'm ready."
Utsuki led him toward the training yard. As they walked, her voice turned serious. "Mana is the essence of life. It flows in waves, much like breath or thought. If something interferes with those waves, that's when control becomes unstable."
"So... what causes interference?" Toki asked, genuinely curious.
"Many things," she replied. "Trauma, fear, suppressed emotions, corrupted essence. In your case, the interference isn't extreme. If it were, you'd be dead."
"That's comforting," Toki said dryly.
"There's a block," Utsuki continued, ignoring his sarcasm. "Not fatal, but persistent. We'll have to approach it carefully. For now, focus on small, consistent releases of mana. Don't try to control too much at once. Just a trickle, like breathing through a narrow reed."
She raised a hand, palm glowing faintly. "I'm at cultivation level two. My mana has turned green, which means I can start using basic healing spells. Yours is likely still blue—first level. That means attack-based spells will come easier. Healing, on the other hand, requires refined control."
Toki watched the soft green glow in her hand. "So I should avoid healing spells for now?"
"Until you stabilize your flow, yes. Focus on offense. Build control through repetition. We'll work on defensive techniques later."
He nodded. "Thanks. Really."
Utsuki gave him a sideways glance. "Your turn now. You said you'd show me some self-defense moves."
Toki grinned. "Gladly."
They moved through the training routines together. Toki guided her through basic evasion and disarming techniques, adjusting her posture gently, correcting her movements with soft, steady hands. Utsuki, in turn, taught him how to project his mana in bursts, how to feel the pulse of energy before release. The sun dipped lower and lower as they sparred and practiced, laughter and sharp exhales breaking the otherwise quiet afternoon.
By evening, they returned to the manor. At dinner, Toki kept stealing glances at Suzume across the table. Her arm was bandaged, but she moved easily, smiling and chatting with Yuki and the others. Relieved, he let it be.
That night, after everyone retired to their rooms, Toki stood by his window, the stars just beginning to show in the sky. Tomorrow was the last day before the Royal Selection. He felt it pressing down on him like a stone.
Sleep didn't come easy.
He awoke not to birdsong but to a scream.
A scream of grief. Of something broken beyond repair.
Toki shot up, heart hammering, and rushed through the corridors toward the source. The scream echoed again—Yuki's voice.
He reached the hallway outside Suzume's room. The door was wide open. People were crowding around the entrance, gasping, whispering.
He pushed through.
The light of early morning flooded Suzume's room, but the air felt suffocating—thick, unmoving, as though the atmosphere itself refused to accept what had just happened.
Haru stood in a corner, pressed against the wall, her trembling hands covering her mouth. Her wide, glassy eyes stared at the still body on the bed, as if trying to convince herself it wasn't real. Suzume's skin was pale, lifeless, and cold. There was a faint mark on her wrist. A puncture.
"No… no, this can't be," Natsu whispered, her voice hollow and breaking. She stumbled to the edge of the bed, grabbing the blanket with trembling fingers. "Just yesterday… we laughed… just yesterday…"
Aki knelt beside Yuki, who was crouched over Suzume's body, sobbing with a grief so raw it felt like the whole world was being torn apart. Yuki suddenly lunged at Toki, screaming.
"YOU WERE WITH HER LAST! WHAT DID YOU DO TO MY SISTER?!" Her hands wrapped tightly around Toki's throat, her nails digging in.
"Yuki—stop!" Aki shouted, trying to pull her back. "Not like this!"
"I trusted you!" Yuki screamed, her voice sharp enough to cut. "You came into our home, into our hearts—and now Suzume is DEAD!"
"I don't know—I didn't—" Toki tried to speak, choking, but Yuki's grip was relentless.
The door burst open.
Utsuki stood there, hair disheveled, nightclothes loose, her chest rising and falling quickly as she scanned the room. Her eyes landed on Suzume, then on Toki and Yuki. Her blood froze.
"No…" she murmured. "Toki?! What's happening?!"
No one answered her. Yuki raised her hand. The air around her twisted and cracked. A blade of wind—sharp, elegant, precise—materialized with a hum of power.
She swung it down.
Blood exploded.
Toki dropped to his knees, eyes wide in disbelief. His body below the waist was gone—severed clean.
The world seemed to pause.
Haru screamed and collapsed, vomiting violently onto the wooden floor. Natsu shrieked, a horrible, broken sound. Aki stood frozen, staring at the unfolding horror like a porcelain doll dropped from a great height.
Utsuki rushed forward and dropped to her knees beside Toki. Her hands cradled his shoulders, sticky with blood. "Toki—Toki, no—please!"
He looked up at her, his lips twitching with effort, his vision already fading. Blood poured out of him like water from a shattered vase.
"...The Snake…" he whispered.
"What—what are you saying?" Utsuki pleaded, brushing his matted hair from his forehead. "Don't speak—save your strength—"
His breath grew shallow. A thin smile traced his lips—haunted, distant.
"New anchor…" he murmured.
The world split apart.
The light warped. The walls of the room shimmered like oil on water. Everyone felt it—an invisible force crushing in on their lungs, twisting their insides. For a single moment, reality shattered. Blackness engulfed everything.
Toki opened his eyes.
He was no longer dying. No longer drenched in blood. No longer in that room filled with screams and sorrow.
Birdsong.
A soft breeze.
Morning.
He sat in a clearing just outside the house. Suzume stood before him with a bright smile, offering him a handful of freshly picked blackberries.
"Toki," she said cheerfully. "Try these—they're sweet today."
His body froze. His breath hitched.
He stared at her face. Alive. Warm. Real.
This is the day before. The loop has begun again.
In his mind, the screams still echoed. The betrayal. The blade of wind. The agony. Suzume's lifeless body. His own dismemberment.
"The Snake…" he thought. "I have to be careful this time. I have to find it before it strikes again."