[Morning—Shirou's House]
[Sunlight streamed softly through the sheer curtains of Shizuka's bedroom, painting golden stripes across the wooden floor. The air smelled faintly of blooming sakura from the garden just outside. For once, the world felt quiet.]
[Shizuka blinked awake, her long lashes fluttering like wings. As her senses returned, she sat up slowly, hugging her knees to her chest for a moment, absorbing the peaceful silence. There was no chaos, no echo of gunshots or running footsteps-just the gentle hum of the morning.]
[She stood and slipped into her cardigan, her bare feet padding across the cool floor as she made her way to the kitchen. With practiced grace, she began preparing a simple breakfast-rice, tamagoyaki, and miso soup. The rhythmic chop of her knife and the bubbling sound of soup in the pot created a comforting melody.]
Ryokou: Smells good.
[Shizuka glanced back to see Ryokou stepping into the kitchen, rubbing her eyes. Her brown hair was tied in a messy bun, and she wore an oversized hoodie that nearly swallowed her frame.]
Shizuka: You're up early, for once.
Ryokou: yawning I smelled something good, can you blame me for that?
[They shared a small laugh. It was the kind of morning they hadn't had in a long time-uneventful, soft.]
[As they sat down to eat, Shizuka paused mid-bite.]
Shizuka: Hey, Ryokou... I was thinking of going to the hospital later today. Shirou and Kei are still recovering. Would you come with me?
Ryokou: lifting an eyebrow You sure?
Shizuka: I asked Dr. Yakihiro yesterday. They're stable. I think... they'd appreciate seeing a familiar face.
Ryokou: leaning back Alright. I'll come. Should we bring something?
Shizuka: I already prepared some fruit. Just help me carry it later.
[A few hours later, the two of them walked side by side, the quiet city humming around them. Shizuka held a small cloth-wrapped basket filled with apples and oranges. Ryokou carried a bag of sliced pears and energy drinks.]
[As they neared the hospital, Shizuka glanced up at the building's towering facade. Her fingers tightened slightly around the basket.]
Shizuka: softly Shirou... just hang in there.
Ryokou: bumping her shoulder He will. You'll see.
[The hospital lobby was quiet, save for the distant beeping of machines and the occasional footsteps of passing nurses. Shizuka and Ryokou signed in, the receptionist giving them a polite nod before gesturing toward the elevator.]
Ryokou: Room 705, huh? Pretty high up.
Shizuka: They moved Shirou there after he stabilized. Kei's in the same room... figured they'd recover faster together.
[As the elevator doors opened, they stepped out into a sunlit corridor. The sterile smell of antiseptic lingered in the air, but Shizuka's heart eased when she saw a nurse smile at them.]
[Inside Room 705, sunlight bathed the white sheets in warm light. Shirou lay on one side, arm bandaged, his breathing slow but steady. In the other bed, Kei sat upright, reading a thin manga volume with a sleepy look on his face.]
Kei: Took you long enough.
Shizuka: laughing softly Good morning to you too.
[Shirou stirred at the sound of their voices. His eyes fluttered open, squinting at the light, before settling on Shizuka.]
Shirou: Hey... you came.
Shizuka: gently placing the basket on the bedside table Of course I did.
[She pulled up a chair beside him while Ryokou passed Kei the bag of sliced pears.]
Ryokou: We brought snacks. Hospital food mayn't be fun.
Kei: grinning, his eyes enlarged Ryokou-chan~ Thanks!
Ryokou: irritated I should've given you a beating 'cause you made me angry again-but I guess I should slip this out for now so you can heal fully.
[Shirou chuckled weakly, the sound light but strained.]
Shirou: Thanks. Honestly, I was starting to miss real food.
Shizuka: smiling faintly Then you're getting better. Complaining is a good sign.
[The group settled into quiet conversation, with small laughs and a few comfortable silences. For a moment, it felt like they were simply friends hanging out on a lazy afternoon-not survivors of an attack, not people running from shadows.]
Shirou: glancing at Shizuka You doing okay?
Shizuka: meeting his gaze I am now.
[A gentle knock tapped against the hospital room door.]
???: Mind if we come in?
[Shizuka turned, and a smile immediately lit her face.]
Shizuka: Reina? Ryou? Shin?
[The door slid open, and the trio stepped in-Reina carrying a small paper bag, Ryou with his hands in his pockets as usual, and Shin holding a bouquet of flowers that looked awkwardly too big for his grip.]
Reina: smiling softly We figured you'd be here. Thought we'd stop by.
Shin: grinning Also, these flowers were on sale, so I couldn't resist.
Ryou: shrugging And I didn't want to sit at home worrying. So here we are.
[Kei perked up, the manga dropping from his lap.]
Kei: Wow, look at you guys-full support squad today.
Shin: You holding up okay?
Kei: nodding Still sore, but breathing.
Shizuka: to Reina and Ryou Thank you for coming. Seriously.
Reina: Don't mention it. After everything that happened... it's just nice to see everyone safe. Or healing, at least.
Reina: glancing to the door Oh-and just so you know... Sera's with us, too.
[Everyone paused.]
Shirou: blinking Sera?
Reina: nodding Yeah. Yggdrasil... that's what she used to go by. She's with us now.
Ryokou: eyes wide Wait... Yggdrasil? Like THAT Yggdrasil?
Ryou: quietly Long story. But she's not our enemy.
Kei: raising an eyebrow Yet?
Reina: softly She's... trying. Just give her a chance.
[The atmosphere shifted-still warm, but laced with cautious curiosity. The name Yggdrasil wasn't one you dropped lightly. But hearing she now went by Sera-and that she had chosen to be with them-planted seeds of both hope and unease.]
Ryou: clearing his throat Anyway. Don't let that hang over everything. Let's just... be here. For now.
Sera: softly You have every reason to be wary. I don't expect trust-not yet.
[Her voice was calm. Hollow, even. But there was something beneath it-remorse, maybe. Or weight.]
Sera: continuing But I chose to walk here. Not because I was told, or forced... but because I needed to.
[Kei narrowed her eyes slightly but didn't say anything. Shirou simply observed her.]
Shirou: quietly Then I hope you're here to understand what you've affected.
Sera: nodding once I am.
Shizuka: offering a faint smile Then... welcome.
[Sera gave a small bow, neither humble nor proud-just sincere. She remained near the wall, a silent guest, but her presence was no longer a threat. Just a presence with a long road ahead.]
[Meanwhile, at the SoveCle Base-]
[The dimly lit control room buzzed with the soft hum of machines. Monitors lined the walls, each one displaying encrypted data, mission statuses, and tactical reports. The atmosphere was heavy, the air thick with the weight of impending action.]
[Vlad slammed his fist on the desk, his eyes blazing with fury as he stared at the latest report.]
Vlad: voice trembling with rage Yggdrasil... has betrayed us?!
[The news was a sharp blow, an unforgivable act in his eyes. The once loyal ally of the SoveCle faction, now turned traitor. His knuckles turned white from the pressure on the desk as his breathing quickened.]
[Ifrit stood behind him, arms crossed, his face a calm mask as always. He was the one to break the silence.]
Ifrit: quiet, controlled but casual Lashing out won't change what's been done, Boss.
Vlad: whipping around to face him You don't get it, Ifrit! This was her mission to comply but-ends up siding on the other side? Bullcrap! She was the key to making everything fall into place and make those intruders pay. And now she's gone-just like that?!"
[Leviathan, who had been leaning casually against the wall, watched the scene unfold with disinterest. His sharp, calculating gaze flicked toward Vlad, unbothered by his outburst.]
Leviathan: voice dripping with cynicism You're wasting your time screaming at the walls. The decision's been made, and our next move will come. Yggil's choices are hers to make. Just as yours are.
Vlad: spitting out his words You call this a decision? She's turned on us. She's with them now. After everything we've done... everything we've sacrificed... she turns her back on all of it!
Ifrit: unfazed, his voice like ice You know better than to expect loyalty that never wavers. The world isn't so black and white, Boss. People change. Circumstances shift. She made her choice.
Vlad: gritting his teeth And I'll make mine.
[He turned away from them, walking toward the giant display screen that showed a map of the region. His hand hovered over a button, but he hesitated. He knew the cost of his next move.]
Leviathan: smirking We can't afford to let emotions run the show. Do what you must, Boss. But don't forget, Ifrit and I are still here-willing to keep the real plan moving forward.
Vlad: composes back to his usual demeanor Right, I shouldn't lose my cool yet. I have other plans yet to trigger. realises that one of the Fiends is missing Where's Behemoth?
Ifrit: casually Behemicchi's dead. His arrogance was his undoing. The battlefield was too much for him.
[Leviathan, following suit, crossed his arms, a smirk playing on his lips as he observed Vlad's reaction.]
Leviathan: mocking tone Not quite the 'unstoppable force' he liked to think he was.
[Vlad's eyes narrowed, his fingers pausing mid-drumming as he processed the information. A brief flicker of something-anger, perhaps-crossed his face, but he quickly suppressed it.]
Vlad: calm, but there's a sharp edge to his voice So, Behemoth falls in such a disgraceful manner? A pity. But... I suppose it was inevitable.
[He stood, his tall form casting a shadow over the room. His eyes, now colder than ever, fixated on the two of them.]
Vlad: thinks of a plan Drag his body here. I have an great idea.
Leviathan: Understood.
Ifrit: Okay, okay.
[Minutes later, at the Ruins-]
[The moonlight barely pierced the thick clouds overhead, casting an eerie glow over the shattered remains of the ancient structure. Behemoth lay still amidst the rubble, his immense form crumpled in death. His once-imposing figure, now reduced to a mere shell of its former self, was the consequence of a battle that had taken everything from him.]
[The air was heavy, thick with the aftermath of the fight, and only the sounds of the soldiers shuffling around broke the stillness.]
[Leviathan stood a few feet away, his arms casually crossed as he observed the scene with an almost bored expression. His lips curled into a smirk, the only sign of his amusement at the situation.]
Leviathan: mocking tone Well, that's one way to go out. A giant like him, brought down so easily. What a shame.
[Ifrit, standing beside him, was far less amused, though his expression was as controlled and cold as ever. His dark eyes scanned the fallen Behemoth, calculating and methodical. A small, twisted smile played at the corner of his lips, but it was more a reflection of his dry humor than any real joy.]
Ifrit: dryly He was a walking tank... and now he's just a pile of scrap metal. Honestly, I'm surprised he lasted this long.
[Leviathan raised an eyebrow at Ifrit's comment, his smirk fading slightly as he glanced at the fallen warrior.]
Leviathan: mockingly And here I thought you'd be the one to mourn his loss. Looks like you're taking this well.
[Ifrit's smile widened, but it was cold-almost too cold, as if it belonged to someone who had long stopped caring for anything but the end result.]
Ifrit: with a chuckle Mourn? Behemicchi's dead weight. Literally. He couldn't even carry his own failure to the grave. No point in crying over it.
[Leviathan watched him, intrigued by Ifrit's calm, yet somewhat twisted humor. As the soldiers moved closer to the body, Ifrit gave them a quick glance before turning to face Leviathan with a serious expression.]
Ifrit: commanding, but with a hint of amusement Go ahead, drag his body back. There's no reason to leave him here to rot. He may be dead, but his remains still have some use.
Leviathan: grinning Oh, so we're turning him into a souvenir now? How nostalgic.
Ifrit: shrugging Call it what you will. You never know when you'll need a giant corpse for leverage or a good scare. Plus, Boss needs it more than us.
[Leviathan snorted but didn't argue, watching the soldiers struggle to lift the massive body. They worked together, grunting as they struggled to move Behemoth's heavy form onto a stretcher. The effort was grueling, but they had been given orders, and there was no question that they would follow them.]
Leviathan: shaking his head, amused Always so practical, Frit. Never one to waste a good corpse.
Ifrit: chuckling darkly I wouldn't call it waste. It's a resource. Like any good warrior, Behemicchi served his purpose, just... not the way we expected.
[The soldiers carefully loaded Behemoth's body onto the transport. As they began to move out, Ifrit's eyes lingered on the ruins one last time. He could feel the tension in the air-something had shifted. Behemoth's death was just another turn of the wheel. In the grand scheme of things, nothing truly mattered except what came next.]
Leviathan: slightly smirking And here I thought you were going to leave him as an example. Too sentimental for that, huh?
Ifrit: grinning, his voice low and menacing No. I like to make sure nothing is ever truly wasted. Not even a giant's corpse.
Leviathan: shrugging with a knowing smile Fair enough. But if you're done with the theatrics, there's a bigger mess we still need to clean up. Shall we get to it?
Ifrit: nodding, still in his usual calm tone We've got work to do. And Behemicchi? Well, we'll make sure he gets his final standing ovation... eventually.
[Back at the SoveCle Base-]
[The cold, sterile walls of the base were a sharp contrast to the ruins they had just left behind. The atmosphere was tense, the air thick with anticipation. Ifrit and Leviathan walked into the command center, their faces impassive, but their minds buzzing with the weight of their actions.]
[Vlad, sitting behind his desk, was studying a series of screens, his fingers drumming impatiently on the surface. The sharp click of boots on the hard floor alerted him to their presence.]
[He didn't need to look up; he already knew who was entering. His cold, calculating eyes flicked toward the two of them.]
Vlad: without a hint of emotion Report.
[Ifrit stepped forward, his usual calm demeanor masking the dark humor lingering from their encounter.]
Ifrit: We got him just as you asked, Boss.
Vlad: darkly amused Oh?You've taken his body back. That's good. Now, we will make use of him.
[Ifrit and Leviathan exchanged glances. They hadn't expected Vlad to treat Behemoth's death so... casually.]
Leviathan: smirking So, what's the plan, Boss? Gonna put his body in some kind of shrine? Maybe turn it into a trophy?
[Vlad's lips curled into a smile, but it wasn't a smile of warmth-it was something far more sinister. He stepped toward a console in the corner, inputting a series of commands. The screen flickered to life, displaying a map of coordinates.]
Vlad: coldly No. I have something much more... creative in mind.
[He turned to face Ifrit and Leviathan, his eyes gleaming with dark excitement.]
Vlad: with a cold laugh I've always been a man of innovation. Behemoth's body, while useful in its current state, is far more valuable to us if we can breathe life into it once more.
Ifrit: raising an eyebrow, intrigued but cautious You're thinking of reanimating him?
Vlad: nodding slowly, savoring the tension Not reanimating, exactly. But close enough. There's an old friend of mine-a specialist in... shall we say, the darker arts of revival. She owes me a favor. I think it's time to cash in on it.
[Leviathan chuckled under his breath, shaking his head.]
Leviathan: grinning So, we're bringing Behm back as some sort of... undead warrior? This will be interesting.
[Vlad's eyes hardened, his expression once again turning cold and calculating.]
Vlad: low, but with venom I wouldn't call it 'undead,' exactly. We'll strip away the weakness, the failure. This won't be Behemoth as he was. This will be something... better. More useful.
[Ifrit crossed his arms, his face unreadable, though his mind was racing.]
Ifrit: calmly And this 'old friend' of yours? You trust him?
[Vlad smirked, the shadow of his former confidence returning.]
Vlad: darkly amused Trust? In this world, trust is a luxury. But necessity? Oh, I trust that he can do what's required. I'll ensure the process is... to our liking.
[He turned back to the screen, his fingers quickly tapping out a series of commands. The map zoomed in on a remote location, a hidden lab, isolated from the world.]
Vlad: decisively She'll head here tomorrow. Get the preparations in motion. Behemoth's rebirth is imminent.
Leviathan: smiling Now, that's more like it. Let's see what your 'old friend' can do.
[Vlad turned back to face them, his expression unreadable. His mind was already working on the next steps-the plan was in motion, and nothing would stand in his way.]
Vlad: low and menacing Make no mistake. Behemoth's second chance will be one he'll never forget. And this time, he'll be exactly what we need.