Rael walked slowly through the house, his expression thoughtful. Though he had only been gone for three months, it felt like years. Every step through the hallways stirred a quiet nostalgia.
He ran his hand along the walls and approached his room. Suddenly, a wave of loneliness swept over him, tightening his chest and forcing a sigh from his lips.
The room, once so comfortingly familiar with its warmth, now felt strangely hollow and empty, as if something essential and irreplaceable were missing.
He reached into his pocket and pulled out a photo. Axis had taken it during their time on the Golden Plain. In the image, Rael stood beside Siegfried, laughing as they discussed wild animals.
He placed the photo in a small frame and set it beside the one of his parents.
...
The silence in the house felt heavier by the second. But as he looked at the two pictures side by side, a faint smile crossed his lips—and a single tear slid down his cheek.
"This isn't the time for that. I need to focus," he muttered, slapping his cheeks to stay grounded.
"All right, Yato—I know you're here. Show yourself."
"What is it? Craving a little company?" Yato's voice rang out, his sarcastic smile already in place as he appeared in the room.
"I'm not in the mood for games. I need your help," Rael said, pulling open a small box.
"Oh?" Yato exaggerated a look of disappointment and walked over lazily.
Inside the box were two objects: an insignia shaped like a sword, and a small triangular device. These were the only clues Rael had—remnants from Kirishima's encounter.
"The insignia is an identifier. I'll need it to infiltrate Varhel Island," Rael explained. "The triangle is a communication device, but I still don't know where that island is."
"And let me guess—you want me to tell you?" Yato added, amused.
"Can you?"
"I said I'd help you, didn't I?" Yato replied, picking up the items with a small grin.
"This insignia also tracks its bearer. Meaning, they already know the original owner is dead. If you show up with it, and someone recognizes the truth… you're done." Yato turned the badge over thoughtfully.
Rael's stomach tightened.
"Relax. I've got you covered." With a snap of his fingers, the insignia began to glow. Its structure shifted slightly—subtle changes only a trained eye could catch.
"There. It's now keyed to your identity. Worst case, they'll just think you're a rookie." Yato handed it back.
Rael took the badge, eyes sharp with focus. "Thanks."
"Now, about the transmitter…" Yato smirked. A sudden portal opened behind him, and a man tumbled onto the floor.
Rael's eyes widened. "That's the guy who tried to kill me...!"
"Convenient, right?" Yato said, too pleased with himself. "This guy has the answers you're looking for."
"You... kept him alive this whole time?" Rael asked, shocked.
"Just long enough to be useful." Yato leaned over the man, snapping his fingers near his head. "I've erased certain memories. The rest is up to you."
"Wait, Yato—" Rael began, but Yato had already vanished.
"Tch."
The man groaned and sat up, locking eyes with Rael. A flicker of confusion passed over his face. "You..."
He remembered ambushing the boy—but now, they were here?
"An illusion...?" he thought. But it didn't matter. 'I'll just finish what I started.'
He lunged—but suddenly a hand was around his neck.
"What?! I didn't even see him move—!" The man struggled.
"You bastard..." Rael muttered, his grip tightening. This man had almost killed his grandmother. The thought sent a fire through him.
'Obāchan…'
"Insolent insect, take your hands off me!" The man shouted in anger and was about to release his energy.
"I'll deal with you... somewhere else," Rael said, grabbing his head.
With a single step, they vanished—moving at a speed normal humans couldn't even comprehend.
"Aaahhh!!" the man screamed, the world spinning around him.
BOOM!
Rael stopped suddenly, the air exploding outward in a shockwave. They had arrived in an abandoned, desolate area filled with broken buildings and silence.
"No one around. Good," Rael said, scanning the area.
"Now... start talking. What's your name?"
"You insolent brat!" the man growled, energy flaring red around him. A crimson sword materialized in his hand.
Rael studied it carefully. 'That's not Eternium... So what is it?'
'I can't feel any energy coming from him. He must be using some item to move like that, so as long as I can hit him, he's dead.' the man thought.
He slashed toward Rael's neck.
"Too slow." Rael calmly stepped aside. The blade moved in slow motion before his eyes. 'This is… surreal.'
After facing Siegfried, this barely felt like a fight.
"I don't have time for this," Rael muttered—and launched a fist into the man's gut.
BAM!
The man flew through several ruined walls, coughing blood.
Cough! Cough!
Rael walked over, towering above him.
"You get it now, don't you? So cooperate. Tell me your name."
The man groaned, but the arrogance in his eyes had faded. He looked around, calculating—then finally sighed.
"My name is Eramus," he said. "You're an Awakened one, aren't you? What do you want with me?"
Rael's eyes darkened.
"Your kind," he said, voice low. "You're the one behind everything that ruined my life."
"So I want to know... everything about you."
...