Chapter 2: The Forbidden Temple

Goze was now sixteen years old. In the two years since Shinra had taken her in, the young demon slayer had taught her not only how to fight but how to read, write, and speak properly. Words no longer struggled to leave Goze's lips, though she still preferred silence when she could help it. The wild child who once stumbled through broken words was now sharper, steadier—but still untested.

One crisp morning, Shinra approached her with an unusual calm. "It's time for a real lesson," she said, her voice unreadable. "We're heading to an old temple in the mountains. People say it's cursed, but we'll see if there's truth to the whispers."

Goze tilted her head. "Cursed?"

Shinra's smile was faint. "We're demon slayers. Curses are just another day's work."

The temple was deeper in the forest than anywhere Goze had traveled. The air grew heavy with every step, and even the wind seemed to hold its breath. By the time they arrived, an uneasy stillness surrounded the place. Goze froze at the entrance, tilting her head as if listening.

"Something's here," she said softly.

Shinra nodded. "You can feel it too, then. Good. Use that."

The temple loomed like a forgotten beast. Stone statues crumbled beneath layers of moss, their eyeless faces twisted and empty. Goze's fingers brushed along the rotted wood of the doorway as they stepped inside. Immediately, the air thickened. It was suffocating—hot and foul, the unmistakable scent of something unnatural.

"Stay sharp," Shinra murmured, though her tone was steady. "Demons love old places like this."

They ventured deeper into the temple. The floors creaked, and dust choked the air with every step. Goze walked behind Shinra, senses flaring. Every whisper of movement made her pulse quicken, but she kept her breathing calm, steady.

Then she felt it.

A faint rumble beneath her feet. The temperature plummeted. "Shinra," she whispered, stiffening. "Something woke up."

The doors behind them slammed shut with a deafening boom. Shinra stepped in front of Goze, hand on her sword hilt. "Show yourself," she said calmly, though her posture seemed tense.

From the darkness, a voice oozed like sludge. "Foolish humans. You've disturbed my slumber."

Goze felt the creature's presence before it emerged—massive and suffocating, like a wave of tar. The demon crawled into the faint light, its body hunched and twisted, with elongated claws that scraped against the stone. Its breath was a rancid wind, and Goze staggered back as the stench hit her.

"Run, Goze," Shinra ordered, drawing her blade. "This one's dangerous."

Goze hesitated. Shinra sounded... strained. Was she afraid? Goze clenched her fists. "No. I can fight."

The demon lunged.

Everything happened at once. The sound of claws tearing through the air, Shinra's sword clashing against its strikes, and Goze's heart pounding in her ears. She listened carefully, tracking the demon's movements through sound and smell.

Shinra grunted as she parried blow after blow, her breaths quickening. "Goze, stay back!" she shouted. Her voice cracked—just slightly. To Goze, it sounded like she was struggling. Panic bubbled in her chest. Shinra had never struggled.

The demon's laughter echoed through the room, low and taunting. "Your strength is a lie," it sneered, swiping at Shinra and sending her skidding backward.

Goze's pulse raced. She's going to lose. I can't just stand here.

"Shinra!" she called out, panic breaking into her voice.

"Focus!" Shinra shouted back, her tone sharp, but there was something off—it wasn't fear. Goze couldn't put her finger on it, but there was no time to question. The demon turned its attention to her, its voice dripping with mockery.

"Little girl. You're no threat to me."

The beast lunged for her. Goze dove aside, its claws raking the ground where she stood. The sound was unbearable—stone splintering like brittle bones. Goze scrambled to her feet, sweat dripping down her face. The creature's scent filled her nose, thick and burning. She couldn't see it, but she knew where it was.

"I'll tear you apart!" the demon roared, slashing again.

Goze dodged, barely, the force of the blow brushing her hair. Her mind raced, her breathing ragged. She could hear Shinra fighting in the distance, but her voice was growing quieter. It's up to me. I have to stop this.

She stilled herself, blocking out the chaos.

Beneath the demon's growls, there it was—a faint rhythm, steady and hollow. Its heart. Shinra had taught her that demons, no matter how strong, she had to behead them. That was the only way to kill them.

Goze gripped the small blade Shinra had given her. I can do this.

The demon charged again, but this time, Goze didn't run. She lunged toward the sound, ignoring the claw that grazed her shoulder, slicing through skin. Pain exploded down her arm, but she didn't stop. She screamed as she drove her blade forward, straight into the pulsing sound.

The demon froze. For a heartbeat, silence.

Then it shrieked, its voice a cacophony of agony as its body writhed. Goze fell back, breathing hard, blood dripping down her arm as she heard the beast's flesh crack and burn. The stench grew worse until, finally, the demon crumbled to ash.

Silence settled once more.

Goze sat on the cold stone floor, panting, the pain in her shoulder flaring with every breath. She heard Shinra's footsteps approach, calm and unhurried.

"You did it," Shinra said softly.

Goze's brows furrowed. "You... weren't struggling," she realized, her voice trembling. "You were testing me."

Shinra knelt beside her, placing a hand on her good shoulder. "You needed to know you could do this on your own. And you did."

Anger flickered across Goze's face, but it faded quickly, replaced by exhaustion and something unfamiliar—pride. She had done it. Alone.

Shinra stood and offered her hand. "Come on, Goze. You've earned some rest."

Goze took her hand, steadying herself as she rose to her feet. The temple was still again, but this time, its silence felt different.

She didn't need to rely on Shinra anymore. She was a demon slayer in her own right.

The journey back from the temple was quiet. The forest, usually filled with the sounds of life, felt strangely subdued. Goze walked behind Shinra, her shoulder aching from the demon's claws. Despite her exhaustion, her mind raced with thoughts she could no longer hold back.

When they finally stopped to rest near a riverbank, Shinra sat down on a mossy rock, stretching her arms as if nothing had happened. Goze, on the other hand, stayed standing, fists clenched at her sides.

"Why?" Goze asked suddenly, her voice sharp but low.

Shinra looked up, her calm expression unwavering. "Why what?"

"Why did you pretend?" Goze's voice trembled, frustration and confusion bubbling to the surface. "At the temple… I thought you were struggling. I thought you were going to die. And I—" she faltered, the words catching in her throat. "I failed. I didn't focus on the mission. I only thought about saving you. How many times have I failed before? Every time we fought together, I couldn't focus because…"

Shinra tilted her head, listening. Goze finally found the words. "Because I respect you. Because I love you like a mother. I'd throw myself in front of a demon to protect you. And you used that to test me."

For a moment, Shinra was silent. The wind rustled through the trees, but neither of them moved.

Finally, Shinra sighed, her voice softer than usual. "Sit down, Goze."

Goze hesitated but obeyed, sitting on a fallen log nearby, though her posture remained rigid.

"You didn't fail," Shinra began, her gaze fixed on the rippling water. "What you did today was what the Corps demands: putting others before yourself, even when it means risking your life. That's what a demon slayer does."

Goze looked up at her, confused. "Then why—?"

"But that's not enough," Shinra interrupted, her tone firm now. "Listen carefully, Goze. Sacrificing yourself for someone else may save a life for a moment, but it doesn't end the fight. It doesn't defeat the demons. And more importantly…" She turned to face Goze fully, her eyes sharp. "It doesn't make you stronger. Not yet."

Goze frowned. "I don't understand."

Shinra leaned forward slightly, her voice measured but intense. "You've spent so much time focusing on me, on keeping me safe, that you've ignored the danger coming toward you. Every time you're distracted by protecting me—or anyone else—you lose focus. And in this line of work, losing focus means death."

Goze's breath hitched as Shinra continued.

"I don't want you to die, Goze," she said softly. "But more than that, I don't want you to choose death. I need you to fight for yourself, to focus on your survival first. Because when you survive, when you grow stronger, you can save far more people in the future."

Goze's gaze dropped to her hands. "But… the Corps says we must protect others, no matter the cost."

"And we do," Shinra agreed. "But you can't protect anyone if you're dead, Goze. You must learn to strike a balance. When you fight, don't just throw yourself in harm's way for someone else. Be aware of your own danger, too. Pay attention to your enemy, to your surroundings, and to yourself. If you focus, you won't have to sacrifice yourself—you'll simply win."

Goze sat in silence, her thoughts swirling. Shinra's words made sense, but the guilt remained—guilt that came from caring too much, from loving Shinra like family.

Shinra's voice softened again. "You care for me, Goze. I know that. I care for you too. But one day, I won't be there. And I need to know you can stand on your own."

Goze looked up at her, the weight of those words settling in her chest. She thought back to the temple, to the moment she lunged into danger, blind to everything except Shinra's struggle. Had she been that close to death without even realizing it?

Shinra stood and placed a hand on Goze's shoulder. "This isn't about erasing your feelings. It's about controlling them. Harness them, but don't let them take away your senses. You'll need that strength to survive what's coming."

Goze nodded slowly, absorbing the lesson. She didn't fully understand yet, but she trusted Shinra's words.

As they resumed their journey home, Goze's mind felt clearer, her resolve firmer. Shinra was right. To protect those she cared for, she first had to learn to protect herself.

And she would.