Chapter 15: What Lies Hidden in the Heart

[Interior – Hanzo's cabin. Soft sunset light filters through the windows]

The Dawnflower rested in Akari's hands, now restored thanks to the replica brought by the horned child.

Beside her, the grimoire floated, tracing formulas in the air with a living, organic calligraphy.

Kumo slept on Kaien's lap, tiny bandages wrapped around his burned paw.

Shiro sat with a blanket over his shoulders, his eyes fixed on the small vial in Akari's hands.

—It's ready, —Akari said, her voice trembling.

She held a ceramic cup. The liquid shimmered, as if it contained the first ray of daybreak.

Akari walked toward the corner where her mother had slept for years, cursed and trapped in a slumber that devoured her days.

—Mom… —she whispered.

She brought the vial to her lips, her hands shaking.

The light spread like a flower opening to the sun, and with it, life returned to the sleeping body — not violently, but as a long-delayed caress. A long sigh… as if the soul had finally remembered the way home.

Her mother's eyelids fluttered. They opened.

Kind, slightly disoriented eyes settled on her daughter.

—Akari…

Akari fell to her knees, breaking down. She cried as if her soul emptied itself upon seeing those eyes again.

She wasn't a mage or a hero in that moment — she was just a girl coming home.

—I thought… I'd never hear your voice again… I was so scared without you… Hanzo took care of me…

Her mother stroked her hair, just like she used to.

—You were never alone… My heart was always with you… I'm sorry I left you so young. I only used that book to protect you… If I had known this would happen…

Kaien watched from a distance, lips pressed tight. His hands trembled.

Hanzo brought the second cup to Shiro.

—Your turn.

Shiro swallowed hard, looked at Kaien… and nodded. He drank.

[Shiro's Memory]

The fire. The screams. The beast.

But it wasn't him.

He saw a small boy, caged, surrounded by others like him.

Black robes. Twisted magic.

Children used as vessels for something inhuman.

He was one of them.

But then, a figure armed with a blade stepped through the smoke.

Lifted him in arms — strong and gentle. Hanzo.

Later, a woman wrapped a scarf around him — Akari's mother.

Then Kaien, as a child, hugging him tightly.

—You're my family now. I don't care where you came from.

Shiro opened his eyes.

Tears fell freely, without shame.

—It wasn't me! —he cried— That wasn't me!

He threw himself at Kaien and hugged him tightly, shaking like a leaf.

And in that embrace, for the first time, he felt something that no magic or scream could take away:

Belonging.

Kaien chuckled softly, stroking his head.

—I know, brother.

Kaien received the final cup.

He held it. Hesitated.

His body already knew what was coming.

He drank.

[Darkness — The Beginning]

A baby's cry.

Drips falling on stone.

Cold.

A woman held him — her gaze filled with… contempt.

—Damn it… Why couldn't I…?

A man, back turned, smoked in silence.

—Leave him. Someone will find him.

The baby cried. Reached out.

The woman placed him in a box… and walked away.

Into the rain.

Kaien watched, horrified.

—They didn't even give me a name…

The child stole moldy bread.

Spat it out.

An adult kicked him. Another threw dirty water.

A dog bit him. The child, terrified, threw stones at it.

—Street rat!

No one called him by name.

No one touched him with affection.

A nameless child has no past.

Only hunger.

Only fear.

[Silent Scream]

Under an abandoned house, he slept hugging a stick — pretending it was a sword.

Other children vanished, one by one.

He hallucinated from hunger.

He saw his parents. They walked toward him.

But passed right through him.

As if he didn't exist.

And something… broke.

[Voluntary Forgetting]

Sitting by a lake.

—I don't want to remember.

He tied his memories to an invisible stone.

One by one, he erased them.

—I wasn't loved. Never was. So… I don't need love.

"I am Kaien. The one who needs no one."

[Present]

Kaien opened his eyes.

Silence.

His fists trembled.

His jaw, clenched tight.

Shiro and Akari watched in silence.

Kumo had moved closer, as if he understood.

—Kaien… —Akari whispered.

He didn't answer right away.

And when he did, his voice didn't sound like a warrior's.

It sounded like a child who had finally been heard.

—I saw… how cruel this world is. I saw why I didn't want to remember.

He turned slowly.

His back carried a decade of pain.

But for the first time…

He didn't seem alone.

Akari hugged him without a word.

Kumo purred gently at his leg.

Shiro stepped closer.

Hanzo watched from a corner.

He said nothing.

He didn't have to.

—You know what's good about being broken?

You get to rebuild yourself… with new pieces.

Kaien, unable to stop himself… smiled.

For the first time, he felt truly accepted. By all of them.

| Author's Note |

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– Janoshki