He came to rest after moving more slowly. Benjamin had been walking but then paused completely.
Arian remained lying down, yet raised his head slightly. Despite staying flat, a faint movement came from him.
Where the tight path concludes -
She stood there.
With no way ahead, movement stops completely.
The girl.
The girl stood there again, her presence marked by what she had done earlier.
A hush settled, brief yet noticeable. Stillness arrived without warning. Silence lingered just long enough to be seen.
Heavy beats filled Arian's ribs while his gaze stayed fixed on her figure. His breath slowed just before silence took over the room. Stillness followed, broken only by a distant clock ticking past midnight. She turned slightly, unaware of the tension building behind her. Each moment stretched longer than the last without warning.
Just like before, she appeared unchanged.
High upon her head, dark brown locks gathered into a taut ponytail. Strands stretched smooth, yet loose pieces near the forehead softened the outline. This contrast brought forward grace paired with intensity. From certain angles, refinement met strength without effort.
A stillness marked her complexion, lacking warmth, as if crafted from glazed clay kept far from daybreak light.
Her eyes…
A gaze of deep red held attention without effort.
Bright.
Sharp.
Faintly bright under the shadowed street glow.
A glance fixed upon Arian, heavy with resentment and sorrow. From still faces came eyes sharp with suffering. Not warmth, but bitterness shaped each expression. Held in silence, their gaze carried weight without sound. What showed was neither fear nor pity - instead, ache fused with defiance. Across the space between them, tension settled like dust after impact.
A faint spot rested under her right eye, positioned a touch beneath the outer edge. From that point, subtle shadows softened into the skin nearby. Near it, light fell at an angle uncommon to most faces. Its presence broke symmetry in a way few noticed. Around such details, expressions shifted differently across moments.
A tiny detail.
Still, it stood out oddly on her light complexion.
Her clothing appeared nearly commonplace.
A narrow roll of fabric framed each wrist beneath the sleeves' edge. Above the blouse rested a black jacket, its hem pausing near the upper hip.
Below the waist, a modest skirt fell in soft folds, its deep hue contrasting with an almost weightless drape that allowed smooth motion.
Her legs were enclosed in long black stockings, while a pair of unadorned leather boots, built for pavement, completed the look. Downward they stretched, meeting shoes meant for miles.
Around her waist was a leather belt.
A pouch of the sort commonly seen on long journeys hung from the belt, holding coins or minor belongings. Though simple in design, its presence suggested preparation for distance. Travelers favored such containers - compact yet practical. This one remained fastened securely, worn but intact through movement and time.
Yet near the pouch -
Beyond that, another matter existed.
A dagger.
A sliver of brightness appeared on the metallic grip. Light touched its surface just enough to show a quiet shine. There, where shadows lay thick, a subtle gleam emerged slowly.
A quiet stillness held her frame, fingers close to the blade like danger required no effort. The glow around her moved without urgency - killing could wait. Presence alone bent the air toward violence. Not a twitch betrayed intent, yet threat pulsed beneath silence. Light flickered beside steel, equal in weight. Her breath did not change. Moments stretched thin under that calm.
Those red eyes of hers began a slow turn away from Benjamin
…to Arian.
Then she spoke.
"There is nowhere to run."
A faint trace of her words bounced along the close walls. The sound moved unevenly through tight stone corners.
Fingers closing firm, Benjamin held Arian without release.
"What do you want?" he asked calmly.
The moment arrived, yet she moved without pause.
"I want to kill that filthy rat."
A sudden stillness came before her hand moved. The index digit extended, inch by inch. Direction shifted - toward Arian it went. Movement ceased only when alignment was complete.
"And then I'll kill everyone close to him."
Her eyes darkened.
"Everyone he loves."
Fear settled deep within Arian. His breath slowed, awareness narrowing to a single point below his ribs.
His mind raced.
Wait…
If he had stayed away from the store -
If running had been his choice that moment -
Only then might Benjamin remain.
The girl would have come looking for Hoshino.
And Benjamin -
Fate had already decided his path. Death waited without delay.
Frost traced the spine of Arian. Quietly, a shiver followed. Into the bones, the cold settled deep.
Her gaze met Arian's without delay. He held still, eyes fixed ahead.
"Why…?"
His voice trembled.
"Why do you want to kill me?"
Fingers curled slowly into loose balls. The hands hung there, tense but without force.
"I didn't do anything to you!"
"Why?!"
A shift passed across her face. Slight tension edged into her features.
"Don't act like you don't know."
Arian moved his head from side to side, urgency clear in the motion.
"I don't!"
"I really don't!"
His voice cracked.
"I don't even know who you are!"
For a brief moment -
Something dangerous appeared on her face.
Anger.
A blaze lit her red eyes, fierce and unyielding.
Up went her hand, moving once more with quiet slowness.
Fingers held the first glow. Between them, light grew slowly.
Once more, that fatal glow - Arian recognized it instantly. It returned without warning, silent yet sharp. Not new, but known. Familiar in its harm. The brightness carried weight, memory. Past moments surfaced. Nothing changed about its danger. Still lethal. Still close.
Fear tightened Arian's breath. Rapid air filled the silence.
"M-Mr. Benjamin!"
His voice shook.
"Leave me here!"
Benjamin didn't respond.
"Please!"
Arian shouted.
"Just run!"
From up high, Benjamin spoke without urgency.
"I can't do that."
Arian froze.
Backward he kept going, each step measured. The girl remained in his gaze without break. Stillness held between them, distance growing by inches. His focus did not waver, fixed on her form. Retreat marked the moment, silent and deliberate.
"I can't leave someone behind to die."
A sudden stillness crossed Arian's face, surprise widening his gaze beyond what words could hold.
Even now.
Even after everything.
Thoughts of the man remained with Benjamin. Still present in his mind, that figure lingered without demand or announcement. Quietly occupying space where silence might otherwise settle.
Even now, protection remains his shield.
A sudden tightness pulled at Arian's ribs. Pain followed, slow and sharp. Inside, a knot turned without warning. His breath caught mid-step. The feeling settled like cold stone. Movement became difficult. A quiet ache remained.
Out of silence came Benjamin's hushed voice. Quietly he spoke.
"I'll blind her for a few seconds."
Arian blinked.
"…What?"
Calmness marked Benjamin's speech.
"Then we run."
Before Arian spoke again
A signal came from Benjamin when he lifted his arm upward slowly.
Fast.
The hand moved, fingers aligned forward, facing her. A pause followed as the gesture held firm in place.
A gust leapt forth, driven by motion from his palm.
Forward through the alley moved a strong gust of air. Air pressure shifted sharply as motion began. The space between buildings filled quickly with rushing wind. Speed increased without warning. A surge traveled fast down the narrow passage.
The impact struck her face hard.
Dust.
Loose papers.
Small debris.
A sudden burst flew straight into her sight.
She flinched.
A shadow crossed her eyes. The world dimmed for a breath. Light returned slowly. Shapes reappeared, uncertain at first.
Benjamin didn't wait.
"Now!"
He turned immediately.
Still carrying Arian on his back
Benjamin ran.
Fast.
Footsteps rang out between close walls while he moved quickly ahead of her.
Fast on his feet, Benjamin moved without stopping. Running took him forward, each step urgent.
From the alley's cold stones rose the sound of steps, Arian gripping just enough to stay on, one leg dragging without strength. Behind him nothing moved but dust stirred by motion slow and uneven. The weight shifted slightly with each forward press of worn boots scraping rock bed. Breathing came sharp yet quiet beneath the hush broken only by that steady tap, then pause, then another. Walls stood close, offering neither comfort nor escape - only echo. Each stride pulled tighter the silence waiting ahead.
A sudden rush filled Arian's chest.
Time stretched, each moment hanging as if breathless. Stillness pressed close, heavy with waiting. Seconds passed, slow yet sharp, like edges of glass. The air refused to move, caught somewhere between now and never. Moments piled up, fragile under their own weight.
Footsteps stopped where the buildings closed in. There stood the limit of the narrow path.
Just once, there appeared a chance they could get away
A sudden brightness split the stillness.
BOOM.
A flash hit the structure ahead, then came the blast. Without warning, the impact shattered walls facing their position. Into pieces flew glass when energy met stone. After silence returned, smoke curled above what remained.
Stone shattered outward.
Fragments fell through the air, dust drifting onto the pavement below.
Benjamin stopped abruptly.
"That was close," he muttered.
Immediately, his path shifted rightward, moving fast toward the open road ahead.
Frozen mid-step, several bystanders stared as the pair dashed by without warning. Suddenly motionless, those close at hand hesitated under the sudden rush of passing figures.
"We'll try to lose her," Benjamin said between breaths.
Even amid disorder, his tone stayed unexpectedly steady.
Ahead of him stretched a different road.
"If we turn left here - "
A flash cut across the sky once more.
This moment saw impact occur precisely ahead of their position.
CRACK.
Fragments flew when rock tore open.
Stopping suddenly, Benjamin's feet slid across the ground.
Arian's eyes widened.
"…She's fast."
From nearby, voices rose in loud cries.
"What was that?!"
"Magic?!"
"Run!"
Fleeing began among the group, even if understanding remained rare. Yet confusion did little to slow their retreat.
Fleeing began when certain beastmen seized nearby allies. Others broke into motion after a sudden pull toward cover.
Stillness took hold of some, caught in uncertainty.
Faster than thought, Arian's mind spun through chaos. Stillness waited beyond each frantic pulse of reasoning.
She slips away when silence grows louder than words.
Far-off strikes fall within her capabilities
It is possible she follows my movements…
Then suddenly -
An idea appeared.
"Mr. Benjamin!" Arian called, voice tight with urgency.
"Yes?"
"Go inside a building!"
Benjamin blinked.
"…What?"
"If we go inside somewhere, she won't know where we are!"
Benjamin didn't argue.
Without delay, movement shifted to the closest structure.
A small shop.
Immediately, the entrance gave way under his hand as he moved into the room. The moment passed without delay.
"Sorry for the intrusion!" Benjamin called quickly.
A glance rose from the counter as someone advanced through the door. The figure behind the till, hair streaked with gray, paused mid-motion. Awareness arrived slowly, like dust settling after footsteps.
Faster than thought, Benjamin slipped beyond the doorway before the man found words. Into the dimmer space within he went, leaving questions hanging behind.
Bent low, he waited at the edge of a storage unit.
Carefully lowering Arian from his back.
Low they remained, each close to the ground.
Silent.
Breath hung in the stillness of the room, breaking the silence between them. The space around stayed unmoving, holding every pause.
Fingers brushed across skin, removing dampness near the brow. The gesture followed a moment of still heat under flickering light.
His gaze settled upon Arian next.
"Incidentally," he murmured under his breath.
"What's your name?"
A moment passed before Arian moved.
"…Arian."
A slight nod came from Benjamin, his lips curving into quiet warmth.
"I see."
"Well, Arian - "
"I'm Benja - "
Suddenly, brightness pierced the glass of the storefront.
Benjamin interrupted mid-sentence
THUD.
A sudden beam entered directly into his abdomen.
Horrified, Arian's eyes grew wide.
Benjamin's body froze.
Then slowly -
Blood began pouring from the wound.
Down he fell, face meeting the floor. The drop came without warning, body folding like paper.
"NO!"
Arian screamed.
"No no no no no!"
A shudder ran through his fingers while he moved closer to Benjamin on all fours.
"This… this is my fault!"
Fingers closed around Benjamin's frame, urgency tightening each movement.
Open went Benjamin's stomach, ripped apart without warning.
From his body came a sudden flow of organs, landing heavily on the tiles below.
A sudden gasp escaped Arian, followed by uneven breaths that folded into quiet cries.
"N-no…!"
His fingers trembled as Arian pressed the organs into place.
Into the wound he pressed them.
Yet once more, they managed to escape unnoticed.
Each attempt to hold them away ended the same way
They fell out again.
His hands were soaked in blood.
Into the noise of his thinking stepped a single idea.
How would my father act in this situation?
His fingers tightened.
If he were present, how might my father act? What path would follow then?
A moment passed. Then came a new idea without delay.
If he stood where I stand… how might things unfold? What path could appear then?
Faster than thought, his heart hammered against the cage of ribs.
Above all else, memories stirred - fragments of his father's quiet presence reappeared without warning. Not just the expression on his face but also how stillness carried through speech. Even during chaos, direction emerged naturally from him. What stood out was consistency amid disorder, a pattern recalled now in silence.
Arian bit his lip.
Father…
Fingers trembling, they reached once more in frantic motion, pressing inward to return what had spilled from Benjamin. The effort strained against collapse, each movement urgent yet unsteady.
Yet once more, they managed to escape unnoticed.
And again.
And again.
Breathing grew uneven. Suddenly, each inhale seemed uncertain.
Think… think… THINK!
Fear did not belong in his manner. Calm had always guided him. This reaction - unknown to him. Quiet strength ruled where others faltered. Such haste meant little to one who waited.
Calmness remained his way. He held still when others moved fast.
There was no doubt he could manage it.
Arian pressed his jaw shut until pain spread. Pain arrived fast when he held tension there too long.
What Should I Do!
Into the hollow dark of his thoughts, the question roared without sound. A silent shout filled every corner where answers might hide. From nowhere, urgency pressed against the stillness. The weight came again, uninvited. In that space - empty yet crowded - the query echoed longer than expected. It lingered past reason. Darkness gave no reply. Still, it asked.
Yet silence followed.
Through wet eyes, sight softened into haze.
"M-Mr. Benjamin…"
Arian's voice shook violently.
"I'm sorry…"
"Please forgive me…"
He kept trying.
Again.
And again.
But nothing worked.
Now, Benjamin breathed in short, light pulls. Air moved through him without depth.
His eyes were slowly losing focus.
"…Arian," came his voice, soft and faint.
Arian moved nearer without delay.
"I'm here!"
His mouth would barely open. Movement came slow. Not much worked right. A quiet effort showed each time he tried.
Every term appeared unusually hard.
"…Be…"
He let out a soft sigh, barely audible.
"…a star."
Benjamin smiled softly.
After that, movement ceased within him.
Arian froze.
It did not enter his thoughts easily.
"No…"
His voice broke.
"I don't want to die…"
A quiet stillness filled the air while tears traced slow paths down his cheeks. The weight of what had happened settled heavily around him where he sat, close to the form that no longer moved.
Behind him -
A sound came - known, clear. It broke the silence without warning.
Cold.
Quiet.
"You can't hide from me."
Arian moved his head with measured slowness.
The child remained by the doorway of the store.
Faint light came from her eyes, colored deep red.
"I could smell your disgusting scent from outside this town."
Into her eyes, his figure became fixed. Stillness followed.
The fury within her gaze showed no limit.
And then -
Everything faded.
The world blurred.
The sound disappeared.
The shop vanished.
Arian's vision turned white.
His vision returned slowly -
There it was - something he had seen before.
The same street.
The same place.
The same moment.
Arian arrived once more through death's return.