Chương 16: Vol. 1 - Seperation

It's been a week since Lexi's departure. I've become lonely again. Recently, I decided to go out and play in that nice, magical forest again. Lexi put in so much effort just to get me there; her efforts shouldn't go to waste. My father always lets me; he thinks that with my control over Astralis, I'm as good as unstoppable. However, on this particular day…" Papa, can I go outside to play?"" You mean not in the courtyard, but outside?"" Yes, Papa."" O-ohh. Can you wait a little longer?

Papa and Mama's friends are coming, they're bringing their daughter along, could you play with her, then?"

"Ok…" *Disappointment… Define disappointment – sadness or displeasure caused by the non-fulfilment of one's hopes or expectations. There you go, my status gave you the exact definition of disappointment, and that was exactly what I felt. Apparently, my parents' friends were from the capital, Celestara, and they were on a trip to our humble home in Starhaven. I think they're really close. It had been almost an hour since the knock at the door had announced our guests.

I had been pacing, glancing at the dusty path that led up to our Starhaven home, feeling the restlessness that always accompanied moments of expectation. Father had been unusually excited, adjusting vases, fussing over carpets, muttering about how rare it was for acquaintances from Celestara to visit the humble estate. Mother moved with her usual quiet elegance, arranging flowers and straightening curtains, her glances towards me a silent warning: Behave.

When the door opened, warm sunlight spilled across the polished floor, and the first figure appeared. A tall, slender man, sharp-featured, his dark hair catching hints of gold in the afternoon light. His hazel eyes swept the room, observing everything yet smiling warmly. Beside him, a woman moved with a fluid grace, chestnut hair loosely tied at her nape, eyes bright and alert, a smile that could soothe or command effortlessly. Their presence carried refinement, but not the sort that felt distant or cold.

"Arthur," Father said warmly, grasping the man's hands.

"So good to see you again. And Helena…" He turned to the woman.

"Starhaven is honored by your presence."

"Always a pleasure, Renar," the man replied smoothly.

"Your home retains its charm." Helena's gaze shifted to me, lingering in a way that measured, weighed, and acknowledged my presence. I felt smaller than usual, but not unwelcome. Then, almost silently, the daughter appeared. Silver-blonde hair, tied in a single braid down her back, eyes a sharp green that scanned everything with the precision of a hawk. Every step she took was quiet yet deliberate, her posture poised, light, and ready. Even standing still, she exuded the precision and control of a trained ninja.

Her dress, simple but elegant, indicated her capital upbringing, muted colors avoiding flamboyance, yet the way she carried herself suggested skill far beyond her apparent age.

"This is Elara," Helena said softly.

"She's been looking forward to meeting you." I blinked, caught off guard. Looking forward to meeting me? My chest tightened.

"H-Hello," I said, nodding once. Elara tilted her head, examining me with piercing intensity.

"Hoshikawa," she said, pronouncing my name with deliberate care.

"You're taller than I imagined."

"I've been told I grow at my own pace," I replied, shrugging, forcing casualness into my tone. Her lips quirked into a faint smirk. Sharp. Already analyzing, already amused. The adults exchanged polite conversation about politics and family matters. I listened half-distractedly, my eyes drawn to Elara, who seemed to catalog everything: the way I shifted my weight, the curve of the stair railing, the pattern of shadows across the floor.

She bent slightly, adjusting a fallen leaf without making a sound, fingers twitching as though ready to react at a moment's notice. My curiosity piqued: Even casual movements show she's already trained… Finally, my father's eyes lit up, the familiar gleam signaling my cue.

"Kawa, why don't you and Elara go outside? Enjoy the forest while the adults catch up." Elara's eyes sparkled, and she moved like a shadow sliding across the floor—silent, precise, confident.

"Yes! Let's go!" she said, her voice controlled yet energetic, sharp with excitement. I hesitated, briefly unnerved. A child—but not just a child. I reminded myself: she had reflexes, discipline, and subtle cunning. She could probably outrun me if she wanted. We stepped outside into sunlight that bathed the estate. The forest trail lay ahead, worn but wild, branches arching overhead, filtering golden rays onto the mossy ground. The smell of damp earth, pine, and leaves filled the air.

Every sound—the rustle of leaves, the whisper of wind—seemed alive. Lexi's memory lingered faintly in the rustling of branches, her laughter echoing almost imperceptibly. Elara moved silently beside me, every step deliberate, toes barely making a sound, her posture controlled yet fluid. She scanned the trees, the forest floor, the way branches twisted and bent, as though she were reading the land. Even in casual walking, her movements were tactical, calculating, efficient.

"You come here often?" she asked, her voice calm and measured, carrying a quiet intensity.

"Yes," I replied.

"It's… peaceful." I didn't mention Lexi. Some memories were best left unspoken. Her faint smirk suggested she understood more than I said.

"Peaceful… or dangerous. Places like this can hide corners where people vanish without a sound." Her gaze held mine, analytical, aware. Not naive. Sharp. Dangerous herself." Let me share a secret with you, I want to be a ninja. That has always been my dream. But my father doesn't approve. My father's line weilds Shadow, so I'd probably have Shadow too, which are excellent traits of being a ninja, ""Cool, it's nice to have dreams" I was inwardly surprised by her great ambition to be a ninja.

We had not walked far when the first warning appeared: a subtle snap of a branch, too deliberate to be natural. Low murmurs followed, coordinated, purposeful. My hand went instinctively to the dagger at my belt. Bandits. You might be reading a stolen copy. Visit Royal Road for the authentic version. Elara noticed immediately. She crouched low, shifting her weight silently, eyes flicking to the edges of the forest.

"Not hunters," she murmured, calm, unnerving. Then the figures emerged. Three men, ragged, their eyes glinting with cruelty. One wielded a jagged sword, another a club with spikes, the third a hooked blade. Their grins were wide and full of malicious anticipation. I tightened my grip on my dagger. Only use shadow and fire this time. What? Who said that? I'll just listen to the voice for now, no time to think. The leader lunged at Elara." Elara, watch out!"

She rolled sideways, body twisting like a ribbon, landing lightly on mossy ground, pivoting to flick a loose branch into his path, tripping him subtly.

"I'm fine, now I can finally put those secret ninja training to good use. Don't worry about me." Impressive. Better than most adults I've faced. Shadow flared around my hands, forming jagged, liquid-like barriers, intercepting the leader mid-lunge. Fire hissed along the ground, forcing the second bandit to step back on unstable earth. Elara didn't hesitate. She leapt onto a low branch, rolling, ducking, even flicking small stones to distract the third attacker. Every move silent, precise, calculated.

Shadows moved in tandem, fire flaring strategically.

"Run!" I shouted, grabbing her arm. She didn't resist; trust was implicit. We bolted through the forest, weaving through roots and low-hanging branches. Bandits shouted, their voices full of frustration and menace, but shadow and fire kept them off-balance. The forest grew denser. Trees stretched higher, roots thickened, the slope steepened. Light fractured in thin shafts through branches. Every step demanded calculation. The voice spoke again: Ahead. Protect her. Only shadows and fire.

Then, silence, just for a moment. We stopped, but still vigilant." You can use astralis already?"" Yeah," I replied nonchalantly. She nodded slowly, but I could tell she was impressed. Then it happened. Elara's foot slipped on moss at the edge of the slope. She twisted, arms flailing, eyes wide. Even her ninja instincts weren't enough against the sudden drop. Save her! The voice spoke once more. Time slowed.

"I've got you!" I shouted. Instinct overrode thought—I swapped positions, taking her weight, letting the ground fall beneath me. The forest rushed up in dizzying speed. Branches whipped, snagging my clothes, scratching skin. Wind tore at my face. Shadow coiled around me, fire flared in flashes, branches snapping against my body, rocks cutting my arms. Pain screamed, every nerve on fire. Finally, the fall ended. I landed among thick roots, moss, fallen branches. Darkness pressed in. My vision blurred.

My body screamed. My consciousness wavered. Stay… awake… Above, I heard her voice faintly, a mix of relief and horror. She had stabilized herself, desperately searching for me amidst the trees. A true ninja even now, analyzing risk. Shadow and fire curled around me instinctively, ready for danger. But my strength was failing, darkness swallowing me. Let them come… if they dare. The voice spoke one last time. The forest around was alive with rustling, distant shouts, the faint warmth of sun above. And then…

everything went black. ELARA KAELITH'S POV: The bandits were snarling, advancing, blades raised, but Hoshikawa was already moving. Shadows curled and twisted around him like living smoke, blocking attacks, deflecting strikes with a precision that made my chest tighten. Flames licked along the roots and rocks, not raging wildly, but controlled, calculated, forcing the attackers to stumble without harming the forest more than necessary. Every movement he made was deliberate, each step perfectly timed.

He didn't shout or show off—he just moved, flowing between offense and defense, protecting me without hesitation. I had never seen anyone fight like this. Shadows that could strike, defend, and move almost independently of him; fire that seemed alive, reacting to his will. I was frozen, watching in awe, my heart hammering. He's… incredible. One of the bandits lunged toward me. My reflexes had me twisting, rolling, ducking low—but Hoshikawa anticipated it instantly.

Shadows surged, intercepting the man's swing, sending him stumbling back. Another bandit went for a strike, and fire flared along the mossy ground, cutting off his advance. He barely had time to react before Hoshikawa was on him, every strike measured, efficient, and perfectly aimed. I wanted to move, to help, but I knew instinctively that I would only be in the way. Instead, I stayed low, scanning the forest floor, the branches, every detail. Every shadow he creates… every flicker of flame… it's all controlled.

My admiration only grew as I watched him, silently aware of my position, focused on the threat, but calm. We were moving through a steeper part of the forest when the ground betrayed us. Moss slick, roots twisted and treacherous, my foot slipped. I gasped, flailing instinctively. His eyes locked onto mine, and before I could process it, he twisted, swapping our positions. The ground vanished beneath him as he fell, shadows and fire erupting around him, snaking along the terrain as he tumbled downward.

"Hoshikawa!!!!" I screamed, swallowed by a mix of shock and complete horror.

"Wait!" I wanted to scream, to dive after him, but my training and instincts held me back. He was gone from sight, swallowed by the forest below. Panic surged through me, hot and sharp, but I couldn't freeze. I had to move, had to escape, had to survive, had to tell someone. I pushed off the ground, moving silently and swiftly. My feet found the safest path, rolling and twisting, leaping over roots, ducking under branches, navigating jagged stones. My heart raced, every muscle coiled for action.

The bandits' shouts echoed behind me, growing distant thanks to Hoshikawa's interventions, but I couldn't risk looking back. My mind kept replaying what I had seen: the way shadows twisted to block, the fire moving at his command, his calm precision. He's… incredible. He saved me… I swallowed hard, forcing panic down, focusing instead on movement. My braid swung behind me like a counterweight, keeping balance, while my eyes scanned for every branch, every root that could trip me. Finally, the clearing appeared.

The estate's courtyard was in sight, sunlight spilling across the polished stone. My legs moved almost automatically, carrying me forward, my lungs burning, muscles screaming. I burst into the open, skidding slightly on loose gravel. The adults turned toward me, alarm etched on their faces.

"He—he's gone!" I gasped, hands shaking as I pointed toward the forest.

"The slope… he fell! He saved me! He… he's down there somewhere!" My voice trembled, choking on the panic that still gripped me. Mother's eyes softened, but her voice was sharp with authority.

"Elara, slow down. Breathe. Calmly. Tell us exactly what happened." I took a shaky breath, trying to steady my racing heart.

"The bandits—they came out of nowhere! He fought… shadows… fire… everything he did was precise… and then—then he took my place! He fell into the forest below the slope! I… I couldn't—" My words broke, my chest tightening with fear and disbelief. Father's face darkened, tension hardening his features.

"Slow down, Elara. Point to where he went." I extended my trembling hand toward the forest, voice breaking.

"Down there! Between the trees! He… he's gone! I can't see him!" Liora, Hoshikawa's mother, knelt, gripping my hands firmly.

"He is strong. He saved you. That shows his skill and awareness. We'll find him, but you must stay calm and safe." I shook my head violently, tears streaming down my face.

"I can't… I can't believe… he's… gone!" My chest tightened with a mixture of fear, awe, and helplessness. I could still picture the shadows, the fire, every movement, every strike he made with calm precision. My mind refused to let go of that image: strong, focused, protective… Mother's voice broke through my thoughts, firm yet reassuring.

"We will find him. Trust me. But you must stay safe." I nodded weakly, unable to speak. My eyes were glued to the forest, imagining him somewhere below, hurt, possibly unconscious, but still… him. My heart ached with the memory of his movements, his precision, and the way he had risked everything to protect me.