The water parted in two, revealing a hidden cave behind the waterfall, and Ryuu's jaw dropped in disbelief.

He had never seen anything like it.

The roaring cascade, which moments ago seemed invincible, had split effortlessly in front of him, as if nature itself bowed to Akiko's command.

Ryuu couldn't help but stare, his eyes wide with astonishment.

"Wha... How is this possible? The water just... split."

Akiko, standing calmly beside him, giggled softly, and Shigeru let out a hearty laugh.

"Ahaha! I didn't expect to see you this shocked, Aramiya-kun. You look like you've seen a ghost."

He grinned, clearly enjoying Ryuu's reaction.

"This is the power of nature itself, capable of defying its own rules. In the right hands, even the laws of the world can be bent."

Ryuu's gaze shifted to Shigeru, still trying to process what he had witnessed.

"How… how do you even know about this place?"

Akiko continued to giggle softly as Shigeru stepped forward, placing a hand on Ryuu's shoulder.

His smile was warm, but his eyes gleamed with the weight of a deep secret.

"Aramiya-kun, this cave is one of the most hidden places in the world.

Not even the association knows of its existence. Only Akiko and I know the truth about what lies within."

Ryuu blinked, still processing the enormity of what Shigeru had just revealed.

"But… how did you find it?"

Shigeru's expression softened as he began to recount the tale.

"It was almost ten years ago. Akiko and I were still young, and we were exploring the mountains, searching for herbs for my research.

We had ventured to the far side of the waterfall, not knowing the danger that awaited us."

Ryuu listened intently as Shigeru's voice grew more solemn, the memories clearly vivid in his mind.

"We were walking along the cliffs when suddenly, the ground beneath my feet began to tremble.

It was as if the earth itself had come alive. I was… weak back then, far less capable than I am now.

I couldn't maintain my balance, and before I knew it, I was falling into the water."

Akiko's smile faded slightly, as if she, too, were reliving the moment.

Ryuu could sense the weight of the memory as she stood quietly, watching Shigeru with a faraway look in her eyes.

"Akiko jumped in after me," Shigeru continued, his voice quieter now.

"But the water was stronger than we expected.

The current pulled us toward the edge of the waterfall, and no matter how hard we tried, we couldn't fight it.

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been stolen. Please report the violation.

We were on the brink of death, staring down at the chasm below, and all I could think about in that moment... was her."

Ryuu's eyes widened. Shigeru's usually carefree demeanor had shifted, and there was a deep vulnerability in his voice.

"The ten years Akiko and I had spent together flashed before my eyes," Shigeru said, his voice soft.

"Every memory, every laugh, every smile. That was when I realized the truth... my feelings for her were more than just friendship.

In that moment, as we were about to fall to our deaths, I confessed my love to her."

Ryuu gasped softly, his heart pounding in his chest as he listened to Shigeru's story.

"What... what happened next?"

"I didn't hear her reply at first," Shigeru admitted, a wistful smile crossing his face.

"I thought my confession had fallen on deaf ears.

But when I opened my eyes, I saw her face—tears streaming down her cheeks, but she was smiling.

A radiant, shining smile that I'll never forget. And then... she hugged me.

We held each other tightly as we fell from the cliff, smiling, knowing that whatever happened next, we had no regrets."

Shigeru's smile grew brighter, a rare sight that Ryuu had never seen before.

There was true happiness in his words, and for the first time, Ryuu could feel the depth of Shigeru's emotions.

Even Akiko, who had been standing quietly, smiled softly as she listened to Shigeru's recollection.

Ryuu, though deeply moved by the story, was still filled with curiosity.

"But… how did you both survive? If you fell from the cliff…"

Shigeru chuckled, shaking his head.

"That's the strangest part, Aramiya-kun. Neither of us knows how we survived.

It was like... a miracle. One moment, we were falling, and the next, we woke up inside this cave."

Ryuu's curiosity piqued even further.

"This cave? The one behind the waterfall?"

Shigeru nodded.

"Yes. When I opened my eyes, we were lying on the ground inside this very cave.

I couldn't move my limbs, but all I cared about was finding Akiko.

I turned my head, and there she was, unconscious but alive, lying beside me. My heart felt like it could finally beat again."

He paused for a moment, glancing at Akiko, who gave him a reassuring nod.

"After we both regained consciousness, we began exploring the cave. It was like nothing we had ever seen before.

The spiritual energy inside was unlike anything from the outside world.

The walls were covered in carvings—ancient symbols and figures that told stories long forgotten.

And when we reached the entrance..."

He gestured toward the waterfall, his eyes filled with awe.

"We saw the water, split in two just as it is now. The flow had parted, revealing the hidden cave behind it.

We couldn't believe our eyes. But that was only the beginning."

Ryuu felt a chill run down his spine.

"What do you mean?"

Shigeru's expression grew more serious, his tone somber.

"As we ventured deeper into the cave, we realized there was something... off.

The spiritual aura inside the cave was overwhelming, unlike anything we had ever encountered.

It felt... alive. The carvings on the walls told a story, but many of them had been destroyed, as if someone didn't want the world to know the truth.

The deeper we went, the more the carvings disappeared, until we reached the end of the cave."

"What did you find?"

Ryuu asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

"At the center of the cave was a stone—a glowing, radiant stone unlike anything we had ever seen.

We approached it, and as we did, the stone shattered, flooding the entire chamber with light.

And then, on the wall behind where the stone had stood, we saw it."

Ryuu held his breath, his heart pounding in his chest.

"It was an ancient mural, depicting humans standing side by side with the Devas, fighting against the demons.

It was a battle of immense power, and beneath the mural were carvings of the Atsuras—the legendary beings whose existence has been lost to time."

Ryuu's mind reeled at the revelation.

"The Atsuras… and the Devas… this cave is connected to them?"

Shigeru nodded gravely.

"Yes. This cave holds secrets that could change everything we know about the past.

Akiko and I realized that day that we had stumbled upon something far greater than ourselves.

We decided not to inform the association.

This cave, its power, its history... it's a mystery that we've been trying to unravel ever since.

But so far, all of our efforts have been in vain."

Ryuu stood in stunned silence.

He had never imagined that such a place could exist, hidden away from the world, containing the secrets of the Devas and the Atsuras.

Shigeru's expression turned more serious as he looked at Ryuu.

"Aramiya-kun, the reason we brought you here today is because I sensed something in you—something familiar.

Your spiritual aura... it resonates with the energy of this cave. It's as if your magic is connected to the Devas themselves."

The bright smile that had once graced Shigeru's face faded, replaced by a look of deep concern.

Ryuu could feel the gravity of the situation weighing down on him, and he realized that this journey was far more dangerous and important than he had ever imagined.

Shigeru's voice dropped to a whisper.

"There's more to you than you know, Aramiya Ryuu. And whatever it is... we need to uncover the truth before it's too late."....