When Nana returned, she found the two boys already fast asleep, their bellies full and snoring peacefully by the fire.

"The world could be ending right now, and these two wouldn't wake up," she muttered to herself with a slight smile.

It had been exactly ten years since Nana had found them under the rubble of their old house. Sadly, their mother had fled during the war, leaving them to perish in the battle.

"I remember it like it was yesterday. We were coming back from a patrol, and there in the middle of the wreckage was Leo, holding up the wooden beams of his house with all his strength to prevent them from crushing Cosmo, who was unconscious."

Leo was in worse condition, but his determination to protect Cosmo demonstrated the deep bond of love between them. Despite not sharing blood, they were undoubtedly brothers in every sense that mattered.

As Nana lost herself in thought, the fire began to slowly die out.

"Time to go inside."

The small hut, made of wood and slightly overtaken by vines, bore the dampness of the forest, fostering mold on its walls. But despite its condition, neither Nana nor the boys, who were now sound asleep, cared about it.

The three of them shared a strong bond, and Nana felt like an older sister to them. She had always wanted siblings, but after her mother died shortly after giving birth and her father fell in the war, she was orphaned at an early age.

She excelled greatly in the army, becoming known as the Red Valkyrie.

"i've been catching myself thinking about the past a lot lately. That's unusual... Maybe i've really lost my edge. I can barely use a basic spell anymore," she mused, her thoughts shifting back to the boys. The warmth in her heart eased her negative thoughts.

"I didn't even ask Cosmo about this new girl he's fallen for. Well, there's always tomorrow. I should get some rest too."

"Crows are fascinating animals. You know, when they are around humans, they try to mimic our voices. Listen, they are announcing something..."

-- -- -- --

A mysterious man on a horse raised his arm slightly, and several men emerged from the darkness. Their faces were bound with bandages, each bearing a symbol carved in crimson ink.

"Sir, the preparations are ready,"

Reported one of them, closest to the sinister man on horseback.

With a simple gesture, instructing them to move forward, they disappeared back into the shadows.

The man looked up at the sky, illuminated by the stars.

"Indeed, tonight's dusk is dazzling."

As the moment passed, smoke began to rise from various parts of the forest.

Nana sensed something was wrong and woke up the boys, despite her loss of magical and physical prowess. Her battle-honed sense of danger remained intact.

"Wake up!" she shouted.

"What happened, Nana?" asked Leo and Cosmo, frightened and confused.

"Come on, quick, we need to get out of here. Something very bad is happening."

Nana grabbed their arms and pulled them from the hut, but it was too late. Fire magic was laying piles of farmable wood's before them, even in the faint light filtering through the forest, it was clear what was occurred.

"Damn, it's already too late."

In the darkness, footsteps approached. They were slow, methodical, not the hurried steps of someone anxious.

"I never understood why they fled deeper into the forest. Their best escape route was north, where they could escape faster... But well, it's not like we didn't prepare for that..."

As he spoke, a glow emanated from the man's attire with each step he took towards them. Nana felt the man's menacing aura grow stronger.

She picked up the boys and ran.

"I'm really not in the mood to play cat and mouse today. It would be helpful if you would spare me from this, Red Valkyrie, or better Demerara."

"Does he know who I am?"

Nana wondered, but she kept running, her instincts on high alert. If they stayed, they would be killed.

"What the hell is going on? Who are these people? What do they want?" Questions raced through Nana's mind.

Yellowish threads began to glow in the dark forest, wrapping around Nana and immobilizing her. In desperation, she pushed the boys away.

"NANA!"

"RUN NOW!"

Unauthorized duplication: this tale has been taken without consent. Report sightings.

The boys were in shock, unable to comprehend what was happening.

"DON'T THINK, JUST RUN. I'LL CATCH UP WITH YOU."

They knew it wasn't true. The smell of blood mixed with smoke in the forest indicated a massacre, a terrible massacre. Someone wanted them all dead. All people where trying to rebuild your live in the Hailan forest, was being killed by who's know...

"No, Nana, we will stay here and protect you!" they shouted, united.

"What interesting kids. Didn't you decide to run away? Even with her sacrificing herself for you to survive, well..."

As the mysterious man walked slowly, snapping his fingers, the boys felt the weight of his aura.

"Damn, he must be a Martial Master," murmured Nana.

"Well, playing cat and mouse isn't fun, is it, Red Valkyrie?"

"But who are you to know that forgotten name of mine?"

"A very important person misses you. You must wonder who."

Drip... Drip... Drip, drip, drip, drip, drip...

Cold sweat fell faster and faster from Nana's face, turning pale.

"It can't be... He can't be..."

"Actually, our mission was to destroy this entire settlement in the Hainan forest. It was causing too much trouble. But someone found out you defected to this place, and, well, you know he wouldn't leave you lost here, right?"

"Who is this Nana?" Cosmo asked angrily.

"You really want to know his name? Come closer, and i'll tell you."

The same golden thread that bound Nana materialized from the man's hand, grabbing Cosmo and pulling him close. The only thing Cosmo could do was vomit; the man's aura was so powerful that he could barely maintain his sanity.

"COSMO!"

Leo shouted, advancing on the man. But the golden lines restrained him.

"No, no... You stay there, boy. My conversation is with your brother... Well, as you asked, his name is..."

"NOOO! Don't you dare tell Cosmo. I swear i'll do everything I can to kill you!"

Nana's eyes were red, her skin no longer pale, consumed by a protective instinct.

"Han M - I - N - O"

"You wretch! YOU DEMON!"

"HIHIHIHIHIHIHIHIHIHIHI"

Cosmo fell to his knees, he collapse because the intense aura coming from that man.

"Cosmo. You must forget that name. Listen to me Cosmo! COSMO!!"

Cosmo didn't understand anything, and Leo, too far away and tied up by the golden lines, struggled to breathe.

"Damn, if only I could move my hand, I could cast a spell on him."

"So, let's get to the point, Red Valkyrie. Han Mino wants you to return. And since I'm in a good mood, i'll let them go if you agree. And i promise that i will not tell anything what happen here... Hihihi"

"Nana..."

Nana looked around, finding herself defenseless after a long time. She knew her path was set and that she couldn't trust this man either. But what choice did she have, weakened and on the verge of losing the two boys? She chose to take the risk and save the boys.

"I'm sorry, children. Your Nana has to go away for a while. The times we've lived through have been wonderful. Live your lives. There's a giant world out there waiting for you."

"No, NANA, no!"

"Who would have thought the Red Valkyrie would sacrifice herself for two children?"

The ropes binding Nana loosened, freeing her.

"Leave them. I will cooperate."

"Good, hihihi. Alpha, take her with you."

"I'm sorry, children, for putting you in this situation..."

Nana cried like a child.

And so, Nana disappeared into the darkness.

"What should I do with you... Erasing your memories should suffice..."

"Our mission is complete."

The man approached Leo, placing his hand on his head. A beam of light knocked Leo unconscious.

As the man turned his back, Cosmo seized the opportunity to attack with a sharp piece of wood aimed at the man's abdomen.

"Fufufu, you have courage, boy. After regaining consciousness, the first thing was to throw herself at me. But my patience has limits. You will remember this day for the rest of your life."

The man looked at Cosmo's face, the hatred emanating from it disturbing him.

"No, you come with me. You might be useful, even though I don't sense a mana core in you, fufufu..."

Cosmo's vision began to blur.

"What's happening..."

"A terrible hell awaits you, boy."

"All concluded, Deputy Chief," a female voice announced from the darkness.

"Well, let's head back," replied the man, carrying the unconscious Cosmo.

"What should I do with this boy, Deputy Chief?"

"Just left him..."

And so, the Great Forest...The Hainan Forest dissolved. War fugitives, bandits, or even ordinary people who had built their lives within the forest had been decimated.

Unbeknownst to anyone, or not...

---