As I descend the hill, I'm struck by how dark the winding streets have become, even though the last rays of daylight still reflects off the marble columns of the Geika Izar estate, as if it were a legendary island that night cannot reach. The stones, once warmed by the sun, now exude a soft coolness, and the ambient bustle that filled the air before I began my climb is now reduced to a distant echo, messenger of life. With a deep sigh, I try to shake off the frustrations of the day and make my way to the stables, where, at least, I won’t have to tolerate the disdain of my peers.

∼ It’s only been a day since I arrived in town, and I already long for the company of animals... Unlike people, they don’t judge based on origin, status, or appearance.

Being in no mood for sleep, I decide to take a detour before heading home.

As I walk along a narrow path through one of the city's few green spaces, my sensitive ears catch the faint sound of whispers coming from a nearby thicket. Intrigued, I pause to listen. Three unseen voices seem up to no good. Instinctively, I slip behind a tree trunk and close my eyes to focus. My surroundings soon appear in shades of black and white, and my vision broadens. I easily spot the three thugs crouched behind a bush near the edge of the path.

– Shhh! Someone’s coming, get ready, murmurs suddenly one of them while shifting nervously.

The men grip their weapons, eyes locked on the path, not moving a single muscle. I reopen my eyes and do the same. In the faint glow of Someon and Daria, the twin moons, a slender figure approaches, carrying shopping bags that seem a bit too large for her small frame.

∼ Could it be... She's in danger!

Before I can react, the three men have already jumped out of their hiding spot, blocking the woman's way.

– It's risky to walk alone at night, miss. Now, hand over everything you've got, and we’ll be gentle with you.

As they laugh, clearly confident they've found an easy prey, the faint light from the cardinal headlights sweeps over their yellowed teeth and identical tattoos — probably a symbol of belonging to some bandit group.

∼ Is it a habit of city robbers to offer advice that could damage their business?

Stupid as they may look in their oversized clothes and fragile stances, they haven't chosen their spot at random. The fireflies that roam the city at night don't venture into isolated places like this, and there's little chance of anyone being able to hear the screams of the victim. Added to the fact that they are three against one, and all of them armed, I decide to step in, using a replica meticulously prepared during my six years of wandering.

– Is it local custom to give warnings before attacking, or are you just unusually polite thieves, I ask while drawing my knife, assuming my best combat stance and putting on my most confident expression.

Old Tak once told me that bluffing works wonders against small-time criminals like these.

– What?!

Their confused looks suggest my grand entrance didn’t quite land as I'd hoped.

∼ Old Tak had warned me that appearance matters as much as attitude when trying to intimidate someone, and in that regard, I'm sorely lacking! But it doesn’t matter, the important thing is to buy time so the victim can escape.

– Who's this guy? Looks like a pest. Should I kill him?

The casual tone of this death threat sends a chill down my spine. One-on-one and unarmed, I might have a shot, but this situation is far more precarious. I continue bluffing, hoping to buy more time.

∼ Maybe, with some luck, I’ll get to escape as well. After all, a day without a chase would lack that little touch of adrenaline I’ve grown accustomed to.

With a discreet yet firm gesture, I urge the woman to slip away while keeping my focus on the danger.

– Do you think you're scaring me with those toothpicks?

∼ They absolutely do.

– And there are only three of you? You don’t stand a chance against me.

– What’s this guy on about, asks casually one of them while actually using his dagger as a toothpick.

∼ Damn, it doesn't seem to be working. I suppose I was too optimistic in thinking I could scare men accustomed to fighting creatures as tall as a tree.

– Brigands like you, I’ve beaten up hundreds of them! Haha-hahaha...

– Boss, there’s a mosquito buzzing in my ears. Can I stab it?

∼ It seems that neither my comedic skills nor my forced laughter — cruelly lacking in conviction — were enough to conceal my nervousness.

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– Mind if I ask what’s going on here, suddenly asks the woman behind my back.

The voice seems devoid of panic, and I would even say it carries a slight hint of arrogance.

∼ Why does no one in this country seem to grasp the seriousness of a situation?

– Is this one of those old flirting tricks, she asks, leaving me puzzled as to what she's referring to. You know, where your friends threaten me so you can swoop in, save me, and I’ll owe you?

∼ Wait, that’s a thing?! The people of this town are unsettling in so many ways…

– Am I wrong? Doesn't matter. Can we just get this over with already?

The aggressiveness of the three men has now given way to confusion, which soon turns to irritation.

– That little bitch is mocking us.

– Boss, let’s kill the boy and take the girl!

∼ Where does this girl get all her confidence from? At this rate, we'll have no choice but to fight.

– Pff, it's always like this when I come to town. Why are there so many rats these days? Are you breeding in the bushes or something, she throw with a bored voice.

Despite the tension in the air, I can’t suppress a chuckle at the indignant looks on the thugs' faces.

– Okay, jokes time is over. Restrain her without causing too much damage. We’ll have our fun with her before selling her off. As for the boy, kill him if he resists.

∼ It seems, after all, that the merchandise of these gentlemen is not limited to the creatures of Historia. I was right to follow old Tak’s advices and not interact with their colleagues during my journey.

– They don't seem to have a sense of self-deprecation. You'd better—

I don't have time to finish my warning before the girl abruptly hands me her shopping bags, a gesture that stirs a strange feeling of déjà vu in me. The unexpected weight nearly topples me, and by the time I recover, I recognize my savior as she walks past me, cracking her knuckles. Dumbfounded, I watch the silver rays reflecting off her vermilion hair and fall once again under the spell of her athletic figure. Her hair, dancing like flames in the wind, fills me with a gentle nostalgia, evoking winter evenings when old Tak would tell me stories by the fire. Lost in this reverie, my awareness drifts away, and my mind is no longer part of the present reality. My doubts and fears dissipate, swept away like dust in the wind by her unwavering confidence, and I stand here, my gaze fixed on the back-and-forth of her fiery hair as she faces two armed opponents.

By the time I snap back to reality, the situation has completely shifted — both men are now unarmed, one with a broken arm, and their mocking laughter has turned into screams of panic.

∼ The prey has become the predator.

The first bandit is sent flying when the foot of the enraged beast, who once was a charming young girl, makes contact with his right cheek, before I could even see her leg lift. A sound of breaking bones escapes the bandit's mouth, accompanied by a thread of red-tinged drool, as he is hurled like a stone against a cedar trunk. He is quickly joined by his colleague who, his wrist oriented in an unusual direction, finds himself upside down in less time than it takes to realize. Both men crumple to the ground like overripe fruit, unconscious, under the horrified look of the third. The predator now directs a feral gaze toward her last victim, two frightening red glints piercing through her fringe.

– A... A monster! It's a monster, yells the last bandit in panic, falling onto his backside before scrambling to his feet and fleeing in a hurry.

I almost feel pity for these poor men who’ve clearly chosed the wrong target. I remain stunned as the girl now heads in my direction.

– Sorry for ending the party, but I still have a long way to go. I don't know who you are, but could you hand me my bags now?

As my body no longer reacts to my brain's commands, she ends up taking the bags out of my hands.

– Hey, hello? Can you hear me?

She leans in, her face getting very close to mine, and I hold my breath.

– Wait a second... I know you! You’re that weird boy from yesterday!

I finally manage to shake off my lethargic state.

– Uh, yep, that’s me again! As strange as it may sound…

– What was your name again? Ishi... Ishimura?

– Ishizora!

– Yes, that's it! Yoshimura, she exclaims, snapping her fingers.

∼ Is she doing this on purpose?

– So, what are you doing out here so late? Are you stalking me?

– What? No! I didn’t even recognize you until you handed me your shopping bags. Small world, isn’t it? Hahaha…

I try to break the tension with an awkward laugh. I at least understood that I shouldn’t make her my enemy. Surprisingly, a slight smile appears on her lips.

– And once again, I had to save your butt. Are you the type who constantly finds himself in trouble?

∼ Technically, she was the target this time, but it’s probably best not to mention it.

– Anyway, thanks for not running off with my bags.

– Do I look that desperate?

She shoots me a glare, and I can already guess what’s coming next.

– Honestly... yes. Don't tell me you've taken up residence in a local bush?

– I'm not an animal!

– Says the guy who lived in the forest for years.

– It’s completely differ… Wait, what? How do you know that?

She lets out a long sigh, as if the mere thought of continuing this conversation irritated her to the highest degree.

– It’s obvious. You don’t develop such muscularity and a keen sense of danger by staying cooped up behind these walls. Besides, I don’t know of any town in the direction you were coming from when we met.

– Well, I can confirm that. But your strength doesn't seem to come from here either. Where did you learn to fight like this?

– If you don’t have anything else to say, I’ve got a long way to go, she says before starting to walk away.

This time, I refuse to let the discussion end here.

– Wait, wait!

– Wait for what?

Her furious gaze would probably make anyone swallow their words, but I’m already used to the stare of ferocious beasts. However, I still feel the need to swallow noisily before proceeding further.

– Could I at least know your name?

She hesitates for a moment.

– Kana! And don't you dare forget it, she says although she forgot mine.

On this terrifying threat, she disappears into the darkness of the night, leaving me with a final, sarcastic warning.

– And take care of yourself! I won’t always be around to save your butt.

∼ I have to admit, that one stung a little bit. She's definitely not an opponent against whom you can let your guard down.

I won’t lie, this little woman scares me more than any wild creature from Historia. Yet, as soon as she disappeared from my sight, I felt the immediate need to see her again.

– Kana...

I repeat her name out loud to make sure I don't forget it, but it's unnecessary. Her name is already engraved in my memory like marble, and I have the feeling it will take more than a violent fall on my head to make me forget it.