Chapter 2

In the Streets of Misuya

Suero walked calmly through the streets of Misuya, the snow falling heavily around him, and the cold wind brushing against his cheeks. The city's sounds were muffled under winter's embrace, while the crunching of snow beneath his feet blended with the distant whispers of the wind.

He arrived at a small sled shop, pushing open its wooden door with both hands, causing a faint creak to echo. Inside, the air was warm compared to the freezing cold outside, and the scent of wood and old paint filled the space, evoking a nostalgic feeling.

Suero spoke in a low but firm voice:

"Excuse me… I need three sleds and helmets."

The shopkeeper looked up with a gentle smile and replied in a relaxed tone:

"Of course! Do you have a specific design in mind?"

Suero shook his head calmly:

"No, any design will do."

The shopkeeper began searching the shelves, eventually selecting three bright blue sleds along with matching helmets. He placed them in front of Suero and asked with a smile:

"Do these suit your needs?"

Suero, reaching into his pocket to retrieve the money, responded:

"How much?"

"125 dollars."

Without hesitation, Suero handed over the amount. But before the shopkeeper could finish counting the change, he turned around only to find that Suero had already left in silence. Raising an eyebrow in mild surprise, he wondered to himself:

"Was he really in that much of a hurry?"

---

The Road Home

Suero returned to the streets, his steps steady but unhurried. Leaving behind the city's noise, he took the path leading into the forest. The trees lining the road were draped in a thick white blanket, their heavy branches barely swaying under the weight of the snow.

His feet sank into the soft snow with each step, the cold air surrounding him from all directions. He walked for a long time without lifting his head, as if lost in thought.

At last, he arrived at a small house nestled among the trees. Slowly, he pushed open the wooden door and stepped inside, carefully closing it behind him—as if afraid of disturbing someone.

---

In the Bedroom

Yamato sat on the bed, curled up with her small hands covering her face. Beside her, Kaso stood watching, her eyes filled with both confusion and sorrow, unable to break the child's silence.

The door creaked open slowly, drawing Kaso’s attention to the newcomer. Standing there was Suero, his expression calm yet hiding much beneath the surface.

Kaso spoke in surprise:

"Suero...?!"

Ignoring her astonishment, Suero walked confidently toward the bed. He sat beside Yamato in silence, gazing at her for a moment before speaking in a gentle tone:

"Yamato...?"

But she didn’t lift her head, remaining hidden behind her hands. Suero sighed before continuing, his voice soft yet carrying a mix of sorrow and apology:

"I'm sorry… I only wanted to protect you."

His voice remained quiet, but it grew deeper as he continued:

"Sir Veb… he asked me to take care of you. He entrusted me with this responsibility, and I’m doing my best to live up to it."

His expression faltered, a broken look crossing his face as he added:

"You are like a little sister to us… Yamato, please, think of me as your brother, just like Veb."

The child didn’t respond, but her small frame trembled in silence, and tears began to soak her fingers. Gently, Suero reached out, carefully moving her hands away from her face. She looked up at him, her tear-filled eyes glistening, and in a shaky voice, she whispered:

"I… I miss him… I miss my brother Veb."

Suero didn’t reply with words. Instead, he opened his arms, and Yamato threw herself into his embrace, holding him tightly. Her sobs shattered the silence of the room:

"Everyone is suffering… the children in the clan are carrying a burden they shouldn’t have to bear! If I were still there, they would have used me just like they always did!"

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Suero remained silent, listening to the weight of her words, while Kaso watched them with a sad smile—one that concealed a mix of emotions.

At last, Suero spoke, his voice deep and filled with determination:

"I know… I know this isn’t easy. But I promise you, Yamato, I promise I’ll set everything right."

Yamato lifted her head, searching his face for the truth in his words. She whispered:

"Do you really promise?"

Suero nodded firmly:

"Yes. I will make everyone who caused this pain pay."

Without hesitation, Yamato clung to him once more, her voice breaking as she cried out:

"Big brother!"

Despite the sorrow in his heart, Suero smiled, gently wiping her tears away before speaking in a warm tone:

"Yamato, we’ll stay together forever, won’t we?"

She nodded, then whispered:

"I promise, big brother."

Rising from the bed, Suero smiled encouragingly:

"I brought sleds. How about we go outside and have some fun?"

Yamato’s eyes widened with childlike surprise before she jumped up excitedly:

"Really?!"

Suero chuckled:

"Of course. But don’t forget to wear your coats and helmets—I don’t want you catching a cold!"

Yamato laughed, shouting happily:

"Okay, big brother!"

As Kaso helped Yamato put on her warm clothes, Suero picked up the sleds and headed toward the door, waiting for them to join him.

---

Inside the House

Suero stood by the door, preparing to leave, but he paused when he heard his father’s voice. Rashid stood beside him, his warm smile melting away the lingering cold.

Rashid spoke in a calm tone filled with pride:

"Well done, Suero!"

Suero stopped, turning to face his father, who continued, his eyes shining with both pride and love:

"You're growing stronger with each passing day… If Salma were here, she would be even prouder of you than she ever was before."

A flicker of longing crossed Suero’s face as he recalled memories of his absent mother. His voice carried both nostalgia and warmth as he responded:

"Yes… I believe she would."

His father smiled once more, as if trying to reassure him with those words.

Then, Suero opened the door and stepped outside, leaving behind a moment filled with emotion.

As Rashid watched his son leave, he heard the sound of hurried footsteps echoing through the house. Moments later, Yamato and Kaso appeared, racing toward the door with uncontained excitement.

Rashid smiled, watching them rush outside, brimming with the boundless energy of youth.

With quiet steps, he turned and closed the door behind them, as if leaving them to embrace their next adventure.

---

Outside

In a snow-covered field, Suero was helping Yamato put on her skates and protective helmet, while Kaso had already finished preparing herself with remarkable speed. Despite the freezing cold, the atmosphere was filled with joy, as if the falling snow was part of a small celebration.

Everyone started skating with overwhelming excitement. With each movement, the snow scattered into the air, expressing the intensity of their momentum and speed. Their laughter filled the surroundings, overpowering the silence of the white winter.

But suddenly, Kaso slipped and fell face-first into a pile of snow, making her look like a frozen statue emerging from a blizzard. Suero and Yamato froze for a moment before bursting into loud laughter, as if her fall was the most entertaining part of their day.

Kaso lifted her head slowly, covered in snow that clung to her body. Her face was red from both the cold and anger. She shot them a sharp glare like daggers, making them pause briefly—only to surrender to laughter once again.

She shouted in frustration:

"Stop it! You know this isn't funny!"

But Suero and Yamato ignored her. They decided to escape, continuing to skate quickly, laughing as they distanced themselves. Kaso screamed in anger, trying to chase after them.

The snow continued to fall over Kaisima, covering everything in a pure white blanket, adding a sense of warmth and serenity despite all that was happening.

—

In Beura City

Snowflakes drifted gently over the bustling streets, where the reflections of car lights shimmered on the wet ground, and towering buildings loomed above, watching the city in cold silence. Amidst the moving crowds, Moryo appeared with his icy composure, walking with steady steps alongside Hyona and Nicola. His sharp features held no expression, as if he were a block of ice moving among people.

As he turned left into a narrow, dimly lit alleyway surrounded by buildings, the other two followed him. He stopped in front of a small metal door on the ground. Without a word, Moryo knelt down, lifted the door, revealing an underground entrance, and descended first. Hyona and Nicola followed in silence, and the door closed quietly behind them.

—

Inside the Hideout

Darkness filled the spacious area, with no clear details visible. Moryo pulled out a candle from his pocket and lit it, casting a faint golden glow that revealed a glimpse of the eerie space. He stepped forward with slow, heavy footsteps, the sound of his shoes breaking the silence, while his sharp eyes fixed on a table at the center of the room.

At the table sat Trainer Surichi, his expression stern. Beside him were Laura, Jan, and Rita. As they noticed Moryo and his companions, their gazes filled with questions and anticipation.

Moryo silently took a seat on a nearby chair, his cold stare scanning the group. Hyona and Nicola sat beside him in silence. The stillness was broken by Surichi’s questioning tone:

"Who are these two?"

Moryo gestured towards Hyona and Nicola with indifferent confidence:

"They are from the Raipozi Clan."

Jan’s face twisted in shock as he spoke sharply:

"We agreed to exterminate that clan, not to bring its members here! If we let them stay, they might multiply and rebuild the clan!"

Hyona spoke quickly, her face flushing with embarrassment:

"What nonsense?! We don’t even like each other!"

Moryo cut them off with a sharp look and spoke coldly to Jan:

"Are you an idiot? They are not heirs to the Time Technique. Even if they reproduce, the clan will never return to its former state."

But Jan was unconvinced, replying with a voice full of resentment:

"Their blood still carries the clan’s lineage! If they have children, one of them could inherit the technique after your death, reviving the clan!"

Moryo remained calm, his sharp eyes locked onto Jan without a single flinch. A heavy silence lingered before he shattered it with a cutting tone:

"If that happens, I will kill them myself. Without hesitation."

The air grew tense under the weight of his words. No one spoke until Surichi finally broke the silence with a composed tone, trying to ease the tension:

"The important thing now… The clan has been wiped out. The next step is to destroy the remnants of the magic system in Kaisima."

Rita looked at him with uncertainty:

"And if we destroy magic in Kaisima, what about the rest of the world? The monsters and magic will still exist elsewhere, so what’s the point?"

Surichi replied with confidence and calm:

"That is not our concern. If they want to live with monsters, that’s their problem."

Jan interrupted:

"What’s our next destination?"

Moryo answered in a cold tone:

"Destroying the remaining clans, then wiping out the Mana Organization. We must erase magic from our country completely."

Surichi nodded in agreement:

"Yes, that is our goal."

Rita spoke anxiously:

"But… shouldn’t we free Sbyam Brius first? He could wipe out the Silano and Raimo clans in an instant, making things easier for us."

Surichi replied cautiously:

"We will free him, but we don’t know where the Containment Sphere is yet. Until we find it, we must eliminate the remaining clans first."

Hyona hesitated before speaking with uncertainty:

"But our numbers are too small… How will we accomplish this?"

Moryo looked at her coldly and replied in a firm voice:

"We are the elite. We will accomplish it with this number. By the way, where is Suero Rashid?"

Silence filled the room before Surichi answered, turning his back and placing his hand on the table:

"Moryo, you and Jan will attack the Mana Organization. Begin the raid."

Then he pointed toward Rita and Laura:

"You two will go to Suero’s family home. I believe he is there after the Ronda incident."

Laura nodded in understanding. Then Surichi turned to Hyona and Nicola, pointing at them:

"As for you two, your mission is to annihilate the Silano Clan. I will personally handle the Raimo Clan."

Hyona hesitated, speaking with shock:

"Us? No way! We can’t destroy an entire clan alone, and I can’t even use magic like the rest of you!"

No one seemed to care about her protest. Moryo suddenly stood up and spoke in a determined voice:

"Let’s begin, everyone."

The group rose, preparing for action, while Hyona remained frozen, staring at them in disbelief and fear. Yet, despite her hesitation, the others moved forward with unwavering steps.

End of Chapter.