Why don't you realize what you have until it is lost?

The jingle of a lantern echoed in the pitch-black night; there was no other light. When the sun died, a gigantic, grotesque eye took its place. It's name is Chaon. Its glow illuminated the land.

At nightfall, when Chaon closed it's eye, an eternal darkness enveloped the land until morning.

Helios vanished with the last rays of the sun.

Clatta Clatta

Miura raised his lantern, squinting to see as far as the light would allow. He tapped Ether on her shoulder. "Stop."

Ether halted the horse as Miura hopped off. He took a few steps forward, raising the lantern higher until he saw a forest not far ahead. He sighed, clipped the lantern to his belt, and walked back towards the horse. He waved his hand. "Alright, off."

Ether's face immediately scrunched up. "We leaving the horse here?"

Miura shook his head. "No. I'm leaving you here. Go on, skedaddle."

Ether's eyes widened in disbelief. "In this pitch-black? You can't be serious."

Miura's expression remained unchanged. "We're not friends, and I'm not caring for an Opal child. It ain't my problem."

Ether, clearly confused and upset, snapped back. "Why would a member of the Umbral Order be ready to send a child off to her certain death?"

Miura sighed, lighting a smaller lantern and handing it to her. "Take this."

Ether still protested, tears welling in her eyes. "I lost my whole family. I was ready to die on those gallows. I had accepted it. When you saved me, you took me under your wing."

Miura stared her down, his gaze hard. Before he could respond, a shriek pierced the night air nearby. He sighed again, gripping the lead of the horse and leading it on. "Keep quiet. I've got a camp nearby."

Ether followed in silence, her fear palpable. She clutched the small lantern, its dim light casting long shadows on the path ahead. "Thank you," she whispered after a moment.

Miura glanced back at her, his face unreadable. "Just don't slow me down."

As they walked through the forest, Ether couldn't help but ask questions. "Why are you hollow? You're a member of the umbral order, right? Why are you hollow?" she asked, her voice breaking the silence.

Miura remained silent.

"Why are you on the demon continent?" she pressed. "The Umbral Order should only be on Astraea or Vesperia."

Miura said nothing.

Ether's irritation grew. "Are you ever going to answer me? Why are you here? Why did you save me if you're just going to abandon me?"

"I didn't save you." he responded.

Miura's indifference was infuriating. "I mean, seriously! What's your problem? Do you even care about anything? About anyone?"

Her frustration began to bubble over, "It's like talking to a wall. You're the most frustrating person I've ever met!"

Miura finally stopped, turning to face her, his expression unchanged.

"You done?" he asked.

Ether huffed, crossing her arms. "No. I want answers."

Miura sighed, turning back and continuing to walk. "You talk too much, kid."

Ether's face reddened with anger, but she followed him nevertheless. "Well, someone has to. You're impossible!"

As they came upon a large tree, Miura ran his hands carefully over the rough bark. He raised the lantern to inspect it closer, and once he was satisfied, he walked off.

Ether's gaze fixed onto the tree, and locked onto the strange red mark on the bark. As she leaned in closer, an eye suddenly opened on the tree, and she stumbled back, spooked. Panic set in as she saw Miura getting further and further away, the darkness of the forest threatening to swallow her whole. She sprinted to catch up, her voice trembling, "Oi, where are we?"

Miura glanced back, a faint chuckle escaping his lips. "You don't know?"

Ether raised a brow, confused and fearful.

"The Forbidden Forest."

Ether's face contorted in surprise and fear. "The Forbidden Forest? Are you insane?"

The Forbidden Forest had once been a place of unparalleled beauty, a serene sanctuary before the arrival of the demon race. After the demons came, it had become a haunted, sinister place, a hotspot for demonic spirits. No one knew exactly why they had chosen this forest, but it seemed they delighted in turning beauty into something grotesque and vile.

"Why the hell did you decide to camp out here?" Ether demanded, her voice filled with a mix of anger and fear.

Miura smiled to himself, but he didn't respond.

They finally arrived at a small camp nestled in the shadows of the Forbidden Forest. Miura raised the lantern high, illuminating the site. In the middle was a campfire, surrounded by a makeshift spit where animals hung, ready for cooking. A small tent stood nearby, and several lanterns were hammered into the surrounding trees.

Miura handed the lantern to Ether, then began lighting the lanterns around the camp. As he walked towards the campfire, he grabbed two nearby rocks, striking them together until a flame sparked to life.

With a swift motion, he drew his knife, the blade gleaming in the firelight.

With methodical precision, Miura began slicing into the rabbit's flesh, each cut clean and deliberate. The blade sank into the meat, separating it from the bone with a wet, tearing sound. Blood dripped into the fire, causing it to hiss and pop. Miura turned the meat over the flames, and watched as the meat began to char and sizzle.

Ether walked over and sat on the opposite side of the campfire, watching him through the flickering flames. Miura didn't pay her any mind, however.

Ether's eyes gleamed with hunger as she watched him. Finally, Miura looked up, irritation evident in his gaze. "You just gonna stare at me, huh?"

Ether stared at the rabbit, her stomach growling. "Yeah, I haven't eaten in days."

Miura's gaze sharpened as he glanced at the half-eaten rabbit on the spit. After a brief pause, he turned his attention back to Ether. "You're good at hiding your feelings, aren't you?"

Ether tilted her head in confusion. "What do you mean?"

"You put on a tough facade, like you've come to terms with everything that's happened," Miura continued, his voice low. "But back there, on the gallows, I saw it in your eyes. You didn't want to die, did you? You wanted to live; to keep going."

Ether's expression shifted from confusion to defiance. "Do you think I wanted any of this? Do you think I wanted to witness my family being slaughtered, to see everything I cared about torn apart?"

Miura's features softened slightly, but he remained silent, allowing her to express herself.

"I ran, Miura. I ran until my body couldn't take it anymore, until my breaths burned in my chest. I thought I could escape, but they hunted me down like an animal."

Her voice trembled with emotion as she recounted her ordeal. "I was ready to die, Miura. I felt like I had nothing left to live for. But then you came along and saved me. Now, I'm your responsibility."

Miura's gaze softened further, a glimmer of understanding in his eyes. "I didn't save you to play the hero," he said quietly. "I didn't save you at all. You saved yourself. You took the chance and ran. No one forced you, you ran because you wanted to."

He looked down at the fire, his expression thoughtful. "You want to die? Kill yourself," he said bluntly, retrieving his knife and plunging it into a nearby slab. "I don't have to help you. You're here because you chose to be. You had a horse, why didn't you just ride off? Just because I helped you doesn't mean I want to be around you. You're a nuisance."

Ether stared at him. Eyes wide. "Fuck you," she spat out, her voice trembling still. "You're nothing but a hollow shell. You've made deal with a demon before. That's why you're hollow, right? You're trying to wash away your sins. Is that why you're fighting against them? To try and atone? Well, guess what? Your scars are already there. You're already broken. And everyone around you knows it. Even I can see it, and I barely know you. That weightlessness is telling."

Miura's response was unexpected. A single tear rolled down his cheek, catching Ether off guard. She watched in silence as he stood up, towering over her, his cloak billowing around him. His gaze bore into hers for a moment before he turned away and disappeared into his tent.

Ether remained where she was, staring ahead blankly.

That solitary tear, a symbol of his hidden pain and sorrow, had left an indelible mark on her. It fell to the ground with a silent crash, staining the earth with the weight of his suffering.

Miura found himself in a field of vibrant flowers. The sun's warmth enveloped him, tickling his skin with an addicting grace. His gaze shifted to the horizon. A figure stood there.

A man with dark, flowing hair and beautiful, piercing purple eyes stood there, a smile gracing his features. He extended his hand, and Miura reciprocated the smile and gesture.

"Have I mentioned the pride before the fall? 'Cause I wanna risk it all for you. What they say 'bout the writings on the wall? No clue."

Soon, the idyllic setting began to distort. The serene sky became tainted with streaks of crimson, blood cascading from above and pooling around Miura.

A woman with short, white hair and blue eyes emerged. She was beautiful. Stunning. Miura looked at her, longing in his eyes, but he felt himself slipping away.

"Baby I adore... You," he whispered softly.

Miura awoke with a start, his body drenched in a cold sweat. He rose from his makeshift bed, the tension evident in his movements. Shirtless and tense, he stepped outside the tent into the eerie morning.

A well of spirits shimmered around the campsite. Their whisperes echoed in the stillness. Ether looked around the forest as the spirits swirled around with their blue hue. "What the hell is going on?!" she shouted, confusion etched in her face.

"Laplace. Laplace. Laplace..." The whispers grew louder, more insistent. "We found you. Come to your prison. Come back to us."

Miura's gaze lifted to the sky, where Chaon's gaze blazed brightly. Chaon's eye began bleeding, dripping blood from the sky into the forest.

He looked towards Ether. "Where's the horse?" he inquired.

Ether shook her head, "It ran off."

Without another word, and a scoff, he swiftly donned his coat and began dismantling the camp. He soon began to head off.

As they walked through the forest, Ether's demeanor shifted. She didn't bother to ask any questions this time. She fidgeted nervously, her fingers twisting together as she glanced around at the blood-streaked trees.

Faces began to materialize on the bark, contorted in agony as they screamed out in rage. Ether's eyes widened in horror. "What's happening?" she asked, her voice barely above a whisper, and not really expecting an answer.

Miura's gaze remained fixed ahead. "They've come to take back their property," he replied.

Confusion fell over Ether's face. "You? Did you violate the contract you made with a demon or something?" she pressed.

Miura shook his head slowly, a shadow passing over his features. "No," he murmured. "Not me."

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Miura's tone turned grave as he turned to face Ether. "Listen to me," he said, his voice firm and commanding. "When things start to happen, stay out of my way. Do you understand?"

Ether nodded obediently.

clatta clatta

A carriage approached, the sounds of hooves echoing through the forest. Ether and Miura glanced backwards, looking at a carriage steadily approaching them. The flesh around Miura coiled forward, while Ether's eyes darted nervously between the carriage and Miura.

The carriage slowed to a halt next to them, the horses snorting nervously as they sensed the tension in the air. An old, bearded man peered down at Miura, concern etched into his weathered features. "Sir! It's dangerous out in these woods. Something real bad's happening. You better hop on and let's get moving!"

Miura shook his head. "Not interested," he replied curtly.

The man's expression soured, disappointment evident in his eyes.

Ether's eyes widened in disbelief as she looked from Miura to the old man. "Wait, hold on a minute!" she interjected, her voice tinged with frustration. "This guy can give us safe passage out of the forest. You wanna walk instead?"

Miura waved his hand dismissively. "Go on. If you want."

Ether hesitated. "S-Sorry! We have to decline," she stammered, her voice faltering slightly.

The man's jovial demeanor faded, replaced by a sinister tone. "Oh, what a shame," he muttered, his voice distorting unnaturally.

Miura's senses went on high alert, his muscles tensing as he looked at him eyes wide. Suddenly, with a thunderous BANG, a large, fleshy and elongated hand slammed slammed him into a nearby tree. The trunk twisted and contorted, forming into arms that gripped Miura tightly, holding him in place.

Miura's eyes narrowed as he struggled against the tree, staring at the old man, who's arm pulsed. Ether stared at the arm in disgust and horror.

Miura's hands clenched into fists, his muscles straining against the relentless grip of the fleshy arm. Pain shot through his limbs as he fought against the crushing force pressing him against the tree.

"Miura!" Ether's voice rang out in horror, her cries echoing through the forest as she watched helplessly.

Suddenly, the ground beneath Ether's feet seemed to come alive, twisting and writhing like serpents. She stumbled backward, her eyes wide with terror as the mud enveloped her, dragging her down into its murky depths. Her screams pierced the air.

Miura's gaze flickered between Ether's sinking form and the old man before him, realization dawning on him. A Daemon—a demonic spirit that had taken possession of a vulnerable or deceased body. The old man's necks were marked by rings. He had likely hung himself in the forest.

The old man laughed loudly, his voice tainted by demonic resonance. "What a delightful surprise," he crooned, "Laplace's vessel has wandered into my domain! How fortunate for me!"

With a twisted grin, the old man's gaze shifted towards the canopy above. "Laplace, my dear friend," he called out, "Can you hear me in there? Are you conscious in the depths of his soul?"

Miura's response was palpable, his stare piercing through the air and onto the old man. Pure hatred. Pure malice coiled with his gaze.

The old man's laughter echoed through the forest. "Ah, so you can hear me," he chortled, "I can feel your presence! Your influence! How delightful."

The old man's sinister chuckle filled the air as he closed the distance between himself and Miura, his eyes gleaming with anticipation. "I wonder," he mused, his voice a twisted melody of amusement and malice, "if I make your vessel scream, does it also make you scream, Laplace?"

Suddenly, a surge of primal strength surged through Miura's veins, his muscles rippling as he tore himself free from the grasp of the tree. With a ferocious snarl, he lunged forward, his hand closing around the old man's face in a vice-like grip.

"What strength!" the old man exclaimed between fits of maniacal laughter, even as Miura's crushing grip began to take its toll.

With a sickening crunch, Miura crushed the old man's skull, the force of the impact causing his head to explode in a grotesque display of gore. As the arm released its hold, Miura broke free from the tree's grasp, his eyes blazing with anger.

He turned to see Ether, her body sinking deeper into the mud, her desperate cries muffled by the thick sludge.

The forest seemed to come alive with sinister energy, the trees bleeding profusely as if wounded by some unseen force. Everywhere he looked, spirits swirled in a chaotic dance of darkness.

With a heavy sigh, Miura drew his flail and axe, their weight familiar in his hands. He tossed the axe part to Ether's outstretched hand, watching as she grabbed the chain with trembling fingers. With a swift motion, he yanked her free from the mud.

As Ether coughed and sputtered, mud and blood mingling on her lips, Miura's gaze hardened. "Stay out of my way," he growled. "But watch my back."

A massive branch swung towards Miura like a club, aiming to crush him. He sidestepped with precision, the branch whistling past his ear, and retaliated with a swift crack of his flail, shattering the limb into splinters.

Another tree trunk twisted, roots erupting from the ground to ensnare his legs. Miura leapt into the air, the roots missing him by inches. As he landed, a branch lashed out like a whip, slicing through the air. He raised his flail just in time, the chain wrapping around the branch and yanking it forward. With a powerful tug, he snapped it off the tree, the severed limb bleeding profusely.

Ether struggled to keep up, her feet stumbling over the uneven ground. She glanced up to see a particularly thick branch, sharp as a spear, hurtling toward Miura's chest. He spun, his flail a blur, and the chain wrapped around the branch's tip. With a grunt, he redirected its trajectory, slamming it into the trunk of another tree, causing both to bleed sap like crimson tears.

Ether's heart raced as she watched. "He's so fast," she thought, barely keeping up. "And strong... the way he handles that flail and axe, it's like an extension of himself."

He used the chain of his flail to swing around thick trunks, gaining momentum to propel himself forward. A tree's roots shot up, attempting to trip him, but he vaulted over them with ease. Mid-air, he swung his axe, cleaving a branch that aimed to impale him from above.

Ether tripped, her breath catching as she fell. She looked up to see another branch descending towards her like a hammer. Miura's eyes flicked towards her, and in one fluid motion, he threw the axe end of his flail towards her. The chain wrapped around her waist, and with a powerful yank, he pulled her out of harm's way just as the branch crashed into the ground where she had been.

"Why is the forest attacking us?!" she shouted, trying to keep up with Miura.

Miura didn't break stride, his eyes locked on the path ahead. "The entire forest is a Daemon," he replied. "It's using the forest as an avatar. After The Convergence, when this forest began to die, it must have took over this forest's 'vulnerable body.'"

Miura thought to himself. Suddenly, the name came to him.

"Ornathul."

"Ornathul," he whispered under his breath.

As she ran beside him, Ether's thoughts raced. "He's not just fighting for survival," she realized. "He's fighting for something more. Something deeper." She looked at Miura, seeing the intensity in his eyes, the pure hatred that drove him forward.

A thick branch, tipped with razor-sharp thorns, swung at his head. He ducked, swinging his flail upward to snap it in two. Another branch aimed for his legs, but he leapt over it, swinging his axe to sever it from the trunk.

Miura's mind raced as he dodged and parried the relentless attacks of the forest. Think! Think! Think! There had to be a conduit, a source where Ornathul's actual form resided. Come on! He racked his brain, searching for any clue, any hint that could lead him to the daemon's weak point.

A pond... The thought struck him like lightning. Yes, a pond. Where the forest's beauty shined the brightest. Beauty turned into vileness. It made sense. Spirits would be drawn there, swirling in the corruption.

Miura closed his eyes for a moment. He could almost see it, the pond hidden deep within the forest, a nexus of dark energy. Right. That's where it is. That's where I need to go.

His eyes snapped open. He suddenly changed direction. Ether, struggling to keep up, noticed the shift.

"Miura, where are we going?" she shouted, her voice barely audible over the sounds of the forest's assault.

Miura didn't respond. Soon he found himself on a cliff's edge. Below him, a well of spirits swirled up into the air; a tornado of tortured souls. Their cries filled the air.

Miura scoffed, his eyes narrowing as he glanced back at Ether. Without a word, he wrapped the chain of his flail around her waist, pulling her in close. "This is where you become useful," he muttered, his voice low.

Ether looked at him with a mix of fear and confusion, but before she could respond, Miura had already begun his descent. He used the chain as a makeshift rope, roughly and quickly guiding himself down the cliffside.

As they neared the bottom, the air grew colder, the cries of the spirits louder. Miura's gaze was fixed on the center of the storm.

With a final, forceful tug, Miura and Ether reached the base of the cliff. The ground was uneven and slick with a strange, dark substance that seemed to ooze from the very earth. Miura unwrapped the chain from around Ether.

Miura gripped Ether by the arm, pulling her in close. "Oi! Oi! You want a vessel? Come on, take one!" he cried out to the spirits. Ether's eyes widened in shcok.

He shoved her away just as the spirits came crashing down, forming a gaping hole in the center of the soulstorm. The chaotic swirls filled the area, pushing against Ether with incredible force, threatening to knock her off her feet.

"Miura, what are you doing?!" Ether screamed, struggling to stay upright against the gusting winds and swirling spirits.

Ignoring Ether, Miura sprinted toward the opening in the hellish vortex. The cries of the damned grew louder, more frantic. Miura closed his eyes and listened.

Badump. Badump. Badump. Badump.

Miura took a deep breath, his grip tightening on his flail and axe. "Ornathul," he muttered under his breath, "I see you!"

BOOM! A massive trunk slammed into Miura, knocking him off balance. He rolled to his feet just in time to see multiple trees coming together, forming a grotesque monster. It roared at him, its voice a blend of creaking wood and demonic fury.

"Stay away!" the creature bellowed, its voice a blend of creaking wood and a distorted voice of a demon.

Miura's lips curled into a creepy grin. "I'll crush your heart!" he began laughing maniacally.

The monster lunged at him, swinging its massive, bark-covered fists. Miura dodged, but the sheer force of the attack sent shockwaves through the ground, knocking him off balance. He swung his flail, the chain wrapping around one of the creature's limbs. With a powerful yank, he pulled himself toward it, using the momentum to drive his axe into its wooden flesh.

The monster roared in pain, its body shuddering with the impact. It swatted at Miura with its free arm, the branches transforming into spears that jabbed and slashed at him. Miura barely managed to duck, feeling the rush of air as the massive limb swung past his head. He twisted the flail, the spikes digging deeper into the creature, and pulled hard, ripping a chunk of wood from its body.

It swung again, this time catching Miura with a glancing blow that sent him sprawling. He rolled to his feet, blood trickling from a cut on his forehead, and raised his weapons once more.

"Is that all you've got?" Miura taunted, his eyes blazing with defiance. "Come on, show me what a real demon can do!"

Miura spun his flail and propelled it forward into the chest of the demon. The creature howled in agony as the flail struck home, its wooden branches splintering and cracking under the force of the blow. One of its massive limbs swung towards Miura's side, aiming to crush him against the ground. With quick reflexes, Miura managed to roll out of the way, narrowly avoiding being crushed, but not entirely; the jagged edges of the branch tore through his side, leaving a deep, bleeding gash.

Despite the searing pain, Miura gritted his teeth and swung his axe, aiming for the demon's trunk. The blade bit deep into the creature's flesh, eliciting another furious snarl as it surged forward, its limbs thrashing wildly in a desperate attempt to overwhelm Miura.

Gathering his strength, iura launched himself forward once more, his flail spinning in a deadly arc. The chains whistled through the air as they wrapped around the demon's arms, entangling them. Seizing the opportunity, Miura brought the axe end forward with all his might, slamming it into the demon's side with a deafening roar.

Crack! BOOM!

With a sickening crack and a thunderous boom, the creature was torn in half. Miura sprinted towards the center of the vortex, his flail swinging at his side. He raised his flail, bringing it crashing down with all of his might down into it. Directly into Ornathul's heart.

Miura burst out into laughter, "Can you feel that you bastard!? Can you!?" he taunted. The entire forest began to scream out in agony, and the trees began bending over and dying. Death rush across all of the plant-life with each bang.

With a shuddering sigh, the forest fell silent.

Miura stared ahead blankly, turning to face an approaching Ether. As Ether approached Miura, her anger boiled over. She slammed her fist into his gashed side, eliciting a sharp gasp of pain from him. "What the fuck is wrong with you?" she demanded. "You tried to sacrifice me!"

Miura winced, his hand instinctively moving to his injured side. "Calm your ass down," he retorted through gritted teeth. "They wouldn't have been able to possess you. You're not in a vulnerable state that they can take advantage of."

Miura coughed up blood, his weakened state evident as he stumbled forward. Ether's expression softened slightly, a hint of worry flickering across her features, but she remained silent.

Summoning his resolve, Miura rose to his feet. Allowing the writing mass of flesh to devour his flail and store it away. He gazed ahead, clutched his wound, and began to walk away.

Ether began to follow him as they made their way out of the forest.

Clatta Clatta

Horses rode up to the entrance of the forest, a hushed murmuring spreading among a legion of soldiers.

"Hold the fuck up! It's the forbidden forest! They went inside the forbidden forest," one soldier exclaimed loudly.

Kentaro rode out in front of the soldiers. He dismounted from his horse and strode purposefully towards the forest's edge.

"We move inside," he declared firmly.

Murmurs spread throughout the legion.

"Quiet down, all of you! I won't hear anymore of this." Kentaro said, irritation lacing his voice.

As Kentaro approached the forest's edge, he noticed a glowing purple leaf lying on the ground, its vibrant hue standing out amidst the dark foliage. With a curious expression, he reached down and picked up the leaf, turning it over in his hands.

Meanwhile, Ether also discovered a similar glowing leaf, her fingers delicately tracing it's veins. The forest had begun to heal. Soon it'd thrive like how it did back then; all those years ago.