Chapter 8 :-
The same night. The same place.
Hana, Hanako, and Kahori had finally returned home, carrying an unconscious Takeo with them. But there was no sign of Keedo.
There was no trace of him—no footsteps, no whispers in the wind, not even the warmth he once left behind. Keedo had vanished like smoke in the cold.
Takeo remained unresponsive, lying still in his bed, his breath shallow and uneven. He was caught between dream and death, and questioning him in that fragile state felt too cruel. So they waited.
Hana sat by the window, her eyes red and tired. Silent tears welled up again and again, refusing to stop. Keedo's memories haunted her—his laugh, his words, his stubbornness, his warmth.
Something inside her was breaking.
"Hana!" Hanako's voice broke the silence, stepping beside her younger sister. "Stop crying. We'll find Keedo, I promise. Don't lose hope."
"But... but please," Hana whimpered, her voice trembling. "Please find him fast. I need to see him. I need to know he's okay. Where are you, Keedoooo!"
Far away in the village of Tarumaki 🌫️🌫️, a different kind of fear was spreading.
The wind there whispered of betrayal. Of something dark.
Azal stood in the village hall, pacing restlessly. His eyes were filled with suspicion and anxiety. He was searching for someone—not just anyone—but someone close. Perhaps someone connected to Ryuu Sati of Taihei.
But his fear wasn't just about being wrong... it was about being right.
He turned sharply and barked a question at his brother.
"Kazeo! Did you find him? Did you find Shiraki?!"
Kazeo's expression was tense. He looked away for a moment before answering.
"You were right, Azal... Shiraki did go there. He went to Sayuri Village. He... he went to kill them."
Azal's eyes widened. "What?! What happened then? What was the result?!"
Kazeo opened his mouth to answer, but before he could speak, the doors burst open.
Shiraki stumbled in, wounded and bloody. "Kazeo-sa... I... I'm back..."
Azal rushed toward him, grabbing him by the collar. "Why, Shiraki?! Why did you go to Sayuri without orders?
Are you insane?! Do you have any idea what will happen if Ryuu finds out? Do you?!"
His voice echoed with fury as he slapped Shiraki across the face.
But Shiraki, breathing heavily, stared right back, his face twisted with long-buried hatred.
"So what?! What will that old man do?! Huh?!"
He staggered forward, blood dripping down his arm. "Seventeen years ago, I saw you bow to him. You made me bow too. You've kept me under control ever since. But no more. Now, their whole village will pay! Their peace, their pride, everything... it will burn!!!"
Meanwhile, back in Taihei Sati 🌸, the village leader Ryuu stood with a grim expression. He looked out toward the mountains with concern written on his face.
"Taruko," he said.
"Yes?" His wife beside him responded.
"I fear something terrible is coming. Something we're not prepared for. They left for the Seion-Yama pilgrimage four days ago... but they haven't returned. It should've taken two. I don't like the silence."
Taruko tried to remain optimistic. "Why do you think like that? I'm sure the kids and everyone from the village are safe. Nothing will happen."
But the skies above Taihei Sati were quiet—too quiet. The birds had stopped singing. Even the wind seemed to hold its breath.
The village was unknowingly standing on the edge of a storm.
Maybe this silence… was just the calm before the greatest disaster their land had ever known.
And with that silent warning lingering in the air, a new darkness crept in unnoticed.
The beginning — The Era of Fallen Light 🕯️
To be continued…
End of chapter 8