Light shimmered across the slow-moving river, its surface broken only by the occasional fish ripple or fallen leaves' drifting dance.
A younger Dawn padded beside her father, their shadows stretching long behind them as the sun dipped lower on the horizon. The sunset poured over the landscape in radiant ribbons of amber and gold, lighting the tall grass on either side of the trail with a gentle touch.
Dragonflies skimmed the water's edge, their wings catching the glow like glass. A light breeze stirred the reeds, carrying with it the scent of damp dirt and wildflowers.
The world around them had gone still as if holding its breath. No carriages rattled by, no birds called from the trees—only the soft crunch of boots on the dirt path and the rhythmic rustle of leaves overhead.
Every footstep felt suspended in time, a quiet ritual shared only between a father and daughter as the day neared its end.
"Papa…" Dawn's voice was soft, nearly lost beneath the chorus of the wind.
Her father turned slightly, a soft smile on his lips. "Yes, Dawn?"
She hesitated, fingers fidgeting with the hem of her sleeve. "Do... Do you ever get scared?"
Her question pulled him to a stop. For a moment, he looked out at the river, and the only sound was the gentle current beside them. Then, he resumed walking.
"What makes you ask something like that?"
His voice was soft and patient.
Dawn walked slower, lingering behind, her thoughts heavy. "Because... I am. I've been scared lately."
That made him pause. He glanced back, concern knitting his brows. "Oh, really? Scared of what?"
Dawn's lips trembled. "The God-King…"
The name flowed out like a ghost escaping her lungs, thick with dread.
Her father knelt to face her. "Hmm, the God-King? Why is that?"
"...The kids at school said he takes girls away… girls like me. And they don't ever come back."
Tears streaked down her cheeks as her father's face turned grave.
"Papa... I don't want to be taken away," she sobbed. "I want to stay here with you and Mama forever."
"Don't listen to rumors, sweetheart. You're safe. I won't let anything happen to you or Mama."
"Are you sure...?"
He pulled her into his arms, his grip gentle but firm. "Shh... I've got you. I'll always protect you."
She clung to his shirt, shaking. "Promise?"
He leaned back just enough to look into her eyes.
"I promise. Even if I'm away… even if my body fails and I'm no longer a part of this world… my spirit will always be there. Watching you. Guarding you. I'll never leave your side."
Dawn's sobs faded into a soft laugh that bubbled through her tears as he patted her head. She reached up, marveling at how big his hands were.
"Don't say things like that, Papa. I want you and Mama here forever."
"Well, someone has to tell the truth, right?" he said with a wink. "Besides, when have I ever broken a promise to you?"
She shook her head, and he patted her hair.
"Never."
"Exactly, now let's get home. I know Mama has an amazing dinner ready for us."
"Okay!" Dawn yelled, and together, they continued down the trail—her hand small in his, their steps steady as ever.
"Papa...?"
The word slipped out as Dawn's eyes fluttered open.
Stone, rubble, and twisted metal surrounded her. Her body ached, her ankle throbbed, and a dull ringing filled her ears. Smoke curled from nearby debris. Her surroundings swam in her vision—blurry and broken.
"Miss!" Please wake up!" a tiny voice cried. "Please!"
Mera tugged desperately at her sleeve, bruised and crying. She was covered in abrasions, her face blotchy with tears, her knuckles and knees scraped.
"What... happened?" Dawn blinked hard, forcing herself upright with a gasp. "How long was I out for…?"
They'd fallen—several floors, at least. Judging by the scattered rubble and collapsed beams, they were now deep in the lower levels of the Iron Fortress.
A low snarl snapped her to attention.
Dawn's gaze darted upward just as a Devil emerged from the wreckage, its eyes glowing with cruel hunger. Mera screamed.
"Get down!"
Dawn's instincts kicked in. She grabbed her short sword, gritting her teeth against the pain in her ankle, and pulled Mera aside just in time.
More shadows moved in the dim hallway—Devils emerging like nightmares from the dust.
Pain flared in her ankle. Her body rebelled against her movements, but she pushed through. Every breath was a fire in her lungs.
Every heartbeat pounded in her skull.
The sword felt heavier than before.
"Come on," she whispered to Mera, pulling her close. "We have to move."
The corridor ahead was dark, barely lit by flickering red lights on the ceiling. The shadows writhed. More Devils stirred in the distance, drawn by the scent of blood and weakness.
Dawn leaned against the wall, hobbling forward. She could hear them—claws scraping, footsteps skittering across the loose stone. They were stalking them.
"Mera…" she said quietly. "I need you to be brave right now. Run when I say so. No looking back. Head straight for the main entrance."
"But what about—"
"Don't worry about me. Just run."
Mera's lip quivered, but she nodded. "Okay."
Dawn exhaled. "Now—go!"
Mera bolted, clutching the stuffed bear—Suki—tight to her chest, her footsteps echoing as the darkness of the corridor swallowed her in seconds.
Dawn turned to face the Devils, growling with glee.
They didn't charge right away. Instead, they lingered in the dark, letting their elemental energy pulse and crackle in the air.
The silence was thick. Predatory.
But Dawn didn't wait.
Letting out a fierce cry, she ignored the pain shooting throughout her body and ran toward them. Her blade slashed once—twice—before her injured ankle gave out.
She collapsed just as a stone column erupted from the side, slamming into her midsection and sending her crashing down the corridor.
She hit the ground hard. Her breath left her in a ragged gasp as her vision spun. Her sword clattered away.
Through the haze, a wave of fire burned closer. It was coming—fast.
So this is it, she thought. The end.
She couldn't move. Her body was screaming in pain, her limbs numb, her ankle throbbing in rhythm with her heartbeat.
The heat from the flames licked at her skin as it roared closer. Every instinct in her told her to run—but she couldn't.
She wouldn't make it.
I'll finally get to see them again, but as long as Mera is safe...
Her vision blurred as a tear slipped down her cheek.
Mama… Papa… I'm sorry...
Her chest tightened, not from fear—but from release. The kind that came with surrender. She imagined her mother's arms around her, the scent of lavender and rain.
Her father's voice, deep and calm, humming some old tune as he tucked her in. She could almost hear it now.
You always promised you'd watch over me, Papa, I hope you're still watching... I hope you're proud...
She closed her eyes and waited for the flames to take her.
Even if I'm away… even if my body fails and I'm no longer a part of this world… my spirit will always be there. Watching you. Guarding you. I'll never leave your side.
The memory struck like lightning, her father's voice, and then came a flash of light.
She opened her eyes.
Two shimmering shields stood between her and the inferno. The flames collided with the barriers, roaring against them, but they held.
Behind them—Theo and David.
"Theo…? David…?" Her voice cracked.
"Nice to see you too," Theo said, grinning, though his arms shook under the strain.
David nodded, sweat on his forehead. "You picked one hell of a time for heroics."
More Devils approached. Another elemental surge began to build.
"Cover them!" Curtis shouted from behind.
He, Arthur, and Bryce rushed in, throwing up their shields to support the pair.
"Get her out of here!" Curtis ordered. "Now!"
Theo and David pulled her to her feet, her weight pressed between their shoulders. She leaned on them, biting back her groans with every step.
Behind them, Curtis, Bryce, and Arthur's shields began to wear down. Cracks spidered across them, splintering under pressure for the elemental barrage.
Curtis snarled. "Don't give up, you two! Hold the line!"
Then came a voice like thunder.
"Boys! MOVE!"
Benny's warning arrived just in time. The trio dove away as the shields finally shattered.
Before the flames could hit, a wave of water gushed down the hallway—cool, blue, and precise. Isabella stepped forward, hands raised in a graceful arc.
The water collided with the fire and exploded into steam, engulfing the area in a thick, sizzling mist.
From within it, glowing embers streaked forward.
Tana's fire spears pierced through the haze, striking the Devils cleanly between their eyes. Each impact triggered a miniature explosion, detonating their skulls into shards.
One by one, the creatures fell, lifeless and burning.
Theo and David lowered Dawn gently against the wall outside the blast radius.
David crouched to examine her ankle. "It's sprained. It could've been worse. You got lucky, Dawn."
Theo frowned. "Sprained? Can we fix it?"
David rolled his eyes. "You don't just 'fix' a sprain, idiot. It's not a damn toy. It takes time to heal."
"Who are you calling an idiot?"
"You, if the shoe fits."
Dawn groaned. "...Not now, you two…"
Her tears fell freely. "I'm... I'm just glad you're both okay..."
Without warning, she reached out and pulled them both into a hug, her arms trembling as she clung to them. Tears continued to spill freely down her cheeks, warm against the cold air and soot in her hair.
"...Thank you for saving me..." Dawn whispered, her voice cracking.
Theo stiffened in surprise, his arms still half-raised in shock. David blinked, awkward and frozen mid-snark. The two boys looked at each other over her shoulder, both clearly caught off guard.
Then, slowly, they relaxed.
Theo's voice was gentler than usual. "Yeah... We're just glad we made it in time."
David nodded, resting a hand on her back. " We wouldn't have left you behind."
Together, the three sat there, bruised but alive.
Curtis jogged over with Arthur and Bryce.
"Dawn, good work! You did it!" Curtis shouted with a smile.
"You saved her!" Arthur added, nodding toward Mera, now safe in the distance, as Benny scolded her for running off.
"You're a total badass, Dawn!" Bryce said with a thumbs-up.
Isabella approached the group alongside Tana and knelt beside Dawn, uncorking a vial of silvery-blue water. She carefully applied it to her ankle using Dyna to ease the swelling.
"You held your own, Dawn," Isabella said gently. "I'm so proud of you... Proud of all of you."
Dawn's smile returned, brighter this time, her eyes damp but shining as she watched Mera peek from behind Benny's leg.
Beyond the shattered walls of the Iron Fortress, the world burned. Smoke wove through the trees like creeping phantoms, clinging to blackened bark and charred land.
The fires hadn't yet died—their orange glow flickered across the underbrush, casting dancing shadows over the remains of the battlefield.
Pop stood near the edge of the perimeter, his blade hanging loosely at his side. Beside him, Evaughn surveyed the carnage, the faint gleam of Dyna still fading from his knuckles.
A sudden snarl broke the silence.
Without hesitation, Evaughn turned and slammed a Dyna-coated punch straight into the lunging Devil's skull. The creature's head burst apart on impact.
"That should be the last of them," Evaughn muttered, dusting his hands.
Pop sheathed his sword with a grunt. "You really saved our asses."
"You're welcome." Evaughn laughed, slapping him on the back. "I'm amazing. I know."
Pop gave him a dry chuckle. "But how'd you know we needed help?"
"I didn't," Evaughn replied. "Tana and I were already headed this way when we spotted the fire."
Pop blinked. "Wait—Tana's here too?"
Evaughn nodded. "She should be inside the Iron Fortress by now."
"I just assumed we had a goddamn miracle," Pop muttered. He scratched the back of his head. "Still... you got here fast. It's a full day's ride from the base."
Evaughn's smile faded slightly. "We never made it to the base. Nozomu sent us a Whisper while we were finishing up in Nageama. He told us to regroup here instead."
Pop paused. "Wait… before anything even happened?"
"Yeah. Said something felt off. Told us to move out as soon as the townspeople were settled."
Pop stared at him, caught between awe and exasperation. "That bastard... That's our Commander for you. Always ten steps ahead."
"Speaking of which... where is he?"
"No clue. Your guess is as good as mine."
Evaughn squinted into the smoke. "Well, let's put this fire out before it burns what's left of the forest."
The two turned toward the forest, watching the fire and smoke rise higher in the distance, the treetops swaying violently beneath a wind that felt colder now than it had a moment ago.