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Forest of spirits. Or by its full name — Forest of the fallen spirits.
A place avoided by avid adventurers, regular armies with their own soldiers and mages, even veterans prefer not to be near it. A place that drags behind it a long history steeped in blood and the rotten stench of death. Any brave soul would tremble at the mere thought of this place. Is that an exaggeration? Well, that’s often the nature of rumors. However, survivors describe the forest of the fallen spirits as a domain of death. The moment you step onto its territory, you’ll feel the weight of the spirits upon you. They will haunt you constantly, slowly draining your life energy, and if you resist for too long, something far worse awaits. One can consider themselves truly lucky to lose only a single limb. However, those favored by fortune are extremely rare.
In the past, many viewed the forest of spirits as a place to test their strength due to an ancient legend that spoke of the possibility of gaining incredible power from the spirits. Many sought to obtain a power unprecedented for the human mind, or even immortality. Greed led countless people to their doom. Over time, there were fewer and fewer daredevils, or, as they came to be called, suicides, willing to step into the territory of the fallen spirits. The legends did indeed speak of the chance to gain extraordinary power, but they never described the steps to obtain it. Appease the fallen spirits, or defeat them. Pass a trial, or prove oneself worthy. Countless methods were tried over the centuries. Yet the ending was always the same. Tragic.
Among the people, from commoners to aristocrats, including the crown, the forest gained an unofficial name. The forest of suicides. However, there were few actual cases of suicides. Only a small number of people were willing to voluntarily go to a place capable of bringing only the most painful death imaginable.
Everyone knew of the forest of spirits. Children were warned not to come within twenty meters of it. They were scared with vivid, or rather horrific descriptions of inhuman suffering. A healthy dose of fear was instilled even in the most reckless of impulsive children. A strong element of fear ingrained itself into the minds of even the most stubborn, impulsive children. Of course, not without some independent childhood explorations that ended sadly.
The eight-year-old girl also knew about the forest, and she looked up only to see the unchanging image of tall, dense trees. Fear made her clench her teeth and fists. Her legs trembled at the deadly danger ahead. Her heart was ready to leap from her chest from the thoughts of one inevitable end. Nervously turning her head back, her gaze met the eyes of an older woman with a very similar appearance.
“Aunt Daryl, this place is dangerous…” The girl mumbled, trying to dissuade the older woman.
“Unfortunately, that’s what the will says.” Daryl replied with feigned sadness, letting out a dramatic sigh. “I don’t know why my sister chose to do this to her own daughter, but I can’t go against the will. Diana, you must understand.”
The girl pressed her lips together once more, unable to find any counterarguments. She knew that her mother would never have acted this way toward her. She also knew about her aunt's insatiable desire to seize the family, and that Diana, as the only daughter, was the sole heir to the Cavendish family. She knew, or suspected, that there was a plan for her removal. The constant bullying and ambiguous words only confirmed this.
“You don’t have to go far.” Daryl tried to sound gentle, caring, but in the end came off indifferent. The poison laced her words with a faint trace.
Diana glanced at the forest she was about to enter, from which she would not emerge, and then at her aunt, who appeared bored. Acting and supporting were not Daryl's strong points, as she openly displayed all her thoughts and desires. Fear seeped into her internal organs, tightening them. The sight of her aunt, the younger sister of her deceased mother, caused no less a wave of fear.
“I heard that spirits are kinder to children, so there's no need to worry so much.” Daryl tried to verbally encourage Diana to enter the forest. Patience was wearing thin, but she still appeared calm.
Diana looked with fearful eyes… but what there to look at? The forest of Spirits was indeed kinder to children. Kinder in that it could kill them without much pain. Grant them a painless death. After observing her aunt's people, who usually carried out any assigned task, including dirty work, she was terrified that they might just throw her in there. After all, these were Daryl's most loyal people, who would keep the secret of the heiress's sudden disappearance until the grave.
Turning her gaze back to the forest, Diana nervously clenched her hands into fists. She wanted to turn back. To the estate, where she would feel safe. However, most people were on her aunt's side, and she herself had to obey orders until she came of age. Holding back the urge to cry, Diana took the first step toward the forest. Then a second, a third. If she were to choose a path, it was better to feel as little pain as possible.
As she entered the forest, she felt as if the surroundings had darkened slightly. An effect caused by the high concentration of hostile spirits. Even the highest magic of purification wouldn't save this place. It was simply impossible to save it. Startled by the slightest noise, such as breaking branches or rustling leaves, she ventured further. The spirits, though merciless, had to understand, right? They would understand that she was just an ordinary child who came here not by her own will. With this belief, Diana walked on, glancing back. Her aunt's figure was visible in the distance.
Slowly stepping further, she requests how the darkness grew even stronger. A distant growl echoed. The forest was home to monsters, not ordinary predators. Taking a deep breath and exhaling, Diana continued. She wanted to run away and throw herself into Anna's arms, who would calm her, but there was no way to escape alive. Now, she could only hope for a quick end.
Avoiding the roots of the trees emerging from the ground, Diana requests that she could no longer see her aunt's figure through the mass of trunks. Carefully navigating fallen trees from a clash between the local monsters, claw marks told their own tale, she moved on. And further. She must have passed a significant distance, yet no one had attacked her. Not even the softest whisper of spirits was heard during the whole time.
Stopping in place, Diana now considered turning back. It was a stroke of luck that she had walked on in silence, relative silence. Resolutely turning around and running back, Diana could only think about how she would survive from here on. It took enough time to think that she died. The aunt won't search for her body, as it poses a risk to her people, so this is a chance for survival. And later, when she came of age, she would make her claim before the aristocrats and the crown.
Having run a short distance and continuing to build her plans, Diana stopped only when a sound was heard. Various small sounds were not strange. She got used to them in this short time and could calmly continue running. However, this sound was a whisper. Her whole body and mind froze. The whisper quickly turned into a deep voice, oscillating from rough to soft.
“Poor child.”
Two words were enough to create a whirlwind of panic in Diana’s body. Despite the screams in her mind to run while there was still a chance, her body just stood frozen as if turned to stone.
“Tell, do you want to stay here?”
In panic, Diana refused to listen. It was simply impossible to think while her mind chaotically prepared for death.
“No hostile relatives seeking your death.” Said a soft, deep male voice, followed by a gentle female voice. “No dangers, unlike those plentiful beyond the forest.”
Part of her mind saw hope in these words. Sweet words about staying here brought pleasant thoughts. However, the overwhelming part commanded her to run away from here.
Without responding to the spirits' words, which continued their monologue in a calm, kind tone, Diana ran. She ran with the last of her strength, stumbling a few times over stones or roots. Protecting herself with her hands just in time, her face remained intact, but her elbows and knees were bleeding, requiring medical attention.
Seeing glimpses of sunlight and how the surroundings brightened, a smile appeared on the child’s face. Avoiding tree trunks, she almost reached the place where she had entered. There, the figure of her aunt, who seemed not to have moved at all during this time. A feeling of unease flared in the depths of her mind, but Diana ignored it. She also saw how Daryl raised her right hand.
A strange movement, Diana thought at first, until she saw something else. One of Daryl's people, a man with an uncertain expression, was holding a crossbow aimed at her. All thoughts froze. It seemed as if the whole world had stopped. Next Diana saw her aunt lower her hand. A dry sound of the bowstring followed. The wind’s whistle reached her ears, and a powerful force pushed her backward. A scream, full of pain, escaped her. The crossbowman twisted his face even more, regretting the shot.
Tears fell from Diana's eyes as she pressed her free hand to her wounded shoulder. Only Daryl’s cold words snapped her out of the pain and tears trance.
“Load again.”
Diana suddenly rose to her feet. Her body instinctively fled from the source of danger. She ran between the trees to confuse the trail. A muffled sob came from her throat, impossible to hold back.
Turning at one point, she felt relief when she realized there was no pursuit. In a wave of relief and the disappearance of adrenaline from fear and the thirst for life, Diana weakly collapsed, leaning her back against the trunk of one of the countless trees. Horrified, she looked at the bloodied crossbow bolt, as well as the deep crimson blood that soaked her clothes around the wound, and she resigned herself to her end. If only she had better control over her magic, if she hadn’t lost the ability to even cast basic spells, this could have been easily avoided. The tears flowed even more fiercely.
Caught in a whirlpool of thoughts, Diana was jolted out of it by the same deep voice of the spirits.
“The price of your stay will be your warm breath.”
Having given up on trying to escape or somehow stay alive with such a wound, Diana gave a quiet, hoarse-from-running-and-sobbing agreement.
The loud atmosphere of the tavern was deafening. Few could withstand such a storm of shouting, most of it coming from army veterans or monster hunters. The roar, which could easily deafen the unprepared, seemed only to encourage the zealous patrons to raise the volume of their conversations, shouts, arguments, and drunken songs.
“So, which side?” Said a brunette energetically, adding to the overall noise. She held a gold coin balanced between her thumb and index finger.
“Akko, this time the win is mine.” Said another girl confidently, slamming her fist on the table from the surge of emotion. Plates and mugs of alcohol jumped a few millimeters into the air.
“Amanda, call the side.” Akko shouted, readying for the toss.
“Heads.” Amanda declared smugly, rejecting the possibility of losing. Today had been full of lucky moments for her, silently pushing her to risk everything.
With a flick of her finger, the gold coin flew into the air and spun wildly. Akko's eyes focused on the golden speck, preparing to catch it. After a few seconds in the air, the coin fell. Akko swiftly caught it in her fist and quickly slapped it onto her other hand, revealing the result. The smooth side.
“Fuck!” Amanda shouted, slamming her fists on the table even harder. The dishes jumped higher, throwing some of the food on the table. “You’re obviously cheating! You can’t win every time!”
“First of all, it’s your coin.” Akko said with a smug grin, lightly tossing the coin back toward Amanda, who caught it irritably and stuffed it into her pocket. “Second, you know I don’t use magic. Third, I’m just a lucky person.”
“You? Lucky?!” Amanda shouted incredulously, rising to her feet. “Shall I remind you who caused our baggage to burn the other day? Or who made us lose most of our reward because some brunette accidentally shattered an expensive vase? Or who…”
“Enough!” Akko shouted, also rising to her feet. A brief flicker of embarrassment passed over her face. Of course, she loved to recall all her adventures and boasted about them among her friends, but in this context, it sounded like blame. Who could have known that enchanted torches could burn fabric along with wooden crates of provisions when the torch was just a meter away from them? Or that a precious vase would be in the living room instead of a special room? “Then I’m just lucky at flipping coins.”
They both sat back down as the short quarrel ended. Amanda, clearly displeased, reached for her mug and took several big gulps. Watching her friend, who, for probably the hundredth time, would end up paying for them both, and how she slammed the mug on the table with a thud, the beer clearly going to her head, Akko couldn’t hold back a laugh.
Curses and swearing were like honey to Akko. She always found it amusing when she managed to push Amanda to irritation.
“What happened now?” Worried voice sounded, and Akko turned around. She saw Lotte approaching them, a slight worry on her face.
“Did you ask the spirits to help Akko win again?” Amanda immediately voiced her theory, one she’d repeated countless times, but just like all the previous times, Lotte only shook her head, prompting a disappointed snort from Amanda.
“Amanda will just have to pay out of pocket again.” Akko said carelessly, sipping from her mug.
“I’m not going with you to eat and drink anymore.” Amanda said decisively, probably for the fiftieth time. In a few days, she will personally invite her to spend time over a mug of alcohol because she won’t be able to resist.
Lotte looked at them, gathering her words. She didn't want to interrupt the cheerful atmosphere between Akko and Amanda, where the latter clearly seemed ready to get into a fight. However, she had business to attend to. Also, staying in the tavern was not doing any favors for her hearing, which made her eager to leave.
She carefully pulled out the neatly folded papers. Straightening them, she placed them on the table, catching Akko and Amanda’s attention.
“These are all the suitable requests I found.” Lotte said briefly, satisfied with her work.
“Thank you, Lotte." Akko exclaimed happily, hugging her friend. “I don’t know what I would do without you.”
“You’d go to the bulletin board and check for available tasks.” Amanda said, taking one of the papers. Her eyes quickly scanned each letter, particularly focusing on the reward. “Honestly, sometimes you rely on her too much.”
Akko immediately shot back with an objection, but quickly fell silent. Her mind started to process the words she heard, and her memories filled in the gaps. Well, Akko really did rely a lot on Lotte when it came to finding monster hunting tasks.
Making her best puppy dog eyes with pure sincerity, she turned to Lotte, apologized, and thanked her. While making Amanda pay all the time was quite fun, shifting the work onto Lotte evoked uncomfortable feelings of guilt. Lotte immediately reassured Akko, saying that everything was fine. She was happy to help her friend, especially since her usefulness in combat during tasks was limited, and she mostly stayed in the rear or rested.
After resolving this issue, Akko turned her attention to the requests that had been brought. She casually looked them over, focusing on the key details. Her experienced eyes quickly searched for the important aspects: who was worth killing, who the client was, how much they paid, and the recommended time for completion. Any description was just an obstacle in her quest for the full picture. Why couldn’t clients just cut out the unnecessary info and write only what mattered? The more Akko thought about it, the more her mind boiled.
Eliminating pests. Hunting a thief. Neutralizing a serial killer who terrorizes the streets, while the patrol and officers turn a blind eye. Taking revenge on certain people who committed a crime and were set free. Scaring an ex-boyfriend a bit. How could such requests even be posted on a public bulletin board?
Akko blinked wide eyed at the requests, even after reading the description. After blinking a couple of times, she looked at Lotte, who gave a brief, awkward giggle. The tasks in the capital differed greatly from those in other cities. Not a single task to kill a monster. As a monster hunter, Akko felt displeasure. How could she do her job when there was no work?
With a dissatisfied huff, throwing the requests onto the table, Akko pouted, causing Amanda to laugh.
“To me, catching a serial killer sounds fun.” Amanda said cheerfully, looking at the details of the requests.
“He’s not a monster.” Akko groaned, taking a sip from her mug. “And don’t even say that people can be worse than monsters. We went through this.”
“Do you want it to be about monsters?” Amanda raised an eyebrow questioningly, looking at the paper she had grabbed at the beginning, the one Akko hadn’t read. “Maybe this will interest you.”
Akko carefully took the extended requests, immediately focusing on the key details, as usual.
“Monster hunting in the forest of fallen spirits.” Just reading that line, her attention immediately snapped, and her imagination painted incredible, fantastical scenes of battling a bloodthirsty monster. Whether it was a large wolf calling its pack with its howl, a giant spider with tough chitin, or a rustler with its stealthy approach and deadly claws. Imagining it, she already felt an uncontrollable urge to rush to the forest.
The requestor was some aristocrat, but Akko didn't pay attention to the name or title. What interested her most was the description. Now that it was about a monster, she could read the usual description filled with unimportant details. After spending a few minutes, the loud atmosphere didn’t interfere with her reading at all, and Akko understood one thing: she had to accept this task. A powerful monster in the shape of a girl lived in the deep forest, controlling part of the local monsters. Every day, it was expanding its influence. There was a threat that a massive monster attack might be preparing. This would endanger the lives of many citizens in the capital. The reward was also substantial, but the crimson eyes didn’t even glance at it.
“I’ll take it.” Akko said confidently, causing a wave of excitement on Lotte’s face.
“But it’s dangerous. Especially since the forest of fallen spirits remains dangerous, despite the spirits’ calm behavior in recent years.” She said, hoping in vain to convince Akko to refuse. When the brunette decided to do something, even broken bones could not stop her.
“Lotte.” Akko said, flashing a confident smile. “This forest isn’t that dangerous for me. You know the spirits won’t bother me.”
“But still...” Lotte weakly said, finally giving in. “And Amanda wants to take on a maniac...”
Usually, there was one more person with them, Sucy, but she had gone off on her own business, and it was unknown when she would return. Among the whole group, Lotte felt the most difficulties. The others got involved in adventures because of their personalities, causing quite a few problems in the process. Managing the group, when only one person thought about everyone’s wellbeing, turned out to be harder than expected.
“I’ll be fine.” Amanda boldly said. “He’ll regret being born. Besides, this is clearly safer than a trip through the forest of Spirits.”
“Where’s your sense of adventure?” Akko yelled toward Amanda. “How can a maniac be more interesting than a monster?”
“Well, I’m not planning on saying goodbye to my life when I don’t even have basic protection from the fallen spirits. I’d be done for right at the entrance.” Amanda shrugged, ignoring Akko's grumbling.
"Then all the adventures will be left to me."
Lotte sighed. She was definitely not going to be able to convince Akko now. Grabbing the other requests to return them intact, she said goodbye to her friends and, walking quickly with a light step, left the tavern. A sigh of relief escaped her as the loud cries no longer filled her ears.
"Are you sure you can handle it on your own?" Amanda asked, taking a sip from her mug and looking at Akko. Setting the jokes aside, she was also worried about the success of this venture. In addition to the fallen spirits, which were incredibly powerful beings, there were plenty of other monsters in that forest capable of destroying an entire city.
The only thing holding Amanda back was the lack of protection, like Akko had. The fallen spirits would kill her on the spot.
Akko snorted, replying confidently and resolutely.
"How am I supposed to become a legendary monster hunter like Chariot if I run from this battle? If I run from this battle, then what will I do when I meet real danger? Besides, most likely that monster in the forest relies on the spirits' abilities, just like the description says. So I have a little surprise up my sleeve." A mischievous smile appeared on her face at the last part.
"Well, if you say so. But if you're gone too long, my death in the forest will be on your conscience." Amanda said firmly. "And then Lotte and Sucy will probably follow me."
"Heh, thanks," Akko replied briefly, unable to hide the true happiness she felt inside. She had real friends who would follow her, even to save her corpse. How could she allow herself to die in that forest and leave them behind? Especially when her dream wasn't even achieved yet.
The rest of the time passed by unnoticed. After the tavern, Amanda dragged Akko to another establishment that opened in the evening. She justified it by saying that fun tasks awaited them ahead, and they needed to celebrate. Even though those tasks were yet to be done, it didn’t stop them. And so much for saying she wouldn’t drink with Akko again. It took only an hour.
Akko, for her part, wanted to go hunting right away, but she postponed it until the next day. She would need to stop by the shop and spend money on hangover potions. Drunk, as she was now, it was dangerous to set out on the mission. Senses and reactions were dulled. For any hunter, going hunting while drunk was taboo.
When the cover of night covered the sky, Amanda and Akko walked side by side, arms slung over each other's shoulders, singing songs together and swallowing every second word. There was no harmony in their singing, which created a sense of dissonance for any listeners, but they didn’t care. They sang only for themselves, ignoring where they were. It would have been a common sight in a pub, but now they were on the streets, heading toward the inn. Though the tavern had looked cheaper in terms of overnight cost, they had chosen comfort. Along the way, they drew plenty of stares.
Akko stood before the entrance to the forest of the fallen spirits. In recent years, the crown had finally thought to construct a wall around it to minimize the damage to nearby areas in case any monsters escaped. It only took ages since the kingdom’s founding and the escape of a few monsters that led to hundreds of deaths. Back to the matter of the wall, Akko spent a few minutes proving her status as a monster hunter and explaining the purpose of her entry.
Supply of healing potions. Checked. Sword, her primary weapon, and a dagger in case she lost it. Checked. Minimum amount of provisions. Checked. Light leather armor. Checked. Why would she need heavy armor that would only take away her necessary mobility and leave her open to attacks?
Entering the forest, Akko walked forward with a cheerful step. The whisper of spirits immediately reached her, but they were quiet. Quieter than usual. Sharpening her hearing, she carefully took in every small sound around. The fact that the spirits wouldn’t touch her didn’t apply to the local monsters. One careless encounter, and she’d be lying wounded or with a few broken bones. It all depended on luck.
Every time she heard a strange sound, Akko stopped. She gripped the hilt of her sword, shifting into a combat stance. When no one was nearby, the spirits could be playing around and making noise, so she continued her path. If she had to be honest, being in this forest made her nervous. Danger was everywhere, and she still had to find the right monster, which likely had guards around it, considering the details of the description. Well, maybe Akko hadn’t prepared for this turn of events. After checking her gear once more, she continued on.
Having walked probably more than a few hundred steps, Akko began to feel like she was on a walk. A peaceful walk through the forest. The only difference was perhaps the sense of the spirits’ whispering, but it wasn’t critical. Zero monsters encountered. None. Not even a growl the whole time. Disappointment filled Akko.
Sighing in irritation again, Akko now trudged through the forest. Were they trying to wear her down by minimizing monster deaths? A suspicion took root in the depths of her mind about a possible leader. As much as she didn’t want to think about it, it sounded like a solid monster plan. A confident smile stretched across Akko’s face. If they wanted to play the exhaustion game with her, she would show them they picked the wrong person.
Half an hour passed. The result - Akko had walked in circles a few times because… who knows how. She just shrugged and continued her path. Her pace stayed the same. Light and easy. Not once out of breath, and without a feeling of fatigue. Now Akko added another point to her observation: all monsters retreated when they were near her. It was getting harder to ignore. Something was definitely off.
Pushing through trees and large rocks, Akko came upon an open clearing. In the middle of it stood a rather nice house. One could think it was a modest home of some merchants, if not for the surroundings. Pausing, Akko processed what she saw. The house was clearly taken care of. Beautiful flowers were even planted around. And there was also a garden nearby. Someone definitely lived here. In a forest where living was supposed to be impossible.
She slowly stepped out of the trees, walking closer. No monsters felt nearby. Even though she wasn’t holding her hand on her sword’s hilt, Akko was still ready for an ambush or quick attack. She could definitely speak to someone reasonable. Probably. Akko’s thoughts froze the moment the door opened and a girl, around her age, stepped out of the house. Light hair with green highlights. Light blue eyes that can be seen from ten meters away. The unknown girl clearly matched the description given in the assignment. However, there was one detail not mentioned in the description: she was extraordinarily beautiful.
"Who are you?" the girl said in a wary, cold voice.
Even her voice, despite the hostility, sounded charming. Akko mentally noted, coughing slightly and finding her words.
“Atsuko Kagari, but you can just call me Akko.” She introduced herself calmly, walking closer. “And you?”
“Diana.” The girl said shortly. “Just Diana. And now, could you stop coming closer?”
"Eh, why?" Akko exclaimed in confusion, though she did stop.
"You never know what intentions a strange person with a sword at their waist might have."
"I'm a monster hunter, so…"
"I know about monster hunters and how easily another person can become their target." Diana noted coldly.
"Princess, if it'll make you feel better, I can put down my sword." Akko said. Without waiting for a reply, she unfastened the scabbard from her belt. Placed it on the ground and nudged it with her foot toward Diana, who was puzzled by the address.
"Princess? And you can’t have just one weapon."
"Well, you look noble, like an aristocrat." Akko pointed out, pulling out a hidden dagger. She repeated the same gesture as with the sword. "And you're incredibly beautiful. Though, that doesn't sound like a good argument, huh."
"You gave up your weapons too easily..." Diana said distrustfully, casting a skeptical glance from the discarded weapons to Akko. "Do you plan to win with magic?"
"No, I'm not capable of using magic." She admitted honestly, causing even more confusion in Diana.
"What is your goal?"
"To get to know you?" Akko shrugged, not really sure herself.
Diana’s confusion turned into shock. She knew very well about the bounty on her head. Having fallen spirits as informants was incredibly useful. She also knew the reason Akko came to the forest. So, those two facts didn’t align with the sincerity in the brunette’s voice.
"What kind of tea do you prefer?" Diana asked, picking up the discarded weapons.
There was a dangerous person in front of her. She had to use any means to neutralize her. There was only one way without magic that Diana could use for her own safety. At first, she reached for the sword carelessly, but when she felt its weight, she had to apply more strength. A much stronger hunter had arrived than it first seemed.
"Uhh, I guess just regular?"
"Green, black, fruit? There's also chamomile, berry." Diana listed, gesturing for Akko to follow her. "There are also a few exotic ones, but they’re not for everyone."
Such variety was a real shock. Now it was Akko’s turn to respond with confusion, and she chose black tea. In her mind, tea existed in only one form: plain. With or without sugar.
The interior of the house was modest. No fancy details, paintings, or decorations. Just like Diana. Simple clothes, like those worn by commoners. Akko was getting more and more questions about everything. Who was Diana, and why was she hiding her surname? From her posture, she clearly belonged to nobility. How did she end up here? However, all the questions remained unspoken.
The black tea Akko received looked like the usual kind she knew. When Diana handed it to her, she was especially close, causing a slight flutter in Akko. Only once the blonde stepped away and sat across from her did her posture reinforce the suspicion of nobility. Akko took a sip. Not only the look, but the taste also reminded her of the usual tea but this one was much better. Even a compliment couldn’t be held back and slipped from her lips.
The conversation flowed energetically from Akko, with occasional slowdowns in pace from Diana. This continued for several minutes before the blonde began to look slightly surprised. For reasons unknown, Akko didn’t pay much attention to this, focusing entirely on the delicious cookies. How could one make something like this from the same ingredients others use? Akko couldn’t help but enjoy them. No offense to Lotte, but she much preferred Diana's cookies.
"You know, you have an incredibly cold breath." Akko said, breaking the strained friendly atmosphere. Diana didn’t react to the comment. "And I really do want to get to know you."
"Am I supposed to believe you?" Diana’s voice regained its coldness, ending any pretense of friendliness.
"Well, I didn’t attack you from the start."
"So you admit you planned to?"
"I accepted a monster killing request. Based on your description, you fit perfectly. Besides, I’ve confirmed that you are indeed a monster." Akko's face became neutral, as if it hadn't been filled with joy just moments before.
"Just living in this forest makes me a monster?" Diana asked skeptically, maintaining her defensive stance.
"Living in the forest of fallen spirits? Funny. And your breath. It’s icy." Akko remarked, pointing with a spoon at a single, wilting flower in the kitchen. "When I first entered here, it was a beautiful lumeria. So, I made an assumption. Your breath causes flowers to wither and takes other lives. In other words, it’s the breath of death."
Diana flinched slightly, showing a bit of nervousness on her face.
"If that’s the case, why hasn’t it affected you?"
"Consider me unique in that regard." Akko replied with a mischievous smile, enjoying the treat. She continued with a small groan. "Can we get to know each other without all the suspicion? I really don’t plan on killing you. Even if it turns out you’re gathering monsters to attack the capital."
"I assure you, I have no such plans."
"So, shall we get to know each other properly?" Akko asked hopefully, giving her best puppy dog eyes.
"I still don’t understand you. Why all this theatrics? From the start, you were looking for a fight with a monster."
"How do you know that?" Akko grumbled. "Well, yes, but you seem human. My principle is, I don’t mess with the humane."
Diana thought about this, subtly looking over the brunette sitting across from her. The weapons were in another room, near the entrance door, but for a trained person, it wouldn’t be hard to reach them quickly. Still, did Akko really count as human when she was calmly sitting under her icy breath? The situation was taking a darker turn.
Curiosity could kill anyone. Diana had learned this over ten years of living in this forest. It had started dangerously, as monsters didn’t recognize her and sought to take her life. Every time she ventured into a part of the forest without proper preparation, she put herself at great risk. Now, her curiosity was directed at finding out what was hidden inside the person sitting before her.
Taking another sip, she mentally reached out to the fallen spirits. She was now something like the leader of the southern part of the forest and a friend to the spirits. They responded immediately to her request, providing all available information. Diana learned that Akko’s wariness had decreased, meaning the brunette wouldn’t react in time to an unexpected magical attack. However, there was no information about the strange ability.
Thinking about the necessity of speaking with a potential danger, Diana heard the last words from the spirits. Akko spoke sincerely and lowered her vigilance every second, relaxing.
“What made you become a monster hunter?” Diana asked, exhaling briefly. The topic of conversation was unfortunate, but it was hard to start normal communication after living a solitary life.
Akko chuckled in surprise, tearing her attention away from the cookies. She blinked at the blonde with wide eyes, causing a bit of embarrassment in Diana.
“So you’re not against getting to know each other? Wow, I didn’t think you’d actually agree.” Akko muttered in surprise, quickly returning to the original question. “Nothing extraordinary. It’s a simple story. When I was a child, monsters attacked me, and Chariot saved me. She looked so incredible that I wanted to become a monster hunter too!”
Akko spoke enthusiastically. With stars in her eyes, she seemed to give an endless monologue about Chariot. Listening, Diana noticed how she had taken her attention away from her own tea.
“Then I met my friends, with whom we take on tasks and seem to gain a reputation among the people.”
“I suppose they are good friends.”
“Yeah, it’s incredible how they can put up with a problem like me.”
“Well, they can be understood.” Diana murmured quietly, holding back her words about the “cute problem.”
“And you?” Akko said, changing the theme. “How long have you lived here?”
“Ten years” Diana replied easily.
“Ten, huh… Ten?! Years?! Didn’t you get bored? Wait, you look about my age. So, you ended up here as a child?”
“I’m eighteen now.”
Akko widened her eyes, dropping her jaw to the floor. Such an unexpected revelation caught her off guard. At first, she thought it had been just a few years, but not ten. Her own childhood wasn’t so great. The early years were spent training and perfecting sword skills. However, this didn’t compare to a childhood in one of the dangerous places.
“And the monsters? Like… they’d be attacking you, wouldn’t they?” As soon as she said this, a forgotten thought passed by. On the way here, all the monsters retreated from her.
“At first, they really bothered me, but I quickly learned how to stand up for myself.”
“Oh, do you know why they became such cowards? On the way here, they were running away from me.”
“Consider me something like their leader in the southern part. I gave the order for them not to touch people first. Only in response.” As soon as Diana said this, she felt Akko’s admiring gaze before it turned to confusion.
“Southern part? So there are several leaders?”
“Yes, but I don’t get along with them because of my attitude.”
Unpleasant themes of conversation, as Akko called them, moved back to neutral. The difference was that Diana was no longer forcing interest and hospitality she was showing genuine emotions. After a small meal, which had initially been meant to neutralize the arriving hunter rather than enjoy a pleasant conversation, their time together continued. They moved on to a short tour of the house and the surrounding area. For the first time in a long while, Diana was able to talk calmly with someone without fearing she might take a life. A sense of guilt emerged memories of people she had once spoken to briefly, for no longer than a minute, before they died.
While showing the rooms and briefly talking about various paintings or unique interior elements, Diana didn’t notice how a faint smile appeared on her face.
In the garden, when Akko asked why the flowers didn’t wither, Diana briefly explained how certain types had adapted to better resist the deadly breath. At a distance of a few meters, the flowers could easily survive for a day before wilting, but if she came closer, they could only last about an hour. A unique feature of the adaptation was also the dissipation of the death element, allowing the flowers to live much longer.
While explaining, Diana glanced at Akko, who was admiring the flowers in fascination. People usually began to feel weakness and dizziness within a twenty-meter radius of Diana. Within ten meters, the symptoms worsened severely, making it nearly impossible to stand. There existed a magical invention that allowed someone to stay within closer range, but not when the distance was less than two meters. Akko looked calm and joyful. She couldn’t be an ordinary human.
The sun began to set beyond the horizon. The blue sky turned orange.
“That was incredibly fun!” Akko exclaimed, spinning in place to face Diana. She grabbed her hands with a wide smile. “Can I come tomorrow?”
“If you want to… then of course.” Diana said uncertainly, her eyes darting everywhere except at the brunette’s bright face. Just a glance, and her heart would slightly quicken. Years of isolation were clearly showing their effects.
“You’re amazing!” Akko said happily, hugging Diana.
At that moment, Diana’s mind went blank. Needless to say, no one had spoken to her this much in years—except for the spirits. That much was obvious. Any form of physical closeness was even more out of the question. Until today, she had believed she didn’t need simple acts of physical interaction. Adapting over ten years is entirely possible.
However, Akko’s hug was warm. Warm and pleasant. It brought back memories of hugs with her mother. Just as comforting—the kind you didn’t want to let go of. Diana knew she had only met Akko today. And under ridiculous circumstances, at that. So such actions were wildly inappropriate. She should pull away, give a cold look, and scold her for it. After all, that would be the most logical response.
But instead, she found herself hesitantly returning the embrace. She lowered her head onto the brunette’s shoulder. Wet marks appeared on the eyes. Today, Diana realized how much she had missed being hugged. The dam of ten years of adaptation had cracked deeply.
“I’ll come back tomorrow. I promise.” Akko whispered, sensing Diana’s mood.
The hug broke apart reluctantly. Diana wanted to stay just a bit longer—maybe even more than just a bit. But she couldn’t keep Akko any longer. After saying goodbye to the brunette, who waved with a wide smile and disappeared into the trees, Diana realized she was already looking forward to tomorrow.
Returning to the house, she could hear the fallen spirits rejoicing for her and offering sincere support. It was funny, in a way. Spirits who had been betrayed by humans, spirits who had turned to the enemy’s side, were now happy that she had a good time. At this moment, they were no different from ordinary spirits. To them, Diana was an unfortunate child abandoned by her aunt. They had taken on the role of guardians within their limits, but today their whispers sounded far more emotional. After all, for the first time in ten years, there was a smile on the blonde’s face.
The next day, Diana sat by the window, looking in the direction Akko had gone the day before. The day had not started the way it usually did. Every day followed a routine: wake up, have breakfast, and then go about whatever activities she felt like doing. Reading one of the ancient books left behind by the house’s previous owner. Walking through the forest, enjoying the view from some hill if she was lucky. Maybe doing a quick round of cleaning. The list consisted of modest options, since due to her breath that brought death to all living beings, including plants, Diana couldn’t gather fruit or spend time with the subordinate monsters.
Sitting at the window, she waited for a certain brunette to appear. Yesterday felt like a pleasant dream. Only the whispers of the spirits reminded her it had been real. In all ten years, Diana had never once imagined she’d be sitting and waiting for a person she barely knew. Time crawled by unbearably slowly. She noticed she was getting nervous. Akko had promised she’d come today, but Diana doubted that promise would be kept. A small, nervous smile escaped her. Scolding herself for such a silly reason to doubt, she switched to a different kind of worry. They hadn’t discussed a time, maybe Akko would come in the evening.
Letting out a disappointed sigh at her own anxiety, Diana composed her thoughts. Besides, the spirits would alert her if anyone entered the forest. Brewing a cup of her favorite tea, she remembered one of her current problems: the supplies were slowly running out. Whoever the previous owner was, they had stocked up so much that it had lasted a long time. The spirits said nothing about it, so the curiosity lingered. As she inhaled the familiar aroma, the spirits’ whisper reached her ears. The corners of Diana’s lips rose into a small smile. Without wasting time, she started thinking about what they might do today.
Waiting for Akko’s arrival didn’t take long. Knowing the path now, the brunette quickly emerged into the clearing where Diana was waiting. Today, Akko arrived without her sword or leather armor, but with a concealed dagger. Her bright smile was with her, too.
Diana’s worries about how to make the day interesting vanished the moment she was reassured. Time passed as Akko shared stories of her past adventures and missions. She told them vividly, adding short comments that made Diana let out a brief laugh.
To Diana’s slight disappointment, the day came to an end. The orange sky signaled the approaching night. Holding back the desire to spend more time together, as if the afternoon had never existed, Diana prepared to break the embrace. The urge to hold on grew stronger.
"Hehe, your breath really is cold." Akko said cheerfully, choosing to prolong the hug of her own accord.
"Only you call it cold." Diana replied.
Akko laughed, eventually letting go of the hug. Flashing one last bright smile, she once again promised to come the next day. The farewell felt conflicted for Diana—partly because she didn’t want to say goodbye, and partly because she felt relieved knowing they would meet again tomorrow.
Slowly, the days passed one after another. Akko came every morning and left only when evening approached. The hugs, once shared only once a day before departure, had now increased to two, much to Diana’s delight. She began showing more and more emotions: happiness, joy, fascination, feigned irritation, grumbling. She felt like an ordinary girl. She wished these days would never end.
“Diana, I’ve been thinking.” Akko said, running her hand through the soft, silky hair of the blonde.
They were in the library now, silent between them. Akko simply lay nearby, occasionally playing gently with Diana’s hair as she read one of the books Akko had brought as a gift.
“All this time, you haven’t said anything about who you are.”
“What do you mean?” Diana looked up from the book, having finished the page just in time. Her blue eyes met Akko’s curious crimson ones.
“You’re from nobility, I know that. But I don’t know which family.”
Diana pressed her lips into a thin line. The topic she had avoided all week or rather never brought up had caught up to her. Noticing the blonde’s stiff reaction, Akko was about to wave the question off, but Diana only shook her head.
“It’s not an exciting story.” Diana said, thinking over how to begin.
Akko immediately shifted into a more comfortable position, clearly interested in any detail.
Clearing her throat softly with a cough, Diana began from the very beginning. Since there was interest in the details, why limit herself? She started with a story about her family, the Cavendish family, which had existed and faithfully served the crown for centuries since the kingdom’s founding. Then she moved on to the part where she lost her father early. She only knew about his character from her mother’s stories, and his appearance from a single portrait in the estate, though it was hard to recall any features now.
The story moved on to unpleasant parts. Diana briefly explained about her mother, who suffered from illness for a long time and passed away lying in bed. The will hadn’t been fully and officially confirmed, which allowed Daryl to act as she pleased and this opened the way to the tragic day. Then came the part about the assassination attempt on her life. The details weren’t vivid due to mental blocks suppressing some of the memories. The story concluded with an explanation of the deal she made with the spirits.
The moment silence fell, Akko immediately threw herself into a hug with Diana, unable to hold back her tears. She pressed herself close, carefully measuring her strength.
“This is an important story!” she exclaimed firmly. “And you downplayed it.”
“Maybe you’re right.” Diana replied uncertainly, returning the hug. This time it wasn’t as warm, but it brought a sense of safety.
“Actually, there’s a reason I brought this up…” Akko murmured hesitantly, piquing Diana’s interest and slightly alarming her at the same time. “Someone with hair like yours put a bounty on your head. I saw her today, and she offered an unbelievably high reward.”
Diana’s blood ran cold at those words. It seemed Akko noticed, gently running her hand along Diana’s back in a soothing motion. Meanwhile, the spirits whispered aggressively. Every word of theirs was soaked in disgust, anger, and a thirst for blood.
“I see…” Diana muttered in a subdued voice, clenching her fists.
As if ten hellish years of solitude hadn’t been enough. Ten years of being unable to enjoy the beauty of nature up close. No conversations with anyone. Deprived of human warmth.
“Tell me, have you ever killed someone?” Akko asked in a serious tone, catching Diana off guard for a moment. The brunette pulled away from the hug but kept her hands on Diana’s shoulders. “I don’t mean with your breath. I mean deliberately. With a weapon or spell.”
“No.”
“Soon, strong people will come here. Prepared for the fact that your breath is deadly.” Akko said, leaning her forehead against Diana’s. “If it comes to it, you need to be ready for a serious fight.”
“How do you know this?”
“I’m sure of it. For the price your aunt is offering, there will be plenty of brave souls willing to take the risk.”
Diana went quiet, slowly thinking about what to do. There was still time, since the bounty had been placed recently, but very soon maybe even the next day, a hunter might come who wouldn’t act like Akko, but would kill her for certain.
Aside from her deadly breath, magic was her second-best strength. But there were counters to magic, which would put Diana at a disadvantage. She now regretted never training physically or honing any weapon skills.
“If I can’t handle it, you should run right away.”
“Wait.” Diana asked, confused, pulling her head back. “Are you saying you’ll protect me?”
“Of course.” Akko replied immediately, her voice sincere. “You’re my friend.”
“You would put my safety above your own?..” Diana continued, bewildered, staring at the honest girl before her. “You would risk your life for me?..”
Just imagining Akko, bleeding and covered in wounds from weapons or spells, filled Diana with a bitterness that bordered on nausea. Blood slowly oozing from a lifeless body, once full of energy and life. Crimson eyes that would no longer show wonder, joy, starlight—life.
“I’m not that fragile, but yes. Your safety matters.”
“Isn’t a monster hunter supposed to slay monsters?” Diana murmured the words without thinking, instantly regretting them.
“But you’re not a monster.” Akko said, her voice still full of sincerity, as if stating an obvious truth.
“No, I am a monster.” Diana argued, not even understanding why she was saying it. “I accepted the fallen spirits’ offer. I can kill people just by being near them. What am I?”
“Why are you even saying all this?” Akko asked, tilting her head to the side, visibly upset. She clearly didn’t like this topic.
“It doesn’t matter” Diana stood up, placing the already closed book on the table. “I’d like to be alone, so could you leave?”
“Diana? Did I say something wrong?” Akko asked nervously, hoping for an encouraging response, rather than the doubtful look from Diana’s blue eyes. Whining, she reluctantly stood up and slowly made her way toward the exit of the library. She hoped Diana would stop her, but there was no response. “I’ll come tomorrow with some equipment, so don’t be scared.”
Once she had left the room, shuffling toward the exit, Akko’s ears caught a quiet apology.
A few minutes of heavy silence passed. For Diana, time seemed to pass much more slowly. Her thoughts were caught in a whirlwind of chaos. The spirits’ excited whispers in her ear were, for the first time, irritating. Looking out of the library, she couldn’t see Akko’s figure. The spirits told her she was walking between the trees.
Muttering softly, she tried to understand why she had acted that way. Push Akko away with statements about needing to destroy monsters? So she wouldn’t protect her to the death? Why did the thought of Akko’s death bother her so much? Turning these questions over and over in her mind, Diana felt disappointment at the lack of answers. Behind the persistent thoughts, an intrusive fear came.
Had her words and reaction ruined their communication? Feeling an increasing fear, she wanted to try to catch up with her. To correct this small mistake.
Taking a deep breath to calm her thoughts, Diana decided to deal with the reason for the chaos inside her. Books on the nature of human emotions were among the fiction stories. Returning to the bookshelves with firm determination, she decided to begin researching the unknown emotions that had made her act unexpectedly and push her friend away.
The first half-hour passed. The necessary book was found. Another half-hour passed searching for the section on emotions that matched the description. The title immediately caught Diana’s attention. Another hour passed. She closed the book, exhaling after the research. Now she knew the answer. It had taken only a week for the feelings to form, which were still in their early stages, and it remained to be seen whether the infatuation would grow or wither away. Putting the book aside, she thought about what she really wanted. The thought of ending her meetings with the only person, Akko, left a bitter feeling, but those emotions would get in the way if they developed further. Their friendship would be under threat. In the silence, listening to the occasional encouraging whisper from the spirits, Diana made her decision. She would try to make a good impression on Akko, also evoking feelings in her. Maybe this would lead to Akko withdrawing from society, but Diana wanted to explore the spectrum of this emotion.
The night passed tumultuously. Every time Diana closed her eyes, her mind created scenes where she was with Akko. Cleaning together, as the brunette’s face scrunched up in frustration over a trivial task. Cooking and speaking gently to one another. Hugging and pressing close. Sharing kisses, which made her cheeks flush. Diana sighed tiredly when she realized she hadn’t slept because of these imagined images of a shared life with Akko, if mutual feelings existed. However, the traitorous image of rejection kept creeping in, bringing bitter thoughts.
By morning, Diana felt intensely sleepy. Trying to push away the constant thoughts, she gazed at the flowers. To rid her mind of thoughts of one beauty, she needed to focus on another beauty. Using this method, Diana tried, but felt disappointed as her thoughts returned to the energetic brunette, who was supposed to come here and protect her. Protect…
Magic is Diana’s strong point. The only one she could use. Magic is destructive and dangerous, but a countermeasure has been found. As if on command, as if someone had been expecting this disappointment, the spirits whispered about a visitor with the desire to take Diana’s head. Not a word about Akko.
Stopping the spirits from attempting to harm the incoming hunter, using even pleas and begging, Diana waited for the unwanted guest. A dangerous, prepared guest who wasn’t planning to return empty-handed. Hiding in the forest seemed like a good plan to preserve her life. It would be much harder to track a person in a vast forest full of monsters. Especially when moving between hiding spots. The spirits also demanded at least some form of hiding or sending monsters to protect her. Who would have thought that fallen spirits would care so much about an ordinary human with whom they had made a deal and not act without this human’s consent? Anyone would consider this a foolish, impossible joke.
Running her finger along one of the lumeria leaves, one of the few flowers that had adapted, Diana heard another whisper. Akko had entered the forest. Barely managing to hide her grimace, Diana sighed. Avoiding the possible scenario of a bloodied brunette was no longer possible from the outset. Now, she would have to wonder who would get here first.
Fortunately, or unfortunately, it was Akko who arrived first. With frantic shouts about danger and the need to flee.
“We’re dealing with an irritating hunter.” Akko explained, not even noticing when she briefly hugged the blonde. “He’s somewhere in the forest, so it would be good to use monsters or spirits to slow him down or kill him.”
“You talk so easily about killing other people.” Diana remarked, feeling a sense of calm despite the brunette’s anxiety.
“I’ve already explained my principle to you.”
Diana wanted to mention the duty of monster hunters, but she remained silent.
“Did we plan to delay all these people somehow or come up with a plan to calm down the hunt for you?” Akko continued, now pacing back and forth, nervously gesturing with her hands.
“We?”
“My friends. It was a secret because I wanted to surprise you, but we’re raising money to buy a magical tool that will partially help them resist your breath.”
“Wait, that’s too much information all at once.” Diana said, halting Akko’s nervous tone. “Your friends want to meet with me?”
“Yes, that’s why we’re raising money.”
“But you’ve been spending time with me from morning till evening for a week.”
“A woman must have a few secrets.” Akko said with a sly smile.
A quiet sigh escaped Diana. Another secret had been added to the list of secrets worth unraveling. Glancing at the still nervous brunette, she couldn’t help but notice the absence of any equipment. No protection, no sword.
“You said you’d come with equipment.”
“I didn’t have time to gather it, because there’s no time left.”
Akko’s restless state continued, along with her mutterings about possible ways out of the current problem. Her nervousness only increased, bypassing Diana’s relatively calm demeanor. Watching the uneasy figure, Diana thought about the best moment to stop the scene and inform the brunette with a bitter piece of information.
Calling Akko easily, the crimson eyes immediately turned to the blonde in silent question.
“My magic is blocked.”
At first, Akko didn’t understand the meaning of the words. What does it mean that magic is blocked? She had no magical abilities since childhood, so she had never had to learn about these depths and such things. Planning to ask about the reason, her ears caught the soft sound of footsteps. The lamp in her mind lit up. Someone had placed a precious barrier against magic. Definitely. And this someone was already approaching them with the intent to kill. After feeling satisfaction from solving the puzzle on her own, Akko felt a surge of anxiety. There was no time to flee anymore. Why hadn’t the spirits or monsters stopped him? What was Diana thinking, letting him get so close?
“Akko?” Diana asked, surprised by the sudden turn of the brunette’s head toward the forest.
Looking, she saw nothing but the shadowed trunks of trees. The leaves with branches were dense enough to block the sunlight. The light filtered through the thin gaps between the trees, free from the leaves. To her great surprise, the spirits were silent.
“What a nauseating combination.” Came the sarcastic, muffled voice, which Diana could clearly hear. “A human and a monster. Is this a stupid fairytale or what?”
From behind the trees, a tall figure of a man in light leather armor slowly appeared. It seemed there was some sort of trend among hunters for light protection, which would do nothing to save them from danger.
“It’ll be a fairytale if you turn around and leave.” Akko responded with an aggressive undertone. She took a step forward, shielding Diana with her hand. “And what’s your problem with fairytales? They’re magical.”
“They’re unhealthy in that they impose false realities and wrong principles on children.”
“You’ve just been listening to bad fairytales.”
“I’ve spent my time training, not on nonsense.” The man pulled a two-handed sword from behind his back, throwing a deadly glare at Akko. “Every hunter swears allegiance to the extermination of monsters. So why, Kagari, are you protecting one of the beasts? Be thankful for your reputation and skills that I’m even speaking to you.
“Diana is not a monster or a beast. She’s beautiful and kind!” Akko shouted in defense, taking a few more steps forward, signaling Diana to stay in place, which she did successfully. She didn’t want to escalate the situation with movement or words. A slight awkwardness flashed on the blonde’s face from Akko’s comments.
“Your mind is clouded, how unfortunate.” The man said disappointedly, shaking his head. He pulled out a small dark purple crystal, elongated in shape, from his pocket. “Your death will cause a commotion, but in a month or two, everything will settle down.”
“Don’t you think it would be nice to come to an agreement, huh?” Akko continued to speak casually, stepping even closer.
Diana felt increasing anxiety, watching the scene unfold before her. Her fears crept closer to her heart. Her mind processed the information more slowly, feeling a growing panic. The dark purple crystal was familiar to Diana. An ancient weapon for quick, easy killing. The crystal halts the victim’s heart. Words searched for an exit from her mouth but met a wall.
- If you’re interested in money, I can pay more than the reward. Then everyone will benefit. Doesn’t that sound great?
The man’s response was the silent breaking of the crystal in half with his thumb.
What followed, Diana saw as if in slow motion. Akko’s body went limp. She fell to the ground with a dull thud. All surrounding sounds ceased. Diana’s gaze froze, as if refusing to accept what she saw. The fallen, lifeless body. The greatest of her fears had come true before her eyes while she stood frozen in place. Her legs lost most of their strength, threatening to give way. She weakly reached out a hand toward the body. Akko seemed so calm, so she must have had a plan, right? Hunters weren’t that foolish. She tried to take a step. To personally confirm whatever it was. Just approach closer and...
The sharp, piercing pain in her side brought Diana back to reality. The cold reality with the deafening screams of the spirits. Looking down, she found a dagger. Sharp, shiny, with a simple but beautiful hilt, it protruded from her side, stained dark crimson. Strength drained from her body. Her legs somehow held her up. They trembled but stayed strong.
“You could have reached great heights.” The man said, stepping closer to Akko’s body.
For a moment, he paused. Then he continued walking forward, indifferent as he stepped on the body. He gripped the hilt of his large sword tighter, pulling a bottle of potion from a small pouch at his waist.
“You…” Diana growled, holding her hand to the wound. A familiar situation.
“You should have figured out how she was so close to you first.” The man said, casting a piercing gaze at his target, opening the potion bottle.
Diana raised her whole hand forward, trying to use even the weakest magic. Anything to defend herself, not to flee. No matter how foolish it sounded, without Akko, she couldn’t imagine her life, and she didn’t want to. Slowly, her vision blurred. A slight dizziness overcame her. A headache throbbed at her temples. Her body’s reaction to the anti-magic barrier. She tried to focus her mind until she froze in a stupor.
Akko’s body rose from the ground. Quietly and effortlessly. The next thing Diana saw was Akko driving her hidden dagger into the side of the hunter’s neck. His face contorted in a grimace of pain. Without a doubt, Akko had driven the dagger forward, cutting his throat. The man immediately dropped the potion, the bottle shattering and the liquid spilling onto the ground, along with his sword. He collapsed to his knees, hands desperately trying to stem the unstoppable bleeding and hold his head, which had lost its support. Crimson eyes coldly observed the hunter’s final suffering.
“You know, it hurts when someone steps on you.” Akko muttered in her usual tone, noticing Diana’s clearly shocked expression.
“Akko…” She tried to find the words. Only moments before, death had happened before her eyes, and now, resurrection was following. She tried to catch up with all these events. It started to feel like it was all just a dream or nightmare, or a death-induced hallucination. “You… are alive?
“Yep.” Akko replied easily, as if her own death was insignificant to her. She shook the blood off the dagger’s blade, hiding it back into its concealed sheath under her clothes. She stepped closer to Diana, worriedly looking at her wound. “We need to bandage it before it’s too late.”
“How are you alive? He used the crystal.”
Akko continued to examine Diana, asking her to sit or lie down. Standing up and heading toward the dead body in search of healing potions, she checked to see if it would work, but found nothing.
“Do you have any bandages?”
Diana briefly told her the location of the nearest bandages, watching as Akko energetically ran into the house. A few rustlings, the sound of objects falling, and she returned with a satisfied smile. Carefully removing her dagger, she immediately began to bind the wound. Her head moved rhythmically, slightly tossing the small ponytail at the back of her neck. Diana noticed this for the first time.
“And... done.” Akko said, looking at the neat bandage.
“Thank you.” Diana said, unsure of what other words to use.
“I really don’t understand how someone can go on a mission without healing potions.” Akko muttered, settling down on the ground next to her. “He seemed so well-prepared.”
“You still haven’t answered my question.” Diana wasn’t going to back down from her question. Her patience had reached its limit.
“Only my friends know about it.” Akko lightly leaned toward Diana, taking her hand. She pulled it to her, pressing it to her left breast.
“W-what are you...” Diana’s voice exploded with embarrassment and awkwardness. She wanted to pull her hand away, but Akko’s grip was stronger.
“Feel it.” She briefly said, causing the blonde to flush deeper.
Diana searched for a place to focus her gaze. She pushed away various inappropriate thoughts, trying to feel something she didn’t know and hadn’t suspected but was supposed to feel. A dozen seconds passed in complete chaos for her as she tried to ignore the soft sensation in her hand, before finally calming down and sensing a certain absence.
“Your heart...” Diana muttered softly.
“In my childhood, the fallen spirits took my heartbeat.” Akko intertwined her fingers with Diana’s. She placed their hands between them, enjoying the soft skin of Diana and the atmosphere.
Diana tightened her grip. She felt a mix of emotions. One was relief to hear the long-awaited answer. So many worries were lifted, easing her mind. The other was bitterness. A single word about the pact with the fallen spirits was enough to describe a complicated life. Diana had learned this from the spirits themselves. They saved children who needed saving the most.
“I used to blame myself for this. Saying I gave up the beat of my heart for something unclear. It brings certain difficulties in life. Now, no healing spell can be applied to me. But here I am. Sitting next to you. I wish it would last longer.” Akko slowly ran her thumb over the back of Diana’s hand. “I was so scared when I imagined your death.”
“Not just you.”
A short, quiet laugh escaped Akko, which could make Diana feel dependent.
“I’m going to say something now. You could easily brush this off and act like nothing just happened.” Akko said uncertainly. She gained courage when she felt a nod from behind. “As much as it sounds like... let’s say, I’d like to be more than just friends.”
Diana froze, slowly processing the words she had just heard. Maybe now she was really living in a dream. First, the attack, then Akko’s death, then resurrection, and now this. After spending more time on processing it, she wanted to be sure, so there would be no accidental misunderstandings.
After taking more time to process it, she wanted to be sure so there would be no accidental misunderstandings.
"I think… I want that too." Diana murmured quietly.
"You think?" Akko blinked in surprise.
"I spent ten years alone, feeling nothing. I have zero experience with emotions… with feelings. I'm sorry."
A sting of guilt struck Akko, reminding her why Diana lived here. The trees of this forest were resistant to the element of death, which prevented them from withering the only place she could live.
"I forbid you from apologizing. The only one at fault is your aunt." Akko said firmly, scooting closer. "So? We’ve decided—together, then?"
"You won’t regret it?" Diana asked hesitantly, silently chiding herself.
"Huh?"
"I'm doomed to spend my life in this forest. No contact with people. As I grow older, my breath will strengthen, and no protection will hold forever. Will you… still be content with me?"
"There are challenges, sure, but it’s fine. It’s actually pretty nice spending time in peace. Besides, you don’t deserve all the suffering you’ve gone through. And, hey, the world’s big. Maybe somewhere there’s a countermeasure, or even a cure. One way or another, we’ll find it. Together."
"Even if it’s just empty comfort… it feels nice."
"It’s not empty." Akko grumbled softly. How could anyone doubt her words? "You know, I love you."
Diana paused briefly, letting herself adjust to the words.
"I love you too." She replied, saying what had been on her heart since the day before. Her thoughts drifted back to the beginning of this whirlwind week, a chaotic blur that brought a spark of warmth into her life.
The sight of the dead body, of course, wasn't the nicest thing, but Diana pushed that unpleasant detail aside. A soft smile touched her lips before she drifted into sleep.
In the end, life turned out to be gentler than it once seemed.