The night was heavy with silence.
Laine pushed open the door of the inn, his eyes instantly narrowing. The room was empty. The bed where Airi should've been asleep was untouched.
"…Airi?"
His voice cut through the still air, sharp and low. No answer. His chest tightened. He checked every corner of the small room—under the bed, behind the curtains, even the narrow window ledge. Nothing.
Cold anger sparked in his veins. I told her not to leave.
Laine stormed out of the room, boots striking the wooden floor with force. He moved through the corridor, then the street outside, his senses stretched wide. The marketplace was quieter at this hour, but a few stalls were still lit with dim lanterns.
And then he saw her.
Just outside the inn, Airi stood near the fountain. She wasn't alone.
A boy, roughly Laine's age, leaned casually against the stone, speaking to her. He had a playful smile, hands tucked into his pockets, and hair slightly messy as if he didn't care much for appearances.
Airi was nodding, clutching her hands nervously as she replied.
Laine's eyes darkened. He strode forward, his presence sharp enough to cut the air.
"Airi." His voice was steel.
She flinched, turning to him. "…Brother—"
"What did I tell you?" Laine's tone was calm, but the calmness was worse than shouting. "I told you not to leave the room. Ever. And yet here you are."
Airi bit her lip. "I-I just…"
The boy raised his hand lazily, smirking. "Hey, hey. Don't bite her head off, man. She's just a kid."
Laine's gaze snapped to him. Cold, unblinking. "Who are you?"
The boy tilted his head, as if amused by Laine's hostility. "You don't know me? That's rare. Usually, people either run or stare too much." He straightened and grinned. "Name's Xialong."
"Whatever your name is," Laine said, his voice low, "stay away from her."
Xialong chuckled, unfazed. "Oof. Harsh. Relax, I wasn't planning on stealing your little sister. We were just talking."
"She's not for you to talk to."
"Brother, please—" Airi tried to speak, but Laine's glare silenced her. His anger wasn't just at her—it was at himself, for letting her out of sight.
But Xialong wasn't done. He leaned forward slightly, eyes glinting. "You know… for a brother, you're not doing a great job."
Laine's hand twitched near his sword. "Watch your mouth."
"Oh, I will. But answer me this—what kind of brother leaves his little sister hungry in a room while he sneaks off into the night?"
The words hit harder than Laine expected. His jaw clenched. He hadn't thought about it. He had left Airi alone, tired and waiting, while he chased power in the jungle.
Airi's small voice broke the silence. "…It's true. I was… hungry. I waited, but you didn't come back. He asked me why I looked sad, so I told him."
Laine turned to her, his expression unreadable. "And you went outside… for food?"
She lowered her head, ashamed. "…Yes."
For a long moment, Laine said nothing. The guilt pressed against his chest, heavy, unfamiliar.
Xialong shrugged. "See? Don't get me wrong, I get the whole mysterious, protective brother act. But if you're gonna play guardian, at least feed the kid first."
Airi whispered, "Brother… don't be mad. Please."
Laine closed his eyes briefly, then exhaled. "We'll talk later." He turned his gaze back to Xialong, sharp as a blade. "But you… what's your game?"
Xialong laughed, genuinely entertained. "Game? You make me sound like a villain. I was just passing by, saw a sad little girl outside the inn, asked her what's wrong. That's all. No tricks, no schemes." He winked at Airi. "Though, she's surprisingly fun to talk to."
Laine's hand curled into a fist. His instincts screamed at him—something about this boy wasn't normal.
And then, whispers spread around them.
"Is that… him?"
"Xialong… the Hidden Demon."
"I heard he destroyed his own village."
Laine's eyes flicked to the crowd. The few merchants and passersby who had lingered at the fountain were already murmuring, their gazes shifting nervously toward Xialong.
"Hidden… Demon?" Laine muttered.
Xialong stretched his arms, grinning as if the title was a joke. "Ah, that again. People love their scary nicknames, don't they? Makes me sound like a monster." He turned, his smile widening as he looked Laine dead in the eye. "But you know… sometimes monsters are more honest than humans."
Laine said nothing. He just stared, calculating, sensing the danger beneath the boy's casual tone.
Xialong shoved his hands back into his pockets, stepping back slowly. "Relax, I'm not here to fight. But…" He glanced at Airi, his smile softening in a way that felt out of place. "…She's different. Talking to her… it felt real. Can't remember the last time I enjoyed a conversation like that."
Laine's grip on Airi's shoulder tightened protectively. "Stay away from her."
Xialong tilted his head, amused. "You're no fun. But sure, I'll back off… for now." He smirked, turning away. "Though… you might want to ask yourself, brother. Who's scarier—the so-called Hidden Demon, or the mask you wear when no one's watching?"
Laine's eyes narrowed, but before he could respond, Xialong vanished into the alleyways, his laughter echoing faintly.
The crowd dispersed quickly, whispering his name like a curse.
Laine looked down at Airi. She was clutching his cloak tightly, her eyes filled with guilt and fear. "…Brother, I'm sorry."
Laine closed his eyes, breathing slow. "…We'll talk later. For now, stay close. No more wandering."
Airi nodded quickly, whispering again. "…Yes, brother."
But Laine's mind wasn't calm. Not anymore.
Xialong's words lingered.
The whispers haunted him.
The Hidden Demon… destroyed his own village.
And somewhere deep inside, Laine felt it—the certainty that their paths would cross again.