Sasaki wandered blindly through the forest, searching for any information about his sister.
He had been walking for what felt like hours when he spotted an old house hidden among the trees.
Moss covered its walls, and the windows were almost completely obscured.
Sasaki approached the door and knocked.
No reply.
He knocked again.
Slowly, the door opened.
Through the small crack, Sasaki saw an elderly woman staring back at him.
"Hello, ma'am. Would it be okay if I came inside and asked you a few questions?"
The elderly woman smiled.
"Why, yes. Of course."
Sasaki stepped inside.
The two sat down in the dining room while the woman prepared some tea.
Sasaki reached into his coat and pulled out a small book.
On the cover, he had written:
Sister
The elderly woman returned with the tea and placed a cup in front of him.
Sasaki opened the book and began writing.
"Do you know the whereabouts of the so-called Greatest Sorceress?"
The woman thought for a moment.
"Not currently, no. The Great Sorceress is rarely ever seen around these parts."
She took a sip of her tea.
"You'd have better luck searching the Forest of Time."
Sasaki quickly wrote down the information.
"Thank you."
He finished writing and looked back up.
"I have another question—"
The chair across from him was empty.
Sasaki froze.
"...What?"
The woman was gone.
He looked around the room.
Nothing.
"What the hell...?"
Sasaki slowly closed his book and slipped it back into his coat.
He tucked his notes into his pocket and stood.
As he walked out of the house, he suddenly stopped.
He saw her.
A small, petite girl stood among the trees.
Her dark umbrella was unmistakable.
"..."
Sasaki's expression hardened.
"It's you..."
He drew his sword.
The girl stared at him.
Sasaki tightened his grip.
He dashed toward her and swung his sword.
Clang!
Chains suddenly wrapped around his blade.
"Damn these chains."
The girl grinned.
Sasaki tried pulling his sword free.
But before he could react, the girl closed her umbrella and drove its tip straight into his chest.
"—!"
Blood spilled from Sasaki's mouth.
The girl lifted her umbrella, preparing to bring it down on his head.
"Damn it!"
Sasaki forced himself backward.
The umbrella slammed into the ground.
BOOM!
The impact created a massive crater, far larger than the old house.
The girl looked at him with clear annoyance.
"I told you to stop running, didn't I?"
Sasaki gritted his teeth.
He suddenly rushed behind her, catching her slightly off guard.
He swung his sword.
The girl quickly opened her umbrella and blocked the attack.
Sasaki stared at her.
She's fast.
He tried reading her mind.
Nothing.
His eyes widened.
It's useless.
The girl smiled.
"This boy is persistent."
She tilted her head.
"Even trying to read my mind?"
She closed her umbrella.
"But that won't work."
Thud!
The umbrella pierced straight through Sasaki's stomach.
His body went rigid.
Blood poured from the wound.
He couldn't move.
"I-I'm going to lose at this rate..."
The girl pulled the umbrella free.
Sasaki staggered.
Before he could fall, chains wrapped around his body.
They tightened.
Sasaki's knees hit the ground.
Blood dripped from the corner of his mouth.
His stomach continued pouring blood.
His vision blurred.
His breathing became heavier.
And for the first time in a long time...
Sasaki was scared.
The girl slowly raised her umbrella.
Sasaki looked down.
His eyes slowly closed.
"I'm sorry..."
His voice trembled.
"Sister..."
He swallowed.
"I'm sorry, Shigura."
His head lowered.
"I couldn't keep my promise."
Everything went dark.