“Hiro! Hiro!” a woman’s voice called out from inside a house.

 

“What is it, Ayumi?” the man responded, pausing his work of rebuilding a stone wall in front of a home.

 

“Akame is out back again, playing with your katana. Suzuran was about to go outside, and she almost got slashed,” Ayumi’s voice was filled with urgency.

 

Hiro sighed, setting his tools down. “Alright, let me go talk to her.” He walked around the house to the back, where he found a younger Akame practicing with a katana, her movements fierce and determined.

 

“Akame… I heard you almost killed your sister,” Hiro said as he approached, sitting down on the nearby stone wall.

 

“I didn’t ‘almost’ kill her, Dad. She was getting ready to come outside, and I was warning her that I was swinging the katana!” Akame’s face was filled with frustration.

 

From inside, a younger voice piped up defensively, “I didn’t! I just wanted to pway with Akame!”

 

Hiro glanced toward the back door and saw Suzuran standing there, her eyes wide with sadness.

 

“My little amber lily! Were you trying to come outside even though your big sister told you not to?” Hiro asked gently.

 

“I just wanted to pway!” Suzuran’s voice trembled with sorrow.

 

“Suzu, you know that when Akame is practicing with my katana, you aren’t allowed outside until she’s done,” Hiro’s voice was a blend of gentleness and authority. “You understand it’s for your own safety, right? One mistake and you could be badly hurt, or worse, killed.”

 

“Yes, Daddy…” Suzuran’s head hung low in defeat.

 

“I don’t want to accidentally hurt you, Suzu, so just stay inside until I’m done, okay? I’ll play with you after I’m finished,” Akame reassured her sister, her tone softening.

 

“Otay…” Suzuran shuffled away, clearly saddened by not being allowed to play outside.

 

Akame watched her little sister retreat and then turned to her father, a small, grateful smile on her face. “Thanks, Dad.”

 

“Be careful around your sister, Akame. I know it wasn’t intended, but remember, the idea is to use that sword to protect people, not harm them,” Hiro said, imparting a lesson without harshness.

 

“Yes, Dad,” Akame’s posture straightened, her expression serious as she absorbed her father’s words.

 

“Want to have a duel?” He asked, a playful smirk curling his lips.

 

“Yes!” Akame replied eagerly, her eyes lighting up.

 

Hiro grabbed two wooden katanas from a nearby wooden rack by the back door and tossed one to Akame. “Put the real one away and let’s have a fun duel.”

 

Akame sheathed her father’s katana and took her stance, ready for the challenge. Her father mirrored her, the two of them poised for battle. They began, the sound of wood clashing against wood filling the air. After several intense minutes, Akame managed to get the tip of her wooden katana to her father’s throat, ending the duel.

 

“You’re getting much better at beating me, Akame!” Hiro exclaimed, pride evident in his voice. “This is now the tenth time!”

 

Akame grinned, collecting both wooden katanas and bringing them back to the wooden rack. “That’s because you’re an amazing teacher. You were a soldier in the Valralorian army, after all. I’m going to be better than you in just a few years.”

 

Hiro smiled, patting her on the head. “Yes, you will, my crimson warrior. Yes, you will.”

 

The sound of pots and pans clanging around inside the house drew their attention. Hiro and Akame peeked inside the back door, the warm, inviting aroma of food wafting out.

 

“Come on, I think your mother is just about to finish dinner. I’d say we worked up a decent appetite,” Hiro said as they both walked into the house.

 

As Akame walked in, she saw Suzuran waiting just inside, her face still tinged with sadness. Akame smiled and extended her hand. “Come on, Suzu, it’s dinner time, and then we can play after.”

 

“Otay…” Suzuran replied, taking Akame’s hand.

 

As the family walked into the kitchen and sat down at the dining table, the delicious aroma of meat and potatoes stew filled the room. Hiro and Akame eagerly grabbed their utensils, ready to dive in.

 

“Hey!” Ayumi slapped Hiro’s hand. “Not yet! We agreed to give Suzuran her birthday present first.”

 

“Oh right!” Hiro put down his utensils, and Akame followed suit, placing hers back down.

 

Ayumi brought out a small box no bigger than the palm of her hand. “I know it's over a month late, Suzu, but the neighbor is limited on supplies, so we did the best we could.”

 

Suzuran opened the box excitedly. Inside were two long earrings identical to Akame's, but they were an amber orange color, matching her horns.

 

“You said you wanted what Akame had, but just in your color, no designs, like you asked,” Ayumi said gently, hoping Suzuran would understand the thought and effort behind the gift.

 

“Now I’m like Akame!” Suzuran said happily, clearly admiring her sister.

 

Akame walked over to help Suzuran put on her earrings. “I think you might be the first six-year-old in the village to wear earrings,” she laughed.

 

After Akame finished, Suzuran quickly ran to her room to look in the mirror, giggling happily. The rest of the family smiled at each other, the warmth of the moment filling the room.

 

“Akame, you still have two more years until you are eighteen. Have you decided what you are going to do?” Ayumi asked, waiting for Suzuran to return to the table.

 

“I think I might follow in Dad’s footsteps if you all will let me. I’d like to join the Valralorian military,” Akame explained.

 

Hiro’s expression showed he was fine with this decision, but Ayumi’s face revealed her opposition. “Let your mother and I talk it over, okay? It is still a ways out, so we have plenty of time to discuss it.”

 

Akame nodded as Suzuran returned to the table, her stomach audibly grumbling.

 

Ayumi laughed, “Are you ready to eat, Suzu?” She handed her a spoon.

 

Suzuran nodded happily. Everyone started eating the delicious meal. As the family enjoyed their dinner, the sound of dogs barking echoed throughout the village. Suzuran was the last to finish her meal but continued picking at it.

 

“Suzu, if you can’t finish it, it's fine. We have plenty for later if you get hungry again,” Ayumi reassured her.

 

Suzuran quickly got out of her chair, gave her mother a hug, and ran outside. “Make sure you and Akame are careful! Do not go far from home!” Ayumi called out.

 

“Otay, Mommy!” Suzuran called back, already running into the grass in front of their house.

 

Akame, who was already waiting outside, followed her as they both ran off to a nearby field. They played for hours until the sun began to set behind the hills in the distance. They knew it was time to return home once the sun completely disappeared behind the great obsidian wall.

 

While Whisperwind Village was still a number of days away from the Kingdom of Obsidia, the great obsidian wall was visible from two to three days out. Obsidia was an isolated kingdom plagued with corruption. Its political and military personnel were steeped in vice, with demi-human slavery rampant and prostitution common among both humans and demi-human slaves. The kingdom's wealth gap was immense, creating a stark divide between the impoverished and the affluent, with the wealthy firmly in control.

 

Many villages near Obsidia's wall had been abandoned as residents fled to avoid being kidnapped and enslaved. Whisperwind was fortunate to have protection on two fronts. Retired demi-human military personnel had settled in the village, bringing their expertise to fend off bandits and slave merchants. Additionally, retired adventurers had also made Whisperwind their home. The Valralorian military’s scouting rounds through the land further ensured the village's safety.

 

As Akame and Suzuran returned home in the twilight moments, Ayumi and Hiro were waiting for them.

 

“Did you two have fun playing?” Ayumi smiled.

 

“We did! Akame chased me around for a while, and we even got to play with some of the other kids,” Suzuran replied, still catching her breath as she ran to her room.

 

“Go get ready to take a bath, sweetheart. I’ll be there to help in a few,” Ayumi called out as Suzuran disappeared into her room.

 

Akame sat down at the dining table, looking a bit bummed out. Ayumi noticed the look on her face. “Everything okay?”

 

“Playing isn’t the same anymore without Hana or Kurami,” Akame said, tapping her fingers on the table.

 

“I know, sweetie, but you have other kids to play with, right?” Ayumi replied reassuringly.

 

“It isn’t the same, Mom. Those kids are afraid of me. They were afraid of Kurami and Hana too, so there’s no reason why they would play with me now,” Akame explained.

 

“Sweetie, you need to make friends. I know you plan on leaving when you turn eighteen, but you still have two more years,” Ayumi said, her face turning a bit sad. “Plus, I want Suzu to enjoy your time here until you leave. She’s going to miss you.”

 

Akame realized that her mom was thinking about the future. Not only would Suzuran miss her, but so would her mom.

 

Akame walked over to Ayumi and gave her a big hug. “Don’t worry, Mom. I’ll make sure I play with Suzu a lot until then.”

 

Akame noticed that her dad was missing from the room but had been out front when they arrived home from playing. “Where did Dad go? Wasn’t he here earlier?”

 

“He said he was going to pick up something from the blacksmith and then come back home,” Ayumi replied.

 

“The blacksmith? What for?” Akame said aloud.

 

As the sun fully set and the moonlight bathed the village, Hiro returned home carrying a long wooden box. He placed the box on the table and prepared to open it.

 

“Akame! Come out here for a moment,” he called.

 

Akame came running out of her room over to the dining table. “Yes, Dad?” She noticed the wooden box, curiosity sparked in her eyes.

 

“I know this is actually super late for you as well, since we didn’t technically get you a gift this year for your birthday,” Hiro explained while reaching into the abundance of straw to grab what was inside, “but it doesn’t mean we didn’t get you anything.”

 

From inside the box, Hiro pulled out a newly forged katana. The blade was almost fully crimson, with the back of the blade and handle colored black. Akame's eyes widened in awe as she gazed at the weapon.

 

“We got this for you. It's custom-made.” Hiro handed the blade over to Akame.

 

She couldn’t believe what she was holding. She had asked her parents for her own blade many years ago after she started practicing, but she never thought she would have her own until she joined the military.

 

“I hope you will use it to protect those who need it most, Akame,” Ayumi said, placing a hand on Akame’s shoulder.

 

“I will, I promise!” Akame replied, holding back tears of joy.

 

“Now, let's put it away for now. You need to bathe, and your sister needs to get ready for bed.” Hiro took the katana back from Akame and stashed it in the box. “I’ll put it in the basement for now.”

 

Hiro went down into the basement to store the box. Akame couldn’t stop thanking her mother for the amazing gift, promising to work hard to show her gratitude. Ayumi patted her on the head.

 

As Akame was getting ready to bathe, she heard unusual noises outside her window. She opened it and heard the clanging of metal.

 

“Is the blacksmith working right now?” she thought to herself. However, an ominous glow appeared over the hill in front of the village. As she continued to watch, she noticed a village guard running over the hill, pursued by swarms of bandits and was cut down as he was running away.

 

Panic gripped Akame as she ran out of her room. “Mom! Dad! Bandits!”

 

“Bandits?” Hiro quickly rose from his chair at the dining table and ran outside, while Akame stood next to her mother.

 

“Akame, get your sister quickly and come back to me,” Ayumi urged. Akame ran off to get Suzuran.

 

As Suzuran and Akame returned to Ayumi’s side, Hiro reentered, closing and barring the door behind him.

 

“She’s right. It’s bandits, probably ones from Obsidia. Their numbers are like a small army,” Hiro said urgently.

 

“What do we do?” Ayumi asked, clearly fearing for the children as she held them close.

 

“Hide the girls in the basement. We’ll need to fend off what we can,” Hiro commanded.

 

Ayumi grabbed the girls and escorted them down to the basement. There was a small corner that wasn’t easy to spot, perfect for hiding.

 

“Girls, stay here. Do not come out until you hear one of us call for you,” Ayumi instructed, placing them into the dark corner. However, Akame stopped Ayumi from returning to Hiro.

 

“Mom, I can help! Let me fight with you both!” Akame pleaded.

 

“No!” Ayumi lashed out, frightening Akame. Ayumi calmed herself. “Akame, you must stay here and protect your sister. Take your katana and be ready.”

 

Ayumi handed Akame her katana from the box and reached for another blade identical to Hiro’s. “Lock the door behind me.”

 

Ayumi ran back up the stairs to find Hiro barring all the windows and the back door. Akame locked the basement door behind her mother. The fighting outside grew silent as footsteps and voices drew closer. The crackling of fire outside suggested the bandits were preparing to set the house ablaze.

 

The front door started to be rammed open. A single bandit broke through, knocking Hiro to the ground and aiming for Ayumi. The bandit quickly disarmed Ayumi and tried to drag her away. She called out for Hiro, who quickly got up and slashed the man's arm off. The bandit screamed in pain, attracting more of his comrades.

 

“Looks like we got some fighters in there! Get in there and kill them!” a voice from outside commanded.

 

A group of five bandits now ran in as Hiro managed to kill the first and Ayumi the second. However, the third bandit was able to pierce Hiro’s arm, causing him to yell out in pain.

 

“Hiro!” Ayumi called out, decapitating the bandit who had stabbed him with her blade.

 

The fourth and fifth bandits quickly gained control of the fight. The fourth, a large, muscular man, tossed Ayumi across the room, disarming her again as she crashed against the wall away from Hiro.

 

The two bandits then focused on Hiro, who, despite his injury, managed to slash the larger bandit. However, the smaller one swiftly cut off Hiro’s arms, causing him to scream in agony.

 

“Hiro!” Ayumi screamed, struggling to get back up and reach for her blade.

 

Two more bandits entered, immediately restraining her, forcing her to watch Hiro’s demise.

 

“Scum, both of you. You get to watch him die in front of you!” The larger bandit pointed his blade at Ayumi, taunting her as he directed it back towards Hiro.

 

“Please, no! Don’t… Please….Hiro!” Ayumi pleaded, tears streaming down her face as she watched her husband about to be killed.

 

Hiro looked up at Ayumi as he kneeled, the larger bandit circling behind him, preparing to strike. He smiled at Ayumi and mouthed the words “I love you” before the bandit’s sword pierced him from behind, killing him.

 

Ayumi screamed as she watched Hiro die. She cried uncontrollably while the bandits laughed, preparing to do the same to her.

 

Akame heard everything from below, a mix of fury, fear, and sorrow overwhelming her. Clutching her katana, she knew what she had to do. She turned to Suzuran, who was silently crying, her hands covering her ears.

 

Akame tapped Suzuran, who uncovered her ears, “Suzu, stay here and do not open that door until you hear my voice.”

 

Suzuran responded with more silent tears, her face frozen in fear.

 

Akame silently moved up the stairs, preparing herself to leave the basement. The basement door was behind the two bandits restraining Ayumi. Akame could still hear laughter from the men who had killed her father as she peeked through a crack in the door.

 

She figured she could bar the door behind her again if she quickly went through and closed it so the wooden piece would fall back into place. Steeling herself, Akame swiftly exited the basement, successfully locking the door behind her. She ambushed the two men restraining her mother, swiftly killing them with two precise slashes.

 

Ayumi's face turned hopeless as she saw Akame, fearing she might have to watch her daughter die as well.

 

“What the hell! There was another one in the house? The damned demi-humans are like rats!” the larger bandit said, surprised.

 

“I bet there could be another somewhere here,” the smaller bandit assumed.

 

Akame charged at them, dodging the larger bandit's blade and sliding under the legs of the smaller bandit, stabbing him from behind and killing him. The larger bandit swung again, but Akame quickly dodged it.

 

Ayumi struggled to get up to protect her daughter, but more bandits entered and quickly beat her to the ground.

 

Akame, redirecting herself to help her mother, was caught off guard by a kick from the larger bandit. She flew across the room, crashing into some of their furniture. The bandit ruthlessly pursued her, grabbing and tossing her again from her legs, slamming her into the wall near the front door.

 

Badly injured, Akame struggled to get up. The larger bandit approached her, grabbing her by her head.

 

“These horns of yours disgust me,” he sneered, yanking on Akame’s left horn as she screamed in pain. Ayumi watched in pure horror, screaming for them to let her go. The bandit finally broke Akame's horn, tossing her in front of her mother. Despite everything, Akame still clung to her katana.

 

“Akame! No!” Ayumi cried out.

 

“I’ll make you watch your mother die in front of you,” the large bandit said, positioning himself behind Ayumi.

 

Akame could only watch in horror as the bandit slowly pierced Ayumi’s stomach with his sword. Ayumi mouthed “I love you” to Akame before the light faded from her eyes.

 

Akame cried out for her mother, but it was already too late; she was gone. The remaining bandits inside the house laughed and insulted Akame and her parents' bodies.

 

“Pathetic demi-humans. What do you think, guys? Should we take the young one back with us and sell her on the market?” the larger man laughed, looking back at his men.

 

“Boss, I think there’s still someone else in the basement. Shouldn’t we check?” one of his men responded.

 

“Oh right, that's where this one was hiding. We only have room for this girl, so kill whoever is down there,” the larger man ordered.

 

Akame realized they were going to try and go into the basement to kill Suzuran. Still struggling from the loss of her parents, her anger overflowed as she slowly stood up, using her katana to help her. Akame made no noise as she stood. The bandits struggled to open the basement door, thinking Akame was no longer capable of fighting.

 

As Akame fully stood, her anger reached its boiling point, causing her world to turn black and white. Everything slowed down until it all paused, eerily still. Her senses were not dulled, and she did not hesitate to wonder why everything was frozen. Her anger guided her, forcing her to move toward the men to kill them.

 

Akame could still look around, noticing all the bandits standing outside her house. She assumed they had killed everyone else in the village, her anger continuing to boil.

 

A voice called out to her, “Do you wish to kill them, child?” A shadowy figure with white shadowy eyes appeared beside the men trying to get into the basement. Akame’s anger burned into hatred, but the voice asked again calmly, “Relax, child. I will ask again. Do you wish to kill them?”

 

Akame calmed herself as much as possible, realizing time was frozen. She wanted to respond but couldn’t move her mouth to speak.

 

“Use your mind to talk, child. You can respond to me there,” the shadow figure explained.

 

“What is going on? Why is this happening to me?” Akame cried in her thoughts.

 

“I cannot give you that answer, child, as this was not something I planned. I’m here to answer a soul’s call.”

 

“What do you mean?” Akame demanded.

 

“Let me ask you something first, child. Do you want to do the same thing to these men that they did to you?” the shadow figure asked. “Do you want to kill them all, just like they killed everyone in your village, including your parents?”

 

“I do, I want to kill every single one of them!” Akame’s mind screamed in return.

 

“Good. Very good. Is there any other reason why?” the shadow figure asked once again.

 

It took Akame a moment to settle her mind, to really think about the question being asked, as if the shadow figure wanted her to realize there was something else. She then remembered who was in the basement, which fueled her anger.

 

“To protect my sister from suffering the same fate as everyone else. To repay them for what they did to everyone in this village and to my parents,” Akame responded, her eyes now full of focus and purpose.

 

“That is perfect, child. Well then, it is a good thing Aelyndra summoned me here. She has great intuition,” the shadow’s white eyes locked onto Akame.

 

“Aelyndra? You mean the planet?” Akame was confused.

 

“Yes! She informed me that we would have a new member joining our ranks soon!” The shadow figure seemed to be very happy.

 

“Who are you?” Akame thought to herself, speaking to the figure in front of her.

 

“Ah, forgive me, child. My name is Creation.”

 

“What do you mean, Creation?” Akame was slowly fighting to regain control of her body.

 

The shadow figure could see Akame fighting, slowly overpowering the paused time and regaining control of her body as parts of her regained color, indicating she was breaking free.

 

“My goodness, child, you are this strong even without Aelyndra’s blessing?” A white shadowy mouth formed on the figure's face, showing an eerie smile. “I think it’s time to give you your power.”

 

Akame stopped fighting to regain control. “What power?”

 

“Like I said, child, Aelyndra has chosen you to join our ranks. So I think it’s time to bestow your powers and your name.”

 

Suddenly, a flood of power coursed through Akame. Time started to slowly return to normal, and color returned to her world.

 

“Welcome, Retribution.” The shadow figure was suddenly next to Akame, its shadowy hand on her shoulder. The touch was calm and gentle. Then just like that, the shadow figure was gone, but the power continued to surge into Akame.

 

Her eyes glowed a vibrant crimson red. Even though her left horn was still ripped off, it glowed as if it were whole again.

 

Time resumed, and the bandits were confused by the force surging towards the girl. They all looked at her as she now stood completely, glaring menacingly.

 

“What did you do, kid? You’re just begging for us to kill you,” the smaller bandit taunted.

 

The large bandit started to walk over to Akame, but she slowly raised her katana towards him and made a sideways slashing motion, as if slicing at an unseen foe.

 

The bandits laughed at her as two of them turned back to the basement door. However, as they turned, the top halves of their bodies fell to the ground, gurgling blood, dying instantly.

 

The remaining bandits in the room tried to react, but creaking noises echoed throughout the house. A giant slash mark formed around the entire room, aligning with Akame’s slash. A massive gust of wind ripped through the area, tearing off the top half of the house. The bandits tried to shield themselves, but they too found their torsos separated from their lower halves, blood pooling in the room.

 

The large group of bandits outside were horrified but called out to their boss, unaware Akame had caused the carnage.

 

As the dust settled, a silhouette emerged. The bandit group outside thought it was their boss, but as the figure approached, the vivid glow of crimson eyes revealed Akame.

 

The bandits readied themselves, a dozen of them rushing at her. Akame quickly slashed at each one, walking past them and dodging their attacks. Just like before, their torsos separated from their lower halves, blood slowly covering Akame as she made her way toward the main group.

 

The remaining bandits, panicked, decided to rush her all at once. However, Akame made another clean sideways slash.

 

The crumbling of houses behind them was heard first before the men realized what was happening. Each one slowly toppled over, cut in half. One of the last men, struggling to keep his torso intact, walked towards Akame.

 

“What… are… you?” he gurgled, blood flowing from his mouth. He tried to grab Akame’s head, but she quickly sliced off his arm and then his head. Blood spewed onto Akame’s face. She remained emotionless, her anger no longer evident.

 

Silence fell over the village. Akame looked up into the night sky, seeing a blood-red moon instead of the full moon she had seen earlier. She was covered in so much blood it had altered her vision.

 

Time seemed to stand still until Akame remembered Suzuran was still in the basement. She quickly ran to the basement door inside their house.

 

“Suzu! Can you hear me?! Suzu!” Akame called out.

 

“A…Akame?” a low voice responded.

 

“Suzu! It’s over! Can you unlock the basement door for me?” Akame asked.

 

“O…Otay,” Suzuran replied, still in shock.

 

As Akame waited, she realized her parents' and the bandits' bodies were still in the room or at least what was left of the room. Sadness hit her again, but not as intensely as before. She knew she had to protect Suzuran. She couldn’t let her see this. She heard Suzuran at the top of the stairs, trying to remove the wood barring the door.

 

“Suzu… before you come out, I need you to close your eyes. Can you do that?”

 

“Why? Where is Mommy and Daddy?” Suzuran asked, scared.

 

“Suzu, promise me you will close your eyes before you come out here!” Akame's voice raised.

 

Suzuran began to cry again, "Otay, I will."

 

She slowly opened the door for Akame, who then pulled it open quickly. There stood Akame, drenched in blood. Suzuran was lost for words at what she saw. She knew exactly what it was covering her sister, but couldn’t muster the courage to ask.

 

"Where is Mommy and Daddy?" Suzuran asked again.

 

"Close your eyes, Suzu," Akame demanded in a stern voice, her face emotionless.

 

Suzuran complied, closing her eyes as Akame picked her up, pressing her face against her chest to shield her from the gruesome sight. Once they were outside, Suzuran peeked for just a moment and saw bloodied bodies on the ground. She quickly closed her eyes again as Akame set her down.

 

"Keep your eyes closed for a bit longer, Suzu, and hold onto my hand."

 

They walked for a while until Akame finally told Suzuran she could open her eyes. When she did, they were already out of view of Whisperwind.

 

"Where are we going?" Suzuran asked, curious and scared.

 

"To Kurami’s home. It will take us a while to get there," Akame said, her emotions still flat.

 

They continued to walk through the night into the morning until they both passed out from exhaustion. A merchant found them, thinking they were dead. When he realized they were alive, he asked what had happened. Akame whispered everything to him, and he silently agreed to take them to Opal’s Reach.

 

In the present day, the dining table was completely silent. No one knew what to say. The only sound was Suzuran’s crying.

 

"The rest... well, you remember, don’t you, Suzu? We made it to Opal’s Reach, and then I told you only what I felt you could handle at that time."

 

Suzuran continued to look at Akame, tears streaming down her face as Yuzuki held her hands.

 

"You lied to me? This entire time you lied to me!" Suzuran's anger towards Akame became apparent. “You lied to me about what happened to mom and dad!”

 

“Suzu… I wasn’t about to tell my six-year-old sister that mom and dad were dead in the room right behind me when you opened the door. I couldn’t,” Akame replied, her voice steady yet strained with the weight of her confession.

 

“I would have liked to say goodbye to them!” Suzuran yelled, her voice cracking with grief and anger.

 

“I never said goodbye to them either, Suzu,” Akame replied, her tone soft, a painful calmness in her words.

 

“At least you saw them!” Suzuran’s fury was raging, her emotions overwhelming her.

 

Akame stood up slowly, her presence commanding the room. “I watched mom die in front of me, Suzu,” she said, tears beginning to form in her eyes. “That image has haunted me for thirteen years. Thirteen years!” Her voice rose, filled with a rare intensity.

 

“Akame…” Kurohime interjected gently, as if to remind Akame to temper her emotions.

 

“Thirteen years, I’ve had nightmares over and over again as I relive that night. The only solace I find is knowing I killed every… single… one of them,” Akame continued, her sadness and anger palpable.

 

“So do I, Akame! I still have nightmares!” Suzuran’s voice trembled, her anger entwined with sorrow.

 

“I traded my happiness so you could have yours, Suzu,” Akame said gently, wiping away her tears.

 

Suzuran blinked, confused. “What do you mean?”

 

“I knew this day would come, and you’d be mad at me. But you’ve lived a happy life because you didn’t see what happened that night, or the things I did in return,” Akame explained, her voice steady. “You have someone who loves you dearly, someone to share your warmth with in each other's arms.”

 

Suzuran looked to her right, seeing Yuzuki holding her hand, her eyes filled with love and care.

 

“It was the one thing I hoped you would experience, something I knew I never could because of everything that’s happened to me,” Akame finished, her voice barely a whisper.

 

Suzuran didn’t know what to say, her feelings a mix of anger and confusion. She continued to look at Akame, then back at Yuzuki. She closed her eyes, struggling to process her emotions.

 

“Please come with me,” she pleaded at Yuzuki, her voice breaking.

 

Suzuran pulled Yuzuki from her chair, leading her towards the stairs. She needed to sort through the storm of thoughts in her head, and the only one she trusted was her lover. Yuzuki glanced back at Akame, who bowed her head in silent support. Understanding, Yuzuki nodded back and followed Suzuran up the stairs to their room.

 

Akame sighed deeply and leaned her head back, exhaustion and relief mingling in her expression.

 

The room remained silent, the weight of the recent revelations hanging heavily in the air. Akame finally broke the silence. “Miss Morye, does that clear up anything?”

 

Morye was deep in thought, her mind racing with the implications. Kurohime gently called out to her. “Morye, are you okay? Akame asked you a question.”

 

“I don’t remember the seers ever having a painting of the being ‘Creation.’ Are you sure that's what its name was?” Morye asked, her voice tinged with disbelief.

 

“I’m certain. Creation will speak to me in my dreams once in a while,” Akame explained.

 

“In your dreams?!” Morye echoed, astonished.

 

“Yes. So far this year, I've only been contacted once, and it was months ago,” Akame continued, her tone even.

 

Morye leaned forward, resting her face in her hands, clearly troubled. Akame noticed Yukari writing diligently in a journal, clearly formulating her own questions.

 

“Crystal and Ember, you two originally escaped Draconia. Does any of this sound familiar to you?” Akame asked, shifting the focus.

 

Crystal looked at Ember and then back at Akame. “No, we don’t know about any of this. Probably because we were just part of the general population,” Crystal explained.

 

“Correct. The seers' chambers are rarely visited and usually only by the dragon lords,” Morye added, her voice thoughtful.

 

“Why do the seers have paintings of the harbingers anyway?” Yukari asked, her curiosity piqued.

 

Morye clenched her fist, her expression hardening. “Because they want to find them and kill them.”

 

Everyone was stunned by this, except for Akame, whose expression remained unchanged. It was as if she had always suspected the true motives of the seers.

​

“Why are they looking for them?” Yukari asked.

​

“They think that killing a harbinger allows them to claim their powers,” Morye answered, her tone grave.

Yukari’s eyes widened, a flicker of recognition crossing her face as she recalled reading something similar in her books.

​

Akame leaned forward, her expression intent. “Let me ask this: what relationship does Draconia have with the dragons from Hell?”

​

“They shouldn’t have any relation to Draconia,” Kurohime chimed in, her voice firm. “Draconia has always hated those of us who escaped to Hell centuries ago.”

​

“Miss Kurohime is correct,” Morye confirmed. “But now they are using me as the political bridge between Hell and Draconia.”

​

“What!? They are using you to reconnect with Draconia?!” Kurohime stood up, her fury palpable.

​

Morye nodded, a sorrowful look in her eyes. “Yes, it was my father’s decision.”

​

“What’s the reason?!” Kurohime demanded, her voice trembling.

​

“I was to be married to one of the dragon lords,” Morye revealed, her gaze dropping. “But I was able to escape, and I’m alive thanks to Suzuran and Yuzuki.”

​

“This is… just… insane. You, Morye, are too precious to be given away as a bargaining chip.” Kurohime’s voice was filled with protective outrage. “Who did they even think they could give you to?”

​

Morye shook her head, her expression pained. “I haven’t met him yet, but he is the Fire Lord, Ignis.”

​

Shock ran through Kurohime, freezing her in place. “What… did you… just say?” Panic seeped into her voice as she backed away from the table, her eyes wide with fear.

​

Everyone noticed the shift in Kurohime and quickly moved to check on her.

​

“Miss Kurohime?! What’s wrong?! Miss Kurohime?!” Morye called out, running to her side.

​

Kurohime collapsed against the wall, sitting on the floor, still in shock and fear. Flashbacks of the attack on her kingdom flooded her mind, causing her to cower. Morye stayed by her side, while Crystal and Ember quickly joined, trying to bring her back to the present. Ember, having seen this reaction before, knew what to do.

​

“Morye, were you aware that Ignis was the one who destroyed Cindermaw?” Akame asked, her voice cutting through the chaos.

​

“What?!” Morye responded, stunned with panic in her eyes.

​

“Kurohime told me that a giant fire dragon named Ignis was the one who attacked and destroyed Cindermaw,” Akame explained. “She told me this recently.”

​

Morye couldn’t believe it. The Fire Lord, Ignis, the dragon she was supposed to marry, was the one who destroyed her friend’s kingdom. Her heart ached and she quickly embraced Kurohime in a comforting hug, her tears flowing freely. This snapped Kurohime back to the present as she saw Morye crying.

She looked up to see Crystal and Ember kneeling beside her. She returned Morye’s hug, trying to calm each other.

​

Akame sighed, “Fae, can you go upstairs and inform Yuzuki and Suzu of what just happened? Suzu probably doesn’t want to talk to me right now, so I’d rather it come from you.”

​

“Yes, ma’am,” Fae responded, heading upstairs immediately.

​

“Yukari, I assume there is a lot you want to know, since you’re writing everything down. Once Kurohime is feeling better, please meet me in your library. We will talk privately,” Akame instructed.

​

“Of course, darling,” Yukari replied, grabbing her journal and heading to her library.

​

Akame continued to direct everyone back to their tasks. Scarlet and Azure stayed with Kurohime, along with Crystal, Ember, and Morye. Akiko went into the village for her scouting rounds with Gelina and Nova.

Fae returned, informing Akame that she had told Yuzuki and Suzuran what had happened downstairs. She mentioned that when Yuzuki opened the door, Suzuran was lying on her bed crying, and Yuzuki looked a bit sad but gave Fae a reassuring look that seemed to say, “Everything will be okay.” Fae explained that it appeared Suzuran and Yuzuki had been cuddling.

​

“I’m glad my sister found someone who loves her so much. Yuzuki was a perfect match for her,” Akame said, a soft smile playing on her lips.

 

Fae returned the smile. “What would you like me to do in the meantime, Miss Akame?”

 

“I wonder if we should post requests for the adventurer’s guild here in our village. It would allow us to pull in a bit of income from other adventurers and maybe see some new faces,” Akame explained. “What do you think, Fae?”

 

“I think it’s a great idea, Miss Akame. I’ll get a quest board ready out front,” Fae said, bowing before heading out to start her work.

 

Ember helped Kurohime into Yukari’s library while Crystal took Morye to a spare bedroom so she could rest. Crystal then went back to her own room to catch up on her sleep.

 

“Akame, Kurohime seems to be alright now. Miss Yukari wanted me to let you know they are ready,” Ember informed her.

 

“Thank you, Ember. I apologize for everything that has happened. If you or Crystal feel like leaving the guild, we have no reason to stop you, and I would completely understand,” Akame said.

 

Ember smiled. “No, we won’t be leaving. We like it here. Besides, what kind of members would we be if we just left during our first challenge together? Plus, you just made things interesting with all this news of you being a harbinger,” Ember laughed. “I still have no idea what being a harbinger means, but it sounds really interesting.”

 

Akame smiled, placing a hand on Ember’s shoulder. “Thank you.” She then walked into Yukari’s library, closed the doors behind her, and sat down on one of the sofa chairs across from Kurohime and Yukari.

 

“Well then…” Akame sighed as she looked at Yukari and Kurohime, who were gazing back at her with concern. “I think it's best if we have a long talk, just the three of us.”

 

“Why just the three of us?” Kurohime asked, her voice still trembling slightly but recovering.

 

“Because I trust you two and I feel like you both can help me lead during this interesting time.” Akame first looked at Kurohime. “Kurohime, you were the one who pushed me to start this guild, and I’ve come to trust you as a friend.”

 

Then Akame turned to Yukari. “Yukari, you were a previous guild leader, far longer than me, and your knowledge of how to run a guild is invaluable. I want your help with all of this.”

 

Akame leaned back. “I consider you both family now, and my trust in you two is at its highest.”

 

Kurohime and Yukari exchanged a smile before turning back to Akame.

 

“Alright then, I assume we want to talk about everything that just transpired?” Yukari concluded.

 

Akame nodded. “I wanted to go into a bit more detail about everything.”

 

Yukari crossed her legs, her expression one of pure interest, while Kurohime finally calmed down.

 

“Kurohime, I have something to add that I wanted to say only between us. Is that okay?”

 

Kurohime nodded, while Yukari prepared to write in her journal.

 

“When I told Morye that I had last talked with ‘creation’ a month ago, that wasn’t entirely true. I happened to talk to them a week ago.”

 

“When you first mentioned the name Ignis to me back when we met Ember, I vaguely remembered it. The first meeting I had with ‘creation’ after the loss of my village, all of the harbingers’ names were mentioned to me.”

 

Yukari suddenly sat up straight, uncrossing her legs and adopting an upright position. Kurohime’s shock returned as she listened intently.

 

“How many were there?” Yukari asked before Akame could continue.

 

“Including myself? There are ten harbingers,” Akame explained. “At the time, the names meant nothing to me, but now the one that rings in my head… is Ignis.”

 

“Are you saying he is a harbinger as well?!” Kurohime voiced her surprise.

 

“Yes. Assuming there is only one Ignis...” Akame replied, her voice trailing off.

 

“Kurohime, you said your kingdom fell eighteen years ago, correct?” Yukari inquired. Kurohime nodded in confirmation. “And Akame heard his name shortly after she became a harbinger, five years later.”

 

Akame knew where this was heading. “So the question is, was he a harbinger beforehand? Or did the event of Cindermaw’s destruction lead to him becoming a harbinger?”

 

Kurohime’s anger showed itself as the thought that Ignis potentially ascended to a newer height of power due to the loss of her people. She clenched her hands into fists.

 

“I want to kill him… so badly, Akame,” Kurohime's voice was filled with rage.

 

Yukari reached over, placing a reassuring hand on Kurohime’s shoulder. Akame also stood up and walked over to Kurohime, kneeling in front of her.

 

“We will definitely make him pay for what he did,” Akame said, offering a small smile while grabbing Kurohime’s hands. “I think this could maybe be our guild’s first mission, but we have to tread carefully not to start a whole war doing it.”

 

Kurohime’s anger subsided as she received support from Yukari and Akame, a smile slowly appearing on her face. “Thank you… both of you.”

 

Akame stood back up. “There are a couple of things we need to get in order before we start a mission like this.” She walked back to her chair and sat down, clearly deep in thought.

 

“We need to bolster our guild a bit more. I also want to see if I can talk to ‘creation’ again and get some more information out of them. Is that okay with both of you?”

 

Yukari and Kurohime both nodded in agreement.

 

“What type of members would you like us to start looking for?” Yukari asked.

 

“Let's follow through with Yuzuki’s plan and recruit some more members that excel in stealth,” Akame instructed. She then looked at Kurohime. “I’d also like us to do some scouting first to see what we are getting ourselves into before we make a move, and look for your sisters at the same time.”

 

Kurohime’s eyes lit up at this comment. “It’s been eighteen years since I last saw them. I’m hoping they are here on the surface.”

 

“If they are anything like you, Kurohime, I bet they are fine,” Yukari commented. “But I agree with Akame, we should focus on recruiting new members to help in our scouting and searches.”

 

“Once Hana and Kurami arrive in the next week or so, I’ll inform them privately of what happened. If you happen to see them first before me, let them know I need to talk to them,” Akame asked both Kurohime and Yukari, who both nodded.

 

With everything settled, they couldn’t wait for what was going to transpire over the next few weeks.

 

After a couple of days, Fae had some of the local workers construct a request board in front of the guild. While there was already an adventurer’s guild office in the village being built, she decided that this board would have the difficult requests that wouldn’t typically be shown in small villages.

 

The adventurer’s guild liked the idea and worked directly with Fae to provide some of the more difficult requests that would help the village flourish. Akame would occasionally check in on the board to see if there was any interest, and from time to time, she would see new adventurers who didn’t belong to Crimson Moon, though they still seemed rare and merely interested in what was posted.

 

For Akame, going up to her room each night felt different. She noticed that Suzuran had not come out of her room for days, and Yuzuki was the only one who would bring her food. Akame could tell from looking at Yuzuki that she was also starting to wear down.

 

One evening, Akame stopped Yuzuki in the kitchen to quickly talk to her.

 

“How is she doing?” Akame asked, concerned.

 

“It’s honestly hard to tell. The first couple of days, it was obvious she was furious at you, but she seemed to have settled from that,” Yuzuki explained. “Now she just seems depressed.”

 

“I think she understands the choice you made back then regarding your parents,” Yuzuki continued. “However, what I feel like she's depressed about right now is that she's losing her connection with you.”

 

Akame was surprised to hear this. “She will always be my sister, and she knows how much I love her.”

 

“She needs to hear it from you. You two need time with each other,” Yuzuki suggested.

 

Akame sighed. “You’re right, I just don’t know when.”

 

“Now.” Yuzuki ordered, grabbing Akame and leading her upstairs. “Everyone on the third floor is out right now except for us, so I’ll prevent people from coming up until you two are done.”

 

Yuzuki pushed Akame towards hers and Suzuran’s room and walked back downstairs. Despite all the battles Akame had faced with monsters and warriors, she had never felt anxiety like she did now. Her heart pounded in her chest, and her palms felt clammy as she approached Suzuran’s door.

 

Akame knocked gently. “Come in,” came Suzuran’s muffled voice from within.

 

Taking a deep breath, Akame opened the door and saw Suzuran sitting at the edge of her bed, staring out the window, her back to the room. Akame quietly entered and closed the door behind her, the soft click of the latch echoing in the tense silence.

 

“Suzu…” Akame began, her voice hesitant as she sat down on a nearby bench.

 

Suzuran turned slightly, just enough to see that it was Akame who had entered, then quickly looked away again. Akame’s heart sank, interpreting her sister's actions as lingering anger.

 

“Suzu… I wanted to apologize for keeping everything from you,” Akame sighed, her voice heavy with regret. “I honestly didn’t know when would have been a good time to tell you about it.”

 

“Who else knew about the real story?” Suzuran asked, her tone cold.

 

“No one,” Akame replied softly.

 

“I doubt that. You probably told Kurami,” Suzuran said, still with a hint of pain in her voice.

 

“Not even Kurami or Grammy know. No one knew until today. I’ve kept it a secret because I didn’t know how to approach you about it, even after all these years,” Akame explained, her voice trembling slightly.

 

“I didn’t want to tell you when you were younger because I feared if I told you what actually happened in the village, I’d lose you,” Akame continued, her voice breaking.

 

Suzuran turned around fully this time, her eyes meeting Akame’s tear-filled gaze. “What do you mean you’d lose me?”

 

“I thought that if you saw the aftermath and asked what happened, and I told you I had killed all of them, you would see me as a monster. It's the one emotion that I somehow retained through all of this—fear of losing my sister.” Akame finally broke down, tears streaming down her face.

 

Suzuran quickly got up and hugged Akame tightly. Years of pent-up emotions poured out as Akame sobbed into Suzuran’s embrace.

 

“I’m so sorry, Suzu… I’m sorry… I’m sorry,” Akame cried, clinging to her sister. “I miss mom and dad… I miss them so much”

 

“So do I, Akame.” Suzuran held her closely.

 

Yuzuki, hearing the commotion, slowly opened the door, expecting to comfort Suzuran. Instead, she saw Akame breaking down. Suzuran saw Yuzuki and signaled her to ‘hush.’ Yuzuki smiled and quietly closed the door, giving them privacy.

 

For the next hour, Akame let out years' worth of suppressed emotions. Suzuran held her sister, gently caressing her hair, offering silent support. Suzuran finally understood the weight Akame had been carrying all these years. She realized that Akame’s actions, though painful, were driven by a deep fear of losing her.

 

Downstairs, Yuzuki joined Akiko, Crystal, and Ember, who were waiting anxiously.

 

“How are things going with them?” Akiko asked, concern etched on her face.

 

Yuzuki smiled reassuringly. “I think things will be good now.”

 

The three girls sighed in relief. “So we can have our rooms back now?” Ember laughed, breaking the tension.

 

“Give them a bit more time. I’m sure they’ll be done soon,” Yuzuki replied.

 

“I just want to go up to my room and bathe! My tail is a mess right now,” Akiko sighed dramatically.

 

Yuzuki patted Akiko on the shoulder and headed towards the library to talk to Yukari. Crystal and Ember decided to sit back down at the dining table. Akiko, feeling restless, walked towards the infirmary to see what Gelina and Fae were up to.

 

As she walked over, Nova trotted around the corner and greeted Akiko, who responded with affectionate scratches behind his ears. A knock on the guild hall door interrupted their moment.

 

“Miss Fae, would you like me to get the door?” Akiko called out.

 

“Yes, please!” Fae replied from the infirmary, where she was measuring Gelina’s human form for a tailor-made outfit.

 

Akiko headed over to the door and opened it, revealing a demi-human woman with cat-like ears and a thin, whip-like tail. She had darker skin similar to Yuzuki’s. This visitor was a jackal demi-human, a rare sight in Valralor, they were more commonly found in Solvarra, northeast of Valralor. Solvarra's kingdoms were currently embroiled in skirmishes with the Iron Legions over contested lands.

​

“Oh wow,” Akiko said, her eyes trailing up and down the woman's body. She didn’t realize she’d spoken out loud, and her cheeks flushed pink when she did.

​

The woman turned to face Akiko, mirroring her blush. “Oh! H…Hello!” she replied shyly, parting her hair behind her ear.

​

“How can I help you?” Akiko replied, quickly overcoming her embarrassment.

​

“I wanted to accept one of the missions on your request board outside. Who do I talk to about it?” the woman asked.

​

“Oh, you’ll want to talk to our guild manager,” Akiko said, turning to call out. “Miss Fae! You have someone here who wants to speak with you.”

​

“Wait, this is a guild hall? There’s a guild here?” the woman said, surprised.

​

Fae quickly appeared from around the corner of the infirmary, her cheeks flushed as Gelina peeked out from behind her, adjusting her top with a sly grin on her face.

​

“Please come in, Miss!” Fae gestured to the woman, leading her to the dining table. “Welcome to the Crimson Moon. How can I help you?”

​

“Wow, it’s really nice here!” The woman exclaimed. “I... uh... wanted to accept this mission that was posted on the request board out front.” She handed the paper to Fae.

​

“Oh, perfect! Can I get your name and the guild you’re from?” Fae asked.

​

“My name is Nila, and I’m a member of Abyss,” she replied.

​

“Oh! I’ve heard many things about the Abyss,” Fae said excitedly.

​

“Probably not good things, I bet,” Nila said, her expression turning sour.

​

“Rajen is your S-Rank member, correct? It must be wonderful working for him!”

​

“That is a very debatable topic,” Nila scoffed, rolling her eyes toward Akiko, who giggled in response.

​

Fae continued to work with Nila regarding her mission while Akiko paced nearby, watching Nila’s every move.

​

“Oh gosh, Akiko, you’re doing it again,” she thought to herself. “Stop ogling over attractive women. Get to know her first.” She slapped her face lightly to regain her focus.

​

Footsteps echoed from the stairs, drawing the attention of both Nila and Fae. Akame and Suzuran descended together.

​

“Ah! Miss Akame and Miss Suzuran,” Fae exclaimed.

​

“Wait… Akame, the Crimson Oni? That Akame?!” Nila was in awe. “And Suzuran? The newly appointed S-Rank adventurer? They’re both here?!”

​

“This is my guild, after all,” Akame replied, following Suzuran down the stairs.

​

Crystal and Ember took this opportunity to run up stairs and claim back their rooms. Crystal quickly started to take off her armor before even all the way up, signaling she was going to take a nap.

​

“How did you recruit Suzuran here? She just became an S-Rank adventurer!” Nila asked curiously.

​

“I wouldn’t think it would be that hard to recruit her own sister,” Suzuran replied with a giggle.

​

Nila was at a loss for words and looked over at Akiko, who shrugged and giggled back at her. Suzuran headed into the library to find Yuzuki while Akame sat on one of the chairs nearby.

​

“Well then, Miss Nila, it seems this request will take a couple of days to complete. Unfortunately, our inn is full right now with mostly merchants and workers,” Fae explained, her face showing disappointment.

​

“Miss Fae, there shouldn’t be any reason why she can’t stay in one of the spare bedrooms on the second floor, right? We have the room,” Akiko suggested.

​

Fae pondered for a moment. “I don’t see why not. Miss Akame, is that alright?”

​

“I don’t see any issue at all. Great idea, Akiko. Why don’t you show her to a room upstairs?” Akame replied.

Akiko felt a bit nervous but pushed it aside, determined to act professionally. “Come with me, Nila. I’ll show you to your room.”

​

Nila followed behind Akiko as they went upstairs. Akiko would turn back occasionally to check on Nila, noticing that she would quickly look away in a shy manner.

​

“Do I frighten her?” Akiko wondered to herself.

​

As they reached the top of the stairs, Akiko showed Nila the rooms. “Azure and Scarlet, who are guild members and also the guild’s maids, are located here if you need anything,” she explained.

​

“Not even my guild has a guild hall this big, and we usually have to pay for our own inns or houses. This is crazy,” Nila said, her eyes wide as she took in everything on the second floor.

​

They continued past Scarlet and Azure’s rooms. Akiko showed Nila where Fae’s room was located if she needed anything, then continued down the hallway, completely ignoring Kurohime’s room.

​

“Wait, whose room is this?” Nila wondered out loud.

​

“A person who will eat you alive if you give her the chance. Her name is Kurohime...” Akiko warned, grabbing Nila’s hand and hurrying down the hall.

​

“Wait, will she actually eat you?” Nila seemed legitimately concerned.

​

Akiko laughed, looking back at Nila. “Not exactly the way I made it sound, but if you meet her, you’ll see.”

​

“Meet who, little fox?” A voice came from in front of Akiko. She turned around and bounced into two soft objects as the person embraced her, keeping her snugly between them.

​

As Akiko’s eyes finally adjusted, she realized she had bounced into Kurohime, who had embraced her in a hug and was directly in between her cleavage.

​

“My my, little fox, I didn’t think you were so bold to do this in front of a very attractive guest,” Kurohime purred with a grin, holding Akiko tightly and smothering her deeper into her cleavage.

​

“Oh my god, is she eating you!?” Nila panicked, trying to pry Kurohime’s arms away from Akiko.

Kurohime laughed. “Oh my, you even have this beauty here helping you! Maybe I should devour both of you.”

 

She reached for Nila, but Akiko managed to break free and push Kurohime back.

​

“No you don’t, Miss Kurohime! She’s mine!” Akiko suddenly realized what she said and quickly covered her mouth in embarrassment. She looked back at Nila, who was equally blushing and covering her mouth.

​

Kurohime laughed and patted Akiko on the head. “I knew you had it in you, little fox.” She winked at Akiko and walked past both girls to her room, closing the door behind her.

​

“I, uh… didn’t mean it like that,” Akiko said, uncovering her mouth for a moment and then covering it again.

Nila slowly uncovered her mouth, revealing a blushing smile. “So, you’re going to show me to my room, right?” she said, giggling.

​

“Y… yeah,” Akiko stuttered, surprised that Nila wasn’t annoyed with her.

​

Akiko led Nila a few rooms down and opened the door. “Here we are!” she gestured for Nila to enter.

​

Nila walked in, surprised by the spacious room. “I guess the only downside is there are no windows, but that’s fine. This room is bigger than mine at the inn back at the capital.”

​

She continued to look around. “Wait, this room has a bathtub as well?” She quickly headed towards it. “What else do you guys have here?”

​

Akiko laughed. “We also have a hot spring in the back of our guild hall. You are welcome to use it if you’d like.”

​

“No way! You have to show me later tonight!” Nila asked excitedly.

​

Akiko giggled. “I’ll ask Miss Fae if we can use it tonight.”

​

Nila nodded. “Thank you for bringing me to my room and giving me a quick tour, Akiko. You are very lovely.”

Akiko blushed at this, and Nila gave her a genuine smile.

​

“If you need anything or would like to tour the village, let me know. I’ll gladly show you around,” Akiko replied, she waved goodbye to Nila then left the room and headed back towards the stairs.

​

“It seems she likes me?” Akiko wondered to herself, happily walking down.

​

Yuzuki, Yukari, and Suzuran were downstairs talking and saw Akiko coming down from upstairs. Yukari approached Akiko with a grin. “Are you going to give your new girlfriend a tour of the place?”

​

“Miss Yukari!” Akiko said, embarrassed. “She’s from another guild and just staying for a few days.”

​

Fae walked up behind her and interrupted, “You were pacing back and forth a lot, Akiko. You seemed very interested in her.” Fae teased.

​

“Both of you! Stop it!” Akiko pouted, then walked outside to the back of the guild hall where the hot springs were located. She took off her shoes, dipped her feet into the water, and sat down on the edge. Akiko sighed, unable to get Nila’s smile out of her mind. She buried her face in her hands and silently screamed to herself, feeling flustered.

​

“Don’t screw this up, Akiko. Don’t screw this up. Get to know her,” she murmured to herself.

​

“You won’t, I believe in you,” a familiar voice said behind her.

​

Akiko looked behind her to see Suzuran standing there, smiling. She walked over, took off her shoes as well, and sat down next to Akiko.

​

“You seem interested in her, so get to know her. You two seemed to connect pretty quickly,” Suzuran said, nudging Akiko’s shoulder with her own.

​

“You think so?” Akiko asked.

​

“I know so. Just be her friend first and see if you two have fun. She also seemed interested in the guild, so she could possibly jump ship to us.”

​

“Thanks, Suzu. I appreciate it,” Akiko smiled.

​

“I have a feeling these next few weeks are going to be very interesting,” Suzuran said, looking out into the evening sky.

​

The village was coming together, and so was the guild. Construction was nearing completion as the final houses were just about finished. Akame decided that Gelina staying at the guild would benefit them and allowed her to grow the garden she had asked Akiko about in the open land near the farms.

​

Days later, as Hana and Kaori returned from their trip, a small black cat lurked behind them, keeping a watchful eye on everything as it entered the village, its eyes glowing a subtle red before it vanished into the nearby bushes.

​

Little did all of the Crimson Moon members know, their adventures would pick up very quickly as darkness loomed in the southeast corner towards the Domain of Tides.

​

End