Eli, exhausted, stands in an attacking stance, her hands raised in front of her face as she strikes a black punching bag with nonstop kicks and punches.
stops for a moment, breathing heavily, tired As she bends down and grabs her ankles with both hands.
Around her stretches a large stone hall in an unknown place. The ground beneath is made of smooth wood, so polished it reflects like a mirror. At the center of the hall lies a flat arena, marked with a dragon design in its core.
To Eli's right stands the boxing training bag, and to her far left, at the very edge, two wooden lockers with shutters rest against the stone walls. In every corner, lamps illuminate the space.
Directly ahead, a stone corridor lined with lights extends forward. At the end of the corridor, the outside becomes visible—a uniform wooden wall like a fence, lit by the pale glow of the moon.
The wind is strong and relentless, producing a sharp, piercing sound that cuts through the ears.
Obobo sits on a chair with her thick glasses on, watching her for a while before lowering her head and writing notes on a piece of paper.
Obobo:
First, you threw 20 punches in 5 seconds.
Now, you threw 15 in 7 seconds.
You need more.
Eli looks at Obobo, slightly annoyed.
Eli: Seriously now? I've been throwing nonstop punches at this bag for an hour, and you're telling me it needs more? How much more?
Obobo:
As long as it takes—and as much as it must. We don't have time, Eli.
Eli:
We don't have time? Why don't we have time?
In the distance, a fluffy tail.
Obobo turns and looks toward the far end of the corridor, the lights flickering as they slowly begin to fade out one by one.
Obobo
Well well
Look who's coming
A brown-and-white shadow , with two intense, piercing green eyes that cut through the darkness.walks along a stone corridor, each of her steps soft, almost silent upon the smooth, glossy wooden planks, which lie tightly side by side in perfect alignment.
In her right hand, she holds a katana sword, sheathed in a bamboo scabbard, with thin white silk cords wrapped around it like a boa constrictor coiling around its prey, and at the top of the sheath, the cords hang over a small wooden charm shaped like a cross.
The black, dark kimono and the black tattsuke-hakama trousers seem like part of the same darkness as the corridor, while her wooden sandals sound as if the sound itself has disappeared within the hallway
Eli looks frightened as Evelyn approaches slowly—like a ghost emerging from the darkness. Obobo glances at Eli and laughs mockingly.
Obobo:
There's no reason to be afraid every time she comes, little cat… deep down, she's very kind and welcoming.
Eli remains silent.
Without saying a word, Evelyn walks to her locker and carefully places her sword inside, as if it were something sacred. She then takes out two wooden swords, looks at Eli, and tosses one into the air. Eli catches it, and Evelyn slowly walks toward the center of the arena.
Eli looks uneasy.
Eli:
No… I can't. I don't stand a chance against her.
Obobo:
Hey—stop being so hesitant and dramatic. You're a female cat, you're a woman—don't complain like a man.
Eli:
That sounds sexist… and kind of messed up.
Obobo:
Yeah… but it's funny.
Evelyn stands completely still, waiting without reacting. The wind moves her black clothes, giving them the appearance of shadows dancing in the dark.
Obobo:
Go fight her. You won't win—but I'm sure you'll learn a lot.
Eli looks at Obobo with an annoyed, sarcastic expression.
Eli:
Oh, thank you very much.
Eli approaches the arena. The closer she gets, the more her anxiety grows. As she steps into the circle, she raises the wooden sword and suddenly lunges forward to strike Evelyn.
As she brings the sword down—
there's nothing there.
Like she just hit the air.
Suddenly, she feels a presence behind her.
A shadow.
And something wooden gently touching her neck.
She turns—
and sees Evelyn standing calmly behind her, her expression peaceful, lightly pressing the wooden sword against Eli's neck.
Evelyn lowers her sword and takes a step back, giving Eli space to attack again.
Eli moves in once more—but again, she strikes nothing but air.
Eli looks at her, desperate.
Obobo:
If you fight like a man, you'll never hit her.
Eli turns her head and looks at Obobo.
Eli:
Will you stop talking so disrespectfully about others?
Obobo:
No.
As Eli keeps her head turned, a black shadow rushes forward at incredible speed.
Before she can even react—
she's already on the ground.
Evelyn's wooden sword is pressed against her face.
Suddenly, a deep, soft, and chilling female voice echoes through the hall.
Evelyn:
There is no time. Those creatures have already made their move. You—and your friends—and all of us must prepare for what is coming.
Eli freezes, terrified.
Eli:
What creatures…? The Black Wolves?
Evelyn looks at Eli with her eerie green eyes.
Evelyn:
No.
The shadow spirits.
Obobo laughs mockingly as she looks at Evelyn like she's some kind of lunatic.
Obobo:
Evelyn? Seriously now? I thought you were more serious than that. You can't actually believe in those kinds of imaginary creatures.
Evelyn slowly lifts her kimono, revealing an unnatural black scar across her stomach—its color shifting like a galaxy, dark and endless.
Eli and Obobo stare at it, shocked.
Eli:
What the—
Evelyn:
They exist.