The camp didn't last long.
By midday, they were already moving.
No one wanted to stay near the ruined valley.
Not after what had happened there.
Leaving the Battlefield Behind
The group walked in silence.
The path ahead stretched through dense forest, the trees tall and unmoving.
Behind them—
The valley remained.
Broken.
Scarred.
Forgotten… for now.
Hiroto walked slower than the others.
Still recovering.
But he refused help.
Akari noticed.
"…You don't have to prove anything."
He didn't look at her.
"…I'm not."
She gave him a look that clearly said you are.
But didn't push further.
Goro led the group.
Steady.
Certain.
"We head east," he said.
Yui glanced at him.
"…Where exactly?"
"A place where we won't be found easily."
The Enforcer chuckled slightly.
"…So nowhere safe."
Goro didn't respond.
Because that was the truth.
As they walked—
Hiroto's senses felt… different.
Sharper.
Deeper.
The forest didn't feel like just trees anymore.
He could feel the ground.
The movement of air.
The subtle shifts around him.
"…It's still there…"
He muttered quietly.
The scar's presence.
Not overwhelming.
But constant.
The Watcher slowed his pace, walking beside Hiroto.
"…Be careful."
Hiroto glanced at him.
"…About what?"
"…That power."
A pause.
"…You stabilized it… but that doesn't mean you control it completely."
Hiroto nodded slightly.
"…I know."
"…Good."
Because if he didn't—
It would control him again.
The path narrowed.
The forest grew quieter.
Too quiet.
Goro stopped.
Immediately.
The rest followed.
"…Something's off," he said.
The Enforcer smirked.
"…Took you long enough."
Hiroto's eyes narrowed.
He felt it too.
A presence.
Close.
Watching.
A faint sound—
Step.
From above.
Everyone looked up.
A figure stood on a tree branch.
Calm.
Balanced.
Watching them like it was nothing.
A swordsman.
Hand resting lightly on the hilt.
His expression unreadable.
"…You're louder than I expected."
Goro's stance shifted instantly.
"…Who are you?"
The figure tilted his head slightly.
"…Just passing through."
A pause.
Then his eyes moved—
Directly to Hiroto.
"…But it seems I found something interesting instead."
The air tightened.
Akari stepped slightly forward.
"…State your name."
The figure smiled faintly.
"…Kenzaku."
Silence.
Hiroto met his gaze.
Something about him Felt sharp.
Controlled.
Dangerous.
But not hostile.
Not yet.
Kenzaku stepped down from the branch effortlessly.
Landing lightly in front of them.
No fear.
No hesitation.
Just presence.
"…Relax."
He glanced around the group.
"…I'm not here to fight."
Then his eyes returned to Hiroto.
"…At least… not right now."
A small smirk formed.
"…But I've been looking for someone like you."
The wind shifted slightly.
The group stood ready.
Unsure.
But alert.
A new chapter of their journey…
Had just begun.
To be continued…