The next morning in Hikarimura was far too cheerful for my taste.
Birds were chirping outside my window, the smell of freshly baked sweet buns wafted up from the street below, and someone somewhere was already banging on a taiko drum like it was a festival. I groaned, throwing the blanket over my head.
"Rise and shine, Arisa!" Hikari's bright voice sang from somewhere above me. "You've got quests to do, magic to learn, and outfits to—"
"—change, yeah, yeah, I get it," I mumbled.
---
After yesterday's encounter with the Thread Alpha and the sudden appearance of Shirogitsune, I had hoped for a quiet day. Maybe some tea, maybe a nap. Instead, Aki had barged in, her fox ears twitching like radar.
"Arisa, wake up!" she yelled, throwing open my window. "We've got a guild errand to run. Also, you promised to show me more of your outfit magic!"
"I don't recall promising that," I muttered, sitting up and rubbing my eyes.
"You didn't say no either," Aki countered with a grin.
---
Hikari was bouncing in the air, its holographic form flickering like a smug fox-shaped lantern. "Come on, Arisa! Show us something cool! Yesterday's storm-silk look was awesome."
"Fine, fine." I held out my hand, feeling the hum of energy in my chest. Threads—not just crimson this time, but a mix of colors—unraveled from my fingers. "I, Kanzaki Arisa, weave the radiant dusk—Dress Shift: Amber Twilight!"
The strands of magic wrapped around me, forming a tunic of deep amber and gold, with light leather boots and fingerless gloves that gleamed like sunset.
"Whoa," Aki breathed. "You look like a warrior princess! Or maybe a noble—no, wait, a cool outlaw."
Renji, who had been leaning against the doorframe watching this chaos unfold, muttered, "You're treating combat outfits like festival costumes."
"Excuse me for having style," I shot back, hands on my hips.
---
We headed to the guild after breakfast (which Aki paid for after I accidentally spent my last gold on a ridiculous crystal hairpin—don't judge me). Silver Thread Hall was as noisy as ever, hunters shouting over one another as they bragged about bounties, sword duels, or whose horse was faster.
The quest board was crowded with new postings. I scanned them while Aki peeked over my shoulder.
"Oooh, this one looks fun!" she said, pointing. 'Subjugate the Flame Boar in the Rosewood Glade.'
"Flame Boar?" I raised a brow.
"It's like a normal boar, but on fire," Aki said cheerfully. "Renji, what do you think?"
Renji crossed his arms, scanning the description. "It's a B-rank creature. Might be too strong for Arisa just yet."
"Hey!" I protested. "I just took down a wolf the size of a house."
"With Shirogitsune's help," he said flatly.
"Details," I grumbled.
---
The guildmaster walked by at that moment, his presence enough to make the rowdiest hunters fall silent for a second. "Take the quest," he said to us without looking up from his ledger.
"Wait, what?!" I squeaked.
"You won't improve by sitting on your hands," he said gruffly. "And the Flame Boar isn't as bad as a pack of Alphas. Besides, you have two competent allies."
Renji smirked faintly, and Aki looked like she was already imagining roasted pork skewers.
"Ugh. Fine," I muttered.
---
The road to Rosewood Glade was different from Petal Mist Forest. The air was dry, and the trees were taller, their bark dark red as if they'd been scorched in the past. Strange birds with glowing feathers darted overhead, and I swear one of them cackled like it was laughing at us.
"I don't like this forest," I said, hugging my arms.
"You don't like any forest," Renji replied.
"Forests have things that want to kill me!"
---
We found signs of the Flame Boar quickly—burned trees, deep hoof prints, and the smell of something that reminded me of roasted meat but with a hint of smoke.
"Alright," Aki whispered, crouching down and nocking an arrow. "Game plan?"
Renji drew his sword, the faint shimmer of wind gathering around the blade. "We flank it. Arisa, you stay behind me."
"Why does everyone keep telling me to stay behind?" I muttered. "I'm the one with cool magic!"
---
The ground shook, and then we saw it—a massive boar with tusks like molten metal, its body glowing with cracks of fire along its sides. Its breath came out in puffs of smoke, and its red eyes locked on us with murderous intent.
"Oh. Nope. Nope. That thing looks like a barbecue gone wrong," I said, stepping back.
"Focus," Renji snapped.
---
Aki's voice rang out:
"By the bow of the silver moon, pierce through—Moonlit Arrow!"
Her shot streaked through the air, glowing silver and striking the boar's shoulder. It roared, flames erupting around its body.
Renji charged in, his blade flashing:
"Winds of the rising gale—Storm Cutter!"
The strike sent a slicing burst of wind across the boar's flank, but the creature barely stumbled.
"Guess it's my turn," I muttered, heart racing. I raised my hands, magic threads glowing faintly, but this time I didn't want to use crimson. Instead, I drew on the memory of the storm-silk weave.
"I, Kanzaki Arisa, weave the cutting tempest—Azure Strike!"
A thin whip of blue magic coiled from my hand and snapped across the boar's back, leaving a glowing scar.
---
"That's new!" Aki shouted.
"Yeah, I'm experimenting!" I called back.
The boar roared and charged. I barely rolled out of the way as it plowed through a tree like it was paper.
"Renji, any plan that doesn't involve dying?" I yelled.
"Work on your timing!" he snapped, blocking the boar's next charge with a burst of wind magic.
---
I clenched my fists, feeling Shirogitsune stir faintly in the back of my mind. "Call me," the voice whispered again. "But be careful. My power burns bright."
Not yet, I thought. I had to prove I could stand on my own—at least a little.
I raised my voice, the words coming like instinct:
"I, Kanzaki Arisa, shield the blazing path—Weave Barrier!"
Golden threads spread out in a circle, forming a glowing barrier just in time to deflect the boar's fiery charge. Sparks flew, heat searing my face, but the barrier held.
---
"Nice!" Aki shouted. "Do that again!"
"Easier said than done!" I panted. The barrier flickered and collapsed as the boar shook its head, preparing for another attack.
Renji's blade flashed once more, his voice sharp and commanding:
"By the storm's edge—Cyclone Rend!"
The strike finally cut deep, and the boar staggered.
"Arisa, finish it!" Aki yelled.
---
I stepped forward, gathering all the energy I could. My voice rang loud, my hair whipping around me like fire in the wind:
"I, Kanzaki Arisa, weave the final cut—Seam Cleaver!"
The magic lashed out, a bright streak of azure slicing through the boar's chest. With a final roar, the creature collapsed, its flames sputtering out like dying embers.
---
I fell to my knees, gasping for air. "I… I did it?"
"You did it," Aki said, grinning as she patted my back. "And you didn't even summon your fox friend this time."
Renji sheathed his sword, nodding slightly. "Not bad, rookie. Not bad at all."
By the time we dragged the carcass of the Flame Boar to the guild, I was ready to collapse face-first into the nearest futon. The smell of charred meat still clung to my clothes, and I probably had soot in my hair. Aki didn't seem to care—she was practically skipping, already talking about all the gold we'd earn for the quest.
"Can we not," I groaned as we stepped into Silver Thread Hall, "talk about money until I get a bath?"
"Don't tell me you're one of those fancy noble girls who needs rose petals in their bathwater," Aki teased, flicking her fox tail against my arm.
"Do I look like I can afford rose petals?"
Renji, trailing behind with his arms crossed, sighed. "If you two are done, hand over the quest slip."
---
The receptionist's eyes widened when she saw the charred tusks. "You… took down the Flame Boar?"
"Yep!" Aki beamed. "Piece of cake!"
"Piece of cake?!" I shouted. "It tried to roast me alive!"
"Still alive though," Aki said, grinning.
---
The Inn That Night
The inn we were staying at was a traditional wooden building, lanterns glowing warm against the night. Tatami mats creaked softly underfoot as I flopped down onto the floor of my shared room. Aki sat cross-legged near the table, biting into a rice ball, while Renji was leaning against the wall with that same stoic "I'm too cool to laugh" expression.
I snapped my fingers. "Hey Hikari, how much magic did I even use today? I feel like I drained my entire soul."
"Your mana reserves are at 30%," Hikari's holographic fox form said, floating near the ceiling. "You're lucky I didn't let you faint in the middle of that boar's tantrum."
I rolled my eyes. "Thanks for the support."
---
Aki suddenly leaned forward, eyes sparkling with mischief. "Arisa, show me that outfit-change magic again. I wanna see something wild. Like… a battle kimono!"
"A… battle kimono?"
"Yes! With ribbons! Maybe gold accents! Oh, oh—and glowing patterns when you move!"
Renji sighed. "Do you think this is a fashion contest?"
"It is when Arisa's magic makes clothes appear out of thin air," Aki shot back.
---
I stood, brushing off my skirt. "Fine. But you'd better not laugh if I mess up."
I held out my hands, feeling the mana swirl around me. Magic threads—now shimmering with multiple colors instead of just crimson—began to unravel, floating like ribbons in the air. Glowing runes formed at my feet, pulsing in rhythm with my heartbeat.
"I, Kanzaki Arisa, weave the elegance of dawn—Dress Shift: Sun-Kissed Kimono!"
The threads wrapped around me, layering into a pale gold and cream kimono with crimson flowers blooming across the sleeves. The obi shimmered with a faint glow, and a light breeze seemed to dance around the hem, as if the fabric itself was alive.
---
"Wow," Aki whispered. "You look like a goddess."
Renji's eyebrow twitched, but he didn't look away. "…Functional enough."
"'Functional enough'?!" I threw my hands in the air. "This is art!"
"Can you fight in it?" he asked dryly.
"…Probably?"
---
Aki burst into laughter, falling back on the tatami mat. "Oh, Arisa, you're killing me. We need to try more looks! How about a stealth outfit next? All black, ninja style!"
"Stealth?" I thought for a moment, then focused again.
"I, Kanzaki Arisa, weave the shadows of night—Dress Shift: Midnight Shade!"
In seconds, the kimono dissolved into a sleek black combat outfit, with tight leggings, a sleeveless tunic, and faint glowing violet lines running across the seams like enchanted armor. The boots were silent when I moved, and a thin hood covered part of my face.
"…Okay, this is cool," I admitted, turning to see my reflection in the window.
Renji gave a small nod. "Better."
---
I grinned. "You do like it!"
"I didn't say that," he muttered.
---
After about ten outfit experiments—ranging from "battle mage cape" to something Aki called "pirate queen chic" (don't ask)—we were all laughing so hard I'd forgotten about the exhaustion from earlier. It felt… nice. Like I wasn't just some lost girl in another world, but part of something real.
---
The Dream
That night, I had a strange dream.
I was standing in a vast empty hall, the floor made of smooth black glass. Threads of silver light hung in the air like constellations, but beyond them was only darkness.
"So, you're the one who called me."
The voice wasn't Shirogitsune's. It was deeper, melodic, almost like the sound of a distant bell.
"Who… who are you?" I whispered.
"One who has slept for centuries. One who once burned the skies."
---
A figure appeared—a woman made of pure light, her hair flowing like streams of fire and water combined, her eyes glowing with something ancient.
"When the world trembles, you will need me. Until then, I remain bound."
"Bound? To what?"
The figure tilted her head, almost smiling. "To you."
---
I woke with a start, my heart pounding. The moonlight streaming through the paper screen felt sharper somehow, like it was watching me.
---
The Shadow
Outside, in the alley below the inn, a hooded figure leaned against the wall, watching the light from my room.
"So," the figure muttered, voice low and smooth. "The girl with the fox… and now another power stirs. This will be interesting."
The figure vanished into the night, leaving only the faint smell of smoke.
The inn was silent except for the creak of old wood and the distant hum of night insects. I sat on the edge of the futon, rubbing my temples. The dream was still fresh—too fresh, like the warmth of that glowing figure was still wrapped around me. The voice had been soft yet commanding, filled with something both terrifying and comforting.
"Bound to you."
The words clung to me like invisible threads. What did that even mean? Another summon? Another spirit? I already had Shirogitsune, and I barely understood what that meant for my life. A second ancient entity was… too much.
I pulled my knees to my chest, staring at the faint moonlight spilling across the tatami floor. There was no way I could tell Aki or Renji about this. Not yet. Maybe not ever. They already thought I was weird enough with my outfit-weaving and random fox guardian.
A whisper brushed against my thoughts, so faint I almost missed it.
"When the time comes, call my name."
I swallowed hard. "What name?" I murmured under my breath.
There was no answer. Just the quiet hum of the night, as if the dream had never happened.
---
I shook my head, lying back down, but sleep didn't come easily. My mind wouldn't stop replaying every detail—the silver threads, the black glass floor, and that shimmering woman with hair like fire and water. It felt like the world itself was trying to tell me something. Something big.
And it scared me.
---
Morning came too quickly. Sunlight slipped through the paper screens, painting soft patterns on the walls. Aki was already awake, sitting cross-legged at the table and happily munching on something that smelled like sweet bread.
"Morning, sleepyhead," she said with a grin. "You were mumbling in your sleep last night. Talking to your imaginary boyfriend or something?"
"What? No!" I sat up so fast my hair got tangled around my face. "I… just had a weird dream. That's all."
"Was it about food?" Aki tilted her head. "All my dreams are about food."
"...Yeah, sure. Food," I muttered, forcing a smile.
---
Renji stepped into the room, his usual stoic expression firmly in place. "You're late. We're going to the guild after breakfast. There's a new posting, and Genzō wants us to take it."
"What kind of posting?" I asked.
"Not sure," he said. "But the pay's good. And it involves leaving the village for a few days."
Aki's ears perked up. "Adventure time! Maybe we'll find treasure! Or rare food ingredients!"
"Or monsters that want to kill us," I muttered, but deep down, I felt a strange thrill. Maybe it was the voice in my dream, whispering about something coming. Something I couldn't ignore.
---
We left the inn after a quick breakfast, the streets of Hikarimura bustling as always. Merchants were setting up stalls, the smell of fried skewers and fresh dumplings filling the air. A pair of guild hunters passed us, gossiping loudly about some recent monster sightings in the northern woods.
"Something's been off lately," Aki said quietly as we walked. "The creatures are getting more restless. Even the birds are acting weird."
Renji nodded. "I've noticed it too. Something's stirring in the north. Maybe the guild postings will give us answers."
I stayed silent, my fingers brushing the edge of my sleeve. I couldn't stop thinking about the dream. About the second voice. Could it be connected to what they were feeling?
---
When we arrived at Silver Thread Hall, the quest board was nearly covered with postings, but one stood out. A single slip of parchment with bold ink:
"Investigation request: Northern Hollow – reports of corrupted beasts. Rank B, hazard unknown."
Renji took it down. "This is ours," he said simply.
"Corrupted beasts?" I asked.
"Not normal monsters," he replied. "Something twisted. Usually means magic interference or an ancient curse."
A chill crawled down my spine. My dream… the voice… was this all coincidence?
---
As we stepped outside, I felt a prickle at the back of my neck, like someone was watching me. I glanced toward the alley across the street, but saw nothing—just shadows and the flicker of lantern light.
Still, I couldn't shake the feeling.
---
Later, while Aki was arguing with a merchant about the price of healing potions, I lingered by the corner of the market. My eyes scanned the crowd, and for a split second, I saw movement—a hooded figure slipping between stalls, their gaze locked on me.
"Arisa?" Aki's voice snapped me out of it. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing," I said quickly, forcing a smile. "Just… thought I saw something."
But as we walked away, I couldn't help but feel the weight of that stare following me.