"Thank you...for saving me." Yuji said, tilting his head slightly.
The words just slipped out. He wasn't sure who he was thanking, he only knew that Petra had said that someone at the mansion had healed his injuries. And the first person he saw there was that girl with blue hair.
She blinked slowly, her face maintaining the same impeccable serenity.
"Are you talking to me?" he asked, his voice soft, but with a hint of strangeness.
Yuji's eyes widened, realizing how silly he sounded. "A-Ah... no, I mean... sorry!" He scratched the back of his head, embarrassed. "I wanted to thank... Roswaal, right? He helped, right?"
The girl remained silent for a few seconds, as if analyzing whether Yuji was just clumsy... or someone completely out of the ordinary. Finally, he replied calmly:
"Mister Roswaal is the owner of the mansion. But he is not home at the moment."
Yuji blinked in surprise.
"It is not...?"
"He left early. Business in the territory." explained. "And he shouldn't be returning anytime soon."
Yuji crossed his arms, thoughtful.
And now...?
He had come there just to say thank you in person, an attempt to orient himself in that strange world... but the owner of the house wasn't even there.
The girl tilted her head slightly, observing his silent frustration.
"If you want to thank him for his care..." he continued, "Then you don't need to talk to him. I was the one who treated your injuries."
Yuji quickly raised his head, surprised.
"Ah yes, the little girl told me that."
She gave a polite little bow.
"My name is Rem. I serve in this mansion as a maid. I was the one who provided first aid."
Yuji stood still for a second, absorbing that.
The image of her calm, firm, with that penetrating blue gaze.
He bowed his body in a more formal, sincere thanks: "Thank you, Rem. Really. I... wouldn't be standing without your help."
Rem blinked slowly, taking in the sincerity on his face.
And before he could say anything...
Yuji noticed something strange in her eyes.
Rem was still polite, but... there was a discreet severity in her blue eyes. Something hard. Appraiser. As if she was ready to judge him at the slightest wrong move.
He tried to ignore it.
Maybe it was his bad first impression.
Maybe it was because he was covered in dried blood, mud and torn clothes.
Do I stink?
The question came so quickly that it almost escaped out loud.
But Yuji swallowed hard and decided to keep it to himself.
"S-And so..." he began, trying to sound normal, "where can I find this Roswaal?"
Rem crossed her hands in front of her apron, keeping her posture impeccable.
"Probably in Lugnica." he replied without hesitation. "The capital of the kingdom."
Yuji blinked. "Lugnica...? Oh yes..."
She just nodded, as if it were obvious.
Yuji scratched the back of his head. He didn't even know where he was, let alone where the capital of another world was.
But he tried to remain calm.
"Okay... and, uh... is that far from here?"
Rem analyzed the destroyed uniform and the still barely healed wounds with a neutral expression, but which, to Yuji, seemed almost critical.
"Quite far." she replied, impassively. "For someone in your condition, it would take hours to walk. I don't recommend it."
Yuji swallowed hard.
Yuji thanked Rem for her help, bowed awkwardly and began to walk away down the mansion's staircase.
"Thanks for everything, Rem. Really."
"...Be careful on the way." she said, with that same calm, cold voice.
But when Yuji turned his back, he felt it.
That look.
Even without seeing it, he felt Rem watching him, rigid, firm, as if analyzing him from behind the half-open door. Was it open hostility?
As if she was trying to understand what, exactly, Yuji Itadori was.
It made him shiver.
He walked faster.
And when he passed through the gate of the mansion, he began to run.
Yuji shot down the dirt road like a rocket. He still had breath, even with his tired body, after all, running long distances was what he had done since high school.
The wind hit his face, pushing his torn uniform against his body. Even far from the battle of Shinjuku, far from everything he knew, the world around him seemed to scream: keep running.
He needed to get to Lugnica.
Maybe there... something would make sense.
After about half an hour of uninterrupted running, already breathing deeply and feeling the strong pulse in his muscles, Yuji reduced his speed.
"What is...?"
When he looked up at the horizon, what he saw made him stop completely.
In the distance, so far away that it seemed to touch the sky, there was a giant tree. Colossal and majestic. So big that everything else in the world seemed small before it.
It was no ordinary tree. The trunk was thick, that tree was thousands of years old. The canopy was so wide that it hid part of the sky, and the wind that passed through its leaves created a deep, almost musical sound, even from that distance.
Yuji took a few steps forward, incredulous.
"W-what... is this...?"
Nothing in Japan, nothing in the world he knew, came close to this.
It was like something out of a fairy tale.
Anyway... his heart raced. That tree wasn't ordinary. This was important in this world.
And, unintentionally, Yuji felt something inside him react. Like a pulse. A strange sensation, like when cursed energy stirs, but... different...
What the hell is this place?
Yuji took a deep breath and started running again. That gigantic tree remained on the horizon, but now he saw signs of life: a busier road, small carts, people coming and going. It was the first time he had seen so much movement since arriving in that strange world.
After a few minutes, the walls appeared. Tall, imposing, with flags fluttering in the wind. The medieval landscape stretched before him, with towers, guards, and a main gate wide enough for an entire stagecoach to pass through.
Yuji stopped, panting, and looked up. "This... must be Lugnica."
He wasn't sure, but it seemed obvious. It was the largest city he had seen there.
And before entering, something weighed on his chest.
Yuji raised his hands. Dirty, streaked with dried blood, his fingers trembling. And there, on his wrists, were the clawed gauntlets, thin, reinforced by energy, a gift Yuta had given him before the final battle.
Slowly, Yuji removed them.
Each click of the metallic fitting echoed like a memory being ripped from him.
He remembered Yuta smiling, even tired, saying: "You'll need this, Yuji. Don't throw yourself into danger alone."
He hadn't even had a chance to thank him. He didn't even know if Yuta was alive.
The gauntlets weighed heavily in his hands, not because of the metal, but because of their significance.
Yuji clenched his fist, frustrated, feeling the bitter taste of guilt rise in his throat.
"I-I'm sorry, Yuta..." he murmured, almost voiceless. "I... I should have at least thanked you for this..."
The wind blew strongly, rustling his clothes and sweeping some of the dust from his face.
He took a deep breath, tucked the gauntlets into his torn clothes, and stared at the city's main gate.
"I need to keep going."
Because if he stopped to feel all of that... he would crumble.
And with firm steps, Yuji walked towards the entrance of the capital.
Yuji walked along the cobblestone street, feeling the lights, smells, and voices of Lugnica around him. People looked at him sideways, some because of the scar on his face, others because of his torn clothes, and one or two simply because he seemed completely lost.
He noticed a humanoid fox talking to a shopkeeper, then a bipedal dog pulling a fruit cart. None of it shocked him much.
"Well... it's not so strange to see animals acting like humans... I have a friend who's literally a panda," he thought, shrugging. "I'm sure the panda would be comfortable with all the anthropomorphic animals here."
But as he walked, the strangeness of the situation began to weigh on him.
The shop signs were different. The streets, medieval. The architecture... completely unlike any city he knew.
Yuji stopped in the middle of the street, taking a deep breath. "Okay, it's not Japan. Definitely. So... the past? An alternate world? Hm... I need to find a way back to my world..."
Meanwhile, beside him, two women whispered: "Where did he come from?"
"Could he be a bandit...?"
Yuji sighed, scratching the back of his neck. "Man... this is going to be more complicated than I imagined."
And he kept walking, trying to find Roswaal or at least someone who wouldn't look at him like he was a walking threat.
Yuji took two steps back after the bump, raising his hands reflexively.
"Ah! Sorry, I was distracted—"
He froze for a moment. It was Rem.
Or... it looked just like Rem.
Same eyes. Same height. Same cold expression.
But the hair... pink.
Yuji blinked a few times, feeling his brain fry.
"What...? Rem? Wait..."
Before he could put together a minimally coherent sentence, the girl tilted her head with a crooked, venomous smile.
"What do you want, beggar?" she asked, crossing her arms, as if she were dealing with a disposable problem.
Yuji's eyes widened.
"B-beggar?!" He looked at himself: torn clothes, dust, a huge scar on his face. "Okay, I'm not at my best... but that's just rude!"
Ram raised an eyebrow, visibly amused by his indignation.
"Ah, so the mutt can talk, interesting. You said my sister's name, do you want something or did you just stumble into my day?"
Yuji crossed his arms too, offended and with his ego slightly bruised.
"I have a name, you know?"
"I imagine a beggar has one too."
"H-Hey!"
He took a deep breath, trying to stay calm.
"You must work there too, right? I'm looking for Roswaal. Do you know where he is?"
Ram examined him from head to toe, as if deciding whether it was worth answering. "May I know why a disheveled wanderer is looking for my master?"
Yuji snorted.
"I'm not a wanderer! ...I'm just broke right now. And aimless. And... homeless."
"Uh-huh." Ram turned his face away, clearly suppressing a laugh.
"Okay, okay, I'm practically a beggar here!... Happy now?..." Yuji's pride hurt. A lot. But he needed information, even if it came with sarcasm.
Ram opened his mouth to answer Yuji when a huge shadow fell over them both.
They turned their faces and saw a... peculiar man.
Black armor, a torn yellow cape, exposed abdomen, strange sandals. And a huge axe strapped to his waist.
The man approached with a heavy step and, without any context, asked:
"Hey! Did you two see a busty redhead walking around?"
Ram made a face of pure disgust. Yuji's remaining eye widened.
...
"No."
The man slammed his fist against his palm in frustration. "Tsk! Damn... I lost her again."
Then he turned his helmet towards the two as if he could see through solid metal. "Well... Thanks, Ram. Thanks, Yuji."
The two froze.
It took Yuji half a second to understand.
"...Hey. Wait. I didn't say my..."
"Neither did I..." Ram added, her eyes half-closed, irritated.
The man simply raised his hand, as if waving goodbye, and began to walk away.
And he disappeared among the people on the street, leaving only dust...
...and two completely confused and irritated people.
Yuji looked at Ram, he sighed deeply.
But something inside him itched.
Yuji scratched the back of his neck, still a little annoyed by the armored stranger and now even more so by Ram's question.
"Well... your name was Ram, right?..." he muttered, remembering the previous confusion.
"Obviously it's Ram," she replied with that slightly aggressive, bored look. "You should feel honored that I confirmed it."
Yuji rolled his eyes. "Okay, whatever. But then... isn't Roswaal in Lugnica?"
Ram shook her head.
"Roswaal-sama is absent. He only returns at night. If you wish to speak with him, you will have to go to Mathers' mansion at nightfall."
Disappointment hit Yuji hard, escaping in a heavy sigh.
"Ah... okay. Fine. It's not like I had a choice," he replied, trying to remain calm.
Ram raised an eyebrow, noticing his frustration and not seeming the least bit sensitive to it.
"...Hmph. At least you understand your place."
Yuji sighed again, but this time decided to change the subject:
"By the way, as I said earlier... I just met your sister."
Ram stopped walking.
She slowly turned her face to him, her pink eyes half-closed, measuring every millimeter of his expression.
"What did you do with her?"
Her tone was sharp as a knife. "You didn't do anything perverted, did you?"
Yuji's eyes widened in indignation.
"W-WHAT? Of course not! I just met her, we talked, she helped me! What do you think I am!?"
Ram gave a slight "tch," as if dissatisfied with the answer or perhaps just pretending.
"Men do stupid things. And you look like one of them."
Yuji took a deep breath. "Are you always like this with everyone?"
Yuji stood still for a moment, watching Ram walk away with that irritating air of superiority. When she turned the corner, he let out an exasperated sigh.
"Fine... wait until night," he murmured. "At least I'll find out exactly where I am."
Without any fixed destination, Yuji began walking through the bustling streets of Lugnica. Fruit stalls, shouting vendors, people talking loudly... it was like a mix of a fair and an old city center. He paid attention to everything, trying to absorb any clue that would indicate what kind of world he was in now.
Then something caught his attention.
"Hm?"
Out of the corner of his eye, something moved too fast overhead.
Yuji raised his face.
Up above, leaping from rooftop to rooftop, was a small, agile figure, a girl with long, blonde hair, its hair swaying in the wind. The way she ran, barefoot, silently, resembled a cat more than a person.
Yuji frowned.
"...A thief?"
The scene triggered an automatic memory: the stories of pickpockets he'd seen in large Japanese cities, children learning to climb to escape the police.
But this one seemed far more skillful.
She jumped from rooftop to rooftop with ease, almost as if she were playing.
"She's fast..." Yuji admitted, crossing his arms. "She must be robbing someone..."
For a moment, the girl looked down.
And for a moment, Yuji was certain she stared directly at him, her eyes attentive, assessing him as one assesses a target... or a threat.
But then she disappeared behind another house, vanishing as quickly as she had appeared.
Yuji looked away, a little tense.
"This place is full of strange people..." he murmured. "This definitely isn't Japan."
He took a deep breath. "Okay... explore more, try to understand the logic of this place... and try not to start a fight."
Still, it made him uneasy.
And Yuji had a feeling that she would cross his path again, whether he wanted to or not.
Yuji walked slowly through the commercial area, which was noisy, busy, and full of different smells. The signs in the shops had strange symbols, curves, and lines he had never seen before; it wasn't Japanese, it wasn't English... in fact, it wasn't anything he recognized.
"I'm really screwed... I can't even read." he murmured.
Then something familiar caught his attention.
In a wooden crate, there were red, round fruits with a natural shine that strongly resembled apples.
He approached, curious.
"Hey... are these apples?" he asked the vendor.
The man, a robust fellow, raised an eyebrow.
"Apples?" he repeated, as if it were an alien word. "I've never heard of them. Those are appas, kid."
Yuji blinked, confused.
"Appas?... They look like apples."
The vendor chuckled. "I have no idea what you're talking about, but I'm sure appas are tastier."
Yuji put his hand in his pockets.
Nothing.
Not a coin.
Not a single cent.
Just absolute emptiness.
The vendor noticed the silence and tilted his head.
"...You're broke, aren't you?"
Yuji blushed slightly, awkwardly. "Yeah... Let's just say so..."
The man frowned, clearly confused.
But he shrugged and picked up a smaller apple.
"Here."
"Huh? But I can't pay—"
"You're in a terrible situation..." said the vendor, smiling kindly and with a hint of pity. "But don't get used to it, grab a Ringa and get out of here."
Yuji froze for a moment.
He wasn't used to this.
He carefully picked up the fruit.
"Thank you... seriously... thanks a lot."
The man nodded, returning to serve other customers.
Yuji took a bite of the appa.
His eyes widened.
"Wow, it's really good!" (It's literally an apple.)
As he took another bite, observing the movement around him, reality began to weigh on him.
Everything was different.
The language, the food, the people... even the fruit.
This was definitely not a place where someone could have simply been transported by accident.
Yuji took a deep breath.
"Okay... now I just need to figure out how to get out of here. Or at least understand where I am."
And with the appa in his hand, he continued walking through the city.
Yuji looked down the narrow alley.
The three men—a muscular giant, a skinny one with colorful hair, and a small one in a red cape—surrounded the girl in white, clearly trying to extort something from her.
He recognized immediately that this wasn't just "people asking for money." And worse: the girl seemed completely calm, as if she didn't want to cause trouble.
But for Yuji, that didn't matter.
He took two steps into the alley.
"Hey," he called, his voice echoing off the stone walls.
The three turned around at the same time.
The giant frowned.
"Hm? Who are you, kid? Can't you see we're busy?"
The skinny one tilted his head, looking Yuji up and down, a crooked smile appearing.
"Look who's broken. Your torn clothes match your face, buddy."
The short man in the cape merely raised an eyebrow, holding a small stone, something Yuji recognized as more than just any stone.
The silver-haired girl, still cornered, looked at Yuji with a worried expression.
"It's alright, you don't need to interfere..." she said softly.
Yuji shook his head.
"I can't. I can't ignore this."
The big man snapped his fingers.
"So you want to play hero?"
"Actually..." said Yuji, relaxing his shoulders, "I just want you all to stop bothering her. No fighting would be great."
The skinny man laughed.
"And what if we don't want to?"
Yuji was silent for a moment. He took a deep breath.
And then he smiled.
"Then I'll make you want to."
The three of them were irritated by the provocation.
The big man lunged forward first, ready to grab Yuji by the collar.
But Yuji moved instantly.
Too fast.
His fist pierced the man's stomach like a silent battering ram.
The big guy's eyes widened, the air escaping his lungs. He fell to his knees, coughing, almost vomiting.
"Whoa—!?" the skinny guy took a step back, startled. "What... what speed was that!?"
The little guy raised his glowing stone, ready to launch something magical, but Yuji was already in front of him, holding his arm firmly, without hurting him, but preventing any movement.
"No," Yuji said firmly. "Using that against people is wrong."
The little guy swallowed hard.
The skinny guy tried to escape, running to the back of the alley, but Yuji simply appeared in front of him with a short jump, blocking the way.
"UAAAAAAAAH!?" The thief almost fell on his backside.
Yuji pointed with his thumb towards the exit. "The three of you are leaving. Now," he said, calmly as if he were asking for information in a store.
The bandits, even humiliated, ran without looking back, tripping over each other.
The silver-haired girl remained silent for a few seconds, watching Yuji with surprise... and a gentle smile.
"You...you're very strong."
Yuji scratched the back of his head, embarrassed. "Strong enough to invite trouble. But... are you okay?"
She nodded. "Yes. Thank you for helping me... But you don't need to, really!"
Yuji still maintained an alert posture, watching if the three were really going to leave. When he turned back to the girl, he noticed that she was lifting her chin slightly, with a firm expression, almost... proud.
"Are you okay?" Yuji asked, relaxing his shoulders.
The girl adjusted her white cloak and smiled calmly, but with a certain imposing posture.
"I'm perfectly fine. I didn't need your help, but... I appreciate your intention." she said in a soft voice, but full of authority, as if she were used to commanding situations.
Yuji blinked, confused.
...Why did she talk like that?
But he decided to leave it alone. I didn't have the energy to discuss the formalities of someone who had just been robbed.
"Okay... good then."
Before the silence could be prolonged, a small glow flashed next to the girl.
Yuji frowned.
And then, boom!, a floating gray kitten appeared, with a sparkling ice crystal attached to the tip of its tail. The little animal yawned as if he had just woken up from a perfect nap.
"Hmmm... you disappeared for a few minutes and when I come back you're already being "saved" by a stranger?" said the cat, with a soft voice and a slightly provocative tone.
Yuji's eyes widened.
"Um... kitten talking." he murmured. "Okay..."
The kitten turned to Yuji, crossing his paws in the air and evaluating him as if he were a curious exhibit at a fair.
"What about you? Who's the little muscle man?" asked the cat, narrowing his gaze.
Yuji sighed. "I just... can't ignore these things."
The cat smiled, its ears twitching excitedly. "Hmmm, I see. You seem like someone quite interesting."
The girl in white took a deep breath, embarrassed.
"Don't make weird comments. Especially in front of strangers."
The girl adjusted her white cloak better, breathing deeply as if trying to maintain impeccable composure, but her gaze betrayed a slight discomfort. His tone was firm again, but now there was a hint of embarrassment there.
"His name is Puck, in case you're curious." she said, indicating the small floating cat that was waving its tail in the air, all proud.
"At your disposal, gentle and dramatically injured human." Puck said, giving an exaggerated bow.
Yuji didn't know how to react, he just raised his hand in a somewhat confused greeting.
The girl then, with a serious expression, asked: "Have you, by any chance, seen a coat of arms around here? It has a golden shape, similar to a cut crystal..."
Yuji thought for a few seconds, remembering the path he took through the city, the stores, the alleys, the strange fruits.
"No." he replied sincerely. "I haven't seen anything like that."
She looked away for a moment.
Yuji noticed.
In the way she clenched her fingers, in the way her upright posture wavered just a little, she didn't want to admit something.
Puck twirled in the air, sighing with theatrical softness.
"Are you going to keep pretending for the boy?" he commented in a playful voice. "It's better to tell the truth than to act strong for someone who has already seen you surrounded by three bandits, you know?"
The girl closed her eyes for a moment, clearly irritated with the cat.
Then, he took a deep breath and, with evident reluctance, confessed:
"...The truth is...I was stolen. By a girl." she said, each word coming out as if it weighed more than it should. "A very quick thief... and I lost sight of her."
Yuji gave a tired half-smile.
"Well...that explains everything."
The girl blushed slightly, looking away as if losing an internal duel with her own pride. Puck just chuckled softly.
Yuji looked up immediately. "Did she have blonde hair?"
The girl seemed surprised.
"There was! Did you see her?"
Yuji pointed with his finger at the top of the surrounding buildings. "I did. I saw her running across the rooftops. Really fast. I saw her earlier when I was exploring the city... I think I can help find this girl."
She spent a few seconds staring at Yuji, evaluating him, his torn clothes, his scarred face, his tired look... but there was sincerity there. Many.
Puck landed on her shoulder and whispered excitedly, "I like this human. I think you can trust him."
The girl took a deep breath. "Okay. If you really saw the girl, then... I'll accept your help."
Yuji craned his neck to observe the tops of the houses, as if the thief would appear at any moment.
And for the first time since arriving in this strange world... he felt like he had a clear purpose to follow.
Yuji and the girl walked all over the commercial area, then into narrower streets, asking shopkeepers, observing alleys, going up and down cobblestone sidewalks. But after a whole hour, the blonde girl was nowhere to be seen.
They finally stopped at the foot of a long staircase that led up to an elevated plaza. Yuji took a deep breath, resting his hands on his knees.
"Damn... she's really fast..." he commented, looking at the rooftops, trying to spot any movement.
Puck, floating beside them, blinked slowly. "You know... you've been walking together for a while and haven't even introduced yourselves."
The girl froze for a moment, as if caught off guard.
Yuji pounded his chest with a closed fist, in a simple gesture. "Ah, right. My name is Yuji. Itadori Yuji."
Puck nodded contentedly.
She remained silent for a few seconds. The wind blew, stirring her white cloak. Yuji noticed she seemed... hesitant. As if saying her name carried some weight.
Finally, the girl opened her mouth to answer:
"My name is..."
The girl took a deep breath, as if gathering courage to say something that carried an enormous weight for her.
"...Satella." she finally answered, almost in a whisper.
Silence fell immediately between them, so dense that even Puck stopped floating for a moment. The name echoed in Yuji's head, but it didn't awaken fear or strangeness in him, only a slight, almost naive curiosity.
Satella lowered her gaze, already expecting the common reaction: repulsion, recoil, tension. But none of that came.
Yuji smiled simply, sincerely, and unpretentiously.
"Satella... What a beautiful name." he said, without hesitating for a second.
Her eyes widened slightly, total surprise etched on her face. It was clear that this wasn't the answer she was used to receiving. Puck crossed his little arms in the air, looking at Yuji as if trying to decipher this strange boy, as pure as he was dangerous.
"You... think it's handsome?" Satella asked, almost doubting what she had heard.
Yuji scratched the back of his neck, still smiling. "Yeah. It suits you. Seriously."
For a moment, the wind passing through the staircase seemed to lighten. Satella looked away, and the tips of her fingers trembled, perhaps surprised, perhaps relieved, perhaps something she herself couldn't understand.
It was the first time in a long time that someone had said that to her without fear.
Satella looked away quickly, as if she had been caught in a moment that was too intimate. Her expression was strange... a mixture of shame and guilt, as if Yuji had complimented something she believed she didn't deserve. But Yuji didn't notice, she just seemed shy, and that was even kind of cute.
When the silence lessened, Satella looked at him again. But this time her eyes slowly lowered, truly observing Yuji.
The strange clothes. The torn collar. The tired posture.
And then... his hands.
Satella took Yuji's left hand; it was partially bandaged, and his little and ring fingers were missing, as if they had been torn off long ago. Even so, he used that hand naturally, as if he were already used to it. The scars scattered across his hands, wrists, and face told stories, stories of pain, struggles, survival. Dry, old marks, and newer ones.
It was like looking at someone who had lived through battles she could never imagine.
Puck tilted his head, noticing Satella's focus, but remained silent.
Yuji only realized she was staring after a few seconds and gave a small, awkward smile.
"Ah... sorry. I must look kind of scary, right?" He commented, scratching his cheek with his untouched hand.
Satella shook her head quickly.
"N-no, that's not it..." she said, but her voice was low, heavy with curiosity. "It's just... you have so many marks. And... your hand..."
She hesitated, but didn't look away.
Could he... be a warrior? The question echoed only inside her head.
Yuji, not understanding what was happening, became even more confused.
"Huh? Did something happen? Do I have dirt on my face?" he asked, genuinely concerned, bringing his face closer to hers without realizing it.
Satella blushed slightly, surprised by the closeness, but what caught her attention most were those scars... and the gentle way he smiled despite them.
That boy was definitely not ordinary.
Yuji and Satella continued down the long staircase until they reached a busier street. Time passed slowly, and the city seemed increasingly confusing to Yuji: shops with strange symbols, streets that turned into identical places, accents he had never heard. Even so, Satella walked beside him with light steps, and Puck floated like a small, furry bodyguard.
After a few minutes, Yuji sighed: "Look... maybe we should ask someone for help. Like a guard, or I don't know... someone who knows the city well. It doesn't make sense for us to keep walking in circles."
Satella squeezed her arm slightly, thoughtfully.
"I... I'm not sure if that would be wise," she replied, looking away as if she were afraid of something. "But... you're trying to help. So... okay. We can try."
Yuji smiled, satisfied.
They walked to an intersection where some city guards were passing. Among them, a young man caught their attention from afar, with vibrant red hair, like living fire, and impeccable posture. His armor shone even without direct sunlight, and his expression was firm, yet gentle.
Satella noticed him first.
"There," she said, pointing with some hesitation. "Maybe... he can help us."
Yuji nodded and approached the red-haired man.
The young man noticed the two approaching and turned with a slight, polite smile.
"Good afternoon. Can I help you with something?" he said in a calm, confident voice.
Before Yuji could answer, Satella inclined her head slightly, almost reverently.
The man nodded with a slight, cordial smile.
"Reinhard van Astrea, at your service." He then looked at Yuji, his blue eyes assessing gently but attentively. "And you? Are you looking for something? Or someone?"
Yuji took a deep breath, ready to explain the situation and ask for help finding the blonde thief... without realizing he had just caught the attention of the most feared and respected swordsman in the entire city.
Yuji took a step forward, trying to ignore Reinhard's penetrating, yet polite gaze.
"Actually, it's both... My name is Yuji Itadori." he said, lightly tapping his chest. "And this one here... is my friend. We're looking for a very important crest for her. A thief took it. She's small, blonde, very fast. We searched for hours, but... without success."
He looked at Satella for a moment, but didn't say her name. It didn't seem right to reveal it, and somehow, he felt she preferred it that way.
Reinhard listened attentively, his expression changing little when Yuji mentioned the thief. He bowed slightly, respectfully, placing his hand on his sheathed sword.
"I understand. So you're dealing with someone who usually steals people's belongings..." Reinhard said thoughtfully. "Alright, understood."
Yuji raised an eyebrow, excited.
"Have you seen her before?"
Reinhard smiled slightly.
"No." He then became more serious. "But I'll be more vigilant. From now on, I'll pay attention to any suspicious movement. If that little blonde girl really took the crest... I'll find her."
Satella stiffened for a moment, surprised by the knight's complete readiness.
Puck landed on her shoulder, wagging his tail like a satisfied feline.
Yuji relaxed his shoulders.
"Thanks a lot... Reinhard, right?" he asked, just to be sure.
Reinhard nodded.
"Yes. And if you need anything else, especially anything related to security... you can look for me. I'll keep an eye on the crest."
He gave a small farewell wave and went back to observing the street, but Yuji felt that, even standing there, the guy seemed to patrol the entire city at once.
Reinhard tilted his head slightly to the side, observing Yuji's condition more closely: the torn clothes, the dirt on his shoulders, the battle marks, the scar, the missing fingers. He didn't look with pity, but rather with seriousness, like someone evaluating an important report.
"Lord Itadori." he began, in a calm voice. "Did something happen to you before you got here? Your appearance suggests you've been through a fight... or some pretty dangerous situation."
Yuji scratched the back of his neck awkwardly.
"Ah... nothing much. Just some troublemakers in town." He gave a crooked, somewhat tired smile. "But I've dealt with that before."
Reinhard narrowed his eyes for a moment, not doubting, but analyzing. Then he took a deep breath and replied:
"I understand you're strong... but, despite that, you shouldn't handle everything alone. Especially here in Lugnica." He touched his own sword, but without aggressive intent. "There are guards trained precisely for this kind of situation."
Yuji raised his hands, appeasing. "Yeah, I realized that later. But it was kind of instinctive, you know?"
Reinhard nodded, understanding.
"I understand. But I ask that, next time, you at least inform one guard. You don't seem to be a citizen here... and you could end up getting hurt by interfering in dangerous matters."
Yuji chuckled lightly.
"I'm already used to getting hurt."
Reinhard stared at him with a serious but gentle expression.
"That's... exactly what worries me."
Satella watched silently, but Yuji noticed she looked away for a second, perhaps surprised by the attention the knight was giving to someone she barely knew.
Puck yawned, floating beside Yuji.
Reinhard exhaled calmly. "If you have any more problems or see the blonde-haired girl again, look for me. I'll do my best to help."
Yuji simply nodded, feeling that this guy might be the most trustworthy person he'd found in that strange world.
"Well... Thanks for the help, see you later!..."
Reinhard watched Yuji and Satella walk away, gradually disappearing into the flow of people in the square. He opened his mouth to wish them good luck, but before he could say anything...
The sword at his waist trembled.
A slight tremor, almost imperceptible, but absolutely impossible to ignore for someone like him.
Reinhard immediately stopped walking.
"...Again?"
He placed his hand on the hilt of the sword. The metal vibrated under his fingers, as if reacting to something moving away. Or someone.
He looked in the direction Yuji had gone.
The sword... wanted to be drawn.
The Sword Saint frowned.
This never happened without reason. The Dragon Sword didn't easily accept being drawn; it only reacted this way in the face of extraordinary beings, overwhelming threats... or forces completely out of the ordinary.
Even stranger: He felt he could pull it out at that moment.
As if the blade were accepting, allowing, even asking to be used against this stranger.
"Unusual..." murmured Reinhard, gripping the hilt firmly, testing its resistance.
Normally, the sword refused, heavy as a mountain.
But now...
It moved.
If he let it, Reinhard could lift it completely.
But why?
Yuji Itadori didn't seem dangerous. He was wounded, disoriented, overly humble. He showed no murderous intent, nor did he display magic, nor did he carry malice... only pain and a strange, almost tragic strength.
Reinhard slowly released the hilt.
The trembling ceased instantly.
"You..." he thought softly, staring at the empty street.
He closed his eyes for a second.
The sword never trembled for no reason.
And it never reacted to ordinary people.
When Reinhard opened his eyes again, Yuji and Satella were already too far away to be seen.
But the feeling persisted, that he had just crossed paths with someone who would change many things.
----
Yuji and Satella walked side by side through the narrow streets, trying to analyze every face, every rooftop, every alley where the blonde-haired thief might have passed. The sun was already beginning to set, tinging the city with a soft orange.
In the midst of this investigative silence, a soft sound caught their attention.
A muffled cry... choked... childlike.
Yuji turned his face first.
Leaning against a stone wall, almost shrinking into herself, was a little girl with short green hair. Her large eyes were full of tears, her simple clothes pushed against her chest as if that gave her security. She was trembling.
"She's... lost." Satella murmured, frowning.
"Do you think we should help?" Yuji asked.
Satella looked at the little boy again and came to her senses. "OF COURSE! We can't leave her alone!..."
She approached slowly, lowering her body to the girl's level.
"Hi... are you okay? Did you get lost from your mommy?" she asked in the softest voice she could manage.
But the little girl continued to cry, sniffling loudly, unable to even answer. Satella tried to ask her name, where she was from, but nothing worked; she just cried more, as if she were afraid of everything.
Yuji watched the scene... and something inside him tightened.
A desperate desire to not let a child suffer in front of him.
He took a deep breath, thought quickly, and then clapped his hands together.
"Let me try something."
She turned, curious.
Yuji extended his hands to the little girl, and with the little cursed energy he could still precisely control, he performed a simple trick: a bluish spark appeared at his fingertips, spinning like a small sphere of light.
Immediately afterward, he "crushed" it with his hands... and from within them came a shower of tiny lights, dancing in the air like fireflies.
The little girl's eyes widened.
The crying stopped for a moment.
Yuji then slowly opened one of his hands... and from there emerged a "butterfly" made of Cursed energy, weak, imperfect, but bright enough to capture her attention. The butterfly landed on the girl's nose.
She blinked.
The small, bluish butterfly of cursed energy glowed.
And for the first time... the little girl let out a shy giggle.
Yuji smiled, relieved.
"See? Nothing to cry about. You're strong." He gently touched the top of her head.
Satella watched the scene with astonishment and something deeper. This wasn't just a trick. It was the kind of gesture that showed someone's true nature.
"You really... are kind, Yuji." she murmured, almost inaudibly.
The little girl wiped her eyes with her sleeves and, still smiling, finally managed to speak:
"I... got lost... from my mommy..."
Yuji and Satella exchanged glances.
Now that she was calm, they could finally help.
And so, with the little girl still holding Yuji's hand, they began to ask where her mother was.
The little girl, now holding Yuji's hand tightly, breathed deeply between sobs, but at least she seemed calmer. Satella, as she insisted on introducing herself, adjusted the white cloak over her shoulders and smiled gently.
"We'll help you find your mother, okay?" she said.
The little girl nodded slowly, wiping away the rest of her tears with her shirt cuff. Yuji gave a slight smile, trying to keep the atmosphere calm for her.
Satella stood up and began to look around, trying to find any adult who might be desperately searching for a lost daughter. Yuji, attentive, lifted the little girl in his arms so she could see higher.
"Can you see anyone?" he asked.
She looked around, her eyes darting quickly from person to person... until finally her eyes widened.
"M-Mommy!"
Yuji and Satella followed the finger she was pointing at.
Among the stalls in the square, a woman with brown hair and a distressed face frantically searched through the crowd, holding her hands to her mouth as if she were about to collapse. Her despair was so evident that even Yuji felt his chest tighten.
"Let's go." He said, before starting to walk with long strides.
When they got close, the woman immediately turned her face and, seeing the little girl in Yuji's arms, she ran to them with tears streaming down her face.
"My love!" She almost tripped as she grabbed her daughter in her arms. "I was so worried! Where were you? Why did you wander off? My God...!"
The little girl hugged her mother tightly, finally feeling safe.
Yuji stepped back, allowing the two to embrace. Satella placed a hand on her chest and sighed in relief.
The mother, still embracing her daughter, looked up at Yuji and Satella.
"Thank you... thank you so much!" she said, bowing. "I don't know what would have happened without you. I... I was desperate."
"She just got a little lost," Yuji replied, scratching the back of his neck. "But everything's alright now."
The woman wiped her eyes.
"How can I thank you?"
Satella smiled gently and calmly: "Just take good care of her. That's enough."
The little girl waved to Yuji as she was guided home.
A weak but sincere smile.
Yuji waved back, feeling something warm in his chest for a few moments, something simple but comforting.
When mother and daughter disappeared among the people, Yuji turned to her. "Helping someone like that... it's something natural for you, isn't it?"
Satella gave a small, tired smile. "I guess... it's just something I can't help."
And the two resumed walking, continuing their search for the lost crest, but now with a lighter pace.
They walked back through the streets until they found a small stone bridge crossing a narrow river, where the water flowed calmly, reflecting the orange sky of the late afternoon. It was a quieter place, away from the busier part of the city.
Satella looked at Yuji, who sat down first on the bridge's parapet. Puck landed in his lap, stretching like a real cat. Yuji leaned against the opposite side, letting his legs dangle as he breathed deeply.
A soft silence hung between them, but it didn't seem bad. Just... light.
Satella looked at the water flowing below, the wind ruffling her long silver strands. Yuji noticed she was pensive, much more so than before.
"You're quiet..." he commented.
She hesitated before answering.
"I was just... trying to understand." Her eyes lifted to him. "You don't even know me. You don't know who I am, you don't know what I can be... Yet, you've helped me all this time... Why?"
Yuji blinked, as if the question were too simple.
"Well." He shrugged. "Because I couldn't let a young woman be harassed by thugs."
Satella stared at him for a few seconds.
Puck raised his head, curious.
Yuji continued, scratching his bruised face: "Regardless of where I am now... seeing someone being hurt in front of me... it's impossible to ignore. That's all. I can't just stand there."
He gave a small, slightly crooked smile.
"Besides, you seemed to need help. There was no reason to leave you alone." Satella quickly looked away, her cheeks flushing a subtle pink. She pressed her hands against her lap.
"You talk as if this is... normal," she murmured.
"Isn't it?" Yuji asked so sincerely it almost seemed naive.
Satella took a deep breath, looking at Yuji again.
There was something in her eyes—relief, admiration... and a touch of curiosity that hadn't been there before.
"You really aren't like most people I've met." she said with a shy smile. "Thank you... for staying with me until now."
Yuji shook his head, as if she were exaggerating.
"You're welcome. We still have to find this emblem, right? I can't leave until you find it. I have plenty of time to spare."
"Okay..." she replied. "Let's keep going together until we find it."
The wind blew, lifting their hair, and for a moment Satella noticed his scars again, the way he hid the pain behind a tired smile.
He looked like someone carrying an enormous weight... and yet he continued helping others.
Satella walked beside him, but seemed distracted, as if something was tightening her chest. Puck floated a little behind, observing from afar, as if he knew this matter wasn't trivial.
After a few silent steps, she finally asked, in a low voice: "Yuji... are you sure it's okay...?"
"Okay?" he turned his face to her.
"I am..." she hesitated, took a deep breath, and finished almost in a whisper: "a half-elf."
The wind muffled the word slightly, but Yuji heard perfectly.
He stopped walking.
Satella also stopped, staring at the ground like someone already accustomed to receiving painful answers. Yuji noticed this from her posture, her shoulders slightly tense, her hands clasped, her gaze avoiding his.
For a few seconds, he remained silent. Not out of repulsion, not out of astonishment. But because he finally understood what was happening.
Then he took a deep breath... and smiled naturally, as if it were the most obvious thing in the world.
"Ah, so that's it..."
Satella slowly raised her eyes, fearing what he would say.
Yuji put his hand behind his head, somewhat awkwardly.
"It's no wonder I found you beautiful," he said, with direct, simple, disconcerting sincerity. "Elves are always beautiful."
Satella's face flushed red almost instantly.
Puck's eyes widened.
Satella put her hand to her chest, clearly surprised, not only by the word "beautiful," but by the way he said it without hesitation, without fear, without prejudice... as if it were an undeniable truth.
"I... Yuji..." she tried to reply, but her voice failed her.
Yuji continued walking calmly.
Satella simply froze for a second after the compliment. Then, out of nowhere, she crouched down, shrinking as if she were literally trying to bury her face in the ground to disappear.
"You... Dunderhead...!" she murmured, her voice muffled by her hands covering her face.
Yuji blinked a few times.
"...'Dunderhead'?" he repeated. "Wow, what an ancient dialect..."
Even redder, she buried her head further in her arms, as if she wanted to turn into a little piece of snow and melt into the ground.
"S-shut up...!" she replied, her voice trembling. "Don't say that so... so easily..."
Before Yuji could ask what exactly he had done, something tiny and furry flew into his face.
Puck gave him a small, light "punch" on the cheek, almost like a gentle pat.
Yuji's eyes widened.
"Hey?! What was that?!"
Puck, still with his paws raised like a mini-boxer, gave a mischievous grin.
"Don't worry, Yuji. That wasn't out of anger." He winked. "Actually... it was quite the opposite."
Yuji was even more confused.
"The opposite...?"
Puck landed on his shoulder with an air of approval that was very strange for a magical cat.
"Overall, you did something very good for her," he said, wagging his tail. "So consider this a 'congratulations pat'." Yuji looked from Puck to Satella, who was still huddled up, trembling with embarrassment as if she were about to evaporate at any moment.
"I understand... Thanks for the little punch then."
Satella remained on the ground, blushing, calling him a fool in a low voice.
Puck crossed his fluffy little arms, puffing out his chest as if he wanted to appear more imposing than his size allowed.
"Don't steal my daughter, human," he said, in a tone that seemed half playful, half theatrical threat.
Satella blushed even more, hiding her face in her hands. "P-Puck... don't talk like that..."
Yuji raised an eyebrow, staring at the little spirit.
"Daughter?" he tilted his head. "You look more like a pet than an overprotective father."
The silence lasted a second... until Satella stifled a laugh, then let it out in small, muffled giggles.
Puck narrowed his eyes, but a smile appeared on his face. "Hah! Brave, huh?"
Yuji crossed his arms, smiling slightly.
"See? Even she agrees with me!"
Puck pretended to be angry.
"I think she's just being polite to you!"
The silver-haired girl who had been holding back her muffled laughter laughed uncontrollably.
Without planning it, the two raised their hands at the same time, a small gesture, a kind of silent "high five" of mutual respect.
Satella observed this as if she were seeing two mischievous boys recognizing each other.
She sighed, her cheeks still flushed:
"You two... are really a lost cause."
But deep down, it was impossible to hide her happiness. She kept laughing.
They walked back through the illuminated streets of the commercial area, where the smell of spices and sweet fruits mingled with the voices of the vendors. Yuji walked carefree, Satella observed everything with gentle curiosity, and Puck floated beside them, as always.
Suddenly, Yuji spotted a familiar face:
"Oh, appa's uncle!"
The merchant, with that welcoming smile and thick mustache, also saw them, but before he could speak, his eyes widened as he noticed two figures approaching:
His wife emerged from the crowd, holding the little hand of the green-haired girl.
The girl let go of her mother and ran to Satella.
"For you!" she said, offering a small, crumpled white flower, probably picked in haste.
Satella's eyes widened in surprise, then she smiled shyly but delightedly, holding the flower in both hands as if it were a treasure.
The merchant approached and bowed slightly. "My wife told me my daughter had gotten lost... but only now have I discovered that you were the one who helped her. Thank you so much..."
The merchant's wife nodded, moved:
"Thank you again."
Yuji scratched the back of his neck, a little awkwardly:
"Oh, it was nothing much. We just helped her find you."
The little girl waved energetically to Yuji and Satella before returning to her mother's arms. Satella held the small flower against her chest, with a gentle smile she rarely let show.
The merchant took a deep breath, with genuine gratitude: "If you ever need anything, you can come talk to me. You have a friend in the business world."
Yuji gave a thumbs-up. "Great. Just don't forget to give me a discount on the ring next time!"
The merchant laughed, his wife laughed too, and even the little girl imitated the laugh.
Satella looked at Yuji with tenderness hidden in shyness. Perhaps she was realizing, little by little, that this human wasn't helping out of obligation... but simply because that's how he was.
Yuji, noticing the light and favorable atmosphere, took a step forward and took the opportunity to broach the subject that really mattered:
"Actually... there's something I wanted to ask." He pointed to the merchant. "Did you happen to see a girl who stole something very important from her?" He gestured slightly towards Satella, avoiding mentioning her name.
The merchant frowned, thoughtful.
"A girl, huh...?" He scratched his chin. "By any chance... she was blonde, short, very fast... and with the look of someone who always thinks she's winning against everyone?"
Yuji blinked.
"Yes... that seems quite specific." He confirmed. "It was indeed."
The merchant let out a resigned sigh.
"Then I know exactly who you're talking about. Her name is Felt. She's always causing trouble around here... a skilled thief, but... she's not a bad girl at heart." He shrugged. "She lives in the slums, in the poor district near the outer wall. If you go looking for her, you'll probably find her there or near Rom's junkyard."
Yuji and Satella exchanged a quick glance.
"That's a huge help..." said Yuji, giving a firm smile. "Thanks a lot, uncle. When I have money, I promise to buy more!"
"I'm the one who should thank you for finding my daughter," replied the merchant, nodding sincerely. "Be careful over there. The slums aren't safe."
Yuji laughed, but Satella seemed only more determined, clutching the little flower the girl had given her, as if it guided her.
Now, finally, they had their first clear destination:
the slums and the thief named Felt.
Some time later...
The path to the slums grew narrower, more winding, and silent as the sun disappeared behind the uneven rooftops. The air was colder there, heavier, as if the rich city had turned its back on that corner of the world.
Yuji looked around attentively. Everything seemed more hostile as the light faded.
Puck, floating beside Satella, yawned exaggeratedly, like a lazy kitten.
"I think... hmf... it's about time..." he said, stretching his paws in the air.
Satella looked at Yuji, explaining in a soft voice, "Puck's physical body consumes a lot of mana... so he needs to rest when night falls."
Puck landed on her shoulder, his expression serious, or as serious as a small feline spirit could seem.
"Yuji," he called, pointing a paw at the boy. "You'd better open those big eyes of yours... and protect my daughter while I sleep, understood?"
Yuji raised an eyebrow.
"'Daughter,' huh?" he chuckled. "Don't worry. I won't let anything happen to her."
Puck closed his eyes, satisfied, as if that answer had passed an important test.
"Hmph... then I'll trust you, missing-fingered human." He gave Yuji a small, almost affectionate, farewell punch on the chest. "If she comes back with a scratch... I'll scratch you twice as much."
And then, with a faint flash of mana, Puck disappeared, returning inside Satella's crystal.
The silence that followed was sudden.
Satella lowered her face, gently manipulating the crystal, and murmured, "Thank you... for accepting this."
Yuji put his hands behind his head.
"Relax." He smiled. "It's not the first time someone has asked me to protect someone important. But... I think it's the first time a magical cat has threatened me for it."
Satella let out a low, shy giggle.
Night was falling completely. The slums seemed even darker.
"Let's go," said Yuji, narrowing his eyes. "If Felt is around here... let's find her."
And the two went on, now just them and the darkness around them.
Satella took a deep breath before they took their first step into the darkest part of the slums. Night had already fallen over the alleyways, and the cold wind brought an unsettling silence, the kind of silence that alerts even those who aren't experts in combat.
She gently raised her hands, as if delicately beckoning someone.
"Before we go... I'll summon some lesser spirits to protect us," she said, her voice low and focused.
Yuji opened his mouth to ask, "What do you mean, lesser spirits?"... but the answer came on its own.
Small points of light began to appear around her, one, two, then dozens. They shone like fireflies made of pure mana, each pulsing softly, illuminating Satella as if she were the center of a living constellation.
The lights danced around her arms, floating like obedient little stars, dispelling some of the darkness around them.
Yuji stood completely still.
He couldn't take his eyes off her.
It wasn't just beautiful, it was... serene. Almost sacred.
Satella's eyes reflected those lights, and for a moment she seemed more like a celestial figure than someone lost trying to recover something important.
Yuji didn't even realize he had held his breath.
"Okay..." Satella murmured, feeling the energy stabilize. "Now we're safer."
It was only then that she noticed his fixed gaze.
"H... huh?" she blinked, slightly uncomfortable. "Why are you... staring at me like that?"
Yuji quickly looked away, blushing slightly.
"N-nothing, just..." he scratched the back of his neck. "That was... impressive, you know? Like... really beautiful."
Satella remained motionless for two seconds and then her face flushed again, as before, but even more intensely.
"You fool..." she murmured, turning her face away to hide the involuntary smile that threatened to escape. "Let's go..."
Yuji gave a small smile.
And the two of them, accompanied by the soft glow of spirits, finally moved forward towards the heart of the slums.
Satella took two steps forward before noticing that Yuji had stopped. She turned her face away, confused.
"What is it?"
Yuji looked around. The slums were cramped, dark, and... full of anonymous eyes watching from the shadows. He noticed something that she, in her purity, hadn't: her clothes "shone" too much. The silvery white, the delicate details, the clean fabric... It was like a lighthouse in the middle of a sea of poverty.
He took a deep breath, then pulled at his own shirt, torn, dirty with earth and dried blood, and began to take it off.
"Y-Yuji?!" Satella recoiled, somewhat frightened. "What are you doing?!"
He was left only in his shirt underneath, extending the shirt to her.
"Wear this..." he said with the utmost naturalness. "Your outfit draws a lot of attention. Here... it's not a safe place to stand out like that."
Satella blinked, surprised.
Yuji continued: "And put on the red hood too. That way... you'll be less noticeable. People here might give someone so dressed up a strange look."
She looked at the shirt in his hands. The fabric was rough, torn in several places, bigger than her... and it smelled of Yuji, sweat, dust, and a slight hint of something she didn't recognize.
Satella held the garment as if it were too precious.
"But... but this is yours..." she protested. "You'll get cold!"
Yuji shrugged.
"I can handle it. I've endured far worse things than a cold breeze."
Satella swallowed hard, touching the fabric carefully, as if afraid of ruining it.
"You didn't need to..." she said, her voice much softer. "Still... thank you."
She then pulled the blouse over her own clothes. It was too big, covering part of her hands, and the red hood partially hid her face. She looked like a humble, almost cute version of the elegant figure she had been before.
Yuji nodded, satisfied.
"There, much better."
Satella blushed to the tips of her ears.
"Please... stop looking at me like that..." she murmured, pulling the hood up until it almost covered her entire face.
Beside them, the lesser spirits floated, as if laughing softly.
And then, finally prepared, Yuji and Satella ventured deeper into the dark alleys in search of Felt.
Yuji walked a few steps ahead, alert, but unable to stop his eyes from lingering on Satella, making sure she was truly safe with her shirt and hood up. The slums were dark, cramped, full of alleys that seemed to lead nowhere. The smell of dirt and metal permeated the air.
They turned a corner.
And then Yuji bumped into someone.
The person's body was cold. Too light. And, at the same time, it transmitted a pressure that made Yuji's heart clench, not like ordinary fear, but like a fighting instinct, the kind that screams "danger" inside the chest.
"Ah... sorry, it was an accident—" Yuji began, instinctively taking a half-step back.
The woman turned her face to him.
Long black hair, skin too white, eyes so dark it seemed her gaze plunged straight into someone's throat. The smile she gave wasn't friendly, it was sharp. A predator's smile, a grin that had already chosen its prey before even tasting the blood.
"You should be careful about bumping into anyone around here," she said in a soft voice, almost too sweet... but dripping with menace.
Satella, behind Yuji, took a hesitant step, clutching the sleeve of the oversized shirt he had lent her.
Yuji felt a tingle run down his spine. He had felt this before, near special-level curses, near Sukuna... near things that weren't human. Not unlike the feeling he had with Mahito. It was a presence that simply didn't belong in a normal body.
"I'm really sorry." Yuji repeated, more serious this time, leaning slightly to shield her from Satella. "I didn't see you coming."
The woman tilted her head... and her eyes scanned Yuji as if dissecting him from the inside. Her smile widened slightly.
"Of course you didn't see me." she whispered, as if relishing his discomfort.
Yuji didn't back down. But his posture changed. Relaxed shoulders, firm feet. Ready to react if she tried anything. His instinct screamed, this woman kills.
Satella sensed the atmosphere. Her lesser spirits, which protected her, became restless, the lights flickered around her, like small embers threatened by the wind.
The woman gave another smile, this time completely out of place, as if she were amused by something no one else understood. She then veered out of their way with a fluid, almost dancing step.
"Take care. The nights here are... dangerous."
She passed by them like a living shadow.
Yuji followed her with his eyes until she disappeared into the darkness of the alley. Only then did he release the breath he had been holding unconsciously.
"Who... who was she?" Satella whispered, clutching Yuji's shirt in her hands.
Yuji answered in a low, tense voice:
"I don't know. But... that wasn't just a normal person."
End of Chapter 1