Prologue: The Village of Red Eyes (Part 1)

Snow fell soundlessly onto the rooftops of Asterveil, settling over the village's narrow streets like a white funeral shroud.

Not even the dogs barked that night.

Nestled between dark pine forests and towering gray walls, Asterveil lay completely still, as though the world itself had long since decided to forget the village. Only the faint glow of crimson eyes behind frost-covered windows hinted that people still lived there.

Or at least...

...beings who had once been human.

In the middle of the forest, a young boy stood barefoot in the snow.

His blue eyes never left the weathered wooden post before him. White clouds escaped his lips with every breath as he gripped a rusty training sword in both hands. His fingers trembled violently from the cold, and blood trickled from split knuckles, staining the snow beneath his feet.

Still, he didn't stop.

He swung.

Again.

And again.

Deep gouges scarred the wooden post, but Kaien forced his exhausted body through another strike.

"Huff... Huff... O-One... more..."

The words barely escaped between ragged breaths.

He raised the sword again.

Every muscle in his body screamed in protest. His arms felt ready to give out, and each movement burned like fire.

But he'd stopped caring long ago.

The rusty blade slammed into the post with a dull thud.

Fresh blood stained the snow around his feet.

Kaien gritted his teeth and drew the sword back for another swing.

A dry crack suddenly echoed through the forest.

A branch had snapped.

Kaien spun around, instinctively raising his sword.

Between the snow-covered trees stood a girl with long black hair, its tips dusted with delicate snowflakes. A thick gray wool coat shielded her from the cold, and a red scarf rested loosely around her neck. Even in the darkness, her crimson eyes glowed faintly, while a familiar smile played across her lips.

Yun Yun crossed her arms and gave him a small shake of her head.

"There you are. You've been sneaking out here to train again, haven't you?"

Kaien lowered the tip of his sword.

"So you've been spying on me again."

A wide grin spread across Yun Yun's face.

"Someone has to make sure you don't freeze to death."

Kaien let out a quiet snort.

"I'm not going to freeze."

As Yun Yun stepped closer, her eyes immediately fell on his hands. The smile faded from her face.

"You're right. You probably won't freeze."

Her gaze lingered on the blood running down his fingers.

"But your hands are bleeding again."

Kaien instinctively pulled them behind his back.

"Why do you care?"

She placed her hands on her hips, wearing an expression of exaggerated offense.

"You know, a normal person would've said, 'Thanks, Yun Yun, for worrying about me.'"

Kaien was quiet for a moment before giving a small shrug.

"...Normal people don't train barefoot in the middle of the forest at night either."

Yun Yun blinked.

Then she laughed.

"You've got a point."

A genuine smile spread across her face.

It looked strangely out of place in Asterveil.

People here rarely laughed.

They had learned to stay silent.

To live in silence.

And to die in silence.

The cold wind rustled through the snow-covered pines, making their branches creak softly.

Without warning, a dull metallic bell rang out, cutting through the freezing night.

One toll.

Another.

Then a third.

Yun Yun's expression changed instantly.

"The curfew..."

Kaien looked toward the village.

The faint lanterns of the night watch were already weaving their way between the houses.

"Damn..."

He sighed.

"...Not again."

Yun Yun's expression turned serious.

"If the Elders catch you outside the walls, you're dead. I hope you know that."

A crooked grin tugged at the corner of Kaien's mouth.

"Only if they catch me."

"Kaien."

There wasn't a trace of humor left in her voice.

"You have to stop coming into the forest."

He didn't answer.

Instead, his eyes wandered past her into the darkness.

Something had moved.

Deep between the trees.

Something large.

It had only been there for an instant.

Then it was gone.

"I know there's something out there."

Yun Yun glanced over her shoulder.

"Of course there is."

Kaien slowly shook his head.

"No."

His gaze remained fixed on the forest.

"...Something else."

She didn't reply.

For weeks now, Kaien had felt it.

Something watched him from between the trees.

Always when he trained alone.

Always at night.

Every time, the air grew heavier.

As though the forest itself were holding its breath.

Yun Yun stepped a little closer.

"Kaien..."

She sighed.

"I think you're overthinking this."

He looked at her from the corner of his eye.

"That's rich coming from you."

A faint smile appeared on his face.

"You're the one who doesn't think enough."

Yun Yun folded her arms.

"I know enough to know you'll find nothing in that forest except a certain death."

Without another word, Kaien picked up his sword and started back toward the village.

Snow crunched beneath their feet as they made their way back toward the village.

Between the trees, the walls of Asterveil gradually came into view.

Tall gray stone walls.

Far too tall for a village.

Kaien had thought so ever since he was a child.

Why did a village need walls like a fortress?

Why were the gates locked every night?

Why was no one allowed beyond the mist?

And why did no one ever talk about it?

The forest path opened onto the first row of houses.

Black rooftops.

Narrow windows.

Crimson eyes watching from behind drawn curtains.

An old man stood outside his door, silently smoking as he watched them pass.

Kaien's eyes lingered on the burn scars stretching across the man's neck.

Those scars again.

Almost everyone in the village had them somewhere.

On their arms.

Their backs.

Their necks.

As though something had burned them from the inside out.

Yun Yun noticed where he was looking.

"Hey, Kaien."

She glanced at the old man.

"Don't stare."

He didn't look away.

"Have you never wondered where those scars came from?"

"Of course I have."

"But?"

Yun Yun was quiet for a moment before answering.

"You know, Kaien..."

She lowered her voice.

"Sometimes you don't want to know the answers to all your questions."

Kaien didn't respond.

That was the difference between them.

Yun Yun accepted Asterveil.

Accepted its strange rules.

Kaien never had.

Not once.

Even as a child, he'd known something about this village was wrong.

Too many rules.

Too many secrets.

Too many people disappeared without a trace.

By the time those thoughts faded, they had reached the village square.

At the center of the square stood a massive stone statue of the Holy Mother.

Or at least...

...it was meant to be her.

The statue no longer had a face.

No one knew why.

The Elders always gave the same answer.

The passage of time.

Kaien had never believed them.

A cold gust swept across the square.

Yun Yun suddenly came to a stop.

"Kaien."

He turned toward her.

"What is it?"

Without a word, she slowly raised her hand and pointed toward the well.

A woman was kneeling beside it.

Alone.

Her body trembled violently.

Her fingers dug into the snow.

Blood streamed from her eyes.

Kaien froze.

The woman let out a scream.

A horrifying scream.

Not human.

Around the square, windows slammed shut.

Doors were bolted.

No one rushed to help her.

No one dared to move closer.

Kaien took a step forward.

Yun Yun grabbed his arm.

"Don't."

"But she needs help."

"Kaien."

Her voice trembled.

The bright smile she'd worn only moments before had vanished.

"Please..."

She tightened her grip on his arm.

"...Don't."

The woman's body suddenly arched backward.

Black veins spread beneath her skin.

Her body began to swell.

Kaien's pulse quickened.

The woman slowly lifted her head.

Her crimson eyes burned brighter than anything else in the village.

"AHHH... IT... AHHH... IT BURNS!!"

Her body exploded.

A dull blast shook the square.

Blood.

Flesh.

Entrails.

The well turned dark red.

Kaien staggered back.

His breath caught in his throat.

Yun Yun stood motionless, staring at what remained.

The bright red in her eyes slowly faded...

...until they were pitch black.

No matter how many times she'd witnessed it...

...she could never get used to it.

One by one, the windows opened again.

No one screamed.

No one cried.

Several men in gray coats entered the square and began collecting the remains.

As though they were nothing more than ordinary trash.

Kaien stared at them in disbelief.

"...What the hell was that?"

One of the men looked at him before answering in a calm, almost bored voice.

"Mana overload."

Kaien couldn't believe what he'd just heard.

"A person just exploded, and you call that mana overload!?"

The man briefly glanced around the square.

"Keep your voice down, kid."

Kaien stepped toward him.

"What the hell is happening in this village!?"

Around him, villagers exchanged uneasy glances.

Yun Yun grabbed his sleeve.

"Please... stop."

But Kaien couldn't.

That question had haunted him for years.

Every single day.

"Why does this keep happening!? Why won't anyone talk about it!?"

The square fell silent.

Even the wind seemed to disappear.

The men in gray quietly stepped aside.

Someone was approaching.

Heavy footsteps echoed across the frozen stone.

Kaien turned.

An old man emerged from the crowd, dressed in a long black coat.

Burn scars covered his face.

His red eyes seemed darker than anyone else's.

The Village Elder.

Magnus.

Yun Yun immediately lowered her gaze.

"E-Elder Magnus..."

Magnus ignored her.

His eyes remained fixed on Kaien.

"My boy..."

He took another step toward him.

"...you ask far too many questions."

"It would be better for your own safety, and for your friend's, if you asked fewer of them."

Kaien met his gaze.

"Maybe I ask because no one here ever gives me any answers!"

Several villagers gasped.

Magnus took another step.

"You are not the first to ask so many questions."

Kaien stiffened.

"And just like him, one day your curiosity will be your downfall."

Kaien's hands slowly curled into fists.

"Then tell me the truth."

Magnus smiled.

It wasn't a kind smile.

It looked weary.

Almost sad.

"So..."

He turned his gaze toward the dark forest beyond the walls.

"...you want the truth?"

"Boy..."

His eyes remained fixed on the forest.

"...you wouldn't be able to bear it, let alone survive a single night out there."

Kaien held his gaze.

"We'll see about that."

His voice didn't waver.

"Let me decide that for myself."

Magnus looked at him for several long seconds.

Then he turned away without another word.

"Starting tomorrow..."

He kept walking.

"...you'll be working at the North Wall."

Kaien frowned.

"Why?"

Without looking back, Magnus replied,

"Then you'll finally learn what real fear is."

The old man walked away.

The guards followed him.

All that remained was the blood-red snow.

Along with Kaien...

...and the frightened Yun Yun.

Kaien stood there, unable to shake the feeling growing in his chest.

Because while everyone else had been staring at the woman's remains...

...he had seen something else.

Just before she exploded...

...something black had moved behind her.

Like a hand made of shadows.

Somewhere deep within the forest...

...something smiled.