Celestaris: Chronicles of Manga, Moon & Kizuna.

Part 1

The forest of Mythara was shrouded in a deceptive tranquility, as if the trees were harboring a secret.

Haruto and Yuna moved slowly, letting the cool breeze and the rays of light filtering through the canopy soothe their minds.

Though the exhaustion from the dungeon weighed heavily on their bodies, a quiet sense of accomplishment accompanied them. They had overcome the challenge and recovered the Elven Sword.

Haruto suddenly stopped, feeling his legs protest. He cast a glance at Yuna, who was breathing deeply, her expression a mixture of fatigue and relief.

While she seemed accustomed to the strain, her posture reflected years of discipline—a sharp contrast to his own lack of training.

—Yuna… —he said, trying not to let his voice sound too defeated—. What do you think about setting up camp? I think we could use a break.

Yuna nodded with an understanding smile.

—I was just about to suggest that. We're covered in dust and utterly drained. A rest would do us good.

We found a clearing among the trees, spacious and open, perfect for setting up camp.

Kizuna, who had been resting within me, suddenly reappeared. Her expression, usually carefree, was now tense. Her gaze fixed on something behind us, and her voice trembled slightly as she spoke.

—Haruto, watch out!

A sharp crack of a branch snapping shattered the silence of the clearing.

I felt a chill run down my spine, as if the air itself had turned heavy, laden with an unseen presence. That unmistakable feeling of being watched, of something stalking you, crept over me.

Yuna and I turned in unison, alerted by an almost primal instinct. There, a few meters away, a figure emerged from the shadows. It was tall and slender, and the snapping branch didn't seem accidental—it had been broken intentionally, just to make its presence known.

Before us stood a man of elegant yet unsettling appearance. He wore a dark gray vest complemented by a finely tailored trench coat.

A crossbow rested strategically on his back, while multiple gadgets hung from his belt. Every piece of his attire seemed designed with a specific purpose in mind, like that of a seasoned hunter.

I turned my head toward Yuna, waiting for her reaction, and what I saw alarmed me even more. Her face, usually serene and confident, was now overtaken by terror. Her eyes, always filled with determination, now reflected a mix of confusion and fear I had never seen in her before.

It was clear that whoever this man was, he wasn't someone to be taken lightly.

—That… that outfit is from Netheria —Yuna murmured, her voice trembling as if saying those words required more effort than it should—. What is someone from the Empire doing in the forest of Mythara?

Her question hung in the air, laden with a sense of unease that seemed to permeate everything.

The man began to move forward slowly, with a calmness that was more terrifying than any sudden attack. With each step he took, the pressure in the air grew more oppressive, as if an invisible weight was bearing down on us.

—Good morning, my little bunnies… it's time to raise the curtain! —he said, with a theatrical flair that only amplified the sinister nature of his presence.

Beside me, Yuna remained motionless, but her trembling betrayed her. There was something about this man that paralyzed her in a way I had never seen before.

The man moved with a speed that defied logic, like a flash that escaped my sight. My body reacted instinctively, bracing myself.

His voice emerged from behind Yuna, like a mocking echo that seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere all at once.

—My name is Han Versalles… a pleasure to meet me —he said, his tone laced with arrogance and refined sarcasm.

I turned immediately, but I barely caught a glimpse of him before his hand struck with chilling precision.

The blow was clean, swift, almost surgical. Yuna collapsed to the ground without a sound, her body crumpling as if someone had switched off her energy like a light.

—Sorry about that —Han added, casually wiping his hand as if brushing off dust—. I couldn't have the green bunny distracting us, little rabbit.

—Yuna! —I shouted desperately, running toward her.

Han merely clicked his tongue, a mix of boredom and amusement crossing his face.

—Don't be so noisy. She's just unconscious —he said with an unsettling calm, as if nothing in the world could faze him—. To be honest, I've been following you for days. I even went to the trouble of clearing all the monsters on the fourth floor of the dungeon, just so I could see you at the final level.

My eyes widened. The air around me felt heavier, as if Han's words were sinking into my mind.

—Let me tell you something —he continued, pacing with the arrogance of someone who already had complete control of the situation—. I never thought someone as weak and pathetic as you could accomplish… anything at all.

He paused. His smile twisted, revealing barely contained mockery.

—However… you've piqued my curiosity.

Beside me, Kizuna floated in tense silence. Her eyes, usually brimming with energy, were now filled with a mix of disbelief and fear. Her presence was a stark reminder that I couldn't afford to hesitate. I took a breath and forced myself to act.

—Mat…—

I didn't even get to begin the spell to summon my weapons. A sharp blow to my stomach knocked the air out of me.

A searing pain spread from my abdomen as I collapsed to my knees, unable to even hold myself up.

—Haruto! —Kizuna screamed, her voice trembling with desperation. She floated by my side, spinning frantically, but her small figure could do nothing to help me.

The pain clouded my senses, each breath a torment, making my attempts to move futile.

—Well, well… the little pet is worried too —he mocked, leaning slightly to get a better look at me. His smile was a mixture of satisfaction and disdain—. What were you hoping to do? Defend yourself?

I tried to lift my head, but the weight of his gaze and the pain kept me pinned to the ground. From his vantage point, Han watched me like a hunter observing his prey—not with respect, but with sheer amusement.

In that moment, he crouched down, leveling himself with me. His eyes, alight with a spark of cruel entertainment, locked onto mine.

My gaze, loaded with hatred and frustration, seemed to have no effect on him. His sneering smile widened, as if reveling in my helplessness.

—Look, right now I don't see the need to kill you —he said in a tone so casual it hurt—. First, there's no contract for you. And second… —he shrugged, his indifference utterly crushing— you're simply not worth my time, you pathetic little bunnies.

He stood up as swiftly as he had attacked, turning his back on me as if I posed no threat whatsoever. His eyes began to scan the forest, ignoring me completely.

—Besides, there's no audience to admire my beauty —he added sarcastically, spreading his arms in a theatrical gesture before dropping his voice to a somber tone—. I enjoy my killings as unique, unmatched performances. To me, this is art.

—The most beautiful flowers are plucked at their peak of bloom. —He sighed, almost with a nostalgic air—. And you're just green buds… It would be a waste to cut you now.

Han fell silent for a moment, as if his decision had already been made. Then, with a casual gesture, he tossed a small smoke bomb at his feet.

—I've confirmed what I wanted, and honestly, I've lost the enthusiasm I had. —His voice, laced with disdain, faded along with the smoke that began to surround him—. Perhaps we'll meet again, little bunnies…

His figure blurred and melted into the shadows. In the blink of an eye, he was gone. The smoke dissipated slowly, leaving only the echo of his threat hanging in the air.

The forest was left in an eerie silence. Even though I no longer felt his presence, the air remained heavy with tension, as if his shadow still lingered among the trees.

With effort, I pushed myself to my feet, feeling exhaustion seep deep into my bones. My eyes turned to Yuna, lying unconscious on the ground. Her calm breathing was the only comfort amidst the chaos.

I carefully lifted her, her light but vulnerable body resting against my back. Every muscle protested, but I had no choice.

—Let's go, Yuna… —I murmured softly, as if she could hear me—. We need to find somewhere safe.

I couldn't shake Versalles from my mind. His presence wasn't that of a simple killer; every movement seemed meticulously calculated, leaving behind an unsettling question.

Why had we caught his interest? With that thought lingering, I kept moving away from the clearing, the weight of fear still pressing against my chest.

I wandered aimlessly, guided only by the crunch of leaves beneath my feet and the need to find a safe place.

Finally, through the foliage, I spotted a serene lake, its surface reflecting the faint glow of the moon. It was the perfect place to stop.

Carefully, I laid Yuna down on the grass and began setting up camp. The tent was ready after a few minutes of effort, followed by a crackling fire that came to life, its flames dispelling the chill of the night.

At last, I allowed myself to relax my shoulders as the warmth and the soft murmur of the water helped calm my mind.

Yuna, still somewhat dazed, stirred inside the tent, the faint rustling of the curtain being pulled aside reaching my ears.

Her eyes, still drowsy, first swept over the lake, then the fire, and finally settled on me.

—I see you're awake —I said, offering a smile as she stepped out—. I wasn't sure how long you'd be asleep, so I figured we'd stay here for now. I think we both need this rest after… well, everything that happened.

—Thank you, Haruto… —Yuna murmured, still processing the recent events—. I'm glad you're okay.

Around the fire, a few fresh fish roasted on skewers. I had spent some time fishing, knowing Yuna would probably wake up hungry. The smoky aroma filled the tranquil air by the lake.

The unexpected growl of Yuna's stomach broke the silence, and her cheeks flushed a soft pink, clearly embarrassed. I smiled as I handed her a skewer.

—I hope you like fish —I said, trying to sound casual.

Beside her, Kizuna was enjoying her own skewer, nibbling on it with an almost comical concentration, like a small cat devouring its prize.

Yuna took the skewer with a slight smile, still a bit shy.

—Thank you for the food —she said softly, before beginning to eat.

—Don't hold back, there's more. Eat as much as you'd like —I added, encouraging her.

The tension seemed to gradually fade as she relaxed and enjoyed the fish. Between bites, the atmosphere filled with a comforting calm, a stark contrast to the chaos from hours before.

Yuna, her gaze thoughtful, broke the silence.

—Haruto, there's something you need to know if you plan to keep traveling through this world.

Her tone, though calm, carried a serious undertone. I set my skewer aside, sensing the importance of her words.

—Here in Celestaris, many kingdoms coexist, but there are two that hold sway over the rest: the Empire of Netheria and the Kingdom of Estelaris.

—Netheria is the empire of demons, vampires, and dark elves. Together, they are powerful—far more so than any other race—and they've always believed they were born to rule.

She paused, letting her words hang in the air before continuing.

—On the other hand, Estelaris is the kingdom of humans and other races who fight to preserve peace. It's home to the largest adventurers' guild in the world, with S- and SSS-rank heroes capable of standing up to Netheria.

Her eyes focused on the fire, reflecting something deeper.

—The elves of Mythara remain neutral in this struggle. Our duty is to protect the forest, but… seeing someone from Netheria here… it's not a good sign.

Kizuna, until now absorbed in her skewer, lifted her head and exclaimed in a dramatic tone.

—So… those Netheria folks are a problem, huh? Nothing Haruto-Kyun can't handle!

Kizuna's exaggeration brought an involuntary smile to my face, but Yuna remained serious, nodding slowly as she continued to stare at the flames.

I let the silence settle for a moment, trying to process everything.

As I fidgeted with a wooden stick between my fingers, the reality of this world continued to surprise me.

—So, is Netheria very close to Mythara?

—Not at all —she replied, her gaze lost in the fire—. They'd have to cross all of Estelaris to get here. It's very concerning to see one of them in this forest. It suggests there might be something more behind their visit.

She fell into thought for a moment before continuing.

—I've never ventured outside of Mythara, but I've heard rumors that Netheria has spies everywhere. Perhaps they're looking for something in this forest… or quietly gathering information.

—And what troubles me the most… —her voice lowered, as if she were still processing her thoughts— is his lack of mana.

—What do you mean? —I asked, curious.

—Elves can sense the mana around us, but that man… he was completely invisible to our senses. It's as if he were a shadow without a soul. It's something I've never experienced before.

The idea of someone moving so stealthily seemed to affect her deeply.

Seeing her somber expression, I took one of the fish skewers and handed it to her, trying to ease the tension.

—There's no point in worrying about something we don't fully understand yet. What matters is that now we know we need to be more prepared.

Yuna looked at me for a moment before accepting the fish. Her lips formed a small smile, and her expression softened slightly.

—You're right —she murmured, before taking a bite.

However, her tone turned firm again as she looked at me.

—Haruto, you should rest. I can take watch tonight. My night vision will let me keep an eye on things, and it's clear you're at your limit. —Yuna's voice was calm but firm.

I yawned before replying, feeling the exhaustion weigh on every muscle in my body.

—Alright, but don't push yourself too hard —I said with a weak smile, dragging myself toward the tent.

As I settled onto the improvised mattress, I saw Kizuna floating beside me. She wore an imaginary white pajama set with a matching little hat and a tiny pillow tucked under her arm. The contrast between her playful demeanor and my exhaustion drew a light chuckle from me.

—Are you going to sleep too, Kizuna? —I asked, unable to keep from smiling.

—Of course, Kizu! Even legendary adventurers need their rest! —she replied, curling up in the air as if lying on an invisible cloud.

Kizuna had that gift, that way of turning any situation into something more bearable.

Sometimes, I forgot that she wasn't really a person, but a unique ability—a gift that no one else possessed.

Still, there was something about her that made me doubt… Was she merely a projection of my power, or something more?

I smiled at her attitude, a mix of gratitude and curiosity filling me inside. Closing my eyes, I let the gentle whispers of the lake and the comforting warmth of the campfire ease my tension, pulling me toward the rest I so desperately needed.

—Don't worry, Haruto. —Yuna's voice came softly, warmly, like an echo that soothed my mind—. Thanks to you, I was able to rest well.

Her words lingered in my consciousness, bringing an unexpected sense of relief. I let out a sigh, surrendering to the exhaustion that wrapped around me like a warm blanket.