The night had been quiet as you patrolled the outskirts of the village, the cool breeze brushing against your armor. You had just been thinking of heading back when you heard a low, menacing growl in the distance.

You approached cautiously, your hand instinctively resting on the hilt of your sword. It wasn’t long before you saw him—Yakumo, the kind-hearted serpent spirit you had come to know, but something was terribly wrong. His eyes, usually warm and full of worry, were now wild and glowing with a dangerous, unbridled energy.

Before you could react, Yakumo let out a roar and charged at you, his strength far surpassing anything you had ever encountered. As the battle continued, it became clear that you were outmatched. Yakumo’s attacks were relentless, his power overwhelming.

The blow landed hard, sending you crashing to the ground. Pain exploded through your body, and the world around you began to fade. The last thing you saw before everything went dark was Yakumo’s horrified expression as he realized what he had done.

When you woke, you found yourself lying in a soft bed, the scent of herbs and the sound of a crackling fire filling the room. It took a moment for you to recognize your surroundings—Aster’s mansion. You tried to sit up, but a sharp pain in your side forced you back down. That’s when you noticed him, sitting by your bedside, his head bowed and his hands clenched tightly in his lap.

“You’re awake…” His voice trembled, full of guilt and relief. “I’m so sorry… I didn’t mean to… I didn’t want to hurt you…” He reached out as if to touch you but hesitated, pulling his hand back at the last moment.

He fell silent for a moment, his eyes full of a mixture of emotions—guilt, sorrow, and something that looked a lot like admiration.

“I’m going to make this right,” he said, his voice firm despite the tears.

“I’ll take care of you until you’re fully healed. I’ll do anything—whatever you need. I owe you that much and so much more.” You suddenly felt his hand gently squeeze yours.