Months flew by since InuShin’s reunion with his mother, melting with a blend, the quiet routine of shared meals, moonlit walks, and awkward but determined attempts to understand one another.

  Every morning, he sat with his mother and Syelira as they practiced Aurlis, the S?lvcù language and the language of his own. Aromatic honeyed tea filled their study space.

  With the aid of the flame, InuShin read each word carefully, hovering his carved bone stylus over the syllables.

  éist liom,” she’d say gently. Listen to me. She pointed to one of the sentences in his journal. “An féidir leat cabhrú liom?” she said slowly, her accent carried a musical lilt. Hope filled her eyes.

  Watching her lips, he carefully mirrored his to match. “An… fway-fur… lat… cow-rooo…ly-at...”

  An féidir leat cabhrú liom? – Can you help me? Written phonetically in Japanese characters.

  Giggling, she shook her head and used her stylus to point out the accents and markings.“Fay-fer.” She smiled teasingly.

  Exhaling slowly, slight frustration settling in as he repeated the phrase. “An féidir leat cabhrú liom?”

  “Better.” His mother nodded approvingly. She shifted her attention to the girl and gestured to the paper.

  Syelira held her sheet of paper, filled with hiragana characters. “What… eees… thees?”

  InuShin pointed to his mouth and slowly mouthed the words. “What… is… this…”

  “What… is… tis…?” Her lips curled as she started to giggle. Sweet. Playful.

  Through repetition and association, they continued teaching one another laughing as they struggled to pronounce each other’s words. The flame flickering between them, reflecting a soft glow against their sheets of paper.

  Soft patter of footsteps echoed in his ears as a figure approached. Slim, clad in a brown leather and green cloth uniform trimmed with pale silver thread. The scouter, Zarien, stepped with purpose. Observant. A leather satchel hung over his shoulder, and a small crest glinted at his collarbone, shaped like a crescent moon under cross arrows.

  “Maelira,” he spoke his mother’s S?lvcù name before continuing. Words, still melodic, yet stern.

  Even though he didn’t know these words, he understood the message. Monthly meeting with the council.

  After responding, she turned to InuShin, expression softening as she smiled. “It is time for me to attend the meeting. We will pick up again tomorrow, okay?”

  Nodding smally, he hesitated briefly before she could step away. “Mother, before you go. I wanted to ask you. Where is the portal? I know it’s still sealed, but I want to see it.”

  Her gaze shifted, narrowing slightly, as though uncertain to reveal. “It’s hidden in the old grove north of the river,” she finally answered. “But you should not approach it without someone who knows the path. It is… temperamental.”

  Glancing over her shoulder, her gaze fell on Syelira, who was focused on mouthing the words on her sheet of paper. “Syelira…” His mother said, voice calm but filled with authority.

  Straightening up, her ears twitched forward, parking high in attention. Through the flow of melodious words, InuShin understood but a few. Food. Water. Play. But most importantly. Safe.

  Syelira replied with no hesitation, like an oath sworn in blood.

  Lips curved faintly, his mother turned and followed the scouter, vanishing around the stone pillar. Her warm scent lingered, like a blanket swaddling him.

  From the corner of his eyes, Syelira folded her slips of paper and slipped them into her satchel. Her expression no longer the playful warmth he’d grown familiar with. Instead, it was sharp and alert. Like a guard on watch.

  Heart pounding, he observed Syelira’s demeanor, contemplating his decision. I've been here a while and Mother hasn’t shown me the portal. Maybe I can explore while Syelira follows. Using his hands, he pointed to her and himself and imitated his fingers walking across his palm. “Foraoise?” Forest.

  Squinting, she stared for a moment and then nodded.

  Once on her feet, she motioned for him to follow her.

  They exited the study area and followed the windy path until they reached her home. A soothing fragrance emitted from the moonlight-grown flowers.

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  Opening the door, she gestured for him to join. Syelira quickly disappeared into one of the rooms, emerging moments later with a small bow and arrows.

  “Cleachtadh,” she said.

  Tilting his head, he cocked an eyebrow. “Huh?”

  Humming, she moved her arms imitating her pulling back the string of a bow.

  “Practice? Protection?”

  “Pra… k…tiss..?” She stared at him quizzically, one ear perched forward, the other to the side and then pointed to the bow. “You need?”

  InuShin shook his head and shifted his tantō underneath his obi. “I'm okay.”

  “What… eees?” She pointed to his weapon, adjusting the strap of hers.

  “Tantō,” he glanced down at his weapon, forcing a small smile. “My dad.” His heart grew heavy, the weight of seeing him settled in. Duanna said I'm unique. Special. Maybe the portal will reopen for me.

  Turning around, he stepped out of the house, Syelira right behind him.

  Once outside, she sniffed the air, adjusting the direction she faced. Eyes closed. After several sniffs, she pointed in a direction. “There.”

  Folding his arms into his haori sleeves, his bare feet pressed against the mossy path as they made their way to another bridge.

  Carved green stones glowed under the small streams of light breaking through the canopy. Below, the river flowed steadily. Quiet. Peaceful.

  As they reached the other end, the forest's energy shifted. Thicker trees. Colder air. The scent mixture of damp bark and moss surrounded them.

  Following the trail, Syelira remained alert. Focused. Her eyes shifted between him and their surroundings.

  She seems to take her duty seriously. Tapping his arm underneath his haori sleeves, he stayed near her.

  Slowing her pace, a soft hum rang from her. Gentle. Carefree.

  The constant murmur of the nearby water guided them. As long as they stayed close to the river. They'd easily find their way home.

  Heartbeat quickening, InuShin inhaled deeply. Slowly. What if I make it back to Japan? Will I be able to return here? Doubt clouded his mind, unsure what decision to make.

  Stepping in front of him, Syelira smiled warmly. Sweetly. Extending her hand, she held a white flower with pale gold tips. “Bláth.”

  “Blath?” He repeated, furrowing his brows slightly as he attempted to mimic her pronunciation. “Oh. Flower. Blath.”

  Nodding excitedly, she extended it towards him. “Bláth. You.” She pointed to the flower and then to his hair, before acting like she was putting it in her hair.

  “Uhh… Sure.” He nodded.

  Stepping closer, her face mere centimeters from his, she shifted part of his hair and placed the flower.

  His heart pounded and his face radiated a heat as he stared at her focused zaffre eyes. Her sun-kissed skin seemed to glow more than usual.

  With a satisfied smile, she stepped back, eyes twinkling like the stars above.

  Further down the path it split in two. One side followed the curvature of the river. The other extended into a shadowed stretch of trees. An old, wooden sign, etched with words in Aurlis.

  Carefully reading the sign, Syelira turned to face him. Her expression was serious. Voice firm. “Toirmiscthe.”

  Confused, he stared at her for a moment and then his gaze lingered down the dark trail. “What?”

  Biting her lip, she pondered for a bit and then said. “Danger. Bad.” She pointed down the other trail. “Water.”

  Curiosity filled him as he remained fixated on the path. Stepping towards the path, the sleeve of his haori shifted and he looked.

  Syelira held onto his sleeve, tugging it and pointing down the second path. “Sorry. There.” She muttered and quickly released him.

  “Just a look.”

  “A look?” She elongated the vowel.

  “This.” He imitated walking a short distance, leaned forward with a hand over his brow, and then turned around, imitating walking back.

  Hesitant, she peered down the forbidden path and then back to him, nodding slowly.

  The forbidden path quickly swallowed the light. The air clung to their skin. Damp. Heavy. It swallowed the sound of the river. Yet. There was a familiar scent in the air. His mother’s.

  Mother's been here recently? Without me? His stomach churned, twisting into a knot. Is she hiding something from me?

  Shoulders tensed, Syelira took her bow in hand and prepared an arrow. The energy from her grew cautious. Frightened.

  As the path cleared up, a pale light cascaded onto a strange, perfect ring of stones, like a full moon. Additional stones provided support. It stood like a doorway. Inside the circle, the open field extended onward.

  “Shin…” she said slowly, freezing in place.

  Stepping closer, he asked. “What is it?”

  “I no know…” she continued, her voice trembling. “We… go.”

  As he neared the structure, strange markings emerged from the stones. Symbols. Different from the S?lvcù. “What if this can take me to my Dad?” He turned to face her. “What if I can open it?”

  The ground grew colder, as if the forest began to hold its breath.

  Crouching near the stones, he ran his fingers over the markings. I wonder if the elders can understand them.

  “Shin…” Her voice shook, laced with fear.

  “What?” Glancing back at her, he noticed her frozen in place.

  Body quivering with her bow by her side. Her gaze, wide-eyed, fixated slightly above him.

  As he looked above him, his stomach dropped at the sight before him.

  From atop the portal, deep purple claws gripped the top as a creature emerged, as if coming from thin air.

  Skin like cracked obsidian veined with a purple glow underneath. Its horns curved back from its skull. A ghostly glow radiated from its eyes

  A sharp, sweet-sour smell filled his nose. Frozen in fear, InuShin's chest tightened as he watched the beast crawl down from the portal frame. “Sye… what is this…?”

  “I no know…” she muttered.

  On all fours, the beast towered over him. A menacing growl rumbled from its throat.

  An arrow whistled through the air and snapped against the beast’s neck, falling to the ground.

  Jaw opening, droplets of dark purple fell, crashing into the ground with a sizzle. Its growl grew heavier. Attention shifted towards her, it took a slow, weighted step.

  I dragged her out here. This is my fault. Looking in her direction, she stood, trembling. Her arms fell beside her. An urge to protect washed over him. There's no water here, but if I can distract it, she can run away.

  Gripping his tantō, he steadied his breath. “Sye… run!”

  Unsheathing his weapon, he closed the gap and attacked.

  With a flash of sparks, his tantō collided with the beast's hide. A harsh crack echoed, and the tantō snapped in two.

  Coldness rushed through his body as the blade slowly fell to the ground. A hollow clunk echoed in his ears from its bounce.

  Prowling closer, a purple mist coiled in the air as a pungent odor surrounded them.

  Then. A sudden whip of wind cut past him, striking the creature's side. Leaves and dust swirled. The air was sharp with its passing. From the corner of his eye, she held one arm extended forward, palm open, fingers spread.

  She can control air? InuShin quickly backed away, heart pounding as he held the broken sword in hand. What else can S?lvcù do?

  The beast shifted its stance, unfaltered. Watchful. The haze drifted towards them, like rolling clouds as the beast remained still in front of the portal.

  Syelira tugged on his arm, eyes bore into his. Concern. Fear.

  Without words, he understood.

  Slowly backing away, InuShin and Syelira distanced themselves from the beast, disappearing back into the forest.