Death, Betrayal, and the Voice in the Dark
Daichi looked at the key.
Then…
At the man.
The image of the village came to mind.
The deaths.
The lack of defense.
He took a deep breath.
— Help the village.
The nobleman raised an eyebrow.
— Resources.
— Weapons.
— Support.
— They need it.
Silence.
The nobleman’s smile changed.
Lighter.
More… interested.
— Curious.
He stood up slowly.
— Most would ask for gold.
— Or comfort.
He approached.
— But you…
He stopped right next to him.
— You ask for others.
Daichi didn’t back down.
— So?
He asked.
The nobleman twirled the key between his fingers.
Thoughtfully.
— Very well.
He reached out his hand.
— I can help.
A pause.
— But everything has a price.
Silence.
A heavy one.
Daichi narrowed his eyes.
— What kind of price?
The nobleman smiled.
— We’ll see.
He placed the key in Daichi’s hand.
— Consider this…
A brief pause.
— The beginning of something greater.
Daichi closed his hand around the key.
Without realizing it…
That he had already accepted the game.
The safe opened.
For a brief second…
Silence.
Then—
— THIEF!
The scream erupted behind him.
Daichi froze.
He turned.
The nobleman was standing at the door.
Pointing.
— Get him!
Footsteps.
Fast.
Heavy.
Before he could react—
A blow.
— AGH—!
He was thrown to the ground.
Another blow.
And another.
Guards surrounded him.
Kicks.
Fists.
Without pause.
— Wait—!
— I was called—
— Shut up!
Another blow to the face.
The taste of blood.
My vision is blurring.
— I didn’t—
A boot struck his ribs.
— AAH—!
The air vanished.
He tried to get up.
He was pushed back down.
— You filthy thief…
said one of the guards.
— I’m not—!
Another blow.
Harder.
The world began to go dark.
— …stop…
But no one stopped.
The sound of the impacts echoed.
Distant.
As if it no longer concerned him.
— I… just wanted…
The village.
The faces.
Erza.
— I still…
One last blow.
Silence.
The body stopped.
Motionless.
The guards stepped back.
Panting.
— It was over.
The nobleman approached.
He looked at the body on the ground.
Without emotion.
— Throw it away.
He turned his back.
As if nothing had happened.
Daichi’s body was thrown.
Carelessly.
Worthless.
Like trash.
He fell onto a pile of carcasses.
Dead rats.
Swollen bodies.
Some already decomposing.
The smell was unbearable.
Rotten.
Acidic.
Suffocating.
But he…
He couldn’t feel anything anymore.
His face was pale.
Lifeless.
Blood trickled slowly.
Mixing with the dirt.
Disappearing among the bodies.
His eyes…
Empty.
And there…
In that dark hole…
Daichi died.
…
Silence.
Absolute silence.
Then—
Everything vanished.
There was no more pain.
No smell.
No sound.
Only darkness.
Deep.
Infinite.
— Hello, Daichi.
The voice came.
As if it had always been there.
He tried to open his eyes.
But there were no eyes.
— You… again…
Your voice sounded distant.
Weak.
— I’ve been called many things.
The reply came softly.
Almost amused.
— God… even.
Daichi furrowed what remained of his brow.
— “Called”…?
A laugh echoed.
Light.
But… wrong.
— Yes.
A pause.
— Are you… a woman?
The darkness vibrated.
— Hahahaha…
— I can be whatever I want.
The air—if there was any—turned heavy.
— My name…
A brief pause.
— It’s Caligem.
The name echoed.
More than sound.
It was a presence.
— An entity from the underworld.
Silence.
Daichi felt something.
A chill that didn’t come from the body…
But from his soul.
— We don’t have much time.
Her voice changed.
More serious.
— Before… he shows up.
— Him…?
