DanMachi: It's destined to lose its self.

Kopii sat on the very edge of the bed in his meager, small, and rather cramped orphanage room, his fingers nervously drumming a beat on the rough wooden frame, producing an almost rhythmic sound. Outside the window, the night wove its dark webs, and only a pale ray of moonlight, like a timid traveler, pierced through the dirt-smeared old glass. His body ached from old, painful wounds, but this pain was insignificant compared to the chaos that raged in his head. Falna Grace… These words tormented him like splinters under the skin, unpleasant and terribly annoying. He needed to find a way to become stronger, otherwise inevitable, almost inexorable doom awaited him.

Suddenly, as if from nowhere, the door creaked open with a characteristic sound, reminiscent of an old skeleton, and Sir slipped into the room like a mysterious ghost. Her ashen-blue hair was slightly disheveled, and in her hands she held a dark bottle with a mysterious, enigmatic liquid, alluring and attractive.

"Can't sleep?" she asked with a light playfulness, bestowing upon him a sly smile that sent shivers down his spine, like an electric shock.

Kopii just shrugged, unable to tear his gaze away from the fading landscape outside the window, which seemed to hide many secrets within itself.

"I can't sleep… And why are you here, in this place? You usually just help the orphanage and leave, like a ghost in the night."

Sir entered, gently closing the door behind her with a tender gesture, and sat down next to him on the bed, trying to create an atmosphere of trust. She held out the bottle, as if offering him something more than just a drink.

"Try it. It's local ale. Maybe it will help you relax a little and forget about your problems."

"Thank you, no need," he muttered, abruptly turning away, trying to hide his emotions.

Sir, like a graceful cat, smiled softly and gently touched his shoulder with her hand. A wave of strange excitement ran through his body from her touch, and he involuntarily shuddered from the tender sensations.

"Are you still thinking about what happened?" she asked quietly, and her soft voice held undisguised curiosity, almost bottomless.

Kopii nodded, unable to squeeze out a word. He felt her fingers squeeze his shoulder a little harder, and from this his heart pounded wildly in his chest, as if in the rhythm of a raging storm.

"You are not alone," Sir whispered, leaning closer, as if trying to create something more between them. Her hot breath gently burned his skin. "I can help you. If you want, of course…"

Kopii was disoriented, he didn't understand what was happening to him, he couldn't control himself, and Sir was starting to scare him, confusing him with her words and actions. He was losing control of himself when he looked at her, suddenly feelings appeared that had not been there before, so tender and disturbing. But suddenly…

Kopii froze, feeling her lips almost touching his ear, creating a pulsating excitement. His mind was in turmoil, and his body, as if possessed by some invisible rhythm, itself reached out to her. He turned his head, and their eyes met, and in her eyes he saw something that made him forget everything in the world for a moment, plunging him into a sea of ​​emotions and uncertainty.

Kopii jumped up abruptly, as if waking up from a long and terrible nightmare. He didn't understand what had come over him, how he could relax so much in her company. "Thank you, Sir…" Kopii stood by the window, his fingers convulsively clutching the windowsill, as if he was trying to hold on to the reality that was once again slipping away from him. The moonlight, breaking through the muddy glass, painted bizarre shadows on the floor, which seemed alive, ready to grab him at any moment. He felt his heart pounding in unison with the creaking ticking of the old clock on the wall, which relentlessly ticked away the time. Sir was still sitting on the bed, her ashen-blue hair shimmering slightly in the twilight, like a fairy in an unknown dance. She looked at him, and in her eyes splashed something that he could not understand, but that made his skin crawl.

After a few minutes, the strange delusion disappeared, and he didn't understand what had happened. Sir had again turned into the cheerful and sympathetic girl that he had known for a long time. She wished him good night and, like a soft breeze, left.

Left alone in his thoughts, Kopii could not come to his senses for a long time. He rushed around the room, trying to comprehend what had happened, trying to put his thoughts in order. The feelings he experienced were new and frightening, like a realm of the unknown. On the one hand, he felt gratitude to Sir for her unconditional support and care. On the other hand, he was tormented by shame for his weakness and inability to control himself in those circumstances. Falna Grace seemed to fade into the background, overshadowed by the suddenly flared attraction.

He approached the old, muddy mirror hanging on the wall and peered into his reflection, which reminded him of what he used to be. Fear and confusion splashed in his eyes. Kopii understood that something had happened, but he didn't understand what exactly. He needed to sort out his feelings for Sir and understand how these feelings could affect his desire for the strength that he so craved.

He decided to go to bed, postponing all thoughts until morning. He decided that he would leave what happened last night behind, convincing himself that he was just imagining things, because after she left, he didn't feel anything for her that he had felt before, as if a fog had enveloped his memory.

Deciding to clear his mind, Kopii left his room and headed to the orphanage library in search of knowledge and answers. He wanted to learn more about this city in which he lives and study local legends that could serve as his support.

The library turned out to be a small but cozy room, filled to the ceiling with bookshelves, littered with many books with mysterious dust. The smell of old paper and dust created a sense of privacy and protection, as if friends for the lonely mind. Kopii began to sort through the books, randomly pulling volumes from the shelves. He was looking for any information about the city, its history, its heroes and adversaries. He hoped that new, valuable knowledge would help him understand where to go next in this battle with fate.

After several hours spent reading, Kopii felt tired, but also some enlightenment. He learned about ancient ruins hidden in the vicinity of the city, about legendary artifacts resting in lost, forgotten tombs. In this knowledge he saw an opportunity, a chance to become stronger, to find the resources necessary to achieve his goal. But he also understood that the path to power would be full of dangers, as if he were walking on a knife's edge.

Closing the last book, Kopii returned to his room. The moonlight still penetrated through the dirty glass, but the shadows on the floor no longer seemed so threatening and frightening. He lay down on the bed, closed his eyes and tried to fall asleep. His mind was swarming with thoughts about Falna Grace, about ancient ruins, about chilling legendary artifacts. He felt that his life was changing, like the current of a river was changing. And although he feared those changes, at the same time he was filled with excitement and anticipation. He was ready to challenge fate and prove that he was worthy of Falna Grace, no matter how difficult this road was.

Waking up in the morning, Kopii felt refreshed, like the spring wind itself. The night's sleep helped him calm down a bit and gather his thoughts. He got up, did his exercises, and, filled with energy, headed to the dining room. Breakfast was modest, but Kopii ate with appetite, understanding that he needed strength for the upcoming trials and tribulations.

After breakfast, Kopii went to the library again. He decided to continue his research and find more specific information about the ancient ruins that had stirred his imagination. He knew that time was not waiting, and if he wanted to become stronger, he needed to act quickly, without wasting precious minutes. He spent several hours, immersing himself in the study of old maps and scrolls, striving to understand the layout of the dungeons that could hide unknown secrets.

Suddenly the library door opened, and Sir entered, as if breaking his world again. She gave him a sly smile, as if there had been no awkwardness, and came closer.

"What are you doing here?" she asked, as if everything in the world interested her.

Kopii shuddered from her closeness. The feelings he had experienced yesterday seemed to have evaporated, and she again became who she had always been, a kind and mysterious companion of his loneliness.

"I'm studying the history of the city and its secrets," he replied with some bewilderment.

Sir smirked, and something intriguing flashed in her eyes.

"Are you really interested in this?"

"Yes. And how are you?" he asked, trying to change the subject.

"I'm fine," Sir replied, leaning against the table and watching him closely. "Just decided to check on you here alone. Did yesterday's ale leave any consequences?"

Kopii blushed, remembering their awkward moment. "No, everything is fine. Thank you for stopping by."

Sir smiled, but something strange flashed in her eyes again, making him feel uncomfortable again. "You're welcome. If you need help, you know where to find me."

She left the library, leaving Kopii completely confused. He didn't understand what game was being played between them. The feelings he had for Sir seemed so fleeting, like a gentle dream that can dissipate in the midday hours. Yesterday he was ready to forget everything just to be with her, and today she again seemed to him just an acquaintance, something passing, a sly shadow.

Gathering his thoughts, Kopii returned to his books, finding the importance of constancy in the background of reading. He understood that he could not be distracted by feelings and emotions. Falna Grace was his main, cherished goal, and he would not allow anything to stand in his way. He had to become stronger in order to survive in this harsh and merciless world.

Kopii delved into reading, completely immersed in the magical world of ancient legends and forgotten knowledge. He was looking for any information that could help him on his path to strength and self-improvement. And at that moment, he knew that he had to be ready for any trials that he would have to overcome on his way to a bright future.