ZigZagkers

The world around Enix felt… wrong.

He opened his eyes to a battlefield—dark, silent, soaked in blood.

The sky above was blood-red, torn with streaks of black lightning. The air smelled of iron and ash. Bodies were everywhere—soldiers in armor, weapons scattered, banners torn. Fire crackled in the distance, lighting up the dead faces with a hellish glow.

Enix's breath caught in his throat. "What… is this…?"

He staggered forward, his boots crunching over shattered swords and broken helmets.

Then—

A chill crawled up his spine.

Someone was behind him.

He turned sharply.

A figure stood about twenty feet away, facing the opposite direction.

Tall. Broad shoulders. Wearing traditional Japanese armor, black with crimson trim. Thick muscle covered his arms, and in one hand he held a massive spear that glowed faintly with electricity. Lightning-like tattoos coiled around his biceps and forearms like blue vines, pulsing with a strange rhythm.

He didn't move. He just stood there… watching the battlefield.

Enix stared at him, confused. "Who…"

Then—

"Wake up."

The voice echoed through the red sky.

"Wake up!"

His eyes snapped open.

Gasping.

He looked around.

Gone were the corpses and blood. Gone was the red sky.

He was now sitting in a clean, dimly lit room that looked like a hospital ward—with glowing runes etched faintly into the floor tiles and walls, forming strange protective circles.

He was on a soft bed, a thin white blanket across him. His chest felt sore. His arms heavier than usual.

"…Wha…" he murmured.

Then he looked to the side.

And froze.

"Nki!"

She was sitting upright on a bed next to his, hands resting in her lap. But her expression was… serious. Eyes locked forward, face unreadable.

"Nki…" Enix whispered again.

He turned his head—and saw Koru, leaning back on a bed, arms folded across his chest.

Aaru was leaning against the wall, arms crossed, staring out the window with his usual annoyed face.

And on the other side of the room, sitting on a spinning stool like she owned the place—

Lali.

She had a half-eaten cream bun in her hand and a second one in her mouth. She noticed Enix staring.

She raised the bun and said with a straight face, "You want some?"

Enix blinked.

He pushed the blanket off and swung his legs over the edge of the bed, moving quickly to Nki's side. He placed a hand on her shoulder, watching the three warily.

His eyes narrowed. Cold. Cautious.

Koru sat up, raising one hand. "Relax. We're not here to fight."

Nki immediately stood up and pointed at them.

"Oh really? You expect us to believe that?! A few minutes ago, you people were tying us up with demonic chains and punching my man through walls like a piñata!"

She stomped her foot.

"Y'all ain't human!"

Enix crossed his arms and nodded beside her. "Facts. And that pink-haired girl, she literally tried to seduce me. In the middle of the beating."

Lali blinked, cream bun still in her mouth.

"…Huh?"

"I DID NOT," she said with a full mouth, cheeks puffed like a hamster.

Aaru huffed from the corner and shook his head. "Both sides are confused. Let's just stop with the yelling."

Koru stepped forward, brushing back his hair.

"Look. We just want to talk. Ask you two a few questions. In return, you can ask us anything too."

Nki and Enix glanced at each other.

Then slowly leaned in and started whispering.

"Do we believe him?" Enix asked.

"I dunno, man," Nki replied. "He looks like that kind of guy who'd smile while stabbing you."

"True, true," Enix nodded.

"He might be handsome," Nki added.

"…What?"

"Nothing."

They both turned back to Koru.

"Okay," Enix said. "But first—what the hell even happened?"

Nki crossed her arms. "Yeah. All I remember is hugging you… and now I'm in this place."

Enix looked at her. "You passed out too?"

"Yup," she said, puffing her cheeks. "After we got together, I blacked out."

They both looked around at the strange glowing room again, unsure if they were even safe yet.

Koru exhaled slowly and said in a calm, clear voice,

"We're not going to do anything to you. That's a promise."

Enix and Nki stared at him, still unsure—but their tense shoulders dropped slightly.

Koru looked between the two of them and asked, "So… your names?"

Enix stepped forward a little and answered, "I'm Enix Rei."

Nki gave a small nod and added, "You can call me Nki Rei."

There was a brief pause.

Then Koru's tone shifted slightly—more serious now.

"Alright. Answer this seriously… How did you two end up in that forest?"

Nki crossed her arms and answered without hesitation, "We were lost."

Koru blinked.

Aaru raised an eyebrow. Lali straight up snorted.

"Pfft—hahaha!" she laughed, kicking her legs from her stool.

Koru sighed. "You have no idea how impossible that is…"

He leaned forward. "Then what happened?"

Enix scratched the back of his neck. "It started raining. We were trying to find shelter."

"Yeah," Nki added, waving her hand. "Then we saw that big, creepy mansion. So we went inside, and BOOM BAMM—some freaky woman popped out of nowhere! I was so scared!"

Enix nodded seriously. "She stabbed me in the chest."

"And then," Nki continued, "when he opened his eyes again, he looked like a demon or something! And THEN you people showed up and kidnapped us!"

Lali was now rolling on her stool, holding her stomach and wheezing.

"These two are crazy. Like, actual crazy. I love them."

Koru rubbed his temple. "Alright… one last question."

Enix and Nki both stood at attention.

Koru's eyes narrowed slightly, then he raised his finger and pointed at Nki's head.

"That thread… Who gave it to you?"

Nki's hand instinctively touched the thin red thread braided into her bangs.

"…My grandpa gave it to me," she said softly. "He told me it would protect me. And it did…"

Aaru's arms uncrossed. He stared at her with focus now.

"Who was your grandfather?" he asked.

"He must've been a Deviner…"

Nki looked down for a second.

"…He's dead," Enix answered for her, his voice low.

There was silence for a moment.

Koru nodded respectfully. "Sorry for asking…"

Then his voice returned, more curious this time. "Can you at least tell us his name?"

Nki hesitated for a breath—then said clearly.

"Naheru Kosuka."

The reaction was immediate.

Koru's eyes widened.

Lali stopped laughing mid-bite.

Even Aaru looked up from his wall.

"…I see," Aaru muttered. "That makes sense."

Nki narrowed her eyes at him. "Huh? You know him?"

Aaru leaned back again, brushing his hand through his silver hair. "Don't ask me. Ask him."

He pointed to Koru.

Nki turned toward him, confused.

Koru gave a small nod. "A promise is a promise. Go ahead, ask me anything."

But before Nki could speak, Enix took a step forward.

"Wait. Before that, tell us something else."

Koru blinked.

"Who even are you people? And what's this 'Deviner' thing you keep talking about?"

Aaru raised an eyebrow, interested in how Koru would explain it.

Koru took a deep breath.

"This might sound like a fantasy to you," he said slowly, seriously.

"but listen carefully to what I'm about to say…"