Kaede hummed, eyes softening as she pictured a small, brazen child darting about with a smile that reminded her of Miuson's when he was younger. "Ah, little Miron, such a cutie~! Is he alright? I overheard one of the Enohayean Men, Himon Koul I think was his name, say it was Dama who found him."

Miuson's jaw tightened; the light in his gaze dimmed for a moment. He folded his hands together as his throat tightened. "Miron's fine," he said, voice low and steady, "he woke up a little after the feast. He and my mother got to see some of it at least." The edge of relief in his tone was quick to fade into something heavier. "I'm glad, since it's my fault..."

Kaede tilted her head, sensing the shift. "What do you mean, Miu?" She asked, the teasing gone from her voice, replaced by a quiet curiosity.

Miuson drew in a breath that fogged in the cold air. "It's my fault he was out there in the first place..." he admitted. The words were small, but they landed with weight. His eyes dropped to the snow, to the smear where his boot had crushed a frosted twig. "When we were small, Miron always wanted to go exploring. I used to sneak out with him and watch over him while he ran about and explored. Even though it was dangerous, seeing his bright smile was always worth it, even when I had to take all the blame the times we were caught."

Miuson's fingers curled into the fabric of his sleeve. "After I became a guard—after the Oni problem began—we didn't have time with each other like before. I was always off on duty or training. When I came home, Miron would beg me to take him out again. And I would tell him… I'd tell him, 'Maybe another time. It's too dangerous.'"

As she finished wrapping Miuson's knuckles, Kaede's eyes softened as she listened, then completed his sentence for him in a single, quiet line. "And so he snuck out by himself, right?"

Miuson bowed his head and gave a solemn nod. "Yeah." His voice cracked, small and thin in the cold. "Who knows how long he was out there…"

Kaede reached up and squeezed his wrist gently. "Don't blame yourself, you were just being a good older brother. If the Oni hadn't come prowling, Miron wouldn't have had to sneak off. If anyone's at fault, it's that Oni!" She gave him a small, proud smile. "That's why you're out here training, isn't it?"

Miuson lifted his chin and let his gaze sharpen into something like steel. "Yes." He drew a breath and raised a fist in front of him. "I train to kill the Oni."

There was no bravado in it—only the blunt, terrible honesty of someone who didn't want to lose someone else.

He then opened up his fist and flexed his fingers around nothing until, as if answering the blaze of his will, a flame sprang to life in his palm—tiny, yet bright as a match. It didn't roar; it simply burned there, a small candle cupped in his hand. "Father…gone to the Hiyan Plague, and Miron almost—" He swallowed hard. "My mother would have broke if she'd lost both of them."

Miuson stared at his flame a long moment before continuing. "I don't know why I was given this, but I swear," his jaw clenched, the flame reflecting in his eyes, "I'll use it to protect the people I love. Even if my firepower alone isn't enough, I'll make sure to melt the Oni's snow and carve a path to their defeat for my comrades."

He closed his hand and the ember winked out, leaving his fist shaking with anger and cold. He let his breath fog for a moment, then forced the last vow through clenched teeth. "I promise to protect my mother, my little brother, the Chief, and..."

The word hung in his throat and died there. Miuson's mouth parted as if to continue, then he froze, awareness rushing in hot and embarrassing.

Kaede, already against his chest, felt the pause. She nudged closer until her cheek pressed against the rough wool of his tunic and tilted her head up to look at him, mischief brightening her features. "You stopped—why'd you stop your heroic speech all of a sudden~? What, or who, were you going to say next?" Her grin was a challenge and a warmth both, waiting for the confession she'd half-expected.

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Miuson's face flamed hotter still; he turned his head so far away Kaede could see the faint crinkle at the corner of his eye. "N-Nothing...!" he mumbled, voice a pathetic squeak.

That was all Kaede needed. She grinned, delighted, and launched a barrage of tiny, childish pokes at his ribs—two fingers at a time—chirping, "Come on, come on, tell me!"

Each poke sent him squirming, his shoulders hunching against the the ticklish sensation as his blush flushed further. The frosty air did nothing to cool the heat in his cheeks.

Finally, Miuson caught one of her hands, managing a flustered, "E-Enough!" He struggled to sound stern but the wobble in his voice betrayed him. Pushing himself to his feet, he brushed off snow from his trousers and walked over to where his spear lay half-buried. He picked it up with a practiced motion, the weapon feeling natural in his grip.

When he came back to Kaede he planted his boots and tried to adopt an officer's calm. "We should go, your father will be worried if you're missing. I'd rather not be punished for anything that may happen to you." The last bit came out as more of a threat to himself than to her, and Kaede's delighted, triumphant laugh answered him like a bell.

With a nod, Miuson then started off toward the village. "Make sure to keep up and stay close." He called over his shoulder without turning—half-order, half-appeal. The only reply was the fresh hush of the field.

A few steps later he frowned and slowed. No softer accompanying footsteps followed. He looked back to find Kaede still perched on the log, chin tipped and grin bright as ever. "What's wrong?"

Kaede put a finger to her cheek, cast her eyes away, and tilted her head in the most deliberately cute way she could manage. "I can't feel my legs," she complained in an exaggerated whisper, "must be from using my Healing Affinity." The teasing in her tone gave the lie away—she was fine.

"And?" Miuson prompted, already knowing the answer.

She leaned forward a little, half-smile turning mildly conspiratorial. "Since I healed you, you should take responsibility!" The last words trailing into a slightly mock-annoyance, yet a giggle hid underneath.

Miuson only rolled his eyes, muttering something under his breath that Kaede pretended not to hear. Still, he moved back to the log, sheathing his spear with one practiced motion. Then he crouched down, offering his back without fuss.

Kaede wasted no time. She hopped onto him with a cheerful, "Up!" and threw her arms around his neck. The sudden weight was real but not burdensome; she folded in, close and warm, breathing out a little laugh into the collar of his guard coat.

Miuson grunted, footing steady on the packed snow as he bore Kaede's weight without falter. He let out a short, proud scoff—half relief, half irritation at being toyed with—then squared his shoulders and marched on. The cadence of his steps was sure, each crunch an unspoken reminder of the hours he'd spent with spear and training until even the cold felt like part of the routine.

Kaede sighed theatrically against his shoulder, letting the wind whisk a loose strand of hair across her cheek. "Impressive." She murmured, genuine admiration threaded through her teasing. "You make carrying me look easy."

"It's the training." Miuson replied, voice flat but not unkind. "It's my responsibility as a guard. And you—you were right. I'll take responsibility." He said the last part with a small, stubborn tilt of his chin, as if daring the world to disagree.

That earned him another little victory smile from Kaede. She leaned closer, lowering her voice to a soft purr, and let her head settle against his collarbone. "Ohhh~? Is that right?" She breathed, the words drawn out like silk. Her finger found his cheek and poked lightly, then she bent close to whisper the last line into his ear with exaggerated innocence: "I can't wait to see what else you'll take responsibility for in the future~~!"

Heat flared up Miuson's neck like a struck ember. His muscles stiffened with the sudden awareness of how close she was—the jolt of warmth that had nothing to do with the cold. Kaede's whisper left his skin tingling, a quiet, electric hum that ran in a line up his spine and made his jaw go dry.

He managed a strangled, "D-Don't joke like that..." the words tumbling out in a rush, half-command, half-plea. His voice betrayed him, too high, too nervous, and the snow at his boots seemed suddenly very interesting.

Kaede giggled, delighted by the effect she'd had. "What do you mean?" She teased, chin propped on his shoulder as her tone and eyes took a more seductive change. "Oh my, were you perhaps thinking something...naughty, Miu~?"

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Next: (Chapter 79) The Basics of Soul Amplification

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