The battlefield became silent.
The cold night wind passed through the broken ruins.
The Twenty-Tails had disappeared.
Only the moonlight remained.
The young man stood quietly, looking toward Kakashi.
For the first time…
There wasn’t even a teasing smile on his face.
“…So.” “You really did it.” Beside him, the young woman slowly stepped closer.
“We should leave.” “The barrier won’t stay hidden forever.” He looked at the unconscious girl resting in Kakashi’s arms.
Then at Kakashi.
“…This isn’t over.” Kakashi didn’t reply.
Without another word…
The two of them disappeared into the darkness.
Silence returned once again.
— Kakashi remained standing.
He still held Niku carefully in his arms.
Her breathing was weak…
But steady.
For several long seconds…
He simply looked at her.
His face was calm.
But the sadness in his eyes couldn’t be hidden.
The moonlight fell gently over both of them.
Everything around them felt strangely quiet.
Kakashi slowly lowered his head.
“…I’m sorry.” His voice was almost a whisper.
He closed his eyes.
A small blue magic circle appeared before him.
A message formed within the light.
Mission…
Complete.
Kakashi stared at those words.
His hand remained still.
“…” After a long silence…
He finally sent the message.
The magic circle disappeared into the night sky.
There was no happiness on his face.
Only regret.
He gently adjusted Niku in his arms.
“…Let’s go home.” With one powerful step…
He disappeared into the night.
— A few minutes later…
Niku’s house.
Everyone inside had already gone to sleep.
The clone quietly sat beside Niku’s bed.
Just then…
The bedroom window opened.
A cool breeze entered the room.
The clone looked toward the window.
Kakashi had returned.
He was still carrying Niku.
The clone gave a small smile.
“You made it.” Kakashi nodded once.
Without speaking…
He gently laid Niku on her bed.
The clone looked at her for a moment before turning back toward Kakashi.
“Her family never suspected anything.” “Good.” Kakashi’s voice was quiet.
“…Thank you.” The clone smiled.
“My job is finished.” Its body slowly dissolved into blue light.
Within seconds…
The room became silent again.
— Kakashi walked back to the bedside.
He carefully examined the small cuts on Niku’s arms and face.
A gentle blue light gathered in his hand.
Healing magic spread across her wounds.
One by one…
The injuries slowly disappeared.
Only a few faint marks remained.
When the healing was finished…
Kakashi quietly pulled the blanket over her.
He moved a chair beside the bed.
Then…
He sat down.
For the first time since arriving in the human world…
He looked completely exhausted.
His eyes remained fixed on Niku’s peaceful face.
The memories of the night replayed again and again inside his mind.
The seal.
The transformation.
The fear in her eyes.
Everything.
He slowly lowered his head.
“…I’m sorry.” “So…
so sorry.” His voice was barely audible.
“I promised myself…” “…I would never do this to anyone again.” “But…” “I couldn’t find another way.” Niku remained asleep.
The room was completely silent.
Outside…
The moon continued shining through the window.
Its soft light fell across the room…
And onto the two people whose lives had changed forever.
Far away…
In the magical world of Aetheris…
A single message reached its destination.
Mission Complete.
But no one there knew…
The real story…
Had only just begun.
— End of Season 1 —