Sayura and Yuna now ran a small but lively restaurant in Shinkai. Their days were peaceful, their hearts light, and their children were growing up faster than they could believe.
One morning, Sayura and Yuna were busy with housework and were late to open the restaurant. Sayura called out to her daughter,
"Rina, can you go ahead and open the restaurant for us?"
Rina smiled brightly, "I got it, Mama!"
When Sayura and Yuna arrived later, they found Rina pulling up the shutter, placing the wooden sign outside, and arranging the chairs all by herself.
Yuna paused, watching her, her eyes soft.
"She's grown so much…"
Sayura's heart filled with both happiness and sadness as she thought, Just yesterday, she was a tiny baby in my arms. And now… she's so strong, so independent.
But then, her smile faded slightly.
Her thoughts drifted to Kevin.
Her son… the opposite of Rina.
Kevin was timid, weak, and constantly bullied by his classmates. He never fought back. He was not the strong boy she once imagined.
When he was hurt, it was always Rina and Mira who defended him.
Sayura's mind flashed to Master Shingetsu.
His powers are sealed… but that shouldn't make him this weak.
Still, she believed in his growth.
"He will find his strength… I know he will."
Meanwhile, Mira was growing strong too. The children had joined the Shinkai Guardians Institute—a place where martial arts and magical spells were taught.
But Kevin …
Kevin was the weakest student.
Every day, he returned home with injuries.
The other students whispered,
"Why is he so weak?"
"He's nothing like his sister."
"The son of the nameless man."
But the biggest wound came from the whispers about their father.
Sayura had never told them the truth.
She only told the village that her husband had died.
She never spoke his name.
And because of that, the village children mocked Kevin and Rina.
"Your father abandoned you."
"You don't even know his name."
Those words broke Kevin's heart.
Rina always protected him, always stood up for him.
But inside, Kevin's sadness grew deeper.
The bond between Rina and Kevin was unbreakable.
She cared for him like a second mother.
They slept in the same bed, shared their dreams, and she never left his side.
Mira was also close to them.
Though she often teased Kevin and sparked small fights, Yuna would always defend him, scolding Mira with love.
Their small family was full of warmth and chaos.
But there was another storm quietly growing.
The story of the Devil of Shinkai.
The tale of betrayal.
Rina would sometimes say,
"He was a traitor. I hate him."
Each time, Sayura's heart cracked, but she stayed silent, quickly changing the topic.
In Shinkai, after completing the academy, students were expected to become soldiers.
It was a tradition—protect the village, become strong.
Sayura wanted her children to follow that path.
But Kevin…
Kevin had no interest in becoming a soldier.
Yuna also wanted Mira to honor her late father's memory by becoming a soldier.
The two mothers shared the same hope.
The restaurant thrived.
The children helped their mothers, serving customers, laughing, and carrying trays.
But one day… it happened.
After class, Kevin was walking home alone.
Rina and Mira had gone to the library.
Kevin… was completely alone.
And that day…