Immortal Mythos: Bound by Void-Chapter 12: Into the void

The silence of the void clearing was quickly broken by the sound of Ren's sandals scraping across the ground. He stood with his arms crossed, eyes sharp and distant, as if he were seeing more than just Yuki.

"You're learning," Ren said, his tone sharp. "But it's not enough."

Yuki's muscles ached, but he nodded. "Then show me more."

Ren didn't speak. He simply raised his hand.

In an instant, the air changed—compressed. It was as though gravity had doubled. Yuki dropped to one knee with a grunt as his body struggled to adapt.

"You feel that?" Ren asked, his voice calm but brutal. "That's spiritual pressure. Mine. You'll face beings that can kill you just by standing near them."

Yuki gritted his teeth and pushed himself back up. "Then I'll get stronger."

Ren stepped forward. "Then prove it. Channel the void—not as a weapon, but as a shield."

Yuki blinked. "A shield?"

Ren nodded. "You're too focused on destruction. The void can consume—but it can also protect. If you don't understand that, it'll burn you from the inside."

Yuki inhaled deeply, reaching for that cold space inside his chest. The void energy responded, swirling like a slow storm around him. He tried to compress it, shape it—not into a blade or burst, but into a barrier.

It flickered, unstable.

"Focus!" Ren barked. "Don't force it. Let it listen."

Yuki closed his eyes. Slowly, the energy began to curve around him like a dome of swirling darkness. The pressure from Ren began to lessen—just a bit.

Then, a gust of wind shot past him.

It wasn't from Ren.

Himari stood a few feet away now, observing again. Her eyes shimmered with something—maybe curiosity. Maybe concern.

Yuki's control wavered for just a moment. The shield cracked and exploded outward, flinging him to the ground.

Ren sighed. "Still too emotional."

Yuki groaned, picking himself up. "What, am I supposed to turn into a robot?"

"No," Ren said quietly. "But if you can't separate your heart from your power, then you'll never survive what's coming."

Yuki glanced at Himari, who said nothing—just stared. Her presence was steady, a quiet anchor in the storm.

He wiped blood from his lip and clenched his fists.

"Then I'll learn. I have to."

Ren turned away, but Yuki swore he saw the faintest trace of a smirk before he faded into the shadows at the edge of the void space, leaving Yuki to reflect.

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Himari stepped forward, her footsteps making no sound on the cracked, darkened ground.

Yuki sat up fully, rubbing the back of his head. "You just... show up out of nowhere, huh?"

Himari tilted her head slightly, a faint smile ghosting her lips. "You attract strange things. I'm just one of them."

He looked at her, really looked this time. The swirling darkness of the training ground cast her in half-shadow, but her aura—calm and gentle—glowed faintly in his vision. It contrasted sharply with the violent energy around them.

"I guess you came to see if I'd survive that?" he said, trying to hide how drained he felt.

"No," she replied softly. "I came because I was curious."

Yuki blinked. "About what?"

"About how far someone will push themselves... for others."

He stared at her for a moment, but then his expression shifted. "Speaking of others... Have you seen Aiko?"

Himari's eyes narrowed just slightly, and for the first time, her voice dipped. "You're worried about her."

"Of course I am. She was dragged into that spiritual distortion back there. I haven't seen her since." He looked down at his hands. "And I haven't been able to feel her either."

"She's... elsewhere," Himari said slowly, as if carefully choosing each word. "Safe, for now. But time moves differently in the void. For her, it may feel longer than it does for you."

Yuki's brows knit together. "So she is in the void?"

"I didn't say that." Her tone was vague again.

Yuki stood, frustration rising. "Then what are you saying?"

Himari stepped closer, close enough that he could feel her energy—calm, steady, anchoring. "I'm saying... that some things aren't meant to be rushed. You need control before you can find her. Otherwise, you'll lose yourself and her."

Yuki met her eyes, and for a moment, he saw something beneath her calm exterior—pain? Memory? He couldn't tell.

He sighed. "You're really cryptic, you know that?"

"I know." A pause. "But I'm still here."

Yuki chuckled weakly. "Yeah. You are."

Silence settled between them again. Not awkward. Just... heavy.

Then Himari said quietly, "You'll see her again. But first, you must become strong enough not to break when you do."

And with that, she turned and walked toward the edge of the void space, vanishing into the black mist.

Yuki stared after her, his thoughts a whirlwind.

I have to get stronger. For Aiko... and for whatever's coming next.

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