Shadows at the Broken Threshold

“Daisy, want to play? Should we toss a ball or stack stones? Or I can tell you a story?”

“Uu—”

“Daisy? What’s wrong? Puffing up that cute little face again…”

“Uu—uu—”

“Don’t tell me… you’re sulking because you didn’t pass the test? Poke poke.”

“Uu———uu———”

At dusk, golden light filtered through the forest and stretched long shadows into the cave.

Inside, Daisy sat on the hay, wrapped tightly in her gray-black fur blanket, back turned to Viola, cheeks puffed in frustration.

She was sulking.

Viola crawled over and poked her cheek from the side.

“How troublesome… my Daisy is angry.”

Viola muttered lightly, folding her arms beneath her exposed chest.

The moment they returned to the cave, she had already dropped her “clothing” transformation and gone back to her usual bare form.

Daisy did find that habit… a bit weird.

But right now—

That wasn’t the issue.

She wasn’t mad at Viola for the test.

She was mad at herself.

She lost.

In front of Viola.

And now she couldn’t go outside.

That small frustration… that childish pride… it bubbled inside her.

Viola seemed to recall something.

She picked up the leftover roasted meat, eggs, and mushrooms from lunch and reheated them with a flicker of fire magic.

“Still want to eat?”

The smell was dangerously good.

Daisy’s stomach did react.

But—

“No.”

“Not eating?”

Viola paused, then extended her finger.

A drop of fruit juice formed at the tip.

“Then drink?”

Daisy was thirsty.

But still—

“No.”

“Hmm…”

Viola leaned closer, a sly look appearing.

“Then… I’ll hug you?”

“……”

Before Daisy could respond—

She was already pulled into Viola’s soft embrace.

Warm.

Familiar.

Smelling faintly of herbs.

The frustration… faded.

Just like that.

Daisy suddenly realized—

She had never really felt bored here.

Never felt trapped.

Because Viola was always with her.

“Don’t want a hug? Then…”

Before Daisy could react—

Viola leaned down and lightly kissed her cheek.

“Th-that’s enough! I’m not mad anymore!”

Daisy panicked, face heating up, pushing herself away.

“Oh? Not mad anymore? That’s great. Pounce.”

“Wah!”

Viola tackled her playfully.

They rolled across the hay together before stopping.

Just… holding each other.

Warm.

Quiet.

Peaceful.

For a moment—

Daisy thought…

Maybe staying like this forever… wouldn’t be so bad.

**

But outside—

The peace was already breaking.

Deep in the forest—

“Old man! Hurry up with the magic!”

A massive four-armed ape monster roared as it attacked.

A heavily armored warrior blocked desperately with shield and sword.

“Relax, Luke. Magic takes time.”

Behind him, an old mage calmly drew glowing spell circles.

“Take your time?! I’m gonna die first!”

A lean swordsman darted in, slashing the beast’s arm.

The ape roared, then hurled rocks and trees like projectiles.

“Damn it!”

The warrior raised his shield, expanding a magic barrier to block the barrage.

“Old man, MOVE!”

“Almost done…”

Then—

An arrow.

Three arrows.

A tall archer fired, piercing the beast.

The mage’s spell finally triggered—

A freezing blast locked part of the monster’s body.

“Nice one, Captain Bremen!”

The team surged forward—

And killed it.

Panting, bloodied—

They gathered.

“Are we even sure there’s a dragon here?” Luke growled.

“All we’ve seen are monsters!”

The old mage held up a magical artifact.

“The guild wouldn’t give this if it were fake.”

Nearby, a blonde scout—Katie—landed from a tree.

“This mission is suspicious. Dragons aren’t normal targets.”

Tension rose between the group.

Arguments sparked.

Backstories spilled—

Debt.

War.

Poverty.

Loss.

Every one of them had reasons to be here.

Even if they didn’t trust each other.

Night fell.

They camped.

Ate the monster they killed.

Sat around the fire.

Katie sat quietly, touching a cheap copper bracelet—

Her father’s gift.

Her reason to survive.

Her reason to keep going.

“Still nothing…” Luke complained.

“Not even a single dragon… what a waste.”

“Shut up,” Katie snapped.

“Enough,” Bremen cut in.

“We all have our reasons. Let’s not tear each other apart.”

Then—

Rustle.

“Quiet.”

Katie’s eyes sharpened.

“Something’s coming.”

A beast emerged.

Red fur.

Two heads.

The three-headed hound.

The same one Daisy fought.

The team tensed—

Weapons ready.

But—

The beast only growled.

Then turned.

And left.

Katie frowned.

“…There’s dragon magic on it.”

Everyone froze.

“…Dragon?”

“Yeah. Faint… but real.”

Silence.

Then—

“Follow it.”

Meanwhile—

Night.

Deep in the cave.

“Uu…”

Daisy stirred.

Reached beside her—

Empty.

“…Viola?”

She sat up.

No wings.

No warmth.

Just hay.

Darkness.

“…Viola’s not here?”

For the first time—

She felt it.

Unease.

Then—

Crackle.

Flash.

Noise from outside.

Daisy froze.

Her instincts screamed.

Something was wrong.

The barrier—

Was gone.

She dropped low, listening.

Footsteps.

More than one.

Different scent.

Not Viola.

“…Who’s outside?”