One month ago in the Kingdom of Itamor, the monarch ordered the execution of all people of a particular race. These people, called Cosmics, were feared for their abnormal abilities and were identified by their light blue hair. One man, named Bunjiro, was married to a Cosmic woman, who was with child. Bunjiro had served under the monarch for years as a high-ranking soldier. The king showed him mercy and instead banished him to Mount Nova with his wife, Osami. The king did this, knowing full well that Mount Nova was the most dangerous territory in the kingdom. Bunjiro and Osami made their way up the mountain with no provisions or weapons. Bunjiro has done his best to protect her from the midstless, but they both grow weary. This is their story.

I look down at my hands, stained with blood and dirt. The rain is smearing the blood and soil together, creating an unfamiliar color. Despite the pleasant feeling of the cool rain, I must remain vigilant for my pregnant wife. It won't be long until she goes into labor, but this is the most dangerous mountain known to man. Nobody knows why, but creatures called midstless make their home on this mountain. These ferocious beasts prey on the midst energy that lies in every human and will do anything to get it.

We've encountered more than a couple of midstless already, and we're not even halfway across the mountain pass yet. I've fought the beasts off so far, but not without sustaining a few detrimental injuries. If they had allowed me to bring my weapons, this would have been easier. But, if we can just cross Mount Nova and make it to the lands beyond, we can raise our child in peace! That being said, we need to find a safe area for Osami to give birth to our child first. She doesn't have much longer now.

"Ah! I see a cave, Osami!"

With no time to spare, I pick Osami up and run to the cave. She's trying to remain strong, but I can tell the contractions have begun already.

A short while later, after taking refuge in the cave, I attempt to help Osami through labor. My time as a soldier has led me many times into battle. Hearing the screams of dying men all around me became a regular occurrence, and I thought I had grown accustomed to it. However, seeing my wife scream in pain is entirely different. Each noise she makes pains my heart.

A couple of hours have passed, and it looks like the process is almost finished. The amount of blood Osami has shed in the last couple of hours cannot be natural. I've never witnessed childbirth before, but I'm familiar with how much blood someone can lose before they die. Osami is steadily approaching this amount. Unfortunately, I can't stop the bleeding. All I can do is help her get through this faster.

A half-hour later, and I can just barely pull our newborn out.

Bunjiro: "Osami! It's a boy! Osami?"

Osami is glossy-eyed but still has a grin on her face. Her face is so pale that she looks ghostly. Despite this, she looks more beautiful than ever.

Osami: "Remember our agreement Bunjiro? It's a boy, so you get to name him."

My mind begins to race. Though my heart refuses to admit it, my mind knows that Osami doesn't have much time left. I can tell because I've seen this pale color in someone before. It was my best friend, Adachi, who died after being lethally wounded in battle. He grinned at me just like Osami is grinning at our newborn son now. He was dying, but he was still happy when he saw that I was okay.

Bunjiro: "I've decided. We'll name him Adachi."

Osami: "Adachi... It's a beautiful name, my love. Please... look after him."

I hold Osami in my arms and stay strong until she goes limp. As soon as she passes, I don't have to pretend to be happy for her sake anymore. I burst into tears and grip her close to my heart. I will look after our son, Osami. You have my word that I will do everything in my power to ensure his future.

I have made a grave for Osami. I made it deep so that no midstless could find her. I say a prayer over her grave while holding Adachi, who is wrapped snugly in my overgarment. There will be time for my heart to recover later. But, for now, I must find a way off this mountain for my son's sake.

I begin to walk down the mountain and inspect my newborn son for the first time. He's beautiful, just like his mother. He has her blue hair and starry green eyes. What's this?

I brush his hair aside to reveal a small horn on his right temple. I panic at first, wondering where he might have gotten a horn first, but then realize what it truly is. It's a treasure! A treasure is an item that allows people to augment their midst in a way they wouldn't have been able to otherwise. At first, I thought he was just an incredibly healthy baby, but his weight is off the scales. So, this treasure must be causing him to weigh more somehow.

My thoughts are cut short when I sense something following me at a distance. This must be a midstless aura, but it's unlike any I've ever encountered. I pick up the pace to confirm the beast's intentions. I sense the source of the aura speed up as well. It is undoubtedly following us. Let's see if he can keep up with me!

A couple of hours have passed now, and I can run no longer. This midstless is swift indeed, and it has begun to catch up to me even at my top speed. I'll have to fight it.

I see a brush enclosure ahead that will serve to hide Adachi. I place him down gently, hiding him with care. The monster will be on us any moment now.

He's just around the bend now, and he seems to be slowing down. He knows I'm ready to fight.

I observe the bend in the path keenly and see a dark figure emerge from the pass. Is that really a midstless? Its aura and pitch black appearance is just like a midstless, but it's shaped like a human! No... Not quite.

The beast is undoubtedly a midstless. It appears at first glance to be human, but its arms are too long, and its posture isn't quite correct. Thus, it is a midstless doing a poor imitation of a human.

Suddenly, the creature lets out a scratchy voice and speaks to me.

Midstless: "Finally... Caught... You..."

The words are shaky but intelligible, and I'm taken aback by the sudden communication. I've never heard of an intelligent midstless, let alone one that can speak. So what should I do, talk back? I guess it's worth a try.

Bunjiro: "Why are you trying to imitate humans?"

Midstless: "My intentions... Are none... Of your concern..."

Bunjiro: "Can you tell me what it is you want with me?"

Midstless: "Midst... Your Midst... Give it to me..."

I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. A midstless is still a midstless. Regardless of its appearance, its intentions will remain the same. When humans have their midst pool wholly drained, they pass out for a few days. It recharges naturally over time, and a midst pool can be enlarged through excessive midst usage. A person will never naturally drain their midst pool dry. Despite this, when a midstless drain a human's midst pool, it causes too much damage, and they die. I have no choice but to fight.

Bunjiro: "Sorry, I can't let you do that."

Midstless: "Then I... Will kill you..."

If years in battle have taught me one thing, it's that the first move is the most important. So, I channel the maximum amount of midst into my legs and burst towards the midstless. It isn't moving an inch. This will be a piece of cake-

*CRACK*

Huh? Where am I? I'm flying in the opposite direction as I was heading. Did it really hit me backward with this much force?

*BOOM*

My back bashes into the rock face behind me. Not good. I lost track of it. I need to gather midst to protect myself as quickly as possible-

*CRUNCH*

It's right in front of me! He just punched me in the stomach. How could I not see him? Is he just that much faster than me? This isn't good... It broke my ribs. I may have underestimated this midstless, but I'm not done just yet.

He throws another punch, but this time I dodge it just barely. Then, gathering all my midst into my right arm, I unleash all my power at his gut.

*Thump*

Huh? Was he too slow to dodge it? No. He just didn't feel threatened enough to move. My most substantial blow did nothing to him. I have lost.

He punches me in the stomach again, and I can feel the damage in my organs. Then, lifting me by the neck, it begins to absorb midst directly from my midst pool. I can feel my core being torn apart as midst unnaturally exits my body. As my midst pool is already significantly depleted, it doesn't take long.

I struggle for the air to speak.

Bunjiro: "Not much of a meal, huh?"

The beast doesn't have much in the way of a face, but I can tell it's unhappy. It squeezes my neck so hard that I feel something break. It just crushed my windpipe. It won't be long now.

He drops me against a rock in frustration.

Midstless: "Weak..."

He disappears just as quickly as he came, leaving me to die.

I'm sorry, Osami. I failed to protect Adachi. There's no way he can survive out here on his own.

Am I seeing things, or is there a man approaching from the woods?

My eyes are bloodshot, making it hard to see, but there's undoubtedly someone there. He speaks to me.

Man: "I saw your fight... I'm so sorry I couldn't muster the strength to join the battle, mister. You fought like a true warrior."

He's solemn and genuinely apologetic. Even an entire army couldn't have taken that thing down. He has nothing to apologize for, but he does it regardless. He's a good man. I can tell.

I point weakly at the brush enclosure where Adachi is hidden.

Man: "What? Is there something over there, mister?"

Adachi begins crying from the enclosure, and the man hears it. I smile as I see him walk towards Adachi. Adachi will live, and my fight wasn't in vain. I can go in peace. Just one last thing...

I write Adachi's name in blood on the rock I'm slumped up against. Take good care of him, stranger.

I hear Osami calling my name.

I think I'll go be with my wife now.