Hati Life's
Fourteen-year-old Hati has spent their whole life on the outside looking in—the half-fey child of a human father and a fairy mother, whispered about by villagers and never once invited to play. With both parents gone, all that's left of them are a worn dagger, a silver pendant set with a blue stone, and a loneliness that aches louder every night.
But on Hati's fourteenth birthday, at their mother's grave, the pendant awakens. A thread of light beckons into the Verdian Great Forest—
Hati life's - The light of the galaxy, a promise between the two
The night forest was bitterly cold.
Wind knifed between the trees, slapping Hati's cheeks again and again. Rope bit into his back, the knot behind his wrists cinching tighter against his flesh with every twitch. They'd lashed him whole to a thick trunk. His legs were bound too, wound in a single coil around the knees.
(It's cold.)
That was the only thought Hati could manage, drifting and dim.
The pain was already far away.
They'd beaten his stomach, over and over. His face, his ribs, his back. Two men in black leather armor had taken turns pounding him. At first he'd cried out. But now he didn't even have the strength to make a sound.
"What's wrong? Giving up already?"
One of the men grabbed Hati's hair and wrenched his face up. His white pixie-cut hair was a mess of sweat, dirt, and blood. His blue eyes were so swollen they barely opened.
"Release the Star-Eater's power. Do it, and I'll make it quick."
The man's voice was horribly flat.
Hati said nothing.
He couldn't answer.
(Power? I don't)
(need it anymore.)
Deep in his chest, something snapped. Something that had been cracked for a long, long time. Since the day he stood alone at his mother's grave. Since the day the village pelted him with stones and called him a half-breed. Since the moment Milfy collapsed and Lip bled and everything broke apart.
He'd been on the verge of breaking all along.
"...I don't need power anymore."
A rasping whisper slipped from Hati's lips.
The man snorted.
"Can't hear you. Speak up."
The man's fist sank into Hati's gut.
Thud.
A dull sound. Sour bile surged up from the pit of his stomach. He couldn't breathe.
"U... ugh..."
"Say it again."
"...I don't need... power..."
Hati spat the words out.
"Is that so. Then we'll be taking that power of yours for ourselves."
The man reached for the short sword at his hip.
That was when it happened.
"—That's enough."
The voice split the darkness of the forest.
Hati slowly raised his head.
At the cave entrance, where faint moonlight seeped through, a small silhouette hovered.
A tiny fairy, fifteen centimeters tall.
Her golden hair was in wild tangles. The wings on her back—wings that had always shimmered in seven colors—hung broken on one side, trembling at a crooked angle. Bandages wrapped her entire body, red stains seeping through the white cloth in a dozen places.
And yet.
Her large amber eyes were fixed straight on Hati.
"...Milfy."
Hati's throat seized.
"Why... why are you here?"
" Isn't it obvious? You think I'd let you go alone?"
Milfy grinned.
The tiny honey-colored freckles on her cheeks caught the moonlight and glimmered faintly.
"I snuck out of the infirmary. The doctor's going to be furious. But I felt like you were calling for me. Like you were calling my name."
Hati's eyes burned.
(I was.)
(All this time, in my heart.)
(But I didn't want you to come.)
(Because you'd get hurt too.)
"Hey, hey, what's this little runt?"
The other man approached Milfy.
"Her wing's broken. This one's worthless to sell. But hell, pluck a wing or two off her and she might still fetch a coin."
The man's hand reached for Milfy.
"—Stop!"
Hati's body jerked.
The rope bit deeper. Blood welled at his wrists. Even so, Hati tried to lunge forward.
"Oh? Sudden burst of energy."
The man punched Hati in the face.
Crack.
The inside of his mouth split, and the taste of iron spread across his tongue.
"Hati!"
Milfy's scream rang through the forest.
"You... how dare you do this to Hati..."
Milfy's voice trembled. With rage, with sorrow, and then—
"Spirits."
Milfy's tiny hands clasped before her chest.
"Wind spirit, Sylph. Answer my voice—burn through the ropes that bind him!"
A faint light spilled from Milfy's fingertips.
A warm, golden light.
The light became a single thread and flew to the ropes at Hati's wrists.
Fwoosh.
A small flame licked at the rope.
The rope burned through.
"—Huh?"
Hati's body was free.
"Now, Hati! Run—"
Milfy's voice cut off mid-sentence.
Her tiny body tilted, swaying.
"Milfy!?"
Milfy's wings fluttered weakly. Once, twice. But she couldn't stay aloft anymore.
"...Ahaha. I think I used a little too much power."
Milfy gave a rueful smile.
And then she fell, straight toward the ground.
"Milfy—!!"
Hati tore himself away from the tree and ran.
His legs tangled. He nearly fell. But still he reached out toward where Milfy was falling.
"—Got you."
Hati's hands caught Milfy's tiny body.
She was light.
Far, far too light.
"Milfy, Milfy! Stay with me!"
"...I'm fine. Just a little tired."
Milfy smiled faintly from the palm of his hand.
"More importantly, you... you look awful. Did they hit you?"
"...Yeah. But I'm okay. Thanks to you, I'm saved."
"Good."
Milfy let out a breath of relief.
"Hey, Hati. There's something I need to tell you."
"What?"
"Lip woke up."
Hati's breath stopped.
"Lip did..."
"Yes. And listen—Lip said that back then, he jumped out on his own to protect you. When your power went out of control, Lip was trying to save you."
Hati's hands trembled.
"To... protect me?"
"That's right. That kid was so fond of you. He kept saying, 'I'm going to protect Big Brother Hati.'"
Milfy's voice reached Hati's ears, gentle and warm.
"And also—Lip's parents want to apologize to you. They said they misunderstood, that they were wrong to say such terrible things, and they were in tears. I was there to hear it."
"...Lip's father and mother."
"Yes. So, Hati. Your power isn't something meant to hurt people. It awakened because you wanted to protect someone. Because you tried to protect me. Lip tried to protect you, too. Everyone has something they want to protect."
Milfy's tiny hand gripped Hati's finger.
"Your power isn't a curse. It's a power that answers the heart that wants to protect."
Tears spilled from Hati's eyes.
He couldn't stop them.
"...I thought my power hurt everyone. That because I exist, everyone gets hurt. That's what I believed."
Hati's voice was a wreck of tears.
"But I was wrong. My power was meant for protecting. ...Right, Milfy?"
"Yes. That's right."
Milfy grinned.
"Now, can you stand? We've still got enemies."
"...Yeah."
Hati rose slowly to his feet.
His legs were still shaking. His body ached everywhere. But his heart was completely different from moments ago.
(I won't run anymore.)
(I won't give up anymore.)
Hati clenched the pendant at his chest.
His mother's keepsake. A blue stone.
The stone that had first shone in the forest that night.
"Hey, how long do we have to watch this little play?"
The man approached, short sword raised.
"So in the end you can't use your power. Then I'll cut you to pieces, fairy and all."
The man's eyes fixed on Milfy in Hati's palm.
Hati cradled Milfy against his chest.
"...I won't let you."
Hati's voice rang low.
"I'm not running anymore. Not from you, and not from my own power."
Hati tightened his grip on the pendant.
(Mother.)
(I finally understand.)
(This power is meant for protecting.)
(It's a power that answers me when I want to protect someone.)
"—Come."
At Hati's chest, the pendant blazed.
A pale light, like a galaxy.
Countless stars flickered within the blue stone.
The light enveloped Hati's body.
"W-what the—!?"
The man staggered back a step.
"Hey, that's—"
Hati's body filled with light.
But this was different from before. Not a rampage. Not uncontrollable power.
The light shifted form, obeying Hati's will.
"This is... my power."
Hati thrust his right hand forward.
"—Go."
A torrent of light burst from Hati's hand.
The color of a galaxy—quiet, yet overwhelming.
WHOOOOOOM!!!
The light blew both men away at once.
"Guaaaah!!"
"Gaaah!!"
Their bodies flew through the trees.
Clatter. Thud.
The sound of black leather armor slamming into the ground.
"...Hah, hah."
Hati stared at his own hand.
The light was gone. But a faint warmth lingered at his fingertips.
(This is my power.)
(It doesn't run wild. It moves by my will.)
"...You did it, Hati."
Milfy murmured softly against Hati's chest.
"Yeah. I did it. Thanks to you, Milfy."
"It's because you faced your own power."
Milfy clutched Hati's clothes tight.
"Hmm. Well done indeed."
A voice spoke.
Hati looked up to see a fairy standing on a rock at the cave entrance.
An elderly fairy with long silver hair woven into braids. Her wings glowed faintly at her back. Deep green eyes watched Hati quietly.
Morgana, the Grand Elder of Luminas.
"Lady Morgana..."
"The Star-Eater's power reveals its true worth only to one who has the resolve to protect others. You have gained that resolve now. Finally."
Morgana flew slowly to Hati's side.
"I have watched you all this time. You cursed your power, blamed yourself, and yet still wished to protect someone. That is not weakness. That is the seed of strength."
"...Lady Morgana."
"Hati. Your power has not fully awakened yet. But today, you have surely taken a step forward. That alone is enough."
Morgana's voice was terribly gentle.
"Lady Morgana, why are you here?"
"I heard you slipped out of the infirmary. I came to find you. ...Honestly, you're so reckless. Your wounds haven't even closed yet."
"I'm sorry."
Milfy shrank, chastened.
"Well, it's fine. Because you came, Hati was able to stand. In the end, it was the right call."
Morgana said this with a small smile.
That was when it happened.
Flap-flap-flap.
Wingbeats sounded.
A fairy came flying from deep in the forest.
"Lady Morgana! It's terrible!"
The messenger fairy, face pale as death, alighted before Morgana.
"What is it? Calm yourself and speak."
"Mist Veil is... the barrier is badly torn! The main force of Black Iron Fang is heading for the Fairy Ring! Garg is at the front!"
A cold chill ran down Hati's spine.
Garg.
The man with the double-bladed axe.
The monster who had sent Milfy flying.
"...I see. So they've finally come."
The smile vanished from Morgana's face.
"The village's defenders alone cannot stand against Garg's brute strength. That man's power physically destroys fairy barriers—our magic cannot stop him."
Morgana turned to Hati.
"Hati. I ask you. What do you want to do?"
Hati looked at Milfy against his chest.
Milfy, still clutching his clothes, gazed up at him with her amber eyes.
"...I..."
Hati drew a deep breath.
"I want to protect the village. I'll fight—to protect Milfy and everyone."
Hati's voice did not tremble.
"I see. Then go. Your power is meant for protecting. Now is the time to prove it."
Morgana nodded deeply.
"Hati, I'm coming too."
Milfy lifted her face from his chest.
"No. You're wounded—"
" We're partners, aren't we? You're going to leave me behind?"
Milfy grinned.
"But you can't fly, can you?"
"Then carry me. You're strong, aren't you? Come on, you've got a solid build around the waist—nice and stable."
"...Is that supposed to be a compliment?"
"It is a compliment. Now, let's go!"
Hati gave a small laugh.
"...All right. Let's go together, Milfy."
Hati set Milfy on his shoulder.
Her tiny body was still feverish. Her wounds must have been throbbing. And yet Milfy was smiling.
"Lady Morgana, we're heading out."
"Mm. Be careful. The village is in your hands."
Hati clenched the pendant.
The blue stone glowed quietly against his chest.
"Let's go."
"Yeah!"
Hati ran for the Fairy Ring.
Through the night forest, cutting through the wind.
On his shoulder, Milfy gripped his hair.
"Hati."
"What?"
"Thank you. For believing in me."
"...Same to you. Thank you, Milfy. Because you came, I could stand again."
"Of course. I'm your partner, after all."
Milfy's voice rode the wind to Hati's ears.
Hati looked ahead.
Beyond the dark forest, the giant shadow of the Central Tree loomed.
At its base, battle was about to begin.
Hati's heart pounded, thudding in his chest.
He was afraid.
But he didn't run anymore.
Because he had somethi
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