What to do in a situation where a fire breaks out?
Well, first things first, you should call the authority. Be it the emergency number or some other authoritative figure, any is fine as long as you get help.
And what shouldn't you do?
...Get closer and inspect the scene.
Unless you're a professional, the last thing you'd want to do is create a situation in which the firefighter team needed to safe more civilian.
They're already focused on putting out the fire, which dumbass would put themselves in harm's way just to cure their curiosity?
"...It's not that hot?"
Katsuri slowly walked closer towards the burning house. With the whole structure being made from wood, the fire would inevitably spread quickly to consume the whole house.
Although her body was sweating, she herself doesn't feel like this place is all that hot.
Did her heat receptors get messed up?
Was the reason her body sweat because it is actually extremely hot and she just can't feel it?
"But it's not hot."
To prove herself, she got closer to the house, one step at a time.
Around her were forest, burning down to the ground. It seemed like if it kept going for the next few hours, the entire forest might disappear from the ecosystem.
Although the house was burning, it was less powerful when compared to the ones covering the forest.
Plus, even when she looked around, there don't seem to be any road that's not covered in scorching flames.
It seemed to her like it's trying to lead her into the house.
While she is confused, she was also cautious.
Also, it was nigh time.
It had just been moments ago when she was moving with Danjin as the sun rose.
There's almost certainly no way that that much time had passed.
Did she fell into another coma or something?
"...My weapon."
Right, Danjin was using the sword.
"..."
'Well, I'm fucked.'
With no other choice, she walked towards the front door.
Even as she got closer and closer, she can't help but feel that the house looked very familiar.
If you remove the raging flames, it'd probably looked like a shack.
Finally she arrived at the door step.
Just as she was about to knock, a sound was captured by her ears.
Amidst the sound of burning and flames, there was one extremely conspicuous sounds.
"Please help...."
It was a cry for help. Without making plans, she immediately crashed through the door. Since it was old, the hinges probably couldn't hold still even if someone as small as her was the one smashing into it.
Successfully, she infiltrated the house.
Personally, she wouldn't call it a house though.
Immediately after entering, she looked around for the source quickly. Although, even though she can't feel it, it seems that her skin is actually burning.
She could see her skin peeling off by itself as blood patches appeared.
"...Ew."
Fortunately, no pain.
Due to that, she could easily ignore what's happening to herself.
"Help..."
The interior was quite small, it's not hard to make out where the voice came from.
With the flames giving light, she easily spotted the source of the voice.
But as she looked at the face, she got chills.
It was a girl, very small, might even be smaller than her.
Black hair, black iris.
Bandages covering her entire arm, both of them.
The hair was shoulder length, shorter compared to her own waist length hair.
With her size, it should've been expected for her to still have some baby fat, but it seemed like she was malnutritioned.
Her cheek sunk in on itself.
But that didn't raise any sympathy from Katsuri.
The girl was trapped under some rubbles, probably from the roof that had caved in from the fire.
Which means that the child was probably having her back burnt even as she was staring.
But the child can't see her.
"Help....!"
The child kept on asking for help, as if knowing someone was nearby but not having enough strength to actually call upon them.
Katsuri looked around.
Through the windows, she could see, there were just fire.
Nobody is here except for her and this child.
"..."
Katsuri turned her gaze back, staring at the child suffering with cold eyes.
"Why are you here?"
"...! There's someone-! Please, help!"
The child, hearing a voice, got enough strength for a final push. If she could get the help from this person, she'd be safe.
"..."
"Please! I don't want to die..."
But her voice became weaker.
It took a few seconds before Katsuri finally voiced out another sentence.
"Hey, when is your birthday?"
"..Ah? Guh!?" The rubble on her back moved, crushing her more.
"Answer my questions, then I'll help you."
"Y-yes! My birthday!? Um, um. 29th August!" Panicking, the child answered quickly.
"...Liar."
"Ugh...! I'm sorry! I don't remember my own birthday!" The child cried out with tears running down her cheek.
"...What's your favorite food?"
"Bean soup!"
"What's your favorite kind of story?"
"Noble ladies living their best lives!"
Questions after questions was asked.
It was quite a peculiar situation. A young woman watching as a child get crushed to death by burning rubbles while asking trivia-like questions.
But the child did not complain, she simply answered as tasked.
After a couple more questions, Katsuri stopped moving her mouth.
The child, still not being able to see her, panicked, thinking that Katsuri had left her alone.
"Please! Come back! I need help!"
"..."
"I swear, I'll be a good girl! Please don't leave me..."
"...What's your name?"
Immediately after she asked that question, the child's eyes lit up, happy that she was not alone.
"Yes! My name? It's Faith!"
"..."
"It's Faith Havensith!"
Her energetic voice was different when compared to her earlier cries.
It was as if she was not in a life threatening situation at all.
Does she still feel pain? Or is she just ignoring them?
'...she's probably ignoring them.'
Katsuri's head tilted down, facing the floor.
Only the child's arms was in her view.
Many memories flashed through her head at this moment, but there's one that stood out.
Katsuri stayed quiet.
But this time, the child waited, as if knowing that someone was still here.
"As expected."
"Yes!?" The child looked around. That voice sounded really close just now but for some reason, she can't make out where it came from.
Due to that, she was a bit shook.
"It's nice to meet you, Faith."
"Nice to meet you too...? So, are you going to save me...?"
"Of course. But on one condition."
"Yes! I'll do anything!"
"..."
Katsuri looked at the child who was smiling with anticipation at the thought of being saved.
"Kill your parents."
"Huh?"