malereader x hells paradise

Chapter 18: The Calm Before the Storm

POV: Y/N

Morning arrived quietly, the soft chirping of birds signaling the start of another day on the island. The sunlight filtered through the thick canopy, casting long beams of golden light across the forest floor. Despite the peaceful surroundings, there was an undeniable tension in the air.

We had all awoken early, each of us silently preparing for the day ahead. There was no need for words this morning. We all knew what was coming.

Tao Fa was still out there. The Lord Tensen wouldn’t leave us in peace for long.

I tightened the straps on my gear, glancing around at the others. Sagiri was sharpening her blade, her movements precise and focused, as always. She had a ritual, something calming to her before a battle. It was her way of preparing mentally for the chaos that was sure to come.

Nurugai was sitting cross-legged on a large rock nearby, her eyes closed as she quietly meditated. She had become more attuned to her surroundings since learning about Tao, and her discipline had only grown stronger. Even though she often wore a serious expression, I had come to recognize the softer side of her beneath the stoic exterior.

Isuzu, who had been quieter than usual lately, was watching the horizon with a thoughtful expression. Her bond with Tao had been growing, though she still struggled with fully understanding its flow. I knew she was grappling with her own inner conflicts—torn between her disciplined upbringing and the unpredictable nature of this island’s mystical forces.

Yuzuriha, of course, was the exception to the solemn atmosphere. She was leaning against a tree, idly playing with a dagger, her usual carefree attitude on full display. Her eyes flickered toward me, a teasing smile playing on her lips. “So, Y/N, what’s the plan today? More wandering through the woods until we stumble into another deadly encounter?”

I gave her a dry look. “Something like that.”

She laughed softly. “You’re always so serious. Relax a little. We’ll get through this. We always do.”

Despite her light-hearted words, I knew Yuzuriha wasn’t as carefree as she appeared. She was just as wary of the dangers as the rest of us, but she had a different way of coping. Humor and charm were her shields, the tools she used to keep her fear at bay.

I couldn’t help but smile. “I’ll relax once we’re off this island.”

Yuzuriha winked at me. “I’ll hold you to that.”

---

We set out shortly after, making our way through the dense jungle. The terrain was rough, as always, but we had grown accustomed to the challenges of the island. Every day was a fight for survival, but today, there was a different energy among us. It was as if we had reached a turning point—a moment of calm before the storm.

As we walked, I found myself falling into step beside Sagiri. Her expression was calm, but I could sense the weight of responsibility she carried.

“How are you feeling?” I asked quietly, glancing at her.

Sagiri didn’t look at me, her eyes focused on the path ahead. “Prepared. Focused. As always.”

I raised an eyebrow. “That’s not what I asked.”

She finally turned to meet my gaze, a faint smile tugging at the corners of her mouth. “I’m fine, Y/N. You don’t have to worry about me.”

I let out a soft breath. “It’s not about worrying. It’s about making sure we’re all ready for what’s ahead. We’ve been through a lot, and I know this isn’t easy for any of us.”

Sagiri’s smile faded slightly, and she looked away, her expression thoughtful. “I’ve been trained for this. For battle. For facing death. But this island… it’s different. The enemies we face here, they’re not like anything we’ve encountered before.”

I nodded, understanding her concern. “No, they’re not. But we’re not the same either. We’ve grown stronger, more connected. And we’ll keep getting stronger.”

She glanced at me, a hint of gratitude in her eyes. “Thank you, Y/N. I’ll hold on to that.”

We walked in silence for a while after that, the bond between us strengthening with each shared moment of understanding.

---

As the day wore on, we came across a small stream, its water clear and cool. It was the perfect spot to rest and replenish our supplies. We stopped by the water’s edge, and as the others filled their canteens, I sat on a rock, my mind wandering to the concept of Tao.

Yuzuriha had tried to explain it to us, but understanding Tao was like trying to grasp the wind—it was something that could only be felt, not fully understood.

I watched as Yuzuriha crouched by the water, her fingers trailing through the stream as if she were playing with the flow of Tao itself. She glanced up at me, noticing my stare.

“You’re thinking about Tao again, aren’t you?” she asked, her tone teasing.

I shrugged. “It’s hard not to. We need to understand it if we’re going to survive.”

Yuzuriha’s eyes sparkled with mischief. “You don’t ‘understand’ Tao, Y/N. You let it flow through you. Like this.” She lifted her hand, the water dripping from her fingers in a slow, graceful motion.

“It’s not something you control. It’s something you feel. You move with it, not against it.”

I frowned. “That’s easier said than done.”

She laughed softly. “Of course it is. But that’s why we’re still learning.”

Nurugai, who had been quietly observing from a few feet away, stood up and joined the conversation. “It’s about balance,” she said, her voice calm and steady. “Tao is in everything. In the earth, the water, the air. It flows through all of us. The Lord Tensen have mastered it, but that doesn’t mean we can’t find our own way to use it.”

I looked at her, surprised by the depth of her understanding. “You’re starting to get the hang of it.”

She nodded slowly. “I’ve been practicing. It’s not easy, but I can feel it sometimes. The flow. It’s like… a river. If you fight against it, you get swept away. But if you move with it, you can stay afloat.”

I couldn’t help but smile at her words. “That’s a good way of putting it.”

Isuzu, who had been sitting a little further away, joined us as well. She had been quieter than usual, but now she spoke up, her voice thoughtful. “Tao isn’t just a tool. It’s part of the island. Part of us. We can’t just use it to our advantage without understanding the consequences.”

I glanced at her, intrigued. “What do you mean?”

Isuzu’s gaze was distant, as if she were thinking about something deeper. “The Lord Tensen manipulate Tao to their will, but I think it comes at a cost. This island… it’s alive in a way. The more we try to control it, the more it pushes back. We need to learn to work with it, not against it.”

Her words resonated with me, and I realized that she was right. Tao wasn’t just something we could master—it was something we had to respect.

---

We spent the time resting by the stream, sharing stories and discussing what we had learned about Tao.

Yuzuriha kept things light, as always, teasing Nurugai and Isuzu, while Sagiri remained focused, sharpening her blade and keeping watch. Despite the calm, there was an underlying tension, the knowledge that our time of peace would soon come to an end.

As the sun began to set, casting long shadows across the forest, I sat by the water, lost in thought. This island had changed all of us in ways we hadn’t anticipated. We were stronger, more connected, but we were also facing challenges that none of us had ever imagined.

I glanced around at the others, feeling a deep sense of gratitude for each of them. We had become more than just a group of survivors—we had become a family. And as long as we had each other, I knew we would find a way to make it through whatever lay ahead.

The calm wouldn’t last, but for now, it was enough.