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Chapter Text

─── In Plato’s “The Republic” the Myth of Metals is a profound allegory where society is portrayed being linked to different metals: gold, silver and bronze.

In this hypothetical reality, the golden ones, possessing wisdom, serve as wise rulers. Silvers, representing courage, form the strong warrior class. And lastly, the bronzes, made from the labour, become the foundation; representing production and sustenance.

And like the alloys in forging, they blend, creating a perfect yet balanced society under wise governance. ───

[ ⟡ ]

Twelve years ago.

Amidst the sound of birds singing and the feel of the passing wind, a house stood in the middle of a vast plain covered with green grass; dotted with flowers of different colours.

The house was a two-storey building of considerable size, with a white picket fence surrounding the property. In the front yard, a small, but well-kept garden featured some untidy toys scattered around, and under the evening sun, the house showed a cosy appearance thanks to all the open windows.

Surrounding the house, however, were several meadows that stretched as far as the eye could see; full of shrubs and even some wild flowers.

On either side also rose many trees, and in the distance, the outline of the mountains loomed on the horizon.

“Come on, Akito, the others are waiting for us in the dining hall, if Ken finds out that we skipped our cleaning shift he'll punish us by not being able to play in the yard for a week again.”

“Don't worry, we won't get caught.”

The voices of two children were heard arguing in whispers from one of the corridors of the big house.

“You said that the last four times, and we still got caught.”

The place was partially lit thanks to the small lights decorating the ceiling, and although not the slightest noise was heard other than their voices, from downstairs the presence of quite a few more children could be sensed scurrying from one place to another.

A squeak was heard, followed by the embarrassed words of the shorter boy, who, busy, watched from the crack of the cupboard where they were both hidden. “Those times don't count, this will be the time we'll succeed Toya, I promise you.” The boy looked determined, and his gaze showed nothing but ambition.

His companion wanted to rebut, but seeing the redhead so focused, he gave up with a sigh as he rested his back against one of the walls of the hideout. “If you say so.”

The stash was small, but spacious enough for both boys to fit in. Numerous articles of clothing took up the vast majority of the space, and they could barely move more than a few inches without bumping into something that would trip them up, but they were comfortable.

“You need to start to believe in me more Toya, as much as you're older, we share the same metal, so don't underestimate me.” Akito, doing his best not to crash into anything, turned to face Toya to speak to him with resolve while still whispering.

As a result, the two kids stood face to face, staring inches away from each other.

The small glimpses of light that managed to slip through the cracks of the wardrobe at that moment illuminated the eyes of both of them: confronting each other with two determined gazes.

The green of Akito's eyes shone brightly in the light, revealing to the older boy an indescribable variety of greenish hues. They looked like two gems, and Toya didn't know why his little heart was beating so strongly at that gaze.

Akito, for his part, felt his breath rush out of him. Toya's grey eyes looked at him with a longing, which he, in spite of his six short years of life, could not decipher. He was only aware of how beautiful they were, and how happy he was to feel his friend's attentive gaze upon him.

“The day you give me enough proof, I'll believe you're better than I.” Toya replied as he suppressed the urge to brush aside Akito's thin, tousled locks of hair.

“But I don't want to be better than you, we're best friends, and we should always be together.” Frowning and oblivious to his friend's behaviour, he replied. “I don't want to be like those in the golden room, I just want to travel with you and live happily.” He looked a little angry, and Toya was aware that his friend's attitude came from his own words, so smiling with genuine happiness at hearing the reply, he nodded as he extended his hand towards Akito.

Seeing the hand extended towards him, Akito took it, entwining his small fingers in Toya's.

“You might be right this time.” Toya said teasingly, too happy to suppress his smile.

“Don't tease me.” And Akito, embarrassed, but no less happy to feel his little heart leap at Toya's touch, tried to answer him, meeting Toya's little guffaws in response.

Because at the image of his friend laughing so freely: chubby cheeks flushed and eyes bright with happiness, Akito was unable to help but smile too.

The moment was a tender one from the outside, but, suddenly it was  interrupted by another child.

“You two are adorable, but Ken wants you to come downstairs now, or you'll be on cleaning duty for the rest of the week.”

The voice caught them off guard, and from the shock they need up loosening their grip on each other's hands.

From the crack in the door, they saw the shadow of a person standing in front of the wardrobe.

“It's amusing, this game of hide-and-seek, but I don't know why you keep attempting to hide so hard if I always end up finding you.” A hint of amusement, but not mockery, wafted in the voice coming from outside the cabinet, and though the boy's genuine curiosity also came through, Akito just opted to click his tongue in annoyance.

“Kamishiro, how many times do I have to tell you that this is not a game? We're in the middle of a mission, well we were, because you ruined it for us by finding us.” An 'as usual' was mumbled after addressing the older boy outside the wardrobe, causing Toya to feel some amusement at his best friend's annoyance.

'That's quite funny.' Was the only thought the older boy between the three had as he waited silently for the wardrobe door to open and let the two hidden children out.

Stepping out and placing his feet on the floor, Akito stood upright; not hesitating to face the taller one, even if he was more than a head taller than him. “When I grow up, I will be able to hide myself so well that you will never find me.” It was a rather childish claim, for the boy said it out of resentment at being found, but Rui simply looked at him with interest.

“Sure, Akito.” There was no sense of mockery at any point, and Akito, meeting the older boy's deep yet brilliant gaze, felt a shiver run down his spine.

“Weirdo.” He said with a boyish grimace as he averted his gaze to Toya, grabbing his arm to pull him downstairs with him. “Come on, Toya, we'd better get downstairs before Ken gets any angrier, maybe we'll get lucky, and he won't tell us anything, right?”

Their voices faded with each step down, but Rui, still standing in front of the wardrobe where he had found the younger ones, didn't look away from them.

It was when he knew he was completely alone that he turned his gaze back to the wardrobe, smiling robotically at the mess.

“I wonder what Tsukasa-kun is doing.” Those words along with the sound of the wardrobe door closing were the only things heard before the boy slowly walked away from the place.

Meanwhile , in the dining hall, unlike the hallway, only noise could be heard.

Little boys and girls ran from one place to another: the younger ones playing, and the older ones trying to tidy up the mess the others left around them.

The table was set, and although all sorts of coloured papers and marker pens were strewn on the floor, it didn't seem to bother anyone.

Everything gave the impression of being disorganized in an arranged way, for although it looked chaotic, nothing was disturbing or out of place. The table, with more than twelve places available, was surrounded by drawings.

Some chairs were smaller than others, and although all were decorated, none were the same. There were some with patterns, obviously hand-painted by the children themselves, and others with small cushions with childish motifs on the back.

The only chair out of place was at the head of the table, as it was larger and sturdier—belonging to an adult.

Entering the dining room hand in hand with Toya, Akito stopped to take in the view.

They were all inside; Mizuki and Ena in one corner sitting on the sofas, talking and painting what looked like the flowers in the garden; Kohane sitting next to them, just watching as she swung her legs while sitting in an armchair too big for her short stature. On the other side of the room, Rui seemed to have rejoined his group, and Akito, from a distance, tried to stifle a grimace at Tsukasa's shout as he felt the his taller friend throw himself on top of him without decorum. Nene was as usual, Akito observed, as the girl shook her head in embarrassment at her friends' behaviour.

“We'd better sit down; the food seems to be ready.” Toya pointed out after lightly squeezing Akito's hand.

Just as he said those words, two girls came running in with stacked empty plates on her hands.

“Saki, An, don't run or you'll hurt yourselves.” A tall, stout, but tired-looking man entered the dining room with a large pot in his hands. “They never listen…” He sighed to himself as he watched the girls ignore his warning. “Shiho, take this to the table, please.” He diverted his attention to his feet to address a little girl standing next to him, whose eyes looked at him with boredom.

He held out a cloth to her, and after seeing the girl nod, resumed his path to the table.

“Everyone, let's eat.” He said after positioning himself at the head of the table.

At those words, all the children rushed to their respective seats.

They all seemed to know which seat was theirs, for no one hesitated to sit down.

Akito and Toya were no exception, as with determined steps they made their way towards two similar chairs.

Both had the same shape, with the symbol of a moon surrounded by silver details embedded at the top of the backrest. The only difference was the colour of the wood; while Akito's was painted orange, Toya's was blue.

When they got to the table, they released their hands so that Akito could arrange his small white cushion before getting on it: for without it, he couldn't reach the table.

It didn't take him long to sit down, and as he did, he exchanged glances with his older sister: sitting opposite him in a brown chair with bronze details and a carved flower on the back.

As Ken passed out the food, Akito stuck his tongue out at his sister in a childish manner, causing her to roll her eyes.

“Were you hiding again? You know Rui always finds you.” His sister scoffed as she began to eat her soup after taking the spoon between her stubby fingers.

“He doesn't find us, I just let myself get caught.” Akito grumbled with a lowered gaze and a frown as he ate.

“Sure.” To which Ena replied sarcastically, continuing to sneer.

“You're all the same, you guys think that just because you're a year older than us, you're better.” Akito muttered angrily without stopping eating. “Just know that I'm only six months away from my seventh birthday, and it won't be long before I grow up to catch up with you.” As he talked and ate; he stuffed his cheeks, making himself look like an adorable little animal, and swung his legs in a constant sway in the air; being too small to even touch the ground with more than the tips of his toes.

“Whatever you say, midget.” That time, it was Ena who stuck her tongue out at Akito.

The meal went smoothly, everything was delicious and although the voices of his friends overwhelmed him from time to time, Akito managed to eat calmly, still feeling Ken's inquisitive gaze on him from time to time.

He was fully aware that his game of hide and seek was going to bring him consequences, but it wasn't until everyone was done with dessert that he managed to confirm it.

“Akito, Toya, today you will help me with the clean-up.” Ken's words made the impossibility of denial clear. “Tsukasa, Nene, you are excused for today, they will substitute for you for skipping out on their own responsibilities this morning, go play.”

With a polite smile, he turned to the children seated to his right, then rose from the table and went to the kitchen.

Hearing the words, Akito couldn't help but let out a huff.

“Good luck washing the dishes.” Ena scoffed at the look of resignation on her little brother's face as he cleared the table.

“Shut up.” Akito retorted angrily before making his way towards the kitchen with most of the dirty dishes on his hands.

Stepping through the doorway, Akito found Ken facing him, and Ena's laughter, much to his annoyance, was still audible from afar.

As he exchanged glances with Ken, he frowned, but Ken was unable to help but let out an amused chuckle at seeing the boy so angry.

“Come on, Akito, don't be angry.” He dried his hands with a rag so he could ruffle the boy's hair. “I know you're not the biggest fan of washing dishes, but we all have to help. We're a family, and we must support each other so we can be happy here at the orphanage.”

The two stood face to face, and though Ken's height seemed intimidating to any child, Akito simply felt a sense of security.

For as much as he liked to sneak around and do his own thing, this was his home, he loved Ken as if he were his own father, and the other children were part of his family, even if they didn't share blood ties.

He didn't understand the world around him, but he knew how much he loved the place.

He stared at the adult with a mixture of adoration and guilt: his eyes shining and his nose slightly wrinkled; tilting his neck up a little so that he could look Ken in the face, but still holding the plates in his little fingers.

At the image of the boy, Ken only managed to kneel in front of Akito so that he could stand face to face with him.

“You are very clever, Akito, and that is a virtue many people wish they possessed.” He took the plates from his hands in order to take them himself, and without breaking eye contact, continued to speak. “But never stop thinking. In a way, to think is to relearn how to see; to direct one's consciousness, to make every image a privileged place.” The determined words seemed to be much more than a simple lecture, if not more like advice that Akito didn't quite understand. “You can disregard this old man if you want, but I promise you, never stop yearning for knowledge, for it is something precious that cannot be taken away from you, truth is far more powerful than any other force.”

But as much as the six-year-old Akito did not understand, he would profess those words for the rest of his life without negligence.

[ ⟡ ]

The sound of the old wooden lift going down was the only sound one could hear, and the rusty walls and flickering lights made it obvious how old and worn it was. There was no light other than that, provided by faint flames, and the smell of rusty iron in the air caused the bugs to scurry away when they saw the lift go by.

No one seemed to be there, but through a hole—a poor imitation of a window—in the lift, the reflection of the light on a combed blond hair revealed the presence of someone. The boy looked young, no more than nineteen, slim and straight-shouldered. No doubt he was still only a mere boy, but the expression on his face, distant and serious, gave the impression of someone far more calculating than he appeared to be.

His clothes covered him almost completely, as the straight black trousers and white shirt under his lilac cloak left not a hint of skin uncovered. The biggest contrast in colour came from his eyes and hair, which were visible even though the boy's head was down. And the sword tucked to the side of his hip rattled with every movement he made.

He was standing in the middle, but he was not alone.

To his left, leaning against one of the walls, was another boy.

This one was a little taller, and instead of standing completely upright, he had his arms crossed and his head down.

His clothing was no different from his companion's, but, unlike the other, his hair was completely covered with a hood connected to his blue and white cloak. His combat sword looked worn and dirty, and the laces of his boots kept bouncing against his leg from the boy's constant fidgeting due to his nerves.

“Let's go over the plan.”

A girl's voice broke the tense silence.

She had long hair but pulled back in a high ponytail. She wasn't much taller than the blonde, but her posture showed how confident she was. Her eyes were pink, like her hair, and they had a commanding gaze.

“Really, Mizuki, have you forgotten already?” The boy with crossed arms was the one who spoke back to her.

He raised his head slightly to make eye contact, and thanks to that the lights of the old lift reflected in his green eyes.

“Yes, Akito, we can't miss any steps, you know what will happen if we fail this mission.” The girl replied without breaking eye contact in a tone in which irritation showed.

“Nervous?” Akito asked sarcastically.

“Not in your wildest dreams, the one who's nervous is you, don't think we don't notice how you keep fidgeting even when you're trying to look cool.” Mizuki didn't give in to Akito's mockery, choosing instead to answer.

“You-”

Akito seemed to have been angered by that response, and uncrossing his arms he stood up straight in one fell swoop, causing the hood to slip off; exposing his short orange hair.

“That's enough.” But the discussion came to an end when the blonde in the middle spoke with determination. “Everyone here knows what we have to do, and this is no time to hesitate.” At those words, Mizuki averted her eyes in embarrassment. “Nor is it time to fight.” Akito eventually averted his gaze as well. “Shiho will be waiting for us in the forest on the outskirts while protecting the camping site. We can't fail.” The blond, who had remained motionless so far, turned as he said those last words.

Mizuki and Akito looked into each other's eyes remorsefully, then after a while nodded their heads and locked their pinkies together without needing to say anything else.

After that, the three of them felt the lift stop with a bang, and the iron door slowly lifted with a clanging sound.

They looked out, and while Akito adjusted his hood, Mizuki checked that her weapons were discreetly concealed.

For his part, Tsukasa took a breath of air, feeling the smell of decay and metal fill his nostrils.

He gazed intently at the path in front of them, then let the air out and, without turning around, spoke.

“With hearts full of bravery, and honour, we fight.” It was a mere whisper, but the others heard the chant clearly and instantly raised their heads. “For our people.” It was still no more than a whisper, but the others moved closer to the older one as they heard him continue to speak.

“For each other.” Akito and Mizuki joined him, and without taking their eyes off the front, the three muttered the same phrase as they drew their respective swords before starting to walk.

“For us all.”

After that, the group separated.

Subterra was one of the imperial cities, but unlike the other ones, it was a city built in contrast to the elegance and prosperity of Stratos; the most important one among them all.

Unlike the topside, where the wealthy lived comfortable lives in a well-ordered society, Subterra was a dark and gritty underworld where the less fortunate made out a living among pollution and crime; only reserved for those undeserving of a peaceful life.

It was a place where industry and technology thrived, yet at a great cost to the environment and those who lived there. For its place was filled with smoke and smog, where the air was acrid, and the buildings were dirty and dilapidated.

‘But it wasn't always like this.’ Tsukasa thought with some remorse as he tried to walk without tripping over the debris of a destroyed street, whilst Mizuki trailed behind him.

As they continued walking through the broken city, Mizuki looked over at Tsukasa, a puzzled look on her face.

“Tsukasa.” She started, her voice filled with curiosity, “Why did we get assigned to this mission? Seems like overkill for just a random monster.”

Tsukasa stopped walking, his expression thoughtful. He pondered on Mizuki's question for a moment before answering.

“I'm not sure.” He said honestly. “Maybe they thought the monster was more powerful than it seemed. Or maybe they just wanted to ensure our skills didn't get rusty.”

Mizuki hummed thoughtfully, a hint of scepticism in her eyes. “Yeah, that sounds like a likely explanation.” She replied, her tone tinged with sarcasm. “Or maybe they just wanted us to get some excitement after sitting around all day. You know how those higher-ups can b-”

But Mizuki’s words were interrupted as a sudden explosion shattered the silence. The blast shook the earth beneath them, throwing both him and Mizuki off balance. The force of the explosion was powerful, and debris flew through the air like lethal projectiles.

Both of them shared a brief look of surprise before snapping into motion; their adrenaline spiked from the unexpected explosion.

“To be fair, the Eternal Sovereign mentioned something about trouble in Subterra.” Mizuki muttered, her eyes darting around their surroundings, searching for the source of the explosion.

“He warned us about an illegal organization operating in the shadows, indeed.” Tsukasa continued. “The group name is unknown, but they're allegedly trying to steal some sort of powerful energy source. I don’t have many details, but…” His voice trailed off as he noticed a shadowy figure in the distance. His eyes narrowed, trying to discern the shape.

Then, recognition dawned on his face.

“Wait a minute…” Tsukasa's expression hardened as he spotted the figure, a mixture of recognition and determination in his eyes. He turned to Mizuki, his voice low and steady. “Mizuki, get into position.” He ordered, with nothing but firmness in his voice. “I think I see our target.”

Mizuki's eyes sparkled with anticipation as Tsukasa gave the order.

She was always ready for a good fight, and a strong opponent was something she relished.

“Got it.” She replied, her voice filled with a hint of excitement. She swiftly moved into position, preparing herself for the upcoming battle.

In the small alley, dimly lit by a flickering streetlamp that survived the whiplash of power from the explosion, Tsukasa and Mizuki stood facing each other, their eyes fixed in a sudden steadfast gaze.

The air was thick with tension, as if the world around them had faded into the shadows, leaving only the two warriors in its centre.

Tsukasa's hand hovered near his sword, his fingers flexing as he prepared for the impending confrontation. Mizuki, on the other hand, wore a sly smirk, the gleam in her eyes betraying an unexpected confidence.

“Are you ready, then?” Tsukasa spoke, his voice low and steady, betraying a hint of determination.

“Of course.” Mizuki replied, her voice smooth and nonchalant. “But are you?”

“When have I not been?” Tsukasa response was enough to silence the conversation.

In the silence that followed, both Tsukasa and Mizuki's gazes darted from each other to the encroaching darkness at the other end of the destroyed alley; scanning the view slowly while searching for the threatening creature from before, when, suddenly, from the shadows, a monstrous silhouette emerged; its twisted form casting a grotesque shadow against the brick wall.

A low, menacing growl echoed through the small space, filling the air with a sense of ominous tension while the creature slowly advanced towards them, with its steps heavy and deliberate, each one sending a cold shiver down their spines.

It was an imposing and terrifying sight.

It towered above both of them, its body muscular and brutish. With its hide being darkness, it was almost blending in with the shadows, and its eyes glowed an ominous red. Its maw, filled with sharp, pointed teeth, resembled that of a primal beast, drooling with hunger and aggression.

Mizuki's smirk vanished, replaced by an intense look of focus, and Tsukasa's grip on his sword tightened, his knuckles, covered by his leather gloves, turning white.

“Stay behind me.” He muttered through clenched teeth, positioning himself between Mizuki and the monster after squinting his eyes in defiance.

“Yes, captain.” Mizuki gave a nod and took a few steps back, allowing Tsukasa to stand in front. She knew better than to argue with him when it came to protecting them. “Be careful.” She mumbled softly, her voice betraying a hint of concern.

As the creature came closer, Tsukasa's eyes narrowed, his gaze becoming fixed on the approaching threat. But then a warm glow began to emanate from his body; going straight to the sword and illuminating it, while growing stronger as his power surged.

Meanwhile, Mizuki's eyes sparkled, her own power reacting to the situation.

“Don’t worry, I won't let it hurt us.” Tsukasa stated firmly, his voice steady.

Mizuki's then knelt, feeling her body tensing, and then outstretched her hand until reaching the ground beneath her fingers as the silvery glow in her eyes blazed even brighter.

“Me neither.”

The ground beneath the monstrous creature shifted, and suddenly, thick, silvery chains burst forth from the earth, sneaking their way around the monster's limbs with a forceful grip.

Caught off guard, the creature let out a fearsome roar, its movements momentarily restrained by the unexpected chains.

Tsukasa watched in fascination as Mizuki's power unleashed the silvery chains, her control over the situation unwavering. The creature struggled against the bonds, its powerful frame testing the limits of the silver restraints. However, the chains held their ground, refusing to give in to the monster's attempts to break free.

“Nice job.” Tsukasa complimented, his gaze shifting to Mizuki momentarily with a hint of admiration in his eyes.

Mizuki then gave a small smile, the intensity in her eyes briefly softening as she acknowledged Tsukasa's praise. “Thanks.” She replied briefly, her voice betraying a hint of pride.

But the creature, growing more enraged as the chains held it captive, let out a defiant roar, its body straining against the restraints. Yet, the silver chains held strong, not budging an inch under the creature's immense strength.

Sensing an opportunity, Tsukasa charged forward, drawing his sword and attacking the monster while it was still restrained by Mizuki's chains.

The blade gleamed with a golden glow, reflecting the power within it, with Tsukasa's movements being precise and controlled; his sword slashes finding their mark with deadly accuracy.

Everything seemed under control, but the beast, with an uncontrolled brute force, suddenly broke one of the chains.

“Shit.” Tsukasa muttered while dodging the monster's free arm in an improvised manner; causing him to fall to the ground due to the surprise of the attack.

His body collided across the ground until he struck a stone with his back, but was soon back on his feet with the help of his sword; throwing himself to his knees, spitting out the blood caused by the heavy blow.

Mizuki's gaze followed his every move, but Tsukasa didn't waste a second in getting back onto the offensive; and standing up, with an additional burst of power, he summoned another sword, this one being unlike any ordinary blade.

It materialized from seemingly thin air, its form made entirely of pure, shimmering golden light. That same light from the blade being intense and casting a brilliant glow around them.

He stood on his two feet, and while wielding two blades, one of solid steel and the other of radiant light, Tsukasa's eyes gleamed with determination as he began to walk towards the monster slowly.

In a moment, Tsukasa lunged forward, both swords in hand, cutting through the air with near-perfect elegance, while the creature roared in fury, its movements still restricted but not completely immobilized.

His strikes were swift and deadly, the light sword carving through the shadows like a beacon of hope: while the normal sword met the monster’s attacks with each slash, the monster's resistance began to falter, its strength slowly waning under the combined might of Tsukasa and Mizuki's powers.

“NOW, MIZUKI” Tsukasa’s shout was the perfect signal for the girl; who instantly tightened her hold on the silver chains; and standing up she closed her eyes to focus; tightening her jaw too at the exact moment her power flooded through the chains until reaching the beast; paralysing it.

He then ran with both swords at his sides, feeling the wind tousling his hair because of the speed he was running at, and with one final blow, Tsukasa then delivered a devastating strike to the creature's vulnerable core. The light sword gleamed brilliantly, its power amplified by Tsukasa's determination, and pierced through the darkness, striking true and obliterating the heart of the beast.

The creature let out a last, guttural groan, before collapsing to the ground, defeated and vanquished.

The alley fell silent, only the sound of the two breathing heavily breaking the eerie stillness.

The remnants of the creature crumbled into dust too, its presence vanishing like smoke in the air; leaving only the faint scent of decay behind it.

Both of them stood, the adrenaline of the battle still coursing through their veins, the weight of their victory slowly settling over them, with Tsukasa leaning against a wall; his chest heaving as he caught his breath.

After a few moments, he turned to Mizuki, his eyes filled with a mix of relief and exhaustion.

“Mizuki.” He puffed out between breaths. “Send Akito the signal. It’s time for his part of the plan to be completed.”

A beat of silence passed through them, and then Mizuki replied.

“Yes, captain.”

And with that, she raised her hand; shooting a ray of silver light to the sky.

Meanwhile, in the other half of the city, a lone boy stood waiting, his body tense with anticipation.

His eyes were fixed on the ruined skyline; waiting for his signal and feeling hungry for some action.

The broken buildings and crumbled streets were nothing but another incentive to his burning soul; eager to release some steam. And his powers pulsed through his veins, with his core desiring for release.

The boy awaited, when suddenly, the night sky above him lit up, as a silver ray shot through the darkness. The light glimmered brilliantly, casting a stark contrast to the ruined surroundings.

Akito's eyes widened as he beheld the sight, the beam reflecting off his pupils like shards of a shimmering mirror, and for a moment, he was frozen to the spot, mesmerized by the spectacle.

But as the light dissipated, Akito shook himself out of the momentary trance.

He took a deep breath, steeling himself for what was to come.

Adrenaline coursed through his veins, thus he knew what that light represented: the signal that Tsukasa and Mizuki had successfully taken care of the threat from the other side of the city.

“It's time.” He muttered under his breath, his eyes fixed on the horizon.

With a final glance at the fading silver light, Akito lowered his gaze, his eyes falling upon the cityscape below.

He was perched on a rooftop, a vantage point that allowed him a panoramic view of the broken landscape, so as he scanned the broken city from his perch, his eyes fell upon the chilling sight he’d been monitoring.

Scattered amongst the ruins, their forms twisted and decayed, stood a group of warrior zombies.

They were once human, but now they stood like dark sentries, the corrupted tools of dark magic. Their eyes glowed an ominous red, a stark contrast to their pallid, fleshless forms.

So, gathering his courage, Akito took a deep breath and descended from the rooftop, landing with a soft thud on the ruined street below.

The crumbling buildings and shattered street provided little to no cover, forcing him to tread carefully and stay vigilant.

Akito still moved with a mixture of caution and confidence, his every step measured but filled with determination.

Despite the dire circumstances, there was a certain air of security about him, a sense of purpose that could not be denied; he indeed moved with purpose, with his eyes fixed on the approaching zombie warriors.

And as he drew closer to the zombies, their decaying forms becoming more visible in the dim light, Akito's heart pounded in his chest. But there was no sign of trepidation on his face; instead, his expression was focused, his gaze cold and calculating.

Yet the warriors continued their slow advance, their mindless shuffle a parody of human movement.

They were mere shadows of their former selves, puppets dancing on strings of dark magic.

And Akito knew it: he would have to take them down quickly and efficiently. There was no room for error or hesitation. The zombies were relentless, their corrupted forms driven by the power of dark magic, and they would not stop until they were defeated.

With a deep breath, Akito steeled himself for the confrontation.

The time for careful planning was over; now it was time for action.

But the zombies, sensing Akito's presence, let out a guttural moan, their red-tinged eyes fixing on him as they lurched forward in unison. The sound was a chilling symphony of decay, a reminder of the undead creatures they had become.

Akito stood his ground, his body tensed and ready as the warriors closed in on him until he met their advance with a swift strike, his weapon slicing through the rotted flesh of the nearest warrior.

The warrior fell to the ground with a heavy thud, its lifeless form hitting the hard asphalt with a sickening crunch. But the victory was short-lived, as the remaining zombies closed in, their rotting limbs flailing awkwardly.

Akito spun on his heel, dodging a flailing arm and retaliating with a swift strike to another warrior's exposed skull.

He fought with a mix of skill and precision, his moves calculated and effective against the mindless creatures.

As he continued to fight, tho, Akito's heart raced, the adrenaline coursing through his veins.

His eyes glinted with a fierce energy, reflecting the intense focus and determination driving him forward. He fought with a lethal grace, his every move a dance of violence against the onslaught of the warriors.

But as more zombies emerged from the shadows, Akito sensed the danger rising around him.

He paused mid-swing, his weapon still raised in the air, and took a quick look around.

The realization that he was outnumbered sunk in, but he didn't falter.

With a burst of determination, Akito focused his energy into the blade of his sword, his eyes narrowing with concentration, then, the sword began to glow faintly, the power channelled into it by Akito's will.

With the power charged within his sword, Akito lunged forward, the weapon a blur of radiant silvery light. The blow connected with the nearest warrior, cleaving through the rotten flesh and sinew like a hot knife through butter.

The impact sent a jolt of energy through the air, a burst of power that was almost visible.

And the warrior fell, its lifeless form crumpling to the ground. The other zombies, though numerous, seemed to hesitate for a moment, taken aback by the sudden display of power.

So in a fluid motion, Akito concentrated the last remains of his energy into a final attack.

The sword blazed with a brilliant glow, a beam of light cutting through the dark night like a radiant blade. The remaining zombies were no match for the concentrated blast of power, and they fell, their rotting forms collapsing onto the broken asphalt.

With the last of the warriors defeated, a momentary silence fell over the area.

Under the watchful eye of the stars, Akito stood amidst the fallen bodies of the zombie warriors, their forms strewn across the ruined street, his breath ragged and his body weary, but victorious.

The night sky was a canvas of twinkling lights, bathing the surroundings in a soft, celestial glow.

At that moment, there was a peculiar beauty to the aftermath of the battle, an almost peaceful calm lingering in the air despite the surrounding carnage.

Akito's weary body was bathed in a silvery light, shadows dancing across his weary, yet victorious face.

“Damn it… They always give me the most tiresome tasks.” He grumbled, his eyes scanning the surrounding area for any signs of further danger.

But at finding nothing, with a sigh, Akito reached out a hand and cast a burst of light into the night sky. The luminescence shimmered, a signal to signify the completion of his mission.

“Mission accomplished, I guess.” He muttered, his shoulders slumping slightly as the adrenaline rush began to fade.

Meanwhile, Shiho stood near the edge of the campsite, her eyes scanning the dense forest surrounding them.

The darkness was thick, but she was vigilant, her senses attuned to the slightest sound or movement.

Shiho's gaze flicked over the campsite, her expression calm but alert. The soft light from the campfire flickered, creating dancing shadows across the ground. The night was quiet, the only sounds coming from the crackle of the flames and the occasional hoot of an owl.

Still, Shiho knew better than to let her guard down. There were many creatures lurking in the shadows of the forest, and she was determined to keep the campsite and its occupants safe from harm.

Having already seen the signals, she leaned back against a tree, her eyes fixed on the path that led to the campsite.

She knew that the others would soon be returning from their mission, and she was waiting patiently for their arrival.

The moonlight filtered through the trees, casting eerie shadows on the ground, and Shiho found herself to be bored.

Her responsibility was clear: she was the protector of the campsite, but though her senses were on high alert, with her keen observation and intuition constantly surveying the area for any signs of danger, she had nothing to do.

The night was quiet, the only sounds coming from the soft crackle of the campfire and the occasional hoot of an owl.

She knew she had to stay focused, but the monotony of her task was starting to wear on her.

A certain memory made her roll her eyes; her thoughts drifting to her sister, Shizuku.

She had been so worried about their safety on this mission, constantly expressing her concerns to Tsukasa, that the always soft-hearted boy felt obliged to put her on the rearguard.

And though she understood her sister's concern, Shiho knew that they were all capable.

And foremost, they had a job to do.

The boredom was just a minor inconvenience.

“Damn it, Shizuku” She muttered under her breath. “Always fretting over us.”

As if on cue, Shiho's ears pricked up at the sound of rustling leaves and footsteps approaching.

Her earlier boredom quickly disappeared, replaced by a sense of alertness.

She scanned the surrounding area, trying to pinpoint the source of the noise.

Shiho stayed perfectly still, listening intently to the sounds of movement in the distance. There was something odd about the footsteps, something amiss in the usual patterns of the forest. Her instincts told her that something was off.

With a deep breath, Shiho unsheathed her weapon, a slender blade reflecting the faint moonlight. She prepared herself for whatever was approaching, her heart racing with anticipation, when suddenly, a figure lunged out of the darkness, charging towards Shiho.

She barely had time to react, her instincts kicking in as she parried the attack with her blade. The force of the collision sent her stumbling back, but she quickly regained her footing, her grip on her weapon tight.

“Damn it!” She hissed, eyeing her attacker. It was a zombie, its decaying form lurching forward with a hunger for flesh.

Shiho braced herself as the zombie lunged at her again, its rotting hands reaching out to grab her.

But then she dodged to the side, narrowly avoiding its grasp, and countered with a swift strike to its rotting skull.

The creature stumbled back, but quickly recovered and advanced again.

Shiho gritted her teeth as she traded blows with the zombie. Its strength was unnatural, fuelled by some dark magic. Every strike of its claws or flailing limbs sent shockwaves of pain through her body, but she refused to back down.

She feinted to the left, then lunged to the right, her blade gleaming in the faint light. The zombie was relentless, its face a mask of rotted flesh and hunger as it continued its onslaught.

But, suddenly, in the midst of the fight, Shiho's blade slipped from her grip and clattered to the ground.

She cursed under her breath, her mind racing as she quickly realized the disadvantage this put her in, yet the zombie seemed to sense her vulnerability, and moved forward with an even greater intensity.

The zombie was just centimetres away from biting her, but just as it seemed Shiho was in mortal danger, an arrow suddenly whistled through the air and pierced the zombie's skull; leaving the creature screaming one final guttural moan before collapsing to the ground.

Shiho, with her pupils trembling because of the scare, turned, her eyes widening in surprise, to see a figure standing nearby, a golden bow in their hands. However, her surprise turned to relief as she recognized the figure.

“Tsuka- Captain.” She said while standing up.

Tsukasa strode to where she was, the summoned bow still in his hand, and a look of concern on his face.

“Are you alright?” He asked, his voice low and steady. “That zombie had you cornered.”

Shiho nodded, taking a moment to catch her breath. “Yeah, I'm fine.” She replied, her voice a bit shaky from the adrenaline. “Thanks for the save. I owe you one.”

Tsukasa chuckled, making the bow disappear with a flick of his hands. “Just doing my job. Can't have our protector getting taken out by a random zombie, right?” He then motioned for Shiho to follow him as he started making his way back towards the campsite. “Come on.” He spoke. “Akito and the others are waiting for us to go back home.”

At that, she just nodded; picking her sword from the ground and following the older.

But as they made their way back, Shiho couldn't help but mull over the events of the fight. The zombie, with its unnatural strength and ferocity, had to be under the influence of dark magic. She had never encountered something like that before.

“Tsukasa.” She said, her voice laced with something akin to concern. “That zombie. It wasn't like any I've ever seen. Something dark is at work here.”

There was a moment of silence as they continued walking, the only sounds being the crunching of leaves beneath their feet. Then, finally, Tsukasa spoke up.

“I know.” He echoed Shiho's words; his tone of voice enough for the girl to know that something wasn’t right with the whole situation.

“We will talk when we get back home.”

And with that, their forms disappeared amidst the crunching leaves and whispered night, shadows danced upon the trees, as if alive; oblivious to one presence watching.

The unseen observer, silent and sinister, observed their every move with an air of malevolence, hidden in the shadows as darkness itself.

[ ⟡ ]

The sun had set on the previous day, leaving the group weary and exhausted, yet they were still obligated to attend the weekly ceremony.

Some of them grumbled under their breath, already dreading the thought of having to sit through another long and monotonous religious service.

But they had to attend as per their obligation.

The building they were in was a grand structure, its towering walls and ornate architecture speaking of its antiquity; with massive stone statues of the gods and goddesses adorned the entrance, their stone eyes watching over them as they approached.

Inside, the ceilings arched high above, stained-glass windows casting colourful streams of light across the polished stone floor.

Yet as beautiful as it was, Akito, among the group, was groaning inwardly while sitting in one of the benches closest to the altar.

He had never been fond of these weekly ceremonies, finding them long and dull, and the idea of sitting still and listening to a lecture on faith and duty didn't appeal to his restless nature.

His eyes wandered to the other group members, noting their expressions of annoyance and weariness.

He wasn't alone in his displeasure, and the thought of spending another evening listening to a lecture from the town's priest was not one he relished.

“Why do we have to go to these damn things every week.” He muttered to himself, running a hand through his hair in frustration.

He and the others had worked hard the day before, and he could still feel the exhaustion setting in.

Unfortunately, Tsukasa, who was sitting beside him, rolled his eyes and interrupted his complaining.

“Enough, Akito.” He said firmly but with a bright smile on his face; putting on a facade for those citizens that were looking at them with awe. “We're all tired, but we have to do this. No complaining.”

At that, Akito huffed out a quiet breath, but he reluctantly quieted down.

“Don’t act like those injuries on your back are not making you go through a hell of time here.” He whispered, and then leaned against the cold stone of the pew, his eyes focused on the priest at the front of the room; listening to his slow and monotonous voice.

“My children.” He began; his voice echoing through the room. “We are gathered here today to remind ourselves of the divine order of the world, and I’m very pleased to see how many of you are here today.” He paused to scan the crowd with a pleased smile, then continued. “And because of that, I would like to start today's ceremony with reminding ourselves the importance of the lord’s presence over us.” He pointed at one of the statues. “Each of us were born with a soul made of a different metal, each with its own unique properties and purpose.” He paused, his eyes scanning the faces before him, his expression stern but paternal. “And it was only thanks to the lord that we were born as gifted as we are; with a soul made of a different metal, representing different characteristics and virtues.”

‘He repeated the same damn thing but with other words.’ Thought Akito bitterly as he listened to the old man charade.

The priest raised his hands again, his gaze sweeping over the congregation.

“These three metals bestowed by the lord, like the different parts of a chariot, according to the saint scriptures, must all work together in harmony for our own chariot: the world we inhabit, to move forward. Each metal has its own specific function and purpose, just as each one of us has a unique role to play in this planet.” He paused, his voice taking on a more authoritative tone.

“First there is Gold.” The priest continued, his voice firm. “Gold, symbolizing the intellect and the rational mind. It is the guiding force of the soul, the one that steers the chariot towards wisdom and righteousness.”

He pauses for effect, his eyes roaming over the congregation, locking onto each pair of eyes as if searching for something within them.

“But just as gold must be refined and purified, so too must the rational mind be honed and disciplined.”

The priest's gaze lingered on Tsukasa for a moment, studying him closely.

“Those born with a soul of Gold have a great responsibility.” He said, his voice stern yet paternal. “They must use their intellect and wisdom to guide others, to lead them towards the light of truth and righteousness. Just like the driver of the chariot must be strong, unwavering in the face of adversity. The golden souls must have discipline and self-control, for the journey of the soul is not an easy one.”

The priest paused, letting his words sink in. “The other metals represent different virtues and powers, but gold is, without question, the most important. It is the foundation upon which everything else rests; as is the only one who can rule over this world.”

The priest continued his sermon, his voice growing in intensity as he spoke.

“Next comes Silver.” He said, his eyes glinting with fervour. “Silver is the symbol of courage and determination, the strength that drives people forward, despite the obstacles in its path.”

He paused, his gaze sweeping across the room, his eyes locking onto each person's face in turn.

“It is the Silver in our souls that must never falter, that must remain steadfast in the face of adversity and hardship: silver is the mark of the warrior, the one who fights for what is right, who defends the weak and the innocent.”

“…” Akito stood there, feeling like disassociating.

But as he knew what came next, he tried to calm down, and to listen without feeling angry.

The priest took a deep breath, and then started talking ominously.

“Bronze, on the other hand, is a more…complex matter.” He says, his eyes narrowing slightly.

At those words, Akito felt Shiho flinching at his side.

“Bronze represents the more primal aspects of the soul, the base instincts and desires that all mortals must grapple with.”

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the congregation, his expression becoming stern.

“But just as Bronze is a necessary component, so too must this aspect of ourselves be kept in check, for left unchecked, Bronze can lead to destruction and ruin.” After a beat of silence, he continued. “Bronze, in the past, has caused great harm when left unchecked.” He says, his voice growing more intense. “It has led to wars, corruption, and destruction, all because of the base instincts and desires that lie within us.”

He glanced around the room again, his gaze settling on Shiho for the first time. “It is our responsibility, as mortals, to tame the Bronze in our souls, to keep it under control and channel it.”

After that, a tirade of prayers filled the chapel, and then the ceremony ended; leaving behind a palpable sense of tension between the four knights.

The heavy silence that followed seemed to suffocate them all too, leaving them feeling restless and uncertain, but Tsukasa, noticing the group’s discomfort, took the initiative to break the silence.

He spoke up in a calm and steady voice, hoping to ease the awkwardness that had settled among them all.

“The Eternal sovereign wishes to speak with us.” He said, looking around at the group. “We have been summoned to his studio”

At that, the group exchanged surprised glances, but they knew they had no choice but to comply.

So, after a nod, everyone left to the corridor.

However, at reaching the room, they found it empty, with no sign of the sovereign anywhere.

They stood in the centre of the spacious room, exchanging puzzled glances, until Akito spoke up first, his frustration flaring up again. “Where is he? Why did he summon us if he's not even here?”

Mizuki rolled her eyes at Akito's impatient tone and spoke up. “Calm down, Akito. Maybe he's just running late.”

“Calm down?” Akito retorted, his frustration getting the better of him. “We came all the way here, and he's not even here! This is a waste of time.”

And she was just about to respond, but before she could say anything, someone entered the room, his imposing presence filling the space.

“Calm down, my children.” He said, his voice firm but gentle. “There is no need for such impatience.”

At the sound of the grunt voice, the group whipped around, their eyes widening in recognition: the Eternal Sovereign stood before them, his presence commanding and imposing.

The group knelt instantly; their heads bowed in respect.

And the Sovereign stood there, watching them silently, sizing them up with a piercing gaze.

“That's enough. You may rise.” The man's voice, firm and authoritative, was enough for the four teens to rise from their position on the ground immediately; with their backs straight, yet not taking their eyes off the ground.

“Thank you for lending us of your time, your highness.” Tsukasa was the only one to speak out of the four, as the aura emanating from the emperor's body did nothing but intimidate those who did not share the same metal as him.

Still, the blond did not raise his eyes; causing him to miss the change of expression on the man's face.

With a satisfied smile, the Sovereign spoke again. “Don't be like that, lads, I've known you since you were little.” His words caught the group off guard, but thanks to them, they were able to calm down momentarily. “Hold your heads up, I want to see the faces of this nation's pride and joy.” He never stopped speaking with his characteristic authoritative manner, but a slight change was noticeable in his voice, as the soldiers came to feel a certain tinge of affability.

It was because of this that the posture of the younger ones relaxed, and after what seemed like an eternity, they all raised their heads in unison.

“Very well.” The Eternal Sovereign congratulated them with a pleasant smile, and at that, all four felt their cheeks heat up with a blush.

Some bowed in embarrassment at being treated like children — like Akito or Shiho, and others just looked at him with some admiration — like Tsukasa and Mizuki, who had to raise their heads a little to be able to see his face because of the height difference.

The man was too tall even for his age, and his presence was capable of making even his most devoted followers tremble.

Even Tsukasa, his future heir and closest person in the entire kingdom, was no exception.

His upright posture never failed to make him feel small, and though he was incredibly tall, the reason his presence was so commanding was nothing more than his attitude. He always walked with a certain parsimony: hands clasped behind his own back or carrying his golden sceptre; delicate, but full of intricate details along its length. Her white hair, long and straight, was always loose, but on certain occasions it was sometimes pulled back into a high ponytail to facilitate everyday actions.

His clothes were also striking, for even though he owned most of the continent's territory, he did not dress in an ostentatious manner. He always wore a white suit that covered him from head to toe, lightly embroidered and with just a few pieces of gold jewellery to obstruct his path. Rarely did he remove his royal cloak, the only piece of clothing considered luxurious, but during that very moment he did not wear it.

“I suppose you are wondering why I have called you to my office.” The sovereign's voice snapped the youths out of their trance. “But don't worry, I simply wanted to congratulate you on the good work you are doing.” His voice, now more relaxed, drew their attention so calmly that they found themselves unable to stop watching his every move. “Both the kingdom and I are truly proud to have you: four strong, healthy young lads, carrying on the legacy of hundreds of generations behind you.” As he spoke, he looked each of them in the eye, then began walking towards his desk. “That is why I would like to bestow this gift upon you.”

The gaze of the four knights followed his every move; from the leisurely walk to the gesture of his hands as he picked up a small box from the table.

“The Order of the Four Winds is kept alive thanks to your countless efforts.” At that sentence, Akito couldn't help but wrinkle his nose at the memory of his beginnings, but the man continued speaking, oblivious to the attitude of one of the younger ones. “So I can only beg you to accept this.”

As he said those words, his fingers moved to the clasp of the box: opening it and lifting the lid to reveal four delicate brooches.

“As you can see, there is one for each of you.” With his left hand he held the box from underneath; revealing the contents inside, and with his right he pointed over the brooches with the help of his index finger. “Three silver brooches for my most precious silver souls.” His long, slender finger traced the silhouette of one of the three silver brooches; all of these in the shape of a moon, and then moved towards the only golden one. “And a gold one for my future cherished heir.” The star-shaped brooch glinted against the light of the room, and its sparkles shone before the eyes of an astonished Tsukasa.

As he finished his explanation, he raised his gaze — which had so far remained fixed on the contents of the box — to look at Tsukasa.

“Come closer, please.” As he spoke, he made sure to gently remove the golden brooch from the box. “The last to receive these brooches were the Star Division.” Already with the object between his fingers, he began to inspect it bit by bit, paying no attention to the boy now positioned in front of him. “Unfortunately, they perished on the battlefield no more than two decades ago; during the Holy Revolution.” He suddenly frowned; clenching the small brooch between his fingers. “That quarrel took many lives ahead, but we must not stagnate in the past, and, instead, learn from our mistakes in order to move forward.” His voice became increasingly slurred, but that was no impediment to the young men listening to him; for in the proximity they had no problem at all.

Gradually, he put the pins on their suits himself, focused on his task but still speaking.

“The Divine Lord led you here, and it is here that you are to prevail to the last of your days; protecting and-” He paused suddenly as he reached Akito; being the last in line. “Protecting and obeying my orders. As the holy scriptures dictate.” And with that he finished, just putting the ornament back in place and parting by taking a step backwards.

“Yes, sir.” He was answered by all four at the same moment; some more convinced than others, but all not forgetting to hold their heads high.

At that, The Eternal Sovereign looked at them silently with a satisfied smile on his face.

“You are dismissed, my little warriors.” He crossed his hands behind his back, setting his shoulders straight and speaking firmly, causing the group in front of him to nod; dismissing them with a bow.

Once in the hallway, however, none of them opened their mouths to speak, so it wasn't until they walked out to the square in front of the chapel that Tsukasa spoke.

“Shiho, come with me to that stall, I want to buy something to eat before we go.” As he spoke, he pointed to his right; where an elderly woman sat in front of a wooden stall selling caramel apples.

“Tsukasa, don't you think it's too early to eat something so sweet?” Shiho looked at him with some doubt in her eyes, but the older simply denied, grabbing her arm and practically dragging her over there.

“Don't worry, nothing bad will happen. Besides, if we don't consume enough sugar, we might get dizzy in the middle of training.” His voice was sounding lower and lower with every step he took, but as he turned and spoke again, Mizuki and Akito heard him perfectly. “Don't move from your place, we'll be right back to leave together!”

The other two stared at them with some amusement, but because of the events earlier they didn't comment on anything; deciding instead to remain silent.

They both observed their surroundings; watching young people laughing amongst themselves and families spending time together. And albeit every now and then a child or two would greet them with admiration, they returned the greeting with a smile and fell back into silence.

It wasn't an awkward moment per se, but Mizuki decided to cut it short.

“I’m sorry.” Her voice almost went unnoticed at how slurred she spoke, but Akito, who was standing literally next to her, managed to hear it.

He turned his gaze towards the girl; uncrossing his arms and relaxing his shoulders.

“It's okay, it's been a tough few days, and stress brings out the worst in us.· He felt defeated, yet he knew exactly what the girl was referring to. “I didn't act right during the mission either, and I shouldn't have doubted you.” They exchanged gazes, feeling the heat of the sun lurk over them. “Sorry.” He said after a moment of silence; his words being nothing but sincere.

Mizuki simply shook her head, then slapped him lightly on the shoulder with a fist.

“Don't blame yourself, it's like you say, we're all on edge.” She let Akito overreact as she spoke; ignoring him with a half-sideways smile as she listened to his groans.

After a few seconds, Akito answered her.

“Yes, the closer the day gets, the less patience we seem to have.”

And at those words, Mizuki nodded; letting her gaze sweep across the entire square.

Meanwhile, Tsukasa and Shiho were finishing their shopping for the boy's sweets.

“Thank you very much, ma'am!” Tsukasa's animated voice rang out loudly, and along with the parting motion he made with his hands, formed an admittedly tender image for the woman.

“It's nothing, young boy, enjoy the sweets while you can, when you least expect it you'll be older like me and will have to limit your intake of goodies.” She spoke somewhat reproachfully, but the situation was sufficiently comical for none of them to care.

Anyway, as Tsukasa tried to answer her, he was interrupted by a stampede of children approaching the stall to buy their own sweets. So the boy stood there, glad to have gotten his sweets, and watching with a happy look on his face as the kids scampered around for treats.

His chest felt warm from the comfort that image brought him, but he certainly knew that deep inside he still longed to complete what he had lost many years ago.

“Tsukasa.” Shiho's voice caught his attention, so without hesitation he turned; meeting the girl in front of him. “Shall we?” She offered as she pointed back the way they had come.

To which the boy nodded.

They walked in silence, side by side; with Tsukasa eating his apple and Shiho watching the tiles she was stepping on with each stride.

They didn't really need to talk, but Shiho felt the urge to do so at the image from a few minutes ago; Tsukasa's gaze too longing to pass up.

“You-” She started to speak, catching the older attention thanks to that, but the words seemed to get stuck in her throat, causing her to linger for a while before she was able to say what she wanted to. “You miss them, don't you?” The question was short, but striking enough for the boy, who stopped eating instantly so he could look at Shiho.

His eyes seemed to suddenly lose their characteristic hue and sparkle of vitality, and at that Shiho flinched.

“Not a day goes by that I don't think about them.”

“…”

It was a short, curt reply, but Shiho took no offence at the tone, and, instead, replied.

“Me too.”

The atmosphere between them suddenly grew sombre and heavy. Their boots echoed against the tiles as they walked, birdsong seemed to have risen in volume, and children scampered around them in search of games to entertain themselves with; too distracted to see where they were going.

That was why the crash of one of the children into Tsukasa's chest came as no surprise to anyone.

“Excuse me, sir knight!” The boy exclaimed with a boyish grin.

It barely reached his waist from how small he was — probably no more than eight years old — and his exuberant innocence seemed to envelop every inch of his presence.

But in Tsukasa's eyes, instead of the tenderness that anyone would feel, there was only sorrow and envy.

However, that sight did not take long to fade; masked within a few seconds with an expression of fake cheerfulness.

“It's all right, just be careful and go home soon. We don't want your mother to worry.” He ruffled his hair with his free hand, and receiving a nod from the boy, let him go; starting to walk again towards the direction where they were waiting for them.

Upon arriving, even having spent the better part of the walk in silence, Tsukasa didn't hesitate to start speaking as soon as he saw his companions.

“We'd better get back and rest for today.” Having already thrown away the remains earlier, Tsukasa found himself with his hands free, a thing by which he was able to hug both teens by the neck.

He caught them off guard; having slowly approached them from behind until he jumped on top of them, which caused them to panic.

“Hey!” Akito was the first to protest, but his anger didn't last long when he felt something sweet in his mouth.

“Shh Akito, don't waste your breath yelling at me, you'd better try this chocolate, it was given to me by the lady at the food stall.” Tsukasa spoke with a smile on his face; as if he wasn't practically choking poor Akito with a chocolate bar.

Mizuki, who had been startled at first, could only laugh.

And Shiho, for her part, looked at her three friends with a mixture of fondness and embarrassment.

“Fools.”

Author note!

After a year, I came back with more angst!!!! (´▽`ʃ♡ƪ) Im soo happy about uploading this fanfic bc i've been working for months for this, and now it's finally here heheheh (～￣▽￣)～

Well, I supose u know about it, but expect a lot of hurt and sadness and etc ლ(╹◡╹ლ) Have fun reading it ♪(´▽｀)

And please, remember that english is not my first language, so sorry if there are mistakes ^^;

(+ if you'd seen the non-edited version of this chapter no u didn't) 

 

Kudos and comments are apreciated ♡

Chapter Text

[ ⟡ ]

Twelve years ago.

Back before Subterra fell into decay and became a lost land: simply destined for those less fortunate in life; a city destroyed by the avarice and sheer greed of its people; almost uninhabitable because of all the poisonous smoke that drifted through its streets, many years before it was all destroyed — before the war began — Subterra stood as the most advanced of the four cities.

Envied even by those who lived in the capital, the most developed territory on the continent was located in Subterra: the now forgotten city.

Technologically speaking, it was the most important of them all. It was the capital of knowledge, and the determining place for all those involved in the industry. Institutions and companies of all kinds focused their income in Subterra no matter the project, as everyone was confident of its success, and all those who wished to gain knowledge moved permanently to educate themselves in all kinds of alchemy and craftsmanship.

It was an advanced society. As well as independent.

Yet ruled by bronze souls, its main command did not rest in the hands of the Eternal Sovereign. The city acted on its own, but this independence was not recognized by the law.

Nor before the Sovereign's council.

The willingness of the citizens of Subterra to move forward was seen as a danger to the safety of the people, so in one November, decades ago, the bronze souls found themselves faced with a law that limited their creations.

From one day to the next they had to stop creating; to stop doing that which, beyond providing them with an economic livelihood, kept them alive.

The response was immediate. Violent rebellions and indiscriminate assaults appeared everywhere; forcing Sovereign's military council to bring the chaos under control with violence.

They were forced to kill those who were once considered brethren, and with pain in their chests they had no choice but to tear down the city that was once a role model.

Or so the Sovereign's council claims.

What is clear, however, is that amidst all the chaos and destruction, an orphanage sought to provide shelter for those in need.

It was located on the outskirts, and was merely a house that the owner, Ken, had kept in his care after the death of his wife.

He lived there alone with his daughter An, so when the war broke out he did not hesitate to take in children.

First came the Tenma siblings; offspring of friends of his late wife, then Kohane, together with Mizuki and Toya, who came from influential families wanting to safeguard the youngest of the lineage, and finally the Shinonome together with Shiho; descendants of knights belonging to the old royal palace.

They came from different places; they had different lifestyles, different realities, and even different metals. But even with all these differences, they shared something much more important in common.

Each and every one of them was alone due to the war; and they had no choice but to support each other.

And so they did. They formed a family, and although the addition of Rui and Nene months later was spontaneous and unpredictable — for they had been found wandering around — they eventually managed to fit in.

There were eleven children in total, so Ken had no choice but to shelter them according to their metals.

The man was not enthusiastic about the forced discrimination that had set in because of the war, but space was limited, and the easiest way to organize was through the traditional sorting.

Luckily, the groups worked perfectly.

The bronzes were a rather rare but stable group, and they were able to understand each other even though being so different.

“Rui.” A girl with two blonde pigtails spoke while lying her head on top of the legs of another girl with brown hair.

“Tell me, Saki-kun.” A purple haired boy answered her from his spot next to her; sitting cross-legged as he built something out of building blocks.

"Do you know what's for lunch today?" Saki simply looked up at the ceiling as she spoke, too relaxed as she felt the other girl play with her hair.

“Nope.” Rui shook his head, causing some of his locks to flutter at the slight movement.

“Nene has been helping in the kitchen today, she might know.” The girl playing with Saki's hair suddenly spoke up.

“You think so, Ena?” Saki asked her as she turned her gaze to the eldest girl's face.

“Yes, but we'd better let her rest.” Ena nodded, trying to convince the younger one too as she pointed with one hand to a lump on top of the nearest bed. “She's having a nap now. We'll bother her later.” Throughout the talk, she kept playing with Saki's hair, but as she felt the girl nod, she moved back to lie on her back on the floor.

"Do you want a cushion, Ena?" But Rui's face suddenly appeared in her range of sight; with his eyes slightly open and a cushion in his hand.

“Sure.”

Silvers, on the other hand, were too hot-tempered.

“AKITO GIVE ME THAT COLOUR BACK RIGHT NOW.” A girl's voice echoed through the corridors of the house.

“WHY? YOU WEREN'T USING IT.” The boy, Akito, shouted back.

‘’CAUSE I WAS GOING TO USE IT NOW.’ The girl, now standing, shouted again, but now pointing at the shorter one with her hand. ‘YOU'RE DUMB.’’

Hearing that, the boy stood up too.

“YOU'RE DUMBER, AN.”

“An, Akito!” The girl next to them; shorter and with blonde hair, caught their attention.

“Don't insult each other!”

‘’Let us alone, Kohane, Akito is a fool who doesn't even know how to comb his hair properly.‘’

“HEY-”

And the fight continued, with two other children watching the scene with amusement and concern.

“Do you think joining in the middle of the fight will be fun?” The pink haired girl asked the boy next to her with a certain hint of genuine curiosity in her voice as she watched Akito and An began to pull each other's hair.

“Mizuki, don't-” As he answered, the boy turned to look at Mizuki with concern.

“You're such a killjoy, Toya.” Mizuki groaned at her friend's response, but continued to watch the fight between the other two. “Though you might be right, we'd better separate them, right?” She asked now with also concern as she saw the hair-pulling fight turn into biting.

“Please.”

But between them, they balanced each other.

Then lastly, the golden ones.

Well, the only one in the whole house.

“Shiho, are you sure you don't want to stay in your room with the others?” A blonde boy asked his friend, who was lying next to him as she read a book.

Destined to be great leaders, they were always there when someone needed them.

“I'd rather stay here.” Shiho answered her with a serious, but not brusque, tone. “They are too loud.” She added as she heard Akito shout at the end of the corridor.

At that, the golden-souled boy chuckled a little.

“I'm not too quiet myself, Shiho.” It was no secret to anyone that the little boy was one of the chattiest in the house, and that he loved to be the centre of attention.

He'd often made his own mischief with the help of his closest friends; Nene and Rui, and he wasn't the epitome of quiet himself.

It was for that reason that he found Shiho's words comical.

“If you want, after dinner, if the others are still fighting, then you and Toya can come and sleep with me.” The boy, thinking of his other friend — almost brother — couldn't help but propose the idea to Shiho. “It wouldn't be the first time you haven't slept in your room.”

The older one pointed out.

“Shut up, Tsukasa.” To which the girl cut off his words, causing him to shut up suddenly. “But thank you.” But still, the girl didn't forget to thank him, causing Tsukasa to smile softly and then lay down next to her to hang out.

Everything was going well, and Ken couldn't be happier.

But as the saying goes: good times are short-lived.

It was two o'clock in the afternoon on an autumn day like any other, and everyone had finished eating. The kitchen was already clean; all the utensils were neat and in their respective places. The dining table was also cleared, but no children sat around it.

Instead, the kids were scattered all over the surface of the house: some in their respective rooms, taking a little nap after eating, and some in other rooms, reading or drawing quietly.

It was a pleasant moment indeed; one of the rare moments when the house became quiet after hours of continuous shouting and laughter. The autumn breeze was blowing in from some half-open windows; providing a breath of fresh, light air to the atmosphere; as were the sounds that one could hear from a distance — like the chirping of small animals scampering around or the falling of leaves in the wind.

Quietness ruled within those four walls, so it was not difficult to hear the sudden bustle coming from outside.

First it was loud, determined footsteps; unfazed by the flowers, as they crushed them carelessly for every time they advanced, and then thick, angry voices.

“Are you sure this is it?” Even with the door closed, a man's voice was heard from inside the house.

“Of course, dumbass. Don't overthink it and knock on the door.” He was answered by another voice; this one being much more brusque.

After that, the sound of two swords being drawn was all that was heard before there were two knocks on the door.

Ken, who had stood up and remained in front of the door in silence for a while, shifted his gaze to his legs; where An and Kohane were hiding after following him.

“Don't worry.” He whispered to them before raising his head: directing his gaze towards the thick wooden door.

He reached out slowly until he grasped the knob, and in doing so opened the door; finding a total of three warriors fully protected in strange looking suits and with their swords in hand.

Ken examined them with his eyes at once, but if not for long he was unable to do so, for one of them; the tallest, began to speak.

“We come in the name of the resistance guild.” The man's voice was very intimidating, and at that the two girls clutched at Ken's worn-out trousers. “We have been notified of the presence of bronze souls in this orphanage, and according to the new law we are obliged to take them to-”

‘No.” Ken interrupted him firmly.

“There are no bronze souls here. I only bring up silvers.’

It was a white lie, too improvised at the moment to be believable, but necessary. Ken was fully aware of why the kids were going to be taken away, and he refused to participate in such sadistic activity.

The girls, on the other hand, did not understand what was going on, nor why the adult was denying the existence of bronze souls in the house when there certainly were, but they resigned themselves to silence: too frightened by the big weapons pointed in their direction.

The mercenaries, hearing Ken's quick denial, looked at him suspiciously, but after a few seconds of silence, the supposed leader of the group spoke again.

“Answer me a question, will you?” As he spoke, he looked Ken in the eye without breaking eye contact. “All the kids you take in here, they come from Subterra, don't they?” He asked him with a hint of amusement in his voice, making Ken feel his heart skip a beat.

“…” He didn't know what to answer for fear of spoiling everything, but silence was answer enough for the mercenary.

“I figured as much.” He mumbled before turning his head slightly towards one of his companions. “Go in and take them all out. Everyone who comes from that city is a bronze: dirty and useless.” No sooner had he given the order than the other two started walking towards the entrance, only to be stopped by Ken.

“What are you doing?” He positioned himself in front of the door with the intention of not letting them through, and spoke urgently. “You can't just walk into my home, I told you they are all silv-” But his defensive words were not enough to calm the situation, and instead provoked the boss into anger.

“Kill him.” It was the only thing he had to say before one of his henchmen raised his sword; stabbing him through the heart.

“DAD!” An's scream echoed throughout the house, along with her and Kohane's cries.

“What a nuisance of girls.” The man who had hurt Ken complained angrily. “Them too, sir?” His sword was full of blood, but he seemed to care little, as he impassively directed the tip of it until it was pointed at the girls lying on the floor in front of him.

“You know what that old man ordered. There must be none left.”

His voice, steadfast, was the last thing to be heard before the chaos began.

Both girls, still on the ground, were only able to cling to each other before they were attacked: resigning themselves to crying silently as they saw the sword loom against them in one sharp movement.

“Sir.” Alerted one of the men to the chief, who had broken away from his group for a moment to survey the hall curiously.

“Tell me.” He replied unfocused; too busy thinking about the location of the remaining children, even having moved back closer to his companions.

"Noises have been heard upstairs, shall we go?" Both were standing side by side, and seemed oblivious to the rivers of blood forming around their stances.

The chief, hearing those words, smiled sideways; with far too much delight.

“Of course, what are we waiting for?”

And with that, the group headed upstairs.

The house was silent, apart from the sound of their boots as they walked, and appeared to be uninhabited. Toys littering the floor, but, indicated just the opposite.

It was obvious that there were more kids, and that they had hidden as soon as they heard the screams, and the mere thought of finishing them off made them feel euphoric.

So when they came across a brown door; decorated with floral patterns and locked tight, they smiled mockingly.

“How about we play a game?” Crooned the chief with a smile as he saw the door.

He was aware of the presence of the children inside the room, and the sheer bloody terror and panic they must be feeling.

His companions let out chuckles at the older one's aim.

“I'll count to four, and when I finish, I'll go in.” He spoke in a pleasant, childish tone, but his cynical expression betrayed his intentions. “Whoever fails to hide, will lose.’’ He added, almost with a laugh. “Come on, I'll start.”

“… One.”

No sooner had he begun to speak, within the room, small footsteps began to be heard running back and forth.

“Two.”

Sometimes there was a thumping sound; as if they were bumping against objects lying on the floor.

“Three, and…”

The prolonged pause after the number three seemed to send those inside into a panic, for all at once a thump was heard louder than the others.

“And four~”

Reaching the number as promised, he slammed the door open.

“Ptfff-” He was unable to hold back his laughter at the image in front of him. “Have you even tried?”

A blonde haired girl; Saki, was sitting on the floor in front of them; obviously there because of a fall.

Her knee was bleeding from the blow, but that mattered little to them as they went back to ending her innocent life.

Once again, the blades were stained with the blood of another innocent soul, making the reddish colour glow in the light of the room.

“I'm sure there was another bastard around here. There were too many footsteps to be hers alone.” One of the two soldiers next to the chief spoke up, pointing around the room.

“You're right, search aroun- HEY” The chief, who had intended to heed his subordinate, suddenly exclaimed mid-sentence. “ONE OF THEM JUST RAN OUT. GET HIM.” He was absolutely certain that he had caught a glimpse of a blond boy — far too reminiscent of the girl already on the floor — observing the situation from the doorway before he ran out as they exchanged glances; his cheeks streaked with tears and his fists clenched on either side of his small body.

His shout was enough for the two mercenaries to start running in the direction of the boy behind him.

Tsukasa, for his part, was hardly able to breathe properly, and his eyes were blurred with tears.

It was for that reason that he did not hesitate long when he saw the silver door; rushing in, oblivious to the footsteps behind him.

As he closed the door behind him, he was met with the worried looks of four of his friends.

“Tsukasa, what's wrong, why are you crying, what's going on?” Ena, the first to get up suddenly, was the one who asked him with concern as she saw the boy's condition.

“An- Ken- Kohane-” But Tsukasa did not answer her as such, and, instead, began listing the names of their friends between laboured breaths. “S-Saki-” Upon reaching his sister's name, however, his condition worsened, for which he began to tremble heavily.

“What-” Seeing that, Akito reached out with the intention of grabbing his hand, but before he could do so, the door behind Tsukasa slammed open; revealing the three adults from before.

Surprisingly, however, the mercenaries watched them with interest, as well as amusement, but held back from attacking them.

Their eyes, calculating, swept over the six children one by one until they settled on Tsukasa. “There is no record in the documents of any silver souls here.” He said as he looked at Toya and Shiho. "We were only tipped off that there were bronzes, but I guess we won the lottery with this commission." He turned to look at his partner, nodding at the children. “Tie them up. We can always make a little money selling them to bored toffs.” He said with a chuckle as he watched his subordinate approach the children with the intention of tying them up.

But just as he went to throw the rope, Ena ran out after making eye contact with Mizuki.

“ENA” Akito shouted her name in an attempt to stop her, but she did not hear him, and instead ran away.

The fear that the man's words had provoked in her was so great that she didn't hesitate to flee; to try to run away from danger. And so fast did she run down the corridor that she reached a point where she was out of sight, but her footsteps were still audible.

“WHAT ARE YOU DOING, STUPID? KILL HER.” The boss, having had enough of the situation and trying to tie up a rabid Akito, shouted to one of his subordinates.

“Yes, sir.” The man answered him, then fired a weak beam of silver energy against the direction Ena had gone.

The beam of light shone brightly for an instant; reflecting off Akito's dilated pupils, then crashed into something; the last thing to be heard; the sob of a girl before falling silent.

“Nice shot.” He complimented him with satisfaction, yet a scowl formed on the boss face. “HOLD STILL FOR ONCE, YOU SCUM.” Already tired with the child in his arms, —Akito— he slapped him; making him shut up. “Let's see if that teaches you to be quiet.”

He grabbed his cheeks hard, squeezing him hard enough to make sure the grip hurt.

“Not bad.” He said as he inspected his face up and down. “A little aggressive, but your green eyes seem pretty enough to attract a customer or two.” At that comment; crude and disgusting, Akito's gaze seemed to darken with something akin to fear. “We can always use you as bait for enemies.” And the man noticed that, which he took advantage of to terrify the vulnerable boy even more.

He let go with a jerk, causing Akito to slam into Shiho, who had to help him to his feet.

“Let's go, there's nothing of value here.” Ordered the mercenary towards his henchmen, making it less than ten minutes before they started to get all the children down; tied up and waiting in fear for the next scare.

“Where…?” Toya, who was among the last to be tied up along with Tsukasa, suddenly spoke up, drawing the attention of both his friends and the three men. “Where are you going to take us?” He sounded tired, but mostly frightened.

“It doesn't matter to you. So shut up.” But that was all he got for an answer.

A few seconds passed in silence, and then Tsukasa began to speak.

“You just need someone valuable, don't you?” As he walked down the stairs his head was down, but he could still be heard well enough and his tone was tired. "One of us is enough."

He repeated again at the lack of response; it being only derisive laughter.

“Kid, don't think you're worth that much, you're just simple silver souls we can sell for four quarters.” Fed up with the boy's talk, he decided to face him.

But Tsukasa's reply managed to shut him up.

“I am not a silver.” He stated with determination, as if the fear he had felt before had been replaced by an eternal resolve.

“My soul is made of gold.”

His words, clear and concise, caused the mercenaries to stare at him; verifying the assertion by seeing a flash of gold in the boy's eyes.

“Wow.” Said one of the goons. "What do we do with this one, sir?" He asked to his boss, confused, but receiving a chuckle in response.

“This is even better, the geezer will be overjoyed when we bring him the little brat.” He looked Tsukasa in the eye, then looked at the other four silver souls in front of him. “And as for them, we can do good business in the northern suburbs as well with-”

The man spoke just as he wanted to grab Tsukasa's arm to pull him away from Toya, but at once, a rumble echoed throughout the building.

“What was that-” He demanded explanations in an agitated tone, but the sound of an explosion interrupted him.

And suddenly, everything came crashing down.

The walls shook with force from the impact to the point of bursting into different pieces; taking with them everyone they could find.

It happened too suddenly, but it was destructive enough that the house was torn to pieces, with only some of the walls still standing.

Toya, the first to get up — dazed and with slightly injured arms from the shrapnel — looked around.

Shiho and Mizuki had not far to go, and were standing with Tsukasa trying to get to their feet. And Akito, for his part, sat without saying a word by his side; simply watching the sudden destruction with nothing but emptiness in his eyes.

The men, Toya observed, had been killed by the impact.

No one understood what had happened, everyone's emotions were running high, and they couldn't think straight, yet Toya, even feeling dizzy, knew that the familiar image of a girl running in the direction of the woods was no mere illusion.

Regardless, he didn't want to stop her.

“Let's get out of here.” Akito's voice snapped him out of his trance, causing him to raise his head to find his friend standing there, extending a hand to him in aid.

A small river of blood was trickling down the right side of his head, not worrisome enough, and probably from the explosion. There were also small cuts on his arms like him, and the slap mark was still present on his cheek.

Toya didn't answer him, but did accept his grip and got up with his help, then headed over to where Tsukasa was standing with the girls.

“We need to hide.” Tsukasa said in a firm tone. “They said earlier that more like them would come, and I don't want them to find us again.” There was a sense of urgency in his words, and the image he gave was quite sad in the eyes of his friends.

His eyes were still red from crying earlier, and his hands were still shaking, but the others saw how he was trying hard to stay strong like the elder he was, so they decided to nod.

“But where are we going?” Mizuki, after all that time, spoke up. “We are alone.” The last she said in a whisper, but loud enough for the others to hear her and shudder for an instant.

For it was true, after all.

In just four hours they had lost everything they considered theirs: their home, their family and their innocence.

They were but children, though the stark reality of the world they lived in rested on their shoulders like a burden they should not yet have to bear.

“I-” Shiho spoke suddenly. “I have a sister.” She admitted quietly. “Her name is Shizuku, and she lives in the capital.” Her head, which had been kept low, rose. “I think she can help us.” As she said those words, a flash of silver light reflected in the irises of her eyes.

The new information, though unexpected, came as no surprise to his friends.

They knew that among them, Shiho was the one most likely to return home, but still, the existence of one more anchor only made them feel, if only a smidgen, more hopeful.

“Let just settle tonight in some nearby cave.” Tsukasa spoke last before they set off on their way north of the meadow; leaving behind that house that had once been a home to them; now destroyed and reduced to mere dust.

[ ⟡ ]

The journey to the capital proved not an easy one.

The first night was spent in the open air; merely sheltered by some trees scattered at haphazardly across the prairie; feeling the coming autumn chill lash their poorly covered figures with the scraps of clothing that had survived the explosion, and eating the scanty fruits they could find on the ground.

They did not know how much longer they could go on walking, for their legs were numb from so much movement, and on top of all that, thirst made their journey ten times more arduous.

But luckily, after crossing the meadow for three days without rest in the sun, sick of the green grass and the singing of the birds, they came in sight of the first control towers of the Stratos wall.

They were far away, yet their imposing figures, made entirely of large, sturdy stones, did nothing but frighten the children. However, to some extent, the vague promise of safety drove them on, and with trembling limbs they set out on their remaining journey.

They walked as fast as their small but weary legs would allow, and by the time they reached the entrance, the sun was beginning to set.

The open gate, guarded by two men on either side, was gigantic; large enough for a horse-drawn carriage to pass quietly through, but instead of intimidating them it caused the five children to smile with relief.

The moment was short-lived, however, for as they attempted to enter the city, one of the guards stepped in their way.

“Hold it right there.” He ordered them seriously. “Show your identification.” He planted himself in front of them without moving an inch, and waited for quite a while as the children looked at each other nervously.

“Sir-” Tsukasa was the one who decided to address the man first, feeling slightly intimidated but taking command. “I'm afraid we don't have any of those identifications you ask for.” With his fists clenched, he wouldn't release the bottom of his shirt in an attempt to remain calm, but his trembling pupils betrayed him.

Still, the soldier did not seem to be fazed.

“Then you're not going in.” His ruling was absolute, and after saying it he turned his back with the intention of leaving the children behind.

“WAIT.” But he could not, for Tsukasa spoke to him again. “MY FRIEND'S SISTER LIVES IN THIS CITY, LET US HAVE HER COME TO CLEAR THINGS UP.” He didn't know if it was from the nerves and fear he had been carrying in his body since the incident at the orphanage, but his body seemed to act on its own; in a sway of desperation. “Please.” He added at last, once the man had turned to look at him again.

“…” He looked at Tsukasa with boredom first, then sighed. “I told you boy, I can't-”

“Just a moment.”

The first soldier, as he spoke, was interrupted by his other companion; who had stood off to the side observing the situation.

“What's the matter now? We can't just let them pass just like that.” He grumbled at the interruption, turning in passing to face his companion.

“I notice something odd about the Blondie.” Was all he received in response.

After saying that, ignoring his companion's questions and wanting to get a good look at him; he walked over to Tsukasa to observe him.

He stared at the boy with curiosity, but at the same time he didn't stop studying him with his gaze, just as if he were a strange animal.

Tsukasa, at that, had no choice but to keep quiet and watch the man.

He was tall, and blond like himself, but his broad shoulders seemed to be strong — probably from carrying that sword that looked so heavy.

“Look me in the eyes.” But his analysis of the man was interrupted by that command.

He lifted his head a little higher, and feigning decisiveness, looked directly into the man's eyes; causing them to glint against the sunlight.

To his surprise, the man's reaction was totally different from what he had expected.

The gentleman seemed to suddenly lose all colour along with his balance, for from one moment to the next he staggered.

“Your soul is made of gold.” The guard took a step back, his hands clenching into fists at his sides as he tried to contain his fear.

The guard couldn't help but turn to his fellow guard, who was stationed nearby.

“Did you see that?” He asked with a shaky voice.

The other guard looked at him quizzically. “See what?”

“The kid.” The first guard said, pointing discreetly towards Tsukasa with his head. “He's a golden soul.”

The other guard's eyes widened in surprise and disbelief. “A golden soul? Here? Are you sure?”

The first guard nodded vehemently. “I'm sure.” He said. “His eyes, his aura - everything about him screams ‘golden soul.’”

The other guard’s expression was one of concern, and he looked at his friend, his voice low and urgent. “We need to inform the palace immediately.”

Then the two guards stepped apart, their voices now lowered to a whisper as they discussed how to handle the situation. The kids, sensing that something was amiss, looked at each other in confusion.

They weren't able to hear exactly what the guards said, but they could tell from their expressions and body language that something was wrong.

Toya, in particular, was feeling a sense of unease.

He knew that being a golden soul was rare and significant, and it seemed that these guards were taking it quite seriously, but he didn’t have time to say anything when Tsukasa beat him to it.

Tsukasa, still observing the guards, spoke up, his voice filled with curiosity. “Excuse me, is there something special about being a golden soul?”

The guards paused in their conversation and turned to look at him, slightly surprised that he had overheard them.

The first guard spoke up again, his gaze shifting between Tsukasa and his partner. “Well, yes.” He said, his tone cautious. “Being a golden soul… it's rare and considered quite valuable.”

When listening to the whispered conversation between the guards, Tsukasa was already aware that his unique status as a golden soul was something considered special even if he didn’t understand why, and it made him uneasy. However, he also saw it as an opportunity.

Despite his fears, Tsukasa recognized that this situation as a chance to help his friends, even if it meant putting himself under an unknown danger.

Tsukasa's expression remained puzzled as he listened to the guard's explanation. “I see.” He said, feigning understanding. However, in truth, he had no idea what it meant to be a golden soul or why it was considered valuable. The concept was foreign to him, and he was starting to feel a little overwhelmed by it all.

The guard, noticing that Tsukasa seemed genuinely ignorant, decided to get straight to the point. “We need you to come with us.” He said, his tone firm but not unkind. “The Sovereign needs to have a word with you.”

Tsukasa was momentarily caught off guard by the guard's request. He paused for a moment, contemplating what to do, and then glanced at his friends, seeing the confusion and worry on their faces.

He knew that they were probably wondering why he was being singled out.

Tsukasa took a deep breath and turned back to the guard. “Okay.” He said, trying to sound nonchalant. “I'll come with you.”

“Tsukasa-” Akito was the first to complain at hearing that; trying to reach the older boy's arm with his hands, which were previously busy clutching the bottom of his own shirt due to his nervousness.

But Tsukasa ignored him, and instead keep talking.

He took a breath, gathering his courage, and spoke up.

“But under one condition.”

The guard raised an eyebrow at Tsukasa's request, clearly surprised by his boldness. “And what condition is that?”

Tsukasa held the guard's gaze, his voice firm. “I want my friends to come with me.” He said. “They're part of the deal.”

The guard grumbled, clearly frustrated that Tsukasa had tried to negotiate. “Are you being a smartass, kid?” He muttered under his breath. “You're only a seven-year-old, for god's sake, and you're already trying to give me conditions?” The guard's tone grew more stern, and he fixed Tsukasa with a firm gaze. “If we wanted, we could take you by force, you know.” He said, his voice cold. “We don't need your consent to bring you to see the Sovereign. You're just a kid, after all.”

Tsukasa met the guard's gaze, his own eyes blazing with defiance. “You may be able to force me to go with you.” He said, his voice unwavering. “But I know you won't lay a finger on me. I'm too precious, too important. You can't afford to harm a golden soul, can you?”

The guard was taken aback by Tsukasa's defiant response, but he tried to hide it. He couldn't deny the truth behind the kid's words. Golden souls were indeed considered too valuable to be mishandled or mistreated.

“You're right.” The guard admitted through gritted teeth. “We won't harm you, but that doesn't mean we have to let your friends come with you.”

Tsukasa paused for a moment, contemplating the situation.

He knew that if he insisted on his friends joining him, the guard might not give in. So, instead, he proposed a compromise.

“If you can't let my friends come to the palace with me.” He began, his voice firm but respectful. “Let them pass the gates. They won't cause any trouble.” He assured him. “They just need to find Shiho's sister. After that, they won't come close to the palace. I promise.”

The guard regarded Tsukasa with a scrutinizing gaze, weighing his words. He seemed to be contemplating the pros and cons of granting their request, when finally, after some minutes, he huffed in resignation and spoke up.

“Fine.” He said gruffly. “Your friends can pass through the gates, but only if they keep a low profile. No causing trouble, no causing disturbances. Understood?”

Then he gestured for Tsukasa to step forward. “You, however, are coming to see the Sovereign.”

“…” At these words, Tsukasa fell silent for a moment as he stared at the guard. A sudden silence formed, however, Tsukasa turned his head to stare at his friends for a second.

He suddenly smiled at them, and then turned his head back to look at the guard with a serious look on his face; a far cry from the beaming smile he had been addressing his friends with. “Okay.”

Akito was ready to protest, but Mizuki quickly stepped in, placing a hand on his shoulder to prevent him from speaking. “Not now, Akito.” Mizuki whispered to him in a hushed tone. “We have to trust Tsukasa. He knows what he's doing.”

At that, Akito clenched his jaw in frustration but held his tongue.

He knew that Mizuki was right; they had to trust Tsukasa's judgment.

Reluctantly, he stepped back, his gaze fixed on Tsukasa with a mixture of concern and irritation.

Tsukasa gave a small nod of acknowledgement to Akito and Mizuki, silently thanking them for their trust. He then turned his attention back to the guards, his expression stoic. “I'm ready.” He said simply.

The guard nodded in acknowledgement. “Very well, come with me.” He said.

At that, Tsukasa followed the guard, his stride confident and purposeful.

He took one last glance over his shoulder at his friends, tho, meeting their eyes with a reassuring look. Then, he disappeared around a corner, his tiny figure swallowed by the shadows of one of the city wall’s corridors.

The other guard then approached the remaining group, his expression neutral. He glanced at each of their faces, sizing them up with a curious gaze.

“Your friend has been taken to see the Sovereign.” He stated without preamble.

Akito couldn't help but roll his eyes at the guard's statement. “Yeah, we've seen that, dumbass.” He retorted, his tone dripping with sarcasm. “You don't need to state the obvious.”

The guard's lips twitched slightly at Akito's snarky response, but he didn't rise to the bait. Instead, he let out a small huff of irritation.

“Rude.” He arched an eyebrow in disapproval, clearly affronted by Akito's rudeness. “Watch your tone.” He said sternly. “Respect is a two-way street, kid.”

Akito smirked at the guard's warning but didn't back down. “Respect is earned.” He shot back. “And you haven't done much to earn it so far.”

But Toya, noticing the tension between Akito and the guard, quickly interjected. “My apologies.” He said, his voice calm and composed. “Akito can be a bit hotheaded sometimes. Please don't take his words personally.”

The guard regarded Toya's intervention with a raised eyebrow, clearly surprised by the stark contrast in demeanour between the two boys. He grunted in acknowledgment, his tone less harsh.

“Whatever.” The guard said to Toya, then gestured towards the now open gates, which led into the capital grounds. “Welcome to Stratos, and to the Sovereign’s kingdom.” He said, his voice gruff but less hostile than before. “Stay out of trouble.”

The group paused for a moment just inside the gates, their mouths agape as they took in the sprawling city that now stretched out before them.

“Wow.” Mizuki was the only one who was able to muster the courage to express her awe.

It was unlike anything they had ever seen before.

Grand, golden buildings loomed overhead, each one more ornate and impressive than the last. Everywhere they looked, there were large, intricate statues, each one depicting a figure of different flowers or persons.

People bustled about the streets too, with their faces filled with grins and laughter, exuding a sense of contentment and joy that was pervasive throughout the city.

And at the very heart of the city, just in front of them, dominating the landscape, was a grand plaza that stretched out in all directions.

It was a wide open space, paved with smooth golden slabs that shimmered beneath the sunlight; with one large, elegantly carved fountain spraying streams of glistening water into the air, creating a mesmerizing display of dancing droplets.

The plaza was lined on either side with a diverse array of shops and little stands too, each one offering its own unique wares and services.

There were vendors selling everything from beautiful, colourful clothing, to delicious street food, to intricate, handcrafted trinkets and jewels, so the air was filled with the smells of sizzling food and the sound of merchants hawking their goods, creating a lively and bustling atmosphere.

The group slowly began to walk through the plaza, their eyes darting from one interesting shop to the next.

They meandered past stalls selling exotic fruits and spices, others selling extravagant toys and games, and yet others selling sparkling jewellery and fine clothes.

There was so much to see and explore, they didn't know where to look first.

As they took in the sight of all the surrounding wonders, there was a sudden break in the spell of wonder that had settled over the group as Akito, ever the realist, was the first to speak.

“This place is nice and all.” He said, his voice a stark contrast to the surrounding wonder, “But let's not forget why we're here. We need to find Shiho's sister.”

The others nodded in agreement with Akito's words, their excitement tempered by the reality of their mission.

“He's right.” Toya chimed in. “We can't get too distracted by the novelty of this place. We need to stay focused.”

Mizuki, too, chimed in, adding her two cents. “But it doesn't hurt to look around a bit, right?” She said, her eyes still sparkling with curiosity.

Shiho nodded at that, agreeing with Akito's words, while Mizuki pouted slightly, reluctantly conceding to the need to prioritize their task over sightseeing.

Akito's expression softened as he saw Mizuki's disappointment. “We'll do the exploring later.” He said softly. “But right now, we have to find Shiho's sister. That's the top priority.”

“Shiho.” Toya turned to Shiho, his childish voice gentle but firm. “Can you tell us more about your sister? What does she look like? Do you have any idea where she might be?”

The girl nodded slowly, a glimmer of hope in her eyes as she spoke.

“I do have an idea of where she might be.” She said, her voice soft but resolute. “She's staying at a small inn in the western quadrant of the city. I know the area well, I can show you where it is.”

There was a collective feeling of relief as Shiho spoke up, her words offering a glimmer of hope.

“That's good.” Toya said, a slight smile on his lips. “Knowing where she is makes our task a little bit easier.”

In response, Shiho gave a slight smile, and so, with a newfound sense of purpose, the group quickly fell in line behind Shiho as she took the lead.

“Alright, follow me.” She said, her voice firm and confident. “I know the shortcut to the western quadrant.”

Shiho then led the group down narrower, more secluded alleys that offered a stark contrast to the broad, expansive plaza they had seen earlier.

The grand architecture gave way to smaller, more modest buildings, and the wide-open spaces were replaced by more cramped, winding passageways.

The hustle and bustle of the central city faded away into the background, leaving them with only the sounds of their footsteps echoing off the walls of the narrow streets.

Yet despite the shadows and the slightly shabbier appearance of their surroundings, the streets they passed through still retained the same air of opulence and wealth.

The buildings, though smaller and closer together, still boasted intricate carvings and gold accents, hinting at the grandeur that was characteristic of the city centre. It was as though they had stumbled into a more hidden, slightly less affluent corner of the city.

Akito, with his eyes taking in their surroundings, couldn't help but speak up. “You seem to know this place well.” He said to Shiho. “Have you been here before?”

Mizuki, always observant, hummed in agreement with Akito's statement, her eyes fixed on Shiho with a mixture of interest and surprise. Toya, too, cast a curious gaze towards Shiho, waiting for her response.

Shiho paused for a moment before answering, her eyes flickering with memories.

“No, not really.” She admitted. “I've been through these streets just once, when I was a little girl. My parents brought me this way to cut across the city to get to the market. It's a shortcut, you see.” Shiho continued on, her voice heavy with the weight of her past. “We used to live at the outskirts of the city, near the woods.” She explained. “But after the war, my aunt took my sister, Shizuku, into the city to live with her and left me in the orphanage, promising that she would come back to get me when I was older.”

There was a hint of bitterness in her tone as she spoke, the pain of abandonment still fresh despite the passage of time.

Mizuki, trying to offer a glimmer of comfort, spoke up. “She seems nice, taking your sister in like that.”

But Shiho shot the comment down immediately, her voice cold. “No. She’s not.” She said firmly. “She's far from it.”

The others fell silent at Shiho's sharp retort, the atmosphere around them growing heavy with sadness.

It was clear that Shiho's past still weighed heavily on her heart, and the mention of her aunt had obviously struck a nerve.

Toya, ever the empathetic and kind-hearted one, attempted to say something nice to comfort Shiho, but before he could speak, Akito stopped him, his expression understanding.

“Save it.” He said gruffly. “She doesn't need your hollow words.” Then he stopped, realizing how harsh he had acted. “She just needs time.” Added in a whisper.

Toya, recognizing the significance of Akito's words, shot him a sidelong glance, his expression filled with empathetic understanding.

“Akito…” He said softly, his voice laced with compassion.

He was all too familiar with Akito's strained relationship with his own family, and he knew how difficult it could be to open up about familial pain.

Akito, recognizing Toya's empathetic glance, managed a small smile in response. He knew that Toya understood him in a way nobody did, and it was a comfort to have him by his side.

“I'm alright.” He said quietly, his voice betraying the slightest trace of vulnerability.

And Toya, sensing Akito's guarded vulnerability, reached out and gently took hold of his hand, offering him silent solace through their intertwining small fingers.

After a few more minutes of walking, Shiho finally came to a stop in front of a quaint, unassuming inn.

“We're here.” She said quietly, gesturing towards the inn. “This is the one.”

In front of them stood a small inn, a quaint building with a simple sign above the door that read ‘The Quiet Rest’.

The exterior was a bit worn and weathered, but it still exuded an air of comfort and homeliness, with few windows faced outwards onto the street, each one covered by tattered curtains, and the scent of fresh-baked bread wafting out from the open window of the building.

Overall, it was a modest but inviting sight.

“Let’s enter.” Shiho led the way yet another time, so the group followed her without hesitation.

Inside, the inn was just as modest and homely as its exterior had suggested.

Soft, golden light filtered in through the windows, illuminating a small, cosy lobby area: a large oak counter occupied the back wall, manned by a cheerful innkeeper, while a few tables and chairs were arranged in the centre of the room.

The air was warm and welcoming, with a faint scent of fresh-baked bread and sizzling meat wafting from the back of the inn.

“Welcome, welcome!” A voice coming from behind the counter startled them. “Don't be shy, come in and make yourselves comfortable!” It was a kind-faced woman, with soft, light brown hair that was pulled back in a neat ponytail. Her eyes were a warm, bright shade of gray, and they sparkled with cheerfulness as she finally turned towards the group.

But her smile, although sincere and genuine, seemed to drop as she took in their appearance.

Her cheerful expression changed to one of mild concern, and her eyes widened slightly as she took in their tattered clothes and dirty faces.

“Oh dear.” She said, her voice softening with worry. “What happened to you?.”

The innkeeper quickly set aside her previous task, her motherly nature taking over. She left her position behind the counter and approached the kids, pulling their faces down to get a closer look at them.

Her nimble fingers gently pinched their cheeks and brushed aside messy locks of hair, her eyes filled with concern and care.

“Oh, look at you.” The innkeeper tutted, her voice filled with motherly concern. “All dirt and scrapes. But you're all still such adorable little things.”

With a gentle touch, she brushed away the grit and grime from the kids' faces, her movements soft and soothing.

The kids, taken by surprise by the innkeeper's sudden attention and care, stood still in shock for a moment, but as she continued to fuss over them, gently wiping away the dirt from their faces, they slowly relaxed, their hardened exteriors melted by the unexpected act of kindness.

Even Akito, despite his usual guarded demeanour, couldn't help but soften slightly under her gentle touch.

As she continued to fuss over the group, the innkeeper suddenly called out to someone in the back room.

“Minori, my dear, could you come out here for a moment?” She called out.

A few moments later, a small, 6-year-old girl with big, round eyes and a head of messy hair that fell just above her shoulders entered the room. She was dressed in a simple, modest dress that's just a shade more colourful than her mother's, but it was still a cute sight.

“What do you want, mommy?” The little girl asked with a bright smile.

The innkeeper, still gently fussing over the kids, turned to her daughter and spoke in a soft but firm voice.

“Could you please run a bath for our guests, love? Make sure the water is nice and warm.”

Minori, her eyes sparkling with excitement, nodded eagerly, her little face lighting up with the responsibility.

“Yes, mommy!” She said, before scampering off to prepare the bath.

Shiho tried to speak, but before she could, the innkeeper held up a hand to gently stop her, her kind eyes filled with empathy.

“Wait, sweetheart. There will be time to talk later.” She said quietly. “First, let's get you all cleaned up and fed. You look like you've been through quite the ordeal.”

The innkeeper then led the group to a room with a large bath, the warm steam already wafting through the air.

Minori stood nearby, a proud smile on her young face as she gestured towards the tub.

“The bath's ready!” She declared excitedly.

The kids, still a bit taken by surprise, wordlessly began to climb into the tub, the warm water immediately beginning to wash away the dirt and grime caked onto their skin. The innkeeper's daughter, Minori, hung around nearby, bringing them clean cloths and soap as they scrubbed away the dried blood and dirt until slowly, the water turned darker as it collected the filth.

And after the bath, the kids were led to a small room where fresh sets of clothes were waiting. The innkeeper had provided them with new outfits — nothing extravagant, but clean and comfortable, so the kids changed into the new clothes, the soft fabric feeling like a luxury after their days in rags.

With the new clothes on, the kids were led to a small dining area.

There, a table was laid out with a simple yet warm and inviting spread of food.

The innkeeper and her daughter, Minori, had prepared a simple but hearty meal of stew and bread, and they were now urging the kids to sit down and eat.

“Go on, dig in!” Minori said warmly. “You all must be starving.”

The kids, still unused to being cared for like this, hesitated slightly, their faces showing a mixture of surprise and trepidation. But the innkeeper's gentle encouragement and Minori's cheerful smile soon eased any fears, and slowly, the kids approached the table, still a bit guarded, but their stomachs rumbling with hunger.

They were just about finishing up their meal when the innkeeper approached them once again, a mug of steaming hot milk in her hands.

She handed each of them a mug, the warm, soothing liquid beckoning them to have a sip.

It was as the kids sipped the milk, that the innkeeper finally asked the question that had been lingering in the air. “Now, my dears.” She began after sitting Minori in her lap, her voice soft yet curious. “What brings you all here?”

The kids exchanged uncertain glances, their guard still partially up despite the innkeeper's kindness. It was clear they were hesitant to speak, but the woman remained patient, her hands gently resting on the shoulders of her child.

“Come on now.” She said gently. “You can tell me. It's alright.”

Minori, her cheeks still rounded with baby fat, suddenly chimed in, her big eyes wide with innocence.

“Yeah, tell us!” She said in her childish voice. “We're nice people, we promise!”

Shiho, her voice weary but resolute, was the first to speak up.

“We're looking for my sister.” She said quietly.

The innkeeper, her face taking on a sympathetic expression, looked at Shiho intently.

“And what's your sister's name, dear?” She asked gently.

Shiho took another sip of her milk, the comforting warmth a small source of strength.

“Her name is…” She finally managed to say. "Shiz-.”

But just at the moment Shiho went to say her sister's name, the inn's front door suddenly swung open with a loud bang.

A feminine voice rang out from the entrance, filling the room with a new presence.

“Sorry! I'm late!”

The innkeeper's eyes widened in surprise, and a small gasp escaped from her lips as the newcomer stepped inside.

“Shizuku!” The woman breathed out with a smile.

Indeed, standing at the entrance, was a girl who looked almost like a mirror image of Shiho.

This was Shizuku, the girl they had been searching for.

“Shizuku…” Shiho called her name, making the girls gaze finally land on Shiho.

The look of shock and surprise was evident on her face.

“Shiho…?” She managed to say, her voice filled with both disbelief and happiness. “What are you doing here?” She asked, her voice filled with a twinge of worry. “How did you… you escaped from the orphanage?”

At that, Shiho flinched slightly at the question, a flash of discomfort washing over her face.

“It's a long story.” She murmured, her eyes dropping to stare at her half-empty mug of milk.

[ ⟡ ]

“So that’s what happened…”

The room fell into an uncomfortable silence as Shiho finished explaining the events that had led the group to the inn.

Both Shizuku and the innkeeper listened with a mix of shock and disbelief, while the kids sat silently, their faces a mixture of fear and hope as they watched the woman's and Shizuku's reactions.

The quiet that filled the room was palpable, until Akito hesitantly broke the quiet, his voice surprisingly soft.

“What… what happens to us now…?” He asked, his gaze darting between Shizuku and the innkeeper.

The innkeeper, her expression a mix of concern and confusion, tilted her head slightly as she responded.

“What do you mean?” She asked, her voice gentle but filled with a hint of worry.

Akito's eyes darted between the innkeeper and Shizuku, a mixture of anxiety and desperation in his voice.

“Please… please, don't throw us out.” He beseeched, his words rushed and pleading. “We… we have nowhere else to go…”

The innkeeper's expression quickly softened as she realized the miscommunication.

“No, no, no.” She quickly said, shaking her head in reassurance. “We're not throwing you out. You'll be able to stay here, don't worry about that.” The innkeeper gave a heartfelt smile, her eyes warm with understanding. “Actually, I'd be happy to have you kids stay here.” She said. “The more, the merrier, as they say.” The innkeeper's gaze softened as she looked at Shizuku. “You know, Shizuku here was also once in a similar situation.” She started, her voice filled with a hint of sadness. “I found her on the streets, abandoned by your auntie.” At that, Shiho frowned, and Mizuki felt guilty. “I took her in, and since then she's been helping me out around here.” The innkeeper then nodded and gave a small smile. “You all can help around here.” She said. “The inn is often busy, and we could certainly use a few extra hands. I'm sure Shizuku won't mind showing you the ropes.”

“And me, mommy!” The little girl in her lap said with a bright smile on her face.

The innkeeper's gentle smile widened as her daughter, Minori, chimed in.

“Of course, and you too, Minori.” She said affectionately, lightly ruffling her daughter's hair fondly. “I'm sure there's plenty for everyone to do here.”

Mizuki, her eyes filled with gratitude, was the first to speak up.

“Thank you, madam.” She said softly, her voice still a bit tentative. “Thank you for letting us stay. We…” She faltered for a moment, her voice cracking slightly. “We are very grateful.”

The other kids nodded in agreement, their faces reflecting Mizuki's gratitude.

The innkeeper beamed at them, her smile filled with warmth.

“Please, call me Mrs. Hanasato.” She said, her voice gentle. “I'd like you all to feel comfortable and at home here.”

And with that they smiled, feeling sleepy but at ease: the word “home” hanging in the air, its weight settling onto the kids' hearts.

Yet, the reminder of their friend's unknown whereabouts put their hearts at worry.

Author note! 

Chapter so long I had to split it in two parts ( *^-^)ρ(^0^* )

ANYWAY HERE'S THE SECOND CHAPTER YIPPIEE ⁽⁽ଘ( ˊᵕˋ )ଓ⁾⁾ UADFBEJBF I didn't know having some chapters prepared would be that good, I don't have to run and pull all-nighters and I think that's fantastic (˶˃⤙˂˶)

I don’t know the exact number of chapters that this fanfic would have, but I’ll put 10 and hope to not surpass that number 𓁹‿𓁹.

Everything is planned already, so that means that the story it’s finished.

I just need to write it ( ◡̀_◡́)ᕤ, but because I started last month I can update two/three more chapters next week hehe (ㅅ´ ˘ `)

Hope you are having an amazing day, and don’t forget to smile and drink water (˵ •̀ ᴗ - ˵ ) ✧

 

Kudos and comments are appreciated ♡

Chapter Text

[ ⟡ ]

As the years passed, the group of kids slowly grew accustomed to their new life at the inn.

Four years went by easily since the group first arrived, and the kids had grown and changed; with another routine and lifestyle.

The once ragged and weary children had blossomed into young adolescents, with everyone having grown several inches taller. They were now almost teenagers, their faces a mix of the youthful innocence of their younger selves and the emerging maturity of adolescence.

It was in one specific sunny summer day when Akito, Toya, and Mizuki found themselves walking together along the streets of the capital. The sounds of the city filled the air, with the hustle and bustle of people, the clinking of shop wares, and the distant sound of carriage wheels rolling over cobblestones.

“Hey Akito.” Mizuki said, her voice casual but focused. “Did you bring the list of things we need to buy?” She walked and looked down: counting one by one the little leaps she managed to make in her new black shoes. Because of that, her ponytail kept bouncing over and over again.

The passage of time had changed not only their age but also their appearances. Akito, Toya, and Mizuki had grown taller, their lean bodies now filling out their new clothes.

Akito, a little bit taller and slimmer than the girl, gave a small nod in response to Mizuki's question.

“Of course.” He said patting his right pocket. “I've got the list right here. Let's make sure we get everything we need.” His trousers were a little dirty around the knees, but the boy didn't seem to mind.

Mizuki, on the other hand, did.

“Akito...” She exclaimed, her voice filled with a hint of annoyance. “Look at your trousers. They're filthy!”

Akito, upon hearing Mizuki's scolding, looked down at his trousers, and a scowling expression appeared on his face.

“Ah, right.” He murmured, sheepishly rubbing the back of his neck. “I didn't even notice.”

At that response, with her hands on her hips, Mizuki gave a small huff. “Seriously, Akito.” She chided. “You really need to pay more attention to these things. We can't have you walking around looking like a mess.”

The taller among the three, seeing the interaction between Akito and Mizuki, chuckled lightly.

“She’s right, you're always getting your clothes dirty, Akito.” He teases with a smirk playing at the corners of his lips.

With his face reddening slightly, Akito shot a glare at Toya.

“It's not my fault!” He protested, his voice slightly defensive. “Minori's always getting me into trouble. She's the one who drags me around and gets me messy.”

Mizuki let out a scoff, not fully believing Akito's words. “Sure, blame it all on little innocent Minori.” She said teasingly. “As if you're not always willingly going along with her crazy ideas.”

Akito huffed, knowing that Mizuki had a point. “Okay, maybe I do go along with her sometimes.” He admitted reluctantly. “But it's not like I can say no to her when she's all excited and insistent. You know how persuasive she can be.”

Toya, his gaze still playful, chimed in with a smirk.

“Don't you think you're the one to blame here?” He said, his tone light. “You're the one who started spoiling her when she was little. You'd give her anything she wanted just because she made those big eyes and pouted.”

"Don't act like I'm the only one who does what Minori says." Akito tried to defend himself. 

Toya chuckled at Akito's words. “Well, that's true.” He admitted. “Nobody can resist those big, pleading eyes of hers. She's too cute for her own good.”

And Mizuki, too, couldn't help but agree. “Yeah, she always gets her way when she pouts.” She conceded.

So Akito, eager to change the topic, fished the list from his pocket. “Alright, enough about Minori for now.” He said, unfolding the piece of paper. “What's on the list that we need to buy first?” The three of them halted their steps, and Mizuki and Toya leaned over to see the list, their chins resting on Akito's shoulders. “Let's see…” Akito said, skimming over the list. “Looks like we need to buy some vegetables first.”

Mizuki scanned the list and then pointed towards an item on it.

“Hey, wait a minute.” She said, a hint of excitement in her voice. “It says 'bread' on here. Can we go to the bakery first? I remember Mrs. Hanasato mentioning that she wanted some fresh bread today.”

At hearing those words, Akito smiled, eager to give in to his friends' desires, and quickly agreed.

“Yeah, to the bakery first.” He said with a smile on his face while trying to seem nonchalant.

But Toya chuckled, knowing all too well Akito’s love for sweets. “You just want to get some pastries, don't you?” He teased.

Feeling a bit embarrassed, Akito chuckled sheepishly. “What? Me? I just- I mean- they have really good pastries there.” He said, trying to defend himself.

And Toya, with a smirk, leaned in and nudged Akito jokingly. “I know how bad of a sweet tooth you have, Akito.”

“Alright, alright.” But Mizuki, feeling pity for Akito’s embarrassment, chimed in, a wry smile on her face. “Let's stop making fun of Akito and move on already. We still have other things to buy.”

Akito, grateful for the reprieve, nodded in agreement. “Right. Let's get moving.” He said folding the list and stuffing it back into his pocket. Akito then breathed a sigh of relief, thankful that the attention had shifted away from him. “The bakery is just around the corner. Let's head there first, and then we can get the vegetables after.”

Then, the three of them started walking again, the list of items they needed to buy fresh in their minds.

Arriving at the bakery first, the aroma of freshly baked bread and the sight of colourful pastries greeted them as they entered the shop, and after selecting a few loaves of bread and a couple of treats for themselves, they made their way to the nearby vegetable stand on the plaza; navigating past the crowds until their eyes caught sight of a stall that was positioned against one of the city walls.

It was bustling with activity thanks to the variety of items were displayed, and as a few customers browsed the wares, a random vendor behind the stall was busy trying to sell his wares, his voice calling out to passers-by to entice them to stop and have a look.

But the stall owner, a friendly man who recognized the trio from previous visits, greeted them warmly as they approached.

“Well, if it isn't my favourite customers!” He exclaimed, a broad smile on his face. “What can I do for you today, kiddos?”

The trio chuckled at the stall owner's cheerful greeting, then Mizuki spoke up, holding up the list of items they needed.

“We've got a couple of things on our list that we need to buy.” She said, glancing down at the list. “Do you happen to have any of these items?”

Upon seeing the girl hand him the list, he rapidly cleaned his hands on the small apron wrapped around his waist, then took the list between his thick fingers; skimming through it.

“Ah, yes, of course!” He said, his eyes scanning the list while squinting his eyes. “Just a couple of vegetables you need, right? Give me a moment, I'll be right back.”

He then disappeared into the back of the stall, leaving the trio waiting patiently around all the busy people, so in order not to get in the way of their shopping, they stepped a little out of the way from the crowd; approaching the nearest wall and leaning their backs against it as they waited.

It didn't take long for Mizuki and Akito to start talking; discussing the contents of the list and the route they should take, but Toya remained silent.

He stood, simply observing his surroundings and admiring everything around him. It was a clear day, with few clouds gathering in the sky and the sun shining brightly. The sunlight flickered strongly, and a few gleams glinted in his grey eyes. He was able to smell the fruits of the stall, too, and the serenity he felt was undeniable.

However, his sharp eyes caught something unusual at the top of one of the city walls.

His attention was captured by the sight, and he tilted his head slightly, peering upwards.

Curiosity piqued, Toya interrupted the conversation between Mizuki and Akito, and leaned closer to them.

“Hey, guys.” He said softly, gesturing upwards with a slight nod of his head. “Did you see that?”

Mizuki, feeling curious, was the one who talked first among the two of them.

“See wh-” She started to ask, yet her words were cut off all of the sudden because of a deafening explosion.

Startled, the trio instinctively ducked and looked around with wide eyes, trying to locate the source of the noise.

The explosion, which had originated from the top of the city walls, caused panic to spread through the plaza; filling the air with screams and gasps as people darted around disoriented and confused.

The trio, with their hearts pounding, tried to make sense of the chaos, and Mizuki, feeling her face pale with fear, asked. “What was that?”

But before Mizuki could utter another word, Toya’s voice cut through the commotion with a loud, urgent tone.

“The explosions are coming from the top of the walls!” He shouted, his voice barely audible over the chaos. “We need to get out of here! Now!” He said, grabbing both Akito and Mizuki by the arms. “Come on!”

Yet as they were trying to flee the scene, another explosion occurred, this time much closer to them. The blast sent a shockwave through the area, and people around them screamed in terror.

Dust filled the air, making it difficult for them to see clearly, but Toya shielded Mizuki and Akito with his body, trying to protect them from any falling debris.

The crowd was frenzied and people were pushing and shoving to flee the area, making it difficult to move and see, so it wasn’t a surprise when, in the midst of the panic and chaos, someone accidentally stumbled into Akito, knocking him to the ground.

He tumbled to the ground, dazed and bruised from the impact, feeling a deep pain in his left arm.

Disoriented from the sudden fall, he reached his fingers to the source of the pain; realizing with a pang of dread that a trail of blood was seeping through the fabric of his sleeve.

The warm trickle snaked its way down his arm, staining the once pristine cloth a deep red, its progress halted prematurely where the cloth met his wrist. But the adrenaline coursing through his veins dulled the pain somewhat, allowing him to push through the shock of what had just happened; the explosion; the blood; the chaos.

With her voice trembling, Mizuki panicked at the sight of Akito's wounded arm.

“Akito, you're bleeding!” She exclaimed with her voice laced with concern.

She then hurried to Akito's side despite the panicked voices and cries around them, focusing on helping her friend.

With a firm grip, she grasped his good arm and hoisted him back to his feet, her eyes scanning over his wounded one.

“Let me help.” With a swift and steady hand, Toya tore a strip of cloth from the fabric of his blouse using a random shard of glass from the ground without doubting, the rip echoing softly through the chaos around them. He stepped forward and, without a moment's hesitation, knelt beside Akito and began to tightly bind the makeshift bandage around the bleeding gash on his friend's arm.

“Stay still.” He spoke calmly, his words a stark contrast to the chaos surrounding them.

Toya's trembling fingers wrapped the strip of cloth around the deep gash in Akito's arm, pressing gently to staunch the flow of blood; tightening the makeshift bandage around Akito's wound with a firm yet gentle touch, his eyes locking for a moment with Akito's as the shorter winced in pain.

The pressure of the cloth caused another wave of discomfort, and Akito instinctively pulled back, a hiss escaping his clenched teeth. But even in his pain, his expression was etched with a mix of gritted determination and a hint of trust in his friend's steady hands.

It was minutes later, with the bandage in place, that Toya tied off the strip of cloth securely before standing up. Then, noticing the look of gratitude but pain in Akito's eyes, spoke up, his voice cutting through the chaos. “We need to keep moving.” He said, his tone firm but gentle. “The explosions are still going, and we need to find a safe place to hide.”

“Over there!” Mizuki suddenly exclamation cut through the tension. She pointed towards a small, concealed spot near the wall, tucked away and relatively hidden from sight. “That spot looks safe. We can hide there for now.”

At hearing that, Akito, with his mind racing with worries and doubts, hesitated for a moment. He glanced at the spot Mizuki had pointed out, and his instincts screamed at him that it wasn't the safest hiding place, yet he kept his concerns to himself, not wanting to cause any more trouble for the group.

So taking a deep breath, Akito nodded in agreement to Toya's decision. “Fine. Let's go there.” He said, his voice tinged with reluctant acceptance.

With Akito reluctantly in agreement, the trio hurried over to the small, concealed spot near the wall. They squished into the area, pressing their bodies close together as they sought refuge from the chaos outside.

From their hiding place, the trio then peeked outside, their eyes scanning the chaos unfolding in the plaza.

The sight was nothing short of chaotic.

People were running in all directions trying to flee from the danger as the damage from the explosions was evident: debris scattering the ground and stall stands lay overturned.

Mizuki, in an attempt to comfort her friend, spoke in a soft tone, her fingers gently caressing Akito's injured arm.

“Just hold on for a little while longer.” She said, her voice barely above a whisper. “The knights will be here soon, and then we can head back home.”

Still with his arm still throbbing with pain, Akito managed a slight nod.

He leaned against the wall, trying to steady himself. “Yeah, you're right.” He murmured, his voice a barely audible hoarse whisper. “We just need to be patient and stay hidden for a bit.”

A sudden, almost eerie silence descended upon the plaza, breaking the cacophony of chaos and panic. The three of them held their breaths, listening intently to the sudden quiet that had enveloped the area.

But just as the conversation died down, Toya suddenly rose from his position, his eyes fixed outside their hiding spot: the abrupt movement startling the other two.

With his eyes fixed on the plaza, Toya whispered in a tense whisper. “There's a kid out there all by himself.” Nevertheless, Akito, concerned and worried, tried to get up, but Toya placed a firm hand on his shoulder, gently pushing him back down. "I'll go and help him." 

Akito grew more agitated then, with his mind racing with thoughts and worries. “What do you mean you're going to help? We can't just go out there.” He protested, his voice a strained whisper.

At those words, with his gaze holding steady on the pair, Toya spoke with a calm certainty, his words a firm reassurance. “Just stay here.” He said with a soft yet resolute command. “I'll be right back. You'll be safe, I promise.” And without another word, he slipped out of the hidden spot, his footsteps silent as he left the shelter of their hiding place and entered the chaos beyond.

Akito, feeling his anxiety mounting, only was able to shoot a frustrated glance at Toya's retreating back.

He wanted to protest, to urge his friend to stay safe, but the words died in his throat as he knew he couldn't risk drawing attention to their hiding spot.

He instead swallowed his worries and slumped back against the wall, his gaze flickering between Mizuki and the chaotic plaza outside their sanctuary.

“Of course we’ll be safe, but what about you, dumbass?” The words were nothing but a whisper; loud enough for just Mizuki to hear, hanging in the air, merely unspoken but filled with worries about his reckless friend.

At Hearing the whisper, Mizuki glanced towards Akito in an attempt to cheer him up; falling silent, instead, the moment she laid eyes on him.

She was struck by the sudden sight of him staring at Toya's distant silhouette.

There was a hint of sadness in his eyes, mingled with an unknown yearning that puzzled her; as if he was seeing something beyond the moment, something more profound and personal.

Yet she gently placed a hand on his shoulder, offering a silent comfort.

“He'll be okay, you know him.” She said softly, her voice gentle but confident. “Toya knows how to take care of himself.”

But as Akito turned to look at her with eyes glistenning with unshed tears, Mizuki was taken aback.

She hadn't expected to see such raw emotion staring back at her, so the sight tugged at her heartstrings, and a mix of tenderness and surprise filled her chest.

Akito, tearing his gaze from Mizuki, muttered under his breath. “I don't think so.” His voice was hoarse with emotion. “He can be so reckless sometimes...” The words hung in the air, carrying a weight of worry and frustration that Akito couldn't quite hide.

“It’s going to be fi-” Mizuki, struggling to find the right words in response to Akito's outburst, was suddenly interrupted by another explosion that rocked the vicinity.

The force of it caused her to flinch, her words swallowed by the deafening blast.

All fell silent within moments, interrupted and distrubed only by Akito's sudden shout.

With a frantic shout, Akito cried. “TOYA!” The word escaped his lips with a mixture of desperation and panic.

Without a moment's hesitation, he sprang out of the hiding spot, adrenaline surging through his veins, pushing him to act, and started running towards the direction where Toya had disappeared between debris.

The explosion occurred right where Toya had been heading, the force of it sending a plume of smoke and dust rising into the air, so the sight was chilling; with the aftermath suggesting something explosive had happened in his path.

Akito, with his heart in his throat, ran even faster towards the site of the explosion at noticing that, fear and worry fuelling his panicked sprint.

But his mad dash towards the explosion site was suddenly halted by a pair of strong, armoured arms that seized him from behind.

Caught off guard, he struggled against the unyielding grip, fear, and frustration mingling in his wide eyes.

“GET OFF ME!” Akito cried, his voice filled with a mix of anger and panicked desperation. He writhed and twisted against the grip on his arms, ignoring the pain from his injured arm. “LET ME GO! I NEED TO GET TO TOYA!”

The armoured figure restraining Akito only tightened their grip, holding him firmly in place. “Calm down.” A gruff voice commanded from behind the mask. “You can't go out there, it's too dangerous.”

Akito let out a frustrated growl, his eyes wild with anger and worry. “I DON’T CARE!” He shouted still struggling in the unyielding grip. “I HAVE TO FIND HIM! JUST LET ME GO!” His frustration and fear reached a boiling point, unleashing a primal anger within him. He bared his teeth, almost animalistic in his desperation, fighting against the restraining arms with renewed fervour. “LET ME GO.”

The armoured guard, holding onto Akito's struggling little form, let out a blunt statement that cut through the chaos. “It's useless, kid.” His voice was firm but with a tinge of guilt. “There's nothing more than dust where that explosion occurred.” The guard, feeling the fight leave Akito's body, softened his grip a bit. His voice took on a gentler edge as he continued. “Calm down.” He said, his tone less severe. “We can go check out the area once the dust clears. But you need to calm down first, alright?”

Just then, Mizuki arrived on the scene with a worried expression on her face and quickly took in the situation. Her panicked gaze met Akito's and for a brief moment, they simply held each other's gaze, a silent exchange of understanding passing between them.

Akito responded with a single, firm nod after an imperceptible shift took place as the fire in his eyes seemed to dim.

His body still trembled slightly, the worry and fear for Toya barely contained. However, he managed to school his features into a mask of Stoic composure, his eyes flickering back towards the armoured guard.

The guard, satisfied that Akito had quieted down, slowly released his grip on the young boy and looked critically at Akito's injured arm, the visible gash now staining his gloves with blood. “You're hurt.” He noted, his voice gruff but not unkind.

But with his mind focused solely on the situation at hand, Akito only responded with a dismissive wave. “It doesn't matter.” He said without a single shred of emotion in his voice. “I'm fine.” Despite the obvious pain etched on his face, he was determined to push past it. “Take me there.”

But not convinced by Akito's protest, the guard let out a huff of disbelief. “You're bleeding.” He pointed out bluntly, gesturing to the blood seeping through Akito's shirt. “That's not fine.”

“I said.” He repeated, his voice sharp as a knife's edge. “Take me there.”

The knight, caught off guard by Akito's sudden intense gaze and firm voice, couldn't help but feel a shiver run down his spine as there was a dangerous silver glint in Akito's eyes that brooked no argument.

So after a moment, he simply gave a curt nod, respecting Akito's stoicism.

He let go of the boy and turned to Mizuki, nodding his head and motioning for her to come closer. Then they started walking; with the man in front and the two of them behind.

The scene was chaotic, the air thick with smoke, the ground churned by the force of the blast, and as they approached, the sight painted a grim picture; the aftermath of the explosion had left a devastated landscape. Dust coated the area, and the air hung heavy with a thick haze.

There was an air of urgency and grave seriousness as the knights worked tirelessly, their faces taut with concentration. The atmosphere was charged with confusion and worry as they whispered among themselves with their voices hushed and filled with disbelief. “How could this be?” One muttered, their voice tinged with disbelief.

Another knight shook his head, his face etched with shock. “I've never seen anything like this before.”

The guard that had been guiding Akito and Mizuki then spoke up, addressing one of the other knights. “Report the situation.” He barked; his voice echoing with authority.

The knight he'd addressed stepped forward, saluting and reporting the situation. “Sir.” He said, his voice grave. “There's no trace of the culprit. Only dust and traces of blood remains.”

The man stood in silence for a moment, digesting the initial report. Then, the same knight posed a new question, his voice carrying a hint of uncertainty. “What about the two children seen standing there before the explosion? Any signs of them?”

The reported knight hesitated, his eyes flickering to where Akito and Mizuki stood.

“The children, sir.” He replied, his voice tinged with a bit of sadness and remorse. “We cannot find any traces of them either. Ashes are the only thing remaining there.”

Akito's heart felt like it was being wrenched out of his chest, and he struggled to keep his composure as he listened to the knight's report as a wave of despair threatened to crash over him. His eyes widened in shock, a mixture of fear and despair flooding his system.

A part of him refused to accept it, a deep, guttural denial welling up inside him.

He opened his mouth to speak, but no words would come, the pain too raw and overwhelming. His jaw clenched too, and his knuckles turned white from how tightly he was clenching his fists.

The thought of Toya being lost in the explosion was too much to bear, his body trembling slightly despite his efforts to stay calm.

Akito's mouth worked silently, struggling to form words. “What-” He began, his voice hoarse and broken by emotion. But before he could formulate a full sentence, his voice failed him, the weight of the news bearing down on him like a crushing weight.

‘No. It can’t be true.’ Was the only thing that passed through his mind.

Akito and Mizuki, still reeling from the news, were jarred by an unexpected voice calling their name. “Akito! Mizuki!” The kids exchanged a bewildered glance before turning their gazes towards the source of the voice.

The voice, familiar yet unexpected, came from Mrs. Hanasato's: her face etched with a look of pure fright as she rushed towards them.

Her eyes were wide almost to the point of bulging, and her usually composed expression was replaced with one of unguarded panic. Each step she took was heavy with desperation as the distance between them closed quickly.

And at reaching them, any pretence of composure shattered.

She threw her arms around Akito and Mizuki, drawing them into a tight, almost crushing embrace. Her body trembled against them, her voice quivering as she spoke. “Are you okay?” Mrs. Hanasato held them tightly, her grip almost desperate. Her breath came in short, quick gasps as she repeated her question. “Are you okay? Are you hurt?” Her eyes searched their faces, desperate for reassurance, even as her voice cracked under the strain of her worry.

Standing nearby, the guard who had been watching quietly throughout the exchange, chose that moment to speak up. “They're not physically hurt.” He assured her, his voice gruff but gentle. “But they’re in shock.”

Mrs. Hanasato glanced at Akito, her eyes falling on the blood-soaked bandage wrapping his arm. “He is hurt.” She stated, her voice taking an edge of worry. “And bleeding.” She gently pushed back Akito's sleeve, her mouth set in a tight line as she saw the extent of his wound. “This needs to be cared for.” She said, her voice filled with a sternness that came from worry. Her trembling hands tried to stop the flow of blood, applying pressure to the gash. “We need to get these kids home.” She declared.

Turning to the guard, she asked with a hint of anxiety in her voice. “Where's Toya?”

Mrs. Hanasato, sensing the seriousness of the silence that settled suddenly, turned to look at the knight. They exchanged a look, and the guard gestured towards a spot nearby, signalling for her to follow him. “We need to speak privately.” The guard said, his voice low and solemn.

After some seconds of exchanging eye contact, Mrs. Hanasato patted Akito and Mizuki gently on the shoulders. “Stay here.” She instructed before following the guard to a nearby spot.

The kids nodded, watching as they moved away, hearing their voices gp away in a soft murmur in the distance. And after a few moments of hushed conversation, Mrs. Hanasato returned with her face looking graver than before.

Her voice was steady as she spoke, but a shadow of grief lingered in her eyes. “We're going home, okay, sweeties?” She said quietly. “Come on.”

The tenderness in her face was evident, yet Akito's thoughts returned to Toya. He couldn't ignore the gnawing worry and fear for his best friend, so he swallowed heavily and found the courage to ask the question that weighed on his mind. “What… what about Toya?”

At that question, her eyes glistened with unshed tears, yet her voice remained steady, albeit with a slight quiver. “I don't know.” She admitted, her grip on his and Mizuki's shoulders tightening. “We don't know anything… yet.”

As Akito tried to protest, a surge of fear and anxiety threatened to take over. However, Mrs. Hanasato's pleading voice stopped him.

Her eyes, filled with a mixture of worry and sadness, met his. “Please.” She implored, her voice gentle but firm. “Let's just go home, Akito. It’s dangerous here.”

Akito, though his heart ached to stay and find answers, allowed himself to be guided along, so he nodded as a silent acknowledgement of her words.

As they turned their backs to the scene, he casted one last, worried look over his shoulder towards the site of the explosion. Then, with a deep breath, he resigned to following Mrs. Hanasato back towards their home.

The journey back to the Hanasato household was filled with an agonized silence, and as they stepped into the house, the usually homely atmosphere now felt heavy with an undercurrent of tension.

Mrs. Hanasato led Akito and Mizuki towards a small table in the living room, and with gentle but firm hands, pushed them to sit down.

As they sat in a suffocating silence, Akito's anxiety flared up, causing him to fidget nervously.

His fingers trembled, unable to find peace. So subconsciously, he began to toy with his fingertips, digging his nails into the already sensitive skin.

Each tiny jab of pain served as a momentary reprieve from the overwhelming heartache he felt, but it did little to soothe his inner turmoil. But Mizuki, observant of Akito's unease, gently placed her hand on top of his thigh as a gentle, reassuring gesture to soothe his trembling fingers; the warmth of her touch contrasting with the cold, sterile air around them.

Mrs. Hanasato, who had so far kept quiet with her head down, decided to speak up.

“Kids.” She began to utter without looking at them; too intent on her own hands and in a quivering tone that betrayed her urge to cry. “I must ask you something, but I don't know if it's the right thing to do.” She squeezed her eyes shut, then opened them to look them in the eye. “This piece of cloth-” She swallowed hard before continuing to speak. “It belonged to Toya, didn't it?”

As she stated the question, she placed her hands on the table; finally revealing the object she had been staring at since they had arrived at the house, unbeknownst to the children.

It was just a torn and dirty piece of cloth; full of dust but with small red stains all over its surface. It looked almost entirely identical to the ill-fitting bandage on Akito's arm, and at that obvious fact, Akito was unable to help but stifle a sob; ducking his head down to his lap to look at his bandaged arm.

“Y-yeah.” He whispered with a crack in his voice.

Even at ten years old, he was no fool, for he had long since lost his innocence. He was fully aware of what his affirmation entailed, but he still didn't feel ready to accept it; too afraid of losing, yet again during his young age, someone so near and dear to him.

The statement, though not unexpected, ultimately defeated the poor woman, who could not help but let out a shaky sigh in an attempt to calm herself.

Mizuki, for her part, simply stared at the piece of cloth.

But just as the silence settled in the room once again, it was suddenly interrupted by a soft knock on the door.

The knock, though gentle, felt like a thunderclap in the tense atmosphere, so Akito and Mizuki exchanged a quick glance, their eyes widening in anticipation.

Mrs. Hanasato, having being the closest to the door of the living room, excused herself from the room and made her way to the entrance. Her footsteps, usually soft and steady, echoed with a sense of foreboding as she approached the door, and with a steadying breath, she reached out and opened the door to whoever waited beyond.

A deep, unfamiliar voice drifted through the air as the door opened, the words making a chill run down Mrs. Hanasato's spine. “Are Ms. Mizuki and Mr. Akito here?” The voice questioned; his tone was formal, carrying an edge that suggested a professional and almost official nature.

Mrs. Hanasato's attention was piqued at that, and after a moment, she responded. “Yes, they're here.” Her voice, though weary, held a thread of curiosity as she continued. “Is there something you need with them?”

Akito and Mizuki slowly approached the corridor, drawn by the stranger's request.

In unison, they silently watched the man standing in front of Mrs. Hanasato while hidden behind her lithe back; their eyes fixed on him, studying his every movement and expression.

The man who stood before them was obviously a Silver-Soul. His bearing, the way he held himself, and the subtle hint of magic that clung about him like an aura — all suggested his heritage.

He was tall and lean, with a rugged, handsome face lined with the passage of time. His eyes, a bright, sharp black, seemed to take in everything around him like a hawk.

The man's voice, though deep, carried an element of seriousness. “I come to you under the authority of the Eternal Sovereign.” He declared, his gaze shifting from Mrs. Hanasato to the kids, who stood silently behind her. The man continued, his firm voice leaving no room for doubt. “The Sovereign has requested your presence at the palace.” He paused, his gaze taking in the weary trio before him. “The matter is urgent.” He addedmwith his eyes lingering momentarily on Akito's injured arm with a simple frown.

Noticing the soldier's steady gaze on him, Akito shrank in on himself; too intimidated to lift his head from the ground and let go of Mizuki's hand; which he had instinctively grabbed at that very moment.

Mrs. Hanasato, hearing the guard's words, instead jumped up defensively.

“Why would the Sovereign want an audience with my kids?” She asked worriedly, not knowing which way to face.

The gentleman standing before her did not look at her for more than two seconds; disinterested and bored.

“I'm afraid that does not concern you.” Those were the only words he devoted to answer the question; all said in such an obviously contemptuous tone that even the children could tell. “You are but a low-ranking bronze soul, so worry about following what your role dictates.” The children, hearing such an abrupt change of attitude from the sir, were not startled, yet, instead, frowned in disgust. “You will both be expected in the throne room tomorrow.” They had no way to say anything anyway, for the man communicated his last words as he turned away. “Do not break the Eternal Sovereign's word, or you will suffer the consequences.”

After that, he departed; leaving behind him a confused family.

A few long minutes passed before anyone spoke, but surprisingly, it was Mrs. Hanasato who broke the silence.

“Mizuki.” She called out to the girl without turning around; still standing in the doorway of the inn with Toya's piece of clothing between her fingers. “Go get the girls. They're at the Kiritiani's house waiting for me to return.” Her words left no room for doubt, and the girl noticed that, so without hesitation she nodded; glancing at Akito for a moment before heading towards the house across the street.

The sound of her footsteps as she left was all that could be heard for a long while until Mrs. Hanasato spoke again.

“Akito” The whisper was enough for the boy to look up from where he was staring; at Toya's piece of cloth. “Sorry.” The woman's back was still turned to him, but still Akito was able to see the shaking of her shoulders. “I was uncapable to protect you.” The last sentence seemed to be the perfect trigger, for the lady could no longer bear to hold back the tears and began to weep disconsolately before the boy's eyes.

And Akito, for his part, was unable to do anything but freeze in place; still, silent, and with tears streaming down his chubby cheeks without a single sound.

Early the next morning, they had to get up at dawn.

The palace was gigantic from the outside, and gave the impression of looming over them because of its imposing grandeur, but the four had no choice but to bow their heads to the disdainful looks of the guards and to march to the entrance.

They were greeted in a crude but no less interested manner, and before they knew it, the three children had been separated from the woman.

Shiho, the most confused among them, found herself unable to help but feel self-conscious at the sight of so many huge people in one place judging every step she took.

“What's going on, Mizuki?” She asked with her hands clasped over her blouse, raising her head slightly to look into Mizuki's face.

“I don't know.” Her friend replied in a serious tone.

Shiho fell silent as she sensed it, but didn't stop looking at her, even if they were still walking.

Mizuki looked scared, her jaw was clenched, and her pupils were trembling at every noise she heard. Her shoulders were tense, and every step she took felt too loud against the lonely walls of the palace corridors. Her long hair, remarkably, was tousled in a badly braided plait; something all too rare for the girl who loved taking care of herself.

Akito, on the other hand, looked the same if not worse.

Shiho noticed how his cheeks still bore marks from the rivers of tears that had stained them the night before, and his left arm was now bandaged with thick strips of bandages.

It all seemed too out of place for Shiho, who couldn't understand why she had had to be torn away from her sister so early in the morning to go to such a creepy place. Nor did she understand where Toya had gone, but no one would explain, and she felt far too bad seeing Mrs. Hanasato's tired eyes to make any demands.

Still, she was no fool, and she was aware that something had happened.

After all, news travelled fast in the city.

“His highness will receive you in a few moments.” The sudden voice of a man brought Shiho out of her thoughts.

Raising her head, however, she failed to see the man, for he had retreated as he finished speaking.

What she could see, instead, was how the large gates in front of her slowly opened.

They reached up to the ceiling and were white with gold accents, opening with a certain charming parsimony, for none of the three children were able to look away until they were fully open.

After a few seconds of contemplation, they were forced inside after being urged by the same man — an elder, Shiho was able to see at last — to enter.

Once inside with her friends, Shiho didn't hesitate to try to find comfort in one of them, and unhesitatingly grabbed Mizuki's hand like a little girl.

Her friend, noticing the contact, was startled, but soon regained her composure and looked at her with a soft smile.

“Everything will be okay.” She whispered to her for fear of upsetting any of the residents of that huge but creepy palace.

In response, Shiho nodded sheepishly.

A few seconds passed as they walked from the gate to the throne, and upon reaching the throne itself, they stopped when they found no one.

“Are we alone?” Akito asked in confusion as he saw that there was no one but them.

He looked around, searching for anything or anyone, lost and not knowing what to do, until a voice was heard.

“You're mistaken.”

At the sound of that voice, the three children turned suddenly towards the door — opened again and making way for another small figure — as they recognized a certain familiar voice.

The footsteps of the new intruder echoed slowly against the carpet of the place softly, and for every inch he approached, the three struggled to hold their breath.

The light streaming through the windows down the length of the room shone brightly, making the figure of the person appear distorted, making the children squint to try to see anything more than a slim, short silhouette.

Their hearts were pounding so hard it felt like they were going to burst, but the moment the silhouette stepped through the lights; coming into view before the tear-filled eyes of their friends, everything stopped in that instant.

“We meet again.” The blond boy, dressed in white clothes full of gold-coloured ornaments and with his blond hair neatly combed, looked each of them in the eye. “It's been a long time.”

The last words were accompanied by a smile, making it impossible for the others to hold back tears.

Surprisingly — or not so much, as the boy's emotional state was at rock bottom — Akito was the first to throw himself into Tsukasa's arms to hug him.

He was followed by Mizuki, who let go of Shiho's hand in order to join in the embrace. And then it was Shiho, who stood there for a few seconds, once again not knowing what was going on, and then ran to her friends.

[ ⟡ ]

“I see.”

Mrs. Hanasato and Mizuki sat across from each other, each holding a delicate porcelain cup filled with steaming tea. The soft and aromatic scent of the tea spread across the small room, mingling with the soft sunlight that filtered through the window.

Mrs. Hanasato took a small sip from her cup, her now old but tender gaze fixed on Mizuki.

Then, setting down her cup, let out a gentle exhale, a small smile gracing her lips. “I'm glad everything worked out at the end.” She murmured softly.

Mizuki nodded in agreement, her fingers tracing the rim of her teacup. “Yeah, at first we were afraid with Shiho’s reaction about-” She stopped, and swallowed saliva before continuing. “About Toya and everything else, but we were quite busy, so somehow everything ended up working out.”

At that response, Mrs. Hanasato glanced at Mizuki over the rim of her cup, eyes filled with a mix of relief and concern. “When the Sovereign told me that you were going to start special training to become the next generation of Holy knights years ago, I was afraid.” She confessed with a certain sadness in her eyes. “You were so little; kids, one must say.” And then gazed at Mizuki with fondness. “But I guess I was underestimating all of you.” She reached Mizuki’s cheek with her right hand to caress her face. “Look at you, how strong and pretty my little soldier had become.” And smiled at her. “I’m so proud of all of you.” 

The words were sincere, and beautiful enough to make anyone's heart flutter, yet the only thing that Mizuki ended up doing was smile uncomfortably.

Mrs. Hanasato, noticing that, stopped her caresses, and instead opted with changing the topic with obvious regret behind her eyes.

“How’s work going?” She sipped at her tea, noticing with a glance that it was almost finished.

Mizuki smiled sideways at sensing the abrupt change of topic; feeling grateful.

“Everything's good, we just completed a mission faraway from here, but nothing spectacular.” Having her tea finished already, Mizuki spoke. “Today we have a meeting with the Sovereign, so it’s probable that we are going to be sent to another one.”

“Oh, that’s awesome!” The woman exclaimed, unaware of the turmoil inside the girl at those words.

‘I don’t think so, Tsukasa’s right, there’s something going on.’

“Yeah.” Yet Mizuki replied with a forced smile before glancing at the clock displayed on one of the walls. “Mrs. Hanasato.” She caught the woman's attention, having the woman turn to look at her with curious eyes. “I should be going now, I don't want to skip my training hours, let alone the meeting.” With one of her fingers, she poked at the cup perched on the table in front of her, frowning even if she spoke in a soft tone.

“Oh, I understand, dear, but...’’ Was all the woman replied for a long moment; in a solemn tone and setting aside her own cup as well. “Nevermind, just go, don't worry about this old woman.” Suddenly, she stood up and started to clear the table while trying to dismiss the girl in a polite manner. “I don't want to bother my girl any more, I'm ashamed to waste your time when you surely have so many more things to do.” She sounded content, but her strained sing-songy voice wasn't able to mask the sadness and guilt reflected in her eyes.

And Mizuki saw it, but decided to not say anything.

She pursed her lips in a final curt smile, and nodded, merely saying, "See you then, Mrs. Hanasato." And rose; walking with delicate steps to the door to open it and leave.

It was only once outside and a few steps away, that she let a sigh escape her lips.

All she could do was stare at the façade of the house for a few moments. "If you wanted to ask about Akito that much you could have done so." She ended up whispering with sadness while she turned around; starting to walk towards the plaza. 

[ ⟡ ]

Author note!!

HI, as promised, here's the new chapter ദ്ദി( Ò ,<)~✩‧₊

So many things have happened, haven't they? Who would have thought that the children's past would be so tragic... ( ˶°ㅁ°) !!

I wonder what will happen in the next chapters, being warriors from such a young age doesn't seem too cool .·°՞(¯□¯)՞°·., and with so many important people gone, poor things  

Anyway, I'll upload the next chapter soon, so I hope you're liking it! ദ്ദി・ᴗ・)✧

I hope u have a fantastic week, don't forget to smile, and drink water (and mabye prepare some tissues for the uncoming chapters hehe =͟͟͞͞(꒪ᗜ꒪‧̣̥̇))

 

Comments and kudos are appreciated ♡

 

Chapter Text

[ ⟡ ]

“How was the mission?” The sound of a delicate, quiet voice was heard throughout the kitchen; breaking the silence that had been created.

“Fine.” Her companion replied in a disinterested tone; too busy eating some biscuits in front of her.

His sister didn't seem to believe her words, as she stared at her with a mixture of fondness and disappointment, but didn't voice it, rather waiting a few seconds until Shiho stopped averting her gaze to give her a weary look.

“Okay, not so great.” Shiho relented as she caught the incredulous look on her sister's face. “We had a little mishap, but nothing of importance.” She wiped her hands on one of the nearest rags, then set it down on the large countertop again. “How about you, how are you doing, are they treating you well here?” She ended up asking as she gestured with her hand around them.

She wanted to avoid a discussion about the mission and her poor performance; too tired with everything to be able to endure yet another lecture, though seeing the sad look in her sister's eyes made her feel guilty.

Likewise, she knew that since her admission as one of the palace servants she had not had it easy being a bronze soul, but Shiho trusted that she could defend herself and her abilities against the unfair treatment she received. Still, things did not go as she had hoped, and that made her angry.

Shizuku didn't respond, keeping quiet as she tried to avoid her sister's worried gaze.

“They said something to you again, am I wrong?” Shiho asked again now angrily and feeling unable to contain the rage that filled her chest. “It was that bitch of a housekeeper's, I'm sure of it.” She muttered angrily as she received no response other than a guilty look.

“No, Shiho, don't-” But Shizuku, seeing her sister so angry, stood up and tried to grab her arm to calm her down.

“No? Then it must have been the cook.” But Shiho didn't seem to calm down, so she continued her speech without listening to her sister. “That old woman doesn't know how to do anything but treat you like dirt, if it weren't for the fact that she's close to those wretches in the court, I would have killed her.”

The last exclamation startled the older girl, who did not hesitate to call out to her younger sister with a final shout.

“Shiho!” She exclaimed with her hands over her mouth in disbelief at what she had heard.

"Don't talk like that."

“You know I'm right, you should have stayed with Mrs. Hanasato instead of following me to this shithole of a place.” By then, even though she was still angry, Shiho couldn't help but let the sadness and helplessness she felt at the situation show in her voice.

“Shiho, I chose to stay here because I love you, we both know how unhappy I would be staying away from you one more time.’’ But even in spite of her displeasure, Shizuku looked at her lovingly, making Shiho feel the urge to cry. “And please don't talk in that way again. I know you're important to the kingdom, but if you don't watch what you say, you might get into serious trouble.” She whispered the last words in concern.

At that, Shiho merely looked at her, not knowing what to say.

However, she didn't have time to think of a single thing, for a voice; shrill and loud, kept her from doing so.

"You should take your sister's advice, fledgling knight.’’ A lady no more than fifty years old spoke to her from one of the doors of the grand kitchen. "I am pleased to know that Lady Shizuku is aware of where she belongs in this castle, but I fear that you, on the other hand, may not quite understand." As she spoke, she moved with short steps towards where the two girls stood. "Your dear sister is a meaningless bronze soul." Once in front of the two sisters, he glared at the smaller one with hatred.

"And no matter how many accomplishments you make, that won't change."

"You ungrateful, filthy old-" Without the intention of holding back any insults, Shiho snapped.

"SHIHO." But her sister's scream made her stop in her tracks.

Shiho went still; realizing what she was going to do as she found herself restrained by her sister, who prevented her from hitting the old lady.

“Leave it, Shiho, it's alright.” Shizuku didn't let her go, and rather, merely gave her a frazzled half-smile.

Shiho stared at her older sister for a few moments —still feeling her own heart pounding with anger— only to swallow her rage, feeling defeated at the mere passing glimpse of the victorious smile that the woman in front of her was displaying.

Hence, she rudely let go of Shizuku's grip and just grabbed the cloth bag with her newly baked biscuits to leave, giving a dirty look at the lady, who was still smiling with a certain triumphant smile.

Slamming the door shut behind her she left the kitchen and made her way to the training grounds quickly; arriving at the site in no time at all and just stopping in her tracks at the sight of her friends; causing her boots to clatter as they skidded on the sand.

With her heart still pounding she clenched the rough cloth bag between her fingers, directing her gaze to her captain; Tsukasa, who as luck would have it, was the first to spot her and put aside his sword training.

“Shiho!” He called out her name even as he stood nearby, causing the girl to look up at him after lowering her gaze to the bag for a moment. “Come here, we have to leave in no time!” The girl hadn't quite processed clearly what the older boy was saying due to her trying to calm her own heaving breaths, but upon hearing those words, she decided to move closer.

“Where to?” She asked as her friend now faced her, not understanding what they had to do at such a late hour.

“A few minutes ago, a Messenger from the Sovereign came announcing that we were needed at his office.” Tsukasa did not hesitate to answer her; his eyes bright and full of excitement.

He looked tired: slightly dishevelled from his training and with a faint layer of sweat on his forehead that he wiped off with a wave of his hand.

“The old man must have another mission for us.” Akito joined the conversation after setting aside one of the special dummies they used to train their powers. “He'll never grow tired of sending us to far-flung places while he sits around having tea with his well-off associates.’’ He sounded short of breath and was panting steadily, a fact that made it obvious how hard his training had been.

“Akito, do not start.’’ But Tsukasa, hearing the comment and lack of decorum, reproached him with a sudden coarse tone of voice; dropping his affability in order to demand respect for his sovereign and role model.

And Akito snorted, offended and muttering an “ass-kisser” as he put on his jacket after having left it lying on the floor at the start of training.

“What's that in your hand, Shiho?” Mizuki ended up joining the conversation too, slightly dishevelled, with her white uniform dirty because of the sand.

“They're biscuits, they were given to me by Shizuk-” She didn't hesitate to answer, but when she came to say her sister's name she couldn't help but stop. “... Shizuku gave them to me.” She still felt angry, but the worry was what was really eating her up inside, making it impossible not to think about her.

The change in her attitude did not go unnoticed by the others, though they said nothing, and instead remained silent. It was not the first time Shiho had stood up to defend her sister, but that didn't mean they felt any less taken aback.

“Can I have one?” Akito was the first to break the silence: extending a hand and causing Shiho to look up to meet his seemingly unconcerned gaze.

Grateful with how reassuring it had been for her to be treated with normalcy, she smiled softly. “Right, they're made of coffee.” With one hand she opened the bag and with the other she held out the biscuit; glancing down at the sweet and not noticing the pause in Akito's movements upon hearing that.

Akito, who had unhesitatingly reached out for the bag, seemed to freeze at his friend's words, yet he didn't let it show, and in just a few moments he forced himself to act normal again.

“Thank you.” He said to his friend before biting into the treat.

Shiho just nodded at him.

‘’We'd better get going.” Tsukasa, attentive to the movements of the two, spoke softly. “We don't want to be late.” Seeing that the two younger ones paid attention to him, he smiled.

“Is it necessary to go?” Mizuki asked as she finished picking up the last of the things they had left lying around.

“If we've been summoned, then it's for a reason.” Tsukasa replied, helping her lift the last training dummy off the floor. “Besides, I talked to the Sovereign about all the weird things that happened last time.” Those words were enough to get the attention of his three subordinates and friends, who didn't hesitate to get serious and listen. “We both agreed that something doesn't seem to be right in the suburbs, so he sent a small patrol to investigate.” He stood up straight, and continued speaking after shaking the dust off his hands. “I wouldn't be surprised if he called us into his office to talk about it.”

Mizuki stared at the floor as she listened, thinking for a few moments before speaking.

“It's true that what happened that day was very strange, you don't usually see that kind of dark activity around the suburbs, and the soldiers Akito encountered had never appeared before.” She said in a thoughtful tone as she tried to make sense of her words.

“Yes, even Shiho encountered one.” Tsukasa added. “Let's go, we'd better talk while we walk.” He began to walk as he spoke, and with one hand pointed to the path they should take. “They looked like walking corpses.”

Footsteps behind him were soon heard as the others began to follow his leader.

“More than walking corpses, they were more like puppets.” Akito, remembering what he was faced with, wanted to add his point of view. “They had no individual conscience whatsoever and thought only of attacking what they considered threatening.” His navy blue cloak fluttered with every step he took, giving him an imposing appearance. “What I mean is that they didn't seem to have any kind of perception of what they were doing, but acted unconsciously based on what their instincts said.” He was frustrated at not finding the exact words to express himself, yet his friends managed to understand him.

“Yeah, the monster we faced was weird too, its powers didn't seem to match its rank.” Mizuki spoke as well, contributing what little she was able to parse during the battle. “The force surrounding it seemed... I don't know, sort of obscure.” A shiver ran down her spine as she remembered the black and purple flashes she beheld during the fight.

“Whatever it was, it was odd, and we need to find some explanation for it before it's too late.” Tsukasa settled the conversation with his words as he saw the large door in front of them; causing the other three to nod and fall silent.

It was the blond who raised his hand to open the door, and as he did so he entered first with his subordinates behind him: all with straight shoulders and serious demeanours. The Sovereign, fortunately or not, unlike the previous day, was already waiting for them, sitting in his chair and surrounded by papers and boxes full of rare and beautiful objects.

The four knights approached with determined steps, and upon arriving in front of the table, they knelt with their heads down.

Seeing that, the Sovereign stared at them for a few moments in silence.

“Rise my children.” It wasn't until a few seconds had passed that the Sovereign decided to say a word, and when he did, it was in a plaintive tone.

At his words, however, there was no response other than obedience.

“I suppose you know why I have summoned you here today.” He set aside one of the pages he held so that he could rise from his chair, causing the four warriors to follow him with their eyes as he rounded the desk.

“We do have an inkling, sir.’’ Tsukasa, as always, was the only one able to speak first. “It has to do with the suburbs, doesn't it?” Crossing glances with the man, he asked. “With Subterra, I mean.” He finished by appending when he saw that the Sovereign wasn't answering.

“Exactly, dear.” After a few seconds, the Sovereign gave him a response. “I trust you were able to share with your subordinates our last discussion about the suspicious things lurking in the streets of Subterra.” At that, Tsukasa nodded. “Well, therefore, there is no need for me to entertain myself by explaining things you are already aware of.” He then addressed the three silver souls, receiving nods from the two girls, and only a wary glance from Akito. “The survey patrol has returned from Subterra.” He stated while holding Akito's gaze for a few seconds.

Noticing that, Akito frowned slightly, but didn't relent.

“Have we received any alarming information?” Tsukasa spoke again, interrupting the passive-aggressive interaction the two across from him were having with the staring battle.

“You could say that, my beloved heir.” At the end, Akito was the first to avert his gaze; too overwhelmed with the aura emanating from the lord's body, causing the Sovereign to smile sideways -almost imperceptibly- before he began to speak. “According to the reports, there has been a suspicious building in one of the streets closest to our wall's gates.” Without moving from his place in front of his desk, he reached out his hand and picked up a thin file with different sheets hanging from it. “After reading the files and looking at the pictures, there is no doubt that we are dealing with a complicated case of dark magic manipulation.” He reached out and handed the papers to Tsukasa. “Here, read it.”

Tsukasa, without hesitation, obeyed and began to read the contents of the pages before him.

“Facilities adapted for energy substrate and specialized cells?” He turned the pages with considerable speed, and read each line with a certain urgency. “But sir-” He looked alarmed, almost frightened because of the contents of the pages, so Tsukasa raised his head to look at Sovereign. “What would such a place be needed for?”

The four of them had an idea of what might be going on in the suburbs, but they couldn't see themselves coming to terms with it.

“For the very thing you're thinking of.” The Sovereign replied, picking up a map from his desk. “Our main hypothesis is that someone may be engaged in stripping the magic from the monsters lurking in those areas to bottle up energy and create compact explosives of dark magic.” He approached the teens and held out the map, causing Mizuki to take it without hesitation and open it. “On the map the point where the base is located has been marked, fortunately or not, it's not too far from here.”

Mizuki, who was looking at the map in concentration, nodded in agreement with the Sovereign as she proofed his words when she saw the point marked on the paper. “It won't take us more than two hours to get there.” She thought as she analysed the different possible routes.

“You are the only ones I can trust with this mission.” He was silent for a moment before resuming speaking. “You must go as soon as possible and gather any information you can.” The Sovereign finished by dictating, causing everyone –even Akito, who had stood wordlessly– to nod.

“Yes, your highness.” They all replied in unison, bowing their heads and placing a hand on their chest; just barely touching the insignia they had received as a gift from the ruler days before.

The Sovereign turned away without answering them, and went to sit in his chair again.

“You are dismissed.”

Those were the last words he said before the warriors bowed and left through the same door they had entered.

As the door closed behind them, Tsukasa stepped up, causing the other three to do so as well.

“Go get ready, when dawn breaks we will leave towards the location on the map.” He ordered without a trace of hesitation in his voice: receiving a nod from all in response. “Mizuki.” He called out to the girl before she left. “Will you take care of keeping the map?” With one hand, he pointed to the paper in his friend's hands.

“Of course, Captain.” Mizuki smiled, but without dropping the formality in her tone of voice.

Watching Akito walk off down one of the corridors without a word, Tsukasa replied. “Fine, now go with Akito.” He gestured to the way his friend had gone, and Mizuki eventually turned her gaze there. “He's not in a very good mood.” He added with concern as he watched the younger boy walk away.

“You're right, but you know how he is.” Mizuki also stood there watching his friend walk away, but within a few seconds walked towards the same direction as she finished speaking. “Don't worry, I'll handle it- AKITO” Shouted the swordswoman trying to get her friend to listen to her. “DON'T RUN SO FAST, I'M GOING WITH YOU’.” The girl started running as she saw the boy turn a corner. “HEY, DON'T RUN ANY FURTHER JUST BECAUSE I'M COMING AFTER YOU, WAIT FOR ME.” But Akito, instead of stopping, seemed to pick up the pace. “YOU BASTARD-” Mizuki insulted him, but Tsukasa wasn't able to hear it at all because of the distance.

Seeing the scene, he couldn't help but laugh.

“Would you like to come with me to prepare the weapons, Shiho?” With a smile and a relaxed expression due to laughter, Tsukasa turned to look at the smaller girl.

Shiho, who had been standing off to the side so far, walked over, merely said a simple ‘sure’ and started walking along with her friend.

On the other side, near the throne room, Mizuki managed to reach her friend's side. “Finally, I caught you.” She reached for Akito's shoulder as she tried to speak in between gasps of air. “Since when on earth do you run so fast?” She doubled over to catch her breath, while Akito stood silently waiting for her.

“Since forever, dumbass, you're the one who doesn't run fast enough.” But he couldn't help himself, and tried to annoy her.

“The monthly charts say otherwise.” Now recovered, Mizuki straightened upright. “The last time we tracked our times, I'm sure I ended up beating you.” A soft smile was forming on her face as she knew Akito wasn't still in a bad mood. “What happened a few moments ago?” She decided to change the subject and try to understand why the sudden attitude changes.

Akito looked at her out of the corner of his eye for a moment, then sighed.

“I don't know.” He admitted in a dejected tone. “I feel tired because of the missions, and the old geezer won't stop toying with us.” His eyes reflected the frustration he felt, and Mizuki could not help but feel a little sorry.

“But Akito-” She tried to give him some words of comfort, but was interrupted by him.

“Yeah, I know, Mizuki.” He spoke abruptly without letting her speak. “I know we owe a lot to that man. I'm damn well aware that if it wasn't for him, Mrs. Hanasato and Minori wouldn't be able to live comfortably, and that Shiho and Shizuku wouldn't be together, but I'm not comfortable here.” Frustration began to turn to sadness. “And don't get me wrong, I like my job: I like knowing that many lives are safe thanks to our hard work.” And the sadness turned to anger. “But the way Tsukasa licks the ground through which that old man treads doesn't quite feel correct to me.’’

He shook his head to the side with a sour frown on his face, and Mizuki just stared at him.

“Sorry.” But Akito spoke again, surprising Mizuki with his abrupt, frustration-filled apology.

“Don't apologize.” The girl answered him after a few moments in silence. “I understand perfectly how you feel, but sadly there's nothing we can do.” She lamented as she turned her gaze to the silver brooch on Akito's chest. “The only consolation we have left is knowing how much we helped all the helpless people in the city.” She ducked her gaze to her hands, then raised her head again to look at Akito: meeting his glowing green eyes. “It will be all right, Akito, don't forget that we have each other.”

The last words seemed to affect Akito, as he dropped his head suddenly as he felt the urge to cry.

“You're right.” He mumbled, trying to hold back the tears.

The sight of the boy in such a state caused Mizuki to feel a pang in her chest. “Don't feel bad, Akito.” After all, she had been raised with him, he was practically her little brother, and everything they had been through was a sign of how strong their friendship was. “You're strong, and I don't just say it because of your powers. We've lived through so many bad things for which many people would fall apart, and yet we're still here.” She reached out to squeeze his shoulder in support. “It will all get better in some time, so let's just go, complete the mission, and return home once and for all.” The image of Mrs. Hanasato suddenly popped into her head, along with all the memories they had managed to create in those few years when they were able to be free.

In an instant, Akito's eyes fell on Mizuki again, and within it an abyss of emotions welled up inside him.

Although no words dared to cross his lips, his gaze spoke louder than a thousand thoughts.

With a single gesture –a single crestfallen look accompanied by a shy and weak smile– he let Mizuki know his concern, but with that he also conveyed the unconditional love he felt in his heart, along with hope and that glimmer of fear that seemed to be rooted too within him since years ago; since he was just a child.

“Yes, let's head home soon.” Akito said in a broken tone of voice.

The girl was fully aware of the storm raging in her companion's heart, but without complete knowledge of the depth of what Akito was feeling, she simply offered him a final pained smile, along with a nod.

They were both knights, and they had an important mission ahead of them, though the gesture was a reminder that they were in it together.

She reached her hand up to the boy's head, then ruffled his hair –a habit she had adopted since they were both children. “Let's go with the others, they must be busy getting everything ready for the trip.”

Akito, at the familiarity of the touch and the welter of emotions inside him, decided not to pull away as he normally did, and, instead, accepted the playful caress by leaning his head towards the girl's hand. “Okay.” He agreed with a dejected tone, yet Mizuki was content with just those words, and brushing aside the orange locks she ended up tapping him on the shoulder.

After that exchange, it didn't take long for them to follow the path to where their other two companions were: the imperial stable.

Upon approaching, they watched as Shiho and Tsukasa gathered the materials needed for the mission. All of them knew that the journey was not going to be a long one, but even so, Akito noted that the leader did not think twice about packing several provisions into his backpack. Shiho, for her part, sharpened her sword, the blade glinting in the dim light.

The sound emitted by the hooves of the horses as they shifted restlessly while waiting for their riders to decide to depart along with the sound of metal being polished was the only thing that disturbed the silence of the stables.

“You are finally here!” Tsukasa exclaimed in his typical jovial tone. “We're almost done with putting away all the food, and Shiho is very close to getting the weapons ready.” He paced back and forth in the stable, busy tending to the animals and putting things away. “Mizuki, go check on your horse's saddle, we both know how fussy you can be about it.” They both followed their leader's every move with their eyes, which is why the girl didn't hesitate to heed him and go quickly to execute his order.

Akito, for his part, stood staring at his leader in awkward silence and not knowing what to say. Tsukasa seemed to notice, and setting aside his duties, he did not hesitate to approach the youngest.

“Are you feeling better, Aki?” The softer, more affectionate tone of voice —totally different from the one he had a mere moments ago— contrasted with his usual flamboyant attitude, and coupled with the use of that nickname; ‘Aki’, Akito couldn't help but feel a pang in his chest.

Suddenly, embarrassment swatted at his heart, and a feeling of guilt began to run through his body without any mercy whatsoever.

“I'm sorry.” He whispered, clenching his fists at his sides and averting his gaze. “I behaved like an-” In his voice a restraint seemed to be felt, but he didn't have time to speak further as the feeling of gentle arms wrapping gently around him snapped him out of his self-pity trance.

“It's alright, we all have bad moments.” Tsukasa's voice, still soft and smooth, echoed close to his ear, as his chin rested on one of Akito's shoulders as he hugged him. “Try not to overthink, if you keep frowning so much one of these days your eyebrows will fall off” He let out a light chuckle, oblivious to the sense of relief it brought to the other boy.

Akito's arms slowly yet steadily raised until they were wrapped around the older boy's torso.

Tsukasa's surprise at the movement lasted a heartbeat, and as he tried to say something, he got interrupted by the younger boy.

“Akit-”

“Thank you.” Akito hastened to say those words, tightening the hug for a moment and letting go the next; thus exposing his flushed cheeks.

The sight was adorable to Tsukasa, for it reminded him of the little six-year-old Akito who used to chase him around the orphanage in search of ‘training like the best warriors’, or when he was simply looking for someone to spend some time stargazing with on certain summer nights where the heat was sweltering.

“I'll go prepare my horse.” And with that, Akito broke away from the elder completely, turning away and not letting Tsukasa say so much as a word.

“Let's hope that after this mission, he can rest.” Shiho, who had returned minutes earlier, deciding to remain quiet upon seeing the exchange between the boys, spoke up in a rush: startling the captain momentarily without meaning to. “He hasn't been able to sleep much these past few nights, sometimes I hear him when he comes out of his room, and it seems the nightmares have been cruelly recurrent these past few weeks.” Still, the blond was quick to compose himself, and casting a sad look towards the direction Akito had gone, he nodded.

“These are arduous weeks, it will shortly be the anniversary of what happened, and this year seems to be one of the toughest for him.” He said after looking away from the place, busying himself, in the meantime, sheathing his own sword. “He misses them.” Before he finished tucking his sword away, but, he paused his movements to appreciate the engraving on the golden hilt between his fingers. “Though if we're honest, we all do. Only Akito is brave enough to keep them on his mind without breaking.” He let out a sigh, tying his sword securely around his waist and looking up at the sky, then turning to the girl with a sudden change of attitude as he noticed the time. “Is everything ready to go?”

His tone of voice, now commanding, caused the girl's posture to straighten; squared shoulders, chin up and serious demeanour.

“Yes, Captain.” Shiho replied.

The mission was about to commence, and Tsukasa, the leader, had resumed his role as absolute commander: as the future heir to the empire and full protector of its citizens.

[ ⟡ ]

The sun had disappeared to make way for the moon, and thanks to it, the four warriors were able to reach their destination, for they were led with care.

The air was permeated with a mournful silence, broken only by the crunching of the rubble beneath their feet. The horses stood waiting in the streets behind, and the walls of the houses they observed on their way to the square were cracked and sooty.

The heroes advanced cautiously; their eyes scanning every nook and cranny for signs of danger.

“Captain.” Mizuki suddenly called out to the older boy, causing him to simply turn his head slightly towards her.

His blonde hair shone due to the full moon, and his serious expression left no hint of doubt in sight.

“Report.” The boy addressed her without ceasing to walk forward nor to analyse his surroundings.

“According to the map, we are about to reach the marked point.” In her hands, she held the piece of paper. “I'm not sure which building we should go to, it's not very precise.”

At those words, Tsukasa stopped, causing the girl to stop behind him.

“...” He stood with both feet planted on the ground without mumbling a single word, and, instead, looked carefully at the two old houses in front of him. He didn't seem to want to speak, for he was extremely focused, but after a few seconds he clicked his tongue as he drew his sword. “The building on the right.”

Mizuki, hearing that, looked up from the paper to the entrance porch of the building; looking at the building itself doubtfully.

Noticing the girl's uncertainty, but, Tsukasa raised the sword until it pointed towards the ground.

Thanks to that, Mizuki, upon looking, opened her eyes in surprise.

On top of the broken and cracked stone tiles, amidst the dirt from the polluted water and traces of mud, there was a river of blood making its way to the house.

“Wha-” In surprise, Mizuki looked up suddenly to glance back at Tsukasa, but before she could speak, Akito, who had just returned from finishing off some monsters further back down the road, marched towards them.

“The situation back there is already under control.” He said in a serious tone as he approached his friends with the sword —still with blood dripping from it— in his hand. “Did you find anything?” Shiho stood beside him, tucking her bow behind her back as she adjusted her sword at her waist.

Mizuki, who had her back to him, turned so that they were face to face, while Tsukasa did not move from his spot.

The blond, on the other hand, simply deigned to give orders. “Akito, come with me inside.” In his free hand, the one without a sword, a dagger of golden light formed. “Shiho, Mizuki, you two stay outside and watch the area.”

The two girls exchanged a knowing look, aware of what was coming, so they nodded silently, accepting the orders given by their captain.

“Understood” Shiho said, drawing her sword and moving into a ready stance.

With that, without further ado, the two parties separated.

Tsukasa led the way into the building, while Akito scanned his surroundings on alert.

The entrance was nothing more than a simple breach —crumbling and filthy— with remnants of what had once been a wooden door scattered across the entire width of the floor. From the entrance, it was possible to make out the dusty, cobwebbed remains of the furniture inside, which only made it clear how long it had been before someone crossed the threshold of the building.

Amidst the darkness, however, it was also discernible that a small, faint light was coming from inside; most likely created by one of the countless cracks and holes in the ceiling.

Both of them stepped inside after a quick glance, feeling the instability of the ground they were walking on with every step they took.

The place seemed to have been abandoned ages ago, yet suddenly, with the sound of their own breaths being the only thing able to cut through the prevailing silence of the place, something caught the attention of the two knights.

‘This doesn't look good.’ Akito whispered, scrutinizing, amidst the darkness that reigned inside, the presence of a deep purple door at the end of the room. It stood out because of its colour, but also because of the energy emanating from it.

As they approached it, they saw that it was completely covered with small scribbles carved in the shape of black stars.

Tsukasa, with his watchful and attentive gaze, did not hesitate to raise his left hand so that he could feel the drawings with his fingertips, noticing, as he directed his grip to the golden knob, that it was locked from the inside.

‘We have to open it.’ He said firmly, and without letting Akito respond, kicked it hard enough to make it fall.

‘Holy-’ Akito exclaimed out of surprise as he brushed away with his left hand the dust that had been kicked up by the clatter, but as his eyes flicked over a shadow inside the room, he fell silent.

Tsukasa, without a word, drew his iron sword; causing both his hands to be armed.

The amount of dust in the air made it difficult for the warriors to see inside the room, but after a few minutes the atmosphere cleared, and thanks to the only window in the room —just behind the object, half-broken and full of cobwebs— they were able to see more clearly what it was.

It was a strange machine sitting right in the centre of the floor: illuminated by the light through the window with such precision that it felt as if someone had calculated its position exactly so that the object was the only thing illuminated by the sun. The sun's rays revealed the material from which it was made, for it appeared to be crafted from a kind of cold, dark metal.

It had several articulated arms that ended in thin pins and needles from which one could still glimpse some drops of an unknown liquid running through them, and a strange sensation seemed to emanate from it.

Akito felt a shiver run down his spine tingling his body with a cramp of disgust, but his curiosity was greater than his fear, so without thinking and being driven almost completely by his instincts, he leaned forward.

Tsukasa, however, made his golden dagger disappear to grip his companion's arm firmly.

‘Don't get any closer,’ Tsukasa said with an unusually low tone; his gaze was fixed on the machine and his brow furrowed. ‘We don't know how strong that machine is. It's too dangerous.’

The younger one turned to Tsukasa with a frustrated gesture crossing his face. ‘But we can't just stand by, we have to see what it is.’ Akito protested without taking his eyes off the leader, which caused him not to miss the change of expression on Tsukasa's face.

There was no hint of doubt in the captain's features, though a slight tremor could be discerned; of fear, perhaps, but Akito was unable to decipher the meaning behind that expression, for he did not understand why Tsukasa seemed to be looking at the metal device as if it were a menacing beast.

Tsukasa turned his head to look at Akito helplessly holding back a sigh of frustration at the sight of the other's scowl.

“Akito, that machine is for magic extraction.” Bright sunset-like irises met the other's green ones as the two maintained eye contact as Tsukasa muttered the following words, “Those needles are inserted around the heart, causing them, once the machine is turned on, to slowly absorb the energy of the person connected to it.” Tsukasa clenched his jaw, his eyes glowing in the gloom of the building. “You can imagine it like a blood draw, but ten times more painful.” He added with a sombre tone. “The energy is usually stored in glass containers, but sometimes there are traces of magic left in the extractors, so we can't risk ourselves by touching the machine recklessly.”

It was horrible, and depraved, and Akito felt himself freeze with revulsion at the situation. That was why, as Tsukasa let him go and reshaped his golden dagger now into the form of a sword, he had no choice but to nod as he heard him say that it would be a good idea to search through the crumpled documents scattered on the floor for information.

They separated, though they stayed in the same room next to the machine, and slowly began to read the documents thoroughly. Time passed, but the boys were quick to discard the useless information from the important one without pause.

Akito, however, as he picked up one of the stacks next to the machine, felt his stomach turn even more as he read the contents of one particular paper: a list of names coupled with alarmingly low ages. Tsukasa noticed, and reached over to read the document over his shoulder.

“Bastards.” Spat the blond as he looked at the contents within the paper.

Akito remained silent for a moment with the document between his fingers before speaking quietly. “How could anyone possibly be capable of such a thing?” He asked himself without waiting for a reply.

The elder, seeing the defeat in Akito's slumped shoulders, let out a sigh and rested his head on the other's shoulder momentarily. “Human malice is capable of things we could never imagine.” He explained gently to Akito, lifting his head from his shoulder. “There are people who are so driven by power that they forget their own humanity. They care more about getting what they want at any cost, no matter who gets hurt in the process. By the time they realize it, if they do at all, then it's already too late.”

Tsukasa's words seemed to come from a deeply personal reason, something Akito noticed.

He turned to him, and saw the strain on his face.

Suddenly, memories of when they were little formed in his mind; of those times when they remained estranged.

Akito hesitated for a moment, but finally, carefully and gently, he couldn't help but ask.

“Captain-” He began to speak, but seemed to think twice with his choice of words. “Tsukasa,” He said more softly. “Why do you know so much about the machine?” The fear that arose in him to ask was great, but no greater than the affection he felt for his friend.

Tsukasa stood wordlessly with his head down, and Akito's heart felt like it was racing with sheer terror at the thought of what his friend, small and alone, might have suffered years ago. But he could not overthink it, for the blond raised his head and looked at him with a smile that was soft yet painful for them both.

Seeing that sight in front of him, Akito felt his chest tighten.

He raised his hand to approach his friend and, somehow, embrace him, but was unable to do so, as Tsukasa suddenly averted his gaze behind Akito; turning his glare into one of pure alertness.

Akito didn't have time to react due to his back being turned, but Tsukasa did, so with a swift movement he reached for the younger boy's raised hand to push him away from the blade of a thick, black sword.

Stumbling for a moment to stand up straight, Akito took a few seconds to draw his sword from his waist, but a small explosion had already formed in the room, blowing out the flimsy remaining glass of the old window.

Unbeknownst to them, someone had been watching them from the shadows until that moment; hidden.

The hooded man stood silently after the explosion he had caused; his face covered by a dark hood that prevented his expression and eyes from being seen.

His clothing was dark as well, with golden details decorating his chest in the shape of a rose, along with a few minor details on his wide belt. A large cloak wrapped around his shoulders with impetus; blood-red and long enough to be the cause of the hidden face.

He was large; much taller than the two knights, and rather thin, but he exuded a certain firmness and strength in his movements nonetheless.

However, it was impossible to be certain who he was or why he had chosen to watch them silently until this moment.

All of a sudden, the stranger drew his sword; surprising them both, for without warning he lunged towards Akito, his blade menacing and his intent to attack clear. His movements were fluid and natural, showing that he wielded the sword masterfully with each movement, and Akito could not help but feel a certain thrill.

Akito's reflexes kicked in as he raised his blade to defend himself, and despite the surprise attack, time seemed to slow down for Akito. His heart pounded as he parried the first strike of the attack and returned his own in response.

The stranger dodged Akito's attack perfectly, and his sword continued to move swiftly and accurately in an unstoppable rhythm.

The fight seemed to be evenly matched, but as Akito controlled one of the attacks against the stranger, he spotted out of the corner of his eye his friend trying to attack the hooded man.

The latter, however, became aware of it in time, and was forced to break away from Akito to defend himself; raising a dome as a shield.

As he was forced to raise the dome, however, the hooded man's element became evident; for the dome was silver. His skin, only visible in some parts on his hands, began to turn pale, and his breathing became laboured; as if he was fighting something other than the two heroes.

Taking advantage of this moment of weakness, both knights tried to close in to attack the dome and break it, but were unsuccessful, and instead only caused a shockwave to knock them to the ground from the blows they had delivered.

Akito fell backwards; hitting his head hard and causing his eyes to distort slightly from the dizziness and bleeding. In the distance, he saw Tsukasa slam backwards into one of the walls of the old building, only to fall to his knees from the impact.

He thought he heard the sound of coughing blood, but he was unable to verify it, for the stranger knelt in front of him so that they were awfully close.

His rival moved his hand towards Akito's bruised head with subtlety —care or even dread, one could say— but the smaller man pulled away with a wince for fear of being attacked again. The stranger, surprisingly, ceased his movements, and, instead, stared at him carefully; his hand still in the air though now slightly trembling.

It was at those moments, when Akito felt like he was about to pass out from the pain, that he thought he saw familiar eyes make eye contact with his own.

“Toya…?” He whispered, unaware of the panic he had triggered within the boy in front of him. He was about to fall unconscious, but before he could do so he felt a tremor in the ground, along with a surprisingly deep, but warm voice.

“Shit.” The boy kneeling in front of him cursed at the sight of the two remaining girls in the doorway, thus before anyone could react he scrambled to his feet, and ignoring the long silver chains chasing after him; he broke into a run towards the window.

The last thing Akito managed to see before he fell unconscious was the tall boy leaping through it: destroying it and disappearing in an instant.

[ ⟡ ]

The boy's tall frame moved with a swiftness and agility that was almost impossible to follow with the naked eye, as his movements were fluid and, above all, graceful. When he jumped out of the window, but, he seemed to fade an instant before falling, transforming into a shadow that eventually disappeared into thin air.

One moment he was there: with them in that rotting building fighting for his life, and the next he was falling towards the floor of a large room.

Luckily, the boy was able to fall to his knees; his boots clacking against the wooden floor. Because of the movement, however, his cloak fell from his shoulders to the floor, exposing his two-colored blue hair.

He breathed heavily trying to catch his breath, and with his right hand deposited the sword in its sheath to later stand up straight.

“I see you're not used to this new method of teleportation, Aoyagi-kun.” A playful, yet dangerous voice was heard behind his back, and even without the need to turn around the boy managed to identify it.

“Rui.” He frowned even without turning around; turning his back to him and clenching his fists at his sides. “You said-” He tried to speak in a controlled tone of voice, but he felt unable to control the raw emotions that seemed to overflow from the deepest recesses of his heart, and had to bite his lip hard before continuing to speak so long as to avoid insulting the elder. “No. You swore we wouldn't attack them.” He clenched his fists even tighter at his sides until he felt the dentitions of his fingernails eventually tear at his skin until it bled. “Why did you do it then?” Saying that last, he finally decided to turn around; facing the older boy with a defiant look.

Rui, for his part, just looked at him with that silly smile of his.

“‘Why,’ you say.” Wondered Rui with a mocking tone as he cocked his head to the side. “Is it necessary to have a reason?” He closed his eyes as he smiled, and his glasses glittered as they reflected the artificial light of the room against the silver frame.

“RUI-” Toya seemed to get upset at that response, and with strong steps moved closer until he was mere inches from the other; their chests clashing and defiant eyes set against vapid ones of emotion whatsoever. “I had to attack them.” He grabbed the collar of the taller one's tunic with his fist, revealing how furious and emotionally affected he was. “Both of them.” Angrily he looked the taller one in the eye, noticing, at the last statement, a certain gleam he couldn't quite decipher in the other's yellow orbs.

It was a while before the soccerer answered, but when he did it was not what Toya expected. “So?” He wondered now with a hollow, dark look in his eyes. “They didn't seem too against giving you” With one of his hands he pointed to Toya's chest, pressing hard on the place where the heart would meet“ all those strikes.”

The statement stunned Toya for a moment, but it didn't take him long to respond “They didn't recognize me.” He said quickly; trying to convince the other, but also himself, that it had been a misunderstanding.

“If they had would it have made any difference?” Rui didn't waste a second in replying with a cynical smile. “They are the empire's heroes; the Sovereign's chosen ones.” He grabbed Toya's fist that was still clutching at the collar of his tunic, and shook it away from him forcefully. “And we just are the shrewd organization they are trying to wipe out.” Toya dropped his arms to his sides, still and watching the taller one silently. “With that in mind, do you really think it would change anything?”

Doubt began to creep into Toya's gray irises, but he tried to keep his poise, and answered as best he could.

“No- Yes- Akito would never-”

The memory of those lips whispering his name so fucking close to him after so many years apart made his heart pound, and he closed his eyes, trying to remember how good it felt to see those eyes he missed so much again.

“You know how Akito is, he would never hesitate to prove that he is the best; the strongest.” Rui kept trying to put an end to Toya's speech, being fully aware that although his words were having an effect, the memory of a certain boy kept the blue-haired boy from giving his all.

“But Tsukasa-” And that was the last straw for the sorcerer.

Rui felt his lungs fill with air, and his shoulders tighten; a clear indication of the anger that was cultivating in his chest.

“Enough, Toya.” His voice boomed through the four walls of the wide room, silencing any complaints coming from the younger boy. "No. They're all dirtbags. Every damn one of them abandoned us, and you know it all too well." His eyes flashed with mockery, but also with cynicism and a hint of pain so deep it was even almost imperceptible to sense.

"Engrave it in that thick head of yours at once. We're worthless to those riff-raffs."

The sudden explosion of emotions in the elder caused Toya to fall silent, not knowing what to say, or what to do, nor where to go.

“...”

Rui, seeing that, sighed defeatedly.

“Go tend to those wounds, we'll talk later.”

His words left no room for further debate, so Toya, defeated as well, had no choice but to walk out the door, closing it behind him to sigh and then walk towards his room with a conflicted look on his face.

Rui, for his part, was left alone in the room.

He made his way to his large desk chair, and roughly pushing aside the inventions on top of it he left an empty space to rest his elbows on as he sat down. Once in the chair, he dropped his head against his hands in a truly dejected pose.

[ ⟡ ]

“He just needs a little rest, the bleeding has not been severe, although he may wake up a little distorted from the blow.” The nurse's voice conveyed a much-needed reassurance within the four walls of the palace infirmary.

The woman was standing next to the gurney where Akito lay, resting asleep with his head bandaged from one of the wounds he received in the fight. The infirmary was dimly lit thanks to the rays of light coming through the window, and its interior was made up of four large white walls and rows of stretchers placed side by side.

While the youngest rested, Mizuki and Tsukasa were sitting at the foot of the stretcher in silence. Shiho had left a few minutes ago along with her sister and although they seemed calm, some tension could be perceived in the atmosphere.

After a few seconds they exchanged a few quiet words with each other and said goodbye to the nurse as she left.

“Luckily it was nothing serious.” Mizuki commented, with a relieved expression.

Tsukasa nodded, though he remained staring at the piece of paper in his hands with a serious and thoughtful expression. There was tension in his silence, until he finally spoke.

“Everything has a reason, even accidents” Was all he said, with a thoughtful look on his face and his mind set on the message in his hands.

He let out a sigh and sat up a little in the chair still with his eyes focused on the piece of paper.

“The Sovereign wants to see me, but I can't leave Akito alone, he hasn't woken up yet.” He said with a tired tone. It was clear that he didn't want to leave his friend injured, but the Sovereign's call was not to be ignored under any circumstances, and Tsukasa knew that better than anyone else.

He tried to hide his inner doubt, as his duty as a leader and future heir always came first, and he was trained not to show any weakness. So even as he felt the need to stay by his friend's side gnawing at his chest, he masked his emotions with a serious demeanor.

As he rose from his seat Mizuki followed his movements with her gaze, but Tsukasa at no time turned around, even when Mizuki called out to him.

“Akito is unconscious and with a head wound, the Sovereign can wait until he wakes up.” The sudden situation and change of attitude in the blond puzzled Mizuki, as he seemed to care more about the monarch's word than his friend's condition.

His actions were contradicting, and Mizuki could not understand him.

“No. The Sovereign should never be kept waiting.”

And the answer she got was not the one she wanted to hear, but somehow the one she expected it.

Watching the older boy walk out the door she frowned, then turned her gaze to Akito's relaxed features.

“There might be people who thinks you overreact when you get angry with Tsukasa, but I have to admit that I've come to hate the dynamic those two have too, Akito.”

[ ⟡ ]

The Sovereign's office, as always, was well lit and decorated with elegance and good taste. Expensive furniture lined the room, and exquisite paintings subtly embellished the bare walls. There was no possible reverberation in that room, for it was crowded with things, but still the shrill, dry sound of a slap echoed through the room.

Following the impact; the silence was shattered by a broken gasp coming from one of the two people in the room.

Tsukasa tried to control the urge to bring his hand to his cheek, but the pain made him frown and he stopped himself.

He knew that if he showed even a hint of weakness, the Sovereign would waste no time in making him feel the same pain over and over again until he knew how to control his expressions.

A faint rivulet of blood began to trickle from his nose, but he endured it with pursed lips.

Silence once again reigned in the room; it was deafening, but the Sovereign was not about to show mercy. Still, he allowed himself to relax his gesture into a neutral expression.

“Do you understand as to why I hit you?” Tsukasa remained silent for a moment with a blank stare, but it didn't take long for him to nod his head.

The Sovereign walked in circles around Tsukasa leaning on his staff.

“Tell me, then.”

“…” The cheek was still throbbing with pain, and Tsukasa was aware that it would leave a rather large mark.

But he didn't think much of it, and, instead, simply replied to Sovereign in a weak tone of voice.

“Because the Sovereign should never be kept waiting.”

The Sovereign let out a light chuckle at Tsukasa's response, pleased with his obedience and the respect he felt for him.

He couldn't help but sketch a smile as he mused; “Well said, my boy.”

His words were softer than before, and a glimmer of approval shone in his eyes.

Tsukasa only remained silent, as he had always done since entering the palace and receiving his first punishment; accepting the monarch's words without complaint.

Because, after all, that's what good boys did.

[ ⟡ ]