After Kai had enough time to ponder Val's request, he decided it was best to go to bed. He needed to be up on time tomorrow, especially since their meeting was set for nightfall. He didn't want to seem indifferent to it, though, and he knew that he had to be there on time. There was something important he had to tell Lai, something about the paper Val had given him. He also needed to explain that he would be leaving the Capital for a while, but he made it clear to himself that he didn't want to be gone long. As soon as he could, he would return to the Capital.
That night, for the first time in a while, he lay down with a smile, letting the warmth of his thoughts guide him into sleep. But as sleep took hold of him, his mind began to twist. He was pulled into a vivid hallucination—a strange vision. In the meadow, he saw a figure with no face but a familiar body. The figure was sitting beside him, and it seemed to be crying. But why? Why would such a human-like figure cry? He had never seen anything like it before.
The vision lingered, haunting him.
Suddenly, the next morning, he shot up from his bed in a rush, nearly falling over and knocking the bookshelf beside him. His heart raced, confusion clouding his thoughts.
"What the hell was that? Was I just dreaming? Shit, I don't remember any of it."
He took a few moments to steady himself before shaking off the unsettling feeling. He had things to do. With a sigh, Kai started to prepare for the day. He strapped his sword to his waist, slipped on his cloak, and decided to spend some of his hard-earned money on something new. Maybe a fresh accessory to complete the look. He was ready to head out, but the memory of the strange hallucination still lingered at the back of his mind, pushing him to hurry. There was no time to waste.
As always, Kai exchanged his thanks with Mr. Rift before stepping out of the inn, feeling the bustling atmosphere of the Capital. The streets were packed with people, as usual. The real hustle and bustle, though, was over on the other side where the shops lined the streets, drawing people in with their vibrant displays. The Capital itself was divided into four distinct districts, each with its own atmosphere.
The Silver Row District was the heartbeat of commerce—guilds, inns, taverns, and docks all crowded together, making it a lively place to be. The Goldcrest District, on the other hand, was reserved for nobility. Luxurious gardens, grand manors, and towering administrative buildings painted a picture of wealth and power. It was also home to the king's castle and the temples of the divinity. Then, there was the Mudside and Red Light District, a more chaotic and gritty area. The common folk lived here, and during the day, it was a mix of schools and workshops, but at night, the alleyways came alive with red lights, brothels, and streetwalkers. Finally, the Black Hollow District was the most dangerous of them all—slums, black markets, and hidden organizations ruled these cursed lands, and no one dared to venture in.
As Kai approached the shops in Silver Row, he was immediately struck by the sheer variety of goods on display. The abundance of items felt overwhelming, but there was one thing that caught his eye—food. A sign showcasing what appeared to be chicken made his stomach rumble. He almost bought some, but quickly reminded himself of his priorities—he still had to save for the inn and purchase the necessary items for his journey to Duke Town of Tersina.
He browsed through the shop, finally picking up a compass and a map—tools essential for his upcoming travels. The map seemed to follow some of the rules of his world, which was both surprising and reassuring. As he paid for the items, his eyes wandered, seeking something else to pique his interest. And then, luck struck.
"A tattoo shop?" Kai muttered under his breath, a curious gleam in his eye. He walked toward the shop, deciding to check it out. The moment he stepped inside, all four people in the shop turned to look at him. One of them, a woman behind the front desk, spoke first.
"Absolutely, Skinwalker."
Kai's face flushed with embarrassment. He hadn't expected his name and face to spread so quickly. Apparently, his earlier display at the guild had made quite the impression. Another voice chimed in, "Your name's already reached the king. Word's been spreading that you caused a big ruckus and knocked out a mercenary. Good news is, they only know your name, not your face."
Relief flooded over him, though he couldn't help but feel a twinge of guilt for causing trouble. Still, he was thankful the king didn't have his face on record. Who knew what kind of punishment could befall him for his actions? But for now, he was focused on one thing—getting a tattoo.
The lady behind the desk showed him a range of designs, but also mentioned that he could get a custom tattoo if he was willing to pay extra. It would cost him 5 silver, but Kai didn't hesitate. He wasn't worried about the cost; he just wanted to get some ink on his arm. After browsing the designs, he settled on one that would cover his entire right arm.
A storm dragon, twisting and coiling from his wrist to his shoulder, with blue shades lining its scales. The dragon's mouth was positioned on the palm of his hand, making the design even more unique. The dragon would wrap around his arm, leaving only a small amount of skin exposed. In his past life, he would never have dared to get a tattoo—ink was frowned upon in Japan, and he knew the stares and judgments that came with it. But here, in this new world, tattoos were common. People wore them proudly, and no one batted an eye.
Kai felt a sense of relief. Here, he could break free from the old rules that had bound him in his previous life. In this world, he could be whoever he wanted to be, and if that meant embracing the art of tattoos, so be it. His body would be a canvas, reflecting the person he was becoming.
As the tattoo artist prepared the needles and ink, Kai leaned back in the chair, ready for what was to come. This was his first step into fully embracing his new life in this world—a life where he could leave his past behind and build his future.
The tattooing process was far different from what Kai had imagined. As the artists worked, they used magic to lift the ink directly from the ink barrel, carefully manipulating it with their hands and letting it float effortlessly before being burned onto his skin. The engraving process stung, but it was brief, and soon enough, the pain subsided. He watched as the dragon design took shape, his entire right arm covered in the winding image of the storm dragon.
For reasons he couldn't fully explain, he decided to name it Zephyrax. It felt right, even if it was a bit odd. He wasn't going to change it; the name seemed to resonate with something deep inside him.
As the process finished, his mind wandered, and an odd question surfaced. How do I have magic? he thought. I'm not from this world, so how am I able to use magic? It didn't make sense to him. He wasn't born here—he was just a regular person from a different world, yet here he was, using powers that seemed far beyond anything he could comprehend.
Curious, he asked the artist who had done his ink, "Hey, do my blood vessels act like magic circuits? I don't really get how all this works. And how were you able to lift the ink? Was it a skill or something?"
The woman paused, taken aback by his question. She clearly didn't expect someone as famous as him to not know the basics of how magic worked. Before she could respond, a man who had been quietly sitting next to them stepped in, sensing her confusion.
"Well, you see, Skinwalker," he started, "your heart is your core for everything. Meaning, it holds your mana. Since your heart constantly pumps blood, the mana flows through your body with it. That makes our blood vessels like mana circuits. So, yes, you're correct about that." He continued, his voice more relaxed. "As for the floating ink magic, it's all about imagination. You need to imagine your mana flowing through your fingers, picking things up as you will it. But be careful—you can only use so much mana before your body starts to break down. If you overdo it, you'll pass out."
Kai's mind raced as he absorbed the explanation. The idea that his body had mana coursing through it made sense, especially with the way his powers had manifested. The idea that his heart was the core of everything—his core of magic—was both thrilling and daunting. The magic of this world was a part of him, just as much as his heartbeat. He realized this was just the beginning of his potential. He couldn't help but feel excited by the possibilities.
He didn't let his excitement show, though. Grabbing his belongings, he quickly paid them and left the shop with a burst of speed, his thoughts already racing ahead of him. His new tattoo, Zephyrax, felt like a symbol of his new path. As he dashed through the streets, eager to test the magic for himself, he noticed the sun starting to dip beneath the horizon.
He had lost track of time, absorbed in his new discovery. With a quick glance at his compass and map, Kai remembered what he had to do. The meet-up at the meadows. Though his timing was a bit off, and he had arrived later than planned, he wasn't going to miss it.
He made his way to the inn, storing his map and compass safely in his bag before heading out into the night. The meadows weren't far, but the feeling of anticipation made the walk feel longer. He wasn't accustomed to real-life meetings like this, and the slight anxiety tugged at his chest. But he would make it. He had to. After everything that had happened, this meeting was something he couldn't afford to miss.
As the night settled in, the moon casting a soft light over the meadows, Kai realized that with every step he took, his world was shifting beneath his feet. And for the first time, he was eager to see what came next.
"Did you wait long?" Kai asked between breaths, jogging up to where Lai sat in the soft meadow grass.
"Yes, I did wait long, brat. You're five minutes late," she replied with a smirk, clearly teasing.
"Cut the stupid comments," Kai huffed, flopping down beside her. "I came as fast as I could—it's not like I was loafing around."
Lai giggled and gently patted the spot beside her. "Sit, sit. I have something to tell you."
Kai blinked. "Wait, I've got something to tell you too."
"Then you go first," Lai said, folding her hands on her lap.
He wanted to refuse, to delay it just a bit longer, but the way she looked at him made it impossible. With a heavy exhale and clear hesitation, he confessed, "I have to leave the Capital, Lai... I won't be around for a while. I'm heading to the Duke Town of Tersina—it's a request from Val... I mean, a close friend. But I promise I'll be back soon, okay? I pro—"
Before he could finish, Lai reached out and placed her fingers softly against his lips, silencing him with a quiet, understanding touch. Her expression dimmed with sorrow, and she leaned gently on his shoulder, her head settling there with grace.
"Kai... I get it. And no, I won't beat you up for not staying. But…" Her voice dropped. "We won't see each other for days. Maybe months. Not because I'm sick of your dumb face, but because of the hero summoning. We're bringing people from another world."
Kai's brows knitted. "Hero summoning?"
Lai nodded against his shoulder. "To save humanity from the Demon King—the one who controls demons and kills for sport. I've been assigned to train the knights who will protect the heroes. I won't be allowed to leave their side… It won't be my choice anymore. I'm afraid I'll forget who I am."
As her voice began to tremble, Kai covered her mouth gently and whispered, "Listen."
The meadow fell silent—nothing but the soft, swaying wind, brushing through the grass like a lullaby. He stroked her head softly.
"You're thinking too much again. No matter how old someone gets, there's always a child inside. If you can't find comfort in yourself, then let me be your comfort. I'll be your place to rest, your joy, your peace. I'm not here to judge you—I'm here to see you smile, even when the world makes it hard. So stop overthinking, you dipshit," he said, resting his head atop hers. "And no matter how much I insult you… I still care about you. A lot."
Lai said nothing.
Kai tilted his head to check on her and panicked a little. Tears streamed down her cheeks like a river.
"H-Hey! Don't cry! You don't need to cry, really!" he blurted, fumbling for words.
But she looked up at him, tears glistening, and smiled.
She's crying and smiling? What kind of chaos is this? he thought, stunned.
Then it struck him—a fierce jolt of déjà vu. That faceless figure in his dream, the one sitting in the meadow, crying beside him—it had been Lai all along.
"You better be there when I need you most, brat!" Lai said with fire in her voice, standing tall even as tears continued to fall.
Kai smiled and patted the ground. "Sit down. Look up. Let it all go for now."
She obeyed, wiping away the last of her tears as she lay beside him, gazing at the night sky where three moons hung like guardians above, stars scattered like glittering dreams.
"Kai," she whispered, "I wish to give you the sky."
"The sky?" he blinked, confused. "What does that mean?"
She laughed gently, rolling a little further away from him. "It's a secret. One I'll keep… until it's yours to hold."