The Dragon's Personality Emerges
On the other side of the camp, the small Tailax dragon approached Yuzuki, who was sitting and sharpening his sword. The dragon, still shy, fell silent for a few seconds before speaking.
"You still haven't chosen my name…" he murmured, looking up at Yuzuki with bright green eyes.
Yuzuki paused for a moment and glanced at the little creature. "Are you in a hurry?"
The dragon hesitated before shaking his head. "No. But… a name defines who I am. I want to be useful. I want… to protect you."
That last sentence made Yuzuki raise an eyebrow. "Protect me, huh? You're small for someone so confident."
"Small now. But not forever." Tailax straightened, trying to appear larger. Gotier, passing by, let out a low laugh.
"He's got courage, I'll admit that. But you should pick a name soon, Yuzuki. It's odd calling him 'dragon.'"
Yuzuki looked at Tailax again, pondering. "Alright… your name will be Kaien. It means 'Flame of Destiny.' It suits you."
The dragon blinked several times, absorbing the meaning. Then he cocked his head in satisfaction. "Kaien… I like it."
Akari, overhearing the conversation, smiled. "That's a strong name. I think he'll live up to it."
As the camp began to quiet down, Gotier brought out the map again. He pointed to the outer margins of Chagas, where ghettos and slums encircled the wealthy core controlled by the Church of the Holy Faith.
"We'll need intel before we enter the city proper," he said, circling an area on the map. "Here, in the outskirts, live merchants, smugglers, and desperate people. Someone will know something about Mr. Kitty."
Zeke, still distracted by thoughts of Akari, crossed his arms. "What if we run into trouble before we even get inside?"
"Trouble comes with the package," Gotier replied curtly. "But we must be discreet. This city is a nest of religious fanatics and the Lepra King's lackeys. One tip to the authorities and it could mean our deaths."
Mao, inside Yuzuki's mind, interjected with an ironic tone: "I love the idea of sneaking into a den of fanatics. Makes it easier to stir up chaos."
Yuzuki ignored Mao, focusing on the plan. "We'll go in without drawing attention. First, we find someone who knows about the Church. Then we decide our next move."
Zeke approached Yuzuki as he gathered the weapons.
"We need to talk," he said, serious.
Yuzuki looked at him, intrigued. "About what?"
"About Akari." Zeke hesitated, but continued. "There's something about her… something not normal. I feel two distinct auras coming from her."
Yuzuki was silent for a moment, processing Zeke's words. Finally he replied in a low voice, "I know…"
"What!? And what are we going to do?" Zeke asked anxiously.
Yuzuki looked over at Akari, who was helping Gotier organize the group's equipment. "For now, nothing. But we'll stay alert. If she really has a Kugutsu, we'll find out sooner or later."
A Forced Pause
When the wind began to grow stronger, Gotier suggested they set up a new camp to rest before facing the next day.
"There's no point arriving in Chagas exhausted," he said as he searched for a suitable spot. "We need to stay alert."
They found a small grove sheltered by rocks that blocked much of the biting wind. While Gotier and Zeke pitched makeshift tents, Yuzuki decided to train again—this time alone. He wanted to test the sword Amok had chosen. The black blade seemed to vibrate in his hand, almost as if it were alive.
Amok appeared at his side, emerging from the shadows like a specter.
"Do you feel it?" Amok asked, eyeing the sword with a critical gaze. "There's something in this blade. Something ancient."
Yuzuki spun the sword through the air, sensing unusual resistance. It was as though the blade were drawing something from him, amplifying his presence.
"Did you know this when you chose it?"
"Of course I did." Amok smiled, a malicious glint in his eyes. "But not everything can be explained. Sometimes you must experience it to understand."
Yuzuki narrowed his eyes and focused. He realized then that his connection to Mao had grown stronger. The sword felt like a channel between him and the kugutsu, allowing energy to flow with less strain. With a single thought, he understood that he could access greater power than before, without the usual exhaustion.
"This blade… it lessens the effort needed to use Mao's power," he murmured.
"Not only that," Amok added, folding his arms. "It was forged to streamline kugutsu energy to its wielder. But be careful. The more power you draw, the easier it is to lose control."
Yuzuki studied the blade for a few more seconds before sheathing it. "I hope your curiosity doesn't get us killed."
Gotier's Revelation
That evening, as the group dined around a makeshift fire, Gotier finally spoke more about Chagas. He spread the map on the ground and pointed to the city center.
"The Cathedral of the Holy Faith dominates the skyline. It's where they centralize operations—and where Mr. Kitty likely passed through. If we want to find him, that's our starting point."
"And how do we infiltrate a fortress full of religious fanatics?" Zeke asked, crossing his arms.
"There is another entrance," Gotier replied, a gleam in his eye. "An underground tunnel linking the black market to the cathedral's basement. It's risky, but it's our only chance to avoid drawing attention."
"Why would such a tunnel exist?" Akari asked, curious.
"Corruption, of course." Gotier shrugged. "Even the most devout need contraband sometimes."
Yuzuki remained silent, studying the map intently. He finally spoke in a low, measured tone. "We go in through the tunnel, but we need information before we risk it. The black market will be our first destination."
Kaien, curled up near the fire, raised his head. "And if it's a trap?"
"Then we do what we always do. We survive." Yuzuki replied coldly.
As everyone prepared for sleep, Yuzuki watched Akari from afar, his thoughts heavy. He knew something was wrong but wasn't sure how to address it. Amok appeared at his side, as silent as ever.
"Are you worried about her?" Amok asked.
"No. I'm worried about what it might mean for the group." Yuzuki answered.
Amok offered an enigmatic smile. "No drama—you can kill her easily if she loses control."
Yuzuki shot him a hard look but said nothing. The new sword hung at his waist, promising greater power and greater risk. And as the firelight danced across the camp, he couldn't shake the feeling that something was about to change—something that could determine all their fates.
When the sun began to rise on the horizon, the group stirred. The cold still lingered, but the golden morning light brought a slight comfort.
Yuzuki rose early, sword in hand. He approached Akari, who was finishing securing her training attire.
"Are you ready?" he asked.
She nodded, determination on her face. "Always."
They stepped away from the camp toward a clearing by the stream. The sound of rushing water filled the air as Yuzuki adjusted his stance, gripping the sword firmly.
"The secret to swordsmanship isn't brute strength—it's precision. Don't waste your movements," he explained, demonstrating a fluid strike.
Akari tried to mimic him but her execution was stiff. Yuzuki shook his head. "Relax your shoulders. Let the blade flow as an extension of your body."
As minutes passed, Akari improved—her strikes becoming smoother and more controlled. Amok, watching from a nearby shadow, made a sarcastic comment:
"She has potential, but she lacks a killer instinct."
Yuzuki frowned at him. "That's not what she needs to learn now."
Amok simply smiled and drifted back into the shadows, observing from afar.
Echoes of the Unknown
The nighttime silence was broken only by the sound of the stream and the soft rustling of the trees swaying in the wind. Zeke stood for a long time, his eyes fixed on the campfire as thoughts of Akari and the auras he sensed swirled in his mind.
Kaien, lying near the fire, lifted his head and watched him. "You're worried. Is it because of the girl?" he asked in his gentle, hesitant voice.
Zeke looked at the little dragon and nodded. "Yes, but it's not something I can resolve easily. There's something inside her… or perhaps bound to her. It's not normal."
Kaien tilted his head, curious. "Maybe she doesn't know she's carrying something. Or… maybe she's hiding it from herself. Humans have a strange ability to ignore important things, right?"
Zeke said nothing, but the dragon's words echoed in his mind. He knew Kaien was right. Perhaps Akari carried a burden she didn't even understand.
Dawn and Decisions
As the sunlight began to rise on the horizon, the group slowly awoke. The air was still cold, and the wind carried the freshness of the nearby stream. Yuzuki was the first to rise, organizing his weapons and checking the equipment. He was focused on training Akari, but he also knew he needed to lead the group with caution.
As Akari tied her new sword's scabbard to her waist, Yuzuki approached her. "Today we'll train more. I want you to master the basic technique before we face any danger in Chagas."
Akari nodded, determination on her face. "Understood. I won't let you down."
Amok, who had remained silent for most of the night, appeared at Yuzuki's side. His presence was still unnerving to some, especially Zeke, who didn't fully trust him. "You're putting a lot of energy into this girl, Yuzuki. I hope she's worth the effort," Amok remarked provocatively.
Yuzuki shot him a cold glance. "She's part of the group. We all need to be prepared. That includes you."
Amok gave an enigmatic smile and vanished again, slipping back into the shadows.
Training and Revelations
In the clearing by the stream, Yuzuki began teaching Akari to execute combinations of attacks and defenses. He watched every movement she made, correcting her stance and adjusting how she held the sword. "Breathe deeply before you strike. Focus on the motion, not the strength. Your blade is an extension of your body," he instructed.
Akari struggled to follow his guidance, but Yuzuki could see that something distracted her. He halted, lowering his sword. "What's bothering you?" he asked directly.
Akari hesitated but finally spoke. "I feel… as if something inside me is awakening. When I fight, sometimes it seems it's not just me. There's a force… something that wants to guide me, but I don't know if I should let it."
Yuzuki frowned. "And when you feel that, is it a sense of control, or does it feel like you're being controlled?"
She shook her head. "I don't know. It's like… familiar, but unknown at the same time."
Before Yuzuki could respond, Zeke, who had been watching from afar, stepped forward. "Maybe it's time we talk about what's really going on here," he said, crossing his arms as he looked at Yuzuki and then at Akari. "Two auras. I feel it every time she fights. Something inside her is awakening, and it might not be good."
Akari looked at him, confused and alarmed. "What do you mean by 'two auras'?"
"I mean you carry more than just a sword and a fighting spirit. There's something in you, Akari. Something that could be dangerous, for us and for you."
Yuzuki intervened, his voice firm. "That changes nothing. If there is something inside her, we'll discover it in time. Until then, she's one of us. No more speculation without proof."
Zeke didn't look convinced, but he nodded reluctantly. "Fine. But stay alert. We don't know what we're facing."
Kaien Shows His Intelligence
While the group was talking, Kaien approached Akari and nudged her with his snout. "Are you worried?"
Akari smiled slightly and scratched his head. "A little. It's strange to think there might be something inside me that I don't know."
Kaien tilted his head, his green eyes shining. "Maybe you should listen to yourself more. Sometimes the answers are there, but you don't hear them."
Gotier, who was nearby the stream gathering herbs, stopped when he heard the dragon speak. "That little one knows more than he seems," he remarked, somewhat impressed.
Kaien turned his snout toward Gotier and raised a draconic eyebrow. "I know many things. I just don't speak all the time because I don't like complicating things like you humans do."
Gotier laughed, but there was a tone of respect in his voice. "All right, little genius. I hope you keep helping."
On the Road to Chagas
With training concluded and the group once more assembled, they began to break camp. Gotier checked the map again, indicating the route they should take.
"Chagas is two days from here if we keep up this pace. We must watch for church patrols. If we're caught, there will be no negotiating."
Yuzuki looked at the group, his expression serious. "Prepare yourselves. This journey will be different. It's not just a city—it's a seat of power for the Church and the Lepra King. We must keep our objectives clear: information on Mr. Kitty and the Church. No distractions."
With that, the group set off, leaving the stream behind and venturing into a dense forest. Tension hung in the air, but each of them knew that the road to Chagas would deliver more than answers—it would bring challenges that could change everything.