The Price of Truth
The forest around the group seemed to grow denser as they advanced. The wind whispered through the leaves like distant voices, creating an atmosphere of tension. Yuzuki led the way, silent as ever, while Akari walked beside him, gripping her newly acquired sword firmly. Zeke and Gotier followed close behind, with Kaien flying low, observing the group intently.
Inside Yuzuki, Mao's presence made itself felt, and his voice echoed like distant thunder in the swordsman's mind.
"Yuzuki, we can solve this girl's mystery," Mao's voice was melancholic but carried an almost predatory interest. "Whatever she's carrying… I can bring it to the surface. But, as always, there's a price."
Yuzuki narrowed his eyes, keeping his face impassive as he walked. He knew Mao offered nothing without second intentions.
"What price, Mao? Be direct."
Mao laughed, a low, unsettling sound. "Simple. She must fight you. Not as training, but a real battle with the intent to kill. Only at the brink of death do true hidden powers emerge. And you know that as well as I do."
Yuzuki stopped abruptly, and the group looked at him, confused.
"Are you all right?" Zeke asked, furrowing his brow.
Yuzuki ignored the question and replied to Mao in his mind. "And if this destroys her? You're playing with lives as if they were chess pieces."
"We are all pieces on a board, Yuzuki. Some simply have more awareness of it than others. Do you want answers or not?" Mao retorted, his voice full of dangerous fascination.
Yuzuki sighed, running his hand along the sword's hilt. He knew Mao was right about one thing: whatever lay inside Akari would not be revealed without confrontation.
The Challenge
When the group stopped to rest in another clearing, Yuzuki approached Akari. His gaze was sharp as a blade, and his posture exuded authority.
"Akari, we need to settle something." His voice cut through the silence, drawing everyone's attention.
Akari frowned, confused. "Settle what?"
"There is something inside you. Something hidden and potentially dangerous to you and to all of us. Mao believes that to bring it to light, you must fight me. Not as training, but as if you were truly trying to kill me."
Silence fell over the group like a stone. Zeke stepped forward, outraged.
"This is insane, Yuzuki! She can barely wield a sword! You want her to fight you to the death? Why?"
Gotier watched in silence, his eyes analyzing every reaction, but Kaien was the first to break it.
"Humans are complicated creatures. But he's not lying. Sometimes what is buried can only be uncovered through pain," the little dragon said, staring at Akari with his bright green eyes. "What do you want to do?"
Akari took a deep breath, hesitating. She looked at Yuzuki, trying to understand the reason behind the request. Finally, she lifted her chin.
"If that is necessary to discover what lies within me… I accept." Her voice trembled slightly, but there was determination in her words.
Zeke exploded. "Are you crazy? This could kill you!"
Akari looked at him, her eyes steady. "I trust Yuzuki. He will not kill me."
Yuzuki gripped the sword's hilt. "This isn't about trust, Akari. If you hesitate, we won't discover anything. You will have to fight with the intent to take my life."
Meditation and Connection
Akari sat at the edge of the clearing, away from the tense gazes of the others. With her eyes closed and her breathing controlled, she sought to surrender to meditation, searching the depths of her being for the lost link to her memories and the spiritual energy that, according to ancient teachings, resided within her.
At first, a fragile calm enveloped her body, and the sounds of nature seemed to whisper ancient secrets in her ears. She tried to focus, journeying through the shadows of her own history. But as she delved deeper into her inner self, an unbearable block arose, like an invisible, impenetrable wall, preventing any glimpse of the memories she sought to recover.
Every attempt revealed only a restless void, a space where energy dispersed before any image or sensation could form. In her mind, dark, disconnected fragments clashed, but none coalesced into a clear memory. It was as if a hidden force were deliberately sealing the doors to her past, keeping its secrets protected even from herself.
For long minutes, Akari remained immersed in this inner battle, her senses overwhelmed by silent frustration. She felt a chilling cold settle in her heart—an unmistakable sign that something deep and disturbing was being repressed. The anguish was so great that, for a brief moment, she considered giving up the search. Yet the determination that burned in her eyes made her resist the temptation to succumb to despair.
When she ended the meditation, Akari stayed seated in silence, absorbing the outcome of that frustrating exercise. Even feeling that the barrier had been premeditated, as if a dark veil protected both herself and some uncertain destiny, she knew that revealing such a limitation to the group could sow fear and insecurity among her companions, weakening their unity for the challenges ahead.
With a contained sigh, she made the silent decision to keep this secret to herself. In her heart, the flame of hope continued to burn—a fierce desire to discover, on her own, the reason for that inexplicable block. But for now, she preferred to shield the group from the unease that revelation would bring.
So, when curious eyes turned to her, seeking signs of change or immediate answers, Akari smiled softly and said only, "I'm fine. I just need some time to understand everything that's happening."
The group, though still uneasy, accepted her words with a mixture of relief and uncertainty. Each silently wondered what truly lay hidden within this young woman whose inner strength seemed both a blessing and a curse.
Meanwhile, in the shadows of the clearing, the mystery remained, and Akari, alone with her thoughts, promised herself she would confront the inner block and gradually uncover the secrets shaping her destiny.
The Combat
The group formed a circle around Akari and Yuzuki. The tension was palpable. Mao, inside Yuzuki's mind, watched with almost childlike delight.
"This is going to be fun. Let's see what she's made of," Mao whispered.
Yuzuki drew his sword, his movements precise and controlled. Akari did the same, her hands trembling slightly as she gripped her blade.
"Remember what I taught you," Yuzuki said before assuming his fighting stance.
Akari nodded, trying to ignore the fear pounding in her chest. When Yuzuki surged forward, she barely had time to react. He moved too fast, and his blade was about to strike her when she instinctively parried.
The clash of steel echoed through the clearing. Akari struggled to keep up with Yuzuki's movements, but something inside her began to awaken. Her breathing steadied, her motions grew fluid. It was as if another force were guiding her.
Mao laughed in Yuzuki's mind. "Yes… it's happening. Keep pressing her."
Yuzuki picked up the pace, attacking with rapid, precise strikes. Akari blocked and dodged, but there was something odd in her posture. Suddenly, her sword glowed faintly, and she unleashed a strike that nearly caught Yuzuki off guard.
Gotier's eyes widened. "This isn't normal. She's being guided by something else."
Zeke narrowed his eyes, muttering to himself. "That's it. There's something inside her."
Akari cried out, lunging at Yuzuki with a ferocity that didn't seem her own. Her movements were nearly flawless, but there was a strange gleam in her eyes. Yuzuki noticed the change and adjusted his stance, blocking her attacks with renewed seriousness.
"Enough!" he shouted, disarming her with a precise blow. Akari's sword clattered to the ground, and she dropped to her knees, gasping for breath.
"What… what was that?" Akari murmured, staring at her trembling hands.
Yuzuki looked at her, his eyes filled with concern. "Something inside you is awakening. But we still don't know what it is."
Mao spoke again, his voice brimming with satisfaction. "Interesting. Very interesting. That was only a glimpse. But I can say one thing for certain: whatever it is, it's not human."
The group fell silent, processing Mao's words. Zeke watched Akari with lingering distrust. Gotier remained quiet, but Kaien stepped forward and placed a paw on Akari's shoulder.
"Are you all right?" the little dragon asked softly.
Akari nodded, still catching her breath. "Yes… but I think things are only beginning."
With those words, the group knew their journey to Chagas would be even more dangerous than they had imagined.
Mao
The wind hissed through the forest as the group remained in absolute silence after the fight. Moonlight, filtered through the treetops, cast dancing shadows that moved like restless specters. Yuzuki cleaned his blade with calm gestures while Akari knelt on the ground, breathing heavily.
Kaien, who until now had kept a safe distance, took two hesitant steps toward Akari. His green eyes shone with an almost supernatural intensity. He opened his mouth, his voice timid and fragile:
"You… are afraid… of what's inside."
Akari looked up at the dragon, surprised. It was the first time he had spoken directly to her. He continued, with an almost childlike caution:
"But fear… is not the enemy. It is a guide."
Yuzuki cast Kaien a brief glance but said nothing. Gotier, however, approached the dragon with a serious expression.
"What did you see, little one? What lies within her?"
Kaien stared into Akari's eyes.
"I don't know… but… it's almost human. And… its energy gave me a morbid feeling."
Those words made the air feel even colder. Gotier clenched his fists and turned to Yuzuki.
"Was that really necessary? Forcing her like that? We're a group, not gladiators!"
Yuzuki sheathed his sword and looked at Gotier with his usual neutral expression.
"Sometimes survival demands a different kind of strength. I can't carry the group alone."
Gotier stepped forward, outraged.
"Forcing someone to fight as if it were life or death is not strength, it's cruelty!"
Before Yuzuki could respond, Mao intervened, his voice echoing like an ironically loaded whisper.
"And what is strength, if not the ability to survive the inevitable?"
Everyone looked toward the source of the voice. Mao's dark mouth manifested behind Yuzuki, watching them with a malicious smile that intimidated everyone.
The group felt uneasy seeing how much Mao could influence Yuzuki.
"Akari, you hesitated. That is your greatest problem. What you carry inside will never hesitate. So either you learn to master it, or it will consume you," Yuzuki said, his gaze compassionate toward Akari.
Zeke finally broke his silence, his grave expression reflecting the weight of what he had sensed during the battle.
"I felt something… inside her. Two auras. They're in conflict. One is… familiar. The other… I don't know what it is, but it's powerful."
The group turned to him, surprised. Mao narrowed his eyes, a gleam of interest crossing his face.
"Two souls in one body? That is rare… and dangerous. Do you know what that means, Zeke?"
Zeke shook his head, but his expression was doubtful. Mao grinned, two eyes appearing above his dark mouth. He looked her over like a predator sizing up its prey.
"We can find out what's inside you, girl. But it comes at a price."
Akari, still catching her breath, stood slowly.
"What price?"
Mao smiled, his eyes shining with a mixture of amusement and threat.
"You will have to fight again. But this time, without hesitation. Without mercy. As if your life depends on it."
"Against whom?" Akari asked, her voice trembling but determined.
Mao pointed at Yuzuki, who raised an eyebrow but said nothing.
"Against him."
Silence fell over the group like a thick fog. Gotier stepped forward, protesting immediately.
"This is madness! Enough fighting!"
Mao ignored Gotier, focusing on Akari.
"Do you accept? Are you willing to risk everything to discover what lies within you?"
Yuzuki crossed his arms, watching Akari closely.
"The decision is yours. But know that, if you accept, I will not go easy."
Akari took a deep breath, her eyes fixed on Yuzuki's.
"I accept."
Mao's smile widened as he drifted away, murmuring to himself,
"Perfect. Manipulating Yuzuki's emotions during the fight will be easy."
Akari's memories and Götier's doubts remain, it is necessary to sacrifice friendship for knowledge, past wounds should not be opened, Akari's gaze says otherwise.