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Shinkoku, a country located in the northwest of Valeria, shares a border with its ally through a vast mountain range. This chain of mountains rises from a beach on Shinkoku territory and stretches all the way to a hillside near Valeria's coast, separating both realms with a natural wall born by the sea.
Near that border, hidden among the trees that rise a fair distance from the coast and the mountain pass, stands a castle surrounded by a forest of imposing presence, though serene in essence. In that place, an association of individuals is dedicated to studying the many natures of Lysae, its mysteries... and its applications. —Master, our informants sent a hawk with urgent news. The report mentions an incident in Valeria: Aderas was sighted near the Valaryon clan —announced a young man, still trying to calm his breath after rushing in. —Give me the letter. Duart, you were in charge of tracking Aderas. Did you let him slip away again? —said an old man, his voice imposing yet strangely kind. —No, Master. That slippery snake always has too many tricks up his sleeve —replied the young man, still cloaked in shadow. —Indeed... —murmured the elder as he read—. The letter describes exactly what you just mentioned. After his appearance, it seems that boy performed a reverse summoning to mark himself. He even used a Colossus as a distraction against the Valaryon youngsters. Clever... but dangerously reckless, that Aderas —he added, scratching his beard slowly. —Master, the studies you requested to replicate Aderas' method have advanced significantly. It's possible to cancel the summonings... but the preparations still take too long —added the young man who had brought the message. —Then, that's good news. We just need to be ready for the moment he tries to use reverse summoning to escape... and catch him in the act —the old man replied with a faint smile. —Master, I'm ready to depart in search of Aderas —said Duart, still hidden in shadow. —Good... but remember, a cornered animal can be more lethal than ever. Don't let your obsession lead you to death, Duart —the old man replied, tossing him a scroll. —Search near these coordinates. You'll find clues. And I think it's time to remind that decrepit old man from Gulner that he owes me one of those thirty favors… Duart vanished into the shadows, the promise of hunting Aderas burning in his gaze.
Farther to the northwest…
At the heart of the Valaryon clan, the grand master —supreme leader of the clan and instructor to those who now bore the title of great masters— had just received an unexpected letter. His wrinkled fingers carefully unfolded the scroll, and upon seeing the signature, a crooked smile appeared on his face. —Oh, Naoka! So you're still breathing… After all this time without writing, and now you bring this. —He let out a deep laugh, loaded with irony and affection in equal measure—. You always were an irreverent bastard. —Master, the letter seems to have the Kayanatoshi seal. Doesn't that mean it's urgent? —asked his assistant, looking at him seriously. —Possibly, but in the old days it was also used for invitations to ceremonies, banquets, or even to request aid in internal or external wars. Although that old man... Forty years ago, he used to send these letters just to remind me I still owe him thirty favors —said the grand master with a smile, though frowning as he recalled it.
Upon opening the letter, the grand master's seemingly unshakable smile faded with each word he read. The message detailed the recent events and mentioned a secrecy order had been issued to avoid alarming the population. —That old man... seems he still has spies hidden in my clan. Still an irreverent bastard —the grand master muttered, now with a serious face. —What does the letter say, Master Gulner? —asked the assistant. —Naoka is already informed about the incident during the award ceremony. He knows who was responsible. He says he has information, and that someone from his team is in charge of finding the young man who attacked the clan's youth —Gulner responded. —So he's going to send reinforcements to deal with this case, Master? —insisted the assistant. Gulner sighed. —He's demanding the help of four people. He wants them to assist with the investigation, providing information and also effective combat strength —he replied, rubbing his face. —Four? According to Master Kerl, that man he fought wasn't ordinary, but sending four masters… isn't that a bit excessive? —said the assistant, raising a brow while looking at the letter. —They're not asking for four masters… He's asking for Kerl and three of the young ones who fought in that battle —Gulner responded, revealing his face. —I see. What will you do, Master? —asked the assistant. —Summon everyone mentioned in this letter. It's been a while... they must've recovered from their wounds.
The letter listed three names: the apprentices who had faced Aderas' monsters. Darel, Aethen, and Yeroy. The three were summoned to the grand master's study.
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At that very moment, I was training in a sparring match with Keia, who had become my regular partner for honing techniques ever since the incident. —Haaa! —I shouted as I threw a straight punch. She lifted her leg with precision, deflecting my blow with her knee, and with the same momentum launched a Lysae-powered punch. The air around her fist spun like a small vortex before it struck. I took the hit square on and went flying backward, but managed to recover with a roll. I braced with my hands, pushed off, and landed on my feet with a flip. —Keia, you're going easy. What's wrong? —I asked, holding my stomach. —Someone's watching us... right behind you. I swear I saw him signal —she said, not taking her eyes off the spot. I turned around. In the distance, I could make out someone familiar, but he was too far to see his face clearly. —Looks like someone from the top… wanna check if he's here for us? —I said, still catching my breath. We leapt at once, straight toward him. It was a flashy jump —totally gave us away— and the guy flinched as we landed near him so fast. —Seems that battle you had bore great fruit —he said—. The battlefield changes you. It wasn't planned, but you've both become incredible. Ah, beautiful. That kind of phrase is music to my ears. I straightened my hair a bit —which must've been a mess— and raised an eyebrow with a half-smile. —Really? Glad someone noticed —I said, crossing my arms with fake modesty. A closer look and I realized it was the grand master's assistant, Sunsel. He was holding a book in his left hand. —Master Sunsel? What are you doing here? —asked Keia, surprised. We'd never seen him away from the master. —I'm here for you, Yeroy. The master wants to see you. Seems he has a mission for you —he said in his usual serious tone. —Alright, I'll go right away —I answered, ego fully satisfied. Keia punched my shoulder and said, letting out a cheeky laugh: —Shameless bastard! You should really rein in that ego… —What ego? I'm a genius, come on, you know it well, jade eyes —I said with a wide grin.
When I got to the grand master's complex, I found Aethen and Darel, who also seemed to have been summoned like me. —Any idea why they called us? —I asked, raising an eyebrow. —No. Looks like the masters have something to discuss with us… as if all those questions that day weren't enough —Aethen replied, leaning against a column, frowning. —No need to get worked up. They'll tell us when we get there —said Darel, eyes closed and arms crossed.
We waited a few moments until they told us we could enter the master's office. Finally, Master Sunsel approached and told us to go in, but stopped Keia before she could take a step. —You can't go in. This mission comes directly from the grand master —he said seriously. Of course, that explained everything. The grand master never handed out missions personally. If he did, it was because it truly mattered… —I'll see you later, jade eyes. I'll tell you everything I can —I said with a small smile. —Jade eyes? Since when are you two so close? —asked Aethen, frowning. —Eh? You think so? —Keia replied, blushing. Why does she blush so easily? —Hurry up, the master is waiting… —interrupted Sunsel, raising a brow.
As we entered, we were struck by the grand master's magnificence: seated at his massive desk, in his oversized chair… Why is everyone in this clan so full of themselves? They all want to show off. Like that bald guy Kerl... —Old man, isn't that desk a bit too big for you? Do you use scrolls so long you need something that absurd? —I asked with my best annoyed face. —W-what!? How dare you talk to the grand master like that…? —Sunsel said, his face terrifying. —Relax, Sunsel. His question only shows his curiosity about the desk, no need to overreact —replied the grand master, waving his hand. —Sharp old man… —I muttered under my breath.
The grand master stood up with a speed that surpassed even Kerl's. Time seemed to freeze for him… then he smacked me on the head so hard he almost buried me in the floor. Then, he sat back down with the same imperceptible speed. —I think I heard a mosquito buzzing… and I squashed it. Don't worry —he said with an innocent smile.
After that incident —which left a ringing in my ear from all the chatter— the grandmaster began to explain. He spoke of a letter that had arrived from Shinkoku, with information about Aderas, and mentioned they needed people who had already fought him… and were still alive.
So that bastard kills everyone he fights… What would've happened if those two masters hadn't arrived after Kalesh's sacrifice? I don't even want to imagine it...
—But master, while I understand the situation, we already gave all the information we had on Aderas. Why do we have to go there? It makes no sense —said Darel with a worried look. Seems like he doesn't want to keep losing people he cares about...
—Because the letter states that you three must go, along with Master Kerl. The master of Enomora Castle is highly influential and one of the most powerful in all Shinkoku. You don't have to worry. I cannot refuse such requests just because I don't want you to go. Sadly, my position doesn't allow me that —answered Master Gulner.
—Darel, if you don't want to go, don't. Aethen and I can go on our own and take that bastard down —I said, the courage already showing in my voice.
—You're an impulsive idiot. I'm not saying I don't want to go, I'm asking why us —Darel replied, sighing with his eyes closed.
I glared at him. He seemed traumatized by Kalesh's death… though I can't blame him. I'm a bit messed up about it too.
—Alright, boys, the decision's been made. Go get ready, you leave in two days. Let your parents know, but don't let this leave anyone's lips, okay? —said Master Sunsel.
—Wait! —shouted Keia, bursting in through a window.
Had she been listening from there the whole time? What a wild girl!
—I want to go, Grandmaster! I also survived the battle, I have the right to go with them...
—And why would that be reason enough to let you go? —asked the grandmaster.
—Girl! I told you to stay outside. Why are you eavesdropping through windows?
—She's been hanging there since the beginning. Sunsel, seems I've been negligent in your training... —the grandmaster responded with a sigh.
—I... —muttered Keia, head down.
—Master, I support her coming with us —Aethen said immediately.
—I support it too, master. She's a great asset with the technique she's developing as an amplifier —I added.
—You two don't get a say! She— —Sunsel was abruptly cut off by the grandmaster's hand, who with a simple gesture said:
—Let her come. If she wants to go, it's because she's worried… this is why you don't have a wife, Sunsel —the master added with a dry smile.
—Thank you, master! —Keia exclaimed, on the verge of tears.
And with that, the group was formed. The mission details would be given to us on the day of departure.
A new cycle, a new tomorrow... an unexpected journey.
And me? I'm itching to get it started.