Shadows of the Past and the Weight of Truth
The night in the castle was silent, with only the distant sound of rain beating against the windows. The calm hid the tension that Yuzuki carried in his heart. Sitting in a corner of the main hall, he sharpened his sword with precise movements, his expression serious and his gaze distant. The flickering candlelight danced on the metal of the blade, almost as if whispering secrets of forgotten times.
Behind him, Akari, Zeke, and Gotier were talking. They laughed softly, exchanging stories and trying to ease the weight of the cruel reality surrounding them. Their friendship grew, but Yuzuki, oblivious to that moment, seemed distant, isolated in his own thoughts.
He looked at the sword with an almost suffocating intensity.
"How many lives have you taken?" he murmured to himself, feeling the weight of his past choices. For a moment, the blade's gleam reflected faces he could never forget: his family, his clan, and those who had crossed his path only to be erased by his relentless goal.
His thoughts led him to flashbacks of confusing memories, like an incomplete puzzle.
Memories and Shadows
Yuzuki saw hazy images: the Alcali Clan's banner fluttering in the wind, a silver dragon carved in stone, soldiers marching over the bodies of innocents. The cruel laughter of a king beside a hooded demon made him shudder. He saw an ancient book, its pages soaked in darkness. The pact. And then Mao's face appeared, smiling maliciously.
"Who are you really, Yuzuki?" Mao's voice echoed in his mind. "These dreams are your fault, your choices. Don't fool yourself, boy. You know you're here for something much greater."
Yuzuki clenched his fists, trying to drive away the voice, but it was persistent. He knew Mao spoke both truths and lies, and it was hard to tell them apart. There was something in those dreams that seemed important, but fear and guilt clouded his understanding.
"You don't know anything, Mao."
"You don't? Perhaps. But, Yuzuki, the truth always comes out. And when it does, I hope you're ready."
The Secret of the Kugutsus
Yuzuki's mind wandered as he sharpened the sword. He thought of Kugutsu Island and the three main clans that ruled that feared place: the Lead Clan, the Salt Clan, and the Alcali Clan. Each played an essential role in maintaining the world's balance. The Kugutsus were the ultimate hunters of Kanjis, acting to exterminate those who dared challenge the natural order.
The very existence of the kugutsu was a paradox. Created through an ancient ritual, it split its bearer's soul into two beings, giving birth to a demon sharing the same body. Each kugutsu had unique abilities and demanded a deep bond with its host. But the price was high: Kanjis bearing kugutsus rarely lived past fifty, and many succumbed to madness before then.
"They call it balance, but all they do is spread destruction," Yuzuki thought, recalling the horrors of Kugutsu Island.
The inhabitants of Pangeia, on the other hand, tried to replicate the ritual, but without the island's pure knowledge, they resorted to human sacrifices, creating unstable and dangerous demons. These were the Kanjis hunted by the main clans.
The Church of Santa Fe, in turn, was one of the continent's greatest powers. Located in Fe, the religious capital, it was known for using Kanjis as priests and clerics, controlling its followers through sacrificial rituals to obtain kugutsus. This institution was both feared and revered—a blend of faith and oppression that shaped Pangeia.
"All of them," Yuzuki murmured to himself, "Kugutsus, Kanjis, the Island… they are no better than those they claim to fight."
Salem – The Core of Cruelty
Zeke, Akari, and Gotier continued their conversation, but the name Salem caught Yuzuki's attention. He raised his gaze, watching his friends. Salem was a city marked by cruelty, a place where slaves were treated as merchandise, prostitutes were exploited without mercy, and murders were as common as the rain outside.
"They have something we need," Gotier remarked thoughtfully. "The information network in Salem is unmatched. The Hunter is there, and he can help us."
"If you pay the price," Akari added. "Nothing is free in Salem."
Yuzuki remained silent, but he knew the visit to Salem was inevitable. Alkaraz was there. He had to face him, but that also meant exposing truths he preferred to keep buried. He looked at his sword once more, reflecting on the choices that had brought him here.
The Weight of Truth
The rain stopped when Yuzuki finally rose. His friends looked at him, noticing the change in his expression. There was a dark determination in his eyes, a burden he carried alone.
"We need to prepare," he said, his voice firm. "Alkaraz is waiting for us."
"Do you think you can defeat him?" Zeke asked, his tone heavy with concern.
"It doesn't matter what I think. This is something that must be done."
Mao laughed in his mind.
"Oh, this will be fun. I hope you're ready for what you'll discover, Yuzuki."
The protagonist closed his eyes for a moment, trying to silence the demon's voice. He knew the fight against Alkaraz was not only physical. It was a battle against himself, against his past, and against the lies he hid even from his friends. The time of truth was coming, and he wasn't sure if he was ready for it.
"Let's go," he said. "We have a clan leader to capture."
With those words, the group prepared to depart, but Yuzuki knew that journey would change them forever. The line between truth and lies, right and wrong, had never seemed so thin.
Choices and Sacrifices
The rain lashed the castle, making the air even heavier. The cold, damp stone walls echoed the voices of the group gathered in the main hall. Gotier, Zeke, and Akari chatted while Yuzuki, seated near the hearth, gently ran his hand along his sword. His eyes remained fixed on the blade, but his mind was elsewhere.
""Yuzuki, are you all right?"" Gotier asked as he approached.
Yuzuki lifted his gaze, his expression blank but still weighed down by something Gotier couldn't decipher. He took a deep breath before replying.
""Father… could you say a prayer for us?""
The request surprised everyone. Gotier, though taken aback, smiled, feeling genuine joy.
""Of course! A prayer is always welcome, my friend.""
Akari and Zeke exchanged curious glances but joined the priest, who began to utter sacred words.
""Oh, Santa Fe, guide our steps on this shadowed journey. Protect us from the dangers that surround us and strengthen our hearts against the temptation of despair…""
As the words resonated through the hall, Yuzuki closed his eyes. His hand gripped the sword firmly, but his thoughts drifted.
"They trust me. They believe we're in this together. But the truth… they could never bear this burden."
The prayer continued, and the group was immersed in concentration. Akari pressed her hands together in respect while Zeke, eyes closed, murmured low words. Gotier, with calm and solemn voice, concluded the prayer.
""May the light guide us. Amen.""
When Gotier bowed his head, feeling a rare moment of peace, everything changed.
The Blow
Yuzuki rose silently, moving with the precision of a predator. Before anyone could react, he struck Zeke on the head with the hilt of his sword. The young man collapsed to the ground, unconscious.
Akari spun around, eyes wide.
"Yuzuki?! What are you doin—"
Another swift, decisive blow brought her down. Gotier tried to react, but it was already too late. Feeling the impact on his temple, he staggered, but before losing consciousness he looked at Yuzuki, confused.
"Why?" Gotier whispered, barely able to speak.
Yuzuki remained silent. His eyes, now devoid of light, conveyed a profound emptiness, as if all hope had vanished.
"They wouldn't understand. They can't know. This is to protect them."
Farewell
Yuzuki gazed at his fallen friends. The rain outside seemed to mirror the chaos in his mind.
"You're safe here. It's best for everyone."
He turned and walked toward the castle gates. As he stepped through, the storm engulfed him completely. Lightning illuminated the sky, and thunder rolled like war drums. Each step was heavy, but he knew he could not hesitate.
"They think Alkaraz has come for Akari, but the truth… he's here because of me."