On a sunny morning on the island of Orakano, the sky was clear with some white clouds scattered across it, and the market near the beach was crowded with visitors and vendors. In the middle of this lively life, a small wooden ship stopped at the dock, and a fourteen-year-old boy came down from it, with messy blue hair and shiny golden eyes. He was wearing a backpack and had a sword hanging at his waist.
Akio (looking around with childlike excitement):
"Hah! This is my first trip outside Zetara's borders! I came here just to find soufflé! Or maybe for greater things… but soufflé first, then I'll begin my real journey!"
He walked along the beach looking left and right, sometimes approaching a sleeping dog on the dock to sniff it, and sometimes sitting next to a stone statue trying to copy its pose, before whispering:
"This statue understands me."
A man in his twenties passed by carrying a box of fruit. Akio suddenly stopped and asked him very seriously:
Akio:
"Hello, do you know a place that sells soufflé?"
Man (surprised):
"Souff… what?"
Akio (with wide eyes):
"Don't tell me you don't know! It's a masterpiece made of melted chocolate!"
Man (with a nervous smile):
"Umm… try asking someone else…"
Akio (waving his hand carelessly):
"At least you didn't say it's disgusting like the last person I asked in Zetara's capital…"
Akio continued walking while muttering strangely about his feelings when eating soufflé, which made people look at him with mixed expressions of curiosity and suspicion. On the other side of the market, there was a teenage girl walking by the beach, with medium-length black hair and brown eyes. She was carrying a bag of groceries and getting ready to return home, when she noticed that strange boy talking to a statue.
Yoko (to herself):
"What's with this boy?… Is he an actor? Or just another crazy guy who came to the island?"
She kept watching him for a few moments, but suddenly he approached a fountain and sat beside it, then took a piece of bread from his pocket and started chewing it very slowly, then sighed and said aloud:
Akio:
"It's not like soufflé… but it will keep my stomach quiet for now."
Yoko laughed without meaning to, but quickly hid her smile. She stood in front of him and said seriously:
Yoko:
"Hello… do you need help?"
Akio slowly raised his head, then pointed at her as if he had discovered treasure.
Akio:
"Finally! A kind soul in this world!"
Yoko (narrowing her eyes):
"Okay… what do you want?"
Akio:
"A warm soufflé that melts in the mouth."
Yoko (blinking twice):
"Oh… you're serious?"
Yoko sighed and pointed toward the market.
Yoko:
"There's a small café at the end of the market. They say they serve it. It's not far."
Akio stood up immediately, then threw the last piece of bread into his mouth and wiped his hand on his pants.
Akio:
"That's enough. It's time to go! Want to come with me? It would be a great honor."
Yoko (looking surprised and amused at the same time):
"Are you asking me to go with you… to find soufflé?"
Akio (with deadly seriousness):
"All great stories started with silly things. Let's go!"
Yoko (confused):
"What is this kid even saying?"
Yoko began walking beside Akio in silence, glancing at him now and then, trying to understand more about his strange personality. Suddenly, she noticed a sword hanging at his waist, engraved with blue symbols.
Yoko (in a reserved tone):
"Is that… a real sword?"
Akio looked at his waist, then smiled without slowing down.
Akio:
"Yes… it's mine."
Yoko (quietly while watching his face):
"I've never seen anyone carry a sword like that in public. Are you a samurai?"
Akio suddenly stopped and turned toward her, his golden eyes shining with uncontainable excitement.
Akio:
"Oh! You're the first to ask me that question! I'm… on my way to becoming one."
Yoko:
"You mean you're a trainee?"
Akio (looking ahead, his tone more serious now):
"Yes. I trained for several years in my own way, and my dad enrolled me in a samurai school some time ago… but I left it."
Yoko raised her eyebrow with curiosity, then said:
Yoko:
"You left it? Why?"
Akio:
"Because their school was too traditional and boring. I didn't learn much from it, and I'm on my way to becoming stronger than just a trainee in a school like that! That's why I need to train through real battles."
Yoko was silent for a moment, then looked ahead.
Yoko (softly):
"But… isn't a sword a responsibility?"
Akio looked at her, his voice becoming calmer, and his seriousness finally showed:
Akio:
"I don't carry the sword to look strong. I carry it because I know the world doesn't give you time to be weak."
Yoko looked at him silently. For the first time, she felt that behind that loud personality, there was a much deeper layer.
Maybe not clear… but real.
Yoko:
"That's… strange talk for someone chasing a piece of soufflé."
Akio (smiling naturally):
"Even samurai… get hungry sometimes."
She chuckled softly this time—
Not because he was silly, but because he was honest.
After a few minutes, Akio and Yoko reached the door of a small café with glass windows facing the sea.
The place was warm, filled with the smell of chocolate and vanilla.
Akio opened the door casually and excitedly and walked in quickly, then turned and noticed that Yoko was trying to escape.
Akio (suddenly serious):
"Hey, where are you going? We haven't had our soufflé yet!"
Yoko (stopping at the door, flustered):
"I… never said I was staying."
Akio (looking at her in confusion):
"But we're friends… right?"
Yoko (raising an eyebrow):
"We met ten minutes ago… and you don't even know my name!"
Akio stopped for a moment, then raised his finger as if he had been hit by a sudden idea.
Akio (smiling awkwardly):
"Oh, that's right! How stupid of me! My name is Akio. What's yours?"
Yoko (placing her hand on her forehead, tired):
"Yoko…"
Akio (with a sincere smile):
"Yoko! That's a nice name. From now on, you're officially my first friend on Orakano Island!"
Yoko:
"And now, can I go?!"
Akio (suddenly holding her hand gently):
"Not before we share soufflé… it's a sacred ritual in my friendships!"
Yoko (dryly, looking around):
"Is there anyone who can save me?"
They finally entered the café and sat at a small table by the window. A young waiter came, holding a small notebook and pen.
Waiter (smiling):
"Welcome. Are you two on a date? You can order the couple's special."
Yoko's eyes widened and her cheeks turned red, while Akio burst out laughing.
Akio (excitedly and seriously):
"What are you talking about? I just want my soufflé!"
Waiter (awkwardly):
"Oh… okay. Have you ordered before?"
Yoko (mumbling, staring at the table):
"Forgive him… he's an idiot."
Akio (proudly raising his finger):
"I want twenty soufflés!"
There was a moment of silence. Yoko felt extremely embarrassed and shocked by what Akio had just said.
Yoko (in shock, leaning toward him):
"What did you say?!"
Waiter (hesitating):
"You're… joking, right?"
Akio:
"Not at all! I want exactly twenty, please!"
Waiter:
"And… do you have enough money?"
Akio (pointing at Yoko with confidence):
"No, but she does!"
Yoko slowly turned to him with deadly calm, then said sharply:
Yoko:
"What did you just say?!"
Akio (with a nervous smile):
"Just kidding… kind of?"
Akio smiled nervously, trying to ease the tension with another word, but before he could speak, it was too late.
Yoko raised her fist without warning, her face completely calm, and her eyes shining coldly…
Then she punched him straight in the face!
Akio's head flew back slightly, as if time had frozen, then he fell onto the table, frozen.
The waiter stood still, watching what had just happened.
Yoko (coldly while wiping her hand):
"That's how we joke on this island."
Akio stayed still on the table for a few seconds, then suddenly trembled…
He slowly lifted his head, eyes glistening… but not from pain.
From tears.
Akio (with a broken voice):
"Why… why doesn't anyone want to give me soufflé?!"
Then he burst into tears.
Akio:
"I'm hungry… really hungry… all I wanted was a small piece of happiness… with chocolate!!"
He started wiping his nose with his sleeve and cried like a five-year-old child, shaking the table in a weird emotional outburst.
Waiter (whispering to Yoko):
"Is he… really crying?"
Yoko (sighing and putting her hand on her forehead):
"That idiot! I just met him a few minutes ago, and he's already had so many weird crises!"
Suddenly… the café door burst open violently, shaking the nearby tables.
Five messy-looking men entered, led by a young man with blond hair and hazel eyes that sparkled with threat.
Leader (in a loud voice):
"Listen up! Raise your hands and give us everything you've got."
Silence fell, and people began moving in fear.
Waiter (nervously whispering):
"What… what's happening?"
One of the thugs walked straight toward the waiter and pointed a gun at his head.
Thug:
"I said raise your hands!"
The waiter trembled and slowly lifted his hands, while the customers shivered in silence.
The thug started searching his pockets until he reached his wallet. But before he could pull it out, another hand suddenly grabbed his wrist with strong force.
Akio, who had stopped crying completely, was now standing behind him.
His face was calm… but his eyes were burning.
Akio (in a low voice):
"Give it back."
The thug turned sharply, his face growing angrier.
Thug:
"Who do you think you are?! Let go of my hand before I shoot your head off!"
Akio (confidently):
"Try me."
The thug yanked his hand away and took a step back, then raised the gun and pointed it directly at Akio's forehead—and fired!
But Akio vanished from his place in the same instant. He jumped lightly onto the table, and the bullet hit the glass behind him.
Thug (shocked):
"What the…?!"
He fired again, but Akio dodged it too.
In less than a second, Akio was behind him with his hand sparking with lightning.
Akio (in a firm voice):
"I have only one rule…
Those who threaten the weak… get shocked."
Akio formed a small ball of lightning in his palm, but instead of throwing it, he ran it across the handle of his sword at his waist.
The blade lit up with a layer of blue sparks.
Akio (in a low voice while drawing his sword):
"This place isn't a battlefield…
But you picked the wrong place, and the worst person to fight."
The gang leader rushed at him, raising his fist, but Akio slid smoothly along the floor, then swung his sword once—a fast, sharp strike, followed by a flash of lightning.
The leader froze in place and then collapsed to the ground, fully electrocuted with a precise cut in the sleeve of his coat.
Second thug (shouting):
"Grab him!!"
Two more ran at him, but Akio jumped between them, spun quickly, and struck the edge of the table with his sword, causing sparks to fly around.
Then he delivered a sweeping slash that released a wave of lightning, freezing them in place before they collapsed stiffly.
The rest backed off immediately, their bodies shaking.
Akio (lowering his sword and pointing it toward the door):
"If you don't want me to slice your pride into pieces…
Leave.
Now."
The thugs exchanged looks, then ran toward the door screaming in terror.
Akio calmly returned to his place and sheathed his sword, while the sparks slowly faded from its edge.
Waiter (stunned):
"That boy isn't just a kid… he's a real samurai…!"
Yoko (watching him silently, eyes wide):
"A samurai… with golden eyes, and the behavior of a child… what a strange contradiction."
Akio picked up the waiter's wallet from the floor and handed it back quietly.
Yoko (whispering in disbelief):
"You're not just a samurai…
You're skilled, and you use Vakin!"
Akio (turning to her with a calm smile):
"I just don't like it when someone disturbs my meal."
The waiter approached him with trembling hands, then bowed slightly.
Waiter:
"You saved our lives, kid… I owe you.
That's why… you can have twenty soufflés for free!"
Akio (his face lighting up with excitement):
"SOUFFLÉEEEEEEEEEE!!!"
He jumped in joy as if nothing had happened minutes ago.
A few moments later, the waiter came back, hurrying and pushing a cart loaded with plates.
Waiter (with a nervous smile):
"The gentleman's order… twenty soufflés, as promised."
He stopped next to the table and began placing the plates one by one in front of Akio, who almost jumped out of his seat.
Akio (eyes sparkling as if life returned to him):
"Finally… the long-awaited reunion."
Akio sat in an aggressive battle stance, as if facing a fateful duel.
He grabbed the first plate, scooped with a spoon, raised it carefully, then took a bite.
A moment of silence followed.
Then came a long sigh from deep inside him.
Akio (whispering with closed eyes):
"This is the taste of happiness! Yeeees!"
Then the real battle began. Plate after plate, bite after bite, without stopping.
And with each one, he made a different sound of joy and delight!
As for Yoko, she began eating her only plate of soufflé. She tasted a small piece… then stopped.
She looked at Akio, who was sweating from excitement, chocolate smeared on his mouth, and fingers working on four plates at once.
Yoko (softly):
"Is this… normal?"
Then she looked at the waiter standing next to them.
Yoko:
"Have you ever seen someone eat like this before?"
Waiter (whispering while watching the scene):
"This is a first time!"
Akio (without looking):
"If you can't finish your plate, give it to me!"
Yoko (coldly while placing her spoon on the table):
"I haven't even finished half…"
Akio (smiling and speaking with a full mouth):
"Speed-eating soufflé is a true samurai skill!"
Yoko (shaking her head while trying not to laugh, muttering):
"Definitely… you're a samurai of a rare kind."
The day began with laughter…
And ended with a sword.
As for Akio, he didn't know that what he had seen in this first journey was nothing compared to the greater world around him.
The continent of Valoria is not just an ordinary land, but is divided between three great powers that have been in conflict for decades, plus a part not ruled by any authority:
1. The Great Kingdom of Kaji
Made up of three countries, ruled by the Fire King Cyrus.
A majestic and luxurious kingdom, built on absolute power and royal grandeur.
It is home to the noblest figures and families.
2. The Ten States of Valoria
A vast, divided land, all ruled by Emperor Makia, who killed Shogun Shiro and ended the samurai era.
They focus on technological development.
3. The Zetara Empire
A land that rejected progress and technology, clinging to its old traditions.
It's the original land of the samurai in Valoria.
Its people refused to obey either Makia or Cyrus, and live by the law of honor.
Akio was born and raised in this land.
4. The Three Islands (Orakano, Heart, Oraneo)
These islands lie in the middle of Valoria and are not ruled by any of the three powers.
There are no laws there, so crimes and uprisings are common.
No one knew that what began as a simple outing…
Would become the beginning of a path with no return.
To be continued…