As Kiato's eyes drooped, a triumphant smile spread across his face.
"Yahh, I finally did it,"
he drawled, before succumbing to unconsciousness. Merlin, who had been sleeping nearby, fluttered over to rest on his chest.
Later at midnight in veil a beyond reality, Kiato found himself standing amidst a vast expanse of isolated mountains. The air pulsed with an otherworldly aura, distinct from any he had ever encountered. "Where am I?" he murmured, his confusion deepening as he realized Merlin was nowhere around
A thunderous voice boomed through the landscape, echoing off the mountains. "Kiato..."
Kiato's instincts kicked in, and he formed a bow and arrow with his aura, scanning his surroundings with a mix of caution and curiosity.
"Who's there?" he warned, his voice firm.
The voice replied, "I mean no harm to you, my son. Drop that fragile weapon of yours, and let me show you a real weapon."
Kiato hesitated lowering his guard and sensing a familiar resonance in the voice, but unsure of its origin.
A frozen path materialized before him, leading to a distant mountain. As he walked along the path drawing closer to his destination, the mountain's majesty unfolded, its peak aflame with a fiery intensity that seemed to rival the sun itself. The base, however, was a frozen citadel, its regular shapes suggesting the hand of a master craftsman.
Within the mountain, Kiato discovered a cave entrance, and as he poured out his aura to illuminate his surroundings, he spotted markings on the walls that seemed familiar, yet elusive. He slowly emerged at the center of the mountain, It was shaped like a cone with thick air all around the surroundings the mountain revealed a sword at it center which was partly buried into the ground, it's silver surface reflecting rays of light, its sides sharp and untouchable.
The voice echoed once more,
"I have kept this sword here for you for a long time now. Its strength powers the whole of this mountain, giving it its distinct temperature. Every sword has its sprite, and this one's name is Kakuriyukimaru, possessing the ability to rise and fall temperature and capable of everything within temperature's reach."
Kiato approached the sword, noticing a familiar marking on its hilt. Despite his efforts to pull it out, the sword wouldn't budge.
"You'll need a lot of aura to pull that out,"
the voice cautioned.
"I'm not sure you have that much, but let me lend you some. Under the condition that you wouldn't look back."
Kiato fixed his gaze at the sword and gave a knood in agreement.
A massive dragon materialized behind Kiato, its pale blue skin and sharp golden eyes gleaming in the dim light and layed its long tail on kiato's shoulder passing arua from itself to kiato. As Kiato pulled the sword, the mountain began to collapse, and the sword finally yielded to his efforts. "Kakuriyukimaru!" he roared, the sound echoing through the realm.
Reality
Kiato's eyes snapped open jumping up from the his sleep, and he found himself in the forest, Merlin stood beside him trying to regain her balance.
"What was that about, and who is Kakuriyukimaru?"
she asked, her voice laced with anger and curiosity.
But kiato gave no answer, picking merlin by her tail he headed for the kenji's residence.
Dining hall of Kenji's residence,
Kiato left his room after refreshening closing the door he spotted Veronica for the first time in his last three days at the kenji's residence.
He paused for a brief moment letting all his memories replay in his head, tears began gathered in eyes just before they could pore out, gundrick noticed his presence
"What are you staring at, come join us"
he demanded with a tune of authority.
Kiato shaked off the emotions as he approached them on the table, he took one of Veronica's hand and kissed it in a noble way moving to his father Gundrick, he gave a slight bow showing respect.
"Have a sit my son ", gundrick said.
"Thank you father" kiato replied with a gentle tune as he sat at the dinning
Seeing the way kaito looked at Veronica he asked
" is there a gem in your mother's face"
Kiato quickly adjusted scratching his back head and mummured nervously,
"nothing really, she just looks great today"
Gundrick letting that slide off his mind passed an information to kiato:
"Today all the nobles will be going to the Aetherial Sanctum, in other to get a sword for our kids participating in the Gallus tryouts,"
Kiato opened his mouth to ask a question but gundrick interrupted him sharply,
"No need to ask much questions you will be picking a sword for your self according to your aura capacity and you'll see every other thing when we get there".
Kiato simply gave a slight knood as the name
"kakuriyukimaru" rang in his head.
"Meet me up at the chairot once you are done with your meal", gundrick ordered in a gentle but unwavering tune as he stood up and went for the door.
"Yes father"
kiato replied rushing his food while curiously surged through his blood.
Just as his father left, kiato's room door slightly opened, the little half-light flew out lazily, coming out from the room she spotted kiato at the dinning,
"You fool, you left me huhhhh"
She flew towards him dramatically with a fist ready to land a punch below her head. But kiato bloked her effortlessly with one palm to her face. And exhaled with a gentle voice.
"Compose your self in the presence of nobles you short handed dragon".
Merlin letting go of the insult flew to the table and gave Veronica a dramatic bow with one hand on her chest and the other far away,
" greetings my lady"
Veronica smiled and answered her,
"Nice to meet you half-light"
Then she turned to Kaito,
"So you manifested an halflight"
Kiato cleared his throat, downplaying the significance,
" not really a big deal".
Just then he stood up picking merlin by her tail and waved his mother "bye" as he headed for the chariot, merlin struggle to come out from his hands and she bit his hands, both were fighting but slowly approached the chariot.
Few minutes later
The chariot began to move, headed for the Aetherial Sanctum. Kiato sat inside, filled with curiosity and impatience, his feet tapping out a staccato rhythm on the floor.
"kakuriyukimaru huhhh" he exhaled giving a deep breath.