Hakari and Kage packing their things.
Kage: This is sudden!
Hakari: What are you saying?
Kage: We've trained non-stop for two years. And now instead of protecting our nation, we're chasing some fairy tale? An adventure for answers we don't even know exist?
Hakari: I know how absurd it sounds to you. But those stone tablets—if there's even a chance they exist, and we can decode them—we might solve everything at once. And don't worry. Koha already has a hero. Akami is here. You and I don't need to stay behind.
Kage: But he's just a child. We all are! I'm 13, you're 11, and he's only 10. What are we supposed to do?
Hakari: Find answers. That's what we're supposed to do. That's what a kid is supposed to do.
Kage: I'm sorry, friend, but you sound absurd. You talk like… like you're not even a kid.
Hakari: Maybe I'm not. Maybe I'm just aware. Aware of the world and the weight of choices. Maybe that makes me something else. Tell me when does a kid become a man.
Kage: To me, a kid becomes a man when he grows a beard, gets taller… when he can really fight—or at least look like someone who does.
Hakari (smirks): Now who's sounding like a kid?
A short pause. Hakari tightens the straps on his bag.
Hakari: A child ceases to be one the moment he becomes aware of his actions—and the consequences. That's what makes a man. Someone who knows what he's doing… and does it anyway.
Kage (laughing): I must say—no one can win an argument against you.
Hakari: We should go. It's time. No one's awake yet—we need to leave before sunrise.
As they quietly descend the stairs, they freeze. Akami is standing by the front gate, waiting.
They quietly step back into the room.
Hakari: We need a plan.
Kage: Yeah, because I don't think Akami plans on staying behind.
Hakari: The last time he agreed to stay, I knew it was because of Heena.
Kage: So what now?
Hakari: I think I know what to do.
They head downstairs again, more confidently this time. Akami turns as he hears them.
Hakari: Akami—we need to talk.
Akami: Brother… it's alright. You don't have to explain. I know. And I'm not here to stop you.
Hakari (surprised): You're not?
Akami: I came to say goodbye.
Hakari: Oh… right… uh, I knew that.
Kage (chuckling): Ahem Sure you did.
Akami: Just remember—if you ever need me, you know what to do.
Hakari: Tap twice on the left ear. It'll activate our link.
Akami: Good luck, brother. See you soon.
They clasp hands silently. The sun begins to rise.
And Soon Hakari and Kage leave the main roads behind, traveling toward a secluded village said to be run by elders—elders who obey neither the nation's law nor the king's command.
Kage: "What is this place? It feels like an abandoned village… and it's so dark."
Hakari: "Yes, I must agree—it's unnaturally quiet. And… who are those five people standing under that tree?"
Hakari walks toward them, but with each step, the figures grow more and more distorted.
Hakari: "What… is this?"
Kage: "Why are you walking away from them?"
Hakari: "I'm not. Wait... are they moving away from us?"
Kage: "This doesn't make any sense…"
Suddenly, a chilling realization dawns on both of them.
Kage: "This must be—!"
Hakari: "Yes… a Command. There's a Code holder here."
Hakari and Kage left the village behind, walking through the rough paths toward a secluded settlement — one that lived outside the law, ruled not by any king but by a council of silent elders.
Kage looked around uneasily. "What is this place? It feels abandoned. And... it's so dark."
Hakari nodded. "Yes. It's absurdly quiet. And look—under that tree... five people just standing there."
Hakari stepped forward cautiously, trying to get a better look. But the figures seemed to grow more and more distant, no matter how close he moved.
"What is this...?" Hakari muttered.
Kage's eyes narrowed. "Why are we getting further from them? Or are they getting further from us?"
Hakari clenched his jaw. "This doesn't make sense."
Kage's expression hardened. "This must be… a Command."
Hakari nodded grimly. "Yes. A Code holder is here."
---
Kage looked around. "But a Code holder... in a place like this? And this Command — it doesn't feel ordinary."
Hakari's eyes darkened. "You're right. This is rare. I remember hearing a story when I was a child… Long ago, there was a king in Koha — a madman who performed twisted experiments on men, women, and even children."
"Experiments? For what?"
"To obtain a Code," Hakari said. "Not a normal one. A unique one — not bound to objects or bloodlines. It was a number. Code 1. The Command that came with it was 'Hide.' He didn't need it… he simply wanted to collect it."
"Wait…" Kage blinked. "He collected Codes? Is that even possible?"
Hakari shrugged. "I don't know. But the point is, he failed. He never obtained Code 1. Instead, he accidentally created something else… a Code called 'I'. Its Command was Illusion."
Kage paused. "So you think one of those figures… was a survivor? One of his test subjects?"
"Perhaps. But then why didn't the king take that Code?"
"Maybe," Kage said slowly, "he thought it was a failure. And the person who received it only awakened its Command later."
Hakari nodded thoughtfully. "You might be right. But then why is he here? Is it revenge… or something far more dangerous?