Time passed.
The sky was clear.
A full moon gleamed alongside a bright crescent. The stars studded the darkness.
Yakoza opened his eyes lying in a clear, cyan-colored lake covered with blood. Wounds and pain marred his muscular body entirely. Strangely, nature had been restored as if the destruction had never happened; not a single tree remained harmed.
His clothing was torn. The calm lake he lay in was comforting. He relaxed.
"Oh, life does exist after all…"
A wave hit him.
A large figure emerged from the darkness ahead. From afar, it called out to Yakoza,
"Come here!"
The figure went towards the shore.
The voice was not familiar.
Yakoza tried to sit up. His arms and legs were broken, some twisted, others dislocated. At last, he managed to sit. Gritting his teeth, he forced his dislocated fingers back into place. Tears welled in his eyes, yet he smiled. Then he shoved his wrists, arms, and shoulders back where they belonged.
"Crackkkkk!"
Then he ripped off his shirt and bound it tightly around his arms.
His white diamond eyes reflected his feet. He kept smiling through the pain.
"Don't be a crybaby, no one cares."
After painfully setting his toes, feet and legs back, he barely stood up. He watched the sky with an immense gaze. With pain and exhaustion, he walked toward the shore. His smile held, despite the pain.
"Stay strong, my leopard."
The light of a fire was reflecting on the shore. As he neared, he recognized Muraith, roasting meat by the fire.
Near him, a massive man sat at a wooden table, preparing the meat. On the sand, a young man sat by the campfire, watching the flames.
He reached the shore slowly.
"Am I dreaming?"
He found a towel on the ground and slowly draped it over his shoulders in pain. He laughed mockingly, pointing slowly at his father
"Look at the boss!"
Muraith sighed.
"Can't deal with rotten cheeses."
Yakoza kept laughing in pain.
"Yeah… Like You…"
The massive man at the table, with wavy, medium-length dark green hair and full beard, both laced with seaweed and vines, bursted out laughing.
"Yiiiihiihihihahahaa! I like you, kid! You must be the n… son of this dark red-haired man. What's your name?"
He smiled broadly.
"Right on. I'm Yakoza. And who're you, Mr. Wrapped Meat?"
The man laughed louder.
"Almost got it. I'm Zant Roliva. These lands are under me. Pleased to meet you, Yakoza."
The meat sizzled on the fire.
"Need any help?"
Yakoza asked.
Muraith stared at Yakoza's entirely wounded body.
"Don't interrupt. Sit down."
Yakoza sat across from the campfire and asked Roliva,
"It's clear that the destructive pressure came from you two. What exactly was that?"
Roliva's smile slightly cooled down.
"Kid, that's not important right now, just rest now. "
Yakoza watched the fire.
"Alright."
Muraith took the meatballs off the grill, the steam curling up around him.
"If it matters, you'll understand over time."
The campfire was reflected in Yakoza's eyes.
"We'll see."
He lay on the sand, and gazed at the sky.
Near the fire sat a lightly muscular young man, whose right arm was speckled with fungal growth. His black iris contained orange fungal spores. His head was covered with a towel. Slightly black hair, tinged with orange spores, was visible. He gazed at Yakoza.
"Something is strange about you… like you have no Nes at all."
Yakoza answered, watching the sky.
"You're right…"
Roliva interjected.
"Didn't the eyes make it clear, Veras?"
Veras looked into Yakoza's bright, glowing white diamond eyes. The stars reflected within them. His voice was calm.
"I see…"
Birds and nightingales sang.
The night began to enlighten, as if the white thread was separated from the black one.
Yakoza stood up and entered the forest. When he returned, the food was ready. Laughing and chatting and eating around the fire, the sun began to rise. After the meal, they watched the sunrise.
Afterwards, Muraith stood and retrieved the suitcase.
"Do we have permission to pass now?"
Roliva answered.
"Thanks for your time, Yazeyre. Head thirty degrees northeast. There is a large temple which is the entrance to your destination."
He pointed to a pair of sandals from where he sat.
"Kid, take those."
Muraith set out.
Yakoza slipped them on, then settled his straw hat with a smile.
"Appreciate it, Mr. Wrapped Meat."
He raised a hand in farewell, then caught up with Muraith. He took the suitcase from his hands.