Chapter 25: Choice
Night fell, moonlight was hidden by black clouds, leaving only a cold silver light covering the ground. In the thick stillness of the night, two shadows walked silently, each step pressing on the long layer of damp grass underfoot. Airi was walking with fatigue visible in each step. Her hair was long, flowing lightly, occasionally flying across her face, hiding the gaze directed straight forward – where the majestic fortress walls were gradually appearing under the thin mist.
Takeshi walked beside, he was silent without saying a word, eyes always directed forward.
They didn't look at each other, but each footstep was in rhythm and directed toward one side.
In front of them, the castle appeared like a giant ghost in the black night – arrogant, cold, and silent as if holding its breath waiting for something. Rare torches flickered on the fortress walls creating a dim halo, clearly showing each moss mark, each dried blood stain.
She stopped for a moment. Her eyes were still as water surface.
The castle had no one guarding the gate, as if saying this place did not need those things. And so they entered the castle with no difficulty.
As soon as they stepped inside the castle, the surrounding atmosphere immediately changed. No longer the silent night outside the castle, but a gloomy, hollow, and quietly moaning world.
Airi slowed down a step, eyes gliding around. All over the stone courtyard were temporary wooden cages, rusted iron shackles, and human shadows shrinking like blurry shadows. No one spoke. Only gazes – empty, soulless eyes, or distorted by pain and despair.
A child in a cage nearby heard a noise, slowly looked up. Large eyes, no tears, only reflecting the flickering torchlight from afar. Airi stiffened her step, her eyes met that gaze – and something like a choke held in her throat.
But Takeshi suddenly realized the problem, he pulled Airi's hand and ran away, running to a corner behind a large house, where light almost couldn't reach.
"Hey what are you doing?"
Takeshi turned back with a serious face. He looked back at the pitch-black path he just ran and saw no one, he turned back with a serious face and looked at Airi.
"Look at our appearance again, Airi? We look no different from slaves who just escaped."
Airi looked over Takeshi, then glided her eyes and looked around her body, her clothes still had blood and a large hole on the shirt due to her making it before.
"Oh right, like this truly is dangerous."
"Sorry, earlier I met eyes with a little girl being locked in an iron cage so was a bit distracted."
Takeshi immediately brushed that issue aside, his voice serious and eyes determined.
"It's okay. Now I see the most reasonable is you should stay here, I will go get other clothes for us and food too."
Airi with a disappointed and bored voice, eyes carrying urgency as if wanting Takeshi to take her along.
"Huh? So boring, why do I always have to sit and wait?"
"Then how do you want it, Airi?"
Being asked back by Takeshi made Airi surprised, she was about to say something then was blocked by Takeshi.
"Umm..."
"Look at both of us, your clothes are more torn than mine and also stained with blood. My clothes are more intact so it's right that I go. And you haven't encountered dangerous situations so how would you know how to escape?"
"Therefore... I going is reasonable."
Airi was disappointed, she dejectedly sat down and leaned against the corner of the wall, hands hugging her legs as if wanting to curl up.
"Fine, you go, remember to return fast."
"Um, remember to sit still and wait for me."
"I am not a child."
While Airi sat leaning against the wall of a house waiting for Takeshi to return, she suddenly saw a small snake crawling over from the opposite wall.
It was just a small baby snake the size of a child's arm, its long slender body winding with black-purple shimmering scales like night smoke under the moon. Round eyes, large and innocent as if always bewildered by the vast world. Its head was a bit large compared to the body, making each time it tilted its head look both silly and cute. It often made small "hiss hiss" sounds.
Airi was surprised to see the snake crawling to her place. It stood still in front of her and looked for a long time.
Seeing that, Airi reached out her hand, curious to see what it would do.
Seeing Airi reaching out her hand as if inviting. The snake immediately crawled onto her hand, then tucked into her shirt and finally coiled around her neck.
Airi with surprised eyes looked at the snake coiling around her neck.
-"Huh what does it want to do? Also doesn't bite me. What a strange snake?"
"Hey, or are you cold? But now is summer so what cold is there? What's with you?"
Suddenly the snake crawled behind Airi's back as if wanting to hide from something, it made a few small "hiss hiss" sounds and it could be clearly seen it was afraid of something.
Out in the street, the sounds of men shouting loudly, and a bit of chaos as if urgently searching for something.
"Quick find that snake, you useless fools do you know you have caused a great disaster?"
"That is the snake to be handed to the third prince, if not found you are dead for sure."
Airi ignored those scolding voices outside, she turned her neck back to the rear and watched the expression of this little snake.
It trembled in fear staying behind her back, seeing this little snake was so gentle, Airi relaxed.
"Oh my god, seeing its fearful expression why is it so cute?"
She reached her hand back, inviting this little baby snake to crawl onto her hand. Seeing Airi's hand reached out, the snake was also surprised for a moment, those innocent eyes hesitated for a while then crawled onto her hand and coiled its body.
Airi brought the snake in front of her face, the snake also looked at her intently then tilted its head to one side very cutely, it as if didn't understand what Airi was doing.
Airi took her finger and poked its cheek a few times, she was curious.
"Hey? Why are you alone?"
It still looked at her bewildered, one person and one snake not understanding each other's language just looked at each other like that for a long time.
Airi disappointed, let out a sigh.
"Haizzzz so boring."
"Do you have a name yet? Or shall I give you a name, looking so small you probably don't have a name yet right?"
Airi stroked her chin, face brooding in thought for a while, she then brightened as if just coming up with a reasonable name.
"Then your name will be Raiga. I don't have many names in my head but once remembered hearing this name somewhere so will name you that."
Just finished speaking Airi immediately turned down to look at Raiga, with expectant eyes. But Raiga had coiled itself and fallen into a deep sleep. Airi disappointedly looked at the small snake sleeping soundly on her hand.
"Huh? You snake dare to let me talk alone?"
She used her hand to poke it a few times, it again opened eyes to wake up, raised its head to look at Airi, seeing it wake up, Airi again asked it.
"Hey do you like the name Raiga? I see it will suit you."
The snake also nodded, as if showing agreement and acceptance of this name. Airi's eyes opened wide, expression as if very surprised.
"You understand? Looking at you you are also very smart right? With a small stature like this but having consciousness you probably are also not normal right?"
The snake again coiled itself and slept on and didn't bother to care about Airi, seeing that, Airi became silent and again looked at the piece of wall in front with boredom.
"So boring, you probably are tired right?"
Outside still sounded noisy sounds, light from stones was flickering everywhere.
"Still haven't found that snake yet you fools?"
Airi turned her head toward the direction of the sound, she was also curious with what was happening outside then suddenly Takeshi returned, he hugged two sets of clothes and a paper bag inside with many foods.
He wore a set of clothes that showed he had a tall thin stature, he wore a set of simple clothes to the point of easily being mixed into the crowd of villagers – but that itself made him stand out in a quiet way.
A grey linen shirt, sleeves slightly short. Pants were a type of thick dark brown fabric, cuffed neatly to not snag when running.
He went with feet in soft leather boots. No weapons, no badges, no majestic appearance – only the will of a fifteen-year-old boy.
"Hey Airi, wait long? I am back."
"Back already?"
Takeshi gave Airi the set of clothes, she took them, Takeshi immediately put the food bag down and turned his face away for Airi to change clothes.
After a while of changing clothes Airi stepped out with a different set of clothes. Light pink hair like cherry blossom petals, long and tied loosely with an old silver cloth string.
She wore a simple earthy brown shirt, the flap slightly long and was cinched neatly with a small rough leather belt. The sleeves were rolled up, revealing sturdy hands, full of small scratches.
Her pants were a type of thick fabric, slightly wide, flexible enough to run and jump in the forest or climb over ruins. The ash grey leather boots were worn at the heels, stuck with some dried mud streaks from the previous trip.
Even though dressed simply and carrying no clear weapons, her eyes were sharp.
Takeshi was sitting eating and turned his face away after hearing Airi's voice immediately turned his head back, he gave Airi two skewers of grilled meat and smiled.
"Eat."
Airi took them and sat down, she bit each small piece very slowly as if enjoying a delicious dish. While eating she asked Takeshi.
"Where did you get so many things?"
Takeshi was sitting eating bread, his mouth puffed large because of stuffing too much into mouth, answered Airi.
"I went to buy."
Airi's eyes immediately sank down.
"Don't lie, you couldn't have enough money to buy this many things."
Takeshi tried to swallow a large piece with difficulty and laughed loud.
"Can't get past your eyes right?"
"I guessed for sure already, just asking because feeling bored."
Scene change to Kazuka.
He was walking on the road, his face was showing clear bewilderment, he panicked clutching his head.
"Oh my god, seems like I lost the meat bag. I don't know what to eat on the road?"
Kazuka changed to determination, hands clenched tight.
"But why worry? If hungry then go into the forest."
After several days of walking. Finally in front of him also appeared a city gate. Joy showed clearly on Kazuka's face.
"Great, finally arrived."
Kazuka kept a smile, ran straight into the city, but just as he entered the gate then what hit his eyes were cages, races, wounds carved deep into the flesh of people like animals locked in cages.
Kazuka immediately was afraid and ran.
-"Damn it, although I heard about it but I feel not good at all. Especially when looking at the slaves inside those damn iron cages."
After running for a while, he remembered what Haruki said to him.
"First when entering the city gate then you need to go straight, then turn right and keep going straight for a while, at the end of the road then there will be a turn, then you again go straight next. Then you keep continuously going straight and turn left three more times then will arrive at my teacher's house."
"In front of the house there is a withered dead tree stump."
Aiko immediately knocked Haruki's head once making his head swell a big bump.
"You say it like that then how can the boy understand?"
After walking for a long time, finally in front of Kazuka was a withered dead tree stump. He joyfully ran close, went inside the gate, was a large empty yard.
In the distance was a house somewhat large but quite dirty, spider webs, dust and moss clinging everywhere. Kazuka curiously looked at the building.
"Huh? Why is the house like a deserted house?"
Walking closer to the house, standing in front of the old door for a moment, he reached his hand up and pushed the door open, a creaking sound rang out like this place had been deserted for long.
Inside there were several glowing stones, making the room have bright spots, some spots were very dark.
Kazuka stepped inside with curiosity. Suddenly a wolf-shaped face appeared, eyes like a predator and pressed close to his face. Spoke with a deep voice.
"Little kid, what did you come here for?"
Kazuka startled shouted loud, he backed away, hands launching an energy ball toward the wolf, but was swiped away by its hand making it vanish. He got angry, shouted loud.
"What the hell are you doing? Why dare to launch energy inside my house?"
When spaced out a bit then could clearly see this wolf.
That wolf was larger than common kind, it stood on two legs, with dark grey fur spotted with white strands like morning frost covering an old forest. Its steps were slow, heavy but full of power, each footstep on the ground sounded stable like drums echoing from ancient times.
Dull yellow eyes, deep as if having witnessed hundreds of snow seasons and blood shed, shone with wisdom mixed with fatigue. Below the chin, tufts of hair longer than normal flowed lightly down like the silver beard of a sage – not gaudy, but carrying the weight of years and knowledge.
Its voice – if spoke in words – surely would be deep, hoarse and heavy like old wind gliding through ancient pine trees. Each glance, each nod carried a deep understanding to the point of being cold. No need to growl or show fangs, just its presence alone was enough to make children silent to listen.
"Hey kid who are you to come here?"
Kazuka was still silent as if not hearing it say anything and quietly observed.
Its voice shouted louder.
"Little kid, what did you come here for?"
The loud sound made him suddenly wake up. He immediately put hand into pocket, took out a piece of wood. This was the piece of wood Haruki previously gave him.
He held it out in front of this old wolf.
"I came here to learn."
Seeing the piece of wood in front, the old man squinted, used hand to point at his face, voice interrogating.
"Little kid, where did you get that thing?"
"Brother Haruki gave it to me. Are you his teacher?"
He laughed out loud.
"I thought who it was, turns out it's that useless brat? Unexpectedly that brat introduced you to me..."
Kazuka angry, pointed finger straight at the old man's face.
"Hey you big dog, don't insult brother Haruki."
The old man's face filled with veins, eyes with bloodshot strands. He angrily roared and pressed face close to Kazuka.
"What did you say kid? Dare to call me a dog? You are very bold."
"Let me let you know. Your brother Haruki once came here. Arrogant, hasty, and in the end learned nothing except defeat. A useless person, am I saying it wrong?"
Kazuka looked straight into his eyes, voice firm.
"What do you know, he is a knight, recently he fought a extremely powerful murderer."
The old man stood straight, mouth curled up one side as if to despise.
"Just a murderer? Truly he is still weak."
"Don't say that, if you won't accept me then forget it, don't play at insulting others."
The old man became silent thinking for a while.
"Hey kid, do you have any plans?"
Kazuka got angrier.
"Hey you damn old dog, you dare to dodge the question?"
The old man returned to seriousness.
"I ask one more time, do you have any plans in the future?"
"Hmph, let me say first, my brother Haruki is not useless."
He nodded as if only agreeing perfunctorily.
"Yeah, so you answer me kid."
He brooded in thought, after a while.
"Of course I do, I and my friend have promised each other in the future will go everywhere. I am also very curious about those kingdoms."
"Oh is that so?"
"Then I will give you a choice if wanting to be my disciple?"
"Choice?"
"If you want me to accept you as a disciple, you must reject your past and your future."
"Or you must give up all old relationships and become a blank sheet of paper. Like that I will accept you as a disciple, what do you think?. After you finish learning and step out into the world once again certainly you will be very strong."
Kazuka pointed finger straight at the old man's face and said loud.
"Hey dog, you are being too much. I will learn, will get stronger, but I don't reject anyone, don't give up anything that I consider precious to myself. Did you hear clearly?"
He turned away with anger.
"Damn it, that's it I don't bother to learn anymore, I will get strong by myself in another way."
The old man launched in front of him with very fast speed.
"You are interesting, I will accept you as a disciple."
Kazuka still angry.
"I don't care."
The old man lowered his voice as if wanting to reconcile.
"Alright kid, I apologize to you, I only tested you."
Kazuka with suspicious eyes glanced at the old man.
"Is that true?"
"Of course it's true, but if that brat Haruki introduced you to me then surely that brat also told you a part right?"
"Yeah, he told already, also told me about why he didn't learn with you anymore."
The old man with an annoyed face.
"Huh? If told already then you must see that Haruki brat as useless right?"
He seriously looked straight at the old wolf.
"I don't believe in the so-called 'useless'… Only those who give up, those who cannot reach out to protect what they cherish – they are the truly useless ones."
The old wolf "oh" once, face carrying surprise, eyes as if not believing what he just heard.
"Truly interesting, then follow me."
Kazuka while walking also thought.
-"Actually that sentence I once heard grandpa say to a friend of his."
Following the old wolf, he walked and said.
"Forgot to introduce myself to kid. My name is Kibaou."
"And the most important thing is you being trained by me then must listen to me and especially if you die during practice then I won't know kid."
Kazuka followed right after.
"I know."
The old man opened the door at the back of the house, in front was a hill high towering, even clouds only flew at half of this hill.
That place was a rolling hill area nestled at the foot of the Tetsugane mountain range – vertical cliffs, jagged and sharp like wild animal teeth. Slippery slopes covered with rubble, challenging even seasoned climbers. The air here was thin and chilly, but not completely freezing – it made people alert and easy to feel each breath of heaven and earth.
Right below was the Shiranami forest, an ancient forest dense with mist. Trees grew straight and tall, roots snaking on the ground like stone snakes coiling. Sunlight only passed through thin leaf gaps, creating weak light streaks like swords suspended in space.
Sound of wind whistling between canopies like whispering, sound of animals running in bushes made people's hearts uneasy. Under the forest canopy, there were rotten logs used to practice balance, there were deep jagged rock crevices for jumping, there was even a cold underground stream – where only those truly brave dared to dive down to forge endurance.
On a rare flat piece of land on the hillside, there were several large stones arranged in a circle.
"Oh my god why is that mountain so high."
He turned head back to look and pointed finger straight into the forest.
"From now on you will live there."
Kazuka surprised looked up.
"Huh? I see here many rooms, why have to go in there?"
"Simply because here is where I stay, and where you practice is the forest and that hill."
"Oh, turns out it's like that."
"Ah, one more thing. The large hill and this forest are mine, up there are many animals and wild beasts, you can hunt them to make food."
"And all training items I will not provide for you. You must hunt wild beasts and take them to sell for money to buy them. Understand?"
"I understand. So now I will go in there to live immediately?"
"Yeah, temporarily you enter there to live for one week. After that I will start to teach you."
"Okay."
Kazuka ran straight into the forest, while running, turned face back and shouted loud.
"Remember after one week must teach me, you are not allowed to forget."
The old man watched Kazuka disappear into the forest, the face of a wolf carrying thought.
"I remember that brat Haruki doesn't have a brother, so surely just an acquaintance. Probably quite close? Hope it is not useless like that brat Haruki."
"Haizzzz long time since having a student again, the atmosphere also seems better."
"Just one brat is also easy."
Kazuka ran straight into the forest, while running laughing and looking around.
"Oh my god, this forest is truly overgrown, surely I should find a cave along the mountain foot? It will be easier, save from building a tent."
Kazuka changed running direction, he ran toward the mountain foot. Looking up, he squinted trying to look very far.
But this mountain was high could not see the peak. He continued running along the mountain foot, suddenly saw a large cave.
Hid behind a tree stump and tried to observe the cave entrance.
"The cave is so large, don't know if any wild animals inside."
He went close to the cave entrance, tried to look inside but saw nothing.
"Why is this cave so dark, like that if going in then how to see anything?"
Stood in front of the cave with a brooding face.
"Or should I make a torch? But looking at the cave deep and dark like that, fire from torch is small, what if some animal hiding in corner launches out?"
"Tiger cave then surely inside have many of them, I am not afraid of them but being dark like this then hard to fight them."
"Probably I should smoke the front of cave to see, if have wild animals then they will run out and I will fight them. Hmm, see it is reasonable, then decide like that."
"If so then surely need to find a stream to find flint stones."
Kazuka turned head back and intended to wander around the forest to search for a stream.
The sun was setting, Kazuka was bored, his face like soul lost, but he was still searching for flint stones.
"This damn forest in the end does it have any stream? Or should I go back and ask the old wolf? But he told me must live here for one week, if asking surely he also won't tell."
Kazuka stood silent in the forest, wind blew gently. The last sunset light was gradually dying, dyeing the sky with deep purple and light yellow colors. He raised head, eyes shone with solemnity, toward the East where the sky edge already shone with a faint silver aura.
The moon was still hiding behind distant mountain ranges, but the gentle glow already started to scatter down the ground, snaking through each tree canopy, reflecting in his thought-filled eyes. He was quiet like a lake without ripples, but lips slightly pressed.
He took a very deep breath, chest heaving according to the slow breathing rhythm. In that moment, it seemed every sound quieted down, only the sound of wind and the sound of his heart beating faint midst the space transitioning between day and night.
Above, the sky gradually appeared the first star, signaling for the appearance of the moon.
"Or should I try to release energy and feel?"
"Energy released outside but is mine. And if released outside but still keep connection then can still feel right?"
"Hmm, must try to know."
Energy source was releasing from his body, his eyes shut tight and extreme concentration.
-"Must shape energy."
The thin energy source like a dawn mist, it was releasing everywhere in the forest.
He felt the trees, the grass, the leaves just fallen from the trees.
His energy went further, now Kazuka's energy source already went far about 22 tharn. Advancing a bit more, he felt the energy of a fish sleeping under the water stream.
Kazuka opened eyes very wide.
"Found it, have fish surely have water. It is on the left side."
"So it is in that direction, if earlier I went a bit more maybe also saw it."
"But it's okay, so the thought can use energy to scout like that is correct."
Kazuka ran toward the direction just felt, looking up at the starry sky, with cloud caves having no rule.
"Today weather is beautiful."
"It's dark already, surely I will run there then tomorrow morning I will enter that cave."
Ran through a large bush, in front of Kazuka was a quite large stream. The stream wound through the silent forest like a soft silver silk ribbon. In the quiet night, the moon slowly rose high, emitting a gentle and clear light, stretching over the water surface. The stream surface reflected the full moon like a shimmering mirror, vibrating according to each small ripple.
Twinkling stars scattered across the sky also mirrored down the water stream, creating countless tiny light spots, like diamonds floating midst the stream. The sound of water flowing gurgling echoed midst the peaceful space, hòa cùng sound of wind rustling through leaf gaps, creating a gentle harmony of the forest night.
Occasionally, several fireflies flew along the bank, their flickering light as if dancing with moonlight, decorating more for the magical scenery. The whole stream as if was covered in a layer of dreamy light, both gentle and deep, making people have the feeling like stepping into a peaceful dream with no end.
Kazuka stood stiff by the stream bank, eyes wide with surprise. In that moment, he as if forgot even breathing. In front of him was a magical sight—the stream shimmering under moon and stars, so beautiful it was no different from a fairy tale world he once heard in stories before sleep.
He stepped slowly close to the water edge, tiny shoes stepped lightly on the soft grass still lingering with dew. Gentle silver light shone on his face, reflecting in the black eyes full of curiosity and interest. His hair flew slightly according to the night wind, and cheeks were flushed in the cool air of the forest mountains.
"Woaa... Why is it so beautiful?"
He whispered, voice tiny but full of emotion. He bowed down, reached hand to scoop a scoop of clear water, then cheered softly when light spots from moon and stars broke into shimmering rays in the palm.
His heart beat hurriedly, not because of anything grand, he felt the beauty of nature pure and quiet like that. In his heart suddenly rose a strange feeling—both light and deep, as if this place was telling him a wordless story, by the light and the gentle silence of night itself.
Kazuka cupped two hands together and scooped the cool water, brought to mouth to drink.
Stream water touched his hand skin, freezing and pure to the point of wonder. He brought hand to mouth, sipped each gulp carefully, as if afraid he would break something precious. When the cool water flowed through throat, he suddenly shivered, eyes wide then brightened.
"Water is so cool."
He cheered softly, voice trembling because of cold but full of interest. He bowed down again, this time drank more.
A drop of water still lingered on his lip corner, rolled down chin then fell into stream, merged into flow. He used hand to wipe mouth, raised head looking at the non-stop flowing water, heart light, cool like just being awakened from deep in the heart.
In that moment, he didn't think anything about the trips, the difficulties or even himself. Only the stream, the gentle light and the feeling of peace never had before.