Lord Julian Vance lay on the cold stone floor of the hallway clutching his bruised chest with his pale trembling hands.
The sharp pieces of his broken violet sword were scattered all across the dark wooden floor like shattered glass. Tears were still running down his pale cheeks as he looked up at Sekai Saikyō.
Saikyō stood still at the doorway of the bedroom. His face was completely calm and his dark red aura was fading back into his body.
Saikyō did not raise his fist and he did not show any anger in his black eyes. He simply looked down at the fallen nobleman who had tried to kill him for the sake of global peace.
Julian coughed softly and wiped the tears from his eyes with his sleeve. He asked Saikyō why he did not finish him right now.
Julian said that he was an enemy who tried to take Saikyō's life and steal his Boron energy for the Royal Council. Saikyō looked at Julian and said that he only fights to protect his family. He said that Julian was not a true monster like Lucifer who loved causing pain.
Saikyō explained that Julian was just a confused man with a weak heart who thought that killing one innocent boy could fix the entire broken world.
Julian looked at his own pale hands in deep silence. The heavy realization of his failed plan settled in his mind.
He realized that even with all his noble speeches about saving children he was still willing to murder a young boy who was only trying to protect his little sister.
Julian bowed his head low to the wooden floor and apologized to Saikyō in a quiet broken voice. Saikyō told Julian to get up and leave the inn before the morning sun came up.
He warned Julian that if he ever came near Hanako or Miyamoto again with poison or weapons in his hands he would not show any mercy a second time.
Julian stood up slowly from the cold floor. He did not say another word. He turned around and walked down the quiet dark stairs of the inn leaving his broken sword behind on the floor. Julian walked out into the cold night air and looked back at the small inn one last time.
He felt a deep emptiness inside his soul. He had dedicated his entire life to protecting people but tonight he had acted like the very monsters he hated. He mounted his white horse and rode away alone into the dark mist leaving his royal guards behind to clear out at dawn.
Saikyō walked back inside the bedroom and closed the heavy wooden door behind him.
Hanako and Miyamoto were still fast asleep under the sleeping spell of the nightmare lotus tea. Saikyō sat down on the floor near the corner of the room with his legs crossed. He placed his hands on his knees and closed his eyes to rest his tired body. He could feel a small sharp pain inside his chest again because using his red aura against Julian had consumed another tiny bit of his remaining lifespan. But he did not mind the pain as long as his sister was breathing peacefully in her bed.
Outside the window the night was quiet. The moon moved slowly across the dark sky casting long silver shadows across the room. Saikyō remained motionless like a stone statue in the corner. He monitored every sound in the inn. He listened to the soft breathing of his sister and the slow heartbeat of Miyamoto. He checked the hallway every few minutes with his sharp ears to make sure no other guards were hiding in the darkness.
When the early morning sunlight began to shine through the broken glass window Miyamoto opened his eyes and stretched his arms.
He rubbed his face and looked around the bright room. He saw Saikyō sitting quietly in the corner and smiled. Miyamoto said that he had slept very heavily last night and felt extremely tired for some strange reason.
Saikyō did not tell Miyamoto about Julian's betrayal or the poison in the water pitcher. Saikyō simply stood up and said that it was time for them to leave the Willow Inn and head toward the Royal Capital on foot.
Hanako woke up a few minutes later with a happy smile on her small face. She looked around the room and asked where Lord Julian was because she wanted to thank him again for the sweet white rose. Saikyō held her small hand gently and said that Lord Julian had to leave early in the morning for an urgent meeting with the King. Hanako nodded her head innocently and picked up her travel bag.
They walked downstairs to the main hall of the inn. The innkeeper was hiding behind his wooden counter looking pale and nervous. He had heard the loud glass shattering during the night but was too afraid to come upstairs. Miyamoto left a few silver coins on the wooden table for their supper and shelter. The innkeeper took the coins with a shaking hand and wished them a safe journey without asking any questions about the broken window upstairs.
The three wanderers stepped out of the Willow Inn and walked out onto the dirt road.
The morning wind was cool and fresh as it blew across the broad fields of yellow wheat. Lord Julian's grand carriage and his royal guards were completely gone from the crossroads. Only the long paved stone road leading south to the Royal Capital remained in front of them.
Saikyō walked in the middle holding Hanako's hand tightly while Miyamoto walked on the left carrying their heavy travel packs. The giant white towers of the capital city were now much closer rising high into the blue sky. The city walls were made of bright white marble that glinted in the morning sun like a crown resting on the green earth.
As they walked down the stone road Miyamoto looked at the distant capital with a mix of wonder and concern. He said that the Royal Capital was home to thousands of people including powerful noble houses grand magic academies and the King's elite knights.
He warned Saikyō that entering such a massive city would be dangerous because the news of Saikyō's Boron energy might have already reached the high commanders.
Saikyō listened silently as he walked. He knew that Miyamoto was right.
The capital was not like the quiet mountain villages or the lonely forest roads. It was a place full of hidden eyes and complex political games. But Saikyō had only one goal in mind. He needed to reach the ancient royal library hidden deep within the city to find a cure for his sister's illness and a way to restore his lost lifespan.
Hanako pointed at a flock of white birds flying across the clear blue sky. She laughed happily as the gentle wind blew her dark hair across her face. She held the white rose Julian had given her close to her chest. She did not know that the rose was a symbol of a tragic plot that had almost ended her brother's life. Saikyō looked at the white flower in her hands but chose not to throw it away. He let her keep it because it brought a bright smile to her small face.
After walking for two hours they reached the outer perimeter of the capital territory. The simple dirt road merged into a broad stone highway filled with merchants farmers and travelers. Large wooden wagons pulled by heavy oxen moved slowly alongside them carrying fresh vegetables barrels of wine and rolls of silk to the city markets.
The surrounding countryside was filled with small farming villages stone windmills and clear flowing streams. Farmers worked in the green fields waving politely to the passing travelers. It looked like a peaceful paradise on the surface but Saikyō could feel the underlying tension. At every mile marker along the highway pairs of royal soldiers stood guard checking the passes of incoming merchant wagons.
Miyamoto adjusted the wooden sword on his hip and moved closer to Saikyō. He whispered that they should blend in with the large group of farm merchants to avoid drawing the attention of the highway guards. Saikyō agreed quietly. They fell into step behind a large covered wagon filled with sacks of wheat.
The lead merchant on the wagon was a friendly old man named Tobias. He looked down at the three travelers and offered them a warm smile. Tobias asked if they were heading to the capital for the upcoming Harvest Festival. Miyamoto nodded politely and said that they were simple travelers seeking a doctor for the little girl. Tobias felt sympathy for them and offered to let Hanako ride on the back of his wooden wagon so she would not tire her small legs.
Hanako looked at Saikyō for permission. Saikyō checked the old merchant carefully with his eyes and saw no malice in his heart. He lifted Hanako up onto the soft sacks of grain. Hanako smiled warmly and thanked the old merchant.
As the wooden wheels rolled along the stone highway Tobias talked about the capital city. He said that the High King had not been seen in public for over a month and that the High Council of Nobles was now running the state affairs. He mentioned that the council was gathering resources from all over the kingdom for a secret military project.
Tobias grumbled softly that taxes had doubled and that young men were being drafted into the army from every rural district.
Saikyō listened carefully to every word. The old merchant's story confirmed what Julian had said the night before. The High Council was preparing for a grand war and they were searching for high-level energy sources to power their magical defense systems and war machines. That meant the entire city was likely on high alert looking for any unusual magic users.
As midday approached the giant outer gates of the Royal Capital finally appeared right before them. The marble walls stretched for miles to the east and west standing fifty feet high. Above the main archway a massive iron portcullis hung suspended by thick steel chains. Hundreds of people stood in long orderly lines waiting to pass through the heavily guarded entrance.
Dozens of elite royal guards dressed in silver armor and red capes stood at the gate checking every wagon and searching every chest. Beside the guards stood three mages in long blue robes holding glowing crystal rods. The mages used the crystal rods to scan every incoming traveler for hidden magical energy.
Miyamoto's heart began to beat faster as they joined the back of the entrance line. He looked at the mages holding the crystal rods and realized the danger. If those crystal rods touched Saikyō the hidden Boron energy inside his body would cause the mages' tools to react instantly.
Miyamoto leaned toward Saikyō and whispered nervously asking how they were going to pass through the magical scan without starting a massive fight right at the gate.
Saikyō looked at the blue-robed mages and the glowing crystal rods. His face remained completely emotionless. He focused his mind inward taking deep quiet breaths. He began to compress his internal Boron energy folding it down into the deepest core of his heart.
He pulled his red aura so tight that his physical body appeared completely devoid of any magical presence like a dry piece of wood or an ordinary stone.
The line moved forward slowly. After thirty minutes of waiting Tobias's wheat wagon reached the front of the gate. The elite guards halted the wagon and commanded everyone to step down for inspection.
Tobias stepped off his wooden seat and bowed politely to the guard captain. The guards poked their long iron spears into the wheat sacks to check for hidden contraband. Finding nothing illegal they signaled the blue-robed mages to step forward.
One of the mages walked up to Tobias and held the glowing crystal rod near his chest. The crystal emitted a dull yellow light indicating normal human energy. The mage nodded and allowed the old merchant to pass.
Next the mage turned toward Miyamoto and Hanako. He held the crystal rod over Hanako's head. The crystal glowed with a faint soft white light indicating standard physical life force. Hanako smiled politely at the mage. The mage smiled back gently and stepped toward Miyamoto. The crystal rod showed the same weak normal light.
Finally the mage stopped directly in front of Sekai Saikyō.
The guard captain stepped closer eyeing Saikyō's dusty clothes and quiet demeanor. He asked Saikyō for his name and his origin. Saikyō looked the guard captain straight in the eyes and said in a low voice that he was just a wanderer from the northern hills traveling with his sister.
The blue-robed mage raised his glowing crystal rod and brought it within two inches of Saikyō's chest.
Miyamoto held his breath placing his hand discreetly near his wooden sword. The air felt heavy and still.
The crystal rod remained completely dim. It did not glow red it did not hum and it showed no reaction whatsoever. Saikyō had suppressed his energy so perfectly that the magic rod read him as a completely normal boy with zero internal aura.
The mage tapped the crystal rod against his palm thinking it was malfunctioning. He scanned Saikyō a second time but the rod remained completely quiet. The mage let out a sigh and told the guard captain that the boy carried no magic or suspicious energy at all.
The guard captain grunted in boredom and waved his hand commanding them to move along and not block the gate.
Tobias smiled happily and led his wagon through the massive dark archway. Saikyō Miyamoto and Hanako walked right beside the wooden wheels entering the glorious inner streets of the Royal Capital.
As they stepped out of the gate archway a wave of loud sound and vibrant color washed over them.
The main street was fifty feet wide paved with polished grey stones and lined with three-story wooden and stone buildings. Banners of gold blue and crimson hung from every balcony.
Hundreds of citizens dressed in fine clothes walked through the bustling markets where street vendors shouted out prices for fresh fruit warm bread roasted meats and imported spices.
Hanako's eyes sparkled with pure joy as she looked around at the towering buildings colorful banners and grand stone fountains splashing clear water in the middle of the plazas. She had never seen a place so big and full of life in her entire short world.
Miyamoto let out a huge breath of relief letting his shoulders drop. He looked at Saikyō with deep admiration marveling at how easily the young boy had hidden his terrifying power from the city's advanced magic tools.
Saikyō looked up at the towering white castle sitting at the highest point of the city far in the distance.
The castle spires touched the clouds surrounded by high inner walls and floating magical banners. Saikyō knew that his journey was far from over. Somewhere within this vast stone city lay the answers he needed to save his sister and survive the dark fate hanging over his head.
He tightened his grip on Hanako's small hand and took his first bold step into the heart of the Royal Capital.