Under the whispering wind, the trees shivered and swayed against the gale. Animals and insects scattered at the sound of a young girl's footsteps as she neared the crest of the hill. Grabbing onto a trunk to steady herself, she peered out from the top, letting out a weary sigh after her long trek.
"I can't believe I'm actually doing this," Asuna muttered to herself before sliding down the slope. "Forgive me, Father, but there is no other way."
THE VERMILION SANCTUARY. A place where clan members are forced to train and grow stronger for their entire lives.
Asuna and her father had never made contact with the clan. Despite bearing the name, they never dared to approach or speak to their kin. The reason for their estrangement remained unknown, buried deep in the past...
INSIDE THE SANCTUARY...
In the shadows of his private quarters, a man knelt on the floor before a small table, taking a slow sip of sake. His attire was unremarkable: a simple grey robe and bandages wrapped tightly around his frame, accentuating his lean muscles and battle-worn scars.
Beside him stood one of his companions. She possessed a strong build, yet she didn't carry herself like a front-line warrior. Her hands were clasped respectfully in front of her, a sign of unwavering obedience.
"Are you telling me the Captains have already returned?" the man asked, setting his drink down. "Why does it take so long for these reports to reach us?" Though he asked, his tone suggested he wasn't looking for a direct answer.
"Lord Torhell, you shouldn't be so hard on our messengers. They have been working tirelessly as of late," the woman beside him noted calmly.
The man placed his bottle of sake on the table, letting out a weary sigh followed by a drunken hiccup. "True enough. The shinobi have been doing exceptional work. It's no surprise, considering you're the one overseeing them... Malaguita." Torhell seemed genuinely pleased.
As they spoke, the sound of heavy, frantic footsteps rushed toward the room. A guard burst in, shouting to grab their attention.
"TORHELL!!" the guard cried out. "Hmph. What is it now?" Torhell was about to take another swig of sake, but at the interruption, his face hardened. His expression grew grim and dangerously sharp. "Don't tell me they're brawling again..."
"N-no, milord... It's the girl! The one we were all ordered to avoid! It's your niece, milord... Asuna Vermilion has arrived!"
"WHAT?!" The bottle slipped from Torhell's hand, shattering against the floor and soaking the wood in sake. Shock washed over his face as he bolted to his feet.
Followed by the guard and Malaguita, Torhell hurried toward the Great Gate. Upon arrival, they saw that Asuna had already forced her way in, leaving a trail of fallen guards in her wake. "What do you think you're doing?!" yelled one of the guards struggling to restrain her. "Trespassing on our lands is a national offense!" "I don't give a damn about your laws! I want to speak with one of the leaders!!" Asuna roared, refusing to back down.
The man stepped forward, his massive frame and bulging muscles commanding the space. His steps were light and rhythmic, far calmer than his intimidating aura suggested. With an unnatural crack in the air, he appeared instantly at Asuna's side, gripping her arm with a strength that was tempered but unyielding.
"So, it's you..." Torhell murmured, stunned, as he stroked his long mustache. "Asuna Vermilion. I certainly didn't expect our first meeting to be so... abrupt."
"How do you know my name?! And let go, you're starting to hurt me!" Asuna protested. Torhell released his grip calmly, without a word.
"Well, well... perhaps it's because I happen to be your uncle," Torhell said nonchalantly.
"My... uncle?" Asuna stood frozen, her eyes widening in total shock. The revelation raced through her mind. An uncle? I thought I didn't have any living relatives left... What else has my father been hiding? she wondered. "How can I be sure you're telling the truth?"
"Well..." Torhell continued to stroke his long mustache, choosing his words carefully. "Your father is Forge Vermilion. He had an affair with another species. You look human enough at first glance, but your ears don't fool us," he pointed toward her ears, tucked away beneath her long hair. "Did you really think we wouldn't know about you, Half-Elf?"
"H-how do you know about my ears?" She reflexively covered them with her hands, as if shielding a secret. "And what do you mean, 'Half-Elf'?"
"HO HO! I see my brother hasn't told you a single thing, has he? Why don't we talk somewhere more private?" Torhell gestured for her to follow him back toward his quarters.
The walk was quiet, but the silence was suffocating. All Asuna could do was tremble in the shadow of the man's overwhelming presence. Glancing sideways, she saw children playing, adults chatting, and guards training in the open fields. None of it looked like the nightmare her father had once described... perhaps everything she had been told was nothing more than a fabrication.
Back inside Torhell's quarters, the man sat on the floor as he called for another bottle of sake.
"I... I came here seeking power, not to sit around in the sun relaxing like I'm on vacation," Asuna snapped. "Ho ho! Straight to the point, I see," Torhell remarked. His sake arrived almost instantly after the request. "Very well. I can offer my assistance, provided you do me a small favor."
"A favor? What kind of favor?" Asuna asked, suspicious. "Well... tell me what you know. Your father, the kingdom... how are things out there?" He took a sip of his sake, letting a brief silence hang in the air as he savored it. "To be frank, we of the Vermilion clan are kept quite busy—training all day and handling the paperwork necessary to maintain our standing."
Asuna didn't feel at all comfortable sharing her life in such a setting, but she felt she had no other choice. "I live a secluded life. My mansion is eerily quiet compared to the adventures I have with my friends," she said, a faint, bittersweet smile crossing her face. "It's just me and... the household staff." She swallowed hard, rubbing her arm as a sign of visible discomfort. "As for being a Half-Elf, I had no idea. I thought it was just a myth, or maybe some kind of genetic defect."
Her hands moved to her hair, pulling it back to reveal her ears in public for the very first time. "And my father... he still holds the title of 'The Strongest.' Nothing of much importance."
"I see," Torhell sighed. "It must be hard, living all alone at your age without any support. I must confess, my brother wasn't always this arrogant; he used to be quite kind, actually..." He leaned back on one arm, gazing upward as if retrieving old memories. "I remember it like it was yesterday: Forge and the other Captains had just returned from a mission many years ago. He was carrying a small child in his arms, his face a mask of pure rage. I only asked what had happened, but all I got in return was... that punch!" The man mimicked the motion, striking the air. "If I hadn't dodged in time, I'd likely be dead where I sat."
"A punch? Did he actually pick a fight with you?" Asuna asked, stunned.
"No..." Torhell shook his head, pointing out toward the mountains and hills beyond the sanctuary walls. "His strike was so powerful that the mountain itself was crushed by his bare fists."
A shiver ran down Asuna's spine. She stood up, straining her eyes to look toward the horizon... and there it was: a massive, jagged scar etched into the mountainside—a permanent testament to her father's devastating power.
"Shortly after that, the judgment was passed. We all decided to abandon him and sever every tie," Torhell said. "Technically, that rule applies to you too, though I suspect no one is looking too closely for now. So, tell me... what kind of power are you seeking? Raw strength? Agility? Our training can be quite brutal."
Sitting back down on the floor, Asuna kept her chest out, radiating confidence. "I want to master the Bubble Techniques." With a quick flick, a light, translucent bubble formed around her fist. "I'll admit, I learned the basics from my father when I was much younger, but I haven't been able to evolve it past this..."
Torhell leaned in with admiration, his eyes reflecting a mix of surprise and a flicker of pride. "Oh! I never thought I'd see the Bubble Technique practiced outside the clan walls..." He caught himself, taking another swig of sake. "This technique is unique to the individual; anyone can possess it, but no two styles are the same." He pointed at the girl's hand. "You're just mimicking your father: turning your fist into a weapon to fire like a cannon. Have you ever thought about using this technique differently?"
For a demonstration, Torhell summoned tiny bubbles across the back of his hand. They appeared over every muscle and knuckle. The glow was mesmerizing; the translucent film turned a solid, brilliant white, showing his absolute mastery. "This is my way. Since I can't match my brother's raw power, I create small bubbles in specific areas of my body—I can even place them inside my muscles for internal reinforcement."
"Impressive... I've never seen anyone use the technique like that. It's incredible!" Asuna nodded, the realization finally hitting her. "I'm going to train my own way. I'll find a style that belongs only to me."
Asuna leaped to her feet and bolted out of the room, bursting with excitement. The guards moved to block her path, but Torhell raised a hand, signaling them to stand down.
"Milord..." Malaguita intervened softly. "Are you certain this was wise? If your superiors catch wind of this..." "Don't fret. She'll return sooner or later. And when that day comes, I'll put an end to her," Torhell said, taking another swig of sake. His voice was grim, though his drunkenness was becoming more apparent. "My brother may be naive, but he's still a contender for the clan's leadership. Like it or not, he has a legitimate claim to the succession."
As he stood up, he turned toward his companion, his grin widening into something sinister. "To become the leader of the Vermilion clan, I need every single piece right where I want them—in the palm of my hand!"