“Okay, so let me get this straight,” Rindou started to say while staring at Kura. “You have to leave the village soon and won’t be able to see me? And then you’re suddenly asking for me to come with you without the help of my bodyguards?!”

“It’s complicated..” Kura answered, sitting across from the table, drinking some tea. “But the best church for you to find out about the legend is in a small village at the southern most area of Clearance Lake.”

“But I’m not considered royalty--”

“You won’t come because of that? That’s pathetic,” Kura answered with a glare.

“B-but...”

“If you come, I’ll marry you in the end.”

Rindou blinked, his attention suddenly grabbed violently by that statement. “Really? No jokes? No strings attached?”

“You’ll just have to wait.”

Rindou nodded, “OK!! Awsome! I’ll go!” Kura smiled a sort of sad smile.

“Then let’s set out in the morning. We’ll have to travel by foot, you realize.” Kura answered as he stood up.

“F-foot? We can’t even take Champion?”

“Foot.” Kura said strictly. “It’s....part of a trial. If you don’t want to come with me--”

“No!” Rindou stood up, “I’ll go by foot! What do I need?”

Kura smiled, “Hiking shoes and several changes of clothes. I’ll buy the rest of what we’ll need. We may not be coming back here anytime soon.” Rindou nodded with quick agreement.

Early the next morning, a few hours before dawn, Rindou and Kura left Pine Village to head to the south. Rindou complained the whole way; first about having to wake up so early and then about being hungry.

“I told you to eat before we left.” Kura stated. Rindou grumbled, remembering Kura’s exact words: “Get to sleep early and wake up two hours before dawn. Be sure to eat a big meal before we go. It’ll be your last expensive meal.”

“I still don’t see why we can’t take my money to pay for any of this.”

“It’ll ruin the trial, stupid,” Kura replied.

In the late day they finally saw across the grassy plain a small village next to the lake. With revived energy, Rindou started to sprint for the village. Kura shook his head but still followed him.

“His energy is so funny,” Kura said softly to himself.

Rindou stopped at the gates around the village, pacing excitedly around them like a little kid. “Kura! We can’t get in! The door’s shut!”

“You knock on it.” Kura answered and walked over and knocked on the wood.

Rindou watched as a part of the wood moved to show a guard’s face. “State your purpose for coming to the village of dreams, Alcatraz,” said the woman.

“I have the Treasure.” Kura answered calmly. “I am here to seek the records of the legend from your church so that my travel companion will understand more thoroughly my fate. Please, let us in.”

“Your name, please. For verification,” replied the woman, still just as strict.

“Kura Star.”

“A Star..?” The woman sounded shocked, but she nodded. “Understood.” She closed the piece of wood. Rindou blinked, about ready to ask what that was about when the two gates opened inside the village.

“Thank you!” Kura smiled and started inside. “Hurry up or they’ll lock you out, Rindou.” Rindou nodded and ran inside quickly.

He looked around, shocked at what he saw. Wooden houses and huts with dirt roads and crisp clean water running from a small fountain linked underground to the lake with women dressed in old traditional-type ninja pants and yukatas and the men dressed in pants and vests with long fabric belts that trailed to the ground. The children were running around with the few dogs and cats, and some playing with the water.

Kura waved his arm with a smile, “Rindou, welcome to the village of of dreams: Alcatraz!”

“S-so... Where do we go first?” Rindou asked, still staring about himself and jumped around when he heard the gate close.

“Let’s go to the inn first. I’m sure you must be hungry.” Kura answered. “We can stay overnight and I’ll take you to the church tomorrow.”