HACHT!

SACHT!

YOUGHT!

SACHT!

HACHT!

Baddum-bumm-bamm-bamm♪

Bang-bang!!♪

Baddum-bumm-bamm-bamm♪

Bang-bang!!♪

HACHT!

SACHT!

YOUGHT!

SACHT!

HACHT!

(Whoah)

“Welcome to Bakufu!” Aki shouts over the loud drums and incantations 

The pair had just came through the waterfall entrance to be greeted by an army of people in ritualistic training 

They shout the same few phrases while performing unique dances that also produces magic on movement

“What is all of this!?” asks Shiryu

“Training don’t stare too much or they might see that you’re a monster Shiryu,” Aki pulls the young man forward 

This is the Kabuto district of Bakufu usually it consists of large empty fields reserved for farming but not the nation is preparing for battle, they fill the area in large armor clad groups,

Swing their swords, axes and other weapons, while some practice their magic skills through the dances,

All the while powerful drums reverberates throughout the area

“From the looks of it, you people are eager to fight the dragon,”

“Of course we are, I won’t get into right now, but we have a deep history with the dragons,”

…..

…..

The pair make their way through the crowds, Shiryu revives many unpleasant stares but no one confronts him as he travels with their chief,

She isn’t even called out or treated greatly people merely bow noticing her presence

(This is what it’s like to be the strongest)

“If we keep going further east we’ll cross into the Kuwagata district, there’s a waterfall entrance similar to the one here except that entries area is guarded by trap magic and beetle golems, so I wouldn’t advise going”

“Who are you defending against with all that?”

“like I said before, I won’t get into the history now,

South are the lost caverns, and take that name quite literally, the caves are sealed by a requiem, if you enter you will be lost forever in a maze of caves, most people who don’t know how to get into Bakufu tend to bypass the waterfall and head straight into the cavern never to be seen again,”

“Good to know”

(Never going there)

“So that leaves Tonbo to the north right?”

“Yes” Aki replies, her overalls composure seems more subdued than how it was outside of Bakufu

…..

…..

“I’m surprised no one has singled me out yet” Shiryu attempts to cook up a conversation

“…. Because you’re with me, there is not a single person here that would dare question me.”

“Hey, chief Aki!” someone calls out on timing, a young man stomps up to the lady, in head to toe he is covered with heavy layers of armor, two swords at his sides and a great axe strapped to his back, under his shoulder he carries a steel samurai helmet

“What the hell is that?” young man points at Shiryu, his face strikingly familiar to the dragon

(I’ve seen this face before)

A little more rounded the face shape, but the eyes, lips, nose even the mouth the same, 

His hair is black with a white streak running across however Shiryu still sees the resemblance,

“Are you Amelia’s brother?” he asks much to the surprise of the young man

“How do you know my sister!?” He brandishes his blade

“Calm down Claude,” Aki pushes the boy out the way gesturing for Shiryu to keep walking

Clearly annoyed by the scene they were causing.

“Shiryu has just come from Soterra with me, he says he is Apollo’s brother”

“Lie!

Apollo has no brother! 

He would have mentioned that at least once”

(Quite the scene maker this guy is)

“I am related to Apollo via our father Raguel,” 

“Lies again!

Raguel went missing, and–”

“He is dead, and I don’t feeling like telling my story for the hundredth time the chief believes me and Zinnia does to so that’s all the convincing you should need”

“Nnngh” Claude grits is teeth wanting to say more but drops after catching a side eye from Aki

“If I ever find out that you caused harm to my sister you are dead” he tires his hardest to sound threatening before heaving himself off in the heavy armor that is too big for him

….

(What a character he is) thinks Shiryu watching the young man stumble off

“Claude isn’t one of us, so our traditions don’t apply to him, he came here with Kage and the others but stayed behind to learn our ways of strength,”

“Yeah, I could tell”

…..

…..

****

The loud drums and shouts grow fainter into the background as Shiryu and Aki enter the Tonbo district, 

The evening sun bathes down onto the semi abandoned town, a few children can be heard here and there but for the most part the city sleeps

Ting♪

Wind chimes ring from the dry gusts of wind knocking them around

…

Shiryu barely gets a chance to look around the city built with Edo-ish wooden houses shops and other structures as the chief rushes past everything so quickly 

“Slowdown” he says but she ignores it leaping over huts and beautiful magic crystal lamp post now beginning to glow under the diming sky

“I’m late” Aki abruptly stops in front of a large bamboo structure, 

Phwoo♪

The wind passes through the structure making a hollow sound

Outside are stone pillars with the faces of serpentine dragons carved into then,

“The sun is already down, chief sister,” a man jumps down from the one of the pillar,

“You said exactly eight days sister,” another man appears

“Square up” Aki whispers to Shiryu

“Wait what? I’m confused?”

“I said get ready for a fight!”

….

(?)