• The Breaking Point

Those eyes filled with contempt bore into me while his arrow of light waited for the exact moment to be loosed. Unable to move, I tried to focus. The situation was desperate: an arrow pointed at my head. One simple movement, and I would die.

“Oh, boy… I see in your gaze a lingering desire to emerge victorious from this. But this is as far as you go.”

The arrow tensed further. Just as he was about to release it, I remembered something foolish I had dismissed as normal, something I had never used in battle: seeing the breaking point of things. That sensation that had given me ecstasy while chopping wood.

In those milliseconds, I opened my eyes and focused on the arrow of light. It had to have a weakness, however fine it might be.

And I saw it. A red dot the size of a grain of sand, almost imperceptible, hidden at the very tip of the arrow.

The moment he released the string, from my half-crouched position, I moved my rapier rapidly without shifting my body, using only my wrist. I placed the blade of the rapier almost pressing against my cheek and, from there, thrust it forward. The movement had to be perfect.

The arrow traveled at high speed and met the tip of my steel. Tip against tip.

A massive flash of light erupted. Edward leaped backward quickly, while I held my ground, my rapier withstanding the pressure of the energy. The air around us rushed violently due to the resistance my weapon offered. Until I managed to straighten my rapier and hit the key point of that powerful arrow.

In that instant, the arrow dissipated as if it were air. Due to the inertia of the force I was exerting, I stumbled a few steps forward. I stood up despite my exhaustion; my rapier was glowing red-hot from the heat the light had given off.

“Tell me, Edward,” I gasped. “Why didn't you kill me when you first saw me? You let me live with you for days… and now you do this?”

Edward smiled slightly and left his bow half-drawn. “It seems a member of the Golden Clan forgot to report the escape of a member we had no information on. Although I believe he wanted to hunt you himself, until someone found out. While you were chopping wood with Rachel, the report reached the Viper offices, and then they called me.”

“I see… And as soon as they informed you, you alerted the guards, since their descriptions match my appearance.”

“That is correct. Besides, you showed noble features and uncommon skills for a nine-year-old. I realized it was you the moment I was informed.”

“Alright,” I said, lowering my guard. “Now I can fight without hesitation…”

“Your confidence is admirable, boy.”

He quickly positioned his bow and aimed directly at me. But I had already abandoned all dignity. His way of speaking had emptied my reservoirs of hope. And I walked slowly… toward Rachel.

She was lying on the ground, looking at me with terror. My intentions seemed to fill the air.

“You know… I was thinking,” I said with a cold voice. “You see us as monsters, don't you? I tried to tell you a thousand times that we aren't, and you insist. And thanks to that anger, you all killed my family.”

A manic smile drew across my face.

“And I think a good way to show you your mistake is making you live through the same thing I did. Don't you think?”

I aimed at Rachel’s head with my rapier. “Look, Rachel, the problem isn't with you. But the problem wasn't with my mother either, or with the village we protected, and yet you killed them.”

“Get away from her, you damn Kansaki!” Edward shouted.

“Asashi, calm down…” Rachel sobbed, confused and terrified. “I know my grandfather made grave mistakes, but please don't kill us.”

My emotions were a mess. Mezfnir’s words came to my head: “Do not let anger control you.” My rapier began to tremble. In that moment of confusion, Edward took advantage.

He fired.

• The Final Judgment

The arrow tore across the field at high speed toward me. I managed to adjust the rapier to break it, but Edward used the flash of the impact to move. Now he was in front of me, at point-blank range. He fired ceaselessly. I deflected an arrow, broke another, deflected again. All at an inhuman speed.

Suddenly, I saw him load three arrows of light. He launched them guided toward me, each from a different angle: one shot up to dive down, another curved to the left, and the third opened to the right to loop back. They were taking different vectors to hunt me.

While I thought about how to cover myself, Edward began to charge a new arrow, this time with a brutal amount of energy. I was at an absolute disadvantage in experience. My eyes were already red from forcing Veritas’s vision mode. I tried to use the ability to the max, seeking perfection in the deflection points and judgment of the best movement.

I saw it. I had to be fast.

I lunged toward the arrow on the left to beat it in speed. With my rapier, I deflected it completely upward. Due to the change of angle, the arrow falling from the sky impacted directly against the one I had just deflected, destroying each other. Having moved away to attack the left one, the arrow on the right lost its direct trajectory, giving me just enough time to jump, adjust, and block the residue of the impact.

But Edward didn't let me breathe. He released the supercharged arrow of light straight at me.

My eyes were tired, saturating. I tried to find the red dot on this massive arrow, but nothing. It was as if it wasn't an arrow, but a wall of energy. I tried to break it with the tip of my rapier, which was already white-hot.

The clash between my steel and the great arrow illuminated the entire field, outshining the daylight. The flashes were getting stronger; I couldn't see anything. The arrow was pushing me further and further back. I felt blood begin to leak from my eyes due to the strain.

And suddenly, from a distance, Edward watched closely and muttered: “Goodbye, Kansaki rat.”

He snapped his fingers.

That great arrow of contained light released all its energy, causing a large-scale explosion that was heard throughout the city. The difference in experience was clear. The explosion sent me flying far away, toward the forest.

With my clothes nearly on fire, my eyes saturated, my muscles destroyed, and the rapier shattered, I crashed through the trees. The branches slowed my fall but tore my skin all the same. I lay on the dirt. Some rays of light sneaked through the treetops to my face. I was in pain, unable to move. I surely had several broken bones.

• The Executioner's Pardon

I began to hear the kingdom's horses.

“Over here! Let's inspect the forest. If he's not here, we confirm his death. No one can survive that.”

I tried to get up as best I could and dragged myself as far as possible, enduring the pain and limping. But I was leaving a trail. One of the guards noticed drops of blood marking the path. He followed the trail and saw that it ended behind a large rock. He peeked over.

There I was. Sitting, unable to move, looking at him and knowing this would be my end. I couldn't even speak. I was just waiting for the blow that would draw my last breath.

But the guard didn't move. He sat there looking at me intently from atop that white horse, tall and imposing. He, with his chrome armor and golden decorations, looked down at me.

“So you are still alive…” he muttered.

He turned his horse around and shouted to his companions: “It seems no one found anything! Then we consider the death of the last Kansaki confirmed!”

He glanced at me sideways one last time. “Kansaki, don't make me regret this action.”

And he rode away. I couldn't believe it. A royal guard let me live. Something didn't fit, but my body couldn't take anymore. I blacked out.

• The Awakening and the Alliance

Meanwhile, in the city, Rachel couldn't believe it. That feeling of having done something wrong ate away at her.

“Rachel, are you okay?” asked her grandfather, who had returned to his tender smile, as if nothing had happened.

“Why did you do it? He hadn't done anything until now…”

“Dearest granddaughter, the Kansaki are killing machines, they are manipulators, disgusting creatures. I understand he moved you or you put yourself in his shoes; that is what they know how to do.”

Rachel was still confused, but she nodded. Edward took her to a safe house in the city, since his own had been destroyed.

While they left, I was submerged in a dream. The dream was about my family. We were having dinner and everyone was sad, heads bowed. I asked what was happening, and no one answered. Suddenly, Veritas grabbed them and took them away. Behind me appeared Edward and Rachel, prepared to attack.

“No… not again…”

I woke up with a start in an unknown bed, covered in bandages.

“Mom! He woke up!”

I was so scared by the scream of the child I hadn't seen beside me that I wanted to jump from fear, but the pain was incredible. Footsteps approached.

“Oh, boy, you’re finally awake,” a sweet voice said. “Don't move, you haven't recovered yet.”

“I can't move anyway because of the pain…” I whispered. “How did I get here?”

“You were lucky, boy. I was looking for fruit in the forest and suddenly I saw you, dying, injured. So I called my son and we brought you here.”

“How long have I been like this?”

“It's been five days since we brought you. But leaving that aside… we know who you are and also who you fought against. We know what you have been through. The different clans of this kingdom were sunk and marginalized with the rise of Viper.”

“I understand. You belonged to a clan, right?”

“That is correct. Years ago, the leader of the Triton Clan was my husband. We dedicated ourselves to caring for the sea of this kingdom and its fishermen. But we were displaced with threats and forced to leave, leaving our clan without its purpose. My husband fought until the end, but died before he could do anything.”

“I am so sorry…”

“Don't worry, it's been a while. Now I dedicate myself to raising my children and teaching them properly.” She turned to leave. “Well, I'll let you rest. Your wounds haven't healed yet. You will have to wait before you can continue.”

“Before you go, excuse me… what is your name?”

“Ah, of course, I haven't told you, have I? My name is Lumière.”

“Thank you for everything, Lumière. Sorry for the trouble. I will repay you properly.”

“Don't worry. Just rest.”

• The Mask

Days passed. I was finally able to start moving, though with a cane due to the pain. Those days were a necessary balm. I played with her small children, who ran around the house filling it with laughter, and talked for long hours with her eldest son, who was a little older than me. It was like being in a family again. Every day was fun, warm. My wounds healed on the outside, and a little on the inside too.

But the time to leave arrived. They gave me peasant clothes, food, and a little money that, despite refusing several times, they forced me to accept. Saying goodbye at the door, I looked at them all with infinite gratitude.

“Stay alert,” I told them firmly. “From this moment on, you have become a great ally of the Kansaki Clan. I will grant prosperity to the Triton Clan. Just wait.”

Lumière wept silently, and her eldest son wiped away a few tears. The little ones shouted goodbye happily, not understanding the gravity of my promise.

My journey had begun again. But this time, I had thought it through better. I still lacked experience; going head-on was suicide. Besides, now several royal knights, Edward, and Rachel knew my face. I had to do something about it. Although the official report said I was dead, if they saw me clearly, they wouldn't hesitate to kill me.

I needed a mask. But that would also be obvious; who walks around with a mask if they don't have something to hide? I came up with something better. I used natural dyes to paint my face with tribal figures and lines that deformed and hid my noble features. My clothes were different, humble. Now I would say I am from a forgotten village in the south and that I traveled thousands of miles seeking fortune.

That was my plan.

I will infiltrate the Royal Militia. It is less risky than going straight to the Viper Clan, as they might have dangerous sensory abilities there, and if they discovered me, I wouldn't have time to escape. Instead, in the militia, I will be just another soldier.

My next destination: The Grand Capital of the Kingdom.

I will enlist in the guard. I will start climbing the ranks. I will gain power and influence from the inside.

My goal? To start a war between the Kingdom and Viper.