"Excuse me." She said getting his attention as they all stopped and he dropped his hood
She could feel something more to him now that she could see him. His brown hair long and wild, his eyes a shade of silver, almost like rough cut gems. Yet a subtle black slit in his eyes seemed to only draw her in more. Like she knew him from somewhere else entirely...
"You and your companions seem, lost. You must be here for the festival. Though you all could use rest and food. But you won't find anything around here." She said to him as he approached her with a curious look of his own
"Well my companions could use the rest and food more. But we can make do in the woods. We already survived in that dark forest to the east." The boy explained now as he offered a hand out to her "I am Cole Kuro. My companions are Faye and Iris Gale, And Tigress of Menagerie." He added as their names almost sounded made up
Juni studied him again as she slowly accepted his hand, she could feel the roughness of his own hand, almost like he'd burnt them countless times. He was truly a person she was most curious about.
"I believe my father can find you a place to sleep, I know his clan has all kinds of rules." Juni said as this caught the other three travelers attention
"You say a clan exists here? I didn't think any had settled this far out." Tigress now said as she stepped forward "The Clan's of old are thought to long be extinct. This is rare indeed." She added now examining Juni as she leaned down some to meet her eyes
As Juni got a closer look at this woman, something about her she didn't like. Her aura was too viscous, suffocating almost. How could such a boy withstand someone so unpredictable was a mystery itself. But Tigress seemed to spot Juni's thoughts hidden in her eyes.
"You don't trust me, good. You should never trust another clan on the first meeting, who knows what kind of politics will cause unwanted friction." Tigress now added as Juni's expression seem to become more irritated while Tigress' grin only grew
"Enough." Cole said firmly as he put an arm infront of Tigress as she merely leaned back up "If you can help us at all. We would be grateful." He added a pleading in his eyes
Juni looked at him again before sighing defeated.
"My father is the one you will have to talk to." She said finally "Juni Sayer." She added as Cole followed her lead
"Think you'll be alright without me my lord?" Tigress asked Cole jokingly as he merely shot her a glance "Alright alright, I'm going. I can sense others." she added as she left heading out of the village towards the south now
Juni looked even more confused before turning back to Cole and shaking her head as she motioned for him to follow as his companions stuck by him.
"Your other friends seem rather quiet." Juni said looking a bit behind her as his companions followed
"We're all just exhausted. We got lost in that forest. Every day was a fight for survival." Cole responded now as he didn't look back knowing Iris and Faye could hear
"You're not joking." Juni said at a loss now "You mean to tell me you four survived the death forest?" She asked now moving ahead and infront of Cole as she walked backwards
"Yeah... definitely an apt description." Cole said sounding far away
"It's mostly off limits. Only level ten or higher Adventurers are allowed to explore it. How did you all last more than a week?" Juni asked truly curious as she herself had only read about it
"Mmm... it's hard to say, we were in there about two months, no maybe three. Everything just felt like a blur, it was so dense and overgrown. We weren't thinking about the danger, just survival. We weren't sure where to go. Our knowledge of these lands was limited. Only the general direction of this land." Cole explained to her as he sounded nonchalant on the matter but tired clearly
"Hold it!" She said hurriedly as she stopped in her tracks making Cole stop and looking confused as she moved closer examining his face "You'll definitely want to talk to my father then, if you say you are not of these lands. As he comes from a different land himself." She explained after a long moment of contemplation
Cole expression hardened a little at this. Iris and Faye now a little tense. Juni noticing this as she was more cautious herself.
"Which clan did you say your father commanded?" Cole asked slowly now as Juni looked even more lost
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
"He said his clan is descended from both Shinobi and Amazoness. Because of his bloodline..." Juni said slowly trying to understand why Cole was asking this as Iris now looked the most mortified
"That's... impossible. Those clans were separate, only through an alliance are they together. No child would be alive if they had the blood of two clans." Iris said not able to believe this
"Hey. You need to calm down. I barely have any energy left to heal you if you rip open that wound again." Faye warned her as she carefully moved closer to her partner
"It's the truth. He told me about all the time. My half brother is considered the first born of his clan." Juni said as her words were true, Iris still unable to believe this
"We can discuss the details, after you're patched up." Cole said knowing they would get nowhere else until they met her father
"Remember little brother, I've lived almost three of your lifetimes, and I'll live another three." Iris joked as they continued on
"Hush you. Focus on walking." Faye said as Iris cracked a smirk
Juni had so many questions but knew from Cole's stride he would speak no more until they reached where she had spoken of. His clothes tattered and patched together, they had no doubt spent months in that forest. But the glimpses she caught of his weapons were anything but old or ordinary. She could make out what looked like a silver gauntlet of some kind, a sword was his hip, but she could also see his bow and stock of arrows on his back. And he wore some kind of a ring on his off hand.
'Perhaps he is Nobility. The other woman called him a lord. This is a most curious man I want to know more about...' Juni thought as they walked on
They soon were guided to the outskirts they came to a house nestled next to a cottage. It was near the forest that led into the mountains, where her Father's clan settled. Groaning to herself Juni opened the door finally.
"I'm home finally!" Juni called out as her brother bolted out hugging her immediately as she smiled happily "Hey Raiden." She added
"I told mom and dad you found a boy." He joked as she merely rolled her eyes
"Oh my goodness!" Xylia said happily as she hugged her daughter frantically as Juni seemed less than thrilled with this
Rin soon joined as Cole and the others entered now. Xylia looking a little concerned but Rin's presence assured her they weren't of harm.
"I am Cole Kuro. My companions Iris and Faye. We had been informed a clan settled here... though like us, a long way from Eden." Cole explained as Xylia seemed even more concerned as to how these people knew about Rin
Had they come to take him back? Or were they here to start something else. She could feel their aura, they reeked of death. But the boy in particular, he was unique. His aura was something else. Almost terrifying. Rin's hand gently fell on her shoulder snapping her out of her anxieties.
"I didn't think any were foolish enough to brave the sea." Rin countered lightening the mood
"Well then I suppose that would make two of us." Cole retorted as they now shook hands knowingly as they both cracked a smile making Xylia feel a little more comfortable with this strange boy
Rin's attention now turned to Iris.
"I can tell you have much to say to me. Samurai." He now said his voice calm, not threatening, but Xylia, Juni and Raiden the most confused
Iris finally let her hood down. Xylia feeling herself jump a little at seeing her eyes and of course her Elf ears, Juni the most curious as she'd only seen a few elves in the capital, Raiden mostly amazed by her.
"There are no Samurai. They all died by my hand. I'm no Ronin, not anymore. I left that behind in Eden." Iris said flatly "But I knew your father and sister well." She added speaking a little more normal now
This catching Xylia off guard most of all. Rin rarely spoke of his past, of Eden. He only seldomly mentioned his parents, but she never knew he had a sister.
"Well that's makes one of us in this case." Rin responded softly and distant
"Come. My daughter said I could help, and I do not turn my back on those who ask." He now added motioning for them to follow him out back
Xylia the most thrown off by this. The clan was a whole new side of Rin she was still getting used to. He'd never fully asked her to join the clan, not wanting to force that life on her or Juni. Raiden was the exception and made it clear that he would be of the clan from birth.
"Come. Sit, we worked hard to make all your favorites," Xylia said excitedly as she guided Juni to the dining room where a feast awaited
Juni felt embarrassed but happy nonetheless. She was happy to be home, but it still didn't feel the same. Soon Rin was back inside and sitting with them as they all ate. Xylia wanting to hear about how her studies were going, had she made any other friends. Raiden excited to tell her he was making progress with his own training. Juni told them what her mother wanted to hear in turn.
"Plus the Oronia Magic Tournament is coming at end of the month. I was thinking about we talked about last time..." Juni now added letting her words roll out casually as she took a sip from her glass of wine, but Rin caught what she really wanted
"Juni... we discussed it. You need a team. I won't let you enter as a solo. It's too dangerous. You have no idea what could happen." Xylia said now being overly worried
"Cmon! I've more than proven myself. All of my instructors have given me the highest recommendations in training. I'm one of the top of my class. I have an undiscovered elemental magic. And if this is about my eyes, I've been fine. I haven't had any attacks since the last time." Juni countered truly pleading her case
"Training is one thing. Live fire is another matter entirely... even in an arena, not everyone will fight fair." Rin reminded her "I have no doubt your skills have grown. But solo adventurer's are very few and far between. They balance their skills and do not fear death. They have extensive knowledge and come up with a plan before doing something boneheaded." He explained further
"I do trust you Juni. I just don't want you to get hurt. I'm sure you can find a team. What about those friends of your you told me about? Taiga and Eugene? Maybe they can help." Xylia said quickly hoping to appease her only this made her more frustrated
"I just told you, they both dropped out." Juni reminded her as she immediately stopped herself and sighed as she excused herself
"Where are you going?! You just got home." Xylia said standing worriedly
"I'm going to see George... I'll be home by ten. I know the rules." Juni said distantly as she pulled on the old green canvas jacket and left
Xylia feeling the most hurt. She couldn't understand what was going on. Had they both just grown apart? She didn't want to lose Juni. Raiden had also left the table to go outside as well. Rin arms slowly wrapped around her.
"She'll be alright." Rin whispered "I have a feeling..." he added as she was confused by this
"What do you mean?" She asked as he merely chuckled causing her to frown a little
"Destiny is often a cruel mistress..." he said softly now as he kissed her forehead
"What does that mean?" She asked slightly concerned
"Just an old saying from both my clan's. It's how we kept ourselves in check. Knowing anything could change, good or bad. We still can make a different choice, always." He explained, not what she wanted to hear but giving her some solace "Give it a day. Her new companions may need some guidance around town. And I can talk to Cole." He added
Her eyes narrowed as she studied him. She could see what he was doing, but it made her happy nonetheless he was trying.
"You really think that will work?" Xylia asked hopefully as Rin contemplated his answer
"It might. Something tells me tomorrow will be more different than today. Who knows what you might see." He said truly playing on his more philosophical side
He had truly stepped into the role of a leader. Though his words were vague and alluring, there was some truth. She could feel what he was feeling. Like the future itself was slowly coming into view but still so unclear.
"I hope you're right." She finally admitted
"You two will be fine. That much I do know." He assured her as she held onto him tightly
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