The quiet hum of wind chimes greets them as they enter the Silver Fang Inn.
Shiku lay sprawled across a thick mat, snoring faintly, while Kasumi sits by the window tending to his burns with a gentle glow of green mana. Houki leans against the far wall, arms crossed, eyes distant—still digesting everything.
Silence hangs in the air, but it isn't the silence of fear.
It was one of survival.
Across the room, Nobori stands by the fireplace, arms folded, staring into the crackling flames. The warm light dances across the silver in his hair and the sharp lines of his tired face.
After a long while, Kasumi finally speaks.
"…You really went all out back there."
Nobori turns his head slightly, offering a small smile. "Not quite all. But enough."
Houki steps forward. "You knew that demon. Veydrith."
Nobori's smile vanishes.
"I did," he says, voice low. "And if he's showing up in person… the balance is shifting."
Houki furrows his brow. "What does that mean for us?
He pauses, then turns to face them fully. "That's why I spoke to the king this morning."
Nobori flashes back to his meeting with King Hayasaki.
Nobori enters the high stone halls of Athedon Castle, the scent of old parchment and burning incense in the air. Waiting at the far end of the hall, atop a staircase lined with guards, stands King Hayasaki—an older man cloaked in emerald robes, eyes as sharp as a hawk's.
When Nobori approaches, the king steps forward and embraces him tightly.
"Nobori… how are you, old friend? How is training those two boys going?"
"Tired," Nobori says flatly. "And their training is going well but Gokuro I bring more than bad news."
They sit across from one another in the king's private chambers, the warmth of nostalgia fading into tension as Nobori recounts everything—Asmoth, and Veydrith's arrival.
Gokuro Hayasaki listens silently, his fingers laced, expression unreadable.
When Nobori finishes, there is only silence.
Then—
"So… war has truly begun," the king says at last.
"No," Nobori corrects. "It began years ago. We're only now seeing the front lines."
The king leans back, eyes narrowing. "And what's our next move?
"What choice do we have but to fight? " Nobori replies, his voice steady, determination etched into every syllable.
King Hayasaki let out a slow breath. "Then we prepare the kingdom in full. I'll gather the Four Pillars at dawn. We'll begin defensive restructuring immediately."
Nobori nods. "Good. I'll need access to the royal archives—and the old war records."
The king raises an eyebrow. "You think we're dealing with the same demons that took down Zeodia?"
"I don't think," Nobori says. "I know."
The two men lock eyes—old warriors burdened with knowledge only time and blood could teach.
"Then take what you need," the king says grimly. "And, Nobori…"
Nobori turns at the door.
"You've always believed in the next generation," Hayasaki adds, "I think it's time for me to as well."
A silent promise passes between them—steel forged in trust.
Back at the Silver Fang Inn…
The fire crackles softly, casting long shadows across the room. Kasumi leans back against the wall, exhaustion pulling at her limbs, but her eyes never leave her father's silhouette.
"So what happens now?" she asks quietly.
Nobori looks over his shoulder at them—his family, his responsibility.
"We begin training with the kind of urgency this war demands," Nobori replies.
Kasumi resumes her healing, her hands glowing faintly over Shiku's shoulder as the boy mumbles nonsense in his sleep.
Houki's voice breaks the silence.
"So what happens now?"
Nobori crosses the room and kneels beside them, his expression firm but calm. "Now, we get stronger. Smarter. Faster. Because if Veydrith knows your names… it means the other Horsemen will soon as well."
Kasumi gazes at her father, understanding the weight of those words.
Determination ignites within her. She nods, resolute.
Nobori rises, his shadow stretching long in the flickering light. "In three days, we begin advanced training. Not just combat. Not just spirit mastery. Everything."
Shiku snores loudly.
Kasumi rolls her eyes. "Should we… wake him for that?"
Nobori smirks. "Let him sleep. He'll need it."
Houki gives a short laugh under his breath. "I'd complain, but… the idiot earned it."
Nobori nods, walking to the center of the room. "You all did. You survived what many wouldn't."
"But now is when it truly begins," his voice carried a solemn weight that wrapped around them, instilling a fire that pierced through the lingering shadows.
Kasumi and Houki exchange a look, both understanding the gravity and necessity of this trial before them.
After a few hours of restful sleep, Shiku finally awakens, greeted by the sight of a big plate of food set in front of him. The delicious aroma wafts through the air, stimulating his appetite. As he rubs the sleep from his eyes, he notices a commotion coming from behind the inn. Curiosity piqued, he turns his attention to the sounds of two familiar voices — Houki and Kasumi, engaging in a spirited training session, clearly pushing each other to their limits in a fierce yet friendly battle.
Shiku blinks, his mouth full of food. "Already? I've been awake for like… five seconds."
He groans, but a grin quickly forms across his face as he hears Kasumi shout something sharp, followed by Houki's familiar, cocky laugh.
The sounds of training steel and fiery bursts echo through the trees.
Shiku sets his plate down with a satisfied sigh, stretches, and cracks his knuckles. "Guess nap time's over."
Outside, the backyard of the inn has been turned into a makeshift training field. Kasumi's green aura pulses around her arms as she spins and launches a burst of healing magic offensively—something they were never taught to do.
As Houki ducks low, a void portal forms beneath him, drawing him into its depths. Suddenly, he emerges from above, executing a powerful falling axe kick. Kasumi, ever ready, blocks the strike with precision, anticipating his move.
"You're faster than before," she notes, regaining her footing.
Houki grins. "Still not enough."
He charges again, void energy flickering briefly around his arms—not stable, but there.
Kasumi sidesteps the strike and slaps her hand against his shoulder, sending a minor shock of soothing magic through him—not enough to harm, but enough to disrupt his rhythm.
"Cheap trick," Houki mutters, stumbling back.
"Adapt or lose," she replies coolly.
From the shade of the trees, Shiku watches, his cheeks stuffed with food. "Wait… she's using healing magic to attack now?" He swallows and yells, "That's not fair! You guys started training without me?!"
Kasumi smirks at Shiku's protest without taking her eyes off Houki. "We waited hours for you to wake up."
Houki chuckles, brushing dust from his pants. "Besides, we figured you'd appreciate the warm-up round before we have to drag you through another spar."
Shiku tosses his now-empty plate aside with flair and cracks his knuckles. "Oh yeah? Let's see who's dragging who."
With a flash of reddish flame, he bursts forward, launching himself between the two. Kasumi flips back gracefully while Houki braces as Shiku comes in hot with a flurry of punches.
Houki dodges left, blocking one strike with his forearm, void energy flaring defensively on impact.
"Still reckless," Houki mutters, sidestepping a fire-coated uppercut.
"And you still talk too much," Shiku grins.
The trio's spar intensifies. Flames spiral, void rips the air, and healing bursts strike with precision—not to mend but to pressure. They're no longer just students experimenting with power.
They're warriors sharpening their edge.
From the second-floor balcony, Nobori watches silently, arms crossed. His eyes scan each movement, every misstep, and every breakthrough. His expression doesn't soften, but in the way he watches—focused, unmoving—there's pride.
Behind him, a group of three figures walks out from the inn onto the balcony.
"They remind me of us at that age." the elven woman says patting Nobori on his back.
"Maybe Kasumi but those two boys have had it harder than anyone," Nobori replies, voice quiet.
"But they will be the change the world needs."
❧
Hours later, after the sun dips low and their bodies are heavy with fatigue, the trio lies sprawled out across the training field. Shiku fans himself with a scorched wooden paddle. Houki lies with one arm across his face, chest rising and falling. Kasumi sits upright, watching the horizon as the wind carries the scent of pine and ash.
The last rays of sunlight stretch across the sky, casting a warm amber hue over the quiet backyard. The laughter has faded. The embers of their mock battle smolder in the dirt.
Shiku sighs contentedly. "You ever think about how far we've come?"
Houki grunts. "I think about how far we still have to go."
Kasumi glances between them, then back at the dusky horizon. "Both matter."
The breeze rustles the leaves gently above them. For a brief moment, everything feels still—like the world is holding its breath before the storm.
Shiku shifts to lie on his side, propping his head up with one hand. "We'll win this war!"
Kasumi doesn't respond immediately. Neither does Houki.
Then, Kasumi says, "Especially with my dad training us. I just hope I won't hold anyone back."
Houki sits up, brushing dirt from his arms. "We'll fight. That's what we've been given power for."
Shiku smirks. "You sound like Nobori."
Kasumi smiles faintly. "We're starting to act like a team."
They exchange glances, a silent agreement passing between them.
As the sun finally set, Kasumi got up and made her way towards the inn, leaving the boys behind. They remained sprawled out on the grass, basking in the fading warmth of the day. Lost in thought, Shiku turned to Houki, his mind drifting back to memories of Zeodia. The memories brought a contemplative air over him as he reflected on their shared experiences.
"I wonder how SunCross is doing?" Shiku asks, his curiosity peaking.
Houki replies with a sorrowful squint, acknowledging the dire situation. "Ikewa and The Ravengers are probably making things even worse than they already are."
Shiku's smile fades slightly as he stares up at the stars beginning to pierce the twilight.
"I still remember how bright that city used to be," he says quietly. "Even at night, it felt alive."
Houki's jaw tightens. "Now they're just trying to survive."
A pause stretches between them.
Then Shiku murmurs, "We'll save it. No matter what."
Houki nods slowly. "We have to. We can't let what happened to SunCross happen here."
The night settles over them, cool and calm. Crickets begin to chirp in the brush beyond the inn's edge. For a moment, the war feels far away.
But deep down, they both know it's only the eye of the storm.
Inside, Kasumi stops at the doorway and looks back through the window. She sees them lying there—two boys who carried more weight than most men three times their age—and her heart swells with both pride and pain.
She whispers to herself, "We'll bring the light back to this world. Even if we have to burn through the darkness to do it."
❧