In the small, tranquil village nestled deep in a mountain in the Agung Empire, the sky was beginning to fade from celestial blue into the orange light of sunset. The villagers were finishing up their daily work, tending to the last bits of their crops or closing up their shops before heading back to their homes. The atmosphere around was one of peace and simplicity, far away from any troubles of the world.
At the far edge of the village, a modest two-story house stood with a large backyard. It was isolated from the rest of the village, surrounded by tall trees. In the backyard, a boy with black hair and glowing yellow eyes was practicing alone, his silhouette framed against the backdrop of the setting sun.
The boy, Leo, gripped a wooden sword with both hands, his brow furrowed in concentration as he kept practicing his sword art. Each swing of the sword aimed to perfection, though still rough around the edges. Sweat trickled down his face as he swung the blade again and again, not bothered by the fatigue accumulating into his muscles.
His short black hair, messy from training, partially obscured a small black horn that jutted out from the left side of his forehead. His dark yellow eyes, with hints of darkness at their center, gave off a cold feeling to him. Leo wore a blue training suit and white boots. Though his skill with the sword was not high, he had the heart to pursue the path of the sword.
AN: [I love dbz battle and training outfits so I use them most of the time. This kid is wearing training clothes that Vegeta used back in his Magin form].
Leo trained almost the whole day until the sun had nearly disappeared, but still, his wooden sword cut through the air as he trained in solitude. Unknown to him, he wasn't entirely alone.
Watching from the shade of a large tree was a tall, muscular girl. She was an imposing figure, standing almost at two meters tall with deep blue skin . Two sharp horns curved out from her forehead, gleaming faintly in the fading light. Her short white hair moved slightly with the breeze as her fiery red eyes watched Leo train.
"Hahaha, Leo. I'll never understand your obsession with swords," the girl said, rising to her feet. Her voice was deep and rich, matching her powerful frame. "Me? All I need are these two fists, and I'll handle any enemy that comes my way."
After hearing her, Leo stopped his training. Still catching his breath, he turned toward her, his expression unimpressed. "Oh, it's Chia gorilla," he said, half-mocking. "What brings you here?".
Chia, full name Chiaki has right now a playful grin faltered, a vein appearing on her forehead as her eyes narrowed dangerously. She walked and stood beside the boy, towering over him, "Did you just call me a gorilla?"
Leo didn't back down, his grin widening as he shrugged. "Well, you are always bragging about your strength. If the shoe fits..."
Chiaki had a formidable presence, not just because of her height, but also due to her physique—she was powerfully built, her body like that of a warrior molded through years of intense physical conditioning.
Chiaki's grin disappeared entirely. Her powerful hand curled into a tight fist as she looked toward him. "Oh, is that so? Let's see how well you dodge this, you little snake!"
Before Leo could react, Chiaki's fist shot forward with the force of a battering ram.
Peng!
Leo was sent sprawling to the ground, a red mark instantly forming on his head where her fist had connected. Chiaki stood over him, her arms crossed, looking down at him with a victorious smirk. "Next time, choose your words more carefully."
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[Inside the house].
Chiaki was dressed simply, as was her way. She wore only a pair of dark pants and a grey loincloth over them. Her upper body was bare, save for the bandages that wrapped around her chest and hands. Her legs were also wrapped in bandages from her knees to her ankles, and she wore nothing on her feet. Two intricate tattoos of eastern dragons coiled down from her shoulders to her elbows, while a large red Oni mask was tattooed on her back. Around her neck, she wore a string of large orange beads, a simple reminder of her heritage.
Earlier, Chiaki felt bored during the day so sat with her arms folded, leaning against the tree and observing Leo's training. Despite her usual tough exterior, there was something almost endearing about watching the boy train with such determination.
Right now, Leo and Chiaki were walking through the dimly lit corridors of the house. Leo's cheek was still throbbing, and he kept touching it gingerly as they walked.
"You didn't have to hit me that hard," Leo grumbled, half to himself.
Chiaki snorted, her arms still crossed. "Maybe next time, you'll think twice before calling me a gorilla."
Leo muttered something under his breath but knew better than to press the issue further. Chiaki wasn't known for holding back when it came to insults—especially from him.
They soon reached the second floor of the house and approached a closed door. Chiaki knocked twice.
"Come in," a calm voice called from inside.
Chiaki opened the door, and they both stepped into the small room. It was a simple office, with shelves of books and scrolls lining the walls and a large wooden desk in the center. Behind the desk, standing near the window, was a tall, elegant man with long black hair. He wore a black and white kimono, split down the middle, with a red cape draped over his shoulders. He also wore purple belt and under it is a black sash around his body.
AN: [Yeah I know, I know. Two moons and I never mentioned but I really wanted to have two moons and I even used them in my previous novel so it doesn't really matter. I just wanted to add the fantasy part about the moon for world-building. Also,...It's my novel and I will decide such things XD]
AN: [ a Sash is a colorful ribbon put around the body. A great example of that would be the green Sash that Zoro from One piece uses to hold his swords].
Chiaki greeted the man formally, "Danshi Sensei, great to see you", her tone showed how much she admired and respected her master.
This man, Danshi, was Chiaki teacher. He turned slowly to face them, his expression unreadable, though there was a softness in his gaze when he saw the two.
"Leonardo, Chiaki," Danshi greeted, using Leo's formal name. "I see you've both been keeping up with your training."
Leo nodded, his voice respectful. "Yes, Danshi-dono. I've been working on refining my technique. I won't stop until I reach a new level of my sword training"
Danshi smiled slightly, though his expression remained stoic. He turned his attention to Chiaki. "And you, Chiaki?"
Chiaki grinned, flexing her muscular arms. "Sensei, you know me. My fists are all I need. With hard work, I'll reach the top."
Danshi sighed, shaking his head. He had always admired Chiaki's strength and talent at her age, but her tomboyish attitude and disdain for etiquette often made him wonder how far she'd go in this world. Still, she was his student, and he had a fondness for her personality and style.
Leonardo, on the other hand, wasn't his student, but he had taken the boy under his wing and offered him shelter. He recognized Leo's potential, though he himself wasn't a sword master. Until a proper sword master could be found for Leo, Danshi allowed the boy to stay and train here.
After exchanging a few more words about their training, Danshi's expression became serious. He walked behind his desk and pulled out a folded newspaper from one of the drawers. Placing it on the desk, he opened it to a page of bounties and gestured for them to come closer.
"Today, I didn't ask for you only to speak about your training. I have something important for the both of you," Danshi spoke, his voice steady.
Chiaki tilted her head and asked, "What is it Sensei?".
Leo equally intrigued, looked at Danshi waiting for him to tell them about this important thing, "please tell us the problem Danshi-Dono. I'll be happy to help".
Danshi nodded and began, "I know you've both wanted to go on a journey, to see the world beyond this village. Well, now's your chance. I have a mission for you."
Chiaki's eyes lit up with excitement, and even Leo leaned in with interest. "What kind of mission?" Leo asked.
Danshi pointed to a bounty on the newspaper, where a picture of a young man with black hair and a confident smirk stared back at them. He held a massive golden axe in one hand, his posture exuding power and pride. The caption beneath the image read: Aiden, the Sin of Pride.
"I want you both to go to the Kederawen Kingdom and find this man," Danshi explained. "If possible, bring him back here. I need to ask him something."
Both Chiaki and Leonardo put their hands on Danshi desk and shouted in unison with an excited voice, "I'll go! I'll bring him back for you, Sensei!"—"I'll go! I'll bring him back for you, Danshi-Dono!"
As both of them realized they spoke at the same time, they immediately showed an annoyed expression at each other. Leonardo rolled his eyes and said while looking her, "I'll go! no need to send her. She'll just get lost and die in some random place", he declared, looking at her while smirking.
"No way, I'm going!",Chia shot back, eyes blazing. "I won't let a kid like you go and ruin such an important task for Sensei."
They glared at each other, neither willing to back down. Danshi sighed, shaking his head at their competitive nature. "You'll both go, or neither of you will," he stated firmly, cutting through their argument. "I'm not sending you out there alone."
They both huffed in frustration but reluctantly agreed. Then, as if on cue, they turned to each other and shouted in unison, "I'm not going with a gorilla!"—"I'm not traveling with a snake!"
Danshi could only sigh again, glancing down at the newspaper, his thoughts drifting. The name "Sin of Pride" brought back old memories. He gazed at the image of Aiden with a mixture of curiosity and nostalgia.
"It's been a very long time since someone proclaimed themselves as the Sin of Pride," Danshi mused aloud. "I wonder if he also awakened like I did in this new era."
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[On the borders on the Kederawen kingdom].
Meanwhile, aboard the Aeliana, Eldric stood at the helm, his experienced hands steady on the wheel as the airship cut through the sky. The soft hum of the ship's magic engine provided a constant backdrop, blending with the rush of wind. He glanced over the edge, watching the landscape below gradually shift from the open waters of the sea to the rolling hills and dense forests of the Kederawen Kingdom.
A smile tugged at the corners of Eldric's lips. After two months of travel, they were finally nearing their destination. He reached over and activated the magic circle, his voice going through the mana powered communication system. "Hey, everyone. We're approaching the border of the Kederawen Kingdom. Get ready; we'll be landing soon."
The announcement echoed through the ship, sparking movement below deck. In one of the training rooms, Aiden had been training some new skills, pushing himself to his limits. Upon hearing Eldric's voice, he paused mid-swing and let out a breath, the weight of his training clothes suddenly feeling lighter. "Finally," he muttered, a grin forming on his lips. "A new adventure begins."
He grabbed a towel to wipe the sweat from his brow before making his way to the deck. The excitement in his eyes was unmistakable—he had been waiting for this moment.