It's been a week. We must prepare ourselves to return home, for our stay here in Sapporo is over.
As I prepare my things, the old man suddenly asked, "Are you leaving now?"
"Yes." I replied.
"Well then, I guess I must prepare to leave as well."
I then grabbed his shoulder and shook my head at him, "Stay. You have nowhere else to go anyways."
He gasped, "But-"
"I'll take care of it, so you may stay here."
He sighed, "I don't deserve this..."
I smiled and looked at him, "This is the least I can do, for showing me enough realizations."
He continued to sigh and looked down, "I... I did that because you helped me from the street."
I chuckled, "It's fine. This place will be lifeless if no one's around. It will need a source of light."
He stared blankly at me, "I... Really?"
"So stay. Ok?"
He smiled, "Ok. Thank you."
After our conversation, I head-out. I wonder if Yuna is waiting for me back at the café.
Oh I missed the aroma of their coffee... The smell of the brewed coffee beans, poured into hot water, 'till it releases a smoke with a strong scent... A pure bitter-sweet flavor that would give you relaxation, especially in the morning, mixed in hot boiling water, and served in a cup.
Their coffee is the reason why I met her and the reason why she's my barista girl. How she refills my coffee back then, even though their free refill promotion was over.
I'm like the coffee and she's the sugar. She brought sweetness to my bitterness. Bringing color to my black and white life.
I somehow just missed her and their espresso. I hope she welcomes me with open arms as I return.
But, I... I am also such a fool... I should've refused the mission when I had the chance, so that I could stay with her.
If only I met that old man a little earlier, maybe I don't have to go through a dilemma...
As time pass by, we finally made it back to Tokyo.
I am so excited to go to the café, but we must all report to the elder first. As we return back, we then meet with the elder. We bowed down before the elder.
"How is it?" The elder asked.
"It's a success... The traitors are annihilated." Our superior replied.
"How many casualties?"
"Just 3, my elder."
"And the sword?"
"The sword is uh... It's with him." Our superior then pointed his finger at me.
The elder then looked at me with his gazing eyes, "Where is the sword?" He asked.
I then showed it to him, but in keychain form.
He then raised an eyebrow, "Did you summon it?"
I looked down, feeling sorry, "I... Yes..."
"Summon it."
I was surprised. His tone of demand is like I'm in trouble. I then followed his command and imagined my keychain sword into a real one. After the sword and its scabbard becomes real, I then unsheathe it and showed it to him.
"Now... I want you to chant the skill: Shadow Flare."
My eyes opened widely in shock. Because I know that skill he said. It's the previous owner's skill which will inflame your sword into dark colored flames. I also knew, that the skill requires a high extent of mana...
So, I asked myself, 'Just what is he trying me to do?'
"Well then, are you going to chant the skill? Or not?" He asked.
I gulped, 'This is bad... If I use this skill, It will drain my mana to death.'
However, there's nothing I can do, but to reply, "Yes, my elder."
I then breathe in and out as I prepare myself to chant the skill, "Shadow Flare!"
The sword then began to inflame, covering itself in black flames.
The elder smiled, whilst the hoarders around me were surprised.
"That sword has a super rare rarity. It could hurt any soul which includes celestial beings. It must be protected and must be in the right hand." He says.
As he explains that, I'm starting to feel a little ache in my arm.
"Tell me, can we trust you with that?" He asked it with his eyes looking at me with intent.
"Yes, of course. My elder..." I replied confidently.
"Very well. But first, you must strengthen the bond between you and that sword. Can you do that?"
My eyebrows furrowed, "What do you mea-"
The ache in my arm suddenly becomes an anguish. I fell on my knee and shouted in pain. I then coughed blood and splats it on the ground.
"You must learn how to use that sword, otherwise we can't trust you with that. You must strengthen the bond between you and your sword." He added.
This is the same thing that happened from the previous owner. He couldn't stop the sword from draining too much mana until it kills him.
I gnashed, 'I... I must do something... I still wanna see Yuna... I... I must overcome this or else, I'm gonna have the same fate as the previous owner...'
I then tried to calm myself and imagined the flames to fade. As I do that, the flames around my sword, started to vanish. The anguishing pain in my arm slowly wanes as well. The sword took a lot of my mana, making me feel tired and exhausted.
The elder then smiled as he sees me succeed, "Well then... I guess you now know how to calm it."
Feeling tired, I looked at the elder with sweats in my face, "Am I trusted now? My elder?"
"Yes."
I feel contented as he reply. However, shouldn't he be smiling? As he reply with a yes, he literally smirked and not with a happy smile. He is also still looking at me with his gazing eyes.
I then had a thought, 'I'm sure he hasn't fully trusted me yet...'
"Well then, you may all go now. Ryu, I want you to actively participate in every task we give you. Understood?"
"Yes, understood. My elder..."
I then took my leave after that and head-out.
It was night by the time we returned back to Tokyo from Sapporo. As I walked around the city, the snow started to appear from the sky. It seems that winter has finally reached Tokyo.
After a long walk, I finally reached the café. It's only been a week since I left the place, but it feels like I've been gone for a year.
As I admire the view of the café, I then saw her, contemplating from the window.
She's just looking at a distance. I was admiring her view, when suddenly, our eyes met. I then smiled at her and she smiled back. I waved at her and she waved back.
I felt so happy to finally see her again. So happy that even my eyes began to produce tears.
I quickly wiped it off and grinned at her, "Yuna, I'm back..."