As dusk arrived, Yamada completed his last drill, dropping Harbinger off his shoulders. The great sword shattered the ground, burying itself half a metre deep. He trudged over to the large wooden barrel of water, dragging the wicker basket behind him. The armour shattered into dust. The wind kissed the sweat glistening on his naked body. He breathed a great sigh of relief, raising the large barrel over his head. The cool water gushed over him, and he fell to the ground. Exhausted beyond belief, he mustered the energy to still be modest, and drape a single shirt over his groin.
He closed his eyes, a wave of accomplishment filled him. It washed away the exhaustion and pain. He wore a big grin, staring up to the beautiful pristine sky, raising his hand to the air. The scars of his past stared out at him, still slick with the water. "Can you see me Mama? I'm actually at the Citadel." He whispered to himself filled with pride. "I'm training with best Grand Knight. Her name is Gwyneth Lockhart." He whispered filled with warmth, before clenching his fist with anger. The veins in his forearms bulged and his knuckles went white. "She'll help me become strong enough. I'll become strong enough to avenge you." He snarled, dropping his arm.
A young woman bowed over Yamada, wearing a thick leather armour, over her cotton trousers and blouse. Her blonde hair tied into two pig tails, dangled past her round rosy cheeks. Yamada locked eyes with her blue eyes. "You're naked." She said resting her hands on her kneecaps. "I covered the main area." Yamada said blushing, but kept eye contact. She pursed her lips to a line. "While its 'covered' the wetness of let's us see the outlines of your manliness." She said with a coy smile. Yamada shot up to his feet, summoning his armour. He cleared his throat awkwardly bowing to her. "Sorry I didn't mean to-" "I didn't say that, so you would put more clothes on." She said with a breathy voice, biting her lower lip. Yamada froze as the girl leaned in closer, whispering into his visor. "In fact, the other girls and I think you're super cute." She whispered, placing her hand onto his breastplate.
"Sarah, I said greet the boy, not tease him." Yssac ordered. Sarah stepped back winking at Yamada, clasping her hands behind her back. She bowed at Yssac approaching them. His gaze upon Yamada was filled with disdain and irritation. "This is my squire, Sarah Eachra. She'll be joining you in the scouting mission." He said coldly. Yamada reached his hand to greet Sarah with a handshake. Yssac swatted it away, pulling Yamada in by his salet, with tremendous force. "Don't get in her way. I don't want my squire being hurt because of your stupidity." He snapped. "I'll try my best not to. Now let go of that area, before it turns into my lower jaw." Yamada growled. Yssac pulled his hand out in a panic. He snarled at Yamada as he raised his visor to smirk at him.
"Petulant child-" Yssac growled reaching over his shoulder. "If you're going to pick a fight with the boy, that just spent half the day training. The stories of your cock, matching your temper and composure must be true." Urkse boasted loudly. Behind him walked a young pale slender man. His black curly hair was tied tightly into a pony tail. His pulled face made it look like it was tied too tight. Yssac spun around baring his teeth to Urkse. "Do you want to fight?" He barked, lowering his stance ready to fight. Urkse raised his hand into the air, pretending to shudder in fear. "I yield Yssac. I have no interest in meeting the tip of your spear." Yssac relaxed. "Mainly because I like women." He joked patting Yssac on the back. Yamada , Sarah and young man covered their smiles.
"Yamada, this is Peter Navarro." Urkse said present the young timid man. He wore a black cloak, over his linen shirt and leather trousers and boots. "He is the Enk mage, I have chosen to join your mission. I hope you will do your best to keep him safe should the situation arise." He said giving Peter and strong pat on the back. Yamada bowed to Urkse, with his hands down his side. "I will do my best." He said rising up. Urkse popped the cork in his flask. The sound made Yssac, Sarah and Peter take a step back except for Yamada. He locked eyes with Yssac. "I didn't think I would have to say this to you Yssac. But if you raise your hand against anyone in the Citadel, who is not an enemy of our Kingdom again. I will paint the third ring with your entrails." He growled. His words sent a shiver down all of their spines. Yssac hesitantly nodded, taking a step back. Urkse corked his flask smiling at Yssac. "Shall we depart?" He asked gesturing with his hand, for Yssac to lead the way.
Yssac took point marching off first, with Urkse following behind him. He turned around giving a thumbs up to the three of them with a big goofy smile across his face. A wave of relief went through their bodies. A young blond man walked beside Axlias. He looked like a spitting image of Axlias in his youth. Slicked back blonde hair with a regal appearance, however with less muscle and beard. He bowed before them, wearing the same leather armour as Sarah. "Rolant Azer, squire to Axlias Xenarith" He said rising up. Axilas said nothing walking away with Vexgar following after him. A short stocky man stood next to Yamada, barely reaching his pit. He was baby faced with long black hair that hung over his eyes. "Gavinus Samson, squire to Vexgar Xenarith." He said with a soft demure voice, bowing to them.
The four of them shared a quick glance at each other, puzzled at the choice Vexgar had chosen. The chosen mages of Aeris, Cin, Soel and Rai stood before them, wearing their respective coloured cloaks, over their linen shirts and leather trousers. "Rachel Avice. Aeris's chosen mage." She said cheerily wearing a proud grin. Rachel was a young lean woman, with short auburn hair, and green eyes. She stood as tall as Yamada wearing her heeled boots. "Helena Renford. Cin's chosen mage." She said looking away disinterested. She was the tallest in the group with long black hair, and sharp features. "I'm Marion Alis, Soel's chosen mage!" She exclaimed proudly, bouncing up and down with joy. She had long brown locks of hair that bounced up and down with her voluptuous body. "Vicar Ingran. Rai's chosen mage." He said coldly. He had spiked brown hair with sharp features and wore a tight shirt that hugged his muscles.
A blinding flash of light appeared beside them, all of them shielded their eyes. Jacara appeared with Encara, wearing only his trousers, drenched in sweat. "I told you that you would be late to greeting yourself." Encara said pushing Jacara into the circle. "They already know who I am!" Jacara yelled pushing Encara away. "Oh, you don't know that. Play nice, they'll be your friends from now on." Encara said shooing Jacara into the circle. Jacara stood awkwardly in the circle, as everyone silently stared at him. "What?"He snapped. "Well who are you?" Sarah said with a coy smile. "See, they all don't know you." Encara said. Jacara cursed Encara under his breath, clenching his fist, his face going red. "I'm Jacara, Encara's son." He growled through his clenched teeth, turning back to Encara. "Happy?" He snapped.
"You're Encara's son!?" Yamada exclaimed filled with genuine shock. Jacara snapped back to Yamada staring at him in disbelief with bulging eyes. The others all shared Jacara's expression and thought 'This guy is an idiot.' "Wow, I did not know that. That explains why you're so strong." Yamada said , looking away to remember his fight with the Fire Dragon. "You didn't think I was his son, when you learned my name?" Jacara asked. He shook his head waiting for the answer that should be obvious. Yamada shrugged his shoulders. "I thought people on the mainland, just named their kids after the King." He said throwing up his hands. Jacara took a deep breath, attempting to comprehend Yamada's train of thought. "So who are we missing?" Encara asked counting the group. "A squire from Lyn and Fervias." Rolant said. "Well, I'm sure they'll be here soon enough. Yamada, Grand Mage Cin would like to speak with you." Encara said. Yamada pointed to himself. "He wants to talk to me?" He asked puzzled. "Yep, now grab my sleeve and let's go." Encara said offering out his arm.
Yamada hesitantly grabbed onto Encara's sleeve. He felt a sense of dread filling him. Thoughts raced through his mind of what Cin would want from him. Another duel? After training the whole day? Even a farmer would have more honour than that. Encara clapped his hands. The two of them disappeared with a blinding flash of light. They appeared below the Citadel in the caverns. Encara fell to his hands and knees panting heavily, his skin shrinking and pruning. His spiked silver hair slowly wilted down turning jet black. Yamada knelt down beside Encara, wrapping his arm around his waist. "King Encara are you okay? What's happening to you?" Yamada asked worried. "He's used up too much arcane energy, teleporting around and not walking." Cin said standing near the entrance of a tunnel. Encara fell onto his back wheezing. His decrepit and shrivelled state filled Yamada with dread and shock. "I'm okay, just give me a few days to rest." Encara wheezed weakly, like an old man gasping for his next words.
"Leave him, he'll be okay." Cin said, walking through the tunnel. "Go, with him. I'll be okay." Encara said feebly waving Yamada off. He hesitantly left Encara jogging after Cin. 'Damn that kid. He spent the whole day training and wearing his armour. And I'm still drained trying to move his arcane energy.' He thought, chuckling to himself, staring down the dark tunnel. 'Your past is coming for you Begron. You'll meet the monster you created soon enough.' Yamada followed Cin in to a large opening. Spiked stalactites formed from the ceiling, and ground. Yamada took a gulp, as he and Cin stood silently in the cavern.
He was suddenly taken aback as Cin fell to his knees bowing towards Yamada. "I do not expect to be forgiven. I apologise for what happened to you fourteen years ago." He said keeping his head to the ground. "You didn't do anything to me?" Yamada said looking at him askance. "I was there that night. I-" "You were the crimson Ryū that saved us." Yamada interrupted. "Yes that was me." He said solemnly. Yamada approached Cin, standing over him. "I don't want your apology." He growled. "I want an answers." Yamada clenched his fists, his armour turning into scales, and he begun to grow in size. "Why didn't you kill Begron that night? Are you weaker than him?" He snarled, the salet and gorget beginning to fuse.
Cin was silent. He expected a different response. "Yes, even entering into my Draken state, I cannot defeat Begron alone." Yamada knelt down. Cin noticed the spiked points on Yamada's sabatons turning into claws. "Teach me, how to control the Draken state. I can enter it, but after a certain it all goes-" Cin leaned back on the balls of his feet. "It goes black, and you don't remember anything except a feeling in your gut." Yamada sat back as well, shrinking down in size. "That's exactly it." He tapped his helmet, separating the dragon head into two pieces of armour. "Once this thing joins together. It feels like I'm just watching from inside. It's starting to become really hard to master. It doesn't seem possible to balance my arcane energy to wield my weapon and keep my armour on, without entering it." He said entering into a deep thought.
"Do not think of the Draken state as something you can master. " Cin said standing up. Yamada looked at him confused. He pulled his sleeve back, revealing his forearm, opening his palm to the sky. The gate of fire opened in his hand, a small flame danced in his hand. "Entering into your Draken state, comes from letting the anger, sadness, sorrow, grief and pain consume your humanity." Cin said expecting to see Yamada react. He was unfazed, and seemed eager and ready to transform. The thought made Cin uneasy. "Entering into the Draken state does not, require using your arcane energy." He said. Crimson scales grew on his forearm, his pinky and ring finger merged together. Cin's arm became a three fingered claw, with long protruding black claws. The small flame did not change in size. Yamada gazed in wonder, as Cin's arm returned to normal. The flame in his hand suddenly shot into ceiling. The raging inferno made Yamada fall back. The flame disappeared with the gate, and Cin showed his arm remained human.
"You draw your arcane energy from a place of anger. Learn to draw it from a place of love instead. When it comes time to transform, let that sensation take over, but I warn you now. When you enter that place, that dark abyss that exist within you. Do not fall asleep." He said. Yamada was silent absorbing the information like a sponge. "Are you alright?" Cin asked. "What makes Begron so powerful, that he can beat a Grand Mage like you?" Yamada asked. Cin paused. Like an animal senses a predator, he could sense the murderous and vindictive tone through his question. "Begron, is a rare phenomenon. It takes years of training and dedication, to open the gate that fast. That is why those who train as mages, do not train their physique and instead train their mind. Knights dedicate themselves to the weapon, and strengthening themselves. Begron is not only a master of both, but his affinity and raw amount of arcane energy."
"What's so special about his affinity?" Yamada asked, standing up. Cin grabbed Yamada's salet. He could feel Cin pouring arcane energy into his armour, suddenly an intense wave of heat radiated out from the salet. Yamada leapt back, fanning and blowing on it. "My affinity is fire. The more I exude, it takes on the property of heat. Begron's affinity is light." Cin said tucking away his hand. "So when he releases arcane energy-" "He'll burn your eyes out." Cin answered. "If I fought him now, how would I do?" Yamada asked clenching his fists. "You'll die, and barely be an inconvenience to him." Cin said bluntly. He had hoped to discourage Yamada's thirst for vengeance, with the truth. "I'll need to ask Gwyneth to train me harder." He said with a smile, to Cin's astonishment.
"How do I get out of here?" He asked looking around. "Did you not hear me? Begron is not someone you can kill." Cin shouted. "Then I'll kill his family like he did mine!" Yamada snapped, with a cold gaze. "Now, how do I get out of here? Or do I have to break my way out?" He asked. The ceiling parted way and Soel floated down. "You've done enough breaking, dropping that stupid sword yours into the courtyard." She said annoyed. She pointed her finger to the sky, and Yamada shot into air screaming in terror. The hole in the cavern closed after him. "Did you get what you were after Cin?" She asked. Cin struggled to find the answer and ultimately shrugged at her. "No, in fact I think I may have sent him deeper down the path of vengeance." He said glumly. "I don't think anyone in this world, could settle the storm that rages in him." She said shaking her head gently.
Yamada shot out above the stone courtyard, falling face first into the ground. The wind was knocked out of his lungs. The dirt filled his salet and poured through his visor. He stood up coughing, noticing the other scouts circling around Harbinger. Each of them were red and sweaty after attempting to lift it. "This thing is impossible to lift!" Gavinus exclaimed. Yamada frowned marching over to them. He broke their circle grabbing Harbinger ripping it out of the ground with one hand. The others gazed at him in disbelief as he smirked at them. "If you can't lift it. Don't touch it." Yamada said walking away, slinging Harbinger over his shoulder, grabbing his wicker basket.
He marched into the Gwyneth's quarters. She sat in the kitchen with the other hand maidens eating a stew filled with pork bones and vegetables. "I finished your training, what's next?" He asked, gently and carefully resting Harbinger against the wall. "You clean yourself, then eat dinner with us and rest for tomorrow." Gwyneth taking a sip. "The sun hasn't set yet, and there's still light. I can keep training." He whinged. She gave him a stern gaze that a mother would give. "You won't kill Begron, if you kill yourself first. Now go clean yourself. You smell rancid." She said staring him down. Yamada reluctantly walked off into the bathroom the handmaidens followed after him. "I don't need helping cleaning myself!" He exclaimed, his voice echoing out.
Yamada laid restless in the bed next to Gwyneth, tossing and turning. The bright moonlight filled the room. "What's wrong?" Gwyneth asked, rolling to her side, resting over her arm. The blanket slid down barely covering her bare breast. Yamada refused to look at her. The sweet scent that wafted around her after a bath was intoxicating. Gazing at her would break his focus. "Grand Mage Cin, told me I need to draw my arcane energy, from a place of love instead of anger." He said pulling the blanket up to his mouth, blushing. She smiled at him. "And you can't do that?" She asked with a coy smile. He pouted and turned his back to her. She slipped out of her blanket.
Yamada's eyes bulged, feeling her step onto his mattress, and begin to lie down. "Wh...wh..what are you doing?" He asked clutching blanket tightly, white knuckling his grip. "Training you." She whispered into his ear in a sultry breathless voice. A shiver ran down his spine. She pulled his blanket up, and wrapped her arms around Yamada, before he could scurry away. He felt her body pressed against his back, her soft arms wrapped around his body, and her hot breath. "Are you uncomfortable?" She asked nuzzling into his shoulder, clutching him tightly. He swallowed a ball of saliva, clearing his throat. He steeled himself ready to break free and reject her advances, when he felt droplets kiss the back of his neck.
"Hendrik's death still haunts me, and it never will stop haunting me. I can never see Hendrik again. I thought I would never be happy again." She sobbed, sniffling, as she held him closer. Yamada didn't say anything, he could feel the tears streaming down her face. She chuckled to his surprise, but he did not move. "Until you arrived." She said warmly. "You are everything he was. Sweet, kind and loyal to those you care for."Her voice cracked and he felt her hug him tighter. "Thank you for coming into my life." She said sniffling. Gwyneth broke away, getting up to leave, wiping her tears.
She suddenly felt Yamada's firm grip grasp her wrist. He pulled her back in close turning around as he did. She blushed her face felt red hot. Their hot heavy breathes collided as Yamada pressed his body to hers. Her skin felt cool to the touch against his burning body. "Yamada..." "I'm sorry, if I'm bad at this." He whispered cutting her off. She trembled feeling his hands run through the back of her hair, suddenly pulling her in close for a kiss. Her eyes bulged with shock, staring at him as he passionately kissed her. She melted in his grip, closing her eyes to kiss him back, clutching him tightly and taking charge of his inexperience.