The next morning Yamada stood in front of the terrified Erlan. "Sir...." "You don't remember my name do you?" "No I do! Of course I do....it's....it's..." "Yamada. Now gather your 'guardians' and lead me to the Sanguine." "But you were already shown were they are." Yamada's eyes darted away. "This is your domain. I want to make sure I don't miss any of them." "Of course. Very wise." He stammered, quickly leaving with him. Yamada let out a breath of relief. Erlan gathered the other Guardians with Yamada standing behind him. Each of them trembled at the sight of Yamada. They wielded poorly made spears the metal rusted. They stood in a line awaiting his orders. Lorexia watched on, still trying to lift Harbinger. "Is this really the spears you use? They aren't even made from the Kaioni wood." A Guardian scoffed "Well we aren't carrying monster sized swords."
Erlan slapped the back of his head. Yamada approached the closest Kaioni tree. "Yama, do you need your weapon?" Theodas cocked an eyebrow at Lorexia. 'Yama?' Yamada placed his knuckles onto the tree. "In about a few days." He said looking to Lorexia. "She'll also be able to do this." Yamada threw a quick straight, his fist shattering the trunk. Their eyes popping out of its sockets, they watched as the trunk crashed into the ground. Yamada shook his hand from the splinters. "You didn't even summon your armour." Erlan said shocked. "Didn't need to. Now after I deal with the Sanguine. You're all going to make proper spears. Or at least stakes. Come on." "Are you telling me I can eventually do that, if I keep trying to pull this sword out!?" Lorexia exclaimed.
"Well I could do this before lifting Harbinger. You're just doing it backwards." Lorexia quickly grit her teeth yanking on Harbinger. Yamada snickered shaking his head. "Come on." He followed the Guardians into the forest. Deep within the forest they heard the wailing of a man, and a rhythmic knocking on wood. "A Sanguine is close." Erlan whispered. "That's not a Sanguine." Yamada said. A naked Immortal clawed at tree. "That's an Immortal." "An Immortal?" "That's a long story. I'll remove his head, make sure his body does not go near his head." "How are you going to cut his head off without-" Yamada lunged in transforming, and ripped the Immortal's head off with one clean bite. He spat the head back to them, reverting back to normal and wiping his mouth. "Let's keep moving." They all nodded in sync. They ventured deeper into the forest. Yamada made short work of each one, letting the Guardians deal the finishing the blow.
The stench of rotting flesh and blood became pungent. Bones littered the ground with maggots and flies swarming the air. The Guardians covered their mouths. Yamada scanned the area. "Why haven't you done this earlier? They aren't very strong." "There are Sanguine that are different. More cunning, agile, stronger. We are Guardians, we do not strike first." Yamada knew where that mentality lead. He would not let it happen with Lorexia's people and family. Yamada pressed forward the sound of a bone snapping caught his attention. The hair on the back of his neck stood on end. He felt his Draken side hesitate, urging him to pull back. "Get back. There's something ahead."
They followed his orders like well trained soldiers. Yamada peered in deeper. The sight confused him. Hordes of Sanguine gathered around a giant pale white Dragon, crimson ruby eyes. They offered it limbs from several immortals. The pale Dragon suddenly stopped, taking a whiff of the air. It quickly locked eyes with Yamada. It cracked a sly smile, crawling towards him. "Flesh..." It hissed. "RUN!" Yamada roared transforming. The Pale Dragon leapt at Yamada being tossed over his shoulder. It quickly dissipated into a shadow, coiling around him. It sunk its fangs into his tough scales. The Pale Dragon reeled back bleeding from its fangs. Yamada lunged at the Dragon with his claws, only for it to dissipate again. He snarled scanning the area for the Pale Dragon. He suddenly felt the Sanguine crawling over his feet. Yamada took a deep breath releasing a torrent of water into the ground.
The Sanguine hissed and flailed in the pool of water. Yamada crushed them under his feet, suddenly being tackled to the ground from behind. The Pale Dragon dug its claws underneath Yamada's scales. Yamada threw the Dragon off watching it disappear into a shadow again. Erlan and the other Guardians scaled up in the tree. "We are not strong at all." Erlan said. The others nodded in agreement. Yamada scanned the area, each step he took shook the ground. The Sanguine crushed or drowned at his feet. The Dragon suddenly pounced onto Yamada's back, shoving him to the ground. It forced his head under the water, pinning his wings and tail down. Yamada released an explosion of Arcane energy. The water shot into the air throwing off the Dragon. Yamada quickly rose to his feet snarling, and scanning the area.
From the shadows the Pale Dragon watched Yamada from above. Waiting for him to turn his back. It pounced as Yamada exposed his back. With a lightning fast pirouette Yamada spun around driving both claws through the Pale Dragon's ribcage. It roared out in agony. Yamada hovered his head over its mouth and blasted a torrent of water down its gullet. Erlan and the others watched as the Pale Dragon's belly bloated and filled, before violently erupting. Yamada ripped the Dragon's heart out and devoured it whole. A overwhelming surge of energy filled his body, and he reverted back to his human state. The water around him slowly lowered, and he trudged through the death and carnage he had done. Erlan and the others quickly scaled down to meet Yamada. "Is that all of them?" They nodded terrified at him. "Next time, tell me they have a Dragon. I could have been at recovered long ago." "Do you mean you're at full strength now?" "Feels like it. Once the preparations are complete. I'll leave here with Lorexia."
Yamada had carried Lorexia back to her bed once more. "Did you get them all?" "Yeah, I got them all." "And you did this out of the GOODness of your heart?" "Yes. I killed them all out of the evil in my heart." "So does that mean, we'll be leaving soon? I don't have to lift your sword out first do I?" "No, we'll leave soon. I want to make sure we have everything first. In the mean time keep training." Lorexia blushed, shying away. "You know...this trip...It will be just us. And I'm a woman...you're a man..." "Do you want to have sex with me?" She froze. Her heart leapt out of her chest. She felt her palms become clammy and sweat beads pour out of her skin. "I've been with six women. I hope that's not too many." "Pfffft....I've been with men as well." "Not in my house she hasn't!" Theodas called out from the kitchen. "DAD!" Yamada chuckled at her scowl.
"He doesn't know what he's talking about..." She chuckled nervously. "I've been with like-" "You're a virgin." Her face was bright red. "Your first time should be with someone special. I don't think that should be me." "Who was your first?" She asked pulling up her blanket. "My teacher. Gwyneth." 'Even her name sounds amazing!' "Was she special to you?" Yamada nodded. "If it wasn't for her. I would have been dead the moment I came to Jux. She taught me how to use that sword. How to use my Arcane energy properly. And she helped me get the Draken heart to become a Forsaken Knight. She gave me a breath of new life." "Why didn't you stay with her?" "Because, I wanted my revenge. And that her first and real love died. I looked exactly like him, but only he had silver hair." "I mean I can see where she's coming from. That's a good look. Have you thought of finding a way to colour your hair." He gave her a glower look.
"I'm going to do something. Then I'll let you decide what to do next." Yamada said. Her eyes bulged out of its sockets. She watched as Yamada leaned in closer, feeling his breath on her face. He aimed for her forehead, only for Lorexia to hoist herself up by his shirt, and meet his lips. They froze in place, closing their eyes before parting. Lorexia quickly darted under her blanket. Yamada blushed blinking rapidly. "I'mreallysleepygoodnight!" Lorexia squealed turning away. Yamada left puzzled at what had happened, but both had the same thought running through their minds. That was fucking amazing! He left the house with a smile that refused to leave. Talindra met him outside with a bundle of new clothes. She gave him a peculiar look, cocking an eyebrow. "Yamada...you look different." "How so?" "You look..." She smiled at him. "Happy." "I guess I am." "Are you off somewhere at this time? Theo should have dinner ready soon."
"Just going to get something for Lorexia." "Oh? Is that right? May I ask what it is?" He blushed. "It's a secret?" "There are flowers behind the Elder's house, that she really loves. Although they are off limits." "I wasn't getting her flowers..." Talindra waved him off. "I was going to get her..." As she left his ear shot. Yamada quickly sprinted away, with her snickering. Yamada stood behind the Elder's house, a row of majestic Dragon Lilies, gently swayed and rocked with the breeze. Yamada scanned the area before gently pulling one out of the ground. He fled the scene in a hurry. "WHERE THE FUCK!?" An Elder shouted in the distance. Lorexia sat at the dinner table wearing a smile. Theodas and Talindra stole glances at her cheery mood. She hummed a jolly tune, setting up the dinner table, with spring in her step. Yamada entered into the room holding a single Dragon Lily, and his bushy hair cut and styled. Shaved on the sides and spiked on the top.
"Sorry, I'm late. The Barber took a while to stop shaking." "Is that?" Theodas asked, looking at the Dragon Lily. "Oh, um...this is for you." He said offering it to Lorexia. She shakily took the flower, and quickly ran into her room. He nervously scratched the back of his head, confused at the interaction. "Do you normally steal flowers for women?" Talindra asked with a sly smile. "I don't get women flowers in general. They don't do anything." "Then why did you get her one?" Theodas asked. Yamada shrugged bashfully. "I wanted to get her something nice." He said taking a seat with a smile. Lorexia emerged her lips now an intoxicating violet. A sweet fragrance wafted from her. Yamada blushed unable to hide his smile. "Did something happen between you two?" Theodas asked. "No." Both of them exclaimed in sync. "All I ask of you two. Is to keep it quiet, and don't wake us up." Yamada and Theodas choked on their meals. "MUM!"
"Yamada is like no other man, we've ever seen, but he's still a man. He has the same face your father had after we first kissed." Yamada and Lorexia both blushed. "My little Lo-Lo must be very special to you. If she's the first ever woman you've gotten flowers for." "Really!?" Yamada bowed his head. It felt as if someone had used his face to open a Fire gate. "So what is our daughter to you?" Talindra asked. The three of them stared at Yamada for a response. "She is very...very....She is someone, I'd lose piece of my heart to..." He said blushing, before burying his face into his hands. The three of them cocked an eyebrow, unfamiliar with the expression. "Could you explain?" Talindra asked. Yamada grimaced. "On my home. Yamata. We believe that when you fall in...with someone you give them a piece of your heart, and they do the same. So both people aren't....missing a-" "THAT IS SO ADORABLE!" Lorexia and Talindra squealed. Yamada quickly wolfed down his meal. "I'llsleepoutsidegoodnight! Seeyoutomorrow!" He left flustered.