Within the depths of sleep, Kiyoshi begins having the same dream he had in the cave. Him playing by the river bank until he is being bullied and attacked by a group of boys. His eyes turn a demonic red and right before the day sky turns dark, he awakes from his nightmare. Cold sweating and breathing heavy Kiyoshi was too bothered to notice the breakfast laying next to him in bed. Next to him was flatbread and cream with honey-infused hot tea and on the side were dried fruits. Kiyoshi confused pondered who left food for him when Ashri walked in. "Hope I didn't disturb you, just wanted to make sure you got the breakfast I left you," remarked Ashri. "You made this for me?" asked Kiyoshi. "I sure did!" replied Ashri, excited and with a dazzling look in her eyes. "Looks like someone has a girlfriend," giggled Lilly. "Shut it" whispered Kiyoshi. "What" replied Ashri. "Oh, nothing, I was saying it looks beautiful and thank you," replied Kiyoshi to a confused Ashri. "Your most welcome," replied Ashri as she tries to prevent Kiyoshi from seeing her blush by hiding it in her clothing. When you are finished eating, can you meet me downstairs? ". Ashri asked. "Sure not a problem, ", replied Kiyoshi as Ashri made her descent down the stairs. Before Ashir left, she asked Kiyoshi if he always slept in his hat and cloak.
Kiyoshi looked up at the ceiling and replied always is something wrong?" No, it's nothing," giggled Ashir as she left. "You forgot we can talk to you telepathically, didn't you?" laughed Tyrook. "I said shut it" replied Kiyoshi as he looks over at the food with a small smile on his face with quickly leaves as he is in turmoil about what he is feeling at this point in time. After finishing eating, Kiyoshi proceeds down to the living room to meet Ashri.
When Kiyoshi arrived in the living room, Ashri was already waiting for him. She wore a long sleeve shirt almost like a dress as the cut of the shirt had an end that flowed like a dress. The shirt was blue with multicolor tie-dye patterns. The neck of the shirt was low cut, but this still covered her breast completely. She wore plain blue pants and a blue tie-dyed headpiece, like a headband made of silk."Looks you're going out" remarked Kiyoshi. "We are," announced Ashri excitedly as she points to something behind Kiyoshi. Behind him was a blue, loose-fitting cotton coat with a long-sleeve about knee-length or longer. The bottom of the sleeves, center edges, hem, and neckline of the coat had a decorative braid of purple and red patterns. "It called a Chapan. Do you like it?" asked Ashri. "Thought since my dad won't be finished till tomorrow we can walk through town, at least see the town and its people that you are saving," remarked Ashri happily, waiting for Kiyoshi to respond. "There is no need for that. It's just a mission. I could stay here till your dad is finished. replied Kiyoshi. "So don't want to be around me, I understand". replied Ashri, whose cheerful demeanor grew increasingly depressing. "No, it's not that" replied Kiyoshi. "Then you must hate the Chapan I got for you," replied Ashri with her head down. Kiyoshi, not understanding the situation, only knew that before he said he could stay home that Ashri was cheerful and now he said what he said she got depressed. Agreed to venture into the town with her. Ashri quickly raised her head with a huge smile, hugged Kiyoshi, and dragged him out of the house by his hands.
As they walk through the centuries-old town, they saw the various blacksmiths working hard but with no passion and love for their craft. "They used to have some much love for what they did before you know what, ", remarked Ashri she held Kiyoshi's hand. Kiyoshi is still confused why Ashri still holding his hands, just nods his head. The pair walk through the marketplace of the town. The smell of herbs and spices Kiyoshi never smelt before overwhelmed his senses, but in a positive way.
As Ashri pick up some stuff, Kiyoshi looked around observing how closely connected the town's people are, everyone knowing each other. "Ready to go?" asked Ashri. "Go where? ", asked Kiyoshi.
"You will see," giggled Ashri as they headed off. A half later, after trailing through the forest, they arrived at the edge of a cliff. Ashri sat down and started packing out stuff from her bag. As she unpacked, Kiyoshi took in the sites beyond the horizon, which were absolutely beautiful. Throughout his many years of doing missions, he never got the chance to sit and what the different scenery he has been to, and now he realized how much he missed out. After unpacking, Ashri called Kiyoshi over who was still daydreaming about the beautiful horizon and landscape as the trees covered the land with different shades of green, red, purple, and blue. When he arrived, Ashri had already prepared lunch for both of them, which was tasteful and beautiful, arranged on a violet blanket. "I Thought we can come here and have lunch, isn't it beautiful?" remarked Ashri as he looked up at the sky with her long black hair flowing in the breeze. "It is" replied Kiyoshi. "Yeah, I used to come here all the time with my mother before she died". Remarked Ashri, "Am sorry about your mother", Kiyoshi replied. " She was so strong, fearless, and beautiful. I hope I can be like her one day." Remarked Ashri. "You are just like her. You're amazing and a beauty like no other" replied Kiyoshi who soon realized what he said and turn his back to Ashri in embarrassment. Ashri also turned away to hide the fact she was blushing from Kiyoshi's compliment before giggling and thanking Kiyoshi. "It's getting late. Let's return home," remarked Ashri as the sun began setting, creating an orange, purple color to flow through the sky as the pair headed back home.
Back home, the two decided to head straight to bed, as the day was long but enjoyable. Ashri escorted Kiyoshi to his room. As he entered his room, she pulled him and kissed him. Unsure what to do in the situation pulled away. "Am sorry, I just thought?" remarked Ashri, before running away. Kiyoshi stretched out his arm to stop her but froze at the last second, letting her leave down the stairs as he proceed inside his room. He sat on his bed confused but knowing he did something to offend Ashri, thinks about a way to cheer her up. "You are a regular Casanova aren't you kiddo," remarked Tyrook from the sword. "What did I do wrong?" asked Kiyoshi. "Really kiddo, clearly the girl has feelings for you and you do for her, but at the last minute, you pull away. If that was me, I and her would be in pound town by now!." remarked Tyrook in a disappointed tone. "Really classy, Tyrook real classy," remarked Lilly, intruding in an annoyed voice. "What!" replied Tyrook. "Don't say anything else. You're making yourself look stupid," replied Lilly. "Whatever, replied Tyrook as he retreated. "You like her, don't you, Kiyoshi?" asked Lilly as she took over the conversation from Tyrook. "I think I do, I don't know what is this feeling," remarked Kiyoshi. "I understand Kiyo. You've been around demons and an old man your entire life and it's weird knowing someone actually like you for you. But you deserve it. Just tell her how you feel, not because you're cursed doesn't mean you don't deserve happiness, something you know, Kiyo," remarked Lilly before retreating into the depths of the sword. Kiyoshi went to sleep with Lilly's words still lingering in his mind and, for the first time in years, didn't have his recurring nightmare.
The next morning Ashri was downstairs cleaning when soldiers from Xeng entered. "Wow, look at this place these bastards been holding out on us," remarked one soldier. When they turned their attentions to Ashri, who took off running to reach up the stairs to get Kiyoshi when one of the men grabbed her and threw her on the ground. The men began pushing her around and passing her around. Causing hold house items to fall and break. Ashri begged them to stop, but they stated they came to take her to their base but have decided to have her right here and then. Ashri screams out before one of them hits her with the blunt side of his sword. "Now fellas, let's have some fun," one of them replied. Upstairs Kiyoshi awoke, sat in bed deciding on how he can approach Ashri when he heard the commotion and Ashri screaming before going silent. "Something is wrong". remarked Kiyoshi as he quickly grab his sword and flew downstairs.
Downstair Kiyoshi saw a sight that instantly sends him into an unfathomable rage and bloodlust. In front of him, eight Xeng soldiers stood over Ashri, whose clothes they ripped badly, exposing one of her breasts and undergarments. "What have you done to her," remarked Kiyoshi in a state of disbelief but before the men could answer Kiyoshi's blood lust had taken over and all eight men were killed so violently that looking at their bodies you would be an animal attacked them. Their blood spilled and scattered throughout the house and even cover Ashri. When it was all said and done, the men were dead. Kiyoshi picked up Ashri, who was still in a state of shock and was crying up the stairs. He washed the blood off of her, changed her clothes, and lay her on the bed. As he left to go back downstairs, Ashri grabbed onto his hands. "Please don't leave me Kiyoshi. I don't want to be alone," remarked Ashri was shaking as the tears ran down her face as she cold sweated. "I won't leave you. Am just going downstairs to clean up my mess and I will be right back ok" replied Kiyoshi. Ashri nodded as Kiyoshi proceed down the stairs.
Downstairs, Kiyoshi wiped the blood off the walls and flooring of the house, thinking to himself that he was invited to someone's home and he messed it up and almost got their daughter raped. As he finished cleaning the house, he walked up the corpses, took and a deep breath which caused one of his hands to ignite with a blackish-purple flame. He rests his hand on the first corpse and it turns to ash instantly and even though the flames on his hand were hot enough to turn a body to ash with such speed and efficiency; it had no effect on Kiyoshi. With his ignited hand, he turned all the corpses to ashes. After the last body was burnt Kiyoshi heard a deep male voice coming from his sword but not like Kivuli's and Tyrook's voice this voice had a more creepy, ungodly, and immoral tone to it."You really do like this woman don't you boy?" asked the voice in a sinful tone. "You hardly ever use my powers unless it is a come to this situation". The voice continued as it laughed with iniquitous intentions in its tone of voice. "I am not in the mood for your bullshit right now, Devivial," remarked Kiyoshi, annoyed by the voice's sudden intrusion. "But we both know you can't ignore me, can you, Kiyoshi?" remarked the voice.
Suddenly Kiyoshi appeared in a different area, almost like a different dimension. The dimension was pitch black with no end in sight and ground of the felt like a black liquid but somehow solid and Kiyoshi stood firm on it. Even though Kiyoshi appeared to be in this strange new place, his body was still as Shamaks's house. This version of him was more of an astral projection than himself. Kiyoshi turned around to see a colossal figure sitting on a throne. The being looked like a Caucasian male, but with a few noticeable differences. For starts, the being was at least two hundred feet tall with a pair of curved ram horns on his head. He also had a red-colored eye in the middle of his forehead. His hair was a deep red color and run down his back, hitting the ground. The figure was mostly naked beside a leaf blocking his private area. As the figure sat on the throne, you can see that he was actually stuck to the throne by golden shackles were bonded to the throne, and his hands and feet. The shackles were engraved with words ulinzi wa mbinguni kutoka kwa uovu wa ulimwengu wote. Throne was made of concrete and was plain and dull. The figure looked over to Kiyoshi with a devilish grin as Kiyoshi looked at the figure annoyed and stated, "What do you want, Devivial?".