As twilight descended and their day drew to a close, Mika meticulously arranged his belongings, methodically preparing for their imminent departure, leaving his quarters barren and vacated. Engrossed in the task of packing an astounding array of provisions, Mika found himself marveling at the sheer capacity of his bag, unaware of its boundless expanse.
"Hehe, I think I've gone too far on packaging," Mika confided, echoing Sougo's prudent skepticism regarding the necessity of carrying such a plethora of supplies. Despite his meticulous preparations, it was evident that Mika's experience in protracted adventures was limited. "We're off to a non-stop journey, not to move in." Sougo said as he kept his eyebrows raised.
"I know..." carefully stowing away the essentials within his backpack, Mika invoked the "Albatross" spell, imbuing the bag with a magic that alleviated the burden of its weight, allowing him to traverse the path unencumbered by its bulk.
Meanwhile, outside the confines of their abode, Sougo stood vigil over his Syyon, ensuring its well-being before they embarked on their next odyssey.
Sougo had quickly gotten stronger; he had already attained a level of human which none had surpassed in his world, without having the foggiest clue how the logic in this world worked–all because magic were like cheats.
"Shows your discipline huh?" Mika's voice emerged from behind Sougo, a knowing tone suggesting admiration for Sougo's steadfast discipline and its role in his strength. "Must be proud of yourself... Well, me too." Mika's smile exuded a sense of pride.
"You've been training tirelessly, day in and day out. And much to my annoyance, you've surpassed me in strength. It's only natural, given your... background as a war veteran," Mika acknowledged, a hint of playful rivalry lacing his words.
"In this realm where nocturnal predators prowl beneath the veil of dusk, you, mister Sougo, acted just like one." Mika's voice carried a tinge of annoyance, his peace disrupted by Sougo's relentless pursuit of improvement.
While Luna found serenity amidst the nighttime symphony, Mika resorted to earplugs to shield himself from the disruptive clamor.
As Sougo broached the topic of their impending journey, breaking the silence that enveloped them, Mika responded affirmatively. "Yep, I've made my last pilgrimage to the tomb, ensuring our provisions are secured. This way, we can embark on the adventures that beckon us without the shadow of financial concerns looming over us before we reach Auberyonne. Isn't this great?"
Mika presented himself as a youth eager to embrace the richness of the journey ahead, while Sougo harbored a different longing - a deep-seated desire to reunite with his family, a sentiment that resonated within the core of his being.
With the motivations of Sougo and Mika laid bare, all that remained was the enigma called Luna. This mysterious girl, with her fragmented memory, held the last piece of the puzzle. Mika ventured a guess that her desire was to reclaim her stolen past.
Luna, despite being ill-prepared for the treacherous journey ahead, was brimming with an eagerness to set forth, to avoid the torment of solitude once more.
As such, Mika began teaching her the art of magic, a safeguard for unforeseen emergencies. Alone and unobserved, he cast a protective seal over their dwelling, ensuring its preservation in their absence. The house, thanks to the spell he cast would remain untouched by time.
Yet, before their departure, Mika had one last matter to attend to. His disposition had visibly changed, his once playful smile now a mere memory. Sougo, noticing this change, resolved to unearth the truth behind Mika's transformation in the days to come.
Sougo discovered Mika paying respect in the presence of a tombstone, a recorded memory of an elderly woman framed in its heart. Ordinary in its design, the grave bore no grandeur, its inscriptions being its only character. Nearby, a broom and a hat lay discarded, their ownership linked to the arcane world of witches. An incense stick placed by Mika quietly smoked in the air.
"I'm sorry, granny. This house is your treasure... and mine... but It's time for me to leave you and this place, I hope you're happy out there." Mika's voice was hushed, a small smile adorning his face as he murmured a farewell to his grandmother. The words reached Sougo, stirring a sense of familiarity within him, as if he had encountered the elderly woman in the realm of his dreams.
"Ah, mister Sougo," Mika turned, his eyes reflecting deep-seated gratitude toward the grave. "I was offering my final adieu to my grandmother. She was my guardian for twelve years before she passed away. If weren't for her, I don't think I'll be born decent or just might not live long at all."
Silently, Sougo took in the sight of Mika's grandmother's picture, a strange sensation washing over him. He chose to ignore it. "We should go..." Sougo broke the silence suggesting to leave.
"You're right," Mika agreed, his gaze shifting from the tombstone. "Lusina might be waiting for us. Let's go."
With that, they ventured beyond the boundaries of Mika's residence, leaving the familiarity of the home behind. Lacking any vehicular convenience, their journey commenced at a leisurely pace.
As they moved farther from Mika's dwelling, curiosity bloomed within Mika, prompting him to seek more insight into Sougo's life. The perfect way to know his closest friend better.
"Samurai... they're warriors, correct? They engage in combat using only katana blades? I seldom witness you wielding anything outside of a bow and a katana. Hardly believe it, but in your world has no magic how in the world would you accomplish with only just two weapon choices?" Mika inquired as his curiosity grew more the more stronger.
"Yes, the katana is the final resort in a battle. It's impractical to charge against a cavalry with nothing but a katana. During the war, we frequently resorted to a much heavier, longer weapons like "Yari" a spear and a bow called "Yumi". Or... A more longer blade than my katana, called a "Tachi"." Sougo responded, his focus on the katana he was meticulously cleaning.
"I once wielded dual blades, but I have found the most comfortable in acquiring just one. Its utility extends to both self-defense and the act of suicide, though I consider the latter a foolish pursuit of honor. My ultimate objective was to bring an end to the bloodshed, not to serve as an instrument of revenge. This led me to often disregard the commands of my Shogun," Sougo's grip on the handle tightened, his teeth gritted in suppressed frustration.
The pursuit of peace was not within his command; only capricious fate had deceived him. Sougo finally permitted his eyes to close, quelling his rage to release the ghosts of his past.
"So, are samurais just bound to the shogun's will? Like they have nothing against it?" Mika probed further.
"To fight for the shogun, to uphold the shogun's honor, and to lay down our lives for the shogun, that is our purpose, no reason could against it." Sougo retorted, his tone laced with irritation.
"Sounds like slavery..." Mika's eyes narrowed, reeling from the harsh realities of Sougo's existence. "Hmph, a perfect description." Sougo agreed wholeheartedly.
Hours elapsed as Sougo, Mika, and Luna found themselves bathed in the grandeur of the natural world, finally emerging from the forest's embrace, the hills presenting themselves in welcome.
Nearby lay the remnants of the settlement Sougo had laid to waste. Unable to bear witness to the aftermath of this terrible event, Mika averted his gaze upon realizing Sougo's military past.
In the meantime, Luna looked on, a melancholic gaze falling upon the charred remains. Their journey, dictated by strategic necessity, led them to the southern reaches, where the majority of cities were located.
Upon reaching a bifurcation in their path, a signpost at the junction to guide them, Mika's mood further soured. One path promised the Avalaya valley, a destination Mika found distasteful. The alternative led to the Salanka river, a place of nothingness.
Caw! Caw! Caw!
The jarring caw of crows echoed from above, casting an ominous pall. "Halt! State your intentions!" an unfamiliar voice, muffled by the crows' cacophony, demanded from an unseen perch.
"We're just travelers, no cause for concerns," Mika retorted.
"Leave. Go north or east, it's of no consequence. This place is unsuitable for your ilk." The hidden figure, perched atop the signpost, urged them gently to divert their course. "There's no place for vacation there." The figure glared.