Kioku and Mora followed behind Yona who had teleported them to the entrance of the capital. The grand city had tall black metal walls and there seemed to be no entrance into it.
"Uh, how do we enter?" Asked Mora.
"Watch," said Kioku. Yona placed his hand on the wall and the portion in front them disappeared revealing a road filled with people and numerous shops and stalls. As the group walked down the streets, Mora gaped at everything he saw, he started towards an armory but was stopped by Kioku.
"Stay focused," said Kioku. Mora looked downcast but continued walking. The shops had now disappeared as they went further up the road and dark Victorian style houses could be seen. The light sources each house had were glowing blue crystals that illuminated the streets with blue light.
"Kioku, what's the Shadow Realm special unit?" Asked Mora. "You never told me about it when you talked about the Shadow Realm."
"Never reveal all your secrets even to your allies," Kioku said, he looked around and was glad no one had recognised him yet. Yona who was in front of them turned and nodded approvingly at Kioku.
"That is indeed correct," said Yona facing forward and slightly quickening his pace. "However, you can relax in front of Prince Mora, Lord Hakai decreed that the forces of the moon god could be trusted."
'Why do I have to be the tour guide for this idiot? I know you're walking faster because you're too lazy to explain it yourself,' thought Kioku giving Yona a dark look.
"The Shadow Realm' s military is split into two forces, the main army and the special unit, the Shadow Guard. The main army only mobilises during a final war situation whilst the Shadow Guard is constantly on duty. The Shadow Guard fights the war from the shadows and few people know of it, it also serves as the intelligence unit of the Shadow Realm."
"So he's the leader of the whole force?" Asked Mora, he had barely met Yona but was becoming increasingly wary of him.
"Yes, with the help of the seven unit commanders," said Kioku, he had noticed that Mora now paid more attention to important conversations. 'That loss might have affected him more than he's letting on.'
"How strong are these seven-," began Mora but his words were drowned out by the loud cheers that suddenly erupted around them.
Kioku looked around and saw a large crowd had formed around them, encompassing them from all directions. The people had joyous expressions and some were crying tears of joy and looked at Kioku as though he was their god.
"Prince Kioku is back!"
"Heaven better be prepared!"
"The situation will be turned around!"
"My son...my son will be saved!"
"Let's begin a celebratory banquet!"
The cheers all showed the people's belief in Kioku, he was their hope. Kioku gritted his teeth and clenched his fists so hard that blood dripped from them.
'Shut up,' he thought. Kioku was about speak when a ring of black flames formed around his group that blocked the crowd of people.
"Now now everyone," said Yona smiling brightly at the crowd. "Prince Kioku has just arrived and is extremely tired so he must rest, farewell."
Yona waved goodbye at the crowd and the flames grew taller and formed into a miniature tornado. When the the tornado dissipated, the group was gone leaving the crowd who all turned at once to face the palace high above them.
♤♤♤
Kioku and his party appeared in the dark circular throne room of Hakai. Hakai was still on his throne, Tsukiyomi was pacing but the moment the group appeared he ran forward and embraced Mora.
"You survived," said Tsukiyomi relief visible on his face. Mora was stunned but he embraced his father as well. Kioku walked until he was just infront of the throne and faced the mass of shadows that occupied it, even he had never seen Hakai's true appearance.
"I have returned," said Kioku his voice had no hint of emotion.
"I noticed," said Hakai, a long black box rose from the shadows before the the throne. Kioku looked at the box with a curious expression and turned back to Hakai.
"Consider this a present for completing your training, well mostly anyway," Hakai said with blankly.
Kioku knelt and opened the box, inside lay a long black katana in its sheath. The hilt had a black and red cover and the guard was circular. Kioku was about to draw the blade but Yona stopped him.
"Are you crazy?" Asked Hakai.
"What-," began Kioku but Yona spoke over him.
"Drawing that sword now will kill you, your Arch is far too weak to handle the strain," said Yona. Kioku noticed that Yona looked at the sword with a mixture of fear and longing.
"That sword is the Kage," began Hakai. "It's made of pure dark matter and is incredibly sharp. It's able to cut through even the body of immortals but requires alot of Arch for it to fully activate so you can't properly use it."
"And how exactly is a sword that I can't use properly useful to me?" Asked Kioku curiously.
"Your mot-," started Hakai but at that moment a black flame erupted at the centre of the room. Everyone within the room stared shocked at the fire, Yona was the first to recover and pointed his hand at the flame and closed his eyes.
"Who is it from?" Asked Hakai, his tone was serious. Yona made a motion as though closing a fist on the flame, the flame changed shaped and formed into a tall man with a wide brimmed hat and travelling cloak, one of the man's eyes was covered by a bandage.
"Odin, Leader of the Aesir and Lord of Asgard," said Yona a slight note of surprise could heard in his voice.
"What just happened?" Asked Kioku.
"The god Odin just sent a distress signal," responded Hakai. "He's in a disparate need of our assistance but there's nothing we can do but simply ignore it."
"Why?" Asked Mora in an angry tone. "He's one of our allies right so why should we ignore it?"
"There's no one to send over to help our hands are tied," said Tsukiyomi in a defeated voice.
"Then send me and Kioku we can-," began Mora but a wave of powerful Arch blasted throughout the room. Hakai laughed loudly and the entire throne room shook.
"Send you and Kioku? You barely survived an encounter with a mere apprentice to a Heavenly General what gives you the impression that you can sort out a threat that a supreme god like Odin, who is miles above that apprentice, couldn't handle," said Hakai.
"Furthermore," said Yona joining the conversation. "Lord Chaos has given the order that you and Prince Kioku are to remain in the Shadow Realm until further notice."
Mora looked as though he was about to respond but Tsukiyomi placed his hand on his shoulder and squeezed it tightly. "Mora thats enough this is something beyond your scope of ability, come there's something i must show you."
There was a flash of silver light and the duo disappeared. Kioku remained staring sadly at the spot where the two had previously been standing.
'This is for the best Mora, you and I can't make a difference in this situation its better to listen to those who can,' thought Kioku.
He closed his eyes and turned back to Hakai but when he opened his eyes he was standing atop the top most tower of the palace. In front of him, floating in mid air, was a hooded figure with a purple tome in hand. Kioku could only see his glowing purple eyes from under his hood.
"Who are you? Asked Kioku, dark energy slowly formed on his hand.
"I am Fate."
Kioku knew the person was not lying, the air around him was ancient and powerful similar to the presence Hakai gave.
"What do you want with me?"
"I stand before you because you, Kioku Himira, are at a cross road and its time make a choice," said Fate in a deep echoing voice.
"What choice?" Asked Kioku but he already had an idea of what Fate meant.
"The choice of whether to remain in the Shadow Realm or explore the world beyond it."
"I already have my orders, I'm staying," said Kioku with a sigh. "There's no point in going either I'm far too weak to make any difference."
"Before you decide," Fate said as he held out his hand and a piece of paper with a purple glow appeared and floated above it. "I have a message for you from-."
When Fate spoke the name, Kioku eyes widened in pure genuine shock, he went as white as a sheet as though he had just seen a ghost.
"That's impossible," said Kioku in a hollow voice. "She's dead, long dead, there's no way-,"
At that moment a voice rang from the piece of paper and that silenced Kioku. The voice was soft and rich and warmed his heart as it spoke.
"Kioku, I'm sure you've grown into a fine young man and women must be throwing their undergarments at you. I left this message with Fate because I knew you'd have to make a difficult choice, the choice of whether to stay safely at home or to go and discover the world. I would've wanted for you to be safe, but you wouldn't be able to grow, become your own person and find people you care about."
Kioku listened to all of this with sad expression. That voice had once been one of the things that brought him comfort, a tear trickled down his face and he quickly wiped his eyes.
"Also, I want you to grow into the something the Shadow Realm will need most, what me and Hakai could not create, I want you to become-."
The words that followed caused Kioku's eyes to widen, even Fate looked momentarily taken aback.
"I know you must be afraid and you have every right to choose to remain but if you do choose to go, go knowing that I have always believed in you and that I love you, the Shadow Realm needs you, Hakai needs you, help them all for my sake."
The voice faded and the page disappeared, Fate retracted his hand and faced Kioku whose hair had cast a shadow over his eyes.
"Does the message cause you to rethink your choice?" Asked Fate.
"The situation is hopeless," answered Kioku in a whisper, Fate noticed his fists were clenched hard.
"I see if this is your choice then-," Fate paused. Kioku had raised his head and was looking at Fate with a determined look.
'No he's looking far beyond me, he's looking at what awaits him on the road ahead,' thought Fate.
"But, I'll follow in my master's footsteps and go out there and atleast take a few down with me."
Kioku opened his eyes and found himself back in the throne room, Yona stood next to the throne with Zeru still on his shoulder.
"Kioku, I said you're dismissed," said Hakai loudly.
Kioku bowed and put his hands together and disappeared into his shadow. The darkness around Hakai rippled and revealed his mouth, which was curved into a wicked grin.
"Yona, you know how I always wished for the Shadow Guard to have a new unit," said Hakai.
"Yes my lord."
"It looks like that time has come, summon the tailors."
♤♤♤
Kioku sat down on the cliff behind the castle that overlooked the capital. The Kage was in front of him and he gave it a sad look, there was a flash of flames and Draco appeared in front of Kioku and made a whimpering sound.
Kioku looked back at Draco, he saw the hurt deep within the little dragon eyes and felt his insides crumble.
"I'm sorry, we were too weak to help him."
Draco let out a long sad roar that carried away into the night. Kioku's hair cast a a shadow over his eyes, he clenched his fists and a tear dropped from his eyes, he stood and looked at the bright blue moon.
"We'll make sure he didn't die in vain, this I promise you," said Kioku slowly. Draco raced up Kioku and rested on his head and gave him a questioning roar.
"I was supposed to go to the battle but it came to me, so be it," Kioku took the Kage and walked back towards the castle with a look of pure rage.
"I will join the fight!"