In the quietude of a cold rainy night, a village rests beneath a canopy of stars, seemingly frozen in time.
Thatched cottages with walls of rough-hewn stone stand in perfect order, their chimneys releasing wisps of smoke into the still air.
The cobblestone streets wind through the village, flanked by darkened doorways and shuttered windows.
Soft moonlight casts a silvery glow on the slumbering landscape.
Yet, an eerie calm prevails, for not a single soul stirs within the dwellings. The hearths lie dormant, and the absence of life is palpable.
Shadows play tricks in the moonlit corners, but the village remains undisturbed, caught in a nocturnal limbo that lends an otherworldly hush to the otherwise normal scene.
A legion of 100 black-clad samurai, donned in sleek armour adorned with obsidian hues, strides purposefully through the pouring rain.
Each warrior moves with precision, their steps synchronized, creating an imposing and disciplined spectacle amid the rhythmic patter of raindrops. The sound of clinking armour harmonizes with the gentle percussion of the falling rain as the formidable force advances.
Unannounced to them, a shadowy figure follows their very movements on the rooftops , wondering what to do with his guests. This is the first time in years that anyone besides him had entered the village, let alone an entire army. Indeed, his last encounter with a military force was not pleasant but this wasn't the same army , these soldiers are different.
They entered into the quiet houses , one by one opening everything that could be opened, searching for hidden locks ,doors as thought they are looking for someone 's lost key . Aren't they here to steal ? What are they searching for ?
The others searched outside without a single inch not checked . After hours of looking for a tree in a desert , all wet from the rain, the men started to give up in their search until a scream of two soldiers not so far away broke the silence. When the aid arrived, all they found was two bodies hanging from their legs from a rooftop by a white-green string which was as thick as a rope ,glowing faintly in the darkness of the night.
"What you're looking at?!"yelled one of the hanging bodies."Get me off, There 's somebody here !" Then, from the part which the string was tilled to , a bizarre looking figure appears. "Please leave , there is nothing here for you..." said a soft male voice politely.
Most witnesses of the scene trambled back in fear and shock. Then,what appeared as their cheif passed through the disturbed crowd .
He looked up to the imposing threat .
In imposing black armour adorned with striking red patterns, the samurai bears a regal presence.
His face is one of a elder warrior that bears the weathered marks of countless battles, etched in a tapestry of scars that crisscross his weather-beaten skin like ancient runes.
His steely gaze, framed by furrowed brows and piercing eyes, reflects a lifetime of hardships and victories. Strands of grey hair, like silver threads. A majestic red phoenix emblazoned on his chest symbolizes fiery determination in the heat of battle.
" So the rumours are true..."He murmured in a quiet tone . Suddenly, all men started to line up into two lines opposite of each other. Then, one by one, they bowed on both their knees to give space for whom was coming . The cheif also bowed as soon as he realised his comrades 's doings . Yet he did not participate in the lineup . The important person finally showed up marching slowly, showing his prestige and confidence. Anybody could just take a glance at him to realise :he is no ordinary general.
Dressed in black armour accentuated with elegant purple traces, the samurai dons a resplendent gold-adorned helmet featuring two intricate dragon canons and a crimson red cape covering his back. Attached to his back, these canons embody both power and mythical grace. His sheath, a masterpiece, cradles a blade within, while a vibrant red demon mask adds an enigmatic touch to his formidable presence.
Once close enough, he stopped and looked up to the intruder and said in a deep , cold voice :"So are you are the mischievous bandit that has terrorised the local traders for years ?.. Don't worry, I am not here for you , put my men down and I may have mercy on your life ..." The string disappeared, and the two men came crashing down on the floor . Without checking their bodies ' condition, they immediately bowed down in the same manner as the others did, with the exception of them being completely scared .
"Please forgive us , my lord . " One of them plied in fear .
"Stand." Replied their lord in sharp tone,turning to the crowd,everyone except the two standed taking a army formation .
"Take them out of my face , Miyamoto."
" Yes , shogun Ryuji ."Replied Miyamoto as he pulled their necks and pushed back to the formation.
"I returned your friends unharmed, now please leave ..." finally spoke the stranger in a yet again polite manner .
" That's was an order , not a request . Come down here , I don't appreciate the way you look down upon me ."Answered Ryuji calmly.
The boy reacted fast , losing his politeness. "Just lea -"
The lord quickly swung his sword despite not taking it out of the sheath. A dark purple magical slash appeared and in impressive speed it accelerated at the target. Not long after a huge cut appeared in the house the boy was standing on as it came crashing on itself.
The intruder quickly created a small glowing bow with an arrow in it with the same colour of the bow which was green-white and as he released the arrow, the same string that tided two soldiers not far ago came shotting out the bow with one end attached to the bow itself and the other sticking to another rooftop .
As he pulled himself to the cottage, the Lord swang a second swing with his sheath towards the part that was holding the second end of the string which got chopped off by another magical slash ,leading the boy to crash on the village 's Crossroad which made his looks appear.
A teenage boy, with tousled brown hair and expressive green eyes, dons humble brown, torn peasant's clothing. His attire is completed by sturdy black boots. A green cape, connected to a hood, envelops his head, adding an element of mystery to his rustic appearance with an ancient rope tiring the cape around his neck .
"W-why , why did you..." gulped the fallen boy looking at the destruction in bad mix of fear and shock
"Don't worry , that was nothing special. Now tell me where it is."Demanded the masked swordman calmly.
"What are you talking about ?" Asked the youngster in confusion.
Ryuji pulled out from his armour a key chain which had two golden keys glistened with a radiant hue, adorned elegantly with a meticulous arrangement of two crimson rubies on one and two blue lapis lazulis on the other that traced intricate patterns on both sides of the keys. The warm, lustrous metal provided a regal backdrop for the vibrant gems, creating a captivating and opulent piece as if holding the essence of a royal secret.
"This , of course . I ordered one of my men to deliver secretly a precious piece like this to me about a week ago. He used the outdated Druim Éadarglas Road to avoid detection, yet his carriage got raided by what he said was the local rumour of the 'Glasnapper' , at first I thought it was some low-life peasants but you're more pitiful than I thought. Tell me, what is your meanless purpose you have to dare and take one of the Keys of Fate ?" Asked the Lord with a tone of complete digust of the lad I front of him .
"Keys of ... what ? "
"Please don't act like you don't know about the key's value. Nobody attacks a caravan and only steals a single ordinary key."mocked the samurai.
As the boy continued to show signs of complete confusion, he continued:"If you really don't know, then return it and I will let you live ,you shouldn't steal what isn't yours in the first place. "
"But it isn't yours either. It was a propriety of Mr.Thrainor, the key maker of the village , it was always attached to the bell of his shop , it had a special tone when it rang .It-t was stolen eight years ago, and I-i need to return it to his s-shop ."cried out the 'Glasnapper' , his face looking almost like it's about to start crying.
"Enough with your pitiful lies. The Keys of Fate are powerful objects that can change one's fate to the better ,such powerful object has no place in a mere household. Nobody lives here anyway ,you seem to have found a nice hiding spot. Yet, I wonder about the poorly-made gravestones of about one hundred and fifty people on my way here . I don't really care for what happened , things seem too sketchy already. Just hand over the key so I may leave this wicked place. Unless you want to join them, I will make no grave for theifs like you.
The youth remained silent, not knowing what to do. He is sure that he had just heard wonderful news ,yet all could wonder if he had the courage to throw everything he knew behind and he was ready to do anything to get a fate-changing object as the only thing that was holding him back was the memories of a regretful past that his heart still haven't overcome.
Silent tears traced a delicate path down his cheeks, his shoulders bearing the weight of unspoken sorrows. In the hushed solitude of his position, the quiet tremor of his breath revealed the poignant symphony of a teenage heart grappling with muted pain. Then he thought between himself
Sorry Salrine but ..
He pulled the magical bow and prepared to launch his glowing arrows at his guests thus taking the one-way trip into the uncertain.