Before the duel, tensions simmered as Lady Hiraka, driven by her ambition for her son to marry Princess Amara and claim the royal throne, goaded Ryutaro into a confrontation with her son, Raganork. Raganork, possessed of fire and light auras, had been groomed from a tender age for this moment, while Ryutaro, unaware of magic, faced uncertainty.
As the duel commenced, Ryutaro sensed Lady Hiraka's sinister smirk, her hidden agenda laid bare before his discerning gaze. Though lacking confidence in his own physical prowess, Ryutaro wielded the sword with a skill honed by past battles, his instincts guiding his every move.
The clash of blades reverberated through the courtyard, each strike a testament to Ryutaro's determination to defend Princess Amara and uphold his honor. Yet, beneath the facade of youthful bravery lurked the shadows of his past, the memories of countless battles fueling his resolve.
In a moment of fierce intensity, Ryutaro unleashed a flurry of strikes, his kendo training merging seamlessly with his innate instincts. However, his assault was abruptly halted by Kaito, who sensed a dangerous undercurrent of killing intent emanating from Ryutaro's movements.
The courtyard erupted into murmurs of awe and admiration as Ryutaro's courage and skill were lauded by the assembled nobles. Lady Hiraka, seething with rage and frustration, departed with her retinue, her schemes thwarted for the time being.
As the commotion settled, King Haruki, his gaze fixed upon Ryutaro, applauded the young boy's bravery. Yet, it was Kaito who observed with a mixture of surprise and concern, his keen eyes detecting something amiss in Ryutaro's extraordinary display of swordsmanship.
Turning to Ryutaro, Kaito posed the question that lingered in the air, "Son, where did you learn such swordsmanship?"
Ryutaro's response, delivered with an innocence that belied the gravity of the situation, unveiled a hidden truth – an assassin known as XJ6, shadowing his every step, imparting skills beyond the realm of a child's comprehension. As the revelation hung in the air, the shadows of the past cast a foreboding pall over Ryutaro's uncertain future.