Thunder Chronicles: The Path of Light (Volume One)
#7 Welcome
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In the northern part of the Land of Winds, the first snow was about to fall. A stone path cut through the coniferous forest, surrounded by the Deadly Peaks, leading straight to the Shadow Estate, encircled by a stone wall and easily recognizable by its distinctive Thunder architecture. However, even getting remotely close to the estate was a difficult task for anyone outside the organization. The area was protected by repelling magic and spells cast by subordinate warlocks who wielded the so-called "corruption" as their defensive weapon.
The sounds of battle near the estate's wall stirred Raito awake from his sleep on a haystack. Kobo sat next to the driver, who was, in fact, one of the Shadows and was merely posing as a hay cart driver to conceal his true affiliation.
— Drop us off here, Otto. — said Haruka, sitting at the edge of the cart.
— As you wish. — the driver replied, raising his hand.
The main entrance to the estate was a grand, heavy door made of dark wood, which was far from easy to open.
Haruka bent the ring finger of her left hand, pressing it with her thumb, then raised her hand to chest level, forming a sign of light that opened the front gate. The massive doors creaked open, revealing the estate's grounds. The girl calmly stepped over the threshold and followed a straight path lined with a beautiful stone garden, its grass surprisingly green for this time of year. Kobo pulled Raito off the cart, thanked Otto, and followed after Haruka.
— You guys have a pretty simple password. — Kobo remarked as he carried the half-asleep Raito on his back. — Ever thought about tightening security?
— Try repeating the same symbol yourself. — Haruka replied, walking ahead of him. — Let's see how that works out for you.
While Kobo struggled in vain to mimic Haruka's hand sign, the utterly drowsy Raito stood swaying beside her.
— How long have we been here? — he asked, yawning and stretching.
— Just arrived.
— Mmm. Where did Kobo go? — Raito turned toward a clearing strewn with small white pebbles.
In a corner of the estate stood a small green garden where a wisteria tree grew, and in front of it was a spacious training ground where two people were sparring. A girl with white hair tied in a ponytail, wearing a pale emerald haori with mesh cutouts near the shoulders and loose black pants with an emerald tint, stood with her back to Raito. Her opponent faced her—a young man also with straight white hair covering his ears, though his features made it clear he was from the mainland. He wore a light, unbuttoned dark gray windbreaker, a white shirt, a red scarf, and long dark gray trousers.
— Good morning, Lady Kaisa, Ludwicht! — Haruka called out, waving her hand.
— Quit showing off, you idiot! — the white-haired girl shouted, swinging her blade. — Can you do anything besides that?
— Oh, come on, cry about it! — the young man taunted in return. — Jealous Kaisa.
— What? — the girl grimaced.
Raito watched in confusion, while Haruka sighed heavily.
— Great, it's barely morning, and they're already at it.
— Did they not split something fairly? — Kobo asked, somehow having made it into the estate, much to Haruka's surprise.
— How did you get in? — she asked.
— Just copied the hand sign. — Kobo said, showing two crossed fists.
— But you're not part of the organization.
— Is that a requirement? — he smirked.
The girl in the emerald haori finally lost her patience and unleashed a dozen bright emerald lightning streams at Ludwicht, forcing him to twist and dodge.
— Okay, okay, that's enough! — he shouted teasingly.
— Why are they always at each other's throats? — Kobo asked.
— Are they dating or something? — Raito muttered, rubbing his eyes.
— Well, sort of. — Haruka replied.
— Heeey! It's Haruka! — Kaisa squealed, already closing in for a hug. — How long has it been? Since July? How was your expedition in the Land of Fire?
— E-everything's fine… — Haruka responded as Kaisa shook and squeezed her. — You're that happy to see me? Haha…
— Of course! Oh, and who's this? — Kaisa turned toward Raito. — Aaah?! Raito? I almost forgot what you looked like! You all came together?
— Uh, yeah. — Raito answered, now Kaisa's full focus. — Just now.
— Good morning, I'm Ludwicht. — Ludwicht extended his hand to Kobo.
— Oh, morning. I remember you. — Kobo replied, shaking it. — This kind of thing happen a lot?
— Yeah, pretty often.
In a small room overlooking a pond, three people sat facing each other. A woman with striking blue hair neatly tied into a bun, wearing a white kimono and a haori with a wave pattern, and Ren, dressed in a dark gray, loose-sleeved shirt tucked into wide black hakama pants.
The third person, whom Raito noticed upon entering, was unfamiliar to him. His dark brown wavy hair, tinged with reddish hues at the tips, fell to his shoulders. His deep burgundy eyes carried a serious expression. This light-skinned man, clearly older than twenty, wore a maroon vest over a well-ironed high-collared shirt, fastened with a metallic button. His outfit was completed with elegant black trousers and a ring with a dark burgundy gemstone on the index finger of his right hand.
Raito slid the door open and stepped inside. Taking a seat on a tatami mat, he placed his blades beside him. Saishi sat to the left of the terrace, Ren with his back to it, and the unknown man sat before Raito.
— Welcome back, Lord Hakami. — Saishi greeted him with a smile.
— Thank you, no need to be so formal. — Raito bowed.
— You've grown stronger. — Ren noted. — What happened to the tea merchant from the Trade Plaza?
— Yeah, how much time has passed? — Raito murmured. — Neither that guy nor the Trade Plaza exists anymore.
Ren's smile slightly faded as he silently met Raito's gaze. The man in the maroon vest simply stared at the floor.
— But what about the second tea merchant? — Saishi teased.
— Ludwicht dragged him off for training, so I'll relay everything you say. — Raito replied. — Forgive him.
— Ah, Ludwicht. — Saishi chuckled. — Well, I hope they have fun!
— With Ludwicht, Kobo definitely won't get bored. — Ren smirked.
Outside, it was slightly cloudy, but the morning sun still lit up the estate's garden. The terrace doors were open, letting in a fresh breeze. This was a small gathering held by the head of the Shadows, arranged in honor of Raito's return.
— Well then, let's discuss your situation, Hakami Raito. — Saishi spoke in her gentle voice.
Kobo sat on a tall boulder in a small clearing among the pine trees, just outside the estate. He and Ludwicht had come to test each other's abilities.
Jumping down from the two-meter-high rock, Kobo pulled out his axe and coated it in stone armor, making the weapon grow in size several times over. As he spun it, he generated powerful gusts of wind, which could also be used to inflict minor damage on an opponent.
Ludwicht turned toward Kobo's position and raised his palm.
— Interesting. So you can wield two elements at once?
— Yep, surprised? — Kobo grinned from ear to ear.
— Not surprised, but it's definitely useful. — Ludwicht adjusted his red scarf before extending his hands forward, as if pressing piano keys. — Ice Blooming Garden.
The forest clearing was instantly covered in a layer of ice, from which flowers began to sprout, shedding their frozen petals. The wind Kobo had raised swept the petals into a massive whirlwind.
— Though something like this could also work against you. — Ludwicht said proudly.
— You talk as if I'm just playing around here. — Kobo shouted, his voice suddenly serious.
He spun his axe rapidly in the opposite direction of the wind, neutralizing the tornado of multicolored ice shards. Then, with swift, nearly imperceptible movements, he shredded the petals into fine dust. All that remained of Ludwicht's attack were barely visible shimmering specks. Spinning his axe once more, Kobo caught it in his right hand and smirked.
— Gotta admit, your attacks are pretty fancy, man. — Kobo said, resting the axe against his back.
— Right? And yet Kaisa doesn't get it. — Ludwicht said, clearly hoping for some understanding. — A radiant person like me simply has no other way!
— Yeah… — Kobo exhaled, his eyes empty.
For two years now, the Purge had been on the continent, terrorizing ordinary people. Their goal was to eliminate those who had fled the Land of Thunder during the revolution of the year 708, and more recently, to capture the head of the Shadows – both as a personal enemy of the Purge and as the daughter of the feudal lord of Thunder, who was overthrown fourteen years ago.
Hakami Raito's very existence had the potential to become a major target for both the Purge and the Land of Thunder.
Saishi's concerns about Raito were fueled by the fact that the current emperor's revolution was driven by a thousand-year-old feud between two clans descended from the God of Thunder himself. Believing that the Hakami, who had peacefully lived on their island for centuries, had oppressed his clan, the heir of the Light family, Heisa Katari, led a revolution that especially targeted the clan of the purple lightning element. In the end, Raito – the grandson of the fallen clan leader – was still alive and standing on both feet, making his elimination a serious goal for the Purge.
— That's why I'm offering you protection. — Saishi said. — I'll personally make sure you're safe.
— What? — Raito asked gruffly, clearly surprised. — You think I spent two years busting my ass in the mountains for this? Studying the structure of energy, the elements?
The room fell into complete silence. Ren and the man in the burgundy vest kept their eyes down, while Saishi, her expression unchanged, continued to look at Raito.
— I'm not the type to sit idly by while a threat like this exists. — Raito continued. — Besides, because of them, I still don't know what happened to my mother.
— So, you want to fight? — Saishi asked.
Raito stared silently into the woman's white eyes.
— What other choice do I have?
The girl chuckled softly, something Raito, caught in the heat of the moment, didn't quite understand. Saishi raised her left hand and gestured toward the man sitting in a burgundy vest and white shirt.
— I expected this answer. You really are a Hakami – your attitude gives you away. — She smiled. — This young man's name is Loran. He's the only person in the world who possesses the blood element.
The man finally lifted his gaze, his expression still serious.
— He's about to head off on an important mission to his hometown in the Land of Water. — Saishi continued. — And as it happens, a certain important individual needs to be escorted there. Would you be interested in taking on this task?
— Is this an invitation to the Shadows? — Raito asked, his tension easing slightly.
— Something like that. — Saishi smiled.
— Alright. But who am I going with?
— Someone's returning from a trip soon. You two will lead the mission together. And of course, our fighters will always be nearby, ready to step in if needed.
A trail of cigarette smoke curled behind the covered carriage as it rolled toward the Deadly Peaks. Sitting on the very edge, one leg dangling over the side, was a young man dressed in a white, partially unbuttoned shirt and dark brown trousers. He cracked his neck and let out a heavy sigh, brushing back his neatly combed pale-burgundy hair.
— Feels like I never even had a break. — The young man muttered in a tired voice.
— You were gone quite a while down south, Nils. — The driver said (this time, it wasn't an organization member but someone familiar).
— Not that long. Just a week and a half.
— That so? See much? — The man asked, flicking the reins to urge the horses forward.
— Not really. — Nils replied monotonously, tapping his cigarette. — Spent the whole time dealing with my father's funeral.
— Lord Walter passed away? He was a good man. Strong.
— The old man had been ready to go for a while. — Nils scratched his neck. — Losing my mother and sister last year really took a toll on him. Hell, I had a hard time pulling myself together, too.
— My condolences, Nils. Truly.
— Thanks, but honestly, I feel pretty calm about it now.
— Well, that's your business. — The driver said. — So, where to next?
— Got an important request from the Land of Water the other day. Looks like I'll be heading there.
— The Land of Water, huh? What do they need an architect from our parts for? They've got plenty of talented folks of their own. — The driver laughed loudly in surprise.
— Who knows with those "culturally refined" types. — Nils said, lighting another cigarette.
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Smoking kills.