After making sure Taro and Lily were safe, Kai sneaked out of Lily's house, looking for answers under the light of the moon that still faithfully accompanied his steps. He decided to head to a place that had always been his refuge — a quiet forest outside the village. There, he crouched among the lush trees, trying to soak in every second of his new life.
"Who am I?" Kai muttered to himself. The power he possessed felt so foreign yet so strong. He closed his eyes, trying to reflect on the memories that felt so vague from his previous life.
Suddenly, a bright white flash appeared between the trees. Kai raised his head, eyes wide in shock when he saw the shadow of a mysterious figure watching from a distance. Before he could react, the figure disappeared into the shadows of the dark night.
With a gasp, Kai stood up. His heart pounded, an inexplicable unease welled up within him. What is happening in this world? And what is his true role in all this?
With heavy steps, Kai returned through the forest towards the village. Deep in his heart, he knows that his new adventure has begun, and this previously strange world holds deeper secrets than he ever imagined.
Kai stepped forward with his heart still pounding after his mysterious encounter in the forest. The light of the full moon was still bright in the sky, creating long shadows between the towering trees. Every step he took felt heavy, as if he was carrying a burden he didn't fully understand.
As he approached Crowd village, he felt as if someone was watching him from a distance. His instincts gave him warning signals, but Kai knew that he had to remain alert without being too suspicious of everything. His new life in this world has taught him that nothing is certain, and danger can come from anywhere.
Arriving at Lily's house, Kai found the atmosphere much calmer than when they arrived. Taro was fast asleep on a simple mattress in the living room, his face still reflecting the tension of the events they had just experienced. Lily sat next to the bed with a worried look, her eyes occasionally glancing at Kai as he entered the room.
"How is he?" Kai asked quietly, trying not to disturb Taro's sleep.
Lily nodded gently. "He's still in shock, but it looks like he'll be okay. Thanks for saving him, Kai. I don't know what would have happened if you two weren't there."
Kai smiled gently, even though his heart was still troubled by unanswered questions. "I just did what had to be done," he said simply.
Lily looked at Kai with a knowing look. "You're not an ordinary child, are you?" he asked suddenly.
Kai was silent for a moment, considering how he should answer the question. However, before he could respond, a loud noise from outside caught his attention. A commotion from the center of the village, the sound of shouts and hurried footsteps.
The two of them left the house quickly, joining a number of villagers who had gathered on the main road. In the crowd, Kai saw a group of armed men who appeared to be arguing with some local residents.
"What's going on here?" Kai asked a resident standing next to him.
The resident nodded nervously. "They are the soldiers of the Huk Rongas, the rulers of this city. They are always causing trouble for us, demanding unaffordable taxes, and sometimes even arresting citizens for no apparent reason."
Kai looked at the group of soldiers feeling uneasy. He had heard about the cruelty of the Huk Rongas from stories circulating among the villagers. The man was known for being cruel and often using his power for personal gain, without caring about the fate of other people.
Suddenly, one of the soldiers caught their attention with a sharp movement. He looked around with a searching expression, as if looking for someone or something important to him.
"Is there something wrong?" Kai asked a resident standing nearby.
The resident shook his head with a tense face. "They are looking for a young boy, an orphan who ran away from them a few days ago. They say he has special abilities, and they want to catch him back for experimentation purposes."
Kai's heart was beating fast. Are they talking about Yuu, Rin, Mizuki, and Gura, his little friends who also escaped with him from the cruelty of the Huk Rongas? They had gotten separated from him in their escape attempt, and now they might be in grave danger.
Before Kai could think further, the noise between the soldiers and residents became increasingly heated. One of the soldiers roughly pushed an old man who dared to resist, causing him to fall on small stones on the side of the road.
Kai felt his blood boil. Without thinking, he stepped forward with firm steps, standing in front of the soldiers with a sharp gaze. "Stop," he said in a voice that was calm but filled with certainty.
The soldiers turned to Kai with shocked looks. Some of them looked ready to attack, but there were also those who seemed hesitant. They were not used to someone daring to challenge their authority so openly.
"Who are you, little one?" asked a soldier in a threatening voice.
Kai looked at them without flinching. "I am Kai Kurenai. And you have no right to harm the people of this village or search for innocent children."
They stared at each other in tense silence. Among them, Kai could feel the growing resistance of the villagers watching this fight. They wouldn't just back down, not anymore.
"Kai, don't bother them! We can handle this," Lily whispered from behind Kai, trying to pull him back.
However, Kai knew that this was not the time to back down. This is the time to show that he is not a child who is easily conquered, that justice must be maintained, even in this harsh world.