The village was pretty lively in the morning. The sound of chatter filled the streets as villagers gathered near the entrance, their faces lit with excitement. Word had spread quickly of Rajieru's imminent return. After months of absence, the village's pride and joy were returning from his training, and everyone was eager to welcome him back.
A sleek, hovering vehicle smoothly approached, catching the attention of every onlooker. A quiet hum filled the air as the vehicle stopped shimmering under the sunlight. All eyes were on it, waiting with anticipation.
As the door opened, Rajieru stepped out with a confident grin plastered on his face.
"Rajieru!" A chorus of voices called out as the villagers rushed forward to greet him.
Rajieru waved as he stepped away from the vehicle, embracing several of the villagers. The boyish charm they remembered of him had changed, shaping into something more—a young man with broad shoulders and a newfound maturity in his expression. The long months of training have clearly moulded him, and it didn't go unnoticed.
"Look at you!" One of the elders remarked, clapping Rajieru on the back. "All grown up and strong, I see."
Rajieru chuckled. "It's good to be back. I missed this place."
Still sitting inside the vehicle was Elise, Rajieru's aunt. She watched the reunion unfold with a slight smile on her face; she'd open the door. "I'll be back to check on you soon, Rajieru," she said, her voice carrying over the crowd. "But for now, enjoy your time here, and don't cause too much trouble... will ya."
Rajieru grinned, nodding to his aunt. "No promises, Aunt Ellie."
With a final wave, Elise closed the door as the car began to hum once more before it sped away, disappearing into the sky.
Turning his attention back to the crowd, his eyes scanned through the faces around him. His posture became relaxed, and he felt confident from the feeling of being admired by so many. But as the crowd began to thin out, he couldn't help but notice one person was missing.
"Where's Celosia? She should be here, no?" He asked casually, glancing around as though he expected her to appear at any moment.
One of the younger villagers, a girl, piped up. "She's with the new guy, Kiyoshi!"
Rajieru was a little confused, his eyebrows raising as his interest was piqued. "New guy?" He repeated, turning to an elder who stood beside him. "Who's this, Kiyoshi?"
The elder chuckled. "Ah, Kiyoshi's been here for a few weeks now. Strange boy. It seems he'd been training with Ceng-tae, and from what I've heard, he's got some talent. Oh, and Celosia seems to have taken a liking to him; they've been spending quite a bit of time together."
Rajieru's friendly smile remained, but there was a flicker of something else in his eyes—curious; it's jealousy, maybe even a hint of wariness. "Is that so?" He murmured.
The elder nodded. "They're probably by the stream. That's where they've been going as of late."
Rajieru's eyes tightened, his curiosity shifting to something more. "I see," he muttered. Without any word, he began to make his way towards the outskirts of the village, his steps quickening with each stride.
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Out by the clearing, Kiyoshi and Celosia stood closely together. Celosia offered him advice, her hand hovering near his arm as she guided his movements. Kiyoshi listened intently, his eyes locked on her.
"You're doing better," Celosia said softly. "Just focus on the flow; as I said, let it come naturally."
Kiyoshi nodded as he began to put her words into practice. But as they did this, they were completely oblivious to the figure approaching from behind them, eyes filled with jealousy.
Rajieru stormed into the clearing, his face twisted with anger. The sight of Celosia standing so close to Kiyoshi sent a surge of emotions through him, and without thinking, he called out, "What the hell is going on here?"
Both Kiyoshi and Celosia turned, surprised by the sudden outburst. Celosia's eyes widened as she saw Rajieru, but before she could say anything, he marched towards them, his fist clenched.
"Rajieru, wait!" Celosia said, stepping forward, but Rajieru focused entirely on Kiyoshi.
"What are you doing with her?" Rajieru demanded.
Kiyoshi blinked, taken aback by the hostility in Rajieru's tone. "We're just training," he said calmly, raising his hands in a gesture of peace. "There's nothing…"
"Don't lie to me!" Rajieru shouted, cutting him off. His face was flushed with anger, and jealousy burned in his eyes. "You think you can just waltz into this village and cozy up to Celosia like it's nothing?"
Kiyoshi frowned, stepping back slightly as Rajieru advanced. "You've got it all wrong. I'm just-"
Before Kiyoshi could finish, Rajieru swung at him, his fist flying towards Kiyoshi's face in a blind fit of rage. Kiyoshi's reflexes kicked in, dodging the attack with ease and sidestepping Rajieru's blow.
"Rajieru, stop!" Celosia cried, but Rajieru wasn't listening.
Fueled by his jealousy, Rajieru launched another attack, this time aiming for Kiyoshi's side. But Kiyoshi was faster, ducking low and sweeping Rajieru's legs out from under him. In a fluid motion, Kiyoshi grabbed Rajieru's arm, twisting it gently but firmly, and knocked him to the ground with a swift strike to the side of the head.
Rajieru hit the dirt hard, groaning, his vision swimming for a moment before everything went black. He had been knocked out cold by the impact; his body slumped in the dust.
Kiyoshi exhaled, standing over Rajieru's unconscious body. "I didn't want to do that," he muttered, rubbing the back of his neck. With a sigh, he bent down and lifted Rajieru's unconscious body, draping him over his shoulder with ease.
"I'll take him to your house," Kiyoshi said, his tone resigned but gentle. Celosia looked at him, surprised by the gesture, but she simply nodded.
Together, they made their way back to the village, but the tension still lingered in the air. Rajieru may have been knocked out for now, but Kiyoshi knew this wasn't the end of this. But hopefully, everything could be done with it.
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As Kiyoshi carried Rajieru into the village, the sun was beginning to set, casting long shadows over the quiet streets. Villagers glanced at them curiously, but no one questioned them. They simply stepped aside as Kiyoshi and Celosia made their way to her home.
Once inside, Kiyoshi gently laid Rajieru down in a small cot. Taking a step back, he glanced at Celosia, who began tending to Rajieru.
"You didn't have to do that," Celosia said softly, her voice filled with gratitude.
Kiyoshi shrugged. "He was upset; I get it."
Celosia sighed, brushing a strand of hair behind her ear. "He's... always been protective. But this wasn't right."
Kiyoshi nodded, unsure what else to say. The room fell into a quiet silence.
"You should stay for dinner," Celosia said after a moment, her voice breaking the silence. "I'll make something for all of us."
Kiyoshi glanced at her, surprised by the offer, but he simply nodded slowly. "Alright," he said. "Thanks."
And so, the evening passed quietly, the tension fading finally as they shared a meal together. But as Kiyoshi sat there, watching Celosia, he couldn't help but feel the feeling that things were about to get much more complicated.
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