The years had rolled by quietly, yet the village remained unchanged. Kiyoshi, Celosia, and Rajieru had long settled into their routines. Day after day, they trained, grew stronger, and lived their lives within the familiar bounds of Faelinor. But today felt different. The return of Ceng-tae, absent for several years, stirred a quiet storm in the villagers' hearts, especially in the hut of Hokuto, the village chief. His unexpected arrival came with equally unexpected news.
Now 17, Kiyoshi stood taller, his once-soft features sharpened with age and the wear of countless training sessions. Beside him, Rajieru—also 17—maintained his usual air of nonchalance, casually leaning against the doorframe with his arms crossed. He'd grown more perceptive over time, his precognition sharpening his intuition. Celosia, now 16, sat stiffly, her hands clenched tightly in her lap, her eyes filled with quiet determination despite the tension pressing down on the room like a heavyweight.
Word had already spread across the village: Ceng-tae had signed the three of them up for Kuoh Academy, a prestigious institution far from their quiet village life. Worse, he'd done it without so much as consulting Hokuto, Celosia's father and the chief. This was not unusual for Ceng-tae, who had always been unpredictable, but his latest move stirred more trouble than anyone expected.
Hokuto paced back and forth in front of them, his expression dark and stormy. Kiyoshi watched in silence; his body relaxed yet alert, his inner tension masked by an exterior calm. He'd grown accustomed to these kinds of situations, where Ceng-tae's impulsive decisions threw everyone into a whirlwind. But this time, it was different—Hokuto, a man deeply rooted in tradition, was not one to accept change lightly, especially when it concerned his daughter.
Celosia broke the silence, her voice soft but weighted with the gravity of her desires. "Father… please." Her tone trembled with restraint. "I need to see more of the world."
Hokuto stopped in his tracks, turning toward her. His gaze bore into her with the force of years of fatherly concern and responsibility. "And you think running off to some academy will give you the answers you're looking for?" His voice was stern, frustration edging every word. "You think you're ready for the world beyond this village?"
Celosia hesitated, her gaze dropping to her clenched hands. She had grown and matured over the years, but in moments like these, her father's imposing figure still held sway over her. Yet, this time, the yearning for freedom and discovery was stronger than ever. She wanted more than the boundaries of their village—she wanted a future she could shape herself.
Rajieru's eyes flicked between them, his usual carefree expression showing a flicker of concern. Kiyoshi remained silent, though the air around him felt charged. His thoughts churned as he listened to the back-and-forth, understanding Celosia's need for independence all too well. He, too, had grown restless, though his memories remained fractured. The passing years hadn't brought him closer to understanding who he truly was, but they had sharpened his desire to seek out that truth, whatever it might be.
Hokuto's eyes flickered towards Rajieru as the tension between them was palpable. But before tension could rise further, the door creaked open, and in strolled Ceng-tae, who had a mischievous grin plastered across his face. Twirling a small flyer around his fingers, he tossed it onto the table in front of Hokuto.
"Thought we all could use a little change of scenery," Ceng-tae said. His grin widened as he swung upside down from the ceiling rafters. "Kuoh Academy is a big deal, you know. It's prestigious. Imagine all the things they'll learn that this village can't offer."
Hokuto's face twisted in frustration as he threw his hand up. "You've taken my choice away, you damned snake! I had plans for Celosia—for this village, for her future!"
Ceng-tae hung upside down, swinging slightly, utterly unfazed. "Oh, come on. Your 'plans' always invoked keeping her locked away forever. Maybe it's time to give her a choice. Like, come on, Hoku, you won't be able to protect her forever, and you know that."
His words hung in the air like a weight pressing down on everyone. For a brief moment, Hokuto's expression softened, but as quickly as that appeared, it vanished behind his usual appearance.
"You think I don't want what's best for her?" Hokuto asked, rubbing his temples in frustration. "Letting her leave for some school..."
"It's not just about the school, Father," Celosia said, speaking out and showing her resolve. "It's about me finding out who I am. Both Kiyoshi and Rajieru are going, so why not me?"
The room fell silent. Hokuto stared at his daughter; as he stared into her eyes, the weight of all his responsibilities began to weigh on him, but not only that, his fear of losing her, but he knew she was no longer a child. His shoulder sagged slightly as he sighed deeply.
"Fine," he muttered, shaking his head. "But when it's over, you come back. This village will always be your home."
Celosia exhaled, her body sagging in relief. Her gratitude was evident, though there was a hint of sadness in her eyes. His words touched her heart, knowing no matter how far she was to travel, her ties to the village could never be undone.
Before the atmosphere could grow heavier, Ceng-tae clapped his hands together, his grub returning. "Excellent! The train arrives tomorrow morning. Be ready-you'll love it at Kuoh Academy." He winked at Hokuto. "And don't worry, Hoku, I'll keep an eye on them. Nothing will happen on my watch."
Hokuto groaned, waving him off with a dismissive hand.
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"Outside the Hunt."
The trio stepped outside, greeted by the cool night air. The stars twinkled overhead like distant lights beckoning them toward a future they couldn't see yet. For a moment, they stood in silence, each caught in their own thoughts.
Rajieru was the first to break this silence, with a small smirk on his face. "So, this is it. Tomorrow, we leave everything behind."
Kiyoshi nodded slowly, his eyes set on the horizon. The village had been his home, his comfort, but the thought of Kuoh Academy stirred something inside him—a feeling of excitement. Glancing over at Celosia, who had grown quiet once more, with her face turned to the stars.
"You ok?" Kiyoshi asked softly, moving to stand beside her.
Celosia smiled faintly. "I think so. I'm nervous, but... I want to see what's out there."
Kiyoshi placed a hand on her shoulder, offering his silent support. Rajieru joined them, throwing his arm over both their shoulders with his trademark cheeky grin.
"Well, team," Rajieru said in his teasing bravado voice. "We're heading into the unknown. New troubles, new horizons-what could go wrong?"
Kiyoshi chuckled, shaking his head. "Plenty."
Celosia let out a soft laugh, the tension in her body easing as the three of them stood together, united in their decision and ready for the next step in their journey.
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"Departure Day."
The next morning arrived all too quickly, and the trio found themselves standing at the village's edge, waiting for the transport train. The mechanical hum of the train grew louder in the distance as they watched the horizon.
Ceng-tae stood beside them, arms crossed, an uncharacteristic seriousness in his eyes as the train approached. "Remember, kids," he called out, his voice firm but encouraging, "this is a new chapter for all of you. Don't forget who you are, but don't be afraid to become something more."
The train pulled up in a cloud of steam, its metal form gleaming in the early sunlight. The doors hissed open, and Kiyoshi took a deep breath, nerves fluttering in his chest. He could feel the weight of the moment, the uncertainty of what lay ahead pulling at him—but beneath that, a spark of excitement. He had been training for this. He was ready.
Celosia's gaze lingered on the village longer; her hand clutched around the strap of her bag, knuckles white. As the soft morning breeze seemed to tug at her as if urging her to stay. But then she looked up at Kiyoshi and Rajieru, determination flickering in her eyes. She exhaled slowly, grounding herself in the comfort of their presence.
Rajieru, standing just behind them, felt his usual confidence mix with a quiet sense of resolve. His eyes darted briefly to the path behind them—he knew they couldn't turn back now, even if part of him wondered what the future held. But for once, he didn't try to predict it. He just knew they were in this together.
With a final glance back at the village, Kiyoshi, Celosia, and Rajieru stepped onto the train, their faces set with determination. As the doors closed behind them and the train began to move, the village and the past slowly faded into the distance, and the future surged forward to meet them.
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