The Shirohaga clan palace stood proud, its towering spires and intricate carvings casting long shadows across the courtyard. Yet, despite its grandeur, an eerie stillness hung over the grounds as Kaguya and the cohort arrived. A low, rhythmic thrum filled the air—the sound of the dragon's massive wings as it descended into the palace garden.
Clive and Sasha dismounted carefully, their movements sluggish after the ordeal they had endured. Clive held his newly healed arm gingerly, marveling at the impossibility of its restoration, while Sasha clutched the bag of scales, her face pale but resolute.
The moment the dragon landed, servants, guards, and clan members rushed into the courtyard. Their collective gasps echoed through the garden as they laid eyes on the massive beast. Whispers spread like wildfire, some filled with awe, others with fear.
"Is that a... dragon?"
"It's enormous!"
"What is Kaguya doing with such a creature?"
Before anyone could process the spectacle, the elders of the clan arrived, their robes flowing behind them as they hurried into the garden. These were men and women of wisdom, their faces lined with age, their eyes sharp with centuries of experience. Yet, even they faltered at the sight of the dragon, standing regal and calm in the center of the courtyard.
One elder stepped forward, his voice steady but laced with disbelief. "Kaguya, what is the meaning of this? Why have you brought a dragon here?"
Kaguya, standing tall and composed, met the elder's gaze without hesitation. His crimson Tenagen eyes glowed faintly, their intricate patterns shifting as he spoke. "It's my helper," he said simply, his voice carrying a quiet authority that silenced the murmurs around them.
The elder blinked, stunned by the response. He turned to the other elders, as if seeking confirmation that he'd heard correctly. Before anyone could speak, another elder stepped closer, his eyes narrowing as he scrutinized Kaguya.
"You... you've changed," the elder murmured, his voice barely audible. Then, as realization dawned, his eyes widened. "Kaguya... you have ascended!"
The words struck like lightning. The surrounding crowd fell silent, their collective shock palpable. Even the dragon, sensing the shift in the atmosphere, lowered its head slightly, as if acknowledging the weight of the moment.
Ascends were regarded as high ranking warriors whose abilities far surprised the realm of possibility but becoming one was even tougher because one had to slay three legions of prince palaties or corrupted demons. The rank was also given when an awakened mastered the innate ability to unlock an exclusive ability or hidden knowledge of that Awakened who reached this rank where referred to as masters
Kaguya didn't react immediately. He merely tilted his head, a faint, enigmatic smile playing on his lips. The elders exchanged nervous glances, each struggling to reconcile the boy they had known with the figure now standing before them.
One elder, a woman known for her sharp intuition, spoke hesitantly. "This is unexpected. We didn't anticipate your return for at least another month, given the difficulty of travel. And yet... here you are. Changed."
"It seems the mountain had more in store for me than any of us realized," Kaguya replied, his tone calm but tinged with a gravity that made even the elders pause.
The dragon let out a low rumble, drawing attention back to itself. Some of the younger guards flinched, their hands instinctively reaching for their weapons, but the elders waved them down.
"We must prepare the ceremony at once," one elder declared, his voice steadying as he sought to impose order. "This is a momentous occasion for the clan."
"But we are unprepared," another elder protested. "The garden is not even decorated, and word of Kaguya's ascension will take weeks to reach the outer villages."
"Then we shall do what we can for now," the first elder replied firmly. "This cannot wait."
Meanwhile, Sasha and Clive were approached by palace healers, who led them away to tend to their wounds. Clive glanced back at Kaguya, his expression a mixture of gratitude and confusion. "Kaguya..." he began, but the words died on his lips. Kaguya gave him a reassuring nod, and Clive allowed himself to be guided inside.
Sasha, however, hesitated. "Kaguya," she called softly. He turned to her, his crimson gaze softening.
"You did well," he said simply. "Rest now."
With that, she too followed the healers, clutching the bag of scales as if it were the only anchor to reality in the whirlwind of events.
As the crowd began to disperse, the elders huddled together, discussing the logistics of the ceremony in hushed tones. Servants scurried to fetch decorations and supplies, their movements hurried but purposeful.
Kaguya, however, paid them no mind. He walked through the garden, the dragon following close behind, its every step resonating like a drumbeat. The air around him seemed to shimmer with an intangible energy, as if the very world recognized the change in him.
He ascended a small hill overlooking the palace, the view granting him a moment of solitude. The afternoon sun bathed the spires and courtyards in golden light, and from this vantage point, the palace seemed both majestic and fragile.
The memories of Mathew's death and the battles they had fought weighed heavily on his mind. He clenched his fists, his gaze distant.
"This world," he murmured to himself, his voice barely audible, "is broken. But I will change it."
Behind him, the dragon let out a soft rumble, as if in agreement. Kaguya placed a hand on its flank, his grip firm yet gentle. The connection between them was unspoken but profound, a bond forged through lives that spanned beyond his own understanding.
As the sun dipped lower in the sky, casting long shadows across the palace grounds, Kaguya's expression hardened. His resolve was clear, his path set.
End of prologue.
Author: finally finished the prologue and I hope you found it intriguing as much as I did I will be posting atleast three times a day and on weekends I be posting atleast once. Thanks for the read .