In the dimly lit meeting room of the palace, Yashiro sat at the head of a long, ornate table. Before him stood four individuals, each vying for a seat in the newly formed senate. The air was thick with tension as they awaited Yashiro's opening remarks, their expressions a mix of anticipation and determination.
Yashiro: "As all of you know, our nation is at a crossroads. We have faced great loss and upheaval, but we must now look to the future and rebuild. That starts with selecting those who will lead us in my absence."
The candidates nodded, their eyes fixed on Yashiro, waiting for his next words.
Yashiro: "I have chosen each of you for your unique skills and unwavering dedication to our people. Together, we will chart a new course for Uchimasu, one of unity, strength, and prosperity. All four of you have been selected based on certain skills that you possess. You're well aware that we have those four main roles to fill since some of our fallen comrades are no longer in this world to lend us a hand."
Yashiro's tone was firm yet filled with an underlying sorrow as he began assigning the roles.
Yashiro: "Firstly, we will need a firm hand to enforce our laws, and no one is better at that role than our Judge of the High Court, Haruo Tanaka. You are appointed as the main man of law."
Haruo: "Thank you, young lord. I hope to be of great service."
Yashiro: "I have faith in you. You served very well under my father's rule. Now, on to the next one. We will need a person who will be in charge of all the districts in the city. For that role, Jin Wei is appointed. I'm sure you're already very familiar with the position you're getting, but just to make sure; your role consists of talking to all the district chiefs, who have opinions of their people in the city district. With them providing you the information of what our citizens feel needs improvement, your main job is informing the senate and me, and we'll discuss what can be done in that matter."
Jin: "Yes, my lord, I will do everything in my power to accelerate the improvement of our city."
Yashiro: "When it comes to spirituality, as it remains, Father Daba is the first choice, and I hand-picked him myself."
Father Daba: "Thank you, young lord, I am honored."
Yashiro: "And for what I think is the most important role here, Takashi Hoshino is being appointed as the Imperial Lord. Takashi, I've heard some stories about you, but until now, I did not know you personally. Counselor, can you tell me more about this man?"
Counselor: "Of course! Lord Takashi served under Lord Makato. In his younger days, he was the head of the military and fought countless wars alongside Lord Makato and Lord Zani. During the invasion of Voltaris Dominion's small town, the invaders were Lord Takashi, Lord Zani, and their respective divisions. Winning despite being heavily outnumbered, Lord Takashi sustained an injury where he lost his left arm from the elbow down. After making it back home safely, because of the injury, he went into retirement. Until recently, he spent his days training the recruits and some higher-ranking divisions."
Yashiro: "Alright, so tell me, Takashi, what made you want to accept such a difficult role despite your age?"
Takashi: "That day, when Morfiem attacked, my home was destroyed, and it resulted in the death of my wife. Thankfully, my daughter was away from the city, so she was left unharmed."
Yashiro: "We both lost family that day. Okay, that concludes it. The senate of Uchimasu Empire is officially formed, and you're all dismissed for today. I entrust the future of this nation in your hands."
As Yashiro dismissed the newly appointed members of the senate, a heavy weight settled upon his heart. Despite his efforts to rebuild and move forward, the loss of Zani and the turmoil within his nation weighed heavily on him. He returned home, the weight of his responsibilities pressing down on him with each step.
Entering his empty chambers, Yashiro sank onto his bed, his thoughts consumed by the past. He remembered Zani, the last person he considered family, and how his death had left him feeling lost and alone. But amidst his grief, a flicker of determination sparked within him.
"I can't give up," he whispered to himself. "I need to find out the truths about our world, about my family, about everything."
Suddenly, a memory surfaced in his mind: his father's underground library, a place filled with knowledge and history. It was a place Yashiro had not visited since his father's death, but now, it held the answers he sought.
With resolve hardening in his heart, Yashiro rose from his bed and made his way to the hidden entrance of the library. The night was silent as he descended into the depths, the air thick with the scent of old books and dust.
As he reached the bottom, Yashiro's eyes fell upon the rows of shelves, each filled with tomes and scrolls of forgotten lore. He knew that within these pages lay the secrets of his world, waiting to be discovered.
With a determined stride, Yashiro began his search, his fingers trailing over the spines of ancient texts. He was on a quest for knowledge, one that would lead him to the truths that had eluded him for so long. And as he delved deeper into the library's depths, he knew that he was on the cusp of uncovering secrets that would change everything.
Yashiro (to himself): "I know that this place is filled with a lot of useless stuff, so I've never even bothered to open any of these books. But now that I look at it, there has to be something that contains valuable information that I can use."
As Yashiro perused the library's shelves, his gaze fell upon a book titled "My View," a seemingly personal journal penned by Makato over his extensive lifespan. However, upon opening it, he was puzzled to find the text inscribed in unfamiliar symbols that eluded his comprehension. Frustrated by the lack of understanding, he left the library in a fit of anger. Despite the lateness of the hour, Yashiro felt the urge to clear his mind and decided to seek solace at a nearby inn.
Before departing, he took a moment to cut his long hair, hoping to make himself less conspicuous. He then donned a coat with a hood, further obscuring his features. Arriving at the inn, he chose a table in a secluded corner and sat alone, blending into the shadows. When all of a sudden, a young woman approached him.
Woman: "Excuse me, sir?"
Yashiro: "Yes?"
Woman: "Aren't you lonely sitting here by yourself?"
Yashiro: "It's nice being alone once in a while, isn't it?"
Woman: "Would you mind if I took a seat next to you?"
Yashiro: "Sure, go ahead."
Woman: "Thank you!"
Yashiro: "So, why did you come here?"
Woman: "No particular reason, I just saw you alone and thought it was sad."
Yashiro: "Well, that's very kind of you. What is your name?"
Woman: "My name is Mika."
Yashiro: "Nice to meet you, Mika."
Mika: "Nice to meet you too, mister prince."
Yashiro: "Is it that obvious?"
Mika: "It wasn't at first, but when I looked you in the eyes, I was sure. Come on, Lord Yashiro, you're our leader, and you think people will not recognize you just because you shortened your hair?"
Yashiro: "Ehhh, well, the plan failed. And by the way, just call me Yashiro, please."
Mika: "Why?"
Yashiro: "I'm tired of being called that. It's nice to feel like a regular person. It's quiet."
Mika: "You formed an autonomous senate to lead the country! News spread very quickly throughout the city."
Yashiro: "Yes, I've got things to sort out, so I need to rely on those people to carry out the duties without me so everything doesn't stop."
Mika: "Oooh, so that's the real reason behind all that. I'm sorry. It must be hard, Yashiro."
Yashiro: "Yeah, sometimes it takes a toll on you. First, I lost my family, then I lost the man I trusted the most."
Mika: "Then I'm sure you would like some company. Let's be friends, Yashiro!"
Yashiro: "Friends?"
Mika: "Yes!"
Yashiro: "How is that achievable?"
Mika: "It's very simple. I tell you my secrets, and you tell me yours, and we never tell them to anyone else!"
Yashiro: "Sure, let's be friends, Mika."
Mika: "It's getting late. I better go home. My mom is gonna worry."
Yashiro: "Yeah… I better head back too."
Mika: "See ya then, Yashiro!"
Yashiro: "Yes. Bye."
As Yashiro returned home, his mind was overdriven with thoughts of the meeting, the library, and the unexpected encounter with Mika. The weight of his responsibilities, the loss of his family, and the mysteries that still eluded him swirled in his head like a storm. Yet, despite the chaos within, he felt a small sense of peace—a calm that he hadn't experienced in what felt like an eternity. The thought of having someone to confide in, someone who treated him not as a ruler but as a friend, eased the tension that had gripped his heart for so long.
Without realizing it, Yashiro's exhaustion overtook him, and he drifted into a deep sleep, his mind finally finding a brief respite. The quiet of the night enveloped him, and for the first time in a while, he felt a sliver of comfort. But his rest was short-lived.
Early in the morning, just as the first light of dawn began to filter through the windows, a panicked guard burst into his chambers, shaking him awake.
Guard: "Lord Yashiro!"
Yashiro, muttering his words: "What is it?"
Guard: "Lord Yashiro, Lord Zani has returned!"
Yashiro: "What?"
As the guard relayed the news to Yashiro, he quickly ran outside.
Yashiro: "What the hell happened? How is he here? I'm sure I witnessed him die!"
Guard: "My lord, the word is that a caravan transporting goods found him somewhere near Kohaku Town. The old man operating the caravan said that Zani didn't even know where he was and was badly bruised."
Yashiro: "Bruised?" Remembers the giant swirl of flames that descended upon Zani "What the hell happened to him?"
Guard: "There they are!"
As Yashiro saw the approaching caravan, he ran toward it and saw Zani, alive but battered.
Yashiro: "Zani! What happened?"
Zani: "Oh kid, I have no idea."
Yashiro: "How come you have no idea? I was close to you, and I saw what happened."
Zani: "Seems like my memory got tampered with."
Yashiro, relieved yet concerned, ordered the guards to bring Zani into Yashiro's palace and fetch a doctor.
Yashiro: "We will get to the bottom of this, Zani. I'll make sure of it!"
After discovering that Zani had miraculously survived unimaginable damage, Yashiro carefully laid him in a bed within his own home.
Yashiro: "Rest here, Zani. You've lost your memory, but I'll help you remember everything. We'll take it one step at a time, and I'll be with you through it all."
Yashiro: "So, tell me, what's the last thing you remember?"
Zani: "The last thing I remember is getting into that forest."
Yashiro: "Do you remember who was with you?"
Zani: "Yes, most things I remember are from the feeling in my gut that I still have right now."
Yashiro: "Do you remember what happened to them?"
Zani: "Not really. I just remember us smelling the smoke from burnt wood. I also felt a very menacing aura. But looking at it now, there were two of them."
Yashiro: "Two of what?"
Zani: "There were two separate sinister auras, and they both felt very, very familiar."
Yashiro: "Let me tell you what I saw."
Zani: "You came after me?"
Yashiro: "I couldn't bear the feeling that something was not right, and it turns out I was correct."
Zani: "So, what did you do?"
Yashiro: "I was speeding there as fast as I could, and when I was a few kilometers from the forest, I felt a gut-wrenching feeling in my stomach as if my own conscience prevented me from going further. In those moments, there was a huge vortex of fire, swirling around itself from the heart of the forest. It was at least a hundred meters tall. You were there, and when I started backing up, that fire just fell down on the position you were on, and I just felt your disappearance."
Zani: "Then how did I survive? It doesn't make sense. Now that you mention it, I remember feeling like I was burning."
Zani suddenly clutched his head, a sharp pain surging through his skull as fragmented memories began to surface. In his mind, he saw the blurry figure of a man, shrouded in darkness, wielding a blade that radiated intense heat. The world around him seemed to distort as the searing heat engulfed him, and a distant, almost haunting voice echoed in his ears, just beyond the reach of his understanding. Despite his efforts to grasp the memory, it remained frustratingly out of focus, slipping away like a half-remembered dream.