The sun hung low in the sky, casting a golden hue over the fields of Sato, a quiet town nestled in the shadow of towering mountains. The fields were alive with the rhythmic sounds of tools striking soil, but Ryuga Satoru's mind was far away.
He stood at the edge of the field, a rusted hoe in his hand, staring beyond the horizon. His heart yearned for something he couldn't name—a restless, gnawing feeling that had followed him since childhood.
"Ryuga!"
The sharp voice of his elder brother jolted him from his thoughts. Kenta stood a few feet away, arms crossed and face lined with irritation.
"Daydreaming again, are you?" Kenta snapped. "We have work to do, or do you think food grows itself?"
Ryuga sighed, gripping the hoe tighter. "What's the point of this, Kenta? We spend our lives digging dirt and planting crops, but there's a whole world out there. Don't you ever wonder what's beyond those mountains?"
Kenta's expression hardened. "You think the world outside cares about people like us? Stop chasing foolish dreams, Ryuga. This is where we belong."
The words stung, but Ryuga bit back a retort. He knew Kenta meant well, but the thought of spending his entire life tethered to the same patch of land filled him with dread.
Later that evening, Ryuga sat alone outside their modest home, the cool night air brushing against his skin. He tilted his head back to gaze at the stars, their brilliance untainted by the smoke and lights of a distant city.
His thoughts were interrupted by a commotion from the town square. Voices rose in excitement, and Ryuga's curiosity got the better of him. He followed the sound, weaving through narrow streets until he reached the gathering crowd.
At the center stood a figure unlike any Ryuga had ever seen.
The man was clad in a black cloak adorned with silver embroidery that shimmered faintly in the moonlight. His eyes, sharp and piercing, seemed to scan the crowd as if weighing their worth. At his side hung a sheathed sword, but it was the aura around him that held Ryuga's attention. It was... electric, almost palpable.
"Who is he?" Ryuga whispered to a nearby villager.
"A Seeker," came the awed reply. "They say Seekers answer to no one. They walk where they please, bound by neither borders nor laws."
The Seeker stepped forward, his voice carrying over the murmurs. "I am here to deliver a message. The Seeker Examination will take place in Kaizen City one week from today. Those who pass will be granted freedom unlike any other—a license to walk the Boundless Path."
A hushed silence fell over the crowd, followed by whispers of intrigue and doubt.
Ryuga's heart raced. A chance to escape this life, to see the world, to be free. The Boundless Path. The words resonated deep within him.
The next morning, Ryuga approached Kenta, determination etched on his face.
"I'm leaving," Ryuga said, gripping a small bag of supplies. "I'm going to Kaizen to take the Seeker Examination."
Kenta's eyes widened, then narrowed. "Are you insane? You don't even know what that examination entails. Do you think they'll let someone like you waltz in and become a Seeker?"
"I have to try," Ryuga said, his voice steady. "I can't spend my life wondering what could have been."
Kenta stared at him for a long moment before sighing. "You're as stubborn as Father was." He placed a hand on Ryuga's shoulder. "If you're going to do this, don't die. And don't forget where you come from."
Ryuga nodded, his resolve solidified.
The journey to Kaizen City was grueling. The dirt roads gave way to rugged trails, and the once-distant mountains loomed closer with each passing day. Ryuga's body ached, but his spirit burned with purpose.
As he approached Kaizen's gates, the sheer scale of the city left him breathless. Towering walls, bustling markets, and a sea of people moving with purpose—it was everything his village wasn't.
A massive board near the entrance listed the rules for the Seeker Examination. Ryuga read them carefully:
1. The examination begins with the survival trial.
2. No weapons are provided.
3. Candidates must rely on their own strength, skill, and Rynt.
Rynt. The mysterious energy the Seeker had spoken of. Ryuga had heard rumors of people using this power to perform impossible feats, but it had always seemed like fantasy.
"Hey, you there!"
Ryuga turned to see a boy about his age, tall and muscular, with a confident smirk.
"You're here for the exam, right?" the boy asked. "Name's Jin. Jin Arata. Looks like we'll be competing."
"Ryuga Satoru," Ryuga replied cautiously.
"Don't look so tense," Jin said, clapping him on the shoulder. "This is gonna be fun."
Fun wasn't the word Ryuga would have chosen, but Jin's energy was infectious.
Nearby, another candidate caught Ryuga's eye—a girl with sharp features and an air of quiet intensity. She noticed him looking and gave a small nod.
"Don't bother with her," Jin said, following his gaze. "That's Kaira Mitsuki. She's been staring at that board all morning, like it's got secrets to tell her."
Before Ryuga could respond, a booming voice silenced the crowd.
"Candidates, gather at the gate!"
A man stood at the entrance, his presence commanding. Clad in a simple yet elegant robe, he exuded authority.
"I am Master Horu," he announced. "You have come here seeking freedom. But freedom is not given; it is earned. Beyond these gates lies your first trial. Survive three days in the wilderness, and you will proceed to the next stage. Fail, and your journey ends here."
The gates creaked open, revealing a dense forest shrouded in mist.
"Your time begins now," Horu said, his voice like a death knell.
Ryuga felt a surge of adrenaline as he stepped forward, Jin and Kaira beside him.
"Ready or not," Jin said with a grin, "here we go."
The Boundless Path had begun.