The moonlight filtered through the large windows of the palace, casting soft shadows over Quinn's sleeping form. His breathing was steady, his expression peaceful, unaware of the heavy burden surrounding him.
Standing just outside his room, Sho leaned against the doorway, watching over him in silence. Jun had asked him to look after Quinn, and he wasn't about to take that lightly.
After a moment, Sho exhaled and turned away, walking down the dimly lit corridor toward his own quarters. He removed his coat and placed it on a nearby chair before lying down on his bed.
Sho closed his eyes. "What a pain."
The next morning, the palace was already bustling with activity. Servants moved quickly through the halls, warriors sparred in the courtyards, and the sound of clashing steel echoed in the distance.
Inside the main hall, Jun stood with his arms crossed as Sho and Quinn approached.
"You two will handle a mission today," Jun announced, his tone firm. "A nearby village has been under attack by bandits. Your job is to eliminate the threat and ensure the safety of the people."
Sho raised an eyebrow. "You're sending Quinn with me?"
"He needs experience," Jun replied. "And I trust you to handle it."
Quinn, who had been standing silently, gave a small nod. "I understand, Jun-sama."
Jun studied him for a moment before speaking again. "Be careful. If anything seems off, don't hesitate to retreat."
Sho smirked. "Retreat? I don't know the meaning of the word."
Jun sighed. "Just don't do anything reckless."
With that, Sho and Quinn left the palace, heading toward the village. The sun was high in the sky, and a light breeze carried the scent of the trees surrounding them. The road was quiet, aside from the occasional chirping of birds.
As they walked, Sho glanced at Quinn. "Have you ever fought bandits before?"
Quinn shook his head. "No, but I've trained for it."
Sho chuckled. "Training and real combat are two different things, kid. When the time comes, don't freeze up."
Quinn nodded. "I won't."
They continued in silence for a while, until Sho suddenly stopped. Quinn followed his gaze and felt his breath hitch.
Ahead of them, standing casually in the middle of the village road, was a tall figure with a commanding presence. His long coat swayed slightly in the wind, and his crimson eyes gleamed under the sunlight. His arms were crossed, and a faint smirk played on his lips.
Escarion.
Sho clenched his fists. "Tch… what's he doing here?"
Escarion's gaze shifted toward them, and the smirk widened. "Oh? It's you, Sho. Fancy meeting you here."
Sho forced a neutral expression. "Escarion-sama."
Escarion's gaze then moved to Quinn, studying him for a moment before tilting his head. "And who's this?"
Quinn, feeling the weight of Escarion's presence, straightened up and bowed slightly. "Hello, sir. My name is Quinn."
For a brief moment, silence hung in the air. Then, to Sho's surprise, Escarion chuckled.
"Hello, Quinn." His tone was almost friendly, but Sho wasn't fooled.
Sho decided to speak up. "We're here on a mission to protect this village, Escarion-sama."
Escarion's smirk didn't fade. "I see."
His tone was calm, but there was something unreadable in his expression. Sho didn't like it.
Escarion took one step forward, looking down at Quinn. "You're from the Hikari Clan, aren't you?"
Quinn hesitated for just a second before nodding. "Yes, sir."
Escarion chuckled again. "Interesting."
Sho tensed. He didn't like the way Escarion was looking at Quinn.
Finally, Escarion stepped back. "Well then, I won't get in your way. Do your best to protect this village."
Sho watched him carefully. "Right."
Escarion turned, walking away with the same casual confidence he always carried. As he disappeared into the village, Sho exhaled slowly.
Quinn looked up at him. "Is something wrong?"
Sho frowned. "No. Let's just focus on the mission."
But deep down, Sho couldn't shake the feeling that Escarion's presence here meant something more.
And that was never a good sign.