Chapter 07
Photo: Google
414 Years ago
Southern Lands
A few months had slipped by since her younger sister stumbled upon her second guard, a development that filled Kira with genuine happiness for her sibling. Still, despite that joy, there lingered a small, unfulfilled part of her that yearned for another guard of her own. The longing was complicated, though, because she knew that bringing this desire up with Akito would likely lead to tension; he had always been quite possessive and was not at all fond of the idea of sharing her with anyone else. Kira would often find herself shaking her head at the thought, the conflict between her wishes and Akito's feelings swirling in her mind like a tumultuous storm, leaving her to ponder the complexities of her situation.
Kira strolled through the quaint village, taking in her surroundings. She was attempting to clear her mind, as she wished to avoid upsetting her fox. As she observed the playful children dashing by, laughter filling the air, a longing for her own little ones stirred within her—though she knew that now wasn't the right time. It felt premature to contemplate having children, especially since she didn't yet have a partner.
Akito trailed behind his princess, casting a gentle glare. He concealed his ears and tail, opting for a shorter hairstyle. He couldn't comprehend why she had chosen to come to this bothersome village, and the thought of another man gazing at her made him feel murderous. 'What’s going on with her? Ever since we returned to her land, she’s been acting strangely. Even Kue seems puzzled by her behavior,' he pondered.
She was aware that he was trailing behind her, yet she ignored his stares. Although she couldn't quite understand why, she found Akito's anger oddly charming. She approached the small shrine and greeted the priestess with a wave.
The priestess appeared as a youthful girl who seemed nearly human, except for her wolf ears. She was a wolf demon girl who adored the shrines of Elyasia. With Yune's assistance, she fulfilled her aspiration to become a priestess. Her attire was a modest yet charming outfit in red and white. She sported short black hair that blended seamlessly with her wolf ears, captivating deep golden eyes, and a face reminiscent of a doll. Her physique also resembled that of a doll.
The priestess returned the wave with a gentle smile, her robes flowing gracefully as she approached the princess with measured steps. "How may I assist you today, my lady? Is there a particular matter weighing on your mind, or perhaps a task you wish for me to undertake on your behalf?"
Kira gave a gentle smile, her eyes sparkling with mischief. “Kia, I’m looking for a clever method to tease and annoy my beloved fox a little; do you have any fun suggestions that might bring a playful edge to our interactions?”
Kia paused for a moment, her ears flickering subtly. She sensed the intense stares and ominous energy that Akito directed toward his princess. After a brief contemplation, a smile spread across her face. “How about we enlist another guard?”
The princess fluttered her eyelashes before grinning. “I considered that, but do you believe it's secure? Akito isn't very generous.”
"Oh, it will be alright, as I'm confident that even Akito is aware of this particular guy."
“Oh? And who might this man be?”
Before Kia had a chance to speak, a massive white wolf dashed past and knocked Akito to the ground, prompting the fox to emit a sharp cry followed by the sound of growling.
Kira turned and blinked a few times as she watched the wolf happily wagged its tail as Akito growled. If she wanted to piss him off, this is just that. She could see the dark aura following from her fox as the happy aura from the wolf did not fade. “Akito, are you okay?” She asked, unsure of his aura.
Kira turned and blinked several times as she observed the wolf joyfully wagging its tail while Akito growled. If her intention was to irritate him, she was certainly succeeding. She noticed the dark energy emanating from her fox, contrasting with the persistent cheerful aura of the wolf. “Akito, are you alright?” she inquired, uncertain about his aura.
Akito shot her a fierce look that caused her to flinch before he kicked the wolf away from him. “Damn it, Hiro. Stop that,” he growled as he got to his feet.
The wolf stood up and started to laugh. “Ha ha, well Akito, it’s been a long time since our last encounter,” he said as his laughter faded. He settled down with his tail gently swaying behind him and shot a smile in Akito’s direction. “So, this is where you’ve been keeping yourself.”
“Indeed, now leave me alone before I transform you back into a feline.”
The wolf let out a gentle sigh. “However, fox, I've only just located you. You vanished once more after encountering the young ones repeatedly, but following that last occasion, you never returned.”
Akito let out a sigh. "Kira, can you take this foolish wolf and return to the castle?"
Kira blinked several times before turning her gaze to Kia. “Kia, is this the guy you were planning to mention to me?” she inquired upon noticing Kia's sigh.
"Sure. I intended to share with you information about Hiro, who is actually my brother."
"Brother?"
Hiro glanced at the girls and blinked. He approached and took a seat in front of Kia. “Hey sis, what’s up with your outfit?”
Kia let out a gentle sigh. “I serve as a priestess in this place. Why not go keep watch with Akito? Lady Kira is looking to tease him.”
He glanced at Kira and grinned. "Does that mean if I’m yours, I can spend time with Akito?"
The princess gave a nod.
"Then go ahead and claim me. I assure you I will defend you alongside Akito and assist you in bothering him."
Kira fluttered her eyelashes a couple of times before letting out a gentle laugh. "Of course! I would be delighted to have you as my protector."
Akito let out a sigh and rolled his eyes. "Wonderful..." he murmured under his breath.
Northern Castle
West Garden
Lira was seated at a petite table positioned beneath a Sakura tree located between the castle and the Spirit woods. She found the eerie forest comforting, as its chilly breeze was refreshing to her, especially since she disliked the summer heat.
She sat quietly, sipping tea and engrossed in one of Alysia's latest novels that Shiro had picked up for her. Although she hadn't requested him to do so, he took the initiative while he was in the expanding city with Rain. She became so absorbed in the story that she didn't even realize three young men approached her.
Max exhaled deeply when he realized the extent of her immersion. "I apologize, man; I figured it would be a good plan to let her read while I went to fetch you."
Takumi approached her from behind and peered over her shoulder. "Max, when did Elyasia acquire books about dragons?" he inquired, blinking slightly.
The male with tear-green hair pondered for a moment. "I doubt this realm possesses that...unless there are authors in the human realm who have penned some. What’s the reason?"
The redhead remarked with a gentle pout, "She’s engrossed in a romance novel featuring a dragon."
The third man approached gradually and crouched down, examining the book's title. Unbeknownst to him, Lira noticed his presence, causing her to blink in surprise.
"Taro?"
The man blinked and raised his gaze to her. "What is it, Lira?"
"What are you up to?"
"Considering the title...what's the reason?"
“...all you needed to do was simply ask.” She turned her gaze toward Max. “And Maxie, I caught what you said. I’m not that invested in this book.” Then she reclined, glancing up at Takumi. “And this isn’t a romance involving dragons.”
Taro rose to his feet and let out a sigh. “She’s correct. This book is centered on dragons, yet it feels strange.”
Max blinked in surprise as Takumi bent down to embrace Lira. "In what way is that strange?"
The man with purple hair shrugged his shoulders. "As the narrative progresses, it tends to be quite unpredictable. It's enjoyable, though somewhat strange."
"Eragon is quite captivating in the realm of dragon literature," Lira remarked, shutting the book and reclining against both Takumi and her chair. "However, aside from the book, how are things going?"
The blue dragon let out a sigh. “Everything is fine, but it appears that Rain is still examining the portal to the spirit realm.”
"Lira, do you think it's safe for you to be close to this forest with the portal behaving strangely?"
She gave a nod. “There’s no need to be concerned, Taro. The forest is just helping to cool me off.”
"Is it because you dislike the summer season in this area?"
As Lira and Taro continued their light conversation, Takumi glanced at Max. "Are you concerned about Rain?" the panther inquired.
Max acknowledged with a nod as he gazed at the gently swaying trees, their leaves rustling softly in the breeze. He felt the chill of death in the crisp air emanating from the portal itself, a foreboding presence that wrapped around him like a shroud. The atmosphere was thick with an unsettling energy, as if the very essence of life was being drained from the surroundings, leaving behind an eerie stillness that contrasted sharply with the vibrant world just moments before.
Takumi noticed the worried look on the dragon’s face and sighed softly. He leaned down near Lira’s ear. “Let’s get inside, Princess.” He whispered.
Lira blinked but nodded. She stood up and grabbed both Taro’s and Takumi’s hands. “Maxie, go check on Rain.” She said softly as she went inside with the two males. Takumi grabbed her book before going inside.