Chapter 01: Pain
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~The northern section of Bone Woods~
He found himself wandering through the depths of the forbidden forest, completely unaware of the danger that lurked within its shadowy confines until it was far too late to turn back. The moon hung high in the sky, casting an eerie glow over the twisted branches and underbrush, but he was so lost in his thoughts that he failed to notice the ominous silence surrounding him. It was in this unsettling stillness that he felt the sudden, sharp sting of a blade slicing into his shoulder. The cool metal made contact before the pain registered, causing him to instinctively leap toward a nearby tree for cover, though it offered little protection from the unseen threat.
His golden eyes darted around, scanning the darkness for any sign of an attacker, but he saw no one. Yet, the unsettling sensation of being watched crept over him, sending chills down his spine. Panic began to set in as he felt the warm blood trickling down his back from the deep cut that extended from his shoulder to his lower back. He winced and hissed softly as the pain finally surged through him, sharp and relentless. Desperate to escape, he began to leap from tree to tree, each movement becoming more frantic as the blood continued to seep from his wound.
Finally, he reached the edge of the forest, breathless and disoriented. He hesitated for a moment, reaching behind him to touch the source of the pain, only to look down at his hand and see it stained with crimson. "Shit..." he muttered under his breath, his heart racing as he took in the sight of the blood that marked him.
As he surveyed his surroundings, trying to determine where he had ended up, he felt an unsettling shift within himself. His body began to change, his silver hair with striking red highlights slowly fading into a vibrant red, now adorned with shimmering silver highlights. His golden eyes, once bright and fierce, darkened to a deep green hue as he coughed lightly, the taste of iron filling his mouth. "Great..." he whispered softly, a sense of dread washing over him as he felt himself fading into the encroaching darkness, losing his grip on consciousness as he fell from the tree, surrendering to the unknown.
~Northern castle~
As she entered the guest room, she released a gentle yawn. Pausing at the entrance, she blinked a few times in surprise. A quiet gasp escaped her lips upon noticing the red-haired individual. Approaching the man, who was softly reciting a healing incantation, she glanced around the dark blue-haired figure before directing her attention downward to the red head. She extended her hand and softly made contact with the mage's hand.
The mage halted his incantation and turned his gaze toward the princess. His silver eyes met her concerned, dark maroon ones. He released a gentle sigh. "Princess Lyra, the fox will be alright. Sinta simply requires some rest now," he said softly, a faint blush appearing on his cheeks.
Lyra gave a slight nod while gazing at the slumbering man. "We ought to inform... sis about this, Kai," she said gently, withdrawing her hand from the mage's grasp and softly placing her fingers on Sinta's back, close to the wound that was gradually healing.
"Should we have Yusuke go and inform her?" inquired a voice from the entrance.
Lyra and Kai pivoted to face the man who had spoken. The princess let out a small sigh upon realizing it was her wolf demon who had encountered Sinta during his late-night stroll. "Kaorun, please refrain from doing that..." she murmured before pausing to reflect.
Kaorun gave a slight nod, his azure eyes shifting towards the mage with curiosity. "How is the southern fox?" he inquired gently, a hint of warmth in his voice. His ears flickered slightly, attuned to the sounds around them, as he awaited the mage's response, intrigued by the stories he had heard of the creature's cunning and grace.
Kai let out a soft sigh, a mixture of relief and gratitude evident in his voice. "He'll survive, all because you discovered him when you did, just in the nick of time. Your quick thinking and determination made all the difference, and now he has a chance to recover and live on."
"How about we have Yusuke and Ryan inform sis about her fox?" Lyra suggested unexpectedly, causing the two men to exchange puzzled glances. While it was typical for her to send Ryan to endure her sister's antics, her spontaneous remarks often came off as strange.
The wolf gave a slight nod before exiting the room with a subtle smirk, prompting Kai to let out a soft sigh once more while Lyra chuckled.
~Southern castle~
The young princess shot a fierce look at the half-breed man. "What are you implying?" she inquired with evident irritation. A few hours prior, she had begun to question her fox when her cousin and his companion entered the room and conveyed her sister's request.
The mixed-blood man let out a soft sigh, accustomed to the situation. "Mira, I truly meant what I expressed. Lyra is caring for Sinta, who was assaulted," he remarked, raking his right hand through his black hair with green highlights.
"Yusuke, I understand that, but I'm puzzled about how Sin ended up getting attacked," Mira remarked, maintaining her glare. She then turned her gaze to the man standing to her left. "Heei, could you please go check on him?" she inquired in a gentler tone.
The man glanced from Yusuke to his princess and let out a sigh. "As long as he isn't present."
Yusuke considered for a moment before letting out a sigh. "Cous, I don't think he will attend, especially since Hiei is with Kurama and that red-haired fox is looking after his brother."
The princess let out a soft sigh while reclining in her chair. "If Hiei is present and Heei refuses to leave... I suppose I'll inquire with Chrono afterward," she remarked, gently shutting her deep red eyes.
Heei tossed his hair back in frustration and let out another heavy sigh, clearly exasperated with the situation. "I can't control my feelings; I just really dislike my dad," he remarked, his voice tinged with emotion, before turning on his heel and storming out of the room, leaving behind an air of tension.
Mira let out a deep sigh, feeling frustrated, while Yusuke simply shook his head in response.
A young man with striking dark blue hair let out a deep sigh as he meandered through the lush garden, lost in his own thoughts. He found himself pondering the puzzling reason behind Lyra's decision to send him to the southern lands. It wasn't as if Mira harbored any animosity towards him, nor did he feel any hatred towards her; they simply had differing perspectives that often led to misunderstandings. Despite this, the half-dragon couldn't shake off the unsettling feeling that clung to him like a shadow. It was as if an invisible weight pressed down on his chest, making it difficult for him to focus on the vibrant flowers and the gentle rustle of leaves around him. The garden, usually a place of solace, felt charged with an unshakeable tension that he couldn't quite comprehend.
From the shadows of a nearby tree, red eyes intently observed the half-dragon, their gaze piercing and unwavering. "Ryan... is there anything... wrong?" a voice called out, laced with concern and curiosity.
Ryan jumped slightly, his gaze shifting toward the towering tree nearby. A soft sigh escaped his lips as he recognized the familiar presence of the time demon lurking within its branches. "Chrono, why are you watching me?" the half-dragon inquired, a mix of curiosity and annoyance evident in his voice. He couldn't shake the feeling that the demon's intentions were never entirely benign, and he braced himself for whatever came next.
Chrono let out a soft sigh, gently closing his eyes for just a brief moment to gather his thoughts. "I was in the middle of a nap... and your wandering around is what stirred me from my slumber. Not that your muttering didn’t add to the experience, but it certainly didn’t help."
"Sorry about that. I got a lot on my mind."
"I can tell."
Both males sighed at the same time, just as Heei walked out of the castle. The fire demon blinked a bit at the males then shook his head. "Chrono, our princess wants you to go see Lyra."
Chrono blinked a bit as he looked over at the fire demon. "To check on Sinta?"
Heei nodded then disappeared.