Chapter 01: Pain
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The northern section of Bone Woods
He wandered through the shadowy depths of the forbidden forest, immersed in his thoughts, oblivious to the dangers that lay hidden all around him. Only when he became aware of the unnerving silence around him did he realize how far he had ventured, straying far beyond the comforting embrace of the familiar trails. As the thick branches loomed overhead and shadows danced ominously, he felt a rising sense of unease wash over him. It was all too late to turn back now, having ventured into a place where few dared to tread.
In the middle of the night, he was pretty zoned out, just caught up in his own thoughts and the sounds of the forest. That is, until a sharp pain suddenly hit his shoulder, snapping him back to reality. The cold, unyielding metal made contact with his flesh before the pain fully registered, causing him to instinctively leap towards a nearby tree for some semblance of cover, but it offered little protection from the unseen assailant. His piercing golden eyes darted through the surrounding shadows, revealing no one in sight. Nevertheless, an overwhelming sense of being watched crept over him like a heavy fog, intensifying his anxiety. Every heartbeat resonated in his ears, heightening the tension and the feeling that peril was lurking just out of sight.
He leaped from tree to tree, his heart pounding as blood began to trickle from a deep, agonizing cut that stretched ominously from his shoulder to his lower back. A sharp hiss escaped his lips as the pain finally hit him, overwhelming and intense. As he approached the forest's edge, a moment of hesitation took hold. He instinctively reached back to lightly touch the site of his injury, only to see his fingers stained with the vivid crimson of his own blood. "Shit..." he muttered under his breath, feeling a mix of dread and disbelief as he took in the sight of the blood staining his skin.
He took a moment to carefully assess his surroundings, trying to piece together where he had ended up, but as he did so, he felt an unsettling shift deep within himself that he couldn't quite understand. His form began to shift dramatically, as his once striking silver hair accented with bold red highlights slowly faded into a vivid red, now strikingly adorned with shimmering silver highlights. His golden eyes, which had previously shone with a fierce intensity, began to darken gradually, transforming into a deep, foreboding green hue. A harsh cough escaped his lips, signaling the powerful transformation taking hold, and a sense of dread washed over him; "Great..." he muttered softly, feeling the grip of darkness pulling him in as he began to lose consciousness, eventually surrendering and falling from the tree into the embracing night.
Northern castle
She stifled a gentle yawn as she entered the guest room, the soft sound resonating in the tranquil space. The dim lighting bathed the room in a warm glow, creating a cozy and inviting ambiance. Pausing at the doorway, she blinked a few times to acclimate her eyes to the dusky surroundings. Suddenly, a breathless gasp escaped her lips as she caught sight of the red-haired figure lying on the bed. As she approached him, softly murmuring a healing spell, a whirlwind of curiosity and concern swept over her. His voice was barely audible, almost fading into the air around them.
Her gaze shifted momentarily to the dark blue-haired male standing nearby, but her attention quickly returned to the red-haired mage. With a gentle touch, she reached out and lightly placed her hand on the mage's, feeling the warmth radiating from him. The mage, sensing her presence, paused his incantation and turned his attention toward the princess. His silver eyes met her worried deep maroon ones, and in that moment, a silent understanding passed between them. He let out a soft sigh, his expression softening. "Princess Lyra, the fox will be fine. Sinta just needs to rest now," he reassured her, his voice calm and soothing, accompanied by a light blush that crept across his cheeks.
Lyra nodded thoughtfully, her heart burdened with worry as she gazed at the sleeping figure beside her. "We need to inform... sis about this, Kai," she proposed quietly, her voice a mere whisper. She slowly pulled her hand away from the mage's and lightly ran her fingers over Sinta's back, where a cut that was healing showed just how bad his injury really was.
“Should we have Yusuke deliver the message to her?” a voice called from the doorway, interrupting the brief stillness.
Both Lyra and Kai turned around to see the source of the voice. The princess let out a soft sigh of relief when she recognized her wolf demon companion, Kaorun, who had discovered Sinta during his nightly walk. "Kaorun, don't do that..." she said softly, a hint of exasperation in her tone, but her eyes sparkled with affection for her friend as she thought for a moment about their next steps.
Kaorun nodded lightly, his blue eyes glancing over at the mage with curiosity. "So how is the fox of the south?" he asked softly, his ears twitching slightly as he took in the scene before him.
Kai sighed lightly, his expression serious. "He will live, thanks to you finding him in time," he replied, his voice filled with gratitude for Kaorun's timely intervention.
Lyra, ever the one to think on her feet, chimed in with a sudden idea. "Let's send Yusuke and Ryan to tell sis about her fox," she suggested randomly, her enthusiasm breaking through the tension in the room. The two males exchanged puzzled glances, momentarily taken aback by her unexpected proposal. It was not unusual for her to send Ryan to deliver messages to her sister, often resulting in some form of mischief or chaos, but her random moments of spontaneity always left them slightly bewildered.
The wolf demon nodded lightly, a small smirk playing on his lips as he turned to leave the room. "Alright, I’ll go find them," he said, his voice light and teasing as he stepped out, leaving Kai and Lyra behind.
Kai let out a soft sigh, shaking his head in amusement at the antics of his friends. "Sometimes I wonder about her," he muttered, a smile creeping onto his face despite his words.
Lyra giggled, her spirits lifting as she watched Kaorun leave. "Oh, come on, Kai! You know she means well. Besides, it’s always an adventure with her around," she replied, her laughter filling the room and lightening the mood. The bond they shared was strong, and even in moments of worry, they found comfort in each other’s company, ready to face whatever challenges lay ahead together.
Southern castle
The young princess, Mira, glared daggers at the half-breed male standing before her, her frustration palpable in the air. "What do you mean?" she asked, her voice laced with annoyance. The tension in the room was thick, and she could feel her patience wearing thin. Just a few hours earlier, her cousin Yusuke and his friend had barged into her chamber, delivering a message that her sister had asked them to convey. It was a message that had left her feeling uneasy and confused, especially regarding her beloved fox, Sinta.
The half-breed male, Yusuke, let out a light sigh, accustomed to Mira's fiery temperament. "Mira, I mean exactly what I said. Lyra is currently looking after Sinta, who was attacked," he explained, running his right hand through his tousled green-gold brown hair, a gesture that revealed his own concern for the situation.
Mira's expression hardened as she processed his words. "Yusuke, I understand that much, but I still don’t comprehend how Sinta could have been attacked in the first place," she replied, her glare unwavering. The worry gnawed at her, and she felt a sense of helplessness creeping in. She then turned her gaze to the male standing near her left, a figure she trusted. "Heei, will you go check on him?" she asked, her tone softening slightly, revealing a hint of vulnerability beneath her fierce exterior.
Heei, the stoic male, glanced from Yusuke to the princess, his expression unreadable. After a moment of contemplation, he sighed. "Only if he isn't there," he replied, his voice low and steady.
Yusuke pondered for a moment, then shook his head. "Cous, I doubt he will go, since Hiei is with Kurama, and that redhead is busy checking on his twin," he pointed out, trying to inject some logic into the chaotic situation.
Mira leaned back against her chair, her shoulders slumping slightly as she let out a resigned sigh. "Well, if Hiei's there and Heei won't go... I guess I'll have to ask Chrono later," she said, closing her maroon eyes in an attempt to gather her thoughts and calm her racing heart.
Heei shook his head, his frustration evident. "I can't help it that I hate my father," he muttered before walking out of the room, leaving Mira and Yusuke in a heavy silence.
Mira sighed again, her heart feeling heavy as Yusuke simply shook his head in disbelief at the unfolding drama.
Meanwhile, outside in the sprawling garden of the southern castle, a male with dark blue hair wandered aimlessly, lost in thought. Ryan was trying to make sense of why Lyra had sent him to the southern lands. It wasn’t that Mira hated him, nor did he harbor any ill feelings toward her; they simply didn’t see eye to eye on many matters. Despite this, Ryan couldn’t shake off the unsettling feeling that had settled in the pit of his stomach, a sense of foreboding that seemed to linger in the air around him.
As he strolled through the vibrant flowers and lush greenery, his red eyes caught sight of a figure perched in a nearby tree, watching him intently. "Ryan... is there anything wrong?" the figure called out, his voice smooth yet laced with concern.
Ryan jumped slightly at the unexpected voice and turned to see Chrono, the time demon, observing him with a curious expression. "Chrono, why are you watching me?" the half-dragon asked, a hint of irritation creeping into his tone.
Chrono sighed lightly, closing his eyes for a brief moment as if to gather his thoughts. "I was napping... and you walking around woke me up. Not that your muttering didn’t contribute to my awakening," he replied, a hint of humor in his voice.
"Sorry about that. I’ve just got a lot on my mind," Ryan admitted, running a hand through his hair in frustration.
"I can tell," Chrono said, his gaze piercing yet understanding.
Both males sighed simultaneously, the weight of their thoughts hanging heavily in the air, just as Heei emerged from the castle, his expression a mix of determination and annoyance. The fire demon blinked at the two males, taking in the scene before him. "Chrono, our princess wants you to go see Lyra," he announced, his voice firm and commanding.
Chrono blinked in surprise, his interest piqued. "To check on Sinta?" he asked, his brow furrowing in concern.
Heei nodded, his expression serious. "Yes, it seems there’s been an incident, and she wants you to ensure everything is alright," he explained before disappearing in a flash of fire, leaving Rayn and Chrono standing in the garden, the weight of the situation settling heavily upon them.
Ryan turned to Chrono, his expression a mix of worry and curiosity. "Do you think Sinta will be okay?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.
Chrono opened his eyes, a determined look crossing his face. "We won’t know until we get there. Let’s hurry," he replied, and with that, the two of them set off toward the castle, their minds racing with thoughts of what awaited them. The air was thick with tension, and the uncertainty of the situation loomed over them like a dark cloud, but they knew they had to face whatever challenges lay ahead together.