Chapter 12: Peaceful
A few months later
Several months have gone by since Sinta returned south. Elyasia carried on as if nothing had changed. The portals were silent, the dragons had finally found peace, and the realm was calm at last.
Lyra hummed as she read a book in the library. Ryan was nearby, lost in a book on swordsmanship, while Rain watched over them. She was browsing through some books as they read. It was oddly peaceful, with the princess not throwing books at the young dragon.
In fact, Lyra was engrossed in her book. It was the latest release on the demon realm, discussing the four lords and the one who was missing. Raizen remained the lord of the north, and the book mentioned Yusuke as the next in line. InuTaishou was the lord of the west, but he was absent, leaving his son, Sesshomaru, to act as lord. Mikya was still the lord of the east with no heir, while the south was ruled by Nyra, whom Lyra knew from Rose, as Rose was Nyra’s daughter.
As Lyra read, Ryan got bored with his book and stood up. He walked over to his mom and handed her the book.
"Finished reading?” Rain asked her son.
Ryan nodded. "Yeah, I've read that one book five times now, and I'm just not into it anymore.”
“My poor boy,” the mage said softly. “I'd suggest you head outside and practice with your sword, but I'm not sure the princess will approve.”
The boy glanced over at the princess. “Lyra, can I go outside and train with my sword?” He was just testing the waters.
Lyra looked up, thinking for a moment. “Sure, go ahead. I'm busy finishing this book.” With that, she went back to reading.
Rain and Ryan exchanged a glance with each other, unsure what to do. But before long, Ryan threw up his hands and walked out of the library, saying, “I’m not going to ask her about that.” This made the mage let out a gentle laugh.
In the southern region, Mira was brushing Chrono's hair. They were in the back area where Heei was training with Mathias. Soren was nearby, reading a tome, while Inuyasha sat in a tree, watching the two train. Sinta, in his fox form, was peacefully sleeping near the princess.
Chrono didn’t mind having his hair brushed or styled, as he enjoyed the way Mira braided it when she finished.
The princess was lost in her own thoughts, which didn’t bother the males around her. Soren felt relieved that she was calm again, as he was the most concerned about her, though he never showed it.
Suddenly, Heei unleashed a darkness dragon at the young dog demon, who managed to dodge it, blinking in surprise. “What was that?” Chrono asked.
The fire demon blinked as well and replied, “What was what?”
“That attack, Heei.”
“Oh.” Heei paused for a moment to gather his thoughts. “It’s called the Dragon of the Darkness Flame attack. It’s a powerful technique that summons black flames from the depths of the Spirit World and shapes them into the form of a dragon, capable of instantly incinerating nearly anything in its path. Or so I've been told by Kurama. It’s a technique my father knows as well,” the young fire demon explained.
Mathias listened intently. “I see. How did you learn it?”
“I... don’t know. I just heard a dragon saying something, and I did what it said. I was only about five years old at the time.”
This piqued the dog demon's interest. “Interesting. Can you do it again?”
Heei thought for a moment and then shrugged. “Sure.” With that said, the two of them stopped training and began discussing the attack, with Heei showing Mathias the marks on his right arm. They became so engrossed in their conversation that they didn’t notice the princess watching them.
Mira noticed that the two had gotten close, but didn’t mind as she happily brushed Chrono’s soft hair. She ran the brush through the long purple locks with a soft hum and drifted back into her own world.
Sinta woke up and glanced over at the two of them. He noticed that Heei was getting along well with the dog demon. He made a mental note that Heei was quite different from Hiei. After a light yawn, he settled back to sleep, his tails moving lazily behind him as his ears twitched.
Soren didn't even look up from his book while Inuyasha continued to watch the two. Their silence was typical for Soren but unusual for Inuyasha. However, no one seemed to care or even notice. It was just another day in the south. Soren didn’t even look up from his book while Inuyasha kept watching the two. They were quiet, which was normal for Soren yet odd for Inuyasha. Yet no one seemed to care or even notice. It was just another day in the south.
Everything was calm in the tower. Lyne was deep in her library, engrossed in her reading. She kept putting the book about the Four Gods back on the shelf whenever it fell out. The content of the book didn't interest her; she was focused on her other reading.
Yue was sleeping on the top floor in his dragon form. It was so tranquil that he was finally able to get some much-needed rest. Their son, Kiba, was nearby, absorbed in his own book. The boy missed his father and wished for some time together. Yue didn't mind; Kiba was being quiet.
The tower was peaceful, and the three residents within it were calm, though Lyne was becoming increasingly annoyed with the book. The tower was peaceful and the three ones that lived in there was calm, thou Lyne was getting annoyed with the book.
In a secluded part of the southern territories, Kamui perched on the weathered wooden dock that extended over a tranquil lake, its surface shimmering with an otherworldly glow—an indication of the portal to the Shadow Realm that lay beneath the water's depths. Though the convergence of the mystical and the mundane puzzled him, his purpose was clear: he was the guardian of this enigmatic threshold.
The soft radiance emanating from the lake was a familiar comfort. Even in its serene state, where the rippling surface gave no hint of the chaos that could lie beyond, a sense of duty kept him anchored there. Yet, despite the portal's calm demeanor, a listlessness tugged at him; the allure of visiting his friends, Lyne and Mira, was overshadowed by a haunting uncertainty. The whereabouts of his mate were a mystery once more—Erika's adventurous spirit often led her astray.
With a deep, contemplative sigh, Kamui rose from his spot, the cool breeze rustling through the trees as he stepped into the embrace of the surrounding forest. "Erika! Where are you, girl?" he called, his voice echoing softly through the verdant green.
As he meandered through the underbrush, Kamui was abruptly enveloped from behind, two arms wrapping around him like the gentle vines of the forest. He released a soft, bemused sigh as a melodic giggle pierced the stillness of the woods. A familiar warmth flooded his senses, and he felt her nuzzle into his back.
"Erika, what mischief have you gotten into this time?" he asked playfully, his tone a mixture of concern and fondness.
“Nothing at all, Kamui,” she murmured, her voice a delicate whisper that held a layer of intrigue, her eyes dancing with hidden secrets.
He gently loosened her embrace and turned to face her, taking in her enchanting presence. Erika stood petite and spirited, her long, midnight-black hair woven into a braid adorned with a dragon pin—a cherished gift from him, symbolizing their bond. As she tilted her head back to meet his gaze, her bright blue eyes sparkled like gems against the backdrop of the dim, dappled light filtering through the leaves. The soft rays accentuated her porcelain skin, imparting a radiant glow that made her appear almost ethereal. Leaning down, he pressed a tender kiss to her cheek, feeling the warmth of her skin beneath his lips. “Promise me you won’t wander off again,” he whispered near her ear, his heart swelling with affection.
A rush of color bloomed across Erika's cheeks, and her expression shifted to one of playful indignation. Pouting slightly, she folded her arms defiantly. “But Kamui, I can’t just linger by the lake all day—it’s utterly tedious!”
“Then immerse yourself in your studies,” he suggested, a hint of teasing in his voice. “Lyne specifically asked you to work on your magic if you want to be of help. So summon your grimoire and dive into the pages.”
Still pouting, her lips formed an adorable, stubborn line as she rose to the challenge. “You’re just so unreasonably mean, Kamui,” she retorted, her bright eyes glimmering with mischief.
With a playful flit of her skirt, she darted back towards the lake, but he swiftly caught her by the waist and pulled her onto his lap. She settled comfortably against his chest, tilting her head back, confusion etched on her doll-like features.
“What’s on your mind?” he asked with a teasing grin, drawing her even closer into his warm embrace. “I promise, once Subaru arrives, I won’t let you slip away from me again.”
“No, you won't. I intend to enjoy your company and your brother's since you both are my friends... and my dragons,” she sighed softly, a hint of determination reflecting in her gaze. It was a promise she intended to keep, and with that thought, she summoned her grimoire, its ancient pages fluttering open in a gentle breeze.
As Erika immersed herself in the arcane words of the tome, Kamui fell into a peaceful silence, resting his chin on her shoulder. He closed his eyes, allowing himself to revel in the tranquility of the moment. With her nestled in his arms, the stresses of his duties faded away into the background, leaving only contentment as they shared this quiet, cherished interlude.
Note from Salya: That's all lore for this chapter. I finally added Kamui into the story. and Erika is my oc for him and Subaru. I hope you like her. ^^