Komodo Mountain Range

Kilometers Away from Mount Edal

A shadowy figure dashes through the surrounding trees so quickly you would miss it if you took your eyes off for a second. Every tree this figure jumps from, a body or two drops from it. A Series of arrows fly into every tree he jumps in and jumps with whooshing sounds leaving behind trails of falling leaves as though it were autumn. A horde of arrows flies towards this figure as it is about to jump from a branch however, a sudden smoke explodes at where he is as the arrows pierce through followed by a loud wail.

The smoke clears rather quickly but the figure is nowhere to be seen rather an ally is killed in his stead. This ally's bow drops from his hands and he drops to the ground right after it lands. The tip of an arrow moves around from tree to tree and finally settles on a figure dashing away on the ground. Being released from its bow, it cuts through the air piercing the ground right in front of the figure followed by a sudden eruption of golden mist and the figure suddenly is nowhere to be seen.

"Damn it! Deathstalker, I will surely take your life before I die" a man screams from a nearby tree and leaves after putting his bow away.

Up in the sky, above the trees in the mountain range, the Deathstalker appears mid-air and his eyes slowly open and stares blankly in the distance as the rays of the setting sun brighten his face. Realizing his position, he lets out a loud wail as he comes back down with great speed. Desperately removing a chain from his waist, he launches it with all his might in an attempt to swing from a branch, however the branch SNAPS! under his weight and he crashes into another branch then into a nearby pond sending splashes everywhere.

"Arrhh" he yells as he emerges from the water. "What in the hell did they put in that arrowhead?" he snarls while making his way out of the pond but at the very end, he falls face flat motionless to the ground.

GARDOT

10:45 PM

"Old man... I'm back" Gavin yells as he runs in but there was no response. "Old man?" he calls out again but still there was no response.

"Your grandpa is with the blacksmiths he would be back soon" a familiar voice echoes after a short while.

"Auntie Leah?"

"Don't bother going there, he won't see you even if you did. Just wait for him here"

"Not gonna. I have to deliver a message to him. It seems important"

She sighs then stretches out her hand "Give it to me"

"Okay, thanks. I'm off to eat" he says handing her the letter without any hesitation and then rushing off.

"He's never gonna change, is he?" she whispers

Gavin sits on the stone floor in the kitchen and pulls out a shuriken and a pellet.

"Who was that guy?" he questions softly. "It doesn't matter anyway, now that I have his smoke pellets it is a big win for me hehehehe."

"Time to dissect and know the secret way of making their smoke pellet hehehehehe! Big win for me today"

He drops the shuriken and begins to observe the pellet slowly before finally settling on unwrapping it but unfortunately for him, it explodes with a puff filling the kitchen with dense smoke.

Kilometers Away from Mount Edal

A hand digs deep into the mud as Deathstalker tries to drag himself from the edge of the pond. His actions prove futile as he remains in place without even budging, alas there was no strength left in his arms.

[How long I'm I going to remain like his? And what chemical did they put in that arrowhead for it to be this potent?]

The wind begins to change direction as a creature seems to be moving towards his location with great speed with a figure behind it. Noticing them, he stares helplessly with wide eyes at the oncoming threat without a word. A giant lizard comes to a stop right in front of his eyes as its large feet sink deep into the mud, splashing it around and it begins to lick him.

[Lo...] he struggles to blurt before his eyes shut and he passes out.

KOMODO MOUNTAIN RANGE

11:39 PM

On a mountain range shrouded by huge trees stands an enormous rock shaped like a Komodo Dragon with wide-opened jaws as though ready to devour anything that comes close. One could not tell the difference between the real and this piece except for the fact that it was inanimate.

Rushing through the empty range, a figure and what looks like its pet speed into the opened jaws of the dragon before them and its jaws shuts immediately they go in. After a few seconds, its jaws slowly open up and the two are nowhere to be seen.

PHYSICIANS ROOM

A white-bearded stout man sits cross-legged on a mat reading from the pages of a tattered book. The book contains various pictures of herbs and other plants as well as recipes for preparing them. He suddenly lifts his head as a thundering noise gets closer to his room.

"Hmph!" he loudly snorts and jumps to his feet.

Followed by a rush of wind, a young man accompanied by a giant lizard enters the room with Deathstalker on its back.

"How many times have I told you not to bring this beast into my room!" the white-bearded man snarls before abruptly gasping. "Shiro? what happened to him" he quickly enquires whiles picking him off the back of the giant lizard.

"I don't know Uncle Kenji, I detected strange movements while patrolling and went to investigate. I found him unconscious in the woods near a pond."

"Call Shiro [Shiro's dad]" he says while turning towards him with a cold glare and then barks "...and get that beast out of my room"

"Sorry..." the young man says and runs out with the lizard right behind.

An Hour and a Half Later

The curtains in front of Kenji's room part as Shiro runs in and sees his son sitting on a mat with his head wrapped in bandages. He turns to Kenji and asks softly "What happened?"

Kenji's reply was a smile and a nod.

"Don't tell me... already?"

"What can I say, the kid's got talent. Shouldn't be a surprise"

"But that's never happened at such a young age. Are you sure he is okay?"

"The kid's fine, don't sweat it. Anyway, have you informed him about your decision?"

"Oh that... not yet I would do that later, now's not a good time"

"I think now's a perfect time. I will leave you two" he says and exits the room without saying another word.

Shiro stares on with a blank expression on his face without a word. His dad walks up to him and sits by him. "Hey, how are you feeling?"

"Much better I think?"

"And training?"

"Nothing special happening anyway, just the usual boring stuff"

"Oka...y. Remember what I told you about when you get older?" he mentions with a smile

"Yeah, why"

"That time has come. Your training here is complete and there's a larger world out there for you to explore so you would be going to Camcot with Kane's grandkid in a couple of months"

"Don't wanna..."

"Shiro I know how much this place means to you but there's a lot out there for you to learn. This place is too confined for you to grow exponentially. Besides I have been there myself when I was your age."

"You want me to go to a place I have no idea about and that too with someone I don't know just because you did?"

"That's not what I'm saying Shiro and who said it's someone you don't know... The one you met on top of Mount Edal is the one I speak of"

"You..."

"No one followed you" he cuts in "I simply sent you there knowing he was going to be there"

"Is it really necessary, that I go?"

"Very..."

"Whatever I would think about it". He says with a long face

His dad stands up to leave "Hey dad, about that arrow, what sort of powder was put in it to have that kind of effect?"

"I would give you a brief about all that in a month, until then, focus on training and studies see you" he finishes and walks out.

Shiro stares at him leave then smiles and pulls out a small ball resembling a canon. "Guess I will keep this as a trophy, hehehehehe. Silent Samurai huh?"