Transforming Arts

The days flew by as Yamato concentrated on his exam and in a blink of an eye a week has passed. That means the exams has finished and the holidays has begun. Of course the class result would be announced a week after the exams is finished, but Yamato would not be attending this year.

Because tomorrow his Master will be leaving and he'd have to take care of her daughter till she returns. Thinking about it that girl is weird. Will it be alright? He hopes so.

The last paper was on Friday. The next day, on Saturday, immediately Yamato woke up he took a bath and dressed up like usual. However unlike other Saturdays that he would then head to work, Yamato isn't going to work today. He'd already informed his boss yesterday night that he will not be around for about a month and he should find someone else to take over his position in the shop.

The old shop owner had been very disappointed and said he didn't know how to find someone else to cover for him on such short notice. But Yamato thought the reason his boss was upset was because of that gang disturbing his shop. He told Yamato to reconsider but Yamato couldn't. He also didn't want to disappoint his boss, but for his Master he didn't hesitate.

As he walked in the street Yamato checked his phone to see messages from Shandy and Zack, both asking him about his holiday plans so they could hang out with each other. He quickly replied, lying that he would be busy with work for a few weeks.

Yamato didn't care about Zack but Shandy actually surprised him because before now during every holiday they'd never meet outside school until school resumes. This is the first time she's taking the initiative to ask for it but he couldn't agree outright which wounded him deeply.

His Master was in the kitchen preparing breakfast when he came into the wooden house. She quickly looked into the sitting room and said, "Have a seat, I'm not leaving until in the afternoon,"

Yamato could only obey.

Afterwards they sat together and eat breakfast. Time flew by quickly and in a blink of an eye it was already 14:00 in the afternoon. Yamato had spent the whole morning helping his Master pack her stuff, so she could put it into a storage ring, and listening to her instructions.

A storage ring. This is the first time Yamato is seeing such an advanced yet useful tool.

Over the past week Katrina had told him many things about how to take care of the house, but she also taught him a new skill. This skill is an aura concealing technique.

It wasn't hard to learn since it used the same breathing technique as its anchor. Only this time instead of putting gravity and the like inside the fire, Yamato just has to put his presence into it and he'll be completely imperceptible. Of course you'll be able to see him if you look directly at him. It's after all not an invisibility technique.

Anyway, after all the preparations were done Tila and Yamato followed Katrina outside.

"I'll be back as soon as I can," Katrina said to Yamato stroking her daughter's hair then told her something in their language. Tila nodded with a teary eyed look. Katrina kissed the girl on the forehead before stepping back.

"Well it's good bye then," she said.

Yamato almost fell on his ass from fright the next moment as his Master suddenly disappeared. He looked around but couldn't find her. Suddenly he heard her laughter, Tila also started laughing. Yamato looked around trying to calm his beating heart. "Master where are you... are you invisible?"

"How can I be invisible? I don't have that kind of technique okay!" Katrina said the laughter clear in her voice.

Yamato finally spotted where the sound is coming from. It was the black bird perched on the branch of the orange tree in the center of the courtyard.

"Master you turned into a bird?"

"Finally," Katrina said then flew out and transformed back to a human.

"Idiot!" Tila sneered.

Yamato ignored the rude girl even if he's surprised that she spoke to him and looked back to his Master. "How did you do that?"

"That's the transforming art,"

"Can you teach me?"

Seeing Yamato's hopeful look Katrina shook her head helplessly. "We'll see when I return. Take care of Tila for me,"

"I know, you have already said that many times already!"

"Fine, till I return," After saying that Katrina didn't say anything more before she loose more face. She transformed into a Raven and flew away.

Yamato looked at the bird till it disappeared in the sky then looked down at Tila and said. "Let's go inside little sister,"

Tila gave Yamato a glare. "Who's your little sister?"

Yamato blinked. "You of course,"

"You wish, you loser! Don't bother me or I'll tell mother that you abused me when she returns,"

Yamato was stunned by how fast this little girl changed faces. In front of her mother she's quite and polite but now that she's alone with him she suddenly had a sharp tongue. He looked at this girl of ten that already cultivated a black heart and felt helpless. How could I stand this disrespectful kid for two weeks? Don't say two weeks, even a day will be difficult. I already feel like hitting her!

"Where are you going?" Seeing the girl start heading out Yamato couldn't help but ask.

She glared at him. "None of your business,"

Yamato was so angered he thought he'll actually vomit blood from anger like those people in legends but quickly took deep breaths to calm down his heart. He suddenly resolved himself to have a hellish holiday taking care of this devilish daughter of his Master. Then concealed his presence and quickly followed after the girl that has disappeared into the forest.

xxx

Stepping out of the black SUV, Luka and Saldo were in a gloomy mood as they stared at the entrance of the Dragon Park. Normally the main gate of the park is well guarded so they could only sneak in. Originally they wanted to do that by climbing up the wall but then Saldo remembered this gate that he saw when Elizabeth wanted to meet Yamato. And just like that day the gate was open and guarded.

'Who would have thought those security guys only guards the main gate?' Saldo sighed. 'Kreal city is too shabby already.'

"Say old miser we are really unlucky this time," Luka said suddenly. He reached inside his shabby coat and took out a cigarette. However he couldn't find his match box anywhere so he asked. "Do you have a match?"

Saldo sneered and threw him a lighter.

"You are a life saver ah," Luka quickly lit up the cigarette and started smoking. A cloud of smoke was soon suspended in the air.

Saldo doesn't smoke and detests it so he gave the other man a disdainful look and started walking to the broken gate. "Come on," he said.

"What's the hurry? Ah!" Luka didn't move outright. He quickly finished his cigarette and tossed it away first before following. When he entered through the gate Saldo had already walked some distance away and that's after deliberately slowing his pace. Knowing Saldo there's no chance that guy will wait for him so he ran over to catch up.

Saldo stood before the edge of the woods looking into it.

"What's up?" Luka asked as he stepped next to him.

"This place is usually walked," Saldo replied simply.

"Isn't that normal? Since the gate is open people will naturally enter,"

"This place is only walked by one person. The feet are neither small nor big,"

Luka blinked. "Do you think it's a kid or a woman?" He asked.

"Not sure," Saldo shook his head. He's good at tracking so he could tell that judging by the footprint pattern the shoe is one usually worn by men but he didn't want to start making assumptions.

This time around there are here to search this Dragon Park to try their luck. But seeing this forest Saldo started thinking that maybe this is a good idea. He turned to Luka and asked. "You are a local here, do people usually come in here?"

Luka furrowed his brows in thought then shrugged. "I have been away for a while but I'll imagine no,"

"Why's that?"

Luka smiled meaningfully. "Why you said? That's because of the Sirat forest that these woods leads to. There's a reason that this gate is abandoned that's because this side of the Dragon park is closest to the Sirat forest,

"In Kreal city there's only two things people fear, their landlord and the Sirat forest! I'm sure of it no real Kreal city citizen will dare come here,"

Hearing this Saldo nodded then took out his phone and checked up on the map of Kreal city. Zooming up on the Dragon Park he saw that it was true; the woods inside it stretched wide and even joins a large forest.

Saldo checked the information of the forest. This forest is called Sirat forest and it's quite well known. The forest is very vast, infact as large as a country. But the most important fact is it is a forbidden zone!

"So one of Yunjhu's forbidden zone was here," Saldo muttered.

"What's wrong? Scared?" Luka asked.

Saldo ignored his taunt and said. "Let's get a move on, I'll follow the track. Be ready in case of an ambush anytime, this place feels shady as if I'm walking into someone's territory,"

"Sure thing,"

The two walked into the forest and started following the footpath, curious where it'll lead them.