Chapter One

Three boys trudged along the uneven dirt road, their silhouettes bathed in the golden glow of the setting sun. The first, with a head of wild crimson hair and bright orange eyes that burned like embers, pushed a worn wooden wagon, its creaky wheels groaning under the weight of its unseen cargo. The second, a tall boy with golden-blonde hair and noble emerald-green eyes, walked with a composed stride, his katana strapped securely at his waist, its hilt worn from use. The last, the youngest, possessed shimmering silver hair that caught the fading sunlight like strands of liquid moonlight. His androgynous features and wide, violet eyes shimmered with boundless curiosity, an amused grin tugging at his lips as he took in the world around him.

The youngest idly balanced a short katana behind his back, fingers wrapped loosely around its sheath. All three were clad in old black uniforms.

The sun dipped lower, its golden light spilling across the winding road, casting elongated shadows that stretched across the earth. The trees flanking the path swayed gently in the evening breeze, their leaves tinged with hues of amber and crimson. Overhead, the sky shifted from brilliant blue to a cascade of fiery oranges and soft purples, signaling the quiet approach of twilight.