Urgent Business

In the hushed stillness of the tent, the rhythmic scratching of Rei's pen against parchment was the only sound. Beside him, Tenko, his loyal Navarion companion, slumbered peacefully on his shoulder, a soft, warm weight. The air was thick with the scent of ink and old paper, a poignant reminder of the library that had been tragically consumed by flames. Now, from the ashes of destruction, Rei was meticulously rebuilding, one word, one sentence, one book at a time.

Yet, even as he painstakingly recreated lost knowledge, his mind churned with new ideas. Scattered across the makeshift desk were not just manuscripts, but also intricate blueprints for the village, designs born from a vision of a more resilient and self-sufficient future. He envisioned new structures, improved defenses, and innovative systems that would safeguard their home from future attacks.

A sudden rustle at the tent flap broke his concentration. Kaiser, his friend, entered, a scroll held loosely in his hand. "Hey, Rei," Kaiser said, his voice a low rumble. "I received a letter."

Rei, ever focused, looked up, his brow furrowed slightly. "What letter?"

"It's from Lyla," Kaiser replied, a hint of amusement in his tone. "Looks like she's on the way."

A subtle shift, almost imperceptible, crossed Rei's face. A flicker of something akin to relief, quickly veiled. "Yeah, she doesn't have Midgard like us," he mused, referring to their unique mode of fast travel. "So it's understandable that she would take time to come here." His voice, though calm, carried a faint undercurrent of concern for her arduous journey.

Kaiser, ever perceptive, sensed the underlying tension. "You should take some break," he urged gently. "Even your Navarion friend on your shoulder looks tired."

Rei glanced down at Tenko, whose small body was curled tightly, soft snores escaping his muzzle. A rare, almost imperceptible, smile touched Rei's lips. "You are right," he conceded, his voice softer than usual. "I will take a break. However, I need to see how your scepter works, so how about you show me while I take rest?"

Kaiser let out a hearty laugh, the sound echoing lightly in the confined space. "You don't know the meaning of rest, do you?" he quipped, but there was no malice, only affection, in his words. "Fine, let's go."

Rei rose, the movement gentle enough not to disturb Tenko initially, but the slight shift in balance soon roused the sleeping creature. Tenko's eyes blinked open, amber irises reflecting the soft lamplight. "Let's go, Tenko," Rei said, his voice a quiet command.

Tenko nodded, uncurled from Rei's shoulder, and leaped to the ground. In a breathtaking display of his innate abilities, the small fox-like creature began to expand, his form rippling and growing until he stood as tall as a dog, a magnificent Navarion.

Rei his distant demeanor momentarily replaced by scientific curiosity, watched in fascination. "Your size shifting is increasing," he observed, a note of genuine intrigue in his voice. "I would love to study it after all this is over." The words were spoken with the detached interest of a researcher.

As the trio—Rei, Kaiser, and the now-magnified Tenko—made their way to an open field, Kaiser's excitement was palpable. "I am going to use one of my most powerful techniques and see if it works," he announced, his hand already gripping his sword-like scepter.

With a flourish, Kaiser invoked the "Sword Saint Technique, Verse 1: Wind Slices the Sword." A surge of energy flowed from his scepter. Kaiser slashed with the sword, manifesting a razor-thin slice of wind that hurtled across the field, cleaving a distant rock with surgical precision. Kaiser's eyes widened in surprise and satisfaction. "That wind slice was stronger than the wind slice I used to create with my sword," he marveled, impressed by the scepter's amplified power.

He repeated the technique, "Wind Slices the Sword," for the second time. This time, the wind slice was even more potent, dissecting a nearby tree with ease. Then, for the third time, he unleashed the technique, and the concentrated force of wind obliterated a distant boulder. Kaiser, overwhelmed by the sheer power, let out a triumphant "Sweet!"

He continued, executing the "Wind Slices the Sword" technique for the fourth, fifth, and sixth times, each strike demonstrating an increasing mastery and power. Finally, deeply impressed, he turned to Rei. "It's very good," Kaiser declared, his voice filled with genuine admiration. "I am impressed by it. You exceeded my expectations."

Rei remained unruffled by the display. "So what were your expectations?" he asked, his voice calm and even.

Kaiser laughed, a hint of playful exasperation in his tone. "I thought you would create a wand-like scepter that would only increase durability," he admitted.

"It's made from the best materials, so don't worry," Rei replied, a subtle nod to his meticulous craftsmanship and understanding of materials.

Kaiser then turned his attention to Tenko. "You know your Navarion friend, too, has a scepter," he observed. "Does he use it?"

"Yes, he uses his scepter. His Scepter's name is Nyx," Rei explained, his gaze drifting to Tenko, who was now sniffing curiously at a patch of wildflowers. "While it would look like he is not using it, because unlike us who create Qi fields in front of our scepter, he actually makes Qi fields away from his scepter, in front of his mouth, to control the environment. After all, it's difficult to fire from the neck." Rei's explanation was precise, highlighting the unique biological adaptations of the Navarion.

"I see," Kaiser mused, absorbing the fascinating detail. "Well, we should return now."

As Rei and Kaiser returned to their tents, Rei immediately sat down at his makeshift desk, the blueprints and half-finished manuscripts awaiting his attention. He picked up his pen, resuming his work.

Suddenly, a bird flew in through the tent flap, a curious sight. Rei looked at the creature, dumbfounded for a moment, an unusual expression for his typically stoic face. "Who are you?" he murmured, more to himself than to the bird.

Tenko, however, seemed unfazed, merely flicking an ear in the bird's direction before returning to his nap. Rei then noticed the distinctive crest of the revolutionaries on the bird's foot. A flicker of recognition crossed his features. "This bird is from the revolutionaries," he stated, his voice devoid of surprise, as if he had been expecting such a message.

He carefully untied a small letter from the bird's leg and unfurled it. His eyes scanned the familiar script. "Rei," he read aloud, the words a low murmur in the tent, "due to your agreement with the kings, the Revolutionaries have already gotten big enough that we could afford birds." A faint, almost imperceptible smile touched Rei's lips as he read this.

However, the next lines sent a jolt through him. "However, there is an urgent notice: the Saint Candidate has moved to Geno Town."

Rei knew he had to act fast to reach the Saint Candidate. Yet, he was also burdened by his current tasks: rewriting the burned books and, perhaps more importantly, awaiting Lyla's arrival so he could personally deliver the scepter he had painstakingly built for her. The conflicting priorities weighed heavily on him.

With a decisive nod, Rei attached a small note and a meticulously drawn blueprint of a magic pistol to the bird's leg, sending it back to the revolutionaries with his instructions and his latest innovation.

The next day, Rei plunged back into his work with renewed fervor, writing books and meticulously crafting blueprints without pause. Kaiser, observing his friend's relentless dedication, stifled a yawn. "Come on," he coaxed, a note of concern in his voice. "You have been working five hours straight. Take a break."

"No," Rei replied, his eyes fixed on the parchment before him, his voice firm. "I need to go to work after I complete it. If, during these days of my work, Lyla won't come, then I will leave her scepter with you so you could give it to her." His words, though delivered calmly, carried a clear sense of urgency.

Kaiser's curiosity was piqued. "What work is so important that you have to go quickly?" he asked.

"Recruiting work," Rei explained, his gaze still fixed on his writing. "If I won't recruit some person, they will be taken."

Kaiser nodded, a knowing look on his face. "So, in your own team, as the team leader, you are stuck as the recruiter?"

Rei finally looked up and said. "I am not the team leader. Ben is."

"What is your position then?" Kaiser pressed on with curiosity.

"Mastermind," Rei stated, his voice resonating with quiet confidence. "I control things from the shadows."

Kaiser chuckled. "Well, I kind of thought that would be your position."

Three days passed in a blur of ink, paper, and focused energy. Rei completed his immediate tasks, and the pile of rewritten books and new blueprints was ready. Yet, Lyla still had not arrived. A quiet sense of disappointment settled over the tent.

"So," Kaiser said, his voice tinged with regret, "looks like you have to go without her."

Both of them felt a prick of sadness. Rei looked out towards the distant mountains, his gaze thoughtful. "I will wait just one more day," he said. "She should at least get a chance to come." He continued to gaze at the mountains.