Raiyo

The gentle rustling of leaves fills the air, blending with the soft chirping of birds as a warm breeze sways the treetops. The forest behind the house is bathed in golden sunlight, filtering through the gaps in the dense canopy, casting speckled patterns onto the ground. It's peaceful—serene even.

And in the middle of it all, sitting cross-legged on the grass, is Raiyo, a eleven-year-old boy, hugging a pillow as if his life depends on it.

His deep blue hair, rich like a midnight sky, shimmers faintly in the light, catching hints of gold where the sun hits. His caramel-brown skin glows with warmth, and his golden star-like eyes, currently half-lidded, flicker between wakefulness and sleep. He looks as if he's about to drift off any second.

His mentor, standing a few feet away, watches him with growing irritation.

"Raiyo." The voice is firm, carrying years of discipline and experience.

No response.

The man narrows his eyes, arms crossed. "Raiyo."

Raiyo's grip on his pillow tightens, and his body sways ever so slightly. His head dips forward, golden eyes fluttering shut. He's on the verge of falling into blissful sleep.

Then—

Whoosh!

His beloved pillow is yanked from his grasp.

"—Wah!" Raiyo gasps as he topples forward, landing flat on his face.

For a moment, there's only silence. Then, Raiyo groans, pushing himself back up, squinting up at a man standing over him, holding the pillow hostage under one arm.

"I'm up, I'm up…" Raiyo mumbles, rubbing his eyes.

The man—his mentor, Jin—clicks his tongue, shaking his head. "You've got some nerve bringing a pillow to training."

Raiyo yawns, stretching lazily. "I was listening…"

Jin raises an eyebrow. "Oh? Then tell me—what was I saying?"

Raiyo blinks. His mind is completely blank. He shifts uncomfortably, lips pressing together as he tries to come up with something—anything—that would make it seem like he was paying attention.

Jin waits.

Raiyo sighs in defeat. "…Something important?"

Jin smacks the pillow against Raiyo's head.

"Ow—okay, okay!" Raiyo whines, rubbing his head.

Jin lets out a long sigh, pinching the bridge of his nose. "How do you expect to survive in this world if you don't take your training seriously?"

Raiyo pouts, brushing dirt off his clothes. "I already know how to fight."

Jin's sharp eyes lock onto him. "You're good. But 'good' isn't enough. You need to be the best."

Raiyo groans dramatically, flopping onto his back. "I will, but it just sounds like a lot of work…"

Jin doesn't humor him. Instead, he tosses the pillow over his shoulder and cracks his knuckles. "Get up."

Raiyo sits up slowly, sulking. "What are we doing now?"

"Hand-to-hand combat."

"But I already—"

"Get. Up."

Raiyo sighs loudly but obeys, dusting off his pants as he stands. His golden eyes flicker with reluctance as he takes his stance, his body naturally falling into a balanced position.

Despite his complaints, fighting comes naturally to him. His movements are fluid, precise. His posture is relaxed, but Jin sees through it—there's laziness in his stance.

Jin doesn't hesitate. He moves.

Raiyo barely has time to react as Jin's fist comes straight for his face. He ducks, stepping back instinctively, but Jin follows up with a sweeping kick.

Raiyo jumps over it, twisting mid-air before landing lightly on his feet. He grins. "Is that all you got, old man?"

Jin smirks. "Cocky."

In an instant, he's behind Raiyo.

Raiyo's eyes widen. He barely manages to block the strike aimed at his ribs, but the force still sends him stumbling. He regains his balance and retaliates with a punch, aiming for Jin's side—only for his mentor to redirect it effortlessly, using Raiyo's momentum against him.

Before Raiyo can react, Jin hooks a leg behind his and sweeps.

The world tilts. Raiyo lands flat on his back with a loud thud.

He groans, staring up at the sky. "Owww…"

Jin looms over him. "You rely too much on instinct. You have talent, but talent alone isn't enough. If you don't sharpen it, it'll dull."

Raiyo exhales dramatically.

stretching his arms above his head as if he's lounging instead of lying on the cold forest floor after being thrown down. "Sharpen, dull—it's all the same. You still hit me, so what's the point?"

Jin's brow twitches. "The point," he says, crouching down so his sharp eyes are level with Raiyo's, "is that you got thrown to the ground. Again."

Raiyo sighs, rubbing the back of his head. "You didn't have to put it like that."

Jin stands, crossing his arms. "Get up."

"I think I'll just stay here for a bit."

Jin sighs. He has dealt with Raiyo's laziness for years, but somehow, every day, the boy finds new ways to test his patience. "Fine. Then you can stay there without dinner."

Raiyo shoots up so fast it's almost comedic. "I was just about to get up!" He dusts off his clothes, glaring playfully.

Jin smirks. "I bet."

Raiyo grumbles under his breath, stretching his arms. "Can we at least be done for today?"

Jin glances at the sky, noting the position of the sun. "One more thing."

Raiyo groans. "Come on…"

Jin ignores his whining. "Use what you've learned to go hunt some food."

Raiyo collapses dramatically onto the ground. "I'm toooo tired…"

Jin shrugs. "I'll get you a cake."

Raiyo's golden eyes narrow suspiciously. "You said that two weeks ago."

Jin raises an eyebrow. "Fine. Two cakes."

The sleepiness in Raiyo's face vanishes in an instant. His golden eyes gleam, and a smile spreads across his face. "Two?"

"Two."

Raiyo is already on his feet, stretching. "Alright, alright, I'll go." He starts walking deeper into the forest, waving lazily over his shoulder. "Try not to miss me too much."

Jin shakes his head, watching him go. "Brat."

__

Raiyo knows these woods like the back of his hand. He's spent years exploring them, memorizing the winding paths, the hidden clearings, the best trees to nap under. He knows which plants are edible, which mushrooms will make you hallucinate (he learned that one the hard way), and which areas to avoid unless you want to end up face-to-face with something that has way too many teeth.

Despite his laziness, Raiyo loves being in the forest. The way the sunlight filters through the leaves, the soft crunch of grass beneath his feet, the distant sounds of animals—it all makes him feel at home.

He walks slowly, taking his time. After all, Jin didn't say he had to rush.

As he moves through the forest, he finds himself stopping at a familiar tree. It's massive, its roots twisting in and out of the ground like something out of a fairytale. Raiyo runs a hand over the bark, a small smile playing at his lips.

This is where he used to come when he was younger—before his training got so intense. He'd climb up to the highest branch and just… sit. Watching the world, feeling the wind against his skin, listening to the whispers of the leaves.

He misses that.

A gentle breeze passes through, rustling his deep blue hair. His golden eyes soften, reflecting the sky above. Maybe, just for a little bit…

He grips one of the lower branches, easily pulling himself up. His movements are effortless, practiced. Within seconds, he reaches the top, settling into the sturdy embrace of the branches.

The view is breathtaking. From up here, he can see the forest stretching endlessly, the trees swaying like an emerald ocean. The sky is a brilliant blue, the clouds drifting lazily.

Raiyo exhales, leaning back against the trunk. "I should do this more often…"

For a moment, he simply exists. No training, no lectures, no fighting—just him and the forest. He feels his eyes get heavy, slowly closing his eyes...

His stomach growls.

"…Right. Food."

With a reluctant sigh, he climbs back down, landing lightly on his feet. He stretches once more before continuing his journey.

Two hours pass before Raiyo finds something worth hunting.

It's a bestiary, a large creature covered in thick, stone-like scales. Its glowing red eyes scan the area as it moves, its powerful limbs shaking the ground with every step.

Raiyo watches from a distance, crouched behind a bush. His golden eyes sharpen, studying its movements. Always watch before you strike. That's what Jin says. Observe, analyze, then act.

The bestiary is distracted, sniffing at the ground.

Now.

Raiyo smirks. He lunges.

His fist collides with its side, the impact booming through the forest. The bestiary roars, whipping around to face him, its massive tail swinging through the air. Raiyo ducks, rolling to the side as the tail smashes into the ground where he once stood.

He grins. "Woah..."

The bestiary lunges, claws swiping. Raiyo dodges, his movements smooth and effortless. He weaves through its attacks, his body light as air.

Then, he strikes.

A punch to its ribs. A kick to its leg. A sharp elbow to its jaw.

The bestiary staggers, disoriented. Raiyo doesn't give it time to recover. He moves in, fast, his hands a blur as he delivers a flurry of strikes. Each hit is precise, controlled. His body flows like water, adapting to the creature's movements.

The bestiary roars one final time before collapsing, the ground shaking beneath its weight.

Silence.

Raiyo exhales, stretching his arms. "Whew. That wasn't so bad." He yawns, rubbing his eyes. "Time to get my cakes."

Grabbing the beast's tail, he drags it all the way home.