Chapter 30: Shadows of the Past
Raizen and Izen entered the dark chamber of Lord Varun's stronghold, their cloaks still carrying the scent of battle. The air inside was thick with the scent of burning incense, and Lord Varun sat on his elevated throne, his piercing gaze fixed upon them.
"You faced assassins," Varun said, his tone calm yet filled with an underlying intensity. "And you let one live?"
Raizen clenched his fists but held his ground. "They weren't worth wasting our energy on. We sent a message."
Varun remained silent for a moment before nodding. "Very well. We wait for the right moment. The village will crumble from within soon enough."
He leaned back in his seat, his expression darkening as memories clawed their way to the surface.
Lord Varun's Past
Years ago, Varun had been a simple man, living peacefully with his wife and young daughter. Unlike the warriors of the village, his family had been born without the blessing of a beast spirit. They were powerless in a world ruled by strength.
One fateful night, a group of warriors from the neighboring regions raided their village, demanding those without power to be 'cleansed'—a twisted belief that only the strong had the right to exist. Varun had fought desperately to protect his family, but he was outnumbered.
He was forced to watch as his wife and daughter were slaughtered before his eyes. Their terrified screams haunted him every night, their blood staining his hands even though he wasn't the one who had killed them.
From that day, Varun abandoned all faith in the village's so-called justice. The strong preyed on the weak without consequence. He vowed to destroy this corrupted world and create a new one—where only those truly worthy would survive.
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Back at the Village
The elders gathered in the council hall, their faces grim. Kaida Tenma, Kairo's mother and the new village leader, listened as reports of Raizen's movements were discussed.
"We need to prepare," said Elder Satoru. "Raizen will not stop. He has already begun his revenge, and it's only a matter of time before he returns."
Just then, the doors burst open, and a battered assassin stumbled inside. It was the same one Raizen had spared.
"You need to listen to me," the assassin said, gasping for breath. "Raizen… he is not working alone. He has a plan. And he won't stop until he kills every last warrior who stood beside Haru Tenma."
A heavy silence filled the hall.
Kaida narrowed her eyes. "Then we must prepare for war."
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On the Road Back to the Village
Kairo, Renjiro, Ayaka, and Juno traveled through the forest, their minds heavy with everything that had happened.
Dark clouds gathered overhead, and soon, rain began to pour down. The path became muddy, making travel difficult.
"We should find shelter," Ayaka suggested.
They spotted a cave nearby and quickly made their way inside. The fire they lit crackled softly as they sat around it, exhaustion weighing on them.
For a while, they sat in silence, the sound of raindrops echoing in the cave.
"What do you guys plan to do after this war ends?" Ayaka asked suddenly.
Renjiro leaned back against the cave wall. "I don't know. Maybe help rebuild the village… if there's anything left."
Juno sighed. "I want to travel. See the world outside this endless conflict."
Ayaka looked at Kairo, her gaze soft. "What about you?"
Kairo stared into the fire, his thoughts unreadable.
"I don't know yet," he admitted. "But first, I need to finish what my father started."
The flames flickered, casting long shadows against the walls. None of them knew what the future held, but for now, they had each other.
And soon, they would return to the village—where their greatest battle awaited.
To be continued-