– Return to the City –
(Hikaru and Kyoji arrive at the city gates at sunset. The sky is painted in hues of blood and gold, and the air carries a strange tune of anticipation. The city, once filled with anxiety, now murmurs something else.)
(In the alleys and squares, people gather in small circles, whispering, staring at strangers, exchanging glances.)
Old Woman in the Market (in a hushed voice):"I heard they were wiped out completely… the gang that burned the villages, gone without a trace."
Young Man:"They say a ghost with glowing eyes and a burned face did it… wielding a legendary sword that could tear through mountains."
Woman:"I think someone came back from the dead… some saw him emerging from the forest last night."
(Hikaru walks silently through the crowds, not responding, not acknowledging. Beside him, Kyoji seems more alert, his eyes scanning every corner, as if something troubles him.)
– At the Guard Station –
(Inside the central guard post, Kyoji hands over a bound Kaido to the authorities. Kaido's face is pale, his gaze unfocused.)
Kyoji (calmly, to the guard):"This is the last one. His name is Kaido. Former field commander of the gang. Committed massacres in Hanazora and beyond."
Guard:"He'll be brought to trial. Thank you for your service, Kyoji."
(Kyoji turns to Hikaru, as if to say something… but hesitates, then simply offers a faint smile.)
– At the City Gates –
(The sun slips behind the horizon, and night begins to descend with heavy steps. Hikaru and Kyoji stand on a hill overlooking the city, their eyes fixed on the far horizon.)
Hikaru (decisively, resting his hand on the sword on his back):"Everything I know about my family… isn't enough. The sword, the red-haired man, the untold stories… they all point north, to the empire that rules this continent."
(Kyoji nods quietly, his face serious but composed.)
Kyoji:"I've heard of the Empire… an unmatched power, and its secrets run deep into the darkness of this land. There, we might find the truth."
(Hikaru gazes at the starry sky. Cold winds flow from the north, carrying the scent of the unknown.)
– In the Far North, Within the Empire (Kalia) –
(On a high balcony overlooking a majestic palace drowned in mist, stood a tall man draped in a wide black cloak. His dark hair shimmered under the moonlight.)
(A small black bird lands gently on his hand, bearing a thin thread tied around a small metal pendant. The man studies it in silence, before his lips part into a smile only he understands.)
The Man (in a low voice, tinged with mysterious warmth):"So… Hikaru has begun to move."
(His eyes drift toward the horizon, as if he sees the unseen — a young man carving his path toward an unknown destiny.)
The Man:"He'll arrive, eventually. And when he does… I'll be where I must be."
(He wraps the cloak tighter around himself, steps back into the palace, leaving the bird to soar once more into the grey sky. The echo of his words fades with his retreating footsteps.)
The Man (in a whisper, just before closing the door):"He's been gone too long… He must not be left to wander any further."
– On the Road North –
(Hikaru and Kyoji walk along a winding dirt path flanked by forests and open plains. The road twists through the wild, untamed land.)
(After several days of travel, the caravan reaches a small, somewhat desolate village, nestled between mountains on one side and dense forests on the other.)
Kyoji:"This place… we can rest here for a while. Maybe someone knows something about the Empire and its secrets."
(They begin wandering through the old village, where the air is quiet but tinged with mystery. A few villagers watch them cautiously.)
(They spot a modest, weathered café and decide to enter.)
– Inside the Old Café –
(Hikaru and Kyoji step into the café after a long day of travel. The air is cold, and though the village seems peaceful, the whispers inside tell another story.)
(They sit quietly, their ears catching the hushed voices of the concerned villagers.)
Villager 1 (in a low voice):"Lately, the monsters have started to appear again… attacking people in the fields and on the roads. No one dares go out after dark."
Villager 2 (fearfully):"I heard someone vanished completely. Blood everywhere… We haven't seen anything like it in years."
(Hikaru glances at Kyoji with caution. Kyoji leans in and whispers:)
Kyoji:"Looks like we'll need to stay here a few days… We need to regain our strength before continuing north."
(Hikaru nods, his eyes gleaming with determination.)
Hikaru:"Rest is important. But we must be ready for anything."
(After overhearing Hikaru and Kyoji's words, some villagers begin murmuring with mixed tones of caution and doubt. Some stare with suspicion, others with cautious curiosity.)
An Elderly Villager (anxiously):"You may be from the city, but this land… it's not what you know. The beasts that roam at night— they're not normal creatures. Some say they're tied to ancient forces… far beyond what any ordinary human can face."
(A young woman steps forward, eyeing Hikaru warily—yet with a flicker of hope.)
Woman:"If you plan to stay, be careful. The night here is cruel. And the monsters… they show no mercy."
(Kyoji offers a half-reassuring smile.)
Kyoji:"We won't be alone. We'll keep watch and stay alert at all times."
(Hikaru adds in a calm, resolute tone:)
Hikaru:"This village won't just be a place to rest. We'll protect it—just as we protect ourselves."