As the last soldier fell, his sword clattering uselessly against the scorched earth, Kaiser turned from the fight. He approached the survivors—the few soldiers still alive, moaning and writhing on the ground, their uniforms singed and tattered from the chaos Rei's flames had wrought. Without hesitation, Kaiser began binding them with strips of cloth, his hands swift and practiced. Even their leader, slumped against a pile of broken crates with a gaping wound at his side, was tied securely, though he was clearly on the verge of death.
Still catching his breath, Rei wiped soot from his brow and turned to the villagers who had gathered timidly behind him, their faces streaked with ash and tears. "I'm sorry," he said quietly, his voice carrying both regret and exhaustion. "I wasn't able to finish them off. Can you take care of them yourselves?"
One of the village elders nodded solemnly, stepping forward with a grim expression. "Thank you for what you've done," he said, his voice trembling with gratitude and lingering fear. "We'll see to it."
After the scene settled and the villagers began tending to the aftermath—binding the wounded soldiers tighter, hauling the dead away for burial—Rei and Kaiser turned back toward the camp. Their steps were heavy, but they spoke quietly as they walked through the remnants of Orville Village.
"They looked like soldiers from enemy territory," Rei said, glancing back once more at the scene of ruin behind them.
Kaiser's jaw tightened. "They were soldiers of the Principality," he said. His voice, usually light and joking, had hardened with something unfamiliar—grim knowledge. "Compared to Astria, Weiss, Houlthart, and the GALU Republic, the Principality is a small country, barely even half the size of any of the four. But it's backed by forces… darker forces. The kind that aren't afraid of stirring up trouble where they shouldn't. There's always been skirmishes between the Principality and our country, but this—" he gestured to the devastation around them "—destroying Orville Village? This isn't normal. There must've been something important here they were after."
Rei's brow furrowed. "So you think they were looking for something specific?"
"Yeah." Kaiser's voice dropped to a thoughtful murmur. "And since we were too late getting here, you can bet they got whatever it was."
Rei cast a sidelong glance at his friend. "But Kaiser… how do you know so much about the Principality and their dealings? Don't get me wrong, you've always been the type to rush in first and ask questions later."
Kaiser gave a wry laugh, a spark of his usual mischief returning. "That's true. But while I was off on my own, I spent time in the sword city—Nandaka."
Rei's eyes widened in recognition. "Sword city Nandaka? I've heard of that place."
Kaiser nodded. "It's where all the sword masters gather. They fight each other, climb the nine sword towers—each tower with nine floors, each floor teaching a different technique. If you can conquer all nine towers, you master the nine sword style: nine forms, unmatched. You're granted the title of Sword Saint."
Rei's gaze turned distant. "Sword Saint, huh?" he murmured. Then, after a pause, he added, "When you're finished with your sword training, you should go to the revolutionaries. Their headquarters are in Betal Town. Join them, okay?"
Kaiser gave a lazy shrug. "Sure," he said easily. "By the way, how long are you planning to stay here?"
"Until Lyla arrives," Rei said. "I still have to give her the scepter I made for her. Oh, and speaking of which… have you thought of a name for your scepter?"
Kaiser tapped the sword-like scepter against his shoulder, thoughtful. "Hmm… how about Erebus?" he said finally. "Yeah, that sounds like a good name."
Rei nodded approvingly. "Sure. It's a good name."
Kaiser grinned. "And what about your scepter? Where is it?"
Rei blinked, then remembered. "Oh, right. The last time you saw it, it hadn't evolved yet."
He drew out the Chaos Scepter, which had grown larger and more intricate since its original form. Its surface shimmered with the latent power of all five elements.
"At some point, it evolved into this form," Rei explained. "Now it can access all five basic elements—including water."
Kaiser's eyes widened. "That's amazing! Will my scepter evolve too?"
Rei smiled faintly. "Yes. When the Qi stone changes color completely, it'll evolve."
As they talked, they arrived at the camp. But something was amiss. A commotion had gathered near one of the tents, with villagers clustered in a circle, murmuring and pointing.
Rei's brows drew together. "What's going on?" he asked, pushing his way through the crowd.
In the center of the gathering, Tenko stood nervously, his ears pinned back and his tail low. The villagers were whispering amongst themselves, exchanging uneasy glances.
"What's the problem?" Rei asked, confused.
One of the elders stepped forward hesitantly. "We were just… wondering why you have this creature with you."
Rei blinked. "Why is that a problem?"
Kaiser, rubbing the back of his neck, spoke up. "Actually, during our travels, I wondered the same thing. These creatures… they're usually reserved for kings and rulers. Even buying one is nearly impossible."
Rei's mind clicked into place. "Ah… I found him caged by a bandit. I couldn't just leave him there, so I took him with me."
"That explains how you found him," Kaiser said. "But why keep him? He's not just any creature—he's a deadly beast."
Rei's lips curled into a slow, knowing smile. "What if," he said softly, "you taught a deadly beast sorcery?"
Kaiser's eyes widened with understanding. He let out a low whistle and gave Rei a nod. "Understood."
The villagers, murmuring, slowly dispersed, casting one last curious glance at Tenko before returning to their own tasks.
As the crowd thinned, Kaiser stretched and said, "I'll stay here until my father's recovered. Then I'll head out."
Rei gave a small nod. "Sure. I understand."
With that, Kaiser turned and made his way to his tent, leaving Rei alone with Tenko. The little creature, sensing his master's lingering tension, bounded onto Rei's shoulder, nuzzling his cheek comfortingly.
Rei chuckled softly and stroked Tenko's fur. "You're a good friend," he murmured. Together, they turned and made their way to his own tent, the weight of the day settling around them like a heavy shroud.