"Deep in a forest, on the edge of a Shoryu village, two souls met by chance…
A single meeting that would echo across kingdoms, bending the rules of blood and destiny."
At the edge of Kurohana Village, Shoryu
Shinitshi walked quickly toward the wooden gates of the village, his black hair damp with sweat. His tanned skin caught the morning light, and his sharp eyes scanned the small houses and rice fields.
In his mind:
That must be the village they told me about… but how? How did that girl get this deep into Shoryu?
A voice broke through his thoughts.
"Everyone, look!" cried a panicked villager, an old man with trembling hands. "A ninja finally came to save us from the witch!"
Shinitshi's voice was cold but steady:
"Where is she?"
Another villager, a woman clutching a child, pointed shakily toward the forest.
"She went into the trees after we threatened her."
Shinitshi took two quick steps forward… then hesitated.
He turned back, curiosity stronger than he'd admit.
"Tell me more. How did she look? What did she do?"
The woman looked confused by the question.
"Well… she had strange clothes, a horrible smile, and she tried to buy food with odd golden coins. But don't worry! We didn't help her. Not a bit!"
Shinitshi nodded sharply, returning to his usual seriousness.
"Thank you for your help."
In his mind:
Strange coins… a horrible smile… what kind of person is this princess?
Deep within the forest
Shinitshi moved silently between the trees, his senses sharp. It wasn't hard to find her. The girl's voice echoed through the quiet forest, bright and careless.
Diana stood there, long purple hair catching the wind, her royal dress now slightly torn by branches. She spoke to herself with a playful tone:
"What's it with those people? Scary… and yet kinda funny. At least that little girl liked my dress… now I'm starving!"
Shinitshi watched from behind a tree.
In his mind:
Why am I hesitating?! My mission is clear…
His heart beat faster. Then, with a blur of movement, he dashed forward—faster than most could see—and pressed the cold blade of his sword against her neck.
The meeting that changed everything
Diana froze, her violet eyes wide—then narrowed into a mischievous grin.
"Wow, wow, wow… just wait, hotty! Are all of you people this dramatic?"
Shinitshi blinked.
"What… did you just call me?!"
"That's what you're worried about?!" she teased, her smile growing. "How about you take that sword away first, then we talk?"
His voice dropped, the words as sharp as steel:
"You don't have the right to ask. I am here on a mission… to kill the enemy's princess!"
Diana tilted her head, unfazed.
"Alright, I get it. But listen—don't you think it'd be smarter to get some useful information from the enemy first? Right, handsome?"
"You think you can fool me with cheap tricks?!"
"And what if I'm not?" she shot back, her tone playful but her eyes strangely serious.
Shinitshi hesitated.
In his mind:
She's weak. She can't fight back. I could get information… and then do what I must.
"Fine. Why are you here?"
A moment of honesty
Diana's playful tone softened.
"I want to prove I'm a great witch… and that I'm worthy to become queen. I have to prove this… for… for the queen."
Shinitshi's eyes narrowed.
"So you crossed into our land to prove yourself?"
"The only thing the queen fears… is your people. And after meeting that village, I kinda see why!"
"What do you even know about us?!" he demanded.
Diana's voice dropped:
"You're the devils of Shoryu. That's what we were taught. Pure evil. But… I haven't seen any of that yet. Actually… if you walked into our kingdom, you'd be treated just as badly as they treated me."
Shinitshi remembers
Flashback:
Shinitshi, years younger, asked:
"Master Takemaru! What does Aetheria look like?"
Takemaru's voice was like iron:
"They are the true devils… pure evil. That's all you need to know."
Back to the present.
"Weren't you scared to come here?" Shinitshi asked.
"I don't think too much about details." she shrugged.
"You didn't even try to fight back!"
"Oh, about that… I can't really fight. That's why I need to do something big to prove my worth."
Shinitshi's eyes widened in shock.
"You… shouldn't be here…"
Diana stepped closer, still smiling:
"So, babe… why don't you let me finish my mission?"
His voice cracked, torn between duty and doubt:
"You don't understand! I'm the only ninja who would even let you speak before cutting your head off!"
He looked down, the sword shaking slightly in his hand.
"I… I'm going to take you back to your kingdom of demons."
Diana's expression grew serious.
"I can't go back without proving myself."
"Just shut up… before I change my mind!" Shinitshi snapped, fighting the storm inside his chest. "And don't call me weird names again!"
She hesitated, then laughed softly:
"Alright… then I'm going with you on a legendary trip home!"
The journey begins
Shinitshi's voice grew cold again:
"It will take days, even without sleep… how did you get this far so easily?"
"We have instant transport magic," Diana explained, brushing a strand of hair from her face. "Pretty cool, right?"
Shinitshi frowned, looking away:
"We must move quickly… before they send someone worse than me…"
In his mind:
Master Takemaru… what have I done…
Meanwhile, at Shoryu's Ninja Academy
Kenta stood before three young ninjas in training.
"Alright… I've chosen you three as my main students. We'll work together from now on!"
Tenma, a boy with determined eyes, spoke quickly:
"I'll do my best, Master!"
Lisa, with a teasing smile and her brown hair tied back, added:
"Maybe you should prove yourself to us first, right sister?"
Beside her, Yozuriha laughed:
"You're right! How about a 3 vs 1 fight? Our great master wouldn't refuse, right?"
Tenma frowned:
"Hey! Show more respect to Master Kenta!"
In Kenta's mind:
What am I doing? Should I accept? Or should I teach them calmly?
…No. I want to look like a real master…
Kenta spoke with a grin:
"I accept your challenge!"
They readied their weapons:
Kenta drew two curved swords, light glinting off their edges.
Yozuriha lifted a massive Shorikin with practiced ease.
Lisa spun a chained sword around her arm.
Tenma held a kunai between each of his ten fingers, eyes sharp.
"Let's begin!" Lisa shouted, leaping forward.
At the same time, far away in Aetheria
In a tall marble room decorated with ancient banners, a royal guard knelt before the queen.
"Your Majesty! We can't find Princess Diana! We think she used the instant transport to cross into Shoryu!"
The queen stood calmly, wearing a long pink dress embroidered with silver runes. Her face, though beautiful, stayed unreadable. She dabbed at her lips with a brush of rose-colored paint.
"If she truly is my daughter…" she spoke with a soft, almost amused voice, "she can handle herself."
"But, Your Majesty—!"
"Enough." she interrupted gently. "Now, what's my schedule for today?"
The End of Chapter 2:"The Sword VS The Truth"
Next Chapter:"Lessons and Tragedies"