The tournament had ended, and the crowds were already returning to their villages.
Kenji sat quietly in a wooden cart heading home, surrounded by children and parents from the outskirts. Ray and Anna had stayed behind at the arena with several guardians and the parents of the chosen, discussing what would happen next.
The moon hung high in the sky, bathing the road in silver light.
The cart was calm—no loud chatter, but a shared warmth lingered in the air. Smiles were soft, eyes bright. Everyone was tired, but happy.
Kenji leaned back and looked up at the sky, then glanced toward the cart behind his.
That cart was full of children.
Laughter and excited chatter spilled from it. Takahiro and Yume were among them. Takahiro, as always, was at the center of attention.
Kenji sighed and slumped slightly in his seat, closing his eyes.
Yet despite himself, a small smile tugged at his lips.
The Cart Behind
"Takahiro, you're going to enter the next tournament, right?"
"Yeah! You already awakened—and you're good with a sword!"
"You're going to win next time and make our village famous, right?"
Takahiro smiled politely. "If Grandpa allows me to."
"You'll definitely be amazing!"
"What game should we play when we get back?"
"Knights and dragons!"
"Yeah! Takahiro's playing with us, right?"
Before he could answer—
"Hey! Stop bothering Takahiro."
A girl's sharp voice cut in.
The boys turned. "What's your problem, Nelly?" one of them complained. "We're not bothering him."
"Yeah, excuses," she scoffed. "Takahiro's with us anyway. And when we get back, we'll be helping prepare the celebration dinner for his older brother."
"Oh, right! I forgot about that."
Nelly turned to Takahiro, her eyes softening. "You'll sit with me during dinner, right?"
Takahiro flushed slightly. "Uh… sure."
Yume sat quietly beside him, clutching the sleeve of his clothes. She had been silent the entire ride, trying to make herself as small as possible.
She wanted to speak—but everyone else was louder.
When she heard Takahiro's answer, her face fell. She said nothing.
Nelly noticed. Her smile shifted into a faint sneer as her gaze landed on Yume.
Yume turned away.
No one else noticed.
"Hey! If you take Takahiro, who are we supposed to talk to?" one boy protested, the others quickly agreeing.
"Shut up and talk to yourselves," Nelly snapped. She grabbed Takahiro's arm."Takahiro's ours, right girls?"
The other girls nodded, giggling, though none stepped closer.
"BOOOO!" the boys shouted.
"He's one of us!"
"He's being held hostage!"
"Give Takahiro back!"
"Oh, shut up!" the girls yelled back.
"Kids, keep it down back there," the driver warned.
Everyone quieted, apologized awkwardly—then burst into laughter together.
The Next Cart
"Tch."
Lolan glared ahead, eyes burning as he watched Takahiro's cart.
"Why are they all over him?" he muttered, biting his nails."I'm great too. I beat Kenji. I can beat him."
His gaze locked onto Takahiro, laughing happily among the others.
"Should we get them during the feast?" one of his friends asked.
"No," Lolan said coldly. "We go for Yume first."
"W-What about Kenji?"
Lolan scoffed. "Idiot. Why be scared of someone who didn't awaken? We're awakened. Kenji can't awaken."
He clenched his fists.
"They've only got four awakened. We've got six."
His eyes flicked back to Takahiro's cart, anger twisting his expression.
"I'm sick of Nelly's crap. And Takahiro showing off."
A cruel grin crept across his face.
"We're doing it tonight."