This is the story about a boy who once sought adventure.
The blood moon over Transylvania had set, but its shadow remained.
Henry Dreherg had seen what it meant to lose.
He had tasted power—and felt it ripped from his hands by something ancient, cruel, and calculated.
Adelin Dravencourt's laughter still echoed in his skull.
The walls of the evil vampire Baron's castle still burned in his memory, and though his body had escaped… his spirit had not.
And then… the Soul Reapers came.
Two shadows from the dark corners of the world.
Henry hadn't even touched them. He wasn't ready. Not for them. Not for this world.
One year after the events in Transylvania.
Henry and his group had traveled deep into the mountains of Kagetsu Kingdom to an old training ground.
There lies an academy, training those who are worthy in the arts of the soul.
Emilia (exhausted from training): "I don't get it; we have been training for a year now, and that man hasn't said a single word. Ever."
Ichiro (exhausted from training): "That's the legendary master Kensei; if you want to learn from him the arts of the soul, you have to be able to read his teachings from his very moves and aura."
Emilia (confused): "And how are we going to learn anything if he can't even explain it?"
Ichiro (excited): "That had made him so legendary. It is said that he once killed a warlord without even touching him, just with the aura he can emerge."
Emilia (disbelief): "I don't know about this one."
Ichiro (excited): "Oh come on, Emilia, isn't this awesome? We are learning from a living legend! When do you think he will teach us in the way of the elements?"
Emilia (with a quiet, bitter voice): "I once knew a guy who was able to create lightning out of his aura."
Ichiro (concerned): "What happened with him?"
Emilia (trembling): "He died, protecting me."
Ichiro (softly): "I'm sorry."
Emilia (with a soft smile): "It's alright."
Emilia then stands up. The shadows of the trees slowly fade from her body. She walks inside the dojo. She then turns around, looking at Ichiro.
Emilia: "Want to join the next lesson with me? I mean, I don't even get whatever this man is doing; that's why I need an interpreter."
Ichiro then quickly gets up with a smile on his face, joining Emilia at the dojo.
…
Jack was given the task to walk up further into the mountains and get water from the spring. The sun shines brightly into his face; the sky has been clear all day. Then, a tall shadow approaches Jack from behind.
Jack (turns around): "Lenny, did you come here to help me?"
Lenny: "Of course, big bro, you couldn't have carried so many buckets of water all by yourself, right?"
Lenny had grown tall, but his face had remained the same; the only difference is that he isn't wearing any glasses anymore.
Jack (surprised): "Isn't there a lesson you have to attend?"
Lenny (amused): "About that, I thought it would be way cooler to spend some time with my big brother."
Jack (angered): "Those teachings are important; since you made a contract with a beast, you have to learn how to use its power to protect yourself."
Lenny (smiling, lays his hand on Jack's shoulder): "That's what I have you for, right?"
Lenny takes two buckets of water, running down the road to the dojo.
Jack (loud): "Lenny, wait for me!"
The academy, also known as Tengoku-no-kizu, lies in the upper part of the Nagar Valley, deep in the mountains in the middle of the Kagetsu Kingdom. It is nearly impossible to get to the upper part; only those who are worthy of the teachings are able to reach it, or with a hoverjet.
Henry had been training for a while now. He can't get over the events in Transylvania; the fear he had felt that day has left a never-fading scar in his heart.
Henry (thinking loud): "Baron Adelin Dravencourt is still out there; I have to be ready if I ever meet him again."
Keal: "Dracencourt?"
A young, small boy jumps out of a bush with a wooden training sword.
The young boy's name is Keal; he had been here before the group had landed on the mountains. He is Kensei's only student, and where he comes from or how old he is is still a mystery for the group. What they do know is that having him around has been very amusing.
Keal (questioning): "Who is that?"
Henry (still in his thoughts): "Nobody, you wouldn't know him."
Keal: "You're right, I only know Master Kensei and you guys."
Henry then turns around, facing the young Keal.
Henry (thinking): "How did you end up here anyways?"
Keal: "Master Kensei says that I have been a gift from the heavens."
Henry (surprised): "Says? Does he talk to you?"
Keal (confused): "Yes? He always does talk; you just have to listen to what he says. Even my friends listen to his teachings."
Now Henry is even more confused; he hasn't seen anyone around here except his group, Keal, and Master Kensei.
Henry (grins): "Who are your friends?"
Keal, confused by Henry's questions, points at the trees around them.
Keal (smiling): "Can't you hear what they are saying? This place is full of my friends, each of them with their own unique story."
Henry, amazed by the young Keal, just simply smiles and listens to the sounds of the wilderness.
…
Inside the dojo, a very old man with long grey hair and a beard walks and swings his sword, almost as if he is dancing with the wind. An aura emerges from his body, not overwhelming but a beautiful and cooling breeze.
Emilia watches in confusion while Ichiro is amazed by the teachings of the legendary master Kensei.
Ichiro (amazed, whispering): "Amazing."
Emilia (turns to Ichiro): "What is the meaning of…this?"
She points in Master Kensei's direction. Her finger is instantly hit by Kensei's wooden sword.
Emilia (shocked): "Ouch. For what?"
Ichiro (serious): "Master Kensei doesn't tolerate talking while he teaches."
Emilia (very confused): "Teaching? I don't even know what is happening."
Ichiro (serious): "Master Kensei only allows those who are worthy to understand his teachings to enter his class."
Emilia (even more confused): "And why am I here then?"
Ichiro (very serious): "Master Kensei feels darkness; your past still burns your heart."
Emilia (serious and angry): "How would a senile old man know anything about my past!"
Ichiro (serious): "Your soul can tell more stories than you think."
Emilia (gets up, angry): "Great, hope you two have a great day."
She leaves the room, angered by Ichiro and Master Kensei. Even though she doesn't show it, her past is still a great burden that hunts her to this day.
Ichiro (shakes his head, sighs): "I am sorry, Master Kensei; she has been like this the whole day."
Master Kensei simply nods.
Ichiro (understanding): "I know that it has been a year, and we all had our difficulties here at first, but—"
Master Kensei simply nods again.
Ichiro (nods, understanding): "I understand. Thank you, master. I am grateful for this opportunity, learning the way of the element from a legendary master like you."
Master Kensei just nods again while Ichiro stands up from the ground.
Ichiro (bows): "It has been a great honor, as always, master."
He then leaves the room and the dojo.
Master Kensei then slowly walks to the other side of the room, looking at the drawings and pictures that are hanging there. He nods at them.
…
Ichiro looks around the area, searching for Emilia. On his way he meets Jack and Lenny, carrying water buckets from the spring up in the mountains.
Ichiro (softly): "Have you seen Emilia? She ran out of the lesson."
Jack (surprised): "No, I haven't. What happened?"
Ichiro (shrugging): "I don't really know."
Jack: "I will bring away the buckets, and then I will help you."
Ichiro nods before walking away to further search for Emilia.
He runs into the forest, hoping to find her there, but nothing. He can't sense or see her.
He then hears another thing, loud noises, someone hitting a tree.
He walks in the direction of the sound; walking past a bush, he sees a small lawn with two self-made wooden dummies and, in the middle, Keal wielding a wooden sword, hitting the dummies.
Ichiro (surprised, little smile): "How long has that been out here?"
Keal (out of breath): "Me and my friends made it out of old wood."
Ichiro (surprised): "Your friends?"
Keal: "They talk and help me every day."
Ichiro then closes his eyes for a moment, instantly understanding what the small boy meant.
Ichiro (grinning happily): "I understand."
Ichiro then walks towards Keal, helping him with the right stand, not noticing the dark shadowy figure, who had followed him for a while now and is watching him from the trees.