EXHILARATED. That's the word to describe how he felt. For years, he had yearned for this moment, and now that it was finally here, he could hardly contain his excitement.
"Are you absolutely certain?" he asked, his voice tinged with eager anticipation.
Yojiro's smile was all the confirmation he needed. With a nod, Yojiro affirmed the news, setting Jungkon heart racing even faster.
"Oh my stars! Tell me what needs to be done, and I'll do it without hesitation," Junkong exclaimed, his enthusiasm palpable.
Junkong, an elderly wizard, lived a reclusive life in the woods, much like Yojiro himself. However, unlike Yojiro, Junkong occasionally engaged in unsavory activities for wealthy outsiders. These tasks often involved poisoning wealthy individuals to ensure their heirs inherited substantial fortunes, for which Junkong received hefty commissions. While it wasn't his preferred occupation, it was a necessity in the midst of the kingdom's economic downturn.
Yojiro had arrived at Junkong's secluded home at noon, a sprawling abode hidden deep within the woods, reminiscent of Yojiro's own residence. Despite the dangers that wizards faced in Black Gold Kingdom, Junkong had managed to evade Misuki's wrath thus far, as the tyrant ruler had never found cause to target him directly.
"I've harbored a lifelong hatred for that man," Junkong admitted, taking a sip of his tea. "But you know, I was merely an old wizard, seeking to live out my days in tranquility. It never crossed my mind that he could be overthrown, let alone by a child from Tiger Valley. I suppose the prophecy was accurate after all." Another sip of tea followed, accompanied by a chuckle. "Who would have imagined that child could have been me?"
"What?" Yojiro exclaimed, clearly taken aback by the revelation.
"I sent that kid to The Golden Bridge, you know. I think Kasaki is his name," Junkong began, his voice carrying a weight of reminiscence. "When I was young, an old nomadic wizard visited Tiger Valley. He claimed he had a prophetic dream and sought me out in a state of nervous urgency. He recognized my face and declared me the chosen one. According to him, I was destined to become king one day, should I choose to accept the mantle. He foretold a grim future for Black Gold under the rule of an evil king, marked by genocide and suffering. It frightened me deeply at the time. But as I grew older, I witnessed Misuki's ascent to power and his descent into darkness."
Stolen content warning: this tale belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences elsewhere.
Junkong paused, his gaze distant as if lost in the depths of memory before continuing, "Then came Kapeke Takon, offering me a chance to lead a revolution. Yet, I hesitated. What if the old wizard's prophecy was merely the delusion of a drunken mind? After all, I recall the night he visited Tiger Valley; he was intoxicated with rum. I never took his words seriously. He presented me with two choices: embrace my destiny as a hero, become king, revered by all, wealthy, and with a wealth of women, but destined for an early demise, possibly before my forties. Alternatively, I could reject this heroic path, opting for a peaceful, albeit long life, while witnessing the suffering and injustices endured by my people for a long time, waiting for another warrior from Tiger Valley to rise and take on the mantle of heroism. Kasaki is that warrior." Junkong's expression darkened, reflecting the weight of his past decisions. "Takon's offer felt like my final chance. He spoke of you, Yojiro. He said we would train under your guidance, forging a formidable army to reclaim our country. At the time, I was already dabbling in magic, earning a comfortable living. So, I declined."
“Yeah, I remember Kapeke’s insistence on starting a revolution, but it just wasn’t the right time, or at least I thought so. I feared we would be quickly annihilated by Misuki’s forces.” Yojiro paused, as if he had remembered something. “But what about Kasaki? Did he know about this prophecy?
Yojiro closed his mouth to hide his astonishment. He was in awe. Literally jaw dropped. He had never heard anything about a prophecy regarding Black Gold Kingdom.
"Kasaki is merely one among several youngsters I've encouraged to go from Tiger Valley to The Golden Bridge to join your training camp over the years. Each time, I would imbue them with the same prophecy: that they would be the nation's savior, destined to overthrow Misuki. Sadly, I never received any news about most of the young warriors I sent, leading me to believe they likely perished. Yet here you are, informing me that Kasaki has nearly single-handedly vanquished Misuki."
“Yes, that’s exactly what happened. I’m planning of naming him the general of the samurai army.”
“That’s great. I could have been a wise general,” Junkong said wistfully.
“Yeah, but you lacked the courage of a general,” Yojiro smiled.
Junkong shrugged nonchalantly.
“Well, enough of tales. I need your help now,” Yojiro stated firmly.
“Tell me, what is it?”
“There is no time to explain. I need you to come with me to Lyon Shore.”
“All right. Let’s go. It’ll be fun to see Kasaki again.”