Chapter III
A Time of Change
Episode I
Morning Journey
The crimson light reflected off the sea, creating a breathtakingly beautiful landscape. Only the sound of the waves and occasional bird song disrupted the pleasant silence. A gentle sea breeze lazily rustled the leaves of the trees. Dawn was approaching.
It was on this day that Kazu and Mitsuri were setting off for the tournament. The two of them had gathered all the necessary clothing and other items, as they would have to spend quite some time on the examiners' island. This worried Kuzana. "What if it's cold there and he catches another cold? But he's with Mitsuri, so everything should be fine. BUT WHAT IF THEY BOTH GET SICK???" Such was the stream of thoughts in her head.
Kuzana tearfully bid farewell to the two, hugging them tightly. Even their teacher, Myanma, became sentimental watching this.
"Well, that's enough, Chief. Stop squeezing the youth or they'll be late for the tournament!" their teacher called out.
"Okay," Kuzana smiled widely. "Go ahead."
Kazu and Mitsuri bowed low and climbed into the carriage.
"Well, farewell. I hope to return soon, Chief," Myanma laughed.
"Good luck at the tournament!" Kuzana shouted after the departing carriage.
***
After two hours of traveling, when the village of Okimoto was no longer visible, a conversation began.
"Teacher, we're heading to the port city of Iklensy, right?" Kazu suddenly asked.
"Correct!" Myanma answered without taking his eyes off the road.
"You promised to tell us about the exam, but you were celebrating for three days and didn't show up for classes." - Mitsuri scolded Myanma hitting on the sore spot.
"It's awkward," Myanma replied. "Well, since I didn't tell you earlier, I'll tell you now. As far as I know, there will be no more than three stages in the exam. Each stage represents a difficult task that needs to be overcome, and the result should be better than the others."
"That sounds quite interesting, but what's with the 'awkward'?" Mitsuri asked.
"Well, you see, in the previous exams there were only twenty participants, and four winners. But now everything is different. There will be sixty-five participants in the tournament. So winning this year is incredibly difficult," Myanma explained.
The students were extremely surprised when they heard Myanma's words, and their reaction followed as soon as he finished speaking.
"Sixty-five?!" they exclaimed.
After ten seconds of surprise, Mitsuri asked thoughtfully, "Do we know what the stages will be like this year?"
"To be honest, I have no idea. In any case, we will find out in five days," Myanma smiled.
He was sincerely happy that such a "special" teacher had two excellent students who were honored to participate in the Gakushin exam.
Mitsuri interrupted his thoughts.
"By the way, Kazu, are you feeling okay?"
"Don't worry about me. I'm more than sure that I'm healthy. And thanks for looking out for me," the boy blushed a little as he spoke.
"Anytime," Mitsuri replied with a charming smile.
"By the way, who are the other people that will be with us besides the teacher from Myanmar?"
"As far as I know, two guys from the capital and another guy from Iklenzi."
"It would be nice to befriend them."
"Sure."
And in such a pleasant atmosphere, they continued on their way until they reached the port.
Episode 2
Remembering the past (Part One)
"My name is Isabella, and I am the middle daughter of the Adelmann family, a duke's family whose estate is located in the city of Kseonlas.
Adelmann is an ancient family with a strong element of fire, whose reserves were one of the largest in the kingdom, thus earning them a prestigious place in the upper nobility. And yet, luck turned away from me.
Unfortunately, I did not have huge talent or great reserves of taikiri, and I became a burden to my family as a "mediocre daughter." My older brother turned out to be luckier than me. He was truly impressive when he displayed his skills and was also a noble person. As far back as I can remember, he was always kind to me and my mistakes.
My parents had to endure my youthful nonsense because I was the youngest daughter. At some point, they stopped tolerating it, and then there were strong arguments, as a result of which my older brother received more, and I came out dry.
Ha-ha. How foolish I was... He defended me for some time, but later, even he ran out of patience. Although in my defense, I can say that I did not do anything out of the ordinary; rather, I simply could not meet my parents' expectations, and they lashed out at me. Nevertheless, I was also good; I was stubborn and stood my ground until the end. My brother always supported me; after every argument, he calmed me down. All this happened until my twelfth birthday (my older brother was sixteen at the time), when the youngest son was born in the Adelmann family. After that, I was finally able to breathe the scent of freedom to the full extent. My parents seemed to have forgotten about me, but I was even happy about that."
"From that moment on, for a whole four years, I did everything a young noblewoman could afford. I attended balls, learned to dance and sing, read various literature that my older brother provided, dated noble young men, and so on. At some point, I thought my life had settled, but then my younger brother began to blame me for his misdeeds in every way possible. As he was the 'favorite,' he got away with it. At first, I didn't pay attention to it, but for some reason, I started getting scolded for it, which was very annoying.
'How can a sixteen-year-old girl paint the walls in the house?!' I asked my parents, to which they replied: 'You're so irresponsible that you could have done it as a joke.'
At that time, I didn't understand how much my image was distorted in their minds. After that argument, I decided to tell everything to my older brother, but he didn't support me and scolded me for being truly irresponsible with myself. I was only angry and waved him off.
The only idea that came to my mind then was to scold my younger brother so that he wouldn't do it again. And of course, it only ended with him crying, and the servants, then the parents, and later the older brother rushed to his cries. That day I was severely scolded and deprived of the right to leave the house for a week. Although they gave me a chance to make amends. I had to kneel before my younger brother, bow my head, and apologize. Of course, I refused to step on my pride, and it backfired on me in the future.
The following year became what could be called a 'distancing.' Arguments with parents happened almost every day and became something commonplace. My older brother became more and more distant, not providing any support, and I had to look for it outside. Luckily, nature had endowed me with a lot - long chestnut hair, deep brown eyes, and an elegant figure. Everything befitting a noblewoman. So I quickly found myself a boyfriend who helped me deal with my problems. Adrilay Sabrilette was a good man. His family had recently come for important business from the neighboring country of the Rising Hawk. The guy was bored, and here was a chance to spend time with a beautiful noblewoman. He couldn't miss it."
But there was something important that I didn't know because I was unfamiliar with the family's affairs. As it turned out, several decades ago, the Adelmanns had orchestrated a massacre in the Sabrilette house.
Upon learning of the situation, my father summoned me to his office.
The room was quite spacious and had a hexagonal shape. In the center stood a huge table made of black wood. Behind it was a fireplace and two huge bookcases. To the left was a large panoramic window, through which orange light rays passed. It was sunset.
Inside the room stood my elder brother, a couple of servants, my mother and father, their looks full of condemnation were fixed on me.
"Even my brother..." - such a thought crossed my mind at that moment.
My father was the first to speak:
"Isabella, once again you have disappointed us and disgraced the honor of our house. Your birth was our biggest mistake."
After his last words, my entire body trembled. Receiving such words from my parents was a very strong blow to my psyche, no matter how strong I was, such an insult would still leave a scar on my heart. My eyes watered, but I didn't cry.
"If I could turn back time, you wouldn't have been born at all, and wouldn't have condemned me to such torment. Not only were you born talentless, but you also became irresponsible. Despite your brother's immense support, you didn't live up to our slightest expectations."
Each insult, each word was like a knife wound. It hurt me so much that I couldn't even open my mouth to defend my dignity. And my brother remained silent, as if agreeing with every word our father said, piercing me with a condemning gaze, breaking my heart even more.
"By the name of the head of the house, I order to strip Isabella Adelmann of all titles, surnames, and brand her with a mark that denotes exile and eternal shame. Also, if you do not bear the surname of the house, you have no right to live here anymore."
Now, the main emotion was fear. It had taken over me. The fear of being left alone, hungry on the street, or becoming a prostitute in some public house was unacceptable.
I knelt down and bowed my head to the floor. (In our traditions, it signified complete submission). The only thing I could muster at that moment was the most pitiful and unintelligible voice due to crying:
"Please... Sob... Forgive... me."
I was hoping for another chance, for them to say, "we forgive you." And there would be an opportunity to make everything right. My hands and my whole body were trembling heavily.
Silence hung in the room.
...
...
...
"No," my father said shortly and mercilessly.
I raised my head, and two servants began to approach me with a red-hot iron rod, at the end of which was the form of the very mark.
"No! No! Please don't!" I screamed, trying to push them away, but how could a weak girl who had not seen training for five years defend herself against noble servants?
They quickly restrained me and started branding me.
"AAAAAAAAAAAH!" I tore my throat with all my might. The pain was so strong that I was losing consciousness, but one of the servants' medical techniques did not allow me to do so.
It seemed like an eternity had passed as I fell to the ground, my body devoid of strength.
"Get this garbage out of my house!"
They grabbed me by the shoulders and threw me out onto the street like a doll.
That's how my life fell apart.
Episode 3
Remembering the Past (Part Two)
The sun was setting, and I lay on the cold ground.
I couldn't find the strength to get up. Hundreds of thoughts were racing through my head. "Why didn't my older brother protect me again?!"
"Why is my mother indifferent to her daughters being branded with a hot iron?!"
"Why... why... why... why did everything turn out this way?"
And there was only one answer, one that I didn't want to admit:
"I am the only one to blame... I alone ruined my own life."
After repeating these words in my head, my body shuddered.
"I realized too late my place in this life, and I allowed myself too much." - Such a thought haunted me.
I don't know how, but I managed to find the last of my strength and get up. I was like a lifeless doll, controlled by an unknown force. And so it happened that I ended up in a hotel in the city of Kseonlas.
It was amazing that the owner of the establishment allowed me to stay there for free. He gave me the key to a room on the second floor of the building and went off to serve customers.
A guy tried to approach me:
"Hey, cutie, would you like to spend some time with me? I guarantee that..."
Seeing the look he gave me, he immediately stepped back and gave way. Each step up the stairs was heavier than the previous one. Even with the wooden railing to support me, it was difficult. The new brand brought me pain that I had never experienced before in my life. Suddenly, the corner of my dress brushed against the wound, and the pain surged with new force.
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I cried out in pain and lost my balance, falling completely onto the railing. After getting up and overcoming the pain, I managed to climb to the second floor. Accompanied by sideways glances, I retreated to my room. Before, I might have been very ashamed, but now it wasn't about that.
I could no longer say that I felt alive.
***
The night passed, and I never once closed my eyes. For some time, I suffered from the pain, after which I wept, and then the pain gave new sensations. On that day, it seemed that I hadn't eaten so much, but I had been sick all night. Every minute seemed like an hour, and every moment was no less than a minute.
There was no end to this torment. When I first rinsed my wound with cold water, the pain subsided slightly. All night, I soaked rags and applied them to the brand. With the reduction of pain, my sanity returned. I spent the rest of the night sitting, clutching my knees to my body, afraid to move and accidentally cause myself pain.
***
Dawn was breaking. The pain had subsided, and I was filled with determination. Leaving early in the morning, I thanked the hotel owner and smiled at him. He, in turn, laughed and wished me luck.
The morning Kseonlas was magnificent in its own way; the houses here were made of limestone and limestone bricks, giving them a yellowish tint. The rays of the early sun gradually penetrated the once dark streets and alleys. The beautiful gravel road only complemented the city's image.
Now I was going to see my boyfriend, the sweet acquaintance who became the last straw for my parents. Of course, I could be called reckless, but deep down in my soul, a little hope still lived. Maybe this truly good guy would take me in. If that happened, I would give myself completely to him, become the keeper of the hearth, or perhaps even his comrade in fierce battle.
When I arrived, he was speechless. His lips were silent, sometimes closing, sometimes parting as if trying to say something. But then he suddenly took me by the shoulders with his strong hands.
"Let it be, I don't personally hate you or your family, but you should leave. My family hates you so much that they would be ready to kill you on the spot. So I ask you, go and never come back," he said, looking straight into my eyes.
My hands clenched into fists, I turned around and ran away.
"What was I even hoping for, what a fool I am!" Tears filled my eyes. When I hid behind the wall of the house, I accidentally heard his relieved sigh and the sound of a closing door.
I leaned back against the wall and slowly slid down. Tears flowed without stopping, no matter how much I wiped them away. And the stigma reminded me of itself.
It was so painful to lose the last support, the last pillar that held me up.
***
Two more days passed, and for the first time in my life, I slept on the street and ate strange food. It turned out that because of the stigma and my mediocre skills, no one would hire me. The only way out was to become a prostitute in a shitty brothel and then drink myself to death. But the pride of a noblewoman still remained and wouldn't let me do it. Heavy days were still ahead.
***
It has been four days since I was banished. The worst problem became hunger. My previously beautiful clothes had turned into rags, and I looked like a poor peasant. I had to stoop so low as to become a beggar on the street. It seemed like I would never be able to smile sincerely again.
A week had passed. I didn't care anymore. Pride was no longer necessary for me. I stopped looking people in the face, I was simply ashamed. My hair was dirty, and my dress was even more like a rag. The money thrown at me was enough for just one meager meal. I had lost a lot of weight during that time. What I felt couldn't be expressed in ordinary words. All I can say is... I had fallen to the bottom. Kseonlas no longer seemed so friendly and colorful, rather he was indifferent and ruthless. I am simply beginning to lose the meaning of my existence.
***
How many days had passed, two or two and a half weeks? It didn't make sense to count. One day, an old man, whose face I had not seen, picked me up. I didn't resist, I didn't care.
He put me in a carriage next to him, and the coachman complained about the stench coming from me, as I had only washed once on the first day. The old man scolded his servant for the rudeness. They took me to his estate, where they washed me and dressed me in his servants' clothes. The estate looked better and richer than my home.
"Is this one of the branches of the Avalos family, or is it the Farria house? I could tell who he was by looking at his face, but... I can't... I can't raise my head."
My hands trembled, not from fear, but from shame, even though I was no longer from the Adelmann family, just a commoner.
We sat at a large table, and the servants were ordered to prepare dinner.
His bass voice, full of charisma, interrupted my thoughts:
"What's your name?"
I muttered pitifully:
"Isabella."
Seeing my reaction, he was surprised and asked another question:
"What is your lineage?"
"I no longer have a surname," I muttered as before.
Letting out a thoughtful "Ahem," he put his hand on the table and propped his head up with it.
One of the maids standing behind me scolded me.
"How can you be so disrespectful to the master? They washed and dressed you, and now they will serve you food. Show at least a little bit of..."
The old man stopped her with a gesture of his right hand.
"I used to have the surname Adelman," I said, and as I spoke, everything inside me contracted.
"Adelman... I think that will do," the old man said thoughtfully.
"Do you know who I am, Isabella?" he asked.
"I dare to assume that you are from the Avalos lineage," I replied.
"No, your assumption is incorrect. Want to try again?"
"Perhaps you are from the Faria family?"
"That's also wrong."
"Then who? What noble lineage could he be from, one that has more wealth and status than the Adelmans?"
"Then please tell me your name," I muttered.
"My name is Yakimoto Nobaru."
After those words, I felt like I had been doused with cold water. I finally managed to lift my head and saw the current ruler of this country. I immediately fell to my knees and began to apologize. Appearing before the royal personage in such a state was unacceptable.
The king was greatly surprised that I fell to my knees and tried to stop me.
***
During dinner, we managed to discuss some things. Luck smiled upon me, and I was able to grab onto its sleeve. He needed a nanny for his grandson, and our meeting was pure coincidence. His intuition told him something, and he decided to help me. Of course, I agreed. Because of my label, I wasn't accepted for other jobs, and here was an excellent chance to start life anew. From scratch.
I started to learn the craft of a servant.
***
Two weeks passed. Every day, I learned something new and worked hard. Having been in the shoes of a servant, my conscience began to gnaw at me. These people work so hard that I even feel sorry for them. Especially in those cases when someone would lash out at the servants. I learned a lot, but I still had a long way to go.
***
So, the moment has come. I will now officially assume the position of the royal nanny. Soon, I am to meet my new employer. As far as I know, he is five years old now. Honestly, I don't know what his parents do that the king, his grandfather, is looking for a nanny, but apparently, it's something very important. So, I have to give it my all.
Arriving at the palace, I was extremely surprised by the atmosphere. The atmosphere in the castle was oppressive. My behavior immediately adapted and adjusted to the situation. As I was led through the corridors, I could see other servants looking at me. Their appearance showed me that something had happened.
"Perhaps the young prince is sick? Or something else has happened?"
I was brought to the royal garden, where a boy in black clothes was sitting. He had hair as black as pitch, and one of the distinguishing features of the Nobaru house among others: bright yellow eyes. However, the problem was in his gaze. It was just like mine, if not worse, on my worst days.
“Why does the boy have such a look, he's still a child…” I thought to myself then.
“What happened?” I finally dared to ask.
“Recently, the youngest prince Kieran went insane and killed his family. The boy was the only survivor.”
I was speechless. I hadn't even imagined such a terrible outcome.
I approached the boy and squatted down to his level.
“What's your name?” I asked.
The boy's eyes lit up.
"How, how can we become friends?!" he exclaimed.
"Like this: will you be my friend?" I said, reaching out my hand towards him. His eyes widened, then he bravely shook my hand and smiled.
The other servants looked at me with admiration, which was very flattering.
And so, I began to serve Lord Ari in the residence of the Nobaru family, the ruling dynasty in the Black Dragon country.
Episode 4
The Nobility
Dark gray clouds loomed over Kseonlas, and rain poured down heavily. The carriage sped through the mud, hurrying somewhere. It stopped at one of the estates. A man in a white cloak got out of the carriage and hurried inside. The servants quickly opened the door and greeted the guest.
"We welcome you to the home of the Adelmann family," the servants bowed low.
The man only nodded and took off his cloak. His hair was golden and seemed to reflect even the slightest light, and his attire was mostly white with golden decorations.
This nobleman walked quickly to the head of the household's study. Opening the door, he saw the people waiting for him.
"You're late, Lord Faria," the man sitting to the right of the host said. His gaze was stern and unyielding. His distinguishing features were his ash-gray hair and reserved clothing.
"I apologize, Lord Avalos. I didn't want to waste your 'precious' time," his voice, on the contrary, was sweet and sugary, like honey.
He didn't answer, staring into space.
...
...
“I'm Ari, Ari Nobaru,” he murmured. “And what's your name?”
“My name used to be Isabella, but I want you to give me a name.”
“Huh?” His gaze changed, and he looked up with that childlike wonder. Any change in emotions was a great progress. It's easier to get children out of their stupor than adults. They're much easier to capture their attention, surprise, and give hope.
“Well, then…” His gaze became more intense and attentive to my face. I was even a little embarrassed.
“Mmm, I can't think of one, so let's just call you Isabelle.”
“That's great, Ari. If you want, we can be friends.”
“Friends? What's 'friends'?”
“People who support each other when things are bad, that's what friends are.”
Lord Faria clicked his tongue disapprovingly and averted his gaze.
"Please, take a seat, and we will finally begin our scheduled conversation," urged Adelmann, the head of the assembly.
The silent man was from the noble house of Falreit, nicknamed the "emerald clan" for their hair and eyes of a deep green hue. These four clans were among the most influential in the kingdom, excluding the Nobaru clan, of course. Once everyone had taken their seats, Adelmann began the conversation in a rather serious tone.
"King Yakimoto has passed away, and now the throne is in question. After the council of thirteen, it was decided to determine Lord Ohima's fate at the 'Gakushin' tournament."
"We already have a list of participants from the Black Dragon country, one from each of the most influential noble houses," said Faria, pulling out papers from under the table and casually throwing them on it.
"I believe that all those present here somehow wish for the overthrow of the Nobaru dynasty. Therefore, I have a proposal..." Lord Falreit spoke haughtily. Scanning everyone present, he smirked crookedly and continued, "We must lose the exam, and then we will have a chance to eliminate both the Nobaru clan and Ohima."
"Ho, and you say something, my 'silent' friend," sweetly praised Mr. Avalos for voicing the idea directly.
"I am sure that this is the truly correct path to achieve our goals," Adelmann grinned broadly.
"Now is the time to discuss the details," said Faria, folding his hands and smiling maliciously.
Episode 5
Secret conversation
It was a clear and sunny day in the capital of the Black Dragon, Akravel. The townspeople enjoyed the warm days cheerfully, but the castle of the royal family was overshadowed by a tense aura. Lord Ohima had not left the castle for two days, working tirelessly within its walls. The affairs of the entire kingdom had also fallen on his shoulders, and there was no getting around them.
Isabelle was setting the table for lunch when she accidentally witnessed an emotional scene. Ohima was arguing with his advisor, Mikudo, his right-hand man. They were clearly discussing something important, and she couldn't help but eavesdrop.
(Out of context) - "I'm doing this for the Nobaru family. Otherwise, our lineage will come to an end!" Ohima's voice was heard.
"I understand you, my lord, but still, we can't send the boy to the tournament. What if they expose something?" Mikudo emotionally replied.
"I believe in this fool, especially if he doesn't pass any trials, then my plans for him are doomed."
"You can't blindly trust him, my lord."
The maid was still listening to their conversation; she was extremely curious.
"The cost of defeat is too high. Miluoke won't miss this chance, and the rulers of Mighty Bull may refuse to provide support."
"They are our allies, and with their support, we have a better chance of winning."
"In the worst-case scenario..."
And then the voice behind the door suddenly quieted down, as if Mikudo had switched to a whisper. At that moment, the girl jerked because of the abrupt interruption in the dialogue, falsely assuming that she had been discovered. As a result of this careless action, the saucer with the sauce fell off her tray and spilled all over the floor. There was a rustling and noise behind the door, and the maid realized that she had nowhere to run and decided to pretend that it had happened accidentally. The door suddenly opened, and Mikudo swung it wide open. He, without any anger in his voice, offered the girl help and asked if she had hurt herself. After that, he invited her to come into the room, but she refused. Mikudo didn't like it, and he asked her a question:
"Did you happen to eavesdrop on our conversation?"
"Absolutely not, respected Mikudo. Where would someone like me eavesdrop on the conversation of a prominent person with his right-hand man?" She deftly evaded.
"Ahem, maybe I just stumbled and dropped the tray and got scared, most likely didn't hear anything," the man thought with relief.
"Oh, it's lovely Isabelle! You won't disobey your master's request to keep us company, will you?" Ohima began speaking in his usual manner. His tone quickly changed, and it was alarming.
The maid, understanding her dire situation, still risked coming in, even though she didn't have much choice.
The door was still open, but Mikudo stood at the entrance, puzzled, blocking her way out.
The girl didn't lose her composure. Trying to remain calm, she placed the tray on the table and hid her trembling hands behind her back. Bowing, she said:
"As you wish."
"My dear Isabelle," Ohima began, getting up from his chair. He approached her closely and took her chin in his hand. "Did you hear our conversation?" the prince asked, looking straight into her eyes. The girl, frightened, screamed softly.
"The gaze... It was so frightening. It felt like he was reading everything from my eyes. I didn't even feel the presence of the taikiri. Then what kind of tricks are these?!"
Unable to lie, she looked away, staring into this man's eyes.
Without waiting for an answer, Ohima carelessly let her go and said:
"I see. Clearly."
He turned to Mikudo.
"She's lying. Turn her into a 'submissive' servant."
SMACK.
Mikudo knocked out the maid with one swift motion, without causing her much harm. He caught her with his hands.
"I understand you, Mr. Ohima," the faithful servant bowed his head.
"Do you have time, Mikudo? Ari is away and won't be a bother. Good luck with your work, go to another room and let me concentrate."
"As you wish, my lord."
Episode 6
Nightmare
It was a quiet morning in the port of Saint Royal. Only the gentle sound of the sea waves disturbed the wonderful silence. Fishermen on the pier were preparing their boats for morning fishing. Not far from the shore stood a three-story hotel, where a group of aristocratic children who were heading to a tournament had stayed. Each one was accommodated in a single room with a bed and a window. They were all very tired from the journey and slept very soundly, except for one...
Ari was breathing heavily and tossing and turning, as if something was preventing him from falling asleep. Suddenly, he woke up in a cold sweat, grabbing the edge of the bed tightly. It took him a few seconds to realize that it was just a dream. He sat on the bed, putting his elbows on his knees and holding his head in his hands. He had had a nightmare about his childhood, specifically the moment when his own personal hell began.
When Ari was five years old, his family lived on the outskirts of the Black Dragon country. He had a pretty happy childhood: his loving mother and father spent a lot of time with him, his grandfather often took him for walks, and sometimes even Ohima came to play with him. His younger sister was also a beloved child, not deprived of happiness. Once, when Ari was returning from a walk with his grandfather, a very frightened and agitated uncle suddenly ran up to them:
"Father! Come with me, quickly!"
"What's the matter, Ohima?"
"Minami is dead! And the entire house is engulfed in flames, brother!"
Yakimoto was stunned.
"Let's go! Hurry!" Ohima yelled at him.
Ari didn't understand anything, he just silently watched without asking any unnecessary questions.
They quickly ran to Kieran and Minami's burning house.
"It can't be, it just can't be," muttered Yakimoto to himself.
"We need to go inside, but the smoke won't let us do that," said Ohima, anxiously looking at the house.
"I'll take care of it!" Yakimoto raised his right hand and with a sharp motion, cleared all the smoke in the house. The king entered the house and immediately went to the living room. He didn't want to believe until the very end that his son, the heir and future king, had done this. His fears were justified. Kieran was standing over his wife's body, and next to her was a burned cradle. The smoke was repelled by the cover of his taykiri.
"Father, this is..."
"I'll set you straight, Kieran!"
Their flames met, Yakimoto was clearly not as strong as before, and his fire was losing. Ari hid behind Ohima, grabbing him by the sleeve. Flames were everywhere, so his uncle protected them with the cover of his taykiri. The boy cautiously peered out from behind the "shelter". The fight was not over, his father was overwhelming the elderly Yakimoto with his flame. Something charred lay near Kieran's foot, and in it, one could recognize Ari's mother. In completely blackened hands, Minami held something that used to be a cradle, and inside lay a "miniature charcoal," his younger sister.
The boy began to shake, he was tossed from heat to cold, and the desperate cry did not take long to come:
"Daddy!" Ari tried to run to his father, stepping into the line of fire.
Ohima stopped him with his hand and said, "Don't make decisions based on emotions. Look at what your father has done."
Kieran lost control of the flames and Yakimoto's shoulder was grazed by the fire after he heard his son's cry. His fists clenched as he gave everyone a complex look, turned around, and ran away. Yakimoto wanted to chase after him, but the building began to collapse and the ceiling fell right in front of him. They managed to escape the house unscathed. Ari stood and cried, watching the burning house. Kiran managed to escape and leave...
That was the nightmare that haunts him to this day. After calming himself down a bit, he realized he wouldn't be able to sleep anymore and decided to go wash up. He went down to the first floor. It was empty and quiet everywhere. Wanting to take a walk, the boy soon arrived at the pier. There was no one there, only fishing boats could be seen in the distance. Ari gradually came to himself, trying to get rid of all the thoughts that troubled him, but he couldn't. Sitting on the edge and hanging his legs, so that the seawater soaked them, the boy suddenly muttered to himself:
"Most likely, I saw this nightmare again because of my grandfather's death. It's been so long since it bothered me, probably about five years..."
Looking at his hands, he noticed a slight tremble. Kiran's furious gaze frightened him to the core. If Isabelle hadn't shown up, he wouldn't have become who he is now.
The quiet waves swayed Ari's legs back and forth, a pleasant breeze blew in his face, and finally, the sun began to show over the sea, it was dawn.