image [https://i.imgur.com/9s19VLK.png]

“Sorry I’m late!” Taiyo scuttled up the stairs. She panted, gasping for air.

“The ceremony has already begun,” Pawan said.

Taiyo felt something sink in her stomach, but she followed Pawan and Bronx into the inner pasture. The spicy scent of sun fruits filled her nose.

Looks like the tree is blossoming again, she thought.

Bronx carried a massive cleaver, designed only for their ceremony. Father had traded countless fine bottles of Sun Whiskey to have it made.

They reached two large, imposing doors made of sun wood. Bronx pushed them open, and light filtered into the hallway. Taiyo took off her sandals and stepped outside. The grass tickled her feet, and the dirt felt dry.

“High priest,” Bronx said. “There’s something wrong with the Bastodon.”

Taiyo looked over. Father’s Bastodon was an enormous creature the size of a Rhino. Its thick armour resembled an armadillo’s, and two long tusks protruded from its face. The tail, covered in shiny brown armour plates and as thick as a man's body, was the real prize. Harvesting the tail was perilous and required the help of two magic users. A single blow from its tail could turn someone’s body to smithereens.

Taiyo had unfortunately seen the previous village chef meet this exact fate.

This same Bastodon was currently scratching at the wall in the enclosure's corner with its tusks.

“Is it trying to escape?” Bronx asked.

Taiyo walked over, carefully avoiding its tail. The creature had left several scratches against the wooden wall. She put her hand against the scarred wood. The scratches were large, but shallow. After all, they built this enclosure to hold the Bastodon inside.

“It’s not usually like this.” Pawan frowned. “Taiyo, what are you doing?”

“I was looking at the scratches,” Taiyo said. “It seems like something has agitated it.”

“No matter,” Pawan said. “Let’s begin the ritual.”

“Yes, father.”

----------------------------------------

Taiyo wiped the sweat off her brow with a handkerchief. Though she was only following father’s movements, the ritual sucked so much energy out of her.

Bronx lugged the tail of the Bastodon out of the enclosure, wrapping it in a large red cloth.

“Explain your lateness, Taiyo.” Pawan said.

“I was with Victor,” she said. “There was a problem with the water tortles.”

“You mean that foreigner?” Pawan asked. “That reminds me, summon him here.”

Taiyo bowed and left. Bronx followed her.

“Something weird is going on with the magical beasts,” he said. “My hammer tail was acting up this morning as well.”

“Strange…” Taiyo said.

Why did her father want to see Victor?

Taiyo put a hand on her chest. Her heartbeat was rapid.

Breathe, she thought. It’ll be fine.

It’s not because she was late, was it?

“Are you also going this way?” she asked.

“I was going to see Victor after the ritual anyway to check on him,” Bronx said. “This just gives me an excuse.”

“Ahh, okay…” Taiyo said. “You two seem to get along well.”

“Well,” Bronx said. “I guess it’s nice to meet another person from the outside.”

“I see…”

Before they realised it, they had arrived at Victor’s shed. From the outside, it was hard to imagine a man the size of him was living there. The smell of dirt and hay filled the air from the nearby fields. The door opened, and Victor stepped outside lazily.

“Victor, you’re home?” Taiyo asked.

“Yeah, why?” He looked at her and tilted his head.

“Doesn’t Mr Kamal keep you busy in the fields?” Bronx asked.

“Oh,” Victor said. “I told the geezer to piss off because I was hungover.”

“My dad wants to see you,” Taiyo said.

“The high priest?” Victor asked. “Maybe he requires the skills of an adventurer!”

Taiyo forced a laugh.

I hope that’s the case.

----------------------------------------

The trio entered the temple room. Pawan sat atop the stage cross legged praying, and Mr Kamal below him whispered something to him. The gingery scent of sun wood incense burned throughout the hall, and the light filtering in from the wide-open windows caught the smoke, creating crimson rays of light.

They stood before Pawan on the stage, Taiyo and Bronx bowed, but Victor didn’t.

The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

“Peh, foreigners have no respect.” Mr Kamal scrunched his nose in disgust.

“I have brought Victor like you asked,” Taiyo said.

Pawan’s red eyes fixed on Victor.

Taiyo stole a glance at her father. He was looking Victor up and down.

Why was he examining him in so much detail?

The room was pin drop silent as Pawan examined Victor, the loudest sound being Taiyo’s rapid breathing.

“Can I help you, High priest?” Victor asked.

Her eyes widened. Don’t speak to the high priest that way! Taiyo looked at her father to see if he was angry, but his expression remained neutral.

“Foreigner,” he said. “How are your wounds?”

“I’m as good as new!” Victor flexed his arm and grinned. “I’ve had plenty of rest and recovered.”

“You saved my daughter from a mud jackal several months back,” Pawan said. "She said you were severely wounded, so I agreed to let you stay here until you fully recovered."

"Eh? I didn't get wounded from protecting—"

“Yes, father,” Taiyo said. “He saved my life.”

“You will not speak unless spoken to.” Pawan looked at Taiyo. His narrowed red eyes emitted a faint light, like a tiger in the night.

Taiyo felt something well up in her throat. Her father’s tone was sharp and piercing.

“Sorry, father,” she said.

She blinked to hold back her tears.

“Well,” Pawan said. “Do you think you’re back to your previous capabilities?”

“Heh,” Victor said. “Forget one mud jackal. I could take down a sky hound now.”

He puffed out his chest. Taiyo had to admit, from his tall frame to his confident expression, Victor looked very dependable. His back seemed strong enough to carry the world.

But why was Victor boasting? She thought. He didn’t need to make it sound so impressive.

“I see,” Pawan said. “Then you best be on your way.”

“W-what?” Victor’s confident expression faltered.

“Father?” Taiyo’s heartbeat skyrocketed.

“I agreed to let you stay until you recovered as thanks for saving my daughter,” Pawan said. “Now that you’ve recovered, it’s time you left my village.”

No, she thought. I don’t want this! I have to convince my father to let Victor stay.

“But father,” Taiyo said. “There’s nowhere for him to go,”

Why is this happening? She thought. I still haven't had my chance to learn about his past!

“W–wait,” Victor stammered. “I'm a powerful Mythril adventurer! I can be of use–”

“Perfect,” Pawan said.

Taiyo’s heartbeat slowed down slightly. Did we do it?

“There’s an adventuring town just south of here,” he said. “You can go there.”

“Father!” Taiyo said. “He can’t make it there. He’ll die!”

“Insolent girl,” Mr Kamal spat. “Watch how you speak to the high priest!”

Taiyo held her tongue.

“Don’t you get it?” Victor said. “I’m a Mythril adventurer. I can be a military asset to your hamlet!” His eyes were wide with betrayal and confusion. Taiyo felt something inside her twinge when she saw Victor’s face.

“I know of Mythril Rank,” Pawan said.

What? She thought. He knows?

“Powerful, yes.” Pawan said. “A single Mythril Adventurer could destroy this entire village, including me. They stand on the cusp of Rank 3. Their cores are fully formed and are transitioning into ascension.”

“Exactly,” Victor nodded rapidly. “So you must understand–”

“Do you take me for a fool?” Pawan’s fury condensed on his brow. “That you would lie straight to my face?”

“Huh?” Victor said. “I’m not–”

Not good–Taiyo thought. Father hated lies more than anything.

“I’m at the cusp of the halfway mark of Rank 2,” Pawan said.

“Father,” she said. “Please let him explain–”

The sunlight in the room changed colour from crimson to blood red, and the light rays twisted and gathered around her father. His eyes, now surrounded by darkness, shone redder than ever. The incense in the room burst into flames, and the sweet gingery scent turned smoky and bitter.

Taiyo felt her connection to the sunlight disappear, and the light rays concentrating around her father became foreign, oppressive. Her father was like a god of hell, and they were sinners waiting for judgement.

“A Mythril Adventurer would overpower me in an instant,” Pawan said. “Do you think you could kill me, foreigner?”

“...”

Taiyo could see Victor clench his fist, but not a single word could escape his gritted jaw.

Even Mr Kamal prostrated himself in front of Pawan, his tiny frame shuddering.

“You are like an ant compared to Yiho’s power.” Pawan raised his arm, and the sunlight coalesced into a ball in his hands. That single ball of sun energy was much stronger, much purer than anything she saw during the set feast. All the magic in her body felt like it wanted to jump out so it could join that ball. Taiyo felt the magic blood in her body circulating strangely, and the taste of iron filled her mouth.

“Foreigners always think they can steal or lie to us.” Pawan’s voice boomed throughout the temple. “But with Yiho’s judgement, I can erase you from existence.”

He raised his arm, and the red sun is his palm blinded them

“No!” Taiyo screamed.

“Mr Pawan!” Garyu burst open the doors and ran to Pawan’s side. He whispered something in his ears.

“An emergency summons from the church?” Pawan asked, his eyes widening.

The Ball of light in his arms faded slowly and dissipated.

“Kamal,” he said. “Assemble all villagers above Rank 2. We leave immediately.”

“But sir, what about the foreigner?”

“Do you think a foreigner is more important than a decree by the Church?”

“N–no, of course not.”

“Garyu,” Pawan said. “I’m leaving you in charge.”

“As you command, sir.” Garyu dropped to one knee.

Pawan raised his cloak, and he flashed out of the room faster than Taiyo’s eyes could follow.

“Garyu, son.” Mr Kamal said, “Give me a hand.”

Garyu picked up his father and ran out of the door, glancing at the three of them before he left.

Taiyo felt her connection to the sunlight returning, but the bitter burnt smell and smoke remained, like an oppressive cloud over the three of them.

She collapsed to the ground coughing, and blood trickled down the corner of her mouth.

“Damn,” Bronx said. “Being exposed to such potent sun energy is bad for her.”

“I’m… fine…” Taiyo said.

“What… just happened?” Victor said.

His eyes were wide in disbelief, and his fist remained clenched.

“Why didn’t you say anything the whole time?” Victor looked at Bronx scathingly.

“Are you kidding?” Bronx said. “He’d have killed me on the spot.”

“I don’t want to admit it about my father,” Taiyo said. “But Bronx is right. I risked a lot by speaking back to him.”

“Then why did you–”

“Was what father said true?” Taiyo asked Victor. “About Mythril adventurers?”

“It’s true,” Victor said.

He punched a nearby post, leaving a bloody bruise on his fist.

“At my prime, I indeed could have defeated your father.” he looked down at his hand sadly. “But now I’m a cripple with nothing more to offer…”