[18 years later]
"So that's how it all began?" an 18-year-old boy asked.
"Yes, Yakuso," Garuba replied. His long, weathered cloak draped over his broad shoulders, its edges frayed from years of wear. His once-dark hair had long since turned a stark white, falling in loose waves that framed a face lined with only the faintest marks of age. His sharp eyes, deep-set and unwavering, held a clarity that defied the century he had lived. Though his hands bore the wrinkles of time, his grip remained steady, his movements precise—lacking the frailty expected of men his age.
His posture was straight, unyielding, as if age had only settled on him where he allowed it. Despite being 103 years old, time had done little to wear him down. His presence was as commanding as ever, his gaze sharp with the weight of a century's experience. And still, he stood tall.
Except he wasn't exactly standing. He sat with seven youngsters gathered around him—four boys and three girls, most of them in their teenage years. Their eyes were locked onto him, hanging onto every word as he unraveled the story. They sat around a central bonfire, conversing and relaxing under the night sky.
Garuba leaned back slightly, his voice settling into the quiet after the last words of his story. The fire crackled between them, casting shifting shadows over the group. There was a beat of silence... and then it was broken.
Reo leaned forward. "Okay, but hear me out. If I were there, the fight would have ended faster."
Reo was all restless energy. Her auburn hair flowed past her shoulders in untamed waves, often tied back in a loose, haphazard braid that barely held through her constant movement. Blue eyes flickered with mischief, her lean frame built for speed over strength, always shifting like she was ready to sprint. She wore practical, worn-down clothes—a short tunic, fitted pants, and scuffed boots—while scratched armguards covered her forearms, proof of her recklessness.
Yakuso smirked. "You do know self-deception isn't good, right?"
He had black, straight, chin-length rough hair that looked like it had never met a comb but still managed to stay clean. His black eyes had a sort of welcoming look to them, like he was someone who could be trusted. He had a medium build, neither too short nor too tall, with a balanced frame that carried both strength and agility. He wore a plain brown tunic belted at the waist, black hose, and scuffed leather boots—clothes that matched his steady presence. He was just as energetic as Reo, but his energy was more discreet, his calm features betraying his behavior.
"Details," she waved him off.
Hunda frowned. "You would've hesitated the moment things got real."
She looked exactly like Reo, except she had smooth, blood-red, long hair, and her bloodshot blue eyes had lost their glow, making them look sad. She had a melancholic air around her, as if she had given up on life too early. She resembled Reo physically, but her slight slouch made it easy to differentiate them. She wore a black cloak like a blanket, clutching the edges as if she were cold.
Reo gasped. "Betrayal from my own sister?!"
Hunda shrugged.
"She's right. What are you gonna do? Turn into a 'vile beast'?" Keira added, making air quotes.
Keira had emerald green hair, neatly tied into a tight bun. Her hazel eyes darted around, but unlike Reo's, her sharp, focused gaze constantly assessed her surroundings, always calculating her next move. There was a quiet intensity to her demeanor, a calmness that hid a razor-sharp mind. She wore a simple wool tunic, a padded jerkin, leather bracers on her forearms, fitted trousers, and knee-high boots, with a full quiver slung over her shoulder.
"Okay, that's unfair—" Reo retorted.
Kahito rolled his eyes and sighed. "We've seen you lose many times."
His long, ruffled platinum-white hair shimmered under the campfire's glow, and his steel-gray eyes held a bored, distant look. At twenty-two, he had built a strong, sturdy frame. A loose white undertunic hung from his shoulders, its sleeves rolling slightly as he moved, tucked into rough, earth-toned hose. A plain leather belt cinched his waist, and scuffed boots clung to his feet, worn from use.
Reo squinted. "Don't you get tired of this?"
Kahito raised a brow. "Being right? No."
Yujo snorted. "Honestly, Reo might've been useful..."
Yujo had long, black hair he always tied into a single ponytail, though a few strands always slipped loose. There was something light about him—his smile, his black eyes, the way he moved. Playful, almost careless. But under all that ease, he watched everything and spoke just enough to be remembered, but never too much to be known. His movements were smooth, relaxed, always a step behind or a step ahead. He wore a loose dark robe with faded silver patterns along the sleeves that looked big compared to his small frame—nothing flashy, just enough to say he had taste.
"THANK YOU!"
"...as a human shield," Yujo added.
Keira burst out laughing.
Mi Lai sighed. "Meanwhile, I'd just be trying not to die."
Mi Lai had rough, ginger hair with fringes that he kept pushing back. He was a somewhat timid boy, his brown eyes and freckled face always holding an unsure look. Mi Lai wore a loose, dark wool tunic with sleeves that slipped past his wrists. A plain brown surcoat hung over it, frayed at the edges. His hose were patched and tucked into scuffed leather boots. A narrow belt held it all in place, but nothing about him drew the eye. He looked like someone trying to disappear.
Yakuso patted his back. "At least you're self-aware."
Mi Lai rolled his eyes. "Let's be real—if Garuba had fought us, none of us would be here."
Silence.
They all knew this was true. Even with their years of intensive training under Garuba, he had never lost a duel against them, except Hunda. Not even foul play or dirty tricks worked against him. He was too skilled. Too good.
Keira groaned. "Yeah, well, thankfully, he's old now."
Garuba chuckled. "Old? Keira, I could knock you flat before you blink."
Keira smirked. "You could, but the question is—"
In the blink of an eye, a gust of wind blew and snuffed out the fire. Keira had backed up, her hand nearly reaching for an arrow. Reo already retracted her claws. The others looked stunned, their faces pale with fear. Garuba was no longer seated. He stood over Keira, his old, lean frame towering above her, his expression calm.
"—would I?" Garuba replied, finishing Keira's sentence. "Unless I see the need to—no, I wouldn't attack you."
A satisfied smile crept onto his face.
"I see you've gotten faster. Good. Why don't we call it a night?"
He turned and made his way to the house.
The tension lessened and the group eased up, fear morphing into awe. Mi Lai re-ignited the fire.
"Eighteen years living with him and he still amazes me," Kahito mumbled, burying his face in his hands.
"Yeah," Reo said, tossing a twig into the fire. "Makes you wonder what kind of monster he was in his prime."
"How are we supposed to live up to that?" Yujo whined, dragging a hand down his face.
"You'll live," Hunda said, trying to comfort him.
Yujo snapped his head toward her. "Of course you get to say that. You're the strongest of us all—hell, the most blessed. You could beat all of us at once. What am I even saying? You have!" He stood, voice rising, fists clenched at his sides. "With all due respect, don't comfort me. It's not comfortable. It's... insulting."
The air thinned. The crackling of the fire suddenly felt too loud. All eyes shifted to Yujo. From their expressions, this wasn't the first time he'd suddenly lashed out at Hunda.
Hunda stared back stoically and got up. "Sorry. I'm going to bed." She let out a yawn and trudged to the house.
"That was a melodramatic waste of everyone's night. I'm out." Keira got up and vanished into the dark.
"Yujo, whatever issues you're going through, no one here deserves to be your punching bag. Do better." Kahito cautioned and left.
Mi Lai got up and patted Yujo on the back, more frustration than affection behind the gesture.
"I believe you've done enough damage to tonight's peace. Why don't you just go to sleep? Come on, let's go."
Yujo let out a sigh, shoulders sinking.
"Sure"
Mi Lai led Yujo towards the house, leaving Yakuso and Reo alone by the campfire.
Reo crossed her legs and glanced over at Yakuso.
"Now that we're alone together..." she began, but was cut off.
"Let's check how weak you've gotten, Reo," Yakuso said, already rising.
She cocked her head back in surprise.
"H-how weak I've gotten?!" Her voice pitched up. "Please. I was ready to strike when you were still shivering in your boots while Garuba stared Keira down!"
"Let's not forget the last time we sparred—you begged me to end it," Yakuso smirked, crossing his arms.
"Lies!" Reo retorted, crouching over the fire.
Yakuso clenched his fists. Flames burst to life around them.
"Wanna prove it?" he said, raising a brow
Reo grinned.
"Try to keep up..." Reo blew at the fire, snuffing it out—then vanished into the night.
Darkness swallowed Yakuso, every nerve tingling with adrenaline.
Reo had already slipped into the forest, creeping through the shadows, her senses heightened by her form. Eyes glowing faintly, she stalked her prey through the shadows.
Yakuso turned in place slowly, his hands the only source of illumination in the darkness. The air was still, the tension palpable and his senses became highly sensitive to the slightest change in drought. He had had countless fights with Reo and already knew she was a formidable opponent. Although she had only defeated him a few times, he had no intention of adding this battle to the tally. As he moved around, he could sense Reo's presence nearby. She was a predator not a brawler. Swift, smart, and unpredictable. Always waiting for the perfect moment to str...
Without warning, Reo sprang forward.
A blur of motion from his flank, her powerful legs propelling her straight at him.
But Yakuso was ready.
His hands shot forward, releasing a blast of compressed sound. The wave hit her mid-air and threw her back. Yakuso watched as she crashed to the ground and rose in one fluid motion. She crouched low, muscles tensed.
But she wasn't human anymore.
In front of him, a feline form faced him—lean, vicious, eyes glowing with feral focus.
Ready to attack.
"The blessing to transform into any creature of nature and you chose this? Is this a subtle attempt at mockery?" Yakuso asked, a sly grin stretched across his face.
Reo bared her fangs in mock fashion. "It's night, I transformed into a creature of the night. I promise you the logic isn't hard to grasp,"
"Oh, shut up"
"What about you? " she asked, tail swaying, "You can copy any person any person's blessing. I thought you going to use Garuba's fire."
Yakuso shifted his weight. "There's this new thing called 'trickery'. Notice how it worked on you?"
Reo crouched lower, eyes gleaming. "Sure. Watch how it doesn't work twice"
She sprang forward again—but this time, she transformed mid-air. A grizzly bear now hurtled toward him, paw swinging wide.
Yakuso barely dodged. Her claws grazed his arm—not enough to panic, but more than enough to sting.
Reo didn't slow down. She charged again, and Yakuso shot off quick bursts of fire to hold her back.
She dodged most of them, but a few landed. She grunted, low and angry, but still pushed forward.
Yakuso moved, but not in time. He didn't dodge—he parried.
Her paws stopped inches from his face, frozen in space—caught in his telekinetic field.
Reo didn't hesitate. She shifted back into her human form and kicked him square in the gut.
Yakuso flew back a few inches, caught himself mid-slide, and snapped up with a scowl. He fired another blast of compressed sound at her feet.
She jumped—
—but didn't see the second attack coming.
The next shot caught her in the chest and flung her backwards.
Yakuso moved fast.
He launched himself forward, using fire to propel the dash. He caught up to her mid-air and fired a column of flame right at her.
Thinking quickly, Reo morphed again—this time into an armadillo—her body curling into a tight shield just before the fire hit.
It didn't stop the impact, though—she still crashed hard into the ground.
Reo just lay there—tired, dazed, breath catching in her throat—as Yakuso walked up to her. He offered her a hand-up, which she accepted, and pulled her up.
"I could kill you right now—" Yakuso said,"—but that's now how I operate. I don't fight for the sake of killing but to protect the ones who can't protect themselves"
Reo stared at him and there was a brief moment of silence between them—then laughter followed.
"Hahaha. That... was... so weird," Reo said in between laughs.
"Right? Only Kahito speaks like that. Hahaha," Yakuso chuckled.
The laughter died down and another brief moment of silence ensued.
"So now that we're alone" Reo tried again, a slight tilt to her voice, "what do you want to do?"
Yakuso yawned. "Sleep. You should too."
Reo let out a brief sigh and shrugged, "Yeah, sure. Bedtime."
They began to make their way to the house. The night held no more words—just the sound of tired footsteps heading home.