A lady was riding horseback through a open field, heading towards a cluster of trees. 

"It seems I've lost them...for now" she thought as she momentarily looked back. 

On the side of the horse, there was an open basket attached to the saddle with a baby wrapped in a blanket in it. The baby seemed to be enjoying the bumpy ride, as a still-developing smile was engraved on his face. She looked down at the baby to see the radiant, reddish-orange sky reflecting in it's eyes, and began smiling back. 

"They won't be able to find me after the sun sets. It won't be much longer now" 

The lady carried on as the sun fully set, which left her in the company of the night sky. This didn't stop her, however. She lit a lantern which help illuminate the path as she continued on her journey. 

                              *THE NEXT DAY* 

The lady washed the baby's face and body in a bathtub. The greyish-warm water had various green herbs floating around in it. When she dipped the baby's body in the water, all of the herbs began to float in a circle around him. 

"Hmmm?" she pondered. 

The baby's body began to cause the water to ripple as all of the herbs began turning black. 

"Wha-what's happening?" she stumbled. "Erad!" 

A few seconds later, an older man opened the door to the bathroom. 

"What's wrong, Amadia?" he stated. 

"Why is this boy flowing with this much Chi?" she asked. 

Erad rushed by her side to see the baby, making the bathwater flow in waves. He looked into the tub to see the now black herbs floating in the water. 

"It must be these!" Erad concluded as he grabbed the herbs and examined them. 

Slowly, the water began to die back down to normal. The herbs lost their black hue and returned green. However, the color of the baby's arm changed. It looked as if brown paint was spread from his left arm's fingertips just before his elbow. 

"It must be some form of birthmark." Amadia stated. 

"I don't think we can be sure" Erad replied as he held the herbs in his hand. 

Erad and Amadia waited until the baby fell asleep to continue their discussion about the uncanny events that transpired. 

"Amadia, you know enough to know that this isn't normal. Maybe this is why the prince sent those men after this baby. He could help them" 

"He wasn't seeking help from Yasuke" Amadia explained. "He was going to kill the child" 

"How do you know that?" 

"The King is sick, and has been preparing to select a successor. The Prince isn't the only child, but he is the most gifted. He knows he's the heir of the throne. But, if Yasuke is this capable as a baby, he could be more powerful than the prince in a few years." 

"Have you forgotten that Yasuke is just a baby, hee has no battle experience, no forms, nothing that rivals the prince. He can't even talk yet. The royal family receives the best training possible." 

"A baby who was able to gather chi in one of the most difficult forms. That's an incredible feat for a newborn" 

"Yes but-" 

                      *KNOCK* KNOCK* KNOCK* 

Erad signaled for Amadia to get Yasuke, quietly. As he saw her disappear into the depths of the house, he went to answer the door. He opened it to see one of the Prince's guards looking down upon him. Erad was a mountain of a man, being way over six feet and almost three hundred pounds. But, the Prince's guard made his size laughable in comparison. 

"Erad" the guard stated. "How has the farm been? I heard you had a great harvest season, supplied the king with enough food for years" 

"Yeah, I had a great harvest season. Hopefully the next is even better" Erad replied. "What brings you here, Botaro?" 

"Well, Young Lord Nobunaga sent me here in search of your sister. Is Amadia around?" 

"She stopped by yesterday, but left this morning." Erad stated. "Is everything okay?" 

"She might be travelling with someone the Young Lord has deemed a threat. Was she here alone?" 

"Yeah, she came alone. But, she didn't say she would meet a friend in Namunda." 

"Hmph. Maybe they split up" Botaro suggested. "Well, sorry to bother you with so many questions. I'll report back to the Young Lord." 

"Yeah, I'll get back to catching up on sleep" Erad concluded. "Until next time, Botaro" 

Botaro turned around as Erad began to close the door. But, just before the door was closed - 

                                   *SWOOSH* 

Botaro kicked his feet out to stop it. 

"Is something wrong?" Erad asked as he opened the door. 

Botaro pointed at something inside the house. Erad turned around to see the green herbs from earlier on in the day on a table where he and Amadia were talking. 

"You started growing those as well?" Botaro asked. 

"Sure thing." Erad replied. "As long with the King is pleased, I'll try to grow anything." 

"I suppose that's why he considers you the best." Botaro announced. "Well, I've took up enough of your time. It was nice seeing you, Eradius" 

Eradius kept the door open this time, watching Botaro leave the area. 

"Yep" he thought. "This is worse than I thought" 

He closed the door to see Amadia holding Yasuke in her arms. 

"This is bad" Eradius stated. "You can't stay here now. If i'm seen with you..."

"Don't worry, Erad. I wouldn't ask for you to get any more involved than you are. I was planning to take Yasuke to Neserus." 

"What?" Erad shouted. "Neserus? They'll kill you on sight" 

"Or they'll be amazed by Yasuke's... condition. Either way, you said it yourself, I cannot stay here" 

"This is a terrible idea." Eradius declared. "But, staying here will indefinitely be worse. So...".

"So?" 

"So...I'll help you." Eradius exclaimed as he began to stuff things in a bag. "Maybe killing you won't be the first thing that comes across their mind, if you have an offering to give. I'll give you some crops and...the few herbs i have left."  

"Thanks, brother." 

"Don't thank me yet" Eradius instructed. "If anything goes bad, just do whatever you can to display Yasuke...conditions. If my theory is correct, he can be very valuable." 

"Your theory?" 

"He might have the power of the Black Dahlia" 

"The...Black Dahlia?" 

The people of Aros learned to channel Chi, a essential energy that could be found throughout one's environment. Gathering Chi was a strenuous process, but allowed one to greatly enhance their own abilities. One of the hardest ways to do so, was to absorb the Chi plants secrete naturally. Every tree, slice of grass, herb, etc. contained Chi that could absorbed by people, which some being harder than others. But, the Black Dahlia was a plant that had a larger concentration of Chi than most plants. According to legend, the potency of the Chi found in the Black Dahlia could make even the most experienced of Chi users overdose. It is a rarity, and one learning to gather it's Chi would make them unrealistically strong. 

"That's unbelievable" Amadia concluded. 

"That's why as of right now, it remains a theory" Erad stated. 

Erad grabbed the bag and ushered Amadia and Yasuke out of the house. 

"Don't go to Namunda, Botaro thinks that's where you currently are" Erad instructed. 

"No, that's where I hoped she was" 

Eradius and Amadia looked over to see Botaro standing in the darkness of the night. 

"I hoped you didn't lie to me, and that you genuinely wasn't involved" Botaro continued. "Because then, I wouldn't have to disappoint the King." 

Eradius dropped the bag and entered a fighting stance. 

"Amadia, take Yasuke and get away from here." 

"Erad, don't be foolish. I'm on enlightenment level three" Botaro warned. "Don't make me kill you" 

"Right now, it's not about my death" Eradius stated as he channeled his Chi. "It's about preventing those two's" 

"That's a sweet thought" Botaro admired. "But, we both know what's about to happen" 

Eradius looked to his left to see Amadia, sharing the same stance he was in as she channeled her chi. 

"What the hell are you doing? If you die here, this would have all been for nothing" 

"Fuck this guy" Amadia answered. "I'm not leaving you alone to fight him" 

Botaro began to channel his chi as well. 

"This is your last chance." he warned. "Surrender, or I will have to put you down" 

"Get on with it then"