Kazan had been at home for five days.The Lion’s Angry Claws occupied his nights; mornings were for exercise, afternoons for Rika. He still practiced the claw movements without Ki.Now Kenzou sat with Enjou, Kazane—who held Rika—and Kazan, who sat beside his mother.“Kenzou Sensei, can’t you and Kazan stay here for a few more days? Look, Kazan seems so happy spending time with his little sister!” said Kazane.“I’m sorry, Mrs. Haruki. I’d also like Kazan to stay with you all for a while, but you understand he is now a disciple in our sect!” said Kenzou.Earlier, Kenzou had said that he and Kazan intended to return to the sect very early tomorrow morning.Kazane drew him closer as Kenzou spoke of departure.Kazan stood and addressed his parents. “Dad, Mom! Please let me go back to the sect to train! I want to become a knight who can protect my whole family, including my little sister, Rika!”His parents exchanged a glance. He looked six now, yet he spoke as though guarding a family were

Through the night, doors opened and closed as the Haruki household listened to the guards’ rounds. Most of the family slept only in snatches.By dawn, no intruder had been found.Kazan alone kept his breathing steady through the night.He sat over the scroll’s meditation instructions, listening to the patrols while he practiced his breathing.The Yingwei he remembered preferred an opening to a crowded defense. Kenzou’s presence was the strongest reason to expect them to wait.As long as Kenzou stayed beside the household, its defenders offered no easy opening. Kazan kept practicing his breathing and let the patrols pass.***Kazan was now basking in the morning warmth, breathing in the fresh air with his arms spread wide.“Kazan! I thought you were still in your room!” Enjou approached Kazan, yawning from sleepiness.Enjou rubbed his eyes. Kazane had not scolded him after he returned, but neither had allowed him much sleep.Instead, Kazane asked Enjou what had happened and why there we

Enjou jumped from his horse and left the reins hanging as he ran into the house.“Kazane! Where is my wife?” he demanded of the first guard he met.“The lady is in her room, sir!” replied the guard, and Enjou hurried to her room.When he arrived in the room, he saw Kazane lying in bed, with two maids by her side.“How is she?” asked Enjou.“She’s fine, sir. The doctor examined her and said that the lady is just exhausted!”“She’s been calling for the young master, sir. We still haven’t found him,” the maid added.“What did you say? Kazan is missing? No! He’s hiding because he’s scared; I’m sure he’s in his room!” said Enjou, and he went to check on the room.Before he reached the room, a guard arrived and reported to Enjou.“Sir, please forgive me! I’ve tried to chase after and find the young master, but I haven’t been able to!” said the guard.“No! Kazan can’t be missing! How could this happen?” Enjou asked again.Kenzou also arrived and met with Enjou, and he heard the guard’s accoun

Those crimson fingers belonged to the arts of heresy. Why would a practitioner of those arts turn on men Fushen considered allies?“Knight! Aren’t we still part of the same faction? Then why are you killing your own kind?” Fushen tried to speak; he knew Kazan must be a disciple of the Heresy.“Do you think I will take your side? Don’t even dream of it—besides, I never said I was a knight who shares your beliefs! So just give up, because I’m still going to send you to the Afterlife,” said Kazan.Fushen grew even more frightened and panicked; he took out the bags of money from the villagers and handed them to Kazan.“Take all this money, but please let me go!” said Fushen as he handed over all the money he had.His hands shook so badly that coins spilled from a pouch onto the ground.“I’m not the least bit interested in your money; I’m only interested in your life, so there’s nothing left for us to discuss!” said Kazan, then he prepared to kill Fushen.“If you kill me, you’ll bring about

The next morning, Hayato’s village was silent. No one was out doing their usual activities.The villagers didn’t dare leave their homes for fear that people from Tharondel would come to their village.Only Hayato, his two companions, and Kazan were outside. The boy had covered his face with the cloth again.“Young man! I mean, young Knight! How about after we finish breakfast, we take a walk around the village and check out the situation around here?”“It’s up to you, Hayato-sama, but I’m not hungry right now, so I won’t be joining you for breakfast!” replied Kazan.The White Grape he had eaten in his room still kept his stomach comfortably full.He tucked away the remaining fruits. One could sustain a Ki user for three days; someone without Ki might need no other food for a week.Most of his medicinal supplies had come from other sects’ stores, taken rather than bought or cultivated.His fingers rested on the bundle a moment. His master’s tales of the Enchanted Forest had once sent hi