Chapter 2: The Unseen Path
The festival grounds were silent. Hundreds of eyes locked onto Ryo, their faces a mix of shock, fear, and disbelief. The Ravager—the monstrous Shadow that had terrorized the village—lay defeated at his feet. But that wasn't what stunned the crowd.
It was the Shadow floating beside him.
A small, unstable mass of flickering darkness—barely holding form. Unlike the powerful Shadows of warriors and elders, Ryo's Shadow looked… broken.
"What… just happened?" Ryo thought, gripping his hands. His body still buzzed with energy, but there was something off about it. He looked at the swirling figure next to him.
"Vex, was that… you?"
The Shadow didn't reply. Instead, a strange, amused chuckle echoed in his mind.
"Well, well… guess we're stuck together now."
The Weight of a Name
The silence shattered as voices exploded through the festival.
"Did you see that?! How is that even possible?"
"That thing… that's not a real Shadow!"
"He's dangerous! Shadows don't just appear like that!"
A group of village elders stepped forward. Their expressions were grim.
"Ryo Kisaragi," one of them said, voice heavy with authority, "where did that Shadow come from?"
Ryo opened his mouth, but no words came out. He didn't know. One moment, he was about to die, and the next… Vex appeared.
Saya and Kaito rushed to his side.
"Back off!" Saya snapped. "Ryo didn't do anything wrong!"
Kaito stepped in front of Ryo, arms crossed. "Are you seriously blaming him for saving everyone?"
The head elder's eyes narrowed. "We are not blaming him. But a Shadow that emerges unnaturally… is unheard of. We must investigate."
Ryo clenched his fists. He had spent his entire life being treated as an outcast for not having a Shadow. Now that he had one, they were still treating him like a mistake.
Then, Vex spoke in his mind.
"Hah. Typical. They fear what they don't understand."
Ryo inhaled sharply. He turned to the elder, his crimson eyes steady.
"You want to investigate? Fine. But I won't stand here being treated like some kind of monster.
A Journey Begins
That night, Ryo sat on the rooftop of his home, staring at the full moon. Saya and Kaito sat beside him.
"What now?" Saya asked, her voice softer than usual.
Kaito leaned back on his arms. "They won't leave you alone, man. The elders will keep digging, trying to figure out what Vex is."
Ryo exhaled slowly. "I need answers too. Why did Vex appear? Why is he… different?"
Vex's voice echoed in his mind. "Good question. Maybe it's time we find out."
Ryo looked at his friends. "I think I need to leave Tenryu. Find out what I really am."
Saya and Kaito exchanged glances.
Then, Saya grinned. "Then we're coming with you."
Kaito smirked. "Yeah, someone has to keep your brooding in check."
Ryo's eyes widened. "You guys don't have to—"
"Shut up," Saya interrupted. "We're your friends. We're in this together."
For the first time in years, Ryo smiled.
This was the beginning of something bigger.
The beginning of a legend.
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