The small, newly built house stood quietly within the borders of the kingdom — a humble shelter for Yakazuna and his ailing father. Inside, the air was warm with the scent of simmering soup. Yakazuna carefully lifted a bowl to his father's lips, helping him drink in silence.
The door creaked open.
Yakazuna's head snapped up.
Yakazuna: "Who are you? Get out of here!"
A man stepped inside — tall and lean, about one seventy-five in height. A dark scarf hid the lower half of his face. His long black hair glimmered faintly in the light, and his eyes burned a deep, blood-red. A heavy coat hung down to his knees as he leaned casually against the wall.
The man said softly;
Man: "Hello, Yakazuna, heir to the Ultim tribe. Is your father very ill?"
Yakazuna shot back.
Yakazuna: "That's none of your concern, who are you? How did you get in here? I've never seen you anywhere in the kingdom."
The man replied, his voice was smooth and oddly calm.
Man: "I'm your ally. My name is Cleistois. And I know how to heal your father."
Yakazuna froze. Kyōzuna's condition had worsened day by day — dark purple veins snaked from the pure Konkai crystal embedded in his chest, pulsing with a sickly glow. The doctors had no answers. Desperation weighed heavily on Yakazuna's heart… and Cleistois's words lit a fragile spark of hope.
Yakazuna quietly said;
Yakazuna: "Tell me, I've got nothing to lose."
Cleistois smiled.
Cleistois: "I knew you'd listen."
He raised his hand, fingers curling into a fist. From his palm erupted tendrils of violet energy — lightning-like threads that crackled and hissed in the dim light.
Eyes glintingly said;
Cleistois: "This, is the secret."
Yakazuna tensed.
Yakazuna: "What is that supposed to be? It looks dangerous."
He rose to his feet, fists clenched.
Cleistois: "Calm yourself, Yakazuna. Are you truly that ignorant of power?"
Cleistois stepping closer to the bed.
Yakazuna growled.
Yakazuna: "Stay away from him! I can feel it — you're dangerous. Don't take another step toward my father!"
Cleistois tilted his head.
Cleistois: "You care about him, don't you? Then you'll listen. I am your only chance. You have no other way."
Yakazuna's fists trembled, but he slowly released them. His voice dropped to a warning growl.
Yakazuna: "I'm watching you."
Cleistois: "It may hurt a little."
He reached toward Kyōzuna's chest, his violet energy flowing like smoke around the pure Konkai stone. The stone shuddered violently — Kyōzuna let out a pained cry.
Yakazuna roared.
Yakazuna: "What are you doing?! Don't touch that stone!"
He seized Cleistois by the shoulder and slammed him to the ground.
Cleistois: "Listen, boy."
Cleistois spat, rising to one knee.
Cleistois: "Your ignorance disgusts me. That stone is killing him. Can't you see? I'm trying to remove it without harming him."
Yakazuna's eyes burned.
Yakazuna: "Remove it? You dare lay your hands on the power of the Ultim Mōjin? CLEISTOIS!"
Yakazuna drove his fist into Cleistois's chest, sending him staggering back.
Cleistois was looking like he didn't felt any pain.
Cleistois: "Look at me, Yakazuna. Look into my eyes. You will give me that stone. Or your father dies."
Yakazuna: "How dare you threaten me!"
Yakazuna began to transform into Yajūni
— until a frail, broken voice cut through the tension.
Kyōzuna wheezed.
Kyōzuna: "Stop… My son… let him take it. The stone is not worth more than our family. I don't want to die before I see you wed."
Yakazuna: "Father…"
The fire in Yakazuna's eyes dimmed. His hands fell to his sides.
Cleistois straightened, brushing dust from his coat.
Cleistois: "You see? Even your father understands."
He reached again for the Konkai stone, pulling it free with a dull crack. Then, from his pocket, he produced several small vials.
Cleistois: "Give him one of each every day," he'll recover. You have my word."
Yakazuna: "Where do you think you're going with that stone, you bastard?!"
Cleistois smirked.
Cleistois: "That was our bargain — your father's life for the stone. Be grateful."
Yakazuna looked to his father, who gave a weak nod. Cleistois tucked the crystal away and walked out into the night.
Kyōzuna sighed, his voice faint.
Kyōzuna: "What kind of power was that? There are still things in this world I cannot comprehend…"
Yakazuna knelt beside him.
Yakazuna: "Forget it, Father. You're safe now. That's all that matters."
Later, under a cold moon at the edge of the desert, Cleistois studied the stone. Its polished surface caught the silver light, gleaming like a mirror. The perfect triangular shape sent a shiver through him.
From his coat, he drew an old, folded scrap of paper. Striking a worn match, he set it alight and watched as the flames reflected in his crimson eyes. When nothing but ash remained, he let the wind carry it toward the borders of the Rosengard Kingdom.
Cleistois: "Rosengard… Sandriel… If only you knew the pleasure it will bring me — to watch you beg."