Two days passed since the Princess’s birthday party, the palace had returned to its calm, the guards trained in the courtyard under the morning sun, Raider struck a straw dummy with impressive force, his blows were powerful, precise, but he wasn’t satisfied, he stopped, wiped the sweat from his forehead, his breathing was short, his muscles were burning, he looked at Mito who was sitting apart on a stone bench, he said “I must become stronger than this man”, Mito looked up, his gaze was empty as always, he asked “and this man, is it me?”, Raider smiled, a tired but determined smile “of course it’s you, you are the strongest, I must surpass you, I must become better than you”, Mito looked away “you still have a long way to go”, Raider clenched his fists “I know, but I will get there, I will train day and night, I will become stronger than you, one day, I will beat you”, Mito said nothing, he smiled slightly, a rare smile, a discreet smile, he knew Raider was determined, he knew he was progressing, he knew that one day, he could surpass him.
Raider approached Mito, he sat next to him on the bench, he looked at the sky, he said “you know, Mito, when I first saw you at the tournament, I hated you, I found you cold, distant, arrogant, I thought you were a monster”, Mito said nothing, he listened, Raider continued “but later, I understood, I understood that you weren’t cold, you were just hurt, you had suffered, you had lost people you loved, you were afraid to get attached, you were afraid to suffer again”, Mito looked at him, his eyes were empty, but there was a glimmer inside, a glimmer of recognition, Raider said “I understand you, Mito, I understand you because I too, I lost people, I lost my father, I almost lost my mother, I almost lost my brother, I am afraid, too, I am afraid of losing the people I love”, Mito placed his hand on his shoulder “you are braver than me, Raider, you are not afraid to show your emotions, you are not afraid to love, you are not afraid to suffer”, Raider smiled “it’s not courage, it’s just that I don’t have a choice, I can’t live without loving, I can’t live without my friends, without my family”, Mito looked away “me, I can, I can live alone, I’m used to it”, Raider shook his head “no, you can’t, you pretend, you pretend to be strong, you pretend not to need others, but deep down, you’re like us, you need love, you need friendship, you need bonds”, Mito said nothing, he looked at the sky, he thought of the Princess, he thought of his friends, he thought of everything he had lived through, he sighed “maybe”, Raider smiled “not maybe, it’s the truth”.
Baabun was on the other side of the courtyard, he was trying to heal a wounded dog, the dog had a broken paw, it was whining in pain, it was trembling, Baabun placed his hands on the wound, a white light appeared, but it was weak, it flickered, Baabun was sweating, he was forcing himself, he was trying to concentrate his energy, but nothing happened, the light went out, Baabun fell to his knees, exhausted, he hit the ground with his fists “why?
Why can’t I do it?”, the Princess approached him, she placed her hand on his shoulder “keep going, you’re almost there”, Baabun gritted his teeth “I can’t anymore, I don’t have the strength to continue”, the Princess smiled softly “it’s okay, you tried, that’s all that matters”, Baabun raised his head, his eyes were full of tears “I will train more, I will become better, I will succeed, I will heal this dog, I will heal all dogs, all people, all those who need help”, the Princess nodded “I know you will get there, you have a gift, Baabun, you have the gift of healing, you have the gift of helping others”, Baabun smiled through his tears “thank you, Your Highness”, the Princess said “I’m coming, I need to talk to Mito”, Baabun nodded “I’ll wait for you”.
The Princess headed to her throne, she sat down, she called a guard “go get Mito, tell him I want to see him”, the guard bowed “yes, Your Highness”, he left, he crossed the corridors, he found Mito in the courtyard, he said “Mito, the Princess is calling you”, Mito nodded “okay”, he stood up, he walked to the throne room, he entered, the Princess was sitting, she was holding a parchment in her hands, Mito bowed “good morning Your Highness”, the Princess smiled “good morning Mito”, she showed him the parchment “I received a message, a letter for help, the village of Richoa was attacked by one of Vic’s generals, they need us”, Mito took the parchment, he read it, his face remained impassive, he said “I will save them”, the Princess nodded “you can choose a team, take the guards you want”, Mito shook his head “I will go alone”.
The Princess looked at him, surprised “alone?
Why?”, Mito replied “alone, I will be stronger, more agile, more precise, I won’t have to worry about others, I can focus on my mission”, the Princess frowned “no, Mito, bonds create strength”, Mito looked at her “I know, they say unity is strength, but that’s false for me, I am stronger alone”, the Princess insisted “one day, you will understand”, Mito looked away “I hope so”, the Princess asked “to get to Richoa, how many days does it take?”, Mito replied “two days with the horse”, the Princess nodded “so, how much time for everything?”, Mito calculated “five days, two to go, one day to save, two to return”, the Princess said “alright, be careful”, Mito bowed “I will”, he left the room.
Mito returned to the courtyard, he gathered the guards, Raider, Rambo, Baabun, Piner, Thiky, they looked at him, Mito said “I’m leaving on a mission, I’m going to save the village of Richoa, I’m going to face one of Vic’s generals”, Raider asked “are we coming with you?”, Mito shook his head “no, I’m going alone”, Rambo was surprised “alone?
Why?”, Mito replied “because I am stronger alone”, Thiky nodded “I understand, but be careful”, Mito said “I will”, he turned to Raider “Raider, you are the second-in-command, take care of the team, I trust you”, Raider nodded “I won’t let you down”, Mito looked at them all, he bowed slightly “see you soon”, they replied “see you soon”, Mito mounted his horse, he looked one last time at the palace, he thought of the Princess, he shook his head, he left.
End of chapter 20
“Mito leaves alone to save Richoa, but what will he find when he arrives, the answer in the next chapter!”
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