4 Chapter 4 : Opportunity

'' We've been walking for sometime , is there any stories you have to share ? ''

The young prince asked the female with hopes that she had anything to share. They were still a ways off from the village they were heading to and he wanted something to think about while they were walking.

'' Um, one thing I was told about by my parents was that we should always be wary of people wearing magatama earrings. They told me that nothing good would ever come out of running into them.''

Sakura told him to be cautious but Seiya was unsure how the odds were that they'd run into someone like that. He was not sure how often these warnings would ever apply to him and so he had not paid it much mind. He looked at Sakura , hoping for another tale and so she'd dig into her own mind with hopes that she did indeed have something to share but the signs of five thugs in the distance hassling an old man had caught their attention.

'' We need to help them! ''

Sakura said to Seiya before running, her speed surprising the young prince as she revealed bestial features as she released a display of outgrown vines from her body that entangled the thugs tightly so they could not harm anyone else.

'' What the heck was that? ''

Seiya asked the female, she was nimble and she wielded nature. He knew his own speed could not keep up with the girl. She let go of the vines that were protruding from her chest while ensuring the vines did not let go of the thugs who were held together by her powers.

'' I can control plants. Couldn't you see from what just happened ? ''

'' No , yeah I saw that but I didn't realize you were a youkai too. ''

'' I indeed am, you are looking at a Jami. ''

Seiya had looked at her before scratching his head, he couldn't remember what he read about Jami in the text back at the palace but all that he could recall was that they were mountain spirits. He had almost forgotten that there was an old man who needed help.

'' Are you okay Mister? ''

The young prince asked the elderly man as he looked up and down to check for injuries. What the elderly male had said next had struck Seiya where it hurt most.

'' You let a girl do a man's job, you should've done better. ''

The male froze in place as the Elderly man said his piece which had left Sakura in a certain mood as well but she just shook it off and smiled while pushing Seiya along the road with her. They needed to keep moving, those thugs were clearly human as they were struggling and had no way of getting out of those vines as is.

'' You seem like you had those powers for sometime... You were quite confident. ''

The boy spoke as they continued down their road together. He could see it in the way she moved and acted when those thugs had done what they did earlier, she was not one to stop and think. She was a person of action and Seiya envied how quickly she responded to them. He was still too wet behind the ears to do anything on the scale that she did.

'' I've only just gained my powers of ice but I don't think I'm able to properly use it. ''

Seiya spoke with caution about his own abilities. He wanted to be capable, he wanted to be reliable and he wanted to be able to be someone worthy of his name. Here he was, next to a person like her.

'' You just need to keep applying yourself with your power, I just watched my parents and older brother and copied their moves by imitation. Can't you do the same with your family? ''

She asked Seiya if he could basically do the same but the male shook his head. He didn't share that with Sakura.

'' I don't remember anything about my parents and my Sister wields the power of the Stars. I'm not on her level so I have to figure something else out. ''

He knew he needed guidance, he knew that he needed a proper teacher. He held out his hand while walking with Sakura , using this moment to create a shard of ice with his power. The shard of ice was small but it glowed brilliantly.

'' At least its pretty. ''

Sakura commented on the beauty of the shard as it begun to fade away, she had gently patted the back of the young prince as the signs of a village ahead was noticeable by the houses in the distance. They were finally there.

'' Finally! ''

The two said in unison as they ran, they reached civilization at long last! The village was not too big nor too small, it seemed like there was people coming and going but it was indeed a lively community. Seiya was unsure of what to do by this point as he looked at Sakura for help. The female helped him by pushing him along to the town board that had various posters up and information that was about the village.

'' This is the village known as Oshino Hakkai, there is a Community Tournament 7 days from today. ''

The female read from the board which didn't spark any excitement from the boy. He knew he wasn't exactly ready to do any fighting as he didn't have much combat experience and he'd be whipped to hell and back as is and so he sighed.

'' Fat chance this is any relevant information to me but I suppose I can sign up. ''

'' That's the spirit! ''

Sakura said as she looked around the village, it seemed like this was a human village so surely this tournament would be an easy one.....Right?

'' We'll have to go find someone to help us. ''

The female said as she began to wander from the community board. Seiya continued reading the board to spot another message about being careful at night as there was someone being referred to as '' The Mad Bomber '' .

'' Meh, what're the odds that I'll run into this person. ''

The male said as he left to go with Sakura, she was looking around town for a Sensei for the two. Nearby, a tall man with a bamboo hat as well as black and red robes was eating a bowl of noodles with bandaged hands and dangling from his ears were dark magatamas.

'' Bright white hair. Did they miss one of them ? I'll have to clean up their mistake. ''