4 A lucky encounter

As Katsu drifted off into a deep slumber, his subconscious was suddenly invaded by a vivid and terrifying nightmare that would haunt him forever. In the dream, he found himself in a desolate, blood-soaked landscape, surrounded by the broken, lifeless bodies of his parents.

His mother and father, who had always been his pillars of support, were now unrecognizable, their faces twisted into grotesque masks of pain and fear. Blood dripped from their wounds, staining their clothes and pooling on the ground around them.

"Why didn't you save me?" his mother screamed at him with venom in her voice, her eyes blazing with fury.

"You're too weak to save us. You could have done something, but you didn't," his father added, his tone equally accusing.

As the nightmare unfolded, Katsu was overwhelmed with a sense of helplessness and despair. He tried to reach out to his parents, to comfort them, but no matter how hard he tried, his hands passed right through their ghostly forms.

As the scene around him dissolved into a torrent of blood and chaos, Katsu begged for the nightmare to end, crying out, "No! No! Please! Leave me alone!"

But the nightmare persisted, with his mother continuing to berate him, saying, "You're useless! From the moment I gave birth to you!" and his father adding, "I am deeply disappointed in you."

The pain of the dream left Katsu scarred, and it felt as though it would never end. Just when he thought he would be trapped in the nightmare forever, Katsu heard a faint voice calling to him, growing louder and louder until he finally woke up.

As his vision cleared, he saw the silhouette of a man standing over him, concern etched on his face.

"Hey, kid, are you alright?" the stranger asked, shaking him gently.

Disoriented and confused, Katsu tried to make sense of what had happened.

"What? What happened? Where am I?" he asked frantically, looking around.

The stranger sat down next to him and told him to take a deep breath and explain what had happened. Katsu recounted the brutal attack on his family and how he had ended up in a barrel in the river.

The stranger seemed deep in thought at Katsu's story, muttering, "Woah! You were attacked! The rumors were true. Hmm."

Katsu was curious about the man's reaction, but before he could ask, the stranger dismissed the thought and said, "Ah, you know what? Tell me about this later, let's get you fixed first."

He stood up and offered Katsu his hand, saying, "Follow me, kid."

As Katsu followed the stranger out of the docks, he was struck by the breathtaking beauty of the city around him. The streets were lined with colorful shops and bustling crowds, and the air was filled with the scent of spices and flowers.

As they walked, Katsu couldn't help but feel a sense of hope rising within him. The stranger had saved him from his nightmare, and now he was leading him to safety. Maybe, just maybe, things would be alright after all.

Large, ornate Victorian houses and towering buildings dotted the skyline, their intricate architecture a testament to the city's opulence. Marble stairs and fountains adorned the streets, exuding an air of nobility and grandeur.

Flags of the empire fluttered from every house, adding a patriotic touch to the already heavenly facade of the city. Despite the confusion and fear gnawing at him, Katsu couldn't help but be awed by his surroundings. He gazed up at the towering buildings, wondering if he was dreaming, if what had happened was real, or where he was. Nevertheless, he felt grateful to the kind man who had saved him from certain doom.

"Excuse me, where am I?" Katsu asked the stranger.

The man smiled warmly. "Ah, you're in the capital of the largest kingdom of dogs in the world, the city of Landon!"

Katsu's eyes widened. "So this is the big city?" He had only heard stories about it from Mr. Hiroto, never daring to imagine that he would one day set foot in such a place. He was amazed by the sight before him.

"This stranger is so kind, but I can't just trust him so easily," Katsu thought to himself. "Mom always told me not to trust anyone I'd never seen before."

The stranger turned to Katsu and seemed to remember something. "Oh, I forgot to introduce myself!" he said, clearing his throat. "My name is Vin Fredrickson. It's a pleasure to meet you."

Katsu introduced himself in turn. "My name is Katsuro Arius Everest. Nice to meet you," he said, shaking Vin's hand.

"Katsuro? That's an unusual name. Are your parents from here?" Vin asked.

Katsu shook his head. "No, they said that their ancestors were from a different place."

"I see. Well, let's continue," Vin said, leading Katsu to a small apartment complex. Although Katsu was starting to doubt Vin, he had no choice but to follow him.

"Up here," Vin said, motioning towards the stairs. They climbed up to Vin's room.

End of Chapter 4