Chapter 7: The beginning

In the Akatsuki clan, members who have reached the age of 15 are considered adults. At the beginning of the year, instead of mock battles theory classes are held, while practical exams will be underway. Members who graduate this year will receive soul stones as a reward based on their ranking.

Aimi exhaustedly said, "Ayaka-sama, how many more years should I act like I don't like to meet you or Reyoma?" Letting out a sigh, she continued, "I am getting bored of this."

Reyoma, exhaustedly sitting on the ground, turned to Aimi. "Aimi, you should listen to Mother. She always gets us out of trouble. Remember how she convinced the clan leader to take you in." He then turned to his mother without any expression. On the other hand, Ayaka met Reyoma's eyes and smiled politely. "You shouldn't doubt her."

"I am not doubting her, okay. Well, whatever, I will be leaving first then. Join the class on time, or you will be punished by Ishima Sensei."

"I know, I know," Reyoma replied, standing up lazily.

"Bye-bye, Ayaka-sama," Aimi said as she prepared to leave.

"Farewell, Aimi," Ayaka replied with maternal warmth.

"Mother, is your position in the clan really that bad that you can't even take Aimi into your faction?" Reyoma questioned.

"You won't understand, Reyoma. Even if I tell you, only if you are part of this clan hierarchy will you understand what my intentions are," she said solemnly. After speaking, her polite smile returned to her lips.

Reyoma mulled over his mother's words, a sense of frustration gnawing at him. He longed to understand the intricacies of the clan hierarchy, to grasp the true extent of his mother's position within it. But for now, he knew he had to trust her judgment, even if it meant remaining in the dark.

Ayaka put her hand on Reyoma and said, "But don't worry, you will know soon enough. After all, you have become an adult now. I will bring you to the clan meeting this week as my heir, okay?"

"Really? Won't they dislike me being there?" Reyoma said with a mix of confusion and excitement. "Even if they do, and they surely will, but they won't be able to do anything because I am your backer," Ayaka replied reassuringly.

"More importantly, our great clan leader Akihiko is not a superstitious person, so it won't be a problem," Ayaka added with confidence.

With a nod of resignation, Reyoma rose to his feet, his muscles protesting the exertion of their earlier duel. "I'll join the class now, Mother," he said, his tone respectful.

Ayaka nodded in acknowledgment, her gaze lingering on Reyoma for a moment longer before turning towards the exit. "Go on then," she replied softly. "And remember, patience is a virtue."

Reyoma offered a brief nod before turning to leave, his mind still swirling with questions and uncertainties. As he made his way towards the door, he couldn't shake the feeling that there was much more to his mother's story than met the eye.

Meanwhile, Aimi slipped out through the back door, her footsteps light as she made her way through the winding corridors of the clan estate.

Reyoma's head still having continuous headaches. "Ahh..."

Unable to handle the headaches, Reyoma blackouts and falls unconscious. But the moment he closes his eyes, his heart starts to ache. one, two, three, four... Just after four seconds, Reyoma wakes up.

As Reyoma's eyes fluttered open, he found himself enveloped in his mother's embrace, his head resting gently against her chest. He could feel her steady heartbeat beneath his ear, a comforting rhythm that soothed the turmoil within him.

Ayaka's expression was one of concern as she gazed down at her son, her eyes searching his face for any sign of distress. "Reyoma, are you alright?" she asked, her voice soft with worry.

Reyoma nodded weakly, his hand still clutching at his chest where the pain had throbbed moments ago. "I... I think so," he murmured, his voice hoarse with exhaustion. "But my head... it's been hurting all day."

Ayaka's brow furrowed with concern as she gently brushed the hair from Reyoma's forehead, her touch comforting and reassuring. "Why didn't you say anything earlier?" she asked, her voice tinged with maternal concern.

Reyoma's gaze dropped, a sense of guilt washing over him. "I didn't want to worry you," he admitted softly. "And I thought it would pass, but... it only seemed to get worse."

Ayaka's expression softened, her fingers tracing a soothing pattern on Reyoma's back. "You should have told me sooner," she chided gently. "I'm here to help you, Reyoma, no matter what."

Reyoma nodded, his eyes filled with gratitude for his mother's unwavering support. "I'm sorry, Mother," he whispered, his voice barely above a whisper. "I'll try to be more honest with you from now on."

Ayaka smiled warmly, her love for her son shining in her eyes. "That's all I ask," she replied softly."Now tell me, Reyoma, when you closed your eyes, were you having a heartache?"

"Yes, Mother, but how do you know that? I didn't tell you about it yet," confused Reyoma asked his mother.

For the first time, a hint of malevolence was seen in Ayaka's benevolent eyes as her black lips curled up into a maddening smile. "It's beginning."

Shocked, Reyoma stared at his mother with wide-open eyes.

Reyoma's head throbbed painfully, and he felt a cold shiver run down his spine. Ayaka's sudden change in demeanor unsettled him, sending a chill through his very core. Yet, despite the malevolent aura emanating from her, Reyoma couldn't shake the feeling of trust and affection he held for his mother.

With a trembling voice, Reyoma dared to question, "Mother, do you mean what I think?"

Ayaka's smile widened, her eyes gleaming with an otherworldly intensity. "Indeed," she whispered cryptically, her voice echoing with a strange resonance that sent shivers down Reyoma's spine.

Before Reyoma could voice his concerns, Ayaka's expression softened, her gaze once again filled with maternal warmth. "Don't worry, Reyoma," she reassured him, her voice gentle yet firm. "Everything will become clear in time. But you should leave now, or you will be late." Ayaka got up and went to her room. Reyoma stood up, feeling a mix of confusion, excitement, and fear.

Ayaka returned, holding a transparent stone resembling an egg with a texture like stone in her hand. "Keep this close to you. It will lessen your headache. You've have a long day ahead of you."

"Also, Reyoma, take a leave from your physical classes tomorrow," Ayaka insisted.

"But, but mother, I think I will be fine until tomorrow," Reyoma interjected.

"It's not about your health. You'll be fine if you keep that soul piece I gave you. It's about your preparation for your life's biggest day. Let's go shopping tomorrow," Ayaka urged.

Reyoma took the stone in his hand, stared at it for a moment, nodded to his mother, then kept it in his pocket. He gathered his belongings and left for his first theory class.

Feeling the stone in his pocket, Reyoma couldn't shake off the sense of unease that lingered within him. Yet, he trusted his mother's judgment and decided to carry the stone with him as she had instructed.

Heading to the clan hall, Reyoma walks along the straight road. All of the clan members' houses are located in the management district, while the clan has three districts. The first one is the management district where all clan members and elders' houses are situated. The second one is the military district, where clan members are strictly forbidden to go without military officials or clan elders' permission. Lastly, there is the merchant district where the bazaar is located and provisions are sold.

While walking, Reyoma witnesses a squad of soldiers sitting on Toju Ekitai, taking an imprisoned man to the clan leader. The imprisoned man looks like an old beggar with a skinny build, almost his ribs visible. He wears a tattered, simple kimono, and his upper-middle hair is gone because of hair loss. His eyes are completely white, reflecting everything within them. On his white heirs the tips of every strand of hair that he had were painted color of crimson red.

Toju Ekitai a beast used as a mount in Thalasor are majestic creatures, resembling a blend of equine features. They stand tall on three sturdy pairs of limbs. Each limb ends in a set of powerful, hoofs, allowing them to traverse various terrains with ease, with a horse like build.

The male Toju Ekitai sport a sleek, muscular body, adorned with a pair of majestic horns that protrude from their heads, spiraling upwards towards the sky. Additionally, they possess large, sharp fangs, perfect for defending against predators and asserting dominance.

Female Toju Ekitai, on the other hand, possess an additional pair of limbs located on their ventral side. These limbs, while not used for locomotion, serve a vital purpose in the nurturing of their offspring. They are equipped with specialized pouches designed to carry and protect their infants, keeping them safe from harm while the mother roams. It's on these additional limbs that the female's breasts are located, providing nourishment to their young.

Normally, seeing a Toju Ekitai in the management district is a rare sight, but today all the soldiers were mounting, a mix of both genders, while dragging the prisoner with them to the clan leader's house, which is at the top of the two-story clan hall where an open dojo is located.

"Hmm... a rare sight," Reyoma thought while following them to the clan hall where theory classes are held as well. Wherever they walked, people stopped and bowed to them, including Reyoma. There weren't many people on the street at this time of day; most had already gone to their work.

As Reyoma walked along the straight road towards the clan hall, his eyes were drawn to the unusual sight of the squad of soldiers mounted on Toju Ekitai. The majestic creatures moved with a grace that belied their immense size, their powerful limbs carrying them effortlessly over the ground. Reyoma couldn't help but marvel at their beauty and strength as they passed by, As he walked a couple of meters behind them.

'Hmm... Toju Ekitai,' Reyoma muttered to himself, his curiosity piqued by the sight. 'I've heard stories about them, but I've never seen one up close before. They're truly magnificent creatures.'

As he followed behind the soldiers, Reyoma took the opportunity to study the Toju Ekitai more closely, noting the sleek, muscular bodies and the impressive horns that adorned their heads. He marveled at the way they moved, each step a testament to their power and agility.

'And those additional limbs on the females,' Reyoma mused, his eyes lingering on the creatures' ventral side. 'They must be for carrying their young. It's fascinating how nature has equipped them to nurture their offspring.'

As they approached the clan hall, Reyoma's attention was drawn to the prisoner being dragged along behind the soldiers. The man looked frail and emaciated, his tattered clothing and white eyes marking him as an outcast. Reyoma couldn't help but feel a pang of sympathy for the man, wondering what had led to his imprisonment.

'Poor soul,' Reyoma thought, his heart heavy with compassion. 'What could he have done to deserve such treatment? And why are they taking him to the clan hall?'

With these questions swirling in his mind, Reyoma quickened his pace, eager to reach the clan hall and find out more about the situation.