In the ancient world of Tenkō, a land divided by powerful clans and guarded secrets, the Kiryuu Clan stood out like a lighthouse in the storm. Known as the "Compassionate Blade," the Kiryuu Clan was revered not only for their unmatched fighting prowess but for their unwavering code of honor. Unlike other clans who closed their borders and turned away outsiders, the Kiryuu welcomed those in need. Strangers, exiles, even those from fallen clans—if they sought sanctuary, the Kiryuu gates would open.
The clan resided in the lush valley of Mizukane, surrounded by mountains, waterfalls, and ancient sakura trees that bloomed even in the harshest winters. Their manor was a blend of strength and elegance, built from obsidian stone and ivory wood, where warriors trained beside scholars, and kindness was considered as noble as swordsmanship.
At the heart of this clan was Sayaka Kiryuu—the eldest daughter of the clan leader, and a name whispered in awe across the region. Tall, graceful, and deadly, Sayaka was a warrior trained in every blade known to Tenkō. Her long black hair often tied in a crimson ribbon, and her eyes—cold as a frozen lake—saw through lies with ease. She carried herself with silent strength and a fierce sense of justice.
Sayaka believed that strength was not for domination, but for protection. Many called her heart too soft for a warrior, yet those who faced her in combat knew otherwise. Her reputation was sealed during the Battle of the Western Marsh, where she single-handedly defended an entire village from raiders, earning the title: "The Crimson Bloom of Kiryuu."
Her days were spent training the younger fighters, managing disputes in the clan, and patrolling their lands. She moved like poetry in motion—every step precise, every strike deliberate. But beneath her stoic mask lay a heart that longed for something beyond duty... though she never said it aloud.
And it was on one of these patrols—when she least expected it—that fate began to shift.
She would meet a stranger. A girl with no name. A girl who claimed to have no memory.
A girl who would change everything.
_ _ _
The early spring mist clung to the mountains, curling like whispers around the rooftops of the Kiryuu stronghold. At the center of the inner courtyard, Sayaka stood with her arms folded behind her back, her long midnight hair tied tightly at the base of her neck. Her violet armor gleamed beneath the weak sunlight, bearing the golden crest of her clan — a lotus rising from thorns.
Behind her, elders and strategists murmured in hushed voices, parchment maps spread across a wooden table, marked with ink-stained warnings.
"It's the Kingdom of Tsukihana," said Lord Kaito, the advisor who had served her father for decades. "They've sent a raven. Their borders are under siege. Their warriors have fallen. They've asked for the protection of the Kiryuu Clan."
Sayaka didn't answer right away. Her sharp eyes scanned the map — the kingdom lay east, past the Silver Woods. The enemy forces were pressing in faster than expected.
"We've never had direct ties with Tsukihana," she finally said, voice calm. "Why now?"
"Because," Kaito said, "they know no one else will help them. The northern clans have closed their gates. The others fear strangers. But the Kiryuu... we've never abandoned those in need."
Sayaka looked away, her jaw tight. Her people were trained to protect, not conquer. That was their honor, their burden.
"Prepare the cavalry," she ordered quietly. "I'll go ahead and scout the borders myself. I want to see what kind of war we're walking into."
The hall went silent.
"But Lady Sayaka—" one of the tacticians began.
She cut him off with a look. "The Kiryuu name isn't built on hesitation. If this kingdom seeks refuge under our banner, then I will see them with my own eyes."
And so, by nightfall, Sayaka stood at the border of Tsukihana — armor on, blade at her hip, alone but unshaken.
This was the beginning of a war.
_ _ _
The war drums echoed through the valley, each beat heavy with the weight of duty. The Kingdom of Tsukihana had called for help—and the Kiryuu Clan had answered.
Sayaka stood before the gathered troops, her long dark hair pulled into a high braid, her silver-blue armor glinting under the rising sun. Her presence alone silenced the whispers. She wasn't just a warrior. She was the heir to the Kiryuu name—noble, feared, and admired. Behind her, a sea of disciplined soldiers waited. At her side, her younger brother prepared the strategic scrolls for the allied command.
She glanced at the Tsukihana emissary. "Where's the breach most vulnerable?" Her voice was calm, but beneath it lay the simmer of a storm.
"They've broken the east gate. The enemy pushes through relentlessly," the man stammered, his eyes wide with both relief and awe. "Please… protect our people."
Sayaka simply nodded.
When she stepped onto the battlefield, she moved like wind through tall grass—unpredictable, graceful, deadly.
Blades clashed and arrows sang through the air. Sayaka danced between them all. Her sword found its mark with chilling precision, and every movement she made was poetry written in blood.
From far across the field, hidden among the chaos, an unknown figure watched.
The masked figure moved like a whisper through the chaos—silent, swift, and deliberate. Her face was hidden beneath porcelain white, emotionless and unreadable. Slender fingers tightened around the hilt of her sword, a motion laced with restrained fury.
No one knew who she was. Only that she fought on the battlefield where no noble daughter should be.
In the Kingdom of Tsukihana, women were meant to be beautiful, delicate ornaments locked behind silk and duty—not warriors bathed in sweat and blood.
But this girl?
She defied every law written for her kind.
She is Reina
She was fire beneath snowfall.
A blade behind a smile.
A secret that refused to stay buried.
She had no reason to linger... except for the woman she couldn't stop watching.
Sayaka's blade swept across an enemy's chest, her eyes calm even as bodies fell around her. Reina's breath caught. The warrior wasn't just strong—she was magnetic.
So magnetic that Reina forgot where she was.
An enemy soldier charged her from behind, sword raised.
She didn't see him.
But Sayaka did.
With a single leap, Sayaka pushed through two others and reached her, grabbing her arm and pulling her in close—chest to chest, breath to breath. Her arm wrapped around the masked girl like a protective shield, and Reina could feel it—her strength, her warmth, the heartbeat behind that shining armor.
"Are you out of your mind?" Sayaka muttered under her breath, not knowing who she was saving.
Before Reina could speak, Sayaka's blade swung upward, blocking the incoming attack. Steel sparked against steel.
The enemy fell.
But Sayaka didn't let go.
For a moment, the battlefield faded away.
And far, far away, a lone figure watched from the hillside. Dressed in black, sword slick with blood, they stood silently. The wind lifted their cloak just slightly—but their face remained hidden in the shadows.
The unknown figure narrowed their eyes.
The war was nearly over. But something had begun.
_ _ _
(Reina)
The golden light of late afternoon streamed through the tall windows of the royal bathing chamber. Steam curled around Reina's bare shoulders as she sat motionless in the warm water, arms resting on the edge of the tub, her eyes distant.
Handmaidens whispered and giggled as they helped her into layers of fine silk and perfume. A lavender robe embroidered with silver butterflies clung to her waist, tied gently with a sash of the same shade.
"You're lucky," one maid said with a dreamy sigh. "Lord Hayate is the most desired bachelor in the Western Kingdom."
"He's strong and kind too," another added. "I heard he personally donated gold to the orphans of Goyo province."
Reina smiled faintly.
Yes, Lord Hayate. The son of a powerful clan, admired across the realm. Noble. Dutiful. Handsome.
Perfect on paper.
And yet, something inside her felt hollow. As if every layer of perfume only hid something rotting beneath.
The grand hall of the Hayate clan's estate shimmered with candlelight. Reina walked with practiced grace, her heart pounding quietly. Her parents beamed at her side, exchanging proud glances with Lord Hayate's family.
When they were finally left alone in the ceremonial guest chamber — an opulent room with paper lanterns casting golden patterns on the floor — Reina and Hayate faced each other.
He smiled gently.
"You look beautiful."
"Thank you, my lord."
"Just Hayate," he said, stepping closer. "We'll be husband and wife soon."
Reina nodded, her fingers tightening around her sleeves.
Hayate reached for her hand, warm and respectful. "Have you ever been in love?"
She hesitated. "I... I don't know."
His thumb traced circles on her skin. "Neither have I. But maybe tonight we start something new."
He leaned in, brushing his lips against hers — soft, practiced, polite. But Reina felt nothing.
No spark.
No heat.
No fire.
Not like that day on the battlefield.
Not like the moment when a strong arm wrapped around her waist, pulling her into a warm chest, a heartbeat echoing against her skin. Not like the fierce eyes of the warrior who had saved her — Sayaka.
Hayate's hand slid to her waist, and suddenly Reina's breath caught.
Her mind betrayed her, flashing with memories of a different embrace. Of the pressure of steel, the scent of dust and wind and blood. Of being cradled like something precious. Of Sayaka's quiet, powerful presence.
She froze.
"I... I'm sorry," Reina said quickly, pulling back.
Hayate blinked. "Did I hurt you?"
"No. I just... I need a moment."
Reina stepped away, heart racing.
She didn't understand.
Why was it Sayaka's face she saw in her mind? Why did the memory of that brief, accidental touch feel more intimate than anything else in her life?
_ _ _
Hayate gently took a step back, hands raised in surrender. "It's alright," he said, voice calm. "You don't have to explain."
But Reina couldn't stop. Her pulse was racing, her lips trembling with words she hadn't rehearsed. "I don't know what's wrong with me. You're kind. You're everything someone would hope for."
She clenched her fists in her lap.
"But when you touched me… I didn't feel myself. I felt like I was pretending to be someone else. Someone who could belong to this life."
Hayate nodded slowly. "You don't have to decide tonight."
But Reina wasn't listening anymore.
That night, when everyone slept, she stood by the window of the guest chamber. The wind stirred the silk curtains and carried the scent of wildflowers from the hills.
Somewhere out there, Sayaka was sharpening her blade, maybe training, maybe dreaming of the next war she'd conquer.
Reina whispered to the wind, "Why do you make me feel real?"
Reina didn't tell anyone. She packed a few belongings, stole a horse under moonlight, and disappeared into the forest.
----
(To be continued)