003 - Departure

POV : Ryu

"Thanks for everything Yartz, I wouldn't have made it without your help" I said, standing next to my luggage on the steps of Yartz's house. Its been more than ten years since I started living here, but today is the last of those days. Indeed, I decided to try and live ;y life, without help, because I can't rely on Yartz for everything. He already did so much…

"Do not worry about it Ryu, I did not do it entirely by pure goodness of the heart… But even then, I wish you a good fortune in your quest."

"Thanks again, I hope I'll see you soon, Yartz!"

"No, we will not see each other for a long time. and you better prepare yourself and master your powers, because next time we will see each other…" At that moment he started to get back inside, not looking my way but I can guess that on his face there was not the trace of a smile, "...I will kill you."

The noise of the closing door resonated through what would seem the entire universe. I was like paralysed before the now closed door, and it was only the cry of a distant bird that got me out of my stupor, still trying to understand his last words.

My travel started without problems, if only the fact that I didn't know where to start. I decided to participate to small tournaments to see if my fighting lessons were effective, especially against styles I have no knowledge of. After familiarising with those, I started winning more and more fights, which brought me quite a bit of money. But more importantly it brought me fame, and I needed it to see if the Snake Tribe would try to move in order to kill me, but even then there was no new movement from them since the massacre.

Still with some doubts about the lack of reaction from the Snakes, I decided to continue this way of living. It also allows me to better myself in controlling my powers, especially the Smog, that I apparently obtained after being bitten by the Snake warrior.

After a few weeks and a few tournaments, there was still nothing from the Snakes. My scheme of gaining fame and making the Snakes come to me not working properly, I decided to go to a few tournaments, to make sure that my wallet was full.

Just after the Jodines tournament, after leaving the arena, I felt a look on the back of my neck, and it didn't leave me even inside the city. I decided to visit a dark side-alley to incite the gaze to reveal itself. I was barely out of sight from the main road when someone started to attack me, but knowing that it would come, I managed to dodge without difficulty.

Facing him , I finally saw his face. It was a weird mix between a snake and a man, his forked tongue hanging from his mouth. Despite his attack not landing, he still appeared confident, and it was probably coming from the fact that four others like him were coming to back him up from what seems like nowhere.

Now in a five against one situation, I decided to not take many risks and I went directly at my full power.

Weirdly enough, the fight ended as quickly as it started, but the sudden use of this much power made me lose my control, and I started to go berserk and destroy everything in the vicinity. As I was blacking out, I spotted someone in a strange armor facing me. My last memory was him dashing to my position, his fists brandished.

Still a bit out of it, I woke up in a small room only equipped with a bed and a small lamp. After many efforts, I managed to get out of bed and let my stomach control my destination. Before long I was in what appeared to be a small kitchen, with someone preparing a meal.

"Hey, so you're awake, Cinderella, I was beginning to think that I would have to kiss you for you to wake up!" He said without even looking at me.

"Wha.. How long was I out?"

"For five whole days! But don't worry, I took care of everything. By the way, my name is Vin, but I'm mostly known as the White Knight. And so, what is your name, 'cause even if you're powerful, I only heard your fighting name, and not your real one"

"Actually Ryu is my real name, and I used it for a precise goal" I responded trying to not see the implications behind his words. After thanking him for the last five days, I immediately asked the question that was burning my lips since I heard his nickname : "If you really are the White Knight, why didn't you killed me already ?" If my memory is correct, he became famous for always killing his opponents if those were on the wrong side of the law, and seeing me fighting against five opponents and destroying everything after can be misleading.

"I saw your fight against the Snakes, and it was really impressive! You need a lot of courage to go against them, especially while being overwhelmed in numbers… Even if you had to lose control in the process. But hey, it wasn't that unexpected either 'cause you used the Smog. What would have astonished me would be for you to NOT lose control."

Immediately going on the defensive, I started to ask all the questions I thought of, because it was supposed to be unknown for the public. He answered simply that his knowledge comes from the fact that his father died from it, and he is looking for its origin.

And that's how I confirmed that there is only one way to obtain this power. You need to be in direct contact with someone from the Snake Tribe, renewing my will to exterminate them. I then decided to invite Vin to join me in my quest, and thanks to our common goal I gained a companion