The morning sun bathed the encampment in golden light as the group prepared to depart. Horses were saddled, supplies secured, and weapons checked one last time. The scent of dew lingered in the air, mixed with the faint aroma of smoked meat from the previous night’s meal.

  As Shigen adjusted the straps on his pack, he noticed a group of children staring at him from a distance, their eyes filled with curiosity. They whispered among themselves, occasionally glancing at him before giggling.

  With a smirk, Shigen turned to them and contorted his face into the most ridiculous expression he could muster—his tongue sticking out, eyes crossed, and cheeks puffed out like a startled fish.

  The children erupted into laughter.

  “Look at him!” one of them squealed. “He’s like a frog trying to swallow a bee!”

  Shigen chuckled, but his amusement was cut short when he saw Kofi walking past him. Unlike the children, Kofi did not laugh—his gaze was focused straight ahead, unreadable and distant.

  Shigen straightened and called out, “Boy, you look like a king.”

  The words carried through the camp, drawing the attention of the warriors and clan leaders. Some scoffed, others smirked.

  One of them, Toguri of the Iron Fang Clan, let out a sharp chuckle. “A king? That bastard? He carries no name, no bloodline worth mentioning.”

  Kofi did not react. He kept walking.

  Shigen watched him go, his expression unreadable.

  As they journeyed toward Shuri, the road was long and winding, passing through fields of tall grass and forests dense with ancient trees. The morning heat began to rise, causing sweat to gather at their brows.

  Sawai, riding beside Kofi, nudged him with his elbow.

  “You still sore about the ‘bastard’ comment?” he teased.

  Kofi shot him a glance. “Not worth my time.”

  Sawai grinned. “So it did bother you.”

  Before Kofi could respond, Lima cut in, riding up beside them. “Sawai, enough. Let the man breathe.”

  Sawai sighed. “Fine, fine. I just enjoy seeing his serious face twitch a little.”

  Shigen, who had been listening, finally spoke up. “Are you three brothers?”

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  Kofi, Lima, and Sawai exchanged looks before Lima answered, “No, but we are close.”

  Sawai snorted. “Too close, if you ask me.”

  Shigen smirked. “The way you bicker, I would’ve thought you came from the same mother.”

  Lima stretched his arms. “It’s more of a brotherhood by survival than by blood.”

  Shigen nodded solemnly. “That kind of bond is stronger than any noble lineage.”

  As they rode on, Shigen’s expression darkened. He hesitated for a moment before speaking again.

  “I am sorry about what happened to your settlement.” His voice was unusually soft, lacking its usual sharpness. “But if we do not try to reason with the King of Tanna, there will be a massacre.”

  The group fell silent. The distant call of a bird echoed through the trees.

  Shigen exhaled. “Especially now that we are on the brink…” His voice trailed off, his expression unreadable.

  Kofi, who had remained quiet, finally spoke. “It is a small thing to try and talk. But if this kingdom is as strong as they claim, then we must do everything in our power to reason with them.”

  Sawai plucked a fruit from a nearby tree as they rode past—a torai fruit, its greenish skin rough to the touch. He took a bite, the juices dripping down his chin.

  “Enough talk of war,” he muttered. “I’m starving.”

  Shigen glanced at the setting sun. “We are nearly halfway to Shuri. We will make camp here for the night.”

  The night was alive with the crackling of flames, the distant howls of wolves, and the hum of insects in the surrounding forest. The warriors sat around the fire, their faces flickering in the glow.

  Tetsujo, Shigen’s aide, returned to camp dragging a wild boar behind him, its massive body slumped across his shoulders.

  Sawai’s jaw dropped. “By the gods, are you a demon?”

  Tetsujo smirked. “It was slower than I expected.”

  The group erupted into laughter as the boar was quickly prepared and roasted over the fire. The scent of sizzling meat filled the air, causing stomachs to grumble.

  As they ate, Kofi wiped his hands and turned to Shigen. “Tell me, what really happened on Lika Island?”

  The group quieted, eyes turning toward Shigen.

  The older man swallowed his bite of meat and sighed. “It happened in the year 241 BC, during the Battle of Kainaga.”

  “The Lika-Yao Defensive Pact had been formed to resist the growing ambitions of Tanna. Yao was a strong state, but Lika was its weaker ally. When war broke out, Tanna saw Lika as the weakest link and struck first.”

  Lima narrowed his eyes. “Are you saying Tanna attacked without cause?”

  Shigen gave a bitter smile. “Indeed. Much like the council rolled that The Butcher of Lika Island should raid your settlement, the same council allowed the invasion of Lika in a single vote. No second round.”

  Sawai leaned forward. “And then what happened?”

  Shigen’s gaze darkened. “The Tanna army crushed Lika’s defenses. Yao’s reinforcements arrived too late. By the time the battle ended, Lika’s forces had surrendered.”

  Lima hesitated. “But… if they surrendered…”

  Shigen’s expression became grim. “They were executed. Almost every single one. The Tanna generals refused to take prisoners. It was a massacre. Soldiers, civilians—it did not matter. They wiped Lika from existence.”

  The fire crackled. No one spoke.

  Kofi clenched his fists. “That is unacceptable.”

  Shigen nodded. “And that is why Shuri is a dangerous place. It was not always like this. But now… power is wielded like a blade, and men are mere pawns on a board.”

  He exhaled and set down his plate. “For now, we rest. Tomorrow, we continue our journey.”

  The flames flickered.

  The road to Shuri awaited.

  [End of Chapter 6]