The morning arrived in hushed silence, the air crisp with the scent of damp earth and the distant whisper of birds greeting the rising sun. Kofi stirred before the others, his body restless, his mind even more so.

  He rose quietly, stepping past the sleeping forms of his companions, and made his way toward a nearby stream. There, nestled against the moss-covered rocks, was a spring, its clear water flowing from a crack in the stone.

  Kofi knelt beside it, cupping his hands to drink, the cool liquid refreshing against his parched throat. As he looked up, he saw an eagle circling high above, its wings outstretched against the morning sky.

  Then—stillness.

  The words of Toguri of the Iron Fang Clan echoed in his mind:

  "A king? That bastard? He carries no name, no bloodline worth mentioning."

  A weight settled in his chest. He hadn't chosen to be born into this world, into a fate others saw as unworthy. Yet here he was, caught between past and future, between survival and purpose.

  A hand fell gently on his shoulder.

  Kofi tensed but then turned to see Shigen standing behind him.

  "God called Abraham out of the land of the Chaldeans to make him the father of many nations," Shigen said, his voice calm and firm. "What if you were born into the world for much more than being a mere aide?"

  Kofi had no words.

  Shigen chuckled. "Come on, we have to grow."

  For the first time in a long time, Kofi smiled.

  As the group resumed their journey, Kofi walked with a newfound lightness in his step. The tension that once clung to him had loosened, though he carried it carefully, as if testing its weight.

  Lima, always the first to notice such things, stumbled in surprise. "Wait, is that—? Kofi, are you actually smiling?"

  Kofi smirked.

  Sawai waved a hand dismissively. "Lima, let the man smile in peace."

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  Lima huffed. "I just think it's suspicious. Maybe he hit his head on a rock?"

  Kofi shook his head. "Or maybe I just decided to stop carrying the world on my shoulders."

  Sawai scoffed. "I prefer my theory."

  The group shared a laugh, but Tetsujo, who had been riding ahead, suddenly slowed his horse and raised a hand. "We have arrived."

  Before them, nestled in the valley, was a village south of Amonkai. The sun bathed its rooftops in warm gold, and smoke curled from chimneys where morning meals were being prepared.

  As they entered the village, the people welcomed them warmly.

  Children ran alongside their horses, laughing and waving, while the elders bowed respectfully to Shigen. Kofi, expecting the same wary gazes he had often received in other places, was surprised to see smiling faces turned toward him.

  The people here—their skin was the same pigmentation as the raiders.

  But they were… kind.

  At evening, the group sat together in the eating hall of the house given to Shigen. The scent of roasted meat and spiced rice filled the air, but a silence had settled over the table.

  Sawai, never one for long silences, finally snapped.

  "Alright, Lima, if you say one more thing about—"

  Before he could finish, the door burst open.

  A young man, around their age, rushed inside, his breath quick with excitement. He bowed deeply before Shigen.

  "Shigen-dono! We didn’t know you were still alive. We are sorry… We should have kept searching!"

  Shigen's eyes softened as he stood. Without hesitation, he pulled the young man into a firm embrace.

  "It is good to see you again, Imei."

  Shigen turned to the others, placing a hand on Imei’s shoulder.

  "Everyone, this is Imei, my eldest grandson."

  A sharp silence fell over the room.

  Sawai, who had been gripping Lima’s collar mid-argument, suddenly let go. "Wait… old man—you mean to tell me you're THAT old?"

  Shigen smirked. "Experience outweighs youth, Sawai."

  Sawai crossed his arms. "Next thing you’ll tell us is that you fought in the first war of the Warring States."

  Shigen only chuckled.

  Meanwhile, Imei approached Kofi and extended his hand. "Glad to meet you. Uh… your name?"

  Kofi took his hand in a firm shake. "Kofi. And you?"

  "Imei," the young man repeated with a smile. "Shigen speaks highly of you."

  Tetsujo suddenly entered the room, his sharp eyes scanning over Imei.

  "Young Lord," Tetsujo greeted with a respectful nod.

  Imei returned the gesture. "Tetsujo, it’s been a long time."

  Tetsujo smiled slightly. "Your scouting maps were useful in choosing our route to Shuri. Without them, we might have walked into a trap."

  Imei nodded. "I’m glad they helped."

  Tetsujo’s face grew serious. "By tomorrow morning, we will have full free access to the city."

  He placed a set of documents on the table, stamped with the seal of Shuri's governing council.

  Lima exhaled, sinking into his seat. "Finally," he muttered, rubbing his temples. "We made it."

  The weight of their journey settled upon them. The road ahead was still uncertain, but for now, they had reached the gates of destiny.

  [End of Chapter 7]