(One Month Passes, September 15th, 1820)


    The wind blows over the corpse of Kashikoi. The area is quiet, peaceful, and even calming all around, as no one can be seen in the area.


    In the tranquil silence surrounding Kashikoi''s lifeless form, faint footsteps draw closer. With a glass of wine in hand, a man kneels, his face a curious blend of sorrow and unsettling intrigue.


    "Kashikoi, I never thought anyone of your strength and high intelligence would be put down. It truly is such a shame, but I''m not surprised either," the man says, standing over Kashikoi, slurring his words while under the influence.


    The man''s hand rose to pick up the delicate wine glass, but his expression betrayed his exasperation as he pressed his palm against his forehead.


    A mixture of amusement and disbelief danced in his eyes as a laugh escaped his lips; the laugh echoed throughout the deserted land.


    "Those three individuals, from the looks of it, are strong...especially the one with the teleport ability. Keeping an eye on them was worth it, it''s not hard to pick up information on those who don''t hide it," the man says, continuing to drink from his wine glass.


    (Meanwhile at the cabin.)


    Concern filled the room, Joki keeps his eye on Kazu, Double''s expression turning into one of pure confusion. Kazu sits confused and looks over to Double and Joki with a face showing his discomfort.


    "Kazu...for the past month, you''ve constantly been switching between this uplifting, full of light aura, and this dark one alongside it. What the hell''s wrong with you?" Double asks, keeping his distance from Kazu.


    Joki walks up and stares at Kazu, Kazu still silent, not understanding the situation or what to say back.


    "You guys act like I can just tell what the hell is wrong, you''ve been saying the same thing for the past month as well. You expect me to just understand?" Kazu says, an annoyed expression etched itself on his face.


    Kazu''s aura underwent a noticeable transformation, oscillating between an ominous, malevolent presence and a radiant, peaceful energy that conveyed no harm to others.


    Joki slowly turns around, and his expression becomes a mixture of frustration and curiosity as he looks outside.


    "Let''s postpone that though, does anyone else feel that? A powerful aura in the distance, it feels like it''s coming from the middle of southern Virginia. So...that means we''re right next to it basically," Joki remarks, a smile on his face.


    As Joki finishes his remark, Double also feels the aura in the distance. Over time, Double had become better at sensing others'' auras.


    The lack of knowledge Double, Joki, and Kazu share in terms of what their power is has been evident, but Double had become even more frustrated with himself because training wouldn''t help him improve in any other category.


    "It doesn''t feel like anything dangerous, but it would probably be in our best bet to check it out. Maybe we can head there and meet new people, and maybe make friends," Double says.


    "Hey...you guys are awfully okay with going to a place that could easily be a trap, and what if things go bad, who''s responsible then?" Kazu asks.


    "Kazu...listen...everything will be fine, plus...it''s not like we can just stay here and make a plan. Everywhere is dangerous, but what matters is that we explore and try to do the best we can together. If something happens, I need to know you two will trust me and go along with it," Joki states, putting his fist out, awaiting Double and Kazu to do the same.Love this novel? Read it on Royal Road to ensure the author gets credit.


    Kazu hesitates, but Double quickly puts his fist out in front of Joki. Joki and Double both look at Kazu, and signal for him to put his fist out as well.


    Kazu''s mind races with possibilities, but eventually, he puts his fist out in the middle, and with that, everyone is now in agreement.


    With that, the three had agreed and made the promise to go along with Joki in whatever happens, but Kazu''s nerves would still be bad.


    "Alright, it seems you both are committed now – no turning back. Let''s have fun and be mindful not to overdo it. Kazu is correct about the importance of exercising caution," Joki says.


    Joki''s eyes begin to glow gray as he activates his Sakusei. He puts his finger up, as it begins glowing. Joki''s finger starts to twitch; Joki looks at it with visible concern but ignores it and proceeds to get ready to move.


    Double begins to stand close to Joki, staying in range so they can also be in the teleportation. Kazu raises his arm, but not too high because of the injuries he had sustained in the past month.


    "Next time...I''m gonna need way longer than a month, this seems like hell having to go back and fight constantly," Kazu says.


    "That seems like a plan then, when everything is finished, let''s take a big break. We''ll come back here, and eat food and enjoy ourselves. Too much fighting, and too much stress, will only weaken us," Double states.


    Double had thought back to the month of training, and time he spent talking to Kazu and Joki. No lack of confidence showed in his face, he smiles and prepares to leave.


    "Butsuri Hōsoku, Kite," Joki says, teleporting, taking Double and Kazu with him.


    When the group arrives at some sort of festival, they are immediately engulfed by a sea of thousands of people.


    Confused, Kazu and Double take a step forward, but are abruptly halted by a woman, adorned in an all-white hood with striking purple hair and captivating pink eyes, who leans in with a wide smile, bringing her face within inches of Double and Kazu''s.


    "Hi! You three managed to get here quickly, didn''t you? I''m gonna assume...that one of you has the power of teleportation. Would that be you with the hoodie?" The woman asks, staring at Joki with an interested expression.


    The woman walks straight past Double and Kazu, bumping into them. Double and Kazu instantly sense something wrong by the aura she gives off.


    The woman gives off an aura of concern, as if something had been breathing down her neck this entire time, a constant anxiety that the woman could not hide.


    ''What the hell was that...? I''ve never felt something so odd, it''s like she didn''t have a spec of aura or anything until just then,'' Kazu says.


    The woman walks in front of Joki, they are both face to face, and immediately after becoming face to face with the woman, Joki begins to feel uneasy.


    Joki''s head begins to hurt, but it was unrelated to the woman. Joki had been exerting himself physically over the month, training himself to become stronger, but even then, it seemed like more than just that.


    ''Why do I feel like this...it''s like the feeling you get when you''ve eaten too much, or when you''re high. Was it...my ability?'' Joki asks.


    Confusion had been evident in Joki''s face, his mind racing with thoughts, curious on why his body had been feeling this way.


    Suddenly, the woman softly grasps Joki''s hand, and as she does this, Joki snaps back into his senses.


    "Sticking together is advisable; the festival can get quite hectic. I assume you all came prepared. Are you the leader of this group? Ensure you don''t leave those two unattended," the woman says, a smile appearing forced on her face as she looks at Joki.


    Double walks forward, shocked at what he''s seeing, the sight in front of him he had not been able to fully process yet.


    Double had felt an overwhelming sense of comfort and happiness seeing the sight in front of him, the shining lights, the sounds of cheer and kids playing.


    "Wow, it''s amazing. It''s what I want—a place where people can walk and be free, somewhere they can be themselves and enjoy their lives without the fear of losing it at any second," Double says, reflecting on his own personal goals.


    The woman walks next to Double, Double''s attention had been thrown off trying to analyze the festival, but she taps his shoulder and the two lock gazes.


    "Apologies for accidentally bumping into you and your friend earlier. My name is Reima, and I wanted to take a moment to introduce myself. Typically, you can find me outside the festival near the entrance. If you ever need assistance, feel free to look for me there," Reima says, releasing her grip on Double''s shoulder.


    Reima walks away into the distance until she can no longer be seen. Everyone else turns to observe the festival and begins to walk closer to it. Faces twist in disbelief as Kazu and Joki get a chance to see just how large the festival is.


    The crowd seemed endless, and being outside the festival itself felt remarkably peaceful. Double walked ahead of Joki and Kazu, his eyes widening as he began to smile.


    ''I''m concerned that Double might get caught up, but that won''t matter as long as I keep an eye on him. Joki will be fine; he''s a one-man army on his own. I''m curious about how all of this is possible, but for now, I think it''s safe to say everything is fine,'' Kazu contemplates, keeping his eyes on an astonished Double.