The afternoon crowd flowed steadily through the market streets.
Vendors called from beneath colorful awnings while customers wandered between stalls carrying baskets of vegetables, fresh fish, and warm bread. The four boys threaded through the bustling streets, occasionally stepping aside for passing carts or merchants wheeling supplies toward the square.
Neyo let out an exaggerated groan, "...How much farther?"
Renjirō didn't even look back, "Stop whining.... We're almost there."
Neyo stared at him in disbelief, "'Almost there'?" he repeated, "We've been walking for over twenty minutes!"
He threw both hands into the air, "Even Bobo gets to the programme on time every morning! How far away does this place have to be?"
Renjirō folded his arms, "Would you relax?"
"We're close."
"You've been saying for the last ten minutes."
The argument continued as they walked, Kairo barely listened, his attention drifted toward Zuki. Unlike the others, Zuki hadn't spoken for several minutes. His eyes remained fixed ahead, though they didn't seem to be looking at the streets around them.
"Hey ...Zuki."
There was no response.
"...Zuki."
"Hm?" He blinked once, as though only just realizing someone had called his name.
"You know where we're going?" Kairo asked.
"...What?" Zuki looked at him blankly for a moment before quietly rubbing the back of his neck.
"Oh... sorry ...My mind wandered."
Kairo nodded, "...I figured."
Ahead of them, Renjirō slowed to a stop.
He looked left.
Then right.
Then left again.
His confident expression gradually stiffened.
Kairo watched him for several seconds before speaking.
"Hey... Renjirō."
"Hm?"
"...Are we lost?"
Renjirō froze.
A bead of sweat slowly rolled down his temple, his eyes darted from one street to another.
Then to the signposts.
Then back again.
Neyo pointed dramatically, "I KNEW IT!"
"I knew we were lost!"
"I've been saying it this whole time, just admit it!"
Renjirō spun around immediately, "We're not lost!"
"I just..." He hesitated, "...Had a temporary memory loss."
The others stared at him.
"...From lack of sleep."
Kairo tilted his head, "Lack of sleep? ...What were you doing last night?"
"...Never mind!" Renjirō answered far too quickly, "That's not important."
"Aaaagh!! ...I can't take this anymore," Neyo groaned, throwing both hands into the air. "I'm asking somebody."
With an exaggerated sigh, Neyo walked toward a nearby fruit stall where an elderly shopkeeper was arranging baskets of oranges.
"Excuse me sir!"
The old man looked up, "Hm?"
"Do you happen to know where the Chikarake household lives?"
The shopkeeper pointed farther down the street.
"Chikarake? ...Keep going straight."
"When you reach the fourth utility pole, turn right."
"You'll see their residence."
"It's only a few poles from here."
Neyo slowly turned toward Renjirō, "...Only a few poles."
Renjirō coughed awkwardly, "I... was about to say that."
"Yeah right!"
The boys thanked the shopkeeper before continuing on.
Sure enough, only a short distance later, the streets widened.
A large traditional residence came into view beyond a sturdy stone wall. Several connected buildings surrounded an expansive courtyard, while members of the household moved busily between the entrances carrying supplies and training equipment.
"...Whoa." Neyo stopped walking, "So this is where Bobo lives?"
Renjirō nodded proudly, "The Chikarake family."
"No wonder he eats so much," Kairo murmured.
As they approached the front entrance, one of the household members noticed them and walked over with a welcoming smile.
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"Good afternoon."
"Can I help you boys?"
Renjirō stepped forward. "We're friends of Bobo."
"We came looking for him."
Recognition immediately crossed the man's face, "Ah, young master Bobo."
He smiled warmly, "I'm afraid you just missed him... He left only a few minutes ago."
"His grandmother needed something delivered."
Neyo sighed dramatically, "We're late again..."
The man chuckled, "If you leave now, you'll probably catch him."
He pointed toward a road leading away from the residence, "Follow that road until you reach the old shrine crossroads ....is grandmother's house is just beyond it."
The boys exchanged excited looks.
Renjirō grinned "Then let's hurry."
They thanked the man before breaking into a run, disappearing down the road in pursuit of their friend.
Few minutes later....
The boys followed the quiet road away from the Chikarake residence.
The bustling sounds of the marketplace gradually faded behind them, replaced by the gentle rustling of trees and the distant murmur of flowing water.
Ahead, a small stone bridge came into view.
"...There." Zuki lifted a finger; the others followed his gaze.
A familiar figure strolled leisurely along the road beyond the bridge, a small bundle wrapped in faded cloth tucked beneath one arm. small headphones rested comfortably over his ears, and every few steps his shoulders bounced ever so slightly to a rhythm only he could hear.
Renjirō chuckled, "That's definitely Bobo."
Neyo grinned, "Listening to music again."
Kairo watched the boy sway absentmindedly as he walked, "...No wonder he hasn't noticed us."
A mischievous smile spread across Neyo's face, "Oh... I've got an idea."
Without waiting for anyone's approval, he suddenly broke into a run.
"Hey—!" Renjirō laughed before chasing after him.
Kairo and Zuki exchanged a glance before jogging after the pair.
Completely unaware, Bobo continued walking, quietly nodding along to whatever melody filled his headphones.
Then...
SMACK!
A hand landed squarely between his shoulder blades.
Bobo nearly jumped out of his skin.
"WAH—?!" He spun around so quickly the bundle under his arm almost slipped free, "N-Neyo?!"
His eyes widened.
"Renjirō?!"
"Kairo?!"
"...Zuki?!"
He stared from one familiar face to another in complete disbelief, "What are you guys doing here?!"
Neyo folded his arms proudly, "We came looking for you stupid."
Bobo blinked several times, "...Seriously?"
Renjirō nodded, "Someone at your house told us you were heading to your grandma's place."
Bobo looked down at the cloth bundle beneath his arm, "Yeah."
"My grandma asked for these old fabrics ...So I'm delivering them."
Neyo's grin somehow grew even wider, "Perfect."
Before Bobo could ask why, Neyo casually wrapped an arm around his shoulders, "Then let's all go together." He pointed dramatically down the road, "I've decided ...I want to meet your grandma."
Bobo laughed, "...Since when?"
"Since about five seconds ago."
Renjirō burst into laughter, "That's the most Neyo answer I've ever heard."
Even Zuki let out a quiet chuckle.
Kairo shook his head, unable to hide a small smile, "...You really don't need a reason to invite yourself somewhere, do you?"
"I absolutely don't." Neyo declared it with such confidence that everyone laughed.
Bobo adjusted the bundle beneath his arm before smiling warmly at his friends, "...Alright ...I'm sure Grandma won't mind."
With that settled, the five boys continued down the peaceful road together, their conversation drifting effortlessly from one topic to another as the afternoon breeze carried their laughter toward the little bridge behind them.
Few minutes later....
The boys followed Bobo through a quiet residential lane until they arrived at his grandmother's home. It was an old traditional house, built decades ago in a style rarely seen in newer parts of Star Sand City.
Its dark wooden beams and tiled roof had stood the test of time, while intricate carvings decorated the pillars and veranda. Flowerpots lined the entrance, their blossoms adding gentle splashes of color, and every window shone with spotless glass.
The house wasn't grand or luxurious; it simply carried the comforting warmth of a place that had sheltered generations of the same family.
The front door slid open before they could knock.
"My, my..." an elderly woman smiled kindly as she stepped outside. Fine wrinkles framed her gentle eyes, and despite her age, there was a quiet dignity in the way she carried herself.
"So, these must be your friends."
Bobo scratched the back of his head sheepishly, "Yep ...They followed me."
The old woman chuckled, "Then they're welcome here." She looked at each of the boys with a warm smile, "Come in and make yourselves at home."
"Thank you, ma'am," Renjirō answered politely.
Neyo gave an enthusiastic bow, "Thanks, Grandma!"
The old woman laughed, "What good manners." Bobo held up the folded bundle beneath his arm, "I'll show Grandma the fabrics first... I'll be right back."
The old woman nodded, "Come along then."
The pair disappeared deeper into the house, leaving the others to wander the spacious sitting room, it didn't take long before something caught their attention.
"...Whoa." Renjirō stopped walking, The others followed his gaze. Covering nearly an entire wall were enormous frieze carvings unlike anything they had ever seen; Ancient figures, some resembled dragons stretching endlessly through clouds, while others stood in majestic humanoid forms draped in flowing robes carved with impossible detail, each relief looked ancient, almost... Alive.
"...These are incredible," Zuki murmured.
Even Kairo found himself staring, every carving seemed to radiate an indescribable presence, as though each figure carried a story far older than the house itself.
Footsteps approached from behind.
"You found Grandma's old wall." The boys turned, Bobo and his grandmother had returned.
Bobo grinned proudly, "When I was little, Grandma used to tell me stories about every single one of them."
The old woman smiled gently at the carvings, "Stories passed down through our family."
She slowly approached the relief upon the wall.
It depicted a colossal dragon whose body disappeared into swirling clouds beyond the edge of the stone.
Her weathered fingers rested lightly against the carving, "This... is known as the Dragon of Realm...." The boys listened quietly.
"It is said to be a divine existence that transcends every timeline... A deity connected to the very origin of Seikon, it does not appear before ordinary people.... Only during visions, or when time itself begins to tear."
Silence lingered.
"...Seikon?" Neyo repeated.
Kairo's eyes widened slightly, "...I've heard that word before." The others looked at him, "In Clay-Haven... Rina mentioned it."
Renjirō suddenly slapped his palm, "Oh! ...My grandma talked about it too."
"She said it's part of our family's heritage."
The old woman gave a small nod, "Many old families preserve fragments of these legends."
Kairo's gaze shifted farther along the wall, another relief stood apart from the rest; Unlike the dragon, this figure possessed a humanoid form.
Its arms calmly spread wide like a magnificent being, though carved entirely from stone...
It somehow carried an overwhelming sense of authority, "...What about this one?"
The old woman turned toward it, a trace of reverence entered her voice.
"That...is the Seikon Devourer." She looked up at the towering figure, "Orugami."
The room seemed strangely quieter, "It is believed that Orugami possesses the power to consume Seikon itself... Long ago, it was sealed away."
"Whether that story is truth... or merely legend, no one can say." The boys stared silently at the enormous carving.
Then Neyo pointed farther down the wall, "...What about that one?" Everyone followed his finger, unlike the others... The final carving possessed no clear shape; no face, no body, only an abstract form that seemed impossible to comprehend, depending on where they looked...
It almost appeared different. The old woman slowly walked toward it, her smile faded into quiet respect, "This ...is the one who watches over us."
The room suddenly felt colder.
"The reason our world remains in balance... It has been known by many names throughout history."
She paused before the ancient relief, "But within the Chikarake family ...we call this great entity..." She rested her hand upon the stone, "...Orun."
Silence settled over the room.
For reasons none of the boys could explain... A faint chill crept across their skin, even the air itself seemed heavier, no one spoke.
Then...
"Heh..." Bobo rubbed the back of his neck with an awkward laugh, "When Grandma used to tell me these stories... I could never sleep afterward."
The tension shattered instantly,
Neyo burst into laughter, "I would've stayed awake all night too."
Renjirō nodded emphatically, "Especially after hearing that last one."
Even Kairo let out a quiet chuckle, though his eyes drifted back toward the mysterious, shapeless carving, For just a moment... He couldn't shake the strange feeling that it had been watching them all along.
To be continued....