Chapter 12 : Unbreakable bonds

The sun dipped lower in the sky as golden light bathed the capital’s quiet rooftops. In one of the castle’s many chambers, Shin sat on the edge of his bed, towel still draped over his shoulders. His breathing had steadied, but his thoughts had not.

He leaned forward, elbows on his knees, eyes scanning the floor as though the answers lay there.

“Sakura was acting strange,” he muttered, brow furrowed. “Too eager for me to rest… too cheerful all of a sudden.”

He ran a hand through his damp hair, then paused.

"Can she be…?" He shook his head. "No. She wouldn’t sneak out again… right?"

But the seed of doubt had been planted.

“What if she did?” he whispered. “What if she went outside the capital again?”

He stood up and began to pace. “No. I trust her. She promised.” Still, unease gnawed at the back of his mind.

---

Scene shift : The old house 

Far beyond the capital walls, laughter echoed inside the broken hall of the old village house. Sakura sat cross-legged on the floor, surrounded by Emi, Haru, Ren, Hana, Ryo, and Kai. Everyone looked relaxed, cheerful—at ease in a way they hadn’t been for weeks.

Hana recounted something ridiculous she’d seen in the forest, waving her arms dramatically, and Ryo exaggerated her story even further with his sound effects. Everyone burst into laughter.

But just as Sakura laughed, a strange sensation crept over her. Like a shadow passing through her heart. She paused.

Emi noticed instantly. “Sakura? You okay?”

Sakura blinked, shook off the feeling, and smiled brightly. “Yeah! Just thinking I’m lucky to be here.”

Emi’s concerned expression softened.

Then she stood and clapped her hands. “Alright, everyone! Practice time!”

“Yes!” Hana shouted, jumping up. “I’m gonna summon fire this time!”

Ren stood with his usual calm, adjusting his stance. “Focus first. Fire later.”

“Heh, we’ll see who beats who!” Ryo called, grabbing a worn training staff. “Race ya!”

Emi laughed and tugged Sakura to her feet. “Come on! Let’s show them what we’ve got.”

Sakura smiled at Emi’s bright face and let herself be pulled into the group.

Soon, the open courtyard echoed with grunts, spells, laughter, and soft impacts. Ren quietly gave corrections to others. Hana accidentally made her scarf catch fire (again), sending Ryo and Haru into fits of laughter before she waved it out, embarrassed. Ryo tried a levitation spell and lifted his own shoes instead.

Sakura watched, nervous. She took a deep breath, extended her hand, and tried to summon magic. Nothing.

She clenched her fists.

Kai, standing nearby, glanced at her. His expression unreadable. He said nothing.

Emi jogged over. “Hey… don’t force it. Calm your breath. Feel, don’t chase.”

Sakura looked at her. “I’m trying. It just won’t come.”

Emi placed a gentle hand on hers. “Then let’s try together.”

They practiced into the late afternoon. As the sun dipped low, Sakura finally exhaled and turned to the group.

“I have to go now.”

Haru’s smile vanished. He ran up and grabbed her robe. “No! Don’t go!”

Sakura knelt. “I’ll be back tomorrow. I promise.”

Emi stepped beside them, crouching to Haru’s level. “She has to go now, Haru. But she’ll come back. You know she will.”

Haru’s lips trembled.

Emi looked at Sakura and said softly, “Haru doesn’t usually talk to people… or smile much. He’s really opened up to you. He really, really likes you.”

Sakura’s eyes softened. “Then I’ll never break my promise.”

She stood and waved goodbye.

Haru stood in the hall, watching her leave, still clutching the edge of her robe that now only lingered in memory.

Ryo walked over and gently nudged him with his elbow. “Don’t cry, little dude. She’s tough. She’ll come back swinging.”

Hana wrapped an arm around Haru. “We’ll play a game while we wait, okay?”

Ren stepped beside Emi. “He’s grown. It’s good she came.”

Emi looked down at Haru. “You really became close to her, huh?”

Haru nodded slowly, tears held back.

“I wanna play with her again,” he said. “I wanna stay with her. Is that okay?”

Emi smiled. “Why don’t you ask her when she comes back tomorrow?”

Haru gave a tiny smile and nodded.

---

Under the cloak of dusk, Sakura made her way back toward the capital. She slipped past the wall’s cracked stone gap, ducked into the alley behind the herb merchant’s garden, then climbed onto the familiar ledge that curved around the southern barracks. Timing her move between guard rotations, she dashed across the rooftops, rolled beneath a banner pole, and finally reached the servant’s wing entrance.

She pulled off her robe, stashed it beneath loose stones in the courtyard, and dusted herself off.

By the time she stepped into the hall, her face was calm.

No one saw the flicker of excitement—and worry—still hidden in her eyes.